The Grand Duelist

Chapter 161: Besieged by Three Guilds[2]

The fierce voice announced these words three times before it stopped.

The words carried by the voice swept through the entire campsite.

Joseph had a frown on his face: "From now on, any soldier that dares to run away will be summarily executed? Does that mean that the merchant earlier wasn't supposed to die? He was arbitrarily executed?"

Old Two heard what he had said and he laughed out loud: "That's right! That merchant earlier wasn't supposed to die, but do you really think that these soldiers care about us mere commoners?"

"Even if that merchant was quite rich, he was still a commoner at the end! Prevention is also better than cure, I commend the move of that soldier earlier!"

Joseph turned to look at Old Two with a frown: "Why are you commending what the soldier had done?"

Old Two boisterously laughed: "Hahaha, brother... Do you seriously not understand? If that soldier didn't stop that merchant from running away, everyone would follow suit!"

"As I said, prevention is better than cure and there's also a popular adage that says about killing the chickens to warn the monkeys."

Joseph's eyes narrowed into slits when he heard what Old Two had said.

But he didn't say anything anymore.

He calmed himself down and moved according to the orders of the other soldiers.

Wearing the armor issued by the Kingdom of Evergreen to infantry soldiers.

Joseph went with the flow and followed the others towards the Central Plains.

According to their commander, the battle between the Kingdom of Shade and Iblis would happen at the Central Plains, north of the Kingdom of Evergreen about fifty kilometers from the capital.

Infantry soldiers like Joseph carried provisions on their backs due to the fact that the Kingdom of Evergreen had limited resources when it came to provisions. They didn't have enough horses to use for carrying these provisions so they resorted to having the infantry soldiers carry them to battle.

At first, Joseph didn't understand why the commander made the elderly soldiers like him carry these provisions.

But then, when the first batch of elderly soldiers collapsed from exhaustion.

Joseph finally understood what was going on.

And his understanding of the matter thoroughly angered Joseph.

They made the elderly soldiers carry the provisions so that the younger soldiers wouldn't be exhausted when they arrived at the Central Plains.

They didn't care about the physical conditions of the elderly soldiers at all. The fact that these young soldiers thought of the elderly soldiers as cannon fodders made Joseph's blood run cold.

Yet, why are these elderly soldiers still obeying the orders of these younger soldiers and this despicable commander?

With their numbers, they could easily censure these younger soldiers and that commander!

They could lodge a complaint to the General in charge of this regiment!

Joseph couldn't understand what's going through the mind of these elderly soldiers and why were they letting these younger soldiers step on their dignities to the point that they may as well order them to strip themselves naked and run to the Central Plains in their birthday suits.

Joseph pondered for a while.

He then heard the groans of Old Two who was marching beside him.

Old Two was struggling while carrying the provisions on his back due to his age.

Joseph shook his head and lifted a teasing smile.

"Old Two, do you want me to carry those for you?"

Old Two glanced at Joseph and said: "I know what you are thinking, my friend. But I can't hand these provisions to you, they may possibly be the provisions given to us before the battle!"

"Since we're infantry. There's a huge chance that we will be placed at the front lines and with our age, being at the front lines is tantamount to death..."

"That is why I am going to hoard these provisions and consume them all at once when we arrive at the campsite there at the Central Plains!" Sweat filled Old Two's mind but he still managed on properly articulating each and every word that he had said.

Joseph couldn't help but feel admiration towards the old man.

He could only sigh and continue marching.

Soon, after about half a day of walking...

Joseph and the other soldiers finally arrived at the Kingdom of Evergreen's campsite.

He swept his gaze at the surroundings. He then closed his eyes and infused some spiritual energy into them.

When he opened his eyes once again, the veil of the dark had disappeared and he could now see in the middle of the night as if it was daylight.

Joseph saw that there were several dozens of campsites with the flag of the Kingdom of Evergreen.

"Kenneth, I wonder where he is..." Joseph had a look of worry on his face.

Despite Kenneth's accomplishments in life and his popularity within the City of Eichenwalde.

He was still considered as a commoner and the despicable soldiers of Evergreen who often envied those commoners who were rich may possibly send Kenneth to the front lines.

Although Joseph didn't know anything about warfare.

He wasn't so naive to think that a mortal like Kenneth could possibly survive at the front lines.

Even if Kenneth had lady luck supporting him. His chances of surviving were practically the lowest since as infantry, he would be one of the first soldiers to lead the attack.

The most severe casualties in battle usually happened at the first wave of attacks. Joseph understood this point at least, so before the battle began...

Joseph must find Kenneth and ensure his safety without being discovered by the Great-Generals gathered around him.

Joseph had already unlocked his spiritual energy, yet he knew that he still had the chance of comprehending if he participated in this war. It was a must for him to participate since he felt that it was now time for him to reap the rewards of his twenty years of patience and effort.

If he was discovered by the Great-Generals of the Kingdom of Evergreen.

Joseph had a hunch that he may lose his chances of participating in the war as a mere mortal. 

This was why Joseph was on guard against the detection of the Great-Generals.

After all, Joseph wasn't so naive to think that he could easily move undetected towards one campsite to another.

The Kingdom of Evergreen instructed the elderly soldiers to place the provisions at the rear and to get ready for the battle at the front lines.

Joseph obliged with the orders and holding his sword, he felt inexplicably nervous.

Despite knowing that he wouldn't die in battle due to the fact that he was just masquerading as a mortal...

He still felt anxious standing at the front lines while holding a sword in his hands.

"Hehehe... You look quite pale right there, my friend. Are you nervous?"

Old Two who was still beside Joseph asked with a smile.

Joseph lifted a slight smile: "Yeah... I won't deny that. How about you? You seem quite nervous yourself."

Old Two was taken aback by the question: "Me? Nervous? Never!" He patted his right chest with his left-hand eliciting laughter from Joseph who thought that even though Old Two looked to be at the twilight of his life. His antics seemed similar to the antics of a child.

His strange movements and weird quirks really lessened the anxiousness and apprehension in Joseph's heart.

"I see, so that was a foolish question, then..." Joseph praised Old Two and the old man seemed to be happy with the praise that he had received. The two talked for quite a while for the moment until Joseph heard whispers in his ears which made him turn to look at Old Two and smile.

The troops of the Kingdom of Shade and Iblis were stationed directly ahead of the troops of the Kingdom of Evergreen.

As for the reason why the Kingdom of Evergreen dared to face the alliance of both Kingdoms in a frontal battle. It was because even though the Kingdom of Evergreen was without any allies. The sheer number of their troops made up for it. 

When combined, the Kingdom of Shade and Iblis only had about a million soldiers, while the Kingdom of Evergreen had about two million soldiers right now on this Central Plains.

Of course, Joseph wasn't so sure about the quality of the soldiers in the Kingdom of Evergreen due to the fact that they were literally recruiting everyone even children...

Wait...

Children...

Joseph's pupils constricted.

Kenneth's son!

Could it be that his boy was also recruited by the Kingdom of Evergreen as a child soldier?

Memories flashed across Joseph's mind and it made him ultimately sigh in relief.

The Kingdom of Evergreen utilized child soldiers but they weren't placed in the front lines.

It was because the Kingdom of Evergreen at least understood that children were the lifeblood of the population and the country. Despite recruiting them for the war, they only gave those children menial jobs such as cooking for the soldiers, simple logistics, etc...

I see... If Kenneth's son is recruited, then he should be quite safe.

I should be more worried about Kenneth and his wife.

But it's not the right time yet...

I can only hope that Kenneth's wife is still safe...

Joseph inwardly thought.

He clenched his fists and suppressed the desire to transform into a cultivator right at that moment.

Patience is a virtue. This phrase could be considered as a popular adage, and Joseph was currently doing his best on being the most patient that he could as long as possible.

Taking deep breaths to calm himself...

Joseph raised his head and realized that the Great-Generals from both sides were now speaking with each other.

Joseph turned to look at Old Two who looked like he was raring to go and said.

"Old Two... Don't you die today, all right?"

"Heh... Die?" Old Two shook his head and a rare sigh escaped from his mouth: "I can't say for sure if I won't die, but if I do, I won't have any regrets knowing that I died serving the Kingdom and his Majesty!"

Old Two's words thoroughly astonished Joseph.

But before he could even ask any questions.

The war horns blared and the war officially started.

"KILL!!!"

The soldiers from both sides simultaneously screamed.

Swords were drawn and arrows aimed tautly. Joseph who stood frozen in the midst of these was eventually forced to move by the wave of people coming from behind him.

Joseph held his sword and ran towards the soldiers of the Kingdom of Shade and Iblis. 

He was supposed to be at the front lines but his hesitation earlier forced him several rows back.

Joseph stared at the soldiers of the opposing Kingdoms and he found that even though their expressions looked ferocious and bloodthirsty, their eyes, which could be considered as the windows to their souls radiated sorrow, anxiousness, and fear.

These soldiers...

They are afraid of death!

Yet...

Despite being afraid of death.

Why are they moving towards their enemies?

Why do they hold their swords against the neck of their enemies knowing that they may die the same way?

What is it?

What is the reason?

What is the force urging them to do such a decision?

Joseph's eyes darted around the battlefield until his gaze landed on a middle-aged man standing at the helm of the charge.

The middle-aged man's back looked like a towering mountain and while staring at him, Joseph felt an inexplicable sensation that as long as that middle-aged man doesn't collapse...

The entire army won't collapse and victory would eventually fall into the hands of the soldiers he was leading to battle.

I see...

Now I understand...

The reason why these soldiers are still moving even though they have such fears within them...

Isn't because they are willingly courting death...

It is because of this strange, urging power that comes from the towering back of that middle-aged man.

The General's Orders are absolute and can never be disobeyed.

The deterrence that the middle-aged man has that urges these soldiers to obey him even if the result is their death is his authority.

Authority stems from Law which creates Order. I understand this much at least, but what is Justice?

If Law is the deterrence and Order is what fuels these soldiers to offer their lives for the sake of the Kingdom.

What is Justice?

Is Justice somehow connected with Law and Order?

Joseph fell into deep contemplation.

But his deep pondering didn't last long for the first clash of this war was about to happen.

"KILL!!!"

The infantry soldiers of the Kingdom of Evergreen charged at the soldiers of the Kingdom of Shade and Iblis.

Right before the two sides made contact with each other. The soldiers from Shade and Iblis suddenly leaped backward and retreated. Their retreat enabled the soldiers behind them to overtake them and when those soldiers arrived at the front lines, they had spears whose tip coated with poison pointed at the charging soldiers of the Kingdom of Evergreen.

"Shit! They have poisoned spears!"

"What the fuck? They are treating infantry as if we're cavalry?"

The soldiers at the front lines from Evergreen screamed and they pushed on the brakes.

They managed to stop themselves on time, but the soldiers at the rear who were already at their maximum speed and didn't see the spears that their enemies were holding didn't manage to stop on time.

They clashed against the back of their allies, impaling the soldiers of Evergreen who stood at the front lines but managed to stop on time.

Joseph's pupils constricted.

Thankfully, he still wasn't at his top speed so he managed to stop himself on time.

But before he could even relax...

The infantry soldiers of Iblis and Shade who retreated to make way for their spear-wielding allies rotated around the sides and made a pinch attack against the soldiers of Evergreen.

"AAAHHH!!!"

"HELP!!!"

"Calm down! Steel yourselves! Face the enemy! Those who will run away from the battle will be executed!" A young commander cried out but as soon as the words left his mouth, he was cut down by a soldier from Iblis.

His eyes widened in disbelief and as he collapsed...

He still couldn't believe that he died so easily and this fast in the war that he had prepared and trained for, for so long.

Joseph felt pity towards the young commander, but then his eyes landed on Old Two.

Old Two turned berserk upon seeing the blood of his comrades. His eyes reddened in anger and he fiercely swung his sword. Whenever he swung his sword, heads would separate from their shoulders, leaving only a trail of crimson as another life was lost.

However, Old Two's actions of killing several soldiers from Iblis and Shade made him the focus of their firepower. Even though Old Two acted tough against the attacks of several people at once.

He wasn't invincible.

He was still a mortal and in the end...

Before Joseph could even scream.

Dozens of attacks pierced through his body and the final attack sent his head flying towards Joseph's direction.

"O-O-Old Two..." Joseph trembled.

Old Two's death was gruesome and brutal, yet there was this smile of comfort plastered on his face.

Joseph stared right into his lifeless eyes and then suddenly...

Enlightenment came to him.

I see...

Now, I understand...

Old Two charged to his death due to an Order created by someone wielding the Law. 

It is unfair for the commanders to send elderly soldiers like Old Two to the front lines, but who decides what is fair or unfair?

Justice is the advantage of the strong.

If Old Two and the other elderly soldiers were stronger then they could've opposed the Order of that person behind the Law and imposed Justice upon themselves.

But now, I understand...

Whoever is stronger gets to decide what "justice" is.

If I were to make an analogy.

If I found a turtle on its back. I could flip it right or capture it to eat. The action of capturing it to eat is unfair due to the fact that it was incapable of movement when I encountered it. However, without the ability to say anything against me, they are unable to have a say in the matter unless I chose to do so.

So in other words.

In essence.

Justice is...

Strength.

Joseph's spiritual energy surged.

[You have comprehended the Concept of Law, Justice, and Order.]

[As a reward for your comprehension. You are awarded a Unique Skill.]

[You gained a Unique Skill.]

[You gained a Unique Skill.]

[You gained a Unique Skill.]

[...]

Several system notifications appeared right in front of Joseph, but he suppressed them all with a single thought.

He raised his head and stared at the skies. He felt something beckoning at him from beyond the clouds. But he knew that it still wasn't the right time to answer that beckoning. Joseph still had to do what he must as a smile lifted on his lips.

"Dieee!!!"

At that moment, a soldier from Iblis charged at Joseph with a ferocious look on his face.

However, when he slashed and blinked his eyes.

His opponent had suddenly disappeared from his sight as if he didn't exist in the first place.

"Wha...?"

The soldier from Iblis was so shaken about Joseph's sudden disappearance that he fell onto the ground. The surrounding soldiers who didn't notice Joseph's disappearance quickly took advantage of this opening and the soldier from Iblis was slaughtered by his enemies.

On another battlefield just several kilometers away from where Joseph had disappeared...

Kenneth stood at the rear of the formation as he tightly held his sword. He kept on reminding himself that everything would be fine and that he could return alive, but his chest still kept on violently heaving from anxiety and fear.

Yes, fear...

He didn't want to die and he didn't want to kill.

He missed his son, he missed his wife and most of all... He missed Uncle Joseph.

Everything disappeared in the face of this war.

Before this war, he was someone that had an enjoyable and fulfilling life despite his tight schedule...

He owned a wooden workshop that had dozens of branches all over the City of Eichenwalde, and he was also the Head Chef of the most popular restaurant within the same City.

One could say that he had a great life ahead of him.

On that street, one could say that he was doing great.

He and his wife thoroughly loved each other. Life was filled with joy. He even planned on persuading Uncle Joseph to fully retire so that he could serve him in the last few years of his life.

The death of his father made him think of Uncle Joseph.

That Uncle who watched him grow up, and supported him throughout his journey to adulthood.

But now, everything had changed and collapsed.

All because of this war.

He didn't know how his wife and mother were doing right now, but he had heard some rumors.

He heard some rumors that the soldiers were capturing women from the cities to serve as their comfort women before and after the battles. The thought of having his wife and mother kidnapped by these despicable soldiers sent shivers down the spine of Kenneth.

But what could he do?

He was just a lowly owner of a wooden workshop and a Chef of some popular restaurant.

He wasn't a commander, nor a general. And he sure wasn't an Immortal.

In addition to his wife, he was also worried about Joseph. In his mind, Uncle Joseph was already old. Would he be able to survive the harsh conditions of this war? Could his body keep up? 

He had already lost his father, he didn't want to lose Uncle Joseph too.

Kenneth gritted his teeth and steeled his resolve.

Everything wouldn't matter if he lost and die here! He must survive!

For the sake of his mother, wife, son, and for his Uncle Joseph.

He must survive!

Unyielding determination flashed across Kenneth's face.

He rushed at his enemy with his sword in front of him.

This battlefield he was in was at the left flank of the Central Plains so the enemy soldiers here weren't using complex formations.

They just rushed and sliced at each other and hoped for the best.

After all, most of the soldiers from the three Kingdoms weren't really that proficient in the art of battle and war due to the centuries of peace between the three kingdoms.

Kenneth felt his sword connect as blood spilled from the chest of his enemy. He raised his head and found that the ferocious look on his enemy seemed to have been frozen in time. His enemy's eyes radiated disbelief as well as grief, sorrow, and regret.

Kenneth hurriedly pulled out his sword, his instinct told him that he must help the one he stabbed but his actions of pulling his sword from the man's chest further hastened his death.

"Brother Louie!!!" 

Kenneth's attention was attracted by a scream from the distance.

He turned his head to look at the source of the scream and he found a man rushing towards him with tears dripping down his cheeks.

"I WILL KILL YOU!"

The man cried out loud and raised his sword above him, but before he could even attack Kenneth...

A sword pierced through his throat.

"Kenneth! Stand up! What are you doing there? You're being an easy target!" 

Kenneth turned to look at the soldier that helped him and he found that he was the son of the shopkeeper on the same street as the wooden workshop.

"T-T-Thank you..." Kenneth slightly bowed his head, but then his pupils constricted when he saw that the man that got his throat pierced by the sword miraculously lifted his sword and sent a stab at the son of the shopkeeper.

"Look out!"

Kenneth cried out in order to warn the son of the shopkeeper but it was already too late.

The attack pierced his left chest and went through his heart.

The son of the shopkeeper promptly collapsed on the ground.

He coughed a mouthful of blood and whispered: "Kenneth... You... survive..."

He then closed his eyes one last time.

He died...

Just like that?

Kenneth felt his blood run cold.

Fear gripped his entire being and as he looked around, he saw countless bodies littered around him.

Kenneth was just a mortal. He was longing for his wife, his mother, and his Uncle Joseph and seeing all of these corpses and realizing how easily one could die within the battlefield.

He broke down.

He squatted down in the middle of the battlefield and cried.

After quite a long time, Kenneth felt something warm patting his head.

"Kenneth... Don't be scared."

Kenneth raised his head and turned to look at the youth that appeared in front of him. This youth looked much younger than him, but his eyes radiated an ancient light.

He looked incredibly out of place. He wore a simple tunic and there was a smile on his face that you could never find in the middle of the battlefield.

But...

Kenneth was incredibly familiar with this youth.

He was the Uncle Joseph that he was longing for.

But this youth's current appearance was completely different from the old Uncle Joseph that he knew. Kenneth stared at Joseph and he suddenly remembered the first time he encountered Joseph and the first time that he received his grace in the form of an Egg Fried Rice.

He thought for a while, then asked: "You... You are an Immortal?"

Joseph looked at the chaotic battlefield. Kenneth finally noticed that even though there was chaos in the surroundings, he felt as if he wasn't a part of this ruckus despite being a soldier of the Kingdom of Evergreen. In fact, no one paid any attention to him nor to the out of place Joseph.

Joseph looked at Kenneth and said: "It's okay... You don't have to be scared. Uncle Joseph is here. Let us go find your wife, your son, and your mother."

Kenneth felt like he was in the middle of a nightmare. He had finally found the Uncle Joseph that he was looking for, yet he was actually an Immortal! A panicked and worried look could be seen on Kenneth's face, eliciting a sigh from Joseph who then pointed at his forehead.

As soon as Joseph's finger pointed at his forehead...

Kenneth felt an irresistible urge to sleep.

Then, his body loosened as he leaned forward and fell asleep.

Joseph carried Kenneth on his shoulder before he abruptly disappeared.

No one noticed his presence, nor anyone noticed the disappearance of Kenneth.

Joseph reappeared inside his restaurant and he was carrying Shopkeeper Dan on his right shoulder.

He placed the unconscious Shopkeeper Dan beside his unconscious wife and daughter before disappearing once again.

About a hundred kilometers south of the Central Plains.

There was a campsite filled with women holding pen and parchment on their hands.

These women were spared from the duty of being a comfort woman.

Instead, they were given the task of handling the terrifying logistics necessary for the war.

Kenneth's wife was here.

As for Kenneth's son.

Joseph discovered him sleeping at the campsite dedicated to child soldiers.

Joseph's relationship with Kenneth and his family started more than twenty years ago. He could've just summoned the Heavenly Tribulation and left, but with how Kenneth's family and Kenneth himself treated him in the past two decades...

It was time for Joseph to pay them back a hundred times.

Joseph quickly moved while carrying Kenneth's family.

He flew towards the skies and his Divine Sense covered the entire continent.

His eyes then landed in a distant Kingdom in the south. 

The war between the Kingdom of Evergreen, Shade, and Iblis had just started and it would probably not end for the years to come.

But even though this part of the continent was in turmoil and chaotic. The other Kingdoms in the continent were at peace with each other and bustling with activity and life.

Joseph casually chose a Kingdom before he flew towards the edge of its border.

Joseph placed Kenneth and his family on the soft grass and sighed.

He rotated his Spiritual Energy and infused some of his cultivation strength into the bodies of Kenneth and his family so that they could live a long life. Then, after leaving a certain wooden basket on the ground, he turned around and disappeared.

After a while, Kenneth opened his eyes.

He felt like he had just seen a dream about his Uncle Joseph. The image of his Uncle Joseph in his dreams seemed to have returned from when he was just a young teenage boy.

He let out a sigh.

Then, he suddenly noticed the presence of others beside him as he let out a scream.

He quickly moved and shook the people around him and when they awakened...

They revealed shocked expressions on their faces which quickly dissolved, replaced by the tears of joy as they tightly hugged each other.

Eventually, after crying for a while, Kenneth's wife asked: "Kenneth... Why am I here? I remember that I was still working back at the logistics campsite..."

Kenneth turned to look at the skies and sighed.

He finally realized that what happened wasn't a dream.

He didn't say anything. He just hugged his wife before turning his attention to a peculiar wooden basket placed several meters away from where they had awakened.

After moving towards the wooden basket, Kenneth found a lot of gold.

He and his family then kowtowed towards the direction of the wooden basket as Kenneth whispered: "Uncle Joseph... Thank you... Thank you so much..."

Kenneth picked up the wooden basket and left. He seemed to have discovered that he was on the border of another Kingdom so he quickly found the right direction. 

Shortly after Kenneth left the place where he and his family awakened...

Joseph appeared at the spot where he and his family kowtowed.

As he stared at the disappearing figures of Kenneth and his family, his eyes teared up.

With Joseph's Divine Sense that could encompass the entire Kingdom. Joseph could see that Kenneth was moving in the right direction. He just needed to follow the main road and he would eventually reach the Kingdom where he would spend the remainder of his life.

However, even until the moment that he died.

He couldn't forget Uncle Joseph who watched him grow up.

Sadly, until his death, he never had the chance to meet his Uncle Joseph again.