Chapter 497: An Empty City Won

"What? Captain Su is going to defend the city alone? Why?"

The innkeeper and his wife were stunned!

They simply couldn't understand why Su Yang would do this.

If you've already decided to abandon Wanyang City, why defend it?

"No 'why'!" Liu Mengyun stepped onto the stairs, speaking without looking back, "If you don't leave, you bear the consequences!"

"What do we do?" the innkeeper's wife asked softly.

"Of course, save your life—hurry and pack and go!"

The emergency team members inside the inn were packing their belongings.

Liu Mengyun unlocked her room with her key, quickly checked everything inside, rummaged through drawers and wardrobes, confirmed she had taken all of Su Yang's belongings, then left the room.

At Dongcheng Gate, Liu Mengyun found tens of thousands of civilians crammed together.

The gate was too narrow, and most civilians carried heavy bundles and luggage!

At this pace, Liu Mengyun felt the civilians wouldn't all evacuate by nightfall.

"Can we speed this up?"

Liu Mengyun asked Tan Shulong beside her.

Tan Shulong sighed helplessly: "No way—too many people!"

Liu Mengyun glanced at the gate and ordered: "Clear me a flat area!"

"Yes!"

Tan Shulong had no questions about Liu Mengyun's order.

He deeply respected her.

As long as her orders weren't unreasonable, he accepted them.

The civilians waiting in line near the gate were cleared away; Liu Mengyun waved her hand, and the massive Earth Dragon Beast appeared before them.

The moment it appeared, it crushed several buildings under its weight.

The civilians screamed in alarm and scrambled to retreat.

The Earth Dragon Beast was infamous among Platinum-tier beasts for its thick hide and enormous frame.

"Crash through it!"

Liu Mengyun pointed at the city wall!

Tan Shulong suddenly understood.

He slapped his forehead: "Why didn't I think of that?"

The Earth Dragon Beast gathered its strength, then slammed straight into Wanyang City's wall.

Wanyang City's wall was sturdy, but a Platinum-tier beast could shatter it effortlessly!

Boom— the wall cracked open a massive hole from the impact!

Wanyang City's wall was well-built; even with a huge hole, it didn't collapse outright.

The hole carved by the Earth Dragon Beast was more than ten times wider than the gate!

Liu Mengyun extended her hand and froze the edges of the hole with ice crystals to reinforce them.

After commanding the Earth Dragon Beast to smash seven more holes, Liu Mengyun told Tan Shulong: "Now, accelerate the evacuation!"

"Yes!"

With the seven new holes Liu Mengyun had opened, the civilians' evacuation speed from Wanyang City instantly increased by at least tenfold!

Near the collapsed western wall of Wanyang City.

Su Yang sat alone in a wicker chair, bathed in the afternoon sun at four-thirty.

At his feet, all around him, lay countless beast corpses.

A gentle breeze brushed past, bringing coolness and fresh air.

Su Yang opened his eyes and gazed at the distant sky, murmuring: "Why do I feel so lonely?"

The moment he spoke, a blood-red vine gently wrapped around his hand.

"Mm."

Su Yang smiled—thankfully, you're still here.

Not long after, Su Yang opened his eyes again.

"Why did you come?"

Yu Hao said: "Captain Su, everything's ready—everyone's been assigned out of the city, evacuation has begun!"

"Good."

Hao Ren asked: "Captain, aren't you coming with us?"

"I'll hold the rear—and let that beast king taste the might of our Southwest Military Division. Even if it's an empty city, I won't let it be occupied!" Su Yang waved his hand, "Don't worry—if I really need to run, I'll outrun you all!"

Hao Ren said: "Then our Fourteenth Emergency Team will stay with you, Captain!"

"No—you and your Fourteenth Emergency Team must escort the civilians!"

There are too many civilians—they're easy targets for powerful beasts.

After two grueling battles, Tan Shulong and Yu Hao's strength had dropped significantly, and even the Beast Tamer Corps had suffered heavy losses.

The Fourteenth Emergency Team, including Hao Ren and others, should focus on protecting the tens of thousands of civilians evacuating from Wanyang City.

Hao Ren took a deep breath and said: "Then Captain, take good care."

Hao Ren knew that once Su Yang made up his mind, nothing could change it.

At least, he couldn't.

"Mm."

Hao Ren couldn't persuade them, so Yu Hao and Tan Shulong felt there was no need to speak up.

The three Beast Tamer sat atop flying beasts and departed; barely a minute had passed when Hao Ren, Yu Hao, and Tan Shulong turned back and saw Liu Mengyun still standing beside Su Yang.

They exchanged a glance and said nothing more, leaving directly.

"Why are you still here?"

"I want to stay and help you!"

"Go!"

"Now, I should be able to lend a hand, right? You helped me cultivate the Ice Moon Sprite and the Phantom Shadow Cat precisely for this situation."