Chapter 122: Living and Dignity
Under the moonlight, the ice glimmered with a dazzling brilliance.
Soon, this layer of ice would melt away under the river's erosion.
When the ice vanished, the traces of the battlefield would disappear as well.
The Goblin army, marching through the darkness, returned triumphantly.
Some carried the armor and weapons of human soldiers.
Others bore dismantled Triple-bow Ballistas.
The dark forest echoed with the "wa-wa" cries of Goblin chatter.
The victory during the day had left the Goblins ecstatic.
They had not only defeated the hated humans.
They had also feasted on delicious human flesh.
The Goblins were in bliss!
---
Northern Marshlands
The following day, Yue Clan.
Inside the chieftain's wooden house.
"Chieftain, the humans were defeated and suffered heavy losses. The Goblin army has emerged victorious!"
This news left the elders inside the wooden house speechless.
They knew a massive Goblin army had ventured into the western forest.
Its sheer size suffocated them with dread.
They also knew what the Goblin army intended to do.
But they never imagined the Goblin army could actually defeat the humans.
"How is that possible? Among humans, there are many powerful individuals capable of fighting a thousand foes. How could mere Goblins stand against them?"
"Are you certain of what you saw?"
Facing the skeptical gazes of the elders, the reporting Lizardman nodded.
"We saw it clearly. The humans were indeed defeated, and the Goblin army is now retreating from the battlefield."
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The confirmation of the report filled the Lizardman elders with despair.
They feared they would never regain their freedom from the Goblins in this lifetime.
The wooden house fell silent, the oppressive atmosphere palpable.
Seated in the main position, Bai Ling waved a hand gently.
The reporting Lizardman bowed and rose, then turned and hurried out.
It wasn’t until the Lizardman disappeared through the doorway that Bai Ling withdrew his gaze.
Sweeping his eyes over the elders, Bai Ling’s expression remained calm.
"I will soon head to the Throne Tribe and serve the master for a time. I will strive to persuade the master to treat the Yue Clan kindly. The master is not an ordinary Goblin; he is intelligent and thoughtful about what benefits him most. For the Yue Clan to survive, we must depend on the master and demonstrate our sincerity. Only in this way can we secure a place in the master’s future kingdom!"
Bai Ling’s words caused the expressions of the elders to shift repeatedly.
"Chieftain, this cannot be! To do so, I..."
Gray Scales, unable to accept this, protested immediately.
Gray Scales could endure a temporary humiliation to survive.
But he could not bear to live a lifetime in humiliation.
"Gray Scales, if you have a better solution, I am willing to hear it!"
Bai Ling interrupted Gray Scales before he could finish.
Everyone present understood what Gray Scales wanted to say.
But Bai Ling believed it was time for the elders to face reality.
He had struggled and despaired once.
But now, he had made up his mind.
To live was the most important thing.
Only by surviving could hope exist.
If one chose to live, then every effort should be made to secure a better future for the tribe.
There was no need to torment the tribe for the sake of so-called dignity.
Facing the chieftain’s gaze, Gray Scales lowered his head.
"Then it’s decided. Once I leave, you elders must take good care of the tribe!"
Under the chieftain’s gaze, the elders looked at each other in dismay.
At this point, they no longer knew what to do.
They could only nod in agreement, supporting the chieftain’s decision.
---
Goblin River’s Northern Forest
Throne Tribe, Throne Cave Dwelling.
Since returning to the tribe, time had flown by.
More than half a month had passed without notice.
It took half a month to finally tally the losses from the battle with the humans.
"Eight hundred enemies killed, with three thousand of our own lost?"
The report from Gobu Mo left Li Meng, seated by the sand table, murmuring to himself.
In the last battle with the humans, about three thousand human casualties were inflicted.
The total strength of the Irisis Principality's Pioneer Corps was about five thousand.
Nineteen three-masted ships were also among their losses.
On the Goblin side, however, nearly ten thousand were killed or injured.
Forty percent of the ten thousand fell to magical bombardment.
The humans’ magic was indeed powerful.
A massive fireball spell, if cast into a dense crowd, could instantly annihilate hundreds of Goblins.
Twenty percent died in direct combat with human soldiers.
Thirty percent fell at the hands of adventurers.
Although adventurers were far fewer in number compared to human soldiers, their efficiency in slaughtering Goblins far exceeded that of the human troops.
Even an ordinary adventurer mage could easily obliterate dozens or even hundreds of Goblins.
The remaining ten percent were killed by Carlos’s final strike.
Carlos’s last blow also claimed the lives of three Ogres.
Without crossbows, armor, and iron weapons, not even fifty thousand Goblins could likely match the Irisis Principality’s Pioneer Corps.
This calculation didn’t even account for human elites.
Goblins simply weren’t suited for the battlefield.
They were only fit to live like rats, endlessly hunted.
They were merely stepping stones for novice adventurers.
"Is this the so-called ants biting an elephant to death?"
As if realizing something, Li Meng grinned.
The Goblins’ current weakness was only temporary.
As his offspring and descendants grew, the quality of Goblins would improve.
By then, even short Goblins would possess immense strength.
"Well done. You may leave now. Send Gobu Qiang to see me!"
Gobu Mo rose to his feet and hurried out.
Outside, the sound of departing footsteps gradually faded.
Inside the wooden house, Li Meng, staring down at the sand table, grinned.
In the last battle, the Goblin Wild Boar Cavalry hadn’t been utilized.
The boars’ hooves weren’t suited for running on ice; they slipped easily, causing chaos.
Thus, from the beginning to the end of the battle, Gobu Qiang had been watching from the sidelines.
Before long, footsteps sounded outside again.
Gobu Qiang rushed in.
"Boss, boss, you called me!"
Running and shouting, Gobu Qiang slid on his knees, stopping several meters away and bowing behind Li Meng.
"Gobu Qiang, it’s time for you to go out and establish your own tribe!"
The stench of pig dung in the tribe had become unbearable.
It was time to send Gobu Qiang out to form a branch tribe.
Hearing this, Gobu Qiang was elated.
Li Meng picked up a wooden stick and pointed to a spot on the sand table.
"Go here. The terrain is flat, the vegetation lush—perfect for you!"
Gobu Qiang nodded vigorously.
Anywhere would do. Wherever the boss sent him, he’d go.
"Go now—no, prepare immediately!"
Li Meng could no longer tolerate the occasional whiff of pig dung.
He just wanted Gobu Qiang to quickly take the wild boars and leave.
"Boss, then I’ll head out!"
Gobu Qiang got up and ran off.
Listening to the sound of departing footsteps outside, Li Meng touched his chest.
The intense pain made him grin.
Though painful, it was a satisfying kind of pain.