Chapter 78: Chapter 70: Is Everything Really Over?

It seemed like everything was over.

The villagers of the Yang Family Fort no longer needed to hide; they crawled out from the bandits’ lair, both relieved to have survived and curiously examining the mangled carcass of the flesh-and-blood monster bird.

A few children seemed frightened by the gruesome scene and began to wail on the spot, prompting their parents to carry them away. But the older ones were bold enough to approach, picking up some sticks to poke at the massive corpse, to see if this thing could be prodded into movement.

The corpse, with only half its body remaining and no head, naturally couldn’t move again.

"So, it really is over..."

The aged Yang Xuan also emerged. The old man with his broken legs was pushed in a wheelchair by his kin; he had come out to collect the bodies.

In this battle, only one person had died.

"Cry if you want to cry."

With a sigh, Du Chengfeng walked to the old man’s side and patted his shoulder.

But the old man with broken legs shook his head resolutely.

"Now’s not the time to cry, the matters of the Yang Family Fort still need handling... Currently, all of Ji Prefecture has been turned to wasteland, so there’s no need for the villagers to return to Yang Family Fort anymore. We need to organize people to head south; I wonder what you think, brave one..."

"Me?"

Du Chengfeng couldn’t help but start scratching his head.

Although he had once thought about returning to the small courtyard of Yang Family Fort, as Yang Xuan mentioned, even if the phrase "turned to wasteland" was somewhat exaggerated, there truly weren’t many living people in Ji Prefecture now. If he were to live there again, it seemed a bit foolish.

Let alone living a normal life, even if he took a thousand steps back, he couldn’t even find a stall to buy groceries from.

Is this a place fit for living in?

"Wanting to live a good life doesn’t seem so easy."

Du Chengfeng couldn’t help but feel a headache.

Originally, he thought that as long as he defeated the Grasslanders, killed He Xiqing, he could fulfill his wish and live the normal life he wanted. For this, he fought with all his might against the Grasslanders, even battling He Xiqing—even now, everything was finally over, and He Xiqing was finally dead, but where was the normal life he wanted?

"Sigh..."

Du Chengfeng couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh.

Life, it seems to be a personal matter, but in reality, it’s never just one’s own issue.

At this moment, Du Chengfeng realized this point deeply.

"I too... will leave."

After thinking for a moment, Du Chengfeng still made a decision.

Indeed, it was time to go, after all, based on the information he had, whether it was He Xiqing or the Qingyang tribe he had wiped out, they were merely the vanguard, with the real decision-makers of the southern invasion—the Grassland Royal Court—still behind. This meant that the land of Ji Bei would soon become a battlefield between Mobei and the Great Chen. Only a fool would stay here.

After all, he was neither a Mobei person nor a Great Chen person, so why stay here, waiting to steal rations from both armies?

But if he were to head south...

Du Chengfeng was momentarily bewildered.

Even though he had a direction, where in this vast world could he settle?

"Where should we go?"

Du Chengfeng couldn’t help but look at the great saber in his hand.

Just then, Yang Xuan in the wheelchair cupped his hands toward Du Chengfeng.

"Although the battle is over, I still have an immodest request... If it’s convenient for you, could you accompany us, escorting the villagers of Yang Family Fort to Yanzhou?"

"... Yanzhou?"

Du Chengfeng pondered for a moment.

Yanzhou, indeed, left an impression on him. Whether from the memories acquired during blade sharpening or from the mouths of Ji Bei people, he had heard of Yanzhou. Compared to the martial virtue-filled Ji Bei, Yanzhou appeared more peaceful, orderly, with abundant fertile fields and resources, making it a better place to live than Ji Prefecture.

Many renowned and elegant individuals chose to retire in Yanzhou, including the famous scholar Ruan Shantao from Great Chen.

And speaking of Ruan Shantao, it would delve into the information he received while sharpening blades. According to this information, Ruan Shantao was not just the renowned scholar as the public knew, but also a Master Craftsman with exceptional skills in sharpening. Du Chengfeng remembered that the Changdao Duanma in his hand had been sharpened by him.

The method he used, employing the use of reading chants and literary instruments as sharpening tools, had once saved him when facing those peculiar Grassland dancers.

This sharpening method was unheard of to him.

"I indeed need to take a look."

As he spoke, Du Chengfeng glanced at the Changdao Duanma inside the saddlebag.

If Ruan Shantao truly had more understanding about the Evil Qi of weapons, then could the Changdao Duanma catch a new lease on life?

After all, that Heavy Great Saber had already...

"Oh, right."

Du Chengfeng thought for a while, then handed the Heavy Great Saber to Yang Xuan.

"Although the situation was complicated, this great saber belongs to your Yang family after all. Previously, I almost lost my life, which made me quite angry, but now that Yang Sanlang has paid with his life, it should be returned to its rightful owner."

As he said this, Du Chengfeng placed the great saber beside Yang Xuan.

However, Yang Xuan showed no intention of accepting the saber.

Instead, he lifted his head and looked at Du Chengfeng.

"Brave one."

Yang Xuan’s hands trembled on the wheelchair.

"Was my nephew deserving of being called brave?"

"...Yes, he was."

Facing Yang Xuan’s gaze, meeting his eyes, Du Chengfeng ultimately nodded.

"Whatever the past, for this incident alone, Yang Sanlang truly deserves to be called brave."

"That’s good, that’s good..."

The aged Yang Xuan wept openly.

"For receiving praise from a brave one like you, my late nephew can rest in peace..."

Saying this, Yang Xuan pushed the great saber back to Du Chengfeng from his lap.

"As for the saber, take it with you. There is no one in the Yang family who can wield it anymore, so it seems like fate with this saber has ended... If you can use it, then it’s fate with you; let it accompany you."

"This..."

Du Chengfeng hesitated for a moment, but ultimately took the saber back.

After all, as the old man Yang said, this saber truly wasn’t willing to part with him.

Indeed, they had fought side by side, inseparable.

"Very well."

Taking a deep breath, Du Chengfeng hung the saber back on the saddlebag.

"Since you agree, I’ll take Sanlang with me."

"Alright... wait?"

Yang Xuan was suddenly startled.

"Brave one, what did you just say?"

"Sanlang."

Du Chengfeng patted the saddlebag.

"Since it’s a treasured saber of your Yang family, we’ll call it Sanlang from now on."

Inside the saddlebag, the Heavy Great Saber swayed gently, as if very pleased with the new name Du Chengfeng had given it.

Like Du Chengfeng, they both looked forward to the journey ahead.