Chapter 579: Chapter 579. Underground Resistance Movement

All six representatives were at the Martial Realm cultivation. Everyone was at the Beginning Spirit Stage except for Wue Yaoyao, who was at the Peak Mystic Stage. None were surprised by Amon’s vanishing since they could still sense his presence, but his sudden action caught most of them off guard.

Won Bu sensed Amon charging toward him.

“Don’t think you can defeat me easily!” Won Bu exclaimed. He had been agitated ever since arriving here, so his reaction was the fastest compared to others. He was the only one not caught off guard by the sudden assault. A rock layer covered his body as he raised both hands to block the incoming attack.

While Won Bu managed to react in time, it didn’t do him any good. Amon’s Silent Swift Shadow Fist punched right through his blocking hands and crashed into his round belly. He doubled over and vomited his stomach’s contents.

Amon heaved his fist into an uppercut, sending Won Bu into the air. He used Invisible Sky Steps, vanishing from the floor and turning up above Won Bu. His axe kick sent Won Bu crashing back into the floor. He ended his series of assaults with a downward punch, right on Won Bu’s rocky head.

Despite the hard rock layer protecting the head, both the rock layer and Won Bu’s head cracked under the fist’s pressure.

The other five were flabbergasted by the situation. Everything happened too fast. Before they knew it, Won Bu was already lying on the floor with a shattered head. They were currently unsure of what to do. They looked at Amon, who had stopped moving, with uneasiness. Would Amon target them next?

Amon remained still. He simply stared at them, making them uncomfortable. Blood was dripping from his fist.

While they were still shocked by the event, a different realization slowly dawned on them. Amon didn’t conceal his cultivation level. They knew he was an Intermediate Spirit Stage. While that was higher than Won Bu, it didn’t warrant the swiftness by which Amon dispatched him. Even considering the surprise factor, an Intermediate Spirit Stage cultivator would still require some time to defeat an opponent at the Beginning Spirit Stage, especially if the exchange involved no usage of a weapon.

It was Hong Zi who broke the silence, “Are you going to execute us all?”

Amon smiled. “Why? You didn’t give me the reason to, unlike him,” Amon pointed at Won Bu’s corpse. He then turned to Xin Wuming and ordered, “Take your regiment and march to Won Clan’s residence. Apprehend everyone from the Won Clan, except for children and their mothers. Bring the captives to Zhong Yuan. Anyone who resists, kill them.”

Xin Wuming bowed and left.

“Except children and their mothers? Hm… Perhaps I was wrong about you,” Hong Zi uttered.

Ha Velet, on the other hand, scoffed.

“You sound disappointed. Something you want to say?” Amon asked her as he walked back to his chair.

“Apology. I simply didn’t peg you for a softie,” Ha Velet said without hiding her condescending tone.

Amon chuckled. He wasn’t offended. “Your friend on the floor would disagree with you.”

“He is not my friend,” Ha Velet said. “Aren’t you afraid those children will come back for you some day?”

“I hope so. It will make my future more interesting,” Amon returned.

“What are you going to do to us?” Xia Lang asked.

“Nothing,” Amon answered. “So long as you and your people behave, you can go about your lives as normal. Leaving the city is, of course, prohibited.”

“So… We may go home?” Xia Lang asked.

“You all may, except for Hong Zi and Ha Velet,” Amon answered.

“What do you want with us?” Ha Velet asked.

Amon didn’t answer. He gestured for the other three to leave the room. Those three didn’t need to be told twice. They walked away with a soldier escorting them out.

“Come into my office,” Amon told Hong Zi and Ha Velet.

Amon brought the two to the mayor’s office. He sat on the mayor’s chair. Different from when they were outside, Amon told them to sit and offered them tea. The two were rather uncomfortable with the hospitality.

“What do you want from us?” Ha Velet asked again.

“I have talked with a lot of people who used to work in this place,” Amon began. “I heard a lot of interesting things about the state of this nation, especially the insurgency movement.”

Ha Velet and Hong Zi looked at one another. “What does that have to do with us?” Hong Zi asked.

Instead of answering, Amon continued his monologue, “This nation, like any other country, has disgruntled citizens. Most disgruntlement was due to the disagreement between the citizens and their ruling party. It was not different here. Furthermore, the problem here was worse than in other countries. This was because the authority had abandoned the lower-class citizens. I’m sure you know this very well, Mister Hong Zi, considering your sect was comprised of this type of citizens.”

Hong Zi made no remark except for a grunt.

Amon continued, “A massive social rift exists in this nation because the authority has adopted using worker puppets as their main workforce. Puppets tilled the land and worked the mines. Even deliveries and transportation were automated. There was basically almost no need for a human workforce. Yet, the authority didn’t give any financial support to its citizens after depriving them of their means of living. They simply ignored them and left them to their own misery. This produced a massive unemployment problem. People resorted to crimes and thefts, which in turn helped your guild prosper.”

Amon directed the last sentence to Ha Velet, who also responded with a grunt.

“There have been talks about an underground resistance movement to overthrow the authority. The Vagrant Sect was formed by groups of homeless and poor citizens, while the Charger Guild is a collection of outlaws and criminals who work outside the law. I bet your two organizations are in the thick of whatever resistance movements that are brewing underground.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Ha Velet uttered.

Hong Zi shrugged, indicating he had the same response.

Amon smiled. “I am not this nation’s authority. On the contrary, I extend the offer to help the resistance. You know the saying, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. We can help each other here.”

Hong Zi said, “You know a lot for an outsider.”

“I am good at finding information. I also have a local aide, and I am particularly well at connecting the dots,” Amon replied.

“Though we mentioned we don’t care about who rules whom in this town, we have no intention of replacing this nation’s overlord with a foreigner,” Ha Velet said.

“I have no intention of ruling this nation,” Amon said.

“Your actions say otherwise,” Hong Zi said.

“Plus, didn’t you mention not long ago that you are here to conquer Khode?” Ha Velet added.

Amon grinned and said, “My friends, I have been doing this for a long time to know that you never truly conquer something. People will always rise up one way or another, especially if they consider their ruler an outsider who has no business being among them. No, I’m not delusional enough to fashion myself ruling over this nation. There is, however, a different way of conquest. What I want are allies. Allies who pay tributes and levies. Allies who come to stand with me when I call.”

“Sounds more like a subordinate to me,” Hong Zi remarked.

Amon chuckled. “We can see it as a pact. I help you get this nation. You pay me. We become friends and help each other out.”

His two guests looked at one another again.

“I understand you will be eager to talk to each other about this issue without me around. I will let you. Don’t take too long, though. I might end up deposing this country’s ruler before you reach a decision.”

“I thought you said you have no intention of ruling this nation?” Hong Zi asked.

“I don’t. I will find a local schmuck to sit on the throne and carry out my commands,” Amon said. “I will prefer, of course, your organizations to fill the role so I don’t need to be bothered with every petty detail of ruling this nation, but I will work with what I have.”

“You are pretty confident,” Ha Velet said. “You certainly don’t know the power wielded by the supreme councilor. Their Royal Puppet Army is terrifying. The Charger Guild and Vagrant Sect combined possess the largest number of cultivators compared to any other organization in the nation. Many are even past Khode Soldiers who were discharged after the formation of this Royal Puppet Army, but even we are afraid to go up against this army.”

“I always accomplish what I set out to do, no matter the difficulties,” Amon said. “I understand my words are just words to you. Go back and discuss with your people. In the meantime, witness how I deal with the Khode Army stationed outside this town and the other armies on their way here. I figure it is unlikely your supreme councilor sends the Royal Puppet Army to retake this town?”

“It is unlikely,” Hong Zi confirmed. “The Royal Puppet Army always protects the capital, where the Supreme Councilor resides.”

Amon nodded. “You are dismissed.”

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