At that moment, the city wall descended into complete silence.
Everyone standing on the city wall was dumbfounded by the scene in front of them. The stared at the warm fresh blood on the ground in shock as they tried processing the events that just happened in their minds.
They were not afraid of people being killed.
However, this was not something that simple.
General Li was dead!
He was killed in a single blow by the Chief of the Northern Lands Five Constabularies!
The city guards exchanged glances as they were at a loss of what to do. Under normal circumstances, they were trained to retaliate the moment their commander was killed.
However, their opponent was Su Qing.
He was the Chief of the Northern Land Five Constabularies. Most importantly, they all heard Su Qing’s words. The Northern Barbarians were planning to invade Flame Capital City. Furthermore, they were already right in front of their eyes.
100 thousand strong army!
There were only about a few thousand city guards left spread out amongst the four city gates. How could they ever defend against such a huge force?
“Yes!”
“Light the pinnacle flame!”
“Quick, summon all the troops back to protect Flame Capital City!”
The city guards finally moved after a few moments of hesitation. Naturally, they could not make the decision during such a crucial time. After all, there was always someone who would take responsibility for these actions.
Today, that person would be Su Qing.
What else did they have to worry about?
Even if the Emperor wanted someone to take the blame for the incident, Su Qing would be the first one on the list. He was the one who gave the command while they were merely executing them.
“On command, light the pinnacle flame!”
“Light it!”
Voices rang throughout the east gate as they went into a scurry trying to light up the pinnacle flame. Some of the soldiers were even holding the messaging flag on their hands.
Quickly, the pinnacle flame was lit up.
Thick black smoke wafted towards the sky. It was exceptionally thick and dense, even the strong and chilling gale of the night was unable to dissipate the smoke easily.
At the same time, a blinding light bolted through the horizon. It blended in elegantly with the horizon like a shooting star across the sky.
Su Qing finally smiled in satisfaction upon seeing this sight.
The pinnacle flame was lit and the signal was released!
The troops stationed all around the country would immediately rush back to Flame Capital City. This was undoubtedly the thing that would be given the top priority no matter what mission they were executing.
“Lord Su, the Northern Barbarian army is already nearing the gate. Should we send someone to inform your Majesty about the situation?” A commander walked towards Su Qing as he said respectfully.
“Naturally. However, we should first set up our defenses and be clear about their motives. If we act rashly, we will walk right into their trap!” Su Qing replied.
“Trap?” The commander seemed confused.
“Yes, although I knew about the movements of the Northern Barbarians a long time ago, no one could predict how they are going to attack. If the attack on the city gates was merely a decoy for the attack on the Majesty, wouldn’t we be walking right into their trap by sending someone to inform your Majesty?” Su Qing explained.
“Lord Su is right. However, if this is not a decoy, then wouldn’t it be bad if we stalled…” The commander hesitated for a moment before saying his opinions with a trembling voice.
“I will check if it is a decoy!” Su Qing said confidently.
“How will Lord Su validate this?”
“As a courtier of the Great Xia Dynasty, I will lead in times of crisis. I will not shirk from this responsibility. Open the city gates. I will personally attend to this matter.”
“This… Lord Su, I cannot allow that. The Northern Barbarians are extremely ferocious and merciless. If Lord Su…” The commander rejected this plan the moment he heard it.
Negotiating with the Northern Barbarian troops alone?
That would be courting death!
“Say no more, I have already decided!” Su Qing waved his hands before he turned and walked down the city wall.
The couple of black figures standing behind him followed behind.
The commander stood at his position, clearly dumbfounded. He stared at Su Qing’s back as a terrible premonition rose in his heart. However, he could not pinpoint exactly what was wrong about Su Qing’s actions.
Isn’t Lord Su usually wise and cautious? Why would he use such a method? The commander clenched his fist as he frowned.
He wanted to inquire more into Su Qing’s actions.
However, Su Qing had already made his way down the city walls.
Most importantly, General Li was already dead. Su Qing would naturally assume the role of the commander of the city guards. As soldiers, how could they resist his commands?
“Open the gate!”
“Lord Su is going to negotiate with the Northern Barbarians army. Open the gate!”
Creak!
As the commands were passed down, the bulky city gate was pushed open. The chilling night breeze grazed their faces while it carried the sand on the ground out of the city gate.
Countless black figures were still rushing towards the city gate. They held a spear wrapped in black cloth in their hands while being masked in a similarly dark-colored sash.
Their chilling murderous intent could be felt from miles away.
Su Qing squinted his eyes as he stared at the approaching black figures. He then slowly moved forward and walked past the city gate.
The several black figures behind him all these while did not follow him out. Instead, they stood motionless at the city gate, staring at Su Qing as he left.
Each of the city guards was horrified at Su Qing’s brave actions.
“Close the gate!”
“Hold up!” A black figure said in a cold tone. The bladed resolve flickering in his eyes sent chills down the city guard’s spine.
No one questioned the black figure when those words were spoken. However, the city guards had an incredulous expression on their faces.
“No one is to close the city gate before Lord Su returns!” The black figure said.
“How… how is this possible? If we do not close the gates, the Northern Barbarian army will invade us!” A city guard immediately objected when he heard those words.
However, just as he finished his sentence.
He saw a glimmer of light in front of him.
Slash!
A blade mercilessly pierced through his throat.
This attack naturally came from the black figures. Blood poured out from the city guard’s wound as the rest of the city guards stared at the scene in disbelief.
“Why… why…”
Thump!
Before the city guard could complete his sentence, he collapsed onto the ground.
The city guards who were tasked with guarding the city gate also subconsciously took a step backward. Their eyes were filled with fear and apprehension.
Killing the soldier upon any disagreements.
Such strict management was rare nowadays.
“Are you guys afraid?” The black figure said as he cleaned his blood-stained sword on the fallen city guard’s armor. At the same time, he cast his merciless glance across all the city guards.
“No!” The city guards replied immediately.
“As a soldier of the Great Xia Dynasty, you guys should have the resolve to die for your country. What do you guys think of this guard here, who wished to leave Lord Su to his own deserts when he is risking his life for the country?” The black figure asked.
“This..”
“He deserves to die!”
“Yes, he deserves it!”
The city guards exchanged glances as they stared at the fresh blood on the ground before answering bitterly.
“If the Northern Barbarians truly invade Flame Capital City, we will also defend it with all our might. You guys can just close the city gate when the time comes. Do you understand?” The black figure said coldly.
“Understood!” The city guards nodded as they replied in unison.
They had on choice but to understand that twisted logic. After all, they could either choose to agree and understand those words or face death like their fallen comrade. The choice was clear.
Furthermore, Su Qing had already stepped out of the city gate. The black figures also promised that they would be the first line of defense against the Northern Barbarian army.
They could only hope for this to be true.
The night was not peaceful. The sand swirled on the ground as the chilling night breeze made its way across Flame Capital City, caressing the face of every city guard.
Su Qing stood outside the city gate in his neat court attire. His fearless figure was the hope of all the city guards standing behind the city gate.
He stood upright without any signs of withdrawal or fear.
The black figures outside were closing in. They crossed over the wide river protecting the city and got to the point where they were almost going to trample over Su Qing.
“Archers, prepare!” The commanders ordered the soldiers to get into formation and stand in alert positions. Apart from the arrows, the oil was already boiled and ready.
All these were preparations for the fierce battle ahead.
Finally…
The black figures trampled over Su Qing’s body and charged towards the city gate. They did not bother to stop, acting as though they did not see Su Qing at all.
They were like a gluttonous cloud that devoured everything in sight at an insane speed.
This scene was undoubtedly shocking for the city guards. They would never expect that the black figures would ignore Su Qing.
“Not good! Close the city gates!” A commander reacted to the situation had immediately shouted.
However…
No creaking sounds could be heard coming from the city gate. Even the sound of the drawbridge being retracted could not be heard. It was as though the soldiers were unable to hear the commands.
“Damn it. Are you guys all deaf?” The commander’s face sunk. He was just about to go down the city gate to take a look when a black figure blocked his way.
“What is going on?” The black figure asked.
“The Northern Barbarians has broken through Su Qing. We need to close the city gate immediately…”
Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted. He felt a cold sensation on his neck. There was also a streak of blood flowing down his chest.
It was a quick but fatal slash.
The commander covered his gaping wound with his hands as blood spewed out. He stared at the black figure in front of him and his blood-stained sword.
However, the black figure did not seem to bother with him. He merely walked slowly towards the commander and placed a finger lightly on his forehead.
Thump!
The commander then fell onto the ground after a light push.
The black figure then once again brandished his sword in the air. It reflected a merciless brilliance under the moonlight. Within mere moments, another commander had fallen under this blood-stained blade.
“My lord, what… what are you doing?” The city guards were unable to react to such a drastic turn of events.
What was going on?
Why would Su Qing’s underlings attack the commanders!
Were they traitors?
How could that be!
Lord Su had already given up his life for the country. He was trampled under the feet of the Northern Barbarian army. It would be impossible to even find his complete body for a burial.
However, if they were not traitors…
Why would they kill the commanders?
The city guards could not understand their actions. However, the commanders were not the first few who were killed. From the moment General Li was killed without a valid reason, the pointless killing had been going on within the city gate.
They wanted to ask questions, though they couldn’t.
They could clearly see the black figures’ actions.
The black figure was extremely quick and merciless. He was so merciless that the city guards were trembling in fear. They stood rooted on the ground as if frozen in time.
More of their comrades fell, killed by the black figure.
Some of the city guards then reacted to this turn of events. No matter what the reason was, the black figure should not be killing city guards one after another.
“Stop it!”
“What are you doing? Are you insane?”
“Quick, take down this crazy guy!”
The remaining city guards recollected themselves and finally started began their retaliation. However, the black figure had ten other insane comrades behind him. They were extremely fast as well.
Slash!
The sound of swords cutting through raw flesh echoed through the city gates. The bodies of city guards kept pilling up as they were massacred indiscriminately by the black figures. They widened their eyes in shock as they noticed a light chilling aura around the black figures.
“These are Rebirth State individuals!”
“Why? Why will there be Rebirth State individuals behind Lord Su? What is going on?”
“There are more than one!”
The city guards could not understand what they just saw. Even if Su Qing was the Chief of the Northern Land Five Constabularies, having one Rebirth State individual as a bodyguard would already be a privilege. To think that he had more than ten of them protecting him at once?
This was something unimaginable.
This was because there were less than 100 people in the Great Xia Dynasty who had attained this rank!
The city guards had started their counter-attack.
However, how could they defend against a massacre conducted by ten Rebirth State individuals?
Every glimmer of a blade would mean the loss of a life. Each reflection of the moonlight they saw would mean another fallen comrade.
Fresh blood danced amidst the chilling breeze.
The blood-stained city gate had once again opened the wounds of the past. It had once again pushed this ancient city who had already undergone the baptism of a ferocious war to the edge of the blade.
Screams echoed through the air.
At the same time, the black figures outside of the city had broken into the city through the city gate and flooded the streets of Flame Capital City.
The black cloth covering their spears were taken off.
Each of those spears shone brightly, emitting a chilling presence under the illumination of the moonlight. Quickly, those cold spears were enveloped by a peculiar warmth. The warmth of fresh blood.
“This is a command! Finish the battle in 15 minutes!”
“Yes!” A unison voice echoed into the horizon. Blood was slowly absorbed into their black attire as they claimed the lives of the citizens of Flame Capital City. The thick armor hiding underneath the black façade was then revealed.