A Good Story

On a peaceful night, as the citizens of a town slept soundly in darkness, they suddenly felt an unusual heat spreading through the air. When they opened their eyes and stepped outside to investigate, they were immediately stunned. The grand Lin family mansion, which stood tall in the city, was ablaze, not from lanterns or lights, but from intense flames engulfing the entire structure.

The city's guards quickly rallied their forces and rushed to the Lin family mansion to contain the situation. However, what they saw upon arrival made them freeze in place. Amidst the smoke and flames, nine men dressed in white, seemingly members of the Heaven Sword Sect, stood tall. In their hands, they held the severed heads of the Lin family head and several other nobles, while the lifeless bodies of these men lay scattered at their feet.

One of the white-clad men stepped forward, speaking in a cold, commanding voice, "Lay down your arms. This city now belongs to the Heaven Sword Sect."

The sight left the guards in shock. Some, trembling in fear, immediately dropped their weapons without resistance. But a handful of soldiers, despite their fear, still gripped their weapons, refusing to surrender.

The shadowy figures sneered before mercilessly slaughtering the soldiers who had laid down their arms. Blood splattered across the ground, and those soldiers had no chance to defend themselves. The townspeople who witnessed this horrifying scene screamed in terror, with many fleeing the area, but no one could stop the shadowy assassins.

Just as the shadows turned their attention to the remaining citizens, the Black Dragon Cavalry of Emperor Li Huang, along with the Shadow Secret Unit, rushed in, arriving just in time to save the people.

The Black Dragon Cavalry, with their tremendous speed and power, charged into the enemy ranks. The Shadow Secret Unit moved swiftly, like shadows themselves, striking down enemies with precision and without mercy.

One of the Black Dragon Cavalry soldiers shouted in rage, "Heaven Sword Sect! You are nothing but a demonic sect claiming to be righteous, slaughtering people at will! Today, I will kill every last one of you as a warning to your worthless sect!"

The battle erupted fiercely. The Black Dragon Cavalry and the Shadow Secret Unit fought with overwhelming strength and efficiency, easily countering the attacks of the Heaven Sword Sect. What was once an assault from the sect quickly turned into a desperate defense as they struggled to withstand the rapid and powerful attacks of Li Huang's forces.

As the townspeople around the Lin family mansion watched the battle unfold, they were filled with confusion and astonishment. One man spoke up, his voice filled with concern, "Who are they?"

Another chimed in, "Yes, who exactly are they?"

Among the crowd, a woman shouted, "I don't know who they are, but they once gave food to me and my son!"

A man's voice quickly followed, "I remember now! That's the army of Emperor Li Huang! I've seen drawings of them before!"

When the crowd heard the name Emperor Li Huang, their faces lit with shock. Some of them had heard tales of Li Huang—how he bore immense pressure from a young age, was scorned and hated, fought against corrupt officials who exploited the kingdom, and how he was a kind-hearted emperor who once personally distributed food to the people. These stories had spread throughout the Heavenly Flame Empire for some time.

The whispers among the crowd grew quieter, but soon cheers began to rise. "Emperor Li Huang! Emperor Li Huang!" The voices of the people grew louder, filled with hope and admiration.

The battle between the Black Dragon Cavalry and the Shadow Secret Unit against the impostors from the Heaven Sword Sect raged on. The clash of swords echoed across the battlefield, but the outcome had already been decided.

Before long, the fight was over. The Black Dragon Cavalry and the Shadow Secret Unit stood victorious, their hands raised, their bodies drenched in the blood of their enemies. The townspeople, watching in awe, erupted into cheers of joy. Their voices of praise and celebration filled the entire city.

One of the Shadow Secret Unit members stepped forward and addressed the crowd with a powerful voice, "His Majesty the Emperor has decreed that taxes will be waived for the people for one year. From this moment on, food will be distributed to everyone. If you are in need, please line up."

As soon as the words left his mouth, another wave of cheers rose from the crowd. Despite the nightfall, the darkness could not dampen the jubilant cries that filled the city. Many people stepped forward, forming lines to receive food, their hearts brimming with happiness and a renewed sense of hope for the future of the Heavenly Flame Empire under Emperor Li Huang.

That night, it wasn't just the flames consuming the Lin family mansion that shone brightly. A flame of hope was ignited in the hearts of the townspeople. And this same uplifting story repeated itself across the other 26 cities throughout the central region of the Heavenly Flame Empire.