Outside the capital city of Ye Du, waves occasionally crashed against the towering river embankment.
Under the fierce rain, the waves buffeted the embankment, creating surges several meters high.
Li Mingzhe, accompanied by the old steward and over a dozen guards, examined the water line and his expression turned grim.
"Uncle Li, you should return and arrange for the city's residents to flee. This water level has already exceeded the embankment's capacity. If this rain continues for another hour, I fear the embankment will break," Li Mingzhe turned to the old steward, Uncle Li, and instructed.
Old Steward Li nodded hurriedly. He knew that Ye Du city was built at the lower reaches of the Ye Luo River. If the embankment burst, the entire city would be submerged.
For many years, the Ye Luo River's water level had never risen above the designated line. However, with the floods of the past decade, the water level had been steadily rising. Coupled with the occasional appearance of beast hordes, the embankment had never been properly repaired.
Now, with the heavy rainfall, the consequences of a breach would be unimaginable. Thinking of this, Old Steward Li rolled up his trousers and, supported by two guards, hurried towards the city.
"Heaven, can't you leave a way out for our Li family?" Looking at the rising water level, Li Mingzhe was at a loss.
Recalling everything that had happened in the past decade, a hint of despair crept into Li Mingzhe's eyes.
Ye Du city was said to be one of the ten ancient cities of the Tai'an Heavenly Kingdom, but for years, it had been managed by the Li family. It was not an exaggeration to call it the root of the Li family. However, if the Ye Luo River embankment were to break, all of this would likely turn to dust.
The rain grew heavier. In the city of Ye Du, not far away, crowds of people could be seen, clearly indicating that the old steward had already begun arranging for the evacuation of the city's residents.
Reinforcements from the other nine ancient cities were also rapidly retreating towards higher ground. Fifteen minutes later, the rain became even more ferocious.
The waves in the Ye Luo River, like roaring beasts, fiercely battered the embankment. Li Mingzhe and those closest to it could clearly feel the earth tremble.
"Patriarch, hurry and retreat. If we don't leave now, we won't be able to!" A guard, seeing a wave six to seven meters high approaching, urgently shouted to Li Mingzhe.
Li Mingzhe turned and looked at the dozen or so guards, slowly saying, "Retreat, all of you retreat."
"Patriarch, what about you?" The guards were startled and immediately looked at Li Mingzhe.
"My Li family has served the common people for generations. If Heaven intends to destroy the root of my Li family, then my life, Li Mingzhe's life, is forfeit. You are still young, go and take care of your families, take care of the people in the city."
Li Mingzhe waved his hand, his aged body even taking a few more steps towards the riverbank.
"Patriarch!" The guards cried out in unison.
The guard who had spoken earlier quickly stepped forward, attempting to pull Li Mingzhe back. However, Li Mingzhe stopped him with a gesture.
"This is an order, go quickly!" Li Mingzhe shouted, his imposing presence amplified by the torrential rain.
Bang!
With another wave hitting, the defensive embankment let out a loud crack, and a fissure appeared.
Seeing this, Li Mingzhe quickly turned around and shouted again to the two guards behind him, "If you don't leave now, I will jump into the Ye Luo River!"
The guards could no longer distinguish tears from rain on their faces. They then all knelt down in unison, bowed to Li Mingzhe, and then rose to run towards the residents who had already reached the mountainside.
What Li Mingzhe did not know was that in the dense forests of the nearby mountains, countless beasts stood watch. Li Xiuyuan, riding a white tiger with a striking mane, watched Li Mingzhe standing by the riverbank, a complex light flashing in his eyes.
Whoosh!
With a deafening roar, the embankment, unable to withstand the pressure any longer, finally collapsed. The surging river water, as if finding a release, roared towards Ye Du city below.
Seeing this, Li Mingzhe closed his eyes in despair and finally slumped powerlessly to the ground. Even when some of the river water splashed onto him, he paid no heed.
At that moment, a hurried sound of running was heard. Li Mingzhe opened his eyes and saw Li Xiuyuan, riding the white tiger, rushing towards Ye Du city.
"Yuan'er!" Seeing Li Xiuyuan, Li Mingzhe became panicked.
The white tiger ran with incredible speed, reaching the gates of Ye Du city just before the river water. Li Xiuyuan leaped off, gently patted the tiger's neck, and slowly walked forward.
That was the direct path of the oncoming river water.
Roar!
The white tiger let out a great roar, appearing unwilling to leave. Li Xiuyuan turned, his brow furrowed slightly. His lips moved as if he was saying something. Finally, the white tiger pawed the ground, and seeing the impatience on Li Xiuyuan's face, it turned and slowly retreated.
Watching the white tiger depart, Li Xiuyuan cast a deep glance at Li Mingzhe by the riverbank, then spread his hands as if in welcome, facing the roaring river water and murmuring,
"Let it end here."
Boom!
As the surging river water rushed in, Li Xiuyuan's body was instantly swept away and disappeared into the torrent. At that moment, the surrounding scene froze in time, as if a picture had been captured.
"So, that Li Xiuyuan... was me." In the void, Li Xuan's eyes slowly opened. A thoughtful expression was in his eyes, but before Li Xuan could reach a conclusion, a suction force once again pulled him, and he disappeared into the void.
At the peak of Spirit Mountain, Sakyamuni Buddha, seated in the center of the twelve Golden Wheel Arhats, felt a slight tremor and his eyes revealed a hint of surprise. However, his lips then curved upwards, as if nodding with satisfaction. With a movement of his hand, a spiritual light shot into the lotus.
In a bustling small town, a man in a green robe walked through the small streets with a troubled expression. However, everyone he saw had a smile on their face.
The man entered a tavern, waved to the waiter, and ordered a pot of strong liquor. The waiter seemed quite enthusiastic. After serving the liquor to the man, he noticed the troubled expression on his face and asked, "Sir, do you have any worries?"
The man in the green robe seemed to snap out of a reverie. He nodded slightly, "Young man, do you know how to make oneself happy?"
The waiter chuckled and replied, "Sir, judging by your face, you are not from around here, are you? In our town of Forgetfulness, no one has ever been unhappy. If there is anyone, they just need to go to Big Ugly's house at the west end of the village, and Big Ugly will surely make them happy."
The man in the green robe paused, then smiled wryly. He then picked up a cup of wine and drank it down in one gulp. Seeing that the man no longer spoke, the waiter, sensing the situation, said, "Enjoy your meal," and left.
After a cup of strong liquor, the man in the green robe seemed to have sobered up considerably. Looking at the people coming and going on the street, each with a smile on their face, he gave a bitter laugh, "I... I am that Big Ugly."
As soon as the man in the green robe finished speaking, he picked up the wine pot and drank heartily. After paying for the wine, he staggered towards the west end of the village, his shadow stretching long in the afterglow of the setting sun.