227: I only know how to die for my country on the battlefield, why should I return home wrapped in horsehide? (ask for monthly ticket)

Just as the entire Guangan Prefecture was bustling with activity,

“Whoa!”

In West City, in front of a single-courtyard residence.

A fast horse, clip-clopping, came to a halt with a long neigh.

On the horse, a young armored soldier dismounted, pushed open the door, and quickly walked inside.

“Thump-thump”

His skirt armor swayed with his thighs, making muffled sounds.

Hearing the commotion, a middle-aged couple with serene expressions appeared in the main hall across the courtyard. Upon seeing the figure, they immediately rushed forward with joyful expressions.

“Son!”

The gentle-faced woman grabbed the young armored soldier's arm, her eyes filled with a mother's anxiety and concern, touching here and looking there.

When the woman touched her son's left shoulder, the young armored soldier immediately frowned and let out a muffled groan.

The woman immediately became anxious, “Son, you’re injured, let Mother take a look.”

She said, wanting to help her son remove his armor.

The young armored soldier shook his head, “Mother, it's nothing, just a small injury. Don’t worry, your son must leave soon.”

“Leaving again?” The woman immediately burst into tears upon hearing this.

This made the young armored soldier a bit flustered, and he looked at his father beside him.

His father sighed, with a hint of reproach, “You child, so close to home, and you didn't even send a message to report your safety. The other day when you went out to fight demons, your mother worried for several days, couldn't eat or sleep, thinking about you. She wanted to inquire, but your defenses have been very strict lately.”

“Your son is unfilial, for making Father and Mother worry!” This young armored soldier hugged his parents, “Soon, it will be over soon.”

Saying that, he let go of his parents and spoke: “Father, Mother, prepare to pack your things.”

The middle-aged couple raised their eyebrows upon hearing this, their expressions surprised: “What’s wrong?”

The young armored soldier’s expression was complex, “The Zhonglang General of the Prefecture has already given the order to prepare for a full city evacuation.”

As soon as these words were uttered, the middle-aged couple were stunned, exchanged glances, and then their expressions tightened. The father quickly asked: “Is this place about to fall? But… but that Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General clearly won the battle.”

“That’s right, son, that adult’s Divine Ability is vast. Didn't he repel the demons two days ago?” A hint of tension appeared on his mother’s gentle face, and she tightly grasped her son’s hand.

“Father and Mother, don’t panic yet. Please let your son finish speaking.”

“Your son heard from our Captain that demons have largely broken through cities in our neighboring areas, and the situation is very unfavorable for us. Therefore, the order was given to prepare for everyone to retreat, heading east.” This young armored soldier relayed the information he had received to his parents.

The middle-aged couple sighed deeply upon hearing this.

Ordinary commoners like them had no choice in this situation.

They could only comfort themselves that they had personally witnessed the tragic state of refugees harmed by demons and heard shocking stories. At least, they could still survive.

“If we must retreat, then so be it. Perhaps it’s a good thing for everyone. We’ve been living in fear for so many days, afraid that demons would break into the city one day. Fortunately, there’s that adult sent by the State City to protect our safety.”

His father had a kind face, and used to be a scholar, possessing a certain dignified demeanor.

His mother nodded, then thought of something, her eyes filled with anticipation, “If we evacuate, what about you? You should also retreat with us, right? As long as our family is together, everything will be fine.”

The young armored soldier, however, shook his head, “Your son must immediately leave the Pass and head west!”

The couple’s expressions changed in alarm. West, that was the demons’ territory. His mother’s grip tightened, her voice trembling slightly, “Didn’t you say we were going to evacuate?”

The young armored soldier’s tone was quick, his expression filled with a sense of vigor, “The evacuation of the entire Fu Gate will take a considerable amount of time. That adult will lead troops to attack Weiyuan Pass to buy everyone time for evacuation.”

Saying that, he patted his mother’s tightly clasped hand, his gaze fervent, and looked at his elderly parents, “Father, Mother, do not worry for your son. Your son is only providing backup support for the Ninth Mountain and is not in danger. But those brothers of the Ninth Mountain must follow that adult to fight for a bright future. They too are born of fathers and mothers, and many have died, fighting with their blood for Father, Mother, and the people of this city. As a person of Guang’an, what is there to fear? Father and Mother should be proud that your son can participate in this battle.”

As soon as these words were spoken, they brought tears to the couple’s eyes.

His father’s face trembled slightly, his eyes filled with pride and heartache, “Good child, well said.”

“Son…” His mother was teary-eyed, wanting to say something, but ultimately did not speak.

Just then, a wooden voice abruptly sounded from the back door of the main hall, “Can I go?”

Only to see a thin, scarred youth standing at the back door, about thirteen or fourteen years old, but his eyes were like those of a young tiger, sharp and filled with the aura of death.

The young armored soldier frowned slightly, glanced at him, then looked at the elderly couple with an inquiring gaze.

The middle-aged couple sighed.

“This child is named Chu Fan, he’s had a hard life, having escaped from Gulan County in Weiyuan Prefecture.”

The middle-aged couple had seen this unconscious child among the refugees below the West City Wall. When they found him, his body was covered in wounds, and the soles of his feet were worn to shreds. He was carrying the corpse of a woman who had long since died, and before losing consciousness, he was still calling for his mother.

The couple were moved by the child’s plight and decided to save him, taking him home and adopting him.

After the elderly couple recounted the story, the young armored soldier’s gaze softened. He knew his parents were kind-hearted, and he too was moved by the youth carrying his mother’s corpse, crossing mountains and rivers for a thousand miles. He beckoned.

“Little Fan, right? Come here. From now on, call me big brother. Our family has enough food for you, so stay here without worry!”

The youth walked over, a ripple flashing in his wooden eyes, “Big brother.”

“Where did you say you wanted to go?”

“Go with you, kill demons, and take revenge!” The youth said this, his body filled with a fierce determination.

The young armored soldier bent down slightly and patted the youth’s shoulder, knowing that painful memories were tormenting him. “You’ve got a fierce spirit, kid. When I return, I’ll teach you martial arts.”

Saying that, he drew a small knife from his waist.

“A gift for our first meeting!”

At this moment, outside, the dense sound of horses’ hooves clip-clopping could be heard, followed by shouts.

“Hou Jun, time to go!”

“Got it!” The young armored soldier loudly responded to the outside, then bowed to his parents,

“Father, Mother, your son is leaving!” After speaking, he immediately turned and quickly walked out.

“Son,” his mother wept, full of worry, and couldn’t help but step forward, but was held back by his father, who watched their son depart.

The youth, however, chased after him.

Hearing footsteps, the young armored soldier, named Hou Jun, who was almost at the door, stopped and couldn’t help but look back.

He saw it was the youth.

“What is it?” He looked puzzled.

The youth suddenly pulled out a wooden carving from his sleeve, holding a Three-Pointed, Double-Edged Spear, and it was even painted with colored lacquer.

“I heard my big brother can meet that adult. He is my and my mother’s benefactor. I have nothing to repay him with, but can you give this to the adult? I want to become like him in the future. As long as you call his name, he will appear to save people.”

The youth’s words felt very strange, filled with a kind of innocence, yet also resolute.

The young armored soldier found these words a bit odd. With his rank, he couldn’t possibly meet that adult, but he also smiled. Why break the youth’s desire to repay kindness? So he readily accepted it, “Alright!”

Saying that, he opened the door.

At this moment, outside the door, a troop of soldiers was already waiting.

This young armored soldier named Hou Jun quickly mounted his horse.

Then,

“Giddy-up!”

“Giddy-up!”

“Giddy-up!”

“...”

This troop of soldiers headed towards the West City Gate.

As they converged from various parts of the city, they all surged out beyond the Pass.

At the same time, within the Sky Patrol Division’s station, in Chen Yuan’s separate courtyard, a muffled hum came from the quiet room behind.

Inside the quiet room, forty-eight Formation Flags, like white jade, shimmered with colorful flowing light. Engraved on them were formation patterns corresponding to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, floating and rotating rapidly between Chen Yuan and his four leading captains.

Demon bones for the staffs, fur for the flags.

It took four hours to refine a total of forty-eight Formation Flags, twenty-four per set. This time, two complete sets were refined.

One large, one small.

At this moment, in the middle of the four individuals, a golden flame was like a blazing furnace, and the Void Realm itself became distorted.

Chen Yuan, at this time, with a flick and expansion of his sleeve, put away one small set of twenty Formation Flags. Then, he slightly opened his mouth and inhaled towards the Golden Core True Fire.

The True Fire, boiling like a furnace, transformed into a line of fire and was absorbed into his mouth within a few breaths. Then, he slowly spoke:

“Put away this set of Fanshan Formation. Liu Qing, you take it!”

Liu Qing responded, reciting an incantation and pointing at the still-floating Formation Flags. The Formation Flags, originally about a foot long, spun around and flew towards him, becoming smaller and smaller, and were caught by him with a Formation Plate.

“You all should also depart!”

“Yes!”