Chapter 404: The Greater Cause of Home and Country

Bai Wei's eyes widened as she listened.

"No wonder the Fusang People are so hell-bent on capturing me; they even knelt and begged, saying that as long as I went with them, they would grant me a title."

So that was it—Shi Yao had limited supplies, which was why the Fusang People were so anxious.

"Shi Yao defected to an alien race and caused the deaths of thousands upon thousands of people; it was my obsession with revenge that prevented me from stopping her in time," Zhou Yanli said coldly. He glanced at Li Zongguang, then looked at Bai Wei. "Bai, my master and I are heading to Fusang to purge our sect."

Bai Wei was startled. "Just the two of you going to Fusang? Isn't that too dangerous?"

"It is of no consequence." The cold expression on Zhou Yanli's face finally took on a hint of pride. "A mere group of Fusang People cannot stop me."

Bai Wei had witnessed his martial arts and knew that Zhou Yanli was exceptionally formidable, with superb swordsmanship; coupled with his ability to foresee danger, he was practically invincible, yet she still felt anxious.

"But I remember you were suffering from an illness..."

"It is no longer an issue." Zhou Yanli smiled faintly. "Master gave me medicine, and my illness has been cured."

"Cured?" Bai Wei's eyes widened in shock.

What kind of miraculous medicine did Grandpa give Zhou Yanli, exactly?

She had searched for famous doctors in the modern world and couldn't cure Zhou Yuchuan's illness, yet Zhou Yanli, who was in Daliang, had just gotten better like this?

Bai Wei couldn't help but look at Li Zongguang. "Grandpa, what kind of medicine did you give him..."

"It is getting late." Zhou Yanli interrupted at the right moment. "Bai, the ship we are taking is about to arrive, and my master and I must depart immediately. After you return, you must keep in frequent contact with Xiao Moting; that way, Master can also learn of your well-being through him."

"Leaving already?" Bai Wei was even more astonished. "Grandpa, you are at such an advanced age; you've been traveling all day, shouldn't you rest for a while?"

"There is no need." Li Zongguang waved his hand. "This matter cannot be delayed. For every day we lose, Daliang faces one more point of danger."

"But, you are at such an advanced age..."

Zhou Yanli interrupted, "Bai, please rest assured, I will take good care of Master."

"Xiao Wei, you and Xiao Moting should have a good talk." Li Zongguang stood up, his tone meaningful. "The time you have together is too short; it hasn't been easy."

After saying this, he tilted his chin toward Xiao Moting.

"I entrust my only granddaughter to your care."

Xiao Moting understood immediately that the other party had accepted him and Bai Wei; this was a request for a promise.

A surge of excitement, intertwined with wild joy, welled up in his heart. He suppressed his emotions and bowed steadily.

"Old Master Li, I will definitely protect Bai Wei well and not let her suffer the slightest harm. If anyone wants to hurt her, they will have to step over my corpse."

"Prince of Northern Suppression, with those words from you, this old man can rest easy." Li Zongguang raised a hand to signal Zhou Yanli. "Yanli, let's go. It is time to correct our past mistakes. Fusang should be exactly as it was before; they must not think of setting even half a step onto the land of Shenzhou."

Li Zongguang walked out of the dilapidated temple, but Zhou Yanli did not move.

He turned around, his cold eyes reflecting Bai Wei's figure.

"Shennü Daren, I do not know when I will return from this trip to Fusang. Please forgive me for being unable to stay here to protect you. You must take good care of yourself and ensure no harm comes to you!"

Having finished, he bowed respectfully, performed a salute, and turned to leave.

His form of address for her had changed to 'Shennü Daren'.

At the same time, Zhou Yanli also reined in his arrogance, and the look in his eyes as he gazed at her was filled with cold, intense piety, as if he were staring at the deity in his heart.

The Zhou family had been the Great Diviners of the Divine Witch Tribe for generations, living their entire lives to protect the Goddess.

With the destruction of the Divine Witch Tribe, Zhou Yanli had also lost his Goddess, becoming a lonely wolf, trapped in revenge day after day, unable to extricate himself.

Now, this lifelong lonely War God had finally found his faith again.

Bai Wei watched the figures of the old man and the young man walk out of the dilapidated temple. She chased after them to the doorway, but the words to ask them to stay ultimately remained unspoken.

She could not indulge in personal sentiments; she had to prioritize the greater cause of the nation.

A single speck of dust in the passage of time could alter the trajectory of history; she could not let Beijiang fall, and Zhou Yanli could not let Fusang rise, otherwise, the entire Shenzhou would cease to exist.

With chaotic times approaching, she and Xiao Moting, Zhou Yanli and Grandpa, all had their own missions.

Zhou Yanli and Li Zongguang had left.

Inside the dilapidated temple, it became quiet once more.

The crimson bonfire flickered, radiating warmth.

Xiao Moting looked at Bai Wei. "When... will you return?"

Bai Wei hesitated for a moment. "Before tomorrow, I suppose."

She didn't want to leave now; she still wanted to spend a little more time with Xiao Moting.

The Jade Pendant already had many cracks; perhaps after she returned to the modern world this time, the Jade Pendant would shatter, and she would be unable to come back.

The night was already deep, and the Northern Frontier Army soldiers all tactfully lay down to sleep, not disturbing the two of them.

Those who weren't asleep also kept their eyes closed, feigning slumber.

Xiao Moting looked at the room full of people and hesitated. "How about we go for a walk outside?"

"Okay." Bai Wei agreed almost immediately.

In front of dozens of Northern Frontier Army soldiers, she felt embarrassed to be too intimate with Xiao Moting.

The two walked out of the dilapidated temple.

The moonlight was like water, spreading a layer of silver gauze over the earth.

Xiao Moting had not yet had time to change out of his armor; with his Long Blade and Bow and Arrow on his back, he looked tall, cold, and stern, his features handsome and resolute. The moonlight dyed his entire body in a layer of cold silver light.

"Bai, Daliang is not peaceful, and you haven't been able to get proper rest here either. After you go back, you must... take care of your health..."

"Xiao Moting, I'm about to leave, and that's all you have to say to me?" Bai Wei interrupted him unceremoniously, her almond-shaped eyes narrowing at him. "Don't you miss me? Aren't you reluctant to see me go?"

This blockhead had held it in for so long only to tell her to 'take care of her health'; it really made her furious.

Xiao Moting was stunned, his usually steady tone tinged with a hint of panic.

"Bai Wei, it's not that I don't miss you, and I am reluctant to see you go. I want to be with you every day, I..."

As he said this, he seemed to realize something and stopped immediately, a hint of shyness flushing his handsome face.

Xiao Moting paused and said in a low voice.

"Bai Wei, I like you, I am fond of you! I want to be with you! But Daliang is too chaotic, you are never safe here, and I want you to be well, to never encounter any danger."

Bai Wei lunged forward and hugged his waist.

She tilted her head up, her eyes reflecting specks of starlight, as well as the tall figure of Xiao Moting.

"Xiao Moting, the peace under heaven that we desire will surely come."

The man had a tall, slender build with a lean waist; as she wrapped her arms around him, she could just barely encircle his waist through his armor, the touch feeling ice-cold.

Xiao Moting's body stiffened, and he immediately pulled down the hands she had wrapped around him, enclosing them within his palms.

"The armor is too cold, don't touch it."

Bai Wei's small hands were enclosed by his two hands.

His palms were warm and broad, somewhat rough—those were the marks left behind from practicing martial arts and training with the Long Sword.

Under the moonlight, Xiao Moting lowered his head to look at the woman before him.

After struggling for a long time, he finally asked the question he had been pondering repeatedly in his heart.

"Bai Wei, your home is in the modern era; will you still come to Daliang in the future?"