The city center was chaos — armor clinking, ash drifting on the wind, orders bellowed and ricocheted off the stone. Faces that should have meant comfort stood out in the confusion: Soho, Tian Hao, the monks, and Elder Linghui clustered near the City Lord's raised platform.
The City Lord scanned the crowd for an explanation; his gaze finally settled on Linghui. "Elder Linghui — tell your people to leave the city at once," he ordered.
The meaning was plain: live to warn others. An organization working for the Shadow had engineered this. They needed witnesses—survivors who could spread the alarm.
Linghui's face remained unreadable. He turned to Hao. "We must withdraw," he said, voice steady.
Hao's jaw tightened. "Withdraw? Why would we run when they need us?" he snapped.
Linghui looked at him as if Hao had lost his senses. "If our deduction is correct," he said slowly, "they gathered everyone here on purpose. They want us all in one place. Their confidence means they think they can take the city right now." He let the words hang. "Our priority should be to leave with as much information as possible. We must plan for what comes next."
Hao's face flushed with righteous anger. "I won't run. I will never run from a battle just because they're confident. I have a duty — I won't back down even if I die."
Without warning, Linghui struck Hao across the cheek — a solid, stinging blow. The square fell quiet; even the distant crackle of flames seemed to hush.
"You fool," Linghui said, cold. "Do you think I enjoy leaving? Do you think I don't want revenge for my men? Look at your brothers — would you have them die because of your pride? If you truly believe your path is right, prove it. But do not force everyone into a trap."
Hao looked at the men who had sworn to follow him. Their faith pressed on him like a weight — if he gave the order, they would obey, even into certain death. For a long moment he stared, the burden of that trust heavy on his shoulders.
He swallowed, forced a steady breath, and finally said, "Alright. I understand."
Then he asked, "What will we do?"
Linghui answered without hesitation. "First, we need to know their objective. Why gather all the Murim forces in one place, and why choose this city? How many fighters besides these—two thousand—do they have? Who leads them? Most important: what is their purpose? If we understand their goal, we can anticipate the next move and respond."
The City Lord's face hardened. He looked toward the second gate and shouted, "Attack!" Instantly the bulk of the forces surged forward — banners snapping, armor clinking — all driving toward the second gate.
Lady Yuehua sat atop the high wall of the first gate when a messenger arrived. "The City Lord is preparing to attack the first gate," he reported.
She smiled, cold and small. "So Shen Yue will have all the fun," she murmured. Then, voice hardening, she ordered, "Find where the City Lord's children are hiding. It's time I have my revenge. Find where they've gathered the civilians so we can begin our plan."
All four retainers bowed and hurried off.
At the second gate, Shen Yue watched the approaching army. "At last," he murmured.
He rose, signaled, and his ranks fell in behind him, eyes fixed on the enemy. Raising his sword toward the coming tide, he gave the word and charged.
Red-cloaked figures surged forward, colliding with the enemy as steel sang through the air. Shen Yue hung back, watching the chaos of men locked in battle, when two figures broke through the lines — cutting down anyone who dared stand between them and their target.
He watched with a slow smile. "You think if you kill the commander you will win ?" he called.
"Come then. Try it."
His laugh curved into something cold and hungry.
The two who pressed forward were the City Lord and Ye Chen of the Wodeng Sect, both closing on Shen Yue. Before them rose six warriors, locked shoulder to shoulder like a human wall — the Retainers of Blood.
One stepped forward and said, voice as cold as iron, "You are not worthy to face the Lord. If you wish to fight, you must get past us first."