Chapter 485: Chapter 485. Clean House
Amon returned to his routine. He cultivated while managing the First Demon Legion inside Fort Fresh Maw. A few months after returning from the visit to Fort Lion’s Den, a noteworthy incident happened in the capital. One of the high-ranking military officers was assassinated.
This officer was a Spirit Stage cultivator and a staunch supporter of Prince Huang Zi. The assassinated officer was also a favored candidate rumored to follow Prince Huang Zi into the Ancient Ascension Trial. This news sent a shockwave through the country.
After the news spread, another rumor circulated. It said that Prince Huang Zi claid the assassination was Amon’s deed. There was no proof, though. Because of this, the relationship between Huang Zi’s and Huang San’s camps, which was already bad to begin with, beca worse.
After Huang San’s rise to fa, many kingdom officials started to cozy up to him. Even so, he was always considered the underdog, so all the favored camps, Prince Huang Zi, Princess Huang Er, and Prince Huang Zhan, never bothered with his. After the assassination, it was no longer so. Officers who supported Huang San beca targets of harassnt. This halted Huang San from improving his influence in the royal court.
"I thought you said you would not retaliate for my brother’s attempt on your life?" Huang San asked. He again visited Fort Fresh Maw to talk with Amon.
"I never said that. I said now is not the ti. I still believe it is not," Amon said. "The assassination of Prince Huang Zi’s follower is not my doing."
"Really?" Huang San asked. He was skeptical. Amon had been known to do lots of things behind his back. Amon’s claim was so Huang San had plausible deniability in case those doings went public.
"That is the truth," Amon replied.
"Hm... Okay, but this is not good. They are now using this to brand my camp as dishonorable, that we use dirty tricks for our benefit."
"They have no proof. All they can do is try to sar our reputation. Since it is that way, we will use the truth. Spread the news of Prince Huang Zi’s attempt on my life. Prince Huang Zhan’s camp should be able to confirm my visit and the loss of my escort details during my return trip. We will turn this from a dishonorable attempt to cripple the opposition to an act of justice."
"You will admit to assassinating his follower?" Huang San asked.
"No, we will only spread the news about his assassination attempt on ," Amon replied. "We will continue to deny our involvent in his follower’s demise. Let the public draw their conclusion."
"Very well. I will go back and instruct my people on this," Huang San said. He was about to leave when he asked another ti, "You truly have no hands on that assassination?"
"I don’t," Amon repeated.
*
Another year passed. It was only half a year before the Ancient Ascension Trial. The First Demon Legion had grown again. It now consisted of eight thousand soldiers. Their number should be more, but they lost so soldiers due to increased skirmishes with the rebels. Despite the escalation, they hadn’t made any big moves against the rebels. Huang San was getting restless due to the deadline, which was fast approaching.
"When will we eradicate the rebels?" Huang San again visited Amon.
"Soon," Amon answered.
"You have been saying that for months, but I don’t see any progress. You do know we only have half a year left before the trial, don’t you? If we haven’t gotten rid of the rebels by then, we don’t have the right to the trial."
"I know," Amon replied.
Huang San was speechless. Amon didn’t show any sign of being nervous. Usually, Amon’s confidence soothed him. This ti, it made him more nervous instead.
"Can you at least share with
so of your plans?" Huang San pushed.
"No. You just have to trust ," Amon replied.
Huang San sighed. At this stage, he had no choice but to trust Amon, even if he didn’t want to.
After Huang San left, Bu Zheng entered the office. "The boys said you are looking for , boss?" He asked.
"I want you to pass the rebels so fake information again. We are going to hit one of the ruins they are occupying. Make them think that our force is going sowhere else."
Bu Zheng nodded.
Amon sighed. "We managed to hit them thanks to your information, but we also suffered the loss of so platoons we sent out. It’s like they know our moves as well."
"What are you saying, boss?" Bu Zheng asked.
"I think they have a spy inside our force," Amon answered.
"Are you sure?"
"It’s the only explanation," Amon said. "When you went to their base, did you hear anything about them having a mole inside our ranks?"
"No, but now that you ntioned it, I will pay attention."
Amon nodded. "You do that. For now, we will prepare for our next campaign. We will use a battalion. I will personally lead it. You will co with
after passing the fake information."
Bu Zheng nodded again.
*
Two weeks later, Amon and Bu Zheng rode with the battalion. Hao Yang was by their side. The battalion they used was the loaned soldiers from Prince Huang Zhan. After more than three years and multiple skirmishes, the regint of one thousand had been reduced to a battalion of around eight hundred soldiers.
"Colonel Amon, when will we make the real move against the rebels?" Hao Yang asked.
"You don’t need to know. You only need to follow my orders," Amon replied.
Hao Yang wasn’t happy with the answer. He said, "Colonel, let
repeat that His Highness lent these soldiers so Prince Huang San could fulfill his promise of eradicating the rebels. We won’t follow orders that have nothing to do with that promise."
"We are now going to a place where we fight the rebels," Amon stated.
"The promise is to eradicate the rebels. Not these pointless small skirmishes," Hao Yang uttered.
"You will have the fight soon. Trust , this will be the fight of your life."
"What do you an?" Hao Yang beca uneasy after hearing that. "Didn’t you say the rebels at our destination numbered fewer than one hundred?"
"That is true, but there is one Spirit Stage cultivator leading these rebels," Amon answered.
Hao Yang frowned. He said, "Colonel, I cannot agree if you treat my soldiers as cannon fodders."
"I will be the one fighting directly with this Spirit Stage cultivator. You and your soldiers just back
up. Is this arrangent acceptable?"
Hao Yang exchanged glances with his brother, Hao ng, who rode beside him. "Very well. We will hold your words to that."
Bu Zheng was silent as he listened to the interaction. He wondered why Amon lied to Hao Yang. The intel he gave Amon said no Spirit Stage cultivator was on site. He didn’t say anything, though. He kept quiet because Amon had instructed him to do so before they departed.
They arrived at their destination one day later. The site was a large rectangle hole. The ruin was underground. It was already excavated by a kingdom archeological team a few weeks earlier. The team was recalled after a report by an official in the nearby town. The report said the site had been thoroughly searched, and no valuables were found.
The report was false. The rebels had bribed the official. After the team left, the rebels ca and continued their work.
Amon learned all this from Bu Zheng’s intel, including the corrupt official. Huang San’s agent was on their way to pick up the official while they dealt with the rebels at the excavation site.
The rebels were still busy excavating the ruin when Amon’s battalion arrived. Without giving any warning, Amon led his soldiers into the hole and slaughtered everyone. It didn’t take long because they outnumbered the rebels greatly. Most of the rebels were also only at the Strength and Transformation Stages.
After they cleaned up the site, Hao Yang ca to Amon and asked, "Where is this Spirit Stage cultivator you ntioned?"
"There is no Spirit Stage cultivator," Amon answered.
Hao Yang frowned. Amon’s tone sounded like the absence of the Spirit Stage cultivator was not a surprise.
"Colonel, I don’t appreciate being lied to," he uttered angrily.
"And I have tolerated your disrespect long enough," Amon returned. "It stops today. It’s ti to clean house."
Suddenly, many soldiers appeared by the ledge of the hole they were in. They lined up every side, forming a fence. All the soldiers were equipped with bows. Their bows were fully stretched and were aid at the soldiers inside the hole. Several Mystic Stage soldiers floated directly above the hole. They were on the lookout for those who could fly. Among these Mystic Stage soldiers were Xin Wuming and Yang Li.
"What is the aning of this?" Hao Yang asked. His angry tone had changed to a nervous one.
Instead of answering, Amon called, "Senior Captain Yong Huan, bring out the ones willing to follow ."
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