The moment these words left his mouth, Shen Qiu's jaw dropped into an 'O' shape, and he froze in place, utterly stunned.

He even wondered if he was too nervous and was hallucinating.

"Great Master Ouyezi, you... what did you just say?"

He stammered, his voice filled with disbelief.

"We... aren't leaving?"

He didn't understand.

Every single person present, without exception, was a life-skill professional with no power to fight.

What other meaning could staying here have, besides waiting for death?

But he ultimately didn't dare to directly contradict this exceptionally talented Forging Master, only asking politely, in a tone almost pleading: "Excuse me, Great Master Ouyezi, I... I don't quite understand what you mean. Could you be more specific?"

Zhou Huai, controlling Ouyezi, surveyed the Forging Masters in the hall who were also looking at him with confused gazes.

He gathered his thoughts, then slowly said:

"Although we are life-skill professionals, we can still play our part."

His gaze sharpened, as if it could pierce through people's Souls.

"Right now, on the city wall, countless combat professionals are fighting fiercely, bathed in blood."

"Many of them may not even be as high a Rank as us, nor have as good equipment as us."

"But they have not retreated; to protect this city, to protect us, they are fighting with no regard for their own lives."

"And what about us?"

Ouyezi's voice suddenly rose, carrying a power that seemed to interrogate the Soul.

"Are we to stay here, like a group of startled mice, packing our belongings and plotting how to escape?"

"Are you all not a part of Donghai City?"

"Are your relatives and friends not in this city?"

"If you just leave, will your consciences truly not ache?!"

"I..."

Zhou Huai's words were like a clap of thunder, resounding in everyone's hearts.

Shen Qiu's face instantly turned a liver-red color; he opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word.

He admitted that every word Ouyezi said was like a red-hot branding iron, searing his heart.

Shame, utter humiliation.

But... human nature is inherently to seek advantage and avoid harm.

He was afraid of death.

He truly couldn't be like Ouyezi, disregarding life and death.

Zhou Huai looked at Shen Qiu's struggling expression and knew he shouldn't push him too hard.

He softened his tone, his voice returning to calm.

"Of course, I don't mean to force everyone to stay."

"Everyone has their own aspirations; I won't force it."

"But I, personally, will not leave."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Forging Masters who were busy packing, his voice heavy.

"Right now, many of the warriors defending the city wall might still be holding ordinary white-grade equipment bought from shops."

"They might not even have a single piece of fine-quality armor on them."

"Even so, they are still standing on the city wall, unhesitatingly, shedding their blood and sacrificing their lives for Donghai City!"

"I will stay."

Ouyezi's voice was firm and resolute, without a hint of hesitation.

"To forge better equipment for them. Even if my personal ability is limited, I will do my best."

"I ask for nothing else, only to have... a clear conscience!"

No sooner had he finished speaking.

"Well said!"

A hearty compliment, full of vigor, came from the office doorway on the second floor.

Gu Yan, the President of the Forging Guild, had emerged at some unknown point.

His face, which usually carried a hint of authority, was now filled with undisguised admiration.

He slowly walked down the stairs, came before the group, and heavily clapped Ouyezi's shoulder.

"The rise and fall of the world is the responsibility of every common man!"

"What if we are life-skill professionals? We also have our own responsibilities!"

Gu Yan's gaze swept across the hall, his voice booming.

"Just now, I have decided!"

"To take out all seventy-two Epic-quality equipment and over five hundred Rare-quality equipment remaining in our Guild's storeroom!"

"And send them to the warriors fighting on the city wall!"

"What?!"

Shen Qiu's face registered disbelief.

He exclaimed in shock:

"President! Those... those are all the Guild's assets!"

"How can you..."

"Shut up!"

Gu Yan suddenly turned his head, interrupting Shen Qiu with a furious roar.

His cloudy old eyes now gleamed with astonishing sharp light.

"Assets?!"

"Donghai City is about to fall, people are about to die! Am I supposed to keep those broken scraps of metal to show to the King of Hell underground?!"

He waved his hand grandly, his Aura surging.

"Not only will I send equipment, but I will also stay!"

"To continue forging more equipment for them!"

After speaking, the anger on Gu Yan's face turned into a hint of self-mockery.

He said in an almost joking tone: "It's been a long time since I touched that old friend; I wonder if these old bones of mine can still handle the strain."

Zhou Huai looked at the old man before him, his eyes also showing genuine admiration.

"Great Master Gu Yan, righteous!"

Gu Yan, however, happily waved his hand.

"I'm an old man, with one foot in the grave; there's no pity in my death."

He turned his head, looking at Ouyezi with burning eyes, filled with expectation and admiration for the younger generation.

"On the contrary, Great Master Ouyezi, your Forging talent is something I, Gu Yan, have never seen in my life!"

"With your talent, in the future, you are destined to become a Divine Craftsman renowned throughout the Great Xia Country!"

"Even a prodigy like you is willing to stay for this city; what do these old bones of mine count for?"

Gu Yan took a deep breath, straightening his somewhat hunched back.

At this moment, his voice became incredibly solemn and grave.

"Craftsmen may die."

"But the spirit of the craftsman lives on!"

As these words were uttered, they resonated like a grand bell, striking heavily upon everyone's hearts.

Inside the hall, the previously noisy sounds of packing and discussion fell into an eerie silence.

Many Forging Masters who were packing their belongings stopped their movements one after another.

Their faces held complex expressions.

There was bewilderment, struggle, shame, and also a flicker of... ignited flame.

They were Forging Masters. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

From the moment they changed professions, their life paths seemed to have been fixed.

Every day, they faced cold metal, scorching flames, and monotonous, repetitive hammering.

Life was numb.

When the beast tide came, when the shadow of death enveloped the entire city.

The first thought that emerged from the depths of their hearts was fear, was to escape.

They had never thought.

What could a 'blacksmith' like them, who only knew how to forge iron, do to protect this city?

And now.

Ouyezi's words, Gu Yan's words, were like a flash of lightning piercing the darkness, illuminating their long-dusty hearts.

Yes.

Those combat professionals could sacrifice their lives on the city wall to protect them.

Why should these life-skill professionals feel at ease, cowering in the rear, only thinking of saving themselves?

In the crowd, a young Forging Master silently put down the bag filled with Materials he was holding.

He glanced at his companion, who also had a struggling look on his face, and then a relieved smile suddenly appeared on his own.

"I'm not leaving."

His voice was not loud, but in the silent hall, it was exceptionally clear.

"Great Master Ouyezi is right."

"I grew up in Donghai City since I was a child; my parents, my friends, are all here."

"Everything I have is here."

He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and roared out the fear in his heart completely.

"Now that Donghai City is in trouble, I don't want to just think about escaping myself!"

"Even if I'm just an Elementary Forging Master, even if I can't forge any good equipment, I will stay!"

"Contribute my share!"

His companion was a burly man with a full beard.

Hearing his words, the strong man was first stunned, then he grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, and heavily punched him on the chest.

"Good boy! You've got guts!"

The strong man laughed heartily, his laughter filled with an indescribable boldness.

"If you're not leaving, how can I face you again if I run away?"

"Damn it! I'm staying! I'm staying too!"

He slammed the bulging satchel in his hand onto the ground with a dull thud.

"If Donghai City really manages to hold on, then in the future, when I brag to people, I can stand tall and [N O V E L I G H T] say!"

"Back when Donghai City was defended, I also did my damn part!"

After speaking, the two exchanged a smile, as if they had cast off all their anxieties and fears.

Without another word, they silently turned and walked towards their own Forging Room, filled with dust and sweat.

"Bang!"

The door of a Forging Room was pushed open.

Immediately after.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

One Forging Room door after another was pushed open in quick succession!

One, two, ten, twenty... more and more people put down their satchels.

Silently walking to their workstations.

On those faces, which had originally been filled with fear and panic, the same flame was now burning.

That flame was called responsibility.