Chapter 5: I Like Being Called a Monster!

“Commander! We can’t go on like this! If we keep fighting, we’ll all be wiped out!” Zhang Tao, the captain of the personal guard, was covered in blood as he pleaded bitterly with Zhang Zuolin.

“While our men can still hold out, you must escape at once!” Before Zhang Zuolin could respond, another officer, Cheng Zhenyang, was fitting a bayonet to his rifle as he pointed toward a patrol of enemy cavalry circling nearby.

“At least we still have the reeds as cover for now—we can hold out here for a while.”
“But if we withdraw now, out into the open, we’ll be picked off one by one by the enemy!”
“So I say, we’d be better off staying put and holding out for reinforcements.”

Zhang Tao bristled at being interrupted and retorted angrily, “Nonsense! If we wait for the Railway Garrison reinforcements from Fengtian, we’ll be dead men before they arrive!”

The ceaseless argument between his subordinates only worsened Zhang Zuolin’s mood.

“Damn it, shut up! All of you, just shut up! Arguing like a pair of old women at a time like this—what sort of example is that?”

His furious bellow instantly silenced the dispute.
Both men straightened at once and responded respectfully, “Yes, Commander! Awaiting your orders!”

Orders?
What orders did Old Zhang have to give now?
He was at a complete loss.

But as he saw everyone’s eyes fixed on him, Zhang Zuolin realized that if he didn’t say something now, the troops’ morale might collapse completely.
After a few seconds’ thought, he finally spoke:
“You two—go and bring me that Blackie!”

What use could there be in finding Blackie at a time like this?
Seeing his men’s confusion, Zhang Zuolin explained:
“That fellow saw through the enemy’s plan to blow up the train—he must have something else up his sleeve, or he wouldn’t have forced us off the train!”

“Brilliant, Commander!”
“No one can match your keen insight!”

After offering a flattering remark, Zhang Tao and Cheng Zhenyang hurried off to look for Jiang Bai.

As they passed a patch of marshland, they heard Jiang Bai’s voice.
Exchanging glances, they quickly parted the reeds and peered toward the sound.

But what they saw left them utterly stunned!

There was Jiang Bai, tall and powerfully built, his muscles taut as he gripped a Japanese soldier by the throat with his left hand, pressing him down into the marsh.
In his right hand, Jiang Bai held a Type 14 pistol, jamming its muzzle into the Japanese soldier’s mouth as he snarled, “Open your mouth!”

The Japanese soldier, though unable to understand Jiang Bai’s words, could sense the lethal intent.
He struggled desperately, trying to break free from Jiang Bai’s iron grip.

—

Yet the ending was wholly unexpected!

“Refuse to cooperate? Fine, I’ll make you talk my way!”
Growing more bloodthirsty, Jiang Bai grabbed a steel helmet from the ground and smashed it violently into the soldier’s head.

Crack!

The soldier’s skull split instantly; his jaw, clenched shut, now fell open in death.

“Now you’re willing to cooperate!”
With a sly twist of the lips, Jiang Bai shoved the pistol deeper into the dead man’s mouth and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Bang!

The gunshot echoed clean and sharp, and a mechanical voice sounded in Jiang Bai’s mind:

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for killing a Japanese soldier. Physique +0.05!]
[Ding! The system has detected the slain soldier’s rank as Second Lieutenant. Extra attribute bonus: +0.05 points!]

With an infusion of 0.1 attribute points, a surge of warmth coursed through Jiang Bai’s body.
All the fatigue he’d accumulated vanished in an instant.
His skin toughened, as if clad in unbreakable armor, and he radiated a savage aura.

Reveling in this upgraded sensation, Jiang Bai stretched out his arms, murmuring to himself,
“Only by killing ten Japanese a day can I feel the true meaning of life!”

Watching the bloodlust flickering across Jiang Bai’s face, Zhang Tao and Cheng Zhen, hiding in the shadows, exchanged a look—each seeing shock and awe reflected in the other’s eyes.

Even from ten meters away, they could feel the terrifying killing aura emanating from Jiang Bai.

They didn’t even dare to breathe, afraid that this madman might suddenly turn on them and send them to the afterlife.

Only when Jiang Bai rose and set off in search of his next prey did Zhang Tao finally dare to poke his head out, whispering with a shudder,

“I’ve seen that look before! I saw it in the eyes of the Siberian tiger back in the northeast—that cold indifference, the mark of a supreme predator on the hunt!”

“This guy… He doesn’t even see the Japanese as human!”

Normally, as rivals, Cheng Zhen might have seized the chance to mock him.
But now, he had no such urge. Instead he drew a deep breath, his face full of awe:

“Damn! One blow, and the guy’s skull explodes—just how strong is he?”

“If you had to describe it in a word, it would be—”

Before Cheng Zhen could finish, Zhang Tao interjected, “A demon!”

“A demon?” Cheng Zhen was taken aback, then protested, “A demon? Shouldn’t that title belong to a war god?”

But Zhang Tao inhaled deeply and retorted, “Have you ever seen a war god who takes pleasure in slaughter?”

—

“Pleasure in slaughter?”
Cheng Zhen repeated, bewildered. “What do you mean? I don’t get it.”

“Are you stupid? How can you not understand?” Zhang Tao snapped impatiently. “Let me ask you, how did you feel the first time you killed an enemy?”

Though Cheng Zhen didn’t really grasp the point of this question, he saw the seriousness in Zhang Tao’s expression and thought back carefully before answering slowly,
“The first time… I was scared and angry. I had nightmares, couldn’t sleep at night.”

“And now?” Zhang Tao pressed. “How do you feel now?”

“The fear is gone. Now I just feel anger.”

“Well, here’s the crux!” Zhang Tao drew a long breath and spoke earnestly,
“In all your years in the Zhenwei Army, have you ever seen anyone show enjoyment while killing the enemy?”

“Enjoyment?”
He hadn’t thought about it before, but now, the image of Jiang Bai’s face from a moment ago flashed through Cheng Zhen’s mind.

How could one describe that face?
Bloodthirsty, unhinged, powerful—and there was an unmistakable enjoyment in it!

Yes, without a doubt, just as Zhang Tao said, Jiang Bai’s demeanor was utterly unique.

To take genuine pleasure in killing the enemy—that was the behavior of a monster!

A chill crept up Cheng Zhen’s spine.
His expression shifted, then he forced himself to ask,

“So… should we still try to find Jiang Bai? After all, the Commander gave us an order.”

“Damn it, do as you please! I’m not dealing with that monster!”
Zhang Tao waved his hand, still shaken. “He’s just too terrifying! Cheng Zhen, what do you think?”

But to Zhang Tao’s confusion, Cheng Zhen didn’t answer right away. Instead, his face turned pale with fear, and he raised a trembling finger to point behind Zhang Tao.

What shocked Zhang Tao even more was that Cheng Zhen was mouthing two words, silently but urgently:

“Run! Now!”

Just as Zhang Tao was about to puzzle over this, a cold, deathly voice sounded behind him:

“Monster? Thank you—I quite like that title.”

“So, tell me—how should I thank you for it?”