238 Raise the Flag! (1/2)
”What a bunch of ungrateful people! How could they stand the fact that they actually exist in this world? The heavens have no eyes for them!”
The bearded general did not speak softly, his voice was filled with contempt. ”What a humiliation to think that your father is actually serving in the military with such gross people!”
”I can't believe that the northern troops can really do something like this… They’re the most useless ones throughout these years of war, losing the most men and requiring the most help from the Nine Supremes. F*ck, it’s these people who got the Nine Supremes killed in the end!”
”Son of a b*tch… By the looks of it, they can kill even their own parents!”
”Of course! There’s no doubt about it. Come on, let us leave!”
”Wait for the command!”
”Let’s see if these fools can still be as proud when the evidence of their crime is confirmed! If they dare stir up another ruckus, your father will end all these bastards, even if I have to get myself beheaded and my entire family exterminated!”
The bearded general spoke harshly and brought his men away with a wave of his hand.
Drip, drip, drip…
The soldiers on duty refused to raise their heads, their tears falling to the ground drop after drop; the humiliation they felt was overbearing.
Gradually, the sobs grew in volume while outside, whispers floated around among the various troops.
”Our camp has raised the flag of vengeance for the Nine Supremes Lords respectively but why isn’t the flag raised here yet? Do they not hold the Nine Supremes Lords in regards at all? Don’t they want to avenge their lords?”
”That’s the northern troop you’re talking about. They were the ones who sent the Nine Supremes Lords to their doom. Not only do they lack the dignity to do so, I guess that they don’t even want to do it; dare not, at least!”
”So, it’s not just that m*therf*cker Yang Botao, even his subordinates are a bunch of cowards!”
”They don’t even dare erect the flag of vengeance for the Nine Supremes Lords… I wonder whether they are torn by guilt or feel nothing at all…”
”F*ck, don’t these people have the slightest bit of shame?”
”Your father is going mad just thinking about it… How many times have the Nine Supremes Lords saved the northern troops… How can a man be so void of conscience?”
”They aren’t even men. Why would they have any form of conscience? It’s long been devoured by the dogs!”
”Don't insult the dogs. Dogs don’t eat dark, vicious hearts...”
”If we really were to fight, your father shall be merciless! Kill them like the dogs they are!”
”Me too!”
”Here, here!”
”I told you not to insult the dogs! Dogs are the most loyal of creatures, which part of them could be compared to dogs?”
”Right you are...”
All the soldiers before the base entrance hung their heads low, but their necks were tilted harshly to glare at their leader with a side-eye; the hostility and killing intent were immense.
The leader’s head was hung low as well, his eyes rimmed red. He gritted his teeth and said, ”Wait here, I’ll go ask about it!”
”Quickly!”
”You should’ve gone long ago!”
Dozens of choked up voices roared in unison.
The leader wiped his tears away harshly and mounted his horse, leaving with an urgent whip to the flanks.
”General! Why didn’t our troop raise the flag of vengeance for the Nine Supremes Lords?”
The leader scrambled to the general’s tent, about to break down as he cried with a loud sob, ”The brothers from all other sides have raised the flags… Could it be that we, the northern troop, are really burdened with a guilty conscience?”
”What flag of vengeance are you talking about?” The general was stumped.
”The flag of vengeance to bring justice to the Nine Supremes Lords! Why didn’t the northern troop raise it?”
The leader was weeping openly, snot and tears running free on his face. ”Your father has been in the army for so many years, so numb to the life and death in the battlefield that your father has never cried! But your father has had enough today! Your father has been humiliated to the point that I dare not make another sound. I’ve never wished for an immediate death so badly!”
”When I heard that the Nine Supremes Lords were ambushed, your father made a slash on my own face, swearing with blood to avenge the lords’ death… When the time is finally here, it looks like the blame is actually on us!”
”Could it be that the rumors outside are true?”
”Could it be that our northern troop is really ungrateful?”
”Have we murdered our saviors? How could the brothers live with this knowledge?” The leader sobbed, grief wracking his body.
”Flag of vengeance?”
The general’s eyes were red-rimmed as well. ”Send some men to find out.”
”I’m not going!”
”I don’t want to!”
”Me neither!”
An assistant general was appointed, and he roared with a flushed face, ”Why am I the one to go? Why aren’t you going? What pride do I have to go out there? Your father doesn’t even have the face to face my own crotch, how can there be one to face the brothers from all other sides?”
The general’s eyes were spitting flame. ”All of you aren’t going out, are you?! F*ck the hell away then, your father shall go out to see it for me!”
The general kicked his horse and went away, coming back furiously almost instantly; his face was flushed, so were his eyes. He growled, ”Make the flag! Raise the flag!”
”Set up the altar!”