The carriage raced through the rainy night.
But halfway there, it could go no farther, because the road was packed with people.
A dark, seething mass of people.
Only one road out of the city remained. The main roads leading in and out had long since been choked solid with heaps of carriages and streams of people.
The people from the Government Office did their best to clear the traffic, but no one could keep anyone in check. A vast crowd surged toward the outskirts.
But not everyone could obtain the papers needed to leave the city.
Those who had obtained them brought their entire families, their carriages loaded with gold, silver, and jewels.
Yet before they even reached the city gates, more than half of those things had been thrown away.
Compared with life, money was worth nothing.
Those trying to leave the city for refuge were already packed so tightly that not even water could trickle through.
Yet the people behind kept pushing forward.
Everywhere, old people bid farewell to their children, and husbands to their wives.
Han Yu of the Demon Slayers was drenched in sweat as he sat in a carriage preparing to leave the city.
The driver was a taciturn man whose task was to escort Han Yu out.
Han Yu silently watched the scenes of parting outside, separations that might last forever.
He felt so insignificant, so helpless.
His master had said, "Don't think of becoming a hero who can turn back the raging tide. I'm not one, and neither are you.
"So you understand, right? Don't go pulling that damned stunt on me at the very last moment."
Deep down, Han Yu thoroughly agreed with his master.
Armored soldiers hurried past the carriage. Some rogue cultivators stood at the city gate for a