Starforce Warriors

Chapter 447: Who’s The Power Behind You

"Oh? And how am I supposed to die?"

"You will die saving the lives of 350,000 citizens of Great Xia. You will leap into the river to battle the Thorn-Armored Giant Rhinos. Though you manage to slay the beasts, you will succumb to exhaustion, and your body will sink into the river, lost forever."

"That kind of death would make me a hero, wouldn’t it?"

"You are already a hero," Huang Fulai said with conviction.

He personally unlocked the shackles on the young man’s wrists and ankles. But the young man in black stood unmoving.

Huang Fulai, abandoning any pretense, added, "With your strength, leaving the convoy and blending into the refugees to enter Haijing City unnoticed shouldn’t be difficult. From now on, you can live under a new identity."

But the young man remained motionless, smiling faintly.

"City leader Huang, I appreciate your kindness and am truly grateful. But I must ask you to continue escorting me to Haijing City."

Huang Fulai was taken aback and said, "That would be walking into a trap!"

The young man replied calmly, "I’ve killed so many people and spilled so much blood. Shouldn’t I face the laws of Great Xia and accept judgment?"

At this, Huang Fulai found himself unable to fully understand the young man. His strength was at least at the Five Spirits Realm. His sword qi was sharp and unmatched and his killing ability was unparalleled. He was an exceptional talent, even among others in the same realm. But this did not mean he was invincible.

As someone in a high position, Huang Fulai was privy to certain secrets and understood the dangers the young man might face. Yet here he stood, willingly choosing a path that might lead to his own downfall. Within the borders of Great Xia, some ancient and illustrious families have nurtured extraordinary prodigies: heirs, holy sons and daughters, hidden dragons, and phoenixes.

This next generation, blessed with superior innate and acquired conditions, often possessed strength in their youth that even many seasoned veterans could not hope to achieve. Yet, in this chaotic era, most of these naturally gifted individuals had been brainwashed. They lived only for their families, not for their nation. They had families, but no country.

Now, as Great Xia teetered on the edge of collapse, many dormant ancient powers saw their opportunity. To these forces lurking in the shadows, the internal and external crises would soon spell the end of this ancient civilization; a nation that had endured even the upheavals brought by the star beasts.

Many of these powerful families and factions now waited like ravenous hyenas, salivating as they anticipated the moment when the Eastern Dragon of Great Xia would fall, exhausted. They would then pounce, devouring its flesh, stripping its bones, and growing stronger in its death.

Of course, there were still those who tirelessly fought for the nation and its people. But in this era of survival of the fittest, it often seemed that the selfish thrived while those who worked selflessly for the greater good struggled to endure.

The young man in black was outstanding among his peers. But he was merely outstanding. He was likely far behind the holy sons and daughters of the hidden noble families. If he truly intended to rely solely on his strength to stir the waters of Haijing City, he would face immense difficulty. Haijing City was now the most chaotic and intricate nexus of power in all of Great Xia.

According to what Huang Fulai knew, it had already become a gathering place for countless top-tier experts. There were dozens of Saints alone in Haijing City. It had become the fiercest battleground in Great Xia.

The young man’s formidable strength, upon reaching Haijing City, would be like a grain of sand cast into the vast ocean. It was incapable of causing any significant ripples.

"You refuse to fake your death and escape punishment because of me?" Huang Fulai asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"That’s right." The young man in black replied.

Huang Fulai’s surprise deepened. "We’ve only met once. Why would you go to such lengths for me? Is there some other reason behind your actions?"

"The answer is simple." The young man said.

"Please enlighten me," Huang Fulai urged.

The young man spoke honestly, "Because you are a good official."

Huang Fulai froze, then fell into silence. He was stunned. This answer, while partially expected, was still beyond his comprehension.

What I have done to deserve such regard from a prodigious young man? Why would someone so extraordinary value me so highly, protect me so fiercely, even at the cost of his own life?

The young man sighed softly. "Great Xia needs officials like you now more than ever."

Huang Fulai felt his heart tremble. But then he let out a bitter laugh and shook his head.

"I am but a drifting leaf who’s barely able to protect myself. Once I enter Haijing City, the odds of survival are slim. Your efforts to safeguard me will likely all be in vain after today."

The young man merely smiled faintly. "You will be safe."

Huang Fulai’s heart stirred. "Why are you so certain of that?"

The young man’s tone remained calm, his words deliberate and steady. "Because I am here."

Huang Fulai was momentarily stunned. At first, he didn’t believe it. But the young man in black had an unwavering confidence, and his calm demeanor radiated a sense of complete control. The faint smile on his face hinted at an unshakable mastery of the situation, slowly stirring doubt and curiosity within Huang Fulai’s heart.

"My friend, who exactly are you?" Huang Fulai began to entertain a possibility. He pressed further, "What power stands behind you?"

He speculated that the young man’s confidence might stem from powerful backing.

Could he be a representative of one of the hidden noble families?

There had long been rumors that these ancient families often sought out talented and virtuous individuals from ordinary society to cultivate and enlist as allies.

Could it be that I, Huang Fulai, had been chosen by such a superpower?

"The power behind me?" The young man in black smiled faintly and pointed into the distance. "It’s them."

Huang Fulai turned to follow his gaze. What he saw was the ancient bridge, now bustling with activity.

Captain Feng and the government forces were escorting the 350,000 refugees from Xu Base City in an orderly line, moving toward safety.

Huang Fulai stared at the scene, his mind racing. He suddenly understood what the young man meant. It was unexpected, even difficult to believe. But his instincts told him that the young man was not lying or attempting to deceive him.

Could such a person truly exist in this chaotic world? Someone who, driven solely by an ideal, would stand steadfastly to protect like-minded individuals, willingly risk their life, and even sacrifice everything for that belief? And he is so young.

Huang Fulai suddenly felt as if the young man before him, though youthful in years, stood as tall and immovable as a mountain.

At this moment, the young man in black said calmly, "City leader, I’ve said all I needed to say. Please take me back."

An Xiaohu, standing nearby, turned to look at Huang Fulai.

Huang Fulai took a deep breath and nodded. "Xiaohu, escort this young man back."

An Xiaohu looked at the young man in black, his eyes filled with reverence.

Many of those who followed Huang Fulai were willing to sacrifice everything for him, but their devotion often stemmed from personal reasons. They were motivated by either gratitude for his past kindness or because their interests were deeply tied to his leadership as city leader.

Yet, someone like this young man, who acted purely out of shared ideals, willing to risk his life for someone he had only met a few times, was truly unprecedented. Such selflessness could only be likened to the virtue of ancient sages.

That afternoon, the refugee convoy successfully crossed the ancient bridge. Before the sun set, they finally reached the outskirts of Haijing City. When the news broke within Haijing City, it caused a sensation.

The fall of Xu Base City had only recently become widely known among the public. Rumors had spread that the city was completely wiped out, with tens of thousands of Great Xia citizens perishing under the jaws of star beasts.

Now, the sudden emergence of such a massive group of refugees, who had miraculously survived and traveled thousands of miles to reach Haijing, was nothing short of a miracle. Countless independent media outlets, well-known streamers, television networks, and journalists rushed out of the city to cover the story.

The news spread across the internet in an instant. The gates of Haijing City, which had remained firmly shut to the refugees, finally began to open slowly.

Cheers erupted from the crowd. The refugees embraced each other, crying tears of joy and relief. They were home. They had reached Great Xia’s own base city. At last, they were safe.

But in Huang Fulai’s eyes, the slowly opening gates seemed like a gateway to hell. For him and a select few, the danger was only just beginning.

As expected, Huang Fulai was subjected to questioning by Haijing City’s Police Department before even entering the city. Soon after, the young man in black was arrested under heavy guard by the Police Department on charges of murder.

May we meet again someday. Huang Fulai thought silently to himself.