Chapter 257: The Hanshui Crisis

Chapter 257: The Peril of the Han River

On the other side, just as Chen Jian shared the monsters’ movements near Jinling City with the city’s defenders, events unfolded within Han River City.

Li Xian sat upright at the long table in the council hall, his side occupied by Zhou Qin, the attendant of the Sacred Blood Hall who also held a key post in the city’s defense bureau.

A heavy veil of tension and unease hung over both of them, a dread deeper than the one they felt when the threat of Huangshi City first loomed.

After a long, silent stare, Li Xian finally moved.

He tapped lightly on the table before him, then said:

“We have no way back now.”

“The Mechanical Cult lacks the capacity to dispatch more guardian troops, and the other towns are too preoccupied to help.”

“Xianing, Jiujiang, Xishui, Wuxue—ironically, the place most likely to save us is not Xianing, but the growing town of Wuxue, bolstered by the Circular Chamber and the Huaxia army.”

“Its population is small, yet its equipment is remarkably advanced.”

“I heard the Circular Chamber just shipped a cache of weapons seized by the Huaxia army from Quancheng to Wuxue, including a great many explosives and automatic arms.”

“If we request aid, they are the only ones we can turn to.”

“At least they still have a modicum of spare strength.”

“But seeking them is unrealistic.”

Zhou Qin shook his head, sighed, and then said:

“Their ‘spare strength’ rests only on a defensive footing; in fact, even dealing with the increasingly active blood skeletons around them has already stretched Wuxue beyond its limits.”

“Haven’t you heard? The trade routes passing through Wuxue have been under frequent raids lately—something that was no small matter in the past.”

“The whole region is wading in fire and water; everyone can barely protect themselves. How could anyone be so kind as to rescue us?”

“We—”

“Then tell me, what shall we do?”

Li Xian cut Zhou Qin off, his tone edging into irritation as he said:

“This won’t work, that won’t work; I’m not sitting here to listen to your objections!”

“I’ve already pressed the Mechanical Sanctuary, even risking my rank and future to argue my case—what about you?”

“.”

Zhou Qin fell silent; after a long pause he finally spoke:

“I have tried as well.”

“But compared with the Mechanical Sanctuary, the situation in the Sacred Blood Hall is even more… more turbulent.”

“Masses of manpower have been poured into the southern relocation effort, and another portion scattered across the lands to conduct reconnaissance.”

“The Holy Father lacks the ability to marshal enough forces to tend to a single town; for him, such a move would be irrational and yield insufficient returns.”

“He has promised to send a small squad to assist, but for us that is still a drop in the bucket.”

“Believe me, I share your desire not to see this city fall.”

“But I have truly done all I can.”

“All I can do is stay here with you.”

“At least until the monster tears my body apart, I will not take a single step backward.”

With those words, the once‑sharp‑tongued Li Xian fell silent as well.

He let out a long sigh, paused a few seconds, then said:

“I’m sorry, I lost control.”

“I’m simply under too much pressure.”

“One level‑three monster, more than five level‑four monsters, and a swarm of smaller beasts.”

“Since I arrived at Han River City, I have never faced such a dire predicament.”

“The most absurd thing is that we have already squandered so many troops in that meaningless quarrel.”

“Had we known the Huaxia army would grow to this extent, why waste our forces on Huangshi City?”

At this, a wry smile flickered on Li Xian’s face, while Zhou Qin shrugged and said:

“What can be done? No one is omniscient or omnipotent.”

“In any case, we must focus on the present.”

“That level‑three monster is expected to reach the outskirts of Han River City in a week; how do you plan to arrange the defense?”

“We may have to sacrifice some guardian troops.” Li Xian furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, then said:

“I will place the defensive line on the great bridge, using the high ground to establish an artillery position.”

“We still have a total of twenty‑four cannons; a full volley, even if it cannot outright slay the beast, will inflict grievous wounds.”

“Yet that position will likely afford only two or three shots.”

“After we fire, the emplacement will be exposed.”

“All the artillery priests and mechanized servants will have no time to retreat; they are doomed.”

“After that, it falls to you.”

“I need the Sacred Blood bearers to carry enough explosives to finish off the wounded monster, though those bearers may not survive themselves.”

Hearing Li Xian’s words, Zhou Qin nodded slowly.

“I will lead the squad myself.”

“No, you must stay to command.”

Li Xian waved his hand and said:

“Even if we manage to kill that level‑three monster, the battle does not end there.”

“Those five level‑four monsters and the smaller beasts will continue to assault Han River City; we must retain forces to meet their threat.”

“The Holy Trinity above—this is nothing but a dead end.”

With those words, the two fell silent once more.

Yes, no matter how they calculate, no matter how they arrange their defenses, they cannot alter the destiny of Han River City’s ruin.

Too few weapons, too few fighters, and an enemy far too powerful.

All resistance is merely a dying struggle.

And now the shadow of death is slowly descending; just a day ago, they lost two Sacred Blood bearers and more than ten guardian troops.

Their opponent, after all, is merely a single level‑four monster.

Li Xian lifted his gaze to the Holy Trinity emblem emblazoned on the vaulted ceiling of the council hall, and in that instant a profound sense of helplessness rose within him.

The Mechanical Cult cannot save Han River City, nor can the Holy Trinity——

What if the Huaxia army intervened?

A sudden flash of lightning seemed to streak across his mind.

At the same instant, Zhou Qin sat up straight, startled.

The two locked eyes, then spoke in unison:

"Looking for the Huaxia army?"

No need for elaborate words; the tacit understanding required no discussion.

Both realized this was their final, and indeed best, option.

"Can you reach the Huaxia army?"

"I can!"

Li Xian surged toward the radio without hesitation, tuning the frequency to the string of numbers he had etched into his memory.

Then the relentless calls began.

A few minutes later, a response crackled through the headset.

Li Xian swiftly briefed the situation at Hanshui City, only to be met with a prolonged silence on the other end.

It stretched so long that he began to think his hope had evaporated, that the last savior had already abandoned Hanshui City.

Yet soon his expression shifted.

Zhou Qin, standing nearby, watched as he uttered several successive "Understood"s, set the headset down, and hurried forward to ask:

"What did they say?"

A smile blossomed on Li Xian's face.

He answered:

"They told us to hold out for a few days."

"Within a week, they'll send reinforcements!"

(End of chapter)