154: Back to Xingnan City

Under the night sky, the campfire of the temporary camp dispelled some of the cold of the wilderness, yet it also illuminated the exhaustion on everyone's Faces and the complex emotions of having narrowly escaped death.

Xiao Chun was busy, carefully using silver needles to draw out poisoned blood from wounded soldiers, then taking crushed medicinal herbs from her pouch to apply to their wounds. Her movements were gentle and focused; the Myriad Medicine Body's precise grasp of medicinal properties allowed the soldiers, who had originally had blackened Faces and weak breaths, to quickly stabilize, their Faces regaining some color. The soldiers' gazes towards Xiao Chun were filled with gratitude.

Qin Feng and Xia Ya sat by another campfire, while Ji Ruxue habitually melted into the nearby shadows, silently keeping watch.

"Miss Xia Ya," Qin Feng handed over a water flask, asking with some curiosity, "you didn't seem to be in Star South City before? I've only met Miss Xia Xue, and always thought she was the City Lord's eldest daughter."

Mentioning her younger sister, a complex emotion flitted across Xia Ya's heroic Face. She took the water flask, tilted her head back for a gulp, the water tracing her jawline, mixed with some sweat and bloodstains. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, revealing a somewhat self-mocking smile.

"My Genius younger sister?" Her tone was calm, but there was a barely perceptible hint of gloom in the depths of her eyes. "I am my father's daughter by a concubine. And my talent... is very average, incomparable to hers."

She paused, her gaze fixed on the leaping flames as if seeing her past self: "She is the legitimate daughter, the apple of our father's eye. Since childhood, she got whatever she wanted—the best Cultivation Techniques, the most precious resources, all within easy reach. As for me... I had almost no cultivation resources, as if I were invisible."

"So, in a fit of anger, I ran away from home." Her voice carried a trace of resolve. "I traveled far and wide, even left the Great Qian Empire and went to the overseas islands. It was more chaotic and brutal there, but there were also more opportunities. I honed myself in life-and-death struggles and eventually... found a path that suited me." She patted the heavy tower shield and broadsword beside her. "Not pursuing elegant and agile sword techniques, but this path of protection and assault."

"Returning this time," Xia Ya's tone grew lower, "is to find my father and beg for a 'king breaking pill'. I've been stuck at the late-stage Grand Martial Master for a long time now. The foundation accumulated through my overseas training is sufficient; I'm only missing the final push. But my father said the Family has its rules. I must make sufficient contributions to Star South City, complete tasks he assigns, and accumulate enough contribution points..."

She didn't say more, but the trace of resentment and bitterness in her tone was clearly discernible. For a chance at a Breakthrough, father and daughter seemed separated by a layer of cold transaction.

In the shadows, Ji Ruxue, holding her sword, had a flicker of light pass through her cool gaze. A king breaking pill... even between father and daughter it was like this. She couldn't help but recall the scene when Qin Feng placed that incredibly precious pill right before her, without attaching any harsh conditions, only saying, 'We are partners.' That unreserved trust and support formed a stark contrast with Xia Ya's current situation, causing ripples to stir once more in her heart.

[Ding, Ji Ruxue's favorability +2]

[Current favorability: Su Yuchun 120, Ji Ruxue 77 (Trust deepened, sense of identification strengthened)]

Qin Feng was silent for a moment before speaking. "We are also returning to Star South City tomorrow; we can travel together."

Xia Ya nodded. "Good."

...The next day, the group arrived at Star South City.

The present Star South City bore no resemblance to the panic and ruin of the year when the barbarian army stood at its gates. The city walls had been reinforced and repaired. At the city gates, carriages, horses, and pedestrians were orderly, and a steady stream of merchants and travelers came and went. The chaotic scenes brought by the hundreds of thousands of refugees of the past had also vanished. Clearly, under the proper arrangements of the authorities, they had gradually integrated into various places and regained their livelihoods.

"Brother Feng, look!" Xiao Chun suddenly pointed towards the direction of the city's central square, exclaiming in delight.

In the center of the square stood five lifelike stone statues, bathed in sunlight, appearing particularly solemn.

In the center was City Lord Xia Wuyin, his Face resolute, holding a long sword. Beside him was the steady and dignified Vice City Lord Dai Tiande. On the other side was the heroic and spirited daughter of the City Lord, Xia Xue, with a touch of stubbornness between her brows. In front of them was a statue of a young man, his figure upright, gazing into the distance, his hand seemingly gripping an invisible sword—it was Qin Feng! Slightly behind Qin Feng's statue was another statue shrouded in a cloak, its features blurred, its Aura profound and steady, representing the mysterious reclusive Martial King Mu Shan.

These five were precisely the most crucial heroes of the last Xingnan City defense battle.

"I heard the city's residents and merchants spontaneously raised funds to build this, to forever remember that battle and those who fought for us," Xiao Chun explained softly, her tone filled with pride and nostalgia.

Not far from the statues stood an even taller black stele—the Monument of Heroic Souls. It was commissioned by the City Lord's manor. The stele body was polished from fine obsidian, densely inscribed with names in small gilded characters. Sunlight shone upon it, making the names glitter as if the departed Souls were still guarding this city.

More than thirty-eight thousand names.

More than thirty-eight thousand once vibrant lives.

Qin Feng silently walked before the stele, his gaze slowly sweeping over those unfamiliar, yet perhaps somewhat familiar, names. In taverns and tea houses, storytellers still recounted that thrilling defensive battle with great fervor, the heroes' deeds being sung. But only standing before this stele could one truly feel the weight behind that victory.

They did not linger and proceeded directly to the City Lord's manor.

Inside the study, City Lord Xia Wuyin was momentarily stunned upon seeing Qin Feng and Xia Ya arrive together, then a smile appeared on his Face.

"Qin Feng, you've returned!" He welcomed him warmly, his gaze sweeping over Qin Feng, sensing that harmonious, restrained, yet even more unfathomable Aura, he couldn't help but praise, "Excellent! Your Aura surpasses the past! I heard you assisted in crushing the Japanese pirates at West Lake City and were personally enfeoffed by His Majesty as a 'loyal and courageous gentleman'. Truly a young Genius, congratulations!"

He patted Qin Feng's shoulder vigorously, appearing very pleased. But when his gaze turned to Xia Ya beside him, his smile faded slightly, taking on a barely perceptible hint of helplessness and comparison.

"Sigh, far better than my useless eldest daughter," Xia Wuyin sighed, looking at Xia Ya, his tone carrying some admonishment and disappointment. "She's already twenty-seven this year, her cultivation still stuck at Grand Martial Master. She's been running wild outside for so many years and hasn't amounted to anything. Compared to you, it's really..."

Xia Ya stood there, her posture still upright, but her fingers gripping the hilt of her sword tightened slightly, her lips pressed into a thin line. She did not refute, merely turned her gaze out the window, concealing the bitterness and defiance in her eyes.

Qin Feng took all this in and spoke up at the right moment to change the subject. "City Lord Xia, how is my Qin Family doing now?"

Mentioning this, Xia Wuyin's Face brightened with a smile again, his tone becoming enthusiastic. "Don't worry! Your Qin Family is doing very well now! With this City Lord looking after them, who in the city would dare not give them some Face? Your father and second uncle's business has also become much smoother."

"Then I must thank City Lord Xia for your trouble." Qin Feng cupped his hands in salute, then took out a prepared gold note from his robe—with a Face value of one hundred thousand gold coins—and handed it over. "A small token of my appreciation, nothing to show my respect. I will still need City Lord Xia's continued care in the future."

Seeing the gold note, Xia Wuyin was first taken aback, then quickly waved his hand, his tone carrying a sincere refusal. "Ah, Qin Feng, what are you doing! This is too formal! Protecting the people and looking after the city's youth are my duties! I cannot accept this money, take it back quickly!"

His attitude was firm. Seeing this, Qin Feng did not insist further and took the gold note back. He knew Xia Wuyin's action stemmed both from the City Lord's duty and an elder's care, and also from investing in Qin Feng's future. He would remember this favor.