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Chapter 244: Grand Return
🕑 Added 2025-06-21 20:55:16 +0000 UTCAll Novels || Martial God
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On the plain, a red swift horse galloped like a flying arrow. In this flat terrain, the wild horse's run undoubtedly became the most beautiful scenery.
Finally, the horse's speed decreased. The rider on its back gently comforted the Hong Ling horse, which seemed not entirely satisfied.
The riders on the horse were naturally He Yiming and Yuan Lixun.
After killing the Kairong Country elite soldiers disguised as horse bandits, He Yiming ignored Xu Su and the others and left.
As for Yuan Lixun and One Hundred and Eight, they naturally followed closely behind.
They no longer had any interest in continuing forward. Instead, they returned along the original route, and at this moment, they finally saw the small caravan of the Hengshan Mountain lineage in the distance.
Although this caravan consisted of only about twenty people, their strength was far superior to Xu Su's two hundred-plus. If the Kairong Country cavalry that ambushed the camp had tried to rob this caravan, they would have encountered an unexpected surprise.
He Yiming did not immediately ride to meet the Hengshan Mountain lineage ahead. Instead, he stopped his horse halfway, his gaze distant, as if lost in thought.
Yuan Lixun asked softly, "Yiming, are you worried about them?"
He Yiming smiled faintly, a hint of bitterness in his smile. "I'm not worried about them, but about everyone in Tian Luo."
Yuan Lixun's beautiful eyes widened slightly. She opened her mouth, feeling extremely perplexed.
In her memory, He Yiming had never been the kind of patriotic person who worried about the troubles of the Innate. For him, serving as Tianluo Country's Innate master was actually to ensure the smooth development of He Family Village, and also out of respect for his old friend Shui Xuanjin.
Deep down, he had never truly intended to take the entire Tianluo Country under his protection.
A moment later, Yuan Lixun softly asked, "Yiming, are you planning to officially become Tianluo Country's Nation Protecting Master?"
Although her question was sudden and peculiar, He Yiming clearly understood her meaning.
Looking at her frankly, He Yiming sincerely said, "Lixun, you once told me that a person's power should correspond to the responsibility they bear. And I, it seems, have found the responsibility I should bear."
Yuan Lixun nodded earnestly. As long as it was something He Yiming genuinely decided, she would not object. Even if it seemed somewhat incredible.
Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she turned and said, "Mr. One Hundred and Eight."
A black figure abruptly appeared from a distance. One Hundred and Eight had swiftly arrived beside them, his voice as flat as ever: "What is it?"
"Mr. Bai, your responsibility is to ensure Yiming's safety. Why didn't you help when Yiming took action?"
One Hundred and Eight looked at her impassively, saying, "As your bodyguard, I only act proactively when you are in danger. Those people..." A faint, almost imperceptible smile seemed to appear on his unmoving face: "Could they threaten Mr. He?"
Yuan Lixun was instantly speechless. In her heart, she understood this truth, but understanding was one thing, and being able to react completely calmly was another.
Especially as a woman, after witnessing the scene of blood and gore, to say there was no lingering aversion would be self-deception. Perhaps, deep down, she had a vague feeling that if One Hundred and Eight had acted then, He Yiming would not have used such a cruel method to kill the cavalry leader.
The thought of that man's fate sent a shiver down Yuan Lixun's spine, even though she had already advanced to the Innate Realm.
At that moment, she even felt a sense of unfamiliarity towards He Yiming. However, now that she was with He Yiming, she simply couldn't bring herself to ask.
He Yiming glanced at One Hundred and Eight and said, "Lixun, One Hundred and Eight did nothing wrong. You don't need to blame him."
Yuan Lixun gently hummed in response.
One Hundred and Eight suddenly said, "Mr. He, based on my observation and calculations, the pressure on you is truly immense, which is why you exhibited such bloody behavior today. If you can accept my suggestion, I hope you can cast everything aside and calmly spend some time. This would be of great benefit to your body and your path of Evolution."
He Yiming's expression changed slightly. He said with a stern air, "How do you know my pressure is immense?"
One Hundred and Eight's voice was extremely calm, as if stating something self-evident: "In my database, I have collected many human behaviors and deeds. Based on summarization and categorization, anyone who has excessive pressure and cannot relieve it in time will experience an outburst at some stage. At that point, they are no longer themselves... And you, undoubtedly, are one of them."
Yuan Lixun's eyes lit up slightly. She reached out her jade hand and gently grasped He Yiming's. For some reason, she already believed everything One Hundred and Eight had said.
He Yiming's expression was fluctuating. He immediately recalled the bloody scene of him striking and killing the knight leader earlier.
No one noticed that when his gaze fell upon the bloodied ground, deep down in his heart, there was actually a feeling of nausea.
However, the Single-Line Sky Realm expert's cultivation masked all of this perfectly. It seemed that besides the mysterious One Hundred and Eight, no one else had noticed.
And the reason One Hundred and Eight was able to detect it was not by seeing any clues, but by deducing it through some method he did not understand.
In fact, He Yiming himself didn't understand why, after hearing that person say he would be torn apart by five horses and seeing Xu Su and the others' resolute demeanor in the face of death, he suddenly felt his blood boil.
It seemed that a tangled emotion was hidden deep within him, and that punch was precisely the release of all that negative emotion. He clearly remembered that after he unleashed that punch, his entire being felt a sense of relief and exhilaration, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
And now, after One Hundred and Eight's explanation, He Yiming admitted this statement from the bottom of his heart. Perhaps, his pressure was truly too great. He forced a smile and said, "One Hundred and Eight, do you want me to enter seclusion for meditation?"
"Meditation is merely a way to alleviate pressure. If you want to get rid of pressure, you must resolve it from its root."
He Yiming's eyes brightened. He asked, "How can I resolve it?"
"Deep in your heart, there must be a secret no one knows. If you can speak it out, then the pressure it causes you should be nothing to worry about."
He Yiming's heart skipped a beat. Although his expression remained unchanged, Yuan Lixun, holding He Yiming's large hand, could feel a tiny shift in their intertwined grip.
His hand seemed to have squeezed a little harder.
Indeed, He Yiming harbored a great secret in his heart: his miraculous encounter at the bottom of the lake years ago.
If not for that unbelievable experience, He Yiming would very likely still be a young man struggling without success to break through the fifth level of Inner Energy. He certainly wouldn't have become the Hengshan Mountain lineage's Single-Line Sky Realm expert who could shake the entire Tianluo Country with a mere stomp of his foot.
This secret had been buried deep within his heart since the day of the encounter, several years ago now.
His parents, elders, siblings, including Yuan Lixun, were all unaware.
One Hundred and Eight's words suddenly flashed through his mind: Anyone under too much pressure who cannot relieve it in time will eventually erupt at some point. At that time, they are no longer themselves...
His heart trembled slightly. Perhaps One Hundred and Eight was right. When facing the cavalry, was that incredibly frantic self really him?
Suddenly, He Yiming felt a tickle in his ear.
He turned around in surprise, only to see Yuan Lixun turn her body, blocking One Hundred and Eight's view. Her cherry lips moved, and although no sound was made, her mouth shape was very clear.
She was silently saying, "Don't tell him about the White Stone."
He Yiming instantly understood. He felt inwardly ashamed. It turned out Yuan Lixun thought he was hiding the matter of that gigantic Energy Stone.
He gave a bitter smile and nodded slightly, indicating he understood.
At this moment, the distant Hengshan Mountain disciples had already discovered his tracks. The caravan clearly accelerated, and Yu Jinglei and Lu Zhengyi even left their carriages, rushing towards them at top speed.
A moment later, the two of them had arrived.
Their gaze first fell on One Hundred and Eight, and a look of "just as expected" flashed in their eyes.
When they discovered One Hundred and Eight was missing, they had guessed he must have followed He Yiming and the other. Now that they met, it was truly confirmed.
However, the more this happened, the more they felt terrified. How could One Hundred and Eight have managed to escape their notice and sneak out?
"Elder He, your spirits don't seem very good." Yu Jinglei, wise with age, observed He Yiming's complexion and asked gently.
He Yiming did not hide anything, recounting his encounter with Xu Su and the others from beginning to end, even including how he had impulsively boasted about "bloodbathing the Masters Hall" at the time.
When Yu Jinglei and Lu Zhengyi heard that He Yiming had uttered such grand words, they were both momentarily stunned.
Kairong Country's Masters Hall had ten Innate experts in total, and the most powerful among them was Zhan Tianfeng, who had been a Single-Line Sky Realm expert for sixty years.
Such immense power, let alone He Yiming alone, even if the entire Hengshan Mountain lineage's strength were combined, might not be able to achieve it.
Yu Jinglei hesitated, glancing at One Hundred and Eight's expressionless face.
He suddenly said, "Although Elder He's words might be a bit inappropriate, I estimate that if that old Zhan Tianfeng hears them, he will probably, as you wish, withdraw all Kairong Country's forces."
Although Yu Jinglei did not know the outcome three days later, he trusted his judgment based on intuition.
"I hope so." He Yiming said in a deep voice, then his gaze also shifted in the same direction. If One Hundred and Eight hadn't been by his side, he would never have been able to make such a boast.
Although there were ten Innate experts in Kairong Country, if One Hundred and Eight were to act, a complete annihilation might be difficult, but killing one or two seemed not to be a difficult task.
Of course, unless it was absolutely unavoidable, He Yiming would not choose this approach.
After all, Kairong Country was one of the three major powers in the Northwest Countries, able to stand for hundreds, even nearly a thousand years without falling, naturally for its existence.
After He Yiming and the others returned to the caravan, they traveled slowly and finally arrived at the capital of Tianluo Country.
Their destination was to return to Taicang County before the New Year, but passing through this place, He Yiming also wanted to meet his old friend.
However, before they reached the capital of Tianluo Country, ten miles outside, they saw a dense crowd.
Among these people were soldiers of Tianluo Country, ordinary citizens from the city, and also powerful nobles and dignitaries from the capital.
The Hengshan Mountain disciples at the forefront immediately became tense. Although these individuals, fighting alone, were not worth their notice, at this moment, so many people, even if each person spat once, would be enough to drown them.
From a distance, He Yiming's ears were already subtly trembling. His expression first changed slightly, then immediately relaxed.
The moment the small caravan of the Hengshan Mountain lineage appeared in the distance, the crowd here erupted.
However, under the maintenance of Tianluo Country soldiers, no one dared to surge forward. Yet, all gazes cast towards them were filled with a fervent feeling.
The leading Hengshan Mountain disciple was Lin Feiran, Lu Zhengyi's direct eldest disciple and one of the peak Tenth Level of Inner Strength masters in Spirit Jade Peak. Seeing that something was amiss, he turned back to the carriage where Yu Jinglei and Lu Zhengyi were riding, and respectfully said, "Supreme Elder, Master, something seems wrong."
Lu Zhengyi slowly said, "What is it?"
"There are thousands of people from Tianluo Country blocking the main road ahead. They..." Lin Feiran hesitated, then suddenly his heart stirred. "They seem to be welcoming a victorious general returning."
Yu Jinglei's hearty laughter came from within the carriage, "It's fine, let's go. They're here to welcome Elder He."
Lin Feiran's mouth opened in surprise. These disciples were not qualified to converse with He Yiming, so they naturally couldn't know what had happened to him.
And their group's travel speed wasn't very fast; by the time they reached the capital, it had already been several days. At this time, the news that Kairong Country had recalled its hidden soldiers in Tai'a County had already spread throughout Tianluo Country.
Previously, everyone in Tianluo Country, especially the high-ranking officials, knew who was behind Tai'a County. It was just that all informed individuals chose to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear.
But this did not mean that they had no lingering resentment. Now, hearing He Yiming's bold words, coupled with Kairong Country's active cooperation, naturally caused everyone to erupt in excitement.
Under the full operation of Tianluo Country's national machinery, He Yiming's movements, which were not intentionally concealed, were naturally tracked by them.
And upon learning the exact time of He Yiming's imminent arrival, the high-ranking officials of Tianluo Country almost came out in full force.
Everyone knew that in the future, Tianluo Country would flourish under this person's protection. To gain the greatest benefit in this process, they were willing to spare no effort to befriend He Yiming.
As for the common people, they learned through various channels that He Yiming was about to enter the capital.
They had no intention of curry favor, but merely hoped to personally meet this legendary figure.
Lin Feiran respectfully bowed and stepped back, signaling to his fellow disciples. They continued to ride forward, neither rushing nor lingering.
When the carriage reached a large hillside ten li outside the city.
Two spry old men, surrounded by a large crowd, walked towards them.
He came before the carriage, and someone shouted loudly, "Tianluo Country's Sovereign Yu Ruipei, Nation Protecting Master Shui Xuanjin, welcome Master He Yiming back to the capital."
The thousands of people suddenly fell silent for a moment, then a sound like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami erupting broke out. This was the roar of thousands of people, their voices hoarse, a complete release of the pent-up frustration they had suppressed for years.
Lin Feiran's hand trembled slightly. Although he was a peak Tenth Level of Inner Strength expert, he had never imagined that the combined sound of thousands of people could create such a massive wave of noise, enough to make even such an expert tremble with fear.
From the first carriage, the curtain was pulled back, and He Yiming slowly stepped out.
The overwhelming cheers seemed to have no effect on him. His body was as tall and straight as a spear. Under the gaze of countless eyes, his demeanor was as stable as a towering mountain, as if nothing in this world could ever shake him again.
Yu Ruipei's heart was filled with both surprise and joy. It was truly a blessing for the nation that Tianluo Country had such a figure. However, could such a figure truly be controlled by their Yu Family?
He vaguely felt that in the future, this person's influence in Tianluo Country would likely be even greater than that of the Imperial Family.
Shui Xuanjin came to He Yiming's side. The old and the young first exchanged a smile, then Shui Xuanjin bowed deeply to him.
He Yiming was greatly surprised and quickly moved aside, saying, "Brother Shui, what are you doing?"
Shui Xuanjin's expression was solemn. "Brother He, you have done what I, Shui, have thought about my entire life but dared not do. Thank you."
He Yiming gave a bitter smile, "Brother Shui, have you forgotten? I am also Tianluo Country's Nation Protecting Master."
Shui Xuanjin burst out laughing, "Indeed, Brother He is also this country's Nation Protecting Master." He said with great emotion, "Handing this country over to you, I can rest assured."
He Yiming smiled but said nothing, though a faint, ominous premonition stirred in his heart.
Although the old Shui Xuanjin still looked rosy-faced, as if even the vitality within him had increased greatly due to this joyous event. However, looking at the old man, He Yiming's heart inexplicably felt a touch of sadness that was difficult to express...
Chapter 245: Deep Mountain Totem
