Wu Caiwei watched them assault the city desperately. This could not go on. She took a bow and arrow from a nearby soldier, concentrated all her inner energy into the arrow, and shot towards the leader.
The leader had long noticed her action. Although he didn't believe she could hit him from such a distance, he pulled the person beside him to shield himself at the moment the arrow was released, just in case.
The next moment, the arrow pierced through the person in front and struck him. Under the great momentum, he involuntarily stumbled into the person behind him.
Others rushed to help. The leader slowly stood up, pushed away the person in front, and looked at his lifeless eyes without any expression.
He spat out the blood lingering in his mouth and glared fiercely at Wu Caiwei, who had just stopped on the city wall. He didn't expect someone so short to possess such strength. If he hadn't braced himself a little, the arrow would have pierced his heart.
Now, he was no different from the person who had shielded him, a corpse. Instead of hitting his abdomen, the arrow had caused him to bleed profusely. He quickly tore off the hem of his skirt, poured some hemostatic powder on the wound, and bandaged it crudely.
Wu Caiwei frowned unconsciously, not expecting the leader to have such a great capacity for survival. She had poured her inner energy into the arrow, yet he still lived. It seemed he was not as simple as she had imagined.
Meanwhile, the Fifth Prince was pondering another issue. He had never met the leader before. Tonight, in his haste, he hadn't dressed up, wearing very simple clothes. Yet, the leader's eyes had never left him. He suspected he was here for him.
"My lord, the city gate can't hold on much longer. What should we do now?" a soldier asked in a panic, reporting the situation below the wall to the prefect.
The prefect was startled. Although he had anticipated this outcome, the reality of it left his mind blank for a moment. After a while, he reacted, hurried to the Fifth Prince's side, and said gravely, "Your Highness, you've heard what the soldier said. You should leave here immediately. I will dispatch an army to protect you."
Xuan Yuanxin's gaze involuntarily fell on Wu Caiwei, silently asking if she was afraid. Wu Caiwei smiled and shook her head, understanding his thoughts. If they left now, the remaining soldiers would have to shed blood and sacrifice their lives, and the citizens of the city would not find peace.
If they weren't mistaken, this leader was likely a bandit. He exuded a killing aura and had taken lives. Once he entered the city, he would definitely incite these refugees to rob the wealthy households.
After robbing the rich, the common people wouldn't be spared either. This was something neither of them wanted to see. Although they hadn't lived in the city for long, the people here were peaceful, hardworking, and hospitable. They didn't want this place to turn into a living hell.
Thus, to everyone's astonishment, Wu Caiwei leaped from the city wall and went straight to the leader. The leader quickly shouted, "Quick, quick! He's someone from the Fifth Prince's side. Capture him!"
Wu Caiwei gave him a cold smile and thrust her sword at him. This time, he tried to repeat his trick of pulling someone beside him to block the sword. But Wu Caiwei had been guarding against this. What seemed like a frontal thrust was actually a feint. She moved to his back and pierced his heart with her sword.
The leader's eyes widened. To his death, he couldn't comprehend how he had met such an end. His followers, seeing their leader dead, glared at Wu Caiwei with hatred and drew their swords, ready to fight her to the death. Wu Caiwei showed no mercy. With all her might, she quickly slit their throats.
Although there were bandits mixed in, inciting the refugees, most of them were ordinary citizens who had never witnessed such a scene. Seeing Wu Caiwei kill more than a dozen people, they instinctively retreated. They were the pillars of their families, with wives and children to support. They couldn't lose their lives now.
Seeing their fear, Wu Caiwei didn't press her advantage. She leaped near the city gate and saw them making a final push, the gate shaking precariously. She quickly swung her sword, dispatching the few who were running at the forefront.
The crowd surrounded Wu Caiwei with their weapons, but no one dared to step forward. Wu Caiwei strode forward a few steps, muttering, "Everyone is dissatisfied with the current situation, but the imperial court has not abandoned us. They are trying their best to provide relief. You have all seen the fate of the refugees attacking the city. Furthermore, have you ever considered that if you break into the city, you will have food for now, but you will have become rebels? The imperial court will send troops to suppress you. Will you still have any hope of survival then?"
The crowd's eyes widened in disbelief. They had never considered this before. They only knew that someone was going to break into the city to snatch food, and if they didn't join in, they would get nothing and would simply starve to death.
Now, after hearing the man in front of them speak, they realized the seriousness of the matter. It turned out that if they stormed the city, they would be classified as rebels by the imperial court. Throughout history, those who opposed the court had met bad ends. They didn't want to die.
Those with clear minds immediately reacted and slipped away stealthily, hiding with their wives and children, fearing that others would know they had participated in the conflict. With the first leaving, there was a second, and gradually, the ranks of the rebels dwindled. Coupled with the lack of a leader, they were momentarily at a loss, holding their weapons, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
Wu Caiwei seized the opportunity and used her inner energy to tell everyone that if they captured the ringleaders and redeemed themselves, the Fifth Prince would not hold them responsible.
Although they didn't act immediately, the refugees unconsciously distanced themselves from the bandits. Looking at the people standing in the open space, Wu Caiwei's eyes narrowed. In fact, she had said all this to identify these ill-intentioned individuals hidden among the refugees. This time, there was no need for the Fifth Prince to say anything. The prefect immediately dispatched men to apprehend them.
During this process, some of them attempted to resist, while others grabbed a few refugees, held knives to their throats, and demanded that the soldiers let them go.
Wu Caiwei dismounted from the city wall and approached the soldiers, telling them to let the people go. After creating some distance from the refugees, these bandits, determined to go all the way, directly killed the hostages in their hands and then escaped.
Although Wu Caiwei had anticipated this outcome and tried her best to save some people, most couldn't be saved in time. She could only watch helplessly as they were killed. Of course, she wouldn't let those bandits get away easily. She mounted her horse, took her sword, and charged after them.
Not long after, she returned covered in blood. Looking at the tearful relatives surrounding the recently fallen refugees, her heart sank.