A Sudden Shift in the Situation

"Hand it over?! Or not?"

Jian Shang's thoughts raced. He had just sworn that he would not become a pawn or cannon fodder who could be discarded at any moment. He had neither power nor influence; strength was his only support. Increasing his strength was crucial. Combat power was merely an abstract measurement, while cultivation techniques were equally important.

More importantly, Jian Shang had wondered before: if he did not provide his real-world information, how would the Golden Roc Faction distribute the promised real-world currency rewards? But if he did provide it, that would mean being tied to the Golden Roc Faction. Leaving them later would not be so easy!

For a moment, Jian Shang's thoughts were in complete turmoil, and he found it hard to decide.

"Commandant!"

Just then, someone called out.

"From the first time we met, I could tell from your name that you were a man with ambition and a story. But a snake that tries to swallow an elephant will only choke. Think carefully about what matters most!"

With Ye Caiyun's shrewdness, she naturally saw that Jian Shang did not want to hand over the technique. She gave him a deep look, still smiling as she spoke. Once she finished, she turned and walked toward the person calling out.

"She killed herself! These are the spoils taken from the village head."

Everyone came to Shi Rong's corpse. The mature woman in embroidered robes was sprawled over the body. A player beside her reported to Ye Caiyun, handing over a money pouch and a piece of Golden-Silk Inner Armor.

Covered in wounds and drenched in blood, Shi Rong had died a miserable death. Calling it death by a thousand cuts would not have been an exaggeration.

Bright rouge, thin crimson lips, pearls and jade from Lantian, soft and luxurious silk... Scarlet blood burned like butterflies.

That was the woman lying atop the remains!

"Is she really still an NPC? So devoted and faithful, following him into death!"

Captain Dong, standing beside Ye Caiyun, shook his head and sighed. His gaze toward Shi Rong's corpse was filled with envy and reverence...

"Sword shadows rolled like rainbows through the dust, striving to rise above all others; heroes and champions amid flashing blades and swords—who would become the dragon among men?!"

Looking at Shi Rong's tragic death, Ye Caiyun accepted the money pouch and Golden-Silk Inner Armor. She looked enviously at the mature woman who had died for love and murmured softly.

"Have you thought it through?"

After a stretch of silence, Ye Caiyun stopped dwelling on sorrow and walked over to Jian Shang again.

"In such a hurry?"

Jian Shang frowned. From Ye Caiyun's actions, it was obvious that she was determined to obtain it. Moreover, she had been assigned the crucial task of leading the assault on the Village Head's Office. There was a high chance she had come specifically for Shi Rong's cultivation technique, so there was no way she would let it go.

"Let me remind you: when you are killed, every external item drops. After revival, all attributes and statuses are reduced by ten percent. Die ten times and your account is deleted. When you restart, everything is wiped clean—not even the one gold of starting funds remains! You will be worse off than a newcomer!"

Seeing that Jian Shang clearly did not want to hand it over, the Sixth Centurion coldly warned him.

"So persuasion failed, and now you're threatening me with life and death?"

Jian Shang was furious. He gave a cold laugh and shook his head.

"Playing both soft and hard, are you? If I refuse to hand it over, are you planning to kill me?"

"You... Don't be so greedy! Do you really think it was all your own achievement? Do you have even a shred of team spirit? If you hadn't run into our young lady, you would have gotten nothing!"

The Sixth Centurion angrily berated him.

"As I recall, the Commandant said before the battle that the organization would not confiscate personal spoils of war!" Jian Shang mocked indifferently.

"Forget it! Being able to kill the village head was your skill and your luck. Since you do not wish to hand over the technique, then let it be!"

Ye Caiyun gave Jian Shang a long look, raised a hand to stop the Sixth Centurion, and spoke regretfully.

"Young Lady!"

The Sixth Centurion called out anxiously. Even Captain Dong, who had thought highly of Jian Shang before, now looked at him with anger, disappointment, and disgust.

"A person must keep their word. Let's go!"

Ye Caiyun shook her head. Her voice low, she turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Jian Shang gave a bitter smile and shook his head. When Ye Caiyun turned back in confusion, he continued slowly.

"It is only human to be reluctant to part with such a precious technique. I believe no one could hand it over without a moment's hesitation. Killing the village head was indeed not solely my accomplishment; luck played a major role. Let alone being merely one of the Golden Roc Faction's two thousand members, even in a team of three or five people killing a Boss, there is no reason for one person to monopolize all the spoils. I may not be a gentleman, but I am not that insatiably greedy either. I never said I would not hand it over. You were simply too impatient—you even resorted to threats of life and death!"

"You mean?" Ye Caiyun's clear eyes lit up as she stared intently at Jian Shang.

"I'll hand over the technique. No problem with the rest of the spoils going to me, right?"

With a flip of his hand, Jian Shang took the Blue Grade technique, Flying Rainbow Sword Technique, from the Game Dragon Ring and handed it to Ye Caiyun. He looked at the embroidered money pouch, Golden-Silk Inner Armor, and treasure sword in her hands.

"This is a pleasant surprise. Thank you! You will be credited with the foremost merit in this battle!"

Ye Caiyun looked Jian Shang up and down. Her tone was light, her smile radiant, as she directly handed him the money pouch, inner armor, and treasure sword.

"By the way! The village head is already dead, so why has the system not announced that we have successfully occupied the place?"

Jian Shang smiled, accepted the money pouch, stuffed the inner armor into his clothes, tucked the treasure sword at his waist, and changed the subject.

"Occupying a base does not mean simply killing its leader. You must also control over seventy percent of the base. The battles involving the other detachments should be ending soon as well!"

Ye Caiyun casually explained as she accepted the technique manual. Suddenly, her eyes brightened. She patted Jian Shang on the shoulder and promised, "Thank you! Besides the reward promised by the organization, I will support you in taking over my position as Junior Commandant! Work hard. With me here, you certainly will not be treated unfairly!"

Jian Shang did not know how to respond. He could only smile, nod, and remain silent.

"Sorry about earlier. I have a rather impatient temperament!"

Seeing Ye Caiyun's reaction, the Sixth Centurion could guess that the technique manual was extremely valuable. He stepped forward and sincerely apologized.

"Fourth Steward, something terrible has happened!"

Just then, a nimble player sprinted over, his face full of urgency as he whispered a report into Ye Caiyun's ear.

"What?"

Ye Caiyun, always dignified and composed, suddenly went pale. She stared at the player in disbelief and cried out.

The player nodded solemnly, then moved closer to Ye Caiyun and began whispering again. Jian Shang, Captain Dong, and the others watched with deeply furrowed brows and puzzled expressions.

Anyone could tell that the situation had changed, and that something major had gone wrong!

"All troops, heed my command!"

A moment later, Ye Caiyun's full chest rose and fell sharply several times. Her expression returned to normal as she shouted solemnly.

"The barbarians are attacking! The First and Sixth Squads, along with the remaining centurions and selected elites, will follow me to meet the enemy. The remaining units are to swiftly occupy every strongpoint and elevated position, and prepare to snipe the enemy forces!"

"What?!"

Her single command stirred up a great commotion. Everyone erupted into an uproar, startled and confused.

However, a barbarian attack had been expected. Though everyone was shocked, they had not yet fallen into panic or total chaos.

"Jian Shang! You have rendered great merit in this battle. For now, you are transferred to my side as a personal guard. You need not return to your squad!"

After hesitating, Ye Caiyun pressed her cherry lips together, then looked at Jian Shang and gave the order.

"Hm?"

The military orders were strange enough already, but this special reassignment for Jian Shang was even stranger. Still, everyone had just seen him offer up the technique manual he had obtained, so they did not think too much of it.

"Carry out the orders immediately!"

Seeing everyone looking at her in confusion, Ye Caiyun's face darkened as she barked the command. The centurions, squad leaders, and other officers swiftly dispersed.

"Looks like it is not as simple as a barbarian attack. Could it be that Shizhuang can no longer be held, and the Golden Roc Faction plans to sacrifice the cart to save the king?"

Jian Shang's thoughts raced. Suddenly, his heart sank as he considered a possibility. He nodded silently.

"Quickly clear the battlefield. Prioritize items of high value and practical use!"

Ye Caiyun turned to the Sixth Centurion beside her and issued another order.

The Sixth Centurion, Captain Dong, and Ye Caiyun's other confidants exchanged involuntary glances, then solemnly nodded.

That only further confirmed Jian Shang's guess, leaving a bitter feeling in his heart.

"If I had not been lucky enough to kill Shi Rong and promptly hand over the Flying Rainbow Sword Technique, I would have become one of the abandoned pawns too, wouldn't I?! Was this the sorrow of being a subordinate, a disposable pawn?"