Chapter 41

Outside the window, the wind gradually picked up, the sky had darkened, and a fire burned in the brazier, casting a faint light inside the room. Cheng Wu sat on one side of the bench with his head down, looking disheartened, his dark face illuminated red by the firelight.

Before leaving the old mansion, Mo Yin issued an invitation to everyone, “If you want to ensure the barbarians have no way back, come to Cheng’s house for discussion tonight.”

The room fell silent.

Mo Yin gave Cheng Wu a look, Cheng Wu wiped away his tears and quickly got up to follow.

As they left the mansion, it was eerily quiet behind them. Cheng Wu couldn’t help but glance back, finding everyone’s gaze fixed on him and Mo Yin, yet no one showed any intention of joining them.

Who didn’t hate the barbarians? Who didn’t want to eradicate them? But those barbarians were almost all eight feet tall, sturdy and fierce, riding horses and wielding curved swords, invading the city like the wind, like demons descending. In the past years, even with dozens of soldiers in the city, they were no match when the barbarians attacked. Now the city only had ordinary civilians left. It was not easy to ensure the barbarians had no way back.

Cheng Wu gritted his teeth, “Even if it’s just the two of us in the end, we’ll fight those barbarians!”

Mo Yin stood with his hands in his sleeves, sitting cross-legged on the bed, his shoulders slouched, seemingly relaxed but half-closed his eyes.

After returning to Cheng’s house, they had waited for almost half an hour, without any movement. Cheng Wu became more and more disheartened and anxious as he waited. He wished he could rush out of the city now and seek revenge on those barbarians, even if it meant risking his life. It was better than living each day feeling guilty for not living up to his mother’s expectations.

“Let’s sleep.”

Cheng Wu glanced silently out the quiet window, “Can’t blame them. They still have hope, wanting to live is not a sin.”

Mo Yin, who had been silent all along, finally spoke, “Let’s wait a little longer.”

“Wait for what? No one is coming!”

“Don’t be so impatient. You didn’t suddenly decide to risk your life for revenge. You have to give them time.” He lifted his gaze towards the dark window. “Just wait a little longer.”

After some time passed, footsteps seemed to approach the door.

Cheng Wu immediately stood up.

Actually, Mo Yin had noticed earlier than Cheng Wu. The footsteps were very light, almost silent, until they reached Cheng’s house, then deliberately made a sound. However, he remained seated very steadily.

There was a knock at the door, and the loosely locked door was pushed open. The thick curtain was lifted, revealing a thin face with a grin peeking in. “Brother Wu, I’m here.”

Cheng Wu said, raising his voice, “Why is it you?”

Zhang Zhi stomped inside, answering the question with another question, “It’s snowing outside again.”

Cheng Wu raised his voice, “Why is it you?”

“What’s wrong, Brother Wu? Do you dislike me?” Zhang Zhi still grinned, hunching over to warm himself by the fire and smiling at Mo Yin as well.

“You skinny monkey,” Cheng Wu went over to pull his arm, “Don’t cause trouble, go back and rest.”

“What’s the matter? Just because I’m skinny doesn’t mean I can’t kill barbarians,” Zhang Zhi said to Mo Yin, “Right, Mr. Mo?”

“Mr. Mo?” Cheng Wu muttered to himself, feeling that this title was quite appropriate, but still held onto Zhang Zhi’s arm, “Stop talking nonsense, go back!”

“I’m not going back.”

Zhang Zhi pulled his arm, staring with his small green eyes, “Brother Wu, I lost my family when I was thirteen, all because of those barbarians. You see me laughing all day, thinking I don’t care? I know I’m not strong, you’re smart to protect yourself, but I, Zhang Zhi, am not afraid of death!”

The two struggled, glaring at each other fiercely. Cheng Wu’s grip gradually weakened, and Zhang Zhi lifted his hand to rest it on Cheng Wu’s arm, “Brother Wu, we’re brothers. We may not be born on the same day, but we want to die on the same day. When we die, we’ll drag two barbarians with us. I’ll be smiling on the road to the afterlife!”

“Zhang Zhi—”

The two hugged tightly, their eyes red. Mo Yin watched them solemnly, interjecting, “Who said you’re going to die?”

Cheng Wu and Zhang Zhi looked at him with teary eyes. “Mr. Mo, I know you’re naturally powerful, but two fists are no match for four hands. If you were so powerful, you wouldn’t have been robbed by the barbarians.”

“That’s right!”

A hearty voice sounded from outside, the curtain was lifted, and a few snowflakes drifted in. Two tall men walked in, their faces resolute, their eyes shining. “Two fists are no match for four hands, so what about adding us father and son to the equation?”

“Uncle Li, Second Brother Li—”

Cheng Wu and Zhang Zhi separated and joyfully linked arms with the father and son.

“And us too!”

Another call came from outside.

Mo Yin remained calm, the footsteps around him continued, some hurried, some slow, some heavy, some light, some coming, some going back and forth… The steps overlapped, continuously.

Soon, Cheng’s house was almost overcrowded, with a crowd gathering in the courtyard as well. Cheng Wu greeted them repeatedly, overcome with excitement, tears streaming down his face. The others couldn’t help but shed tears too, unlike the tears shed at the feast, these tears were resolute and joyful. What use was sorrow? They were ready to fight the barbarians!

As more people gathered, the house became stuffy. Mo Yin coughed twice, picked up an unlit torch from the side, and lit it in the brazier. People made way as Mo Yin walked out, into the courtyard. There, over a hundred people had gathered, their eyes blazing.

“Thank you all for trusting me…”

He suddenly paused, his gaze shifting outward. Everyone followed his gaze.

The old clan leader walked slowly, supported by one of his sons, with several female relatives behind him. One young woman, her eyes swollen from crying, appeared no older than a peach blossom. She was the same daughter who had wept bitterly at the feast, surrounded by several sisters-in-law comforting her.

The old clan leader stopped, pushing away his son’s hand. “I may be weak, but my eyes are not dim yet. I know, sir, that you are no ordinary man,” the old clan leader bowed deeply to Mo Yin, “Please, sir, guide us. I am willing to sacrifice my life to avenge my son.”

The two sons stood aside, bowing respectfully, “Please, sir, guide us. We are willing to sacrifice our lives to avenge our brother.”

“Please, sir,” the young woman stepped forward, tears in her eyes as she clutched her heart, her voice trembling, “I am willing to die, to avenge my elder brother!”

Pairs of eyes stared at him. Mo Yin felt a slight tug at his heart. He had only intended to use this small town as a springboard. The story of his whole family being killed by barbarians was fabricated. His resentment towards Cheng Wu for killing his mother was also superficial. It was human nature to be emotional and autonomous, not easily swayed. Could it be that his non-human body was affecting him? A strange sensation throbbed in his chest, “thump-thump”, in this bone-chilling night, he felt a strange heat.

His cold eyes swept over the crowd. A faint cough escaped his lips, and Mo Yin handed the torch to Cheng Wu, raising both hands and bowing deeply toward the crowd.

Inside and outside the courtyard, there was silence, only the fluttering of snowflakes falling and the flickering light of the torch in Cheng Wu’s hand on a snowy night.

*

After the New Year, the weather remained bitterly cold. While it was a good time for families to rest at home, the city was unusually bustling. Almost every household was busy with various matters.

Those who were willing to participate in the defense of the city that night were already quite a few. By the next day, many more people came to Cheng’s house. Calculating carefully, it turned out that not a single family in the entire city was uninvolved.

In such a harsh and cold borderland, those who could live here were not the kind who sought comfort and pleasure. Previously, they didn’t resist because they felt that not resisting would result in fewer casualties than fighting back. When the barbarians first came to plunder, they did resist, but that was when the old clan leader was young. The result was heavy casualties, and after that, they gradually lost their strength.

Mo Yin obtained a list from the old clan leader and met with every person in the city willing to participate in the defense. Those with stronger physical fitness, regardless of gender, were trained, while those with weaker physical fitness were assigned other tasks. This clear division of labor led to the city’s only blacksmith shop working day and night according to the blueprints drawn by Mo Yin, making special weapons and tools. The whole city was bustling with activity.

Outside, the biting wind blew, but dozens of men were shirtless, ready for battle. Zhang Zhi waved a flag at the front, adjusting and changing formations under Mo Yin’s guidance. The formation was extremely simple, derived from ancient infantry formations recorded in the history of natural humans, and was very suitable for ordinary people who had not received systematic military training.

Day and night, the whole city was tirelessly preparing for battle, and time gradually came to the spring season.

With everything in place, the morale of the entire city was high, only Cheng Wu was a little worried, “I don’t know when those barbarians will come. I’m afraid we’ll be caught off guard and hastily engage in battle. All our efforts these days might be in vain.”

“Don’t worry,” even though the weather had warmed up, Mo Yin still wore his cloak all day, looking somewhat sickly, “I’ll know before they act.”

For some reason, everyone in the city trusted Mo Yin deeply. It was unclear what kind of aura emanated from Mo Yin that made people instinctively worship and obey his commands. Cheng Wu nodded, “Alright, let’s wait to kill the enemy!”

Zhang Zhi was also worried about this. The barbarians rode fast horses, swift as the wind, catching people off guard. When they left, they couldn’t be chased, either. He privately approached Mo Yin and said, “Mr. Mo, why not let me scout outside the city? I’m fast and agile. If I find their tracks, I’ll report back immediately.”

“You’re in charge of the formations and must not act recklessly,” Mo Yin said, “Focus on your own tasks. I have my own way.”

So Zhang Zhi didn’t bring it up again.

By the end of February, Mo Yin moved to the city tower.

This place used to be where the defenders lived. Later, when the defenders died, there were no more defenders, and it remained abandoned. Dust covered everything inside. Cheng Wu cleaned it for a while, leaving the door open. “Don’t come in. If you do, you’ll cough your lungs out.”

Mo Yin leaned against the outer wall and waited patiently.

When Cheng Wu came out, his brows furrowed. “Is your plan just to stay here? But if you only hear the barbarians when they’re close, it might be too late.”

“No, I’ll know as soon as they set out.”

Cheng Wu still looked worried.

Mo Yin tapped his ear and smiled. “I have excellent hearing.”

Cheng Wu: “…”

Even Cheng Wu, who had always believed in him, was starting to doubt.

Seeing his skeptical look, Mo Yin smiled and closed his eyes, concentrating all his mental energy on his ears. After a while, he opened his eyes and said, “Zhang Zhi is sneaking a drink from the wine you hid under the bedboard. You should go back and check.”

“What?”

“How did you know?” Cheng Wu asked.

“Good hearing.”

Cheng Wu was chased away by Mo Yin and hurried back on horseback. When he arrived home, Zhang Zhi was indeed there, looking innocent. “Brother Wu, weren’t you accompanying Mr. Mo to the city tower? Why are you back so soon?”

Ignoring him, Cheng Wu lifted the bed board to check the wine he had hidden underneath. It seemed fine on the surface. He turned back, his face stern. “Zhang Zhi, did you drink my wine?”

Zhang Zhi remained calm. “No, Brother Wu, I haven’t stolen anything for a long time.”

Cheng Wu didn’t waste time arguing. He went straight over and grabbed Zhang Zhi’s mouth. Zhang Zhi cried out, “Brother Wu, Brother Wu, I’m sorry—I just had a sip of wine— I won’t do it again next time—”

Cheng Wu let him go, his eyes wide.

Rubbing his sore mouth, Zhang Zhi muttered, “Brother Wu, when did you become so stingy? Just because I took a sip of your wine, you almost broke my mouth.”

Cheng Wu sat down on the bed, staring at Zhang Zhi. “Zhang Zhi.”

“What?”

“I seem to have saved someone extraordinary.”

“You mean Mr. Mo? Indeed, he’s extraordinary. That formation he taught us, it looks simple, but when we divided into two groups to test it yesterday, it was incredibly powerful. If we all had suitable weapons, for every barbarian who comes, we’d kill one. If two come, we’ll kill a pair!”

Zhang Zhi chuckled and continued, “Do you think Mr. Mo is really just a merchant?”

Cheng Wu glanced at him and said solemnly, “Whoever he is, he’s helping us defend the city.”

And so Mo Yin slept under the city tower. He had shallow sleep, but even with his eyes closed, his ears remained alert.

When he concentrated his mental energy on his hearing, the distant wind, the breath of animals, and the rolling of sand and gravel all seemed to be happening in his mind. He controlled them like a creator, but the price was that the rest of his body became extraordinarily weak and tired.

Cheng Wu brought him water, seeing his pale face, his eyebrows darker than ever, and he looked like neither a man nor a ghost. Cheng Wu couldn’t help but ask, “Are you okay?”

Mo Yin washed his face with water, droplets falling from his eyebrows, sliding down his straight nose, and dropping from his pale lips. He said lightly, “I’m fine.”

Cheng Wu wanted to say more, but Mo Yin suddenly raised his hand. Holding his breath, he concentrated for a moment, then turned to face Cheng Wu, his eyes shining with cold light. “They’re here.”

*

In the desert, horses galloped swiftly, their riders skilled equestrians who had grown up on horseback. They laughed and sang, joking with each other, as if they were on a picnic. They discussed what they would loot, how much they would take, how many they would kill, and how many they would spare, as they rode with their childhood friends, carefree and relaxed.

The city of Yongcheng is their slaughterhouse, where there are docile “cattle and sheep” kept in captivity. They don’t need to think much; if they lack something, they just go and snatch it.

If they lack food, they snatch food; if they lack money, they snatch money; if they lack women, they snatch women.

They are the executioners of this slaughterhouse, everything depends on their mood.

The horses, accustomed to slaughter, seem to spiritually understand their master’s intentions. As they approach the city gates, their hooves excitedly rise high and come down heavily, their long neighs momentarily passing through the ears of the people on horseback with fear. The horses bend their hooves, and the people on horseback immediately fall off. Before they can react, arrows swoosh down from somewhere unknown, and in an instant, several people scream in agony, clutching their chests and legs as they fall to the ground.

The leader of this siege realizes the danger and loudly shouts in their tribal language, “Be careful, there’s an ambush—”

Some horses that avoid the traps panic and run wildly. The people on horseback control them with the reins, and everyone draws their swords, shouting, “There are archers on the tower! Get down, charge into the gate! Those who fell down, stay under the injured horses. Follow us after we break in!”

On the city tower, Cheng Wu’s face burns as he watches the barbarians readjusting their formation and advancing again in the dark night. Urgently, he turns to Mo Yin, “Mo Yin!”

Mo Yin replies, “Go.”

Encouraged by their master’s shouts, the horses gather courage once more and charge towards the gate. The barbarians skillfully use hooks to pull open the aged gates, and with a heavy “creak,” the gates open, but instead of welcoming them, a barrage of flames greets them—a rain of burning bottles scatters, creating a fiery barrier!

The horses are immediately startled, and the people on horseback can no longer control the spooked horses one after another. They abandon their horses, rolling off them, screaming and shouting in a foreign language that the people of Yongcheng can’t understand. They angrily brandish their curved knives and leap over the flames. The towering eight-foot-tall foreign warriors, fueled by years of pent-up anger, charge ferociously towards the people in the city. Even without riding horses, they could annihilate these ignorant people of Yongcheng!

“Left flank—change formation—”

Zhang Zhi on the high ground waves his command flag, roaring hoarsely.

Cheng Wu’s eyes are already red, holding a long spear, he shouts loudly, “Attack—”

The barbarians didn’t expect the people in the city to dare to resist them head-on. Their anger surges even more, and they rush forward with howls.

But soon they realize that tonight, they are not facing a herd of “cattle and sheep” but fierce beasts that devour humans!

There are only about a hundred people in front of them, which in the past, their dozens could easily handle. But this time, they couldn’t break through, as if the enemy were endless and everywhere.

Mo Yin has been overseeing the battle from the city tower. At this moment, he finally loosens his cloak, makes a gesture to Zhang Zhi on the city tower, and Zhang Zhi nods slightly, counting in his mind. When he reaches ten, he loudly commands, “Two flanks—open—”

As the flags wave, the barbarians become even more chaotic. Having suffered many injuries and realizing that they are being commanded from the city tower, they raise their hands and point at Zhang Zhi, but suddenly find themselves surrounded by the attacking forces, and instinctively they don’t advance into the city but take a step back.

The powerful sound of galloping hooves approaches, and the barbarians retreat, even behind the gradually dying flames. They frantically pat out the scattered flames on their bodies, only to see a neighing black warhorse charging out from the burning barrier. The person on the horse is as pale as jade, dressed in thin clothes, holding a gleaming sword.

***

“General, General—”

A messenger rushes into the tent, kneeling down, and says, “There’s movement in the direction of Yongcheng!”

The person drinking water sets down the water pouch and wipes his face with his hand, his pair of sword-like eyebrows furrowed, his eyes shining like stars, exuding authority without anger, “Immediately mobilize the troops.”

“Yes!”

The messenger rushes out and immediately delivers the orders to mobilize the troops.

Pulling back the tent flap with a large hand, He Xuan is not wearing armor, only a sword at his waist. A soldier brings his horse, he grabs the reins, and mounts his horse, and at this moment, another messenger rushes over, kneeling under He Xuan’s horse, his face filled with excitement, “General, victory!”

“Victory?”

He Xuan tightly furrows his brows, “What victory?”

“It’s Yongcheng!” The soldier continues excitedly, “The people of Yongcheng have achieved victory!”