Chapter 36: No Killing Intent Value?

The dozen or so young men of the Red Mastiff tribe were filled with despair.

"It's over, we’re all going to die!" But for the sake of their tribe, they did not choose to flee.

"Fight them to the death!" Their kin were all within the tribe. They had no choice but to fight; there was no other path.

The outcome was a foregone conclusion. The dozen Rongdi youths of the Red Mastiff tribe were quickly slaughtered by Zhao Ergou and his men. Having eliminated those capable of resistance, Zhao Ergou and his soldiers spurred their horses and charged into the encampment without hesitation.

"Ah..." The women and children of the Red Mastiff tribe erupted in terror, scattering in all directions.

"Don't run! Stand still!" Some women, seeing their sons or brothers cut down, lost their senses. "You devils! I’ll kill you!" Blinded by rage, they grabbed blades and charged at Zhao Ergou’s men, desperate to avenge their loved ones. Others clutched their children and fled for their lives.

"Run! The Qin soldiers are here!" Some elderly men hid their grandsons in haystacks, hoping they might survive the slaughter. "Child, stay hidden, don't come out!"

Sun Liu, Luo Datong, and the others showed no mercy to the women charging with blades. "Seeking death!" they shouted, swinging their sabers. With each stroke, they cut down the women without a hint of hesitation. "If you dare to resist, you die!"

Zhao Ergou scanned the group of Rongdi barbarians with contempt. He was no saint; he made sure that anyone who provoked him would find no place to be buried. Ultimately, he still carried remnants of his previous life, but he knew those would have to be shed sooner or later. Otherwise, not a single person in this Red Mastiff tribe would be able to escape.

"Listen well! Anyone who dares to cause trouble, I’ll send them to meet the Eternal Heaven!" Zhao Ergou bellowed, his voice booming across the grassland like a clap of thunder. "Tie them all up! Anyone who resists gets cut down!"

His order was cold and unquestionable. A few in the tribe who barely understood the Qin language were so terrified they nearly wet themselves, daring not to move. Yet, those who did not understand or those whose sons had been killed rushed forward with red eyes, clutching whatever weapons they could find.

Inevitably, bodies fell one after another, like wheat harvested by a scythe, devoid of life. Once those who dared to resist were dead, the survivors looked upon the corpses covering the land, the grass stained red with the blood they relied on for survival, and shivered in uncontrollable fear.

Zhao Ergou noticed sparks of fury and hatred in the eyes of many children. He grinned, a brilliant, chilling smile. Indeed, in war, there is never right or wrong—only kill or be killed.

"Bring them all here!" Zhao Ergou ordered again, his voice devoid of emotion. His soldiers immediately sprang into action, herding the people together like sheep.

Zhao Ergou looked at the captive Red Mastiff tribespeople. Their eyes reflected a mixture of fear, resentment, and hostility, swirling together like a chaotic stew. The older children, in particular, could not mask their rage; their gazes were like sharp daggers piercing straight at him. The women held their children tight, acting as human shields for their little ones.

"All male children taller than the wagon wheel—drag them out and kill them!" Zhao Ergou’s eyes grew colder. He knew that kindness and soft-heartedness had no place on such a brutal battlefield. Since so many had already died, a few more wouldn't matter. If you don't pull out the weeds by the roots, they will grow again with the spring breeze!

"Brother Dog, I'm good at this! Watch me!" Hearing the order, Luo Datong shouted with excitement, volunteering to be the executioner.

"Get lost! Do you think you're getting a turn at this?" Zhao Ergou pushed him aside. Since he had decided to be the butcher, he might as well do it himself. That way, he could gain "Killing Points"—why wouldn't he?

Luo Datong just chuckled and stepped aside, grabbing a boy who looked to be around fourteen or fifteen.

"Wuli-gula, wuli-gula!" The boy was dragged out, terrified out of his wits, struggling frantically and wailing in despair. A woman rushed out like a madwoman, clutching the boy tightly and refusing to let go. "Wula, wula..." she cried out, her voice heart-wrenching and shrill, enough to make any listener weep. But her pleas earned no mercy. Two soldiers rushed forward, pulling her away and dragging her aside like a dead dog.

Luo Datong kicked the woman to the ground and dragged the youth out like a chick. Zhao Ergou drew his long blade with a sharp "shing," the steel flashing with a cold, icy light in the sun. He took a deep breath, his resolve hardening, and with one swift motion, he executed the boy.

After killing the youth, who had been filled with hatred and fear, Zhao Ergou frowned slightly. Strangely, he did not receive the expected Killing Points. What was going on?

Zhao Ergou stood stunned, his sword dripping blood onto the grass, the sound of the droplets hitting the earth barely audible. He felt puzzled. In the past, every time he killed an enemy, he would feel a warm current flow into his body—the source of his strength. But this time, that familiar sensation was absent.

Had the system malfunctioned?

A flicker of anxiety crossed his mind. Without Killing Points, he could not grow stronger. How, then, would he face the ferocious Rongdi people?

He looked down at the lifeless boy at his feet. The child’s eyes remained open, empty and hollow, as if silently recounting his resentment.

Silence enveloped the area, broken only by the rustling of the wind through the grass. The vast grassland stretched into the distance like a giant green carpet meeting the horizon. Eagles circled overhead, their piercing cries adding a sense of grim finality to the silent plains.

Nearby, the captive Red Mastiff tribespeople stood pale and trembling, their eyes filled with terror and despair. They looked at Zhao Ergou as if he were a demon, an emissary from hell.

Zhao Ergou’s brow furrowed deeper. He could not understand why this happened. Was it because this boy was too weak? Or was it because he had killed a child?