Chapter 2026: Lanterns Fade, Situ Nan!

Chapter 2026: Lanterns Fade, Situ Nan! (First Update)

Wang Lin respected the madman's decision. Everyone had their own responsibilities, and Wang Lin knew this.

He had no right to decide the madman's responsibilities. As a friend, he had awakened him, which was the best he could do. As for the path the madman would take next, it was not for Wang Lin to advise.

Wang Lin, too, had his own path to walk. He had to return to the Immortal Cave Realm, return to Vermilion Bird Star, return to the place where he grew up.

"Perhaps the next time I meet the madman will be three hundred years later…" Wang Lin walked through the world into the distance. Although he now possessed the strongest cultivation in the Immortal Astral, there were still things that left him bewildered, such as the Primordial God Realm, such as Heavenly Fate Child, such as the resurrection of Wan'er.

Walking under this vast sky, a trace of confusion also appeared in Wang Lin's eyes. He did not know if those old acquaintances he sought truly wished to awaken their memories, if they truly wished to follow him back to the Immortal Cave Realm.

"Perhaps… forgetting the past and starting anew in the cycle of Reincarnation on this Immortal Astral continent is the best choice for them…" Wang Lin murmured, the image of Zhou Ru appearing before his eyes. Zhou Ru's choice had been exactly that.

"I cannot use my own will to make their choices for them." Wang Lin sighed softly. He paused, looking into the distance, to the place where Situ Nan was.

The Martial Xuan Kingdom was a mortal nation, located north of Central Continent, within the Tian La region. The entire Tian La region contained four mortal nations, which often had frictions with each other. Although there were no large-scale wars, small-scale conflicts frequently occurred in the border areas.

However, these four Empires largely controlled these frictions, ensuring the scale of the conflicts never expanded too much.

At the border between the Martial Xuan Kingdom and the Zhou Lin Kingdom, a large number of troops were stationed. The military camp stretched endlessly, appearing dense and packed, filled with the bleak, murderous intent of the mortal world.

Closer to the kingdom's territory, outside the main gate of the camp, several thousand armored soldiers now stood, heads held high and chests out, arranged in vertical columns. Several figures, clearly high-ranking generals and civil officials, also stood there, looking into the distance as if waiting for something.

Not long after, the sound of galloping hooves roared from the official road ahead. As it drew near, a black steed arrived like a whirlwind, passing through the thousands of soldiers. Dozens of zhang away from the generals, the warhorse neighed, its front hooves suddenly rearing up before forcefully coming to a stop. A person immediately leaped down from the horse.

This person was also clad in Armor. Upon landing, he knelt on one knee, clasping his fists.

"Report!"

"The Southern King's inspection entourage is now a hundred li away!" The soldier's voice was loud and clear. After speaking, he lowered his head in silence, awaiting orders.

"Continue reconnaissance! And have the forward battalion move out to meet and escort the Southern King's entourage a hundred li away!" Among the generals and civil officials, there was an old man. This old man had an imposing aura without needing to show anger. His position was clearly the center of the group. His eyes flashed, and he immediately spoke.

As soon as his words were spoken, a middle-aged man beside him immediately stepped forward, clasped his fists in salute, turned, and left. Following him, over ten thousand soldiers charged out from the camp, riding warhorses, roaring away, kicking up large clouds of dust.

"Grand Marshal, the Southern King's intentions… are likely not good." Beside the old general, a civil official showed a worried expression and spoke slowly.

"It is said this Southern King is extremely fond of luxury and extravagance. Wherever he passes, almost everyone is filled with fear."

"I've also heard this Southern King has a multitude of wives and concubines, privately builds palaces, even surpassing the current Emperor…" The speaker hesitated, ultimately not finishing the rest of his words.

The old general remained silent throughout, seemingly not hearing the words of those around him. He stood there, not speaking, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes. As that cold light flickered rapidly, a murderous aura spread, making the old general appear full of domineering might.

As the Grand Marshal of this border region, commanding nearly half a million troops, and not being of royal blood, it was natural for him to incur jealousy. If it weren't for the fact that the Martial Xuan Kingdom could not do without this old general who was constantly victorious in battle, he would likely have been stripped of his command and sent back to the fields long ago.

"It is said this Southern King is extremely arrogant and cares greatly about status. If the welcoming scale is not grand, he will be displeased… Grand Marshal, should we send more people…"

"Grand Marshal, your subordinate also believes we should send more people to welcome him. Since this Southern King enjoys pomp, let us have a hundred thousand troops welcome him, lay out a hundred-li-long street, and let him witness the might of our army!"

"Grand Marshal, do not hesitate. This Southern King is a despicable villain who always likes to target you. For someone like him, we…"

The old general frowned. As his right hand rose, the surroundings suddenly fell silent. All eyes gathered on him, showing that his prestige within this camp was irreplaceable.

"My soldiers are all heroes from decades of bloody battles. I do not agree with having them welcome this Southern King! A thousand men from the forward camp, with me personally waiting here, is enough!" The old general's voice was resolute and firm, brooking no opposition.

As his words left his mouth, everyone around him immediately adopted a serious expression, clasped their fists, and voiced their assent.

"Southern King…" The old general looked into the distance, snorting coldly in his heart. He detested the term 'Southern King.' In his thoughts, the person about to arrive was not worthy of this title.

A hundred li away, an extravagant carriage fully ten zhang in size, leading a long procession of carriages, was traveling along the official road, stretching out for nearly a full li. Around these carriages, Martial Artists dressed in ordinary clothes followed proudly.

Faint strains of music and songs could be heard from within the ten-zhang carriage, mixed with the flirtatious laughter of women, suggesting a rather lively scene inside.

"Good, well danced! This Prince rewards you!" A man's voice rang out amidst loud laughter. Within the carriage, along with his laughter, there were also some lewd moans and panting.

The Martial Artist guards accompanying the procession were already long accustomed to these sounds and paid them no mind.

After traveling a few more li, a young servant in blue robes who had been sitting by the side of the massive carriage suddenly opened his eyes and let out a sharp voice.

"The Southern King orders a temporary halt to the procession!"

Following his words, the dragon-like procession of carriages gradually came to a stop. Then, from the massive carriage ahead, one enchanting woman after another stepped down. These women were all of exceptional beauty, yet each was disheveled, their clothes clearly just thrown on. Each wore an expression of exhaustion. After alighting, they headed towards the carriages at the rear.

There were many such women, roughly several dozen in number. It was hard to imagine all of them had been inside that ten-zhang carriage.

As they left, several dozen more enchanting women emerged from the rear carriages, replacing those who had left, and re-entered the main carriage. Soon, as the procession of carriages continued forward, the sounds of music, lewd panting, and the man's laughter once again drifted out.

As the dragon-like carriage procession moved forward, it wasn't long before galloping hooves roared ahead, and the welcoming forward battalion of over a thousand soldiers appeared. It seemed that seeing only these people had come to welcome him, a cold snort came from within the ten-zhang carriage.

However, it did not stop. Instead, under the escort of this thousand men, it continued forward.

One hour later, gradually, this luxurious procession of carriages, with the lewd sounds and panting faintly discernible, appeared outside the camp, within the sight of all.

As it drew near, the lewd sounds became clearer, audible to all the soldiers present, causing the old general to frown, displeasure flashing in his eyes.

He snorted, strode forward, followed by numerous civil and military officials, carrying an aura of slaughter as they abruptly approached. His arrival made all the Martial Artist guards outside the halted carriages immediately tense up. They could feel the Evil Qi emanating from the old general. This Evil Qi actually made them feel fear, their bodies trembling.

"Halt! The Southern King…" Despite their fear, the guards quickly stepped forward. The blue-robed servant standing on the carriage now stood up and issued a sharp cry.

"Who are you!" Before the servant's words could finish, a middle-aged officer beside the old general, a fierce light flashing in his eyes, spoke in a low, stern voice.

The moment he spoke, all the soldiers present focused their gazes on the servant. An intangible murderous aura enveloped him, causing the servant's face to instantly turn pale, and he dared not speak.

"Situ Nan! What are you doing!!" Just as the old general approached, a low roar suddenly came from within the carriage. As his voice sounded, all the lewd noises abruptly ceased.

"This old general, Situ Nan, has come to welcome the Southern King." The old man spoke slowly, his expression imposing without anger, standing ten zhang away from the carriage.

After a moment of silence from within the carriage, the curtain was roughly pulled aside, and a middle-aged man stepped out. This man had faint dark circles under his eyes, looking as if he had been drained by wine and women. Standing on the carriage, he stared at the old general. A flicker of gloom passed through his eyes before he suddenly revealed a smile.

"Truly the Grand Marshal Situ Nan of my Martial Xuan. With the Grand Marshal guarding the border, my Martial Xuan can live in peace. This Prince is here by imperial decree to reward the border troops!"

"Oh? Then enter the camp. Please!" The old general looked at the Southern King, his expression cold. Yet his gaze placed immense pressure on the Southern King, especially with the murderous and icy aura present from everyone here, causing sweat to bead on the Southern King's forehead.

"No need… This Prince can stay outside, no need to enter." The Southern King forced a smile on his face and quickly said.

None of the people present knew that the entire scene here, from beginning to end, had been seen clearly by Wang Lin in the sky. Wang Lin stood in the firmament, his gaze fixed on one person the entire time—that old general, Situ Nan!

"He didn't become a prince, but instead became a Grand Marshal… I wonder what he will think once his past life memories awaken…" A smile appeared on Wang Lin's face, a very happy smile.

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