The Demon Lords-Chapter 603 - 97 Defense of the City_1

Fanli stood with his hands on his hips, the little sword girl perched on his shoulder. Under the moonlight, they remained standing for a long time.

The little sword girl often lowered her head to look at the big oaf beneath her, observing a hint of tenderness in his eyes. This tenderness was directed towards the city wall.

The walls of Shengle City were finally completed. To meet the deadline, hundreds of Wild People slaves had been worked to death. Many people, including numerous residents within the city itself, couldn't understand why there was such a rush to build this city. Although the lives of Wild People slaves weren't considered precious, they were still worth money and could be utilized even if sent to the workshops. Even if one equated the Wild People to livestock, no one would squander livestock in such a manner.

Recently, however, as news from Cheng State arrived piece by piece, the previous grumblings gradually faded. The newly established Dacheng State seemed on the verge of collapse in less than a year. Once Cheng State fell, Shengle City—situated near the Skybreak Mountain Range and at the easternmost edge of Yan State's domain—would undoubtedly become the primary target for the Wild People. The importance of a city, a fortified city, could not be underestimated. Even though the Yan people were renowned for their formidable cavalry, true Yan people constituted only a small fraction of Shengle City's populace.

Moreover, having a city at one's back secured the strategic initiative for transporting supplies and resting the army. To put it plainly, even the role of stabilizing public morale and controlling the local tyrants in Jin land was significant enough not to be overlooked. Many nearby local tyrants and masters of forts had recently taken the initiative to send their female relatives and young children to Shengle City to settle. They knew their own situations best: their forts and stockades could fend off bandits and marauders, but they would be utterly insufficient against an army of Wild People.

Furthermore, this situation was different from the earlier war involving the Wenren family, the Helian family, and Yan State. Back then, the masters of forts and local tyrants had maintained a certain nonchalance, like grass on a city wall, swaying with the wind. Truthfully, they weren't truly panicked. It was merely a change of banners atop the city walls, a new ruling court, but locally, they still held sway. They didn't believe the Yan people would resort to massacre, and indeed, the Yan people hadn't. They had only targeted the Wenren and Helian families for annihilation to vent their fury over those two families' unauthorized military actions against them.

But this time was different. If the Wild People came, how would they be treated? If the conflict between the Yan people and Jin people was a confrontation between nations, a duel between two political powers, then the conflict with the Wild People would be a slaughter between different races. Especially in the Shengle City area, the Wild People slave trade had flourished for a hundred years; whose hands weren't stained with the blood debts of the Wild People? Precisely because they knew full well how they had treated others, they held no illusions about being "kindly" treated in return. Moreover, news from Cheng State corroborated this: the brutality and ferocity of the Wild People were indeed terrifying.

Therefore, regardless of the broader impact the Wild People's rebellion might have on Yan State's governance, it had, at least for Shengle City, already had the positive effect of resolving internal contradictions and strengthening control over the local areas. Siniang now slept only two hours a day, constantly busy reviewing and processing various documents. She also had to personally meet with visiting masters of forts and local tyrants, making promises where appropriate and delivering admonishments when necessary. In Siniang's presence, these local tyrants and masters of forts were like madams who once managed a troupe of courtesans, being skillfully manipulated, divided, and organized by her. So far, everything was proceeding in a relatively orderly fashion.

Liang Cheng was solely responsible for training soldiers. Recently, a large number of youths from local forts, driven by the desire to protect their homes, had either come voluntarily or been sent by their elders. Consequently, Shengle City had absorbed many new recruits, all of whom required Liang Cheng's oversight and coordination, leaving him stretched thin. Meanwhile, the blind man, who could have helped share her workload, had not yet returned. Xue Three and Fanli were also occupied: one supervised the forging of military equipment at the blacksmith's forge, and the other was responsible for city construction. With everyone having their own tasks, Siniang had to shoulder all the responsibilities alone. Fortunately, My Lord is not home. Without the daily burden of needlework, I can just about manage, she thought.

The moonlight was soft. Fanli reached out and caressed the bricks of the city wall, like an artist admiring his newly completed masterpiece.

"Hey, big oaf," the little sword girl said, adopting the tone of a seasoned traveler as she lectured Fanli. "I'm telling you, this city is decent, sure, but it's a far cry from the truly great cities of the world! Show some ambition, will you? Wait until you've built a city comparable to the imperial capital, then you can celebrate, alright?"

To a certain extent, the little sword girl had indeed seen much of the world, having accompanied Yuan Zhenxing on his travels far and wide. Although she had endured many hardships, she had certainly visited numerous places.

Fanli shook his head but said nothing. Most of the time, unless asked a direct question requiring a "yes" or "no" answer, Fanli would likely opt for silence. Of course, there were exceptions. Sometimes Fanli would suddenly blurt out a sentence, one that was almost guaranteed to infuriate the listener to no end.

The little sword girl patted Fanli's head, then slid down from his broad shoulders. She drew her small wooden sword and began her practice. She had once been disheartened by Fanli regarding her sword practice, but her attitude was resilient, and her enthusiasm and initiative for training had not diminished.

Fanli continued to admire the city wall. The little sword girl began to practice her sword forms, lost in her own world. The large figure and the small one, cloaked by the night, created an unusual yet harmonious scene.

"Hm?" A soft sound of surprise was heard.

Fanli turned his head and walked over to the little sword girl, looking ahead. A middle-aged man emerged before them. The man paid no heed to Fanli's imposing size, his gaze fixed intently on the little sword girl.

"Come, perform a couple more routines for me," the newcomer said.

"Don't go scaring the child," the blind man's voice came from behind.

Fanli retreated two steps. Since the blind man had brought this person, Fanli lowered his guard.

The little sword girl looked at the Sword Saint with curiosity, and he regarded her with equal interest. Turning to the blind man, the Sword Saint asked, "You said you had a gift for me in this city. Is this it?"

The little sword girl puffed her cheeks and glared at the blind man, but he was entirely immune to threatening stares.

"Do you like it?" the blind man inquired.

The Sword Saint nodded. "Very much."

Their exchange closely resembled some sort of immoral, shameless, and despicable transaction, reeking of a nauseating air.

"To manifest sword intent merely by practicing stances... remarkable, truly remarkable! Even when I was chosen by my master as a child, I doubt I possessed her current aptitude."

A natural Sword Embryo! For a grandmaster of sword cultivation, how could one not be delighted? Emperors wish to pass on their empires, nobles their wealth and status; masters in the street, however, wish to pass on their skills and legacy.

How could the little sword girl fail to understand the implication in their words? She was a clever little thing. It was precisely for this reason that she seethed with anger. So, in their eyes, am I ultimately just a high-quality gift?

"I already have a master! My master is Yuan Zhenxing!"

"Yuan Zhenxing?" The Sword Saint rubbed his chin. "The name sounds vaguely familiar."

"My master was the second-best swordsman in Qian State!"

"Ah, him." The Sword Saint remembered, a look of regret appearing on his face. If she already has a master, this complicates things, he thought, though I don't think much of that particular master.

The blind man delivered the finishing blow, "Yuan Zhenxing is already dead."

"Excellent," the Sword Saint said, very satisfied. With her master dead, she is now unattached.

The little sword girl clutched her wooden sword tightly. She no longer resisted or refused, saying instead, "I can acknowledge you as my master, but you..."

A faint smile touched the corners of the blind man's lips. However, the little sword girl's next words took him by surprise.

"But you must stay in this city!"

The Sword Saint's mouth fell slightly agape. He chuckled twice then said to the blind man beside him, "If you hadn't been by my side this entire journey, I'd suspect you had arranged all of this beforehand. It seems this place, Shengle, truly has an air of producing outstanding individuals and auspiciousness—even the gifts here speak up for their original owners."

"I've made a fool of myself before the esteemed Sword Saint," the blind man said.

"HAHAHA!" The Sword Saint laughed heartily, then reached out to ruffle the little sword girl's hair. "Listen, from now on, you no longer need to learn the swordsmanship of Qian State's second-best. Follow me, and you will learn the foremost sword art of this era."

The little sword girl took a deep breath, dropped her wooden sword, and knelt before the Sword Saint.

"Disciple greets Second Master!"

"Hm? Why 'Second Master'?"

"Yuan Zhenxing is my First Master."

"But he's dead."

"But he taught me, guided me, and raised me."

The Sword Saint chuckled. "Hah, you'd have me ranked beneath Yuan Zhenxing?"

"Yes."

"And you think I would be willing?"

"This is this disciple's bottom line."

"Then do you know my bottom line? I hardly give a second thought to Baili Sword of Qian State."

"But I implore you to grant this."

"If I do not grant it, will you then refuse to learn the sword from me?"

"Yes."

"If Yuan Zhenxing knew you were this obstinate, causing you to miss such an opportunity, what do you imagine he would think?"

"If my master knew he could be ranked above the great Sword Saint, he'd probably laugh himself awake in his coffin!"

"AHEM..." The Sword Saint coughed. "Tomorrow, come to my quarters. I will instruct you."

"Thank you, Second Master! Thank you, Master!"

"Why thank me twice?"

"Reporting to Master, the first 'thank you' was to confirm you as Second Master. Henceforth, I will address you as Master. Since I am to learn Master's skills, I cannot very well keep calling you 'Second Master' this and 'Second Master' that, making you uncomfortable."

"Those who practice the sword are generally somewhat solitary. That fellow Baili Sword is like that, Li Liangsheng is as well, and the one from Chu State even more so. Even I share a bit of that disposition. Yet you, you little sprite, possess quite the silver tongue."

"Thank you for the compliment, Master."

"Alright, alright. It's settled then."

The blind man stepped forward. "Shall I then arrange the disciple acceptance ceremony for tomorrow?"

The Sword Saint looked at the blind man with curiosity. "Are you very idle?"

We've arrived in Shengle City now, the Sword Saint mused. The blind man should have far too many matters to attend to.

"Am I not busy with the most important matter at hand?" the blind man countered.

"Heh," the Sword Saint chuckled. "A grand disciple acceptance ceremony isn't necessary. She has had a First Master, and I am a man from a vanquished nation. What meaning would there be in holding such a grand ceremony? It would only invite ridicule."

"Whether others ridicule it is their affair. We are merely living our own lives, not living for others. Since you've come to our Shengle, it is only right that we extend some hospitality as hosts."

"Inappropriate, highly inappropriate. However many favors one accepts, they must eventually be repaid. I will not accept your favors. I am only responsible for waiting here, waiting for the Wild People to arrive."

"Then we must at least arrange an official post for you. An official post comes with certain stipends. It need not be publicly announced, but within Shengle City, all food and supplies are currently being allocated according to wartime footing, so..."

"Don't think I don't know what schemes you're concocting in that head of yours, blind man."

"Your insight is profound; naturally, nothing can be hidden from you."

"Very well. If you want me to be one of your officials, so be it. This is the East Gate, correct? As long as you can retrieve Longyuan for me, what would be the harm in me serving as a mere gate guard for your East Gate?"