Chapter 20

“I just don’t want to watch you die.” Tang Yin said with a smile.

As Qiu Zhen heard this, he wasn’t sure if what he felt in his heart was touched or anger. He gritted his teeth and said, “From the moment I decided to follow Big Brother Tang, I have already made up my mind to die alongside Big Brother Tang. So, I must go.”
Tang Yin looked at Qiu Zhen for a while, and laughed suddenly. He said, “To die together, this is probably a decision you just made!”

Those were words that spoke the mind instantly. Qiu Zhen’s face turned reddish, but he calmed himself down immediately and said passionately, “Regardless if it was before this or just now, Big Brother Tang is ultimately the person I am completely willing to assist. If you die, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to find someone like Big Brother Tang. If so, what’s the point for me to continue living?!” He paused and then continued to say with a firm tone, “I want to walk by you!”

Qiu Zhen’s words made Tang Yin exceptionally moved. There had never been someone who could treat him this way, or value him this way. His ice cold heart turned warm in a sudden. But the more that this was the case, the more he couldn’t let Qiu Zhen follow him.

He held Qiu Zhen’s shoulder and said with a straight face, “Qiu Zhen, actually… I am not someone who belongs to this world. If I were to really die in battle, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. Perhaps I would be able to go back to where I came from. In this world, I am already very grateful to be able to make a friend.” Even if I were to really die in the end, he added silently in his heart.

Once someone who had never had friends recognizes someone as a friend, he would cherish them even more.
Qiu Zhen couldn’t understand what Tang Yin was trying to say with this, the thing about this world and that world. But what he did understand was Tang Yin’s refusal. “Big Brother Tang, I…”

“There’s no need to say anything more. No means no.” After he finished, Tang Yin nodded at Qiu Zhen and walked straight toward Wu Mei’s tent.

Wu Mei was incredibly surprised by the fact that Tang Yin would take the initiative to see her.

Tang Yin didn’t try to be cliché and said bluntly, “I’m afraid that it will be difficult for me to get close by attacking straight at the enemy’s checkpoint. Which is why I would like to get some Ning soldier’s clothes and get into the checkpoint by dressing up as a Ning soldier.”
Wu Mei nodded her head with admiration. She smiled and said, “So you have already thought of this idea. Then there is no need for me to say too much. I have some of Ning soldier’s clothes and armor, but not many, just thirty over sets. But I have a way…”

Tang Yin interrupted her words directly and said, “That’s enough.”

“En?” Wu Mei looked at him blankly.

“Thirty sets are enough.” Tang Yin explained.
“Oh? I recall that you have more than a hundred people under you, right?”

“That’s right! I will only bring those who are willing to go, I will not force them. I’m afraid that I wouldn’t even use all of the thirty over sets!” Tang Yin said.

Wu Mei couldn’t help but frown and asked incredulously, “You’re planning to bring just thirty over people there?”

Tang Yin asked in return, “What difference would there be between a few tens and a hundred over people in comparison to the thousands of enemies?” At the end of the day, they just have the life of a cannon fodder.

Wu Mei looked down. If she could, she wouldn’t want to watch as Tang Yin sent himself to death. But due to the circumstances, there would have to be someone who needed to sacrifice. If it wasn’t Tang Yin, it would be someone else. Instead of sacrificing those old subordinates whom she had deep ties with and had known them to their roots, the more practical thing to do was to sacrifice Tang Yin.
No matter how interested she was in Tang Yin, she wouldn’t have any selfishness at this juncture.

She took in a breath and revealed a gorgeous smile. She said softly, “I hope that you can return alive. We will meet again in Tongmen.”

Tang Yin didn’t have such luxurious hopes. He smiled faintly and said, “I hope that General Wu can lead everyone to break through the checkpoint alive as well. Don’t waste my efforts!”

Wu Mei looked at Tang Yin deeply and was silent for a long time. Under Tang Yin’s sincere gaze, she didn’t know what to say.

Tang Yin took the Ning soldier’s military uniform and armor back from Wu Mei and gathered his hundred over men. His fiery gaze first swept across the crowd warmly before he said, “The Ning soldiers have set up a checkpoint on the way to Tongmen. In order to return to Tongmen, we will have to go through this checkpoint. However, there are many enemy forces there, probably more than eight thousand of them. If we were to break through it forcefully, I’m afraid that no one would be able to make it through with just a few hundreds of us. Therefore, General Wu thought of an idea whereby some of us would attack straightforwardly to catch the enemy’s attention, and the rest would then look for a leeway and break through the checkpoint. Lucky enough, the task to attack straightforwardly had been assigned to us.” He took a pause as he spoke and evaluated the people’s expressions. It didn’t differ much from what he expected. The people’s faces were all shocked and stunned. Of course, Tang Yin could understand how they felt. There wasn’t anyone who wasn’t afraid of death, and their task this time was one that would result in absolute death. He shrugged and said as he smiled, “Since the task has fallen into our hands, we couldn’t run from it. However, I do not want to put my brothers in a difficult situation as well. I will welcome whoever is willing to come with me, and I wouldn’t force those who are not willing to come along. You guys can just stay here and escape under General Wu’s lead!”

For everyone, the news Tang Yin brought was indeed too shocking and they couldn’t react in time. They looked at each other, and no one said or expressed anything.

Just when everyone was silent, Zhang Bao stood up and said loudly, “If it wasn’t because of Big Brother Tang, Zhang Bao would have already died in the hands of the Nings. My life is given by Big Brother Tang. Wherever Big Brother Tang goes, I will follow!”
His words had made many who were afraid to bow down their heads shamingly. They were all deserters to begin with, chased by the Ning people, and were in a desperate situation. If it wasn’t for Tang Yin, it would still be an unanswered question as to whether they could have lived until now.

Zhang Bao had just finished talking when Zhong Zhen , Yu Hua and Li Yu stood up and said in unison, “I am willing to walk by Big Brother Tang. Whether it is to climb a hill full of knives or to dive into fire, we will not leave!”

With the four captains willing to step forward with no fear of death, the spirits of the soldiers under them were also provoked. The blood in each of them were boiling as they said one after another, “I will go!” “I too, will go!” “Big Brother Tang, let us all go!” At this time, even if there was someone who was still afraid, they wouldn’t dare to say that they didn’t want to go. They could only conform to the majority.

Seeing the faces of these young and passionate men, Tang Yin couldn’t help but exclaim in silence, It’s already a known fact that we’re all going to die, yet no one backed out. The traits of the Feng people are indeed fierce and sturdy!

At this time, Tang Yin felt the feeling of attachment for the first time in his heart. An attachment toward Feng state and Feng people. There was a possibility that he himself hadn’t realised that his heart had already started to gradually ‘Feng-nized’.

Even if I couldn’t go back to my original world, even if I have to stay here forever, it doesn’t seem too bad… Tang Yin was shocked by the sudden thought in his mind. He shook his head and forced himself to rid these distractions. He looked at the people around him and asked leisurely with a devilish smile, “Walking by me will cost you your death. Aren’t you guys afraid?”
“With Big Brother Tang there, we are not afraid of anything!” Everyone replied in unison.

Tang Yin didn’t understand why they were so trusting toward him and was somewhat helpless. He said, “I repeat, those who are willing to stay, step up quick. There’s still a chance now.”

“Big Brother Tang, say no more. We are willing to go with you!”

“Yeah, Big Brother Tang. Just bring us all along!”

Listening to everyone’s words, Tang Yin was moved and angered. Even he himself didn’t know what he was angry about. He kept his smile and said coldly, “Up to you guys. But I will speak of the ugly truth first. By the time we are in battle, don’t count on me to save you guys. If you want to live, if will have to depend on your own abilities.” After he finished, he straightened his body and gave a firm order, “Zhang Bao, have your whole team change into the Ning’s clothes. Other three teams, dress up as captives.”
It was still considered normal for thirty people to have seventy over captives. In order to get away with getting close to the enemy’s checkpoint, this was the only way.

The four captains, Zhang Bao, Zhong Zhen, Yu Hua, and Li Yu were stunned at first, and then said in unison, “Yes! Big Brother Tang!”

By the time when Tang Yin had finished appointing what he had to appoint, Wu Yi came. He said softly after he saw Tang Yin, “General’s orders, Brother Tang can set off now!”

“Great!” Tang Yin responded simply. He waved his hand at his men and said, “Let’s go!”
Seeing how he left unrestrictedly and with no hesitation, Wu Yi raised his hand and called out, “Brother Tang.”

Tang Yin stopped his steps and looked back at him confused. He asked, “Is there something else?”

Wu Yi’s face turned red for a while. He was stunned for some time before he said softly, “Brother Tang, be careful on your journey.”

Tang Yin smiled. He didn’t say anything more, but just nodded gently.