Winds of change swept through the vast Qiyun Road, carrying with them a deadly solemnity.

「A certain villa complex.」

In the courtyard, Zhao Xiaoya stared at the figure of Zhao Dejiang standing before her. He faced the direction of the Lingjin River, his chest puffed out and his gaze blazing. Her face was pale as she spoke with a voice laden with worry, "Grandpa, do you… do you really have to go?"

"I am a Martial Guard, and a Martial Guard of Hanyun Valley at that! Even if I must stand alone, I will defend the banks of the Lingjin River. If they want to set foot on Qiyun Road, they'll have to step over my corpse!" Zhao Dejiang stood ramrod straight, his tone one of quiet determination.

The Martial Guards of Hanyun Valley never feared hardship or danger; they always met challenges head-on.

Zhao Xiaoya nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. The old man before her suddenly seemed towering and majestic. She handed him an old set of martial attire.

"Xiaoya, take good care of yourself." Zhao Dejiang patted her shoulder resolutely, then turned and departed.

Zhao Xiaoya stumbled forward a few steps, a thousand words caught in her throat. They dissolved into endless tears that streamed down her face. She sank to the ground, watching his receding figure, and began to weep uncontrollably.

「A butcher's stall in a market.」

A robust young man set down his meat cleaver. He turned and pulled his tear-streaked wife into his arms, smiling as he said, "Honey, for twenty years, I've never forgotten that I am a Martial Guard. I've never forgotten my duty and my mission."

"There are some things I just have to do."

The woman cupped the young man's face in her hands, her eyes overflowing with tears as she bit her lip. "I'll have dinner ready. You have to come back."

The young man nodded vigorously, his gaze tender. He kissed her forehead and then turned to leave.

"Mommy, where is Daddy going?" a four-year-old girl asked, clutching her mother's clothes and tilting her head up with innocent eyes.

The woman squatted down, wiping the tears from her face. She forced a smile and said, "There are some things your daddy must do! You must remember, he's a hero!"

「The chairman's office of a large conglomerate.」

A middle-aged man, a familiar face from television interviews, stood before a floor-to-ceiling window, his deep gaze fixed on the distant Lingjin River.

After finishing his third cigarette, he turned and walked over to his sobbing wife. He knelt before her, pressing his head against her swollen belly and closing his eyes to listen.

"The little one is kicking you again," the middle-aged man said with a small smile. "Meixin, if it's a boy, let's name him Victory."

With that, he rose and strode away without a backward glance.

"We have everything we could ever want! Why do you have to go? Why?!" his wife shrieked with all her might.

"Because I'm a man, and Qiyun Road is my home!"

A true man refines his character, manages his household, governs the state, and brings peace to the world. I spent the first half of my life fighting for my family's prosperity. Now, I will fight for the homeland that gave me life. I am not a hero. I am just a man.

「...」

Similar scenes unfolded in every corner of the city of Qiyun Road.

When a country is shattered, we are but catkins scattered in the wind. When our lives are thrown into turmoil, we are but duckweed battered by the rain. Those who invade my homeland shall meet me on the front lines.

「Meixin Community.」

Breakfast was unusually somber. Everyone held their bowls, but no one spoke.

Both Qin Qiu's and Qin Mo's eyes darted toward Chen Yang from time to time. They had a million things to say but could not find the words.

Chen Yang put down his bowl and chopsticks and smiled. "I bought a snakehead fish yesterday. Honey, you can make a soup with it later."

"Okay!" Qin Qiu nodded. This man always remembered what she liked to eat, while he himself seemed to have no particular favorites.

"Don't worry," Chen Yang said, reaching out to ruffle Qin Qiu's hair with a grin. "I'll be right back."

He and Yang Hu then drove away. Qin Qiu ran to the doorway and watched until the car was out of sight.

Qin Gang walked over to her and said coolly, "Don't worry. He's stronger than you imagine. There's probably no one in this world who can harm him."

Qin Qiu remained silent, gritting her teeth, her fists clenched tightly.

"I remember he likes bamboo shoots. They should be in season now. I'll go buy some."

Qin Qiu hurried away, not wanting anyone to see her tears. Besides, she had promised that man she wouldn't cry anymore.

「Lingjin River.」

The Spirit Platform, constructed by the Yin Family, was now crowded with people. The mourning hall, the coffin, the white banners, the funeral bell, the wreaths—everything was in place.

Yang Tianli stood at its center, his gaze sweeping across the banks of the Lingjin River, his expression dark and gloomy. "Is this everyone who came?"

The banks of the Lingjin River were sparsely dotted with people, looking almost desolate. Those who had come seemed to be there only for the spectacle.

"Yes," Yang Qin said through clenched teeth, his expression just as grim.

"Heh heh…" Yang Tianli let out a grim laugh. "Not a single person from the Qin Family showed up. Fine. You've all done so very well!"

"Once this funeral is over, the moment my eighty thousand Personal Guards make landfall, I will sink the entire Qiyun Road! You all act so united now? I hope you're not crying then!"

At these words, Chu Jiang and the powerful families from Qiyun Road who had defected felt a shiver of fear run down their spines. At the same time, they were secretly relieved to have switched sides when they did. Otherwise, who could have hoped for mercy when the Yang Family's army arrived? The fact that the citizens of Qiyun Road stood united while they had turned traitor did not stir the slightest sense of shame in them.

"Let's begin," Yang Tianli commanded with a wave of his hand.

Instantly, the mournful toll of the funeral bell and the sound of a dirge filled the air.

BUT THEN!!

"Look! It looks like someone is coming over there!" a man suddenly exclaimed, pointing toward the surface of the Lingjin River.

A lone skiff parted the waves, gliding steadily toward them.

At the bow stood a man, wielding the Three-Foot Green Peak Sword. Another man rowed while heating wine. The wine came to a boil, sending up a curling trail of white steam.

Hmm?

Yang Tianli, Yang Qin, and everyone else frowned.

Boating and heating wine. This didn't look like attending a funeral; it looked like a leisurely spring outing! More importantly, the Lingjin River was vast. Of all the places to be, why come here? Were they here to watch a show?

Heh heh…

This scene ignited the already simmering fury within Yang Tianli. His sinister eyes blazed with murderous intent.

"I… I've seen them!" As the small boat drew closer, Chu Jiang recognized the two men. Weren't they the ones who had come to his hotel to humiliate him?

After Chu Jiang recounted his experience, Yang Tianli scoffed repeatedly. "Useless!"

"Go!" Yang Tianli waved his hand dismissively. "Cut him down and throw his body into the river to feed the fish."

"Yes, sir!"

A row of Yang Family guards behind him nodded in unison. With a push of their feet, they shot toward the small boat.

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