Kapitel 57: The Aftermath

The aftermath of the battle left the cultivators on edge, their nerves still frayed from the close encounter with the God of Deceit. Despite the creature's retreat, everyone remained vigilant, their eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of movement.

An uneasy silence hung in the air, broken only by the distant cries of the wounded and the occasional rustling of the wind. The destruction wrought by the battle was evident in the craters that pocked the earth and the broken buildings that lay in ruin. The once bustling streets were now empty, with only the dead and the wounded littering the ground.

After what seemed like an eternity, an hour had passed and the creature was still nowhere to be seen. The cultivators cautiously began to stand up, their weapons still at the ready. They knew that even a momentary lapse in concentration could prove fatal in a situation like this.

As they stood in the wake of disaster, the cultivators couldn't help but wonder if they could ever rebuild this devastated province. The enormity of the task ahead of them weighed heavily on their minds, but they knew they had to start somewhere. With a determined look on their faces, they set to work, slowly but surely beginning to clear the rubble and tend to the wounded.

Chang Bao approached Siyi and checked on Juanxiu, relieved to see that her breathing was normal. "Is it finally over?" he asked.

Siyi turned to him and asked, "Have you seen your family?"

Chang Bao shook his head, his expression filled with sadness and regret. "I'm afraid it was too late for them. We couldn't save the people of Yinhui village."

Siyi remained silent, her heart heavy with the weight of the loss. It was possible that the people of the village had been infiltrated by the Karma Order, she didn't have the heart to tell Chang Bao about her theory. She couldn't bear the thought of it.

The once-beautiful Tiger Quarry province, part of the Nine Great Provinces, now lay in ruins. A massive crater, several miles wide and deep, dominated the landscape, with debris scattered in all directions. The air was thick with smoke and dust, and the ground shook intermittently from aftershocks. The sun, hidden behind the clouds, cast an eerie glow over the destruction.

The cultivators, still reeling from the battle, surveyed the scene in horror. They knew that it would take years, if not decades, to rebuild this province and make it habitable again. The once-bustling cities and towns were now reduced to rubble, and the fertile fields and forests were destroyed.

The people who managed to survive the attack were now afraid that the creature would return. They knew that there was no way they could defend themselves against such power. They would be sitting ducks if it happened again. The fear was palpable in the air, and it was clear that it would take more than just rebuilding the province to restore their confidence and hope.

...

Liu Peng was with his family, his wife and two kids, both male. He was hugging them tightly and explaining what happened. They had become victims of the Karma Order's plan and had been hypnotized. Liu Peng's family appeared weak as their life force was continuously being drained out of them. "We're safe now," he whispered. "We're alive, and we're together."

His youngest son looked up at him, his eyes wide with wonder. "Father, your legs are back."

Liu Peng chuckled and looked down at his son. "Yes, yes. All thanks to Young Master Juanxiu," he said, ruffling his son's hair.

The family fell into a comfortable silence but worries still etched on their faces. Liu Peng's wife was the first to break it. "Where are we going now?"

Liu Peng looked at her and took her hand. "We'll go to the territory of the Hao Clan," he said. "Young Master Juanxiu here has been generous enough to adopt us."

The tension melted away from their faces, replaced by a look of relief. They had survived the chaos of the battle, and now they had a chance to start over.

From a distance, one of the elders of the Zeng clan overheard Liu Peng's conversation with his family. Slowly approaching them, he spoke to Liu Peng with a tone of humility,

"Liu Peng, I know we have caused offense and sinned against you. We kicked you out of the clan when you no longer served a purpose. This request of ours may be shameless, but I will ask on behalf of our clan. Can you take us to your new location? Even if it is just the junior disciples." The elder bowed deeply, showing his sincerity.

Liu Peng was furious at the elder's request. He couldn't believe that they had the audacity to ask for help after treating him and his family so poorly. However, he knew that he couldn't let his anger cloud his judgment. If he drove them away, he would be no different from them.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Peng replied, "Elder Aiguo, that decision is not mine to make. It is up to the young master who is currently unconscious. He has exerted every drop of his energy just to save this place. You should ask him once he becomes conscious."

Elder Aiguo nodded, grateful for Liu Peng's understanding. He then stood up and left, leaving Liu Peng and his family behind.

Liu Peng couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, he was angry that the elders of his wife's clan would have the audacity to ask for their help after they were cast aside. On the other hand, he was proud of himself for not stooping down to their level and refusing their request.

…...

As Hao Shunyuan approached Siyi, he heard a shout from one of the members of the escort unit. The shout was filled with anger and pointed directly at him.

"He's one of them!"

Everyone around them tensed up, preparing for the worst. Suddenly, one of the kids in the crowd picked up a stone and threw it at Shunyuan. The stone hit him, but it didn't hurt. Instead, the words that followed hurt him the most.

The kid said, "My father was taking care of the livestock. He works tirelessly on our farm, not having any time for us since he wanted to give us a better life. I was on the way to deliver his lunch when I saw one of the robed people trying to feed him something. When he refused it, he was slaughtered." The kid picked up another stone and threw it at Shunyuan, shouting, "Give me back my father!"

Another woman in the crowd joined in, picking up a stone and throwing it at Shunyuan. She shouted, "Leave our place, you murderers. We may not have the skills or the power to avenge our people, but someone will. Heavens will seek vengeance for us."

The townspeople followed suit, one by one, throwing stones at him. Shunyuan hung his head low, feeling the weight of the accusations and the pain in his heart. He looked at Siyi, who couldn't even look at him directly. He sighed, then turned around and walked away, his steps heavy with the weight of his guilt.

…...

Liu Peng, his family, and Siyi and Chang Bao were among the many people who were moving away from the Autumn Moonlight District, which had become uninhabitable due to the recent battle. They had no carriage, and so Chang Bao and Siyi had been taking turns carrying Juanxiu, who was still unconscious. As the days went by, they grew increasingly worried about his condition.

Finally, after two more days, Juanxiu woke up. Although he was still unable to move freely and had difficulty speaking, he seemed to be on the road to recovery.

Siyi asked him, "Are you okay now? Do you remember anything?"

Chang Bao added, "You fell unconscious after that strange incident?"

Juanxiu shook his head, indicating that he couldn't remember anything after he fainted.

Liu Peng spoke up, "The people here are thankful to you for freeing them from the control of the Karma Order."

Juanxiu smiled saying, "Everyone contributed."

Chang Bao spoke up, "I didn't help enough though."

Siyi responded firmly, "Then do better next time. Be stronger so you can also help."

…....

2 days passed, Juanxiu was still weak but determined to continue the journey to District 1. With the support of a makeshift crutch made from a sturdy branch of a tree, he slowly made his way forward. His companions, Siyi, Chang Bao, and Liu Peng, walked alongside him, providing support and encouragement.

After several days of travel, they finally reached the outskirts of District 1. The group was welcomed by a delegation from the Zeng clan, who were together with them. The elders and clan leader had come out to meet them. The Zeng clan was a renowned clan of blacksmiths known for their superior craftsmanship.

Elder Aiguo, the head elder of the Zeng clan, approached Juanxiu with a deep bow. "We have heard of your great deeds in freeing the people from the Karma Order's control, young hero. We, the Zeng clan, would like to pledge our allegiance to you and offer our services to aid in your cause."

Juanxiu was taken aback by the sudden display of loyalty and respect. "I am but a mere traveler passing through. I cannot promise you that I have the power to take on the responsibility of an entire clan," he replied humbly.

Zeng Liwei, the clan leader, stepped forward and knelt before Juanxiu. "We understand that you may not wish to take on such a burden, but we beg of you to consider our proposal. After that battle, our clan will be struggling to survive, and we see this as an opportunity to survive. There is no freeloader on our clan, we will serve you with loyalty and hard work."

Juanxiu looked around at the determined faces of the Zeng clan members and saw the hope and desperation in their eyes. He felt a deep sense of responsibility and knew that he could not turn them away.

"I cannot promise you anything, but I will consider your offer," Juanxiu said, with a nod of his head.

...

Juanxiu, Liu Peng and his family, Siyi, and Chang Bao were gathered around a large table in a spacious room. The room was filled with wooden crates, bags of supplies, and weapons. They were packing their belongings, preparing for their journey back home.

Juanxiu, who had fully recovered from his injuries, was helping pack the last of the supplies. Then he placed all the belongings of Liu Peng's family into his spatial pouch. He looked up at the others and said, "It's time for us to go home. We've been away for too long."

Liu Peng nodded in agreement. "Yes, we've been away for more than four months now. It's time to go back and attend to our responsibilities."

Siyi added, "We have accomplished what we came here to do and more. We have freed the people from the tyranny of the Karma Order and have received the assistance of the Zeng Clan. We can go home with our heads held high."

Chang Bao chimed in, "But we cannot let our guard down. That creature may still seek revenge against us."

Juanxiu nodded, "Chang Bao is right. We must stay vigilant. But we cannot delay any longer. We have to leave now."

As they made their way out of the room, they were met by the Zeng Clan, who were also preparing. Elder Aiguo and Zeng Liwei approached Juanxiu.

"We are eternally grateful for everything you have done for us," Elder Aiguo said as he kowtowed.

Juanxiu smiled and shook his head. "There's no need for that."

Juanxiu and his companions made their way to the gate, where their horses were waiting. As they mounted their horses, they turned to take a final look at the Autumn Moonlight District, which was now in ruins. They knew that they had left a mark on the place and that the people there would not forget them. But it was time to move forward and go home.

As they gathered to leave, Zeng Liwei and Elder Aiguo came to bid them farewell.

"We will be moving in a separate delegation after a few days, as we need to prepare our people for the journey," Zeng Liwei said. "But we will meet you again in the Forgotten Valley."

"We will be looking forward to it," Juanxiu replied with a smile. "Safe travels to you all."

The group then made their way towards their homes, with the Zeng Clan watching them until they disappeared from view.

As they walked, Liu Peng spoke up. "I think we should invite more people to come and live in the Forgotten Valley," he said. "It's a safe place, and there's plenty of land and resources for everyone."

Siyi nodded in agreement. "I think that's a good idea," she said. "We can invite the people from the other districts, and also the escort organization of Old Man Bai Fa."

Chang Bao chimed in. "Yes, and we can also start rebuilding our homes and farms there," he said.

Juanxiu smiled. "Old Man Bai Fa already promised to transfer his base to the Forgotten Valley" he said. "We'll make sure to spread the word when we get home."

With renewed hope for their future, the group continued their journey back to their homes in the Forgotten Valley.