Several soldiers then came over, some holding short spears and others carrying the Dark Iron Water-Fire Cudgel.
Meng Qingshan took the short spears and tucked them into the Dark Armor, then accepted the iron cudgel and offered his thanks.
"Ah! Sanlang, how could you leave us just like this? How am I supposed to face your mother?"
Suddenly, a heartrending wail came from the rear of the group.
Everyone involuntarily turned to look. The men from Jade Mountain City's three escort agencies had gathered the bodies.
A middle-aged escort from the Jinsheng Escort Agency lay beside a corpse riddled with crossbow bolts, howling in grief.
Meng Qingshan and Wang the General exchanged a glance and walked over. They found that all three young escorts who had stepped forward at the Moon Invitation Tower that day had fallen in battle, their bodies laid out in a conspicuous spot.
One had been pierced by a thousand arrows, his death a horrifying sight;
another had been devoured by flames, his face twisted into a hideous grimace, his identity recognizable only by his clothing;
the last had been stabbed clean through the chest by a sharp blade, an expression of fear and astonishment frozen on his face.
Seeing Meng Qingshan approach, the chief escort of the Wantong Escort Agency cupped his hands in greeting and pointed to the bodies on the ground. "Our three escort agencies have suffered heavy casualties, and our men and horses are exhausted. Though Li Quan and the other two offended you earlier, they have now fought to their deaths with all their strength. We beg Meng the Constable to overlook the offenses of lesser men and allow us to take their remains back for a proper burial."
Meng Qingshan looked at the bodies of Li Quan and the other