Chapter 70: The Spoils of Valor

One of the Blood Kin, seeing the situation turn dire, shouted, “Don’t listen to her! The Count will return soon, and if we don’t kill them, we’ll all die when he comes back!”

Zhao Yuying let out a cold laugh and drew the Phantom Manjushaka from Qian Ye’s waist, raising it and firing. The Blood Kin’s head exploded, splattering blood and brain matter over everyone nearby.

The gunfire continued without pause. Zhao Yuying fired more than a dozen shots, picking off all the isolated dark races before she finally stopped.

All the slaves bowed their heads deeply, no longer daring to look at Zhao Yuying. Her killing intent had thoroughly suppressed the scene.

Zhao Yuying then ordered, “Everyone, strip naked. Leave everything behind, and then you can leave!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the slaves immediately threw everything away and ran nude towards the mine entrance, eager to get as far away as possible from this terrifying woman. Some still hesitated, but seeing others doing the same and Zhao Yuying’s murderous gaze turning towards them, they joined the naked exodus.

Perhaps some of these people were Stuka’s foremen and confidants, but it was no longer relevant.

When the area cleared, Zhao Yuying turned to Qian Ye, frowning, “Qian Ye, what happened just now? You couldn’t bring yourself to do it?”

Qian Ye forced a smile, “These people are considered civilians.”

Zhao Yuying sneered, “To hell with civilians! Could you tell which ones were the guards? If they had snipers, they would have shot you. Where did you learn such foolishness? Remember, this is a battlefield. Anyone who charges at you is an enemy, even women and children!”

Qian Ye continued to force a smile, “Alright, alright, I was just hesitant for a moment.” He glanced at the two boxes of explosives Zhao Yuying had kicked over.

Zhao Yuying followed his gaze and felt a bit puzzled, “Where did you get these? The markings look like they’re from a human factory.”

Qian Ye’s heart skipped a beat. These were from Andua’s space, and no one noticed in the chaos. But Zhao Yuying knew exactly how much equipment Qian Ye had when she dragged him out. It was impossible for him to have these two large boxes.

“Found them in the warehouse,” Qian Ye said with a straight face.

This explanation was a bit flimsy, and asking the guards of the mine’s warehouse would expose the lie. Zhao Yuying might never have considered something like Andua’s mysterious space. She saw the East Peak stabbed into the ground and remembered the earth-shattering blow that had severely wounded the spider demon Count Stuka, diverting her attention. That single strike, in terms of power, matched her own mountain-blasting cannon. Yet, Qian Ye was not even a warlord yet.

“Where did you learn that sword technique? It’s incredible!” Realizing a question she had overlooked, Zhao Yuying asked, “By the way, I’ve never asked. What martial art do you practice? Your innate form resembles the White Clan’s secret bird-man technique.”

Qian Ye hesitated, “I practice the Bingfa Jue. That sword technique… I thought of it myself.”

Zhao Yuying’s eyes widened, grabbing Qian Ye’s collar and nearly lifting him off the ground, “You thought of it yourself? Don’t joke around. Do you know what it means to create a sword technique that can break a Count’s defenses? The Zhao Clan’s secret battle techniques for core disciples are only that good. In each generation, there are barely a hundred core disciples. You’re telling me you created it on your own?!”

The true secrets of the high clans usually have a common standard: they can draw on the primal force in the void, not just the surrounding environment. Only such techniques have a chance of breaking through to a general’s level.

Such secrets often take generations, even centuries, to perfect. Many also lose their legacy if no one in several generations can master them.

“It’s just one move,” Qian Ye said, feeling a bit guilty.

Zhao Yuying was still not calm. What did he mean, “just one move”? The value of a secret wasn’t measured by the number of moves, but often by its sheer power.

How many geniuses, even after a lifetime, could master one or two such techniques to their full potential? And creating one was something only heard of in legends.

Now, looking at Qian Ye, Zhao Yuying felt very uncomfortable. A proud and arrogant person like her, who refused to be subordinate to anyone, suddenly faced a genius far beyond her reach. Her first thought was to strangle him.

Zhao Yuying kept eyeing Qian Ye’s neck. Qian Ye suddenly felt a chill. Thankfully, she remembered their familial relationship and muttered, “This is Xiao Wu, hmm, quite cute. Strangling him seems a bit much, so… half-strangled?”

She thought this was a good idea.

Qian Ye began to feel a sense of danger and knew he needed to act. So, he stepped back, extending his hand, “My gun.”

“A small gun, yet you’re so nervous. When we get home, I’ll find you two better ones!” Zhao Yuying patted her chest and prepared to throw the Phantom Manjushaka to Qian Ye. Suddenly, she paused, holding the pistol up for a closer look.

“Strange, I fired more than ten shots, but why were they so much weaker than yours? Does this thing discriminate?” Zhao Yuying grew angry.

Qian Ye was speechless. In truth, he was amazed that Zhao Yuying could fire more than ten shots with the Phantom Manjushaka after the battle, giving him a new appreciation for the thickness of her origin power.

However, when the Twin Flowers were in Qian Ye’s hands, they were constantly influenced by the Primal Wings, with a normal shot’s power between a custom-grade Level 5 and Level 6. When combined, they equaled a custom-grade Level 6. In Zhao Yuying’s hands, it was just a regular Level 5 gun, with the usual reduction in power for human users of Blood Kin weapons. The difference was noticeable, reducing it to about Level 4.

Qian Ye mumbled, “It’s, uh, custom-made…”

Zhao Yuying didn’t notice the typical Blood Kin style of the Phantom Manjushaka and didn’t pursue it, muttering, “Two little freaks!” before throwing the gun back to Qian Ye.

Then, Zhao Yuying patted Qian Ye’s shoulder, saying, “Xiao Wu, remember, in this world, no one is worth your complete trust. On the battlefield, anyone charging at you with a weapon, regardless of who they are, is your enemy. Outside the battlefield, anyone trying to take money from your pocket is also an enemy.”

Qian Ye nodded in agreement.

Zhao Yuying scanned the large origin array in the center of the square, her eyes gleaming, “I suffered great losses today, so I want half the spoils.”

Qian Ye was speechless. Zhao Yuying had only thrown more origin grenades, what other loss was there? “You just said anyone trying to take money from my pocket is an enemy.”

*Bang!* Qian Ye’s shoulder took a punch.

Zhao Yuying snapped, “I’m your sister, that’s different! What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is still mine!”

“You…” Qian Ye realized arguing with a woman was like searching for fish in a tree.

Though Qian Ye had used two Refined Silver Sunfire rounds, compared to the spoils from the raid, they were insignificant, even if they were specially made by the Song Clan.

Besides the resources here, Stuka’s escape while heavily injured was a decent outcome.

Qian Ye didn’t want Stuka to die yet. A Count was a big deal, and even in the Eternal Night faction, losing a Count on this continent, considered a backwater, would attract the attention of Stuka’s clan, potentially leading to other strong figures coming to take over.

A spider demon Count hit by Sunfire rounds would live a few more years. Given Stuka’s past oppressive rule, he wouldn’t allow others to intervene, providing a buffer for Qian Ye to gradually take over his territory.

While waiting for the origin array to be dismantled, Qian Ye and Zhao Yuying haggled seriously.

The mine itself was fine, but the value of the origin array was incalculable. The surviving thirty-odd craftsmen were also a significant asset. Capable of setting up such an array, their skills were top-notch even in the Dark Nation. Acquiring them meant acquiring a vast amount of high-level origin array technology.

Zhao Yuying could take some of the components, as long as the core remained. But Qian Ye wanted to keep all the craftsmen. They were crucial for the future enhancement of Darkflame’s arsenal.

In the end, the division was resolved: Zhao Yuying got half the components, while Qian Ye kept the core and all the craftsmen.

Dismantling the array and packing it up took a whole day, filling three containers.

The mine’s location was deep within the Count’s direct jurisdiction, far from Blackflow City. Any mishap on the way would be disastrous. Qian Ye personally went back to Blackridge, fetched the airship, loaded the three boxes and the craftsmen, and Zhao Yuying escorted them back to Blackflow City.

After returning to Blackridge, Qian Ye didn’t rest. With the spider demon Count wounded, he decided to expand his gains in the dark territory.

He split his forces. One part followed Qian Ye to the werewolf viscount’s territory; the werewolves’ movements were odd, and he decided to investigate personally.

The other part stayed put, waiting for Zhao Yuying to return and then attack Viscount Mask’s fortress. For Blackridge, Wei Clan’s warlords with scouts and logistics held the fort, ensuring supply lines and communication. The only threat, the spider demon Count, was out of action for the time being.

Once Qian Ye and Zhao Yuying secured the two viscounts’ territories, the occupied areas would connect. Knocking out the dark outpost in Silverflow Bay would bring most of Stuka’s eastern and southern territories under Qian Ye’s control. The western campaign would then have met its goal.

Qian Ye took only a special platoon, as the werewolves retreated to their strongholds. Extra soldiers were useless and slowed the march; fewer, elite troops were more agile.

In Blackflow City, Wei Potian sat in his study, examining a piece of armor.