Qu Shilang rode slowly into the city, surveying the corpses and blood covering the ground. A bloodthirsty smile spread across his face.
“Ba'e, take a squad of men to the docks at once. Make sure you guard the ships well.”
Ba'e’s face lit up with excitement. “Yes, sir! Ha! I’ll grab a couple of soldiers first and make them show us the way.”
The city had been under their siege for so long that no one could have escaped. Thus, they had no fear that the prominent families within the city would get away.
Because Ze'a Prefecture had been surrounded by Qu Zhao for so long, hardly a living soul remained on its outskirts.
They did not know where the docks were, and could not be bothered to waste manpower searching everywhere. Once the city fell, they would naturally find out.
Qu Shilang then turned to his four deputy commanders. “Guard the city gates well, too. Not a single Han dog is to leave.”
His voice was filled with ruthless menace. “Everyone else—slaughter the city!”
The Qu Zhao soldiers cheered and charged into the city, swinging their blades.
Qu Zhao had sacrificed so many warriors to seize Ze'a Prefecture. Now it was time for the Han people to pay their blood debt.
Qu Shilang curled his lips into a smile and led his men toward the Sheng family residence in Feng'an County. It was time to meet these lofty aristocratic clans face-to-face.
Yan Tong hurried into a dilapidated courtyard.
“Why have you come back?”
The hoarse voice belonged to his mother, Cui Erniang. She was hiding inside the house, staring at him with a mixture of hope and fear. His young sister was beside her.
Yan Tong’s lips trembled. After a long moment, he finally said, “The city has fallen.”
Cui Erniang’s voice shook. “What are we to do? What about the family head and the others? Important people like them must have a way.”
Yan Tong opened his mouth, then tightened his grip on the knife in his hand. “They’re gone. The family head and the others… they ran!”
Cui Erniang’s cloudy eyes widened. She seemed unable to believe it, yet also as if she had suddenly understood everything. After a long while, she gave a faint laugh, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Of course. How could people of their stature care about whether ordinary people live or die?”
Hatred crept into her voice. “But how can anyone be so heartless? My husband died fighting for them. Three of my sons went to war for them, and two of them died. How could they… how could they still leave our entire family here to die?”
Yan Tong bit his lip. Yes. How could people be so vicious?
There had clearly been a passage out. Even if there were not enough boats for everyone, they could at least have let the common people leave the city. Perhaps there would have been some other way to survive.
Many among them had served the aristocratic families for generations. And this was what they had received in return.
That was precisely why, despite Sheng He’s refusal to reveal the passage no matter what, Yan Tong had returned home.
This would be the last time. He wanted to die protecting his family, rather than for the sake of others.
He handed a dagger to Cui Erniang. “Mother, if… if I die, you and Yun…”
In the hands of the Qu Zhao people, a quick death would be better. At least they could choose how to die.
They had fought Qu Zhao for so long. When enraged, the Qu Zhao army routinely slaughtered entire cities.
Cui Erniang’s teeth chattered in terror, but she said nothing. Her trembling hands closed around the dagger.
Feeling her daughter’s body quivering beside her, she asked in a hoarse voice, “Is there truly no way out? Yun is only six years old.”
Yan Tong’s heart ached terribly. He had thought that as long as he fought with all his strength, the city could be defended and his mother and sister would remain safe.
He had never imagined that it was all a deception, and that their fate had been decided long ago.
His voice caught with emotion. “All four city gates have fallen. The Qu Zhao army is already inside.”
He reached out with his bloodstained hand and gently stroked Yan Yun’s head. “Yun, don’t be afraid. Soon, you’ll be able to see Father and your two elder brothers.”
Yan Yun looked up at him. Her eyes were filled with tears and terror, yet she obediently nodded. “I’m not afraid.”
“Ah—no, don’t…”
Distant screams and cries rang out.
Yan Tong shoved his mother and sister into the house, then followed them inside and barred the door.
Before long, the sound of chaotic footsteps came from outside.
Bang!
The thunderous impact made Yan Yun shriek. Cui Erniang hurriedly covered the girl’s mouth.
Bang, bang, bang…
The heavy pounding continued without pause, and the entire house seemed to tremble.
Cui Erniang pulled a quilt over her daughter’s head. “Yun, don’t be afraid. Don’t look.”
Yan Tong stood behind the door, gripping his knife tightly, his eyes cold and fierce. As dust sifted down around him, he knew that the flimsy, battered door would not hold for much longer.
Bang, bang, bang…
Crash!
At last, the door could take no more. It was kicked open, one side hanging crookedly from its hinges.
Yan Tong slashed down with his knife. The Qu Zhao soldier who entered first was extremely alert and twisted aside to avoid the blow.
Yan Tong turned his blade and swept it sideways. A scream rang out as the first Qu Zhao soldier was struck across the neck, blood spraying into the air.
At the same time, a blade came down toward the back of Yan Tong’s head.
Unable to recover in time, Yan Tong dodged on instinct. The blade struck his arm instead.
When Cui Erniang saw her son get cut, she completely forgot the reason Yan Tong had given her the dagger. She forgot her fear as well. Gripping the dagger with both hands, she shouted and charged forward.
“Mother!” Yan Tong cried out in alarm.
A vicious grin spread across the Qu Zhao soldier’s face. He knocked the dagger from her hands with one slash, then kicked her to the ground.
“There are women inside, just as I thought. And a little girl!”
“A little girl? Good. I like little girls’ meat. It’s best roasted. It’ll be even more satisfying while we avenge our brother!”
The eyes of another Qu Zhao soldier were bloodshot, wild as a beast’s.
Only then did Cui Erniang remember her daughter. She tried to struggle to her feet, but the first soldier planted his boot on her body and pinned her down.
Yan Tong let out a furious roar. Ignoring the pain in his arm, he swung his knife at the Qu Zhao soldier.
“Know your place!”
The soldier sneered and raised his blade to block Yan Tong’s attack.
Almost at the same moment, another Qu Zhao soldier chopped toward Yan Tong’s neck.
At that critical instant, there was a sharp whoosh.
Blood burst like rain, spraying everyone present from head to toe.
Yan Tong had already prepared himself to die. He had been determined to take at least one of them with him, so he ignored the blade coming toward him and thrust viciously at the soldier in front of him.
The soldier had not expected him to have no fear of death at all. Still, he was a seasoned fighter and quickly retreated.
But he was a fraction too slow. Yan Tong’s blade struck his abdomen. Fortunately, he was wearing heavy armor, and the blade was stopped by the protective plating.
Before he could relax, blood sprayed across his face.
He saw the gaping wound in his companion’s neck.
He saw the horror in his companion’s eyes.
He spun around and looked back, only to see a small squad of Han soldiers dressed in strange uniforms, holding repeating crossbows trained on them.
His pupils contracted sharply. Before he could say a word, an arrow shot toward him.
He heard something explode.
His vision turned crimson.
