With the thunderous noise of impact and the clatter of chains, the massive "city gate," fully a hundred meters high outside the city walls, slowly rose. Countless rebels rushed in, and among them, a multitude of Quelan County's common folk.
The white-haired woman stood atop the high wall. Behind her were two white-haired girls, their small faces deathly pale, and she clutched them tightly.
She looked down at the rebels, recognizing familiar faces among them.
—Just yesterday, they had drunk two large bowls of hot porridge at her charity porridge stand.
Now, their eyes were filled with madness. They laughed heartily as they charged into the residences, frantically looting all sorts of things.
Going from house to house, they plundered from the very people who, just yesterday, had been as destitute as they were.
"Mommy, what are they doing?"
"Are they too hungry...? Wuque still has a piece of pancake here."
