The road west stretched on without end.
After the collapse of the main battlefield, the remnants of the Qin army had become scattered bands of the barely living. Their banners were torn. Their formations broken. Their commanders—either dead, missing, or silent.
Among them, two units still marched in step.
The Gu Ren Tai, led by Ren, 800 strong.And the Hi Shin Tai, led by Shin, reduced to under 700.
Together, they trudged forward, followed by stragglers from Ousen's army, survivors from Duke Hyou's shattered core.
In total—no more than 3,000 soldiers remained.
No one gave the order to march. They simply knew: they could not stop.
On the fourth day, they came upon a town.
Not a fortress. Not a stronghold.
Just a quiet cluster of walls, modest and worn. The gates were open, but no army stood watch. No official banners flew overhead.
Still, something inside stirred.
Ren narrowed his eyes. "This… is Sai."
Shin stepped up beside him, silent, taking in the sight.
Inside, a spark of purpose had taken root.
Barricades were rising. Arrows were being distributed. Horses fed. Civilians helped string ropes between towers and tie oil-jars in bundles along the streets. Makeshift blacksmiths hammered blades and re-fit armor.
There was no time to ask why the town was being prepared.
Only time to help.
The Square
In the central square, a crowd was gathering.
Men from all corners of the battlefield huddled together—officers, foot soldiers, medics, wounded veterans. Dust clung to their cloaks. Blood had dried in their hair.
And then… he appeared.
A young man. Plain robes. No armor. No guards.
Ei Sei. The King of Qin.
Standing on a wooden platform built overnight, he looked out over the last defenders of his kingdom.
"We have fought. We have fallen. And we have been forced back."
"But we have not broken."
"The enemy approaches, believing they can end us here."
"So let them come."
"Because this place—Sai—is where we stop."
The crowd listened. Some wide-eyed, some trembling, others barely standing.
But they all heard him.
"I will not flee. I will not watch from a palace."
"I will remain here, beside you."
"Because if we fight here—together—we can show the world that Qin does not kneel."
A silence followed, deeper than any drumbeat.
Then Shin raised his sword to the sky.
Ren followed, lifting his own.
And the 3,000 remaining soldiers—Hi Shin Tai, Gu Ren Tai, and all the scattered remnants—let out a roar that shook the square.
They were no longer running.