Chapter 67: The Aftermath in Eastcalm Prefecture
Under Jadesun Palace Lord’s command, many soldiers and veterans put pressure on the demons, forcing them to flee.
“Although killing demons is important, staying alive is more important,” shouted a human expert in the lead. “We need to force the demons to leave Eastcalm Prefecture as soon as possible. It’s best if we use bows or throw short lances. Engage in melee combat as little as possible.”
With orders from all over the place, the soldiers and veterans of Eastcalm Prefecture skillfully drove out the demons. Demons that were slow to escape would be circled and killed. This compelled the demons to escape with all their might.
“Run!”
“A G.o.dfiend is here. Where are our demon monarchs?”
“The demon monarchs must have been defeated. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be ordered to retreat.” The demons’ morale had completely plummeted as they frantically fled.
Jadesun Palace Lord occasionally attacked, mostly targeting the stronger demons.
There are too many ordinary demons. If we really don’t force them into a corner, they will scatter and wreak havoc everywhere. It would result in bigger trouble. However, the demon commanders can forget about escaping. The lieutenant commanders will be killed if possible. Whenever Jadesun Palace Lord discovered a demon commander, he would immediately rush over. As long as he was within a thousand feet of the enemy, he would be able to slay them using thread wisps easily.
“The commander is dead.”
“The lieutenant commander is dead as well.” The remaining demons fled in panic.
…
One party was frantically retreating while a G.o.dfiend cornered another. In just an hour, all the demons retreated to the Demon Realm.
“The invasion has ended.” Meng Chuan walked along the streets with his father, Meng Dajiang, as they took in the city.
The region closest to the World Entrance was the most miserable. There were many casualties; other places were relatively better. People below the Marrow Cleansing realm had hidden in the deep underground tunnels. There had been no time for the demons to enter the tunnels during the short invasion. Those who had partic.i.p.ated in the defense were at or above the Marrow Cleansing Realm; they numbered a few thousand.
Roughly 1000 people had died in battle. The casualties in the region near the World Entrance numbered 10,000. It was the most tragic region.
Furthermore, many places in the city had been destroyed during battles between demons and humans. Houses had collapsed, restaurants were damaged, and the streets were scarred. The traces of battle were everywhere.
“Dad, Mom, our shop collapsed.” A child looked at the collapsed street and cried.
“It’s fine.” The woman hugged the child and looked at her husband—who was covered in blood. She smiled and said, “It’s better that we’re alive and together. Nothing else matters.”
The child was still confused.
The husband gently hugged his wife and child and said with a smile, “It’s indeed good to be alive.” In the past two hours, he had killed three demons with his companions. He had survived and had not lost any limbs. He felt very lucky.
“Hahaha! Eastcalm Prefecture has survived this tribulation. Another few decades of peace is in order. Hahaha…” A bandaged, old man covered in blood held a gourd of alcohol and laughed as he drank. As he did so, he watched people appear on the streets. The weak, ordinary civilians had been hiding in the underground tunnels, but they had all come out now. This added more life to Eastcalm Prefecture.
“Uncle Zhang, you’re a hero!” shouted a neighbor as he looked at the elder.
“Uncle Zhang, come. Take this pair of pig trotters and make some soup with it.” A butcher realized that their shop hadn’t been damaged. The pork that was prepared early in the morning was still there. He immediately wrapped up a pair of pig trotters and gave it to the elderly man.
Upon seeing this, Meng Chuan and his father felt much better.
“G.o.dfiends are very important, but mortal soldiers are equally important,” said Meng Dajiang with a sigh. “It’s because of them that we were able to hold back the countless demons, preventing the people hiding in the tunnels from being slaughtered. No matter how powerful a G.o.dfiend is, how many of them are there? Of course, battles between the G.o.dfiends and demon monarchs determines the outcome of a war. If the G.o.dfiends lose, it would be pointless for the mortal soldiers to fend off the demons.”
Meng Chuan nodded slightly.
For the sake of this vibrant Eastcalm Prefecture and for the sake of countless human cities, he had to become a G.o.dfiend! Only after becoming a G.o.dfiend would he have enough power to protect everything.
…
The ancestral mansion.
Meng Chuan and his father arrived at the ancestral mansion.
White lanterns now adorned the main entrance of the Meng ancestral mansion. Many clansmen were dressed in mourning attire.
“Elder.” Soon, a clansman delivered mourning attire to them.
Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang wore them.
“Let’s go to Third Elder,” said Meng Dajiang. Quite a number of people from the Meng family had died. Four elders had died, and many more at the Marrow Cleansing and Mortal Shedding realm.
The Third Elder was the strongest person who had died in battle, so it was only right to pay their respects to him first.
The mourning hall was already set up.
“You’re here.” Clan Leader Meng Yanping sat inside, looking like he had aged considerably. “Give Third Brother a kowtow.”
“Okay.”
Meng Dajiang kowtowed first, followed by Meng Chuan.
After kowtowing, Meng Chuan stood up and saw Third Elder’s corpse. He had already been cleaned up by a mortician. He lay there like he was sound asleep, and even his expression was much more serene than usual.
Clan Leader Meng Yanping looked at Meng Chuan and said in a low voice, “What Third Brother wanted the most when he was alive, was for you to enter Archean Mountain and become a G.o.dfiend. Meng Chuan, you must not let him down.”
“Yes.” Meng Chuan nodded. “I won’t.”
…
After staying with Third Elder for a while, they went to the other mourning halls.
The atmosphere in the Meng Estate was stifling and solemn. After all, many clansmen had died. Many children were still oblivious, having not realized what had happened. After the demon invasion erupted—although 3000 clansmen lived in the ancestral mansion—roughly 2000 people, that had yet to reach the Marrow Cleansing realm, hid in the tunnels. They hid in the tunnels for an hour before coming out again. They had not encountered any danger.
They felt like everything was the same as usual.
However, many mourning halls were set up in the ancestral mansion, and almost the entire clan was mourning. The children didn’t dare tantrum.
“Kowtow.” The parents’ eyes were red. They got their children to kowtow one by one. Every family that had lost somebody needed to receive a kowtow. This was because the parents knew that it was due to clansmen risking their lives so they could survive.
Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang went to each residence before finally visiting Grandaunt.
“Grandaunt.” The father-son duo entered the courtyard.
Fairy Meng sat alone in the yard. She didn’t like people tending to her. Cough. Cough. Fairy Meng’s face was pale. Her aura was waning slightly, making it difficult for her to maintain her normal appearance.
“Grandaunt, your injuries…” said Meng Chuan worriedly.
Upon seeing Meng Chuan, Fairy Meng smiled. “Ah, you’re here. My injuries are nothing. I can’t live for long anyway. I’m already very happy that we could fight the demon monarchs and not have Eastcalm Prefecture razed to the ground.”
Meng Dajiang also said, “Aunt, you don’t have to worry about anything else. Rest well.”
“Yes, rest well,” said Meng Chuan immediately.
Fairy Meng had been a G.o.dfiend for nearly eighty years. She was the family clan’s pillar of support. The Meng family was used to her protection. When she was around, the Meng family would feel settled. If she wasn’t around, it felt as though the Meng family would collapse.
“I know my body well,” said Fairy Meng with a chuckle. “Don’t worry. I can’t bear to die so quickly. I’ll hold on… Regardless, I’ll survive until winter this year. I need to hear about your successful entry to Archean Mountain before I can rest in peace.”
At this time, there was a knock on the door outside the small courtyard.
The door opened.
Clan Leader Meng Yanping said from outside, “Third Sis, someone from Jadesun Palace is here. He’s here for Meng Chuan.”
“Someone from Jadesun Palace is looking for Meng Chuan?” Fairy Meng frowned slightly.
“Fairy,” said another person respectfully from outside the door. “Marquis Southcloud from Wu State’s capital has come to Eastcalm Prefecture. Marquis Southcloud has informed us that he would like to meet Young Master Meng.”
“Marquis Southcloud?” Fairy Meng was alarmed.
King Calm Sea’s position was extremely lofty, and all surrounding states were affected by it. However, Marquis Southcloud was also an extremely powerful G.o.dfiend—one of the strongest in the entire Wu State. He was the one who answered Eastcalm Prefecture’s call for help.
“Meng Chuan, hurry over,” said Fairy Meng immediately. “Dajiang, you should go with him too.”
“Yes.” Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang answered.
The father and son immediately followed the messenger to Jadesun Palace.