22 Villian

Pubang's book series 1 -"The night of hunting games" sale on Amazon now.

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The next morning, all the soldiers were assembled in the camp's courtyard, the scorching sun once again beating down on their skin. They stood there for hours, sweat streaming down their faces, until they finally saw the garrison officer, Zhang Ga slowly emerge from his tent. Step by step, he approached them, his gaze cold and severe, exuding a suffocating aura of authority.

Zhang Ga slouched into a large chair, looking down at the soldiers before him with a cruel and disdainful expression, as if they were mere insignificant playthings. A few of his trusted cronies stood by his side—one pouring tea, another gripping a saber and glaring menacingly at the lower-ranking soldiers, his gaze full of threat. The atmosphere in the camp was stifling. The soldiers kept their heads lowered, none daring to meet Zhang Ga's eyes, though in their hearts, they cursed him silently.

Zhang Ga's gaze swept over the soldiers, a flicker of impatience crossing his face. He spoke slowly, his tone laced with sarcasm,"I heard that some of you have been complaining about the training being too harsh, and the food being too poor this month? Is that true?" He looked up at the blazing sun, deliberately ignoring the fact that the soldiers had already been standing under it for half the day.

One of his cronies immediately furrowed his brow, cracking a whip toward a soldier whose stance was less than perfect, and said coldly,"You're soldiers. If you can't endure a bit of hardship, what kind of soldiers are you?"

Unexpectedly, a bold soldier spoke up indignantly,"Sir, we aren't even eating real food—it's just wild vegetable soup! We have no strength left. How are we supposed to keep up with the training?"

Zhang Ga leaned forward slightly, a cold smile on his lips, his gaze as sharp as a blade."A soldier, and you can't endure a little hardship? When you're on the battlefield, are you going to tell the enemy'I have no strength, please spare me'?" Of course, he knew full well that most of the soldiers' rations had been embezzled into his own pocket, but he would never admit it. Instead, he used his words to brutally suppress their defiance.

The soldier opened his mouth as if to argue further, but an older veteran standing beside him tugged at his sleeve, signaling for him to stop and avoid trouble.

But Zhang Ga had no intention of letting him off so easily. He fixed his gaze on the bold soldier and said coldly,"Today, I need three volunteers for a reconnaissance mission into Scorpion Tribe territory. You," he pointed to the bold soldier,"since you have so much energy to complain, you'll go. And if you don't return with information, you'll suffer the consequences. Oh, and since horses are in short supply lately, you'll be going on foot."

The soldiers exchanged worried glances. A reconnaissance mission on foot, across the vast plains, against Scorpion Tribe riders? There was no way he would make it back. They all knew that being chosen meant almost certain death. Zhang Ga's vengeful wrath hung over them like a dark cloud, pressing down on everyone's chest, making it hard to breathe.

But Zhang Ga wasn't finished. He ordered coldly,"Since none of you seem to know your place, I want all of you to continue training under the sun until nightfall. Let this be a lesson you won't forget!"

Even the veteran soldiers were shocked. None of them had expected that the man who once called them"brothers" would be so ruthless now.

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Night fell, and the tents were filled with a stifling sense of anger. A few soldiers, who had recently been flogged, lay on their beds, their backs still throbbing with pain. Around them, their fellow soldiers gathered, all grumbling in frustration.

"That bastard Zhang Ga! He's been embezzling our rations, he's nothing but a bloodsucker!" a young soldier muttered furiously.

"We risk our lives fighting for the empire, and we can't even get a full meal!" another soldier said through gritted teeth.

"I used to think he was a friend, but he's nothing more than a two-faced scoundrel!" The soldiers all murmured in agreement, their indignation filling the tent like wildfire.

Just then, an older veteran walked over, his expression complex as he looked at the younger soldiers. He sighed and said,"You all are too naive. Zhang Ga may be rotten, but he's still an officer appointed by those above. There's nothing we can do about it."

"What? So we're supposed to just let him bully us like this?" a young soldier asked, unwilling to accept this.

The veteran gave a bitter smile and shook his head,"I feel the same anger you do, but in this empire, we're nothing more than grains of sand. Think you can rebel? There's no way out."

The soldiers fell silent, realizing the harsh reality. In a world ruled by power, impulse and anger were not enough to change their fates, but beneath the surface, a smoldering resentment continued to grow.

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Despite his tough exterior, Zhang Ga had his worries. His position was unstable. With a new general, his future looked bleak. The promised promotion to supreme commander was just a mirage. Now, he was just a border garrison commander, far from the core of the court.

In this remote town, Zhang Ga's luck took a steep downturn. Though his rank had technically been elevated, he was far from the center of power. His old friends had distanced themselves or waited to see him fail. Forgotten in a corner of the empire, Zhang Ga drank himself into a stupor daily. Often, in his drunken state, he would shout, "Laugh at the heavens, walk out freely—I am no ordinary man!" But when the drink wore off and he was alone, he would murmur, "General, please forgive me... forgive me..."

As time passed, Zhang Ga's view of his former general became twisted. He saw the general as his enemy, someone who had betrayed him and caused his downfall. Bitterness filled his heart. When he heard the general's descendants were living well, he sent a harsh letter to the royal inspector, criticizing the king's leniency. But the inspector Li was disgusted by him and burned the letter without a second thought.

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In these remote borderlands, there were many small forts like this one. In the town's tea house, bustling with people, the midday sunlight streamed through the windows, filling the hall with a warm glow and the fragrant scent of tea. Patrons sat with teacups in hand, all eyes on the storyteller in the center of the room, eagerly awaiting an epic tale.

The storyteller, a shrewd-looking man in his fifties, wore simple robes. With one hand on his wooden clapper, he stroked his beard with the other, waiting for the room to quiet down. Once it was silent, he cleared his throat, gave a slight smile, and began, lowering his voice for dramatic effect.

"Honored guests, today I bring you the story of a true hero from these very lands. Over a decade ago, a commander came to the nearby towns—a man named Yi Qing. Now, this Commander Yi wasn't born into nobility. No, he was a poor scholar raised in humble circumstances, yet the king himself appointed him as commander to defend these towns. Though a civil servant by training, Yi Qing was a man of integrity, a loyal servant of the realm with a heart burning with patriotism."

The audience nodded, murmuring their admiration for Yi Qing's loyalty. The storyteller noted their reaction and continued,"But listen closely, friends, for the situation in this city was no simple matter. The city was home to wealthy merchants, each richer than the last, with deep pockets and powerful backers among the nobles. These merchants were cunning, each with a noble patron to shield them. So, they pooled their resources and formed a'Merchant Guard,' claiming it was to protect the city and their homes. But in truth, these nobles and merchants cared only for their own fortunes and had little concern for defending the kingdom."

Here, the storyteller gave his wooden clapper a soft tap and lowered his voice further, drawing the audience in."One day, news arrived from the border—a warning that the Scorpion Tribe alliance had mobilized, their army bearing down on the kingdom! The Scorpion Tribe, fierce warriors every one, as ruthless as wolves, as ferocious as tigers, surged forward with unstoppable force. The king commanded all cities to hold their ground. Commander Yi received the order, and without a moment's hesitation, he donned his armor, gathered his troops, and swore to defend the city to the last man, refusing to let the enemy take even a single step."

The patrons murmured in admiration, praising Commander Yi as a true patriot. But the storyteller shook his head and sighed, his tone turning somber."Ah, but friends, just as the city prepared for battle, those merchants and nobles were trembling in fear. The Scorpion army was advancing, and what were they afraid for? Their own gold and silver, their grand mansions! So, behind closed doors, they schemed to abandon the city, planning to slip away with their families and treasures before the battle even began."

"What?" The crowd erupted in shocked whispers, their faces filled with anger.

"Yes!" The storyteller smacked the

clapper sharply, his voice thick with disdain."These so-called protectors of the city, these self-proclaimed guardians, when faced with life and death, each planned to flee! But what about Commander Yi? No, he refused to abandon his post. He tried to persuade them to stay and defend the city together. But did those merchants and nobles listen? They only cared for their own lives! Seeing their minds were set, Commander Yi coldly said to them,'If you wish to flee, then go—but the city's troops, you will leave behind. I, Yi Qing, will not abandon this city!'"

The atmosphere in the tea house grew tense. The patrons held their breath, fully engrossed in the unfolding drama.