Chapter Seventy-Five: Brothers

When Ji Hao performed the blood sacrifice, the spectators were not limited to the newly arrived Ji Xia.

“Brother, aren’t we rather shameless?” On the mountainside of a distant peak, under a dense canopy, Diro lounged against a camphor tree, lazily plucking a handful of tender shoots to chew. “Poor Jiang Yao, the beautiful witch priestess. Her heart must be shattered… She waited for us to act, but we didn’t. Oh, oh, she must be heartbroken and in tears!”

Di Sha’s expression was stern as he stood amidst a thicket. The vertical eye at his brow turned an uncanny pure black, with a spectral glow swirling within, like a deep vortex, allowing him to observe every detail of Ji Hao’s ritual from afar.

His left hand was tucked inside his wide sleeve, fingers idly playing with a palm-sized blood-red token.

“Beautiful priestess? My dearest brother, do not entertain any thoughts about that woman beyond ‘legitimate business.’” Holding a small whip with a golden handle in his right hand, Di Sha lashed Diro with a backward stroke. “I imagine your newly grown eye still bears a trace of pain? I hope it keeps you clear-headed.”

Turning, the eerie light in his brow’s eye flared. Di Sha spoke coldly, “Remember, Diro: our relationship with Jiang Yao is purely transactional. Do not let anything interfere with your judgment.”

“I have been in charge of Bloodfang, trading slaves in the southern wilds for five hundred years, Diro.” Di Sha said solemnly. “Five hundred years—I recall clearly. In that span, I have captured and sold two million, seven hundred eighty-nine thousand, five hundred thirty-seven slaves from this savage land.”

“But in these five centuries, not a single Bloodfang warrior—by which I mean those of noble blood, nor the warriors of the Ka tribe—has been lost.” Di Sha raised his head with pride. “Though tens of thousands of lowborn slave warriors have perished over the years, not one of our own or the Ka tribe has been lost under my command.”

Diro curled his lips, speaking flippantly, “Ah, remarkable, my dear brother, truly remarkable… I mean, Jiang Yao is a great beauty, and she’s nothing like any girl I’ve known!”

“Damn you!” Di Sha, exasperated, rapped Diro’s head with the whip handle. “Don’t touch that woman. Don’t let her beauty seduce you. Diro, for five hundred years, I have not lost a single noble warrior, because I am cautious, calm, and above all—shameless!”

“Shameless?” Diro stared at Di Sha in surprise. “You mean, you’re shameless?”

“As you just said!” Di Sha turned to gaze toward the fiery altar. “We promised Jiang Yao we'd support her band of savage creatures to strike her enemy. But we merely watched. We preserved our strength, never launching an attack as promised—such conduct is indeed shameless.”

He shrugged, voice icy. “But so what? Because we did not recklessly attack, those dreadful giant birds did not harm our companions. Not one of our own, nor the loyal Ka tribe warriors, was lost.”

With a cold laugh, Di Sha pointed solemnly toward the altar. “Tell me, brother: had we kept our promise to that woman, coordinating an assault with those brutish fools, how many would we have lost when those horrifying birds suddenly appeared?”

Diro was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Caution, composure, and shamelessness. Fine, I’ll remember.”

Di Sha cast a deep look at Diro, sighing softly. “I hope you truly remember, Diro.”

He struck the nearby shrub with his whip, severing countless tender branches. Pale green sap sprayed out, and a faint, vegetal tang filled the air.

The vertical eye at Di Sha’s brow slowly closed, and he spoke quietly. “Yesterday I received a transfer order. Because of my five centuries of merit, I am to become a commander of Blood Moon. In three days, I will leave with all the slaves from this expedition. Bloodfang will be yours, Diro.”

Stunned yet delighted, Diro smiled and bowed to his brother. “Dearest Di Sha, my most beloved brother, rest assured. Under my leadership, Bloodfang will only grow stronger!”

Di Sha inhaled deeply, gripping Diro’s shoulder firmly. “I hope so… Diro, remember well: Bloodfang is the foundation of our family’s interests. You must not make any mistakes.”

He reached out and slapped the eye socket where Ji Hao had gouged out Diro’s eye days ago. Di Sha’s voice was grave. “Recall—because of your impulsiveness, you nearly lost your life in this damned jungle. This is your first lesson from the southern wilds; never forget it.”

From the distant altar came a piercing, cloud-like cawing, as waves of golden-red heat visibly radiated outward. The mountain where Di Sha and Diro stood was struck by the heat, causing the forest to wither and dehydrate rapidly. Already dead branches and leaves burst into flame.

“Let’s go. We stand out too much here.” Di Sha pulled Diro away quickly, explaining the dangers of the Firecrow tribe as they went. “Diro, remember: to thrive in this barbaric world, to amass wealth and merit, you must be cautious and gather every scrap of information you can.”

“For example, these savages of the Firecrow tribe—some have terrifying vision. At times, they can spot details invisible to ordinary people from hundreds of miles away.” Di Sha spoke carefully. “So, in situations like now, when the vegetation can no longer conceal us, we must leave immediately.”

“Never forget, Diro: we are in the southern wilds for wealth and merit, nothing else! Preserving your life and that of Bloodfang’s warriors is an inviolable rule you must remember once you become leader.”

Diro answered with a series of affirmative grunts, glancing back toward the altar, a strange gleam in his eyes.

Di Sha sighed, “I truly wish I could train you for a few more years, then I could leave without worry. But time is too short—the Blood Moon’s transfer order is absolute. Since the family chose you, I can only trust you.”

The two brothers quickly left the mountain, descending its far side to gather with hundreds of waiting Ka tribe warriors in a deep valley, departing quietly without alerting anyone.

Di Sha did not notice that Diro kept glancing back at the fire, his gaze full of rebellious arrogance and deep-seated hatred.