Translator: Exodus Tales
Editor: Exodus Tales
Translated by Mianbao
Edited by RED
“Then please, listen to my analysis. Brother Zhu has seen Glory Valley City for yourself. We’re lacking in rain, the stream is dry. If it wasn’t for the water dike, we wouldn’t have much harvest for this autumn, not to mention providing any rations to the East Dawn battlefield,” Zheng Yu began explaining.
While listening, Zhu Minglang observed the weather.
The sky was changing, and the unusual change in atmospheric pressure was making his chest feel tight.
This kind of feeling was usually a sign before rain. Teacher Duan Lan had started summoning the clouds…
“If our fertile, well-irrigated Glory Valley City is already in this situation, what about the poorer, less fertile Wutu?” Zheng Yu looked up, gazing right into Zhu Minglang’s eyes.
“We have no rain, and neither does Wutu,” Zhu Minglang said.
“Yes, Wutu’s systems are primitive, its agriculture backwards, and its people barbaric. With not a drop of rain in the autumn, and the winter approaching…” Speaking up until this point, loud thunder boomed in the grey skies!
Rumble!
After the loud rumble, the originally clear skies turned dim. A bolt of lightning streaked across the skies above Glory Valley City, lighting up the common folk who were waiting for rain and the old streets like fireworks.
Their faces were filled with anticipation and joy. They could already smell the rain, the source of life!
In front of the mansion, Zheng Yu didn’t move a step. He maintained a humble attitude, standing in front of Zhu Minglang.
Zhu Minglang felt a little moved inside after seeing this young city lord.
What moved him wasn’t the loud rumblings of the thunder, but what Zheng Yu had said, the angle in which he considered the current affairs.
“This war…” Waves were raised in Zhu Minglang’s heart. “… will only have one conclusion,” Zheng Yu continued in a low voice.
Zhu Minglang looked to the east.
Actually, only the little valley was covered by the dense clouds. The skies in the distance were still sunny.
Patter…
A bead of rain landed on the back of Zhu Minglang’s neck. The coolness and the wetness…
Patter…
Pitter patter pitter patter…
More and more raindrops fell, falling onto the stone slabs on the old streets, producing pleasant sounds like a keyboard.
From light to heavy, like a slow melody gradually shifting to a faster tempo. His mind was thoroughly immersed into the wonderful rain orchestra.
“It’s raining!”
“It’s raining!!!”
Cheers were heard on the streets, the residences, and the fields. People could even smell sweetness in the rain.
The rain had dispelled their depression.
The rain was like blood flowing in a dried up body, bringing the valley and the city back to life!
The people cheered from their hearts, their moods happier than the New Year celebration, or a triumphant victory in the war.
Hearing the sound of the rain that nourished the lands, and the joy in the city’s voices, Zhu Minglang stood under the eaves of the mansion, his sleeves and shoes wet from the swaying of the curtain of rain.
Meanwhile, the city lord, Zheng Yu, stood outside from the shelter of the eaves, unmoving, maintaining his humble attitude…
His hair was drenched, his clothing completely soaked, and his face was wet with rainwater, making his scholarly appearance look extra determined. His eyes were shining, highlighting his unyielding attitude.
“Why aren’t you celebrating with your people? You’ve successfully managed to delay me and let the rain fall. Even if I inform my teachers about your deeds, you can claim the rain filled up the water dike,” Zhu Minglang chuckled, looking at this hypocritical city lord.
“Brother Zhu, how long have we been talking for?” Zheng Yu asked sincerely.
“Only a few minutes.”
“Do you know that a report came from the frontlines before I met you, and a delayed report, to boot?” Zheng Yu continued.
Zhu Minglang’s expression changed slightly. -A delayed report?-
Earlier, Zheng Yu had analyzed the battle with Wutu. Zhu Minglang agreed with what he had said.
He was right; there was only one ending to this battle… they were sure to lose!
Why would Ancestral Dragon City State lose?
They clearly had superior equipment, wise commanders, and a stronghold with high walls…
But so what?
Wutu was about to face its greatest crisis.
Zhu Minglang had lived in Wutu before. He was very aware that most Wutu citizens were living day to day.
Their land was barren; being able to fill their bellies was already a tall task, let alone stocking up on resources.
It hadn’t rained once since Zhu Minglang had left Wutu. Even Glory Valley City, which had a gorge irrigating their fields, was facing a crisis after having its fields dry up and its livestock die, not to mention Wutu!
With no rain, the fields would be wasted, and the trees would wither, completely cutting off their source of food.
In the winter, with no wool to make clothes, how were they supposed to keep warm? Wutu’s winter was even harsher!
They were in a desperate situation! They had no room for survival!
This was the cause of their rebellion!
The closer to the end of autumn, the nearer it was to winter, and more Wutu citizens would realize they wouldn’t live to the new year.
It wasn’t that the rebels were coveting Ancestral Dragon City State’s fertile lands, but that they were being forced to the borders by the death god known as “Winter”. Either they broke through the firm stronghold to barely have a chance at survival, or everyone had to die in Wutu!
Superior troops, ferocious dragons, all that didn’t matter in their eyes. Their survival instincts would push the Wutu citizens like a moth drawn to flames…
They were fighting to live! Ancestral Dragon City State was only fighting for their land and pride…
Who would win, and who would lose?
There was only one way this war would end. Zheng Yu was very aware of this, and now Zhu Minglang was clear as well.
So, about that delayed report…
Glory Valley City was only twenty-five kilometers away from the front lines.
It was a city inside a valley. The people couldn’t see the plains outside, even if they climbed high up. Wutu’s rebellion army would soon arrive!
Pitter patter… pitter patter…
The sound of rain continued beating down.
The people were celebrating.
As the city lord, Zheng Yu stood in the heavy rain. He could take cover with just a single step, but he didn’t do so.
“The rain is here, but the city is done for.” Zhu Minglang finally understood why Zheng Yu couldn’t break a smile.
“Brother Zhu, you can now go inform them. Please tell your teachers to quickly bring the students away, and express my gratitude on behalf of this one surnamed Zheng. Thank them for taking pity on the people.” Zheng Yu made another deep bow to Zhu Minglang.
Rain fell on his cold back, seeping into his clothing, as well as flowing from his hair down to his cheeks.
Zhu Minglang let go of his earlier suspicions and clenched his fists tightly. He stepped down the stairs, allowing the rain to fall all over him. He slowly lowered his upper body, and then even further, similarly bowing deeply.
“This one surnamed Zhu is incapable. Please take care, Brother Zheng,” Zhu Minglang said.
After bidding farewell, Zhu Minglang ran through the rain. At this moment, his heart was feeling extremely heavy.
Zheng Yu didn’t abandon his city and escape for his life.
He was going to fight the rebel army that had taken down the stronghold to the death.
He wanted to defend the Glory Valley citizens, who had just had rain bestowed upon them.
—–
Pseudodragon Birds slowly rose to the skies in the rain. Their bloodline originated from Winged Dragons, and they had wings of flesh. They didn’t have any feathers, so the rain wouldn’t completely deter them from flight due to wet feathers. At the most, they only felt a little more resistance.
The thirteen students put on raincoats they had prepared earlier. Teacher Duan Lan and Teacher Ke Bei stood on the Eagle Dragon’s back.
The group was slowly drawing away from Glory Valley City. When they rose to two hundred meters above ground, the mouth of the valley could barely be seen through the heavy rain. A huge crowd of people was charging inside the valley like a stampede, heading towards Glory Valley City!
It was the Wutu rebel army!
Their battle cries grew increasingly louder; even the heavy rain couldn’t drown them out. It was like thunder rumbling continuously, approaching closer and closer!
On the ground, perhaps only some silhouettes could be seen approaching. Looking down from above, however, there seemed to be no end to the army. Some of them were even wearing armor they had just looted from the city state’s troops, charging through the fields that had just absorbed the rainwater without a care, toward the city!
“Our stronghold was really breached?” one of the students asked blankly, unable to believe what he was seeing.
“Teacher Ke Bei, we’re citizens of Ancestral Dragon City State, too! Are we really just going to watch while those rebels invade our cities? We’re Dragon Tamers! Why are we afraid of those plebeians!?” Nan Ye cried out loud.
As a descendent of the Nan Family, he was a noble of Ancestral Dragon City State. How could he endure it as his family’s territory was being trampled over?!
With Duan Lan and Ke Bei, two Master Dragon Tamers, and thirteen students with Dragon Child rank dragons, they should be able to slaughter those rebels!
“After enrolling into a Dragon Tamers Academy, no one is allowed to take part in war, unless it’s to attack evil cities. Don’t you know this rule!?” Teacher Ke Bei reprimanded him.
“But those are Wutu beasts, evil people! They have land of their own, but are encroaching on Ancestral Dragon City State’s territory. They’re not worth pitying!” Nan Ye rebutted angrily.
Why weren’t they taking action?
The teachers could definitely stop the rebel army. At the very least, they could delay the army until reinforcements arrive!
“They’re not wild beasts. They’re only fighting for survival…” Duan Lan said, choking on her words.
Their original purpose here was to call upon the rain for the people. Alas, her Azure Dragon Mystic Art could only save the citizens of a tiny valley city, and was unable to help the greater tragedy caused by nature.
Even if they weren’t forbidden by the Academy’s rules, what should Duan Lan do?
Slaughter the men who were fighting for a chance at survival for their wives and children, or protect the people tormented by the dry autumn?
She couldn’t do a thing. A Dragon Tamer was above ordinary beings, but was insignificant nonetheless.
Rumble, rumble…
Suddenly, wave after wave of loud noises came from deep inside the valley. Under the rain, the small stream and valley path could be seen being attacked by surging waters. Mountain rocks and trees were ruthlessly stirred inside and swept along by the crazy wave into the valley path…
“A mountain flash flood!?”
The group was astonished. How could a mountain flash flood occur from the rain after a long period of drought?!
The rain would only nourish the vegetation, at the most. It was absolutely impossible to bring about such a violent flood!
The flood water filled the stream, rolling over Glory Valley City’s crop fields like an unstoppable force, and even poured into the only narrow path that led to the valley!
The narrow path into Glory Valley City was filled with people. Those gathered were none other than the rebel army from Wutu. Their troops could never imagine such a flood would emerge from the peaceful valley city…
Wailing was heard everywhere!
Countless Wutu natives were swallowed by the flash flood. They wanted to retreat, but due to the valley’s narrow terrain, there was nowhere they could go to avoid it!
Tens of thousands of people were ravaged by the flash flood, slammed into rocks by the water mercilessly, drowned, or swept along to the triangular zones of the valley.
The aggressive rebel army could have easily taken the city originally, but they lost over half their forces to the crucial flash flood. Corpses drifted along with the current.
Witnessing this shocking scene from the sky, a similarly huge wave was raised in Zhu Minglang’s heart!
He thought of the weak, polite scholar below the stairs to the mansion. He was reminded of the young and determined city lord in the rain, whose eyes shone resolutely, even in the gloomy rain.
The water dike was full, but he chose not to release the water. He’d rather let his people suffer than open the water gate.
—
“East Dawn Stronghold is sure to be breached before winter. With the cities intimately interdependent, Glory Valley City is sure to be slaughtered by the violent rebels with few troops to defend itself. Perhaps we’ll even be eaten alive.
“The people can suffer hardship and use all kinds of methods to live through the winter, but they cannot be without a weapon to resist an invasion.
“I know they will suffer, but in comparison, I hope they can survive in this chaotic world.
“Take care, Brother Zhu.”
—
The heavy rain continued drumming at his ears, the straw raincoat unable to block off the rain. At this moment, all Zhu Minglang had on his mind was that thin figure in the rain. His deep, silent bow at the end was to express everything he hadn’t said to him!
Zhu Minglang took a deep breath. All he inhaled was sour air. He looked at the swaying curtain of rain, then looked at the desolate land… Everyone was only mortal, in the end.
“There’s still an army behind them! God, how many people from Wutu joined in on this rebellion!?” Li Shaoying suddenly exclaimed.
After flying away from the mountain valley, the plains were in sight. What was unthinkable was that there were still an army tens of thousands strong outside the valley. Only a fraction of them had entered Glory Valley City!
The rebel army had indeed taken a huge hit, but the main bulk of them was unharmed!
The stored water in the dike would run dry, sooner or later. The valley’s narrow path would slowly reappear, and the rebel army would pour into the city once more, ravaging their supplies!
Given the Wutu rebels’ brutality, it seemed unlikely Glory Valley City’s people would survive.
“The narrow path is low-lying, like it was deliberately dug out. The flash flood didn’t completely flow away, and has formed a lake, flooding the path. The rebels have to swim over the muddy waters to attack Glory Valley City!” Nan Ye pointed out excitedly.
The sunken lake was located at the only entrance to the valley, like it was intentionally designed that way.
With the path flooded, horses were unable to enter, and both sides of the sunken lake formed steep cliffs. It was extremely difficult to climb over, not to mention it was easy to slip and fall to their deaths after raining…
This sunken lake could be said to have become a barrier for Glory Valley City, leaving the rebel army unable to pour in in large numbers!
“If they set up defenses on the other side of the sunken lake and fire arrows at those who jump into the lake, a thousand men are enough to fend off ten thousand! Is this a miracle flash flood the heavens have bestowed upon Glory Valley City?” a female student couldn’t resist pointing out in joy.
The rebel army that couldn’t be fended off by the stronghold was actually helpless against the little Glory Valley City!
“Teacher Duan Lan’s rain has saved all the citizens of Glory Valley City. Even if the rebel army moves to clear the sunken lake, it’ll take them a day or two, at the very least. Reinforcements will have arrived by then…” the other students exclaimed.
This mountain flash flood was like a work of god!
However, only Zhu Minglang knew all of this happened because of a frail scholar.
He refused to release the water, all just to leave a final defensive line for Glory Valley City. It was his exceptional foresight and wisdom that had defended this city and protected his people!
-You take care too, Brother Zheng.
-Please live on in this chaotic world, too.-
Zhu Minglang stood on the Eagle Dragon’s back and bowed deeply once more in Glory Valley City’s direction.