On a rocky desert, a company of Echos soldiers stood ready. The sight of them caused a group of Khode refugees to change direction.
These refugees were survivors from a nearby village, which had now been reduced to ruins. Echos' soldiers laid waste to the place by burning everything after raiding all the valuables. The villagers had been worried they would be taken prisoners or forced to become slaves, but the enemy let them go. Aside from killing a few cultivators who tried to resist, the soldiers didn't do anything to harm them.
Still, they were not eager to push their luck. So, they changed course when they saw the Echos soldiers blocking the direction they were heading. After some discussion, they decided to head for Steam Water City.
The Echos company, which comprised around two hundred troops, watched the refugees moving away.
"Captain Xian Ba. Looks like they are now heading in the right direction," One of the soldiers said.
