Chapter 91

PS. Here is today's update, and I'm also taking the opportunity to promote the 515 Fan Festival on Qidian. Everyone has 8 votes, and voting also gives Qidian coins. I humbly request everyone's support and appreciation!

As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

The special envoy from West Qin had been in the capital for almost a month, spending most of his time in verbal sparring with the foreign affairs personnel of Southern Chu. The West Qin people, emboldened by their great victory, were unyielding and unwilling to lower their demands. Southern Chu, despite the loss of their western border army, was much stronger in national strength. From the intelligence gathered from various sources, it was clear that the West Qin people were not willing to engage in a prolonged standoff with Southern Chu; they could not afford a large-scale war. With this understanding, Southern Chu was not willing to back down and even proposed a series of compensation demands to the West Qin people. The two sides argued daily in the capital, leading to a deadlock.

The Suicide Battalion seemed to have returned to its old way of life, with no one managing them, living freely and independently. The difference was that their leader was not in the camp. However, even though the tiger was not in the mountains, its influence remained, and the Suicide Battalion continued to operate as usual.

The monk still ran to the brothels whenever he had the chance, but he seemed to have been affected by something, as he no longer went to the women in the city but instead visited the women from the brothels that came from Jingjing Pass. Wild Dog was taken into the city by Zhang Xiaomao to recover, and the conditions in the city were much better than outside. Now, Wild Dog's wounds were beginning to heal, and although he could not use his strength or fight, his voice for cursing was getting stronger.

These two were content with their current lives, but the only one who felt depressed was Scissors. He had hoped that this war would bring him a major victory, which would allow him to completely clear his name. From then on, his past would be erased from the court's records, and he would become a clean and upright person, like Zhang Xiaomao, who could be transferred to another unit as a commandant. Scissors firmly believed he had the ability to do so, as anyone who had survived years of training in the Suicide Battalion and not died could stand on their own. Like Wolf Tooth, Leopard, and Little Cat.

Unfortunately, the first two were dead, and only Little Cat had a good fate, not only surviving but also marrying a wife who was now pregnant with his child.

Scissors felt a bit envious. If he had not been involved in that incident, his son could already be buying him wine.

Changing into civilian clothes, Scissors entered the city and found a tavern, where he silently drank his sorrows away. He was just one major victory away, but given the current situation, it was unclear when he would achieve it. The western border army had been completely defeated, and with the current strength at the border, it was not only impossible to attack but even to defend. If the West Qin people wished, they could invade Anyang County at any time, and the Suicide Battalion, with its current strength, was not enough to resist them.

It was not just a matter of military merit; it was more likely that they would be held responsible for the loss of territory.

He had originally thought that the court would certainly mobilize a large army to avenge the defeat, and even if the Suicide Battalion were to be the vanguard, he would have a chance. But now, this uncertain state was the most torturous. When he was far from clearing his name, he had no hope, but now, with only the final step left, he could not take it.

This made Scissors feel pain.

In the Suicide Battalion, Scissors only respected two people: his leader Qin Feng and the doctor Shuchang. Qin Feng had transformed him from a small-town merchant with only a passion for blood into a decisive military leader over the years, completely changing him into a different person. Shuchang had saved him from the brink of death multiple times, allowing him to sit here today, drinking and thinking about his life after clearing his name.

Scissors did not respect the other members of the Suicide Battalion, especially those like the monk. Even Zhang Xiaomao, he looked down upon. People like the monk, even if they were his comrades and had fought side by side with him on the battlefield, Scissors did not consider himself the same as them.

He was innocent, a criminal driven by revenge, while people like the monk and Zhang Xiaomao were inherently guilty.

Sighing and drinking another cup of wine, he was lost in his own sorrow and doubt.

Suddenly, someone sat down opposite him. Scissors did not even look up, growling, "Get lost!" His mood was terrible, and anyone who came from the Suicide Battalion carried a fierce and intimidating aura. Even the most dull people around him could feel the discomfort, so the area around Scissors was almost empty.

Scissors was immersed in his own sorrow and frustration, not wanting anyone to disrupt his current mood.

"Deputy Captain Duan Xuan, what a bad temper!" The person opposite him not only did not leave but laughed.

Scissors suddenly looked up, as he had not heard anyone call his real name in a long time. In the Suicide Battalion, everyone called each other by their nicknames, even if they disliked or hated them. Over the years, they had almost forgotten their real names, and even when they saw the roster of the Suicide Battalion, they might not associate Duan Xuan with Scissors.

"Who are you?" Scissors' eyes became sharp. The person opposite him was a thin old man, someone he did not recognize, and his accent was not from Anyang County, confirming that he was an outsider. For an outsider to find him and call him by his real name was not simple.

Scissors had come to the city today on a whim, and he had chosen a low-end tavern at random. He could not afford a high-end one, as he sent most of his monthly salary of twenty taels back home to his elderly parents in Qiushui City. Because of his incident, his father was retaliated against and had his legs broken, and his mother had cried herself blind, losing all ability to live. If it were not for his salary in the Suicide Battalion, they would have become beggars long ago.

The fact that he could be found so easily could only mean one thing: someone had been watching him, from outside the city, and had accurately found him.

Scissors felt a chill in his heart. Although his mood was bad and he was somewhat distracted, he was not so easily tracked. The fact that this old man found him without him noticing anyone following him could only mean that the person tracking him was skilled.

His hand holding the wine cup did not move, but his other hand slowly reached down to the side of his boot. He had not brought his iron sword into the city today, but he still had a small defensive weapon.

The old man smiled, slowly placing his hands on the table, as if covering something. He then opened it in front of Scissors, showing him what was inside, and quickly closed it again, putting it away.

Scissors' pupils contracted. What he saw was a golden inner guard badge, something only the highest-ranking core members of the inner guard possessed.

"Now you know who I am and where I come from, right? Deputy Captain Duan Xuan, can we talk somewhere else?" The old man said with a smile.

"What do you want to talk about? I am just a criminal, serving in the military to atone for my sins. A small fry like me doesn't seem to be worth your attention," Scissors looked at him in surprise.

"We have our reasons for finding you, Deputy Captain Duan Xuan. Are you going to refuse me?" The old man's smile slowly faded.

Scissors was silent for a moment.

"Where?"

The old man's smile returned, "Very good, this is a good start. Deputy Captain Duan Xuan, you will be happy with today's decision. Now, follow me, and we will find a quiet place to talk."

(I'm back from my business trip, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that my application for the Three Rivers has been approved. I will be on the Three Rivers next week, and I am very happy. I will work hard to write during the day and update another chapter in the evening, and then continue to write hard. Starting from tomorrow, I will update one chapter in the morning and one in the evening. Of course, I still hope that everyone will visit the Three Rivers page and cast a Three Rivers vote. Thank you.)

[The 515 is coming soon, and I hope to continue to impact the 515 Red Envelope List. On May 15th, the red envelope rain will reward readers and promote the work. Even a small amount is love, and I will definitely work hard to update!]

Page flip AD starts

Page flip AD ends