Chapter 942: Abandon the City?
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
"What are you doing out there? Get in!" Han Sen witnessed someone calling out to him .
When Han Sen entered the shelter, he was able to get a better look at the people who seemed unwilling to go outside . They looked awfully glum . It seemed as if something bad had been going on .
This was a small town, a knight class shelter that provided residence to around thirty people . It wasn't the worst location for people to band together in the hostile lands of the Third God's Sanctuary .
"Is something wrong? What's going on here?" Han Sen asked the middle-aged man who had called out to him .
"Hmm, I've never seen you before . Are you new?" The middle-aged man didn't respond to the question he was asked .
"Yes, I've only just arrived," Han Sen said .
"Well, that's unfortunate . You may think spawning in a human shelter is a good thing, but we're about to lose the place," the middle-aged man said with a sigh .
"Why?" Han Sen asked .
The middle-aged man explained, "Twenty years ago, we conquered this shelter and built it up as a safe refuge for many people . A few days ago, a creature discovered our shelter . It's not your average woodland critter, either . It is a foul beast, one that came here from the north . The creature belongs to a royal shelter someplace in the mountains of that region, and we have been informed of an impending assault . The leader of that shelter is determined to lay waste to our little sanctuary . "
"How did you learn about all of this?" Han Sen asked .
He thought it was strange that they would even know about the shelter that lay to the north .
"We have a man in their shelter . He has risked life and limb to provide us this information . But even so, with all the knowledge in the world, there is little that can be done . We don't have the manpower to withstand an assault like the one that is said to be coming down on us . We only wonder now whether or not we should make our glorious last stand here or flee to the wilds," the middle-aged man explained .
Han Sen, understanding their predicament a bit better, acknowledged the direness of their situation and their hesitance to defend the shelter against the hostilities of the north . He could tell they were weak and had no chance of protecting their home .
As Han Sen retreated into thought, a loud noise brought him back . It was the tolling of a bell in the plaza .
"Old Huang is summoning us," the middle-aged man told Han Sen, before proceeding to the plaza .
Han Sen followed the rest there, as well .
Normally, many would take a newbie under their wings and treat them well . They'd be asked many things and offered an all-around welcome . Under the current circumstances, however, few cared enough to make the effort . Things were bleak for them, after all .
A man with white hair was ringing the bell, a man Han Sen naturally assumed was Old Huang .
For a moment, Old Huang's eyes fell upon Han Sen . Then the man's eyes moved on .
"The time is nigh . Now we must decide; do we fight or do we go?" Old Huang finally spoke . "Against the darkness that fast approaches, raise your hands if you wish to flee . "
Everyone looked at each other before making a decision, but ultimately, almost all chose to raise their hands .
"Then perhaps it is for the best . Let this be our final night of refuge in what has become our home . Tend to any last duties and prepare yourself for the road ahead; we leave at first light on the morrow," Old Huang solemnly spoke .
After his speech concluded, everyone stood where they were . They all knew it would be best if they abandoned the shelter .
But the sudden realization of this loss was difficult to swallow, and they knew once they departed, they'd have nowhere else to go . There was going to a great deal of hardship for them, beginning the next day .
Some of the older community members had put their hearts and souls into securing this place, and spent the years toiling hard to make it prosper . They felt the most agony, in understanding they would soon depart the safety of its walls .
"Go home," Old Huang said, returning to the podium he had spoken from . They had been there many years, and it was their home . But if they didn't leave, it would swiftly become their grave .
Unless they were willing to obey a spirit for what would likely be the remainder of their days, they had to flee . And even if they did decide to accept a lesser fate as thralls for a spirit, there was no guarantee the spirit would even want their service . They might have been killed even in surrender .
But the majority still wanted to leave, of course . They wouldn't allow a spirit to dictate their fates, if they had the choice . They determined their own destiny, and that was how it would remain .
Still, leaving their home behind was a difficult thing to come to terms with .
Han Sen observed the lifeforces of the people around him, and he noticed many of them were quite skilled and powerful . Thirty such people in a group was quite impressive .
"Can I say something?" Han Sen broke the silence .
Everyone turned to look at Han Sen, and when they did, Old Huang said, "Of course . Speak; we are all family here . "
"We should fight," Han Sen said .
Old Huang, with a wry smile, said, "Young man, I understand the zeal of youth and the way in which you feel . But you must understand, we face the unyielding wrath of a royal spirit . They have at least fifteen mutant creatures; even if half our people went to face that wall of terror, there is little we could do . "
"Do you think we would leave if we had what it took to fight, grasshopper?"
Han Sen wished to say something more, but a young person who stood near Old Huang suddenly asked, "Are you Han Sen?"
"Yes . " Han Sen nodded .
"Little Yu, do you know who this young man is?" Old Huang asked .
"He is Han Sen; the son-in-law of the president . He is a great man . He is the one who defeated the royal shura," Little Yu explained .
After Little Yu said this, people recalled the name and the deeds he had become known for . Even the elderly of the shelter had heard of Han Sen .
"If you choose to flee, then flee . But if you decide to fight, you have my full support . Not only will we defeat those who believe they can trample us underfoot, but we will strike back and claim that northern royal shelter for ourselves," Han Sen proclaimed .
"Little Han, we would like to, but . . . we don't have the power . It is a struggle to maintain our current grip on this shelter," Old Huang confessed .
"Do you not believe we can stand firm against the assault on this shelter with this?" Han Sen summoned his Dragon-Blood Snake .
Chapter 942: Abandon the City?. Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio What are you doing out there? Get in! Han Sen witnessed someone calling out to him . When Han Sen entered the shelter, he was able to get a better look at the people who seemed unwilling to go outside . They looked awfully glum . It seemed as if something bad had been going on . This was a small town, a knight class shelter that provided residence to around thirty people . It wasnt the worst location for people to band together in the hostile lands of the Third Gods Sanctuary . Is something wrong? Whats going on here? Han Sen asked the middle-aged man who had called out to him . Hmm, Ive never seen you before . Are you new? The middle-aged man didnt respond to the question he was asked . Yes, Ive only just arrived, Han Sen said . Well, thats unfortunate . You may think spawning in a human shelter is a good thing, but were about to lose the place, the middle-aged man said with a sigh . Why? Han Sen asked . The middle-aged man explained, Twenty years ago, we conquered this shelter and built it up as a safe refuge for many people . A few days ago, a creature discovered our shelter . Its not your average woodland critter, either . It is a foul beast, one that came here from the north . The creature belongs to a royal shelter someplace in the mountains of that region, and we have been informed of an impending assault . The leader of that shelter is determined to lay waste to our little sanctuary . How did you learn about all of this? Han Sen asked . He thought it was strange that they would even know about the shelter that lay to the north . We have a man in their shelter . He has risked life and limb to provide us this information . But even so, with all the knowledge in the world, there is little that can be done . We dont have the manpower to withstand an assault like the one that is said to be coming down on us . We only wonder now whether or not we should make our glorious last stand here or flee to the wilds, the middle-aged man explained . Han Sen, understanding their predicament a bit better, acknowledged the direness of their situation and their hesitance to defend the shelter against the hostilities of the north . He could tell they were weak and had no chance of protecting their home . As Han Sen retreated into thought, a loud noise brought him back . It was the tolling of a bell in the plaza . Old Huang is summoning us, the middle-aged man told Han Sen, before proceeding to the plaza . Han Sen followed the rest there, as well . Normally, many would take a newbie under their wings and treat them well . Theyd be asked many things and offered an all-around welcome . Under the current circumstances, however, few cared enough to make the effort . Things were bleak for them, after all . A man with white hair was ringing the bell, a man Han Sen naturally assumed was Old Huang . For a moment, Old Huangs eyes fell upon Han Sen . Then the mans eyes moved on . The time is nigh . Now we must decide; do we fight or do we go? Old Huang finally spoke . Against the darkness that fast approaches, raise your hands if you wish to flee . Everyone looked at each other before making a decision, but ultimately, almost all chose to raise their hands . Then perhaps it is for the best . Let this be our final night of refuge in what has become our home . Tend to any last duties and prepare yourself for the road ahead; we leave at first light on the morrow, Old Huang solemnly spoke . After his speech concluded, everyone stood where they were . They all knew it would be best if they abandoned the shelter . But the sudden realization of this loss was difficult to swallow, and they knew once they departed, theyd have nowhere else to go . There was going to a great deal of hardship for them, beginning the next day . Some of the older community members had put their hearts and souls into securing this place, and spent the years toiling hard to make it prosper . They felt the most agony, in understanding they would soon depart the safety of its walls . Go home, Old Huang said, returning to the podium he had spoken from . They had been there many years, and it was their home . But if they didnt leave, it would swiftly become their grave . Unless they were willing to obey a spirit for what would likely be the remainder of their days, they had to flee . And even if they did decide to accept a lesser fate as thralls for a spirit, there was no guarantee the spirit would even want their service . They might have been killed even in surrender . But the majority still wanted to leave, of course . They wouldnt allow a spirit to dictate their fates, if they had the choice . They determined their own destiny, and that was how it would remain . Still, leaving their home behind was a difficult thing to come to terms with . Han Sen observed the lifeforces of the people around him, and he noticed many of them were quite skilled and powerful . Thirty such people in a group was quite impressive . Can I say something? Han Sen broke the silence . Everyone turned to look at Han Sen, and when they did, Old Huang said, Of course . Speak; we are all family here . We should fight, Han Sen said . Old Huang, with a wry smile, said, Young man, I understand the zeal of youth and the way in which you feel . But you must understand, we face the unyielding wrath of a royal spirit . They have at least fifteen mutant creatures; even if half our people went to face that wall of terror, there is little we could do . Do you think we would leave if we had what it took to fight, grasshopper? Han Sen wished to say something more, but a young person who stood near Old Huang suddenly asked, Are you Han Sen? Yes . Han Sen nodded . Little Yu, do you know who this young man is? Old Huang asked . He is Han Sen; the son-in-law of the president . He is a great man . He is the one who defeated the royal shura, Little Yu explained . After Little Yu said this, people recalled the name and the deeds he had become known for . Even the elderly of the shelter had heard of Han Sen . If you choose to flee, then flee . But if you decide to fight, you have my full support . Not only will we defeat those who believe they can trample us underfoot, but we will strike back and claim that northern royal shelter for ourselves, Han Sen proclaimed . Little Han, we would like to, but . we dont have the power . It is a struggle to maintain our current grip on this shelter, Old Huang confessed . Do you not believe we can stand firm against the assault on this shelter with this? Han Sen summoned his Dragon-Blood Snake .