Dark Moon Era - Chapter 191

Chapter 191: I Challenge All Of You (3 in 1)

Who would care about Tang Ling amidst the cheers?

There were several warriors beside Tang Ling who heard him and they showed sympathy him, but asking for an explanation at this kind of timing was a little immature of him. A friend dying on the battlefield was a common occurrence for warriors, especially in a cruel battlefield like this.

Listening to the cheers that enveloped the sky and land while watching the show that Clyne and Aber put up, Tang Ling sneered at all of them with a cold chuckle. He told Christina, “Take care of Vian.” He then strode forward to the Patrol Ground.

Clyne arrived at Aber’s side where two other Purple Moon Warriors were using a warcry to deliver the victory announcement. They told stories about how great Aber was during the battle and his valiance when facing the enemies, and how he defended the enemies’ onslaught and gained the right to negotiate.

Aber was all smiles, but his eyes were fixed on Tang Ling. Even though Andrew had messed up the plan, this kid returned to the Hope Barrier in the end and as long as he remained in Safety Sector No. 17, there would be no chance for him to escape.

The most regretful thing was that Aber could no longer claim the credit for himself because having Tang Ling back at the Hope Barrier would be a disastrous outcome. This particular consequence would clash with the forces hiding in the dark.

Aber would need to borrow the strength from his family and the other alliance. With that thought in mind, he looked at Andrew begrudgingly. The bastard of the family had tried to snatch the credit from him and ruin his plans.

One thing worth noting was that for the sake of the plan, Aber had asked his mother to custom make the faulty tactical movement disk. He even requested his mother to reach out to a certain ally just to get contact with a general of the Underground race, all to put Tang Ling in a certain death situation.

“And that is how Lord Aber seized the enemy’s captain and forced the Underground race to cease fire, hence granting us the right to negotiate.” The Purple Moon Warriors ended their story on a high note, their faces full of respect and gratitude.

Those who heard the Purple Moon Warriors felt a little humbled by the story. They learned that the Purple Moon Warriors did not achieve a great victory but negotiated their way to a temporary peace.

However, on second thought, the disastrous outcome was stopped by the Agnes family, particularly the grandfather and grandson together. Aber also led the Purple Moon Warriors deep into the enemy’s territory, so even though they had to negotiate to reach an accord, it granted the Hope Barrier much needed peace and the window to recover.

In this era, one should not demand too much since achieving harmony was probably the best outcome. Therefore, the cheers got louder.

Clyne also reached Aber in perfect timing. He spread his arms and wanted to hug his grandson tightly.

The grand show was reaching its finale, but it was at that moment, an irritating discord echoed throughout the Hope Barrier.

“I want an explanation.”

Everyone was stunned as a loud and arrogant voice with a tinge of sorrow and anger interrupted their celebration.

What the hell happened? It was time for songs about heroism and celebration, yet someone was demanding an explanation. What kind of explanation?

The people started to search for the source of the voice, then they noticed at the highest point of the Hope Barrier on an observatory, stood a young man.

He was not tall and was somewhat skinny. His black hair was wet and his battle uniform was torn coupled with injuries on his body. Despite not being in good shape, he stood straight. His hand gripped the loudspeaker that the camps used to announce incoming enemies. He looked calm and fearless. Under his foot were a few observatory officers that were tied up, grunting in muffled voices.

“Arrest him,” Aber instructed after a quick glance at Tang Ling.

Several warriors emerged from the crowd and strode towards the newcomer.

With contempt and disdain apparent on his face, Tang Ling continued, “So, all you got was a negotiation, am I right? What exactly are the negotiated terms? Let me guess: temporary peace between both sides?

“Such peace won’t even last for a week. Why? Think about it. The enemy’s main forces have amassed and broken through the tactical passages. Does the Hope Barrier still have what it takes to maintain the peace? Think! The tactical passages have fallen and with the enemy’s forces gathered, how can the Purple Moon Warriors go back down there and defend the line?

“Is this what you call war credits? This is a goddamned disgusting betrayal! I believe that in the near future, the Underground race will build their own fortress beside the Hope Barrier and coexist with the Hope Barrier just to share the Universal Source Rock.

“After that, the people will happily realize that the Underground race is walking on the streets of Safety Sector No. 17, eating and drinking wine with everyone! What a beautiful scene it will be, living in harmony with the enemy!”

His voice was irritating and his words were depressing, but it made a lot of sense. The cheers were stuck in everyone’s throats, and they felt as if they had just been slapped in the face.

“This is betrayal in the name of war, get it? Does anyone care to know who betrayed us? And now he wants to arrest me? How shameful is he? Look at my injuries. I’m also a warrior who came back from the underground, and this is how you treat a warrior who put his life on the line?”

The few warriors who were on their way to the observatory were moved by what Tang Ling said.

Arrest him? Even though there was no confirmation about what he just said, he was indeed one of the warriors who had just came back.

The warriors looked at Aber who was deeply shaken. Tang Ling had shared the truth. It was very similar to the terms that he had negotiated with the Underground race!

Should Tang Ling be arrested? His words directly affected the Agnes family. Anyone who was not an idiot would understand the hint that lay in his words.

If Aber disregarded the consequences and arrested Tang Ling, the show that the Agnes family put up would be ruined as it would make the whole family look guilty.

When Aber failed to reach a decision, his grandfather, Clyne, stared at him with a profound gaze as though he was to blame for all this. He whispered, “Are you still planning to keep it a secret?”

At the same time, complicated emotions started to take over everyone’s thoughts. Although it was not easy to verify what Tang Ling said at the moment, what had the Purple Moon Warriors achieved in this battle? It seemed like what the young man said was correct.

The two Purple Moon Warriors had avoided the details when they announced the victor. They had skipped the part about the enemy’s force remaining in the tactical passages and Sector R being taken. They also had not mentioned how many enemies were killed.

In reference to that, the young man seemed to be telling the truth!

Everyone else was shaken since they, too, were warriors and they knew war intimately. If it really was temporary peace, it was not the time for celebration. They should seize the moment and gather whatever they had to prepare for another war, a war much harder than the one before deep in the underground.

They would need to eliminate the enemies that occupied Sector R and take over the tactical passages. However, no one dared to suggest so.

Where was the castellan? Where were the speaker and deputy speaker of the Parliament? Where were the senators? Why did the Agnes family lead the Purple Moon Warriors to battle in the first place?

Anyone who was not an idiot would understand the real situation in the safety sector.

Distress started to spread in the people’s hearts, but to leave Safety Sector No. 17 was a joke! Life had taught the people many experiences and one of them was to survive. As long as they could breathe, they could live alive.

“So, is an explanation that hard? Why are you forcing everyone to look so sour?” Tang Ling stood in the rain with a foot on the edge of the observatory.

“Madness!” Yang Kong was speechless except for that word that rung in his head.

“He’s deranged.” Some of them in the crowd shared the same thought too.

What explanation was that important? Would Tang Ling consider a retreat after all this? He was bringing all those dark secrets under the light and would not stop until he got what he sought.

The Agnes family could go all shameless on him, but Tang Ling did not care. The worse it got, the better it was to him. All he wanted was a chance, an opportunity to send Vian off and let her rest in peace. He also needed a chance to lay low and gather more goodwill. He needed a chance to kill.

“What explanation do you seek?” After Aber revealed the truth to Clyne in a whisper, he was forced to stand up to stop Tang Ling.

Compared to Aber, Clyne was the truly cunning one. He did not care about all this farce that Tang Ling was putting on. He believed Aber was still too young to handle this, but he obtained something very important from his grandson and had to deal with it right away. He told Aber, “Stall him.”

Stall him? Aber was confused. Should they not use the Agnes family’s remaining advantage to label Tang Ling as a madman who was spewing nonsense just so they could arrest him?

However, Aber did not dare disobey Clyne’s order. It was a brazen fact that he ought to seize all the credits for himself but failed, so he still had to rely on his family.

Tang Ling expected the stall, so he looked at Aber with a disdainful gaze. “What explanation? How can a bastard like you not know? You’ve lived for 20 over years and all you’ve learned is to play dumb? Look at that! My friend, my squadmate, a beautiful girl died because of a bastard’s scheme. Even though this bastard’s scheme was messed up by another bastard, she’s still dead. Now, do you know what explanation I’m asking for?” Tang Ling wiped the rain off his face and stepped on the edge of the observatory.

“What are you blabbering about? I offer my condolences for your friend’s death, but war is cruel. Every day, a warrior dies on the battlefield. There are rules and order in the Hope Barrier, and if you suspect that your friend died because of a scheme, there’s a court martial for that. If everyone starts to throw a tantrum just because of suspicion, the Hope Barrier will be nothing but a big fat joke!

“I need you to calm down. Your friend needs a proper burial. Take him away.” Aber sucked in a deep breath and turned a deaf ear to Tang Ling calling him a bastard. He gave a perfect reason to reject Tang Ling.

The other warriors received the order and strode towards the observatory.

Tang Ling did not care. When the warriors were behind him and trying to arrest him, he dished out a few kicks and kicked them off the observatory.

“Are you challenging Safety Sector No. 17 with your insolent actions?” Aber raised a brow.

“No, I’m just thinking that my position is rather low! Let me ask you this, Aber. If you die because of some bloody conspiracy today, will the respectful Clyne Agnes wait for the court martial to start the trial?”

Clyne did not answer. Instead, he glanced at Tang Ling coldly. He then turned to his communication device and whispered something into it.

“I guessed as much. I suppose even the Purple Moon Warriors here won’t ask for an explanation if a friend of yours died because of some conspiracy, let alone you, Aber. You’ll wait for the so-called court martial to get things right, but based on what I’ve heard, it wasn’t like that. Aren’t the Purple Moon Warriors given a special right called the right to duel? It allows you to directly challenge your enemy, doesn’t it? And I suppose this particular right is also given to a class 1 noble aside from the Purple Moon Warriors. That is why I said that my position is too low.”

No one answered him. Even Aber was rendered speechless by the shock. What did Tang Ling mean by saying all that? Was he starting to complain about the ranking system? How should he reply?

The Fierce Dragon Squad remained under the rain. Some of them started to try to patch Amir up on the spot, but it was futile. All they could do was barely keep him alive. Vian’s body was lying in the center among them.

The scene made them look helpless and pitiful, but every one of them was looking at Tang Ling, wondering what he was trying to do to uphold justice for Vian.

“So,” Tang Ling roared as he ripped his battle uniform away, revealing the dozen of wounds on his body. They were eye-catching even under the rain, “I, Tang Ling, have decided to fight for proper identity and position. Who am I? I’m just a New Moon Warrior in the First Reserved Camp who’s the last on the ranking list.

“I now officially declare that I’m challenging everyone in the ranking list of the First Reserved Camp! I’ll continue fighting for first place, and if that isn’t enough, I’ll continue to challenge the Purple Moon Warriors so that I have the right to duel!

“The right to challenge is a holy act. Who dares reject me?” Tang Ling drew his longsword from his back and pointed it toward the First Reserved Camp.

“This is madness!” Yang Kong was panic-stricken. Was Tang Ling that powerful to challenge the whole First Reserved Camp? What was he trying to do? Give Vian a proper explanation?

“That little madman! Haha!” Further away from the battlefield ruins on top of a little hill, Su Yao was holding the communication device, and when he heard what Tang Ling said, he laughed out loud.

The man beside him snatched the device away. “Hey, Old Su, let me listen too!”

“This is madness.” At the top of the Hope Barrier, several other figures who were prepared for something shared the same thought at the same time. Nonetheless, the sense of familiarity felt so close to their hearts.

Aber frowned. What the hell is all this? Fine, Grandfather wanted to stall, didn’t he? Tang Ling’s challenge is just the thing I need. Let this moron have this way. It’d be best if he’s beaten to death.

Aber might detest Andrew as a bastard of the family, but he had to admit that he was quite powerful, let alone Andrew’s dog, Hank. If he had a death wish, no one could stop him.

Andrew looked paler that instant while Hank stood beside him and held his hand tightly. Hank said, “He won’t make it.”

“Let’s hope so.” Andrew’s mood was bleak since his return from the underground. He was not Aber. He had no assets at his disposal. All he had was either success or failure.

Success meant heaven; failure spelled hell. He was already in hell, so nothing else mattered.

Isn’t life like this? A thought to draw the line between heaven and hell?

The fire of envy grew beyond his control as the injustice and greed pushed him straight to hell.

******

The right to challenge was indeed holy.

At least among the Purple Moon Warriors, every reserved camp promoted the idea of challenging each other, and in order to encourage it, it was given a sacred meaning. Therefore, the one who incited the challenge would be protected until the end of the challenge.

All that was left was either to accept or reject the challenge.

However, under the watch of these many pairs of eyes, rejection was impossible because the traditional idea that was rooted deep in the First Reserved Camp was honor!

Losing honor would be equivalent to losing everything: future, reputation, training, and even resources. It would be crueler than death.

Of course, there were only a few who could reject Tang Ling’s challenge though most people would think otherwise. They were the rest of the Fierce Dragon Squad.

Tang Ling jumped down from the observatory and walked to the center of the crowd.

A dozen of steel boxes were piled up as a makeshift ring in the center. The crowd made way so the ring was in the center.

Tang Ling calmly leaped up into the ring and turned to his friends behind him. “Let Vian stay behind me. Let her watch me.” He sheathed his sword behind him and said, “This is the line. No one can approach Vian. I’ll be beside her forever this time.”

Yu quietly carried Vian and put her down behind Tang Ling who looked at Vian’s pale but calm face with a faint smile. He said in the softest way possible, “Watch me. This is my tribute to you.”

Tang Ling looked up and yelled loudly, “Let’s start with the second to last!”

Standing beneath the ring, Andy said, “I concede.”

“Third to last.”

“I concede,” Christina said while weeping.

“Fourth to last.”

No one answered. Tang Ling’s heart clenched and he dared not turn about. He said ironically, “I’m sorry. She’s…not here anymore.”

“Fifth to last.”

A senior, who shared the same cave dorm with the Fierce Dragon Squad, walked up to the ring nervously.

“My condolences, but as a fellow New Moon Warrior, I won’t hold back!” the senior said before he bowed. He then dashed towards Tang Ling.

Tang Ling did not look at the senior. He did not even clear his sight from the rainwater.

Shuah!

He thrust a kick out. Although it was just a kick, it was so fast that many elite warriors missed the strike. All they saw were afterimages.

Bang!

The tip of the kick swept the senior’s thigh mercilessly, throwing him off balance. He then fell from the ring.

Impressive! Tang Ling was actually this powerful!

More than 50 New Moon Warriors of the First Reserved Camp were shocked! Regular people and warriors, even the elites, could be forgiven if they did not understand what had happened, but the New Moon Warriors of the First Reserved Camp and the Purple Moon Warriors who watched from the crowd, it would be a joke if they did not notice what happened.

The speed of the kick could only be delivered by the best of the First Reserved Camp! It must also be coupled with a mighty force and the strongest reflexes to sweep over the precise point!

Was Tang Ling really last on the ranking list?!

Under their astonished gazes, he remained calm as he called, “Sixth to last.”

Another senior stepped up without saying anything, he would be an idiot if he failed to understand what Tang Ling just did, he would also be a fool if he said something like “Let’s give it our best.”

He bowed and raced towards Tang Ling.

A punch. All it took was a punch. There was no extra movement. A precise punch with sufficient strength was all it took to throw the senior off the ring.

“Thank you,” the senior murmured softly. He knew Tang Ling had held back. Otherwise, the punch would have broken his bones.

“Seventh to last!” Tang Ling said loudly.

“I concede,” Orston replied loudly.

“Eighth to last.” No one answered again.

Tang Ling looked a little sour. He smiled in irony and turned around.

Amir was temporarily patched up, but given who he was, he would never receive a high cell regeneration drug.

If…if…only I didn’t betray everyone, if…if we are still friends…

Bitterness filled Amir’s heart. He believed that if he had not betrayed Tang Ling, Tang Ling would have gone all out and created miracles with his own hands to get the required drugs to heal him.

However, there were no ifs in life.

Vian was lying behind Tang Ling and until her death, he failed to get close to her. Whose fault was that? Amir seemed to have figured something out, but it was obviously too late.

“I…cough…concede.” Amir mustered all his strength to spew out the few words.

“Umm. Remember that. Stay alive if you are still a man.” Tang Ling turned away. His heart ached so painfully that he could barely breathe, but mistakes had to be punished. He could not be soft-hearted anymore for Vian’s sake.

“Ninth to last.”

The last senior who shared the same cave dorm as them stepped up. Again, it only took a single punch to defeat him.

“Tenth to last.”

“I concede,” Yu said softly.

It was only a minute since the challenge started and Tang Ling had skyrocketed from the last place by challenging nine individuals at once. Astonished expressions filled the place even though six out of nine of them gave up.

However, he still defeated three more New Moon Warriors with merely two punches and a kick!

Was it a joke? If it was, it was not funny. The three seniors that he defeated were not just any John Does. They were elite New Moon Warriors of the First Reserved Camp.

Had Tang Ling been this powerful before? Everyone shared the same thought.

How powerful were his punches? How many kilograms of force did each punch deliver? Or should it be measured by bull units? How fast was he? Was it the fastest that a New Moon Warrior could ever be? Were his reflexes the best out of all? What was his ability? Had he shown them his full potential?

The thoughts scattered messily in everyone’s minds, and they inevitably thought of something—what was Tang Ling’s secret?

Expressionlessly, Tang Ling stood under the rain and called out, “Next!”