Chapter 7

Tiantang City.

The capital of the Yutang Empire; it is one of the largest cities in the entire Tianxuan Continent.

The population within the city and its surroundings totals over eight million.

The city walls are high and thick, making it easy to defend and hard to attack.

At this moment, within this city that houses millions, sorrow and mourning can be seen everywhere. People from all directions gradually appear, forming long lines, heading towards the center of Tiantang City.

There, is the Tiantang Square.

Tiantang Square is recognized as the largest square within a city in the entire Tianxuan Continent!

It was built by the founding emperor of the Yutang Empire through a personal decree. In normal times, it serves as a vast training ground; but during special times, when it is open to the public, it becomes Tiantang Square.

At the time, the founding emperor said a sentence.

"All soldiers who train in this square, whether they die in battle or not, will surely be guests of heaven! They will never fall, and their heroic spirits will forever remain!"

Thus, Tiantang Square was born. Initially, it was called "Heavenly Paradise Square," but over time, it became known as Tiantang Square. Moreover, the original name "Wuan City" gradually disappeared, and it became Tiantang City.

Countless people surged into Tiantang Square like a tide from all directions.

Each person had a look of respect, some wearing white flowers, some with black armbands, and some carrying bouquets of flowers. Incense and candles for mourning were everywhere.

Today is not an ordinary day of mourning.

It is a national mourning for all the fallen heroes!

Especially the Nine Respects!

This mysterious name, this mysterious group.

Nine mysterious heroes. No one knows their surnames or names; no one knows what they look like. But everyone knows that these nine people are the highest secrets of the Yutang Empire; they are the protectors of the entire Yutang Empire.

In countless national wars, at critical moments, the figures of the Nine Respects always appear. As long as the Nine Respects appear, no matter how dangerous the war, it can be turned from danger to safety.

They are the guarantee of victory on the battlefield!

But last year, on the ninth day of March. This day, all Yutang citizens will never forget.

Because on that day, they lost the Nine Respects!

The Nine Respects led eight hundred brave soldiers on a secret mission and were ambushed at Tianxuan Cliff. Eight hundred and nine people, none survived.

This was originally a highly confidential mission, but for some unknown reason, the news leaked... For this, the Yutang Empire has been investigating for a year!

On the square.

Countless generals and veterans looked at the nine closely aligned monuments in the center of Tiantang Square with tears in their eyes.

It's as if the nine people are still standing shoulder to shoulder here.

They fought together, shared joys and sorrows in life; now in death, they are still together.

In the crowd, low sobs could be heard. The sound came from the northwest corner of the square, where the wounded veterans gathered. Countless veterans, some with disabilities, stood straight!

Even those without legs sat straight. Facing their heroes and benefactors, they showed deep respect!

Before their eyes, it seemed as if the scene of the Nine Respects charging into battle appeared; it was so magnificent, so inspiring.

The earth trembled, and the enemy fell; that was the Earth Respect in action. Flames rose to the sky; that was the Fire Respect. Giant waves surged; that was the Water Respect.

The calm sky suddenly became stormy, with thunder and lightning; that was the Wind Respect, Cloud Respect, and Thunder Respect arriving simultaneously...

The Nine Respects!

On each of the Nine Respects' monuments, there is a sentence.

All those who came to the square looked at these sentences for a long time, filled with deep sorrow.

"Thick earth without boundaries, rolling like a dragon! Earth Respect!"

"Sharp metal in hand, all heroes bow! Metal Respect."

"Raging waves, dominating the world. Water Respect."

"Lofty trees, pillars in the middle of the stream. Wood Respect."

"Rising flames, invincible in battle. Fire Respect."

"Thunder in the sky,震慑天下。雷尊。"

"英雄之血，梦里关山。血尊。"

"长天有风，天道无情。风尊。"

"九尊之心，垂天之云。云尊！"

The names of the Nine Respects are engraved on the stone monuments, and everyone seems to see those nine masked figures standing proudly between heaven and earth, facing thousands of enemies, calmly saying, "Come on!"

In front of each monument, countless people stand straight, looking up with respect. Especially... in front of the monuments of Cloud Respect and Earth Respect, the most people gather!

Earth Respect, the leader of the Nine Respects, is the Great Respect.

Cloud Respect, the last of the Nine Respects, is the strategist and core of the Nine Respects!

...

The sun slowly rose.

The emperor's entourage, accompanied by civil and military officials, finally arrived. The ceremony officially began.

Yun Yang quietly stood in a corner.

"Master, do you need me to accompany you?"

"No."

"This... your current..."

"No."

"Yes."

Yun Yang refused Lao Mei's offer to accompany him.

Because he knew that if he stood here, he would lose his composure.

But he did not want any living person to know his identity as one of the Nine Respects!

Before avenging his brothers, how can I reveal my identity to the world?

Moreover, the enemy is so powerful; if any news leaks, it would be too late! Yun Yang dared not take any risks.

He stood quietly here, his gaze deep, looking at the nine stone monuments on the square, his eyes filled with indescribable bitterness and longing.

Brothers, I'm here.

I've come to see you.

He seemed like an invisible person.

Standing quietly in the shadows.

The smell of incense and candles filled the air.

The emperor's sorrowful voice read the memorial text, and below, a suppressed cry of grief could be heard.

Yun Yang stood far away, his body straight, his gaze deep.

People passed by him, but no one noticed that there was actually a living person in the shadows.

He was like an intangible, formless ghost.

The Cloud Concealment technique of the Cloud Respect.

He stood still, unmoving. The wind blew his deep purple robes, and a desolate atmosphere quietly spread.

Night gradually fell.

The ceremony had long ended.

Flowers were everywhere.

The smell of incense and candles filled the sky; before the Nine Respects' monuments, blood was spattered; it was the blood of Wu Wenyuan's followers. The people had no pity for them; after the execution, countless angry citizens rushed forward, smashing the bodies to pieces!

Throughout the process, the old marshal Qiu Jianhan had a grim face.

Because... just yesterday, Wu Wenyuan suddenly disappeared from the imperial prison, and in the middle of the night, his body was returned. Then, Wu Wenyuan's wife and mother also disappeared...

These consecutive events made the old marshal furious!

The military headquarters were heavily guarded, the imperial prison was heavily fortified, and countless experts were hidden around, yet these events happened without anyone knowing!

This was simply absurd!

The old marshal had already replaced the personnel responsible for the imperial prison three times, breaking dozens of canes in the process. But it was all in vain...

...

The crowd on the square gradually dispersed, their sobs echoing. The vast square slowly became empty.

Yun Yang remained still, his gaze distant and deep.

This life of war, wrapped in horsehide; I only wish my brothers could be happy and peaceful in their next life!

The spirits are not far; watch my actions!

The wind howled.

The entire Tiantang Square was completely in darkness.

Yun Yang stood there, his eyes closed, vaguely feeling... that he was still among hundreds of thousands of comrades. Around him, there were countless brothers. This feeling was so real. His brothers were still talking and laughing with him...

The night wind blew his hair, and his clearly defined face, in the dark shadows, looked like a carefully carved statue, steady but lonely, with an indescribable sense of sorrow and oppression.

Low sobs could be heard from the front, where a young woman in white, tightly hugging her little daughter, walked weakly, her face covered in tears.

Beside her, an old man looked pained, supporting her.

She stumbled, walking like a zombie, her soul lost. Excessive grief had almost drained all her strength.

"Wang Zhuang, we're going home."

The young woman murmured, her eyes vacant, a lifeless gray.

As the young woman passed by Yun Yang, she did not notice his presence. Yun Yang tightly closed his eyes, showing no movement, but the muscles around his eyes twitched violently.

As if a deep sorrow had been suddenly torn open.

The wife of Wang Zhuang's deputy.

Yun Yang remembered Wang Zhuang. A year ago, Wang Zhuang had been newly married for two years, and his daughter was just one year old. But he never returned from that mission.

Soldiers die for their country, and they die without regret. But what about their families?

It has been a year. Without the mainstay of the family, how is the Wang Zhuang family now?

The young woman's figure gradually moved away from Yun Yang.

Yun Yang sighed silently in his heart.

Then, Yun Yang frowned, sensing something was wrong. He suddenly opened his eyes and saw four figures stealthily following the young woman.

They were large men, each with a lecherous gaze fixed on the frail young woman; their eyes were filled with unhidden lust.

They carefully used the night to hide their bodies, following the young woman at a distance of about ten yards.

They were about to pass by Yun Yang.

Yun Yang's originally expressionless eyes suddenly flashed with intense killing intent!

The four large men shivered simultaneously, as if a demon in the darkness had suddenly focused on them.

"This place is indeed a bit eerie..." One of the large men, covered in goosebumps, said nervously.

"Indeed... let's go back quickly. There are too many dead people here... it's uncomfortable..." another man shivered.

Yun Yang's gaze became even colder, looking at them with a chilling stare.

Too many dead people?

Hmph, just for that sentence, it's a capital offense!

"But Wang Zhuang is dead, and he died well! This dead man has been dead for a year, and I've been enduring it for a year. Now, after the grand memorial ceremony, the heat should have passed..." the leading large man laughed lowly, filled with schadenfreude.

"Yes, big brother, when he was alive, he wouldn't let us do anything, making us feel suffocated. In the end, he didn't die well and became a lonely ghost... hehe..."

"Hmph, when Wang Zhuang was alive, we suffered under him. Now, it's time for the tide to turn... I must say, Wang Zhuang's wife is quite attractive... especially now, with her sad appearance, it's even more appealing, and her frail body... hehe..."

"Hehehe..." the other three laughed lecherously.

The four men passed by Yun Yang.

Yun Yang took a deep breath, looking at the square in the night, as if he could see countless eyes quietly watching him.

Those eyes were filled with trust.

He nodded forcefully, his thin lips tightly pressed together, and quietly turned around. His deep purple robes fluttered, and he silently followed the thugs.

No matter what kind of world it is, there are always some dirty and despicable things! Yun Yang's killing intent was already overwhelming. If it's really like this, I will kill to make it clean!

The road became increasingly desolate and remote.

Slowly approaching the edge of Tiantang City; the surroundings became increasingly gloomy.

The young woman moved forward step by step, but she didn't think about where she was going or where she should go...

If not for the support, she would have fainted long ago.

Closer.

In the distance, there were faint lights flickering.

That was her home.

But... without her husband, is it still a home? It has been a year, Wang Zhuang, are you well in the afterlife? If not for taking care of my daughter, I would have already joined you...

Living alone like this, I am so tired, do you know?

Just as she was about to turn a corner, a strange laugh suddenly sounded behind her, like hearing an owl in the wilderness.

"Hey... little lady, don't walk so fast... Turn around and let me see... tsk tsk... that figure... truly captivating..."

The young woman ignored it, moving forward woodenly.

A figure flashed in front of her, and the four large men, with their arms crossed, blocked the road, grinning maliciously.

"Hey... couldn't see clearly in the dark... isn't this Wang Zhuang General's wife, Juan? Tsk tsk... no wonder she's so alluring, hehe... hey... Juan, you... what's wrong with you? Why are you wearing a white flower? What's going on? I heard our mighty Wang Zhuang General is now a dead man? That's too bad..."

This sentence was extremely malicious.

The young woman and the old man stopped.

The old man supporting her trembled with anger: "Wang Bao! What are you doing