Bing Tong!
The hushed voices that reached their ears stunned the generals inside the tent.
Not long after, the generals of the Golden Army all showed joy.
"Bing Tong, it's Bing Tong who has returned."
"Moye, just you wait. Now that Bing Tong is back, let's see how arrogant you can be. We'll tell Bing Tong everything you just said, word for word. I wonder how Bing Tong will deal with you then."
"Clown."
The generals of the Golden Army's eyes were filled with intense joy.
Moye, who had been leaning against his chair, lost his previous arrogance. He stood up from his seat and silently pushed the chair back to its original position.
"Hey, why are you pushing it back? Sit down and continue."
The generals of the Golden Army burst into mocking laughter.
"Look at your smug faces. Now that Bing Tong is back, he'll naturally take charge. What difference does it make if you tell him what happened? Everything I did was perfectly fine. On the other hand, you guys were constantly saying that you wanted Ka Shi to succeed Bing Tong. Why has Bing Tong suddenly returned?" Moye sneered, "You should worry about how you're going to explain this to Bing Tong."
"We explain?"
"The military token was given by Bing Tong to Deputy General Ka Shi. What do we need to explain? It's some people who, upon hearing of Bing Tong's return, are so panicked that they're spewing malicious lies at us."
"So anxious, so anxious, some people are so anxious."
Mocking laughter echoed endlessly in the tent. Ka Shi remained silent throughout, his mind replaying the last words that Rou Si Bing Tong had spoken to him.
If 'he' returns to the fortress.
Do not trust him.
Everything was indeed unfolding according to Bing Tong's words. So, was the one returning now the real Bing Tong, or a Bing Tong that couldn't be trusted? How should he confirm this matter with Bing Tong, and how could he confirm it himself?
The task Bing Tong had given him was to defend the fortress.
Could he do it?
If the returning Bing Tong was not the real Bing Tong, and even if he held the tiger tally, who would believe him? Even the brothers of the Golden Army might not believe what he said.
They were all loyal to Bing Tong!
"It's strange, why hasn't Bing Tong entered the tent yet?"
"Ah, you know our Bing Tong's personality. When he returns to the fortress, he'll definitely inspect the fortress's situation first, and then check on the results of the new recruits' training. Oh, I can't wait for Bing Tong to enter the tent soon. Why don't we go and greet him?"
The generals of the Golden Army were discussing animatedly, and their suggestion was immediately met with much affirmation.
"Commander Moye, would you like to join us?"
"Hahaha, why are you calling him? Does he dare to see Bing Tong at this hour? He's probably trembling with fear right now. It's better for us to go and greet him. He's probably too scared to move."
"That's true."
A few generals of the Golden Army chuckled and started to head towards the outside of the tent. However, before they could take a few steps, the tent flap was lifted, and an icy, bone-chilling aura like a howling gale swept into the tent.
The generals standing in the tent couldn't help but shiver uncontrollably.
Upon closer inspection, they saw that the arrival was not Rou Si Bing Tong, but a necromancer draped in a mage's cloak. A large hood concealed his entire face, making it impossible to discern his features. In his hand, he held a skull-topped staff, and he appeared before them.
"Ku... Kuka Bing Tong?"
Every general who saw the necromancer involuntarily swallowed and took two steps back.
There was no sound in the entire tent.
All the generals held their breath, not daring to exhale, not even the arrogant Moye. He silently shrank his neck, enduring the piercing cold and remaining silent.
"Mm~"
Kuka, who barely exuded any human aura, nodded slightly. Standing at the entrance of the tent, his eyes, which glowed like ghost fire beneath his hood, swept across the generals. Finally, his gaze fell upon Ka Shi.
"Come out with me."
With those words, Kuka stepped out of the tent.
"Deputy General, why is Kuka Bing Tong suddenly looking for you?"
The generals of the Golden Army shivered, and Ka Shi shook his head in confusion. He then lowered his gaze to the military token in his hand.
After a moment of thought, Ka Shi walked out of the tent.
The generals inside the tent watched Ka Shi's retreating back. Even though Kuka was no longer present, they still dared not breathe heavily.
"Kuka Bing Tong is so terrifying. Did you see his eyes? They were glowing like ghost fire."
"I've always heard that Kuka Bing Tong is the most mysterious and the strongest among the Bing Tongs. Today, it's true. Just him standing there made me feel like I was suffocating. And judging by the deathly aura emanating from him, if he stayed here any longer, I think I might have to leave this world directly."
"Is this what a Grand Necromancer is like?"
"Do you think Kuka Bing Tong might have already reached Sainthood? Our Bing Tong is also in the Five-Colored Realm, and I feel such a huge pressure."
"That can't be right, can Sainthood be achieved so easily?"
The generals inside the tent discussed cautiously. Outside the tent, Ka Shi clutched the military token. As soon as he stepped out, he saw Kuka standing in a dark spot. Within a hundred-meter radius, no members of the fortress's troops dared to approach.
Ka Shi narrowed his eyes and strode forward. As he approached Kuka—
It was as if he had stepped into some kind of domain.
The piercing coldness, like countless ice thorns, pricked into his very bones.
"Bing Tong."
"I'm here to tell you something. Your Bing Tong has died in battle," Kuka whispered from beneath his hood. Upon hearing this news, Ka Shi froze instantly, and tears streamed down his face. "Bing Tong, our Bing Tong..."
"I was too late," Kuka said lightly.
"By the time I arrived, your Bing Tong had already ceased to breathe, and his soul was completely shattered. Even I couldn't save him. In his fragmented soul, I saw his final moments. Your image was in those moments. I need you to give me an explanation."
"I..."
"Don't waste time, my time is precious."
"It's like this."
Ka Shi, suppressing his grief, recounted Rou Si's parting words to him to Kuka verbatim.
Throughout the entire exchange, Kuka remained exceptionally calm.
No emotional fluctuations could be detected from him.
"Ultimately, he entrusted this fortress to you?" Kuka nodded slightly and said, "I didn't expect that, in the end, he would trust me... Humph... I warned him long ago not to overestimate himself."
"Our Bing Tong never..."
"Hm?"
Kuka glanced at Ka Shi casually, and Ka Shi felt as if his throat were being constricted. Even so, he forcefully exclaimed,
"Our Bing Tong is not that kind of person. Everything he did was for the great lord. Bing Tong Kuka, I respect you, but I still hope you can retract your words. Our Bing Tong is not that kind of person!"