He passed through the soldiers clearing the battlefield and walked up to the Amplification Formation in the City Lord's Mansion.
He took a deep breath and channeled his spirit force into the formation.
"Brothers and sisters, this is Meng Xinghe, the young lord of Stilltide City."
His voice was hoarse and exhausted, but he did his best to keep it steady and clear.
"I have news for you—the sea demons have been driven back."
Stilltide City fell silent for a moment, then erupted into earthshaking cheers.
The people who had spent so long in hiding climbed out of their cellars, embracing one another and weeping with joy.
But Meng Xinghe's next words cut those cheers short.
"However—"
"The danger has not passed."
The faces that had only just begun to smile froze.
People lifted their heads toward the City Lord's Mansion, the newly kindled flames of hope in their eyes doused by a bucket of cold water.
"What we faced just now was likely only the sea demons' vanguard."
"Even so, Stilltide City paid a terrible price just to barely drive them back. The City-Guarding Grand Formation has been shattered, and the City Lord—"
His voice caught for an instant, as though something had lodged in his throat, but he quickly continued. "City Lord Meng Changyuan fell in battle defending us against the sea demons. Fewer than one in ten of our soldiers survived."
Deathly silence filled the city.
"If the sea demons attack again, we no longer have the strength to resist."
Meng Xinghe closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them.
"So, to preserve the lives we still have, we must leave."
The city remained silent for a long time.
Then an aged voice rose from the crowd. "Leave? Where would we go?"
"This is where