Firmament Sword

Wei Ziting took a deep breath, slowly raising his head to look at General Guo. ”I admit it,” he said, his voice hoarse. ”The credit for this achievement isn’t mine. I thought it was a natural disaster, that I could just claim this incredible merit for myself. I also admit that I underestimated Xu Luo. On this matter, I admit defeat!”

As he spoke, Wei Ziting turned to Xu Luo. ”But I still want to see this so-called evidence of yours! I’ll take your word on what Sui Yan left behind, but you… Xu Luo, you’re too cunning. I don’t trust you! So, even though I’ve lost, I still want to see it!”

Xu Luo shook his head in resignation and sighed, ”You’re certainly persistent. Is there really any point?”

With that, he started walking toward the spot where he had hidden that day.

The journey of a few dozen miles was nothing to the group, and they soon arrived at the top of the cliff where Xu Luo had hidden.

Xu Luo began to climb down the cliff face.

Wei Ziting hesitated for a moment before following him down.

”See this? This is the spot. On that day, I personally watched Sui Yan set up the mechanism. It made me reflect that there’s no useless knowledge in the world, only useless people. So, on a whim, I carved a line of words here...”

”And here, over there... and there. Those were the detonation points for the Spirit Beast Crystal Core explosions. The fractures in the mountainside all started from these spots.”

Xu Luo called out to General Guo and the others, who were now rappelling down with safety ropes, ”There’s one more thing I’ve been a bit embarrassed to say...”

By now, General Guo and everyone else fully understood the truth of the matter. They knew there was no need to say anything more.

Wei Ziting was utterly and completely defeated.

As for how to handle Wei Ziting, that would be up to Your Majesty. Although Xu Zhongtian had said he would punish Wei Ziting by military law, Wei Lei would surely not give him the opportunity. He would probably take Ziting straight back to the Imperial Capital after this.

General Guo looked at Xu Luo. ”General Xu, what is it? You can speak freely.”

This was the first time General Guo Ziyi had called Xu Luo ”General”!

Before this, no matter how powerful the Martial Soul Squad became or how exceptional Xu Luo proved to be, Guo Ziyi had never once addressed him as General Xu.

The reason was simple: his own mindset.

He’d always believed that even when a young man accomplished such great deeds, it was merely a stroke of luck—to put it bluntly, he’d just stepped in shit.

Indeed, it wasn’t just Guo Ziyi; many high-ranking members of the military felt the same way.

But today, as Guo Ziyi rappelled somewhat nervously down the cliff to inspect the evidence Xu Luo presented, he could no longer keep his composure.

And then there were those villagers from the Cao Kingdom, who had knelt and called them saviors, even knowing their village had suffered because Xu Luo’s squad had severed the supply lines. They held no resentment... That had truly moved Guo Ziyi.

Even though this wasn’t the main front, their actions had profoundly affected the war. The dangers they had faced were every bit as perilous as the life-or-death battles on the front lines!

It was precisely because Wei Ziting understood this that he had finally bowed his head in defeat.

Otherwise, how could a man like Wei Ziting, who would argue a point even when he knew he was wrong, concede so completely?

His inability to refute the overwhelming evidence was one reason. More importantly, even Wei Ziting was shocked and awed by what the Martial Soul Squad had accomplished.

Xu Luo gave a slightly sheepish smile. ”Um, General Guo, you see... when you get back, could you perhaps mention to General Xu... we used a huge number of Spirit Beast Crystal Cores to blow up the mountainside at One-Line Heaven Gorge. That stuff... *cough, cough*... is all very expensive... *cough*. Is there any way... we could get reimbursed?”

Any admiration Guo Ziyi had for Xu Luo instantly vanished. The corner of his mouth twitched as he replied expressionlessly, ”I’ll mention it when I get back.”

”Thanks a lot!” Xu Luo let out a long sigh of relief, his face beaming. ”Honestly, the brothers are so broke we can’t even afford to eat! With your promise, General Guo, I can finally relax!”

’Relax? Relax, my foot!’ General Guo thought with a sneer. ’Expecting the Champion Marquis to reimburse you? Dream on! Everyone knows you can’t pry a single coin from the Champion Marquis’s grasp, especially not for his own son’s squad!’ But then, he suddenly recalled the sight of these boys emptying their pockets of all their silver for those villagers, and something in his heart stirred.

’These little bastards... they have plenty of flaws, but... they’re actually kind of endearing, aren’t they?’

However, the words that came next from the Martial Soul Squad members made that flicker of goodwill evaporate instantly.

”Uh, General Guo, you see, we also used up a lot of our own funds this time... so maybe, while you’re at it? Hmm? You know what I mean!” Liu Feng said with a fawning smile, wiggling his eyebrows at Guo Ziyi.

Nearby, Ling Luoxi, Liang Ziyi, and the others looked on eagerly.

”Stop, stop, that’s enough! You greedy bunch, just wait for His Majesty’s reward! Stop trying to squeeze money out of us! Xu Jie, you tell them. Would your father agree to this?” Having no other recourse, Guo Ziyi put Xu Jie on the spot.

Xu Jie smacked his lips and grumbled, ”My dad’s a bit stingy, but we have to at least try! Even though I’m his son, even a father and son should keep clear accounts, no?”

”...” Guo Ziyi looked to the heavens and sighed, cursing internally. ’You illiterate fool! The saying is ”even blood brothers must keep clear accounts”! You little bastard, just you wait. I’m going to tell your father about this and see if he doesn’t tan your hide!’

The group laughed and bantered, while only Wei Lei, Wei Ziting, and a few other Wei Family members stood apart, their expressions dejected as they huddled together in silence.

After a long silence, Wei Ziting finally spoke, his voice a hoarse whisper. ”Fourth Uncle, I’m sorry. I’ve brought trouble upon our family.”

Wei Lei sighed. ”It’s good that you realize your mistake. What’s to be feared is stubbornly staying on the wrong path. If you do that, no one can save you.”

”Will the consequences for what I did be severe?” Wei Ziting asked.

”If you hadn’t made such a scene, the consequences wouldn’t have been severe,” Wei Lei said with a soft sigh. ”Your Majesty is still quite fond of your father. The original plan was for you to return and be confined for a time, then you’d be assigned a post as a local official. You could have slowly built up your administrative merits, and within a few years, you would have become a regional governor...”

”And I ruined it all myself, didn’t I?” A venomous glint flashed deep in Wei Ziting’s eyes.

He had conceded defeat today, but that by no means meant he didn’t despise Xu Luo. ’Since the military credit was yours, why didn’t you claim it? What right did you have to refuse it? And since I took it, why did you have to hound me so relentlessly?’

There are always people in this world who are so self-absorbed that they believe they can wrong anyone, but no one is allowed to wrong them.

Even when they know they are in the wrong, they will never admit it.

Wei Ziting, the young master of a great house in the Imperial Capital who had been placed on a pedestal his entire life, was one such person.

”It’s not necessarily ruined. After all, news of what happened here won’t easily travel back to the Imperial Capital. I’ve watched those men from the Martial Soul Squad—they’re not the type to stir up trouble. As long as they don’t go around trumpeting this, everything you’ve done in the Southern region will fade from memory soon enough.”

Wei Lei’s eyes gleamed. He glanced at the distant figures of General Guo Ziyi and Xu Luo’s group, laughing and talking. ”And even if they do shout it from the rooftops when they get back, we have nothing to fear,” he said softly. ”Don’t forget who runs the Imperial Capital.”

A spark finally returned to Wei Ziting’s eyes. He whispered, ”I may have conceded defeat on this matter, but Xu Luo... he is my lifelong rival! I will stop at nothing to defeat him, to crush him under my boot! Then I’ll show him who is truly the stronger one!”

”It’s good that you haven’t been crushed by this failure and humiliation. Your father’s efforts in raising you all these years weren’t in vain! Ziting, remember this: when you’re young, failure is not to be feared. The only thing to fear is a lack of ambition!” Wei Lei patted his nephew’s shoulder, then stood up and walked toward General Guo.

”General Guo,” Wei Lei began with a smile, ”I won’t be heading to the Southern Army’s camp after this. When the time is right, I hope you can convey my apologies to General Xu. Tell him that when he returns to the capital in triumph, I will be sure to host a banquet in his honor.”

”Rest assured, Marquis Wei. I will be sure to pass on your words.” Guo Ziyi was a sharp man and understood Wei Lei’s meaning immediately.

In truth, neither Xu Zhongtian nor Guo Ziyi ever expected Wei Lei to allow Wei Ziting to return to the Southern Army to face punishment.

Hadn’t the humiliation been great enough? Why go back just to be an eyesore?

Therefore, Guo Ziyi was happy to oblige. The two men shared a knowing smile, and the conversation ended there.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Xu Luo was saying his goodbyes to the rest of the Martial Soul Squad.

”Big Brother Li Hong, everyone,” Xu Luo said, gathering the Martial Soul Squad with a smile. ”I came to tell you all that I won’t be going back with you this time. By the time you return, the war in the South will likely be settled. You all can just follow the main army back to the capital and enjoy the cheers and applause of the people.”

”Then what about you? Where are you going?” Huangfu Chongzhi asked softly, looking at Xu Luo.

”Yeah, Third Brother, are you going to help Second Brother woo that little minx, Mo Yun?” Liu Feng blurted out.

Xu Jie shot Liu Feng a harsh glare but said nothing, his gaze fixed on Xu Luo.

Xu Luo laughed. ”That’s something Second Brother has to handle himself. How could I possibly stand in for him? I have something else I need to take care of. Don’t worry, I should be back very quickly.”

”Is it dangerous? If it is, don’t you dare leave your brothers behind and face it alone!” Li Hong said, glancing at Xu Luo. ”I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure it’s no small matter. Boss, you’re the heart of this team. The one who deserves the people’s cheers the most is you!”

”That’s right,” Xiaotian added, concise as ever. Though it was only two words, they were filled with brotherly sentiment.

”We’re brothers. Whatever it is, we face it together!” Xu Jie said grimly.

The others all nodded in agreement.

A warmth spread through Xu Luo’s chest. He shook his head and smiled. ”Don’t worry. It’s not dangerous, and it’s something I have to do alone. It shouldn’t take too long. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Then, Xu Luo looked at them all. ”When you return to the Imperial Capital this time, you’ll surely be granted titles and rewards. It’s very likely we’ll all go our separate ways after that. I just hope that no matter where you end up in the future, you never forget our time together as the Martial Soul Squad... and the glory that belongs to us!”