Muster the Troops on the Battlefield

Upon reaching the mountaintop, Si Ming saw familiar faces again and greeted them with a smile, "Young Sect Master, it's been many years! Everyone else hasn't changed much, but you're completely different; I almost didn't recognize you."

It was referring to Wan Ziqiu, the son of the former sect leader. Compared to the past, not only had his appearance changed, but his temperament was also completely different. He had become much more composed, shedding his childishness and giving off the feeling of a veteran who had just come from the battlefield. His sharpness was concealed within, yet he was far from ordinary. One could tell at a glance that he was a sharp blade hidden in its sheath, containing immense power.

However, considering Wan Ziqiu's experience, it's not surprising that he underwent such a change. Anyone who goes through the same thing will mature quickly as long as they are not defeated.

"Alliance Leader, you jest. The current Sect Master is Uncle Zheng, and I am not his son. Besides, the position of Sect Master of the Evil-Slaying Sword Sect is awarded to the most capable, not to a family-owned private property," Wan Ziqiu replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Zheng Jingyuan sighed deeply, "I'd rather the sect be a family business and let Ziqiu succeed him. The position of sect leader is not one that just anyone can sit in. In the first few months after I took over, I was so busy that I hardly slept a wink. I was busy day and night, worrying about this and that, fearing that the foundation that had been passed down for hundreds of years would be ruined in my hands, and that I would become a sinner for all time, unable to face my ancestors. Can you imagine Grandmaster losing his hair?"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Zheng Jingyuan's head and saw that it was indeed much thinner, showing signs of desertification. Fortunately, in this day and age, men usually tie their hair up in a bun or crown, as if with special effects, so it wasn't very noticeable. If it were a buzz cut, Zheng Jingyuan would probably have to search the whole world for Bawang shampoo.

"Every morning when I wake up, I check how much hair I've lost. The more I lose, the more worried I get, and the more worried I get, the more hair I lose. I've already made a plan: when I've lost most of my hair, I'll retire and go to Glazed Temple to take refuge in Buddhism. Now I understand why Buddhist School calls hair 'the thread of worries.' Even though losing hair doesn't mean the stress has decreased, at least I can deceive myself and not worry about the fact that my hair is getting thinner and thinner."

Zheng Jingyuan's ability to joke about himself was enough to prove that the Evil-Slaying Sword Sect was in a good position. After walking around the mountain, Si Ming found that apart from the Righteous Qi Peak being ravaged again and several broken mountain walls, there were indeed few casualties. The sect did not have the tragic atmosphere of the Glazed Temple. Now that the powerful enemy had retreated, it was filled with the joy of victory.

All signs indicate that the Evil-Slaying Sword Sect is indeed on the road to revival.

"Aren't you really going to consider changing your mountain gate?"

Si Ming discovered that the crack that had split Righteous Qi Peak in two during his last battle with the Beast King Anye was still there. Of course, thinking about it, it was normal. Repairing was far more difficult than destroying. Even if it were him, he wouldn't know how to repair such a large crack. It would be easier to just blast the mountain flat.

Besides this split-top wound, there are many other traces of battle left on and around Righteous Qi Peak, making the entire mountain look pitted and uneven, like a head covered in sores, which is quite unsightly.

Wan Ziqiu solemnly said, "For our sect, remembering the difficulties we have encountered in the past can make our disciples stronger. These wounds represent the various hardships our sect has experienced, which is an honor, far more meaningful than outward beauty."

His grandiose remarks immediately created an awkward atmosphere.

Si Ming asked Zheng Jingyuan with his eyes, "What's going on?"

Zheng Jingyuan Secret Voice Transmission, saying, "He has always believed that he should bear part of the responsibility for his father's death, and that his youthful ignorance implicated his father and the sect. Therefore, he feels guilty and has been working hard to revive the sect. I saw that this matter made him more responsible and his cultivation more arduous than before. Considering that the benefits outweighed the drawbacks, I did not try to persuade him. Now, however, he has become somewhat entrenched in his old ways."

Si Ming nodded, indicating that he was willing to help with this matter, which was also for Wan Ziling's sake. So he cooperated with Zheng Jingyuan, found an excuse to send everyone away, and came to the edge of the cliff with Wan Ziqiu, enjoying the mountain breeze and gazing at the distant scenery.

"Does the Alliance Leader have something to say to me?" Wan Ziqiu naturally sensed something amiss.

"Your sister Wan Ziling, was briefly resurrected, but she didn't seem to tell you the reason why."

Si Ming highlighted the key points, recounting how Wan Ziling, through the power of Myriad Filth Tainted Blood, had possessed Liu Qingqing's body in the past. He continued, "In those final days, your sister constantly faced the danger of Vengeful Transformation by Li Hua. If she had been as bitter and resentful as you are now, she would have already succumbed, and there wouldn't have been the later encounter... It's not that you're doing badly now, but you're pushing yourself too hard. Like a rubber band, if it's stretched too tight, it will break sooner or later. As a martial artist, you couldn't possibly not understand the principle of moderation."

After hearing Si Ming's account of his sister's situation, Wan Ziqiu naturally couldn't refute it with "What does this have to do with you?" He looked conflicted and pained, his hands clenching and unclenching repeatedly.

"If only I hadn't been so useless back then..."

Seeing this, Si Ming decisively offered some motivational advice. "In the game of life, fate deals the cards, but we play them ourselves. We can't control the weather, but we can change our mood; we can't predict tomorrow, but we can cherish today; we can't change others, but we can change ourselves."

We must bear the burdens of the past, but we must always look forward. Whether life's journey is smooth or fraught with difficulties, we should face it with equanimity, for no one can escape the shackles of worldly constraints. All we can do is get up one more time than we fall down, and replace saliva with sweat. Only in this way can life be sublimated through hardship.

Whether you live each day with Yan Kai or a frown, it's still a day. So why not choose a happier way and face the future with a more positive attitude? Remember, there is no hopeless life, only people who despair of their circumstances.

After three bowls of thick, hot chicken soup were poured down his throat, Wan Ziqiu was immediately moved.

If an unknown person had said these words to Wan Ziqiu, he would probably have ignored them. But the person who was saying these words to him was the benefactor of the Evil-Slaying Sword Sect, the powerful figure who had single-handedly killed the Beast King Anye, and the leader of the Heavenly Martial Alliance. Even if he had just casually brewed some chicken soup, it would be golden chicken soup, and he couldn't help but savor it carefully.

People in this world have never experienced an era of rampant motivational quotes, and they have no concept of anti-motivational quotes at all. Therefore, the more Wan Ziqiu pondered, the more profound the meaning became, and the more he savored it, the more invigorated he felt.

"Alliance Leader, you're right. My father and sister certainly wouldn't want to see me in this pathetic state. I must pull myself together. If even I look so gloomy, how can the disciples below have any confidence?"

Wan Ziqiu arrived at the edge of the cliff, opened his arms to the wind, letting the cold mountain wind make his clothes flutter. His eyes were bright and piercing, and he became energetic and sharp.

"I, Wan Ziqiu, will definitely restore the former glory of the Evil-Slaying Sword Sect and make it flourish under my leadership. Father, sister, I will never let you down!"

Si Ming never expected that inspirational quotes would be so effective. He's been thinking about whether he should write a book of inspirational quotes in the future, which might save many people who are feeling lost, and even make him a life mentor.

After comforting Wan Ziqiu, Si Ming returned to the main hall of the Evil-Slaying Sword Sect. He exchanged a few pleasantries with Zheng Jingyuan and the others, agreeing to meet at Glazed Temple the next day. Then he returned to the Heavenly Martial Alliance, as they had just finished a major battle and urgently needed strong figures to oversee the situation, stabilize morale, and restore order. There was a lot to do there.

Si Ming forced himself to stay awake, enduring the fatigue from continuous travel and fighting powerful enemies. After working for half a day, he was exhausted and sleepy and could no longer hold on. He returned to his room to rest and circulate his internal energy when a figure quietly sneaked in.

Chapter 840 Muster the Troops on the Battlefield

Si Ming opened his eyes because he realized someone was pulling down his pants.

"Wait a minute, what are you doing? I've never heard of female flower thieves."

Yu Shuying rolled her eyes and said, "Saving lives is like putting out a fire, and putting out a fire is like saving lives. I've been holding back for seven months; if I don't save someone soon, I'll be bursting with anger."

"Why didn't you just say so during the day? I wasn't prepared at all."

"I'm not a novice who's never done this before, what need is there for mental preparation? Besides, with so many people around during the day, how could I possibly say something like that in public? I have a sense of shame too."

Suddenly, Si Ming felt a chill in his lower body, and then heard Yu Shuying urge, "The military situation is urgent. The enemy is about to rush into the camp. Why don't you quickly raise the commander's flag?"

"What kind of shame is this?" Si Ming could only say, "We've been traveling all day and fighting one battle after another. We're really exhausted. Why don't we wait until tomorrow? We've endured it for seven months already, so what's one or two more days?"

"Who says it's not bad? A person who has been starving for seven days might be able to endure it if they don't see food, but once they see food, they won't be able to resist for even a second. If you don't help them in time, believe me, I 'Qi Deviation right here and now."

"But I really don't have the energy for a while. I was planning to rest anyway, but this fatigue won't go away anytime soon." Si Ming deliberately yawned.

"What strength do you need? You don't need to ride a horse into battle. Just be a standard-bearer."

Yu Shuying thought for a moment, then lowered her head and gently stroked and flicked the sword. Si Ming gasped repeatedly, forced to have no choice but to hone his skills.

"Ha, men."

Yu Shuying scoffed, lifted her skirt, and sat down. With her hair adorned with flowers and a golden hairpin, she said with seductive eyes, "You're all talk and no action, but all you're thinking is business. Even if I can't Mind-Reading Technique, do you think I can't see through your thoughts?"

Si Ming was somewhat embarrassed. He hadn't expected his brother to betray him so easily, showing such a lack of resolve and revolutionary spirit. Yet, he couldn't expel him from the Party, and he had to tolerate this opportunist remaining in the ranks and corrupting Party discipline. Overwhelmed with sorrow, he could only stand up and sing a song to vent his anger and resentment.

"Speaking of which, who exactly is the mastermind behind the three King of Monsters? There can't possibly be some kind of Emperor of Anomalies or Thearch of Anomalies, can there?"