At West Fortress's logistics depot, many teenagers worked hard with mops and buckets, scrubbing bloodstains from the road.
"I want to fight on the battlefield! I don't want to do a cleaner's job!"
One boy flung his broom aside and spoke in frustration.
"Bodies have to be cleared away quickly. If they pile up, they can easily bring on an epidemic. An unknown and terrifying plague has already spread through Hangzhou. If it reaches West Fortress too..."
The boy, Wang Xiaojun, stopped himself. He shook his head to drive the thought away and muttered,
"Besides, it's not some plague. People just got bitten by poisonous rats!"
"Hey, kid. Want to earn some military merit?"
A hand suddenly landed on his shoulder, and a voice sounded beside his ear. Wang Xiaojun nearly jumped out of his skin.
He sprang to the side before turning to look behind him.
A young man in an officer's uniform stood there with his hands behind his back. His long hair was tied high behind his head. Handsome, with sharp brows and bright eyes, he stood straight and carried himself with an air of quiet authority.
At the sight of an officer, Wang Xiaojun straightened up, saluted, and called out respectfully,
"Sir!"
The other teenagers saw the officer too. They hurried to salute and shouted,
"Sir!"
"At ease. Get back to work. I just need to speak with this kid."
Mo Xie smiled and waved them on, looking perfectly approachable. His rank was not especially high, but it was certainly above that of these boys, who were not even full-fledged Military Mages.
He smiled and pointed at Wang Xiaojun.
"Kid, come with me."
With that, he clasped his hands behind his back and walked away.
"Uh, well..."
Wang Xiaojun scratched his head awkwardly under the curious,