Chapter 48: 48 On the City Walls

After breakfast, Song Cheng quietly pushed open the door, only to see Tong Niangzi and Ying'er sleeping together in the side room. One was a petite and lovely doctor, the other a tall and heroic swordswoman.

His heart stirred slightly, wanting to slip under the covers to enjoy the blessings of both.

However, a quick glance at his own body revealed his clothes and trousers were quite dirty, so he dismissed the thought.

The movement of him entering also caused the two women to open their eyes; seeing it was Song Cheng, they relaxed again.

Ying'er climbed out from under the covers; she had slept fully clothed.

"Brother-in-law, is everything alright?" the cold, stern swordswoman couldn't help but ask.

Song Cheng said, "Everything is fine."

Then he added, "It was thanks to Young Miss's calm command that we were able to safely endure last night."

Although Ying'er agreed with Song Cheng's assessment of Young Miss, she still felt it was strange. While smoothing out her sleep-wrinkled sword robe, she said, "The Ghost servants didn't breach the city?"

"No." Song Cheng nodded casually, then yawned and said, "You should go to Young Miss's side."

Ying'er: "Mm."

Subsequently, Ling'er arranged for the maidservants to boil water and prepare clothes, looking every bit like a steward of the inner courtyard.

Song Cheng also bathed and changed, then lay down on the couch, rubbing the web of his hand.

Wisps of faint Protective Qi were generated beneath his skin as his strength circulated perfectly.

This strength operated under the "intent" polished by the Pillar Method, and thus reached the realm of perfection.

If there is no intent, and one only has form, it is ultimately inferior.

The "Xuanwu True Form" is a Four Forms cultivation technique; its primary form of practice is the "Pillar Method," using the "Pillar Method" to imitate the forms of a hundred beasts.

Ordinary strength techniques at most attain one form, and that "Pillar Method" is usually a common beast.

But the "Xuanwu" cannot be fully depicted even with four forms, remaining blurry.

This means it still has great room for improvement.

If he could collect more strength techniques or form techniques and then integrate them into his own "Xuanwu True Form," would that mean his foundation would be built even more firmly?

Some people only seek to climb high.

But cultivation is actually not climbing a mountain, but building a tower.

The more stable the foundation of the tower, the higher it can be.

"Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles; without accumulating small streams, one cannot form a river or sea."

As Song Cheng thought, he felt his weariness growing deeper.

He yawned, leaned against the quilt that still held the scent of the women, and entered a Dream.

At Form Realm Completion, compared to the Jin Realm, one gains "Protective Qi," but the consumption is also significantly increased.

After a night of slaughter, he was truly tired; Song Cheng slept straight until evening, skipping lunch.

He got up and looked outside.

"It's raining again."

This weather is sunny during the Daytime, but it starts raining as soon as night falls.

He hurriedly got up, washed, and went out.

It was a coincidence that as he opened his door, the door to the main room also happened to open.

Young Miss An had just stepped over the threshold; the two looked at each other, then naturally drew closer.

Ying'er followed behind Young Miss, and seeing Song Cheng, she seemed to have something to say but hesitated, her heroic eyes carrying a hint of resentment.

Song Cheng said, "Ying'er, if you have something to say, just say it."

Ying'er said resentfully, "Brother-in-law, you lied to me."

Song Cheng showed a look of confusion.

Ying'er said, "Last night, the Ghost servants had clearly already broken through the city gate, and it was clearly you who killed and drove back those Ghost servants, yet you didn't say a word about it."

Song Cheng said, "I reached Jin Realm Completion and merged the 'Flicking Willow Strength' I learned with my own 'Bai She Jin'; isn't that something anyone could do?

If it were you, you could do it too.

Those Ghost servants only look scary, fierce and unafraid of death, but they aren't strong."

Ying'er was usually cold, but hearing this, she really felt the urge to argue with him.

What did he mean by "if it were you, you could do it too"? She felt she couldn't.

But before she could speak, Song Cheng had already looked at Young Miss and said, "An Jie, we still have to go guard the East City tonight, right?"

An Chenyu nodded and said, "It keeps raining, so fire arrows won't be effective, so we must go.

There were many casualties last night, especially those injured; there are many.

I had the Steward take people to comfort them.

For the families of those who died, my firm will send some rice and grain, and the rest will be provided by the government as compensation.

Tong Niangzi also went along; she said she is a doctor and must go to help those injured at this time, and at the same time, she wants to inspect the scene to avoid an outbreak of plague. I had the Ma Family Brothers and Ling'er take some maidservants and servants to go with her."

Song Cheng was silent for a moment.

Before he transmigrated, the number of people who died in war was just a number, but having personally joined in, he realized it was endless wailing and pain.

"Eat."

He said.

Young Miss An nodded, then walked two steps and added, "Ying'er, from now on, if Brother-in-law is here, you don't need to protect me; go protect Tong Niangzi. Go now."

Ying'er responded, grabbed an oil-paper umbrella from the corner, opened it, and hurried into the rain.

Song Cheng and An Chenyu had dinner, and they didn't bring any guards.

After all, there were almost no guards left who could still be used; they were either on the city walls or on the streets—who had any free time? The two wrapped themselves in straw rain capes and bamboo hats and rode their horses toward the east of the city.

Standing on the city wall for the night, fortunately, the Ghost servants did not come to knock on the door again.

At the hour of midnight, the rain stopped.

The Milky Way was like water, making the puddles and ponds on and below the city walls shimmer and shine.

An Chenyu sat behind the battlements, leaning against the cold city wall with her hands hugging her knees, looking up at the firmament.

Song Cheng sat beside her.

Neither of the two spoke, yet there was not the slightest sense of discord.

After a while, An Chenyu closed her eyes, and her breathing became steady.

Song Cheng smiled and leaned against her side.

The wind blowing through the city still carried the faint sound of weeping, while outside the city, it was pitch black; gloomy gray mist rolled and flowed like the giant maw of a gray monster, its jagged edges appearing to chew on this small county town where humans gathered, wanting to swallow it whole.

The world of "Avici Hell" is the kingdom of the dead; here, Yin Qi is everywhere.

Are humans, in fact, the outsiders?

Just as he was thinking this, suddenly, the sound of footsteps came from the city wall.

Before long, a County Soldier led two women over.

It was Tong Jia and Ying'er.

In the red, blazing warm light of the fire basin, Tong Jia carried a food box, while Ying'er carried a large bag on her back.

The large bag was opened to reveal a big package of sesame cakes still steaming with heat, and Ying'er shouted to all sides, "Come and have something to eat."

The night watchmen gathered around one after another, taking food while expressing their thanks.

Tong Jia placed the food box in front of Song Cheng.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Song Cheng said, "Why are you in such a sorry state?"

At this moment, Tong Niangzi looked exhausted from head to toe, and her eyes were circled with dark rings.

Tong Jia smiled and said, "Eat quickly."

She opened the food box and took out a bowl of piping hot dough-cake soup.

Back at Huichun Hall, she had always liked making dough-cake soup.

And underneath the food box was an exquisite serving of lamb rice that was perfect in color, aroma, and taste.

Tong Niangzi said, "I made the dough-cake soup, and the meat is all at the bottom. The lamb rice was made by Ling'er for the Young Miss."

An Chenyu had also woken up; she opened her eyes and said, "You've worked hard, little sister."

The Young Miss was just about to take the rice, but seeing Song Cheng's gaze sweep over the fragrant lamb rice, she laughed coquettishly, "Little sister, I haven't tasted your cooking yet; how about you let me have the dough-cake soup?"

Tong Niangzi was taken aback, then said, "Alright."

Only after receiving consent did the Young Miss lift the dough-cake soup to place it in front of herself, then she handed the lamb rice to Song Cheng and said, "Take it."

Song Cheng took it.

The Young Miss then fished out those pieces of meat on the bone from under the dough-cake soup and added them all at once to Song Cheng's lamb rice.

Song Cheng wanted to refuse.

But the Young Miss said she had been too busy and didn't want to eat meat.

He could only accept this "luxurious lamb rice" piled high with meat.

The Ghost Tide was terrifying, the city was hard to defend, and the night was difficult.

Yet fortunately... it was not so unbearable after all.

And this was perhaps what he wanted to possess and protect.

(End of chapter)