Chapter 37: War Isn’t Just About Fighting, It’s About Social Networking
As Sang Zhe stepped out of the prison gates, he was immediately struck by a chilling aura of impending conflict.
Although the surroundings looked the same and showed no signs of change,
the heavy atmosphere in the air made him unavoidably solemn.
Along the way, he saw many demon cultivators preparing formations and magic treasures, with large crates of spirit stones being hauled toward the mountain gate.
What surprised him was how few injured individuals he encountered along the way.
Could it be…?
Were the battle casualties so severe that none of the fighters made it back alive?
The thought sent a shiver down Sang Zhe’s spine.
No way.
He had to find Yan Rouwan quickly to get his money back.
Hurrying to the mountain gate, Sang Zhe spotted Tang Yubbing clad in a fitted robe, her golden chest armor failing to hide her curvaceous figure, commanding an air of majesty as she looked down the mountain.
“Oh, you’re here,” she said upon seeing him. Surprisingly, this time she wasn’t teasing him as usual but spoke seriously:
“Not something you’ve seen before, right? This is the real battlefield.”
Sang Zhe found himself mirroring her seriousness.
With trepidation, he glanced down the slope and saw several demon cultivators and righteous sect members in fierce combat.
The battlefield was intensely chaotic, with shouts of battle and cries of anguish echoing faintly.
Numerous blood-soaked demon cultivators were being helped back.
One demon cultivator who passed right by him seemed to have his leg broken in half, wailing in agony.
So this is what the true battlefield of the cultivation world looks like!
Sang Zhe felt a surge of respect.
But in the next moment,
as soon as that demon cultivator reached the mountain gate, he suddenly stopped crying.
With a composed expression, he adjusted his leg, then turned to discuss dinner plans with someone next to him.
Not just him.
Many injured demon cultivators who had been howling in despair moments ago returned looking none the worse for wear, chatting and joking as if nothing had happened.
Sang Zhe: “?”
“Big bro, didn’t you just break your leg??”
“Ah, of course, I was just pretending,” the demon cultivator replied casually. “You really think we’d risk our lives? How foolish!”
“In a fight, it’s just a bunch of shouting, throwing some skills around, you hit me, I hit you, and then we all go home a bit bruised.”
“No one really goes all out; that would be insane.”
“My monthly pay is only a few thousand. You expect me to risk my life?”
Sang Zhe: “… But the other side…”
“They’re the same.”
When Sang Zhe turned to look, he saw an identical scene.
On the Water Moon Sect side, disciples were looking beaten and bloodied, appearing utterly miserable.
Yet once they returned to their side, they miraculously returned to normal.
“Aren’t you a newcomer to the Heavenly Punishment Department?” an older member remarked with a world-weary expression. “Let me tell you, we mere foot soldiers are also human. We aren’t stupid.”
“In this kind of battle, risking our lives is pointless; it’s really about watching the high-level Crossing Tribulation Stage folks duke it out.”
“When the higher-ups tell us to fight, we just put on a show, cast a few spells to make a ruckus, and that’s it.”
“The other side knows it, too; they’re scared of dying and can’t lay it all on the line either.”
“So in the end, we all just act like we’re fighting, fooling our superiors is all it takes.”
Sang Zhe felt his worldview shatter.
So this is what they call war?
“Why has the shouting stopped?”
The demon cultivator gave him a look that said, “you’re still so naive,” and patted Sang Zhe on the shoulder.
“War isn’t just about killing; it’s about relationships and social conduct.”
“Kid, there’s still a lot for you to learn.”
So it turns out war can be about slacking off too.
Looks like everything in the world can be done half-heartedly; it’s not that I lack imagination, just that I haven’t honed my skills in that department yet.
Lesson learned. Sang Zhe gave a deep bow.
Tang Yubbing chuckled softly beside him and said, “You were also a disciple of a sect, so you should know what these guys are like.”
“They’re all elite selected from various sects and families, living lives of luxury and ease, with absolutely no worries.”
“They don’t have any deep-seated enmity with demon cultivators; why would they risk their necks for a fight?”
“Besides, they know as long as our Sect Leader is still on the mountain, no matter how hard they try, they won’t capture the gate. Who wants to die for nothing?”
That makes sense. Sang Zhe nodded, then asked, “What about the Sect Leader? Has she been battling Master Yu Xia for three hundred rounds already?”
“Nope.”
Tang Yubbing blinked and said, “The Sect Leader went out.”
“Went out?!” Sang Zhe looked baffled.
“Today is the day Fusa Pavilion releases its new comic book. The Sect Leader went out to queue up for the new issue.”
“B-but if the Sect Leader isn’t here and Master Yu Xia attacks personally…”
“Then we’re done for.”
What do you mean “then we’re done for”?
How can you say that so nonchalantly?!
“Relax,” Tang Yubbing said, patting his shoulder nonchalantly. “The other side doesn’t know whether the Sect Leader is here or not.”
“They haven’t figured out our strengths and weaknesses; they wouldn’t dare to attack recklessly.”
Despite Tang Yubbing’s confident words,
Sang Zhe still felt an inexplicable chill run down his back.
…With such an unreliable Sect Leader and even more unreliable subordinates,
am I really going to survive this?
——
——
Meanwhile, in Shi Qingyan’s cell.
Zhang Xiaoying was humming a little tune while cleaning the room.
With nothing to do while waiting for Sang Zhe to return, she couldn’t sit idly, so she decided to tidy up the place.
As she swept to the curtain, she casually pulled it aside.
But when she did, she nearly screamed.
Behind the curtain stood a pale, gaunt-looking woman with sunken eyes, who looked utterly lifeless and was weakly leaning against the railing.
“Senior Sister Shi… I didn’t know you were locked up here.”
“Little Ying…”
The moment Shi Qingyan saw Zhang Xiaoying, her nose suddenly tingled.
All of her pent-up emotions from this past period surged within her, making her want to throw herself into Zhang Xiaoying’s arms and cry out in longing.
Yet she couldn’t reach Zhang Xiaoying and could only cling to the railing, sobbing uncontrollably.
Zhang Xiaoying frowned.
She remembered that this woman had attempted to kill Sang Zhe several times, so she felt no sympathy whatsoever.
“Step aside, I need to sweep.”
“Xiaoying, that guy isn’t here right now; it’s a rare opportunity!”
Shi Qingyan suddenly grabbed Zhang Xiaoying’s hand, her expression wild with excitement as she said, “Unlock my chains; I swear I can save you and help you escape this misery!”
“No matter the cost, even if it means sacrificing my own life, I won’t regret it, for you…”
Zhang Xiaoying looked at her incredulously.
After patiently listening to her rambling on for ages, she finally said:
“Um… if you do get out of here, remember to turn left at the door, go two blocks down, and you’ll find the second building on the right.”
Shi Qingyan’s eyes lit up.
“Xiaoying, could that be your secret escape route already prepared?”
“No, that’s the demon cultivators’ mental health clinic.”
Zhang Xiaoying said earnestly, “I’ve heard their medical skills are quite good; don’t give up, okay?”
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