Heroes' Tomb: Company Commander Chu He, reporting back

"Sigh..."

Zhang Wei sat down dejectedly and picked up a token from the table bearing the words [Centurion Sun Shang]. Rubbing the token, he waved a hand and said, "You may go."

"Also, put a company commander's uniform inside Chu He's coffin. Let it serve as a cenotaph."

"Yes!"

Lu Feng nodded in acknowledgment.

Then.

He left the hall looking dispirited. Although he had followed Chu He for only a short month, he admired him immensely.

His arrogance, dominance, and way of doing things were far beyond an ordinary person's understanding, but he treated them extremely well.

At the very least:

Of the treasures they had plundered last time, he had taken only a jade pendant, dividing the rest equally among them as payment.

Who wouldn't love following a leader like that-protective of his own, commanding, with boundless prospects, and generous to boot?

North of the Demon Suppression Bureau!

Here!

There were no palaces, nor a single Demon Suppression Guard stationed on watch, only bluestone steles covering the ground. Like a forest of stone, they stood across ten li of land!

This was none other than Heroes' Tomb!

Buried here were all the Demon Suppression Guards of Yun Province ranked centurion and above who had fallen since Great Qian's founding. Meanwhile, the bluestone slabs stretching hundreds of zhang along both sides bore the names of Demon Suppression Guards below company commander rank, packed densely together, numbering no fewer than a hundred thousand.

They had all died slaying demons and fiends, so the Demon Suppression Bureau organized a memorial ceremony every ten years.

Today!

Hundreds of Demon Suppression Guards stood before Heroes' Tomb. Many still bore injuries and leaned on crutches, yet they stood ramrod straight!

Because today was the day to bid farewell to their comrades, those comrades who had fought and killed alongside them.

At the very front!

Qian Hao stood quietly, his gaze sweeping across the forest of steles:

[Tong Wei: Third Army centurion. Joined the Demon Suppression Bureau in Great Qian year 956. Perished together with a late third rank demon in the great northwestern demon-suppression campaign of 975. Age at death: 45.]

[Deng Lun: Third Army centurion. Joined the Demon Suppression Bureau in Great Qian year 966. Held a fourth rank ghost at bay by detonating himself during the campaign to destroy Ghost Pool in 985. Age at death: 43.]

[Zheng Zhou: Third Army deputy chiliarch...]

[...]

One familiar name after another entered his sight, turning Qian Hao's eyes red.

These people!

They had all once been his subordinates. Every one of them had been a prodigy, an elite, yet all had fallen in the prime of their lives.

In fact!

Over the past century, the average lifespan of the entire Yunzhou Demon Suppression Guard had not exceeded twenty-five years. They fell far too frequently.

Even the Demon Suppression Bureau, famed for rearing its people like venomous creatures in a jar, could barely bear such figures. And all of this was because demonic calamities were growing ever more frequent and numerous.

It could be said:

The normalcy outside, the peace throughout the land, had been bought with several times as many deaths as before within the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau. Few ordinary living beings knew this.

Yet the sects and great clans that knew believed they had seized an opportunity. They loudly proclaimed the dangers of the Demon Suppression Bureau and snatched up outstanding disciples, leaving the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau far weaker than before.

The fact that the Heavenly Origin Sect had dared collude with the White Lotus Cult this time showed that the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau's fearsome reputation was already a far cry from what it had been.

"Sigh..."

Qian Hao sighed helplessly.

With Great Qian's imperial court in decline, all they could do now was their best to stabilize the situation. Turning back the raging tide was too difficult.

Finally!

Qian Hao turned his gaze toward the three new steles ahead, belonging to Sun Shang, Zhang Yuan, and Chu He!

Among them, only Chu He had been a company commander, but his contributions had been so great that Zhou Cang had personally named him for burial in Heroes' Tomb.

Since the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Guard's establishment hundreds of years ago, fewer than a handful had entered Heroes' Tomb as company commanders.

"Begin!"

Qian Hao spoke in a low voice.

Step!

Zhang Wei strode forward and proclaimed loudly:

"In Great Qian year 996, during the demon-suppression campaign at Nine Nether Town, Centurion Sun Shang, Centurion Zhang Yuan, and Company Commander Chu He gave their lives for the country."

"Company Commander Chu He, through his strength alone, activated his bloodline and burned his blood Qi, enduring pain beyond an ordinary person's comprehension to perish together with a fourth rank late stage demonic envoy, playing a decisive role in securing victory in the campaign."

"Now, by decision of our superiors, Chu He is posthumously granted a crimson brocade robe and the privilege of entering the hall without bowing, in remembrance of a hero."

As Zhang Wei spoke.

Lu Feng held up a brocade tray in both hands. Upon it lay an exceptionally magnificent red brocade robe with a scarlet cape, woven from frost silk and embroidered with flood dragons in gold thread, impervious to blades and spears, water and fire.

It was a true treasure!

"Open the coffin and lay him to rest!" Zhang Wei shouted.

Immediately.

Several Demon Suppression Guards stepped forward to open the coffin beneath Chu He's stele and place the crimson brocade robe inside!

Clang-!

Qian Hao raised his Demon-Suppressing Saber in his right hand and roared:

"May demon suppression endure forever!"

Clang-!

Clang-!

Hundreds of Demon Suppression Guards raised their Demon-Suppressing Sabers together and shouted in unison:

"May demon suppression endure forever!"

"May demon suppression endure forever!"

"..."

Their earthshaking roar resounded throughout the entire Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau.

For a moment.

Every Demon Suppression Guard turned toward Heroes' Tomb. Regardless of rank or station, whatever they were doing, they silently raised their Demon-Suppressing Sabers.

And said firmly, "May demon suppression endure forever!"

Thud!

Just as a Demon Suppression Guard lifted the stele and pried open the cenotaph, intending to place the crimson brocade robe inside.

A shout came from afar: "Wait!"

Who?

Hearing someone stop them!

All the Demon Suppression Guards immediately burned with fury. Now, Chu He was a hero in their hearts, yet someone was interfering with his burial. Whoever it was, they would make him pay.

Shing!

Shing!

Hundreds of Demon Suppression Guards turned around, their Demon-Suppressing Sabers drawn, ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.

But!

The next instant!

All the Demon Suppression Guards, including Qian Hao and Zhang Wei, froze like statues, their eyes widening rapidly and their mouths falling open.

They saw.

Directly ahead, a cold-faced man in a brocade robe, a Demon-Suppressing Saber at his waist, walked toward them step by step.

A smile touched his lips as he said in a low voice, "If you put it in there and I have to dig it back out to wear it, that would be bad luck."

"It's Chu He!"

"How is that possible? Could demons have invaded the Demon Suppression Bureau and clouded our five senses?"

"Bullshit! What demon would dare invade the Demon Suppression Bureau? Besides, Commander Zhou is overseeing headquarters."

"Then he... Chu He isn't dead?"

In an instant.

Wild joy spread across the Demon Suppression Guards' faces. How could they fail to see it now? Company Commander Chu He had not died after falling off the cliff.

"Sir... you... you're alive!"

"Sir, I knew you wouldn't die."

"Sir, it's wonderful that you're back! You have no idea-Lu Feng secretly cried under his covers last night."

"Get lost! I was praying for him... What the hell do you know...?"

Lu Feng and the others raced to Chu He's side, speaking with surprise and excitement on their faces, trembling.

"Mm!"

Chu He nodded.

Surrounded by the Demon Suppression Guards, he walked to the front of Heroes' Tomb and addressed Qian Hao and Zhang Wei in a ringing voice:

"Company Commander Chu He, reporting back!"