Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Long Jianlu entered the camp, removed his armor, and threw it to the ground. Without saying a word, he silently entered the royal tent and instructed, "Summon General Xie. Jiang Xun, you leave."

The tent was empty, but Long Jianlu spoke to the air, "Come out, I know you're here. Was it you last night?"

Yaoguang dispelled his invisibility spell, revealing himself.

Long Jianlu didn't question Yaoguang's departure from the Imperial City. Instead, he asked, "Was that your magic just now?"

Yaoguang replied, "Yeah, what about it? Why are you so angry?"

Long Jianlu exclaimed, "Why am I angry? Don't tell me you don't know why!"

Looking at Long Jianlu's face, Yaoguang seemed to realize that he had driven the man mad with his actions.

"This is a battlefield!" Long Jianlu said in disbelief, "How could you use magic to kill?"

Yaoguang responded, "Are you insane? I'm helping you fight!"

Long Jianlu stared at Yaoguang in disbelief, while Yaoguang, now enraged, retorted, "If I hadn't used that fireball, how long would you have kept fighting?

Long Jianlu: "Do you have any respect for life? Treating the enemy like this, is that what you call war? It's a massacre! Have you ever considered that they went to battle to fight, and with one blast of flame, you've reduced them to ashes? Where's their dignity in that?"

Yaoguang: "The lives of the enemy are valuable, but ours aren't? By using my magic, how many of your soldiers' lives did I save? I preserved the lives of your troops, yet you don't thank me. Instead, you scold me?"

Long Jianlu trembled with anger, sitting down at his desk with bloodshot eyes.

Yaoguang: "You're utterly unreasonable!"

Long Jianlu: "…"

Taking a deep breath, Long Jianlu said, "It's my fault for not making myself clear. Yaoguang, no more magic from now on. In a face-off between armies, we should rely on our own strength to surround and engage the enemy. I know your powers are formidable, but this is a conflict among mortals. Mortal wars should be settled by mortals..."

"Why do you get to decide that? Can you speak for all the soldiers? I doubt anyone wants to die!" Frustrated by his good intentions being misunderstood, Yaoguang's defiance flared up. "I'm going to obliterate the entire army of Liuguo right now, and you can just watch."

"You're insane!" Long Jianlu shouted. "Don't go! What do you take me for?"

As Yaoguang moved to leave, Long Jianlu suddenly rushed forward, grabbing his wrist. Yaoguang didn't have time to turn invisible, and was caught red-handed.

"Let me go!" Yaoguang exclaimed furiously.

Long Jianlu found himself utterly unable to communicate with Yaoguang, both of them lost in their anger. Thankfully, at that moment, Jiang Xun entered the royal tent.

"Your Majesty," Jiang Xun said, "There's an urgent matter to report."

Long Jianlu sighed in relief. Jiang Xun's arrival served as a much-needed distraction, allowing Yaoguang to break free from his grasp.

"General Xie Hong was captured by the enemy during the battle yesterday," Jiang Xun reported. "His fate remains unknown."

"Where are you going?" Long Jianlu demanded sternly.

"To wander!" Yaoguang shot back angrily before storming out.

That night, the royal army took control of the customs, and the entire camp bustled with activity. Chen Feilang arrived at the royal tent.

"You had better give me a satisfactory explanation," Long Jianlu said, his face grim.

Chen Feilang replied, "If the Empress wishes to leave, no one can stop her, not even Your Majesty."

Long Jianlu fixed his gaze on Chen Feilang and asked, word by word, "You only brought him to the front lines to witness his magic?"

"Yes," Chen Feilang admitted. "Seeing is believing."

Long Jianlu: "Now he's heading to Qi Zhen, to the enemy's rear, to slaughter their troops with his sorcery!"

"Oh." Chen Feilang pondered and replied, "Why?"

Long Jianlu felt as if his heart was about to fail; he struggled to catch his breath.

Chen Feilang: "But he hasn't left the military camp yet. Perhaps Your Majesty could persuade him to change his mind?"

Exhausted, Long Jianlu inquired, "Where is he?"

Chen Feilang: "He's at the infirmary, treating the wounded soldiers."

Sometimes, Long Jianlu couldn't tell whether Yaoguang was his aid or his nemesis. Was he sent from heaven to assist him in unifying the world? Yet, his actions were crude and uncontrollable, even overpowering Long Jianlu in argument. On the other hand, if Yaoguang was here to oppose him, he consistently considered Long Jianlu's interests and acted in his favor.

Long Jianlu attempted to calm himself down, leaving the royal tent and making his way to the infirmary. There, he heard Yaoguang's voice echoing outside.

"Just rest... that's all you need to do..."

"Immortal!

"An Immortal!"

Outside the tent, soldiers kneeled before Long Jianlu as he approached, and he walked right in without a word.

Yaoguang picked up a soldier's severed leg and reattached it, then placed his hand on the wound, casting a spell. Miraculously, the severed limb began to grow back!

Long Jianlu: "...."

All the injured soldiers struggled to their knees, watching Yaoguang perform this divine act.

"Thank you... thank you so much!" The young man with the restored leg wept, "Immortal!"

Yaoguang: "Try taking a few steps?"

Young Man: "But Immortal, this leg isn't mine..."

Long Jianlu: "............................................"

"Aah?" Yaoguang felt a bit awkward as he asked, "Did I grab the wrong one?"

"That's the correct one," the soldier corrected.

"I can use his leg!" another soldier on the ground exclaimed. "As long as it gets attached, I won't complain! Please, divine being!"

Thus, Yaoguang skillfully and meticulously connected the soldiers' legs with unparalleled expertise.

Long Jianlu witnessed this scene, feeling a rush of dizziness and an impulse to vomit blood.

Following that, Yaoguang tended to the wounded soldiers in the infirmary, proceeding to the next one after each recovery.

Silent, Long Jianlu shadowed Yaoguang. Wherever they went, Yaoguang breathed life back into those on the brink of death, leaving behind only corpses beyond revival. With a mere hint of vitality remaining, the prospective queen's healing touch was miraculous, requiring no herbs or medical tools – it was as if a divine light enveloped them.

Throughout the process, Yaoguang didn't utter a single word to Long Jianlu. After the last soldier was healed, Yaoguang, slightly fatigued from the constant movement, turned to leave the barracks, sitting outside the main camp.

The night was deep, and Long Jianlu stood behind Yaoguang.

"I only meant to help you," Yaoguang said calmly, his tone apologetic. "I didn't consider these matters. Forgive me."

At this moment, Yaoguang's heart was at peace. He now saw the flaw in his character design; his very existence in this world was a product of his own wishful thinking. He had thought Long Jianlu would be thrilled, but he realized that in the face of his overpowering might, all he brought to his loved ones and soldiers was fear.

"Regardless, thank you, Yaoguang," Long Jianlu replied.

"I often reflect on myself as well," Long Jianlu came to sit beside Yaoguang, gazing at the stars above them, their twinkling lights illuminating the night.

"What is war?" Long Jianlu mused aloud. "If one day, I possessed the strength to conquer all, would conflicts between people cease? What do these soldiers and my foes fight for when they lose their lives on the battlefield?"

Yaoguang listened silently. At times, he found that the protagonists he created pondered more than their creator. Just like Shan Rong in his previous book, who constantly contemplated the meaning of "there's always something beyond." They were born from his pen, yet seemed to have ventured further than he ever did.

"I don't know," Yaoguang answered. "I just believe that if we minimize our losses while maximizing those of our enemies, war could end."

"But who are our own people?" Long Jianlu asked. "And who are the enemies? When we hold power, does it mean all those who oppose us will be eradicated under our might? Is Yu Qingsong, your uncle, and those who opposed our marriage in the court, enemies?"

Yaoguang remained silent, inwardly rebellious against the notion.

Long Jianlu continued patiently, "We all merely hold different stances."

"Do you know?" Yaoguang said abruptly, "If not for your sake, I might have killed them all."

"I know," Long Jianlu replied in a somber tone.

Yaoguang continued, "So am I an evil person? I don't value life, and when someone offends me, I want to eliminate them."

Long Jianlu responded, "But you also save soldiers and heal them."

Yaoguang: "All because of you."

Suddenly, Yaoguang felt that perhaps he was indeed not a good person. After living for so long, discovering himself to be wicked was somewhat disheartening. In his eyes, these characters were merely textual constructs, or perhaps not even that – mere figments of an unwritten imagination.

Long Jianlu said, "My uncle has been captured. Will you accompany me to rescue him tomorrow, please?"

Yaoguang glanced at Long Jianlu but didn't speak.

"This time, don't use any magic," Long Jianlu requested. "Let me rely on the power of mortals, whether through negotiation or warfare. I'll bring him back and end this conflict. Promise me, never use it again in the future."

Yaoguang asked, "Not even to heal the injured soldiers?"

"Yes," Long Jianlu said earnestly. "Put away all divine spells and return the world to mortals. We have birth, aging, sickness, and death, as well as beliefs worth sacrificing our lives for. It is precisely because of these that they hold value."

"Alright," Yaoguang agreed, not fully grasping Long Jianlu's reasoning but conceding since he had insisted.

"I love you," Long Jianlu said before rising to leave.

Under the starlight, Yaoguang sat in silence. Long Jianlu's declaration of love did not touch him; instead, it was brushed aside. He pondered how he had complicated this world and perhaps shouldn't have granted so many superpowers from the start. Would Long Jianlu be afraid of him? For now, it seemed not.

But Yaoguang had lost his initial interest in this fictional ancient world. Life was dull, resources scarce, and there was no modern technology. The only attraction left was Long Jianlu, yet his display of magic had made his lover uneasy... After this setback, Yaoguang entertained the faint notion of escaping and starting anew, learning from his mistakes and devising another world where he could meet Long Jianlu again.

Discontent with his creation, Yaoguang was indeed displaying the bad habit of a creator, much like when he'd discarded novel drafts if the opening didn't satisfy him. Even now, he entertained thoughts of giving up halfway.

But what about Long Jianlu? If he left and restarted everything, would it mean Long Jianlu would spend his life here alone?

Yaoguang sighed inwardly, rising to return to his tent. Helu, looking anxious, came to attend to him. For some reason, Yaoguang felt irritated by him, so he said nothing and went to bed with a darkened expression.

The next morning, the bugle sounded for reveille. After breakfast, the army hastily assembled and resumed marching. Long Jianlu coordinated within the royal tent while Yaoguang, still half-asleep, entered.

"Where's Chen Feilang?" Yaoguang asked.

Long Jianlu glanced at Yaoguang and said, "Lead the vanguard and carry out the mission."

Yaoguang noticed several key cities marked on the map, all of which were occupied by the Ruo Kingdom. With Xie Hong's whereabouts unknown after falling into enemy hands, Long Jianlu was devising a plan to divide their forces.

Jiang Xun commented, "Yesterday, we defeated the main force at Hui Pass. Now that we're attacking individually, it's only a matter of time."

Long Jianlu replied, "I hope we find my uncle soon. Let's set off."

The next morning, it was as if nothing had happened. Long Jianlu didn't mention their previous disagreement, while Yaoguang was filled with anxiety. He rode alongside the advancing army, always kept close by Long Jianlu.

Reaching the first major city without stopping, Long Jianlu instructed Yaoguang and Jiang Xun to stay behind. He then led the troops into battle. Without magical assistance, the cavalry charged fiercely, resulting in another gruesome clash. Wounded soldiers cried out in pain as they were carried off the battlefield, stirring Yaoguang's compassion.

Taking advantage of Jiang Xun's distraction, Yaoguang sneaked into the camp and cast healing spells for the injured soldiers.

"Thank you... Thank you, deity!"

"Hush," Yaoguang whispered, "Keep this quiet. Don't tell anyone."

Yaoguang only treated severely wounded soldiers on the verge of death, saving their lives, while ignoring minor injuries to avoid Long Jianlu's reproach.

Am I a good person or a bad one? Yaoguang surveyed the camp, suddenly feeling perplexed again. Perhaps a mix of both? He couldn't help but lend a hand to those who shared his miserable fate; likewise, he would fly into a rage and seek revenge when wronged. Most people in the world were like that, weren't they?

With the distant sound of retreat, the royal army triumphed and regained the key city of Jiaohe in Province Qi.

After a day's rest, news arrived from the northern front where Chen Feilang led the troops: the town of Xingyang in the north had also been recovered. The battle lines were converging, heading towards Gao City, the last stronghold on the border between Province Qi and the neighboring Liu Kingdom.

Long Jianlu indeed possessed military genius, having recaptured much of Province Qi in just five days. Not only that, his understanding of the terrain, the locations of traps and ambush points, as well as his insight into the enemy, made him invincible and unyielding to defeat.

"Once we capture Gao City tomorrow, we can return for the wedding," Jiang Xun said, unusually proactive.

Scanning the assembly, Long Jianlu declared, "General Xie's fate is uncertain. The success of my marriage ceremony depends on all of you."

His message was clear: the Liu Kingdom had yet to propose peace talks, still holding Xie Hong hostage. They would likely use Xie Hong's life as leverage to force Long Jianlu to withdraw his troops.

If Long Jianlu refused, the enemy might kill Xie Hong, casting a shadow over their wedding. As Long Jianlu's parents had passed away when he was young, his maternal uncle was his only remaining family. Observing mourning customs was mandatory, and he could not get married during that period, a taboo that even an emperor must abide by.

"I can lead a detachment," Chen Feilang offered, "to circle behind Gao City, seeking an opportunity for a surprise attack, but I'll need assistance."

Chen Feilang turned to Yaoguang.

Yaoguang fell silent for a moment before he spoke, "I'll go with you."

"No." Long Jianlu understood their intentions clearly. Chen Feilang intended to utilize Yaoguang's power to rescue his uncle, conquer City Gao, and achieve a satisfactory conclusion.

"Let's proceed as previously discussed," Long Jianlu declared firmly. "My mind is made up; there's no need for further discussion."

With the war council in the royal tent concluded, everyone dispersed.

"Even to save the life of a loved one, you won't let me use my powers?" Yaoguang asked.

Long Jianlu replied, "You've already promised not to use your magic again, Yaoguang. Let me handle it with my own strength."

Yaoguang responded, "But he might die."

Though Yaoguang didn't favor Xie Hong, he knew that Xie Hong was Long Jianlu's only remaining family in this world.

"Who in this world is immune to death?" Long Jianlu said. "I will someday, perhaps you won't. Do our best and leave the rest to fate."

Reluctantly, Yaoguang left the royal tent. Before he did, Long Jianlu added, "I love you, Yaoguang."

That night, Yaoguang was lying sideways in his tent. It was quiet outside. A hand gently touched him.

Yaoguang jumped, realizing it was Chen Feilang, dressed in a stealth suit. He was entirely clad in black, with a sash cinching his all-in-one outfit. His body heat was barely perceptible, and though his face was covered, his eyes shone bright.

"Help me out," Chen Feilang whispered. "I'm going to rescue General Xie."

"Why are you worried when Long Jianlu isn't?" Yaoguang replied.

"Xie Hong is also my uncle," Chen Feilang answered. "Do this one favor for me, and I'll do anything for you."

Yaoguang recalled that Chen Feilang was indeed related to the Xie family. For him, it didn't matter whether magic was involved; he just wanted to save the person.

"Alright," Yaoguang said, rising from his bed. Chen Feilang asked, "Do you need to change?"

"No," Yaoguang followed Chen Feilang out of the camp, mounted his horse, and was swiftly joined by scores of skilled, silent soldiers.

"You don't need them," Yaoguang said. "Send your men back."

Chen Feilang hesitated but trusted Yaoguang's judgment. He dismissed his elite troops, and the two rode together into the deep darkness, heading for City Gao.

"Empress, could your spell possibly fail?" Chen Feilang asked, riding alongside Yaoguang and glancing back. "My life and fortune are in your hands."

Yaoguang replied, "No, don't worry about it."

Chen Feilang inquired, "Where does your magical power originate? From praying to the gods?"

Yaoguang answered, "I am a god, didn't you forget? That's what you said yourself."

Chen Feilang continued, "When I spoke of casting a spell, how do you communicate with the heavens?"

Yaoguang: "Are you afraid I'll beat you up for asking so many questions?"

Chen Feilang decided not to inquire further.

As they proceeded stealthily several miles away from City Gao, Yaoguang pondered over the best way to enter the city. Concealment magic could only hide himself, not Chen Feilang; he couldn't possibly bombard the walls with fireballs...

"What should we do?" Chen Feilang asked.

"Can you scale the city walls?" Yaoguang inquired. "Just getting up there would be enough."

Chen Feilang: "After all that talk, you can't climb walls?"

"I'm a Seer, not a lizard," Yaoguang replied. "Enough chatter. Let's go."

Chen Feilang threw out his grappling hook, allowing Yaoguang to hold onto him as they swiftly ascended the wall.

"Stay close to me once we're up there," Yaoguang instructed.

Chen Feilang: "?"

No sooner had they reached the top of the wall than they were detected. The enemy soldiers shouted, "Who goes there?!"

In the darkness, a figure wielding a blade and torch charged at them. Chen Feilang was about to draw his weapon, but Yaoguang's passive ability activated, causing the attacker to scream in agony as he was slashed by his own knife and tumbled down the wall.

Yaoguang scooped up Chen Feilang horizontally, crossing the rampart amidst a flurry of arrows that deflected back with deadly precision, piercing the throats of the archers who had released them.

Chen Feilang: "...."

"You're quite heavy," Yaoguang commented. He had initially thought Chen Feilang, not much taller than himself at just over six feet, and slender with a youthful appearance, would weigh less. He hadn't expected a martial artist to have such a substantial build.

Yaoguang couldn't run far before he grew weary, leaving him no choice but to put Chen Feilang down.

Chen Feilang seemed to be enjoying himself as he said, "Take me to the Governor's Mansion. According to the reconnaissance, General Xie is being held there."

"I can't carry you anymore!" Yaoguang protested. "How would it look for the Empress to carry a Grand Marshal into the enemy camp at night?"

"There are more people gathering," Chen Feilang observed, looking down. "Would carrying you be of any use? If you tell His Majesty about this later, he'll have my head."

"Save the person first!" Yaoguang insisted. "I don't want to get scolded again."

Thus, Chen Feilang scooped up Yaoguang and leaped off the city wall.

He was incredibly agile, swiftly making his way to the Governor's Mansion amidst the cries of "Assassin!" echoing throughout City Gao. Yet, no one could stop them. Yaoguang's Reflective Shield was an invaluable asset, not only reflecting his own damage but also that of his mount. In the blink of an eye, Chen Feilang had arrived at the entrance of the mansion.

Their bold move through half of City Gao had alerted many soldiers. The Lu State Army, who had occupied the area, immediately suspected a prison break and promptly organized the Lu State guards stationed in front of the Governor's Mansion to form a human barrier.

"Wait... Hey!" Before Yaoguang could stop Chen Feilang, he had already charged straight into the human wall with Yaoguang in his arms! The Reflective Shield proved effective against the barrier, causing it to crumble instantly. As the guards inside were still trying to close the gates, Yaoguang used his Telekinesis to pull one out and toss him five meters away.

The gate closing came to an abrupt halt. Chen Feilang stepped forward and vaulted over the entrance.

"You seem to know this place well," Yaoguang commented.

"I spent some time living in City Gao," Chen Feilang replied. He set Yaoguang down and took his hand, leading him towards the prison.

Soldiers continuously charged at them. At Yaoguang's thought, they leaped into the air. Remembering Long Jianlu's words about respecting life, Chen Feilang hesitated... but damn, there were just too many of them. He grew impatient and lifted his hand, controlling the water tanks and giant trees in the courtyard to fly wildly through the air, launching a indiscriminate assault.

The soldiers, fearing for their lives, witnessed objects defying Newton's laws as they flew around. Many soiled themselves, screaming "monsters" as they fled. Chen Feilang hurried into the prison, and the jailer scrambled to his feet in alarm.

"What...?" The jailer's sentence was cut short as he was sent flying through the air.

"Keys!" demanded Chen Feilang.

"Oh, I forgot," Yaoguang said, preparing to go search for them. The keys must be on the jailer.

"Never mind," Chen Feilang said, taking down a lantern. "General Xie, are you here?"

"Feilang?" came Xie Hong's voice from deep within the prison.

Chen Feilang rushed forward, drawing his dagger and hacking away at the chains until the cell door swung open. Xie Hong limped out.

"Quickly, go!" Yaoguang noticed the soldiers flooding the entrance, rushing into the cellblock. With Xie Hong slumped on his shoulder, the narrow and subterranean passageway made it impossible for Yaoguang to initially use telekinesis to pull people in and toss them into the cells. However, the sheer number of soldiers, packed tightly together, blocked the entire passage.

"We can't get out!" Yaoguang had no chance to advance and was forced to retreat.

"Block the door!" someone shouted from outside.

Xie Hong watched in disbelief as the soldiers were kept at bay, but the enemy's overwhelming numbers in the confined space left Yaoguang momentarily stumped.

Chen Feilang suggested, "Search for any other exit."

Yaoguang stepped back and noticed a tiny skylight in the tiered structure of the dungeon. "Move aside."

Seconds later, a fiery orb demolished the cell, blasting through the floor of the mayor's residence. A series of fireballs followed, igniting the entire mansion.

In the distance, Wang Shi's camp was startled by the explosion. Long Jianlu, bare-chested and barefoot, dashed out of his tent. Spotting the blazing flames afar and hearing the explosion echoing for miles, he realized what had happened.

"Yaoguang!" Long Jianlu immediately knew the situation, "Where's Yaoguang?!"

Jiang Xun also rushed out. In the next moment, Long Jianlu made a decisive call, bellowing, "Muster the troops! Charge the city now!"

As dawn began to break, the massive army assembled promptly, initiating a fierce assault on City Gao while its rear was engulfed in flames. Dressed in divine armor, Long Jianlu led the Province Qi infantry to the city gates, with archers providing cover and the soldiers firing crossbows with grappling hooks.

Arrows flew everywhere. Yaoguang, Chen Feilang, and Xie Hong emerged from their prison cell.

"Carry him! Shield him from the arrows! Don't worry about me!" Chen Feilang instructed.

Yaoguang replied, "I can't carry him, he's too heavy!"

Not only was Xie Hong too heavy for Yaoguang, but she also had no intention of carrying Long Jianlu's cousin out of the city in a princess-like hold.

"Then you carry him!" Chen Feilang insisted. "General Xie!"

Xie Hong exchanged a glance with Yaoguang, both understanding each other without words.

"I've got an idea!" Yaoguang suddenly spotted a large kite nearby and exclaimed. "Use this!"

Xie Hong objected. "No way! Find me a weapon, I'll fight alongside you both..."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Yaoguang knew that with all the commotion, Long Jianlu would surely scold them upon their return. Ignoring Xie Hong's protests, she lifted him into the air using her powers and swiftly tied him to the kite.

"The royal army has begun the assault," Chen Feilang announced. "If we send someone out, we can coordinate the response."

Yaoguang, realizing they were already exposed, decided to go all in. Using telekinesis, he hurled Xie Hong off the kite, dodging the incoming arrows. "I'll go and open the gates myself. That way, fewer lives will be lost."

High above the city walls, a colossal kite descended at an angle, with Xie Hong desperately clinging to it.

The city gates exploded once more, this time pierced by a fireball.

Dressed in black, Chen Feilang led Yaoguang, charging out of the city on horseback.

"Follow me!" Long Jianlu, disregarding questions, intersected with them and charged into City Gao with his cavalry, like a tidal wave. Since it had been seized by the Ruo Kingdom, the city was lightly garrisoned. The arrival of Long Jianlu's hundred thousand royal soldiers instilled hope in the citizens, and after Yaoguang's fiery explosion decimated the Ruo forces, their defeat was inevitable.

"The city is breached!" the troops cheered.

By midday, Dai Qi regained control of City Gao, and the Ruo Kingdom soldiers, routed, retreated across the border back to their own territory.

Inside the mayor's residence, Xie Hong sat on the side, barely breathing.

"I entered the city without authorization to rescue civilians," Chen Feilang knelt on one knee. "I defied His Majesty's orders. Please, Your Majesty, mete out your punishment."

Long Jianlu waved his hand, glancing at Xie Hong and then Yaoguang, not wanting to say anything.

Yaoguang, on the other hand, studied Xie Hong's expression, worried that he might have some old injury that could worsen with this exertion, leading to an unexpected collapse. Then all their efforts would be in vain.

"Let's leave it at that," Long Jianlu said. "I'm exhausted. Flying Wolf, stay behind to assist General Xie in handling the aftermath in City Gao. The rest of you, follow me back to the capital."

"As you promised me," Long Jianlu said as they left the mayor's residence, addressing Yaoguang.

Yaoguang thought to himself: I saved your people and spared my soldiers from certain death, only to be held accountable later. What kind of deal is that?

But he didn't argue. "I promise this will be the last time."

Long Jianlu paused and looked at Yaoguang, as if he wanted to say something more. However, just as they stepped out of the mayor's residence, they were met with a thunderous chorus of soldiers, all kneeling on one knee.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress—!"

Though Yaoguang had yet to marry Long Jianlu, the news had already spread throughout the military. His actions in healing the wounded had been magnified through word of mouth, and now the troops regarded him as a deity sent from above, capable of summoning divine wrath against their enemies. Da Qi, now under heaven's mandate, saw the Empress as a symbol of the divine. How could this not stir their emotions?

Thus, the soldiers from the central army rushed to the mayor's residence, eager for a glimpse of Yaoguang's esteemed presence.

To the soldiers, nothing else mattered except for someone who could protect them and lead them to victory.

Yaoguang cast a glance at Long Jianlu, and they shared a moment of unspoken understanding.

After a brief moment, Yaoguang turned and departed.