Chapter 95

The quartermaster disliked him; his wanton mockery and the ugly armor he wore were proof.

Translation: "The quartermaster disliked him; his wanton mockery and this ugly armor he wore were proof."

The quartermaster disliked him; his wanton mockery and this ugly armor he wore were proof.

'We don't have armor fit for dwarves; if there were dwarf warriors in the Dragon Queen's army, I'd capture one and send it to you.' Tiliang remembered him saying this and burst out laughing, 'What's more, you're so small it's not easy to get hit—what armor do you need?' Tiliang could only reply with a nervous laugh; he was blind, unable to see that his nose had been cut off.

"I don't have armor fit for a dwarf; if there were a dwarf warrior in the Dragon Queen's army, I would capture a set and send it to you." Tiliang remembered him saying this while laughing loudly, "Besides, with your small stature, it's not easy to get hit, what armor would you need?" Tiliang could only reply with a silly grin; he was blind, unable to see that his nose had been cut off.

He was blind, unable to see that his nose had been cut off.

We'll output as one line.

"What does he have to do with the plan?" Ser Qiaola glanced at the quartermaster, expressing doubt, "I won't help you do this. Killing comrades, though not as bad as regicide or patricide, is still a great crime."

Translate: Ser Qiaola looked at the quartermaster, expressing doubt: "What does he have to do with the plan?" "I won't help you do this. Killing comrades, though not as bad as regicide or patricide, is still a great crime."

"What does he have to do with the plan?" Ser Qiaola glanced at the quartermaster, expressing doubt, "I won't help you do this. Killing comrades, though not as bad as regicide or patricide, is still a great crime."

We'll keep quotes.

That clearly means he has far more integrity than Tiliang.

Translation: "That clearly means he has far more integrity than Tiliang."

Tiliang couldn't be bothered to argue with him.

Translation: "Tiliang couldn't be bothered to argue with him."

"Just treat this as another of my demands!" Tiliang said nonchalantly.

Translation: ""Just treat this as another of my demands!" Tiliang said indifferently."

The specific plan should be carried out outside Milin City; it's still too early!

The specific plan should be carried out outside Milin City; it's still too early!

The specific plan should be carried out outside Milin City; it's still too early!

After Tiliang put on the armor, he shook out his outer robe, preparing to put it back on, when a piece of hard black bread that had been hidden in his pocket for about ten days sprang out of the robe, struck the horse's head, and the horse startled, neighing and leaping up.

Translation: "After Tiliang put on the armor, he shook out the outer robe, preparing to put it back on; the black hard bread that had been stored in his pocket for about ten days jumped out of the robe, struck the horse's head, and the horse startled, neighing as it leapt up."

Tiliang was caught off guard, thrown directly from the horse, and crashed heavily onto Valerian Avenue, feeling as if his whole body were falling apart. Just as he was about to cry out, an arrow whizzed through the horse's neck, followed by a volley of arrows and shouts.

Translation: "Tiliang was caught off guard, directly shaken off the horse, and he crashed heavily onto Valerian Avenue, feeling as if his whole body were falling apart. Just as he was about to wail, an arrow hissed through the horse's neck, followed by a volley of arrows and shouts."

Valerian Avenue

His horse neighed and struggled, and Tiliang, ignoring the pain, quickly rolled to the side.

Translation: "His horse neighed and struggled; Tiliang, ignoring the pain, quickly rolled to the side."

To die in battle is glorious; to be eaten by a dragon is special, but to be trampled to death by a horse or shot in the privy would be shameful and crude.

Translation: "To die in battle is glorious; to be eaten by a dragon is special; but to be trampled to death by a horse or shot in the privy is shameful and crude."

He had just rolled aside when he saw his horse also collapse almost simultaneously, its head landing squarely on his chest and stomach. He felt his ribs break and cursed his bad luck.

Translation: "Just as he rolled aside, he saw his horse also nearly simultaneously collapse, its head landing squarely on his chest and belly. He felt his ribs were broken, cursing his bad luck."

"Enemy attack!" Tiliang thought he heard the regiment commander shout, but he could do nothing himself.

Translation: ""Enemy attack!" Tiliang seemed to hear the regiment commander shout, but he himself could do nothing."

Each time the horse strained, blood spurted from the arrow wound in its neck. Its blood was far more than Varys's.

Translation: "Each time the horse strained, blood spurted from the arrow wound in its neck. Its blood was far more than Varys's."

During Varys's incident, he was still shaken, passively drenched in blood; this time he wanted to dodge, but the horse's heavy head pinned his chest, leaving him immobile. He felt he might drown in blood, so he opened his mouth and gasped. The horse's blood was thick and hot, and he absurdly thought it tasted better than Varys's.

Translation: "When it happened to Varys, he was still shocked, passively drenched in blood; this time he wanted to dodge, but the heavy horse head pressed hard on his chest, leaving him unable to move. He felt he was almost drowning in blood, so he opened his mouth and gasped. The horse blood was thick and reeking; absurdly, he thought it tasted better than Varys's."

He struggled to pull his arm from under the horse's body, wiped the blood from his face, and tried to shield himself from the still‑spraying horse blood.

Translation: "He painfully pulled his hand out from under the horse's body, wiped the blood from his face, and shielded himself from the still-spurting horse blood."

In the chaos, he barely had time to see the enemy. They appeared as black shadows, bare‑chested, unnaturally thin yet tall, moving with agility, wielding long knives, their hair braided into tight strands—like agile monkey warriors, tall ones.

Translation: "In the chaos, he hardly had time to make out the enemy. Each looked like a black blob, bare-chested, bodies abnormally thin yet tall, moving with agility, wielding long blades, their hair braided into strands like agile monkey warriors, the tall kind."

He couldn't worry about their numbers or ferocity, nor could he call for the big bear's help at this moment; he had to rely on himself to escape the oppression of this even more unfortunate warhorse.

Translation: "He couldn't worry about their numbers or ferocity, nor could he shout for the big bear's help at this moment; he had to rely on himself to escape the oppression of this even more unfortunate warhorse."

The warhorse's eyes were wide open, staring at him; he felt he could see himself reflected in their gleam, his head, face, and body covered in blood.

Translation: "The warhorse's eyes stared wide open at him; he seemed to see himself reflected in the gleam of its eyes, his head, face, and body covered in blood."

The battlefield rang with the sounds of combat; Tiliang tried to find a safer spot to take cover, but even with all his strength he couldn't push the horse's head away—it seemed to have grown onto him.

Translation: "The battlefield continually rang with the sounds of melee combat; Tiliang wanted to quickly find a safer spot to take cover, but even with all his strength he could not push the horse's head away, as if it had grown onto him."

He wanted to roll, but the horse's neck was obviously thicker than Mormons' arm, locked tight around him, leaving him feeling unable to resist or flee; for a moment he even thought of just lying there, waiting for the battle to end or to be killed.

Translation: "He wanted to roll, but the horse's neck was obviously thicker than Moermeng's arm, pinning him down firmly; he felt unable to resist or escape, and for a moment the thought arose that he might just lie there waiting for the battle to end—or be killed outright."

His short legs couldn't gain traction on the horse's back, nor could he push off the ground, which had become slick as oil from the horse's blood, and his hands found no purchase.

Translation: "His short legs couldn't gain traction on the horse's back, nor could he push off the ground, which had become slick as oil from the horse's blood, and his hands found no purchase either."

He cursed silently.

Translation: "He silently cursed."

His armor seemed to have grown teeth, gripping the ground of Valerian Avenue tightly, making it even harder for him to crawl out.

Translation: "The armor on his body seemed to have grown teeth, gripping the ground of Valerian Avenue tightly, making it even harder for him to crawl out."

He was almost ready to give up.

Translation: "He was almost ready to give up."

"Please," he thought to the horse.

Translation: ""Please." He wanted to say to the horse."

The horse's beautiful big eyes gradually lost their spark, its head sinking heavier onto his chest like a girl leaning against him asleep. He actually felt a pang of sympathy for the horse, so he stopped struggling, reached out with both hands, and embraced its head.

Translation: "The horse's beautiful large eyes gradually lost their luster, its head sinking heavier onto his chest, like a girl leaning against him asleep. He actually felt a pang of sympathy for the horse, so he stopped struggling, reached out his arms, and embraced its head."

"Sorry," he said anxiously, looking around, "I have to go."

Translation: ""Sorry," he said anxiously, looking around, "I have to go.""

He strained to lift the horse's head, pulled his body out from the gap beneath its neck, and then carefully placed the head into a pool of blood.

Translation: "He strained to lift the horse's head, pulling his body out from the gap beneath its neck, then carefully placed its head into the pool of blood."

He again touched the blood on his face, lowered his body, and picked up a long sword from beside a nearby corpse.

Translation: "He reached out again to wipe the blood from his face, lowered his body, and picked up a long sword from beside a nearby corpse."

The sounds of battle still echoed around him, but there was no enemy nearby; he drew his long sword, scanned all directions, and guarded against attackers from any side.

Translation: "The sounds of battle still echoed all around, but there was no enemy near him; he drew his long sword, scanned all directions, and vigilantly guarded against foes from any side."

More than two hundred cavalry were ambushed by an unknown number of strange people who burst out of the shadowy woods. No one knows why.

Translation: "A cavalry force of over two hundred was ambushed by an unknown number of strange peoples emerging from the shadowy woods. No one knew why."

He wiped away the dried blood from his face, eyebrows, and the corners of his eyes, and his vision cleared.

Translation: "He slightly dried the congealed blood on his face, eyebrows, and around his eyes, and could see more clearly."

The enemies were bare‑chested, with deep brown skin; some had red and white tattoos painted on their naked backs. Their bodies were far thinner than ordinary people's, yet unusually tall and lanky, like stalks of hemp. He was absolutely certain they were human, not some monstrous creature, or at least they possessed human bodies and faces.

Translation: "The enemies were bare-chested, with dark brown skin; some had their bare backs painted with various red and white tattoos. Their builds were far thinner than ordinary people, yet unusually tall and lanky, like hemp stalks, but he was absolutely certain these enemies were indeed human, not some monstrous creature, or at least they possessed human bodies and faces."

They wielded long Dothraki‑style scimitars, fearlessly charging the mercenaries' makeshift formation; after breaking through, a few more would follow, continuing the assault and cutting deep.

Translation: "They wielded long, curved arakh blades, fearlessly charging swiftly at the makeshift formation of the mercenaries; after breaking through, a few more would follow, continuing the assault and cutting in."

Blood was everywhere.

Translation: "Blood was everywhere."

These enemies liked to slash throats with their scimitars, causing mercenary soldiers to spurt blood, turning this stretch of Valerian Avenue truly deserving of its name.

Translation: "These enemies liked to slash throats with their curved blades; mercenary soldiers sprayed blood one after another, turning this stretch of Valerian Avenue truly deserving of its name."

He saw Mormons carefully dodging the enemies' rapid, relentless attacks, while Ser Qiaola struggled to defend himself, only occasionally striking back.

Translation: "He saw Moermeng carefully dodging the enemies' rapid, continuous attacks; under the enemies' onslaught, Ser Qiaola struggled to defend, only occasionally striking back."

These enemies were tall but not bulky; they were thin and agile, lacking the strength of the big bear. Ser Qiaola likewise saw this, waited for the right moment, gripped his long sword, pressed forward, and after knocking away their weapons, he slashed diagonally, cutting each enemy in two.

Translation: "These enemies were tall but not bulky; they were thin and agile, their strength inferior to the big bear's. Ser Qiaola likewise saw this clearly; seizing the moment, he gripped his long sword and pressed forward, and after knocking away the enemies' weapons, he slashed diagonally, cutting each enemy in two."

Thick blood poured from the wounds onto the ground. He did not see any intestines spilling out.

Translation: "Thick blood poured down from the severed ends onto the ground. He did not see any intestines spilling out."

He felt that everything was black.

Translation: "He felt everything was black."

The blood was black as well.

Translation: "The blood was black as well."

The stench was overpowering, almost making him vomit on the spot.

Translation: "The reek was so strong it almost made him vomit on the spot."

"Whoo‑whoo‑whoo…" a strange horn blast came from the dark mountains at that moment, and Tiliang almost wanted to throw away his sword and cover his ears.

Translation: ""Woo-woo-woo..." a strange horn sounded from the dark mountains at this moment; Tiliang almost wanted to throw away his sword and cover his ears."

He had never heard such a disgusting sound before.

Translation: "He had never heard such a disgusting sound before."

"Whoo‑whoo‑whoo…" it sounded again.

Translation: ""Woo-woo-woo..." again, a second blast."

The strange enemies began an orderly retreat, while the strange foes deep among the mercenaries were held back by the soldiers and then cut down one by one by the mercenaries.

Translation: "The strange enemies began an orderly retreat; the strange foes who had penetrated the mercenaries were blocked by the soldiers and then cut down one by one by the mercenaries."

When Tiliang arrived, the last enemy had already been run through with a sword, but he was still struggling to wave his weapon, feebly launching an attack; a nearby mercenary with a knife easily sliced off his head.

Translation: "When Tiliang arrived, the last enemy had already been run through with a sword, but he still struggled to brandish his weapon, launching a feeble attack. A mercenary beside him easily sliced off his head with a knife."

The enemy's thin body instantly crumpled sideways, and black blood flowed from its neck.

Translation: "The enemy's slender body instantly keeled over, black blood flowing from its neck."

A foul stench assailed his nostrils.

Translation: "A foul stench assailed the nose."

The battle came quickly, and it seemed to go just as fast.

Translation: "The battle came quickly, and seemed to go just as fast."

Seeing Tiliang approach with his sword, the surviving mercenaries reacted as if they had seen a ghost.

Translation: "Seeing Tiliang approach with his sword, the surviving mercenaries reacted as if they had seen a ghost."

"Hugo, what's wrong with you?" Captain Tají said, his face weary and worried, his robe speckled with blood—though far less than Tiliang's—"You're either a little devil or truly as brave as you claim to be!"

Translation: ""Hugo, what's wrong with you?" Captain Taggi said, face weary and worried, his robe speckled with many bloodstains, though obviously not as many as Tiliang's, "You're either a little demon or truly as brave as you claim yourself to be!""

Bravery fighting a horse's head—if that counts as bravery.

Translation: "Bravery fighting a horse's head—if that counts as bravery."

Others also looked shocked, even Mormons beside them glanced sideways.

Translation: "Others also looked stunned, even Moermeng beside them glanced askance."

"Ah, commander, why can't it be both? For instance, being both a little devil and a warrior?"

Translation: ""Hey, regiment commander, why can't it be both? For instance, being both a little demon and a warrior?""

He crouched, examining the strange corpse on the ground, "Commander, are these really people?"

Translation: "He crouched, examining the strange corpse on the ground, ""Regiment commander, are these really people?""

"No," said the handsome Ptolemy, his face also smeared with blood. "These things might have been created by magic."

Translation: ""No." Handsome Tollet said, his face also smeared with blood. "These things might have been created by magic.""

He hadn't finished speaking when a mercenary ran up, "Captain Tají! These demons have stolen our gold!"

Translation: "He hadn't finished speaking when a mercenary ran up, ""Regiment Commander Taggi! These demons stole our gold.""

"Damn!" Handsome Tuòlèmì said a Valyrian phrase, quickly pushed through the crowd, headed toward the place where the treasures were stored. The living soldiers also surged forward.

That is their shared property.

Dead mercenaries littered the ground, and they didn't care at all. But when the treasure was looted, they all exclaimed in surprise.

"The Chief Military Officer is dead." Qiao La watched the mercenaries flee, then said to Tirion.

Tirion wanted to smile, but he didn't know what his bloody face paired with a smile would look like. Still, the Chief Military Officer's death was at least somewhat good news.

However, after this battle possibly involving magic, he was already shaken. He felt that the priority now should be how to survive the journey to Mi Lin, rather than how to please the Dragon Queen.

"Just now, Ptolemy said these 'things' were created by humans using magic, Sir Qiao La. What do you think?"

"These are not 'things,' but people." Qiao La said solemnly, crouching to examine the black blood on the ground, "They should be 'warriors' created by the priests of the Supreme Shepherd using children; they are demons raised by the priests."

"The Supreme Shepherd, that's the Sheep God." Tirion had a slight understanding of these heretical sects, knowing they were the deity believed in by the weakest nation of the eastern continent, "I never expected their priests to possess such power."

"I've said before, any nation that can live on this continent should not be underestimated." Sir Qiao La wiped his longsword clean and sheathed it, "Their attack this time might have been just for the gold."

"Damn it, if they truly had this power, they wouldn't be called 'Sheep People,' right? Didn't you say that all who dare not resist invasion are called 'Sheep People'?"

Tirion felt this was utterly bewildering; if their god truly had such power, they would certainly be able to protect their own people and even expand their living space. Look, the Andals could, under the glory of the Seven Gods, cross the sea and defeat the ancestors who believed in the old gods, seize their forests, and occupy their castles. If these nations' gods and their priests possessed such miraculous power, they could certainly use this method to protect their kin, rather than indulge, making their nation synonymous with weakness and being bullied.

"Perhaps the price of practicing dark magic is too high, or perhaps there are other reasons—I don't know." Qiao La sighed, "These peoples may be gentle by nature, but that doesn't mean everyone in them is like that. I know some secretly cultivate dark magic, touching the dark realm. Nobody wants to provoke them completely."

"Cut it out." Tirion felt the blood on his face extremely uncomfortable, "They looted gold, which represents money; since they looted money, it shows they need to conduct normal foreign trade, having normal commercial demands. Damn it, this is nothing like the Shroud-Wrapped King."

"So what if it's not the same?" Sir Qiao La said.

"Of course it's different, Sir Qiao La," Tirion explained, "This shows their leader is a normal person; as long as someone is normal, they can communicate. Damn it, if the road from Mi Lin to Valantis were unobstructed, how many would still choose to sail across the Smoke Sea to Slave Bay?"

"Most would choose the land route; what are you trying to say?"

"If they had the strength to loot a mercenary band or army here and even knew where the gold was stored, they would obviously be better off building a fortress here, like the fort at Kalín Bay, to tax passing trade—this could earn them gold no less than killing and looting. If they captured me, I might even be able to give them ideas for getting rich without killing. Once they succeed in founding a state, perhaps they would choose me, this little demon, to be their king's hand."

"You don't think the demon's path has only one demon, do you?" Qiao La asked.

Tirion widened his eyes at the big furry bear before him.

"If that's the case, I can't imagine why you chose this road, nor why Valantis chose this road, damn it." Tirion then reconsidered and felt something was off: "Could it be that Valantis's big sea merchants are colluding with these demons?"

"Why do you think that?"

"The sea merchants hired demons deliberately to block this obviously better route in order to get rich from maritime trade," the little demon waved his hand, even he himself didn't believe it.

"The road ahead might still have other dangers." Qiao La obviously didn't want to bother with him.

"Of course, you said it yourself—demons aren't just one!" The little demon picked up a waterskin from the chaotic battlefield, poured out water to wash his face, beard, and hair, trying to get rid of the horse blood.

He carefully poured out the clean water and dried himself bit by bit with a robe unstained by blood. He felt his face reeked of blood, but upon close sniff, that strong bloody smell did not come from the horse blood on him, but from these slain demons.

Their blood was still black.

"With so many corpses, once we leave, these demons will be able to picnic here!" Tirion complained while washing.

His armor is now a complete mess; if he still has to wear this blood-soaked robe and armor tonight, it will be miserable.

"The demons stole two-thirds of our gold!" At that moment Tirion heard Ptolemy loudly proclaim, "Therefore, the deposited gold of everyone can only be withdrawn at one-third of the actual amount."

Afterward, Tirion heard a chorus of cursing.

"Damn it, how is the property of those dead people to be divided?" He heard a mercenary question.

"Handle it according to the Picnic Group's regulations! What else is there to ask? Do I need to tell you again? Idiot!" Team Leader Tagi shouted angrily beside the corpse of the Chief Military Officer.

Nobody paid him any heed.

At that moment, they all turned their gazes toward his head.

Tirion heard the sound of leather flapping, so he raised his head and looked in that direction.

"Ooh..." A huge shadow swept over and past his head, the resounding voice poured down, reaching his innermost being.

He felt his whole body trembling.

A giant dragon descended from the sky, lunging to swallow Team Leader Tagi, tearing left and right. In everyone's sight, Tagi was utterly torn apart by the demon dragon.

A piece of flesh was flung onto Tirion's face and then fell off; he was dazed and unaware.

Tirion only wanted to weep, only wanted to marvel at the gods' creation, petrified in place. This, damn it, is the dragon.

The appearance of the demon dragon caused the mercenaries to panic and retreat.

"Ooh..." The demon dragon roared at the soldiers.

Is this the dragon he had dreamed of day and night in his youth?

A few soldiers, in panic, threw their longswords at the demon dragon, but the swords didn't nick it at all.

Stop, stop, idiot!

The demon dragon, enraged, instantly surged into the mercenary band, biting the provoking soldier, tearing left and right, ripping the person apart with flesh and blood flying.

More weapons were hurled at the demon dragon.

"Ooh..." The demon dragon flapped its wings, then raised its head, opened its maw, and specks of fire gathered in its throat.

Flames instantly surged toward this group of mercenaries.

"No!" Qiao La rushed over.

"You're crazy!" Tirion shouted.

"Stop, Zhuo Geng!" He heard Qiao La shout, "Stop, stop, Zhuo Geng!"