Chapter 26: The Leader x Sudden Death x Interrogation

“Assassin!”

At the alarm, more than a dozen guards rushed into Wang Luo’s tent. As they entered, a black-clad figure, whose form was growing faint, was pulling a dagger from their leader’s chest and slashing toward his throat.

They charged forward. Several drew short swords, thrusting at the assassin; others lunged with their shields, attempting to block.

Of course, at this distance, such actions were futile. Yet, when the dagger met his throat, there was no gush of blood as the assassin had expected. Instead, the blade met something as hard as steel, ringing with a metallic clang.

“Damn!” The guards heard a crisp, feminine voice. They closed in, some flanking Wang Luo, others swinging swords at the assassin, who deftly dodged their blows. As they pursued, the figure faded further, eventually vanishing without a trace.

“Are you alright?” Several guards helped Wang Luo to his feet.

“I’m fine,” Wang Luo replied, his face pale with alarm. “What happened?”

“Commander Guo has been targeted by similar assassins,” one guard said angrily. “We’ll search the entire camp—they won’t escape us!”

Clearly, the guards were grasping at straws. Regaining his composure, Wang Luo checked his battle log.

“An unknown target’s ‘Spectral Strike’ dealt 52 points of damage to you.”

“Your ‘Leader’ skill was activated. Nearby soldiers shared your damage.”

“You lost 1 health point.”

So… there was never any real danger. Glancing again at his newly acquired ‘Leader’ skill, Wang Luo felt his nerves settle.

“No need for alarm. A few assassins can do nothing. The men worked hard yesterday—don’t disturb them. Double the sentries at the entrance for now. Search the camp for any unfamiliar or suspicious faces. If we catch someone, good; if not, so be it.”

“But…” a guard began to object.

“Go.”

“Yes, sir.” The guards withdrew.

Wang Luo touched his chest, then his throat, still feeling a chilling unease. But one point of damage… it was nothing.

He sat on his straw mat, feeling exhausted. “Tomorrow, when we drill, I’ll reorganize the troops into new units so the soldiers get to know each other. That way, assassins will have nowhere to hide.”

“The main thing is forging cooperation and training the men. Even if we put our all into it, victory isn’t guaranteed—there’s no time to worry about…”

“Isn’t he a Contractor? How could he have a Leader skill?” Just as Wang Luo was about to rest, a woman’s voice whispered in his ear.

She’s still here!? “Guards! Someone help!”

As he shouted, Wang Luo grabbed the object beside him and stabbed toward the source of the voice.

----

“Did you do that on purpose? You tricked us, but the Demon Card didn’t work?”

Mei Xiaosheng looked at Yang Wentian, confusion written all over her face.

“Of course not,” Yang Wentian answered with a roguish grin. “The effect’s been lifted. From now on, we’re comrades on the same side.”

Mei Xiaosheng opened her mouth, as though to negotiate, but in the end, only nodded.

“The ‘Demon Card: Constraint’ effect on you has vanished.”

“Ahh~” Yang Wentian stretched upon receiving this message. “The pressure was immense. I didn’t even dare set foot on the battlefield, afraid I’d trigger some hidden rule… It’s better if you surrender.”

Mei Xiaosheng reached inside her clothes, gripping the newly generated ‘Instant Death’ card. She said nothing, but chose the ‘Surrender’ option.

It was always wise to keep an ace up one’s sleeve.

Special Card: Instant Death (Demon Card, Level 4 access)

When the ‘Demon Card: Constraint’ is lifted without meeting the specified conditions, the user receives an Instant Death card targeting the original subject (with same authority as Constraint).

The card automatically locks onto the target of the original Constraint card.

Upon use, the target dies instantly.

“How are my teammates?” she asked, clutching the card.

“They’ve all surrendered,” Yang Wentian replied, his gaze drifting from her lips downward to her generous curves. “That tall one’s badly hurt, but since she’s a Contractor, her life isn’t in danger.”

“That’s good.” She paid his gaze no mind—she’d long grown accustomed to such things. “So what’s really going on this time? The Yellow Turbans… Do you think your side will win?”

“I do,” Yang Wentian said, slipping an arm around her shoulders. “Come here—I’ll tell you everything, slowly.”

“Alright,” she replied with a smile, nestling closer. “Let’s see just how slowly you can go.”

-----

Wang Luo carefully studied the woman who had been tied up by his soldiers.

Her face was full and broad, with gracefully arched brows, a high nose bridge, a pronounced philtrum, and thick earlobes.

She appeared to be under thirty. Her skin was pale, her long hair soft and smooth, her eyes innocent and almost childlike, and her figure perfectly proportioned.

She seemed uncomfortable under his gaze and lowered her head.

“You’re one of the Han army’s Contractors?”

“Yes.”

Such a straightforward answer? “What’s your name?”

“Zhou… Zhou Suyan.”

Not a bad name. “Are you hurt?”

“It’s… it’s alright.”

Her injury was on her lower leg. It wasn’t serious, but the bleeding wouldn’t stop, making it impossible for her to hide—so the soldiers had caught her.

“Why come here?”

“To gather intelligence.”

With a dagger? “Why try to kill me?”

“Xiao Wan… Xiao Wan said you’re a Contractor, without a blood-locking skill. We thought we could get an easy advantage.”

Another woman? I wonder what she looks like. “Why didn’t you try anything when I was an officer?”

“We only arrived this morning… When did you become an officer?”

Clearly, Wang Luo’s gentle manner emboldened this woman named Zhou to ask questions of her own.

That wouldn’t do. Wang Luo flicked her forehead with his finger.

She yelped, her eyes suddenly timid.

“Can you cook?”

The question seemed to surprise her, and after a long moment she answered, “…A little.”

Doesn’t sound very reliable… “Is it any good?”

“It’s alright.”

“Are you a virgin?”

In an instant, her expression grew incredibly complex. Caught off guard, Wang Luo glimpsed pain, sorrow, despair, indulgence, regret, abandon, struggle, resolve…

He hurriedly looked away, unwilling to let those emotions stir any response in him—not even the determination she summoned.

It was just an idle question… Why such a reaction? Over thirty and still a virgin—was that something so sad?

“So, what do you intend to do now?”

“N-nothing. Are you… going to kill me?”

Those emotions vanished from her eyes, which returned to their previous innocence—almost childlike, with none of a mature woman’s allure, but rather a girlish naiveté. “If you’re useful in other ways, why would I kill you?”

She breathed a sigh of relief, blushing as she lowered her head. Then she stole a glance at Wang Luo from under her lashes.

During this exchange, he still hadn’t quite shaken his nervousness—but compared to his previous conversation with Tang Xiaoxiao, it was a different kind of tension.

Taking such a risk and acting personally was entirely unlike making plans from the safety of the rear. The psychological impact was vastly different. This time, Wang Luo was acutely aware of his own nervousness, and quietly mocked himself for it.

As for the truth of her words, who could say how much was genuine? Who could tell how much of her demeanor was natural, and how much the result of training?

But, as with so many things, there was no need to force it. Could you force it if you tried? She would speak, and he would listen.

After all, she had a generous bosom.