Ch. 55 - Song Like Fire

"Shut up, all of you shut up! No one ever said anything about taking her away, and no one said anything about abandoning this territory!

Now—everyone get back to your homes. When you wake up tomorrow, the sun will still rise as usual, and none of what you're speculating will happen!

Guards, throw these two rumor-mongering commoners in the dungeon—no, send them to the gallows right now!

I'll make them understand the consequences of slandering their magnanimous lord and spreading rumors throughout the town!"

Since the seeds of doubt had already taken root, further explanations would be futile.

Huss couldn't give anyone a chance to react, so he issued his orders with force.

Several guards couldn't distinguish the truth, but they wouldn't dare disobey a noble under any circumstances.

But just as they raised their spears and pointed them at the two young women, Father Lynn had already pushed through the crowd:

"Then execute me as well!"

He was practically roaring at the top of his lungs,

"I was the one who told them that the orcs would trample this land. I was also the one who told them that only by fleeing into the forest could they survive.

If you still remain so stubbornly set on burying the truth, then execute me as well!"

"Obstinate old fool."

Huss drew the rapier at his waist and pointed it at that venerable elder,

"Then as you wish—take him away too!"

"No, sir, you can't do this!"

The townspeople reacted even more intensely. Old David even tremblingly gripped his pitchfork and stood in front of the old priest,

"You don't understand—Father Lynn has saved everyone in the town. He gathered herbs for us, healed our injuries, and when we felt lost, he showed us the way..."

What's that got to do with me?

"This old bastard is trying to spread rumors and disrupt the peace of the territory. Anyone who dares to shelter him will be charged with the same crime!"

Huss looked at the hesitant guards and bellowed,

"You've survived until now entirely thanks to Lord Merle's mercy and grace. Not because of some old fool who confuses right and wrong and spreads rumors—"

"Fuck off!"

A sudden shout interrupted Huss, and he immediately flew into a rage:

"Who!? Whose mouth is so foul!?"

Tang Qi wouldn't waste time answering nonsense.

He simply gripped his lute and walked out from the crowd, standing beside Catherine.

"It's you!?"

Huss finally realized who that 'mercenary' who had tricked the guards into setting up the trip-wire was.

This was a wandering bard who controls musical magic—he had the power to bewitch people's hearts.

He had already sensed it earlier at the forest camp.

Tang Qi sneered coldly, pushing his presence to the highest level he could manage:

"I'm also very curious—whose mouth could be so foul?

To so casually confuse right and wrong, turn black into white—"

"Someone—seize him!"

The guards had also received help from the priest when they were injured, so they didn't dare repay kindness with enmity.

But they had no such qualms about dealing with a stranger.

However, just as they were about to charge forward with their spears, a tower shield came crashing down from the sky.

"BOOM!!!"

The moment it struck, it shattered the earth and stone before them, the shock wave pushing several guards back several feet.

When the tower shield was lifted, Huss finally saw the thickly-bearded dwarf swinging his spiked club with a mocking expression.

This wasn't something Starberry Town's guards could handle.

Explosivewolf whistled, and everyone immediately saw the ten mercenaries stationed at the village official's mansion, fully armed, surrounding the townspeople.

They still thought it was just a simple conflict—they hadn't yet realized that their leader had been planning to abandon them just moments ago.

The mercenary leader reluctantly drew the greatsword from his back and stood ready in front of Melade, on full alert—

He really didn't want to clash with this dwarf.

[Minions of Sandalwood Grove]—three years ago their reputation was already more resounding than his mercenary company's.

Tang Qi's hand struck a chord, equally pulling taut everyone's heartstrings:

"Let me ask you—

Which mouth called the act of cutting the tendon's of the people's feet just to save his own life 'mercy'?

Which mouth called the greed of buying goods worth hundreds of gold coins for only 10 gold coins 'grace'?

Which mouth called the fact of leading everyone to their deaths while secretly escorting a fat pig to escape mere 'speculation'?

And which mouth would rather keep three hundred people imprisoned in this tiny space waiting to die than sacrifice half the interests of that pig dancing in the city, weaving grandiose lies?"

Huss's face turned iron-blue as he shouted to the guards at one post:

"Shoot! Shut that foul-mouthed bastard up!"

The sky was still dark, but the firelight on the stockade gave the guards some illumination to aim by.

Tang Qi wasn't far from them—they only needed to draw their bows and release arrows as usual, and it would be enough to turn him and the two young women beside him into pincushions.

But almost simultaneously, Stonecrusher roared and slammed his tower shield into the ground, embedding its edge into the earth.

The moment the arrows left the strings, a pale white spiritual light suddenly burst from the center of the tower shield.

It vanished in an instant, yet like a beacon, it drew the arrows flying through the air—*thunk thunk*—they all struck the center of the tower shield and fell to the ground.

[Arrow-Catching Shield]—Tang Qi could never have imagined that this seemingly unremarkable heavy shield was actually a rare-grade piece of protective equipment.

"What, did the truth from my mouth hurt your ignorant little heart?

I know you're furious, since you're his well-trained dog—

So loyal that even when your master's fat belly has ground up the bones of countless people,

You still dress him in silk shirts, tie his dignified cravat, and use lies to whitewash the crimes he's committed!"

Seeing someone blocking Tang Qi, Huss furrowed his brow and roared at the townspeople behind him:

"All of you—get back to your homes!

Those who remain obstinate and continue listening to this scoundrel's troublemaking will face severe punishment—

The young master has already shown you enough mercy, don't say I didn't give you a chance!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Explosivewolf swung his hand forward, and more than ten well-armed, fully-equipped mercenaries had already drawn their gleaming swords and shields.

The swords reflected the faint firelight, already proving their sharpness.

Twenty guards who had hurried over upon hearing the commotion also interspersed themselves among the gaps, nervously gripping their spears and threatening the surrounded townspeople.

Excluding those who hadn't dared leave their homes, nearly two hundred people had actually gathered in the vicinity.

But excluding the old, weak, women, and children, fewer than a hundred could truly be called strong.

Few of them had trained in martial arts.

Even without those token guards, just these ten mercenaries in full chainmail, if given enough time, would be enough to slaughter them all...

The threat of force made them tremble with fear.

Old David looked at his wife sitting on the ox cart, tightly clutching George, shivering.

Like most people, he no longer cared about arguing whether it was true or false, right or wrong.

They just wanted to survive now.

"Get back to your houses, don't make me say it a second time!"

Perhaps...

For the sake of their families, for the sake of survival, they really should go back.

They held only farm tools in their hands, but those people truly wielded sharp blades.

Just go back like this and wait for dawn.

Maybe it was all needless worry, and no orcs would reach this small town.

They could still live out the rest of their lives under Lord Merle's rule?

"I, I—"

"STRUM—"

A bright sweep of strings interrupted his hesitation.

The rhythm of his hand slapping the body of the instrument exploded beside Old David's ear:

"Thump-thump, clap!"

"Thump-thump, clap!"

"Thump-thump, clap!"

He remembered this rhythm.

That night, when he had drunkenly collapsed at the Golden Oak.

It was this rhythm that pierced through his eardrums, jolting him awake, and making his chest burn with it.

It was so simple, yet so... unforgettable.

Old David's eyes flew open, and he whipped around in shock to look at the poet with his back to him—that vagabond who had shaved his beard and changed into new leather.

So it was him!?

Tang Qi sang out:

"Grab your hoe, even if it means killing and burning;

Raise your head, even if your throat goes hoarse—"

"What the hell is he singing?"

Huss had never heard such crude songs.

He'd heard many pieces in his life—more elegant ones like *Moonlight Sonata*. Written personally by the Terran Empire's chief musician, its melody was like moonlight floating on ripples, melancholy and profound.

Simpler ones included the *Song of Brothers* that the young master often loved to sing. Simple melody, catchy tune, praising the brotherly affection of two who voluntarily gave up the throne to travel the continent together.

Even so, they wouldn't use such plain and simple words.

Only children's songs hummed by ignorant children in the streets and alleys would be so unrefined.

He waved his hand, signaling the arriving guards to point their spears at Tang Qi.

Stonecrusher noticed the spears thrusting toward them and was about to turn his tower shield to knock the charging guards away.

But Explosivewolf had already roared and charged forward like a cheetah.

His iron boots skidded to a stop before Stonecrusher, his dragging greatsword slashing diagonally toward Stonecrusher's shoulder—

[Upward Cleave]!

This was an experienced warrior. Stonecrusher had to use his tower shield to block, the tremendous force hitting the edge of the shield. Unable to advance an inch, it directly sent Stonecrusher flying into the air.

Explosivewolf flew up with him, his greatsword swinging down like a crescent moon, aiming for Stonecrusher's spine.

[Shield Charge]——

Stonecrusher's shield suddenly burst with a repulsive force, shocking Explosivewolf at equal height and sending him tumbling backward.

But he was too late to block the spears for Tang Qi. As he hastily looked toward him—

Tang Qi had already drawn the pitch-black curved blade strapped to his waist.

That was [Snake's Kiss].

Compared to longswords, curved blades could already be considered light.

But the weight of this Snake's Kiss was reduced by half again.

Lighter and sharper than a goblin's curved blade.

[Alertness] allowed him to find the trajectory of the spear thrust. He stepped forward, dodged to the side, but his hand holding the blade didn't stop.

It was the only edge that couldn't reflect firelight in the night.

So concealed, so swift, like a viper hidden in darkness, baring its sharp fangs.

Regardless of whose orders the guards were following.

The moment they decided to swing their weapons, Tang Qi wouldn't show mercy—

The blade swept across the guard's throat, blood spattering onto his cheek.

"Kalen!"

No one seemed to have expected their comrade would die so quickly.

Some of these guards were natives of Starberry Town, some were vagrants hired cheaply by the lord. They weren't without combat experience, just that they had been comfortable in Starberry Town too long and didn't often see blood.

So much so that Tang Qi covered in blood was enough to frighten them into hesitation.

Tang Qi didn't press his advantage, but continued singing:

"When they glorify the past, who's fighting for tomorrow?

While they feast in luxury tonight, who's held hostage by money?

This world's too damn sad—

The rich make trouble, the poor take the fall!"

Still that crude melody, still those simple and straightforward lyrics.

But times had changed—Tang Qi wasn't in a tavern, and the drunks weren't living it up in a stupor.

But they still understood that while their lives were threatened, someone in distant Longgold City was dancing gracefully to palace music—

Merle Barrye.

The true master of this land.

"New kingdoms rise, old dynasties fall;

Let the gods tell us, who toils for the fields?"

Many people still remembered this song, but no one responded to his singing.

Of course they knew that they were the ones who poured their heart and blood into the land, wasting away their lives.

But they didn't dare say it.

They could only let others shout for them:

"Me, me!"

Tang Qi dodged flying arrows, tearing at his throat.

He wanted the song to reach everyone's ears—

Old David vaguely remembered the next lyrics, unconsciously reciting the following content in his heart.

But he soon discovered that Tang Qi's song suddenly looped back, flowing smoothly like water back to the previous line:

"Let the gods tell us, who toils for the fields?"

No one responded to him.

"Let the gods tell us, who toils for the fields?"

They responded to him in their hearts.

"Let the gods tell us, who toils for the fields!"

"Me, me!"

Anbi responded to him with song!

She remembered every step of brewing wine.

Remembered every bit of energy, every second of time she spent on it.

Her sister often said, 'Effort should be rewarded.'

So she was meticulous, never letting those drunks reeking of alcohol run up a tab of even a copper coin in her tavern.

Only when facing those nobles, those nobles who got something for nothing.

She had no way to earn even a fraction of the cost.

Why should these people who don't farm, don't brew, don't even pay, get to enjoy the plum wine her sister worked so hard for?

"Let the gods tell us, who toils for the fields?"

"Me, me!"

Catherine responded.

Father Lynn responded too.

Old David opened his mouth, wanting to respond.

Because before his eyes, suddenly appeared his golden wheat field.

The sweat shed day after day in the fields.

That house leaking wind and rain on rainy nights.

His wife and child.

And that money pouch accumulated over half a lifetime of labor, containing only scattered copper coins.

His oppressed, destitute life.

"Who toils for the fields!"

"Me, me!"

He blurted out.

The people beside him blurted out.

Those who were threatened, oppressed, who harbored resentment toward the nobility blurted out.

Only in this moment.

Their dissatisfaction with the 'privileged,' their dissatisfaction with the lord, their dissatisfaction with this life—

This accumulated 'kindling' was finally ignited by the song.

Like a volcano ready to erupt, magma wrapped in rage and hatred gushed forth from the scorching crater!

Tang Qi swept down fierce strings, like the roar of an eruption!

"Grab your hoe, even if it means killing and burning;

Raise your head, even if your throat goes hoarse!

Fuck the heroes, fuck the legends;

Fuck the landlords, fuck this life!"

"Fuck the landlords, fuck this life!"

People sang together in chorus, resounding through the howling wind.

The torches in their hands, like inextinguishable sparks, swayed with their singing.

Closing in on the mercenaries.

"Kill whoever resists!"

They obeyed Huss's orders, about to swing their longswords.

"Shave off his goat beard!"

Even Stonecrusher seemed to tremble with it. The tower shield blocked Explosivewolf's swinging greatsword, deflecting his blade in the violent collision.

That spiked club made specifically for breaking armor slammed into the steel plate at his waist and abdomen.

"CLANG——"

The tremendous force hit, and Explosivewolf felt his body listing out of control.

He couldn't immediately swing his greatsword to counterattack, could only stagger to maintain balance, his footsteps becoming disordered.

Stonecrusher viciously kicked at his unbalanced lower body, kicking the large warrior to the ground.

The spiked club in his hand raised high, even his laughter becoming激昂:

"Fuck yeah, finally got to hit your head!"

That battle-hardened hammer reflected in Explosivewolf's pupils.

Forcing him to want to flee—

It seemed he'd spent his whole life fleeing.

Unwilling to spend his entire life buried in farmland, so he fled his hometown.

Unwilling to keep taking those tedious and boring escort jobs, so he fled to the Great Wall.

Everyone knew he had participated in that horrifically bloody southern defensive campaign.

But few knew the fact that he had fled back to Longgold City with remnant soldiers.

Now, he had fled from the orcs' hands back to Starberry Town.

And wanted to flee from this land about to be trampled to somewhere safer.

But in the last second before the hammer struck the steel helmet on his head, he finally realized he perhaps couldn't run anymore...

Unexpectedly, he didn't feel much resentment.

After all, when he chose to become a mercenary, he had already anticipated this outcome.

Lady Luck had blessed him, but she wouldn't bestow her grace every time.

More than resentment or unwillingness, he mostly felt depressed:

"Fuck. This trip really wasn't worth it..."

"CLANG——"

The hammer in Stonecrusher's hand dented Explosivewolf's steel helmet, affecting his skull as well, spattering bright red hot blood.

"Boss!?"

The pitchforks in the farmers' hands blocked the mercenaries' swords. No longer caring about the bloody holes stabbed into their bodies during resistance, they surrounded the mercenaries, singing themselves hoarse.

The mercenaries had lost their leader, and were further dulled by this deafening song. They were at a loss, could only look to their employer—

Huss cursed those commoners who didn't care about their lives, but found his shouts could only be drowned out.

And Tang Qi had already drawn his black blade, charging toward the master and servant while singing.

He wasn't Black Snake, didn't have ghost-like speed.

So much so that Huss could clearly see his movements. He moved his left hand back, holding his rapier upright before his chest:

"Young master, fall back!"

This was a poet who controlled musical magic, but clearly, he hadn't mastered much martial arts.

That curved blade was sharp indeed, but if it fell into a novice's hands, it wouldn't pose much threat.

And the rapier in his hand, this type of blade born specifically for dueling, never feared any frontal confrontation—

Huss saw through Tang Qi's attack. He only needed to tilt his head to easily dodge his thrust.

"Crude technique."

So crude that this didn't even deserve to be called a duel.

Seeing his opponent expose an opening, he sneered and flicked his wrist.

The slender blade cut through the wind, the sword tip already aimed directly at Tang Qi's chest!

An easy hit.

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