The city walls of Donghai were teeming with people, a dense, dark mass, and incredibly noisy.

Countless people, braving the midday sun, stood on tiptoe, craned their necks, and gazed at the horizon at the edge of their vision.

Today is a special day that will be recorded in the history of Donghai City.

The Tokai Castle troops, who participated in that world-shaking battle that swept across Japan, have returned in glory!

Without any official mandate or deliberate organization, all the residents of Donghai City spontaneously flocked to the streets before dawn, gathering on both sides of the city gate to form a welcoming line stretching for several kilometers.

"They're here! They're here! They're back!"

Someone, in the midst of a silent and anxious wait, suddenly raised their voice and shouted something at the top of their lungs.

That sound shattered the silence and ignited the entire venue!

"They've really arrived! I see the Great Xia's battle flag!"

"That's a military vehicle! Those are heroes from our Donghai City!"

"My son! Is my son on that train?!"

Soon, everyone saw a large convoy of military vehicles slowly approaching from the horizon. The roar of tracks grinding against the ground, along with the billowing dust, filled the air.

Because Donghai City had previously suffered an extremely devastating beast tide attack, resulting in heavy losses for the city's defense forces and various legions, the number of military soldiers who could be drawn from and mobilized to participate in this war of annihilation was actually not large.

This massive contingent, in total, numbered less than 20,000.

Among them, most were not even regular military soldiers, but guild members who had been urgently organized by various guilds in response to the call! They wore their respective guilds' tattered armor, covered in gunpowder smoke, and many even had blood-soaked bandages wrapped around their bodies.

"Boom!"

The heavy steel city gates slowly opened to both sides with a dull thud.

As military vehicles drove into the city one after another, they were greeted by a deafening roar of cheers from the residents of Donghai City!

"Heroes! You are all outstanding!"

"Long live the ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ Great Xia Dynasty! Long live Donghai City!"

Flowers and ribbons were scattered along the city walls and windows on both sides of the street.

Seeing this scene, many of the soldiers on the vehicle, men who had crawled out of piles of dead bodies without shedding a single tear, had tears welling up in their eyes, and some even covered their faces and wept bitterly.

As soon as the convoy came to a stop, the crowd could no longer contain themselves and surged forward.

"Honey! You're finally back! I thought I'd never see you again..."

"Father! Look, Father's back!"

Many people rushed over the police line, embracing their families who had jumped out of the cars, and weeping loudly. Those who had experienced the brutal fighting in Tokyo, looking at this peaceful scene of everyday life before them, deeply understood what a miraculous feat it was to have survived.

Qin Ming stood on the roof of an armored vehicle, silently watching the tragicomedy of reunions unfolding below.

A gentle breeze brushed across his face, which was covered in blood and dust, and his nose involuntarily stung with tears.

He was an orphan who had no parents since childhood.

In this cruel apocalypse, he had to rely on himself for everything, struggling alone and living a life of constant danger. Now, watching other families reunite, seeing those heartwarming scenes of parents holding their sons and wives holding their husbands, a deep sense of loss involuntarily crossed his eyes.

"Is this what family feels like..." Qin Ming gave a self-deprecating smile, his voice barely audible, "Unfortunately, I have nothing."

However, just as he was about to turn around and jump off the roof of the car to have a smoke by himself.

A series of hurried footsteps came from behind.

"Vice President! What are you daydreaming about up there for, Vice President!"

Qin Ming turned around and saw a young man, his armor tattered and a faint scar on his face, panting as he climbed onto the roof of the vehicle. In his hands, the young man carefully held a steaming object wrapped in oil paper.

"Ah Cheng? Why don't you go and have a get-together with your family?" Qin Ming was taken aback.

The young man, known as Acheng, grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. He strode up to Qin Ming and forcefully shoved the oil paper package into Qin Ming's hand.

"Vice President, have a taste!" Ah Cheng wiped the sweat from his face, his eyes sparkling. "These are pancakes my mother just made down below the city wall! They're fresh out of the pan and so delicious! I specially ordered two, and saved the biggest one for you!"

Feeling the scalding heat from his palm, Qin Ming looked down at the slightly burnt sesame seed cake and swallowed.

"Left for me...?"

"Of course!" Ah Cheng patted his chest matter-of-factly. "Back in Tokyo, if it weren't for you, Vice President, taking that Japanese samurai's knife for me, I would have died in a foreign land long ago! My mother said that you are not only my superior, but also my savior, and the benefactor of our whole family!"

Qin Ming opened his mouth, but found that his throat was blocked by something, and he couldn't say a word.

He lowered his head and took a big bite of the steaming hot sesame seed cake.

Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a fragrant aroma of scallions and a hint of wheat sweetness.

"Is it delicious, Vice President?" Acheng looked at him expectantly.

"Delicious." Qin Ming looked up and smiled. It was a genuine, utterly relieved smile. "Damn, it's delicious!"

After taking that bite of the sesame seed cake, a warm current flowed through his entire body, completely dispelling the loneliness in his heart. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Yes, how could I not have a home?

I have long since found a home.

The Eternal Night Guild is his home! Every brother here is family!

Qin Ming stuffed the remaining sesame cakes into his mouth in a few bites, chewed them vigorously, and swallowed them. Then, he straightened up and looked down at the Eternal Night Guild members who were enjoying a brief moment of tenderness with their families.

"Brothers!"

Qin Ming used the magic power within his body, and his voice echoed throughout the entire gathering square!

All the members of the Eternal Night Guild, whether they were embracing their wives or comforting their parents, trembled instinctively upon hearing this voice, quickly released their loved ones, and turned to look up at the height.

"The brief moment of tenderness has come to an end!"

Qin Ming stood high above, his posture as straight as a spear, his eyes sharp and fervent: "All members of the Eternal Night Guild, heed my command!"

"Whoosh—!"

Almost simultaneously, thousands of elite members of the Eternal Night Guild stood at attention in perfect unison, their right fists slamming heavily against their left breastplates, producing a deafening metallic clang.

"exist!"

Looking down at the ferocious army below, forged in blood and fire and radiating an astonishing aura of killing intent, Qin Ming's fervor intensified. He suddenly drew his long sword from his waist, pointed it straight to the sky, and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"All troops, line up!"

"Go back to base!"

"We...are going to see the Lord!!!"