All the major and minor forces in the city—aristocratic families, officials, and martial sects—were secretly anxious and deeply uneasy.
Everyone had believed that Peace Prefecture's crisis was a dead end, certain to end in destruction.
Yet no one had expected that the news reaching the city would not be news of defeat, but a heaven-shaking victory.
The Barbarian army, tens of thousands strong, had completely withdrawn from the border. Their camps had all been pulled down, and they had retreated across the entire front.
The moment the first victory report arrived, the entire city erupted.
At first, no one dared believe it.
Commoners stopped in the streets, staring blankly with bewildered faces. They thought it was a false rumor, a lie fabricated by the army to soothe the people.
Only after repeated confirmation did they realize this was not smoke without fire, but an ironclad fact.
"They retreated? Tens of thousands of Barbarians really retreated?"
"Impossible! The Barbarians were so powerful, with Demons stationed among them. Why would they withdraw for no reason?"
"Profound Sun Commandery's forces were so weak. How could they possibly force back tens of thousands of elite troops?"
"..."
The entire city was filled with an uproar of disbelief.
But as the second and third military reports entered the city in succession, and the accompanying scouts personally returned to report the battle, the news that the Barbarian withdrawal was real and the crisis had been completely resolved was thoroughly confirmed.
In an instant, the terror, despair, and anxiety that had weighed upon them for days were swept away.
In their place came wild cheers that blanketed the heavens and swept through all of Peace Prefecture.
"A great victory! It truly is a great victory!"
"The Barbarians retreated! We survived!"
"Profound Sun Commandery held the line! Peace