When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 831 - 782: Defending Xia Lvcheng to the Death

The hum of the bronze bell pierced through the stone walls of Xia Lvcheng as Old Laver was changing the bandage on his thigh.

The bandage had been boiled in hot water, and an alchemical potion made of rancid garlic was poured over it.

This alchemical potion, a refined product of allicin, had a better anti-inflammatory effect than regular allicin.

In Horn's view, it still couldn't compare to penicillin, but to Old Laver, it was a divine medicine.

After all, it was comforting to know that the Saint's Grandson cared about ordinary soldiers like them.

Since these alchemical potions had been delivered from the rear, there had been significantly fewer soldiers losing limbs.

Having changed the bandage, he looked up in the direction of the bell tower.

The sunset light fractured into gilded flakes at the crenellations, as if someone had scattered a handful of gold coins.

Behind the stone walls came countless noisy sounds, along with the soldiers' shouts of loyalty.

"Hurry, hurry!" A Ceremonial Officer rushed over, supporting Old Laver, "The ceremony has begun, don't keep the Duke waiting."

Supporting himself on a crutch, Old Laver stumbled through the city gate tunnel, the oncoming wave of sound startling him to retreat half a step.

A dense crowd stretched from the steps of City Hall to the bridge over the moat, with even rooftops covered by barefoot youths.

He saw numerous sleeves of coarse cloth, silk, and wool flapping in the wind, much like the smashed Leia banners they had incinerated.

"In the name of the Holy Spirit and the ancestors—"

The sound of horns tore through the clamor. Moliat appeared atop the archway, her black armor setting off her white hair like ice shards.

Old Laver noticed she had exchanged her sword for one encrusted with amethysts at her waist, the old sword likely lost in a surprise attack.

Twelve guards armed with spears marched down the steps to the beat of a drum, the clang of iron boots on stone reminding Old Laver of the roaring spring cannon.

When the Captain of the Guard unfurled the scroll, he saw the emblem outlined in gold powder—a golden fleur-de-lis.

"Laver Hunter Iron Water!" The guard's deep voice echoed in the square, "Step forward for the medal award!"

Old Laver suddenly felt his knees go weak.

It wasn't his first time receiving a medal, but standing before so many people, especially the Plain People who loathed the mountain folk, he couldn't help feeling nervous.

He saw citizens in the front row standing on tiptoe, with a girl wearing copper earrings even climbing onto her mother's back.

"We meet again, Laver; you performed well earlier at the Shattered Stone Plain." Moliat patted his shoulder and pinned a medal to his chest.

The Autocratic Duke still remembered his name?! Old Laver's eyes widened.

The Ceremonial Officer beside him shouted loudly: "Three hundred acres of paddy fields at Black Snake Bay awarded, three gold coins, and a tax exemption for a hundred acres!"

The crowd suddenly drew in a breath of astonishment.

The reward of three hundred acres of paddy fields at Black Snake Bay, though not as grand as those of the Thousand River Valley, elevated an ordinary soldier to a small landowner or squire.

"Your arrows have given Xia Lvcheng a chance to breathe, these lands will be developed by the Snake People and can be realized within two years." She suddenly lowered her voice, "If you are unwilling, they can be exchanged for stocks."

When the light yet weighty land deed landed in his palm, the square erupted into cheers, startling pigeons off the bell tower.

In the sunset, soldier after soldier was awarded medals, their battle achievements celebrated in full public view.

Even Old Laver, who wasn't particularly interested, couldn't help but stand a little taller at that moment.

When the last Mountain Knight had stepped down, Moliat suddenly threw off her crimson cloak and stepped onto the battlement.

Her figure was especially slender atop the wall, but her voice crashed into the crowd like boulders launched from a catapult:

"The failure at the Shattered Stone Plain is my disgrace!"

The noisy square fell silent instantly.

The once clamorous crowd gradually quieted down.

"I was too ready to trust others' information, underestimating the Duke of Wing Nest's ruthlessness." Moliat's nails dug into the moss on the battlement, "This is a war I initiated, I lost, and I accept blame and consequence.

But that was another war, related yet unrelated to this war, because today the Leia people standing here—"

She suddenly waved her sword northward: "They don't want submission; they want to crush every stalk of wheat in the ridges and snatch your infants from their cradles!"

The crowd began to stir, people whispering among themselves.

The news had circulated on the streets and alleys for a long time; the newspaper had merely hinted at it without confirming it definitively.

But everywhere, it was said—"Leia people, after killing the mountain folk with the Plain People, began to slaughter the Plain People after losing the mountain people's protection."

Though passed on with many vivid details, few dared believe it until Moliat spoke.

An old man in a scholar's square cap hesitantly raised his hand: "Milady, the church's envoy says that if we just hand over the king slayers..."

"Are you blind? Look at the scorched corpses floating down the river! How many are Plain People, how many are mountain folk?" Her roar startled more birds, Moliat's sword tip swung southwest, "Three days ago, a grain convoy was attacked, including twelve youths aged fifteen or sixteen. Raffel nailed them to the ship's masts as flags.

We managed with difficulty to retrieve their bodies, right at the dock, can't you see it?"

In cries of shock, a farmer's wife slumped to the ground in the front row—her only son was part of the grain convoy laborers.

Several washerwomen in blue headscarves began weeping, unsure whether for sons or brothers.

Then monks started softly chanting a requiem prayer, their voices quickly spreading across half the square.

Moliat thrust her ceremonial sword into the stone crevice, stepping on the battlement and leaning forward: "Now I must make it clear—I intend to defend this city for at least three months!

Those wanting to leave, take your belongings and exit through the south gate, besides food.

I guarantee in the name of Grand Duke Hemashi that arrow towers will not target your backs for three days."

"But those who stay—" she drew her sword toward the sun, sparks flying from the blade, "if I find anyone slacking on the walls, skimping on fletching arrows..." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

She suddenly sliced off half of a crenelation, debris clattering into the moat: "I'll bury them in the walls to block the enemy! Hemashi never contradicts himself!"

The moment Moliat sheathed her sword, the crowd erupted in fervor.

"Your Highness, Your Highness! Please wait!"

"Your Highness, what do you want those staying to do?"

As the Captain of the Guard dispersed those trying to ask more questions with his halberd, Moliat walked into the shadow of the winch room behind her.

Raffel, who had been waiting, applauded: "A powerful speech, Your Highness."

The pale face beneath Moliat's iron mask frowned: "Didn't I ask specifically for Duvalon to come?"

Compared to the unfamiliar Raffel, she still preferred to interact with the relatively familiar Duvalon and other Gulag Child Soldiers.

Raffel, although a Gulag elder, was not from the Child Soldiers.

"His Majesty believes Lord Duvalon unsuitable for such a complex environment, so he sent me to cooperate with you instead." Raffel extended his hand to Moliat.

"In three days." Moliat gripped him tightly with an iron fist, "Xia Lvcheng will enter martial law."

"The Zhongsi will arrive tomorrow." Raffel clasped his hands behind his back, "With your help, we will certainly root out traitors and spies."

"Hmm... Starting tomorrow, propagate that the Leia people do not just slaughter mountain folk. After killing the mountain folk, without their protection, they will kill Plain People." Moliat gave Raffel a deep look before leaving.

The city gate square, however, remained in a frenzy.

Traveling merchants in felt hats pushed toward City Hall's side door to apply for passage paperwork, while tailoring apprentices tussled for carriage seats.

More people were still hesitating, unsure whether to believe Moliat but fearing an attack by the Leia people upon leaving the city.

As the sunset cast a blood-red edge over Xia Lvcheng's battlements, City Hall posted Moliat's latest order:

"All those staying in the city, register within three days at the Hundred Households Captain in your area, affecting food allotments, please attend."