Book 9: Chapter 41


    The vige ahead is so small that it virtually isnt visible on the map. There are only about a dozen families residing there. It was a most ordinary vige, where they focus on agriculture for three seasons and handiwork in the winter. This vige can be considered our rest station. There wasnt even a hotel there. We just set up tents at the za in the centre of the vige for the night.


    When we arrive, the vigers would hang around us and drink with us  although the drinks were drinks that we brought. Theyd chat with us and listen to all of the stories of the world outside of their vige. They would listen in keenly even if it was just the soldiers bragging. This vige was far away from every other ce. Maybe the vigers here were bound to live here for eternity. The only way for them to hear about the outside world was, therefore, through the stories that we shared even if they happened to be fake stories.


    This ce was no different to any other small vige. The outside of the vige and the vigers were in no way different. Nothing from the air to the water was different.


    I suddenly tugged on my horse reins. Ling Yues ears stood up. She leaned onto my body, feeling slightly afraid and remarked, I smell blood


    Yeah, I smell it, too.


    I pulled my gun out from behind as I responded in a quiet voice. All of my guards had noticed the irritating stench of blood, as well. They drew their des and lit their fire torches up. We had arrived at the entrance of the vige, which is the ce west left.


    In addition to the stench of blood, there was the smell of burnt things. We couldnt see the smoke ascending to the sky, since it was night time. The sparks inside the vige werent candles of homes inside the vige, but the sparks after wood was burnt!


    Hurry into the vige!


    I gave a simplemand. Tanya, who was next to me, charged forward. Philes and Shusia ordered their people to circle around and surround the vige.


    We dont know how many enemies are in the vige. If we just rush in all together, we might get caught in an ambush. Thats why my guards will always split into three teams when entering viges. One team enters while the other two teams circle around to the sides.


    We quickly rode into the vige and saw the burnt buildings. All of the buildings in the small vige had been burnt.


    <em>Judging from the appearance of the vige, it mustve been burnt ages ago, thereby leaving only sporadic sparks behind. </em>


    The closer we got to the centre, the more prominent the stench of blood became. We stopped in the centre of the vige za. We raised our fire torches up, and I immediately used my hand to cover Ling Yues eyes as soon as I saw the scene.


    Hey! Hey! Hey! What are you doing?! What are you doing?!


    I think its best that you dont look


    I took in a deep breath to supress my anger and rage that I wanted to belt out. I looked at the pir erected in the za and almost crushed my gun handle with my left hand.


    Ling Yue aggressively pulled my hand away. She was intending to thunder at me, but the scene before her made her cry out, Aaahh!


    She then retreated, smashing straight into my chin.


    I told you that it was best that you didnt look.


    <em>This is no pir.</em>


    <em>This is pir made from human limbs and heads.</em>


    <em>There isnt a single corpse thats intact.</em>


    The blood came from here.


    The fire had gone out, while the blood continued to seep out from here.


    I looked at the pir in front of me. They all wore terrified expressions. Not one of them had their eyes closed.


    The anthropoids dont use sharp weapons. They use blunt weapons. All of their dismembered limbs were badly damaged.


    <em>Just how much torment and pain did these people suffer before they died?</em>


    I shut my eyes. I could seemingly still hear the cries and sobs in this vige at the time. I could see the dark silhouettes running rampant inside the vige, dragging the people here and then smashing them into all sorts of deformed shapes with their stone axes as they apanied their bashes with theirughter.


    My guards fell silent. I didnt say anything, either. I just looked on silently. Only Ling Yues sobsing from in front of me could be heard.


    Your Majesty


    Karana broke the silence. She grabbed my arm tightly. She looked at my face with concern and asked, Are you all right? You You


    Ah, Im fine.


    I took in a deep breath.


    <em>I dont know why Im calming down now. </em>


    I tugged on my horse reins andmanded, Dig a grave, bury these vigers corpses and erect a tombstone for them. Make it quick. If this vige was attacked, then Troy City is probably in danger, too.


    Roger!


    After a moment of silence, my guards began to carry out my order, cleaning up the corpses and digging a hole. I watched my guards work in silence.


    <em>How strange. Im not even shedding a tear.</em>


    Ling Yue, who was leaning on my chest, wiped her tears and sobbed, Sorry


    I gave her a simple response, Its not your fault.


    No Were anthropoids, too Im to me, as well


    Your tribe did everything that they could. This isnt your fault.