The group moved through the dusty, devastated streets of Duomai, a city that had once been prosperous, vibrant, and full of life. Now, all that remained was a shadow of its former glory, marked by chaos and despair. Li Yuan, the old man who had guided them along the way, walked with slow but determined steps, his gaze heavy with nostalgia and bitterness.
"This... used to be a place of peace," murmured Li Yuan, his tired eyes scanning the ruined buildings and abandoned shops. "But now you see what it's become. No one is safe here, not even those who call themselves rebels."
Xu Anping cautiously observed his surroundings. The city was full of people, despite the evident destruction. Rebel soldiers patrolled the streets, groups of young men and women, many of them with faces hardened by conflict, though in Xu Anping's eyes, they seemed too young to be fighting a war. Sanhua, his sister, clung tightly to him, looking around with a mix of fear and confusion.
"We have to find food, Anping," she whispered with concern. "We haven't eaten anything decent in days."
Xu Anping nodded silently. He knew the situation was critical, but they also needed to be cautious. Li Yuan led them to an improvised market, where a few vendors were selling the little they had at exorbitant prices. The atmosphere was tense, as if a spark could ignite a conflict at any moment. As they approached one of the stalls, a grim-looking man with an unkempt beard eyed them suspiciously.
"What are you looking for?" the vendor growled, his voice hoarse from fatigue.
"We want to know what's going on in the city," Xu Anping said firmly, trying to hide his distrust. "Is there any place where we can find shelter or work?"
The vendor let out a bitter laugh that echoed hollowly in the midst of the chaos.
"Shelter?" he repeated with sarcasm. "The only way to get anything here is to join the rebel army. They control everything. And if you think they're better than the government... well, you're fooling yourselves. They're nothing but factions fighting among themselves, each with its own leader and interests. None of them really care about the common people."
Xu Anping frowned, absorbing the bitter truth. The rebellion, which had promised justice and liberation, seemed as fractured and corrupt as the government it sought to overthrow.
"And what about food?" asked Liang, the young man who had traveled with them. "There must be some way to get at least that, right?"
The vendor nodded, pointing toward the center of the city.
"If you want to eat, you'll have to go to the center and join the rebel army. They're recruiting anyone who shows up. There are endless lines to register, and in return, you get rations. There's no other option if you want to survive."
Li Yuan exchanged a worried glance with Xu Anping. The idea of joining the rebellion didn't appeal to them, but the need was urgent. They couldn't go much longer without food.
"I suppose we have no other choice," the old man said with resignation. "We'll have to go and see for ourselves."
With the weight of the decision falling on their shoulders, the group began walking toward the center of the city. As they advanced, the streets grew more crowded with desperate people, and the atmosphere became increasingly oppressive. Soldiers wearing black cloaks, the symbol of one of the rebel factions, patrolled with severe expressions, maintaining order rigidly and authoritatively. Misery and discontent were visible on every corner.
"I don't like this at all," Xu Anping murmured, squeezing his sister's hand tighter, as if the mere contact could keep them safe.
Finally, they reached the center of the city, and what they found was disheartening. A massive line of people—men, women, children, and even the elderly—were waiting for their turn to register with the rebel army. The soldiers in black cloaks watched closely, their faces impassive, and the silence was only broken by the occasional command or desperate plea. Some of those waiting looked emaciated from hunger, their bodies weak and exhausted. Others, however, wore expressions of stubbornness, determined to fight, no matter the cost.
"This isn't what I imagined," murmured Liang, frowning at the scene. "Are we really going to do this? Join them?"
Xu Anping didn't answer immediately. He watched the soldiers move stiffly through the crowd, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords, ready for any sign of disobedience. There was no trace of camaraderie or a spirit of justice among them. The rebellion had turned into a crude mechanism of survival, and joining it seemed more like an act of desperation than of conviction.
He knew there was no other option. The hunger gnawing at them from within was relentless, and the promise of food, no matter how meager, was the only thing they had left. Xu Anping took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the decision with each step he took toward the recruitment center.
The rebel army made no distinctions. It didn't matter if you were a child, a woman, an elderly person, or a man of fighting age. They weren't interested in skill or experience. All they wanted were numbers, to swell their ranks and gain an advantage in a senseless, never-ending war.
As Xu Anping, his sister, and the rest of the group approached the lines, the brutal reality of their situation became clear. The rebellion, though necessary for many, offered nothing more than another form of oppression. The lines of recruits seemed endless, and in the crowd, faces of all ages could be seen: elderly people barely able to stand, women carrying their starving children, and children like Sanhua, who barely knew anything beyond misery and conflict.
Chaos and despair grew more palpable with each passing moment. Shouts echoed in the air as soldiers struggled to maintain order among the mass of desperate people waiting to enlist. It wasn't a call to heroism, nor a promise of justice. It was simply a matter of survival: either you joined the army, or you starved to death in the ruined streets of Duomai.