A City on the Brink
The attack on Lord Wu's tax shipment had sent a ripple through Ping Shui City. The once-feared enforcers now walked the streets with an unfamiliar hesitation, their hands constantly on the hilts of their swords.
The people—once too afraid to look them in the eyes—began to whisper.
Something was changing.
But David Haipoli knew that victory in one ambush was not enough. If he wanted to turn the rebellion into something real, he needed another decisive strike.
And he knew exactly where to hit.
---
A Challenge from the Shadows
Jiang sat across from David and Lily, maps and documents spread before them in the dimly lit tavern cellar that had become their secret hideout.
"We made Wu bleed, but he's still standing," Jiang muttered, tapping a dagger against the table. "He's doubled the guards on his shipments, and after what happened at the Midnight Market, he's got spies crawling through the city."
David nodded. "That's expected. He's playing defense now."
Lily, arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. "So what's our next move?"
David leaned forward. "We force him to make a mistake."
He traced his finger across a section of the map—the Guard Barracks near the city center.
"His enforcers operate in shifts. Every night, a supply shipment of weapons and armor is delivered to the barracks. If we hit it, we don't just weaken them—we arm ourselves."
Jiang let out a low whistle. "That's bold."
Lily frowned. "It's risky. The barracks are well-guarded."
David's smirk was cold. "Which is why we won't fight them directly. We use speed, stealth—and fire."
Jiang grinned. "I like the way you think, noble boy."
---
The Night of Flames
David's team moved like ghosts through the city, their dark cloaks blending into the alleys.
The barracks loomed ahead, a fortified stone structure with iron gates and patrolling guards. The shipment wagon, loaded with crates of weapons, stood unguarded for just a few moments as the shift changed.
That was their opening.
David gave the signal.
Lily and Ren slipped through the shadows, coating the supply cart's wheels with oil.
Jiang, hidden on a nearby rooftop, notched an arrow wrapped in cloth.
David waited until the perfect moment—then nodded.
The flaming arrow shot through the night.
It struck the wagon's side—and within seconds, the cart exploded into a roaring blaze.
Chaos erupted.
Guards shouted, scrambling to put out the fire. Smoke and panic filled the air.
David and his men moved in.
They struck fast—knocking out distracted guards, looting weapons from the burning supply crates, and melting into the night before reinforcements could arrive.
By the time Wu's enforcers managed to regain order, half the weapons shipment was gone, and the barracks courtyard was still ablaze.
The flames reflected in David's cold blue eyes as he watched from a rooftop. Fear had changed sides tonight.
---
The Breaking Point
Back in their hideout, the spoils of war lay before them—swords, crossbows, armor. Real weapons.
For the first time, their rebellion was more than just whispers in the dark.
Jiang let out a laugh, holding up a polished blade. "Now this is a real fight."
Lily, however, looked uneasy. "We hit him hard tonight. He'll hit back even harder."
David exhaled slowly. "Let him. The more desperate he gets, the more mistakes he'll make."
And sure enough, the next morning, news spread across the city—
Lord Wu had ordered a full lockdown.
His enforcers raided homes, arrested suspected rebels, and imposed harsh punishments on anyone caught defying his rule.
David watched from a rooftop as a merchant was dragged into the streets and beaten—an example to the others.
Jiang's fists clenched. "That bastard's scared."
David's eyes darkened. "Then it's time we finish what we started."
---
Wu's Response: A City Under Siege
As expected, Wu's retaliation was brutal.
His enforcers patrolled the streets in larger numbers, stopping and questioning anyone they deemed suspicious. Those who had once supported the rebellion in secret now faced intimidation and threats.
Jiang, returning from an errand, dropped onto a stool in the hideout with a grim expression. "They arrested three of our informants today."
David's fingers tightened around the hilt of his dagger.
Lily frowned. "And what happens when they start breaking people? Someone will talk."
David considered this. Torture was a favorite tool of men like Wu. Eventually, fear or pain would force someone to reveal their safehouses, their names—everything.
"We need to act before that happens," he decided. "We need a final move that will cripple him completely."
Jiang leaned forward. "You got something in mind?"
David traced his finger along the map once more, stopping at a fortified estate near the city's center.
Wu's personal mansion.
"If we take him out," David said, "the city is ours."
Jiang grinned. "Now you're talking."
Lily sighed. "You're insane."
David smirked. "Only if we fail."
And with that, the final strike against Wu was set in motion.