"Old Li, Old Li, you must not sleep! It's already three o'clock. Ye Longlin went to the Martial Arts Association headquarters at eight this morning. It should be almost finished. At most two more hours, just wait. That kid will be back soon!"
The Great Elder looked at Li Chengdao on the bed, his eyes bloodshot. He clenched his fists, trying his best to keep his voice from choking.
They had been in the same company, fighting from south to north. In that turbulent era, no one knew if their comrades beside them would survive the night, but a group of people forged their friendship from the aftermath.
No matter how the 1875 company changed, he and Li Chengdao always survived, even when artillery shells landed nearby, they couldn't kill each other.
He remembered one time, when the Great Elder was still a squad leader, during a cold winter night, a battle broke out. A shell landed beside him, and it was about to explode. It was Li Chengdao who risked his life to save him from the bomb.
In the subsequent battles, they supported each other and managed to last until the end of the fighting. Later, they became legends of the 1875 company, and even the company still existed.
The two old men had made it through so many years. Anyone could have predicted such a scene, but no one knew who would leave first.
"You won, old man, you won."
"You wanted to drink, didn't you? You were craving my daughter's red wine, weren't you? I'll go get it for you. You wait. That brat will be back soon. Don't you have something to tell him?"
"Old fellow, get up. If you keep this up, I'll have someone cremate you. You're afraid of heat, aren't you? Get up and scold me."
As if sensing that he really wouldn't get up, the Great Elder bit his lower lip, which trembled for a long time.
"Old fellow, do you know, in the battle of 213 back then, Gou Dan was lying next to me. I know this is a knot in your heart forever. Gou Dan told me in a dream not to tell you. He said if he hadn't guarded there, none of us would have made it out.
There was a sniper on the opposite side staring at us. If Gou Dan had left with us, we all would have died. But Gou Dan stared at him, and the enemy dared not fire. Once he fired, Gou Dan would also die. So, Gou Dan didn't leave and perished with the position. That was our last defeat, do you remember?
I remember Xiu Ling asked you to go home after the battle. But that winter, the Japanese devils went to Xiu Ling's village, and not a single soul survived. When we arrived, many severed limbs were being boiled in pots. I remember you cried your heart out.
Old fellow, how could you bear to leave me alone in this world? Your meritorious service and you leaving like this, I'm really not used to it."
As if hearing Xiu Ling's name, Li Chengdao weakly opened his eyes, his mouth agape, unable to make any sound, only his upper and lower lips moved.
"I know, I know. I'll send someone to call Ye Longlin back immediately. Whatever big issue it is, it has to wait."
He knew that he still wanted to see Ye Longlin.
He himself did not expect that his body would collapse from a common cold. He still had things he hadn't told Ye Longlin.
Li Chengdao nodded and closed his eyes again.
"Ning Qi!"
Upon leaving, the Great Elder called out directly.
"Ning Qi is here!"
Ning Qi, dressed in uniform, stepped forward and knelt, his expression solemn.
"Take my token and mobilize all the top martial artists of the Zhenwu Division and the imperial guards to Lingfeng Mountain Villa. I don't care what the cost, I want Ye Longlin to appear here within an hour!"
The Great Elder hesitated for a moment before speaking, looking inside before making up his mind.
"Ning Qi, your order is understood!"
"Old Hua, I don't care what method you use. Within two hours, guarantee that Li Chengdao has at least two more hours to live!"
After instructing Ning Qi, the Great Elder looked at Hua Qingchi beside him and said coldly.
With such an incident, everyone would be in a bad mood.
Hua Qingchi naturally didn't say much. He instructed his disciple, "Ginseng, Codonopsis pilosula, and Astragalus membranaceus, all hundred-year-old herbs, are in the topmost compartment. Take one-third of each. You only have twenty minutes."
"Understood, teacher."
These three herbs could sustain a person's life.
Ginseng greatly replenishes vital energy, Codonopsis pilosula strengthens the middle and benefits qi, and Astragalus membranaceus tonifies qi, lifts yang, and consolidates the exterior to astringe sweat.
These three herbs combined could only sustain his life. His qi and blood were severely deficient. Previously, he only dared to use decades-old herbs to slowly replenish, but his body could not absorb the nourishment. Coupled with this cold, it had completely destroyed his immune defense.
Now, only potent medicines could be used for strong replenishment.
Li Chengdao's current condition was beyond anyone's help.
Lingfeng Mountain Villa site.
Ye Zhengchun stared coldly at the group of people before him.
No matter how the situation developed, their attitude remained unchanged.
No matter who came, Ye Longlin had to die today!
If Ye Longlin was not killed, the Ye family would be annihilated, and the Wu family would also perish.
At least they stood together now.
"Bottom line? Your Ye family still has a bottom line? Xinghe Changming, ask them, how many times has the Ye family's bottom line changed?"
Ye Zhengchun's face was extremely gloomy. He realized now that Master Chen was purely here to disrupt the situation today. Whatever he said, Master Chen would retort.
"Since that's the case, I'd like to see today how you plan to kill my student!"
"Kid, don't be afraid. I am here today, and no one can touch a single hair on you!"
"Well said, Old Chen's disciples are our disciples. I, Butcher, would also like to see if they have the qualifications!"
"Just them? A bunch of rubbish. If they want to touch you, I, Judge, will be the first to disagree!"
A series of resonant voices echoed. Ye Longlin smiled slightly and clasped his hands in apology, "Thank you seniors for protecting me, Ye Longlin, today. I, Ye Longlin, also guarantee to all seniors that below the Saint realm, I am invincible."
"Whoever dares to disagree can come at me together!"
"If Ye today so much as frowns, consider Ye defeated, and I will commit suicide at the Martial Arts Association headquarters!"
Arrogant and commanding!
Except for these four old men, everyone present was below the Saint realm. Who gave him the courage to claim invincibility below the Saint realm?
"You said that yourself!"
"Did everyone present hear that? Anyone who dares to make a move will receive a reward of one million afterwards, with higher cultivation receiving a higher reward!"
Wu Xingteng looked at Ye Longlin coldly and sneered, then spoke loudly.
This statement was also directed at the onlookers.
"Go to hell! We won't help you deal with Marshal Ye!"
"Well said! Marshal Ye has merits for Great Xia. We know what's right. If anyone dares to help today, I'll be the first to attack and kill that son of a bitch!"