Forge a path to success.

Chapter 372 War and Turmoil (2)

The current second captain of the city-state of Jingsha is a renowned and legendary figure. His legend lies not only in his combat prowess but also in his experiences.

Legend has it that this captain was born into a weak race, naturally immune to combat, and should have lived a peaceful life. But the second captain was born with a pure heart, and from a young age admired the warriors who protected their homeland, determined to become a glorious soldier.

He sought guidance from renowned masters throughout the thorny shroud, but due to his congenital deficiency, he made little progress. Undeterred, however, the captain heard that the Dragon Township Boxing Technique treated all races equally, so he risked everything to sail alone to Dragon Spring Township to learn the true essence of martial arts!
—Then, due to a shipwreck, they drifted to Shura Island.

It's hard to say whether this captain was unlucky or lucky; he survived a near-death experience and ended up in a foreign land, unfortunately on a hellish island. But a determined person can find a way anywhere. This captain managed to find a way to support himself through his own efforts. He used his unusual appearance to get into a local theater troupe and, through tireless hard work, became a renowned Noh performer!

The second captain toured Shura Island for three years, drawing huge crowds wherever he went. It is said that even the Martial Venerable had seen his performance. After his final performance, the local general personally dispatched a fleet to escort him to Longquan Township, fulfilling his dream of becoming a disciple and seeking enlightenment.

He then entered the Chenjun Palace in Longquan Township and finally mastered all his skills. When he returned to the city-state of Jingsha, he was already a well-known legend, but he declined the offers from the parliament and the nobles and resolutely joined the army.

He was a decorated commander on the front lines, considerate of his subordinates, and always ready to fight bravely. Everyone in the army spoke highly of him. It could be said that the Second Captain held one of the highest prestige positions in the city-state's military system; a single word from him could influence the entire army!

"He's a very famous figure; I admired him greatly back in my hometown!" Qingye exclaimed excitedly. "What kind of solution will such a legend come up with? It's truly something to look forward to!"

“You’d better lower your expectations a little…” Van der said, squinting.

"Hey? Why?"

"The difference will be huge."

When the three of them arrived leisurely, Glory Square was already packed with veterans. The square was surrounded by bronze statues of heroes who had made great contributions in history, but in the center there was an oddly shaped wooden stage with exaggerated paintings that looked like they were from a festival, making Qingye almost think she had arrived in her hometown.

The stage was guarded by several burly guards, each wearing a blue-faced, fanged demon mask—the elite of the second squad. The masked soldiers drew back the curtain, releasing a thick, atmospheric cloud of smoke… and then, from the depths of the smoke, came a mysterious chant!
Withered grass swaying in the wind
Brothers fighting each other

My heart is at peace!

This is none other than the ancient art of "haiku" passed down from Shura Island! In the modern Shura Island where etiquette has collapsed, people who can recite haiku are extremely rare, so Qingye quickly took notes!

As the smoke dissipated with the chanting of the haiku, a masked, burly man carrying a strange bundle appeared on the stage. Even the members of the Third Lineage probably didn't expect this, did they? This mysterious masked figure, Huan Ge, is none other than the captain of the Second Divine Guard of the Thorn Robe!
He clapped his hands, which were as big as palm leaves, and said in a long voice, "Hehehe, I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting. The second captain's special speech is about to begin! Let's first review the glorious history of the military camp..."

The old man who had been chatting with Qingxia earlier stood at the front of the crowd and shouted sternly, "Spit it out!"

"Don't be so impatient..."

Huan Ge said, feeling wronged, "Then let's get straight to the point! Everyone has seen the friction between the bill's supporters and opponents. The recent escalation of the conflict has made me realize that if we don't quell the controversy quickly, steadily, and safely, our honor and beliefs will be eroded in the infighting! Therefore, as the captain of the Second Divine Guard of the Thorn Robe, I hereby propose an emergency response plan for this extraordinary period!"

Qingye clenched her fists, filled with excitement. A considerable number of soldiers throughout the Second Line were waiting for their brilliant and capable captain's plan, just like her!

"Let's have a duel!"

For a full half second, the second pulse sequence was completely silent. Qingye unconsciously uttered, "...Huh?"

"Let's have a duel!" Huan Ge repeated smugly. "We, the Second Lineage, are a military camp that reveres strength and bravery, and we should settle disputes in the manner of warriors. So let's have a duel! Independents and conservatives, each side selects its bravest warrior to fight to the death on this stage. Whoever wins in the end, the Second Team will support that side!"

The soldiers in the second tier took nearly twenty seconds to process their captain's suggestion. They smiled, composed themselves, and spoke with calm and collected demeanor.

"Are you kidding me?!" "Do you think this is a comic book?!" "Captain, have you lost your mind?" "I told you this idiot doesn't understand politics!" "Did you call everyone out just to talk about this?!" "Captain, don't get involved in this mess, let's go back to headquarters!" "I actually felt like an idiot for actually looking forward to this..."

A tidal wave of jeers and shouts erupted, enough to knock anyone with a weaker constitution off the stage! But Huan Ge, relying on his mask and thick skin, stubbornly stood on the stage, arms crossed, and shouted, "Silence!"

A booming shout silenced everyone. Huan Ge sneered, "You all think this method is childish? Then I'd like to ask, what is the proper, mature solution? Is it like the 'Poetry and Prose Umbrella' method, letting politicians spout eloquent rhetoric in the streets, believing whoever has the best eloquence? Or is it like Mansa Starburg, endlessly arguing in the council, letting those who don't understand warriors decide the future? Or is it..." "like some of you are planning, waging a civil war in this military camp, playing that 'winner takes all' trick?"

Upon hearing this, several people in the arena immediately lowered their heads, not daring to meet Huan Ge's gaze. The captain, however, was still laughing loudly: "That method is excellent! Our Second Lineage has its own dueling rules anyway. If a real fight breaks out, I'll personally take to the field. I'll fight one by one, defeat one army at a time. Even if everyone in this camp were to come at me together, they wouldn't be a match for me!"

These words were incredibly arrogant, yet not a single person in the audience objected. They were all soldiers, most of them veterans, and they all knew how formidable their captain was!
"At that time, the Second Lineage will be my absolute authority. You will all have to do whatever I say, or you will be breaking the law and going to jail!" Huan Ge roared. "Do you think this method is good? Answer me!"

The sergeants simultaneously stood at attention and replied, "No, Captain!"

"Of course not! We are soldiers! Our duty is to protect our country!" Huan Ge said in a deep voice. "It's already foolish for soldiers to waver on political matters, but to want to fight among ourselves is utterly absurd. Not only will the allied forces on Yuchen Island laugh at us, but we will also have no face to face our fallen comrades in the afterlife!"

"Whether the bill is supported or not is nothing to us but whether this front goes or stays. Let's solve this problem using military methods! It's always better for both sides to have a showdown than to fight amongst themselves every day in their own base camp."

He looked around and called out, "Any other questions?"

"Have!"

Silian stepped out of the crowd and said in a deep voice, "An internal war cannot and should not break out in the military camp, but your method of this arena battle is hardly fair. Huan Ge, you are the highest-ranking officer in the military camp, a comrade-in-arms to many soldiers, and the strongest among us in the second lineage. You have clearly stated your position, so how can others dare to stand against you? Who dares to say they can defeat you? In the end, it will still be decided by your word, and the others will not accept that!"

Huan Ge laughed after hearing this, "Hehehe, old general, please calm down. First of all, this arena will be divided into three rounds, with each of the three points (3, 4, and 5) competing once. Only by winning all three rounds can one side be considered the victor!"

Slayne frowned: "Three wins out of three? I've never heard of such a tough match."

“If neither side has an overwhelming advantage, this duel will be as good as nothing, and the loser will not be convinced,” Huan Ge said leisurely. “Secondly… in this duel, I, Huan Ge, will personally represent the Independent Faction!”

Silane's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets: "What did you say?!"

Not only was the old general shocked, but the entire camp was in an uproar. Even the personal guards of the second squad couldn't take it anymore: "Captain, you fucking defected?!"

"How dare you speak like that!" Huan Ge turned and angrily rebuked. "This independence bill has already been voted on and is now the official policy of the city-state. As the second captain, what crime have I committed in supporting the city-state's decision?"

He bent down and said to the old general with a smile, "Now, you separatists have nothing to say, right?"

Silayn, a woman of decisiveness, immediately made the decision: "Good! Everyone in the camp has seen your character, Huan Ge. You said you would fight for my Independent Faction, so you would never resort to any tricks or deception. We have no objections!"

The independence soldiers were greatly encouraged, chanting praises of their captain's righteousness. The conservatives, however, were displeased: "It's unfair!" "Who can beat the captain?" "What will we do if a real fight breaks out?!"

Hearing this, Qing Ye finally understood. Chu Hengkong pushed through the crowd and stood on the stage, his aura sweeping across the arena like a fan, instantly silencing the entire hall. He said loudly, "Captain Huan Ge, this struggle for independence involves many things, and we outsiders also have some questions we would like to ask."

Huan Ge smiled and said, "Go ahead and tell me."

"Whether the Independence Act passes or not is essentially a contest between Du'ai and the Allies. Everyone in the military is a comrade-in-arms who fought side by side, so we, the Allies, should naturally do our part as well!"

Chu Hengkong, with his hands behind his back, said, "Chu Hengkong of Huilong City is willing to fight for our allied comrades. What do you think, Captain?"

Huan Ge laughed loudly: "My comrades are willing to share the burdens of my city-state, so what reason do I have to object? I just wonder what the conservatives think?"

Chu Hengkong coldly swept his gaze across the audience. Immediately, regardless of rank or political affiliation, everyone who dared to speak rushed to declare their support: "Master Chu, no problem, Master Chu!" "Great Hero Chu, you are truly righteous!" "Thank you so much!" "We absolutely support you, absolutely support you!"

What a joke! In the past three days, everyone in the military with a reputation has been personally beaten up by this Master Chu. He single-handedly drove back a near-civil war! Who dares to oppose his involvement? He'll probably show us this afternoon what it means to overcome all obstacles with sheer force!
Huan Ge said solemnly, "Good! In that case, let us both make our preparations, and settle the score in two days!"

(End of this chapter)