CHAPTER 547: CHAPTER 547. THREE CHOICES

"I have another request," Amon said.

"Another? Do you have another present like this Longevity Fruit for a bargaining chip?" Huang San asked half-jokingly.

"This request is not for my sake. Your Majesty has been my benefactor all this time. Hence, I need to ensure Your Majesty’s safety even when I am away. I would like to leave Yang Li by Your Majesty’s side."

Huang San glanced at Yang Li. She returned his gaze for a brief moment before turning away.

"I thank you for your concern," Huang San told Amon. "But you have nothing to worry about, I am perfectly safe."

"There might be a time when Your Majesty needs to leave the palace..."

"I didn’t mean I am safe because I am inside the palace," Huang San cut Amon off before he completed his sentence. "I mean, I am safe because I already have a protector... Xa Piao!!"

After the call, a man in a tight white attire landed beside the gazebo.

"Your Majesty," the man bowed to Huang San.

Amon was rather surprised by this man’s appearance. He didn’t sense this man until he landed near them. He failed to detect this man’s presence, not just using his Spirit Sense but also with his other senses. It might be true that his danger sense didn’t react because this man didn’t harbor any killing intent toward him, but even standing so close, he felt as if the man before him didn’t exist.

He quickly understood that this man not only possessed a good concealment art but could also hide his presence in the most fundamental way. This man was like him, someone who had honed their stealth technique to a masterful degree.

"This is Xa Piao," Huang San introduced the man with the white attire. "He used to be my father’s bodyguard. Now that I am the king, I become his responsibility."

"King Huang Ti’s bodyguard? What is his cultivation level?" Yang Li asked. They couldn’t sense Xa Piao’s cultivation level because of his concealment art.

"I understand your reaction," Huang San chuckled. "My father is a Lord Stage cultivator. He is the strongest in this kingdom. Why did he need a protector? Even so, there are assassins who specialize in quick, hidden, and deadly ambushes. Even for a Lord Stage cultivator, there are times when one can be careless. Therefore, every king is provided with a secret protector during our reign, no matter our cultivation levels."

Huang San waved his hand, and Xa Piao jumped away. He soon disappeared without anyone noticing where he had gone.

"By the way, my sister also has a secret protector," Huang San informed. "Similarly, her protector used to protect Zhu Yao."

"I see...," Amon remarked.

"Yes. So, as you see, there is no cause to concern about my safety," Huang San uttered.

"Sigh, I try not to make this awkward, but I guess I have no choice," Amon said.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Huang San asked.

"The reason I asked Yang Li to stay by Your Majesty’s side... The truth is, I am concerned about her."

Yang Li stood upon hearing Amon’s words. "Please excuse me!" She exclaimed before hurriedly walking away.

"What... What was that all about?" Huang San asked, confused.

Amon waited until Yang Li was out of the garden before he continued, "Your Majesty should already know she is a woman of few words."

"I... I do," Huang San responded.

"Well, she was shy to admit it, but something had developed in her heart after those training sessions with Your Majesty to prepare for the Ancient Ascension Trial."

"You... You don’t mean...!" Huang San was afraid to interpret Amon’s words.

"I’m afraid it is so," Amon replied. "She knew she was not Your Majesty’s equal. She is a commoner, while Your Majesty is the peak of nobility. She knows it is unrealistic. Still, I wish Your Majesty would be willing to grant my wish and let her spend time by your side. She has been a good follower, and I wish for her happiness."

"I... This is all rather sudden...," Huang San stammered.

"I understand. Anyway, she will not follow me in my campaign. I hope Your Majesty can agree to my request before I depart. I will excuse myself."

Amon stood and bowed. He then walked away, leaving Huang San, who remained dazed in his seat.

*

Amon spent the next few days organizing the First Demon Army. Their number finally hit twenty thousand. While the kingdom permitted him to raise it to thirty thousand, that would still take some time.

For an army to expand so rapidly in just over a week had already surprised many officials. The First Demon Army achieved this feat thanks to Amon’s reputation and preparation. He also had the support of Huang San to bypass the convoluted administration process.

Of course, the rapid growth was not without drawbacks. Such rapid recruitment meant he couldn’t do proper background checks on the applicants. He didn’t mind that. He prioritized quantity for now. To counter troublesome individuals, he ensured that all squad leaders were chosen from Demon Gang members or old First Demon Legion members.

Some protested the appointments because several squad leaders had lower cultivation levels than the squad members they were leading. A few were even newer recruits than the squad members, who had already joined Echos’ military many years ago.

Amon ignored all the protests. He applied strict daily drills to instill discipline and ensure everyone understood the chains of command.

Amon divided his army into four regiments. Each comprised five thousand troops. He appointed four Spirit Stage cultivators as the commanders of these four regiments. The four were Xin Wuming, Wu Di, Xu Bao, and Yong Baili.

Most of the Royal Academy ex-tutors left Amon’s army after Huang San became the king, but some stayed. Yong Baili and Yong Ling were among those who stayed. Xu Bao also stayed because he preferred Amon’s direct leadership to the Grand Barrack’s complex bureaucracy. He used to protect Huang San when he was part of the army, but Huang San no longer needed his protection now that he was the king.

Every day, the capital sent wagon upon wagon of supplies to Fort Fresh Maw in preparation for their march. Today, something else was sent with these supplies. This something was brought into Amon’s office.

"Are you Zhong Yuan?" Amon asked. Opposite his desk was a man in ragged clothes and disheveled hair. He had many wounds and burn marks all over his body. He appeared to have trouble standing.

"The general asked you a question!" The soldier who escorted Zhong Yuan elbowed Zhong Yuan’s stomach. This caused the man to double over and drop to the ground.

"Captain, you are dismissed. Leave us," Amon instructed.

The captain bowed before leaving the office.

Amon remained in his seat as Zhong Yuan panted on the floor. It took Zhong Yuan almost a minute before he could stand back up. He asked between his panted breaths, "What do you want from me?"

Instead of answering his question, Amon said, "You have lost your benefactor. You are in a foreign land with no relatives and no friends. You have committed deeds that angered this kingdom’s ruler. In other words, you have no more place in this kingdom."

Zhong Yuan frowned at the statement. He didn’t understand what Amon was getting at.

"Sit," Amon offered. "You seem like you will fall any second."

Zhong Yuan welcomed the offer. He was indeed having trouble standing.

Amon poured a glass of water and slid it to Zhong Yuan. Zhong Yuan grabbed and drank it without decorum. He was very thirsty. The torture he experienced inside the palace’s jail included starvation and dehydration.

Amon placed two pills on the table. Zhong Yuan’s expertise allowed him to identify the pills at a glance. The two pills were restorative and sustenance pills. While he had no reservation about drinking the water Amon offered, he showed restraint with these two pills.

"What do you want from me?" Zhong Yuan repeated his question.

"I want your loyalty, like the one you gave Huang Zhan," Amon replied.

"I was not loyal to him. Our relationship was purely for the benefit of each other," Zhong Yuan said.

"I can live with that," Amon said. "I will give you a place to stay in this hostile land. You might even build a home here. Have a wife, build a family, and settle down. In exchange, you will work for me. If I’m happy with your work, I will even pay you. What do you say? I bet it beats getting locked up and tortured every day, don’t you say?"

"Doesn’t seem like I have a choice," Zhong Yuan said.

"There is always a choice. I just described two just now. There is also a third choice, which is to end your life and forget about all the hardship that comes with life. There, you have three choices. The freedom to choose is always in your hands. Which one do you choose?"

Zhong Yuan stared silently at the two pills on the table.

"I am a busy man," Amon said. "If you don’t accept my offer in the next minute, I will send you back to the palace."

He stabbed a small knife on the table, which startled Zhong Yuan. "Or, you can pick the third choice," he added.

The next second, Zhong Yuan picked the two pills and said, "I accept your offer."