8mi 034 Massacre
034 Massacre
Yugu County, East Shengmen Gate of the city wall.
The weathered city gate slowly opened, and two old soldiers yawned, listlessly turning the winch.
"I'm so sleepy. Why did they make us open the city gates so early? I don't know what's wrong with them."
"It's so foggy, who's going in or out this early in the morning...?"
The two complained back and forth, and even reminisced about their romantic escapades the previous night, laughing and scolding each other for being such a braggart.
Suddenly, it sounded as if some kind of sound came from outside the city.
The two couldn't help but look over, and it seemed as if a large, black mass was rapidly approaching from within the thick fog.
The sound of hundreds and thousands of boots pounding the ground grew closer and louder.
From the initial hallucination to the overwhelming force of a galloping horse, it only took a few breaths.
Countless bandits, dressed in rags and with faces contorted like demons, rushed in silently and swiftly like a flood.
Anyone who dares to stand in their way will be crushed into dust.
"Enemy attack!!!"
An old soldier stared wide-eyed and roared hoarsely to the sky.
Another veteran, trembling, collapsed to the ground, his pants soaked with a yellowish liquid. He let out a strange cry and ran away without looking back.
"Fuck you, you son of a bitch!"
The last remaining veteran was so frightened that his teeth were chattering.
As the bandits drew ever closer, he didn't know where the courage came from, but a surge of adrenaline rushed to his head. He gritted his teeth and, with a fierce determination, pushed the noose alone, attempting to close the city gate.
The next instant, his figure was engulfed by the dark mass of river bandits, and the slowly closing city gate came to a complete stop.
"Hahaha!! Brothers! Kill as many as you want! Loot as many as you want! Whoever gets the treasure keeps it!"
Chang Wei raised his arms and shouted, his greedy eyes sweeping over the county town that had not yet fully awakened from its slumber, his whole body trembling with excitement.
Massacre of a city—what a poignant phrase.
He couldn't wait to smell the wonderful air of blood mixed with flames.
Back when he was still in the army, he was blinded in one eye by the judicial officer because he participated in the massacre of the city, and he couldn't even recover his flesh and blood regeneration ability.
"kill!"
Chang Wei roared, and his madness infected the bandits, who all howled and rushed into the homes of the people.
Regardless of age or gender, they would cut down anyone they saw and rob any money they could find. Like locusts, they would swarm through the area and burn down the houses before leaving.
Screams, cries, curses, and the deafening roar of burning houses quickly spread throughout the entire eastern part of the city.
While dealing with the bandits, martial arts students escorted their families back to the south of the city.
The southern city is not only where the government offices are located, but also where martial arts schools are collectively based. It is by no means something that mere river bandits can conquer.
In fact, news of the killings in the East City quickly reached the South City.
A Grand Martial Master at the Bone Refining Realm gathered his disciples, took out his weapons, and prepared to go out to fight the bandits. However, he had only just stepped out the door when a bright yellow golden ball smashed his skull, killing him instantly.
The southern part of the city is not safe either.
"Hmph, overestimating yourself."
The black-robed figure hidden in the shadows sneered, casually catching the blood-soaked golden ball that flew back: "Leave these martial artists to me. It's time for you to step in."
Another man in black robes smirked, "Perfect, my Gu worms are starving."
She extended her slender, pale fingers, forming a complex and profound hand seal: "Puppet!"
An eerie fluctuation emanated from her hand seals.
Before long, many people who were fleeing in panic suddenly froze, their pupils rolling upwards uncontrollably, revealing the whites of their eyes like those of a dead fish.
One after another, purplish-black veins bulged outwards from his heart, and soon covered his entire body.
"Run! What are you standing there for?!"
Their family members tried to pull them away to escape, but they were forced to the ground by the puppets, who screamed and tore and gnawed at them.
"Aaaaaah!"
The screams lasted only a moment before fading away, leaving only the gurgling sound of blood spitting from the throat.
Such tragedies are everywhere; the entire Yugu County seems to have fallen into hell.
Meanwhile, in the county government office, Yun Changsong and Lin Wenlong finally clashed for the first time over power.
Yun Changsong's eyes were bloodshot as he slammed his fist on the table: "Lin Wenlong! I am the supreme official of this county. My order is for all constables and city guards to mobilize together and make the extermination of the bandits their top priority!"
You dare disobey orders?!
Lin Wenlong's pale face remained calm, and he even had the leisure to drink tea: "The county magistrate is muddle-headed. The bandits are powerful. The primary task should be to relocate the wealthy households in the city."
Those lowly peasants, if they die, so be it. As long as the wealthy households remain, Yugu County won't suffer a major blow!
At this point, a cold glint flashed in his eyes: "Furthermore, if all the government troops are out suppressing bandits, who will protect your safety, Your Excellency?"
Yun Changsong pressed his knuckles firmly against the table and said, word by word, “You don’t need to worry about my safety. I’ll say it again: all constables and city guards are to go and suppress the bandits!”
If you dare disobey my orders, I will report you to Prime Minister Wang and have you sentenced to death!
Upon hearing the words "death penalty," Lin Wenlong's lips curled into a disdainful smile.
He's almost forty, would he be afraid of dying?
However, he was too lazy to waste any more words arguing with Yun Changsong.
Standing below the hall were Zhang Qingyi, the military training officer of the city's defense forces; Zhang Qingde, the county magistrate; and Zhao Quji, the head constable.
He was also a powerful figure who controlled the violent authorities in Uotani Prefecture.
Lin Wenlong addressed the three directly, saying, "What do you all think is the most important thing right now? How can we save the people of Yugu County from their suffering?!"
Without hesitation, Zhang Qingyi and Zhang Qingde cupped their hands and said, "What Magistrate Lin said is absolutely right. We are willing to obey Magistrate Lin's orders!"
Zhao Quji was sweating profusely. He wanted to kill the thieves and drive away the enemy, but he only had twenty constables left. What could they do?
Moreover, most of these twenty constables were also aligned with Magistrate Lin.
At that moment, he suddenly missed Ning Kui.
If that arrogant young man were...
Just as he was about to helplessly bow down in submission, the gate of the county government office was suddenly flung open by a horse's hoof, and Ning Kui rode in on a big black horse, like a divine warrior descending from the sky.
"Attention, officers of Yugu County! This is a critical moment of life and death! Everything must be done in accordance with the orders of Magistrate Yun. Anyone who dares to disobey will be treated as a bandit!"
If necessary, kill without mercy!
Behind the big black horse, Xiao Niang, Xia Chan, and Yun Mengling each rode a white-spotted ghost fish, following him into the government office with hurried expressions.
The white-spotted ghost fish was still chewing on the human puppets it had encountered on the road that had attacked them.
What I saw and heard along the way was the brutality of the fighting, it was too horrifying.
It can be said that Ning Kui fought his way through bloodshed.
"A mere envoy tasked with suppressing rebellions dares to spout such nonsense!"
Zhang Qingyi, the commander of the city's defense forces, sneered. As a peak Bone Refining Realm martial artist, how could he possibly take Ning Kui's threat seriously?
"What if I meant the same thing?"
A cold and suppressed questioning voice silently rang out behind Zhang Qingyi, filled with murderous intent.
It was Li Qijue, his silver robe stained with blood, consumed by extreme rage.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Zhang Qingyi's forehead, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "What Magistrate Lin said is the truth, and I insist on upholding it..."
Before he could finish speaking, a bloody hand had already pierced through his chest.
Li Qijue's icy voice rang out: "Then go die."
After saying that, he crushed the still-beating heart in his hand!
County Magistrate Zhang Qingde watched this scene with eyes wide with rage. The reason he was able to hold his position as County Magistrate was because of his cousin who controlled the city's garrison!
However, before he could even get angry, Li Qijue's murderous gaze was already fixed on him.
"You have an opinion too?"