Chapter 289: The crucible of War 2

Journey to the frontlines part 2

/*unedited*/

A small child that looks like a combination of human and desert lizardmen ran towards the leader of the bandits. The small child has the appearance of a human except for the grayish-yellow scales in some portion of his body.

The boy immediately hugs the bandit leader as his tear-filled eyes look fearfully at Shin Jiao and Agnes.

Shin Jiao hesitated at this time as his spiritual sense picks up a presence running towards them in a not so far away place.

Shin Jiao noticed that most of them look like the lizardmen and some are actually humans. But the children they are holding in their arms have many that are mixed breed.

When Agnes saw the incoming women and children, she could not help herself as her eyes turned into slits. In the demon race, everyone is a warrior, even the women can fight. For example, the alluring terror of the succubae, which is a race of demons compose of women, then the blood-sucking arrogant vampires, and then the dark witches.

These are just some races that have women as warriors.

So, seeing the strong physique of the women of the desert lizard tribe, she just felt disdain for their weak will.

She then looks at Shin Jiao who stopped at his movement and his strange gaze towards the boy. She didn't know why but right now it seems that the young man looks scared.

And what her conjecture is correct, because the current Shin Jiao is already having cold sweat covering his forehead. He didn't know why, but one of the scenes in his nightmare is resurfacing within his mind. He is holding a gun against a young boy who is showing fear in his eyes. However, at that time when he was about to lower his gun, the boy suddenly rushed to run and was about to shout.

In that instant, Shin Jiao didn't hesitate any more and pulled the trigger.

He can see the boy's head receiving a bullet directly to his temple. And when the bullet was about to exit the other side, it hits a study part of the skull and exploded turning the other side of the boy's head into a paste with blood, crushed skull, and brain matters scattering on the wall.

This scene would replay in his mind over and over as he tried to think of what he could have done more to stop that thing from happening.

And this nightmare made him quit his work as a spy for the government.

And right now, the same thing is happening again.

"What should I do to prevent it from happening again?" Shin Jiao thought as his mind turns blank.

However, because of this cultivation, his senses became sharp and immediately noticed the changes in the boy's eyes.

Secretly the father of the small boy handed him a small dagger. Upon receiving the dagger, the boy is just waiting for Shin Jiao to lower his guard as he acted like he is still crying.

"In truth, I could not have done any more at that time…" Shin Jiao thought as he suddenly realized the nightmare that has been plaguing his mind for many years.

"But that doesn't mean, I can't do anything this time…"

He then changes the position of his gun and with a quick movement and strike, knocks the boy unconscious.

The boy fell to the ground along with the arm length knife falling to the ground with a clanking sound.

Then he turned the barrel of the gun and pointed it to the head of the bandits.

Peng!

The back of the head of the lizardmen bandits exploded completely killing him on the spot.

When the women rushing towards them saw this they showed a horrified look on their faces, the boy's mother immediately wailed in anguish as hatred can be seen in her eyes while looking at Shin Jiao.

"Why did you kill him!? We can live freely now and not become slaves because of them. You… you arrogant cultivators are just scums!" shouted the woman as she threw herself towards the dead leader of the lizardmen bandits.

"Humph! They attacked us and you think we should spare them?" Agnes coldly snorted with a sneer in her beautiful face.

Then wailing can be heard in the oasis as the women cried while kneeling to the ground and hugging their husbands or father. Although in a normal sense it would be a touching scene, for Shin Jiao and Agnes it is something inevitable. They are the ones who caused this thing to happen to themselves. If not for them being bandits then they should not have died.

The two didn't bother with them anymore and was about to turn around and leave when a young man suddenly ran forward. This young man is a pure human and seems to be just a common teenager.

Shin Jiao was suddenly curious and scanned the young man. Then he saw that he is actually not a mere human but a cultivator with a destroyed dantian just like him.

"Wait, seniors… Can… can you take me with you? I promise to be useful. I can cook, I can clean the house, and I am very handy with anything… I also have a strong physique." he said with a pleading gaze.

Shin Jiao and Agnes didn't say anything while observing the young man.

"Are you familiar with the desert?" suddenly Shin Jiao probed.

Upon hearing his words, the eyes of the young man suddenly lit up. In the village, he is not special and was treated like a slave. He grew up in the desert and is very familiar with many of the places in these parts. His parents are caravan traders for the beast clan and the cultivation land. They would often trade to and fro, and was well received because of the race of his mother.

As a feline, his mother is very attractive and has attracted his father's attention. And not long later, the two married against all odds and created the trading business. He didn't know why but he and his other siblings didn't gain any physical traits from their mother. All of them look human, but he knew that one of his brothers have the ability of a beast-man.

And so they live a prosperous and happy life of traveling and trading throughout the land of Beastia.

However, one day everything came to an end as their caravan was attacked by some bandits and killed his parents.

The siblings were able to escape because of the protection from their trusted guards, but they were scattered. And from then on, many years have passed and he was traded as a slave and due to fate reached this place.

"Seniors, let me introduce myself… I am Jinyu Ji," he said courteously.

Seeing his action, Shin Jiao and Agnes was amused. But Shin Jiao is now interested in seeing the boy's reaction. He knows that this young lad would be useful in their travel through the desert.

"So, you know your way through the desert right?" Shin Jiao confirmed.

"Yes, senior. I am really familiar with the main cities of the desert and their locations." Jinyu Ji said.

Then he carefully took out a small map from his inner pocket.

However, when Shin Jiao and Agnes saw the map, they showed a confused look in their face. How can they use that map as it is just a simple drawing? It doesn't even have a grid or a simple direction.

Seeing the confused look on their faces, Jinyu Ji showed a proud smile.

"Senior, I can read the map because I made it myself. Here if you look at this…" the three conversed as Jinyu Ji showed them how to read the map.

But no matter how hard he explained it, it only boils down to one thing. These sites are just the young boy's estimate and are not clear of the right location. But from the way he explains everything, it seems that he's been in those places, hence making Shin Jiao and Agnes trust the boy.

"Okay, you can come with us then." Shin Jiao gestured as he suddenly took out something from his spatial tool. Then he attached it to the side of the hoverbike.

When Agnes saw this, she immediately frowns.

"There is actually a compartment for that thing, why didn't he take it out when we were together. Don't tell me that he is a pervert and like the feel of my…" Agnes thought as she suddenly turned her gaze at her ample bosom.

Then an angry expression immediately showed in her face as she blushed. Although she has been with two men in her life, she still feels that her dignified self as the demon queen was challenged by a mere brat.

After Shin Jiao fixed the sidecar to the hoverbike, he began his preparation for them to depart.

Then, when he turned his gaze at the hoverbike, he saw that Agnes has already sat comfortably in the sidecar.

Seeing her complacent look, Shin Jiao could not help but shook his head.

When she squinted her eyes with an angry look on her face, he immediately realized why this woman is acting this way.

With a sneer in his face, Shin Jiao didn't bother with her and take his position on the hoverbike. Then he let Jinyu Ji sat behind him.

"Humph, thinking of taking advantage of this demon queen? In your dreams…" Agnes snorted.

However, upon recalling the time they were traveling and her hogging his broad back made her feel a slight blush in her beautiful face.

As they continue to travel, Agnes realized something which made her cursed Shin Jiao deep in her heart.

That is because, while riding the sidecar the dust would fly towards her every now and then. And when she tries to duck down she could not maintain that position because she is tall and it is very uncomfortable.

Seeing her condition and agitated state, almost made Shin Jiao laugh.