All the evil beasts in the world, I feed on demons and monsters

Chapter 180 Tu Nan
Frederick III.

The raging flames devoured everything. In front of Vasid, the handsome officer used a scalpel to cut open white cracks. The surging flames crashed into the cracks and seemed to be absorbed into them, disappearing in large swaths.

A naval admiral stood before the flames, his alchemical funnel engulfing the escaping flames.

There were flashing shields that diverted the flames, billowing green mist that devoured the flames, and airwaves that shot in...

Although the command center where the fire broke out was very close to Vasid, the temperature around him remained almost unchanged, let alone the flames.

But the old man in his crisp military uniform looked extremely unwell!

All the commanders of the eight nations, except for myself and the commander of the Tsarist Empire who was not present, were killed! This is no small matter!
The coalition was a loosely organized group, all acting in their own self-interest! Those who were qualified to represent their countries and divide the spoils are all dead! They can't command the remaining generals!
Moreover, the Boxers had previously sunk most of the logistical supplies in the Bohai Sea. Now, with the commander-in-chief dead…

Wasid's eyes revealed helplessness; he understood that today's battle would be the last.

With this battle over, I am unable to command all the troops I need. If I can capture Dagu Fortress, my bargaining power will increase even further.

But is it possible?
Vasid's face darkened. He said, "All captains will be five-star hunters! The Japanese fleet will be commanded by demons! Reactivate the gunboats immediately!"

"All captains, stand guard in the foredeck watchtower. If any enemy strongmen attack, immediately intercept them. Captains in the surrounding areas, provide immediate support!"

The attackers were strong, but not strong enough to instantly kill a five-star hunter who had mastered "fusion" or a fully-formed demon!
As long as we can stop them, we'll have a chance to join forces and encircle them! At the very least, we won't let them destroy our warships so easily!

"The Centurion is struggling to navigate; send the gunboat 'Korean' to take its place."

"Yes!"

Officers and staff officers nearby immediately began making arrangements.

"Fan."

"General."

The scalpel officer walked up to Vasily.

“Call Commander-in-Chief Livech and tell him…we have agreed to Prince Zai’s request.”

"However, one condition needs to be added."

The wind and rain ruffled the old man's wrinkled face, and his eyes held a mixture of helplessness and a wry smile.

"Capture and kill the Boxers."

"The imperial court must concentrate all its troops to exterminate the Boxers in the north, leaving no one alive."

"Yes."

The old man strode towards the rear of the warship. Someone immediately stepped forward to clear a path, separating the scorching flames.

Boom!

Thunder roared, and torrential rain poured down.

The old man watched quietly as the crimson flame struggled in the cold rain. No matter how intense and dazzling it was, it was eventually extinguished by the overwhelming force of the torrential rain.

……

"That's... a warship!"

"The warship is on fire!!"

On the southern fort closest to the village, Green Standard Army soldiers exclaimed in alarm!
Luo Rongguang stood in the cold wind, the raindrops instantly extinguished by a surge of intense dragon-tiger energy as they approached him! He donned a suit of armor, his aged face gazing at the distant sea, a hint of emotion appearing on his face!
"I'm not kidding you, he really can do it, one person, to stop the entire fleet."

A voice came from behind him.

Luo Rongguang did not turn around, and said calmly, "I thought you wouldn't come to see me."

"Why didn't you come, Uncle Luo?"

On the uneven bluestone of the fort, Xie Tunan, wearing a short shirt stained with blood, stood out against the wind and rain, which accentuated his thinness and upright posture.

"If you don't come, your father and I can consider you dead!"

Luo Rongguang turned around, his fierce eyes sweeping over Xie Tunan, and said, "You..."

Looking at the much older and thinner man in front of him, Luo Rongguang's eyes still held a hint of helplessness.

"Are you ok?"

In his memory, Xie Tunan was still the son of a prefect, dressed in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse, a brilliant and exceptionally intelligent top scholar born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Instead of the man covered in blood and mud, with a withered and aged face.

Xie Tunan smiled and said, "Very good."

"Tai Shi Ling, whose energy nourishes people more than that of dragons and tigers."

Luo Rongguang closed his eyes and said, "The imperial court has not yet withdrawn the warrant for your arrest."

"Your father has been holding an official position ever since."

Upon hearing the news of his father, Xie Tunan's lips trembled slightly, but he calmly said, "Father is not a military man and poses no threat. Continuing to use him under the court's control only serves to demonstrate the court's benevolence, doesn't it?"

Luo Rongguang suddenly opened his eyes and roared, "Xie Tunan!"

"You come from an official family, and you were the top scholar in the imperial examination of the year Bing Shen!"

"The court has its eye on you! His Majesty trusts you! You'll be granted the honor of holding the heron badge upon entering officialdom, so why would you associate with the rebels!"

"Your father is the Prefect of Tianjin, and the son of an official is a thief! How is he supposed to face this?!"

"If it weren't for His Majesty's desperate protection! If it weren't for His Majesty's personal intervention at your Xie family to grant you a pardon!"

"Your entire family's graves are overgrown with weeds now!!"

Boom!

Thunder roared, and rain pelted Xie Tunan's face. His expression shifted slightly, but his voice remained calm and steady.

"Uncle Luo, have you read 'On the Origin of Species'?"

Xie Tunan walked up and stood beside Luo Rongguang. He stroked the old fort, looked at the water-filled cannon barrels and the emaciated Green Standard Army soldiers frantically cleaning up, and said, "Survival of the fittest." "Have you ever thought that any of the world's great powers today became strong because of revolution?"

How can China not consider revolution?

Luo Rongguang took a deep breath and said, "These matters are for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to handle. National affairs are not for you..."

"Uncle Luo!"

Xie Tunan's voice suddenly rose, saying, "The nation's weakness has reached an irreparable point today!"

"The Wang clan members, nobles and officials! They are conservative and cling to old ways, resorting to empty rhetoric and pretense!"

"And what about the common people? They are all just trying to survive, ignorant and foolish!"

Bang!
Xie Tunan slammed his fist into the cannon barrel! His gaze was fixed on the rolling flames and ships in the distance!
"The glorious Chinese nation is despised by foreign powers and looked down upon by foreign races!"

"Who is responsible for all of this?"

Luo Rongguang looked at the low-lying villages ahead, at the Green Standard Army soldiers with fear on their faces and the troops being constantly adjusted by a young man, and sighed, saying, "The imperial court has it tough too."

"not easy?"

Xie Tunan scoffed, "The imperial court?"

"The imperial court ceded Hong Kong to the British and Ryukyu to the Japanese pirates! It imposed excessive taxes, fawned on foreigners, mistreated the people, and won the favor of the traitors!"

"What's the point of keeping such a court around?!"

slam-la-

The torrential rain poured down on the fort, and for a moment there was silence.

He Sanjia, carrying ammunition, stared wide-eyed in the torrential rain, his heart pounding! This was the young master of the Xie family!?
The mastermind behind that sensational case of the top scholar's alleged rebellion!?
The son of a prefect of Tianjin was exceptionally talented. He became the top scholar in the imperial examination before the age of forty. He had a long-term vision, valued reform, and was deeply favored by Emperor Xuguang, who was keen on Westernization! He even spent the night in the palace!

Back then, I traveled all over Beijing and Tianjin, and it was quite a glorious time!
But one day, he suddenly joined the Big Sword Society and was labeled a rebel! Back then, this incident was known not only in the Beijing-Tianjin area, but throughout the entire north.

Rumors circulated that he died in the First Sino-Japanese War, but unexpectedly, he is still alive!

"Tunan".

Luo Rongguang turned around, looked at his profile which seemed older than his age, and said, "Your mother died of depression the year after you disappeared."

“Your father is getting old. People in the clan avoid him like the plague. Over the years, apart from us old brothers who came from the battlefield, he has been living alone.”

When Xie Tunan heard about his mother's condition, his body visibly trembled, but he remained silent.

"After all these years, His Majesty still hasn't forgotten you. If you wish..."

"No need."

Xie Tunan's voice was firm as he said, "I started this uprising with the chairman and others. If it weren't for wanting to protect young people like Zhu Yu, I should have died with them."

“Now they have a better leader. Zhu Yu has also grown, and I have no regrets.”

Xie Tunan, as the highest-ranking existing leader of the Big Sword Society, willingly remained in the second tier after Bohai, even deliberately reducing his own presence so that Zhu Yu could take the lead in the society.

At that time, he was determined to die.

"Since the court wants me dead, I will let the world see clearly why I, Xie, am dying."

"Just as Tai Sui said, if the nation wants to awaken, it must pay a bloody price!"

"The blood of revolution must begin with me, Xie!"

"But you died like this..."

Luo Rongguang's pupils trembled as he looked at the junior he had watched grow up, his tone almost pleading: "Everything is gone!"

"some."

Xie Tunan stepped forward and looked at Zhu Yu, who was directing the arrangement of the altars and the food preparation.

He made arrangements and assigned tasks to the major leaders.

"The meaning of my death will be given by those who are still alive."

Xie Tunan strode down, his voice resounding, and declared, "The North Fort and the Shifeng Fort will be defended by my Yihe Society!"

Watching Xie Tunan walk away.

Luo Rongguang looked much more dejected.

"When my sister-in-law passed away, she left a message."

Xie Tunan paused in his steps.

Luo Rongguang's voice carried a mixture of inexplicable sorrow and relief.

“My son Tunan died a worthy death.”

"What a relief."

The torrential rain washed over his muddy and blood-stained back.

All of Xie Tunan's tension, in his mother's understanding, instantly burst forth.

He knew that his mother, from a scholarly family, understood what he was fighting for.

He felt guilty towards his family.

But I have no regrets.

Xie Tunan didn't look back, but strode away, letting the torrential rain wash away his surging emotions.

Kunpeng.

Only those who bear the weight of the blue sky on their backs, unhindered by anything, can now set out to conquer the south.

(End of this chapter)