Empress Fu Yao [Volume 2] (Completed)✔

Surrender

No matter how long the path was, it was going to end...

"No!" a shout boomed from behind.

It was Tie Cheng.

He could no longer endure the suppressing energy and was unable to bear seeing the masses glare at her like that. He could no longer take in the sight of her stained clothes and dirty shoes, and her slowly departing, frail figure. He felt as though the world had overturned, and could feel the stones, mud and rotten vegetables smashing onto his heart, breaking it into pieces.

He howled, "No! She won't! No! No!"

PROMOTED CONTENT

He repeatedly shouted, rushing up to resist the angry crowd. "She's not that kind of person! She's not, she's not, she's not!"

"You've been blinded by her beauty!" someone mocked aloud. "You're blind. Didn't you see the official stamp?"

Someone let out a cold laugh. "You wanted to marry her? You two have been in cahoots since the start, isn't it? Evil man. Die together with her then!"

The man tossed a stone, accurately striking Tie Cheng's forehead. Blood poured out as he looked at the young culprit. They were still playing soccer together a few days back. They had been the closest teammates.

Tie Cheng lowered his head to look at the blood on his hand, suddenly understanding how Meng Fuyao was feeling at that point.

At that moment he thought back to the days he had seen and interacted with Meng Fuyao. She had been so bright and courageous, determined and intelligent. Her pearl black eyes often wandered to the direction of Suishui, or else she would fall deep in thought and be caught mumbling to herself. "Put them on a field of death, and they will fight to live..."

She was faking a surrender! The citizens' anger and attacks were the best display of her sincerity in losing reign. What was she going to do after that? One against 50,000... what could she possibly do?

Tie Cheng stood rooted to the ground and shuddered. He turned to chase Meng Fuyao, but having already provoked the rest of the people, standing up for her now would turn him into another enemy, destined to be shamed and swallowed up.

They pounced on him, attacking with their teeth and head. They couldn't get close to Meng Fuyao, but Tie Cheng was another story. He quickly drowned in the crowd, struggling to get to Meng Fuyao while ignoring the objects flying toward him. "She's not! She's really not! Meng Fuyao, no, no, no! No–––"

PROMOTED CONTENT

He trailed off, his voice lingering amid the crowd in despair and helplessness. He had to witness someone he admired walking into a dead end without being able to help. He had to witness a savior sacrificing herself while enduring the hate and hostility displayed by the people. His mournful cry was one that represented the abandonment by his people and the loneliness of standing atop a high cliff alone.

His cry stretched across the crowd and reached Meng Fuyao's ears, but she kept her eyes in front and continued on the path she had set out to complete. She stopped before the city gate and waved, signaling for the Rongsmen to open it.

The gates which had been shut tight for many days finally opened and arrows rained from above the tower as angry Han guardsmen aimed their weapon at their mayor.

Meng Fuyao raised a hand to receive all the arrows, easily snapping them into two and chiseling the ground with deep holes with them.

She lifted her head, and the sunlight shone through the gap between the gate and onto her face, illuminating half of it and leaving her standing at the boundary between this black and white world.