Fighting for Survival

Why did you become Tina's lover?

This single sentence is incredibly poignant, containing so much sorrow and regret.

--At least that's how it sounded to Hong San, who had just woken up.

In an instant, the leader of the Heaven and Earth Society and Earth Society filled in the blanks with the cause and effect of the matter.

Master Kang, a heroic figure, captivated the heart of the young lady from the Vidal Chamber of Commerce at first sight. As they spent more time together, their feelings deepened, and she found herself unable to extricate herself from her love, wishing she could give herself to him and pledge her love to him forever.

However, the falling flowers are full of affection, but the flowing water... is not entirely heartless, it's just that Princess Tina of Goth, holding a large axe, casts a huge Shadow on the riverbank.

I fear that a single blow from an axe could cleave the flowing water and turn fallen flowers into mud.

This overwhelmed Leona with emotion, and she could only embrace her beloved and weep loudly, lamenting, "If only we had met before you were married," sighing with regret, tears streaming down her face. From then on, though she never forgot him, they were destined to be apart...

Hearing the sobbing and noticing Kang De's silence, Hong San couldn't help but want to remind him that it was acceptable to have concubines in the East, and although it wasn't allowed in the West, there were still lovers... Anyway, throughout history, whether in the East or the West, men have always been philanderers and will always find a way.

However, the moment this thought crossed his mind, the image of a person appeared in his mind: Tina-Taidariel, Princess Goth, whom Hong San had met twice.

Upon first meeting, she was as pure and beautiful as a lotus on a snow-capped mountain, and she was gentle and polite to everyone.

The second time they met, the beauty was as stunning as ever, but she was carrying an axe, standing in the family cemetery of Lord Glittering Sand. The ground was littered with fallen and shattered tombstones, and many decaying bones were scattered everywhere.

He then understood why the young lady from the Vidal Family had cried.

I can also understand why Master Kang, who is usually invincible and domineering, has remained silent.

Well...

Even a hero as strong as Master Kang couldn't escape being like my master; it's truly lamentable.

Hong San was lost in thought.

Then he heard Leona fall silent, and the air became very quiet.

After waiting a moment, Hong San sensed something was wrong. He slowly opened his eyes a crack and saw that Leona had stopped crying and Kang De had stopped hugging him. The two of them sat side by side, looking down at him coldly.

Hong San felt a chill run down his spine, but remained outwardly calm. He immediately switched to acting mode and weakly asked, "Sir, where... where is this?"

Kang De said calmly, "You're awake? This is in Leona's carriage. We're heading to the Vidal Chamber of Commerce to take refuge there. By the way, Mayor Nick is acting perversely, using the militia as cannon fodder. Chen Honghu and several other leaders were outraged and led the militia in a rebellion, intending to storm the city. However, Mayor Nick had laid an ambush beforehand, luring them into a pit and killing them all..."

Hong San was taken aback at first, then smiled wryly and said, "Don't joke, sir. They wouldn't dare."

"... Tsk."

Kang De snorted, "Having coughed up blood this time, your mind has actually become a bit clearer. Your reaction is quite quick."

The bitterness on Hong San's face deepened.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he found himself lying in the carriage with Kang De beside him.

For a moment, he even wished this was a carriage that had already left Valentan, so that wherever it went, he could serve Master Kang.

When he heard Leona crying, he forced himself to become gossipy and to let his mind wander, so that when he was idle, some heavy things would flash through his mind... He was just subconsciously avoiding it.

Unexpectedly, after only a short time of hiding, Kang De forced him to remember.

Those responsibilities that were not originally his, those infuriating yet powerless worldly affairs, those heavy lives... were originally none of his business, but he brought trouble upon himself and sought his own death. He was clearly a lowly and insignificant person, but in a moment of rampant arrogance, he actually dared to bear these things.

Today, it finally went wrong.

His eyes dimmed for a moment.

The carriage moved slowly, bouncing slightly. Kang De asked, "How are you feeling?"

Hong San regulated his breathing for a moment, circulated his internal energy, and then replied, "It's nothing... I just need to recuperate."

"Oh," Kang De said, "We'll go to the Vidal Chamber of Commerce now and rest and recuperate there."

A look of struggle and hesitation crossed Hong San's face as he slowly said, "Master, they..."

Kang De said coldly, "I was still standing on the city wall before I left."

"This..." Upon hearing this, Hong San understood what had happened. Kang De must have abandoned everyone and taken him away from the city wall. He exclaimed anxiously, "How can we leave them there..."

Kang De glanced at him. "What does this have to do with me?"

These words calmed Hong San down. The Cathayan remained silent for a moment, then turned over and knelt down to kowtow to Kang De. As a result, he was immediately kicked and fell backward to the ground.

Kang De's voice was cold and stern. "What, you want to kowtow, thank me for my kindness and care, and then leave to go back to your brothers and live and die with them? Do you know that after you vomited blood in grief and collapsed, not one of your brothers, not one of your followers who loved and admired you, came forward, not even a hint of concern or panic... Do you still want to go back?"

Hong San remained silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "That's just how people are, there's nothing strange about it. You haven't seen the suffering of the world, sir. From childhood to adulthood, you've been surrounded by people of high moral character, so you think the world should be like you imagine, with everyone being trustworthy, righteous, and grateful. But that's not actually the case."

"They can't even save their own lives, they have no fixed abode, they suffer from hunger and thirst, they are exhausted and afraid, so they shrink back and become cowardly, appearing indifferent and timid. This is all human nature, and it's not their fault."

Kang De raised an eyebrow and chuckled angrily, "When did you become so understanding and magnanimous?"

Hong San said softly, "It's not that I'm magnanimous, but I'm just as lowly as they are, struggling to survive, and I know their suffering. I won't criticize them, and I won't have any expectations of them."

Kang De was speechless for a moment, because Hong San had already said so, and there was no point in arguing further.

Seeing Kang De's reaction, Hong San comforted him, saying, "Sir, don't be angry. You are a high-ranking figure, destined for great things. You don't need to concern yourself with these commoners, nor should you be disappointed. Although these people are timid and cowardly, not all of them are like them. There are brave and sincere individuals, but we don't see many of them here, after all..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "After all, those who dared to fight for their homeland have long since died at the hands of the elves, and it's not my turn to protect and lead them."

Hong San's words make a lot of sense. Everyone has their own difficulties, everyone is forced into their own situation, and everyone's actions have their own underlying reasons. But the more this is the case, the more irritated Kang De becomes. He feels that this world is a messed-up cesspool, a backward alien world that needs the voice of democracy and freedom.

He glared at them and said, "Even if they're beyond redemption, it's none of my business. I just can't stand their attitude and their bad habits—but you, knowing what kind of people they are, still want to go back?"

Hong San sighed, "I don't know what's wrong with me..."

Kang De didn't know what was wrong with Hong San either.

When Glittering Sand first met him, he was a strange guy who talked a lot about being a lackey. Now he's suddenly acting crazy and has a sense of responsibility and mission. After thinking about it, he decided to stop trying to persuade him and instead resort to intimidation.

What are you going back for?

He said, "The elves' raid failed, so the next step will definitely be to gather manpower and launch a fair and square attack. The militia of the Heaven and Earth Society has suffered heavy losses and their morale has dropped to zero. No matter how crazy Nick is or how little he treats them, he won't let a bunch of useless trash continue to defend the city walls, at least not today."

"In other words, they will take turns resting and recuperating to restore morale, and the wounded will need medical treatment. What are you going back for at a time like this? So many people have died and so many have been injured today. You failed to protect them, and your image as a guardian angel has been shattered. What's the point of going back?"

Kang De then added threateningly, "Think about it, what will happen if you go back to that street? The deceased's family will pounce on you, question you, hit you, curse you, and then cry. Everyone else will look at you coldly, like you're an enemy... Are you a masochist? What would you do going back at a time like this?"

"..."

Hong San showed no fear, nor any composure in the face of everything. His expression was somewhat strange as he whispered, "It's like this, sir. Even if it's just for rest and treatment, the mayor won't disband the troops. After all, with casualties like this, it's difficult to reorganize them once disbanded. So they'll definitely arrange for them to stay at a nearby camp, rather than sending them back directly. I'm just going there..."

A soft chuckle came from Leona beside him. The girl glanced at Kang De, having recovered from her embarrassment and tears, and was even somewhat pleased, with an expression that said, "You're not so smart after all."

Kang De made a casual threat, not expecting this turn of events, and then heard Leona's laughter, making him lose face.

He raised his voice eight octaves. "Do you believe I'll find Nick right now and have him disband the Heaven and Earth Society, send those idiots home, and then we'll see how you clean up the mess?"

Hong San sat up abruptly, exclaiming in surprise, "Really?"

Seeing his expression, Kang De was truly enraged, but the next moment, his anger subsided, replaced by a hint of mockery in his eyes. "You think they're safe just because they don't have to defend the city?"

Hong San was stunned for a moment, then slumped to the ground in despair.

No matter how cold-blooded and crazy the mayor is, or how selfish and indifferent the people are, these are all secondary. The most important, primary, and crucial contradiction is not internal, but rather the unstoppable advance of the Elf Army!

Hong San recalled the nightmarish siege he had experienced not long ago.

A terrifying long-range offensive, a mage army with overwhelming advantages, and a powerful archer force that could still fire arrows from outside the range of human archers even while positioned below the city walls. The seamless coordination between the various units, a lightning-fast attack, and a series of surprise attacks launched layer by layer like a surging tide, almost captured the city walls!

If even using ingenious schemes can be so powerful and majestic, it means that the enemy's attack, when arrayed in formation, will only be stronger! When the elves abandon all their petty tricks and so-called ingenious schemes, and choose to take the city with the purest power and the most orthodox tactics, it means that the city's defenders will have to fight back in the same way.

Can we win?

This question is completely meaningless.

The question should be, how long can they hold out?

"Hong San."

Kang De's voice rang in his ears. "You know how to lead troops into battle, don't you?"

Hong San looked up in alarm, about to deny it, when he heard Kang De say, "Don't lie to me, and don't say it was just a fluke. Although I don't know anything about military affairs, I still know common sense."

"A huge caravan, including many elderly, weak, women and children, was led westward, setting up camps daily, dealing with bandit attacks, guarding against wild animals, ensuring a steady supply of supplies and food, and enabling the caravan to move effectively... If you asked me to do these things, I definitely wouldn't be able to do them well! I wouldn't even know how to do them! Without the appropriate education and training, it would be absolutely impossible for me to do such a thing!"

"Not to mention that you saw through the elves' intentions on the city walls beforehand, and even guessed Nick's plans. You, a lowly servant, are you perhaps born with such knowledge? Did your teacher teach you all this?"

Kang De's voice rose, Hong San was so captivated that he collapsed to the ground, instinctively saying, "Teacher... he only taught me a little. I've said it before, I didn't listen carefully at the time. I'm not cut out for it. As for what you said, it was just a fluke. Any of my fellow disciples would have done better than me..."

Kang De approached him, looking down at him. "What about your fellow students? Get them to come and help!"

Hong San asked blankly, "They're all with the Empire..."

"So what's the point of saying this? Even if your fellow disciples are far superior to you, what good will it do to the current battle situation?" Kang De glared at him. "Your subordinates are all useless. I only know how to kill people, I don't know anything about fighting. She's a businesswoman—don't you understand? At this moment, the only one who understands war and military affairs is you! Nick is cold-blooded and crazy, we must be wary. I only ask you, are you willing to fight for everyone's lives?"

These words were more powerful than any threat or insult, terrifying Hong San to the point of turning deathly pale. His first reaction was to shake his head and refuse. "I... I can't do it, I... I'm just a servant..."

"Then they must die!"

Kang De said sternly, "Everyone you've brought along, regardless of age or gender, even if they don't go to the city as cannon fodder, will still die when the city falls! Judging from your appearance, you won't turn around and run away when the city falls; you'll most likely fight to the death to protect those fools—if you're not even afraid of death, what are you afraid of now? You dare to face the disappointed and resentful eyes of those people, what are you afraid of?"

"I... I..."

Hong San hesitated for a moment, then covered his face and said, "What can I do? War is all about the strong bullying the weak. The Valentan garrison is weaker than the elves in every way, so there's nothing they can do. And what about us? We're even weaker. It's impossible for us to achieve anything! I know you're very powerful, but that's meaningless in war. No matter how strong you are, can you conjure up an army out of thin air?"

"No way? Completely weaker than the elves? Impossible!" Kang De retorted, "That's utter nonsense! I may not understand warfare, but if war were as simple as you make it out to be, where a simple comparison of statistics could determine victory or defeat, what would be the point of fighting? Perhaps the military strength of one city is indeed as described, but doesn't Goth have reinforcements? Are the elves determined to take this city even if they suffer heavy losses?"

Hong San asked blankly, "Are there any reinforcements? When will they arrive? And what are the elves' strategic objectives...?"

Kang De rolled his eyes and said, "How the hell would I know all this? You don't even know this, yet you keep saying there's no hope, and you're just going to wait to die?"

Upon hearing this, a look of sadness flashed across Hong San's face. He wanted to say something, but when he saw Kang De's sincere and uplifting expression, he inexplicably swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

He nodded and said, "Sir, you're right. We do need to figure these things out, such as the mayor's defense principles, when reinforcements will arrive, the military deployment within the city, and the specific composition of the elves' forces outside the city..."

Then, Hong San stared longingly at Kang De.

Kang De jumped up and slapped him on the head. "What are you looking at me for? Since you know what you need to figure out, figure out how to do it! Treat this as your first step into the world! Think carefully about how to do it, make a plan—and let me tell you, if you dare to be a lazy bum again, I'll go find Nick today and have him take the remaining eight hundred reservists out as cannon fodder! Right in front of you!"

Hong San hurriedly covered his head and agreed, then ran outside the carriage and sat down with the old steward—saying that he was afraid inside, and that thinking things through outside would help him clear his mind.

Inside the carriage, Leona glanced at Kang De and whispered, "What are you planning to do?"

Kang De remained silent for a moment, then said, "I have no intention of paying any attention to those bastards under Hong San. I don't care if they live or die, but if Hong San can save them, I would be very happy to see it happen."

"I also promised you that I would do my best to protect your subordinates..."

At this point, Kang De said in a deep voice, "Just as I said, the battle situation is unclear and uncertain. It's far too early to give up now! I'm in the same boat as you, safe and sound. Since that's the case, why not give it a shot? We'll have to face the elves sooner or later, so let's test their mettle first!"

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PS1: Time for bed. I ate a few skewers of barbecue tonight, and it feels like there's a splinter in my throat, it's so uncomfortable. I looked for a while but couldn't find it, I guess I'm just feeling a bit hot. Damn, it's rare for me to have skewers...