Xiong Anmin sighed gloomily. When the surviving warriors heard that the Great Yong forces intended to cremate their companions' remains on the spot, they wrung their hands and heaved long sighs. But they were in someone else's military camp-what could they do? Hu Xiaotian gazed at the rows of corpses. The Great Yong forces refused to give them land for burial or lend them boats to take the bodies home. Even if they did lend them boats, the situation at Azure Dragon Bay remained uncertain. Wherever they took the bodies, there would be no one to receive them.
Hu Xiaotian looked out at the river ahead and said quietly, "We set out together and weathered wind and rain together. That makes us brothers. Though they're gone, those of us lucky enough to survive must see them off with dignity."
Everyone turned to Hu Xiaotian. His gaze shifted toward the woods by the river. "There are more than thirty of us. If we all work together, we can build more rafts and send our brothers off in peace. Let their heroic spirits drift down the Yong River, back to Great Kang."
Li Chenzhou had not slept all night, keeping silent watch over his brother's body inside the tent. Though the two of them had never had the chance to acknowledge each other while alive, he had to fulfill his duty as the elder brother. He would stay with his younger brother through his final night in the mortal world, so he would not feel afraid on the Yellow Springs Road.
Li Chenzhou stepped out of the main tent. The night sky had cleared, and countless stars glittered in its deep blue expanse. The north wind had swept away every trace of the clouds that had shrouded the sky during the day.