Sitting down, we all awkwardly stared at one another, avoiding the commander's gaze. The sounds of cups clinking and alcohol filling cups were the only things floating in the air as we drank.
Probably having had enough of the awkward atmosphere, Commander Gu Xing spoke up.
"So, how's everyone feeling?"
What the hell? Why type of drinking question is that?
"We're doing fine, commander… Just a little nervous."
"As one should, human's fear death after all."
Jesus… Talk about small talk.
Letting out an awkward cough, Luo Chao puts out a better suited conversation starter, well at least one more fitting for letting things loose. "Commander, how old are you again?"
"I'm 18, why are you asking?"
"Sheesh… Nearly half our age…" Luo Chao paused, letting out a snicker as he downed his next shot. "Shouldn't you be courting a young girl your age? Starting a family? You know, when I was your age I would chase the girls through the court, listening to their squeals of joy from being chased by someone like me."
As the idiot spoke, even the commander couldn't help from holding back such a judgmental disbelieving look.
"Okay you dirty pervert. Do you have a family?"
"W- Well no… I don't…" Luo Chao cheekily rubs the back of his head, "But I did sleep with lots of women."
"So you're just a worthless pervert. Don't get any wet dreams while you're in my division or else I'll have you hand wash your underwear and hang it out to dry in front of everyone with your nametag on it."
Luo Chao shivers in fear and slight annoyance, while the commander was being quite mean and crude and rude, Luo Chao did deserve it quite well in fact.
"So..? Do you have a family, Commander?" Mo De braved.
"I do… Though I don't quite remember them anymore since it's been so long since I've last seen them."
"Are they not a part of the Demonic Cult?"
Commander Gu Xing gently shakes his head, a soft smile being seen on his face. "No… I'm quite sure they're not. After all… We've got matching bracelets."
The commander stuck out his left hand, pulling back the sleeve of his black uniform to reveal a poorly made wooden bead bracelet. The beads seemed to have been carved out by hand, each of varying sizes and rough shapes.
"We hope you may reunite with them one day Commander."
"Thank you We Hei. I hope so too."
Commander Gu Xing holds out his empty cup, Li Bolin instantly refilling it as we all go for another shot.
"Cheers!'
Shot after shot, the flames belonging to the campfire in the middle of everyone flickered throughout the night, illuminating the area around us just enough to make out each other's faces.
Half drunkenly, Cai You speaks. "Commander… What are you fighting for?"
"Huh? What type of stupid question is that?"
"You know… We fight for our family… Loved ones… Riches, fame, glory, things like that Commander."
Commander Gu Xing sighs, splashing his liquor at Cai You's face. "I am a member of the Demonic Cult. I fight simply because I wish to."
"Such a simple reason?"
"What other reason does one need to do anything besides the fact that they can and want to."
"Then do taking lives mean nothing to you commander..?"
"I do not harm the innocent if that's what you're implying."
Shen Yan quickly shakes his head, clarifying. "No, I meant when you're out in battle, do the lives you take mean nothing? They too have families and things to fight for… It just seems killing because you can and want to seems to be quite… Immoral."
"Shen Yan, do you foresee yourself dying on the field?"
"I do not Commander. I will make it back alive."
"Then you are a fool. The battlefield is hell on earth, the fact that the orthodox faction finds honour on it shows they're nothing but self righteous and delusional. The unorthodox faction is no different either, they are like you Shen Yan, they are fools that think they can get away and escape the battlefield.--
–Only the Demonic Cult belongs on the battlefield, in hell. We do not expect to live, we do not fight for a cause, we simply do it because it's a sin we can commit against the heavens. Anyone who wishes to hold their blade in battle must be prepared to die at any moment, they must not be human."
We sat there in silence. Shocked, some disturbed while others seemed to have already accepted this.
Picking up the bottle of wine, I pour Commander Gu another cup. "I see now. We aren't the Demonic Cult for any other reason, we are simply the sinners that rid this world of those who cannot accept themselves as sinners."
"You've got a good head on you Hu Qing."
"Thank you Commander. Though I'm not sure I'll ever be as great as you."
"You won't. You'll never have to be."
Hearing the commander's words, my spirit fell a little, but after giving it some thought, it turns out the commander is much kinder than he lets on.
Lowering my head, I couldn't help but let out a small laugh, a bitter taste on my tongue not from the wine. "Commander, those words are quite the heavy ones. Are you sure you can hold onto that weight?"
"I-..." The commander's face fell slightly, probably doing his best to keep up his facade. "No promises towards you. The same goes towards everyone here. All I will do is try… After all, promises have been hard to keep lately."
Ah… So that's what's been happening… He isn't at the level to make those promises.
"Well then, we'll just have to wait for you until it becomes a promise, yeah?"
Commander Gu gently shakes his head, a wryly smile on his face. "What a troublesome division I have."
"Then we'll toast to that!"
Refilling all of our cups, we clink them together, all at an equal level before downing them in an instant.
"Now then… Get some rest. In exchange for all of this drinking tonight, I'll be working you all through your bones for the next week straight."
"What?!"
"Go on, get some rest while you can. I'll be waking you all up early."
Without giving it another thought, I was the first one to run back into the base, luckily not having dranken a lot, but still a fair amount.
Quickly brushing my teeth and changing out of uniform and into bedtime robes, I quickly jump into bed, falling asleep as the others slowly trickle in one by one.
—————
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Before I could even roll over in bed to find a more comfortable position, a hard slap hit me in the back, sending me flying off the bed and into the person next to me.
"Wake up you idiots! Training starts now! I expect all of you to be fully freshened up and outside in the courtyard in 30 minutes!"
"Y- Yes sir!"
Everyone quickly gets out of their bed as we run to the stalls, showering while brushing our teeth in there at the same time.
Quickly finishing my routine, I rush back to my bedpost, reaching under to grab my uniform to put on, making myself presentable to the Commander before Luo Chao ends up throwing up on me.
"What the hell Luo Chao!"
"S- Sorry… The toothpaste was making me… Urp… Gag…"
Taking off my soiled uniform, I rush back into the washroom stalls as the wails and cries of hungover men fill the room. With a quick shower and clean done, I grab my second uniform, taking a moment to example the black material for any wrinkles.
"Okay… Don't throw up on me again Luo Chao…"
"I'll try… Urp… Oh shit…"
"Luo Chao!!"