The Demonic World I designed
Chapter 134 - 134 127 Human Heart

134: Chapter 127: Human Heart…

134: Chapter 127: Human Heart…

“The root of the calamity that overturns the Great Jin?”

This topic was so grave that Hong Lie instantly lost his appetite for meat, he stared with his big, bell-like eyes at the other person and asked, “Are you exaggerating that much?”

Wu You said solemnly, “The men who come to the north to join the army are spirited and valiant fellows.

The Great Jin Dynasty has a ten-year military enlistment system, but when old soldiers complete those ten years, they generally can’t stay on.

You know the reason for that, don’t you?”

Upon hearing this, Hong Lie fell silent.

Of course, he knew.

After all, those who went north did so seeking to earn military honors, since it was a new dynasty and the common people could survive just by farming.

If they didn’t harbor some ambition, who would be willing to do the life-risking work in the north?

But once in the army, they came to understand that there were no opportunities at all.

All the honors and noble titles—there was no chance for you to earn them.

For ordinary people who wanted to achieve military glory on horseback, they might as well be reading and passing the imperial examinations, because if one has a talent for studying, there’s still a chance to become an official.

But in the army, without lineage…

you will always just be a soldier!

—————————————

The worries that Wu You had were actually starting to ferment.

More and more soldiers of the Black Dragon Army began to covertly foster good relations with the gatekeepers, like today, when Maozi and a few others were quietly invited by a Centurion and a group of soldiers from the Black Dragon Army to go drink secretly on North Street.

Although the population of Lyuzhou has been replenished, there hasn’t been much circulation of goods and people.

Everyone was still living on the rations distributed, and places of amusement like markets and wine houses, which were once common, were now closed.

Nonetheless, from time to time, some soldiers would sneak into the former wine houses on North Street for secret gatherings.

Both Chen Qing and Xu Hu turned a blind eye to this behavior.

After all, battling the living dead every day and constantly training to toughen up the body made for a hard and perilous life.

Not allowing some indulgence during rest periods would not be good for morale.

Lately, the Black Dragon Army that Wu You and others had led had slowly begun integrating into the city’s border defense.

In order to gather information, they occasionally bribed the gate guards with the alcohol from their ships.

After a while, the soldiers of the Black Dragon Guard managed to maintain quite a good relationship with Lyuzhou’s city defense army.

This was initially within Wu You’s plans, but he hadn’t anticipated that little by little, his own soldiers would be led astray…

“Come on, Brother Mao, have another drink!”

The big man urging drinks was Di Yun, a Centurion of the Black Dragon Guard.

The man was eight feet tall, broad-shouldered, and round-waisted, with a full beard that made him look quite bold and generous.

Maozi and the others had their faces flushed with drink, but they were still sensible enough to wave it off, “Eh, no more, no more.

I’ve got duty in the morning.

It wouldn’t be good if I drink too much and mess things up.”

“Eh, what are you afraid of with Brother Mao’s skills?

Just let those below handle the rough work at the city gates.

Today I brought all the best wine from my private stock on the ship—no leaving until we’re all drunk!”

Maozi responded with a laugh and a shake of his head, “How dare I be so negligent?”

“Eh, brother, you’re too modest.” Another tall soldier chimed in, “I’ve been a soldier for many years, and Brother Mao’s skills are exceptional.

Even among the Northern Army’s Personal Soldiers, you’d stand out, surely qualifying for a warrior’s position.

With your abilities, why should you care about other people’s opinions while manning the city gates?”

“Skills?” Maozi sipped his drink and sighed, shaking his head, “I, well, just had the advantage of coming a few days earlier, earned a temporary position as captain of the gate.

It’s not as secure as you say.

Many of the brothers who came later are fiercely catching up, performing more impressively with each martial contest.”

“Martial contest?” Di Yun’s eyes narrowed as he quickly asked, “I have heard of it, but I don’t know the details.

What is that for?”

“It’s a selection…

uh…” Maozi burped after a drink and said, “Gate God has been learning from the Tiger Guard Army recently, holding a competition every ten days to test everyone’s strength, agility, and all-around abilities.

Those with higher rankings get more from the next blessing distribution.

If I slack off for a while, those brothers as fierce as wolves will overtake me in no time.

That’s what happened to a brother of mine in the Tiger Guard Army; he was replaced as the squad leader by one of his subordinates.”

“Oh?

Blessing distribution?” Di Yun and the others around him lit up, quickly exchanged looks, and hurriedly continued to ask, “What’s that?”

Maozi secretly smirked, remembering the higher-ups’ reminders, and said in a rough manner, “Where do you think I got my current skills from?”

As he spoke, Maozi raised his hand, and the wine in the cup was lifted by a gust of wind, swirling in the air to form droplets of wine, magically like a trick, leaving the Black Dragon Guard breathless!

This is it!!!

Over the past ten days or so, they had found out that those gate guards used to be ordinary hunters and farmers, and it was only after they became gate guards in Lyuzhou that they gained this power.

This…

a power that was supposed to be exclusive to those with special bloodlines!!

“Only after joining the gate guards can one receive the blessings from the Gate God,” Maozi said with a chuckle, “But the Gate God’s blessings are not infinite.

The distribution to each person depends on their abilities and effort.

After every blessing, we feel a surge of strength flowing into our bodies.

However, to master this strength, we must constantly train and toughen our bodies to maximize its potential.

In the beginning, everyone was about the same, but as the Gate God’s blessings became more frequent, the gaps between us started to widen.”

“That Luo Haozi, who joined with me, was too negligent.

Now, just a month later, he can’t even withstand a single exchange with me during a match; the gap is getting bigger and bigger.

Let me tell you, being a soldier in Lyuzhou, everyone must give it their all.

Slack off and, before you know it, others will leave you so far behind you won’t even see their heels!”

Hearing this, the bodies of the Black Dragon Guard members tensed inexplicably.

These hunters had only been soldiers in Lyuzhou for a month and already had such strength.

And judging by this guy’s tone, they were making huge strides every day.

A moment’s carelessness, and they could be overtaken by those behind them.

Seeing Maozi’s vexed expression, they somehow felt a blockage in their chests.

Because back when they were in the army, the soldiers from families with special bloodlines never had such worries.

Those people…

never feared being caught up to by ordinary soldiers like them…

Some things were just destined from birth, having nothing to do with you…

But here…

it seemed different!

Di Yun watched the man, his heart, which had cooled, unexpectedly began to beat with the sort of yearning he felt when he first joined the army nine years ago.

Every old soldier who survived longed for that power, a power that fundamentally set them apart from ordinary people!

“I really envy you, Brother Mao,” Di Yun said, not urging another drink but pouring one for himself instead, “I wonder if I’ll ever have a chance like you in this lifetime…”

“What’s not to have?” Maozi said in a drunken state, “Brothers, all of you are practitioners, much stronger than we were back in the day.

If you could join the Tiger Guard Army or the Gate Deity Army, you’d definitely be more formidable than us.”

“Maozi, you’re jesting.” Di Yun responded with a chuckle, “Opportunities like that are once in a century, how could it be our turn?”

“Really?” Maozi wore a puzzled face, “Isn’t there an expansion coming in a few days?

Especially the Tiger Guard Army.

I heard they’re stepping up their search and rescue efforts, seems like they want to double in size.

There will be quite a few people participating in the selection process then.”

The hearts of Di Yun and the others skipped a beat once more!

“I’ve heard about that Tiger Guard Army too.

But these braves usually hang around outside the city.

How do they compare to you guys?”

“Certainly more fierce…” Maozi sighed, “The Tiger Guard Army was established later than the Gate God’s Guard, but there are already dozens of them who have advanced to the second tier.

Right now, in our Gate God’s Guard, there are only two who’ve made it to the second tier.”

“Second tier?” The group asked curiously, “What is that?”

“I heard from those above us it’s a kind of realm.

Those at the second tier can take their power with them, unlike us, whose strength diminishes once we’re away from the divine presence,” Maozi patiently explained, “So second-tier individuals can participate in rescue missions further afield.”

“Take their power with them?” Di Yun could no longer sit still because General Wu You had told them that the power here was not righteous, it was like a mirage; once far from that so-called divinity, the power would vanish—but this guy said…the power could be taken with them?

“Ah, it should mean…” Maozi scratched his head, finding it a bit difficult to explain, “It’s said that those at the second tier can form their own foundation of power within their bodies, which is why they can take their strength with them.

I don’t understand it myself, but basically, if you get powerful enough, you can do that.

The two second-tier individuals from our gate guards have already been taken by the Prefectural Governor and I heard that they’ll soon lead their own teams to guard the gate of townships and county cities.”

“To lead their own teams, huh…” Di Yun swallowed.

It seems…

it’s true…

The truth was, even if the power couldn’t be taken with them, Di Yun and the others still deeply craved it.

Old soldiers like them, who had served in the army for nearly a decade, all yearned for it after witnessing what those of noble bloodlines possessed—not one of them didn’t regret wishing they had the same bloodline, confident they would be a hundred, a thousand times stronger than those pampered scions!

Even if the power was fleeting, they really wanted to have it…

After the feast ended and Maozi and others left, the Black Dragon Guards continued to drink in silence, their hearts growing heavier with every word they heard.

A hunter…

why should he?

“I’m going to apply for the Tiger Guard Army!” Di Yun, who had drunk two large bowls, slammed his bowl down and stood up resolutely.

“Boss…

that…

might not be possible, right?” Someone said timidly from beside him.

“Why not?” Di Yun’s eyes were red as he pointed toward where Maozi and the others had departed, “If hunters can do it, farmers can do it, even beggars can do it, why can’t we?

We are battle-hardened elites.

We will join Lyuzhou’s cause, and I don’t believe they won’t have us!”

“Di Yun, calm down!”

A deep voice came from inside; it was a man about the same height as Di Yun, a centurion from the Black Dragon Guard, who seemed more composed.

“Calm down?” Di Yun charged over and grabbed him, “Old Li, can you keep your cool?

Can you honestly say you haven’t thought about it at all these past ten days?”

“Calm down!” Old Li punched Di Yun in the face, sending him reeling back several meters and roared in a low voice, “What are you trying to do?

Defect?”

Di Yun wiped the blood from his mouth, “We are soldiers of the Great Jin, how can it be called defection?”

Old Li was furious, about to speak again, but suddenly realized that around eighty percent of the soldiers had unconsciously positioned themselves behind Di Yun!

“What are you…

planning to do?”

“Old Li…” Di Yun’s voice was hoarse, “Stop pretending, I’ve seen it.

Every night you go and watch those Tiger Guard Army training, and you can’t bear to come back even late at night, you fancy it more than you do old ladies!”

“I was gathering intelligence for General Wu!” Old Li’s voice grew a lot louder, but his eyes dodged involuntarily.

“Really?” Di Yun snorted, “Then why haven’t you reported back after all these days of investigation?”

“Di Yun…” Old Li gasped for air, “General Wu…

has not been unfair to me and my brothers!”

“He hasn’t been unfair…” Di Yun nodded, “But it’s just that, not unfair.

Compared to his personal soldiers, it’s like heaven and earth.

How many times have we served as practice targets for those bloodline youths?

But even if we serve as punching bags our entire lives, Old Li, do you believe we’ll ever be anything more than centurions?”

Old Li was silent.

How could he not believe it?

In this world, where none without a bloodline become generals…

It was the same everywhere…

Finally…

After nearly a quarter of an hour of silence, Old Li spoke in a raspy voice…

“What do you want to do?”