Chapter 208: Night within the City (1/2)

On the top of the tower above the city gate was Liu Cang Lan and behind him were four officers, Lin Feng and Liu Fei.

Liu Cang Lan had been standing there for a few hours already. He remained motionless while the others remained silent. They all understood the pain Liu Cang Lan was feeling in his heart.

Over a hundred thousand people, their lives, their families, their future had vanished in an instant. This was the truth of war.

It was the sad truth. Nobody could predict what was going to happen. Such dramatic events hadn’t taken place in over ten years. Besides, Liu Cang Lan had never lost any of his battles in the past, but at that moment, he had lost and his army was massacred.

“Pshhhhh……” Liu Cang Lan took a deep breath. He then slowly turned around. At that moment, everybody inside the city was already packing and ready to leave Duan Ren City.

The Mo Yue Country was putting pressure on them by using the princess’ life. They wouldn’t be able to defend the Duan Ren Border.

If they lost the Duan Ren Border, Duan Ren City would become a very dangerous place. A five hundred thousand strong army would easily be able to conquer Duan Ren City.

They were not a simple military force, a large number had broken through to the Ling Qi layer. In one jump, they could scale the gate of Duan Ren City. From there they could rain down arrows and annihilate everything inside.

“Even though Duan Ren City is vast, it could only be considered a small town… it has a population of five hundred and fifty thousand civilians. The civilians must leave the city, even though for many of them it is their place of birth. As a general, I cannot get them involved.” said Liu Cang Lan while sighing.

“As in any war, the outcome is never certain, you can win or you can lose. The only thing in your control is how you deal with the situation, General.” said Lin Feng while shaking his head.

“What do you expect me to do? I don’t understand.” asked Liu Cang Lan who didn’t understand.

Lin Feng turned around, looked at Liu Cang. He then said in a calm and solemn tone: “I need wood.”

“Wood?” Liu Cang Lan stared blankly at Lin Feng. He was dumbfounded. Lin Feng spoke again: “Uncle Liu, I hope that you can satisfy my request this time.”

After remaining silent for a moment, Liu Cang nodded in a serious way and said: “Alright.”

“Officers, I hope you can help me as well.” said Lin Feng while looking at Jiu Chi Xie and the others. They all slightly nodded, even though they didn’t know what Lin Feng actually really meant to do.

At that moment, in the city, horses were neighing and many people were getting ready to leave.

Amongst these people, many of them were from the Holy Courtyard of Xue Yue and the Celestial Academy. They all looked deathly pale. They had hoped to gain military exploits, but it was impossible for them. That place was too dangerous. They had to go back to the Imperial City, where it was safe. This battle had nothing to do with them.

Even the young men who had come with Duan Tian Lang were leaving as well.

“Liu Cang Lan!” shouted Duan Tian Lang extremely loudly.

“Liu Cang Lan, you caused our own army fight against each other and the princess was captured because of it. You then caused hundreds of thousands of people to lose their homes. I will report all of this to His Majesty and he will decide himself on how to punish you for your crimes.” shouted Duan Tian Lang as he moved into the distance. He made it sound like Liu Cang Lan was guilty for everything and never took any of the responsibility.

Lin Feng’s heart grew extremely cold. The princess had been kidnapped at Duan Tian Lang’s encampment, but he was making out that it had nothing to do with him. Besides, he was running back to the Imperial City. The princess’ life suddenly meant nothing to him any longer.

Lin Feng also understood that Duan Tian Lang wanted to go to the Imperial City to remove all responsibility from himself and shift the blame onto Liu Cang Lan.

Liu Cang Lan didn’t pay attention to Duan Tian Lang. He was worthless.

What Liu Cang Lan was regretting the most was that he let Duan Tian Lang join them in the first place. He should have known better than to think Duan Tian Lang would be of any actual use on the battlefield.

With the smile of victory on his face, Duan Tian Lang the Chief Commander was escaping from Duan Ren City with his army. Liu Cang Lan would inevitably stay there and fight Mo Yue resulting in his death. This battle would be even worse for them, no one would be able to escape uninjured. When the right moment came, Duan Tian Lang would report Liu Cang Lan’s crimes to His Majesty.

………………

The third day, the deadline was slowly arriving.

Rumbling noises filled the atmosphere. Mo Yue soldiers on their horses were arriving outside of Duan Ren Border. Their army stretched across the landscape as far as the eye could see.

But at that moment, on the hills of Duan Ren Border, there was nobody at all.

Mo Jie moved towards the frontline on his horse. He looked at the empty mountains and looked like he was lost in thought.

Could it be that the troops of Xue Yue had really withdrawn and were offering the Duan Ren Border to the Mo Yue Country?

“Bring the princess to the front!” said Mo Jie indifferently. Duan Xin Ye was on a horseback and was wearing armor. Besides, she wasn’t chained or restrained in any way. Just like Mo Jie said, they hadn’t harmed the princess at all.

“First row of black guards, go secure the cliffs of the Duan Ren Border and do a thorough inspection.” said Mo Jie. In a flash, a row of black guards galloped towards the top of Duan Ren Border.

If Mo Jie gave them an order, they obeyed it even if it cost them their life.

This group of black guards were extremely skillful, if there was nobody to guard Duan Ren Border, it was easy for them to reach the top. At the top, they could check if there was an ambush lying in wait for them.