216: I will take you home! (ask for monthly ticket)

The four of them left, and Chen Yuan stepped out of the house to see them off, looking up as several streaks of light broke through the hazy rain, quickly disappearing. His mood was somewhat complex.

Then, his earlobe twitched, and a desolate, somewhat melancholic flute sound, carried by the sparse wind and rain, drifted into his ears. He turned his head and looked out the door.

At this moment, outside the courtyard, beneath the rain, a wide training ground appeared cold and deserted.

Inside a barracks.

Some sat cross-legged, constantly tempering their Qi.

Some sat on their bunks, bare-chested, with white cloth wrapped around their chests, holding long sabers and diligently wiping the blade. The blood-stained sabers gleamed with cold light.

Some took out a scroll from their embrace, unfurling it with one hand, their other sleeve hanging empty. The painting depicted a brightly smiling woman, charming and beautiful. The man stared, lost in thought, his remaining hand gently caressing the scroll.

There were also armored soldiers playing flutes, while those around them either sat, leaned against the wall with their sabers, or lay on their bunks with their hands under their heads, listening quietly. The flute's melody seemed to evoke home, family, and friends. Unconsciously, heads lowered, and eyes silently reddened.

At this moment, a rustling sound arose from outside.

Immediately after, the camp curtain was lifted, and some noisy wind and rain blew in. A figure walked in, and armored soldiers kneeling outside were dimly visible.

Soon, exclamations broke out, interrupting everything inside.

"It's This General!"

"This General is here!"

...

Figures quickly rose, some putting on clothes, some donning armor, their voices chaotic.

Chen Yuan appeared here, raising a hand, "No need for formalities, This General simply came to see you all."

Inside the barracks, simple upper and lower bunks filled both sides. Faces, some resolute, some youthful, some nervous, from all over Shu land, appeared one by one from both sides.

Chen Yuan stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over, seeing figures wrapped in white cloth, sighing inwardly.

He patted the shoulder of a wounded armored soldier. The soldier's eyes flickered, saying nothing, only standing ramrod straight.

Chen Yuan continued forward. Just then, something rolled to his feet and then slowly unfurled—a scroll with a painting of a woman.

Immediately after, a figure quickly flung himself at Chen Yuan's feet, frantically grabbing the scroll with one hand, then fearing he might tear it, nervously wiping away the dirt. Then, remembering something, he looked up at Chen Yuan, his face flustered, and immediately tried to kowtow,

"This General, please forgive me, this humble one..."

As he spoke, he found an invisible force preventing his head from lowering.

Then, he saw this Zhonglang General, revered by everyone in the Ninth Mountain Army, squat down, supporting his shoulders with both hands, helping him up, and gently saying,

"It seems the woman in the painting is very important to you. Is she your wife?"

The armored soldier looked up, somewhat flattered, but when speaking of the woman in the painting, his eyes softened significantly, "Replying to This General, she is the wife this humble one is waiting to marry. She is waiting for me to return and marry her. We made a promise."

Hearing this, Chen Yuan's gaze involuntarily fell upon his empty sleeve.

The armored soldier sensed something, somewhat unnaturally trying to cover his empty sleeve, his eyes showing a hint of resolve, "Though injured by a beast, this humble one can still fight!"

Chen Yuan's eyes flickered, "Good, courageous!"

"What's your name?"

Hearing Chen Yuan say this, the armored soldier's eyes widened, and he straightened his chest, shouting, "Zuozhi, Junior Flag Officer under the Seventh This General Flag of the Right Route Valiant Guard!"

Chen Yuan nodded, patting his shoulder.

Then, his gaze passed through the crowd, landing on a pale-faced soldier in the corner who was still clutching a long flute.

"This General just heard your flute playing. What is this song called?"

The soldier looked around, then realized everyone was looking at him, and suddenly understood. He quickly stepped forward, feeling somewhat nervous, and bowed, "Replying to This General, this humble one played a song from my hometown called 'Mother's Farewell'."

Hearing this name, Chen Yuan softly murmured it twice, his eyes becoming distant, as if in another world, and he slowly said, "Mother's Farewell. Can you play it again?"

The soldier quickly assented, then became serious, placing the flute to his lips. A clear, somewhat distant flute melody gently rose, like flowing water, seemingly depicting a scene.

The Councilor's son was about to embark on a distant expedition. A woman had once burned incense and prayed before a temple, and had also, under an oil lamp, used a needle to smooth her graying hair, sewing clothes for her departing son. When packing his bags, she had muttered constant admonitions. Finally, as her son left home with his packed bag, the woman stood at the door, waving to her son, tears and anticipation in her eyes.

The flute melody thus permeated the barracks, then pierced through the rain, drifting outside.

Outside the barracks, Liu Qing and others, hearing that This General had entered the barracks, hurried over with their subordinates. However, upon hearing the flute, they stopped, gestured behind them, and listened quietly.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the song ended.

Soon, Chen Yuan's voice sounded from within the barracks, "It seems you all miss home. Everyone, tell me, where is your hometown?"

Soon, voices began to rise.

"This humble one is from Yangping County, Yong'an Prefecture!"

"Jinguancheng."

"Qujiang County."

"Chunjiang Prefecture."

...

Everyone was excited. Perhaps it was the atmosphere, but someone asked:

"Where is This General's hometown?"

Inside the barracks, Chen Yuan paused upon hearing this question, shook his head, and gave a wry smile, "Me? My hometown is very far away. Perhaps I'll never be able to return in this lifetime."

As he spoke, he surveyed the faces of these soldiers, "But This General will do his best to bring you all home!"

After speaking, he directly called out,

"Liu Qing!"

As soon as he spoke, the curtain outside was quickly lifted, and the clatter of armor resounded.

"This subordinate is here!" Liu Qing entered, bowing to receive orders.

"Distribute one jin of demon flesh and blood to each soldier. For the wounded, increase the amount appropriately based on their injuries! Re-issue another batch of supplies. Medicinal Pills and Talismans, go collect them later."

Chen Yuan said, his voice lowering slightly,

"Additionally, for the fallen soldiers, make sure to keep the roster well. Based on their military merits, arrange for fast horses to send letters and pensions. Do not neglect this."

After speaking, Chen Yuan looked at the soldiers who were watching him with awe and eagerness. His heart was somewhat unsettled.

He had always been immersed in battle, accustomed to life and death. His heart had unconsciously hardened. Besides figuring out how to kill more demons and strengthen himself, other details of life had become vague. Slowly, he had ascended above the clouds, issuing commands, controlling a vast army, yet he had forgotten that the people under his command were also flesh and blood individuals with families, wives, and children!

And many people were waiting for them to return home.

Thinking of this, he fell silent.

He turned and walked out of the barracks.

"This General, take care!"

"This General seems a bit down!"

The soldiers in the barracks watched Chen Yuan's back disappear into the wind and rain outside, exchanging glances. For some reason, they felt a little sad.

Meanwhile, beyond the wind and rain of this world, thousands of miles away at Dingshan Pass, a crimson light, a fleeting streak, shot forth from a distant place outside the pass!

Its speed was extremely fast, covering tens of miles in an instant!

A mighty Qi swept across this land, and the Void Realm vibrated.

It was a blood-stained golden decree, like a bloodied garment!

The next second, above the sky, winds and clouds gathered. A giant hand covered in green scales extended from the clouds and slammed violently towards the bloody decree.

It covered the sky and obscured the sun, hundreds of feet in size. The Void Realm roared loudly.

The bloody decree was violently seized.

Then, it was hurled by the enormous demonic claw towards the distant Dingshan Pass!

Soon,

"Boom!"

An earth-shattering explosion.

In the distance, the majestic Dingshan Pass was breached with a massive opening!

"Woo woo woo!"

Horns blared through the sky, and shouts suddenly erupted.

Then, someone looked at the gigantic demonic shadow emerging from the clouds, like a giant, and gasped in horror.

"Wucang Great Demon!"

And looking out, there was more than one!