The man nodded frantically. "Spare me, hero! Spare me!"
He had seen with his own eyes how his brothers had been instantly beaten to death by waves. Anyone capable of whipping up such enormous waves in a river was hardly human. How could he not realize that he had picked a fight with someone far beyond his league?
Song Qingshu said flatly, "I'm asking you a question."
"If you promise to spare me, I'll tell you." The bandit had spent years living with his life on the edge of a blade. He knew he likely would not escape death today, so he might as well use this as a condition.
"Fine, I promise to spare you." Song Qingshu did not hesitate.
"Really?" The bandit brightened.
"Of course it's true. Would I lie to you?" Song Qingshu snorted.
The bandit knew that these Han Chinese martial arts masters generally cared about their honor and would not deceive others with lies. He hurriedly said, "We really did come from the direction of Shazhou..."
Only after hearing his explanation did they learn what had happened in Shazhou. Kublai Khan had led his army in attacking Shazhou more than a dozen times, but Western Xia's famed general Jila Siyi had held the city firmly each time.
Unfortunately, Temujin's reinforcements arrived afterward. Temujin's fierce reputation was widely known, and his reinforcements came with overwhelming momentum. Even though Jila Siyi fought with everything he had, Shazhou City was on the verge of collapse.
After defending for two days, many people in Shazhou City realized it could not be held and began entertaining other thoughts. The deputy general colluded with a group of people to rebel, bound Jila Siyi, secretly opened the gates, and surrendered to the Mongols.
Facing Temujin, Jila Siyi swore he would rather die