Chapter 634: Chapter 383: The Most Successful Way_2
Not long after, Yan Xiaobao and his army disappeared from the oasis. They spent over an hour crossing countless dunes. Just before dawn, the edge of the desert became visible. Xu Yue followed numerous beasts out of the desert without much trouble.
The guide who had once led them out of the Divine Domain was now merely an ordinary soldier. The one leading the army now was Wan Qiao. This woman remembered her direction towards the Capital.
"Hurry up! Take our valuables and let’s leave; they could appear at any moment!" A woman shouted to her husband, while the man stood in their house with an uncertain expression. He wished he had more time to prepare and pack his belongings, but in the end, he did as the woman insisted. Before rushing outside, he grabbed several storage stones and hurriedly stored as many items as possible in them.
In the distance, a cloud of dust could be seen. It moved slowly toward their village, while the man, now pale as a sheet, stared at his livestock. He stood quietly for a moment, but after casting one last glance at the dust cloud in the distance, he let the animals rush in the same direction the woman had disappeared toward. Gritting his teeth with an anguished look on his face, it was clear how deeply the man was hurt by the need to abandon his livestock. As a small farmer, although he owned some valuables, his true wealth lay in the livestock he raised in his fields. Now, he had no choice but to leave.
This scene was common in the Siban Empire. As the dust cloud appeared, villages, small towns, and even medium-sized cities were abandoned, followed by the advancing beast tribe. Fear overtook the first significant city when it spotted the beasts. Its soldiers relocated to the Capital, leaving only civilians behind, with no one left to protect the city.
Large families living within the city—elders, and all the kings—gathered together to welcome the beasts. However, once they realized all of the beasts were kings or emperors, they fled across the border. Rather than protecting the city, they prioritized their own safety, hurrying home to assist in evacuations while giving up on the remaining citizens.
Some families evacuated towards the Capital, hoping their Emperor would have the ability to protect them. As they traveled, they brought gossip about the beast tribe—thousands upon thousands of beasts, all of them kings and emperors. Their power was unprecedented, and no one dared to stand in their way. Because of their strength, many chose to flee—not to the Capital, but to other Kingdoms. Some hoped to reach the vast southern plains, while others aimed for the Sun Kingdom. Wherever migrants could be seen, abandoned cities lay in their wake as they journeyed toward safety. Even in the Capital, some families opted to migrate to other Kingdoms, as the tension weighed heavy on each household. If they didn’t fully trust the Emperor, they chose to leave.
As the beast tribe drew closer to the Capital, half of the Empire had already fled to other Kingdoms. The other half either evacuated or departed from the Capital itself.
"It’s truly desolate," Yan Xiaobao remarked as they reached another small village. The only things visible were the remaining livestock—animals doomed to starve if left unattended. Thinking of this, Yan Xiaobao ultimately ordered their army to slaughter them. Every evening, the livestock was transported to various soldier encampments and roasted for dinner. While Yan Xiaobao hadn’t intended for their march into the Siban Empire to turn into a mass killing, it was precisely what unfolded. As the animals were slaughtered, dismembered, and stored for later distribution among the army, rivers of blood flowed relentlessly.
Although this was indeed a massacre, it was limited solely to livestock. Xu Yue expressed gratitude for the abundance of food left behind, knowing it extended their army’s preparation time, yet he simultaneously felt pity for the countless farmers forced to abandon their livelihoods.
"Stop overthinking it," Wan Qiao said, walking over with a smile and patting his shoulder. "The beasts grow more motivated the fresher the meat they get. Their power surges skyward. If anything, you should be grateful for the food left behind, as now no one feels the urge to hunt humans. Every day, we feast on roasted pork, beef, and chicken. Throw in lamb and mutton, not to mention goat, and we have everything we want."
Yan Xiaobao knew Wan Qiao was right and allowed himself a faint smile. The village they were in now was just as empty as all the others they had encountered. The beasts were rummaging through every house, searching for anything of practical use or value left behind. Even Yan Xiaobao picked up some spices to add extra flavor to his cooked meals.
"We’ll stay in this village for one hour!" Yan Xiaobao’s booming voice resonated through the village—no one could miss it. In response, the beasts roared, then began storming through houses at an even faster pace. When Yan Xiaobao said they’d leave in an hour, he meant it—by then, every beast needed to be ready to depart. Failure to comply would result in harsh assignments, like pulling heavy machinery alongside oxen—a fate none of the soldiers wished to endure if avoidable.
Although Yan Xiaobao recognized their progress was slow due to frequent breaks, he remained unhurried. The longer the march to the Capital took, the more the news of his army would spread. Because of this, his forty-thousand soldiers easily grew in the minds of their enemies into an army of one million beasts. Another advantage was that it encouraged more people to flee the Empire—something of utmost importance to Yan Xiaobao. He didn’t want to see humans treated as livestock, mass-slaughtered, and later devoured by magical beasts.
Seeing the furrow in Yan Xiaobao’s brow, Wan Qiao understood what he was thinking and let out a sorrowful smile. She was a magical beast herself, and when in her primal form, she had no qualms about eating humans. On the battlefield, it was impossible to tell beasts not to prey on their enemies. They fought with teeth and claws, and sometimes they bit their opponents. That’s simply what beasts did in battle. She was a beast herself, and she understood exactly what beasts were like.
Yan Xiaobao had now become a half-beast. He could feel the bloodlust bubbling within him—the urge to tear apart the animals they encountered. It required immense willpower to maintain control, and this beastly instinct was common among all beasts. No magical beast was herbivorous; they all relished meat—the fresher, the better, and the happier they became.
An hour passed, and Yan Xiaobao once again set out on the march. Everyone was prepared, and no one faced punishment. Several hours had passed before they reached yet another small village, though it was so insignificant that there was no reason for the entire army to stop. Instead, one of the forty squads stayed behind to slaughter the livestock and collect any valuable items. They would later catch up with the main army as it continued forward.
The closer they drew to the Capital, the more excitement stirred among them. Observing the surroundings, Yan Xiaobao was surprised to find that none of the bridges they crossed over rivers had been destroyed. No traps had been laid, nor had any other obstacles been imposed to hinder their progress. If anything, traversing closer to the Capital was remarkably easy.
Soon, the entire army regrouped as the sun began to rise. Yan Xiaobao ordered everyone to rest. Wan Qiao gazed into the distance and spoke hoarsely with layered emotions in her voice, "We’re almost there." Feathers began surfacing on her body, betraying her unease at the thought of war finally beginning.
"We’re this close, aren’t we?" Yan Xiaobao said as he, too, looked ahead. Beyond the wider roads, the Capital itself remained out of sight.
The humans and beasts alike said nothing, staring together at the horizon. Their adversaries waited there, along with the war that was about to begin. One more day of walking, and they would arrive. Another day, and they would have to face combat. The time was nearly upon them, and Yan Xiaobao felt his heart racing.
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