RWNEFE -Chapter 57 From Now On, You Obey My Command!

Shen Lanxi rode her horse forward for more than five hundred meters and saw a group of refugees surrounding several wagons, fighting over them.

She hid her horse, leapt, and landed on the shaft of one of the wagons!

“Who goes there? Don’t harm my Big Brother!” a man shouted from the side. Shen Lanxi swung her staff, sending both him and the wooden beam flying three meters away.

Someone lying in the wagon reached out, trying to grab her ankle. Shen Lanxi’s staff moved like it had eyes—she pinned the hand to the wagon wall with a single strike.

Each of the refugees held weapons, but none wanted to use the sharp edge on the crowd. Their hesitation meant they were soon overwhelmed. Even the skilled fighters couldn’t match the numbers, and within a short while, they would be beaten to death by the mob.

Wei Dongzhu was filled with grief and anger, but could only watch helplessly as his brothers were dragged and beaten by the refugees. He wished it were him instead!

He thought, Did Heaven spare me from the flames just to die at the hands of these people?

These were people they had once protected—the citizens of Great Zhou. How tragic!

“Please… save my brothers…”

“Please… save my brothers…” At that moment, the young general, proud and gallant, felt his pride break.

Shen Lanxi withdrew her staff, expressionless, and sent away any refugee who tried to grab her with a single swing.

“Why should I save you?”

Wei Dongzhu said, “I have a chest of gold and silver—everything is yours!”

Shen Lanxi remained unmoved.

Wei Dongzhu clenched his fists, reopening the scabs on his wounds, blood staining his bandages.

“I have my brothers, too. From now on, you can command us however you want!”

Shen Lanxi asked, “What if you go back on your word?”

Wei Dongzhu swore, “If I break my word, let me die without a grave!”

Shen Lanxi said, “If you break your word, then you and your brothers will have enemies you cannot punish, a home you cannot return to, and every effort you make will be in vain!”

Wei Dongzhu threw his head back, shouting hoarsely to the sky, “Fine! If I break my word, let me die without a grave, as sworn!”

The next second, Shen Lanxi moved like a swift leopard, charging into the crowd.

Her staff, wielded with tremendous force, whistled through the air.

The refugees, who had been laughing scornfully at first, turned pale at the sound. By the time they tried to dodge, it was too late.

They flew aside like fish hit by a wave, landing unmoving on the ground.

Another swing sent another line of refugees flying.

Everyone struck by the staff was sent flying; none survived, life or death unknown.

The refugees scattered in terror, though a few resisted.

“What are you afraid of? He’s only one person. We’re so many—let’s attack and grab his staff!”

Shen Lanxi immediately flew toward the shouting man with her staff!

Wei Dongzhu struggled anxiously. The staff had no edge; at most, it could push a person aside. A direct strike to the head would have been better—but the refugees, seeing her approach, recoiled as if witnessing a nightmare. Then, they all turned and fled in panic.

Wei Dongzhu’s eyes widened in shock. Impossible!

Shen Lanxi applied a slight force, withdrawing the staff. Blood splattered as she swung it, the power of her strike filling the air.

The Manual of Weapons states that those who wield a staff with a compassionate heart leave a chance for their enemy to live. Yet even a simple stick or a small stone becomes a deadly weapon in the hands of a true master. Killing or sparing depends not on the weapon, but on skill and control.

Clearly, she had mastered neither fully—yet her control and presence alone were terrifying.

“They’re demons… demons come for your life…”

The refugees had never seen anyone pierce through a person with a staff. One swing and dozens fell, blood everywhere, and she didn’t even blink. In their minds, only a cruel, merciless demon could act so ruthlessly. In an instant, all that remained was their panicked flight.

In the blink of an eye, the refugees were gone from sight.

Wei Dongzhu struggled to sit up against the wagon. Lying down had been shocking, but seeing her in action made his heart pound in terror.

The staff still dripped with blood. Shen Lanxi casually shook it a few times, about to grab a cloth to clean it. A man hurried forward, producing a cloth.

“Benefactor, your staff is dirty. Let me clean it for you so your hands won’t get dirty!”

Shen Lanxi looked at the man—one of the four who had been trapped in the snake pit, the bold leader. A glance revealed the other three.

“Go ahead,” she said, resting the staff across her body.

The man knelt, carefully wiping it clean.

Wei Dongzhu explained, “These four weren’t with us. We saved them from the refugees. One was too injured and couldn’t be saved.”

Shen Lanxi retracted the cleaned staff and asked, “What are your intentions?”

The four immediately knelt, respectfully pleading, “We have no family left. We wish to follow you and repay you for saving our lives!”

“You’ve been following me all this way?”

The four hesitated, fear and guilt in their voices: “…Yes.”

Shen Lanxi said, “This journey isn’t safe. I don’t take useless people. What can you do?”

Fearing rejection, they quickly said, “We’re all hunters. We can hunt and fight!”

Having survived the snake pit, they clearly had skills.

“Good! You’ll go with them—come with me!”

The four rejoiced and thanked Shen Lanxi, then Wei Dongzhu.

After waiting a moment, Liu Laohu and the others caught up.

“Master, who are they?” Liu Yanhui asked.

Shen Lanxi briefly explained, “Refugees, originally hunters, capable of some skill. I saved them; they repay me and will escort us to Jinmen.”

Everyone heard this. Though the men bore injuries, Liu Laohu and the officials were satisfied—they were adults, skilled, and added extra security against refugees.

“What about their food and water?” Liu Yanhui asked quietly.

“They’ll handle themselves,” Shen Lanxi replied.

Liu Yanhui exchanged a look with Liu Laohu. Score!

The prisoners quickly searched the bodies lying around but found no coins—the refugees had nothing.

After running for an hour, they rested. At dawn, they saw smoke rising nearby. Excitement made them cry tears of joy.

“Smoke! That means people, and people mean water. We’re saved!”

Liu Laohu happily ordered all prisoners onto the wagons. Whipping the reins, they raced toward the smoke.

The village gate read: Liu Zhao Village.

“Don’t go in yet. Be careful of traps!” Wei Dongzhu warned, sending word to Shen Lanxi.

“One whole village, and only one chimney is smoking? Are the rest not cooking?”