NOVPUB"Qinchongcan City... this great capital, stood unyielded for generations, but now..."
Puap stood dumbly by the city gate, like a statue devoid of expression, his heart filled with confusion.
He watched as massive ranks of Mexica samurai, in neat formations, streamed through the gaping city gate. The dark green figures layered upon one another, boiling with audacious killing intent, like an unstoppable deluge. In the deep darkness of the night, thousands of "deluges" held up glaring torches, as if to burn everything in sight to ashes!
The bright light of the torches was striking, painting the southern sky red. The piercing sound of the bone whistle blew suddenly in the city, and nearby militia camps started to stir noisily.
The Mexica samurai surged forward, quickly encountering spontaneous resistance from the militia. But under the swing of the war clubs, that resistance was so frail, soon overwhelmed by the merciless tide. Terrifying screams broke out continuously in the streets up front, accompanied by the clash of weapons, leaving a fresh crimson trace on the ground. At this moment, the majestic yet tranquil capital city, like a dying white deer, jolted awake, erupting with a final mournful cry!
"It’s all because of me..."
A strange feeling arose in the heart of the Huitu samurai. Suddenly, he no longer felt like just a weed in the war, but rather so grand, so significant, able to decide everything, like the sacred cocoa...
"Necali, who is the inside man!"
A loud shout suddenly jolted Puap awake, also shattering his brief illusion, plunging him back into the dust of the era.
The Huitu samurai looked up, only to see a young samurai with sharp brows and bright eyes, carrying a longbow and holding a war club, quickly rushing in from the city gate. Subsequently, the Mexica captain in front saluted respectfully and gestured in his own direction. The young warrior suddenly turned around, revealing a pair of eyes emitting a cold sharpness, walking over with a chilling authority. This face... it looked somewhat familiar.
"You, quickly! Take us to the Palace of Wind!"
Black Wolf Toltec, his eyes filled with murderous intent, disdainfully sized up Puap and abruptly grabbed his garment, shouting out loud.
"Lead the way! I, Black Wolf Toltec, will achieve the greatest merit! Ha ha, the Marshal is mine, the King is mine, the chief of Tarasco is also mine!"
Hearing this unforgettable voice, an old militiaman nearby lowered his head in fear, a nightmare from beyond the city flashing through his mind. This was the "Black Wolf Warrior" they had once battled against! Panic also surfaced in Puap’s eyes. He quietly acknowledged and then silently led the way with his brothers. Black Wolf Toltec shouted loudly, and a thousand Mexica vanguard troops immediately followed with high-held torches.
Qinchongcan City, historically rich and vast in area, was also clearly ordered and rigidly hierarchical, bearing the marks of a slave society. From the sturdy bluestone city walls to the very center’s "House of Wind" Akatla, the capital was distinctly divided into four different class zones.
The outermost layer, which occupied over sixty percent of the area, housed over fifty thousand villagers, townsmen, and slaves. This was the lower layer of the capital, also housing the main force of the conscripted militia and Tekos barbarians.
The civilian district’s roads were complicated, but Puap knew them well, navigating without any hesitation. He had lived in the capital for thirty years, spending most of his time in this area. The roads here were only wide enough for a few people to pass, flanked by low and densely packed thatched houses. All around, vast stretches of these houses were completely dark, void of any light, though occasionally the suppressed cries of children could be heard, followed by the fearful low curses of adults.
Black Wolf Toltec, cautious, raised his shield and surveyed the surroundings. The marching torches continued unfaltering, pushing forward. As they proceeded deeper into the heart of the city, the roads grew broader. Among the large swaths of simple civilian communities, tall continuous stone buildings began to appear, with fires burning between them.
Puap knew these were the dwellings of civilian samurai families and small merchants of the capital, now also housing scattered troops of barbarians and militia. As the conflict intensified, the Tekos people became increasingly defiant. In order to control the numerous tribal people, the chief both bestowed favors and enforced discipline, placating them gently, all the while deliberately scattering them by tribal units and arranging nearby stationed militia to maintain a precarious balance in the capital.
"Ahead there are two stations... one with two hundred militia, one with five hundred barbarians,"
warned the Huitu samurai cautiously. Black Wolf Toltec glanced at him, nodded casually, and continued on without stopping.
Suddenly, hundreds of conscripted militiamen appeared on the street side. They, seeing the approaching massive Mexica legion, frantically raised their long spears, attempting to form a spear formation.
Black Wolf Toltec roared like a tiger and led a few dozen trusted aides directly into their midst! He fiercely swung his war club, easily slaughtering the disorganized militia, occasionally letting out a horrific roar. Within mere moments, the militiamen were devastated by the fierce charges! They dropped their weapons and turned to flee, their cries of terror mingling as they jostled each other, only to be caught and cut down like straw by the ruthless samurai.
Among the gradually fading screams, Chiwaco walked forward barefoot, his expression calm. Blood covered the narrow path, dampening his feet, which felt somewhat warm and somewhat slippery. Hence, he stopped, slowly looking down.
