Huishui County, at the city gates.
Refugees from Rong County had packed the entrance so tightly that not even water could pass through.
At first, seeing entire families soaked and shivering, the guards had taken pity and allowed them inside to shelter from the rain. But as ti went on, more and more refugees flooded into the city.
Fearing unrest, the County Magistrate decisively ordered shelters erected outside the gates and porridge stations established to house the refugees beyond the walls.
However, there were simply too many victims from Rong County…
Tens of thousands stranded outside the city could not possibly be managed.
Many broke through the chevaux-de-frise set up by the soldiers and surged into the city.
A re dozen guards were powerless to restrain them.
Inside the city, many households had already been crowded by refugees forcing their way into courtyards and rooms.
Left with no choice, the County Magistrate sought assistance from Huishui County and several prominent families, hoping to maintain order and prevent large-scale riots and bloodshed.
“Wangchuan.”
“I’ll go with you. Let’s bring Hall Master Qin as well.”
“We still have so prestige in Rong County, and there are surely Outer Disciples of our hall among the refugees. They can help stabilize things.”
“Good.”
At Lin Xun’s suggestion, Wangchuan summoned Qin Ming and led one hundred twenty Inner Disciples and two hundred Outer Disciples from the hall, fully ard, in a grand procession toward the city gates.
The streets were already in complete chaos.
Doors were tightly shut.
Refugees huddled beneath eaves for warmth. So hot-tempered ones smashed open shop doors and looted inside.
“Ergou, pass the order. Anyone looting shops is to be bound and handed over to the authorities!”
Wangchuan showed no leniency.
If the unrest spread, others would follow suit. The Yulong Gang’s own hall might suffer next.
“Yes!”
Chen Ergou imdiately began directing n.
“Take so people and bind those in the shops! If anyone resists, break their legs!”
“Spread the word!”
“Anyone attacking shops or hos is to be treated as a bandit—show no rcy!”
“Yes!!”
The Yulong Gang disciples fanned out through the streets.
Cries soon rose from smashed shops:
“Ah!”
“Why are you hitting ?!”
“Help! They’re killing !”
“Spare !”
“I won’t dare again!”
The Inner and Outer Disciples were imposing figures—strong and disciplined. They quickly bound offenders and dragged them out.
Wherever Wangchuan’s force advanced, order was restored. Refugees looked on with fear and dared not act rashly.
But the most chaotic and dangerous area lay in the East District and near the city gates.
Many hos in the East District had been broken into, and fights broke out everywhere.
Refugees shouted:
“We want food!”
“We want clothes!”
“We want to live!”
“If you won’t give us a way to live, then we’ll—”
In the center of the street stood a young man, bare-chested, waving a woodcutter’s blade and inciting the crowd.
TWANG!
An arrow flew from nowhere and pierced straight through his throat.
His shout cut off instantly. Silence fell.
The young man clutched his throat, blood streaming down his chest and arms. His eyes stared in disbelief toward the opposite side of the street before he collapsed into a pool of red.
All eyes turned in horror toward the advancing formation—
Uniford gang disciples stood ten paces away, dark and silent beneath the rain, exuding a chilling killing intent.
At their head stood a man holding an iron-tire bow. He slowly lowered it, his gaze icy.
“Who else wants to rebel?”
“Step forward.”
…
No one answered.
In the pouring rain, n and won alike instinctively retreated.
So quietly dropped their weapons.
“They… they really dared to kill.”
“Of course they did. That’s the Yulong Gang… they wiped out the Green Bamboo Gang.”
“There are so many of them…”
“They’re all ard.”
“Hall Master Qin and Helm Leader Lin are here too…”
“They’re Martial Artists.”
The Yulong Gang held considerable prestige in Rong County.
Silence spread outward from that point.
Refugees elsewhere noticed and stopped fighting, their aggression fading.
“No more trouble?”
Wangchuan’s voice was cold yet carried clearly through the rain.
“Three counts.”
“All non-residents of Huishui County—squat down!”
“Otherwise, you will be treated as looters and shot on the spot!”
At his command, Inner Disciples raised their bows.
Under the threat of dozens of drawn arrows, the refugees in the street crouched down in unison. So even lay flat on the cold ground, not daring to lift their heads.
The effect rippled across the street.
More and more refugees noticed.
Whether it was the murderous aura or the sight of ard n, people crouched one after another, spreading like a plague all the way to the East Gate.
Within a hundred paces, Wangchuan saw not a single person standing.
All had been subdued.
Only one man had died.
“Advance.”
“To the city gate.”
Wangchuan gave the order.
The Yulong Gang pressed forward, heads high, blades in hand, eyes sharp.
Refugees parted automatically.
Qin Ming and Lin Xun exchanged glances, shock evident in their eyes.
Wangchuan had killed decisively.
The result was imdiate—the riot quelled in the shortest possible ti.
They were not certain they could have done better.
Three hundred n advanced in force toward the East Gate.
Chaos still reigned there. Soldiers and constables were overwheld; so had even lost their weapons.
Then, suddenly—
An unnatural quiet fell.
All eyes turned toward the sa direction.
“Squat down!”
“All of you, squat down!”
The crowd lowered itself.
The formation pushed forward, parting the masses.
A group marched through the rain, steam rising from their bodies.
Even the loudest troublemakers fell silent under those fierce gazes, swallowing their curses.
“Refugees gathered at the city gate—leave the city imdiately!”
The authorities had shouted this countless tis without effect.
But the mont the Yulong Gang raised their blades beneath the rain, refugees scrambled outward as if fearing they had been born with too few legs.
In chaotic tis, a gang that disregards rules often commands more obedience than the yan.
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