novelraw Chapter 1280: Moved to Tears
Chapter 1280: Moved to Tears
On the city wall, the expressions of the commoners drastically changed, all showing signs of astonishment. Having lived in the Dragon Rock Mountains for generations, their understanding of Exotic Beasts was not much worse than that of ordinary noble family’s children. Even if they hadn’t seen them before, they knew the ferocity of a Fierce Stone Demon, which was incomparable to ordinary Exotic Beasts.Before they could recover from the shock, they heard a muffled sound like thunder, and the whole earth trembled with the sound.
In the distance, another Fierce Stone Demon roared furiously and charged towards the city wall.
At this moment, even Han Yan’s complexion changed.
If it were only one Fierce Stone Demon, relying on the Divine Beast Heavenly Might of Taowu, she could barely fight it. But with another one, even Taowu would be powerless.
After all, the Divine Beast Heavenly Might of Taowu could only suppress the innate ability of the Fierce Stone Demon. Without its innate ability, its powerful attack and defense couldn’t be handled by ordinary people.
"Those above Fifth Rank Swordsman stay and fight with me to defend the city gate, everyone else evacuate from the inner city through the small paths, take all women, children, and elders with you." The Old City Lord decided decisively, speaking to the city guards and commoners around him.
Several obviously young teenagers hesitated for a moment, not moving.
"Go quickly, take all women, children, and elders with you." The Old City Lord commanded sternly.
"Yes, Lord City Master!" The teenagers gritted their teeth, turned around, and ran into the city.
It seemed that the Old City Lord had decided to abandon the town. It’s no wonder, judging by the power of the sword stroke Zhu Xiuqing had just demonstrated, this Fierce Stone Demon had obviously awakened its innate ability. Its strength was far beyond the sword pet of the Beast Taming Hall, even if the town had strong walls, it couldn’t withstand them, let alone when there was more than one Fierce Stone Demon.
There were nearly a hundred commoners above Fifth Rank Swordsman left on the city wall, their faces showed determination, but their eyes were exceptionally resolute.
Han Yan knew that alone they could never stop the Fierce Stone Demon, all they could do was buy time, after all, there were too many Exotic Beasts below the city. Even if they weren’t very strong, once they swarmed into the city, the vulnerable women, children, and elders wouldn’t have any resistance.
Han Yan also knew that to win time for their loved ones in the city, those who stayed would inevitably pay the price with their lives.
Seeing their determined yet resolute faces, Han Yan’s heart was deeply touched.
"You leave too, leave now!" The Old City Lord suddenly turned his head and said to Han Yan.
Han Yan was startled.
"Mr. Zeng, Lord Li, you must escort them away with the Imperial Army, and absolutely no mishaps can occur. You don’t need to worry about the commoners in the city, help if you can, but don’t force it if you can’t." The Old City Lord didn’t explain, continuing to speak to Zeng Wenxin and Li Dingfeng.
Hearing this, even Zeng Wenxin and Li Dingfeng were taken aback.
"Though I have lived in the mountains for a long time and lack experience, I know that if something happens to the envoy from Anyun in our Shangyue Country, the two countries will inevitably reignite the flames of war. By then, who knows how many soldiers will die on the battlefield, how many families will lose husbands and sons, and how many people will become homeless." The Old City Lord said with a face full of vicissitudes.
"I understand, rest assured Lord City Master, we will definitely escort the envoy safely to the Capital." Zeng Wenfeng and Li Dingfeng said solemnly.
Earlier, seeing Zhu Xiuqing being slapped to death by a Fierce Stone Demon, they both felt like their world had ended, their minds in chaos, feeling as if all their strength had been drained.
But hearing the Old City Lord’s words was like being doused with cold water, waking them up instantly. Their mission meant peace between Shangyue and Anyun, and also meant the lives of millions of common people, they couldn’t let one Zhu Xiuqing ruin everything.
Like them, Han Yan was also emotionally stirred. Even when Nangong Jingyuan mentioned the reappearance of the Jiuyou Netherworld on the Continent, and the impending catastrophe, she mostly thought about her family and friends. As for the millions of common people, she really hadn’t thought much about them. At this moment, hearing the Old City Lord’s words, she felt deeply ashamed.
"Lady Mu, let’s go." Li Dingfeng said.
"Help, help!" Before Han Yan could respond, she heard a hysterical cry for help.
Not far in front of the city gate, a figure burst out from the pit on the ground, stumbling towards the city gate. Who else could it be but Zhu Xiuqing?
At this moment, Zhu Xiuqing no longer had the aura of a young prince, his hair disheveled, his face covered in dust, his battle armor torn to pieces, and with such a staggering pace, it was obvious he was seriously injured.
This guy didn’t die! Han Yan was shocked but quickly understood. The battle armor on him was also a strong defensive magic artifact, otherwise, there was no way he’d still be alive after being hit by the Fierce Stone Demon.
"I’ll go save him." Li Dingfeng said without hesitation.
"Wait, going is suicide." The Old City Lord stopped Li Dingfeng, pointing behind Zhu Xiuqing.
The Fierce Stone Demon that appeared behind was at a distance, but the one in front was getting closer and closer, only a few meters away from Zhu Xiuqing. Even if Li Dingfeng made a move, it would be impossible to save Zhu Xiuqing.
Li Dingfeng and Zeng Wenxin looked almost simultaneously at the Imperial Army below. If the city gate was opened and hundreds of elite troops charged out, there might be hope to save Zhu Xiuqing, but the commoners in the city hadn’t evacuated yet. If the gate was opened, the vulnerable women and children would have no chance of survival.
Moreover, even if the Imperial Army risked their lives to save Zhu Xiuqing, without the city as a backup, they would still be doomed.
Could it be, they just had to watch Zhu Xiuqing die a miserable death under the city wall! Seeing the Fierce Stone Demon drawing closer, Li Dingfeng and Zeng Xiuwen were both burning with anxiety.
Just then, a figure flashed beside them, Han Yan leapt down in mid-air, flying towards Zhu Xiuqing.
"Help! Help!" Zhu Xiuqing, already pale with fright, was almost in tears.
He could never have dreamed that this "Stone Plate Pig" would be so powerful. Even with his Fourth Rank Sword Master skill, he couldn’t injure it in the slightest and was almost killed by a slap.
Fortunately, the battle armor he was wearing was the Anxi Prince Mansion’s ancestral Protective Armor, otherwise, with that slap earlier, he wouldn’t have survived.
Zhu Xiuqing was terrified, truly terrified.
"Open the gate, quickly open the gate." Hearing the increasingly heavy footsteps behind him, along with the Exotic Beast’s furious roar, Zhu Xiuqing pressed down his injuries, slashing the weaker Exotic Beasts in front of him while crying out desperately.
Unfortunately, the city gate remained unmoving.
Zhu Xiuqing’s face turned ashen. Even though he was a bit of a playboy and somewhat useless, being the princely heir of Shangyue Country, he understood basic military knowledge, knowing that at such a time, the city gate must not be opened. Otherwise, not only would they fail to save him, but they would also put the innocent city people at risk of death.
"It’s over, I’m really going to die this time." Zhu Xiuqing fell into complete despair.
At that moment, a figure flew from the city wall. This instant, Zhu Xiuqing was so moved he almost burst into tears.