Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 475 - 459: Remember

Wang Boxiong finished watching the numerous related videos and dialed Zhu Shiji’s number.

"Teacher."

"What do you want from me this time?" Zhu Shiji’s voice suddenly rose.

"You know about the Arrow Holder, right?"

"Of course, everyone around the world is discussing the Arrow Holder. Some even say he might break the Hundred Battle Hero’s record. Nonsense, Xiao Huang’s record is not that easy to break!"

"What do you think?"

"Hmm... I watched the videos. Although blurry, this kid’s strength indeed... is second only to mine back then, stronger than many Martial Saints of the same realm back then. However, still too immature."

"He is your disciple."

"You’ve taken in another disciple for me?" Zhu Shiji asked.

"He is Zhou Leng."

"Hmm? No wonder I felt he was second only to me back then. This kid is a rare talent indeed."

"It’s time for you to personally guide your disciple."

"I’m very busy, you know. Every day I study martial arts, cultivate diligently, and plan strategically... haha... got you... cough cough... what did you say?"

Wang Boxiong said, "He needs your guidance before reaching Grandmaster."

After a while, Zhu Shiji’s voice came through.

"Great Innate, I suppose. Wait till he’s Great Innate, with True Qi fully integrated, Qi and body united, then I’ll meet this kid. Also, be prepared with good wine and food, know some etiquette!"

"Yes."

"I hear some clans are quite out of line. Why aren’t you Martial Guards managing them?" Zhu Shiji asked.

"Even Martial Saints can’t handle it; what can us little Martial Guards do?"

"Didn’t they have conclusive evidence against some branch of his family?"

"The evidence was not used."

Zhu Shiji cursed loudly.

Wang Boxiong leisurely replied, "Isn’t this all the sins your generation created? You said to trust in the wisdom of future generations, and we are the future generations."

Zhu Shiji’s cursing abruptly stopped, followed by a long sigh, and he hung up the phone.

The next day, the number of people at Shuizhou Base surged, and the Seventh Division had to divert some, sending Martial Artists to the West Sea Demon City frontline to fight against Sea Sirens.

On the internet, the Arrow Holder ignited the fighting passion of Martial Artists.

But in Shuizhou Demon City, a piece of bad news spread.

Hanshan Fortress and Huqiu Fortress were completely surrounded.

The Celestial Calamity Envoy personally appeared outside Huqiu Fortress, commanding the Celestial Calamity Army to attack fiercely.

Zhou Leng learned that Huqiu Fortress might fall, so he asked Chen Shouhu for permission to go to the front line.

But Chen Shouhu refused.

Another day passed, Zhou Leng requested to fight again, and was refused again.

For three consecutive days, three requests to fight, three refusals.

Zhou Leng talked with Zhi Liao and other hidden Martial Artists, and completely gave up hope.

It was clear Chen Shouhu didn’t want him to fight.

With no decision from above, acting recklessly was indeed not good.

But he couldn’t just stay idle here either.

So, at night, he covered his head, left alone, crossed the Red Spot Forest, and using some prior intel, began hunting scattered demons and assisting some teams.

Zhou Leng fought along the way, sleeping at most two hours a day.

After fighting continuously for five days, he took off his head cover, acting as a common Martial Artist, and returned to Shuizhou Base, checking the latest intel as he walked.

The entire army of a hundred thousand Martial Artists headed to Huqiu Fortress, but before they arrived, Huqiu Fortress fell.

Huqiu Fortress shifted from a defensive battle to a siege.

The fall of Huqiu Fortress triggered the initiation of the Fifth Sequence Summoning, bringing many students from Martial Arts Academies and other Martial Artists to Shuizhou Base.

The largest battle in three years at Shuizhou Demon City officially began.

Zhou Leng walked in Shuizhou Base, watching the hurried crowd.

Unlike a few days ago, the base was now filled with many youthful faces, as well as many aged ones.

Zhou Leng’s heart slowly sank.

He opened the messages from Chen Shouhu, listened to a few, then stopped.

Chen Shouhu, the big ranter.

Zhou Leng silently walked forward, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar Shuizhou Base.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be long before this place became the center of the battlefield.

As Zhou Leng was about to check Martial Faith’s messages, he caught a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye.

Looking up, a group of young people in camouflage uniforms walked by from the front left.

Among them were some familiar faces.

Ji Changnian, Cao Jiajia, Xu Qingjin.

Zhou Leng paused for a moment and shouted, "Xu Qingjin."

Xu Qingjin’s classmates all looked over, and Xu Qingjin ran out from the group.

The other classmates continued to walk, curiously glancing over.

"Why are you here?" Only then did Zhou Leng realize that the start of the Fifth Sequence meant many students from Martial Arts Academy would also arrive at Rucheng.

Even though they wouldn’t be on the frontline, they would participate in defending Shuizhou Base.

"Why can’t I be here?" Xu Qingjin looked at Zhou Leng, her eyes bright and clear, dressed in camouflage uniform, her body slender, her gaze gentle yet determined, with a faint smile on her face.

Zhou Leng paused briefly, memories of past experiences with Xu Qingjin overlapped with the present.

"We’re all doing what we should do." Zhou Leng said, then stepped forward to embrace Xu Qingjin.

Unlike last time, this time Xu Qingjin hugged Zhou Leng tightly, very tightly.

"Why don’t you read my messages?" Xu Qingjin buried her head in Zhou Leng’s body.

"I just got back, was about to read them."

"You... take care more than I do."

"I’m so strong, I’ll be fine. But you, don’t push yourself too hard."

"Don’t worry, I’ve always been awesome." Her voice was gentle, yet her tone firm.

"Go, your classmates are waiting for you." Zhou Leng said.

"Okay."

They parted ways, and Xu Qingjin said, "Then I’m off."

"See you later."

"See you later."

Xu Qingjin turned with a smile and ran towards her class.

Her ponytail swaying, just like years ago.

Zhou Leng watched Xu Qingjin rejoin her group, watched her turn and wave goodbye, watched her disappear at the end of the road.

Zhou Leng walked towards the Martial Arts Brigade.

One heading south, the other north, yet both moving in the same direction.

Zhou Leng walked while reading Xu Qingjin’s messages.

It turned out she had received the notification yesterday to come to the Shuizhou Demon City Base today.

After reading it, Zhou Leng replied.

"I saw it, my Xu Qingjin is indeed amazing."

Soon after, Xu Qingjin replied with a sun-like smiley face.

Then he flipped through other people’s messages.

Xue Chengsong’s father, Xue Tongming, had long led the entire Pioneer Company into the Shuizhou Demon City, joining the ranks.

Xue Chengsong also entered Shuizhou Demon City today.

In his social circle, he posted a video of Xue Tongming’s rally.

Under the bright lights of the night, in the company square, Xue Tongming spoke loudly.

"... I’ve always said, I’m an industrialist, not a capitalist. We make an honest living with hard-earned money..."

"... So, when the mines were taken, I didn’t lay you off. Demons occupy Shuizhou Demon City, if you retreated, those who don’t leave, I still paid half salary..."

"... In peacetime, our Pioneer Company is our work, and in wartime, every member of the Pioneer Company is a soldier of Dragon Country! A soldier of the people!"

"... My grandfather was also an old soldier who always said, we must always follow the one who says ’follow me’ and stay away from the one who says ’go for me’."

"Now, Xue’s Pioneer Company soldiers, listen to the order! To the Demon City, follow me!"

Under the night sky, Xue’s Pioneer Company personnel lined up and marched forward, Xue Tongming leading in front.

Zhou Leng opened old classmate Feng Wenhao’s message.

"Zhou Leng, where are you now? The whole class is marching to the Shuizhou Base tomorrow, you need to look out for us."

"Everyone’s chatting excitedly..."

"All saying they finally have a chance..."

"I’m actually a bit scared, don’t really dare to say it."

"We’re not like you, too ordinary, I’m still only at Blood Transport, far from Body Refinement."

"Us ordinary martial artists will probably die silently in battle."

"And then be forgotten by this era, this country, this world."

"Just like, if you look now, people have forgotten them too."

"Actually, I’ve always been reluctant, I don’t want to go to the battlefield."

"Because I think it’s meaningless, even if I shed my blood, what can it bring?"

"They were slandered, attacked, and denied, does anyone care? Nobody."

"Many of us may not have children, what does it matter to me what happens after?"

"Those who have children and sacrifice, what do their children get?"

"Bullied by the descendants of those lucky few who survived."

"Some things, those people didn’t believe at first, and then, we didn’t believe either."

"So, I’ve always been torn, always hesitating."

"I also joke online, also mock, sometimes I eat kiln bowls."

"But for some reason, when the summoning order arrived, I suddenly didn’t care anymore."

"Actually, I remember them, you remember them, many people remember them."

"It’s just, we’ve been blinded by the fog."

"When the battle horn sounds, the fog clears, we’ll remember again."

"Just like, in front of People’s Square, when Tong Tianxia sounded the charge horn, I remembered many people, many things."

"As long as humans are alive, there will always be someone to remember me."

"I’ve said so much nonsense, won’t say more."

"After the battle of Shuizhou Demon City, let’s have a good drink."

"Damn, Hu Yi is really lucky, in the seventh sequence, probably won’t make it to the battlefield."

"I’m setting off, see you later!"

Zhou Leng slowly typed, then deleted, deleted then typed.

Finally replied, "We always remember us."

After a long silence, he opened Hu Yi’s message.

"Zhou Leng, can you transfer me to the front sequence?"

"Today, I walked around a taxi, walked, and walked."

"When I saw the burden bearers, I was just moved, just moved, that’s it."

"Later I saw he was the Sea Siren slayer, kill one or two demons and run, then kill, then run, continuously cycling..."

"I found it interesting, this person really sneaky, really cunning."

"You see, ten thousand demons, a battlefield of a hundred miles, he throws his spear and runs alone, like a fly."

"If you compare ten thousand sea sirens to a person, the Sea Siren slayer is actually just a small fly, buzzing around, seemingly affecting nothing."

"After watching the video, I drove and saw martial artists with backpacks setting out, walking on the sidewalks."

"Sometimes, when waiting for the green light, I’d watch."

"Until I saw a group of children, saluting them."

"Suddenly I remembered, years ago I was also that child saluting."

"Only I forgot."