Su Yuchi's marble-hard features betrayed no expression, though his heart was bleeding. He tightened his grip on his sword hilt and roared, "Loose!"
Wave after wave of agonized cries outside the walls cast a heavy shadow over Yunyang City. The rain had stopped, but the wind had grown fiercer than ever, carrying the smell of blood. Soldiers and civilians alike were weighed down by an oppressive gloom.
Inside Deyang Tower in southern Yunyang City, four men sat drinking in a private room. One was none other than Hu Xiaotian, the Prince of Suppressing the Sea. He had not left that day; instead, he, Xia Changming, Xiong Tianba, and Zong Tang had doubled back and quietly slipped into Yunyang City. Although the West Gate was heavily guarded, people still passed normally through the other three gates, so entering Yunyang was not particularly difficult. In truth, even a tight blockade could not have stopped Xia Changming, who excelled at commanding birds.
Hu Xiaotian had come for more than simply rescuing the disaster victims of Western Sichuan. Ever since Su Yuchi had taken up his post, Yunyang had effectively become a tiger barring his westward path. Now the earthquake in Western Sichuan had given him an opportunity that came once in a thousand years.
Xia Changming said quietly, "Lord, we just received word that Great Kang is massing troops along its southwestern border. It seems they intend to seize this opportunity to reclaim Western Sichuan."
Hu Xiaotian said calmly, "Li Tianheng may have fallen on hard times, but he hasn't lost all ability to resist. Great Kang isn't massing troops to attack. They're doing it to prevent refugees from entering the heartland."
Zong Tang nodded in wholehearted agreement. "Exactly. Yunyang is a perfect example. They want to keep the trouble within Western Sichuan