224: Chapter 222 Going to the Capital to Receive an Award

The battle between Zhang Mu and Mihe against Brando and Mahamoda didn't last long.

Rather, it ended almost as soon as it began.

As the Fallen Spirit landed, Brando brandished his staff, whipping up a hurricane that sent the surrounding trees flying.

The moment the light faded, he seemed to receive some unexpected news; his face suddenly filled with terror, and he turned, pulling Mahamoda along as they vanished into the woods.

Confused, Zhang Mu and Mihe looked at each other and ultimately chose not to pursue.

They couldn't kill them even if they chased.

Forcing a pursuit would only be in vain.

Moreover, Zhang Mu's goal was to rendezvous with the First Army. It was for the best that the enemy retreated on their own.

The two immediately turned around and rushed out of the forest.

When they appeared on the meadow at the edge of the forest, they saw the corpses of knights and mages scattered everywhere.

They had died from piercing wounds to the chest. Judging by the size of the holes on both sides, they must have been skewered from back to front by long spears.

Zhang Mu didn't need to ask the First Army Soldiers sitting or lying nearby who the culprit was.

In a nearby clearing, a cavalry unit of about five hundred men was arrayed in neat formation.

The riders wore full-body armor that only exposed their eyes, and they sat atop strange-looking mounts.

They had bird heads and horse bodies, with no hair; except for their limbs, their skin was covered in lush, golden feathers.

The shape and color of these feathers felt somewhat familiar to Zhang Mu.

Then he remembered—Griffins.

When he was hunting Thunder Wolf packs with his senior, that guy who called himself Andre was riding a Griffin.

But the creatures before him didn't have wings?

A hybrid breed?

Zhang Mu showed no outward reaction and strode over: "I am the Lord of Gur City."

"Well done."

A cavalryman, whose armor differed slightly from the others, lightly squeezed the 'horse's' belly with his legs, prompting his mount to step out of the formation. "To almost defeat the enemy army under such extremely unfavorable circumstances,"

"it's a bit of a waste for you to serve as a city lord."

"You flatter me."

Zhang Mu replied perfunctorily, his attention entirely on the cavalry behind the man.

Five hundred High-level Knights and five hundred fifth-rank magical beasts. No wonder the Professionals from Kingdom couldn't even flee into the forest dozens of meters away; they were all killed midway.

This must be the Lake Kingdom's Royal Guard, the Griffin Legion.

Of course, the mounts they rode were not Griffins, but a new species bred from Griffins and other magical beasts.

"We've met once before."

Hmm?

Hearing this, Zhang Mu looked up curiously at the rider. "Have we?"

He took off his helmet and tucked it under his arm, a charming smile on his handsome face. "Although my reputation is far inferior to my eldest brother and third sister, surely you haven't failed to recognize the Second Prince of the Lake royalty?"

The Second Prince?

His senior's brother?

Zhang Mu muttered to himself, but outwardly he put on a surprised expression and hurriedly performed a knight's salute.

The Second Prince was likely teasing and didn't mind that his posture wasn't quite standard. He then explained the circumstances of why he had appeared here.

Upon receiving the intelligence sent by Soren about the Kingdom's grand army invading Gur, the royal family hadn't taken it to heart. After all, it happened every year; they had long since grown numb to it.

Ultimately, it was the Second Prince, who had learned of the matter by chance, who wanted to use it as an excuse to go out and clear his head.

After meeting the King and obtaining permission, he led the Griffin Legion on a forced march to Gur.

He had originally intended to rush to Gur, take a quick look to confirm nothing was wrong, report back to the capital, and then spend the return trip sightseeing.

Arriving outside the city today, he entered Gur and inquired, only to find that the city lord had fought a great battle against the enemy's High-tier Professionals yesterday.

Surprised, he immediately led the Griffin Legion at full speed toward the Silent Forest.

Fortunately, their 'horses' were fast enough. Not only did they cross over a dozen cities to reach Gur in just a few days, but they also arrived in time to save the remnants of the First Army.

After listening, Zhang Mu realized.

So that's how it was. No wonder Brando fled so decisively.

One had to know that this Griffin Legion of Lake was not just high-level.

They possessed the legacy of the former First Empire of the Saul Continent—a special Knight Magic. Knights who practiced this Knight Magic could establish a network that connected their mana.

The effect was simple: the knights could gather their power and use the network to sublimate and transform it, allowing them to fight above their level.

Five hundred High-level Knights and five hundred high-level magical beasts, further enhanced by the mana network, were enough to bury a Magister in a single strike.

This was also why Brando had fled so resolutely.

Because if he had run any slower, he really would have died.

The only drawback of this Knight Magic was the high requirements it placed on its practitioners.

Even after over a thousand years of accumulation, the Lake Kingdom only had five hundred such men.

Zhang Mu had also heard Potter vaguely mention that the downfall of the Saul Continent's former First Empire seemed to be inextricably linked to this Knight Magic.

"Lord of Gur City, the weapons you use... I haven't seen them among the Blessings."

Snapping back to reality, he nodded. "Yes, I obtained them by chance in a labyrinth."

"I see." Whether the Second Prince believed him or not was unclear. He pulled on the reins, and his Wingless Griffin turned around. "When you come to the capital to receive your commendations, I hope you can spare some of your valuable time to attend the victory banquet I will host for you."

"Certainly."

"I must return to the capital immediately to report the details. Well then, I look forward to seeing you again."

The Second Prince whipped the 'horse's' rump. The 'horse' reared its front hooves and galloped forward upon landing, with the five hundred cavalrymen turning in unison to follow.

Watching the backs of the cavalry unit shrink and disappear over the horizon, Zhang Mu nudged Mihe with his elbow. "Have you heard of this cavalry legion before?"

"Yes, everyone in Lake knows of them."

"Hiss—" Zhang Mu stared at him. "And you still dared to start a Resistance Army?"

Receiving no response, Mihe silently turned and walked into the forest. The playful smile on Zhang Mu's face also slowly faded.

Honestly, this guy just doesn't know when someone is being kind.

Sighing, he glanced toward the clearing on the left. The remaining thousand or so Soldiers of the First Army had already picked themselves up and stood in a square formation.

Their uniforms were no longer as clean as they were at the start of the war; they were covered in large patches of dark red, mud stains everywhere, and many cuts from sharp blades.

They looked somewhat like a defeated army.

Zhang Mu watched them in silence. They now had a touch of grit and resolve.

Sacrifice.

A heavy burden that war cannot avoid.

After a long while, Zhang Mu said softly, "Go, bring our comrades home."

"Yes, sir!"

The Soldiers hung the straps of their rifles around their necks and formed a long line, marching toward the Silent Forest.

The scorching sunlight vanished in an instant.

By evening, Mihe returned.

He brought news that the Kingdom's people had vacated their camp. Brando and Mahamoda had likely retreated together.

Zhang Mu said nothing. With his hands behind his back, he watched as corpses were carried out of the forest, passing the long line in front of him.

As it grew dark, Domit rushed over.

He first gave a verbal summary of the battle report and then returned the Potter family crest that represented command authority.

Finally, he joined the group carrying the corpses.

The procession was very long. Zhang Mu walked at the end, their destination being Moza Village.

Midway, Domit, who was ahead, asked in a low voice whether the corpses of the Kingdom's army should be handled.

The answer he received was—just leave them there to feed the magical beasts.

Zhang Mu would grant enough courtesy to a respectable opponent.

But the Kingdom's army clearly didn't qualify as "respectable."

By the time they returned to Moza Village, night had already fallen.

Lighting torches, Zhang Mu picked up a shovel and led everyone in burying the fallen Soldiers behind the village.

Then, he gathered the Soldiers and held a farewell ceremony.

Normally, a marshal should give a speech, and he did.

He didn't say much else; he simply explained to the young Soldiers what "comrades-in-arms" meant.

He dismissed the Soldiers, and they each returned to their rooms to rest.

The next day, just as the first light appeared.

Damu's figure appeared at the cemetery.

He wove through the burial mounds and stopped before a headstone.

Unlike Domit, he didn't know everyone in the former Resistance Army, now the First Army.

He couldn't name most of them.

But he recognized the name carved on the headstone in front of him.

This person had been his neighbor in the magic circle in the Silent Forest, his roommate in Moza Village, and his comrade while fighting the Kingdom as a Soldier of the First Army.

Oh, a comrade-in-arms.

The Marshal said that Soldiers who share life and death are comrades-in-arms.

He recalled the Marshal's speech from last night and changed the term he used.

As for why Damu had come, he wasn't sure himself.

He couldn't sleep; his heart felt as if he had forgotten something important, a restlessness he couldn't quite place.

He just felt that coming here would bring him peace.

He was right.

Damu sat cross-legged, chin in hand, staring at the stone headstone, his mind wandering.

The morning sun rose from behind the mountain, climbed high into the sky, and then descended toward the other side.

Until nightfall.

Dazed, Damu suddenly heard faint footsteps behind him.

He instinctively turned his head and sprang to his feet. "Marshal!"

"No need for formalities. Right now, I am Mr. Zhang Mu."

Zhang Mu thought he was being quite easygoing, but strangely, Damu's face showed some displeasure, and his eyes were full of disappointment.

Is this guy a masochist?

Could it be that he'd feel excited if I scolded him severely and whipped him?

Shaking his head to clear the unpleasant images from his mind, Zhang Mu sat on the ground in front of the headstone and patted the dirt beside him, signaling for Damu to sit as well.

"Mar... Mr. Zhang Mu, why are you here?" Damu asked as he sat down.

"What about you?"

"I... wanted to come and see."

"Yes, me too."

After they spoke, they were silent for a moment. Then Damu asked, "Mr. Zhang Mu, why did Kingdom come to Gur?"

"Haven't you heard of the grudge between Lake and Kingdom?"

"I heard about it from my mother."

"Just as your mother said, there is a deep-seated blood feud between the two nations, so they came."

"But... Mr. Zhang Mu, the original dispute was started by Kingdom."

"When nobles steal your grain, do they consider whether they are right or wrong?"

"Oh..." Damu scratched his head. "I thought the two were different."

"Uh, Mr. Zhang Mu, isn't a Kingdom more powerful than a noble? There should... be a difference?"

"They're much the same."

Zhang Mu raised his hand and brushed away a fallen leaf from the top of the headstone. "Kingdoms fight over resources and land, nobles seize commoners' grain, and commoners argue with each other over limited water for irrigating fields,"

"aside from the difference in scale, where is the distinction?"

Damu furrowed his brows, thinking seriously for a good while. "Commoners are the weakest."

"Hahaha..." Zhang Mu was delighted, his shoulders shaking with laughter. "Exactly, exactly. Commoners are the weakest."

Damu opened his mouth blankly; he didn't understand why his words had made Zhang Mu laugh like that.

After a long while, the laughter stopped. He bent his index finger and wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. "Ultimately, the essence is the same."

"I don't understand, Mr. Zhang Mu."

"Resources are limited, and they can't be created out of thin air. Besides fighting and stealing, what else can be done?"

"Can't... everyone just share equally?"

Zhang Mu froze for a second, then his deep gaze fixed on him. "In this battle, you had the most kills and the highest military merit."

"I remember correctly, don't I?"

"Yes, Mr. Zhang Mu."

"If I asked you to share your merit equally with the other Soldiers of the First Army, would you be willing?"

"Of course!"

"Yes, very good. But what if your family was the poorest?"

Damu was stunned and said hesitantly, "Even so, I'd still be willing!"

"Excellent. Then, let's suppose your child was gravely ill, and the gold coins exchanged for your military merit were just enough to pay for the treatment. Would you still be willing?"

"I... but..." He waved his hands a bit helplessly. "Marshal, I'm not married yet."

"Is no one else married?"

"Or do you think my hypothesis is too extreme and doesn't exist in reality?"

His hands slowly lowered and were tucked between his thighs, his fingers twisting together. His head was bowed. "There is... Aimee's family is like that. Her daughter fell ill and passed away."

"Do you think she would be willing?"

"Maybe... probably not."

"Aimee said she would rather trade her own life for her daughter's health."

"I... I'm certainly not as important as her daughter."

"Doesn't that settle it?" Zhang Mu stood up and brushed the dust off his rear. "Imagination is beautiful, which is why it's just imagination."

"Then... Mr. Zhang Mu, is there a way?"

"Perhaps."

Doubt welled up in Damu's eyes; he didn't seem to quite understand the answer.

Setting it aside for the moment, he also scrambled up. "Are you leaving?"

"Your company commander told Domit that a Soldier under him named Damu had disappeared."

"Domit searched the village all morning without finding anyone and ran to inform me that there was a deserter."

"I thought to myself, Damu, I remember him—the Soldier from the First Regiment, First Company who had the most kills and was ready to duel a High-level Knight one-on-one with his rifle."

"If anyone was going to be a deserter, it wouldn't be him."

"After a bit of thinking, I figured you'd run off to the cemetery. See? Here you are."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Zhang Mu, I..."

"That's enough." Zhang Mu waved his hand and said with a smile, "It's your first time at war; it's natural to have trouble adjusting. I can understand."

"But rules are rules. You left camp without permission. Go back and find your company commander to receive your punishment."

"Yes, Marshal!" Damu stood at attention.

"Go on."

Sending him back to the village, Zhang Mu turned to scan the seemingly endless cemetery.

He used to watch movies where tens of thousands died at the drop of a hat and thought a few thousand wasn't much.

Looking at it now, six thousand five hundred and thirty-two people was actually quite a lot.

The clusters of headstones standing silently on the earth made him feel a bit suffocated, even though a Magister could easily hold their breath for a whole day.

Wanting to lighten the mood, Zhang Mu turned and called out to Damu, who had walked over ten meters away. "By the way,"

"when I first found you and told you to call me Mr. Zhang Mu, why did you look so unhappy?"

"Uh, Marshal." Damu turned back and saluted before explaining. "I have a comrade-in-arms who was always second in every shooting practice."

"He really wanted to meet the Marshal."

"Oh, I know him. He even spoke to me the day before we set out for the Silent Forest."

For some reason, Damu smiled happily. "Yes, that's him."

"I think his wish before he sacrificed himself must have been to speak with the Marshal again."