"Is that Taicheng over there?"
Grandpa Jiu looked at the distant Taicheng, feeling a sudden wave of nervousness.
After all, they were outsiders. Taicang had dispatched troops over great distances to rescue them, and now they were migrating to Taicheng. Inevitably, they would reside in Taicang for generations to come.
The boundless wilderness was too harsh an environment. With their arrival of over ten thousand people, it would certainly consume many of Taicang's resources and occupy considerable land. The local Taicang residents' food supplies would be shared with them as well.
Food was extremely precious in the wilderness. At this moment, Grandpa Jiu couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Even if the ruler of Taicang was benevolent enough not to abandon them in the wilderness, would the Taicang citizens truly welcome a group of outsiders sharing their resources, land, and food?
If the locals were unwilling and turned cold toward them, how could the Jian Valley people adapt?
These concerns lingered not only in Grandpa Jiu's mind but also in the hearts of almost all adult members of the Jian Valley people.
As they trudged forward, tired and worn, a sense of apprehension and anxiety accompanied every step toward Taicheng.
The city grew closer.
Some Jian Valley cultivators with keen eyesight could already see the tightly shut gates of Taicheng.
The city gates, old and dark, heightened their apprehension.
Finally, they reached the gates. Two thousand soldiers of the Taicang guard and over ten thousand Jian Valley people stood silently in place.
Without any time to rest, Yan You and Yan Yi hurried off, likely heading to maintain order.
Grandpa Jiu wanted to ask them how they managed to persuade Taicang's ruler and what the ruler's attitude was.
Would the promised ration of food be enough to provide even one meal per person per day, especially with the oncoming Silent Night just two days away?
Where would the Jian Valley people live?
If it weren't for the Silent Night, they could endure and slowly build simple shelters. But now, with the imminent cold, without places to stay warm, they would freeze to death.
Thinking of these worries, Grandpa Jiu felt like a heavy stone pressed on his chest, making it hard to breathe.
The wilderness was too cruel. Small and weak nations were too impoverished. Taicang had already saved them from the jaws of the brutal Zhiyan bandits and was willing to allocate land and food for their settlement—this was a grace beyond measure.
Even if Taicang couldn't provide everything perfectly, they would still be immensely grateful.
Yet the fear remained: if food was too scarce and there was nowhere to shelter from the cold, how many of their people would survive the Silent Night?
"Still, what choice do we have? Most of our homes and grain in Jian Valley were burned down. Even the small amount of food we brought along was scavenged from old cellars!"
Staying in Jian Valley would mean certain death.
Before Grandpa Jiu could finish contemplating these troubling thoughts, he noticed that the crowd, previously noisy, had fallen silent.
Everyone raised their heads, looking at a tall observation platform next to the low city walls.
On the high platform stood a young man clad in fine robes, his eyes shining like stars, his face radiant as jade. Behind him stood many officials dressed in simple long robes, their heads crowned with tall hats.
Grandpa Jiu's pupils shrank. "Who is that young man in fine robes? And those behind him—are they Taicang officials?"
Suddenly, two thousand Taicang guards knelt in unison, their voices booming like thunder.
"Greetings to the ruler!"
Next to him, Gu Xuan weakly raised his head. He saw the imposing young man on the platform raise his hand slightly and say, "Rise, soldiers."
Grandpa Jiu froze at the sight. "This seemingly young man, who appears barely over twenty, is the ruler of Taicang?"
Gu Xuan was equally stunned. Was this young ruler, whom the valiant General Shatu repeatedly mentioned with such reverence, the one he owed his life to?
Grandpa Jiu was the first to recover. He knelt down and bowed toward the figure atop the high platform.
"Greetings to the ruler of Taicang!"
"Greetings to the ruler of Taicang!"
Following Grandpa Jiu's lead, the rest of the crowd immediately prostrated themselves.
In an instant, over ten thousand people were kneeling, creating a scene of great solemnity.
Jixia looked down at the weary Jian Valley refugees, silent for a moment. Without letting them rise, he softly asked, "Do you wish to become citizens of Taicang?"
His gentle voice carried clearly to the ears of those kneeling.
Grandpa Jiu pressed his forehead to the ground, his voice trembling. "Taicang has saved our lives and granted the Jian Valley people a chance to survive. Since we have entered Taicang, we pledge to be its people for all generations!"
"We pledge to be Taicang's people for all generations!"
"We pledge to be Taicang's people for all generations!"
Their resounding declarations arose not from coercion but from the depths of their hearts.
To stand at the brink of life and death is a terrifying thing.
Faced with the merciless fangs of alien tribes and the inevitability of death, they knew that without Taicang—without this young ruler—they wouldn't have even intact corpses.
Without Taicang's acceptance, they would surely perish in the Silent Night.
In the face of such immense grace, their gratitude poured forth in unison.
Jixia's initially calm expression softened as he heard the thunderous cries of loyalty from the Jian Valley people. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
He waved his hand grandly. "Rise!"
As his words fell, the gates of Taicheng swung open, and countless figures emerged.
They wore simple clothes, carrying baskets, clay pots, and ceramic jars, their faces brimming with warmth.
The Taicang guards stepped aside, smiling, as these citizens approached the kneeling Jian Valley people, helping them up with enthusiasm.
Their containers were filled with food—some even contained cakes and fruits that Taicang citizens themselves rarely ate, items typically reserved for officials and high-ranking soldiers, and even then, in limited supply.
Grandpa Jiu, helped up by an elderly man in white, was moved to tears by the hospitality of the Taicang people.
All his previous anxiety melted away in that instant.
Gu Xuan, lying on the stretcher, struggled to bite into a fruit offered by a young Taicang girl. Seeing her flushed cheeks, he felt a pang of incomprehension.
"I thought no one could be kinder than the Jian Valley people."
As a faint blush crept across Gu Xuan's face, he glanced at the cheerful Taicang citizens, feeling a pang of sadness.
"If only I could move... I'd repay these lovely people."
His gaze drifted to the girl curiously watching him. He sighed inwardly, "If I could stand, I'd walk up to her and ask her name."
Yet, the sharp pain of his injuries reminded him of his dire state. The flow of spiritual energy through his limbs made him painfully aware of the extent of his damage.
"A life spent bedridden... What right do I have to ask her name?"
Forcing himself to turn away, he avoided looking at the girl beside him. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the high platform once more. General Shatu was kneeling before the young ruler, speaking to him.
The ruler looked directly at him, their eyes meeting across the distance.
With a faint, refined smile, the young ruler nodded at him.