Five Brothers

Linley walked over, his gaze falling upon the five burly men.

The five stood together; the tallest among them was half a head taller than Linley, with shoulders broad enough to carry a bull. Even though they were wounded and their clothes were in tatters, they still stood straight, showing not a hint of dejection. This was a temperament forged from long years of licking blood off the edge of a blade—it could not be faked. Linley noticed their hands—they were covered in calluses, the knuckles thick and enlarged from years of gripping weapons. Though the five were in a sorry state, their eyes were clear, devoid of panic, and instead revealed a certain ferocity.

Linley observed them for a moment and asked, "Who are you? Why were you captured?"

The five burly men looked at each other, and the one with the injured arm spoke up: "We five brothers are mercenaries, always taking jobs in the Northwest Province. My name is Barker, and these are my younger brothers—Gates, Ankh, Bullen, and Welin."

He pointed to the burly men beside him, introducing them one by one. The four nodded in turn, their eyes fixed on Linley with a mix of gratitude and wariness—gratitude for being saved, and wariness because they did not know who Linley was or what his purpose was in rescuing them. The burly man named Gates was the largest, with an old scar on his bald head stretching from the corner of his left eye to the back of his skull, a sight that was truly shocking. Ankh had a round face and small, bright eyes that flickered with intelligence; one look told you he was a clever man. Bullen was silent and reserved, merely nodding in acknowledgment, his gaze fixed on Linley's hands. Welin was the youngest, looking less than twenty, his face still retaining a touch of childishness as he secretly peeked at Bebe.

"Half a month ago," Barker continued, "someone offered a high price for us to escort a shipment, claiming it was to be transported from Fenlai City to the border, with a commission three times the usual rate. We brothers took the job, but we were ambushed halfway there. Those people were too strong; we couldn't win, so we were captured. You saw the rest for yourselves."

"Do you know who captured you?"

"The Radiant Church." Another burly man—Bullen—gritted his teeth, his face filled with hatred. "Their clothes had the emblem on them, there's no mistaking it. And the leader even said, 'These specimens are quite good; they'll be of great use when sent to headquarters.' I've lived this long, and it's the first time I've been treated like cargo!"

As Bullen spoke, his fists clenched until they cracked, and the wound on his shoulder split open, blood seeping out again, yet he seemed completely unaware of it.

Welin, the youngest of the five brothers, scratched his head and asked, "Big Brother, I still don't understand—why did the Church people capture us? We're just ordinary mercenaries; we never offended them. My mother taught me since I was little to bow when I see a church and step aside when I see a priest, and I've always done as I was told."

Barker shook his head: "I don't know either. But regardless of the reason, being captured by them is never a good thing. I heard that leader say we five were 'good seedlings' and mentioned something about 'vessels.' I don't understand it, but looking at that dog's eyes, he was looking at us like we were livestock."

Linley nodded and did not press further. He already had an idea—descendants of the Undying Warriors; Akes and Sessler had both spoken of why the Radiant Church would capture them.

Akes watched from the side, understanding dawned on him. These five men did not yet know of their own bloodline and simply thought they were unlucky to have been captured. But the Radiant Church would never capture them just because they were ordinary mercenaries—there were plenty of ordinary seventh-rank warriors; if the Church wanted to capture them, they would have done so long ago, so why specifically pick these five?

As descendants of the Undying Warriors, their physical bodies were naturally formidable. Even without awakening their bloodlines, they far surpassed warriors of the same rank. These five were currently only at the seventh rank, but if their bloodlines awakened, their cultivation speed would skyrocket, and they would soon reach the ninth rank or even the Saint level. It was precisely their physical bodies that the Church coveted—they could serve as vessels for the descent of angels. Angelic descent required a powerful physical body to bear the burden; the bodies of ordinary people could not withstand the power of an angel, but the bodies of Undying Warrior descendants were just right.

Akes recalled the secrets of the Radiant Church—how many of those so-called "Envoys of God" were truly willing to descend? It was nothing more than erasing a soul and stuffing it into a strong, sturdy shell. If these five brothers were taken away, their fate could be imagined.

Sessler walked over, examined the five brothers for a few moments, and clicked his tongue: "All good seedlings, no wonder the Church wanted to capture you. This physique, this foundation—with a little cultivation, they'd be eighth or ninth rank. This old man has lived for so many years and seen many warriors, but it is rare to see such innate talent as yours."

Sessler circled the five brothers, his cloudy old eyes scanning them up and down, his gaze like someone appraising rare artifacts. The five brothers felt their skin crawl under his gaze, and Barker instinctively took half a step back.

The five brothers were completely confused, not knowing what this old man was talking about. But they didn't ask—they had just been rescued and were still unsure of the situation; they only knew that the people before them possessed terrifying strength, not the kind they could afford to provoke. The young man covered in scales was at least a ninth-ranker, the kid playing with fire was also frighteningly powerful, killing a Church mage with a single arrow. And this old man, who summoned a pile of undead with a wave of his hand, looked truly sinister.

Barker hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands: "We brothers will remember this life-saving grace. If there is any need in the future, we will go through fire and water without hesitation." Saying this, he prepared to take his brothers and leave. He gave his younger brothers a look, and Gates, Ankh, Bullen, and Welin immediately stood up and followed behind him.

Linley raised a hand to stop him: "Where are you going?"

Barker was stunned, then said: "Find a place to tend to our wounds first, and then... we'll see. The Church people will definitely come after us, so we need to get as far away from here as possible. We have a hideout in the mountains with some dry rations stored; hiding for a few months won't be a problem."

"The Church wants to capture you; where can you run to?" Linley asked. "The Northwest Province is the Church's territory; no matter where you run, you will be found. You were captured this time, but what about the next? Or the time after that?"

Barker fell silent.

He certainly knew that what Linley said was the truth. The power of the Church was too vast, spreading across the entire Yulan Continent. No matter how far the five of them ran, as long as they remained on the continent, they could not escape the palm of the Church.

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Gates asked in a muffled voice, his bald head reflecting the moonlight. "We can't just wait to die, can we?"

Ankh tugged at his sleeve, signaling him not to talk too much. Gates shook off his hand, unhappy: "What are you pulling for? They saved us, so we say what's on our minds. I think this brother is right; where can we run to?"

"Then what is your suggestion?" Barker asked.

"Come with me," Linley said. "I am currently short of men. If you follow me, at least if the Church comes again, we can face them together."

Barker looked at his brothers.

Bullen frowned: "Big Brother, we don't even know who they are... This brother, I am not ungrateful, but we are just strangers who met by chance. You saved us, and we are grateful, but following you is a different matter. What if you are also part of some faction? Wouldn't we just be jumping out of the tiger's den and into a wolf's lair?"

Bullen looked directly into Linley's eyes as he spoke, his tone neither servile nor overbearing. He was the second of the five brothers, usually responsible for negotiations and taking jobs, and he had the clearest head.

"My name is Linley, from Fenlai City," Linley interrupted him. "These are my companions. We have a grudge against the Radiant Church; saving you was a matter of convenience, but it is also because we need help. If you are willing to follow, then follow; if not, you can leave now. I won't stop you."

Linley spoke plainly, but there was no room for negotiation in his tone.

Barker was silent for a moment, then looked up into Linley's eyes.

Linley's gaze was very calm—no threats, no expectations, just a statement of fact. Barker had been a mercenary for many years and had seen all kinds of people; he could distinguish who was sincere and who was feigning. Linley's directness actually made him feel more trustworthy. Moreover, Linley's previous words—"have a grudge against the Radiant Church"—were the key. The five brothers were now also prey to the Church; the enemy of an enemy could at least be considered a friend.

"Fine," Barker nodded. "We brothers will go with you."

Just then, the body of a knight suddenly moved.

Akes was instantly alert, the Fallen Heart Flame condensing in his palm. But the corpse did not stand up; instead, a crystal the size of a palm rolled out from its chest. After hitting the ground, the crystal cracked with a snap, and a beam of light shot into the sky, exploding in the night air to form a dazzling Radiant emblem—a burning holy sword, exceptionally striking in the darkness.

A distress signal.

The light was too blinding, so bright that it made it impossible to keep one's eyes open. The holy sword pattern rotated slowly in the air, its edges burning with golden flames, visible even from dozens of miles away.

Linley's expression changed.

Sessler rushed over and kicked the corpse aside, but it was too late. The signal had been sent, and it could be seen from dozens of miles away. He looked down at the corpse—it was an unremarkable knight who had been lying in a pool of blood, and no one had paid him any attention. The crystal he had been pressing beneath him before he died must have been specially crafted; once crushed, it would release a signal. Sessler rummaged through the corpse again and found several more of the same crystals in his chest, his expression turning even uglier.

"It's a distress signal," Sessler said, his face grim. "This thing is specially made; once crushed, it releases a signal. That knight must have been pressing it under him before he died, and none of us noticed. Now that the signal has been sent, the nearest Church stronghold will definitely send people to investigate. This dog, even in death, he still tries to bite."

Linley looked at the patch of light, his brows locked in a frown. The Radiant emblem lingered in the air for over ten seconds before slowly dissipating, but it was enough for people within dozens of miles to see. He clenched his fists, the veins on his arms bulging—he had been too careless.

"Let's go," Akes said. "No matter who comes, we need to leave this place first."

Linley nodded and turned to the five brothers: "Follow us, and don't fall behind."

The five brothers did not hesitate and immediately followed.

The group quickly left the main road and vanished into the night. As Sessler walked, he retracted his undead; those skeletons and zombies sank back into the earth as if they had never appeared. On the battlefield, only the scattered corpses and broken weapons remained, looking eerie in the moonlight. The wind blew, rolling up a few withered leaves that landed in the pools of blood.

An hour later, a figure descended from the sky and landed on the ruins of the battlefield.

It was a middle-aged man, tall and imposing with a profound aura. He wore the priestly robes of the Radiant Church, the gold-trimmed hem signaling his extraordinary status. He scanned his surroundings, his gaze falling upon the lingering bloodstains and signs of struggle on the ground, his expression turning terrifyingly grim.

He crouched down to examine the wounds on the several corpses. Some were torn by sharp claws, some scorched by flames, and others bitten by undead. He reached out to test the temperature of the bodies, then looked up at the prisoner transport—the chains were shattered, and the carriage was empty.

"Necromancer..." the middle-aged man muttered, his eyes dark. "Interesting."

"Ran off fast, didn't they."

He sneered, took a communication crystal from his breast pocket, and injected battle qi into it. The crystal lit up, and a respectful voice came from within: "What are your orders, my lord?"

"Send a team over to collect the bodies. Also, tell headquarters that the mission has suffered an accident; someone has hijacked the cargo. I need to review all intelligence for this area to see if any suspicious individuals have passed through recently."

"Yes, my lord."

The group traveled through the night, only stopping to rest when dawn broke.

Although the five burly men were injured, they gritted their teeth and kept up all night, not a single one falling behind. Akes watched this and nodded inwardly—if nothing else, their physical constitution was indeed a cut above ordinary level-seven warriors. It was no wonder the Radiant Church had set their sights on them. Barker, in particular, had an arm wound that had been bleeding the entire time, yet he hadn't uttered a single sound, running at the very front and occasionally looking back to ensure his younger brothers were keeping up.

After daybreak, they rested in a valley. Sessler released several undead creatures to stand guard, and only then did the group breathe a sigh of relief.

The five burly men sat on the ground, panting heavily. The one with the wounded arm had lost quite a bit of blood along the way, and his face was somewhat pale. Linley walked over and tossed him a bottle of medicinal salve.

"Apply it yourself."

The burly man took the medicine, stunned for a moment, then cupped his hands in thanks: "Many thanks, brother!"

The other four also cupped their hands, their eyes filled with gratitude. Gates even knelt down and kowtowed, which gave Linley a start. As Ankh pulled him up, he mumbled: "My mother said, a life-saving grace is greater than the heavens; what's a little kowtow?"

Linley nodded and sat down to the side. Bebe jumped off his shoulder, hopped over to Barker, and tilted his head to examine him. Barker felt a bit unnerved by the little creature's gaze and chuckled sheepishly: "This little fellow is..."

"Bebe," Linley said. "My partner."

Barker nodded, not daring to ask more. Though he was a rough man, he wasn't stupid. He had seen clearly during the battle last night—the young man before him possessed terrifying strength after dragon-transforming, the young man who played with fire had killed a level-nine mage with a casual gesture, and that sinister old man could summon the undead. None of these people were to be trifled with. That talking magical beast was even more rare; he had been a mercenary for over a dozen years and had never seen such a breed.

After resting for half a day, the group continued their journey.

Sessler walked at the very front, muttering as he went: "We can't go back to Deke County City. Once the signal is sent, the Church will definitely send people to investigate. We need to find a place to hide for a while."

"Where to?" Akes asked.

Sessler thought for a moment: "This old man does know of a place—remote and sparsely populated. To the northwest, there is a small town called Yunfeng Town, hidden in a mountain ravine; the Church's reach shouldn't extend that far. I spent a few years there when I was young. The people in town are all hunters and herbalists who don't pay much mind to outsiders, but they don't meddle in others' business either. As long as you have money, anything can be arranged."

Linley looked at Akes, and Akes nodded.

"Then we go to Yunfeng Town."

The group turned toward the northwest.

After two days of travel, the wounds of the five Barker brothers were nearly healed. These five were truly worthy of being level-seven warriors; their recovery was astonishing. Barker, in particular, already had scabs forming on his arm wound. Gates was even more exaggerated; he had a half-foot-long gash on his back, yet by the third day, he was able to carry a wild boar while walking—they had hunted it on the road, and it weighed at least two hundred pounds. Gates carried it alone without even flushing or catching his breath.

On the road, Akes observed them intentionally or otherwise.

The five brothers had distinct personalities. Barker was steady and had the air of an eldest brother, always asking for Linley's opinion on everything and never acting on his own initiative; Gates was simple and honest, not saying much but possessing the greatest strength, doing the work of three men; Ankh was clever, his eyes always darting around as if plotting something, though he would behave the moment Barker glared at him; Bullen was taciturn, not saying a word the entire journey, but he was the most meticulous, always the last to sleep while on watch; Welin was the youngest and most lively, occasionally trying to approach Bebe to play, only to retreat sheepishly after being glared at by Bebe.

But they had one thing in common—they could all eat.

In a single meal, the five of them could consume the portion of ten normal men. Sessler watched the dry rations vanish rapidly, his heart aching so much he gasped.

"Are you five reincarnated bottomless pits? You're going to eat through all my savings!"

Barker scratched his head in embarrassment: "Sorry, sorry. We brothers have been big eaters since we were small. When our father was alive, he often said that raising the five of us was worse than raising five pigs. How about... we go find some game? Gates is a dab hand at hunting; he hits his mark every time within a hundred paces."

Linley waved his hand: "Forget it. There's a town ahead; we'll resupply when we get there."

After another three days of travel, signs of human habitation finally appeared ahead.

It was a small town nestled between two mountains, consisting of only a single street. There were a few shops on the street and sparse pedestrians, making it look truly remote. At the entrance to the town stood a stone tablet engraved with the three characters "Yunfeng Town," which had weathered so much that the strokes were barely visible. The mountains on both sides were very high, blocking out the sunlight, leaving the town feeling chilly and permeated with a damp, musty odor.

Sessler found an inn with practiced ease, muttered a few words to the owner, and then beckoned the group inside.

The inn was not large, but there were a few empty rooms in the backyard, just enough for everyone to stay. The owner was a thin old man in his fifties, puffing on a long-stemmed pipe. He squinted as he sized up Linley's group, asked nothing, and handed over the keys once the money was collected.

The five brothers crowded into one room and fell asleep the moment their heads hit the pillows. Although they hadn't complained during the last few days of travel, they were injured and truly exhausted. Before long, the room was filled with the sound of snoring, one after another, like rolling thunder.