Chapter Forty-Nine: Promoted to Grand Marshal of the Army and Cavalry

“Well said, well said indeed! Brother Xiao, your family truly has a worthy successor!” With a thud, Cai E fell to his knees, facing the heavens as he spoke.

Xiao Fei understood—Cai E was paying his respects to the spirit of his elder brother, Xiao Zhong.

Yet, Xiao Fei couldn’t help but be somewhat amused by the gravity of the scene. Hearing Cai E call him “Brother Xiao” reminded him of the drama “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils” from his previous life, and the character Xiao Feng.

Nonsense! What am I thinking about at a time like this? I’m forming a sworn brotherhood here—be serious! Xiao Fei quickly composed himself and turned to Cai E with solemnity. “Brother, we have found kinship at first meeting and have sworn loyalty, but now is not the time for ceremony. Let us handle the important matters first.”

“You’re right, you’re right! Look at me—so excited I’ve forgotten the serious business at hand.” Cai E immediately stood up and strode over to Cai Jin-Jun. “Cai Jin-Jun, I have treated you well, and yet you have betrayed me. I am not one to let a slight go unavenged. Let me be frank: no matter what you do, you’re dead today. However, if you speak the truth, I will let you die with some dignity. Lie to me, and I promise you a fate worse than death!”

“Master, General, have mercy!” Cai Jin-Jun cried, terrified. He had followed Cai E for many years and knew well the general’s ruthless methods.

“If you persist in futile resistance, do not blame me for being merciless!” Cai E said coldly.

Cai Jin-Jun saw that Cai E was deadly serious. With no other option, he confessed everything truthfully.

It turned out that this was all Hu Baiwan’s plot. Hu Baiwan had sent a detachment to the Chunlai Inn to feign trouble for Xiao Fei and the others, but it was merely a ruse to draw away Commander Jin Shaohua.

Meanwhile, Cai Jin-Jun had fabricated news that the Japanese had begun targeting Li Shishi, drawing Cai E to a secluded location, where Yang Laosi and his men lay in wait.

They knew Cai E was a formidable opponent and so had devised such a devious plan. Their scheme was nearly flawless, and they almost succeeded in assassinating Cai E—if not for the unexpected appearance of Xiao Fei, who ruined their plans and now threatened their very lives.

Upon hearing that Liu Ruyan and the others might be in danger, Xiao Fei grew anxious. But with Commander Jin Shaohua himself providing protection, he reasoned there was little to worry about; it was all a feint, a diversion.

Cai Jin-Jun also confessed that Li Tiande and Hu Baiwan had spent a fortune hiring the Republic’s top assassin organization—Death Pursuit—to eliminate Jin Shaohua, Cai E, and Xiao Fei.

When the confession ended, Cai E drew his dagger and said coldly, “Now you may die.”

With those words, the blade sliced Cai Jin-Jun’s throat. His head tumbled aside, sending a chill through Yang Laosi, who broke out in a cold sweat.

Xiao Fei watched with a sigh. So the legendary General Cai E is ruthless and decisive—just my kind of man!

Yet, thinking further, he remembered that in the coming year, this great republican leader would launch the National Protection War against Yuan Shikai, only to die young, weakened by illness—a fate he found truly tragic.

He wondered if his own arrival could change Cai E’s destiny.

In his memory, Cai E would soon be summoned to Beijing by Yuan Shikai in 1915 and secretly imprisoned for a year. But that was history. Now, with Xiao Fei’s presence, he would never allow his sworn brother to suffer such persecution.

As Xiao Fei pondered, Cai E turned his attention to Yang Laosi. But Xiao Fei saw potential in Yang Laosi—the so-called “Living King of Hell,” the greatest assassin of the Republic. Such a man would be useful, and Xiao Fei needed talent like his.

He had already planned to establish a special forces unit within his own army, believing that assassin skills were essential training.

Upon sharing his thoughts, Cai E readily agreed to spare Yang Laosi’s life.

“Yang Laosi, you have killed many and deserve death by a thousand cuts. But to me, you are a useful man. For today, I’ll spare your life. Are you willing to serve under me?” Xiao Fei asked.

“Hmph! A man may be killed but not humiliated. I may not be a noble man, but I have my pride. Now that I’m in your hands, do as you please. But serve you? Never!” Yang Laosi declared righteously.

“Haha! Most people I defeat say the same at first, acting tough. But once they reach a certain place, they tend to change their minds. Take him away!” Xiao Fei ordered, instructing Xiao Ling to send Yang Laosi to the military prison.

Seeing a living person vanish into thin air, Cai E was dumbfounded. “What—what just happened?”

“Haha, to tell the truth, since I was young, I studied Taoist arts in Kunlun Mountain and learned some Maoshan spells. Please don’t take offense, brother.” Xiao Fei made up an explanation.

In that era, many practiced cultivation and founded sects; claiming to have learned some Daoist arts was not particularly suspicious. Cai E had simply never seen anyone openly use such skills before—today had truly opened his eyes.

“Sigh, in all my life I’ve never truly admired anyone, but you, Xiao Fei, are the first—and will be the last. To think I’m older than you and yet have to call you brother—it’s quite humbling,” Cai E said with a sigh.

“Brother, why say such things? We are both men of honor. Why dwell on it? Now that we are sworn brothers, we must be loyal unto death and never betray one another!” Xiao Fei replied solemnly.

“Yes, loyal unto death, never to betray!” Cai E echoed, equally solemn.

Just then, Xiao Fei’s keen ears caught the sound of rustling footsteps. He turned to see Li Tiande, that scoundrel, leading dozens of soldiers and a group of masked men their way—undoubtedly Yang Laosi’s subordinates.

It was indeed Li Tiande. He had believed his plan flawless, convinced that Yang Laosi and Cai Jin-Jun had already killed Cai E. Eager to see the results, he arrived only to find Cai E and Xiao Fei chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened.

“What? Cai E, Xiao Fei—you’re still alive!” Li Tiande exclaimed.

“Heh, yes, we’re alive. But you, you’ll soon be dead,” Xiao Fei replied coolly.

“Hmph! Xiao Fei, such arrogance! Where is the Living King of Hell, Yang Laosi?” Li Tiande asked, looking around.

“Don’t worry about your Living King of Hell. Why not go meet the real King of Hell instead?” As Xiao Fei spoke, he soared into the sky, golden thunder wings spreading wide. The mere sight of him struck terror into their hearts—none dared fight him.

Even Cai E was astonished. “Brother, your magic is truly formidable!”

Li Tiande’s men were all below the level of true warriors, and with Xiao Fei within ten meters, he could easily sweep them all into the military prison. In an instant, the entire group found themselves in a lightless dungeon, suffering unimaginable torment, wishing for death but unable to die.

There was no time left to assassinate Tojo Hideki, so Xiao Fei and Cai E returned together to the Jin Mansion.

Jin Shaohua had already repelled Hu Baiwan’s forces and safely brought over Qin Tianxiang, Li Shishi, and Liu Ruyan.

Everyone was safe and sound. They laughed boisterously and held a grand banquet in celebration. Xiao Fei and Cai E also completed a solemn oath ceremony, swearing loyalty and brotherhood unto death.

The next day, Cai E summoned Xiao Fei to his room, his expression grave. “Brother, here is my military command token. This token carries my full authority. I now entrust it to you. If anything should happen to me, all three hundred thousand troops in Yunnan will be under your command. You will be the Grand Marshal of the Yunnan frontier. I hope you will treat my men well.”

Bang! Xiao Fei was stunned. Three hundred thousand soldiers! This was the wolfish force that would one day sweep the land and drive Yuan Shikai to ruin. And now—all were his? He was now the Grand Marshal?

Suppressing his excitement, Xiao Fei asked, “Brother, what do you mean by this?”

Cai E gazed at the sky and sighed. “To be honest, I fear my days are numbered.”