With the Blade

Just as Wu Zhao’s disciples and followers were preparing to spread suffering, the residents of Yellow Sand City were also gathering together.

The news brought by the messenger, they had all received it. The General’s intentions, they understood them all too well. They agreed that the giant was innocent, so the General decided to execute only the main culprits, sparing the others...

This was something they did not agree with.

Only executing the main culprits essentially meant handing over those who killed the nobles. But who killed those nobles, as if they wouldn’t know?

Ultimately, it was still an attack on them, as these soldiers still intended to massacre the city.

This time, however, the other side chose to divide them by isolating the strongest giant from among them.

"So ruthless, is this the strength of the Empire?"

The people of Yellow Sand City fell into despair.

It seemed there was no other way. Doing nothing would lead to death, and fighting desperately would only lead to the same fate. Facing the rebellion-quelling army armed to the teeth, Yellow Sand City lacked even armor, let alone arrows. People could only use wooden sticks and makeshift spears against sharp swords and battle axes; this battle was without any chance of victory.

"Fight them!"

Once again, someone shouted this slogan.

But unlike last time, which was filled with anger, this time the shout contained more despair and helplessness. Although defeating the nobles and guards had indeed boosted their confidence, deep down they understood it was merely because the nobles and guards were incredibly incompetent fighters.

But the rebellion-quelling army was different. Without the giant wielding the Flame Sword, they had no real chance.

"But isn’t dying in battle better than waiting to die?"

Another person sighed.

"Can we really expect them to show mercy?"

That was clearly impossible, as they had already experienced the insufferable exploitation by the nobles in Yellow Sand City. Even when they did nothing, they were peeled by those nobles and guards layer by layer. Having acted as they did now, could they really expect those lords to spare them?

"Let’s fight!"

At that moment, everyone’s thoughts became unified.

Thus, people began felling trees, crafting spears, and making arrows. The city’s only smelting workshop roared to life, producing spearheads and arrowheads continuously. All the fur in the city was gathered to make hard leather armor. Although its defense was no match for bronze armor, it still offered some protection. The tough leather could withstand the blow of a club, and piercing it with a sword or knife required considerable effort—they also prepared a large number of stones and logs, ready to hurl them at enemies climbing the walls, hoping to leave them bloodied.

Though these preparations might not be enough to defend a low small city, it was the limit of what they could do.

Fighting desperately might still be useless, a sorrowful despair spread through everyone’s hearts.

In this situation, waiting for the enemy was akin to waiting for death. Everyone knew they couldn’t win. What they did was less about fighting for survival, more about dying with a wild desperation—they aimed to take a few enemies with them in death, which was the last dignity they could maintain.

So why hadn’t the enemy come yet?

They had been waiting for seven days, yet the enemy hadn’t arrived. After issuing harsh words, the rebellion-quelling army seemed to lose the will to move and halted in place, not launching an attack.

"How about...someone goes over to take a look?"

On the city walls, the people of Yellow Sand City looked at each other.

For a moment, no one was willing to venture out.

No one was willing, indeed. Waiting to die in battle was one thing, going out to die was another—it was basically suicidal to go alone with no chance of returning with news—knowing this was impossible, why would they do it?

So, they could only wait and wait, waiting for the army to attack, waiting for their own demise.

At this moment, some neighbors they hadn’t seen for a while suddenly appeared among them.

Some of these people were nearby old farmers, others were former City Guards, familiar faces indeed, yet they had mysteriously disappeared for a time in recent days—not quite disappeared, as they still lived in Yellow Sand City, didn’t go elsewhere, but their early-to-leave, late-to-return, aloof manners had puzzled many.

This time, however, these people finally spoke.

"We’ve been learning skills and now we come to help you. Can you feel the pain? Do you wish to be saved?"

"We..."

The residents of Yellow Sand City fell silent for a moment.

Yes.

To say they didn’t would be a lie, they certainly wanted to be saved. After all, they were at the brink of life and death; nobody wanted to die a senseless death, nobody.

But relying on others for salvation... was it possible for anyone to save them?

"No one can save you! The only ones who can are you yourselves!"

Those once-familiar faces now seemed so strange; their stern expressions, their angry brows, reminded people of hard bronze hammers.

"Didn’t you hear? You must learn to obey!"

"...Huh?"

The residents were taken aback, not reacting to what this meant.

It just didn’t make sense. They were neighbors, seeing each other as equals. And now, after learning a few things, they wanted others to obey...who were they to demand obedience?

"Too quiet! Can’t hear you!"

Those once-familiar faces took a step forward, uniformly.

"Louder! Let us hear your voices!"

"We..."

"Can’t hear you!"

The former neighbors stepped forward once more, even their steps synchronized.

At this moment, the residents of Yellow Sand City felt a force that could be called strength.

Perhaps individually they were weak and powerless, but if they could advance together like these former neighbors, perhaps they really could...

"Do you wish to learn?"

Faced with the pleas of the people of Yellow Sand City, these old farmers and guards, who had been cruelly treated, all began to smile.

This was perhaps the first time they had smiled in a while.

"If you wish to learn, you must first learn to obey."