Chapter 126: The Opposite Side

Why not do it, then?

Everyone in the hall thought the same, from the streetwise Xiahou Jian to the researcher Zhang Tianyao. Of course, this was on the premise that these promises were genuine, that Commissioner Gong could match, or even surpass, General Liang Jing.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall was harmonious, as if everyone were united against a common enemy. There was a palpable sense of having gained the high ground, a collective fervor in condemning the demon Liang Jing, a surge of duty and passion, voices rising with fierce resolve. This only pleased Commissioner Gong more. He knew these people were fair-weather allies, swaying with circumstances, yet he held the upper hand.

Suddenly, a loud commotion arose outside—buzzing, clattering.

“What’s happening?” Commissioner Gong asked, as even the fervent leaders inside caught wind of the uproar.

“Fire! Fire! The granary’s on fire!” came the panicked cries.

“What? Impossible! Ah—” Hearing that the granary was ablaze, Gong’s first reaction was disbelief. The granary and the armory were vital, heavily guarded by his troops. Startled, he tried to rise, but a fractured bone still unhealed sent a sharp agony coursing through him.

“Commissioner Gong, be careful!”

“Take care of yourself! Don’t get excited…”

Enduring the pain, his face pale and sweating, he motioned with his right hand to reassure them.

“Commissioner, the granary outside is burning. It’s all lost—everyone inside perished!” A private soldier, covered in dust and disheveled, rushed into the hall to report.

“Worse! The armory’s also on fire!” more dire news came from outside.

Boom! Boom!—

A massive explosion shook the ground, dispelling all doubts. The tremors struck the assembled like a thunderclap. The food was gone! The weapons and ammunition—gone!

The hall fell into sudden silence, a stark contrast to the cries from outside. The leaders felt a crushing frustration; Gong’s promises, once so promising, were now largely void.

“Liang Jing! It’s Liang Jing! How ruthless you are!” Commissioner Gong clutched his wounded chest, gasping harshly, his voice rough with unending hatred.

The plan had seemed within reach, but Liang Jing’s fierce assault had shattered their preparations. The previous arguments were wasted, and it was uncertain how many would still be willing to fight.

Indeed, had everything gone smoothly, some fearless souls might have joined in blindly, sparking others to follow—then the plan would have been perfect. But now, with the granary and armory lost, the outcome was unpredictable.

Despite having fortified defenses and deploying his men to guard all key points, Gong had only sought peace of mind. He hadn’t expected Liang Jing to truly burn nearly a hundred tons of grain and vast quantities of weapons, nor that none of the guarding private soldiers would warn them in advance. It was only when the fires were discovered that they knew something had happened. It was clear Liang Jing left no survivors to report the attack.

Of course, they remained unaware that Liang Jing had already taken all the grain, leaving only scattered ammunition to be detonated later, causing the previous explosions.

Rustle… hum—

The leaders in the hall snapped out of their earlier fervor, sobered by the reality that most of Commissioner Gong’s promises had evaporated. They debated whether to continue participating. Without food and weapons, everything else was hollow; no tangible benefits felt secure. Many began to hesitate.

In truth, Liang Jing’s seemingly impulsive act—an act of calculated revenge—had dismantled much of the enemy’s plan and greatly reduced the threat against him, even though he himself was hardly afraid of danger.

At that moment—

Step! Step-step!—step-step-step!—

The sound of footsteps echoed through the hall. No breath, no visible figure—only the relentless, pounding steps, like hooves or the march of hellish skeletons.

Under the dim candlelight, a gust blew through the doorway, flickering the flames. The eerie, oppressive footsteps filled the air, plunging the hall into an unnatural chill, silence returning with a bone-deep unease.

“Who’s there? Stop your tricks!” Commissioner Gong, finally clearing his mind of hatred, shouted loudly.

Step-step, step-step-step—

A commanding, imposing figure materialized from the air beneath the faint yellow light. Clad in shining silver armor, golden boots gleaming, wielding a massive dark-gold blade on his back—

Like an ancient war god, exuding savage power and dominance, standing firm as a mountain, suppressing all. The breath of everyone in the hall caught in their throats.

Two piercing eyes, bright as stars in the night, shone from beneath a fearsome black dragon helmet. The figure scanned the crowd with a cold gaze, as if seeking to penetrate their very souls.

Those looked upon felt a chill surge from within, unable to meet the gaze. This was a powerful spiritual force, a manifestation of immense strength and transformation. The eyes held an overwhelming power that instinctively warned—this was danger, a threat to their lives.

Some, however, bristled with defiance, feeling shame for having avoided the gaze. They summoned courage to glare back, but Liang Jing no longer paid them any mind.

Though these were awakened individuals, their strength was still weak—only a handful had even reached the second level of true energy. Without overwhelming force, even strange abilities could not truly harm him; at best, they could delay him briefly.

Swish!

At last, Liang Jing’s star-like eyes fixed on Commissioner Gong, seated at the head of the hall. This grand assembly was clearly orchestrated by this man. It seemed he had not given up hope. It was fortunate Liang Jing had sent Wu Yong away after securing the granary and armory; otherwise, his attention would be divided.

Looking at the small map, Liang Jing saw over thirty awakened individuals inside the hall—a first for him to witness so many. Some were clearly hostile, their icons flashing red; others shifted between neutral yellow and hostile red. A surge of excitement welled within him.

These were all bosses.

Awakened beings were elite-level monsters; some even blue-level bosses, and perhaps the rare golden-level bosses might appear, though none had manifested among humans yet.

Elite monsters always dropped loot. The thought thrilled Liang Jing immensely. If he could kill them all, the spoils would be tremendous. His gaze, sharp and wolf-like, sent chills through the crowd, as if they faced a natural predator.

“Are you Liang Jing?” came a voice, looking upon the imposing figure clad in brilliant armor and wielding the dark-gold weapon—the only clue to his identity.

“Yes.” Liang Jing’s voice was cool as he regarded the disheveled yet still righteous-looking Commissioner Gong.

“Good, good! You dare barge in alone? Do you think you’re invincible? Do you take the over thirty awakened here for nothing?” Gong’s excitement was palpable, as if Liang Jing had insulted the honor of all awakened.

He glanced at a man beside him, clad in black samurai attire, now holding a Japanese katana. The man’s pupils contracted sharply, and after a long moment of thought, he nodded to Commissioner Gong.

“You want to kill me? To do me harm?” Gong’s words were full of confidence.

Had this man lost his mind? The answer was obvious.

Liang Jing had already settled everything decisively, leaving no room for retreat. Was his mind fractured from all the stress?

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Chapter One!

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