Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 501 - 437: Assassination in the Long Street + - 438: Quick Battle and Swift Resolution

Chapter 501: Chapter 437: Assassination in the Long Street + Chapter 438: Quick Battle and Swift Resolution

"Magistrate Zhou has returned to the city, Magistrate Zhou has returned to the city."

Someone shouted loudly.

The bustling street was immediately filled with a wave of cheers.

From afar, a huge black carriage could be seen.

The carriage was very large and moved silently forward.

Pulled by four horses, it slowly entered through the eastern gate and went straight down the street...

The crowds on both sides automatically parted, clearing a path. The expressions of panic and fear on many faces vanished at the sight of the carriage.

"It’s Magistrate Zhou."

The shouts of dozens were followed by the voices of thousands, then tens of thousands, all chanting in unison.

The sound was like a tide, washing over in waves, and more people, weeping, tried to get closer, waving their arms.

"Brother Zhou’s prestige grows by the day, saving millions of lives; the gratitude of the people is truly astonishing."

Green Lady looked through the window curtains, already seeing that on both sides of the street, the flow of people was dense, and from the buildings along the street, countless heads peered out, each pair of eyes gleaming with hope.

Although it wasn’t the first time she had witnessed such a scene, the sight was still profoundly moving every time.

There are things you do that, even if unspoken, the common people actually know.

They know whether life has improved and if they can get by—their hearts keep their own accounts.

They really know who brought them these hopeful days.

"This is why I’m reluctant to travel by carriage on ordinary days."

Zhou Ping’an sighed with slight resignation.

If it weren’t for soothing the public’s heart, he would have leapt through the air and entered the City Lord’s Mansion by now.

With the enemy outside the city so powerful and the people so anxious, a bit of confidence was needed; thus, entering the city in the symbolic carriage with great fanfare was very necessary.

In these times, what people need isn’t just food and warmth, but most importantly, a sense of security.

Both material and spiritual needs are indispensable.

Sometimes, Zhou Ping’an also had to pay a bit more attention to these things.

Walking naturally took longer at this pace. He lifted the front curtain, reached out, and waved his hand slightly, responding to the enthusiastic people.

Seeing him wave, the volume of the cheers increased once more.

Some mischievous children also circled the carriage, running behind it.

Whispers and discussions could be heard near and far.

"After Magistrate Zhou returns, we’ll no longer fear the threats outside the city."

"It’s detestable, those cavalry, destroying the rice seedlings outside the western city. That’s our food, and it was growing so well!"

"Suppress the bandits? Are there any good bandits? Those lords are heartless, they just can’t stand to see us have a good life for once."

"Magistrate Zhou’s Sword Technique is unparalleled; even the Red Lotus Rebels and the Demon Beasts of Southern Marsh are no match for him. Those who dare to come here are only seeking their own demise."

"In my opinion, our Magistrate Zhou should just raise a king’s flag and take over the world."

"Shush, don’t speak rashly. Magistrate Zhou has his own considerations. Get ready, this time, if the Imperial Army lacks hands, we might also be dispatched to defend the city walls. There’s never been a time when I truly wanted to defend this city..."

"Let’s go together, if they ask for volunteers, I’ll sign up to kill the bandits."

Pinghu City’s population of more than 200,000, both young and old, heard the news of enemy attacks and most had already taken refuge within the city.

The able-bodied were eager to fight to protect their homes.

Work outside the city had naturally come to a halt.

Other tasks like road building, land clearing, house construction, and weeding weren’t affected.

However, for those with fields in the direction of the western city, their hearts felt as if they were being wrenched.

To see the rice seedlings, which were just a month away from a bountiful harvest and growing so well, destroyed like this—how could they not be heartbroken?

"Xiao Chengfeng is quite capable; he gathered the people promptly, adopting a scorched-earth strategy to prevent the Imperial Court’s fierce generals from kidnapping people and attacking the city—a gesture of kindness worth noting."

Zhou Ping’an did not disdain the noise and crowding inside the city; instead, he thought Xiao Chengfeng’s actions were very appropriate.

The Imperial Court was in its twilight, with uprisings everywhere and various sects bearing their banners, their actions utterly without restraint.

Under these circumstances, there’s no need to expect too much from the Bandit Army, which is hardly better than wild beasts.

Not just the bandit forces, but even the Imperial Army, once deployed locally, could act extremely harshly, disregarding civilian lives. Collecting people to attack cities, using them as disposable soldiers to reduce their own losses—such actions were not unique to the bandits; the Government Soldiers did the same.

As long as they won battles, no one could criticize them.

Xiao Chengfeng clearly understood what kind of people the Imperial Court had sent out; therefore, he protected all the people, fortified the city, and waited for Zhou Ping’an’s return.

Even though there might be enemy spies mixed in, the advantages far outweighed the disadvantages.

Many lives could be spared.

"Ah..."

The carriage rolled on slowly when suddenly, ahead, the sound of horses neighing— the carriage came to a stop, and the sound of a child’s wail reached the ears.

Zhou Ping’an turned to look and immediately knew what had happened.

A little girl dressed in red, excitedly running about, had darted in front of the horses, nearly being crushed by their hooves, which frightened her into falling headfirst, her head bleeding from the impact.

From the midst of the crowd, a round, middle-aged man sweating profusely made his way forward, yelling, "Little Red, Little Red, don’t run off like that..."

The carriage driver was the Azure Scale Cavalry Unit Leader, surnamed Wu, who was now sweating profusely, repeatedly saying, "That little girl came rushing out from the side so quickly, I couldn’t react in time."