Captain Hai was an old man in his sixties. He was one of the brave soldiers who had experienced the Inhuman War. For forty years, he had defended the city, standing tall even in the face of the Inhuman. He would say to himself, "The remaining soldiers of this lonely city may die, but they will never kneel."
But now, he was confused. His eyes were cloudy like any ordinary elderly person, and his steps were unsteady.
"The Inhuman War we experienced was already a thing of the past, forty years ago…"
"In the remote areas of Jiu Province today, there are even people who don’t know that the Inhuman are immortal beings in the temples, and they even worship them…" As he listened to his younger brother’s account, his heart felt heavy.
It was common knowledge that the Inhuman were incredibly powerful.
Captain Hai, who was trapped in the Hundred-mile Desert and was unaware of the events in the outside world of Jiu Province, could not imagine how the Great Yan Emperor had been able to resist the immortals in these forty years and unite everyone against them.
The fact was that the enemy was stronger than us.
Whether we could defeat the Inhuman was a matter of capability.
Do you still have the courage to oppose the inhumans? It’s a matter of attitude.
Faced with the inhumans, the former Great Yan army of 100,000 soldiers resisted stubbornly and held on until now.Similarly, facing the inhumans, the current Great Yan Imperial Court… has allowed the inhumans’ sects to spread throughout the major cities of Jiu Province?
Upon hearing this news, Captain Hai felt dizzy and a sense of indescribable sadness.
Hai Siyuan holds a relatively low position, only as a Sixth-ranked Captain.
Although he is already over sixty years old, most of his life has been spent guarding the desert city, so he doesn’t understand much about the scheming of the imperial court.
Therefore, he doesn’t know whether Emperor Yonghe is enduring hardships for future success or if he has already submitted… He hopes for the former, but…
"Is there really a difference between the Great Yan Emperor enduring hardships for future success and not?" Captain Hai sighed deeply.
The emperor of Great Yan is revered as a supreme figure, the master of the entire dynasty. Every word and action of his is observed by the people of Jiu Province.
If the emperor leads the troops personally, and the general risks facing arrows and stones, then the soldiers will often be greatly encouraged.
The people of the isolated city have not collapsed for forty years because they still have a brave and resilient army resisting in front of them.
This resilient army can hold out until now because the previous valiant warriors, led by Li Changge, sacrificed themselves, so Captain Hai and the others have the courage to take up the heavy burden.
The flame of hope is passed on, just like that.
But what if the emperor goes to lie on a bed of firewood and willingly serves the enemy like a dog?
How would ordinary soldiers and the common people know if you are the capable Prince Goujian or just a mere dog?
After much contemplation, Captain Hai could only sigh.
"It’s all the fault of that Qiao family member, it’s all the fault of the Qiao family member."
Qiao Mu silently glanced aside.
"Those Qiao family members were so brave and magnificent, visiting the isolated city as martial artists from Jiu Province and the Immortal Slaying Army, giving us unreal expectations about the outside world," Captain Hai sighed again.
After the Qiao family members visited the isolated city as members of the Great Yan Immortal Slaying Army.
The old soldiers believed that the isolated city would stand strong, passing on its flame for forty years. Although it hung in the vast desert, cut off from the outside world of Jiu Province, there were also members of the Immortal Slaying Army outside, holding up torches and watching over from afar, ready to help.
In their imaginations, the situation outside should be dominated by the Immortal Gate, exerting great pressure on Jiu Province, while the Great Yan Imperial Court secretly initiated the formation of the Immortal Slaying Army, silently accumulating power…
If "inhuman" was the endless night that loomed over the people of Jiu Province, then the remaining soldiers of the isolated city and the Immortal Slaying Army were the two fires within the darkness.
Although weak, they were passed down from generation to generation, never extinguished.
But the old soldiers were mistaken.
Because there really was no such thing as the Immortal Slaying Army in this world.
The Qiao family members, though courageous, were just an ordinary family. How many people could they be?
They can’t be called a bonfire, but more like fireworks that flash in the night sky and disappear, although they are brilliant and bright, they are ultimately too short-lived to light up this dark night.
At first, Captain Hai felt sorry for his misfortune and angry at his helplessness.
But after coming to his senses, he only felt deeply exhausted.
They were tired and weary.
"Captain Hai, there’s no need to be too sad. In this world, there are still people who resist the inhuman, just like the soldiers defending a lonely city."
At this moment, Qiao Mu finally interrupted, and the Hai brothers, who were engrossed in their conversation, noticed his presence.
"For example, the founder of the Xumi Mountain King Sutra is actually your father, Hai Wuya," Qiao Mu said frankly.
Hai Wuya is the founding ancestor of the practice, while Qiao Mu is the second-generation ancestor who continues to iterate on the version 1.0, deducing it to higher realms and more perfected versions.
Captain Hai clearly paused for a moment.
Mr. Hai also noticed his older brother’s tired look, so he changed the subject:
"Big brother, what are your plans next? Will you go back to the Imperial Capital to see father?"
"Go back to the Imperial Capital…" Captain Hai’s expression became gloomy.
Normally, as the only surviving Sixth-ranked Captain from the defeated army forty years ago, Captain Hai should lead the old soldiers and represent them in returning to the Imperial Capital to report to the court.
But now, the situation has become a bit complicated.
The commander of Anxi Pass, Madame Bai, has already reported this matter to both the Great Yan Imperial Court and King Qin who rules over this region, but there has been no response yet.
And Captain Hai also has some doubts about the current Great Yan Emperor… Especially after learning that his own father, Hai Wuya, had spent thirty years in the heavenly prison after the Inhuman War, and was released only recently.
In the past, when they were in the desert, even though the environment was harsh, there weren’t any unnecessary complications, and the situation wasn’t complicated.
But now, after leaving the desert, Captain Hai is bewildered by the current situation in Jiu Province.
Because Great Yan had made peace with Nine Immortal Gates forty years ago, the current Nine Immortal Gates is now regarded as an honored guest of the Great Yan Emperor, and they are also the group of immortals who receive the blessings from the Great Yan people.
If he, as the leader of three hundred old soldiers, resists the inhuman army, he might be accused by the court of disturbing the friendly relations between immortals and mortals and causing conflicts between them.
"What kind of person is Emperor Yonghe now? How will he treat us old soldiers and the women, children, and elderly who have come out of the city?" Captain Hai worried and was not optimistic.
And Mr. Hai naturally had no answer to this question, he could only force a smile.
"I really want to ask the current emperor, does he still remember the Western Conquering Army from forty years ago? Why did we fight for forty years while the Great Yan Imperial Court kneeled for forty years…" Captain Hai let out a deep sigh.
"The Great Yan of today is not the Great Yan of forty years ago."
"Let’s wait for Madame Bai’s message here first. Hasn’t she already sent messengers to report?"
Storyteller Clairvoyance of the Tide Listening Building quietly approached, listening to Captain Hai and the others’ conversation before suddenly speaking up.
"Captain Hai, this is not the time for resting yet."
"If we quietly wait here, we might be sitting ducks."
Captain Hai looked confused, he didn’t understand what Clairvoyance meant.
Since we have already crossed the desert, why would we just sit and wait for death?
"Captain Hai, this matter concerns Immortal Gate, it’s not over yet," Clairvoyance shook his head slightly.
Clairvoyance had some understanding of Immortal Gate’s methods.
Inside Immortal Gate, there are many old monsters, so it is normal to start with a small one and attract an older one.
Elder Qingzhuo has already been defeated, so according to Clairvoyance’s estimation, Great Dao Sect is unlikely to give up easily and will probably have follow-up plans.
The soldiers and civilians of the Lone City have left the desert, but that doesn’t mean this matter is finished and resolved.
We still need to see how Immortal Gate will deal with them next.
"Hundred-mile Desert is a secret place of the Great Dao Sect. If this secret is revealed, it will ruin the reputation of the sect. That’s why we must spread the news quickly! Let everyone know what happened in this city."
Clairvoyance made a prediction.
If we don’t spread the message in time, Immortal Gate might come to silence us… and then the soldiers and people in Anxi Pass will die just like that!
So according to Clairvoyance, spreading the message quickly is their only chance of survival.
Captain Hai also agreed, knowing that Qiao Mu only scared away Elder Qingzhuo without killing him.
Even if Taoist Qingzhuo is killed, it might not be a good thing.
If even the elders of Immortal Gate are defeated in the Hundred-mile Desert, it will definitely alarm the higher-ups of the Great Dao Sect, maybe even the sect leader.
"So, what do you suggest I do?" Captain Hai asked.
"Naturally, we should spread the news before Immortal Gate’s pursuers arrive to silence us."
Clairvoyance said solemnly:
"Captain Hai, I suggest we leave immediately for the Imperial Capital and personally tell the current emperor about this matter."
In Clairvoyance’s view.
"Hundred-mile Desert" is a secret that Immortal Gate has concealed for forty years.
The more people who know this secret, the more attention it will attract, making it harder for Immortal Gate to silence the remaining elders in the isolated city.
"In that case, I will leave tonight," Captain Hai immediately stood up.
As soon as he heard that the safety of the military and civilians in the isolated city might be at risk, he made a decisive decision.
They have defended this isolated army for forty years. They cannot let the people who have sought refuge in the city for forty years die at the hands of immortals when they finally step out of the desert, right?
Just as Captain Hai was about to leave, another voice came from beside him.
"Captain Hai, if you want to go to the palace, why not let me accompany you?" Qiao Mu spoke up.
Where there is danger, there is Qiao Mu.
When he heard that Captain Hai was rushing to Imperial Capital to meet Emperor Yonghe that night, he got excited.
How could he ignore such an exciting event?
After saying this, he also paused for a moment, realizing what he was saying.
He is now Qiao Shui, but still acts the same way as before, bravely facing danger head-on, with his head held high.
But his current situation is different from before.
Each time he faced death, he ended up in jail. He had just served five years and hadn’t had a chance to catch his breath yet.
Captain Hai’s face showed no sign of surprise.
"Indeed, Qiao Shui is a person who can see things clearly. He knew that entering the palace this time was like entering a dangerous place, and he might be chased by the Immortal Gate. Therefore, he volunteered to go…"
Although it was their first meeting, he was not surprised by Qiao Shui.
The deaths of several generations of Qiao family members had already formed a strong impression in his mind.
If Qiao Shui was a cowardly person, he would have been more surprised.
The two of them didn’t talk much, quickly settled the bill, and left in a hurry.
Clairvoyance stopped in his tracks, reached into his pocket, took out the thick book of the history of the lonely city, and his thoughts were swirling in his mind.
This history book was given to him by the old man of the arsenal, and it was compiled by the minor officials and elderly of the city in the past.
Since he has left the desert, he should share the story of the lonely city.
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