Chapter 507: Retreating to the County

Time passed.

Three days flashed by.

On the morning of the fourth day, the Seventh Prince's army, bound for the commandery capital, had fully assembled and began its journey. Xu Qing, the Captain, and Kong Xianglong were all among the crowd.

As the army advanced, gradually moving away from the defensive line, Xu Qing looked back from within the ranks, gazing towards the northwest. Over the past two months, he had experienced many things here and witnessed countless lives and deaths. In the current silence, many cultivators, mostly Sword Holders from Fenghai Commandery, gazed in the same direction as him.

After a long time, Xu Qing withdrew his gaze and looked forward, towards the four-clawed golden dragon surrounded by hundreds of black dragons, soaring amidst the heavens and earth. Even just a glimpse of its massive body, shrouded in clouds and mist, evoked a sense of divinity, not to mention the figure seated within its imperial carriage.

Compared to this noble figure high above in the heavens, the people on the ground, including Xu Qing, seemed as insignificant as dirt next to clouds, utterly negligible.

Xu Qing recalled a saying from his childhood in the slums, spoken by his teacher. "What defines a great person? It's actually quite simple. When you look up in a crowd, you can clearly see them, remember them. Because in your eyes, whether you want to or not, they are unique. If their gaze sweeps over the crowd, yet they cannot see you clearly or remember you among the masses, then they are a great person."

"So, when you can make the city lord notice you specifically and pay attention to you as they pass by us, then you, my boy, will also be considered a great person."

Xu Qing remembered these words clearly. Later, when the remnant divine face opened its eyes, he infiltrated the city lord's mansion to search for cultivation techniques. At that time, he indeed managed to be reflected in the dull, lifeless eyes of the city lord, who lay dead, his eyes wide open, unable to rest. Now, he glanced at the Seventh Prince in the clouds, then withdrew his gaze, his face expressionless, as he continued with the army.

Several hours later, the army arrived at the newly constructed large teleportation array. As units were successively teleported, Xu Qing's figure, along with his comrades, vanished into a dazzling sea of light.

When they reappeared, they were outside the familiar commandery capital, a place they had been away from for two months. Not all of the army was permitted to enter the commandery capital. Xu Qing and many soldiers had to remain on standby on the grounds surrounding the commandery capital city. Only a select few, who were eligible to accompany the Seventh Prince, were teleported into the commandery capital.

Standing on the ground outside the commandery capital, Xu Qing looked up at the city above and heard the tremendous cheers emanating from that familiar metropolis. The sound was deafening, reverberating through the heavens and earth.

Auspicious multi-colored light shone brightly across the sky, while the three main palaces emitted brilliant glows as embellishment. Within the commandery capital city, unseen by Xu Qing, all houses were now adorned with colorful ribbons. A street leading directly from the Prefect's mansion to the teleportation array was renamed "Prince's Way."

This street was decorated with lanterns, colorful streamers, and flowers. Countless humans lined both sides, welcoming the procession, their cheers echoing in all directions.

"Victory!""Victory!""Victory!"

Amidst the clamor of gongs and drums and universal celebration, the Prefectural Aide, along with all the prominent figures within the commandery capital, including those from the Near-Immortal Clan and the Sacred Demon Clan, as well as many foreign clan patriarchs, respectfully bowed as the Seventh Prince's figure appeared in the shimmering light of the array.

"Greetings, Seventh Prince!"

In the sky, the four-clawed golden dragon breathed out crimson mist, its light dazzling and brilliant. On the ground, the Seventh Prince stepped out with a smile, facing the crowd. At that moment, the roar of voices reached its peak.

But none of this concerned Xu Qing. Xu Qing silently stood among the army outside the commandery capital, listening to it all.

After a long while, an imperial decree reached the army, ordering the imperial forces to set up camp on the spot and move freely. As for the Sword Holders from the former Western War Zone, they finally received the order for their free return. From then on, they would not need to go to the battlefield, except for specific occasions.

This order came from the Prefectural Aide and the Vice Palace Lord of the Sword Holders' Palace. At their earnest request, the Prince, considering the difficulties faced by Sword Holders, felt moved to grant this special permission.

Xu Qing left the army and went nowhere else, returning directly to his Sword Pavilion. The moment he stepped inside, he didn't even remove his armor, nor did he meditate. Instead, he lay on the bed and instantly fell asleep.

He slept until dusk the next day. The moment he awoke, there was a large amount of information in his communication jade slip and command sword.

Since jade slips were forbidden on the battlefield and all communication was blocked, only now, after returning to the commandery capital, could they communicate with each other via jade slips.

"Xu Qing, I couldn't reach you earlier. Only today, after seeing your Senior Brother, did I feel relieved, knowing you were safe. This old man has gone back with the Wood Spirit Clan first. The commandery capital here is a bit different from what we expected. The Wood Spirit Clan suffered heavy casualties in this battle. I also barely escaped death... If you have time, come back to the Wood Spirit Clan. Ling'er is about to wake up." This was from the old man of Banquan Road.

"Xu Qing, wake up and come drink with me." This was Kong Xianglong.

"Little Junior Brother, tell me when you wake up. I'm coming to get the Dao Fruit from you." This was the Captain.

"Commander Xu, you need to be careful. I received information in the commandery capital that those foreign clans you intimidated earlier are now saying you undermined the unity of Fenghai Commandery. Although the Prefectural Aide has fully suppressed this matter, you still need to be vigilant." This was Qing Qiu.

Xu Qing sent a few brief replies, put down his jade slip, stretched, then took off his armor. With a wave of his hand, countless mists gathered around him, quickly cleansing his body.

He hadn't bothered to clean himself on the battlefield partly because it seemed pointless, and partly because of the pervasive smoke and the assault of deathly aura. In such an environment, unless one was a neat freak, one wouldn't constantly repeat this action.

After cleaning himself, Xu Qing changed into new Daoist robes. Then, the Captain, also looking completely refreshed, arrived with an expectant expression.

"Half for each of us," Xu Qing said calmly.

The Captain's spirits immediately soared. "That's enough, haha! I can finally exchange for the Ancient Dao Consecration Order! Let me tell you, little Ah Qing, I came to the commandery capital and worked so hard to earn military merits all for this!"

The Captain was content. He tucked the storage bag into his robe, then looked at Xu Qing and spoke with a smile. "Little Ah Qing, don't you want to exchange for a Life Lantern Dao Fruit? Your military merits are enough for it, and war merits have also been allocated. Look how many war merits you've earned! I got four fifth-rank war merits and two third-rank ones!"

Hearing this, Xu Qing took out his command sword and checked it.

"Sword Holder Xu Qing, as reported by the Sword Holders' Palace and verified by the Military Discipline Department, in the Battle of Fenghai Commandery, you received one second-rank military merit, four third-rank military merits, seven fourth-rank military merits, and eleven fifth-rank military merits."

Xu Qing was momentarily stunned; he hadn't expected so many.

"Haha, quite a lot, right? I heard the Vice Palace Lord of the Sword Holders' Palace personally submitted these reports, and basically everyone got some." The Captain said with a laugh, then looked around and continued in a low voice. "You just slept after coming back, didn't you? Let me tell you, little Ah Qing, a lot has happened since yesterday. With the Seventh Prince's arrival, the commandery capital's structure has changed."

"The Sword Holders' Palace, the Enforcer's Palace, and the Judiciary Palace are now jointly headed by three of his marshals."

"Also, the Grand Elders of the Sword Holders' Courts in four states were noted for errors. Our Yinghuang State was among them. There are many reasons, including the escape of prisoners. That woman, Youjing, actually risked severe injury on the battlefield, even falling in cultivation, to forcibly break free from her shackles and escape in the chaos."

"And the Near-Immortal Clan and the Sacred Demon Clan, their alliance status with humanity has changed. The Seventh Prince, I don't know what methods he used, but within a day, they voluntarily became subordinate clans to the humans of Fenghai Commandery."

"Additionally, over four hundred foreign clans chose to increase their annual tribute and surrender their military authority."

"Well, I'm off to exchange for my stuff. Oh, and by the way, little Ah Qing, the Prefectural Aide has already announced it: a commandery-wide mourning ceremony will be held tomorrow to commemorate Governor Mo, the three Palace Lords who died in battle, and all the fallen soldiers."

Xu Qing watched the Captain depart. Standing outside his Sword Pavilion, he looked around. The commandery capital, though familiar, now felt vaguely unfamiliar.

Everything was different. Xu Qing suddenly felt a longing for the Seven Blood Eyes and for his master.

After a while, he bought a few jugs of wine in the commandery capital and went to Kong Xianglong's Sword Pavilion.

Kong Xianglong was drinking alone. Upon seeing Xu Qing, he tried to force a smile but couldn't, ultimately picking up a jug and draining it in one gulp.

Xu Qing silently stayed by his side, drinking with Kong Xianglong. Neither of them spoke.

Not until the first hint of light appeared outside, after an entire night had passed, did Xu Qing speak softly. "Brother Kong, the commandery mourning ceremony is about to begin."

Kong Xianglong silently looked up. After a long pause, he spoke in a low voice. "Xu Qing, wait for me outside for a moment."

Xu Qing nodded and exited the Sword Pavilion.

Not long after, when the Sword Pavilion door opened and Kong Xianglong emerged, his face was clean-shaven, and there was no scent of alcohol on him.

His neat white Sword Holder's Daoist robe made him seem, for a moment, as if he had returned to the time before the war.

"That old man never let me call him grandfather, and I was too lazy to. I've lived alone my whole life anyway," Kong Xianglong said softly.

"But... that old man was a strict person. If his spirit in heaven saw me so drunk earlier, he'd probably have that stern, scolding look on his face again. Even though he can't reprimand me now, I still want to make him a little happier."

"Don't you think so, Xu Qing?" Kong Xianglong looked at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing nodded gently.

Kong Xianglong took a deep breath and walked forward.

Xu Qing walked with him. As the two left the Sword Pavilion, and the resounding bells of the commandery capital echoed, filling the entire city with solemnity, they arrived inside the commandery capital, directly in front of the statue of Emperor Xuan You.

At this moment, hundreds of thousands of cultivators were already standing there. The Sword Holders' Palace, the Enforcer's Palace, the Judiciary Palace, and the commandery government cultivators were all present.

Even more figures were rapidly arriving from all directions. Among them were those with missing limbs, those with unhealed injuries, and those with bloodshot eyes. Some were filled with suppressed grief and indignation.

They were all battle-hardened cultivators who had survived the Western War Zone.

On the ground, the imperial army marched out, bowing their heads in silent mourning. Within the capital city, every household instinctively stepped out. Men, women, and children of all ages silently looked towards the statue of Emperor Xuan You.

At this moment, on the northwestern front, all cultivators and Sword Holders from Fenghai Commandery's various states who had not yet returned put everything aside and faced the direction of the commandery capital, their expressions filled with boundless sorrow.

The human sects that had served in the Western War Zone and returned to their respective states now all rang their sect bells, the sound echoing through every state, reverberating in all directions, resounding throughout the heavens and earth.

The entire commandery mourned together.