Love and passion, cutting up the wasteland.

Chapter 553: Survivors (Combined Chapter)

At the border between the Land of Flash and the Land of Revenge, the river valley where the White Eyebrow Clan was stationed was already in ruins.

Collapsed steel barriers, destroyed concrete fortifications... and the tent camps that were torn into pieces. The once familiar lives and residences are now ravaged by beaked beasts.

Fortunately, most people in the tribe survived.

Facing a destroyed home.

There was not much despair on people's faces. Instead, they quickly took action to clean up the mess and carry out reconstruction work.

They are like all the animals on this land that survive by licking every inch of grass and moss, absorbing every bit of nutrients they can, using all their strength to repair every wound, and then multiplying endlessly.

It keeps going on and on.

Lu Meng stood at the boundary between the grassland and the scorched earth.

The green and yellow are clearly distinguished.

It was as if a god used the stars as a ruler and forcibly drew a line on the ground.

Separate between life and death.

From a geographical perspective, such a scene should not appear in nature. No wonder the nomads in Shem regarded it as a mysterious and absolutely insurmountable boundary.

Now, this boundary has advanced several hundred meters toward Shandi.

That day, after the White Eyebrow Clan avoided the beast disaster and survived the skyfire, they just took a quick look around and quickly returned at night.

It didn't take long.

When the dawn breaks, the sky fire rises again.

It bombarded the border of the Land of Flash frantically, as if it was a warning or to vent its anger, unleashing its supreme power.

It made people terrified.

However, they had been prepared and had left many buffer zones, so the White Eyebrow Clan suffered no additional losses except for the loss of a piece of grassland.

Such madness also allowed people to see what had fallen on their heads before - and they felt even more incredible that they had survived.

——But, the skyfire is already like this.

What can stop its existence?

The protection promised by the Nameless Clan was actually able to compete with this great power of heaven and earth.

Soon they witnessed something even more incredible—the white-haired Red King, riding a giant beast, came from the west.

He stepped on the long neck of the beast.

He crossed the rocky cliff and appeared in front of everyone.

At the same time, since that day.

A legend, quietly but extremely quickly, began to spread in Shem:

The first fire, the first flame at the birth of civilization.

He and the Heavenly Fire share the same origin.

That's why he won't get hurt and can distribute this power to everyone.

The first fire was extinguished, and there was eternal darkness.

As a result, the world fell into darkness and chaos that lasted for thousands of years.

His appearance will reignite this scorched earth and spread civilization or war to the world...

"——You know this is nonsense, right?" Lu Meng looked at the Vengeance Land. "Even if it were me, if I were hit head-on by a skyfire, it's hard to say how likely I would be able to survive."

Unless you are prepared and update your special equipment.

Or he could use his speed advantage to avoid being locked by the skyfire and move through the land of revenge... but this couldn't be considered a direct confrontation.

For the vast majority of people in the world.

The equipment and materials made by the mechanics are still extremely secretive, and the principles behind them are not made public. To those who cannot understand, they are equivalent to magic.

Hear his words.

The accompanying man plucked the strings and said with a smile: "I dare not make such a judgment."

"Besides, as a war-level person, I'm afraid not many people will believe you if you say you will behave yourself."

He was just adding fuel to the fire.

"I didn't expect that you, Mr. Bud, also like to use this definition." Hearing the word "war-level", Lu Meng's lips curled up slightly. It was unclear whether he agreed with the other party's words, but he turned to another matter, "I thought this was just for the audience to hear."

"Oh, that's true." Bud scratched his head. He knew what Lu Meng was hinting at. "Most of the audience are just ordinary people. When it comes to the fights between the strong, they only care about who is stronger... Dividing them into levels and ranks is the most intuitive reaction."

Just like the military generals in the historical stories.

Even in real history, some people have never fought each other, and even were active in different eras... but in the mouths of storytellers, they must be ranked.

"Then I'd like to ask: How do you rank everyone in your mind, Mr. Bud?"

Bard's heart skipped a beat. "If His Excellency the Red King is asking about history, then I can still explain... But if it's a contemporary figure, then this might offend people."

"Besides, I haven't traveled all over the continent yet, so my knowledge is really shallow. If I make a conclusion so early, it will only be a matter of time before I am laughed at."

"That is to say, Mr. Bud already has an answer in his mind." Lu Meng said, "Besides, history and the present world... they don't conflict, right?"

Bud remained silent.

This Red King... the "First Fire" he concocted in the story, but when they actually met, he found that the other party was much more perceptive than he had imagined.

He is far from being the kind of person who becomes elated and loses his mind about who he is just after hearing a few words of flattery.

Even he was almost tricked into talking.

Fortunately, Lu Meng did not ask any further questions.

"Anyway, both the Ashes Order and I personally welcome Mr. Bard's arrival, and you're welcome to stay for a few more days," he said.

"However, regarding my scandals and gossips...it would be better if there were less."

The young man smiled.

"Hahaha... I already had this idea." The bard secretly wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. "As for the rest, I'm not sure either. Our sect still has some noble artistic pursuits..."

Could it be that my trumpet was discovered?
It shouldn't be...

It seems that the publication of the books I have written, "The Secret History of the Red King's Palace" and "The Forbidden First Flame of Desire", will have to be postponed...

Lu Meng ignored the poet who was brainstorming crazily. He grabbed a handful of scorched earth from the ground. The melted and solidified gravel appeared crystal-clear in his hands.

Now, it is still daytime.

The sky was clear and cloudless, except for the largest full moon whose outline could not be ignored. It was vaguely hazy and occupied most of the field of vision beyond the horizon... Apart from that, no other stars could be seen.

It's just that he knows.

At this time, there is always an "eye" in the sky watching every move below.

……

……

The temporary tent set up by the Baimei clan.

"where are you from?"

"..."

"What is your position in the Merchants' Guild?"

"..."

"are you hungry?"

"I'm hungry."

Qing Rong held his forehead and sighed deeply.

There was a man sitting opposite him, with his feet shackled and his eyes lifeless, just staring at him blankly.

This is the only survivor of the White Eyebrow Clan found in the merchant guild camp after the skyfire.

At that time, he was lying under a charred corpse - judging from the fat shape of the corpse, it was most likely Ren Lin himself, the representative of the Merchant Guild in Shan.

At the last moment, he did put on a special fireproof cloth, which was not penetrated by the skyfire. However, the efficiency of heat insulation is limited after all.

The laser light blocked by the paint did not directly ignite the human body below, but the high temperature transmitted by it cooked him alive.

Instead, it was the final unconscious leap that covered a person, allowing him to survive.

As for the hired warriors and other people in the guild camp... they have all been reduced to ashes and charcoal. Not to mention confirming their identities, it is not even clear how many people there are.

It was even impossible to examine the condition of the body.

However, this survivor seemed a little stupid. Qing Rong questioned him for a long time before he roughly knew his name was "Lin Er". He only responded to other questions related to physical desires.

If he didn't have scars from torture on his body, he might have been a captured slave or a poor man who had become mentally ill because of too much torture... If he was just a stubborn captive, Qing Rong would have thought of just killing him with a knife.

"That's it." He stood up, "Prepare some food for this man."

I heard that Ji Hai woke up.

Qing Rong is currently focused on visiting his good friend and has no mood to waste time with him.

When he looked up, he saw that the people with the waiters were not guards from the White Eyebrow Clan.

Instead, there were several bee-man crossbowmen and horn-broken warriors.

The other party bowed, and Qing Rong quickly returned the greeting.

"His Royal Highness the Red King has asked us to take over the defense here," the leader glanced at Lin Er who was sitting in the tent, "From now on, the job of taking care of and interrogating him will be left to us."

"That's hard work."

Qingrong couldn't ask for more.

The reconstruction of the White Eyebrow Clan is now at a critical juncture. After actually coming into contact with the Red King, they realized how powerful the other party actually is. It is not comparable to an ordinary wandering tribe.

But even so, the other party still maintained the utmost respect and provided assistance in all aspects.

This is already quite rare.

Qing Rong crossed his arms, bowed again to express his gratitude, and left the tent.

"This is what you want."

The waiter brought a large bowl of steamed wheat, a plate of greasy roasted lamb, and a cup of freshly squeezed milk that was still emitting a slight heat... and placed them in front of Lin Er.

This was quite a sumptuous treat for a suspected captive.

However, Lin Er, who had just said that he was hungry, ignored the dishes that exuded tempting aroma, as if he didn't see it. Instead, his eyes followed Qing Rong who was leaving.

As if the other person is more delicious.

"Hey." The waiter knocked on the table, a little impatient.

"Oh oh..." Lin Er finally reacted, looked at the food in front of him, paused for a second, and a smile slowly appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He looks like he has had a good appetite.

He devoured the food quickly.

Seeing this, the waiter completed his work, nodded and left.

However, before he was about to leave the tent, he suddenly heard a voice behind him:
"Yes, do you have any wine?"

The waiter was stunned.

The person who spoke was Lin Er - in his impression, this should be the first time in all these days that this person took the initiative to make a request to the guards.

"I'll go ask," he said.

……

……

Late at night, Ji Hai opened the curtains.

Looking at the stars.

This was the first time in all these years that his heart was as calm as it was today.

After waking up, he moved around a little and was then taken to a professional field hospital camp by Dr. Zhong. He lay on the medical bed inside for half a day while cooperating with other examination workers.

The spots for maintenance beds are very valuable.

There are a lot of people queuing up, and every time the machine is turned on, a lot of fuel and medicine are consumed... It's impossible for it to be monopolized by him alone.

They are basically reserved for seriously ill patients.

But even if he just lay down for half a day longer, when he was awake, Ji Hai could still feel the increase in the healing rate more clearly.

This made him feel refreshed.

It was as if I had received a blessing from God.

All the healed herdsmen and soldiers from Shem had the same feeling... As they were seeing it for the first time, the excitement and shock they expressed were even stronger.

Almost worshipful.

The legend of the First Fire spread further among the people. Even though they were not clear about the specific teachings of the Cult of the Ashes, such miracles still formed a simple belief in their hearts.

The only thing that made Ji Hai a little regretful was.

Even the ancient repair bed...couldn't cure his strange disease.

It was just as the Red King said at the time.

He didn't come to heal.

But it’s to save lives.

The other party has fulfilled his promise perfectly, so there is nothing to blame on my side.

Only gratitude remains.

"...A substitute?" Ji Hai touched his face and thought to himself.

He knew that in the United Cities, some nobles would select a large number of children with similar appearance and bone structure from the common people or close relatives for their offspring in order to prevent assassination, and raise them together.

After continuous screening, the most similar one was finally left, which was "Shadow Warrior".

With the help of makeup technology, when they inherit the title, it will be equivalent to having a perfect stand-in, making it difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake.

At the critical moment, it is the second life.

It is said that many anti-slavery activists fell into this trap when they tried to assassinate their targets.

For this reason, he even specifically reminded Lukin...

In a sense, this is very similar to the companion system of wandering tribes, the difference is that the companion nominally has the obligation to die in place of the other, but in reality, because they grew up together and have a deep relationship, they are retainers and comrades-in-arms.

And because of the inheritance of the nomadic tribes, it is not so dependent on blood ties.

In the history of the Shan land, there was even a case where a tribe leader died in battle and his companion took over temporarily... However, after resisting the beast disaster, even though the whole tribe had already recognized the result, that person still took the initiative to leave the tribe and exile himself in order to clarify that he did not deliberately harm his companions for power...

This event has become a popular subject in pastoral songs, but the tribe has long since disappeared or has been broken up and reorganized, leaving no trace of it.

Thinking of this, Ji Hai sighed.

Suddenly, someone pounced on him from behind and he almost fell to the ground.

“Cough, cough, cough…” He had just recovered from a serious illness and was almost unable to catch his breath, but a look of surprise appeared on his face…

……

And at this moment.

Inside the dark tent.

A voice muttered to itself:

"Eating is an extremely important activity for humans. In order to maintain our vital signs, it is necessary, cannot be ignored, and must be carried out..."

He muttered as he chewed.

However, not a single broken grain of wheat was swallowed into his stomach.

Instead, they all fell to the ground.

(End of this chapter)