News of Luo Yunhai inviting Chen Yang to a banquet had already spread throughout Cangyun City, sparking a wave of praise for the newly appointed Great Elder. Phrases like "letting bygones be bygones" and "possessing a broad mind" ultimately converged into a single sentint: Luo Yunhai truly deserved to lead the Elders' Court.
With the situation in Hanyun Valley growing tense, this display of magnanimity filled the people with confidence in their new Great Elder. However, right in the midst of these enthusiastic discussions, a sudden piece of news struck like a thunderbolt, shaking Cangyun City to its core and radiating across the entire nation.
"This... this can't be true, can it? The Forr Chief Military Commander actually showed cowardice before a battle, not daring to confront the Barbaric New Sovereign Heiqi?"
"My faith is shattered! I knew it seed too strange! How could soone who fought so hard to beco the Supre Martial Commander just suddenly retire? So he already knew about Heiqi back then, and everything else was just an excuse to divert attention?"
"..."
With certain individuals fanning the flas, public opinion beca completely one-sided. The greater the heights Chen Yang had reached, the more viciously he was now condemned. People cursed his very spine and dragged eighteen generations of his ancestors through the mud. As the Supre Martial Commander, not only had he failed to fulfill his duties, but he had also fled from battle? Knowing a war with the Barbarians was inevitable, he had selfishly thrown everything away just to save his own life?
"Hah, what a disgrace! If this hadn't been exposed today, I would've still thought he was a true hero. Turns out he's just a coward."
"After all these years, the Martial Departnt has apparently raised an ungrateful wretch! To abandon his faith for his own pitiful survival... what a spineless creature!"
Although a few dissenting voices argued it was too early to draw conclusions with the facts still unclear, suggesting that based on past events, Chen Yang was not that kind of person. But amid the overwhelming tide of abuse, these voices were like frail boats in a raging storm, quickly swallowed by the waves.
The depravity of human nature was on full display.
Based on a single, unsubstantiated rumor, all of Chen Yang's illustrious military achievents were cast aside. They forgot he was the first in a century to expand the nation's borders, achieve such unprecedented military feats, and plant the battle flag in the Barbarian Capital, an act that had powerfully displayed Tianwu's might.
What now?
They turned a blind eye to it all. Like red-eyed madn who had lost all reason, they seized upon this single point, viciously attacking him and venting all their dissatisfaction and negativity.
So of the older generation could only shake their heads and sigh. It seed many people's hearts had completely rotted away; they'd forgotten who had been guarding them during all these years of peace and prosperity. And yet, it was just a rumor. But no one was willing to let it go. This chorus of indignant cursing seed to satisfy their own sordid sense of accomplishnt.
It wouldn't be long before the war spiraled out of control. When the allied forces of the five great Martial Districts were utterly routed, unable to stop the invading Barbarian iron cavalry, the panicked masses would finally rember that once-in-a-century warrior.
If he were here, the war wouldn't have gotten this bad, would it?
「That day.」
Faced with a petition signed by a million people pleading for Chen Yang's return to the Martial Departnt, an Elder rely scoffed coldly and tore the petition to shreds.
"When Chen Yang was stationed in Hanyun Valley for ten years, shedding blood and sweat for the country, you all pretended not to see. Yet, because of a single rumor, you unleashed a torrent of scorn upon him. As the saying goes, you reap what you sow. Now that your own pathetic lives are threatened, you have the audacity to shalessly call him back to guard the nation's gate? Back then, you all competed to curse him, wishing you could grind his bones to dust. Why don't you go to the front lines yourselves? Only now you rember his value? Where is your sha?"
「That day.」
A silence fell over the entire country.
In that Elder's words, they had all brought this upon themselves. They could all just wait for death.
「...」
As for Chen Yang, the man at the center of the storm, his mood remained completely undisturbed. He spent his days ditating, and the rest of his ti, he was with Qin Qiu.
That day, two groups of visitors ca to his ho.
The first to arrive was Liu Wu, the Jingnan Prince stationed in Hanyun Valley. Having previously made a grand show of his power in Cangyun City, his understanding of Chen Yang was beyond doubt. While they drank, he gave a detailed account of the current situation in Hanyun Valley and with the Barbarians beyond the border.
Nearly half of the eight hundred thousand Martial Guards of Hanyun Valley were already gone. With the interference of the Elders' Court, his authority as the Jingnan Prince had been significantly weakened. As things stood, he would likely soon be replaced by Xia Chen, the Dongzhao King of the Chenlong Martial District.
When the conversation turned to their years on the battlefield, Chen Yang, who had been mostly silent, couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh, rembering the clash of armored cavalry and the sands stained with blood. As he laughed, however, the joy was replaced by a look of profound bitterness.
Liu Wu fell silent as well. He filled his cup, stood, and gave Chen Yang a respectful salute. He downed the wine in one gulp, then turned and strode away without another word. To hold a post is to bear its responsibilities. No matter how chaotic the internal situation beca, as long as he held his position, he had to carry that weight.
The next to arrive were Qin Lie, Qin Gang, Luo Sulan, and Qin Mo.
Qin Lie, who had dominated Qiyun Road for decades, hadn't set foot in Cangyun City for many years. Now that he had returned, he was overco with emotion and had little to say. Qin Qiu was thrilled and welcod them with great enthusiasm.
Chen Yang was deeply touched. Though they never ntioned the controversy swirling around him, he could feel their imnse concern. Others were avoiding him like the plague, but they...
Family is family.
Of course, Luo Sulan was an exception.
As soon as Qin Qiu and Qin Mo went to the kitchen to cook and Qin Gang started a ga of chess with Chen Jinnan, she called Chen Yang out into the courtyard. Folding her arms, she got straight to the point. "Chen Yang, leave Qin Qiu."
"You know exactly what kind of situation you're in. You're a rat that everyone wants to stomp out! It's bad enough that you're the target of public condemnation, but you've also mortally offended every noble house in Cangyun City, including the four great royal families. To put it bluntly, you don't have long to live!"
Luo Sulan spoke with grim certainty. Then, her tone softened slightly. "If you truly love Qin Qiu, if you truly want what's best for her, you'll leave her now. Don't drag her down with you. She's innocent. Can you really bear to watch her die by your side? You're always talking about how much you love her. Well, now is the ti to prove it."
"Leave her."
Chen Yang just smiled faintly. "You're right, my situation isn't looking good. But I can protect Qin Qiu. I have the power to keep her safe. You don't need to worry yourself over it."
With that, Chen Yang turned to leave.
"HAH!" Luo Sulan charged after him, pointing a finger at his back as she sneered, "You think you can take on the entire world by yourself? Are you that naive, or do you take for a fool? You selfish bastard! I, Luo Sulan, look down on you!"
Chen Yang ignored her and walked back into the courtyard.
"I thought I'd finally latched onto soone powerful, but in the blink of an eye, it all turned to nothing. I, Luo Sulan, must have been blind," she raged, cursing coldly. During the ti when Chen Yang was the War God of the State, it had also been Luo Sulan's proudest mont. She would tell anyone who would listen that her son-in-law was Chen Yang, the Supre Martial Commander. She reveled in being surrounded and fawned over by countless people.
But now... those sa people avoided her like the plague, terrified of being implicated by the royal families' wrath.
"If you won't leave, then I'll take Qin Qiu with ! No one is going to die with you!"
Luo Sulan's expression shifted several tis before settling into one of grim determination. But the mont the words left her mouth, a figure radiating imnse pressure bore down on her.
"What did you just say?"
Qin Lie, returning from his walk, had witnessed the entire scene. His face was stern, his deep eyes like sharp daggers stabbing into Luo Sulan's very core.
"I... I..." Luo Sulan involuntarily stumbled backward, wanting to explain but not knowing where to begin.
SMACK.
Qin Lie grabbed her by the neck and hoisted her up, slamming her forcefully against the wall behind him. "It seems you have a death wish!"
Luo Sulan desperately shook her head, her face instantly turning purple as her eyes bulged.
"What do you think you are?" Qin Lie, who was never a kind man, let go of her only to deliver a powerful kick.
BANG!
Luo Sulan slamd against the wall again before collapsing to her knees. She clutched her abdon, her body convulsing as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Qin Lie kicked her down, pinning her face to the ground with his foot. He squinted his eyes and growled, "Tell . Do you want to die?"
They had all been trying so hard to avoid the very topics plaguing the outside world so as not to upset Chen Yang. Yet this woman... this woman had the gall to tell him to leave, just to save her own skin. Is she even human?
"..."
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