" Chen Qing actually managed to capture North Sea City."
North Sea City, those who had been escorted there were excited as they looked at the armored soldiers filling the city. Whether they were ordinary people or scions of noble families who had been relocated, they were all thrilled.
Especially the scions of noble families, who were most afraid of being tricked into coming out as sacrifices to demons, felt relieved to see so many soldiers with strong blood and energy.
Regardless of the elders' speculations about Chen Qing, at least for now, these human soldiers before them are real, and they must also have a deep-seated blood feud with the snake demons of the Northern Lands!
This can be seen from the mountains of giant python carcasses piled up outside the city.
"Thank you for your hard work, envoy." The captain who came to greet him greeted him with a warm smile and immediately handed him a pot of hot wine, "Quickly, have some wine to warm yourself up."
The black-robed envoy looked up at the captain's enthusiastic smile, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
Having lived for countless years, they had long regarded these so-called humans as ants. He couldn't remember the last time he had faced such a sincere smile. In the past, humans only felt awe towards him.
The guild members were used to being looked at as outsiders; it had become a source of fear for them.
He took the wine and sipped it gently. The strong aroma of the wine carried the medicinal properties of high-grade ginseng, which still had a good stimulating effect on his blood and qi, making him feel warm all over.
The player smiled slightly. The Mountain God in Chen Qing's faction was said to be able to upgrade the level of plants, and it was a gentle upgrade that wouldn't demonize them. Their guild, having controlled so many Samsara, hadn't managed to create something like this.
Looks like I need to find a way to get my hands on this.
"If the envoy likes it, I'll have my men bring you more back. Whenever you have time to visit Jiangnan, I'll treat you to a good drink!"
"Haha, great!" The player laughed immediately. It had been so many years since he had received an invitation from a human.
Since I'm not in the reincarnation group, now that I think about it, maybe in the next Samsara I should apply to enter the reincarnation group and experience life?
When the captain saw that the envoy had agreed, he grinned. They had also heard about the deeds of these religious envoys, who hid in secret for the sake of the human race, only to emerge when demons wreaked havoc. This kind of legend sounded a bit like a storyteller's tale.
Regardless of the circumstances, this group of people saved their compatriots in the Northern Lands from the jaws of countless giant snakes, and for that alone, they deserve their respect.
Back in Jiangnan, his parents and wife also perished at the hands of the living corpses. He deeply admired those who could stand up against demons and protect human lives in such critical moments, especially after he joined the Fighter Army.
He increasingly understood how arduous it was to fight to the death abroad just to ensure the survival of more compatriots, and how worthy of respect it was.
The Fighter Army are all proud, because what they do is something to be proud of. Similarly, the messenger before us is also a proud person!
"Our compatriots in the Northern Lands have suffered," the captain said loudly to the Human Dao behind him. "Hurry into the city, have some hot porridge, warm yourselves by the fire, and get a good night's rest before continuing your journey. No need to rush, the North Sea is perfectly safe now!"
This man was burly and had a voice so loud it was like a drumbeat, making people's eardrums hurt. But at that moment, everyone felt that his voice was more comforting than their own mother's, and his burly physique gave people a great sense of security.
As the captain led the way, the people passing by were struck by the sight of these soldiers from Jiangnan. They were all tall and imposing, far stronger than the men from the Northern Lands. Were these really soldiers from Jiangnan?
Looking at the corpses of those giant snakes outside, and then at these tall and mighty soldiers, I felt a long-lost sense of security, but also a bittersweet feeling.
Everyone used to know that the soldiers of the Northern Lands were the most valiant, but now, the people of the Northern Lands are displaced and have left their homes, and when they face these tall soldiers from the Jiangnan, they feel like skinny monkeys.
Many scions from aristocratic families felt it even more clearly. They could clearly sense that these ordinary gate guards were far stronger than them, and the surging aura they exuded was at least at the Fourth Rank or higher.
Fourth Rank military officer, who would have been the head of a clan in a small town in the past, is now just a lowly soldier guarding a city.
Now it seems that the Jiangnan army's ability to capture North Sea City despite the threat of the giant python demonstrates their true capabilities.
Upon entering the city, the group was surprised to find that North Sea City had quite a few people. In addition to the reassuring and valiant soldiers, there were also many merchants carrying large quantities of goods.
These merchants looked healthy and robust, and were tall, even taller than the Northern Lands.
For a moment, they were completely baffled. This damned north was teeming with man-eating pythons. It was one thing for these mighty soldiers to come, but how could ordinary people dare to come here?
Filled with doubt, many people followed the soldiers' instructions and went into the prepared large tents, waiting for the rice porridge they were given as relief.
The battle here must have been fierce; most of the houses were damaged, and the place was desolate. But the presence of people here gave them a sense of security. Especially inside the tent, the warmth emanating from the warm jade made them feel that even if they died here, it wouldn't be so bad, after silently traveling through the snow for two days and two nights.
"Hey guys, can I borrow a seat? There are just too many peddlers over there, we can't accommodate everyone. Could you guys squeeze in over there?"
The person who entered the tent was a young man dressed as a peddler. He was tall, but his accent was clearly from the Jiangnan region.
"Brother, are you from Jiangnan?"
"Ah," the man who came in brushed the snowflakes off his clothes, found a place to sit down, and replied with a smile, "In this godforsaken place, besides us fearless peddlers from Jiangnan, who else would dare to do business here these days?"
That's true. The Northern Lands is so terrifying now that only people from Jiangnan, who can enter the Underworld after death, have the guts to do so.
"So that means all those peddlers outside are from Jiangnan?" one man asked skeptically. "Are all people from Jiangnan this tall? I've been to Jiangnan to do business before, and they weren't like this."
"That was so many years ago!" The young man smiled smugly when he heard the other man say that he was tall and strong. He straightened his back. In the past, when he went to the Northern Lands to buy goods, even a girl was taller than him, which was quite noticeable. He never thought that he would be told that he was tall by a man from the Northern Lands. Hehe.
" In Jiangnan, we are now protected by Mountain God everywhere. We drink from springs blessed by the Mountain God and eat high-quality grains developed by sorcerers. Nowadays, even seven- or eight-year-old children in Jiangnan can grow to six or seven feet tall."
"Brother, don't exaggerate. A seven or eight-year-old child six or seven feet tall? Even the giants who were wiped out in the Northern Wasteland weren't much taller, were they?"
"Hmph, believe it or not, you'll find out when you get to Jiangnan."
Just then, soldiers brought in a huge pot of meat porridge. Everyone in the tent stood up at the aroma, stunned by the sight of such a large pot of porridge. There were only six people in the tent!
They were already prepared to become refugees, but now, looking at this rice porridge that exuded an irresistible aroma of meat, they couldn't help but rub their eyes, afraid that they were seeing things.
"Is this for us?"
"Don't worry," the peddler said, expertly serving himself a bowl. "This is the amount we use to entertain our northern brothers who have been stranded in Jiangnan. You might not be able to finish it at first, but don't worry, you'll get used to it in a few days."
She took a delicious sip.
The others couldn't resist, and quickly filled their own bowls, ignoring the scalding heat, and gulped it down.
The thick rice porridge had a pure rice aroma and a better texture than even the best rice from the Northern Lands. The broth tasted even better than chicken soup, especially the large chunks of meat. I don't know what kind of animal it was made from, but it was tender, juicy, and chewy, and tasted even better than beef. Everyone immediately devoured it, eating bowl after bowl.
"You're in luck," the peddler chuckled. "I've heard that many of you were afraid Jiangnan was too far and unsafe to reach, so you went to Northern Wolf City. Northern Wolf City is short-handed for farming right now, so you won't get the same treatment there as you would in Jiangnan. Besides, once you choose the Northern Wasteland, don't even think about going to Jiangnan for now. The difference in life there is like night and day."
"Is Jiangnan really that good?" Some people put down their bowls of porridge, patted their round bellies, and couldn't help but ask, "Can we really drink such delicious meat porridge every day?"
"What's so special about this?" the peddler scoffed. "Many of you Northern Lands are reluctant to leave Jiangnan now. Even if you were offered land and houses from the islands of the West Sea, you still wouldn't leave. But I can understand. Anyone who goes there wouldn't want to leave. After this deal, I plan to buy a shop in Yunzhou and never come back. That place, let alone this godforsaken place in the Northern Lands, I wouldn't trade it for an official position in the capital."
That's so impressive!
A group of northerners curled their lip, half believing and half doubting, thinking that what they said was too exaggerated.
However, one thing is true: this godforsaken place in the Northern Lands is probably something they'll never want to return to.
--
Meanwhile, those aristocratic families who took the other route, risking their lives to return to the Central Plains, never expected to arrive Central Plains so easily.
The Black Lantern Messenger, who had been on guard the entire way, showed no intention of making a move.
This gesture only deepened their suspicions. Were these people truly so kind? Could it be that what the envoys had spread was true?
With trepidation, a group of people entered the border city. This decision, for many of them, would lead to a lifetime of regret.