I sat in the back of the command skiff with my hands bound by a pair of shackles that I had placed upon myself. It was frigging ridiculous, but I’d have to let things play out for now. Or at least until I figured out what the hell I could do next.

With my anger now reduced to a simmer of irritation, the Struggler was assessing the situation, and it wasn’t looking good. For all my bravado, no way in hell could I afford to spend another stint in prison. Fia was due in a month, and I had to get to the Hell Worlds and back long before then.

I glanced over the railing of the skiff to where Jei Su Long and his uncle were now taking their frustrations out on my platoon, chewing them out and letting them know that Jei Su Long was now solely in charge.

Shit…I thought. This couldn’t get much worse.

My irritation was starting to boil again. The twin shackles of both the empire’s imperial control and the fascist law of might imposed by cultivators themselves now stood in my path. I was a Sacred Soul Realm cultivator now. I had just killed something that would have taken thousands of normal men to slay. But here I was in shackles in obedience to the law.

But why, was the question.

I could perhaps kill everyone here.

All save for Governor Tai Su Long.

I had no idea how powerful he truly was, but I pegged him on the same level as Chief Yora or even the President. But even if I could beat him, there would be someone else to take his place.

And that was the twin shackles that was at the heart of the Yee empire’s power and control. They had law, but unlike in the old world, where law was backed up by police control or military might, now it was backed by the might of individual cultivators of increasingly godly power. Right up to that of the great Soul Emperor himself.

Something seemed to resonate in my soul at that.

A new hidden truth unlocked.

As powerful as I now was, I was still in the pecking order of the great game.

Sure, I could go on a rampage and slaughter as many as I could before I eventually ran into someone strong enough to kill me. But I’d be sacrificing not only everything back home, but also the second path of my new twin Dao.

I needed to survive to protect the entire realm.

Which made dealing with assholes like Tai Su Long all the more unbearable.

Still, I wouldn’t take back my actions for anything.

Not in the slightest.

Those men needed to be saved.

And defeating the Thrantor quickly perhaps even saved the entire planet.

Confirmation of that came when Captain Yungi and Hein arrived at the command skiff to report on what was left of Onyx company. It had taken them nearly an hour to get everything squared away, but when the final tally was done some 537 of the 1000 strong company had been killed in battle.

“A heavy loss,” Captain Yungi said before looking over at me. “But I stand by what I said. It would have been a lot worse without the legionnaire commander’s intervention.”

“Agreed,” General Gong said. “We would have had to sacrifice the entirety of Onyx company while the other four mobilized. And who knows how many would have died in the end.”

The general gave me a deep bow. “I am sorry for what the Governor is now imposing on you, Master Iron Bull, but you have my deepest gratitude.”

“Yeah, don’t mention it,” I said with chagrin.

He then chuckled as he leaned over to whisper to me. “Don’t look so glum. I think I have an idea.”

“Huh?”

Before he could say anything else, Jei Su Long and his uncle clambered aboard the skiff along with my platoon. The anger dripping off of them was palpable, especially when they saw me seated on the ground in chains.

Juk Sui looked like he was about to open his mouth to say something, but I slowly shook my head at him.

No, I conveyed the message with my eyes. Now is not the time.

Dim Wei gave me a look of sympathy and then shot a scowl at Jei Su Long.

They knew the bullshit that was transpiring.

But thankfully none of them was as hotheaded as me to actually start anything to make matters worse.

“Are we prepared to depart now, general?” Tai Su Long said as he stepped towards the center console of the skiff, hands behind his back. “We must get this disgraced legionnaire back to his masters.”

My Flame surged with contempt and rage, and it took the Struggler’s full strength to keep the demon from grabbing the controls and sending me off the deep end. I practiced [Indifference], cultivating the rage within me to be used later as Frenzy.

And hopefully in some fashion that would involve kicking Tai Su Long’s ass.

“We are prepared, Governor,” General Gong said with a bow. “I’ve already communicated ahead. We can get to the closest prison within an hour.”

“Good,” Tai Su Long said before pointing at me. “Ensure you have someone keep watch on him, general. He has already proven he favors jumping out of skiffs. I wouldn’t put it past him to do the same to avoid punishment.”

“Yes,” Jei Su Long said. “He was quite the coward at the Academy.”

The demon snapped. “The only cowa—”

“I’ll watch over him,” Hein said, shutting me up. “I happen to know this man. I will ensure he does not try to escape.”

Both Tai Su Long and General Gong looked at Hein bemused.

“You know him?” General Gong asked.

“It’s complicated, but I will serve the duty,” Hein said. “With my commander’s leave, of course.”

Captain Yungi nodded. “By all means, Lieutenant.”

“I care not who it is,” Tai Su Long said dismissively. “So long as it is done.”

“Then consider it so done, Governor,” Hein said with a bow. “I shall watch over the foulmouthed beast and ensure he does not escape.”

* * *

I glared at Hein as the skiff took off and he came to take a spot next to me, leaning his back against the railing.

“Was the foulmouthed beast part really necessary?” I said. “Or was that you getting even somehow?”

“You should be thanking me for stopping you from getting yourself into more trouble,” he said. “You truly are a chun with that mouth of yours.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

I started a snarky reply, but stopped myself. The kid was mostly right. “Yeah, I guess I owe you one for that. Thanks.”

Hein chuckled. “Consider it repayment for your assistance. How did you get yourself in such a mess anyway? What did you do?”

I sighed and then told Hein the story.

He simply nodded. “So you caused the Governor and his nephew to lose face.”

“If that’s what you call saving a planet and a battalion of troops from certain death, sure.”

Hein chuckled again. “Don’t get me wrong. I was only stating the issue from their point of view.”

“And you would know,” I said with a smirk. “Not too long ago, you’d be thinking just like those pricks. I’ve got to say Hein, I’m impressed with how much you’ve grown.”

“Don’t patronize me,” he snapped. “And I would be nothing like those two core worlders.”

“You’ve got a short memory pal.”

“On that we’ll disagree.”

“Anyway, back to our original conversation,” I said. “As jacked up as it may seem, me getting with Fia wasn’t revenge. It was love.”

“Please,” he said, making an ick face. “You’re making me ill.”

“It’s the truth.”

“I don’t care what it is,” he said. “I just care not to hear about it. I suppose, in a way, I now understand how you felt about Yu Li.”

“That was totally different.”

“As you already said.”

“And what was up with you selling Zu Tien to that whore house?”

“What?” he said. “You know about that?”

“I had to rescue her from there. She’s one of my Wardens now.”

He chuckled. “You don’t say…”

“You did some really messed up shit, Hein,” I said, feeling some of the old feelings of resentment return. “Some, I don’t think I could ever forgive you for.”

“Then don’t,” he said with a shrug. “I can’t control how you feel. But like I said. I was a child doing childish things. I can only seek to atone for them now.”

He said it matter-of-fact, with no malice or anger in his soul.

It caused me to pause.

“What the hell happened to you?” I asked looking up at him. “You’re like a different person now. And in a good way I mean, no bullshit.”

He huffed out a laugh. “The army has a way of making you mature very quickly. Although, I’m not certain the same applies to you. You seem as belligerent as ever. Or perhaps the Legionnaire Academy is different. How did you even make it through the Academy anyway? I heard that place is a death sentence.”

“It is for many, not gonna lie,” I said. “But I made it through with a lot of blood, suffering and pain. Some madness too. Plus, a little help of a few good friends didn’t hurt either.”

“Madness?”

“Yeah, best not to ask about that one.”

He shook his head at me. “You are a mystery, Chun. I can’t believe you’ve advanced so far. Just look at you. The way you killed that Thrantor. It was incredible. What realm are you now? Sacred Soul?”

“Around first Tier, but yeah,” I said with a smile. “I had a breakthrough right before my graduation.”

He scoffed. “Some people are just born lucky.”

I could sense a hint of disdain.

Hein being appreciative for my help or not, I guess I had still surpassed him by quite a bit and it was probably only natural for him to feel a little envious in that regard.

Especially about a former enemy and rival.

“I see that you’ve advanced yourself,” I said, trying to take the subject off of me. “What are you? Around Mid-Teir Core realm now?”

“Slightly beyond that,” he said. “7th Tier. Nearly 8th.”

“Congratz,” I said. “You’re progressing quickly yourself.”

“It’s not hard when all you have to do with your time is train,” Hein said. “The army is good for that.”

“So was the academy,” I said. “It was like boot camp. Eat, drink, sleep training.”

“My boot camp was a nightmare,” Hein said and then chuckled a little. “I was angry at the entire world. At you most of all, I’ll admit. But after a few months they pretty much beat all that crap out of me.” He then looked down at me. “The world does indeed take on a whole new perspective when you start as a nobody instead of a royal heir of the ruling clan.”

I didn’t know what to say for a moment, until he smiled and then I felt free to laugh. “Yeah, I get it. I had to start at the bottom at the academy too. At Shit Robe Tier.”

“Shit robe?”

I then went into the details of my Academy ordeal, starting with getting busted down to a Gray Robe after I killed the pedophile ex-Warden, Shen Liu.

“You truly do have problems following orders, don’t you?”

“Bad ones, yeah.”

As the skiff ride went on, I filled the time conveying stories of my time at Du Gok Bhong. I was careful to leave out the details of the Bloodmoon training and such, but I freely shared the training regimes and exams competition, plus how much of a dick Jei Su Long was—albeit in a lowered voice so the prick himself wouldn’t overhear me.

It gave Hein a laugh and he interspersed my stories with some of his own. Starting with his first few months at the military academy where they beat discipline into him and then how he soared later when he was able to apply his cultivator skills to become a 3rd Spear.

That kicked off an explanation of the infantry rankings and how Core Realm cultivators were treated in the military—normally made officers and platoon commanders with their cultivator rankings denoted as spears, with the First spear being the highest ranked cultivator in the company.

His mention of rankings reminded me of something else.

“Hey,” I said, more solemnly. “I met your platoon sergeant. Unfortunately, right before she was killed. I didn’t get her name, but she was the one that really urged me to try and save you. She said that… you were a good kid.”

The countenance on Hein’s face dropped, and I could sense a spike of pain come from within him. He looked away from me and out at the passing clouds. “That would have been Sergeant Wi Sui.” He paused a moment, shaking his head and then laughed. “Just like her to say something like that. She basically taught me how to lead the platoon.”

“You served under her?” I asked.

“No, I was her commander from the start, but it was my first command. She taught me what to do and what not to do and how to relate to the men. She taught me how to truly lead. She taught me everything really.” He let out a sigh. “Can’t believe she’s gone.”

“Wi Sui,” I said her name like a remembrance. “I could tell you meant a lot to her, even though I only spoke to her for a second. You made an impression, and a good one.”

“She made more of an impression on me, I think.”

I smiled as a pause fell between us and I could see Hein quietly reflecting.

Perhaps Sergeant Wi Sui was the one most responsible for Hein’s change. A mentor, like the same I had found in Chief Yora or even Threja and Venja. The loss now was perhaps even greater than I imagined, for Hein.

“But it’s like that in the infantry,” he said eventually. “We suffer losses often.” He then paused again. “Unfortunately, the routine doesn’t make the losing any easier.”

* * *

Hein and I spoke more freely after that, switching back to lighter conversation about war stories and our mutual time in the military. He told me of other planets he had been called to defend. Missions not unlike this one. He then told me about ones that would take him into the heart of the core worlds where they were sometimes stationed for weeks doing nothing but party while on shore leave.

“Sounds like you’re enjoying yourself here,” I said.

Hein smiled. “I should honestly thank you for kicking my ass that day. It changed the trajectory of my path completely.” He then looked at me and laughed. “And no offense, but your mudball world of Terra and Jurin province seem completely inconsequential now. It’s a huge world out here and I for one, enjoy no one knowing who I am when I’m out exploring it.”

I could see the wanderlust in his eyes as he said it.

“Fia thinks a lot like that you know?”

“What?” he said, sounding surprised. “Her?”

“You don’t know your own sister, man?”

He rolled his eyes. “In case you didn’t notice, we’re not exactly close.”

“Well, I think she’d like the new you when you meet up again.”

He huffed out a laugh. “I don’t think that’ll be anytime soon.”

“Wait,” I said. “You’re not coming back for the wedding at least?”

“Wasn’t it supposed to be in three years?”

I shook my head. “Nah. It’ll be a lot sooner than that. Which is why I can’t afford to be messing around with going back to prison. I have to get to the Hell Worlds and back to Fia before she has the baby.”

Hein’s eyes flew wide open.

“Baby?!” he said. “What baby?!”

Oh shit… I thought. I forgot I hadn’t told anyone about that yet.

“You mean you’ve gone and gotten my sister pregnant!” Anger filled him as his nostrils flared. “Don’t you dare tell me this isn’t revenge now, Chun! You damn bastard!”

“No man, it’s not like that!”

“How is it not?”

I was just about to start explaining when one of General Gong’s aides suddenly called out.

“We’ve arrived at the prison! Preparing for descent and landing!”

A flurry of commotion came next as the skiff dropped altitude. Hein looked like he wanted to tear my head off, but maintained his professionalism as he hoisted me up from the floor.

“This is not over,” he whispered to me. “You’d better have some way of getting out of this, Chun, because I want some answers.”

“You and me both,” I said. “On the getting out part, that is.”

I grinned like an idiot, but he didn’t laugh.

As I looked over the edge of the skiff, a small township came into view, but even larger than it, was what had to be the prison itself. It was constructed in a way that reminded me of Du Gok Bhong. No frills, a single tower with a large roof that we were now poised to land upon.

As we dropped closer, I could see that we were not the only skiff present.

There below us was a skiff that looked nearly three times as large as a normal vessel. It was made of brilliant, polished ivory, accented with gold trim. No less than two dozen people were standing in formation before it, all of them in imperial robes of beige and off white.

“What the devil is that?” Jei Su Long wrinkled his nose as he looked down at the skiff. “Does a lowly prison command such a vessel? How rich is this planet?”

“That’s no prison vessel,” Tai Su Long said as he approached the railing. “That’s an imperial skiff.” He then looked to General Gong. “What’s it doing here?”

Gong shrugged. “One can only guess, Governor, but I would assume that as we transmitted our intended destination that perhaps the imperial palace also intercepted the communication.”

“What?”

“It would be only customary for the planetary ruler to express their personal gratitude to those responsible for preventing such a large calamity on their world,” Gong said. “In this case, the Iron Bull, may well get to meet the Princess herself before being sentenced.”

General Gong beckoned me forward, and Hein gave me a little push.

Tai Su Long’s face was pale as I passed by him, but General Gong gave me a little wink.

“Come Iron Bull,” he said. “Fix your robes. You are about to meet the ruler of planet El D’shar.”