Great Yu Calendar Year 2985, Year 153 of the Wuzong Era
The pitiful moonlight, like a thin veil draped over the pitch-black city walls.
The iron gates, tens of meters tall, had collapsed, and from the axe and sword marks scarring their surfaces, it was clear that a brutal battle had taken place here.
A further glance inside and outside the city reinforced this certainty!
Thick smoke filled the sky; houses lay in ruins.
Inside the city, starved bodies littered the ground; outside, corpses sprawled across the fields.
Among them moved martial artists, their expressions numb and their attire varied, plundering the clothing and belongings from the bodies.
From dark corners came bursts of hysterical, cruel laughter, along with the wails and screams of women...
Undoubtedly, it was a tragic scene of chaos and war.
"Stop it, all of you!"
Under the eaves, three bandits were assaulting a common girl. Hearing the harsh shout, they immediately turned their heads to look behind them.
A handsome young man stood there—he wore a white Confucian robe, and his stature was tall and straight. His black hair was tied at the back of his head with a jade band. Even in anger, his expression remained restrained, exuding a gentle and scholarly air.
"What is the matter, Mr. Hong, do you have any pressing issues?"
The three bandits obviously recognized the young man. The moment they saw him, their expressions turned scornful, with not a hint of fear, their tone tinged with mockery.
The changes in their expressions did not escape the young man. He forcibly suppressed his rage, took a few deep breaths, and then spoke in a low voice, "Didn't the general say that after entering the city, no one is allowed to kill at will? Do you realize that you are now defying military law?"
The three bandits laughed boisterously. The leader, who did not care about Mr. Hong's increasingly grim expression, said with scorn, "Hong Xiufu, we call you 'sir' out of respect for our general. Do you really think you're some important person, talking to us about military law? In these times, we brothers are living each day as if it were our last, with our heads hanging by our belts. What is military law to us? It's rubbish; now get lost, get lost..."
Hong Xiufu's face barely concealed his smoldering anger, and he stood there deep in thought for a long time. Still, he eventually swallowed his wrath and turned to leave.
He, a Confucian Scholar at the Three Realms of Discernment level, equivalent to the Martial Path's Gang Qi Realm, was being humiliated by these bandits from the Open Body Realm; they clearly felt they had strong backing.
With Zhaoyang now occupied by the rebel army, and after having curried favor with the rebel leader, he knew any action against these men would draw greater retaliation. Thus, for the sake of the surviving people, he had to endure.
These men were obviously certain of their power over him, which was why they acted with such impunity.
Before Hong Xiufu left, his gaze lingered on the disheveled girl behind the three men. Despite the deep reluctance in his heart, he forcibly suppressed his feelings.
As he walked away, the girl's cries echoed behind him; he knew the bandits continued their assault. His heart twisted with pain, yet he dared not turn back to rescue her; instead, he quickened his pace and left the area.
"Just hold off these rebels for another seven days, just seven days. Once the Divine Court reinforcements arrive, the people can be safe. Just endure a little longer, a little longer..."
Hong Xiufu kept reminding himself of this as he made his way to the County Lord Mansion.
Compared to other parts of the city, the County Lord Mansion at the city's heart seemed much quieter and more orderly.
The soldiers here wore standard armor and exuded a robust presence, in contrast to the looting of bodies at the city's edge. Whether in terms of military appearance or discipline, they were obviously much stronger.
But as Hong Xiufu passed these soldiers, his well-concealed gaze still revealed a hint of indelible hatred. Fortunately, he kept his head down; otherwise, his feelings would have been easily discerned.
And the soldiers, with their looks of contempt and disdain towards Hong Xiufu—and even some disrespect—shouldn't have shown such attitudes towards a Confucian Scholar, considering they were also merely Martial Artists of the Open Body Realm.
Hong Xiufu navigated the turns and soon arrived at the main hall of the County Lord Mansion. He didn't enter straightaway but first bowed deeply.
"Mr. Hong Xiufu seeks an audience with the general."
"The general is not here. Mr. Hong, please come back another day!"
Hong Xiufu's brow furrowed slightly, but he held back the urge to inquire further, excused himself, and turned to leave. Yet before he could take many steps, a voice came from behind.
"Oh, Mr. Hong, having come all this way, won't you visit your sister?"
The speaker's voice was obviously mocking. Hong Xiufu immediately looked downcast. After a long silence, he nodded and said, "Thank you for reminding me. I will go see her now!"
After he spoke, he bypassed the main hall, following the paths and walls within the County Lord Mansion to reach the back courtyard. As he approached a room at the very back, his already slow pace became even slower. With each step growing heavier, so did Hong Xiufu's expression.
"Hehehe, this little lady is really something..."
"Such a beauty, and the general is actually willing to let us have a taste!"
"Hahaha, it's not just us; this girl will soon be sent to serve as a camp prostitute. After that, the other brothers will all have their turn..."
Hearing the voices inside the room, Hong Xiufu's face twisted in agony, his eyes grew fierce, and his fists clenched tight, his nails digging into his palms. Blood seeped from the creases of his hands, reflecting the humiliation and pain in his heart.