However, it seemed that the villagers were determined to arm themselves to the teeth. They gathered their rifles, bows, crossbows and short swords, equipping those who were still capable. Luo’er could only allow his team to instruct them on how to use these weapons. After all, being a special forces unit, his team undoubtedly had far superior skills compared to ordinary people, let alone outclassing the motley crew of the rebel army.
However, teaching these men in their fifties and beyond how to use weapons was no simple task. Once over thirty, people find it difficult to adapt to new things – let alone when their instructors are young men in their teens and twenties.
Still, Luo’er and his team had no intention of fully committing to this task. If he had to choose, he would rather have the villagers evacuate when the rebels attack – a tactic of scorched earth. This was the most practical, if undesirable, solution. Weapons like rifles were only to be used as a last resort.
Don’t be fooled by the ease with which the Advance Team dispatched the rebel forces. They’d undergone rigorous military training since they were young, their understanding of weaponry far outshone that of the rebel forces. This allowed them to fully utilize Earthly weapons, driving the rebels into disarray.
But if these older villagers were to take up arms, they would be outmatched even by the rebel forces. Sending them into battle would simply spell doom. It would be like sending a novice soldier who knew nothing about warfare onto the battlefield with only a gun – he wouldn’t even know how he died.
However, with the villagers resolute in their resistance, Luo’er could do little but acquiesce. The rebel forces were more than half wiped out, suffering heavy casualties. They should not trouble the village for quite some time.
Luo’er believed not all rebels were barbaric and unreasonable. As the self-proclaimed army of the civilians, without public Keep reading on NovelHub - where stories come alive!
While Earth’s weapons could provide an advantage, the rebels wouldn’t have thrived without an effective internal administrative structure. Continuous warfare simply made it impossible to keep their foot soldiers in check, hence incidents of rebels robbing and pillaging.
However, all this was no longer important to Luo’er – he was done with Masya’s war. In his view, whether it was the nobles or the rebels, neither were commendable. What they claimed to be a war against oppression was in truth a feudal battle. Heroes who slay dragons often become dragons themselves, and the rebel leaders who seize power in Masya would ultimately become the new nobility.
Luo’er was not quite sure what the various nations of Earth were plotting in the Otherworld. Attempting to control Otherworld with colonial methods used over a century ago was laughably naive. The backlash from the Otherworld’s inhabitants alone would be enough to overrun Otherworld Gate, let alone the dissent of the Earth people.
Because the Otherworld Gate was in Australia, the United States enjoyed natural advantages. The other four powers found themselves constantly restricted. Without various objective constraints in Otherworld, the entire Otherworld would probably have already become the backyard of the Americans.
Their village was now very close to the Roen River. With about a day more travelling, they could reach the river. Moving downstream would bring them to Yazhi City.
Though Yazhi City was merely a base of the Headquarters, the members of the Advance Team, who had been wandering for several months, felt a sense of homesickness.
After staying in the village for a few days and reassured that the rebels wouldn’t return, Luo’er and his party finally decided to take to the road again. Village chief Boen was evidently reluctant to see them go. To him, the Advance Team, who could train the villagers and protect them from rebel incursions, were welcome to stay as long as they wished.
However, the members of the Advance Team were not private bodyguards. They had a duty to report back to the Headquarters. After being away from Yazhi City for so long, many matters needed to be discussed in person.
Boen’s granddaughter, Shana, was clearly reluctant to part with Yaning. Clinging to her grandfather’s leg, she looked at Yaning in Tangmo’s arms with longing and reluctance in her big eyes.
"Why don’t we let Yaning stay here? Our life may be hard, but we certainly can take care of her," Boen suggested after some hesitation.
"This..." Tangmo looked to Luo’er for a decision, faltering.
"No, when we return to Yazhi City, we will have people look after her," Luo’er politely declined Boen’s suggestion.
It was inconceivable that he would agree to leave Yaning in the village. With the times being turbulent and further rebel attacks unpredictable, it would be utterly irresponsible to leave such an innocent young girl behind. Luo’er remembered that he still owed this little kid two lives.
After bidding farewell to the villagers, the group finally set out on the road homeward. They followed a path through the jungle, heading west. By dusk, they reached the banks of the Roen River.
The river formed the border between Odelanqi and Masya, and after passing Yazhi City, it marked the boundary between Masya and Saint Basaya. Flowing south, it would eventually merge into Platinum Bay, the estuary of which was home to Masya’s largest port city – Luofu Port.
Despite being in the rebels’ territory, Luofu Port, thanks to its rich maritime trade, remained firmly in the Kingdom’s grasp. To capture Luofu Port, one would have to control the entire southern plains of Masya and cut off its contact with the Kingdom. Such power was clearly beyond the rebels’ reach.
The location was about two hundred kilometers from where they had first entered Masya, and very close to Yazhi City. The riverbank was flat and had a stony path. Luo’er estimated they could reach Yazhi City in two days’ time on horseback.
As far as they are now, a trip to Masya is just a side task of their mission to investigate the military movements in Odelanqi. They’ve only executed two tasks so far. But everyone feels like they’ve experienced so much already.
Starting with the disappearing military supplies case, investigating the hidden hand behind their assassination, getting to know Kali; then the battle to save Meila Village, followed by the kidnapping case at Sacred Heart Magic Academy, and finally getting tangled in the great upheaval in Masya. Every mission they’ve gone on could be described as astonishing and terrifying, something they never thought they’d experience in their academy days.
To quote Hu Daoke, although they’ve often been in danger, their experiences have been nothing short of extraordinary and legendary.
After two days of travel, they finally catch sight of the walls of Yazhi City, strewn along the distant riverside. The sharply perceptive Baiyue can even make out the Otherworld Gate glowing with magical light outside the city. Walking through it would lead them back to their true homeland, Earth.
Yes, they have returned. They really have returned. Although it’s only the Headquarters’ outpost, they truly feel they have come back to their homeland.
"We’re home!" Hu Daoke shouts loud and uninhibited into the sky, and Luo’er can clearly see tears sparkling in his eyes.
Following their constant communications with the Headquarters, they cross the Roen River as instructed and discreetly make their way to the frontline command’s new base.
The previous base had been pummeled by special agents sent by the CIA due to the assassination case, so the headquarters had relocated to a new base. It’s about ten kilometers from the Otherworld Gate, located at the foot of a mountain. Despite the longer distance, it does make secrecy easier.
Riding horses on a stone path, Yaning nestled in Luo’er’s embrace mumbles intermittently, "Home..."
"Yes, girl, we’re going home!" Hu Daoke, steering his horse towards Luo’er, excitedly tells her.
"Home..." Yaning raises her head to look at him, contemplating the concept of home.
Fearing that she may remember the tragedy of that day, Luo’er waves Hu Daoke away. Looking at her puzzled face, Luo’er can’t help but sigh deeply.
The road to the base is muddy, surrounded by a forest scattered with fallen leaves. After about an hour, they finally see the manor’s fence in the distance.
The new base of the frontline command is also a manor. Luo’er wonders where they keep finding these properties. As they approach the manor, they encounter people setting up roadblocks. These people from the Otherworld are equipped with automatic and semi-automatic rifles, a sensible mix. Luo’er notices two light machine guns set up in constructed positions amongst the forest on both sides of the road, which look like Soviet-made RP series machine guns.
If a conflict breaks out here, Luo’er is sure they would be instantly defeated without a chance to fight back. They’ve been exploiting the Otherworld people’s lack of good equipment this entire time. If they ever encountered enemies with such an appropriate mix of light and heavy weapons, they’d immediately surrender.
The Advance Team is just a special reconnaissance team, not the elite regular army. If they ran into an army with such comprehensive weapon outfits, they would definitely make a run for it.
Luckily, the people manning the roadblocks have received orders from Headquarters. After they give the correct password, the Advance Team is allowed through. They continue for another five hundred meters past the checkpoint and finally see the main gate of the manor.
This manor is even more grandiose than the previous one, with no idea which wealthy owner continuously built these estates and lent them to Headquarters for use.
Entering the gate, they finally meet a fellow compatriot, a staffer from frontline command. He waves the Advance Team off their horses and leads the horses to the manor’s stable.
The manor is spacious and splendid with neat floor tiles. Numerous servants are bustling around the property. Seeing the team’s arrival, they all engage in lively chatter.
"My home, I..." Hu Daoke throws his arms open, about to express his emotions aloud, but gets a strong punch from Cheng Ziang behind him. He glares at Hu Daoke, then looks around at the Otherworld servants who are fervently discussing, implying him to not speak Chinese.
Even though he doesn’t know if these folks know their identities, Cheng Ziang feels it’s never wrong to be cautious.
Aware that he has gone too far, Hu Daoke glares back, clutches his sore spot, and quietly follows the group.