Chapter 373: The thousand dao city 42.

even though everyone knew those corridors might never be used. Luo Qinghe prepared separate medical stations for the front wall and the inner courtyard. Ning Shuyue volunteered to guard the place where the wounded would be brought. Bai Ruxue checked the supply counts one final time, while Tang Yuer stood beside her and quietly passed her water whenever she forgot to drink. It was not a perfect defense. It was not even a comfortable one. But it was a real defense built by people who knew exactly what they were protecting.

Mo Yuxin watched them all for a while. Then she quietly pulled Su Yubing closer until their shoulders touched. Su Yubing looked at her and smiled.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You are looking at me again."

"I like looking at you."

"We are about to be surrounded by several sects."

"I know."

"And you are still thinking about this?"

Mo Yuxin lowered her voice. "Especially now."

Su Yubing’s expression softened. She leaned closer and rested her head briefly against Mo Yuxin’s shoulder.

"Then stay beside me."

"Always."

That single word was quiet, but it carried enough certainty to make the noise outside seem distant for a moment. They had traveled through forests, crossed rivers, entered strange cities, dealt with ancient formations, and walked through one problem after another together. This was simply another place where they happened to be standing side by side. The difference was that this time, the people around them had become important. They were no longer watching someone else’s trouble from a distance. They had friends inside these walls.

Ye Qinglan approached them. She looked at the two of them for several seconds before saying, "Whatever happens tomorrow, I am grateful you came into this city."

Mo Yuxin shook her head. "We are not leaving. Not yet."

Ye Qinglan smiled. "I know."

Su Yubing looked toward the closed gates. "You should rest for a few hours, Sect Master."

Ye Qinglan nodded. "I will."

She started to leave, then stopped. "Su Yubing. Thank you for what you said the other night."

Su Yubing smiled gently. "You are welcome."

Ye Qinglan left.

A little later, the disciples began preparing for sleep in shifts. The city outside never became quiet. Drums rolled in the distance. Sect messengers flew through the dark sky. Spiritual lights moved along the roads as additional troops took their positions. Thousand Dao City had become a giant chessboard, and the Battle Maiden Sect was the piece everyone had decided to sacrifice.

Mo Yuxin looked at the city from the upper wall one last time before returning inside. The lights of the distant districts remained bright. Some ordinary people were still shopping. Some restaurants were open. Children were being taken home by their parents. Most of the city did not know how close it was to a major conflict.

Su Yubing stood beside her.

"They think the Battle Maiden Sect is isolated."

Mo Yuxin nodded.

"They are wrong."

"Why?"

Mo Yuxin looked at her wife. "Because they have each other."

Su Yubing smiled. "And us?"

Mo Yuxin took her hand. "And us."

They walked back toward the hall together.

The city had heard the declaration.

The military forces had gathered.

The Battle Maiden Sect was no longer simply under investigation.

It was about to be attacked.

Ye Qinglan walked onto the wall.

Mu Qingru followed.

Ji Ruyan stood below them with her sword drawn.

Su Lian activated the first defensive formation.

Ning Shuyue stepped beside Luo Qinghe.

Bai Ruxue and Tang Yuer carried supplies into the inner courtyard.

Mo Yuxin stood next to Su Yubing.

The four banners outside became visible through the evening haze.

Golden Mountain.

Heavenly Sword.

Azure Cloud.

Cangming Palace.

One after another, their formations rose above the city.

A voice echoed from beyond the walls.

"The Battle Maiden Sect has one final opportunity to surrender."

Nobody inside answered.

The voice continued.

"Refusal will be treated as an act of hostility."

Still no answer.

Ye Qinglan raised her sword.

The Battle Maiden Sect’s banner rose behind her.

The old silver and red crest fluttered in the wind.

Then the enemy army began to move.

The first siege formation descended from the sky.

It covered the road.

The second formation locked down the eastern district.

The third blocked the western route.

The fourth sealed the northern passage.

The Battle Maiden Sect was surrounded.

The Battle Maiden Sect was surrounded.

The first warning had come just before sunset, when the outermost warning bells rang from the northern watchtower. At first the disciples thought it was another false alarm. They had spent so many weeks receiving reports of suspicious cultivators near the mountain roads, missing supply wagons, broken communication talismans, and merchant caravans suddenly changing direction that another warning did not seem unusual anymore. Then the second bell rang. Then the third. By the time the seventh bell sounded, the entire sect had gone quiet.

From the highest courtyard, the cultivators of the Battle Maiden Sect could see lines of people moving across the plains beyond their mountain. Spiritual lights appeared one after another in the distance. Flying swords cut through the evening clouds. Large spirit ships hovered above the horizon. Hundreds of banners slowly became visible as the last sunlight faded from the sky. The sight was so large that even the experienced elders of the sect felt their hearts become heavy.

This was not a group of bandits.

This was an army.

Ye Qinglan stood on the highest platform of the main hall and looked toward the horizon. Her long dark hair moved slightly in the evening wind, and the silver and red robes of the Battle Maiden Sect made her stand out even from a distance. She did not speak for several breaths. Beside her stood Mu Qingru, Ji Ruyan, Su Lian, and more than a dozen elders who had already gathered after the alarm was raised.

Below them, the younger disciples were being organized into defensive groups.

Nobody screamed.

Nobody ran.

TO BE CONTINUED.