C12 Human Flesh Shield!

The meeting hall near Isynlenor had been seized by the Zhang Family. The Zhang Family Patriarch, believing that by offering water, food, and women, he could avoid the ravages of war, never anticipated that his own village would be commandeered as a temporary encampment by the barbarians.

Over ten barbarian soldiers, their heads adorned with wild chicken feathers and faces painted in red and green, encircled a figure who seemed to channel the divine, conducting a ceremony to pray to the heavens. Sorcerers, the spiritual leaders and exceptional morale-boosting commanders of the barbarian troops, possessed the god-given authority over life and death. At that moment, they were scrutinizing the barbarians who had fled from Isynlenor.

"Salaha... Ow!" The sorcerer intoned, concluding the impromptu heavenly prayer. The agitated barbarians quickly assembled behind her, forming a semicircle.

"The gods have decreed: those who flee the battlefield, the children of the gods, have committed a grave sin. The gods demand your blood in return."

"Salaha... Ow!" Another eerie cry echoed.

She shrugged her shoulders slightly, removed the phoenix feather from her head, and cast it to the ground. A barbarian stepped forward from behind her, presenting a bow-shaped curved blade. In an instant, the blade was drenched with the blood gushing from the necks of the kneeling barbarians below.

"The gods have forgiven them. My people, rest in peace!" The sorcerer extended her blood-stained tongue, licking the fresh blood from the blade's tip, then turned to address a barbarian soldier, "Saleman, fulfill the divine will and conquer Isynlenor! The food, water, and women shall be yours. May the gods be with you!"

"Sha... Sha... Sha!"

The barbarians raised their hands, wildly gesticulating and shouting, eagerly lapping up the blood of their kin.

...

Smoke from the signal fires billowed, and warhorses whinnied.

At dawn, the villagers on watch duty gasped upon seeing the barbarians at the entrance to their village.

People!

All of them were people!

Completely naked people!

Regardless of age or condition, men, women, and children alike, all were slowly moving forward, herded by the barbarians.

"Aunt Zhang!" cried a villager with keen eyes, trembling with fear.

The villagers of Isynlenor and Zhang Village had frequent interactions, and many were even related by marriage. Suddenly, the high wall erupted in chaos.

"These barbarians have no conscience!"

The Xia father and son were visibly enraged, their eyes ablaze with fury, wishing they could devour the barbarians whole.

Reflecting on Chu Hen's prediction from the previous night, they couldn't help but feel a deep sense of respect for him.

"We mustn't show mercy. The moment they charge, we pour the boiling water!" Han Meng commanded, whip in hand, as he bellowed the orders from a distance.

The barbarians were known for their ruthless and immoral ways. Chu Hen had outlined all the vile tactics the enemy might employ during their strategy session the night before.

And just as predicted, the barbarians staged the horrific act of using the villagers as human shields.

The initial strategy involved using scalding water and boiling oil to fend off the attackers.

But the bonds between neighbors were strong, and none of the villagers were inherently cruel. It was going to be difficult for them to act without hesitation.

Chu Hen would not normally have taken on such a scalding task, but after much deliberation and the realization that lives were on the line, he decided it was better to take matters into his own hands. Han Meng, fearless as ever, knew that after successfully defending for five days, the blame would not fall on him.

With this in mind, he decided to extend a helping hand to Xia Ren and his son, joining forces with Han Meng to oversee the battle.

"No, please don't..."

The air was thick with despair as cries and whimpers echoed from above and below the wall.

The barbarians, using the villagers for cover, erected a tall ladder. Those at the base moved slowly, and any who strayed from the group were swiftly cut down by the barbarians. The path was stained with blood, a sight too gruesome to bear.

The villagers atop the wall, with tears streaming down their faces and their bodies quivering, hesitated to pour the hot water they held.

"Pour it now!"

Han Meng's face was stern as he personally grabbed a basin of boiling water and drenched the man who had made it halfway up the ladder.

With a scream that pierced the air, the man tumbled down, crashing into the barbarians below.

"Splash!"

As Chu Hen watched villagers being forced by the barbarians to climb higher, he couldn't help but shout, "If the village falls, we'll all die!"

"Splash! Splash! Splash!"

Pots of scalding water cascaded from the high walls, causing those below to scatter. Some villagers, desperate to survive, made frantic attempts to flee.

But before they could get far, the thunderous sound of horse hooves approached. The barbarian squadron that had been lying in wait quickly closed in. The leader of the barbarians bared his teeth and roared with laughter, "Kill!"

In an instant, the barbarians charged like eagles swooping on chickens, mercilessly slaughtering the fleeing villagers as if they were hunting rabbits.

The second assault commenced, with the remaining villagers being herded forward, trapped on three sides. The crack of whips echoed as the defenseless villagers were lashed until their skin split and they wailed for mercy.

"Haha! Struggle in your agony, little sheep gifted by the heavens!" The barbarians reveled in their cruelty, laughing maniacally as they tormented the suffering villagers. From atop the high walls, the father and son of Isynlenor watched, filled with a rage so intense they wished they could flay the barbarians alive.

The local militia, unaccustomed to such inhumanity, could no longer contain themselves. The hands that had just thrown water now let the remaining boiling water spill to the ground.

"My wife and sister are down there!"

"I can't do this..."

A young militiaman's eyes were filled with tears as he broke down, prompting tears from his comrades as well.

"Crack!" The sound of a whip snapped through the air, delivered by Han Meng. The young militiaman's clothes were torn open, revealing deep, bloody welts on his flesh.

"Splash! Stop acting like a coward!" Chu Hen bellowed, his voice hoarse, as Han Meng relentlessly continued to whip.

The young militiaman, numb with shock, picked up the basin and began to hurl water in a frenzy.

Seeing this, the other militiamen glared at Chu Hen and Han Meng with eyes red with hatred, splashing water with a ferocity that bordered on madness, until they were left voiceless, their hands still moving relentlessly.

"This is too horrific!" The towering figure swayed, and even Xia Shouli, with his normally stony heart, felt a wave of weakness wash over him.

"Nonsense! At a time like this, to harbor such a childish mindset! All of father's efforts to prevent you from leading the battle have been in vain." Xia Ren's stern and piercing gaze bore into his son.

Chu Hen was well aware that the kind of task that would have thousands cursing you was not something one could endure in just five days. The sole comfort was the knowledge that if Isynlenor could hold, not only would his mission be complete, but the villagers would also survive.

With this in mind, he set aside any concern for temporary losses and continued to lead the battle with determination.

...

The fire crackled, and the ground was littered with bodies. It was deep into the night before the barbarians finally retreated.

A tally of the village's reserves revealed that more than half of the boiling water, scalding oil, and stones had been depleted.

But these losses paled in comparison to the mental anguish endured. News had spread that a young militiaman had gone completely mad, no longer recognizing his own parents. Many of the other villagers were also teetering on the brink of collapse, either stunned into silence or lashing out in frenzied panic.

...

The cool night breeze carried the sound of distant lamentations.

"Young Master Chu, the night has grown deep. Allow me to pour you a cup of hot tea," Lianxiang offered.

From the corner of the high wall, Chu Hen continued his patrol. He was taken aback when he saw Lianxiang approach, her steps hesitant as she navigated through this earthly purgatory.

"Young Master has been at the forefront, battling the enemy without rest. Please, allow this humble gesture of a warm cup of tea to offer you some small comfort," she said, her head bowed as she presented the tea, her cheeks tinged with a rosy hue.

"Thank you," he responded.

Chu Hen took the teacup and drained it in one gulp, the tea's aroma soothing his weary spirit.

"The villagers are so innocent!" Lianxiang lamented, her eyes brimming with tears as she gazed upon the tragic scene illuminated by the firelight.

"Yesterday's events are like clouds passing by, life itself is but a dream, and we are all but dreamers within it," Chu Hen mused, blinking back his own tears before letting out a long sigh.

"I wish all of this were just an illusion, and that come morning, only you, Young Master, would remain..." Lianxiang's voice trailed off, her expression somber for a moment before she shifted the conversation. "Have these people truly resigned themselves to this fate?"

Chu Hen shook his head and remarked, "In turbulent times, decisive action is essential. Hesitation only leads to chaos. I understand your feelings, but now, with desires unfulfilled and strength lacking, we must follow our hearts."

Lianxiang exhaled softly and said, "Young Master, you have saved me on numerous occasions..."

Chu Hen grasped Lianxiang's shoulders, applying gentle pressure as he spoke, "When I had the means to save you, I did not hesitate. If I possessed the valor of a thousand men today, I would single-handedly repel the barbarians and rescue everyone. Alas, I am no deity, and such feats are beyond my reach."

"Young Master, your nobility is that of a true gentleman. Amidst crisis, you remain composed and unswayed by emotion, a testament to your great wisdom and courage." Lianxiang blinked and suddenly added, "In today's skirmish, the barbarians were merely toying with us, while the villagers' spirits were crushed, enduring great suffering. If their resolve falters, they may not withstand even five more days!"

Chu Hen turned away, pausing before he spoke, "Miss Lianxiang, have you noticed anything unusual about Han?"

"Brother Han Meng usually keeps to himself, but today, he seemed quite jovial with the village guards." Lianxiang pursed her lips, puzzled.

"Hehe, it appears our Brother Han Meng has his own agenda!" Chu Hen chuckled.

"Do you grasp the true meaning of survival?" he asked Lianxiang.

"Ah?" She paused, a look of realization dawning on her. "Could it be that he..."

Chu Hen nodded solemnly, "Survival takes many forms, including joy and happiness, but also degradation and humility."

"Then..." Lianxiang's lips parted, hesitating to continue.

Chuckling, Chu Hen reassured her, "The barbarians will be resting tonight; it should be a safe night. Please relay a message to Brother Han for me, asking him to rest easy during his watch. I, too, shall retire for the evening. Furthermore..." His voice trailed off, growing fainter, prompting Lianxiang to furrow her brow in concentration before nodding in agreement.