The winter sun was warm, a crimson seal on the vast azure sky. Yet, it couldn't warm the countryn's heavy, ice-cold hearts.
They had been defeated.
Defeated once again...
Was the nation on the brink of collapse?
This season was unlike any other, forever seared into their mories.
This winter was too cold, so cold it left people feeling lost.
In Hanyun Valley, countless camps stood erect, gathering hundreds of thousands of people. Yang Hu stood silently before the formations, hands behind his back, saying nothing.
In this season, there were no signs of life. The wind whipped up sand that nearly blinded the eye.
Yang Hu's tiger-like eyes blazed with brilliance.
I rember the days of old, those years thronged with pivotal monts. The one standing before the ranks was never alone; He was the backbone of this troop. I had always believed this troop would make a na for itself, but the events that followed truly chilled everyone's hearts. Fortunately, these n never forgot the oath they once swore, which is why they could reunite here today.
"I rember the old folk saying, 'From eighteen to twenty-eight, those ten years are a person's lifeti.'"
"Boss led us into battle at eighteen, and for ten whole years, the Martial Guard's duties and beliefs have been deeply engraved into our very marrow. Now that war is upon us again, who could be more anxious than him?"
Yang Hu lit a cigarette, his eyes narrowing into a slit.
This damn world!
He devoted his heart to his country, yet he was forced to strip off his uniform and was pushed to the brink of death.
The deepest sea, thirty thousand li down, can still be fathod. But the human heart... a thing no bigger than a fist, is utterly inscrutable.
Objectively speaking, Yang Hu would have preferred Chen Yang to remain silent, indifferent to whether the nation lived or died.
"Pah!"
Yang Hu spat vehently and turned to look at the Martial Guard, which continued to expand rapidly. A smile crept onto his lips.
In less than three days, eight hundred thousand Martial Guards would be gathered once again.
「anwhile. At the Elders' Court of Cangyun City.」
Petitions from tens of millions of people were piled on the table in the council hall.
"HMPH!"
The Great Elder, Luo Yunhai, hadn't the slightest interest in even glancing at them. He scoffed, "As if this great country can't function without Chen Yang."
"At the very least, right now, we truly can't do without him," Wu Xing, a man of few words, said sharply. "Losing battle after battle... that Chen Jian is nothing but a waste!"
"You..." Luo Yunhai's gaze turned icy. "Victory and defeat are common in war. Is it appropriate for an Elder of the Elders' Court to speak such words?"
"The one hundred and eighty li of borderland that Chen Yang fought for was completely lost by him in just two battles, and you're saying we shouldn't talk about it?"
SLAM.
Wu Xing slamd the table and stood up. "And you talk about victory and defeat being common? If this goes on, we'll lose the entire Hanyun Valley!"
"Incompetent!"
Wu Xing left with a flick of his sleeve.
"Great Elder, don't mind him," Jin Zheng said, putting down his teacup. He patted his clothes and, as he walked out, added nonchalantly, "It's true that victory and defeat are common in war. But we have never lost."
Luo Yunhai was left speechless.
The cold wind cut like a knife.
Though winter was drawing to a close, the dark sky was clearly brewing another heavy snowstorm.
Wu Xing, who would be relieved of his duties in less than a month, stood in the square. He let the cold wind brush his face while gazing at two flags rising in the wind. "I need to make a trip to Nann City."
"Let's go together." Jin Zheng stood shoulder to shoulder with him. As the wind blew past his ears, he said faintly, "We've co thousands of miles, just hoping you'll don your armor once more and wear the Python Sparrow Devouring Dragon robe."
「The next day.」
Early in the morning, just as he was returning from his daily practice, Chen Yang saw Sun Ziru slowly approaching. The old gentleman had clearly made an effort to dress up and his face was beaming with joy.
"Taking a second wife?" Chen Yang teased.
Sun Ziru's expression froze. He glared with wide eyes. Hasn't this rascal brushed his teeth this morning, spouting such nonsense?
"Today is my sixty-fifth birthday. Care to join for a al?" Sun Ziru said with a cheerful laugh, affecting an air of being above the boy's gas.
Chen Yang walked into the courtyard and glanced at Qin Qiu.
"What's this? You need to report even sothing so trivial to Xiaoqiu? It's not my place to say, but you've lost all face for us n," Sun Ziru said, following him into the courtyard, full of bravado. "Back in my younger days, my old lady was nothing but a little follower. At ho, my word was law."
He looked as though he was about to impart so wisdom on how to manage a wife. But when he saw Qin Qiu turn her gaze toward him, the old man imdiately shut up. He pretended to inspect the greenery in the courtyard, nodding continuously and muttering about how well the flowers and plants were being kept.
"If you want to go, then go," Qin Qiu said.
Chen Yang shrugged. "I'm indifferent."
Sun Ziru almost coughed up a mouthful of blood. I finally get to celebrate a birthday, and I even co personally to invite him first thing in the morning, only to get an 'I'm indifferent' in return?
"Go change your clothes. We'll go together," Qin Qiu said with a smile.
Sun Ziru slapped his thigh and declared righteously, "That's the spirit! Actually, I was just inviting that fellow as an afterthought. As long as you co, young lady, that's all that matters."
"Hehe, you two hurry along. I'll head back first; there are quite a few guests today."
Sun Ziru had co quickly, and he left just as swiftly.
When Chen Yang and Qin Qiu arrived, Sun Ziru's ho was already overflowing with guests, who were toasting and mingling in a lively scene. As they entered, many people cast speculative gazes their way.
"Elder Sun ntioned he was going to invite so important guests. Could he have ant this young couple?"
"That young lady is quite beautiful, but I wonder what their status is. To think Elder Sun would personally go to their door to invite them."
Many people whispered among themselves. Most were curious about Chen Yang and Qin Qiu's identities, but a few curled their lips in disdain.
This was especially true for a young man holding a folding fan. He leaned against a table with an air of superiority, not even deigning to glance at the upper-class guests around him and instead adopting a sneering attitude.
"Co here," the young man beckoned to Sun Ziru, who was greeting guests. His words and actions were like those used to command a servant.
Hmm?
Quite a few people frowned. So recognized the young man; he had only recently appeared in Nann City and had nurous business dealings with the Sun Family. But what was this behavior?!
Sun Ziru's eyebrows twitched in displeasure, but a guest was a guest. He smiled and said, "Mr. Wu, please help yourself to a drink. I'll be with you in a mont."
"Co here," the young man, Chen Xin, beckoned again, his eyes fixed on Sun Ziru. "Didn't you understand ? Huh?!"
The crowd was stunned into silence.
Sun Ziru's face instantly darkened, and he decided to ignore the man completely.
"I arrive, and you don't greet , yet you personally run off to receive them," Chen Xin said slowly, gently swirling the wine in his glass. "Does this an that in your eyes, Sun Ziru, I, Chen Xin, am inferior to them?"
The guests exchanged glances. This guy is way too arrogant, isn't he?
"HMPH!" After repeatedly backing down only to be t with escalating insolence, Sun Ziru finally sneered, "I'll receive whover I please. Aren't you ddling a bit too much? Get out. You're not welco here."
Chen Xin was caught off guard. Is he really going to throw out in front of everyone?
"Hehe..." Chen Xin laughed. "Old fool, do you have any idea that for to even step foot in your ho is a blessing so great your ancestral graves must be spouting green smoke?"
His domineering words and arrogant attitude left everyone astounded.
"I heard a rumor that this guy is the younger brother of the new Supre Martial Commander."
"Right, right, that seems to be the case."
"This..."
All at once, the large hall fell silent. The situation had beco extrely awkward, even for Sun Ziru. Chen Xin... Chen Jian... it wouldn't be surprising if they were actually brothers.
Many people fell silent out of fear, instinctively retreating and leaving Sun Ziru to stand alone.
"Haha..." Amidst the silence, Chen Xin let out a strange laugh, a smirk playing on his lips. "It seems that you lot of rubbish have already guessed my identity?"
At this point, his identity was obvious.
SNAP.
Chen Xin flicked open his folding fan and said playfully, "In that case, old dotard, how about you get down on your knees?"
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