015[Who Are You?]

At dusk, the Profound Armor Elite reached a crystal-clear river. In the last rays of the setting sun, a town inhabited by over ten thousand people came into view.

"The Qinghe Militia numbers around five hundred. They train for only half a month each year during the farming off-season. According to intelligence from our scouts, they have weapons for fewer than two hundred men.

"The militia's commander is the Gao Family's eldest son, so those five hundred men will likely fight to the death. We will strike straight at Huang Long—once we charge into the Gao Mansion, kill everyone we see, women and children included."

Instructor Wu's voice carried a chill that made people shudder.

The elites who had yet to spill blood could not help swallowing. Killing anyone they saw, regardless of age or sex, truly challenged the limits of their morality.

"We are soldiers; they are bandits. Besides, we eat the Emperor's grain. When a superior gives an order, we have no choice but to obey. Even before the Heavenly King himself, we would still have reason on our side."

Perhaps seeing the recruits' hesitation, Instructor Wu patiently persuaded them.

"Kill!!"

They could not delay any longer. Otherwise, these men's morale would slowly sink until they broke inside and could no longer bring themselves to kill.

Instructor Wu took the lead, drawing his Curved Saber and charging toward Qinghe Town.

Seeing this, the cavalry immediately cast aside their distracting thoughts and followed with grim determination.

"Rumble!"

More than two hundred cavalrymen entered Qinghe Town through the town monument, galloping along the blue-brick road straight toward the Gao Mansion.

"Gao Mansion? A mere garrison commander in a town of ten thousand dares call his residence a mansion? Surround it. Do not let the bandits escape." With a sweep of Instructor Wu's hand, over a hundred cavalrymen dispersed and encircled the vast Gao Family estate so tightly that not even water could pass through.

"Bang!"

The Profound Armor Elites smashed through the gates and surged inside like a tide.

"Who dares barge into my Gao Mansion?"

"Kill!"

Facing the man who appeared to be the Old Steward, Instructor Wu did not waste a word. He raised his hand and severed the man's neck with a single slash.

The headless corpse instantly became a human fountain, blood gushing from its neck stump.

He Zhao led Gan Ping and eight others straight toward the inner residence.

Before long, they ran headlong into Private Slaves armed with blades.

"Pfft—"

Ruthless He Zhao raised his hand and nocked an arrow. Within a breath, it pierced the leading man's throat. Its force undiminished, the arrow passed through three more men before finally losing momentum.

"Kill!"

As the word fell, he fired three more arrows.

By the time the Private Slaves rushed close, only five remained.

"Pfft!" "Pfft!"

They were hacked to death beneath a flurry of blades.

The men led by Instructor Wu swept into the inner residence with the force of splitting bamboo.

At the same time, cries of battle rose from outside.

"Gao Dapeng, come out."

"Creak!"

Two antique doors carved with exotic flowers and strange grasses were pushed open from within. An elderly man with white hair and beard emerged, followed by dozens of women and children.

"Who exactly are you?"

The old man named Gao Dapeng asked with bloodshot eyes.

"The Profound Armor Elite."

"Can you spare my family?"

Instructor Wu sneered. What a joke. The higher-ups said you harbored rebellious intent—if they only executed the ringleader, how could they cow the hearts of people across the realm?

"Kill!"

"Pfft—" "Pfft—"

Dozens of arrows flew into the hall, shooting down more than half the Gao Family.

"Finish them off. Search the place."

Instructor Wu tilted his head and gave the order to He Zhao and the others.

"Yes!"

Dozens of men poured into the rooms, swinging their blades and ending lives.

After everyone in the hall had been killed, they scattered to search every room for anyone in hiding.

A quarter of an hour later, they all returned, a small number of them stained with blood.

"Reporting, sir: there are one hundred and twenty-three corpses from the Gao Family in total. Only the Eighteenth Concubine is missing." The adjutant, who had watched coldly from beginning to end, stepped forward to report.

"Once we return to the imperial capital, issue a wanted notice." Instructor Wu waved a hand, clearly unconcerned. What waves could a mere Eighteenth Concubine possibly stir up?

"Also, once the Qinghe Militia has been wiped out, rest here and wait to depart tomorrow."

"Yes!"

He Zhao led his men in chopping off heads, treating them with Lime in passing.

These were to be presented above. If any were missing, they would be punished.

Shortly afterward, Profound Armor Elites in bloodstained armor entered the estate and reported on the battle.

"Sir, after suffering more than half their number in casualties, the Qinghe Militia has retreated."

"Should we pursue—"

Before he could finish, Instructor Wu raised a hand and cut him off.

"Come in and rest. The local officials of Wancheng should be the ones worrying about those scattered stragglers. We are only responsible for exterminating the Gao Family. We will not concern ourselves with anything else."

Lanterns were lit, and the Gao Mansion became lively once more—only, its master had changed.

Once Instructor Wu had arranged the hidden and open sentries, patrol routes, and defenses, he finally let out a breath and sat in the hall to draft official documents.

Elsewhere, He Zhao returned from the latrine to the spacious courtyard, where the men gathered in twos and threes, gnawing on dry rations.

"Hot water's here!"

Gan Ping carried a large bucket, steam rising in waves from within.

"Don't crowd, don't crowd. Didn't you lot just drink a bowl? Get the hell aside and let the brothers who haven't had any come over."

Some of the soldiers merely smiled honestly and stepped aside.

After all, Gan Ping's father was the Earl of Qingning. His words carried some weight.

"Those who have eaten and drunk, change shifts if you need to change shifts, patrol if you need to patrol. Don't fucking loaf around here. Who isn't tired?"

"You're a real stand-up guy, Young Master Gan!"

A crowd joined in the teasing. The soldiers who had just finished eating were so embarrassed that they immediately fled to change the watch.

He Zhao looked at the cheerful crowd before him. No one would have guessed these men had only recently spilled blood.

"Zhao, have a bowl of hot water to drive off the cold."

Gan Ping carried the bucket over, ladled out a bowl, and handed it to him.

"Thanks."

"Ha! We're brothers—why thank me?"

He Zhao took the bowl and was about to drink when an icy sense of death instantly descended over him.

I can't drink it. If I do, I'll die!!

A savage gleam flared in his eyes. He flung the bowl of hot water straight into Gan Ping's smiling face, raised a hand to point at him, and roared.

"Who exactly are you?"

This man was definitely not Gan Ping. No matter how much of a wastrel that fellow was, he would never poison him during a mission, right in front of countless people.

At that point, never mind that he was the Earl of Qingning's second son—even if he were the legitimate eldest son, he would not escape beheading.

"Zhao, what are you talking about?"

Gan Ping covered his face with both hands, baring his teeth in pain from the scalding water.

The people nearby noticed the dispute between them and immediately gathered around.

Though they usually did not think much of anyone named Gan, after tonight's slaughter, they had begun to regard him as a Comrade.

"Young Master Gan, what happened?"

"Lord He's throwing another tantrum! Everyone in the Elite Camp knows that when this bastard loses his temper, he starts beating people."

When it came to being unpopular, He Zhao was truly hated by people and dogs.

Back when he had been grinding Proficient, he had offended these comrades quite badly.

"Bleurgh!"

Suddenly, the Profound Armor Elites in the courtyard began vomiting violently.

Within a few breaths, a large number of them collapsed, displaying obvious symptoms of respiratory failure. At the same time, their pupils first constricted, then dilated; some even became uneven.

"Pufferfish Toxin?!"