The man in black armor walked up to the martial artists and stopped in front of them, then removed his helmet, which was attached to a face mask.
Beneath the mask was a burly man who looked to be in his early thirties. His skin was dark, his build tall and straight, and his temples slightly disheveled. His eyes were unfathomably deep.
An old scar ran across the man's forehead, seemingly the mark of a claw. It lent his face a few shades more ferocity.
The man swept his gaze over the martial artists. Those it fell upon all had the illusion that he could see right through them.
After looking everyone over, the man grinned. "Not bad. You're at least worth looking at. My name is Huangfu Yun, a centurion under the Demon-Suppression Army. Starting today, the eighteen of you will serve under me. If you have any questions, ask them now."
The martial artists exchanged glances, then turned their eyes to Shi Lan, Yan Shan, and the black-robed man who was the strongest among them.
"Centurion, this subordinate would like to know whether the beast disaster has already threatened Shuangyue City." The black-robed man quickly slipped into his new role. He stepped forward and asked.
Huangfu Yun nodded. "That's right. Demonic beasts have indeed started appearing in this area. What's your name?"
"This subordinate is Jiang Li."
"Any other questions?"
Jiang Li fell silent for a moment, then stared at Huangfu Yun and asked, word by word, "Is Shuangyue City doomed?"
Huangfu Yun nodded without a care. "Unless something unexpected happens, there's an eighty percent chance it won't hold."
At this, the martial artists' expressions changed drastically. The few who were natives of Shuangyue City were especially shaken. Even Shi Lan, who had already suspected as much, felt her heart sink.
"If the city falls, where will we go? And what will become of the hundreds of thousands of people in Shuangyue City?"
Huangfu Yun grinned. "The city may stand while its people don't, but if the city falls, its people will surely perish!"
The martial artists were stunned. Huangfu Yun's meaning was plain: they had to defend Shuangyue City to the death.
A chill suddenly crept through Shi Lan. The sudden curfew order, as well as Nie Yangze's earlier words, all made it clear that the Demon-Suppression Army had tied the hundreds of thousands of ordinary people in Shuangyue City to the city itself.
They would prosper together, or perish together.
"Those are hundreds of thousands of lives!" Jiang Li raised his voice, his eyes veined with blood.
The smile faded from Huangfu Yun's face. He stared at Jiang Li. "So what? What do you think we should do?"
"The curfew order should be rescinded, and the people escorted out of the city! Isn't it the Demon-Suppression Army's duty to fight the demonic beasts and keep the people safe?!"
"Escort the people out of the city?" Huangfu Yun scoffed, his gaze icy as he looked at Jiang Li.
"Do you know what it would look like for hundreds of thousands of ordinary people to migrate together? The blood and vital energy of so many people would attract how many demonic beasts? Without martial training or city walls to protect them, what difference would ordinary people make to demonic beasts from pigs and sheep waiting to be slaughtered?"
Jiang Li's face flushed. "Better to risk everything than sit around waiting to die. With the Demon-Suppression Army protecting them, we could at least save some lives!"
"There are three hundred and twenty-seven soldiers of the Demon-Suppression Army in Shuangyue City, including me. Even with the eighteen of you, we wouldn't have three hundred and fifty. With so few people, escorting hundreds of thousands of ordinary people on a migration—is that risking everything, or delivering a mouthful of rations to the demonic beasts?"
A trace of self-mockery flashed in Huangfu Yun's eyes. "Do you think everyone in the Demon-Suppression Army is a peerless fiend who can slaughter ten thousand demons with one hand?"
Jiang Li took a step back, his expression utterly dejected.
"Your idea isn't without precedent. Some people even put it into action. Do you want to know how it turned out?" Huangfu Yun stepped forward and asked.
Jiang Li froze, then shook his head mutely.
"I originally had one hundred and four people under my command. Now, including me, only thirteen remain. Of the hundreds of thousands of people who fled, fewer than one in ten thousand survived."
There wasn't the slightest fluctuation in Huangfu Yun's voice, but everyone felt the weight of his words.
"Even so, couldn't you have kept the news secret and imposed the curfew, while letting the people flee on their own?"
Huangfu Yun shook his head. "The news of the demonic beasts' invasion hasn't spread through this region yet. If word gets out and we let these people leave the city and scatter, it'll set off a chain reaction in the surrounding cities and plunge them into chaos!"
He paused briefly, then continued:
"When that happens, people all around will flee for their lives, and the panic will only grow. The cities farther away could end up with no defenders, just empty shells. The Demon Race would be able to sweep in without the slightest resistance and seize another vast stretch of our human territory."
"Besides, if these people enter the wilderness, they'll only die pointlessly at the hands of demonic beasts. It'll just add to the casualties."
A ruthless glint flashed through Huangfu Yun's eyes. "Since we've come this far, I'll lay my cards on the table: the hundreds of thousands in the city must live or die with Shuangyue City. We'll rely on the city walls and do everything in our power to hold back the demonic beasts!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the system's notification rang in Shi Lan's ear.
[Side quest completed. Reward: one basic draw.]
The quest was complete, but Shi Lan felt no joy at all.
Huangfu Yun looked at Jiang Li. "Any other questions?"
Jiang Li shook his head helplessly and retreated among the martial artists.
"What about the rest of you?"
"Earlier, the Demon-Suppression Army searched the city for information on children and even teenagers, registering them. What was that for?" Shi Lan stepped forward and asked.
"In two days, a Skycloud Treasure Ship will pass by Shuangyue City. It will take away all the children in the city with decent talent, along with your relatives and family members, and escort them safely to the territory protected by the Shengwu Immortal Sect," Huangfu Yun replied flatly.
"What did the light on that stone slab represent?"
Huangfu Yun didn't hide anything. "The light represents the strength of one's Root Bone. White means mediocre, blue means two or three in a hundred, black means one in a thousand, and red means one in ten thousand—exceptional talent. As for anything above that, there shouldn't be anyone of that caliber in Shuangyue City."
"Centurion, what level of talent does someone need to board the Skycloud Treasure Ship?" asked a martial artist who was a native of Shuangyue City. A glimmer of hope appeared in his previously sorrowful expression.
"Those with black can board alone. Those with red can bring one relative or family member."
At this, the martial artist who had asked the question let out a long breath, as if a weight had lifted from his shoulders. His expression relaxed.
Huangfu Yun looked over everyone. "There are very few spots aboard the Skycloud Treasure Ship. The two spots you've been given are already an enormous reward. I hope you understand that."
"If you have any other questions, ask them all at once."
No one answered. Silence filled the room.
Seeing this, Huangfu Yun grinned. The scar on his forehead bulged, making him look somewhat sinister. "If that's settled, then please be prepared to leave your lives here!"
Thanks to the readers Duo 8 and Chu Heng*Dream Sacrifice to the Afterlife for their tips, and thanks to An Yuexin, Tushan Yaqing, Pork Ribs Braised with Radish, Fengliu Youhuo, and all the other readers for their recommendation votes. Many thanks! Hehe, I'm asking for another round of votes...
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