NOVPUB"...Bullshit! I’m as valiant as ever... But, Youpil, our families have been old friends for generations, and we’ve known each other since we were kids. To say something I shouldn’t, sometimes I truly feel... the kingdom is probably..."
Puap let out a deep sigh. He looked up into his old friend’s eyes, gauging the changes in his expression.
"When two nations go to war, even the mountains crumble. Youpil, we’re just ordinary samurai, what can we do?" Hearing this, Youpil didn’t speak. He filled his bowl with liquor to the brim, drank it in one gulp, then wiped the residue from his mouth before heaving a long sigh.
"What can we do?... Since we are samurai, brilliant as flowers, there will always come a time when the flowers wilt! Today we drink in agony, gripping the weapons in our hands; tomorrow we bleed upon the earth, falling with a smile into the Netherworld. Puap, our ancestors died in battle for the head of our clan, so let’s die for our leader as well! Come, let’s drink a few more bowls!"
Upon hearing this, Puap lowered his head to conceal the changing expressions on his face. The smiles of his ancestors reappeared in his mind... He shook his head fiercely, trying to forget the dead, and poured another bowl of liquor, drinking it with a gulp.
On the other side, Necali was also visibly moved by Youpil’s words. He observed the Patrol Captain’s expression and slowly tightened his grip on the bronze axe.
Outside the great house, a few rookies stared inside, swallowing hard with envy. The city was in need of samurai, most of them having been conscripted from the militia. The sole Tarasco samurai shook his head, pursed his lips, and forced himself to look away, turning his gaze toward the streets in the distance. A moment later, a hint of confusion crossed the samurai’s face.
"Sounds like... there’s some noise?"
The Tarasco samurai took a step forward, following the barely perceptible sound of the wind, looking toward the southern city gate. Tonight was pitch-black, with no lights at the city gate. Squinting through the faint moonlight, he seemed to see some swaying shadows.
"Eh, what’s that?"
The Tarasco samurai’s eyes widened, and without hesitation, he turned and headed inside.
"Captain!... The city gate... uh, ah!"
The tip of a long spear suddenly pierced through the Tarasco samurai’s abdomen, eliciting a piercing scream as he collapsed limply to the right. Behind him, an old militiaman looked on with cold indifference, stirring his hands forcefully. The spear was pulled out with a "pfft" from the warrior’s body, and blood sprayed instantly!
"Attack!"
Necali leaped up from the ground, his battle axe severing the nearest patrol member’s neck as he commanded in a low voice.
"Not one should survive!"
More than twenty Mexica warriors inside the house drew their axes at once. The clay bowls fell to the ground, shattering with a clear sound; the fruit liquor spilled out, spreading a captivating aroma. Then with the cleaving of the bronze axes, one by one, the figures struggled and fell to the ground, too late to blow the bone whistle, leaving only their blood to flow freely.
"You... you... Puap!"
Youpil’s eyes were bloodshot. His right hand desperately brandished the short dagger he carried, and he bellowed in anger.
"Puap! What are you doing!"
Looking ashamed, the Huitu warrior drew the war club from his waist, holding it in front of him but hesitating to strike.
"Youpil, my brother... The king is dead, the nation has fallen, the Mexica have entered the city!... Join the great Alliance with me! I guarantee the safety of your family..."
"Mexica?! Go to hell!"
Youpil, like a frenzied tiger, lunged forward, stabbing with the dagger in his hand.
"This is how you repay the Chief! Generations of loyalty from your family! And you bring the Mexica into the city!!"
"Youpil, listen to me! If we surrender, we can preserve the Chief’s..."
"Uh... Ah!..."
Youpil attacked with abandon, while Puap struggled to justify himself. At that moment, a sharp bronze axe, showing no mercy, struck from behind, cleaving precisely into Youpil’s neck.
"Zzzap!" Warm blood splashed all over Puap’s face and head. He stood there dumbly, reaching out to touch. But his old friend slumped sideways, crashing into a vat of liquor. In an instant, the clear liquid turned red, and the aroma of the fruit wine grew even stronger.
"Youpil..."
Necali lowered the bronze axe in his right hand, red blood slowly dripping from the blade. He gave Puap a cold glance and continued to brandish his battle axe to pursue and kill.
This was a one-sided slaughter. In less than a quarter hour, all patrol members were hacked to death without anyone sounding an alarm whistle. The old militiaman, with a few brothers, dragged the bodies outside the door into the house, piling them in a corner of the room. Then he approached the wine vat, about to drag Nepal’s body out, when Puap pushed him away with a shove.
"Hmm!?"
Necali put down the blood-red cotton cloth and gripped the freshly polished bronze axe, his eyes filled with killing intent as he looked at Puap.
"It’s all right, it’s all right... He was a fool, but he won’t cause any trouble. "
The old militiaman quickly waved his hand with a smile. Then, he moved closer to Puap and whispered in persuasion.
"My lord, the man is already dead. This is the path he chose, and there’s nothing to regret... We have our own path to follow... If you really feel bad, you can take good care of his family... The Mexica captain kills without batting an eye, after doing so much, please don’t fall here... "
Puap jerked his whole body and then managed a strained smile. He turned and leaned against the corner of the wall, bowing his head in silence. Necali loosened his right hand and continued patiently waiting.
Time flowed like wine, staining the ground red and painting the aroma of wine in the heart. Two to three quarters of an hour quickly passed, and there were no further incidents. Dozens of Mexica samurai worked frantically, finally digging through the blocked South Gate. The heavy creaking echoed in the night sky, accompanied by the suppressed cheers from inside and outside the city. The South Gate of Qinchongcan City was finally opened at this moment!
The city gate was wide open, without any defenses. At this moment, the sturdy Qinchongcan City was like a turtle’s egg with its shell cracked open, revealing the delicious egg white, with no obstacles whatsoever! Hundreds of Mexica warriors gathered outside the city swarmed in at once. Dozens of Mexica scouts climbed up to the city gate, lighting bright torches, while waving signals toward the camp in the south.
Outside the camp, Xiulote had been sitting cross-legged for a long time. Seeing the signal at the city gate, he finally stood up, excitedly waving his scepter.
"With the capture of the South Gate, Qinchongcan has fallen! All commanders heed my command!"
The young Marshal’s chest swelled with fervor. He looked around at the waiting commanders, observing the silent samurai numbering in the thousands, and ordered loudly.
"Black Wolf Torc!"
"Present!"
"Lead a thousand vanguards, strike directly at the Royal Palace, and seize the Tarasco chief! Do not give Qinchongcan City any chance to organize a defense!"
"Understood! Watch the might of Torc!"
Black Wolf excitedly slapped his chest. He ran at the forefront, the first to lead his troops away.
"Olosh, teacher!"
"Here, Your Highness."
"You have five thousand warriors, attack the Tekos camp in the city at once! I give you the authority to decide on your own, kill or negotiate surrender, just do not let these barbarians create havoc in the city!"
"I will follow Your command!"
The ferocious Jaguar warrior bowed his head in respect. He lit five battalions of a thousand men each and disappeared into the night.
"Marshal Iskali!"
"Your Highness."
"Please lead six thousand of the southern army to raid the militia quarters of the other three gates, completely sealing off the Capital City!"
"Leave it to me, Your Highness!"
Iskali nodded in acknowledgment. Six thousand warriors surged north, shielding and wielding clubs.
"General Etalik! You have two thousand warriors, take control of the city’s treasury!"
"Monkey Kuluka! Five thousand militia, block the roads within the city, prevent the enemy from gathering, and take control of the city’s order!"
"General Natali! With two thousand warriors, eliminate the nobility within the city!"
"The end of the Western Expedition, is at this very moment!"
