Hero Returns

"Whew, good thing I was quick! You almost chopped me in half!"

Still shaken, Zichuan Xiu said, "Vice Banner Captain Shirakawa, you were far too reckless—do I really look like the kind of lecherous bastard who molests innocent girls? And you, Gurei, what are you all making those faces for?"

Shirakawa argued indignantly, "My lord, think about it. In the dead of night, inside an empty tent, you were holding an unfamiliar girl in your arms—what was your subordinate supposed to think?"

Zichuan Xiu said, "You should have thought this: this girl must be Kadan, the Demon Race's Third Princess. She is a very important prisoner to our army. She must have fainted from excessive shock after being captured, and your upright, noble, selfless superior, Xiuchuan Flag Bearer, was preparing to give her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation without a single improper thought—that would have been the normal assumption!"

Shirakawa said, "Damn it... how was I supposed to think of that?!"

Zichuan Xiu said, "That proves you haven't watched enough Hong Kong TV dramas. They're full of scenes like this."

Shirakawa said, "My lord, what are you talking about?"

Zichuan Xiu said, "Oh, nothing. I got my times and places mixed up. Just pretend you didn't hear it."

Shirakawa said, "Even if she was a Demon Race princess who fainted—anyone could have given her mouth-to-mouth. Why did it have to be you?"

Zichuan Xiu said, "If anyone could give her mouth-to-mouth—why couldn't I?"

Zichuan Xiu said, "Report the situation, Vice Banner Captain Shirakawa."

Shirakawa said, "Yes, my lord. After five hours of combat, the Demon Race likely suffered between twenty and thirty thousand casualties. We have captured their main camp and supply train. Of the fifty-three White Cloaks sent out by the Demon Race—White Cloaks being their unit commanders, distinguished by white cloaks—our troops killed twenty-one, Changchuan's troops killed nineteen, and we captured three. Ten are still unaccounted for."

Zichuan Xiu nodded. "Vice Banner Captain Roger just sent over his battle report. His side got seven White Cloaks, and their enemy kills were probably around ten thousand as well. That confirms that the Demon Race's main force has basically ceased to exist. All that remains is battlefield cleanup."

Shirakawa bowed. "This is a great victory, my lord. Congratulations. You truly worked hard!" Inside, she cursed, Yeah, sleeping, eating, drinking, chasing women... so very hard!

"Oh, it's rare for Vice Banner Captain Shirakawa to be so understanding of her superior... To tell the truth, I really have worked very hard. After a long day, it's time for me to rest—Vice Banner Captain Shirakawa, I'll leave the security of headquarters to you!"

Shirakawa secretly gave him the finger, then asked respectfully, "My lord, there is something I do not understand and would like to ask about."

Zichuan Xiu said, "Oh?"

Shirakawa said, "According to the prisoners, the Demon Race army was routed because its commander and deputy commander were assassinated by mysterious killers. None of us frontline commanders knew of this. How did you learn of it, my lord, and then order us to attack?"

Zichuan Xiu looked astonished. "I ordered you to attack? Did that happen? No, didn't Vice Banner Captain Shirakawa give that order yourself?"

Shirakawa said, "My lord, at the time, you said..."

Zichuan Xiu said, "Oh, when you came to ask me, you said Roger wanted to attack, and I said whoever wanted to go could go... That was how it happened, wasn't it? From beginning to end, this was decided by you and Roger. When did I ever order you to charge wildly into battle?"

Thinking back, Shirakawa realized that was indeed how it had happened. But Zichuan Xiu's tone at the time... Fortunately, they had won. If they had lost, she would have had to bear all the responsibility herself... Cold sweat broke out all over her.

"You needn't be afraid. We won, after all. Is the Inspectorate really going to come after you for miscommunicating military orders?" As if he had guessed Shirakawa's thoughts, Zichuan Xiu said leisurely, "Tomorrow, we'll withdraw and return to Shaja City. Leave the mopping-up operation to the Goxi Flag Bearer's troops."

Shirakawa protested anxiously, "But my lord, we worked so hard to create this situation. We should press our advantage and pursue them!"

Zichuan Xiu said, "If we take all the credit, the other troops will say we don't know when to stop—then our lives will be difficult from now on."

He strolled lazily toward the tent. "It's late. Vice Banner Captain Shirakawa, you should rest too. We still have a long journey tomorrow."

Shirakawa suddenly understood. With thirty thousand troops crushing eighty thousand Demon Race soldiers, Zichuan Xiu's achievement was too great for anyone to take away. Since that was the case, he might as well do others a favor and keep them from resenting him too much—he had thought of everything! As she watched his back disappear, she felt she understood him less and less...

The following evening, Zichuan Xiu's victorious troops entered Shaja City to an enthusiastic welcome that bordered on frenzy. Shaja City lay close to the Hengchuan front, and whenever the Demon Race attacked, it was always among the first to suffer the ravages of war. Worse, the Zichuan Family's Far East Army had never been much good, losing more often than it won. The citizens had grown weary of fleeing for their lives and suffered bitterly. This time, when they heard that the Demon Race army was bearing down on them, the Family had sent only an eighteen-year-old Flag Bearer to meet them—surely only because his surname was Zichuan. Otherwise, how could he have risen so fast and become a Flag Bearer at eighteen? Everyone had long since given up hope and begun packing their belongings to flee. Yet somehow this young Flag Bearer had stumbled into absurd luck, and the Demon Race army had collapsed without a fight... When the news arrived, the entire city erupted in celebration!

When Zichuan Xiu's troops marched into the city in formation to rest, the welcoming crowds nearly broke their ranks apart.

The citizens stuffed the soldiers with random, worthless gifts: half-cooked eggs, sweat-stained handkerchiefs, silver-inlaid jewelry, colored balls that could explode and injure people... Then everyone drank together, guzzling expired wine that had failed to sell! As a result, thirty-seven tavern owners in the city avoided bankruptcy, while eleven others declared bankruptcy after their taverns were smashed to pieces by drunken soldiers...

Monks and priests offered them fervent prayers. "Thank you, our ever-victorious protectors! May the God of War's blessing follow you forever!" Ordinarily, no one believed in their gods. It was rare to have a chance to preach their faith without getting pelted with stones...

Beautiful young women waved flowers, hugging and kissing soldiers they did not even know... According to statistics, in the first hour after Zichuan Xiu's troops entered the city, more than seven thousand soldiers lost the first kisses they had intended to save for their lovers. The losses were truly immense! Many touching love stories destined to be passed down through the ages began there. Someone later calculated that although Zichuan Xiu's troops were stationed in Shaja City for less than a week, ten months later the city's birth rate was 169 percent higher than usual! Most of the children were named "Thinking of the Army," "Missing a Soldier," or "Loving the Army"...

That night, Roger, Shirakawa, and Changchuan went out to patrol the streets, checking for lax discipline or unruly soldiers causing trouble.

Changchuan said, "Shirakawa, I think something's off about you today—you haven't cursed Xiuchuan Flag Bearer even once in twelve hours. Are you feeling unwell?"

Roger pretended to reach for Shirakawa's forehead. "Hmm, so hot. Do you have a fever... Ah, hot!"

Shirakawa withdrew her fist. "It's nothing. I've merely changed some of my opinions about him..." Just then, they heard Zichuan Xiu's voice from a small tavern nearby. "How much is a bottle of Greenland Beer?"

The waitress replied, "Three silver coins, officer."

Zichuan Xiu said, "Oh, a little more expensive than in the Imperial Capital... I'll take two bottles!"

The waitress said, "Excuse me, officer, are you from Lord Xiuchuan's unit?"

Zichuan Xiu said, "Yes!"

The waitress said, "Oh, our boss gave orders that officers from Lord Xiuchuan's unit aren't to be charged tonight."

Zichuan Xiu said, "Why?"

The waitress said, "Because you're heroes!"

Zichuan Xiu said, "Heroes... Then I'll take four bottles!"

The waitress said, "..."

Roger asked Shirakawa, "You were saying your opinion of him..."

Changchuan said expressionlessly, "My opinion has changed again... Hurry up. We don't know him!"