Chapter 192: Leaving

Chapter 192: Leaving

The revelry and commotion gradually died down, the joy on people’s faces replaced by bewilderment. People looked at each other, trying to confirm from each other’s expressions that this wasn’t a dream.

Intermittent roars, clearly lacking in strength, began to sound throughout the city, conveying mutual questions.

Heavy Axe was feasting messily with Angie and the people from Sancha Town when he heard the roars. He puffed out his cheeks and turned his head towards the sound. After a long moment, he slapped his thigh and muttered indistinctly with his mouth full, “Serves them right!”

Then he laughed without any concern for his image, spraying bits of meat all over the face of the person sitting opposite him.

Someone gestured around, reminding him, “Big Sis—”

Heavy Axe didn’t care at all. By now, he had mostly sprayed out what was in his mouth, so his laughter grew even louder. He reached out a big hand and gave Angie’s shoulder a heavy pat, gesturing.

Angie looked at her mother worriedly, not understanding what was happening, only to get another slap on the back of her head. Heavy Axe forced himself to stop laughing. “Go after them. Take our people from Sancha Town.”

Seeing Angie hesitate, Heavy Axe lifted her up by the collar. “Hurry!”

Seeing Heavy Axe’s reaction, someone couldn’t hold back. “Big Sis?”

“Shut up!”

Not until a few children had run far away did the puzzled voice sound again. “Big Sis?”

Heavy Axe gave the other person a disdainful glance. “We got a huge bargain!”

That person pointed outside the city. “But isn’t it still dangerous out there?”

“Dangerous my foot! The only two Great Wizards in the Northlands are both out there.”

“What about us?” Someone was eager to follow.

“Got any shame?” Heavy Axe shot them a sidelong glance. “What would you go for? So they can call you uncle for no reason and treat you like an honored guest?”

“What’s going on?” the person cautiously asked again.

Accompanied by a contemptuous snort, Heavy Axe lifted his broad chin, gesturing in that direction. “Pushing the younger brother aside right in front of his older sister again. Now the sister won’t stand for it.”

Saying this, Heavy Axe slapped his thigh once more. “Serves them right! They deserve it!”

“What about us then?”

“Go home and make babies!” Heavy Axe stood up, cursing and grumbling as he walked away.

…

Lily’s roar came, freezing the smiles on Vincent and the others’ faces. To help these young Little Wizards grow up quickly, they had done many things against their conscience. Through anxiety and waiting, they had finally welcomed this joyful day.

The sudden change caused some to panic, some to rage, and others to rush outside.

The happy noise outside gradually subsided, soon replaced by even louder, more chaotic sounds. Vincent carefully listened to the disorderly clamor, then shook his head with a wry laugh. That smile held bitterness, amusement, and glistening tears.

People barged in—men and women, old and young. His own daughter, fully armed, was noticeably among them.

Noticing her father looking at her, Dia took half a step forward. “I’m leaving too.”

Vincent let out a long sigh. “Go. Be careful in everything.”

“Yes!” With that reply, Dia turned and pushed through the crowd, walking out with determination.

Vincent waved his hand weakly. “If the children want to leave, let them go.”

The celebration feast turned into a farewell drink. As a portion of people left, the hall fell quiet again. People silently looked towards the door, waiting for the next child to come and say goodbye.

By midnight, no more children barged in, but everyone sat there, unwilling to disperse. Someone couldn’t stand the oppressive atmosphere and tried to break the silence. “They’re still too young. They need someone to take care of them, someone to guide them.”

Vincent sighed softly. “What a clever scheme!”

Seeing everyone look over, he continued, “Things like killing or drawing the main force of the Demon Clan weren’t what she wanted. She lacks nothing now. The Demon Clan’s army delivered all the supplies right to her doorstep.”

Vincent sighed deeply again. “What a clever scheme! Provisions travel before the troops.

We should have realized it sooner. Unfortunately, we were limited by our own meager martial strength, treating the Demon Clan’s main army as the primary target, but in her eyes, it was nothing. What she needed were supplies, materials to build her territory.

While we were still complaining that she didn’t destroy Silverpine Town, she had already seen it as her own territory. But it wasn’t enough; she needed more.”

“What a truly clever scheme! Just now, when the children left, I thought to myself: we can’t let them go empty-handed. Then I realized that place lacks nothing.

Now, do you still think they need taking care of or guidance?”

…

Adam stood on the city wall, watching his younger sister lead the Little Wizards away. He felt that nothing had changed since they were children. Bran hadn’t changed. Lily hadn’t changed.

Bran still kept his distance from everyone. Lily still stood up for her younger brother. He had thought they were all grown up and had changed their ways.

Well, great! They were at it again. But this feeling was really satisfying.

Standing on the city wall, Adam couldn’t help but burst into loud laughter.

…

That night, many young people and older children left the Western Territory, following Lily. Heavy Axe led the people from Sancha Town, patted their butts, and left overnight.

Many people left in anger. With the external threat gone, everyone finally had the courage to overturn the table. Things or people they disliked no longer had to be tolerated, and the pent-up defiance of so long was finally released.

Some were sad because of their children’s choices; some felt relieved, having finally dealt with someone they disliked. As dawn broke, everything gradually calmed down.

The Western Territory no longer needed everyone to stand guard. Those taking turns on duty began to pack their belongings. Out of habit, Vincent went to the city wall and looked out beyond the city.

He felt utterly powerless, as if he had become a useless waste. What should he do today? He thought for a long time, but his mind remained empty, without a single idea.

Maybe go help the children outside the city with some chores? Once this thought popped up, he couldn’t suppress it. Suddenly, he felt energized, with a goal. He walked briskly towards the city below…

Dia felt like she had swallowed a fly. Her father suddenly appeared before her and, to her astonishment, joined in the work—moving supplies.

She took a deep breath, then another. The world before her eyes gradually grew dark and dim…

…

It wasn’t only the young girl Dia who felt the world was dark and dim. The command room in Anya was equally dark and gloomy. An attendant rushed into this dim world in a panic, his mouth trembling. “Alive… alive… alive…”

“What’s alive?”

“Th-th-those… the… Demon Clan…”

This attendant was nearly going mad. His incoherent words plunged everyone into deep confusion. People slowly and with difficulty stood up, only moving their stiff limbs to walk outside after a moment.

The city wall was already empty. A few people who should have been on lookout duty had hidden down below, their faces pale.

Kurt and others climbed onto the city wall with their hearts in their throats, hiding behind the battlements to look towards the Demon Clan’s Camp.

Numerous Demon Clan soldiers and horses were moving about the Camp, orderly and in formation. A young boy, holding a Black Cat in his arms, was standing at the camp gate, looking towards them. From time to time, scout riders ran out from the Camp, were absorbed into his body, and then released again in front of him shortly after.