Night had fallen deep, and the mountain village was silent, with only the lights in the old house still burning.
Strong liquor, red as blood, filled coarse ceramic bowls, as several white-haired elders sat around a wooden table, their gazes heavy, their expressions complex.
Blood Butcher, the burly man, his eyes slightly sunken, said with a look of helplessness, “Killing and arson bring wealth, while building bridges and mending roads leave no corpses…
“That battle, we lost too terribly…”,
“The world shouldn’t be like this…”,
Old Village Chief said faintly, “It’s fate, it’s destiny. So many years have passed, have you still not let go?”
“Those lost brothers have long turned to dust. We, the living, should cherish the present time even more.”
Everyone fell silent, their faces looking unnatural.
He slammed a hand heavily on the table, which creaked and then a corner collapsed.
His voice hoarse, he said, “Let go? How can it be so easy! Back then, we, a group of homeless Loose Cultivators, peddlers, and porters, struggled step by step to establish Fire Lotus City. How high-spirited we were then!”
“Our brothers and sisters were devoted to each other, righteous and loyal. The Dao we believed in was Heaven-Defying change of fate, hatred of evil, and refusal to submit to those high and mighty rulers of the Heavens!”
“What we did was for the suffering Cultivators at the bottom of the world, to break those corrupt and greedy aristocratic families!”
“Yes.”
Granny Yun narrowed her eyes, her wrinkles like ravines, and ghostly shadows flickered in her dark pupils: “That year, anyone who was poor, humble, and had nowhere to go, as long as they were willing to join our Fire Lotus City with righteousness, we would accept them; if they were willing to fight, we would protect them.”
“If there is injustice in the human world, we will act on behalf of the Heavens to uphold the Dao.”
“How magnificent it was!?”
Blood Butcher gritted his teeth and whispered, “But how could the Longevity Jiang Clan tolerate people like us in their eyes?”
“That high and mighty Longevity Jiang Clan regarded us as a thorn in their side! To maintain their rule, they even sent out powerful experts, brazenly launching a devastating attack on our Fire Lotus City!”
“Su Hongye, that woman, was only a Quasi-Emperor Cultivator back then, yet she led countless experts of the Jiang Clan and completely annihilated our Fire Lotus City! Countless brothers and sisters died tragically at her hands, blood flowed like rivers, corpses lay everywhere, that scene was simply…”
When the elder surnamed Tu spoke of this, his voice choked, and a trace of turbid tears seeped from the corners of his wrinkled eyes.
Old Village Chief slowly closed his eyes, and after a long while, he whispered, “If it weren’t for the Longevity Jiang Clan threatening the world with a massacre, how could we have fallen to this? But we ultimately couldn’t stand against a Longevity Immortal Clan…”
“We nine old fellows were merely lucky to escape back then, all carrying injuries of varying severity. For years, we could only hide in this secluded small mountain village, barely surviving, not even daring to reveal our true names easily…”
The other elders also lowered their heads upon hearing this.
That battle back then was an unforgettable nightmare for them, an eternal pain in their hearts.
Old Village Chief looked at his old friends before him and sighed deeply.
He understood.
How deep the scars that battle had left on them.
It was not just physical pain, but also spiritual trauma, leaving them unable to truly let go even to this day.
After a long silence, Old Village Chief slowly opened his mouth, breaking the oppressive atmosphere: “Over the years, although we have lived in seclusion here, watching Ye Qingyun grow up day by day and become stronger, our hearts have found a little solace.”
“This child has extraordinary talent and a pure Heart-Nature. We have poured everything we have, imparting all our knowledge to him, hoping that he will rise in the Golden Great Era, and perhaps one day, he can truly… for us…”
“For those deceased brothers and sisters… seek justice!”
“Yes, this child is someone we watched grow up; we trust his character.”
Granny Yun’s dark eyes were now filled with a look of loving kindness: “Over these years, we old fellows have taught him everything we know, hoping that he will achieve something great in the future.”
“Ye Qingyun’s talent is indeed beyond question. He has reached the True King Realm Fifth Heaven before he is even a hundred years old. Looking at the entire Myriad Domains of the Heavens, there are probably few young people who can compare to him.” Blood Butcher, the burly man, also nodded, a relieved smile appearing on his rugged face: “Moreover, this child has a resilient Heart-Nature, is hardworking, and cares for the world. He is sure to achieve great things in the future.”
The elder surnamed Tu frowned slightly, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes: “The outside world is, after all, unpredictable and dangerous. Although Ye Qingyun’s current strength is not weak, in front of truly powerful experts, it is probably still not enough.”
“Should we arrange a Dao Protector for him, lest some shameless old fogeys bully the young?”
Old Village Chief nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this: “Ye Qingyun is our last hope; he must not suffer any mishaps.”
“It’s just, who should we send to protect him?”
“We old fellows are all injured, and once we leave here, Su Hongye might notice…”
At this point, a hint of apprehension flickered in Old Village Chief’s eyes.
Granny Gui was the first to speak: “I’ll go.”
“Although my strength is not as good as you old fellows, when it comes to methods of concealing my figure and tracking, I still have some confidence.”
“Moreover, if I protect him in the dark, it won’t easily attract others’ attention.”
“I’ll go too!” Blood Butcher, the burly man, quickly followed, saying: “Although my strength is not at its Peak, it’s not something just any cat or dog can bully.”
“With me there, I can at least help Ye Qingyun fend off some overt troubles.”
“You two…” Old Village Chief looked at the two who had volunteered, a look of hesitation in his eyes.
He knew that both Granny Gui and Blood Butcher carried serious injuries, and sending them to protect Ye Qingyun made him somewhat worried.
“Don’t worry, Old Village Chief.” Granny Gui saw Old Village Chief’s concern and said with a smile: “Although we two old fellows are not as capable as we once were, we still have this much ability.”
“Furthermore, we won’t easily expose our identities. We’ll just protect Ye Qingyun in the dark and won’t cause him any trouble.”
Blood Butcher, the burly man, also said in a booming voice: “That’s right, Old Village Chief, just rest assured.”
“We two old fellows may not have other great abilities, but we do have some means of self-preservation.”
“Besides, it’s been a long time since we’ve stretched our limbs. This is a good opportunity to go out and see the world, and incidentally, to see what the outside world has become for those deceased brothers and sisters.”
Hearing the two speak like this, Old Village Chief knew that further persuasion would be useless. He sighed deeply, nodded, and said, “Alright, since you two insist on going, I won’t say anything more.”
“However, you must remember that everything must prioritize Ye Qingyun’s safety, and absolutely do not expose your identities.”
“We understand.”