Xiao You turned over, mumbled something, then fell back into a deep sleep.
“Master Chen, rest first. I will prepare some cultivation resources for you.” After saying this, Youying turned around to leave.
“Wait a moment.”
David stopped him, “Elder Youying, I want to ask you something.”
Youying stopped in place: “Mr. Chen, please speak.”
“How many people are there in the Ghost Clan?”
The shadow fell silent.
He stood in the doorway, his back to David, his shoulders shaking slightly.
After a long time, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse like he was being rubbed with sandpaper.
“Initially it was tens of millions.”
He said, “Thousands of years ago, the gods began to massacre us, and the ghost cultivators began to die, flee, or flee to the lower realms.”
“I don’t know exactly how many ghosts are left in the entire Celestial Realm, but we”
Youying paused, looking at David, her eyes red.
“Currently, less than three hundred people in Youyue Kingdom can use weapons. The number of elderly people, women, and children combined is less than a thousand. A thousand people… Master Chen, our Youyue Kingdom used to have a population of one hundred thousand people, and now there are only a thousand people left.”
His voice was shaking.
“We are not demons. We were simply born as ghosts. We developed ghost energy because of our bloodline. We do not harm or destroy; we only wish to live in peace.”
But the gods say that we are demons, that we have polluted heaven’s spiritual energy, and that our very existence is a blasphemy against heaven.
“They killed our men, kidnapped our women, and threw our children into the fire to burn them to death. They said this was to purify heaven.”
Shadow’s tears finally fell.
“Mr. Chen, what did we do wrong?”
David remained silent.
He didn’t know how to answer that question.
He thought of the humans and demons in the Heavenly Realm, and the innocent people who were simply slaughtered because of their differences in race.
I remembered Dashi Village, and the villagers who were massacred by the demons.
This world never changes.
“Elder Youying,” David said quietly, “I will help you.”
Youying raised her head, looking at him with teary eyes.
“This is not for any noble cause, or for any racial awakening.”
David said, “It’s because it’s not supposed to be like this. You shouldn’t be treated like this.”
“One day, I will establish a heavenly realm, or even a universe, where there is complete equality and no class differences.”
“Regardless of race, all races must live together as equals. Interracial marriages are permitted, and there is no distinction between nobles and commoners.”
Shadow opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just bowed deeply.
Then he turned and left. He knew David’s idea was good, but what was the point?
Such is the law of Heaven, so who dares to defy the law of Heaven?
David sat beside the stone bed, looking at Xiao You’s peaceful sleeping face, and a feeling that he could hardly describe rose up inside him.
This child’s parents are dead, and his grandfather is also dead.
He was only a few years old, but he already knew what loss and fear were.
However, he still smiled.
She smiled in his arms.
Maybe that was why he was willing to help them.
Not because of the truth, not because of promises, but simply because
When a child smiles in your arms, you want to protect him.
Just that.
As David closed his eyes to rest, he suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps outside.
“Hurry up!”
“Gather! Everyone, gather!”
“Take the kids to the basement! Quick!”
David suddenly opened his eyes and got out of bed.
Xiao You woke up because of the sound. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, asking hoarsely, “Uncle Chen, what’s wrong?”
“It doesn’t matter.” David patted his head. “You wait here, Uncle will go check it out.”
He stepped out of the stone hall and saw the chaos on the streets outside.
The demon soldiers ran around, some towards the city gates, others towards the city walls.
The elderly were carrying children into the basement, and the women were packing up supplies. Everyone’s faces were filled with tension and fear.
David’s heart sank.
Could the Protoss have attacked?
He caught a demon soldier who was running past him and asked, “What happened?”
The soldier recognized David and quickly said, “Master Chen, the king sent me to invite you. He is waiting for you at the city gate!”
David followed the soldiers through the chaotic streets to the city gates.
Yunquan stood on top of the city wall, looking at the sky in the distance.
His face was even paler than yesterday, but his eyes were so bright, it was almost scary.
“King Yunquan, what happened?” David asked as he walked up the city wall.
Yunquan turned his head and looked at him, his expression a bit serious.
FAQ Novel
Q: What is the general sentiment of the ancient city’s residents towards David?
A: The ghost cultivators display a mix of gratitude, curiosity, and admiration for David’s recent actions, particularly his feat at the river bottom.
Q: What is the significance of the stone hall where David is lodged?
A: The stone hall was formerly the residence of a princess and is kept clean by the king, who awaits her return.
We encourage readers to discuss their thoughts on this chapter.