The remaining militia members moved swiftly and without hesitation. They scrambled to the corners of the walls and grabbed their Hanyang rifles. Some knelt on one knee, pressing the stocks firmly against their shoulders, leaning forward as they fixed their sights on the bandits; others pressed their backs against the walls, peering out and squinting as they took aim.
The Hanyang rifles let out a dull, rhythmic roar, and bullets rained down upon the bandits. This sudden counterattack caught the bandits completely off guard, and several were struck instantly. Their bodies jerked violently, expressions of agony twisting their faces; some clutched their chests and collapsed slowly, blood staining their clothes, while others were thrown to the ground by the sheer force of the impact.
Under the weight of the militia’s concentrated fire, the bandits panicked. They turned and stumbled back through the main gate in disarray. Yet, refusing to give up, they took cover behind the doors, using the wooden panels as shields to fire back through cracks and windows. Bullets whistled through the air as they desperately tried to turn the tide. The two sides were instantly locked in a fierce firefight, the sound of gunfire shattering the silence of the night.
Chapter 331