Chapter 28

"Since it's General Yang's opinion, there's nothing I can't accept—it's just guarding the North City Gate, right? I'll go!"

Shen Tianxing answered eagerly; as the saying goes, if you don't enter the tiger's den you won't get the tiger's cub—plus, this is a system side quest with generous rewards.

However, what puzzled Shen Tianxing was that after accepting a main quest, there was also a side quest and a beheading quest, and none of the rewards increased his Martial Dao Realm—could this system be bugged?

"Don't worry, your current faction is the Great Zhou; only when issuing a beheading quest to slay an enemy nation will it help raise your Martial Dao Realm."

"Once your Martial Dao Realm reaches the sixth rank, quest rewards will no longer increase your Martial Dao Realm; only by gaining Martial Arts Experience from slaying enemies can you raise your Martial Dao Realm."

Hong Yi's voice echoed in Shen Tianxing's mind, and he suddenly understood—no wonder Hong Yi had said that after reaching the sixth rank, growth in strength would slow; this was what she meant.

"You should know this mission is extremely dangerous; you could lose your life at any moment, and it would cause this plan to fail—are you really not going to think it over carefully?"

Yang Hongyue hadn't imagined letting Shen Tianxing do this, but it was Marshal Sun Tiejun's authority as Marshal; she had struggled to secure Shen Tianxing the option, yet he ended up agreeing.

"Whoever goes on this mission faces the same danger—fortune favors the bold. As long as the Marshal keeps his word and makes me Vice Commander after the mission succeeds, there's no problem."

"In the main hall were all the commanders participating in the Humen Pass battle; as long as Marshal Sun Tiejun makes his promise before so many people, even if he dies later, the promise remains valid."

"Naturally, this Marshal keeps his word; if you can disregard life and death to complete this most important task, as long as you return alive, you'll not only become Vice Commander, but the Marshal will also memorialize the Imperial Court to request merit for you and promote you."

Sun Tiejun spoke with firm conviction; while saying this, he even clasped his fist with one hand and raised the other palm, striking them together in the gesture of requesting merit, thinking inside that Shen Tianxing would definitely not return alive, so whatever he said didn't matter.

"Then it's happily decided; please, General Yang, take me to see my troops—I'll lead them over the mountains tonight."

Yang Hongyue was furious, but she still nodded with a cold face, led the way ahead, and waited until Shen Tianxing emerged from the Marshal's Manor, confirming no one else came out with him, before she angrily shouted.

"Are you crazy? Why must you choose the path to death that I gave you as an option? Do you know how many people fleeing to the North City Gate will be overwhelmed by the Dawu Army once battle begins?"

"If support falls short, in just a moment you and your troops will die before the North City Gate—can't you see what's happening? I've helped you, yet you're seeking your own death."

"I understand what General Yang says, but isn't this seeking fortune in danger? If I don't give it my all, how can I rise in status? Without rising, how can I be worthy of a general? General Yang's worry—could it be that he likes me?"

Yang Hongyue was taken aback; her heart raced instantly, as if her secret had been exposed, her expression slightly flustered, though her face didn't redden—she merely feigned anger.

"What time is it now? You still have the mood to joke with me? I admit you have the ability to slay enemies among ten thousand troops, but that also requires many people cooperating with you, fighting alongside you, for you to handle things with ease."

"You only have a thousand men under you; even if I pick some elite soldiers for you, that's for guarding the gate—what use could a thousand possibly be?"

Shen Tianxing loved seeing Yang Hongyue in this flustered state, a stark contrast to her usual heroic bearing—and it was because he made her that way.

"Seeking fortune in danger, besides, General Yang is still here—I believe he won't just watch me die; anyway, I'll give it my all, and if I can't hold, I'll retreat."

"Isn't the Marshal definitely supposed to make this plan succeed? If I retreat and he doesn't send reinforcements, causing the plan to leak, then he'd have to die with me—would he really risk his own life against me?"

Yang Hongyue frowned, but she couldn't deny that Shen Tianxing made sense—1,000 men couldn't possibly seal the North City Gate, so they could only fight and retreat.

"Killing Shen Tianxing and eliminating the Dawu Army's 100,000 troops—Sun Tiejun can still tell which is more important."

"If that's the case, be careful and follow me; the remaining 850 have been arranged for you—all handpicked by this general, they will absolutely obey your orders, and they are survivors from the last Humen Pass battle."

Shen Tianxing nodded without saying more, followed Yang Hongyue out of the city to the camp, saw his 850 troops, and the man standing at the front of the first row nearly made him fall from his horse.

"\"Zhang Lei, Officer Zhang, you're still alive—how is that possible? I wasn't seeing things that day! \"

Shen Tianxing quickly dismounted, ran over to size him up, and indeed it was Zhang Lei's appearance, only a bit plumper; before the other could speak, Shen Tianxing already understood what was going on.

"\"You're twins, right? Are you Zhang Lei's older or younger brother? \""

"\"Sir, you're perceptive—we are indeed twins; I am Zhang Lei's older brother, Zhang Yun, now a Hundred-Men Commander under your command in the first battalion. \""

"\"That's right; when I was selecting troops, I noticed him, knowing you had recruited Zhang Lei, so I placed Zhang Yun under you—now you are a Colonel of the Third Regiment, Second Division, of my direct forces. \""

Shen Tianxing nodded; the Marshal's direct forces consist of two divisions, about 20,000 men, but now only a few remain—being able to replenish Shen Tianxing's numbers is already a rarity.

Thinking of Zhang Lei, Shen Tianxing reached out and patted Zhang Yun on the shoulder.

"\"Officer Zhang brought me into the army and even found me a good wife—I've always remembered this kindness; in this perilous battle, we will advance and retreat together. \""

Zhang Yun was also moved, but he hadn't replied yet when Shen Tianxing turned his gaze to the remaining 849 men.

"\"This battle is about fighting with our lives; few will return, perhaps none will—if you're willing to follow me, you must accept the possibility of not coming back. \""

"\"Of course, if you don't come back, I'll drag myself back with my last breath, report your merits, and have General Yang and Marshal Sun memorialize the court so your families receive greater compensation. \""

"\"By then, if I die again it won't matter; for now, if you're unwilling, you may still withdraw; if you don't withdraw, then follow me to the death defending the North City Gate and slaughter the Dawu dogs! \""

He understood how to stir emotions and boost morale; reporting merits wasn't to give them an empty glory, but to secure greater compensation for their families.

Just as Shen Tianxing had anticipated, the moment his words fell, almost everyone roared in response.

"\"Defend the North City Gate to the death, slaughter the Dawu dogs! \""