Two days later.
Dian Prefecture.
The mayor's office.
A refined-looking man wearing a Zhongshan Suit and Wire-Rimmed Glasses sat calmly at his desk.
The phone kept ringing.
His secretary urged quietly from beside him, "Mayor, please answer it."
Looking at the Capital number on the caller ID, the scholarly mayor turned his head calmly.
"Give me a cigarette."
"Don't you never smoke?" His secretary took out a cigarette.
"I want to be... less rational."
The man chuckled and answered the phone with a slight tremble.
"Teacher."
"So you still remember you have a teacher?" An angry scolding came through the phone.
"I, Mu Jinghua, will always remember your teachings. Without the title of Yang Huaimin's Disciple, how could a mere scholar like me hold steady as Lord of Dian Prefecture?"
Mu Jinghua smiled ruefully. "But... Teacher, I can't rely on your protection all my life."
"I was born and raised in Dian Prefecture. Though I'm not an Awakened, I'm still a Dian Prefecture Stubborn One in my bones."
"I know you cherish me and want me to return to the Capital to report on my duties, but... with a powerful enemy at our gates, I have already resolved to die."
"If the city falls, I shall die for my country."
"Mianbang has gathered two hundred thousand troops from the Alien Races' coalition, eyeing the Dragon Kingdom, plotting to seize our land and prey on our people. My abilities may be mediocre, but I am still one of the upright Dian Prefecture Men."
"Since war is unavoidable, let the bloodshed and sacrifice begin with me."
"Dian Prefecture has guarded the frontier for generations. If the Alien Races enter the Dragon Kingdom through our prefecture, how could we face our ancestors in the afterlife?"
"Teacher... please allow your disciple to be willful