Wiping Away the Shame

Sure enough, the Kai people began fleeing along the eastern road as well, just as Wenlong had hoped.

Shitou also dispatched more men to the ambush site. When the leader already lying in ambush saw the large force of reinforcements arriving, his confidence grew.

He had his men set up obstacles on the road as well, to prevent the Kai people from forcing their way through.

By then, some members of the Kai Lineage had already fled there. At the sight of the obstacles ahead, their faces drained of color.

Seeing the road blocked, some tried to advance and climb over the obstacles. Before they could even get close, arrows fired from hiding brought them down.

"Someone's shooting from hiding!" someone shouted, and those behind them no longer dared advance.

Many wanted to retreat, but it was too late. More people kept pouring in behind them, blocking their way back.

Inside Wan Family Town, the Kai people had no idea how many attackers had come. Battle cries and screams rang out everywhere.

Hearing someone shout to flee along the eastern road, they followed the crowd. Wenlong saw the Kai people converging on that road.

He called to Shitou as well, ordering the troops to press forward faster and drive the crowd into the encirclement.

By then, the sky was beginning to lighten, and the Kai people ran even faster. Pursuers were on their heels, and everyone feared death.

By the time all the Kai people had been driven into the encirclement, it was broad daylight. Shitou's troops had all arrived as well and joined the operation to surround and wipe them out.

Over four thousand Kai people were surrounded. Arrows flew intermittently from the wooded hills around them, and those carrying weapons kept falling to the ground, struck dead.

Shitou immediately shouted, "Those who lay down their weapons will be spared! Those who surrender will be spared! Anyone who resists or tries to escape will die!"

Perhaps there were too many people for everyone to hear him, but many still failed to heed Shitou's warning.

Using powerful bows, the fighters kept shooting down those carrying weapons and those trying to flee.

Helpless, Shitou had word sent to the fighters all around the perimeter to shout in unison, warning the captives to lay down their weapons and neither resist nor flee.

While most of the Kai people were still hesitating, several Kai elders stepped forward and shouted, "We of the Kai will never surrender! Fight them to the death!"

Spurred on by the elders, some of the Kai people picked up their weapons again, preparing for one final struggle.

Wenlong frowned at the sight and said to Shitou, "It seems these diehards won't yield unless we strike them hard."

With that, he ordered the fighters to tighten the encirclement and intensify their shooting, sending crossbow bolts raining down with greater force.

In an instant, the Kai suffered terrible casualties, and wails filled the encirclement. Seeing the carnage, those who had still been hesitating dropped their weapons and fell to their knees, begging for mercy.

The Kai elders still wanted to resist, but under the relentless volleys from powerful crossbows, they had no chance even to strike back. Watching their kin fall one after another, they knew they could no longer turn the tide.

In the end, most of the Kai people chose to surrender. Only a handful of diehards still intended to fight on like cornered beasts.

Wenlong swept his hand forward, and the fighters fired crossbow bolts at them, killing everyone who still intended to resist.

Once no one was resisting anymore, Shitou began calling out again, ordering them to raise their hands and file out in orderly lines.

Every fighter kept a crossbow trained on them, ready to shoot at the slightest suspicious movement. Others carried ropes and bound the prisoners' hands one by one.

As Wenlong looked at the bound Kai people, a jumble of emotions stirred in his heart. Though they had won an overwhelming victory, many Kai people had been killed or wounded.

He turned to Shitou and said, "Take these prisoners back in batches. Keep a close watch on them, and make sure nothing goes wrong." Shitou left to carry out the order.

Just then, another fighter came to report, "Third Young Master, we've found the bodies of several Kai elders."

Wenlong followed the fighter to inspect them. Several elders lay sprawled across the ground, their deaths gruesome.

He reflected on how these men, who had once summoned wind and rain within the Kai, had now met such an end.

After dealing with the Kai, Wenlong led his troops back to Wan Family Town. The town was in shambles, with bodies and bloodstains everywhere.

Wenlong assigned men to clear the battlefield and treat the wounded. He knew that although the battle was over, much remained to be done.

The Kai were, after all, a large Lineage. Mishandling matters could lead to more trouble. He decided to reassure the townspeople of Wan Family Town first, then slowly consider what to do with the prisoners.

In Wen Family Village, news came that the Kai of Wan Family Town had been wiped out. The entire village beat gongs and drums, celebrating the avenging of their great grievance.

Incense now filled the Grandmother Shrine Hall and the Ancestral Hall. Every member of the Wen Lineage paid their respects to their ancestors and their murdered kin.

The sound of bitter weeping rang through the skies above Wen Family Village. Wenlong cried as well. Sadly, his grandparents and two elder brothers could no longer hear the glad news that they had been avenged.

There were also his uncles and many other members of the Lineage. The surviving kin paid their respects one after another, calling out loudly to their departed loved ones that their generations-old feud had been avenged.

What came next would be killing. Yes, that was right-killing. Wenlong was stunned when he heard this.

In the meeting hall, his father and the uncles of the Lineage, who held the highest authority, all advocated killing prisoners as sacrifices to the ancestors.

"I oppose killing people as sacrifices to the ancestors. Their spirits in heaven would never agree to it either."

Wenlong's words instantly silenced the hall, and everyone stared at him in astonishment.

His father frowned and said sternly, "Wenlong, the Kai and our Wen have been enemies for generations. Now that we've finally defeated them, what is wrong with killing these prisoners as sacrifices to our ancestors and bringing comfort to our dead kin?"

Wenlong took a deep breath and said, "Father, elders of the Lineage, we've already won. The Kai have suffered a crippling blow. They're lambs awaiting slaughter now."

He drew another deep breath before continuing, "Killing them now will only perpetuate the hatred. Besides, we've already defeated them and demonstrated the strength of the Wen."

Wenlong then pointed to Shitou. "Brother Shitou, tell us. Have we killed so few Kai people over these past years?"

Shitou lowered his head and said nothing. It seemed he did not support further killing either. Wenzhu also lowered her head.

The uncles began murmuring among themselves. After a while, one stepped forward and said, "Wenlong has a point, but this bitter anger is truly hard to swallow."

Wenlong continued, "Uncle, hatred only brings more slaughter and suffering. We can identify everyone who has killed a member of the Wen and execute them all."

His father pondered for a long time, but he and the uncles still could not quite agree. The hatred that drove them to exterminate the Kai had long since sunk deep into their bones.

There was also their feudal way of thinking: letting the enemies who had killed their fathers live was unthinkable. If they had not needed laborers, the slaves they already held would have died long ago.

Now they had more than five thousand slaves, and they had no qualms about raising the butcher's blade and slaughtering most of the prisoners.

Wenlong had never shared this feudal society's way of thinking. He had no desire to kill, either. Only witnessing the murder of his loved ones with his own eyes had made him begin taking lives.

Unable to persuade his elders, Wenlong felt helpless. He could only stand and say, "I can't stop you from doing this. I'll take my mother and younger siblings and leave. I'll return everything in the Secret Passage to you as well."

Everyone's face drained of color. What they could not understand, no matter how they tried, was why Wenlong would completely sever ties with his own family to save the lives of the Kai people.