Chapter 485: Eternal Heroic Souls, Journey Continues [Part 2]

Chapter 485: Eternal Heroic Souls, Journey Continues [Part 2]



As soon as the Starlight Commander spoke, five more people stepped forward, defiantly crossing their arms and joining the line of dissenters. "I'm not convinced either!"

"Anyone else?"

No one dared to speak up.

"It seems only these fifty are unconvinced. Good, I admire their courage." The Starlight Commander smiled faintly, and with a clatter, his Nine-Ring Saber appeared in his hand.

A flash of light flickered.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden display.

In an instant, a surge of blood-red light erupted, and the heads of the eleven people at the front of the line cleanly detached from their necks, leaping into the air.

A thick aura of bloodthirstiness suddenly filled the air.

The newcomers were all shocked speechless.

No one expected the Starlight Commander, who presided over the Heavenly Escort Agency, to be so decisive and ruthless, killing five King Ranks and six Marquises with a single swing of his saber!

But this was clearly not the end.

The overwhelming wrath that shook the heavens chilled everyone to the bone, even slowing their thoughts.

The saber's blade gleamed as it slashed through the night sky, and the Starlight Commander charged into the crowd like a tiger among sheep. With each swing, three or four people fell, and in the blink of an eye, he had already mowed down forty-six!

They died so quickly that only the twentieth person managed to let out a pitiful scream.

The remaining four desperately drew their weapons, their faces deathly pale. "This... Grand Commander... Commander... this..."

The saber's light flickered, and with a few sharp cracks, the last four were struck down on the spot.

The Starlight Commander held his saber and cleanly decapitated the corpses on the ground, one by one.

He resembled a diligent farmer harvesting watermelons.

Everyone was stunned.

Many had cried out in shock earlier, but now they clamped their hands over their mouths, their eyes filled with fear, confusion, and panic.

A loud clanging sound echoed.

The Nine-Ring Saber, glowing red, was thrust into the table in front of the crowd, drawing everyone's attention.

Thick blood slowly dripped down the blade.

It flowed slowly, thick and viscous.

The stench of blood filled the air, overwhelming the senses.

The Starlight Commander glared at the remaining one hundred and eighty people, his eyes like those of an eagle surveying its prey.

"Any of you, who else is unconvinced? Come, step forward."

"Step forward and show your heroic spirit of challenging the rules."

"I'm a soft-hearted person. Living in this mortal world is truly painful, and I'll be sure to release you from your suffering."

The Starlight Commander spoke with a pleasant smile, his voice even carrying a hint of gentleness.

But who would dare step forward now? The remaining one hundred and eighty people trembled, their eyes filled with fear, lips tightly shut, afraid that a single scream might anger the Commander.

Their legs shook so much they could barely stand.

Cold sweat drenched their bodies, dripping down in streams.

They were all disciples of the One-Heart Sect's demon leader, having cultivated to their current state. Who knew how many times they had harmed the heavens and defied reason?

Killing was as common as eating for them.

But they had never encountered someone like this man, who, without any explanation, would slaughter fifty people for a simple expression of dissent. Not even a word of justification was offered.

The stench of blood thickened in the air.

In the depths of the night, the Starlight Commander stood before them in his black attire, like a demon floating in the night's mist.

"I have no need for dissenters here. So, these fifty people are dead!"

The Starlight Commander spoke calmly, "In the escort agency, there are rules to follow, but I lack the patience to explain them to each of you individually."

"Those who survive will eventually learn the rules. For those who don't, knowing the rules won't matter."

His eyes, like those of a venomous snake, scanned the one hundred and eighty people.

"Do you understand?" he asked with a chilling tone.

"Yes, we understand!" they replied in unison.

"Zheng Yunqi!"

"Present!"

"Clean up this mess. Don't leave any corpses. Each of them is missing a piece of their heart, and if someone were to dig it out, it would expose us all."

The Starlight Commander reclined in the armchair, crossing his legs, and said with dissatisfaction, "Clean it up properly!"

"Yes!"

Zheng Yunqi immediately selected a group of ten people, who skillfully produced burlap sacks.

In an instant, they stuffed the bodies into the sacks and carried them to a large pit nearby—it was then that everyone realized the pit had been prepared in advance.

Given the depth of the pit, it seemed capable of holding a thousand bodies without issue...

The bodies were thrown into the pit, followed by handfuls of corpse powder being sprinkled over them.

Sizzling...

The bodies began to dissolve.

Meanwhile, on the other side, some swept the floor, others washed it, and a few more mopped it dry. Finally, a few people even sprinkled perfume, leaving the area spotless and fragrant.

Their movements were swift and practiced, as if they had performed this task countless times before.

The task was completed in one go.

The one thousand newcomers... no, the one thousand people were dumbfounded, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

They were too skilled!

Were they an escort agency or a den of robbers? The efficiency with which they disposed of the bodies and erased all traces was chilling. It seemed like a well-rehearsed routine, and the mere thought of it was terrifying.

"Reporting to the Commander, the cleanup is complete."

The Starlight Commander rose lazily from the armchair and said nonchalantly, "Dismissed.

I counted to ten, and immediately, everyone gathered."

A loud rustling sound filled the air.

Everyone ran, disappearing without a trace.

Since we're disbanding, let's do it thoroughly.

But if it's not thorough, the Chief Commander won't be satisfied.

The nine hundred and fifty newcomers, especially, ran faster than the rest because they understood that the Chief Commander was establishing his authority over us.

Each of them felt a sense of dread.

It was just a show of authority, but in a single encounter, he killed fifty people!

We one thousand people aren't enough for him to kill a few times.

Just as the dismissal ended, the Chief Commander roared, "Assemble!"

"Nineteen, eighteen, seventeen..." He began counting rapidly.

The frequency of his counting was much faster than before.

Everyone snapped into formation with a whoosh, standing in perfect rows.

Their speed was undoubtedly the pinnacle of their lives.

"...One!" The Starlight Commander finished counting the last number, and everyone stood in impeccable formation, not daring to move a muscle.

They held their breath, staring at the Starlight Commander.

Waiting for the Chief Commander to speak.

Then, they clearly saw the dissatisfaction on the Starlight Commander's face.

And... his hands itched.

After saying 'one,' the Chief Commander's hand instinctively reached out and grabbed the hilt of the Nine-Ring Saber.

The saber clattered in response.

When the Chief Commander's eyes met theirs, his face clearly showed disappointment and discontent.

Everyone understood what this meant: Damn! How can they be so fast! I can't even find a reason to kill a few of them! Frustrating!

"How can you be so fast!"

The Chief Commander's eyes flashed with murderous intent, but his voice was surprisingly gentle. "Not bad, very good. Your speed and agility are impressive, and you're quick-witted. I'm very pleased."

"However, in a moment of impulse, I also killed a few people. Right now, I regret it. It's truly unnecessary. We're colleagues; there's no need to be so heavy-handed."

The Starlight Commander sighed and said, "If any of you have opinions, feel free to speak up. Don't hold back. I don't usually get angry."

"If anyone feels I'm being unfair, you can also step forward."

"And if anyone disagrees, you can also speak up."

The Starlight Commander looked at the team before him with expectant eyes, "Don't be afraid. Step forward without hesitation."

"Your Excellency, we have no objections," they replied.

Everyone shook their heads in unison.

It was a joke.

Who would dare to step forward?

It's clear you haven't had enough killing, and you're trying to bait us. If I really stepped forward, wouldn't I be a fool?

And I'd be a dead fool at that!

"Not a single person has an opinion?" The Starlight Commander asked in surprise.

"We have no objections."

"No one has any thoughts?"

"We have no thoughts!"

"No one disagrees?"

"We submit!"

"Damn it... at least one of you should step forward... Are you all saying those fifty people deserved to die?"

"Those fifty people were disrespectful to their superiors. They broke the law and deserved to die!"

"..." The Starlight Commander was speechless.

Frowning, he looked at the group before him, his temples throbbing, eyes flashing with murderous intent.

Finally, he sighed and said, "Since no one has any objections, that's good."

Only then did he remove his hand from the hilt of the saber, reluctantly taking his eyes off the blade.

"Zhao Wushang!"

"At your service, Chief Commander!"

"With nine hundred and fifty newcomers joining the Escort Agency, you read out the rules. Make sure everyone understands. If anyone disagrees, just let me know."

"Yes, Chief Commander!"

Zhao Wushang began to turn and recite the rules of the Escort Agency.

One by one, he explained each rule in detail.

Below, the nine hundred and fifty newcomers stood with ears perked up, listening intently and memorizing.

It could be said that they had never studied so diligently in their lives.

"You have one evening to memorize these rules."

"Tomorrow morning, we'll have an immediate exam. Those who fail will be executed on the spot!"

The Starlight Commander gave the order directly.

Apparently, he hadn't had enough killing earlier.

But as soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.

Fail the exam and be executed? Damn...

Yet, not a single person dared to voice any objection!

"For those who pass the exam, we'll see if your faces pass the test, if your looks are acceptable. As for those who fail, they'll be corpses, so there's no need to care about their appearance."

"I'll be here tomorrow morning. If I arrive before the first wave is done, you two won't need to be deputy chiefs anymore."

"Yes, Chief Commander!"

The Starlight Commander finished his instructions and turned to leave without even glancing at the remaining nine hundred.

But the nine hundred and fifty newcomers were already convinced, not daring to move a muscle. In his eyes, they were just a bunch of corpses... What's there to be angry about?

"Farewell, Chief Commander!"

The Starlight Commander left.

Only then did Zhao Wushang begin his lecture: "The nine hundred and fifty newcomers, assemble in the main hall."

As they entered the main hall and closed the door, he began his lecture with a frown: "Do you feel surprised?

It had to be said, did they think this was still the One Heart Sect acting as demons? Each and every one of them had no sense of decorum! I, along with Deputy Chief Escorter Zheng, came down from our headquarters, and we didn't dare to slack off, but you all? Who do you think you are? Killing a few dozen people is nothing to our Starlight Commander."

"Do you still think this is a branch of the One Heart Sect? Do you know that after doing well here, the headquarters will directly issue a commission? Yet, you all came here and acted so unruly, and you still dare to be disobedient? Hmph... Our Commander doesn't have time to slowly reform you. If you're not obedient, you'll be killed!"

"If you're not afraid to die, come and get it!"

"Your bright future is right here. The more you kill, the more others will come to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You all have been running around in the jianghu for too long, haven't you? You've developed some bad habits!"

"The rules, I've already recited them once for you. Anyway, tomorrow morning at dawn, the exam will begin. I'm not interested in reciting them again, I don't have the time!"

"Anyway, tomorrow morning there's an exam, and those who fail will die! There's nothing more to say!"

"Now, dismiss!"

"Don't even think about running away. You can try to escape if you want, but the consequences are on you!"

Zhao Wushang said indifferently, "I still have plenty of corpse powder left, and I haven't used it all up yet."

"There's no need to talk about being strict or having a stern expression. We only accept those who are qualified. As for those who are not, tomorrow they will be turned into corpses. Why bother having a good expression?"

After saying this, he waved his hand, "At dawn, the horn will blow to signal the start of the exam. Those who are late will be executed! Those who are unqualified will be executed! Those who run away will have their entire family killed! Those who resist will have their entire clan exterminated!"

"Now, dismiss! All of you scram!"

The lecture was over.

Nine hundred and fifty people were as silent as cicadas in winter.

Zhao Wushang had already turned and left.

After that...

Over nine hundred people rushed out, like their butts were on fire, to find the previous escorters and ask for help: "Brother, please tell me the rules, I beg you..."

"Brother, big brother, please help me and explain..."

These people had slightly higher cultivation than the original group, so when they first arrived, they all had their eyes on their foreheads, looking down on the original group.

Now, everyone had changed. That kind of flattery and pleading for favor was written all over their faces.

Some people even knelt down: "Please explain it to us, brother... I beg you, the Deputy Chief Escorter spoke too fast, and I didn't remember anything..."

The original escort agency's people were not unreasonable. At first, they put on a little bit of an act, but after a while, they accepted the good intentions and started explaining.

Over nine hundred people were seriously taking notes with their pens.

They dared not slack off even a little.

Everyone's eyes were wide open, almost emitting a blue light. This exam was a matter of life and death! Everyone was silently lamenting in their hearts: This situation, no one had mentioned it before coming here...

I've never heard of an exam with the danger of beheading...

At dawn, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

The assessment was held as scheduled.

The atmosphere in the Heavenly Escort Agency was solemn to the extreme.

After the exam, the papers were immediately graded.

As expected, out of nine hundred and fifty people, not a single one was unqualified, and almost all of them scored full marks!

Under the pressure of death, their learning potential had been fully stimulated.

You could choose not to study, but if you weren't afraid to die, then that was your choice.

But this wasn't a matter of being afraid to die or not; it was... just for this little thing, they would be beheaded and lose their lives, which was really too unjust.

So, everyone was determined to study hard.

Finally, everyone breathed a temporary sigh of relief.

"Don't get too happy too soon. You all look so fierce and evil, I estimate that more than sixty percent of you will need plastic surgery."

An old escorter quietly reminded them.

"Plastic surgery? How will it be done?" Everyone felt a chill down their spines, and an ominous premonition arose.

"How else can it be done? Use a knife to carve it, of course."

"Ah?"

The sun rose warmly, but none of those waiting for the Starlight Commander felt a trace of its warmth.

Everyone was trembling.

Finally, the Starlight Commander arrived, walking in the sunlight.

With his hands behind his back, he strolled into the Heavenly Escort Agency.

"Good morning, how many did you execute?"

This question caused everyone's hearts to sink.

"They all got full marks, Chief Escorter."

"Bullshit!"

The Starlight Commander was immediately dissatisfied: "You recited the rules so quickly last night, how could they all be full marks? Did you go easy on them? There are over nine hundred people, how could you possibly handle so many? Are you just here to freeload?"

The malice and murderous intent in these words were as clear as day.

"Chief Escorter, this is what happened..."

Zheng Yunqi stepped forward to explain.

"You ruined my big plan!" The Chief Escorter glared at the original group from the Heavenly Escort Agency, causing them to lower their heads in shame.

They didn't even dare to meet his gaze.

"Start inspecting their appearances, and ask if they cherish their current faces and are unwilling to undergo plastic surgery."

Before he could finish asking, over nine hundred people spoke in unison: "We are willing to undergo plastic surgery!"

So, the Starlight Commander, feeling very dissatisfied, began inspecting their appearances.

Then, he ordered the plastic surgery.

"This plastic surgery, there's so much excess flesh on the face, do you want to ruin the appearance?"

"This ear is missing a piece, so during the plastic surgery, just cut off this ear, and take half of the other ear."

They were all wanted criminals, and they didn't even know how to hide their identities."

"This won't do. Knock out three teeth from each side of his mouth to make his face collapse."

"The mole on his nose is too obvious. Shave it off!"

"And this... Such a unique hairstyle, why bother? Are you afraid others won't recognize you as a demon? Shave it!"

"No, this won't do either!"

"..."

By the end of the morning, more than eighty percent of the people had changed their appearances.

Blood flowed like a small river, gushing and splashing...

Only then did the Starlight Commander reluctantly express his satisfaction.

"Starting now, you will learn the rules, etiquette, the Code of Conduct, and the routes of the escort agency... Then there will be a major exam every three days. You and Zheng Yunqi are in charge!"

The Starlight Commander said indifferently, "Those who fail, for the first time, will be dealt with using the Bone-Breaking Technique, at least three times. The second time, kill them directly; no need to inform me."

"Yes, sir."

"Can you complete the reorganization within ten days?" The Starlight Commander asked with a strong hint of malice.

"We will definitely complete the reorganization!"

"I will conduct random inspections."

The Starlight Commander said indifferently, "I hope no one will be caught by me."

With his hands behind his back, he looked around at the crowd, his eyes cold and murderous intent filling the air.

After observing the entire group, he said, "For the escort agency positions, we need eight hundred and twenty people. Currently, there are one hundred and thirteen extra. Since you've come to the escort agency, you all know what kind of place this is. It's impossible for you to leave here alive and spread rumors outside."

"So... These one hundred and thirteen unlucky souls will have to be chosen from among you."

"Ladies and gentlemen."

The Starlight Commander smiled cruelly, "Take care of yourselves."

In a flash, he disappeared without a trace.

His work here was done, and the rest was up to Zhao Wushang and Zheng Yunqi to win over these people with both kindness and authority.

It must be said that with the Starlight Commander's groundwork, it was as easy as turning over one's palm for Zhao Wushang and Zheng Yunqi to win over this group.

After arriving here, these people had nowhere else to go but to stay.

The Supreme Leader of the Seal Deity Palace had made it clear: If you can't stay in the Heavenly Escort Agency, don't bother returning. Just die! So, there was only one path for them.

There was no need to worry about who would be in charge here, whether it was the King of Hell or the Soul Reapers.

In fact, it didn't even take ten days.

Within seven days, nine hundred and fifty people had already met the standard for reorganization.

To put it bluntly: Even dogs raised from a young age were more obedient and understood the rules better than them.

Moreover, under the constant brainwashing by Zheng Yunqi and the original escort agency personnel, this group of people had developed a deep admiration for the Starlight Commander, to the point of being convinced and even worshipping him.

This was indeed a miracle, and it was difficult to comprehend the psychology of this group.

Zhao Wushang and Zheng Yunqi were working diligently to process their identities.

During these seven days, the Starlight Commander, aside from a few visits to the escort agency, spent most of his time indulging in feasting and drinking.

The banquet at the White Cloud Martial Academy.

The banquet at the Guardian Hall.

Feasting on the precious Black-Eyed White Bear meat, one meal after another.

Fang Che also brought out a large amount of resources from the Heavenly Escort Agency and, under the name of the General Overseer of the Guardian Headquarters, conducted a poverty alleviation campaign throughout the White Cloud Continent.

It was also a way to do something for the people before leaving.

Taking advantage of the dark night, they also cleaned up the notorious common thugs and hooligans across the White Cloud Continent.

The bloodshed was overwhelming, with rivers of blood flowing.

There was no mercy shown!

While this action was a violation of the law, as these thugs did not deserve death, Fang Che concealed his identity and acted like a thief.

Others might have felt great psychological pressure doing this, but Fang Che was unconcerned.

However, the people of the White Cloud Continent rejoiced.

On the eighth day.

In the square, incense and candles filled the sky, and smoke rose.

Fang Che lit the incense and candles, bidding farewell to the tens of thousands who had died at the hands of the Dream Demon.

Also bidding farewell to the countless innocent people who had died at the hands of the Only Righteous Sect over the years.

He stood silently amidst the rising smoke, his face hidden, his expression unreadable.

In the evening.

He arrived at the West Mountain Cemetery.

Bidding farewell to Ren Chang, Tang Zheng, Zuo Guanglie, and others.

The incense and candles flickered.

"Ren Chang, are you well now?"

"Tang Zheng, do you regret this life? If there is a next life, will you still fight? If you are blessed in your next life, there will be no Only Righteous Sect, and you will live a life free of disasters and hardships."

"Old Zuo..."

Fang Che stood woodenly, silently speaking in his heart.

Eternal heroic souls, the journey continues.

After a long while.

He finally turned and left.

And on this very night.

On Fengyun Qi's Heaven-Churning Wrath Peak, a torrential downpour raged.

The world was nearly invisible.

Fengyun Qi and Fang Laoliu, who were playing chess and chatting, also welcomed two unexpected guests.

"How did you get here?"

Both Fengyun Qi and Fang Laoliu were stunned.

The first person to leave here was none other than Xue Fumiao, but the other person was even more startling.

Gentle and elegant, calm and composed, it was none other than the Chief Strategist of the Guardians, Dongfang Sansan.

This was truly terrifying!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end