Chapter 127: The Appearance of a Bunch of Fools

The so-called path passage.

In reality, it’s an extremely hidden stone crevice, covered by dense vegetation on both sides, connecting the Great Qian Dynasty and the Borderlands.

This is not a secret passage of Prince Dingyuan’s mansion.

Nor is it a hidden passage containing secrets.

Its essence, its birth, is merely a coincidence of nature.

Wu Yingxue discovered the existence of this stone crevice passage by chance. She is not the only one who knows about it; many villagers near Stone Peak are aware of it.

But no one would spread the word.

They all keep it hidden.

But now.

Freely flowing blood, shattered and fallen flesh, broken bones, and pulverized organs.

The scene before them is like hell on earth, with many bloody traces scattered around. The vegetation that once concealed the passage is now stained black and red with blood.

It sends chills down the spine.

“What on earth, what on earth happened!?”

Wu Yingxue’s pupils contracted, her hand holding the long spear trembling slightly, not from fear, but from anger.

She couldn’t imagine.

What had happened here, how many people had died, to create such a horrifying scene.

“Calm down, Yingxue.”

Xu Xi reached out his hand, placing it on Wu Yingxue’s shoulder, stopping her from rushing into the crevice.

His Martial Heavenly Eye at the Innate Realm allowed him to “see” more, details that were hard to observe. He was certain that the passage behind was not safe.

…

[You see a scene like hell on earth]

[The stone crevice path, which you once considered an escape route and should have been perfectly safe, is unusually littered with corpses and shattered limbs]

[You keenly sense that something has happened here]

[You stop the girl and the townspeople from entering the crevice]

[You have people scatter around, searching for possible clues. Soon, someone finds signs of hiding in the snow]

[You follow the signs and find two people hiding in a cave not far from the crevice. They are terrified at your arrival]

[You patiently comfort them and offer them dried demon meat]

[Your comfort is effective, and the two gradually calm down]

[You begin to ask about their identities and if they know about the incident at the crevice]

[They sob and tell you they are from a village on the other side of the crevice in the Great Qian Dynasty. Unlike your desire to escape the border, they wish to leave the Great Qian]

[The Great Qian is already in turmoil]

[Heavy taxes, widespread rebellions, and harsh penalties deeply torment every ordinary person longing for peace]

[The villagers, unable to cope with their fear, collectively decided to leave the Great Qian and flee to the equally cruel but less corrupt dangerous border]

[But their actions were soon discovered by the border army of the Great Qian]

[The other end of the crevice was blocked and guarded by the army, and the villagers trying to escape were driven to the border with swords, plunging into the demon tide of winter]

[Thus, the large village was reduced to the two people before you]

Angry?

Furious?

Resentful?

Not really.

After listening to the sobbing answers of the two, Xu Xi slowly walked out of their hiding cave.

Snowflakes fluttered, and cold winds howled.

Xu Xi’s expression was very calm, seemingly without any fluctuation, but in reality, his heart was beating more fiercely than ever.

Symbolizing how turbulent his inner emotions were.

“Demons at the border are eating people.”

“Demons in the Great Qian are also eating people.”

“This world, this era, everywhere is about eating people.”

Xu Xi closed his eyes, remaining silent for a long time before reopening them.

Surging emotions kept stirring, the blood of a warrior urging Xu Xi to do something, but he chose to remain calm.

The current situation is too dire.

Rage alone won’t solve the problem.

“Sir, what should we do next?” The girl in red and white robes approached, her face full of confusion.

Behind her were the equally confused residents of Qingniu Town and people from other towns who chose to follow them.

The crevice is no longer passable.

The other end is blocked by the border army.

Such a narrow passage, once entered, leaves no room to dodge.

Undoubtedly, the crevice must not be entered.

“Next step…”

In the wind and snow, Xu Xi’s gaze swept over the numb and lifeless faces. As he scanned, those faces would also turn.

The people living at the border have only two paths.

One is to stay at the border, facing the great demons of the Innate Realm and the endless demon tides of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

The other is to force their way through the border, facing the armored and armed border army, confronting the once mighty “big shots.”

Xu Xi remained silent.

Neither path is easy.

Whichever path is chosen, someone will bleed, someone will die.

If forced to choose, forcing through the border would be slightly better.

Recently, with the internal rebellions in the Great Qian, many border troops have been redeployed, not as numerous as before.

Moreover.

The number of border troops is limited, unlike the demons of the Ten Thousand Mountains, which are overwhelmingly numerous.

“But, relying on me alone is not enough, even with Yingxue.”

“With my current strength, I am far from capable of taking on an army.”

“The best way to defeat an army is with another army.”

Xu Xi hesitated.

The people followed him to survive.

But now, asking them to fight the border army, would they still be willing?

Xu Xi did not hide his thoughts, openly declaring to everyone. Surprisingly, no one chose to leave after hearing him.

Why is that?

“Brother Xu, we no longer have a home.”

A simple and honest man stepped out from the crowd, revealing the true reason.

The people of Qingniu Town, people from other towns, followed Xu Xi because of his extraordinary charisma?

Xu Xi himself thought probably not.

He had never spoken words to deceive or manipulate.

The reason people stood here, choosing to follow Xu Xi, was simple and silent.

They had no home.

No food.

In this demon tide, many had already lost hope, becoming like the walking dead, but they were willing to follow Xu Xi, seeking a path to continue living.

“Then, follow me.”

The wind stopped, the snow paused, Xu Xi’s eyes softened, and he extended his hand to everyone.

…

[The sudden incident at the crevice disrupted your original plan]

[You realize that if you want people to survive, the only way is to force through the border and enter the Great Qian]

[If you stay at the border, people will either be eaten by demons or freeze to death in the cold winter]

[You have no other way out]

[Only by risking your life can you seize the future]

[You laugh heartily and teach everyone the Fool’s Technique]