Chapter 1583.5- Massacring the city

The knights, consumed by hatred, kept stabbing long after he died, reducing his corpse to a mangled ruin.

Then they regrouped, chasing Xiao Xuan’s trail. Those two boys couldn’t escape.

Soon, Xiao Xuan was caught. Carrying someone, he couldn’t outrun the bears. Both he and the Prismatic Mage felt despair—fifty knights remained, and they stood no chance in their state. Would they die here today?

Just as they prepared for a last stand, Old Man’s squad charged in from nearby, attacking the knights.

After fleeing earlier, they’d spotted Xiao Xuan and turned back without hesitation to help.

They didn’t know these boys, but Old Man was with them, and more importantly, they shared the same blood. They had to act, even if the outcome looked grim.

Old Man’s squad bought Xiao Xuan and the Prismatic Mage a little more time.

Though fresh, Old Man’s team was low-level with poor gear and skills. The brief hope faded fast—one charge from the fifty knights killed three and wounded the rest, while they only managed shallow cuts on the bears.

Gritting his teeth, Xiao Xuan threw his weapon, impaling a knight and saving one of Old Man’s men.

They’d turned back for him—he owed them.

Seeing their exhaustion, the knights stopped charging, instead encircling them to slaughter these “yellow-skinned monkeys” like they had the other boy.

But then an arrow pierced a rider’s throat. Panicked, they turned to see boys sprinting across the ice, one lowering his bow.

The knights hastily formed up and charged the newcomers.

Yet when the numbers were close, the knights were no longer the bullies.

One charge cost them four knights, and only one boy fell.

The knights exchanged glances, then wheeled around and fled.

If they fought all-out, their mobility and charge could likely defeat the nine boys, but at horrific losses, maybe only a dozen would survive.

So they chose not to die for a pointless grudge.

And so they ran.

“Captain Xuan!”

Little Liu, Big Zhen, and the others rushed to Xiao Xuan, who could no longer stand. One produced a potion, sharing it between the two wounded.

Old Man’s men helped bandage their injuries.

Though relieved to survive, none celebrated. Losing two Young Army soldiers—both six-star evolved—left them burning for vengeance.

They didn’t realize Old Man’s squad saw them as monsters.

Killing fifty knights while losing just two? That was terrifying prowess.

In truth, the Young Army had sent two seven-stars and six-stars—higher-level than the knights, with better gear, ensuring such results.

As Xiao Xuan recovered, Cloud Peak’s main force arrived. Old Man, among them, wept at his dead comrades.

Not that death was new, but with fewer of his people left, the grief and fear grew unbearable.

Ye Zhongming saw the two corpses—one mutilated. His face stayed calm, but the female guards saw the fire in the Cloud Peak King’s eyes.

Back home, he had to consider Cloud Peak’s reputation, his own image, future plans, and hidden enemies…

But abroad, the beast within awoke. Two of his carefully trained Young Army dead for nothing? He’d change their route to Stink Nest.

His men wouldn’t die in vain. As their leader, he’d get justice.

“Cremate them. Bring the ashes home to scatter over the manor.”

These boys had joined Cloud Peak but had never seen it.

Even in death, Ye Zhongming would fulfill their wish.

Flames and silence turned the bodies to ash.

Two hours later, Cloud Peak stood outside Stink Nest.

From afar, corpses hung on the walls. Up close, Old Man’s men trembled with rage—even Cloud Peak’s eyes reddened.

The bodies were all black-haired, black-eyed Asians—Old Man’s stronger compatriots who’d worked for a merchant group.

Now, all dead, displayed—punished for Old Man’s defiance.

Frozen solid, blood streaked beneath them like macabre art.

Figures emerged from the gates. Old Man identified the leader—the seven-star Ice Bear Captain, backed by over two hundred knights, including the survivors.

Plus laborers and guards, over a thousand strong.

The captain spoke. Old Man translated: Who are you? Why come? You killed our noble knights—you’ll pay.

Cloud Peak stayed silent. Ye Zhongming ignored him, staring instead at a giant atop the wall, radiating the same eight-star aura.

“That’s Ivan.” Old Man’s voice shook after one glance.

Ivan suddenly boomed words across the distance. Old Man paled, struggling to translate, but Ye Zhongming cut him off.

“Are you sure no more of our people are inside?”

Old Man nodded reflexively—those on the wall were all that remained.

“Good.” Ye Zhongming’s calmness confused Old Man.

Then the young leader raised a hand and uttered two words Old Man would never forget:

“Slaughter them all.”