As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 348 Fighting
"I got a loot drop!"

Mingchen strolled leisurely to the city gate, picked up the two large swords, and looked them over.

It must have been the weapon created by the mantis demon using its twin scythes as a guide; it was indestructible and could cut a hair in two.

This aligns with the information Qingsong provided.

"Fuyao, don't chase after her!"

There's another mantis following behind it!

Seeing that Fuyao was powerful, he simply fled. The little bird wanted to chase after him, but Mingchen waved to her, signaling her to come back.

The reason why the little bird was able to fight so freely this time was because she had Mingchen's approval. Mingchen was watching from the side, so she didn't need to worry about what Mingchen had told her before.

With little intelligence on the enemy, it's understandable that they're fighting on their own turf.

If they chase after them and are outnumbered, and if the enemy uses some strange tricks or magical weapons, they'll be doomed.

After finishing the fight, Fuyao felt refreshed and landed on Mingchen's shoulder, puffing out her chest with a smug look on her face.

proud.jpg
However, Mingchen did not praise her.

"Lord Ming... Lord Ming, thank you so much for your help. I will never forget your life-saving grace!"

Having witnessed the fiery hellish scene and the battle between the bird and the mantis, the surviving cultivators were filled with awe.

The mantis has steel skin and iron bones, making it indestructible, and its swift blade can cut through anything.

However, even such an enemy could not gain the slightest advantage against the red bird.

The blazing flames seemed capable of burning everything, unlike anything found in the human world.

Lord Ming's methods are truly astonishing.

"I remember your name is Liu Yucheng, right?"

"Thank you for your hard work!"

Mingchen picked up the bronze bell from the ground, helped him up, and didn't take his magic treasure for himself, but gave it to him: "It is thanks to your great merit, sir, that the powerful enemy was held back for a moment, which is why the gates of Yueyang City were preserved."

“I will certainly speak to His Majesty and request that you be rewarded.”

In a sense, this person's methods were quite sophisticated, and his trump card seemed rather interesting. Unfortunately, he encountered someone with an iron body; his attacks couldn't break through their defenses, and he was completely countered.

They fought with all their might, even losing a hand and teetering on the brink of death, but they managed to buy themselves a crucial amount of time.

Mingchen couldn't say he had much affection for this person.

But as a leader, if you want others to work hard for you, you must say a few words to them and to show others.

"I, Liu, have done very little and am not as skilled as others. I still need Lord Ming to come and save me. I am ashamed."

Upon hearing this, the man bowed deeply, his face filled with gratitude and respect.

"Go back quickly, heal your wounds and rest!"

"I'll handle this."

"Yes!"

The cultivators left, leaving only Mingchen and the little bird at the city gate.

Although the soldiers witnessed the shocking scene, they remained loyal to their duties and did what they were supposed to do.

"Young master, I won!"

The little bird excitedly relayed a message to Mingchen.

This marks the first time since she became a phoenix that she has genuinely defeated a formidable opponent.

The mantis had developed an indestructible body, impervious to blades and spears, and it was only thanks to her divine fire that she was able to break through its defenses.

However, Mingchen shook his head: "Fuyao, you should not underestimate any of your opponents."

"If you have the chance to kill your opponent instantly, don't give them a chance to breathe."

Fuyao is still too young. Mingchen is unwilling to let her take risks and avoids them whenever possible. She has also experienced few battles. Although Fuyao wins fights, it is purely due to her overwhelming strength.

She is still immature and made many mistakes, giving her opponents many opportunities.

Fortunately, the opponent didn't possess any extraordinary methods or magical treasures; he was just a clumsy, heavily armored warrior. Had it been any other opponent, he probably would have suffered a loss.

Mingchen held the strange and mysterious cultivators of this world in the highest esteem.

Although he was unruly, untrustworthy, and full of schemes and tricks, he did not underestimate his opponents.

The world is vast, and there are many extraordinary people.

Even though the monkey had no health or stamina bar and possessed great supernatural powers, he still suffered a lot at the hands of many demons whose strength was inferior to his as he traveled westward.

Once it's put into a gourd, it will dissolve just like that.

There are countless strange and wonderful magical treasures and supernatural powers.

This mantis is only good for its pair of sharp blades, which are invincible. Such an enemy is relatively easy to deal with. In a physical head-on collision, Mingchen is not afraid.

What he disliked were those messy gourds disguised as people, magical formations... these methods of attacking from a lower dimension.

Mingchen isn't afraid of enemies with high attack, high health, or high stats; what bothers him are those who rely on mechanics and instant kills.

"Oh……"

Fuyao tilted her head upon hearing this, it was unclear whether she understood the meaning behind Mingchen's words.

"Master Ming..."

A while later, a figure flashed by.

Several cultivators led by Ji Wen arrived late. Seeing the chaotic battleground, they couldn't help but ask Ming Chen with some concern, "How is Lord Ming?"

These people were indeed slow to react; by the time they arrived, the city gate was gone.

Mingchen simply waved his hand and said, "It's alright!"

He pointed to the mantis's head on the ground and said, "This is the enemy."

Following Mingchen's direction, Ji Wen and the others saw the enormous mantis head, engulfed in flames, its neck blackened by the fire.

"This person must be the second of the six brothers of Kuxing that Qingsong mentioned."

Ji Wen glanced at it twice and sighed repeatedly, "So it's an iron-backed mantis monster!"

"As the saying goes, soldiers fight soldiers, generals fight generals, and supernatural powers fight supernatural powers."

"The enemy will surely attack the city again tomorrow, and I must defend it with His Majesty."

"How about we leave these extraordinary individuals to Lord Ji and the others to handle?"

Mingchen pointed to the mantis head on the ground: "Using this as bait, I will lure them out. Everyone, use your special abilities to defeat and capture them, so that they can no longer affect the battlefield."

The cultivators of the Northern Fierce Sect cannot let Mingchen do everything himself.

Mingchen is the general, the leader, and the trump card. His actions come at a cost, and he must ensure victory.

It was already said during the day that these people would be under the responsibility of Ji Wen and his team.

Mingchen's meaning wasn't just about the cultivator who released the insects, but about all six so-called Kuxing brothers.

The task assigned to these people wasn't something anyone could do, like finding prostitutes.

Dealing with the mantis tonight was something Mingchen did incidentally; in reality, these were problems that these people should have solved.

They also needed to prove to the court and to Emperor Qianyuan that they were not incompetent fools.

It's unacceptable that the enemy consists of formidable masters while our side is filled with mediocre, incompetent fighters.

"Yes!"

Ji Wen and the others exchanged glances and clasped their hands in response, saying, "Lord Ming, please rest assured, we will do our utmost."

The amount of reward you receive depends on your abilities and the extent of your contributions.

His Majesty the current Emperor Qian Yuan is a man of clear distinction between rewards and punishments.

These people also hope to have the opportunity to showcase their talents.

"kindness!"

Mingchen nodded.

He was very cautious about these extraordinary people.

These people go to fight; if they succeed, all the better; if they fail, it will at least help us find out their true strength.

Someone always has to pay the price for information gathering, but it absolutely cannot be Mingchen's own people who pay these prices.

……

"Big Brother!!!"

"Destroyed! Destroyed!!!"

"woo woo woo woo……"

On the other side, the brothers were still discussing future strategies with the general.

Suddenly, a shrill scream pierced the night sky, and a figure tumbled and crawled into the tent, grabbed Song Hu's leg, and wailed and cried loudly.

His state of collapse was even more pathetic than when the sixth brother's magic was broken.

For a moment, everyone was shocked.

When Song Hu was barged in, it felt as if a huge boulder was pressing on his heart, and he had a bad feeling.

Why did the third brother come back on his own?
What about the second child?
Why is the third brother so terrified and disheveled?
Everything points to a bad ending.

The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly became heavy, and everyone held their breath. Song Hu looked down at the third brother who was clinging to his leg, his brows furrowed, and his voice was low and deep: "What exactly happened?"

The third brother said in a trembling voice, "Big brother, second brother, second brother he..."

"What happened to the second child?!"

"When I arrived, my second brother was fighting a divine bird in front of the city gate. The bird was entirely red, with feathers like flames, and could control fire. Its aura was terrifying. My second brother... my second brother was burned to death by it."

The tent was deathly silent. The night wind blew in from outside, causing the candlelight to flicker and reflect the fear on everyone's faces.

Upon hearing this, Song Hu swayed and nearly fainted.

"Big Brother!!!"

His younger brother quickly helped him up.

"Second brother!! Waaaaah..."

"Second brother!!!"

"Second brother!!!"

The day we swore brotherhood seems like it was just yesterday.

The brothers were filled with grief, as if all their strength had been drained away. Their faces were full of sorrow, and they wept uncontrollably.

Song Hu burst into tears, knelt on the ground, and wailed incessantly.

He wanted Tang Guang to give it a try.

He knew Tang Guang's abilities; he had never seen anyone harm him. If they could break through the city gate, that would be excellent, saving them a lot of trouble.

Even if they encounter an enemy, with the second brother's steely and indestructible strength, even if he is no match for him, he should be able to escape smoothly.

He never imagined that, so suddenly, on such a simple night, his second son would be gone.

He was not mentally prepared for this at all.

"Did you see it?!"

"You saw it with your own eyes?!"

"Why aren't you helping your brother?!"

Song Hu was heartbroken. His eyes were red, and he pounded on Lao San's back, crying and complaining. His words were half disbelief and half resentment.

"Big brother, I...I..."

The third brother lay prostrate on the ground, crying out in fear, "Everything happened so fast, how could I possibly save them!"

"Woooooooo..."

"The fire set by that divine bird was truly powerful; my second brother's copper skin and iron bones were burned to ashes as soon as they touched it!"

"I can't even get close to them head-on!"

"That bird still wanted to chase me, it's a miracle that my brother came back safely."

Everyone is unknown to each other.

Mingchen was worried that the other party might have a trump card that they couldn't handle.

Similarly, how could the six brothers not be terrified when they witnessed Fuyao's divine fire techniques!
The second brother, the toughest of all the brothers, would turn to dust with a single touch, let alone himself.

In her panic, she was completely disoriented. Seeing that her second brother was beyond saving, her first instinct was to run away.

The third brother also regretted not going forward to fight alongside his brothers.

However, survival and escape are both biological instincts, and he could not overcome them.

"Woooooooo..."

Upon hearing this, Song Hu could only cry incessantly.

The third brother made it clear that the second brother had been burned to ashes; he was certain he hadn't made a mistake and there was no possibility of him being brought back.

He no longer had the energy to complain about the third brother.

Seeing the world change drastically and the universe turn upside down, the six brothers felt that the opportunity to become immortals and achieve fame was just around the corner. So they left home together and went to seek refuge with a wise ruler.

Unexpectedly, one of my brothers has perished here today, and my heart is filled with unbearable sorrow.

It only breeds endless regret; it would have been better if the six brothers had lived a carefree life in seclusion in the mountains.

"Mr. Song, please accept my condolences..."

Tian Hong lowered his eyes, looked at his group of deeply affectionate brothers, and said comfortingly.

In a sense, Tang Guang also bears some responsibility for his death.

He really wanted Tang Guang to break through the city gate, which would greatly facilitate the siege.

They even went so far as to cut off Song Hu's escape route of recalling his brothers.

He didn't have much of a connection with these people.

More than learning of Tang Guang's death, he actually wanted to know if Tang Guang had desperately tried to destroy the city gate before he died.

Of course, he wouldn't say that voluntarily.

Upon hearing this, Song Hu looked up and said to Tian Hong, "General Tian, ​​my second brother died for his country. I hope you can inform His Majesty to show his loyalty and let him rest in peace even in the afterlife."

Upon hearing this, Tian Hong nodded solemnly: "Of course, of course. I will certainly report this matter to His Majesty and posthumously confer titles upon Brother Tang."

He was also worried that these few extraordinary individuals would become disheartened by the death of their brothers and fearful of the powerful enemy, and simply quit.

Song Hu wiped away his tears and said to Tian Hong, "Thank you... thank you General Tian, ​​we will serve you faithfully!"

Clearly, Tian Hong was overthinking it.

Having embarked on this path, the six brothers neither wanted to nor could turn back.

"thump!"

Just then, a package seemed to fall to the ground outside the tent.

"General, something has fallen from the sky..."

A guard carrying a package reported from outside the tent.

Song Hu shuddered, as if sensing something, and rushed out of the tent without a second thought.

"you!"

The guard exclaimed in surprise.

Before he could say anything, the object in his hand had vanished.

The group chased after him outside the tent, where they saw Song Hu kneeling on the ground, trembling as he unwrapped the package in his hands.

The night was dark, and nothing could be seen. A few firelights illuminated the tent, and one could vaguely see Song Hu holding a triangular head in his hands.

He held her tightly, his whole body trembling.

Under the cover of night, I gently stroked the menacing mantis head with my palm.

In the blink of an eye, it transformed into the head of the reckless and irritable second brother.

They entered the camp.

"Second brother..."

When the brothers saw their second brother's head, they wept uncontrollably.

Tian Hong, who was standing to the side, also remained silent.

Along with the head, there was also a letter.

"Fellow cultivators, military formations and sieges have their own methods of warfare, not solely relying on supernatural powers and techniques. You all possess secret techniques with great supernatural abilities, and our army also has extraordinary individuals. As for the battle between our armies, let's meet at Willow Moon Mountain tomorrow at noon for a duel to settle our grudges and karma. What do you say?"

As the defender, Mingchen is the one solving the problem, and naturally hopes to fight pawn against pawn and general against general.

Being outnumbered was already a headache, but then there were some unsavory tactics used to sabotage them.

Mingchen wanted everything to be clear and straightforward, and he disliked things like the previous incident where Lao Liu released insects, which involved a covert competition.

He actually hoped that the bird could catch one alive, so that the six Calabash Brothers could fight each other head-on like the Calabash Brothers trying to save their grandfather.

Unfortunately, the bird couldn't stop and burned itself to a crisp, leaving only its head.

Then we can only hope that the other party is eager for revenge and no longer wants to secretly compete with us.

Song Hu's hands trembled as he held the paper.

"A duel to settle old scores?!"

His gaze was sharp as a knife, fixed intently on the letter.

Tian Hong also noticed the letter and kept reminding Song Hu, saying, "Mr. Song, that Ming Chen is treacherous and cunning. There must be a trap here. Don't trust him! You should stay in the army and help me find an opportunity to attack the city!"

Do not grant any request from Mingchen.

Everything he does is a roundabout way of achieving his own goals.

It must be to his advantage.

Tian Hong was a veteran official and a general. Although he had a sworn brother, he didn't have much of a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) spirit.

They always act based on their most immediate and most important interests.

In his view, the most important thing now is to capture the city and not to cause any unnecessary trouble.

He felt it was good for the six brothers to stay in the military tent, using unorthodox methods to harass the enemy and gather intelligence, which would greatly benefit his attack on the city.

Losing one cultivator is nothing; the real problem is that if all of them went out together and were wiped out, and Mingchen then used some strange methods to harass them, that would be truly foolish.

He didn't want these people to leave the military camp and fall into the other side's rhythm.

"General..."

"We brothers have been sworn brothers for a hundred years, and our bond is like that of siblings!"

"How can we stand idly by and watch our second brother suffer such a terrible fate!"

Song Hu raised his head, and the letter in his hand turned to ashes and disappeared.

His eyes reddened, and his voice was hoarse: "Let them fight a battle of magic, I'm not afraid they'll hide in the army and become unreachable!"

"I am going to go on a killing spree!"

"I will definitely retrieve Mingchen's head tomorrow and deliver it to the general."

"With the enemy's morale shattered, wouldn't it be much easier for the general to attack the city?!"

Unfortunately, Song Hu's thought process is different from Tian Hong's.

Now, the battle situation is no longer so important to him, and they no longer care about the battlefield conditions.

More importantly, they sought opportunities to fight and avenge their brothers.

Everyone here is a supernatural being with extraordinary abilities, possessing hidden strengths and confidence. Mingchen's provocation was like adding fuel to the fire, igniting Song Hu's anger even more fiercely.

grudges and feuds in the martial arts world, a tale of swift justice and revenge!

These cultivators are not soldiers; people with special powers are destined to be difficult to control.

Despite Song Hu's repeated insistence, Tian Hong was unable to give him any firm orders.

As Song Hu finished speaking, several of his brothers stepped forward.

"Big brother!"

"I'm going too! I want to avenge my second brother! I'll make that Mingchen taste my power!"

The third brother, who had just fled in haste, also looked annoyed. He raised his head and said bluntly, "Big brother, me too!"

"Brother, I'm going too!"

The five people were of one mind and shared a deep bond, like brothers.

If we go, we'll go together.

Even the sixth brother, whose spirits had just been broken, stood up, leaning on his wooden cane, and shouted to his eldest brother, "I'm going too!"

"it is good!"

Song Hu's gaze sharpened as he swept it across the determined faces of his brothers.

"In that case, let's go together!"

When they swore brotherhood, they said, "We don't ask to be born on the same day, month, and year, but we ask to die on the same day, month, and year."

Tang Guang died a tragic death, and his brothers are determined to seek justice for him.

(End of this chapter)