Chapter 1108

"I no longer believe in any oaths or doctrines. Now, my identity is only one thing—that is, your mother, Maidemos, your guardian..."

The dream ended.

Wandi rubbed his dazed head: "... Dreams always end here. The return journey to Xuanfengcheng is longer than I imagined. Kelatus said that shortly after I fell into the sea, Mother challenged the former king in a duel—she died by Father's poisonous scheme, and I never met her."

But she appears every night, waiting in the hazy firelight. I have always been waiting for the dream to continue, thinking she would leave more instructions or guidance… but now… I seem to understand. This is all she wanted to tell me.

Now, I have only one identity left…

Wandi arrived outside the gate of Xuanfengcheng; everywhere lay collapsed stone pillars and crumbling walls, only the two sides of the road to glory still had sparks lit.

Then… the journey should also reach its end.

——

Legend of the Immortal Sword Hero

"... What a lonely and long road home."

Watching Wandi walk alone in the night, Jing Tian couldn't help feeling sorrow for this lonely hero. Now, aside from the wind, Xuanfengcheng has no other sound.

There were no welcoming civilians, no cheering soldiers. Xuanfengcheng seemed a forgotten lonely city; he was the city's sole king, and also the last tomb keeper of a dynasty that once shone for thousands of years.

"Brother… are you sad?" Watching Jing Tian keep drinking his sorrows away, one cup after another, Long Kui asked worriedly.

"No, I just… sigh, I feel upset inside." Jing Tian patted his chest, feeling his heart in a tangle, his chest as if blocked by something, "He is the guardian of Weng Faluos, a true great hero, with countless living lives behind him, but now…"

He strained to find meager words in his belly, yet didn't know how to describe it. After all, the current situation is Wandi's choice; if countless Xuanfeng people voluntarily followed him to Xuanfengcheng, that would surely be what he least wants to see.

"Along this road, he will never return. I, I just feel… that a hero like him shouldn't die in a lonely, cold night."

——

"Look, Maidemos has come back!"

"In a daze, Wandi seemed to see the road bathed in sunlight again. It was a hazy sunny day; the sides of Xuanfeng Avenue were lined with people welcoming him, those faces clearly turned to skeletons now clapping enthusiastically."

"Today Xuanfengcheng is joyful; children by the road raise their hands, their tender voices mingling with cheers, bubbling up a rare bustle."

"Welcome back!"

"Long time no see, Your Highness the Prince!"

"May glory be yours!"

"As he moved forward, familiar companions from the past stepped out from both sides of the road; Padikas stood in the middle of the avenue, wearing the bronze breastplate he had when he set out, excitedly saluting him."

"Hefisixin walked over holding a glass of red pomegranate juice, smiling as ever: 'Fresh pomegranate juice, care to try?'"

"Tuomile ran over excitedly, holding his latest poem: 'Come quick! Look at what I just wrote…'"

"Leon, holding a sword, waved at him: 'Maidemos! Did you just return from training?'"

"Puseta: …Long time no see."

"Welcome home… Maidemos. Have you also found something worth protecting?"

At the road's end, two rows of armored soldiers stood like an iron wall, their long spears like a forest, pointing straight to the heavens.

Wandi climbed the steps; with each step, a unit of soldiers made way for him. As he climbed step by step, myriad voices gathered into an unstoppable torrent that exploded beside him—

"Son of Geerge, bathed in blood, inheriting the crown!"

"Son of Geerge, bathed in blood, inheriting the crown!"

"……"

Wandi slowly walked toward the throne.

That was a throne made of red crystal; Wandi turned, swept his hand, his cloak drawing a beautiful arc in midair, and he calmly sank into the throne.

"Mother…"

He whispered softly, his voice echoing long within Xuanfengcheng.

"... I have returned home."

——

Crimson Red Eye

"Son of Geerge, bathed in blood, inheriting the crown!"

At this moment, even Weir couldn't help but shout loudly for that man in the sky.

The lone king, the ultimate individual heroism… in an instant, Weir felt his blood boil all over, even unable to stop imagining: if that man invited him to jointly resist the black tide, to fight together, as long as he extended an invitation, Weir would without hesitation follow him to the front lines against the black tide.

He said Aglaea possesses a strange "gravity" about her whole person, but in fact Wandi himself has the same gravity, only he himself hasn't noticed it.

He is a soldier; for soldiers, the bond of comrades who live and die together is most precious. Although he and Wandi have never met, he believes that if they could fight on the same battlefield, they could become friends.

"Weir, you seem rather excited." Hei Tong silently held the candy in hand.

"Ahaha, I'm still seeing such a king for the first time, it's inevitable…" Weir laughed embarrassedly, scratching his head, "If one day the empire's emperor were also willing to join us on the battlefield, that would be great."

"Weir always projects the rulers of other countries onto the empire."

"Hei Tong, do you also think this kind of thing couldn't happen?"

"Kings like Wandi are one in a million; you can't hope for someone like him to appear in every country." Hei Tong said lightly, "Most of the time, once war breaks out, those who go to the front are children of poor families, while nobles hide behind."

"Yeah…" Weir lowered his head in dejection, slowly clenching his fists, "... That's also why I want to enlist; I want to change this country from within."

——

"Now, Aohema."

"The wind of Aohema carries the taste of sunshine…… You used to love this place most, right, Tian?"

"Looking at the red doll on the table, Xietie still felt incredulous: 'Lady Tian, why… has it become like this?'"

"Take it easy, Butterfly. Life always has partings, only *our* farewells come less violently than ordinary people's." Tibao comforted softly, "When *we* set out on our journey, Janus had already given the prophecy—just as it split itself, becoming myriad paths in the world…"

"*We* taking over its fate and walking the same trajectory is only natural."

Bai'e fell silent for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth: 'Teacher Tibao, if you don't mind…… would you still be willing to reveal that history to us? Concerning the past of the "divine decree".'