The old man released Xu Yanli's hand and turned to face his people.
"My children, it's been ten thousand years! We've spent ten thousand years hiding, ten thousand years in hiding, living like rats, huddled in the shadows. But we're descendants of Angels! Angels belong beneath the sun!"
His voice grew louder and brighter with every word.
"This child is right. He can't guarantee that we'll be safe forever, but what in this world is ever truly safe? Are we really safe hiding here? If those Evil Soul Masters or those nobles who throw their weight around come looking for us one day, won't we still be doomed?"
Some in the crowd lowered their heads; others secretly wiped away their tears.
"Rather than wait to die in the dark, we might as well live freely beneath the sun for once." The old man spoke each word with emphasis. "I'm old and can't go anywhere, but you're still young. You should go out and see what the outside world has become over these ten thousand years."
When he finished, he turned and bowed deeply to Xu Yanli.
"Your Highness, we'll go with you!"
The villagers behind him fell silent for a brief moment. Then, one after another, they bent at the waist.
Xu Yanli hurried forward and helped the old man up. "Don't worry, sir. I'll do everything in my power to protect you."
Suddenly, he remembered something and asked, "By the way, sir, do you know a young woman named Ye Guyi? She has golden hair, and her Martial Soul is the Holy Angel."
The old man's body stiffened. He jerked his head up and stared at Xu Yanli, his lips trembling for a long while before he finally asked in a quavering voice, "Guyi... You've seen Guyi?"
Xu Yanli