Chapter 49

"This seems…… to be our Xuan Guo commoners, huh?"

"The scout wondered aloud, 'Although this place is nominally our Daxuan's southwestern border, after the Sha Yue tribe invaded and occupied our territory to establish the Sha Yue State, they actually controlled this area. It is said that as early as several decades ago, all surviving Xuan Guo commoners here had already migrated away.'"

"Xiao Qidi also felt something was off."

"Although it was his first time coming here, he had also heard related accounts."

"Logically, there should be no Xuan Guo people left here by now."

"But looking at the appearance and clothing of those fleeing commoners, they are clearly Xuan Guo people."

"Since they are his own people, he certainly wouldn't stand by idly; he immediately began selecting personnel to prepare a rescue."

"'Your Majesty, could they be people who fled here from the Xi Tun Guan area due to drought?' the scout asked."

"Xiao Qidi shook his head. 'All of Daxuan's west suffers severe drought; it hasn't rained for over half a year, affecting the southwestern border. Though not as severe as Xi Tun Guan, this place is controlled by the Sha Yue State, so Xi Tun Guan's commoners couldn't have fled here.'"

"From Ba Yong's brutal slaughter of Duan Wu's father, one can see how barbaric this tribe's nature is."

"Severe drought might cause death, but running into the Sha Yue people means certain death without a whole corpse."

"At this moment, it was still unclear what was chasing those commoners, so Xiao Qidi did not rush to act."

"He first controlled the drone to fly behind those commoners, then looked down from high altitude."

"All that could be seen under the harsh white moonlight were four thin, agile shadows leaping and climbing among the rock piles at great speed!"

"Their movements were nimble and agile, occasionally emitting strange cries."

"The scout exclaimed in surprise, 'What is that? A mountain spirit?'"

"Xiao Qidi's eyes darkened slightly. 'No, those are Sha Yue tribe barbarian soldiers.'"

"After confirming the enemy numbered only four, he ordered groups of ten Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Soldiers to go rescue the commoners."

"The scout doubted, 'Your Majesty, aren't all Sha Yue people as burly and mighty as Ba Yong? How come they look like this?'"

"Xiao Qidi said, 'Ba Yong is a Sha Yue noble; their nobles occupy the most resources in the Sha Yue State, eat the best, and thus naturally grow tall and sturdy. Non-nobles look like this, far thinner and smaller than the commoners of the Seven Kingdoms of Zhong Yuan.'"

"The scout showed a hint of contempt, 'Your Majesty, sending ten Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Soldiers to deal with four such barbarians—isn't that overestimating them?'"

"'No,' Xiao Qidi said sternly, 'The Sha Yue nobles do not regard commoners as human; the more brutal a Sha Yue person, the more likely they are to be conscripted as barbarian soldiers. Though these soldiers are thin in build, they are exceptionally agile and not to be underestimated.'"

"In the distance, more than a dozen fleeing Xuan Guo commoners were exhausted to the extreme."

"Among them were several elders whose strength gave out, slowing them down; the others, unwilling to abandon them, wanted to help together."

"This caused the four barbarian soldiers to chase after them directly."

"Just four of them surrounded more than a dozen weak, unarmed commoners."

"\"Still want to run? \" a barbarian soldier brandished his iron spear and sneered, \"If you dare not obey orders, I'll drag you back to be military slaves! \""

"One commoner plucked up courage and said, 'For decades…… we…… we have lived in Yaowang Gu, peacefully coexisting with your Sha Yue tribe.'"

"\"Often we even provided medicinal herbs to treat your people's illnesses……\""

"\"How can you treat us like this?! \""

"Hearing this, the four barbarian soldiers burst into loud laughter."

"Their laughter echoed across the desolate plain that night, making it especially chilling."

"Another commoner shouted loudly, 'We are Xuan Guo people! You treat us like this today—aren't you afraid that Daxuan will send troops for revenge in the future?'"

"\"Hahahaha! \" the barbarian soldiers laughed even harder."

"The leading barbarian soldier jeered, 'You previously insisted on staying here, refusing to leave; now that death is at your doorstep, you still hope to threaten us with Xuan Guo? Xuan Guo abandoned you long ago!'"

Some commoners, unable to contain their anger, thought that resistance or submission meant death either way, and simply burst out cursing, "You ungrateful white-eyed wolves!"

"This place originally belonged to our Daxuan! A hundred years ago, our king kindly gave you half, so you wouldn't have to live by eating raw meat and drinking blood; yet you are insatiably greedy! You even want to seize Daxuan's territory and kill Daxuan's people!"

"You... you are nothing but a pack of beasts!"

The remaining commoners were no longer afraid, filled with righteous indignation, and joined in the cursing.

For a moment, the curses shook the heavens.

The four barbarian soldiers grew angry; their leader, eyes blazing with ferocity, ordered: "Skin these ignorant Xuan Guo people, tear off their flesh, chop them into meat chunks, and bring them back to cook and eat!"

Seeing the barbarian soldiers clutching their daggers, about to strike.

Whoosh!

A tearing sound rang out!

A sharp arrow flew from afar, piercing the leader of the barbarians right through, chilling him to the bone!

The other three were greatly startled, turned their heads, and saw a troop of soldiers and horses galloping toward them.

Before they could even see who had come, they were shot down one after another on the spot.

Several dozen commoners stood frozen in place until the troops arrived before them, only then did they react.

Seeing the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Soldiers, from head to toe—even their horses—wearing strange armor, everyone fell to their knees.

"Is this... divine soldiers sent down from heaven?"

"Have the heavenly troops come to save us?"

"Heaven has eyes!"

"……"

To prevent any pursuing barbarians from the rear, this unit of Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Soldiers had no time to explain; they hurriedly led the civilians to the concealed encampment of the 3,000-strong Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army.

When they saw the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Soldiers remove their helmets, only then did the several dozen commoners realize that these were actually people of Xuan Guo.

They were utterly shocked.

Upon learning that the leader of this mighty Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army, who had arrived like heavenly troops, was none other than the current king of Xuan Guo, they burst into tears.

"Your Majesty!" the crowd knelt in unison, "It turns out... Daxuan has not forgotten us!"

Xiao Qidi's cheeks tightened as he clenched his molars in secret.

He felt extremely uneasy inside.

This time he came here purely because of other matters, and he didn't know there were still Daxuan civilians here.

"Everyone… please get up." Xiao Qidi's eyes reddened at the corners, his low voice carrying a hint of softness, "Please rest for a moment."

Afterwards he had the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army divide some of the carried marching rations among these civilians.

Only after everyone had eaten did he begin to inquire about the situation.

He quickly learned from these civilians that there was a place called Yaowang Gu here.

According to legend, in ancient times Shennong wandered here and planted medicinal herbs in this valley.

After Shennong left, he entrusted the place to a medicine boy to continue tending it, and the medicine boy's descendants have carried on to this day.

These dozen or so civilians, their ancestors more or less were related by marriage or blood to the medicine boy's descendants, and they are collectively called the Lian clan.

Therefore, even though this place has been invaded by Sha Yue Guo, they did not leave, and thus they have become the only Xuan Guo people still remaining here.

For dozens or even hundreds of years, the Lian clan has mainly lived within Yaowang Gu, relying on their skill in growing and preparing herbs to survive in the cracks of Sha Yue Guo's territory.

Although they were often bullied by the Sha Yue Guo people, they could barely be considered living in peace.

But for some unknown reason, yesterday a force of 100,000 Sha Yue Guo barbarian troops suddenly arrived.

The barbarian commander ordered that Yaowang Gu surrender all its food and medicinal materials, and that all members of the Lian clan be conscripted as slaves for the barbarians.

Anyone who showed the slightest resistance would be massacred as an example.

Speaking of this, the dozen or so civilians who had escaped death burst into tears.

"Your Majesty… our Lian clan numbered over six hundred, but in just one day they killed two hundred of us!"

"The remaining four hundred or so have been captured and imprisoned in the place where they have set up camp."

"The Yaowang Gu left by our ancestors… is almost completely ruined by them!"

"Please, Your Majesty, save our clan chief, save our clansmen! Also save Yaowang Gu!"

Everyone prostrated themselves on the ground, weeping as they kowtowed to Xiao Qidi.

A red gleam rose in Xiao Qidi's eyes as he clasped his fists, "Everyone! I swear here that if I do not destroy Sha Yue Guo, I, Xiao Qidi, shall not be worthy of being human!"

Originally he had intended to take advantage of the fact that the 100,000 Sha Yue Guo barbarian troops were still en route to Xi Tun Guan, leading his troops here for a surprise attack.

He was certain that after the Yu Guo Crown Prince had wiped out the 30,000 vanguard army, he would absolutely not dare to launch an attack on Xi Tun Guan lightly.

That is the Yu Guo King's precious son; he absolutely must not come to harm.

Therefore, he would certainly wait until the 100,000 barbarian troops had gathered.

And for Sha Yue Guo to send troops to Xi Tun Guan, the quickest route is to pass through the region bordering Daxuan's southwestern frontier.

Thus, he personally led three thousand Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army here, planning to catch the barbarians off guard.

He never expected that Daxuan still had civilians left here, and that they were being oppressed by the barbarians!

This made his fury blaze!

"I will go rescue your clansmen right now! Tell me, where are the Sha Yue Guo barbarian troops currently stationed?" Xiao Qidi asked.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, they are right in Yaowang Gu!" the crowd replied hurriedly, vying to lead Xiao Qidi there.

Considering that he and the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army were unfamiliar with the terrain, he selected two young men from among the civilians to act as guides, and with the aid of drones for reconnaissance, this would save a great deal of time.

The time had already reached midnight.

Xiao Qidi left a dozen or so Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Soldiers behind to protect these civilians at the original spot.

He took the remaining roughly three thousand troops and rushed to Yaowang Gu.

—

At this moment, Yaowang Gu has been occupied by 100,000 Sha Yue Guo barbarian troops.

Once a tranquil place of birdsong and floral fragrance like a paradise beyond the world, it is now a scene of utter devastation.

The houses built by the valley's inhabitants and the reclaimed farmland have all been destroyed.

The livestock they raised, regardless of size, were all seized and eaten by the barbarians.

As for the medicinal herb gardens painstakingly tended and passed down through generations of the Lian clan, they too are now a horrifying sight.

The barbarians, unaware of their value, plucked those medicinal herbs as if they were wild greens; their rough handling not only wasted more than half, but also severely damaged the specially cultivated soil in which the herbs were grown.

In short, in just a single day's time, Yaowang Gu was ruined by the barbarians beyond recognition.

The captured Lian clan members are currently confined in a cave within the valley.

The cave entrance is blocked by a fence made of wooden poles.

Someone clutches the fence, sobbing so hard they can't catch their breath.

Because even these wooden poles used to make the fence that imprisons them were originally extremely precious medicinal timber, merely not yet fully grown.

They could see that in just a few more years, they would be usable.

As a result…… the barbarians cut them down as if they were ordinary trees.

This is practically more agonizing than if they had cut down the people themselves…

"Who is your clan chief?" a barbarian commander approached the cave entrance, brandishing a knife.

The man nearest the cave entrance shouted angrily, "It's me! If you have business, come at me!"

The barbarian commander reached out and grabbed his throat, "I'll ask again—who is the clan chief?"

"I said, it's me!" the man roared.

Puchi!

The barbarian commander thrust his knife through the man's belly.

The man did not die immediately; blood poured onto the ground, he writhed in agony, a gruesome sight that made one's scalp tingle.

Inside the cave there was an uproar, everyone shouting and cursing in anger.

The barbarian commander snorted coldly, then casually seized an elderly woman's hair, pressing a dagger to her throat, "Still not coming out, clan chief?"

The torches outside the cave could only illuminate the area near the entrance.

Deeper inside, one could only vaguely see heads crowding together.

An elderly man with beard and hair all white was being pressed down by several people with all their might, and they tearfully urged him not to step forward.

"It seems… Heaven intends to destroy my Yaowang Gu… Heaven intends to doom my Lian clan…" the old man said, his grief and anger mingling, "Now that it has come to this, what else is there for me to hide from? Should I just watch, eyes wide open, as one by one our clan members lose their lives protecting me?"

"All of you, step aside for me!"

The old man, gathering his breath, rebuked.

Everyone around was crying in a complete mess.

The clan chief is the pillar for everyone; without him, the people didn't know how to hold on.

Just as the elderly woman was about to have her throat cut, a hoarse, ancient voice rang out: "Lian Qingbai, clan chief of the Lian clan, here!"

The barbarian commander looked up.

Seeing the dimly lit cave, the people cleared a path.

An old man dressed in coarse hemp clothing stepped out; he looked very old, his posture a bit stooped, yet his steps remained steady.

The barbarian commander surveyed him from head to toe, then suddenly slashed the elderly woman's throat with a knife.

A splat sound.

Fresh blood sprayed!

Lian Qingbai, his grief and anger mingling, said, "Weren't you the ones looking for me? I've come out! Why are you still killing people!"

The barbarian commander signaled his subordinates to open the fence gate and pull Lian Qingbai out.

Then, he wiped the bloodied dagger clean on his clothes, sneered, "Enough chatter, come with me to see our Sha Yue Nation's Grand General."

He gave Lian Qingbai a hard shove.

The old man fell to the ground and was dragged away directly by two barbarians.

"Chief! Chief!!"

Hundreds of mournful cries echoed from within the cave.

The barbarian commander turned his head, his voice ominous, saying:

"You all basically know some medicine; killing you all would be rather a pity…"

"I'll ask once more, is there truly no one willing to become a slave for the Sha Yue army?"

"I can guarantee that as long as you honestly treat our wounds and illnesses, you'll be able to keep your lives."

His words fell.

Only a spitting sound was heard.

A mouthful of spit struck his face.

Before he could wipe it, spittle after spittle rained down on him.

His face turned iron‑blue, he roared, "Kill all these damned Xuan Guo people, boil them and we'll divide and eat them!"

With his command,

Outside the cave, a group of barbarians drew long knives, preparing to massacre the over four hundred people.

Boom!

A huge roar suddenly came from afar!

The ground shook along with it.

The barbarians looked up in shock, following the sound, and saw, under the night sky, distant flames shooting upward.

Immediately, a Horn sounded in Yaowang Gu, calling for assembly.

The barbarian commander was startled and uncertain, but the order had arrived; he had no time to think and hurriedly led the nearby barbarians out of the cave.

Inside the cave, the few survivors left showed little reaction.

Their clan members had already been slaughtered, over two hundred of them.

The chief had also been taken away; no one knew what would happen.

The remaining over four hundred held no hope of surviving.

They only hoped that the dozen or so clan members who had luckily avoided capture could escape safely.

At that moment, the torches outside the cave went out one after another, and several silhouettes flickered; two figures arrived at the cave entrance.

"You all squeeze together and step back!" a urging voice rang out.

Inside the cave, those near the entrance widened their eyes, barely trying to discern by the moonlight spilling from the sky.

When they realized the newcomers were the two young clan members who had previously escaped from Yaowang Gu, the crowd became both anxious and angry.

"We all risked everything to cover your escape, why have you two come back?!"

"Don't worry about us! Otherwise, when the barbarians return, you'll be doomed too!"

"Go! Hurry and leave! The farther you go, the better! From now on… live well for us clan members!"