Chapter 509: He Was Here Before

The Grinding Blade Hall of Grand Commander Song Huaiyuan had become the site of an intense battle. Rumors swirled that an assassin had infiltrated the hall and attempted to take the Grand Commander's life. The news, however, made no mention of the assassin’s fate.

What was certain was that the familiar sound of grinding blades within the hall had ceased for nearly twenty minutes. At almost the same time, the new city leader, Xue Xuanqi, made a bold announcement. He formally nullified the unequal treaties signed by his predecessor, Qin Weilong, with the Yiggs Union, European Independent Nations Alliance, and other imperial powers. Additionally, he temporarily shut down the key trade hub of Wanmao District.

"Haijing City remains open to any nation or organization committed to mutual development and coexistence," Xue Xuanqi declared firmly during an official media interview. "However, the days when external powers could station their troops at will, oppress the citizens of Great Xia, and plunder its resources under the guise of trade are gone forever."

Over the next few days, Xue Xuanqi became a ubiquitous figure in the news. He participated in interviews, delivered speeches, and visited communities, taking his city leader’s office to businesses, residential areas, and even the slums. In just three days, he had already visited the slums twice.

The Haijing City government also made a drastic move to unilaterally close nearby Cave Beast portals, cutting off transportation channels to other empires. As the new policies gained momentum, Xue Xuanqi’s popularity among the general public soared. This ancient, timeworn southern giant of Great Xia began to stir with new life.

Yet, the days felt heavy and joyless for Ren Dong. She still hadn’t been able to contact Li Xiaofei. Her frustration and worry lingered until noon on the seventh day.

After class, as she was gathering her things, she noticed a familiar figure waiting at the classroom door. It was the beautiful dancer who had once appeared by Li Xiaofei’s side.

"Did Little Li send you to find me?" Ren Dong dashed over eagerly, her voice brimming with hope. "Has he been really busy lately? It’s fine, I can wait."

Nan Hua looked at the youthful girl in front of her and sighed inwardly.

Ah, the tender heart of a girl in her springtime of youth. Who wouldn’t be moved by a man of such valor and charm like the envoy? But alas...

"Yes, he sent me," Nan Hua said, producing a small box. "This is a gift from him."

Ren Dong opened the box hesitantly. The box was divided into two compartments. The top layer held a manual titled Hua Tuo’s Needles, an ancient book on needle techniques. The bottom layer contained twenty neatly arranged vials of fifth-generation, high-purity Starforce Reagents with no markings or labels.

Ren Dong froze, her breath hitching as she realized the significance of the gift. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"He’s leaving, isn’t he?" She asked softly.

Nan Hua nodded. "He has a very important mission that will take him away for a long time. He said he hopes that he’ll see you as a mighty and formidable master when he returns."

Ren Dong held the box tightly against her chest, lowering her head as a heavy silence settled over her.

"I will," Ren Dong suddenly lifted her head with a smile, her eyes sparkling with determination. "If you manage to contact him, tell him that by the time he returns, I’ll be a renowned master who’s become famous far and wide. He’ll probably need me to protect him then, hmph!"

She turned and walked away, her steps quick and purposeful. She didn’t want the beautiful dancer standing before her to see the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Deep down, she had an uneasy feeling. But it couldn’t possibly be what she thought it was.

It has to be just a mission. A very important mission. Important missions can be dangerous, right? I can’t let him be distracted by worrying about me.

Clutching the box tightly, Ren Dong made her way back to her dorm.

From that day forward, her classmates noticed a subtle but undeniable change in her. She remained cheerful. She still loved to laugh. She continued helping others and still went to the slums after school to set up her stall.

But something was different. No one could quite pinpoint what had changed. Maybe it was the faint sorrow that occasionally flickered deep in her eyes. Maybe it was the quiet sighs and moments of solitude she seemed to retreat into when no one was around.

Or perhaps it was the unrelenting drive she displayed during her studies and cultivation, a kind of fierce determination that hadn’t been there before.

***

The slum had been renamed Longteng District, symbolizing a rise from the ashes.

At the headquarters of the Jingwu Sect, the training grounds were bustling with activity. Long Zhengfei gazed through the one-way glass of his office window at the crowded field filled with disciples diligently honing their skills. A wave of emotion washed over his face.

Behind him, Li the Blind and Mr. Ruler sat with somber expressions.

"He was like a meteor," Long Zhengfei said, breaking the silence. "A streak of brilliance that lit up Haijing City's sky and left behind a boundless radiance... and then, he vanished completely. What a cruel injustice."

He suddenly turned and slammed his fist down on the titanium desk with a resounding bang. The desk dented instantly, leaving a clear imprint of his fist. But neither Li Buyi nor Chi Chunshui spoke. The room hung heavy with the weight of unspoken grief.

The rumors swirling through the city were hard to ignore. Li Xiaofei, the Dragon Group envoy who had ushered in Haijing City's new dawn, had reportedly taken his own life in Grinding Blade Hall as a sacrifice to stave off the wrath of the Star Council.

The loss of such an extraordinary Saint Slayer was immeasurable for Great Xia. It was said that several of Great Xia's Grand Commanders had uncharacteristically lost their tempers during the Star Council's plenary meeting at its headquarters.

The details of the meeting remained a mystery, but the outcome was clear. Everything Li Xiaofei had achieved in Haijing City had been preserved. Great Xia had gained a thriving, independent megacity bursting with new life. But it had lost a man destined to become a future Saint.

In the office, the three men sat in silence, their hearts heavy with frustration and regret.

"We can only honor his legacy by building Jingwu Sect into a powerhouse, not just in Haijing City, but throughout Great Xia."

"Those final days, when he locked himself in the chamber... perhaps he had already come to terms with his fate. That’s why he spent so much time organizing those martial arts manuals for us."

"In the last days of his life, he still burned with love for Great Xia and dedicated every ounce of his remaining energy to its future."

"To live and die for Great Xia, with no regrets."

The three men’s gazes grew firm and determined. No matter what, they vowed to protect the Jingwu Sect and carry forward the legacy Li Xiaofei left behind.

In an apartment elsewhere, Nan Hua stood before the mirror, lost in thought. She still couldn’t bring herself to believe that the dazzlingly brilliant young envoy was truly gone. But she had seen his body with her own eyes. She had witnessed the Realm of Traces confirming his death. Everything felt like a dream that she couldn’t wake from.

Her reflection in the mirror stared back at her, as though sharing the same disbelief. The emptiness in her heart was a stark reminder of the void left by someone who had burned so brightly and so briefly.

***

In the shallow waters of Jiepeng Archipelago’s southwestern seas, the T232 Cave Beast Portal operated as usual.

A silent, maglev-powered airship quietly docked and received several hundred individuals that had come through the passage. The ship then slowly rose into the air and began to glide toward the mainland. The passengers aboard were mostly adventurers and merchants from all over the world, representing a mix of ethnicities and backgrounds.

Standing within the VIP observation deck of the airship, a young Jiepeng girl with a refined, heroic demeanor gazed through the glass at the azure ocean below and the distant land ahead. A hint of emotion flickered across her face. Finally, she had returned.

"How does it feel?" A man’s voice came from behind her.

She turned to find a tall and well-built figure. Dressed in black, the man’s sharp features carried a subtle hint of elegance, even femininity. His shoulder-length, naturally wavy ash-blond hair swayed lightly as he spoke in flawless Jiepeng, with a faint Kanto dialect accent.

Her expression held a hint of surprise. Clearly, she hadn’t expected his Jiepeng to be so impeccable.