Regardless of whether Felix was truly terran or not, the overwhelming victory outside Yumen was undeniable.
After taking several deep breaths, General Zuo let out a quiet sigh. In the words often used by the younger generation of Yan, he felt that Felix had truly "awakened."
Not only did he possess terrifying personal strength, but he also appeared capable of summoning Seaborn to fight for him at will.
Kazdel had now effectively become the core power of the entire continent.
Its military strength was capable of crushing any other nation, whether it was Yan, Leithanien, or Columbia. Felix alone possessed enough power to conquer an empire.
This was not exaggeration, nor was it a joke.
To command the Seaborn, creatures that had always been hostile to Terrans, and make them obey his orders on the battlefield...
If this continued, Felix might very well become the ruler of the entire Terran land for centuries to come.
Setting aside Felix's personal strength, General Zuo only hoped that the Tianshi could complete the development of the new battleships as soon as possible.
After witnessing the overwhelming power of the Judgment, he realized that there was no going back.
Such weapons could drastically reduce casualties while delivering devastating firepower.
He also hoped that Yan could maintain a strong and friendly relationship with Kazdel. Recently, he had heard that the Kazdel Research Institute had sent several scientists to the Tianshi for academic exchanges.
That was undoubtedly a good sign.
As a general, General Zuo had already considered the worst possible scenario: a war against Kazdel.
But based on their interactions so far, Kazdel might very well be the only nation on Terra that maintained genuinely good relations with Yan.
Moments later, Felix stepped back onto the Judgment, descending on wings of flame.
He immediately noticed General Zuo and the others staring at him in stunned silence.
Felix gave a slight nod.
General Zuo quickly came to his senses. He clasped his hands and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for your assistance, Your Highness, the Liberation King."
"This was all part of the agreement," Felix replied calmly. "Kazdel and Yan are already strategic allies. There is no need for such concern."
He paused briefly before adding,
"I hope we will have the opportunity to fight side by side on the battlefield again in the future, General Zuo."
"That would be my honor."
General Zuo maintained a humble posture.
As a border general, his influence within the court of Yan was limited. Even the Grand Commandant, who was known for his temper, had behaved with remarkable restraint in front of Felix.
General Zuo naturally understood his own position.
Felix had come to Yumen for two reasons.
The first was to assist in the battle and observe the strength of his Sea Legion, The Seaborn.
The flames he wielded granted the Sea Legion a form of immortality. However, each time they were destroyed and summoned again, it consumed a portion of his power.
Combined with the overwhelming power he already possessed, Felix could practically be described as a walking battery.
The results of the battle were exactly as expected.
The Sea Legion delivered a devastating blow.
Although the smaller types such as the dog-like, flower-like, and coral Seaborn suffered heavy losses, the massive sea creatures such as whales, jellyfish, sea dragons, and giant dragons fought with increasing ferocity.
They completely shattered the main force of the demon army.
Seaborn were terrifying by nature, but after being purified by Felix's flames, they had lost the ability to corrupt the land itself.
For example, the blue carpet-like growths that endlessly spread along the Iberian coastline did not appear anywhere on this battlefield.
Felix's second reason for coming to Yumen was to fulfill his appointment with Ling.
He also wanted to see how the mobile city that Ling had guarded for countless years looked today.
After the warship docked, Felix said farewell to Ulšulah and left alone.
However, he made sure not to put General Zuo in a difficult position. He simply explained that he intended to visit a friend and would later return to General Zuo's residence to meet with representatives from the Tianshi.
General Zuo finally breathed a sigh of relief.
If someone of Felix's importance had vanished from Yumen without explanation, the higher authorities would certainly have blamed him for poor hospitality.
Yumen was a crucial military city guarding the northwestern frontier of Yan.
Historically, the city had taken part in the war to slay the gods a thousand years ago. Even today, the towering city walls still bore scars left by the attacks of giant beasts, the Feranmuts during that era.
It was an exceptionally strong fortress, capable of withstanding even large-scale natural disasters.
When Ling was not aboard the Venus, this was the place where he had stayed the longest.
However, the moment Felix stepped through Yumen's gates, he sensed a familiar aura.
This was…
Nian.
And someone else as well.
Felix could tell that Shu was not here. That made sense. She was currently overseeing grain production in Dahuang City and spent nearly the entire year working there tirelessly.
It was perfectly normal for her not to be in Yumen.
Yumen was famous for its martial culture.
Felix pulled up his hood and walked along the bustling streets. Teahouses, restaurants, and martial arenas lined both sides of the road.
He even saw two stages where martial arts competitions for marriage were being held, waiting for challengers to step forward.
Felix bought a cup of Osmanthus wine and sat down to watch one of the matches.
On the stage stood a burly man who shouted loudly,
"Anyone else want to challenge me?!"
Just as the waiter set down the wine, another man stepped onto the arena carrying a weapon, and a new fight was about to begin.
Felix took a sip of Osmanthus wine and let out a quiet sigh.
Osmanthus wine truly deserved its reputation as a refined drink, especially in literature.
That reputation was not limited to some drama series. Even in reality, Osmanthus wine carried a delicate floral fragrance. Its mellow sweetness lingered on the palate, and a gentle warmth slowly spread through the body, easing the weariness of the day.
"Osmanthus wine tastes the same as I remember… but this is strange, the joy of drinking it is no longer the same."
In his previous life, Felix often drank Osmanthus wine with his friends during quiet gatherings. They would talk late into the night, sharing laughter and small dreams, while the fragrance of osmanthus drifted through the air.
"Maybe because the ones who shared those moments with me are no longer here..."
Felix felt somewhat helpless. Now he felt like that old man, sitting back and relaxing with a drink, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the city, he wished there was no erosion in this world.
"The young master entered the city but did not come to find us. Instead, he came here to experience everyday life. That is quite admirable."
The fragrance of rice wine drifted faintly through the air.
Felix finished a cup of Osmanthus wine, poured himself another, and leaned back in his chair while listening to the roars from the arena. Fighters continued stepping forward to challenge the man on stage.
He glanced sideways.
Seated beside him was a Lung woman with long blue hair.
She lifted a small wine pot and took a quiet sip. Their eyes met briefly before both looked away.
"Where's Nian? Why didn't she come?"
"Oh?" Ling smiled softly. "She took her younger sister out to buy groceries."
On the stage, the burly man had already fought three consecutive matches, defeating challengers one after another.
Although he had won every bout, he was clearly exhausted. His body was covered in bruises and he was breathing heavily.
Even so, instead of resting, he bowed again toward the crowd and asked loudly,
"Are there any more challengers?"
"These two were childhood sweethearts," Ling said slowly. "They grew up together and were inseparable."
She watched the arena quietly, her gaze seeming to drift through time itself.
"The girl came from a merchant family. Her mother died during a bandit attack. Her father believed that only a martial artist could protect his daughter."
"That is why this martial contest for marriage was arranged."
In Ling's eyes appeared a distant scene from years ago: a young boy and girl walking hand in hand through the streets of Yumen.
"The boy was just an ordinary person. But for her sake, he joined the Yumen City Defense Army and trained in martial arts under the army's instructors."
"I see."
At that moment, another challenger stepped onto the stage.
Ling sighed quietly.
"Perhaps he will not last through this battle."
"Will you help him?" Felix asked. "Just as you have helped Yan for so long?"
"Hmm?" Ling turned slightly, smiling.
"Only when families exist can a country exist. From the highest officials to the common people, that is how a complete nation is formed."
Ling chuckled.
Her fingers moved ever so slightly.
On the stage, the challenger who had been fighting fiercely suddenly froze in place for a brief moment.
In the next instant, the burly man's fist struck his face, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Would this count as divine intervention in the mortal world?"
Ling looked directly at Felix.
"Do you think I am a god?"
Her gaze locked onto his eyes, calm and ancient, like the history of Yan itself.
"No," Felix replied after taking another sip of tea. "You are Order."
"You are the Order of Yan. You are the Order guiding Tomorrow's Development. You are…"
"Go on," Ling said with amusement.
"There is no need. I believe you understand."
Ling smiled mysteriously.
"Indeed. Considering you have always been rather passive when it comes to relationships, it is natural that you would not take the initiative."
Felix rolled his eyes.
What did this have to do with relationships?
What he had meant was simply: You are a complete person, not some so-called god fragments.
Yet somehow it had been interpreted as something far more dramatic. Something like You are my command.
(Translator note in the comment)
Ling laughed softly and poured some rice wine into Felix's cup.
"Thank you for speaking up for my family during the diplomatic discussions."
"I was only stating my own thoughts," Felix replied, waving a hand dismissively. "There is no need to read too much into it."
"Terra is facing a crisis, yet many nations are consumed by internal conflicts. It only makes sense to stand close to those who have rendered great service, not to treat them with suspicion."
"I understand them," Ling said gently. "So I bear no resentment."
She looked at Felix with a relaxed smile.
"Young Master has now become the foremost individual on Terra. What do you plan to do next?"
"Break free from Terra's constraints," Felix answered calmly. "Let the people of Terra see the true starry sky. Let them see the real world and beyond."
"Mm."
Ling stood up and stretched lightly. Then she extended a hand toward Felix.
"Nian should have finished buying the groceries by now. We are having hot pot tonight."
She smiled.
"You can handle spicy food, right?"
"Yes."
Tonight, the big three dragons gathered in a courtyard within Yumen: Ling, Nian, and Felix.
Ling also mentioned another of their sisters, Dusk. Apparently she had once stayed aboard the Venus for quite some time.
Felix remembered the Operators of the Sui, but he had absolutely no memory of Dusk.
However, after hearing Ling explain that this younger sister preferred to remain inside her own painted worlds, spending her days quietly painting like a recluse, Felix finally understood why he had never encountered her before.
"I had originally planned to let you meet my elder brother today, but he had to travel north for business," Ling said. "The Tianshi has already reached the front lines and is conducting research on the demons. They need guards to ensure their safety. My brother is kind by nature, so when he heard about it, he naturally volunteered to accompany them."
Ling placed wine cups in front of the four of them.
"Shu cannot leave Dahuang City. As for the smelly chess player and that merchant who sells goods, no one knows where they have wandered off to. I heard the law master is in Kou-wu enjoying the famous Crystal Fish. The gardener and our younger brother are both in Baizao. One spends his days trimming flowers and plants, while the other runs a restaurant."
"What a harmonious family," Felix remarked.
"Not at all!" Dusk's face darkened. She glared fiercely at Nian. "If it weren't for her, I would rather die than come out."
"Oh, come on. It's so nice to step out of the painting and wander around." Nian grinned as she poured a large pile of bright red chilies into the pot. "It's a shame Big Brother isn't here today, but since Young Master is here, he should properly taste Shangshu's flavors."
Felix swallowed as he looked at the bright red broth. It was so spicy that he felt like he might sneeze just by staring at it.
During the meal, Felix drank water almost constantly.
Rather than speaking much, he mostly listened.
He heard Ling's quiet concern for her siblings. He listened to Nian and Dusk bicker endlessly. Through their words and laughter, he could feel the genuine warmth of this ancient family that had guarded Yan for countless years.
Once again, Felix felt how fortunate the people of Yan were.
Even here in Yumen, a border city near a war zone, the courtyard outside was brightly lit. Children ran past the gates, their laughter echoing through the night.
Felix watched them for a moment before quietly looking away.
Would those children one day see the true starry sky?
Wasn't that the very reason to keep striving forward, keep fighting forward?
"I'll walk you out."
Ling seemed slightly drunk.
She watched Nian and Dusk whispering to each other as they began clearing the table, then turned to Felix with a gentle smile.
Felix nodded. "General Zuo has already arranged accommodations for me."
Ling said nothing more. She simply walked ahead slowly, her steps slightly unsteady.
She raised her head and looked up at the night sky.
"Young Master, the hopes of all Terra now rest on your shoulders. Don't you ever feel tired?"
"I only feel immense honor," Felix replied with a light smile. "Of course, if all the pressure were on me alone, I would grow tired eventually. But I have companions fighting beside me."
"Even if that day truly comes, I won't be the only one standing at the front."
"At the very least," he added, "I believe that for the sake of Yan, you will stand at the forefront as well."
Ling turned back toward him, a faint smile on her face.
"Young Master… will our future still be nothing more than a dream?"
Felix shook his head.
"I only know fragments about the Sui from Young Master Zuo. But even if your second brother awakens the Sui someday, I can still command the Sea Legion to devour it."
"At worst, I'll simply let it experience the sharpness of my sword."
"History," Felix continued quietly. "This is not a dream. Everything you have experienced, everything you have gone through, it is all real. It is history."
Ling slowly extended her hand.
Felix reached out and took it.
Her hand was cool and soft, like a piece of polished jade.
"If that is how you see the future," Ling said softly, "then I no longer know how I should face it."
She stepped closer.
"This dream will eventually end."
"I'm here," Felix replied simply.
Then he added quietly,
"You are the order of Yan. You are the ally of Tomorrow's Development. You are…"
"My order(Ling)."
At last, Ling heard the answer she had been waiting for.
Whether it was a dream or not no longer mattered to her. What she wanted was this single moment of reality.
The man before her had told her clearly that this was not a dream.
She smiled.
And yet, despite having lived for more than a thousand years, she still felt a trace of shyness as she slowly removed her outer garments and slipped off her socks in front of Felix, revealing her flawless white form.