Cultivating in Different Professions

Chapter 215: Chapter 147: Vying for Credit

”Capital Captain, the casualty report has been compiled.”

Atop the walls of the Outer City, Chen Song, wrapped in bandages, approached Su Mu and spoke with a heavy expression.

”Speak.”

Su Mu’s voice was still weak. He sat there, the Thunder Shocking Saber and the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow placed casually within reach.

After shooting down the Tier Three Demon, he’d had no time to rest. He had only taken some restorative elixirs and still hadn’t fully recovered.

In truth, nearly every Martial Artist on the Outer City walls was in a similar state: covered in wounds and utterly exhausted.

But several miles outside the city, the demons hadn’t fully retreated, so they had no time to rest, nor did they dare let their guard down.

”In this battle, the Outer City killed over 1,700 demons. We lost over 5,000 people, and the wounded are beyond count.”

Chen Song reported, his voice heavy.

Su Mu fell silent. Though he had been mentally prepared, he couldn’t help but sigh upon actually hearing the numbers.

’Over five thousand dead just to kill a little more than seventeen hundred demons.’

’And a large portion of those were killed by the Demon-Breaking Crossbows.’

’Even so, that was a ratio of almost three of our lives for every one demon.’

’And what’s more, the truly powerful demons in the Demon Tide hadn’t even taken part in the first wave of attacks.’

’Only a couple of Tier Two Demons had appeared, and the Tier Three Demons hadn’t even entered the fray.’

’If they had, the casualties in the Outer City would have skyrocketed.’

In fact, if Su Mu hadn’t used the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow to shoot down a Tier Three Demon with two arrows, the demons would have already breached the Outer City.

The demons’ temporary retreat only proved they were organized.

A Tier Three Demon’s intelligence is on par with a human’s. They had previously sent only Tier One and unranked demons, thinking they didn’t need stronger forces to breach the Outer City.

But now, they knew about the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow. The next time they attacked, they would undoubtedly change their strategy.

The Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow was powerful, but its flaw was also glaringly obvious.

Namely, its number of uses was limited.

Su Mu had fired a total of three arrows, and his body was completely drained. Under normal circumstances, he would need to rest for at least three to five days to fully recover and use the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow again.

’If the two remaining Tier Three Demons truly understood strategy, one could tie down the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow while the other took the opportunity to kill me.’

’The current situation is still far from optimistic.’

’The biggest problem now is that after this battle, every Martial Artist in the Outer City is wounded.’

’Unless the Inner City changes its mind and fully supports our defense, it will be nearly impossible for the Outer City’s Martial Artists to repel a second Demon Tide in their current state.’

”Why is no one happy? This is a great victory!”

Wang Guan looked from side to side in confusion. ”This is a Demon Tide, you guys! A Tier Five Demon Tide! Not only did we defend the Outer City, but we also killed over seventeen hundred demons!

This is a feat no one has ever accomplished before!

Anyone who hears about this would have to give us a thumbs-up and say we did a hell of a job!”

”Everyone did indeed do a fine job.”

Su Mu said in a low voice, ”To have gotten this far, everyone has already given their all.

Chen Song, as planned, arrange for the Outer City Martial Artists to retreat to the Inner City in batches.

The severely wounded leave first. Make sure the demons outside the city don’t notice.

Go.”

”Hold on, Brother Mu, what do you mean?”

Wang Guan’s eyes widened in confusion. ”We won a great victory, why are we retreating?

We’re on the verge of wiping out a Tier Five Demon Tide—”

”Second Young Master Wang, that’s enough,”

Xiang Xiaoyuan couldn’t listen anymore and whispered, ”Unless the Inner City sends its main forces to support us now, the Outer City can’t hold out in its current state.

Captain Su is only one person. If those Tier Three Demons are a little smarter, they could use Tier Two Demons to exhaust the charges of the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow. Then we’d be in real danger.”

”The Xiang Family is quite knowledgeable about the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow?”

A Taiping Captain sidled over with a smirk. ”I never thought someone from Wuling City’s famous Xiang Family would also be a martial practitioner. Your family wouldn’t happen to hail from the Yin Yang Harmony Sect, would it?”

Though Wei Bufan’s voice was laced with humor, his eyes were full of scrutiny.

The Yin Yang Harmony Sect was a borderline demonic sect that had always been under the strict supervision of the Taiping Bureau.

”I don’t belong to any sect.”

Xiang Xiaoyuan glanced furtively at Su Mu, her voice lacking some confidence. ”And I certainly have no connection to the Yin Yang Harmony Sect. My life has been a harsh one. Though I ended up in a brothel, I sell my art, not my body.”

”You still haven’t explained why you’re so knowledgeable about the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow,”

Wei Bufan pressed.

”I meet a lot of people. Isn’t it normal to know a thing or two?”

Seeing that Su Mu wasn’t paying attention to them, Xiang Xiaoyuan’s composure returned. ”Perhaps you are unaware, Captain Wei, but some men will say anything after a few drinks.”

The suspicion on Wei Bufan’s face didn’t fade, but he asked no more questions.

Su Mu slowly rose to his feet, took a few steps forward, and arrived at the edge of the wall.

Shrouded by the night, the demons outside the city looked like nothing more than dark shapes in the distance.

The head-on night wind carried the foul stench of the demons.

Su Mu could almost see the other two Tier Three Demons, each the size of a small mountain. His fingers twitched, eager for a fight.

What no one else could see was the translucent system panel floating before Su Mu.

[Name: Su Mu]

[Status: Outer City Commander / Taiping Captain (Seventh-Rank)]

[Points: 38,000]

[Realm: Blood Transformation Realm (Body Tempering Extreme Realm)]

[Divine Technique: Indestructible Golden Body]