Chapter 1270 - 796: Kiss Upon the Ruins

The mountains remain silent, the waters hold their peace.

They simply stand and flow quietly, witnessing the rise and fall of this continent in silence.

With the help of Qing Yi, the group found the Dalin River spanning east and west.

The river was exceptionally wide, and in this fallen world, it still flowed fiercely.

Waves churned continuously, occasionally with some peculiar fish jumping out, some creatures unknown even to the group.

As long as they followed this Dalin River eastward, they would surely find Four Directions Province and reach the homeland of the Celestial General.

Yet the group never expected the journey home to be alarmingly smooth!

On one hand, there was a clear route forward; on the other, the presence of the Three Holy Han played a role.

Throughout this journey, it could even be described as "winning without battle," as all the Cold Beast along the way silenced at the command of the Three Holy Han and then self-executed as an apology.

The whole process was extremely simple, only when approaching a Cold Beast Camp would the group change their route.

"Junior Brother," came the voice of Fu Jianzhou amidst the swiftly moving squad, "ahead there’s a large number of Cold Beast by the riverbank."

The Cold Beasts could not cohabit peacefully, so if a large number congregated in any area, it meant that people of the Cold Race were present.

After briefly explaining the situation, Fu Jianzhou had the squad slowly halt their steps.

Du Yu looked at everyone and said, "Let’s go around."

It wasn’t that he feared a small Cold Race camp, but rather that razing it might expose their presence, causing a chain reaction and attracting unnecessary trouble.

After all, the group’s task was to safely escort the Celestial General back home.

"Alright," Lin Shiwei softly agreed, "avoid it, mission is paramount."

Fu Jianzhou stroked the Cyan Wolf beneath him, feeling finely, and said, "We’ll cross the Dalin River and travel through the forest on the northern shore."

"Let’s go," Du Yu patted Bai Yujing’s back, and the group expertly maneuvered their mounts, leaping to the northern shore.

"Eh? What’s that?" Li Mengnan suddenly spoke, pointing to the Dalin River below.

Following her gaze, Du Yu saw a beautiful fish leap out of the water, with streams of water gathering in front of its mouth.

"Hiss hiss," the Three Holy Han turned to look, and the Seven-Colored Fish suspended mid-air, with the water stream disappearing without a trace.

Such a mysterious scene was no longer strange to them.

"Another new species," Du Yu beckoned, "Let it come, I want to take a look."

With the command of the Three Holy Han, the beautiful Seven-Colored Fish swiftly swam closer.

It resembled a goldfish, with big eyes and a round belly.

It had seven-colored scales, naturally emitting a glimmer, looking particularly radiant in this gray world.

On its forehead, there was a pure white, crescent-shaped fish scale.

While showcasing unique beauty, it also seemed like a defensive measure, could it be used as a shield?

Du Yu held the nearly 1-meter-long Seven-Colored Crescent Fish, gently poking its round belly, marveling at the wonders of nature.

Fu Jianzhou also examined the fish, laughing, "After this journey, we could write a book."

Writing a book aside, this information definitely needed reporting, to update Great Xia’s records of Cold Beasts.

They steadily landed on the northern shore of the Dalin River, as Du Yu placed the Seven-Colored Crescent Fish in mid-air, then took out his phone and meticulously snapped photos from various angles.

Li Mengnan curiously approached, reaching out to touch the crescent scale on the fish’s forehead, eyes full of regret, "If only it weren’t a Cold Beast."

The group fell silent, and once Du Yu finished photographing, he tossed the fish back into the rolling river.

Li Mengnan jumped and sat side-saddle on the deer’s back, "We’ve seen so many strange Cold Beasts. But not a single Demonic Plant or Demon Soldier."

"The big waves wash away the sands," Lin Shiwei commented, "The Demonic Plants that survive under the Cold Beast’s destruction are probably Saint-level."

How can there be so many Saint-level Demonic Plants in this world?

Similarly, Demon Soldiers only have a Soldier’s Soul once at Saint-level to form a complete consciousness.

These Holy Soldier were either torn to shreds by the Cold Beast Army or fled far away, leaving this continent.

"Let’s continue eastward," Du Yu reminded the group.

Jing Chen strode proudly ahead, carrying the Three Holy Han, still leading the way.

The group followed the river’s flow, traveling eastward across the Ashen Continent.

Walking from daylight to darkness, the Cyan Gate Squad would rest in the Mountain and Sea Bell at night to preserve their physical strength.

There were surprises but no danger, and after several day and night cycles, they had traversed over a thousand kilometers on the Ashen Continent.

Heaven rewards those with a dedicated heart,

Finally, on the afternoon of the fourth day, they entered the territory of the Four Directions Province!

Why were they so sure?

Because Du Yu flashed to a high vantage point, hiding within the cold mist to briefly observe the terrain below.

The Dalin River branched out extensively in this territory, matching the Celestial General’s description exactly.

Moreover...

"Du Yu," Lin Shiwei suddenly spoke, drawing the squad’s attention.

Du Yu pressed one hand on Bai Yujing’s back as he turned to look sideways.

Only to see a pair of golden eyes appear before Lin Shiwei.

Those eyes, which should have been majestic and resolute, now appeared incredibly complex.

No need for Shiwei to say more; Du Yu and the others knew the implication.

And the emotions reflected in those golden eyes...

Feeling fear upon nearing home?

Du Yu silently sighed within.

Such fear depends on circumstances; if the home still existed, there might be solace.

People could find remnants of their memories in familiar corners of the city.

But the Celestial General’s home had been completely obliterated.

Wherever the Youhan Army passed, not even a blade of grass survived, foreseeing Four Directions City to be utterly ravaged.

Yet Du Yu underestimated the destructive power of the Youhan Army!

When the group left the Dalin River, traveling southward within Four Directions Province for several dozen kilometers, a ruin came into view.

It was difficult even to describe Four Directions City as a ruin.

There were no buildings, no high walls.

After enduring the wind and rain for over a hundred years, even the traces of its existence can only be sought through the fragments of stone on the ground.

"Nai~" Bai Lu’s eyes were filled with sorrow, calling softly.

Its keen senses detected the extreme grief from the being on its back.

"Hoo~" In the drizzling rain, a cold wind blew past.

The cold mist wafted across the sky, strands descending, landing in this shattered doomsday desert city.

This scene was so desolate it broke one’s heart.

"Brothers, we’re home." Lin Shiwei spoke with a trembling voice.

Evidently, it was not Lin Shiwei speaking, but Celestial General Gan Qiwai.

However, hot tears were already flowing from the girl’s eyes.

Under such intense emotional turmoil from the Artifact Spirit, her owner, Lin Shiwei, was deeply empathetic, completely transformed into a General Soul returning home.

Bai Lu’s snow hooves softly trod as they moved toward the desolate ruins.

The group followed Lin Shiwei in silence.

In the eyes of Du Yu and others, it was merely a landscape of devastation, but in the eyes of the Celestial General, it was a bustling, lively city street.

As this scene imprinted in Lin Shiwei’s mind, overlapping with the desolate sight before her, Lin Shiwei covered her eyes with one hand.

Crystalline tears flowed down through her fingers, and the girl exhaled deeply.

Lin Shiwei was resilient enough, but at her young age, she had never felt grief to this extent.

She did not blame the Celestial General for affecting her, she simply wasn’t mentally prepared yet.

Or perhaps, she could never be prepared for this.

"Brothers, we’re home." The trembling voice echoed again.

The Celestial General seemed to be calling to the souls of the soldiers.

A layer of illusory golden armor draped over Lin Shiwei, and surrounding this solitary Golden Armor Celestial General, there seemed to stand countless General Souls.

The soldiers were all looking at their homeland, silently tracing their origins.

Who could have thought that this departure would last over a hundred years?

In the past, those who waited in the city never saw the figures they yearned for by day and night.

What the people awaited was gray fog, Cold Beasts, and a massacre of utter cruelty.

"Da, da, da."

With her head lowered, Bai Lu walked through the shattered desert city.

The endless aura of sorrow emanated from Lin Shiwei, enveloping the entire squad.

The Golden Armor Celestial General had already taken control of her body, riding Bai Lu around the city again and again.

With fragmented memories, he visited each soldier’s home, searching for traces of when everything still existed.

Finally, the Golden Armor Celestial General stopped before a pile of rubble.

The golden figure left Lin Shiwei’s body, drifting forward.

Du Yu stepped forward on his deer, patting Lin Shiwei’s arm, unsure of how to comfort her.

Unexpectedly, Lin Shiwei grabbed Du Yu’s arm with a backhand, like someone on the brink of emotional breakdown clinging to a lifeline.

"Puff~" Bai Lu suddenly shattered.

Along with it, Yiren and Bai Yujing also broke apart, merging into their respective owners’ bodies.

These wonderful beings could bear no more.

Sensitive perception is a double-edged sword, and for the Dust Spirit Deer tribe to make it here required unimaginable effort.

Du Yu supported Lin Shiwei, steadily landing them on the ground.

The girl buried her face in Du Yu’s shoulder, speaking softly, "This is the camp area, where the soldiers lived."

"Mmm." Du Yu reached out a hand, gently smoothing her back, silently comforting her.

In the distance, the Golden Armor Celestial General slowly knelt down.

His head did not lower, but gazed up at the grey, fog-covered sky.

As an Artifact Spirit, he had long lost the ability to cry or shout.

Everyone quietly watched the Golden Armor Celestial General, watching him like a statue, gazing at the sky filled with grey mist.

Suddenly, Du Yu felt the arm around him tighten.

The girl’s other hand pressed on the back of his head, applying gentle pressure downward.

Du Yu lowered his gaze, seeing a pair of misty eyes.

"Shiwei?" Du Yu asked softly, with concern.

He knew that what Lin Shiwei felt was entirely different from everyone else; she was too deeply affected by the Celestial General.

And in the face of Du Yu’s concerned inquiry, Lin Shiwei said nothing.

She merely looked at her beloved through her blurred vision.

So... will I be the one waiting in the city, bitterly waiting for your return?

Of course not.

Will you be the one who dies on a distant battlefield?

Neither will I.

Because I will always be by your side, I’ll give everything to die before you.

"Heh..." Lin Shiwei’s hand rested on the back of Du Yu’s head, fingers gently winding through his short hair.

In her mind was the image of Du Yu, severely injured and covered in blood, under the "Steel Needle Torrential Rain" of the Kunlun Divine Tree.

Regarding the cold tree felling, no matter how the people prepared, it seemed like a task with slim chances of survival.

Behind her were the soldiers who said their farewells to their homeland and families, gathering with the Celestial General, and with their souls returning to their homeland.

Slowly, Lin Shiwei pressed the back of Du Yu’s head toward her face.

Slowly and firmly.

She no longer wanted to endure, nor was willing to wait any longer.

Her thin lips gently met Du Yu’s lips.

...

Requesting some monthly passes.