In just one short month.
Merit City, once filled with laughter and joy, where the common people lived simple and peaceful lives, content with their work, was now empty, the people gone and the buildings deserted. But the ground was still clean and tidy.
Over a hundred elderly people, who stubbornly refused to leave, were sweeping the streets of Merit City with brooms.
They said that at their age, they didn't have many days left, and they wanted to accompany Merit City on its final journey.
Suddenly.
One old man's movements froze. His body was trembling. His eyes were red-rimmed, and he stared ahead in disbelief. "Ol... Old Master!"
Li Dalong!
Li Dalong, who had clearly arranged everything and decided to set up another game, unexpectedly returned to Merit City in the month after everyone had left!
The surrounding elderly people all came towards Li Dalong. Their eyes were moist. One of the old men suddenly widened his eyes and said urgently, "Master Dalong, why... why have you returned? Weren't you and the children all going to the Northern Border? You..."
Li Dalong laughed loudly. "If I hadn't told them I was going to the Northern Border, would they have gone?"
"Master, you..."
Those few old men were about to say something, but Li Dalong simply shook his head at them. "Alright, you old boy, I still remember you. Back when Merit City was still called Green Valley Village, you followed me to venture into Talin Town. What did you say back then?"
The old man laughed with tears in his eyes. "Master, back then, I said that when I had nothing to eat, it was you who took me in. I have everything now, and it was time to repay you with my life. Back then, I was lucky to survive. I kept this life, and also became a Foundation Establishment cultivator."
"Yes, we have everything."
Li Dalong sighed deeply. "Old fellows, I also have everything now. I never dreamed that this day would come."
"Let's not talk about it anymore. I need to walk around the house again."
On this day, Li Dalong and the elderly people who remained behind in Merit City walked together through Merit City, which they had built up bit by bit. They visited every place. They went to see the graves of the Pig Demon King and Li Kuangtu.
They watched as Merit City had grown from a small, grateful village to what it was now. Every brick and tile here contained the painstaking efforts of generations!
They had everything. They had everything they had never imagined!
They were proud enough, and this pride was enough for them to take into the earth. Walking on the road to the Yellow Springs, they would dare to hold their heads high and be respectfully greeted by. Their lives were worth it, with no regrets.
As the sun rose in the east.
Li Dalong stood at the gate of Merit City. Beside Li Dalong was the Iron Forest Horse he had once subdued in the Silver Iron Forest!
"Old fellow, it's been over a hundred years. Your life is as tough as mine." Li Dalong grinned, pulling on the Iron Forest Horse's reins. He had raised this old fellow for over a hundred years. He hadn't had a use for it, so he just kept raising it. It was a pity, though, its aptitude was too poor. It had been raised to the peak of Demonic Beasts and could no longer advance even an inch. Now, it was still accompanying him.
"Hmph!"
The Iron Forest Horse turned its head and glared at Li Dalong, as if saying, 'You old coot, what are you talking about?'
Behind him, these old people of Merit City, both men and women, had all donned their long-sealed armor!
"Let's go, Old Ma. Back then, you were a real coward. This time, accompany me on a journey!"
"Whinny!"
Li Dalong mounted the horse. The Iron Forest Horse reared up on its front legs, facing the sun.
With the Horse's cry, it carried Li Dalong step by step forward, just like in the old days.
Behind them, the faces of the elderly people who remained in Merit City were filled with proud expressions. They followed behind Li Dalong, facing the sunlight, just as in the old days they had followed their masters, fearlessly facing everything. Step by step, they marched towards the border city!
They were old.
But now, they were filled only with passionate excitement!
At the end of their lives, their old master was still the same as he was back then, not abandoning a single one of them.
Their old master still hadn't forgotten their promise. They would use their lives to protect this homeland, protect their children, and create a future for their children.
The road from Merit City to the border city, they walked for a full two months!
Li Dalong stood on top of the city wall.
The subordinates of Merit City, wearing their heavy armor, stood on the edge of the city wall, just like they had guarded their village back in Green Valley Village. Li Dalong even saw that, the moment an old fellow stood on top of the wall, he had forever closed his eyes, yet he still firmly grasped the rusty iron spear!
Li Dalong's nose tingled with a sour feeling, but he gritted his teeth and did not let the old fellow lie down. He roared to everyone.
"Villagers of Green Valley Village!"
"We are now standing on the wall of the border city. Behind us is our homeland. Today, I want you to stand with me in life and death, to stand with our homeland in life and death!"
"To hell with the Azure Dynasty!"
"To hell with the Wu Clan!"
"Everyone, raise your spirits! As long as I, Li Dalong, am alive, they will not break into our home!"
The summer night stars filled the sky. A cool breeze blew gently on top of the border city wall. Li Dalong's shouts were so resounding on this border city wall.
Before them was the Endless Forest. Before them, there were no enemies.
But these villagers of Green Valley Village, who were already nearing the end of their lives, still held their torches high. They roared up at the sky.
"Yes!"
"No one shall trespass upon our home!"
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