Chapter 8: My Strength Is Entirely the Result of My Own Hard Work!
“Pfft!”
The steel blade plunged fiercely into the waist of the Rongdi soldier. The soldier’s eyes widened in disbelief. He looked down at the blade embedded in his side, then back up at Zhao Ergou, his eyes filled with fury and unwillingness.
“You... you ambushed me...” he gasped.
“Ambush?” Zhao Ergou sneered disdainfully. “On the battlefield, what’s ambush or not? I’m here to take your life!”
With a sudden yank, he pulled out the steel blade and kicked the Rongdi soldier to the ground. Then he turned to Qian Dashan, laughing heartily. “Brother Qian, how’s that? Pretty fierce, huh?”
Qian Dashan twitched at the corner of his mouth, unable to hide a slight grimace. This kid was really... too flashy!
“Brother Ergou, on the battlefield, swords have no eyes. Your technique... it’s too conspicuous. Sure, it kills fast, but it tends to attract tough opponents,” Qian Dashan said loudly, patting Zhao Ergou’s shoulder with a reminder.
Damn it, after so many years of fighting, he’d never seen anyone like Zhao Ergou—always targeting the enemy’s vital points, so clean and decisive!
This kid was practically a born killing god! But too flashy, easy to get targeted.
“Hahaha, Brother Dashan, don’t worry! I know what I’m doing! Besides, if you’re not flashy, how do you make merit in battle? I’ll take the front line, so you all can kill the enemy safely! A real man born into this world should live boldly and gloriously!” Zhao Ergou laughed loudly, radiating an intimidating sharpness.
He patted his chest confidently. “Brother Dashan, just watch. Sooner or later, I’ll kill that bastard properly and earn some big military honors!”
Qian Dashan shook his head helplessly at Zhao Ergou’s soaring confidence. This kid was fearless, truly fearless.
Yet deep down, he knew this fearless spirit was exactly what they needed on the battlefield.
“Alright, as long as you know what you’re doing, just be careful out there!” Qian Dashan warned.
“Don’t worry, Brother Dashan! I’m tough as nails! Even the King of Hell wouldn’t dare take me!” Zhao Ergou laughed, then charged back into the fray.
Like a runaway wild horse, he barreled through the battlefield, wherever he went, carnage followed.
Every swing of his blade carried the force of thunder, every kill accompanied by the enemy’s agonized screams.
For him, this was more than a fight—it was a stage for self-expression!
He wanted everyone to know that he, Zhao Ergou, was the brightest star on the battlefield!
Time passed by the minute, the brutal fighting continuing until dusk.
The sunset’s afterglow bathed the city walls, making the mottled bloodstains stand out sharply.
The Rongdi forces retreated like a receding tide, leaving behind heaps of corpses and chaos.
Zhao Ergou stood proudly, leaning on his blade, its edge stained with the fresh blood of enemies, gleaming with a ferocious light.
He glanced around—the walls piled high with bodies, the earth soaked red with blood.
The heavy stench of blood filled the air, yet it did nothing to dampen his spirits.
He took a deep breath, savoring the metallic scent, feeling a surge of power course through him.
During the brief lull, both sides began gathering the fallen soldiers’ bodies.
The north wind howled, whipping up swirling yellow dust, and the banners atop the walls flapped fiercely.
The fiery sun hung like a massive ball of fire on the horizon, casting the land in a blood-red hue.
The defenders showed no cheer or joy; their faces were etched with solemn gravity.
They silently carried their fallen comrades, eyes brimming with sorrow and rage.
Zhao Ergou gazed at the dying sun, his heart swelling with grand ambition.
He saw the brothers who had fought by his side now lying cold and lifeless.
Their sacrifice only fueled his fighting spirit!
He vowed to avenge those who had fallen, to wipe out their enemies!
He kicked the bodies of the Rongdi soldiers off the walls, leaving them to be devoured by wild beasts.
Blood soaked the bricks on the walls, shining with an eerie glow under the sunset.
“Blood-red sun, crescent moon like a hook, how many men have fought on these battlefields!” Zhao Ergou howled to the sky, his voice filled with heroic grandeur and tragic sorrow.
“Stop howling and get back to formation!” a squad leader’s gruff voice cut through his chant.
Zhao Ergou reined in his emotions and strode toward the ranks.
Along the way, the squad leader patted his shoulder. “Thanks for what you did today.”
Zhao Ergou smiled. “We’re brothers. No need for thanks.”
Orders for relief had been issued; their battalion could finally rest for a while.
On the way back to camp, Zhao Ergou noticed that their squad, once ten strong, was now down to six.
The loss of four brothers saddened him, but what overwhelmed him more was an indescribable excitement.
He understood—this was the battlefield, this was war!
Only the strongest survived!
And he, Zhao Ergou, was the strongest!
Silence—heavy, oppressive silence.
Others might have felt fear, but not Zhao Ergou.
He lifted his head, straightened his chest, and fixed his gaze firmly ahead.
He knew he was destined to carve out his own legend on this battlefield!
The battlefield was Zhao Ergou’s stage!
Here, he would shine with all his brilliance!
The soldiers retreated back into the city.
The townsfolk, seeing the defenders’ victory, naturally rejoiced—they depended on the garrison for their lives.
The borderlands’ people’s fate rested entirely on the defenders’ strength!
Within the city were few residents, many of whom were stranded merchant caravans.
Now that the Rongdi army blocked the gates, these caravans had no choice but to stay, watching the chaos unfold.
Back in camp, Zhao Ergou was the first to eat!
After a day of brutal combat, the brothers were utterly exhausted, but he remained spirited.
That afternoon, he swung his great blade from East Penglai Road to West Penglai Road—thrilling and unrestrained!
His blade was already dulled!
One word: exhilarating!
The two garrisons that had manned the walls were full strength at dawn, but by evening, only half had returned alive.
Only after lying down did Zhao Ergou have time to check how much Killing Spirit he had accrued that afternoon.
Name: Zhao Ergou
Race: Human
Realm: Mid Martial Disciple (plus)
Skill: [“Dog Suppression Technique” (Intermediate)]
Strength: 700 jin
Talent: Bronze Archer (plus)
Killing Spirit: 70
Seventy points of Killing Spirit! Not bad, not bad!
He had 25 points left in the morning, and after cutting down over thirty riffraff in the afternoon, he had gained 45 points!
“Huh? Didn’t one kill only yield one point before? Could it be because I performed so well, exceeding expectations?”
Looking at the 70 points with the adorable little plus sign next to his martial realm, what did that mean?
Zhao Ergou knew he was ready to level up again!
“My strength all comes from my own effort!”
One-click to allocate points!
In an instant, an explosive force detonated inside him, every cell rejoicing!
The feeling was damn exhilarating!
Zhao Ergou felt his body, flesh, and bones undergoing a metamorphosis as if reborn!
At the same time, the cultivation experience and memories of the Dog Suppression Technique flooded into his mind like a tidal wave!
It was as if he had practiced the technique a thousand times—the memories and experience deeply etched into his soul!
The enhancement was finally complete!