Chapter 1111: Care

Boom~

"By Prime Minister's orders, retreat..."

Shouts louder than the the howls of death spread across the battlefield, with both sides fighting a bitter war and the four Sword Kings unleashing their killer moves.

These men roamed the battlefield and sent the latest orders of Baili Jingwei.

About to unleash another strike, Shangguan Feiyun jerked to a halt, "We're about to win this and now we're pulling back? What's Baili Jingwei thinking?"

"We must've lost the the battle." The soothing melody came to a halt as well as Zither Sword King spoke.

Shangguan Feiyun roared in defiance, "Where have we lost exactly? Everything's going our way and are about to march into northern lands. How is this a loss? Baili Jingwei also promised me help in attacking eastern lands. Now we're pulling back just when the enemy's about to fall? I can't accept it!"

"So? This is the central area's war with the four lands. Since Prime Minister Baili ordered a cease and desist, no one will fight on. You're welcome to face the four lands by yourself if you want to, ha-ha-ha..." Danqing Shen returned as well.

Wine Sword Immortal smirked, quite perky as he caught up, "He-he-he, a cease is great. I won't get to kill anymore and get on those old friends' bad side."

Zither Sword King glanced over and left after putting away the zither. Shangguan Feiyun was the only one pissed by this development, but still withdrew, though he flicked his sleeve in annoyance.

Prime Minister's order spread all over and the fighting stopped, with the Sword Star Empire pulling back.

The battlefield soon became silent as the grave, having lost all the clamor of weapons and shouting...

On northern lands' side, two hundred defensive arrays got crushed and had lost more than half their men. Their last barrier was about to fail as well and then they would've all got mowed down.

Marshal Luo Yunhai was tense, soaked in sweat and equally incredulous at a Sword King's might. They managed to last the first six days all due to their defenses. But once the four Sword Kings stepped in, it felt like the world came crashing down on them.

He gnashed his teeth and shouted, "Hold fast! One more day! Every last one of you, hold! We need to buy our men time. We can't let them get past us and ruin the Grand Marshal's plan!"

Boom~

The sudden explosion drowned his voice. All the men were shaking as they face the relentless enemy, his words falling on deaf ears.

Letting out a deep breath, he shook his head. All tactics and strategies fell through at this point, only able to defend. At the end of the day, strength was what mattered the most. His pep talk wouldn't change reality, who lost or who died.

Whoosh~

The explosions came to a halt out of the blue, catching Luo Yunhai off-guard. Tuoba Tieshan ran over with a happy look, "Marshal Luo, great news! They're falling back. The Sword Star army is retreating. We survived the onslaught, ha-ha-ha..."

"They're leaving?" Luo Yunhai was dazed, then he turned to his Head Steward, "Steward Zhuge, what are they up to? Why fall back out of nowhere?"

Zhuge Changfeng was deep in thought at the sudden development.

A soldier rushed over and bowed, carrying a jade slip, "Clan Head, Sir Leng sent word!"

Snatching and reading it, Luo Yunhai smashed it on the ground, exploding in anger, "What the hell! Those geezers..."

"What is it, Clan Head? What happened?" Zhuge Changfeng asked with a start.

Luo Yunhai took a deep breath, his face twisted in rage as he spat, "Sir Leng said those old coots ordered retreat just as Invincible Sword was about to die."

"What?!"

Zhuge Changfeng pursued, "What of Steward Zhuo? What did he say?"

Luo Yunhai sighed, "Brother Zhuo got caught by the sea demon when he went after it and is now missing. This decision is all on those old guys!"

"So that's why."

Zhuge Changfeng nodded, turning to the silent hellscape where both armies bled and died. His eyes shone as he said, "It seems the parties reached a hidden agreement. The war is over."

"How can there be peace?"

Luo Yunhai roared, aggrieved, his eyes bloodshot, "We lost over half our men! There's only forty million of us left. And Sir Leng said sacrificed close to sixty millions to wear down Invincible Sword. We lost a hundred million people, equivalent to three lands. With the old coots giving up now, then how are we supposed to defend the next time they attack?

"The death toll is tremendous and we payed a heavy price as well. Who is going to take responsibility? Did they just die for nothing?"

Tuoba Tieshan didn't take the news too well either. Only Zhuge Changfeng sighed and noddded as he explained, "Clan Head, allow me to be blunt. I've been a dynasty's Prime Minister and know exactly what these men in power care about, having served an emperor myself. Using the chance of Steward Zhuo's disappearance, their moral compass, Baili Jingwei strike them where it hurt the most, having leverage over them and making them cease the war regardless. As for what they are so much about, ha-ha-ha; clinging to power. As for the forces of the four lands and the damage, they have little concern. Haven't the lands reared so many experts just to keep them safe?

"Clan Head, I'll be honest with you. These four lands' leaders may be of righteous sects and lofty as immortals, but they wallow in lust for power, incapable to rise above the mundane world. Wanting them abandon everything and give their everything for Dao is fundamentally impossible. They might be willing to sacrifice their lives, but there are some things they find far more valuable than life. More valuable than our lives! Steward Zhuo used to say desires held you back. For so many years the four lands feared the frail scholar, Baili Jingwei, for this exact reason."

"Baili Jingwei is a master manipulator of other's desires. The only one who can fight him on this is brother Zhuo."

Luo Yunhai nodded in understanding then teared up, "Speaking of, I miss brother Zhuo, Steward Zhuge. He may be missing, but I want to find him with sister. And when I do find him, I'll never let him go."

Zhuge Changfeng smiled, "I know Clan Head is aggrieved, but it's best not to see Steward Zhuo like your past whiny self, ha-ha-ha..."

"Stop teasing!"

Luo Yunhai glared at him.

Deep in the North Sea, in Heaven Sealing Sea Ao's domain, Zhuo Fan was still out, laying on the icy sea, looking haggard and weak.

Qiao'er watched over him with worry. Sea Ao was concerned as well, ignoring his wounds. They both failed to notice that no pain was greater than a withered heart.

Zhuo Fan had sunk into an abyss. It was all up to him to wake or not...

A drop plopped in the water, sending ripples. In a black space, a man stood beside a pond with a crushed expression.

There was nothing around him, just emptyness. Zhuo Fan's eyes were, by all account, dead.

An aged hand appeared just then, landing on his shoulder.

Zhuo Fan never so much as blinked.

A faint smile came into view as a stooped man walked to his side to sit, "Ha-ha-ha, you're back. Didn't I tell you not to come to this dark place? You'll never get out."

"Who... are you?"

Zhuo Fan stiffly turned around to see only the outline in the darkness. Then he recalled, "You're... that..."

The old man nodded and a row of white teeth were revealed in the darkness, "Yes, I told you last time that I'll come every time you appear here to stop you from passing on. Last time was due to nearing death but this time is far more dangerous. Your heart, your will is dead."

"Sorry, I made you see me again."

"Aren't you even going to ask me who I am?"

"No point. I don't need to know anyway." Zhuo Fan spoke, his lonely eyes made him look like a corpse.

The old man shook his head, "It'll be a shame to yearn for death so soon. I helped you in protecting the girl's life. If you want to see her again, live and meet her in the Sacred Domain!"

"What?!" Zhuo Fan shook all over, astonished.

With only his teeth showing, the old man looked faded, yet a prismatic glow hovered over him, "Remember how I told you to accept everything about the one you care? I am the same. I can't have you sink into oblivion, ever. But I'm afraid this will be the last time. I can no longer protect you from here on. Take more care of yourself!"

The old man turned into the prismatic glow and faded away...