Chapter 41 - 41: The Boundary of Sword Marks
Li Yunzi sped on her sword, flying over the tops of the riotous armies, looking down upon the dark mass of Wutu people.
Many from the Wutu Riot Army lifted their heads, seeing the woman flying on her sword high in the sky, each of them showing a look of astonishment.
Especially the leaders of the riotous army, most of whom were rulers of the Nine Cities of Wutu or city generals, how could they have not seen this sword-rider!
That was the former Wu Tu Empress, who ruled Wutu for a full year; before she was overthrown, there was no one who did not fear her iron-fisted methods!
Li Yunzi flew over the mighty Riot Army and soon after, under the watchful eyes of all, she arrived at the triangular area of the valley.
She descended slowly, her right hand gradually lifting, and silver soft threads emerged from nowhere, quickly entwining in her palm…
Silver threads intertwined, and in a very short time, they formed the Star and Moon White Sword.
The night sky was originally resplendent with stars, yet it seemed to fade at the moment Li Yunzi raised that white sword!!
“Swoosh!!!!!!!!”
A chop toward the entrance of the valley, and one could see the silver sword light, like tens of thousands of splendid meteors cutting through the night, following the line of brilliance that Li Yunzi had drawn down, striking straight at the valley’s entrance!!
Whether it was the Wutu Riot Army or the soldiers of the Flying Bird Camp, their faces were full of shock, hardly able to imagine that a mortal could wield the power to cleave mountains!
The steep cliffs on both sides were sheared off, and the earth was split open with a giant fissure!
Ordinarily, the sword scars people struck were either on an enemy’s chest or on the trunk of a tree, but Li Yunzi’s sword had torn open an entrance to a valley large enough to accommodate thousands, cutting open both the path people walked on and the mountain rocks on either side!!
The sword scar, like a chasm from heaven, lay shockingly across the path of the Riot Army.
Li Yunzi seemed to have done this deliberately; she didn’t aim the sword blade at anyone, yet even though this sword didn’t kill a single soldier, to those of the Wutu Riot Army who had witnessed its power, it was no different from a battlefield strewn with corpses!
“With the sword as the boundary, life and death, it’s up to you to choose.” Li Yunzi’s voice was not loud, but Gods and Mortals could make everyone inside and outside the valley hear her words clearly!
After a brief silence, restlessness emerged within the Riot Army, the majority of Wutu people had only ever seen armed officials, and occasionally they might witness powerful Dragon Beasts on the battlefield, but who had they ever seen split the earth with one sword!
“Those who cross the Sword Boundary will be regarded as rioters, to be executed without exception.”
“Beyond the Sword Boundary, they are civilians, they are my subjects,” Li Yunzi said.
“My people, your lives will no longer be decided by the heavens. I will decide them, and I will see you through this winter and keep you alive,”
Li Yunzi’s words echoed throughout the entire valley and even reached beyond it.
The soldiers of the Flying Bird Camp were even more puzzled by Li Yunzi’s actions!
Shouldn’t these rioters be killed off entirely?
Shouldn’t they be made to recognize the strength of the Ancestral Dragon City and be made to retreat in the face of difficulty?
Why can they also be called subjects?
“She’s employing a delaying tactic, don’t believe this woman! Soon, a leader of the army, burly like a bear, shouted loudly.
“She’s just one person, no matter how strong, and holds but a single sword. Our compatriots are joining the army in an endless stream; she can’t kill us all. Don’t forget how we joined forces to take down Fortress City. We’re one step away; once we reach Li Chuan Plain, we will have everything! someone immediately yelled out, rallying the spirits of all the people.
“We have no way back; we can only move forward!”
“Even in the face of the gods, let them be reduced to dust and smoke!!”
“Fearless, fearless, fearless!!!!!”
Among the riot army, several leaders began to shout, repeatedly echoing slogans that aroused the bloodlust in everyone.
They had no way back; they could only move forward, not even the deities could stifle their will to survive!!
“You all recognize me.”
“I was once your ruler, and I ask you.. “When I reigned, did you have grain to eat?”
“Did you have clothes to wear?”
Li Yunzi’s voice descended from the starry heavens, so distinct that no clamor could drown it out, audible to everyone.
For a moment, the riot army boiled with fervor!
People looked up at the night sky, where amidst the dimness, someone stood atop a silver longsword bathed in starlight—they indeed recognized this person, for her statue stood in every city of Wutu!
Wutu’s leadership had changed time and again, but only Li Yunzi had controlled the Nine Cities of Wu Tu for one full year, in which a semblance of order emerged. Yet, that order vanished completely after her overthrow.
Wars raged on, bandits roamed, and they even faced an autumn drought, pushing all Wutu people to a desperate plight..
“Don’t believe her beguiling words anymore, storm this city, and we will have inexhaustible food, we will have endless clothes, we can build our own city-state of Wutu, we are not their slaves! The bear-like colossal leader of the riot army suddenly roared.
This riot army leader kept inciting the emotions of the people, keeping them frenzied.
Suddenly, Li Yunzi plunged downwards on her sword, her figure like a white bolt of lightning, cutting through the hordes of armored riot soldiers…
The soldiers’ eyes widened in shock, and by the time they reacted, the formidable riot army leader erupted in a spurt of bright red blood!
Steaming blood spattered across the faces of the surrounding soldiers, who stood dumb as posts, watching as their leader’s head tumbled from his neck and rolled on the muddy ground!!
Dead!!
In the midst of thousands, one of their leaders died just like that; the riot soldiers still vividly remembered how this powerful leader crushed the fortress’s shield wall with brute force, a veritable war meat grinder, yet in a blink of an eye, he met a grisly death under Li Yunzi’s sword! “The second leader is dead, the second leader is dead.” “This venomous woman, avenge the leader!!!”
“Avenge the second leader!!!”
Death sparked panic in the riot army, and this panic spread contagiously; soon, some in the frenzied army raised their weapons and charged toward Rong Valley City!
The army of the uprising roared, more and more charging towards Rong Valley City, no longer mindful of anything else.
“Those who cross the Sword Boundary shall die!” Li Yunzi’s voice once again penetrated the ears of every member of the riot army.
Still, the vanguard of the riot army surged wildly forward, with furious cries easily overwhelming all reason!