Chapter 478, Controlling the Beast Swarm (Adding more for Alliance Hierarch Xiaobu, who has been owed for several months.)_3
Reliant on themselves, there was no way they could survive the winter.
They'd either freeze or starve to death, or they'd have to sell themselves to the lords in the city.
It would be better to follow Fang Hao. No matter how bad it might be, it wouldn't be worse than their current situation.
"Alright, everyone can rest here tonight. Feel free to move about, but do not leave the city in case there are escapee bandits. It could be dangerous," Fang Hao loudly declared, stepping off the chair.
The mention of 'bandits' caused everyone's expression to change in an instant.
They each found a shady place to chat, but no one wanted to step out the door.
...
Although the people had been comforted...
Exactly how to settle them had become an issue for Fang Hao to ponder over.
According to his and Rebecca's plan, they would set off immediately the next day.
At that time, they would need to select a group of people to escort these women back, or let Ma Hong come to pick them up.
Which method was better, he would have to give it some thought.
Just as Fang Hao was weighing which option was more secure.
The bronze bell on the mountain stronghold's city wall abruptly rang out, clear and resonant.
Simultaneously, a guard's shout followed, "A large number of beasts are approaching. Prepare for battle!"
The uproar ensued!
In the city, all the soldiers sprang into action.
They scaled the city wall.
At the city gate, they pulled up the wooden anti-cavalry stakes, blocking the broken gate.
Fang Hao, accompanied by Anjia and Spencer, climbed up the city wall.
Gazing into the distance, they spotted a swarm of beasts rapidly approaching.
Leading the pack was a massive golden lion with a thick mane.
Behind the lion were bears, wolves, deer, and even tusked wild boar.
Nearly a hundred in total, charging forward like a migrating herd of animals.
Not far behind the beasts, dozens of men dressed like militia were hurriedly following suit.
"Are they herding the beasts?" Fang Hao asked with a furrowed brow.
Meanwhile, Anjia suddenly exclaimed, "Look, there's someone on the golden lion!"
Looking closely, they could indeed see the shadow of a person on the lion's back.
Just in time, that person, poking their head out from the lion's thick mane,
revealed a small face and two twisted braids that swayed in the wind behind her.
She could control the beasts.
That was Fang Hao's second thought.
As the beast horde neared, everyone atop the wall could hear the roars of the beasts and their heavy pants.
"Halt the beasts, if they don't stop, attack right away," ordered Fang Hao.
As soon as he finished speaking.
A nearby soldier raised his gun and fired.
The gunshot rang out, the bullet hitting just in front of the golden lion.
The woman atop the lion seemed startled by the sound of the gunshot.
She looked up at the city wall, and upon seeing the pitch-black barrels,
her face immediately filled with fear.
She instantly tugged at the tuft of hair at the base of the lion's neck, "Stop! Stop now! They have guns!"
Obediently, the golden lion came to a halt.
But the beasts behind continued to charge full speed.
They crashed into each other in an instant, tumbling into a disorganized bundle.
Once teeming with brute force, the sight was now rather comical.
The petite woman, appearing rather frazzled, picked herself up off the ground.
Once she was back atop the lion, she made sure the guns were still trained on them before hastily shouting, "Retreat! Retreat now!"
The militia men tailing the animals had only just arrived.
Before they could understand what was happening, they heard their leader order a retreat.
All of the beasts turned tail and began to run back the way they'd come.
However, at that moment, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from one side.
A golden armored general leading a fully armed golden armored cavalry charged forward,
cutting off the beasts' escape route.
"Damn it, today's just not my day," the woman cursed.