Civilization: Beyond Two Worlds

170 Fighting For Life

“Why are you Tina’s lover?!”

This sentence was simply gentle but filled with regret.

At least to Hong San, who had just woken up, that was the case.

In an instant, the Mountain Chieftain of the Heaven and Earth Association imagined the cause and effect of this matter.

Master Kang’s heroic figure made this eldest daughter of the Vidal Chamber of Commerce fall in love at first sight. After interacting with him later, their feelings gradually deepened and she could not extricate herself. She wished she could marry him and stay in love forever.

However, the falling flowers could not enter the flowing water… Princess Tina of Goethe held a large axe by the river and cast a huge shadow over it.

With an axe, she could cut off the flowing water and turn the flowers into mush.

This made Miss Leona unable to control her emotions. She could only hug her lover and cry loudly, saying, “I hate that I came too late.” She sighed regretfully and tears fell like rain. From now on, although she did not forget him, they were not fated…

When Hong San heard this sobbing sound and Kang De’s silence, he could not help but remind him that concubines could be taken in the East. Although not in the west, there were also things like lovers… In any case, since ancient times, regardless of whether it was the west or the east, men were all pigs. There would always be a way.

However, just as he had this thought, the shadow of a person appeared in his mind. Tina Tedrell, the Princess of Goethe. Hong San had seen her twice.

The first time they met, the other party was as pure and beautiful as a snow mountain lotus and was gentle and polite to everyone.

The second time they met, the beauty looked as before. She only held an axe and stood in the family cemetery of the Glory Sand Viscount. The ground was filled with knocked-down and shattered tombstones, and many rotting bones were scattered on the ground.

Therefore, he understood why this young lady of the Vidal family was crying.

He also understood why the usually invincible and domineering Master Kang was silent.

Sigh…

A hero as strong as Master Kang was also like his master. It was really a pity.

Hong San’s imagination ran wild.

Then, he heard Leona stop. The air became very quiet.

After waiting quietly for a moment, Hong San felt that something was wrong. His eyes slowly opened a crack and he saw that Leona had stopped crying and Kang De had stopped hugging her. The two of them sat side by side and looked down at him coldly.

Hong San’s heart jolted, but his expression did not change. He immediately switched to his drama queen state and said weakly, “Master, where… where is this?”

Kang De said indifferently, “You’re awake? This is Leona’s carriage. We’re rushing to the Vidal Chamber of Commerce to hide there. By the way, Mayor Nick did the opposite and used the militia as cannon fodder. Chen Honghu and the other leaders were furious. They raised their arms and shouted, leading the militia to rebel and wanted to kill our way out of the city. In the end, Mayor Nick suppressed the troops in advance and led them into a trap, killing them all…”

Hong San was first stunned, then he smiled bitterly and said, “Master, don’t joke. How can they have the guts?”

“…Tsk.”

Kang De snorted, “You vomited blood this time and your mind became clearer. Your reaction is really fast.”

The bitterness on Hong San’s face intensified.

He was relieved to discover that he was lying in the carriage with Kang De beside him.

There was even a moment when he hoped that this was a carriage that had already left Valentine. No matter where he went, he would just serve Master Kang.

When he heard Leona’s cry, he forced himself to become gossipy and let his imagination run wild to avoid being idle and some heavy things flashed… He was only subconsciously escaping.

He did not expect that after dodging for a short moment, Kang De forced him to remember.

Those responsibilities that did not originally belong to him, those infuriating and powerless matters, those heavy lives… They were originally unrelated to him, but he had asked for trouble and courted death. He was clearly a lowly and humble figure. For a moment, he was arrogant and actually dared to carry these responsibilities.

Until today, he had finally messed up.

His eyes darkened.

The carriage was slowly moving and bumping slightly. Kang De asked, “How’s your body?”

Hong San adjusted his breathing for a moment and circulated his energy. Then, he replied, “It’s fine… I’ll be fine after recuperating.”

“Oh,” Kang De said. “Let’s go to the Vidal Chamber of Commerce now and rest and adjust there.”

A struggling and hesitant expression appeared on Hong San’s face as he slowly said, “Master, they…”

Kang De said coldly, “Before I left, I was still standing on the city wall.”

“This…” When Hong San heard this, he understood what had happened. Kang De must have left everyone behind and brought him away from the city wall. He hurriedly said, “How can we let them stay there…”

Kang De glanced at him. “What does it have to do with me?”

These words calmed Hong San down. The Cathayan was silent for a moment before turning around and getting up. He knelt down to Kang De and wanted to kowtow, but he was immediately kicked and fell to the ground.

Kang De’s voice was both cold and sharp, “Why? Do you want to kowtow and thank me for taking care of you? Then, you’ll leave and go back to find your brothers to die with them? Do you know that after you vomited blood in anger and fainted, none of your brothers and followers who respect and admire you went forward? They didn’t even look concerned or panicked… Do you still want to go back?”

Hong San was silent, then he shook his head and said, “That’s how people are. There’s nothing strange about it. Master, you’ve never seen the hardships of the human world. Ever since you were young, you’ve been surrounded by morals. That’s why you think that the world’s situation should be what you think. Everyone around you is loyal and knows how to repay kindness, but it’s actually not like that out there.”

“They can’t even save their lives. They don’t have a fixed place to live and starve. They’re tired and afraid, so they’re timid and look cold and timid. This is human nature and not their own fault.”

Kang De raised his eyebrows and smiled angrily, “When did you become so understanding and magnanimous?”

Hong San said softly, “It’s not that I’m magnanimous, but I’m also as lowly as them. I’m humble and desperate to keep my life. I know their pain and won’t criticize them, let alone look forward to anything.”

Kang De was actually speechless for a moment because Hong San had already said this. It was meaningless to argue.

Seeing Kang De like this, Hong San comforted him, “Master, there’s no need to be angry. You’re a high and mighty figure who has to do great things. You don’t have to care about these commoners or be disappointed. Although these people are timid and cowardly, not everyone is like them. There are brave and sincere people, but we don’t see many of them here. After all…”

He paused for a moment before saying, “After all, those who dare to fight for their home have long died in the hands of the elves. It’s not my turn to protect and lead.”

What Hong San said made sense. Everyone had their difficulties. Everyone had no choice. Everyone’s actions had their own reasons. However, the more this was the case, the more frustrated Kang De became. He felt that this world was a f*cking feces pit. As expected, it was a backward alternate world that needed the voice of democracy and freedom.

He glared at him and said, “No matter how hopeless they are, it has nothing to do with me. I just can’t stand their faces and bad habits. On the other hand, you know their character and still want to go back?”

Hong San sighed, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me…”

Kang De did not know what was wrong with Hong San.

When they met in Glory Sand, he was clearly still a meek person who talked about slavery. Now, he was actually confused and suddenly felt a sense of responsibility and mission. Kang De thought for a moment and decided not to persuade him anymore. Instead, he turned to intimidation.

“Why are you going back?”

He said, “The elves’ surprise attack failed. The next step will definitely be to gather people and attack openly. The militia of the Heaven and Earth Association has suffered a serious loss of members, and their morale has fallen to zero. No matter how crazy Nick is and how he doesn’t treat them as humans, he won’t let a group of useless trash continue to defend the city wall. At least not today.”

“In other words, they’ll rotate and repair themselves to recover their morale. The injured have to be treated. At a time like this, why do you go back? So many people died and were injured today. You didn’t protect them well and the image of the protector has shattered. Why do you go back?”

At this point, Kang De threatened, “Think about it. What will happen if you return to that street? The family of the deceased will pounce on you and question you, hit you, scold you, and cry. The others will also look at you coldly as if you’re an enemy… Are you a masochist? Why go back at a time like this?”

“…”

Hong San did not have the slightest fear or calmness to dare to face everything. His expression was a little strange as he whispered, “It’s like this, Master. Even if we rest and recuperate, the mayor won’t disband the team. After all, with such casualties, it’s difficult to reorganize after disbanding the team. Therefore, they’ll definitely arrange for it to be in the nearby camp and not directly dispersed. I’m only going there…”

With a puff, the laughter came from Leona beside him. The girl glanced at Kang De from the corner of her eye and eased from her embarrassing humiliation and crying. She was even a little happy and looked like she was not very smart.

Kang De casually threatened. He did not expect this and felt embarrassed to hear Leona’s laughter.

His voice raised an octave. “Do you believe that I’ll ask Nick to disband the Heaven and Earth Association’s team and send those stupid people home now and see how you deal with it?”

Hong San turned around and stood up. He said in surprise, “Really?”

Seeing him like this, Kang De was really angry. However, in the next moment, he was no longer angry, and there was a trace of mockery in his eyes, “Do you think they’ll be fine without needing to defend the city?”

Hong San was first stunned, then he sat on the ground dejectedly.

How cold-blooded and crazy the mayor was, and how selfish and cold the citizens were, were all secondary. The most important, most important, and most important conflict was not internal, but the unstoppable advance of the elves!

Hong San recalled the nightmare siege he had experienced not long ago.

A terrifying long-range attack. The mages who had the upper hand could still control the arrows outside the range of the human archers guarding the city. The tacit cooperation between the various troops was a lightning surprise attack. They launched layer after layer like a tsunami and were caught off guard everywhere, almost seizing the city wall!

If they could use strange schemes to be so powerful and grand, this meant that the other party would only be stronger if they lined up and attacked! When the elves threw away all their small methods and so-called strange schemes and wanted to seize this city with the purest strength and the most orthodox tactics, it meant that the garrison in the city had to fight in the same way.

Could they win?

This question was simply meaningless.

What he should ask was how long they could defend.

“Hong San.”

Kang De’s voice sounded in his ear, “You know how to lead troops to war, right?”

Hong San looked up in a panic and was about to deny it when he heard Kang De say, “Don’t lie to me, and don’t say that it was a coincidence. Although I don’t know anything about the military, I still know general knowledge.”

“You led a huge team that includes many old, weak, women, and children to the west. You set up camp every day to deal with the attacks of bandits, guard against wild beasts, ensure that the supplies and food are intact, and allow the team to advance effectively… I definitely can’t do these things well if you ask me to do them! I don’t even know how to do them! Without the corresponding education and training, it’s impossible for me to do such a thing!”

“Not to mention that you saw through the intentions of the elves in advance on the city and even guessed Nick’s arrangements. Could it be that you, a self-deprecating servant, were born knowing? Your master taught you these, right?!”

Kang De raised his voice and Hong San’s heart contracted. He fell to the ground and subconsciously said, “M-Master only taught me a little. I’ve said it before, and I didn’t listen seriously at that time. I’m not cut out for it. As for what you said, it was only a coincidence. Any other senior brother would have done better than me…”

Kang De approached him and looked down. “Where are they? Let them come out and help?”

Hong San said in confusion, “They’re all in the Empire…”

“So, what’s the use of saying this? Even if your senior brothers are far better than you, what’s the benefit of being in the current battle?” Kang De glared at him, “Your subordinates are all trash. I only know how to slash people and don’t know how to fight. She’s a businessman—do you still not understand? At this moment, the person who knows the most about war is you! Nick is cold-blooded and crazy. We have to be wary. I only ask you, do you want to fight for everyone’s lives?”

These words were stronger than any intimidation or curse, shocking Hong San until his face turned pale. His first reaction was to shake his head and reject, “I… I can’t. I… I’m only a servant…”

“Then they have to die!”

Kang De said sternly, “The people you brought along, be it men, women, old, or young, even if you don’t have to go to the city to be cannon fodder, you won’t be able to escape death on the day the city is broken! From the looks of it, when the city is broken, you won’t turn around and run. You’ll most likely die fighting to protect those idiots. If you’re not even afraid of death, what are you afraid of now? You even dare to face those people’s disappointed and resentful gazes. What else don’t you dare to face?”

“I… I…”

Hong San stammered for a moment and covered his face, “What can I do? The war is about the strong bullying the weak. The strength of the Valentine garrison is weaker than the elves in all aspects. There’s no way at all, let alone us! Our strength is weaker, so it’s impossible to do anything! I know you’re very powerful, but it’s meaningless in a war. No matter how strong you are, can you still create an army out of thin air?”

“There’s no way? Comprehensively weaker than the elves? It’s impossible?” Kang De shouted when he heard this, “It’s really easy to say. Although I don’t understand war, if it is as simple as you say and the outcome can be determined by comparing data, what’s the point of fighting? Perhaps the military strength comparison of a city is indeed like this, but don’t you have reinforcements on Goethe’s side? Do the elves have to take down this city even if they bleed?”

Hong San said in confusion, “Are there still reinforcements? When will they arrive? Also, the strategic goal of the elves…”

Kang De rolled his eyes and said, “How the f*ck would I know this? However, you don’t even know these and keep saying that there’s no hope. Are you prepared to wait for death like this?”

When he heard this, a sad expression flashed across Hong San’s face. He wanted to say something, but when he saw Kang De’s sincere and high-spirited expression, for some reason, he swallowed the words he was about to say.

He nodded and said, “Master, you’re right. We indeed have to figure this out. For example, the mayor’s defense principle, when will the reinforcements arrive, the military configuration in the city, and the exact composition of the elves outside the city…”

Then, Hong San looked at Kang De eagerly.

Kang De flew into a rage and slapped his head, “Why are you looking at me? Since you know what you have to figure out, think of a way to do it! Treat this as the first step in your debut! Think about what to do and make a plan. To be honest, if you dare to be useless again, I’ll go find Nick today and ask him to pull out the remaining 800 reserves to be cannon fodder! In front of you!”

Hong San hugged his head in panic and nodded. Then, he ran out of the carriage and sat with the old butler. He said that he was afraid inside and could be more awake thinking outside.

In the carriage, Leona glanced at Kang De and whispered, “What do you want to do?”

Kang De was silent before saying, “I don’t plan to care about those people under Hong San at all. They can die if they want, but if Hong San can save them, I’m very happy to see it happen.”

“I also promised you to try my best to protect your subordinates…”

At this point, Kang De said in a low voice, “As I said, the situation of the battle is unknown and the situation is uncertain. It’s really too early to give up now! Like you, I’m not in danger of death. In that case, why don’t we fight? We’ll have to fight the elves sooner or later. Now, let’s measure their strength!”