The news of the Alliance's defeat quickly spread throughout the foreign realm and reached Black Mountain, plunging the entire area into mourning.
Heiyuan, wishing to spare Helian from grief, kept the news from her. The courtyard where she resided remained unusually quiet.
She found it strange, as someone would usually come to clean the courtyard. Today, however, there was no one.
She pushed open her door and stepped out, looking around the yard, but saw no one.
Curiously, she walked out of the courtyard and into the open. In a daze, she heard a continuous sound of weeping.
Following the sound, she arrived at the back kitchen. The door was shut tight, and though people were inside, no one spoke, only cried incessantly.
Curiosity piqued, she approached and knocked on the door, asking,
"What's wrong? Why are you all crying?"
Aunt Yu, who was cooking, was overcome with sadness and, without truly listening to who was asking, replied casually,
"The army was defeated, everyone is dead. Do you think I shouldn't cry?"
Hearing this news, she felt struck by lightning and hurriedly turned, running towards the direction of the Black Mountain Great Hall. On her way,
She could already hear the entire Black Mountain filled with weeping. It seemed it was all true.
She slowly stopped, her gaze distant as she walked back. Heiyuan, though heartbroken, was also worried about her.
After his tears, he wiped his eyes and went to check on Helian, to see if any news had leaked.
However, when he arrived at the courtyard, it was already empty. He frantically searched everywhere. As he passed the back courtyard, he suddenly heard singing.
He hurried towards the sound and found Helian at Xue Ji's grave.
Heiyuan rushed over, only to find Helian with completely white hair. He asked in confusion,
"Madam, what… what happened to you?"
Helian turned and smiled at him, saying, "The peace charm I gave her was still of no use."
Heiyuan then remembered how the Demon King had wanted to give him a peace charm in Xizi Country, but Helian had stopped him. It seemed she knew everything. The very thing he feared most had happened.
Heiyuan slowly stepped forward and took her hand, saying, "Let's go back."
At that moment, the sky, which had been clear, suddenly began to snow. Helian broke free from his grasp, reaching out to catch the snowflakes, and murmured,
"If we can share snow in the future, then this life will also be considered a shared old age. Demon King, how could you leave before me."
With that, she spat out a mouthful of blood and fell forward. Heiyuan quickly caught her and carried her back to the courtyard.
...
At this time, the lords of the Four Cities were escorting the defeated Alliance army, the Myriad Demon King, Lin'er, and the Four Elders, all under escort to Beishen Capital.
The Myriad Demon King, Lin'er, and the Four Elders were loaded onto the foremost carriage, their hands and feet bound with heavy chains.
Upon arriving in Beishen Capital, as they entered the city, they heard the joyous cheers of the citizens. On both sides of the street, old and young, men and women stood in neat rows, with flowers and applause as if they were once offered to them.
At this moment, a familiar figure was weaving through the crowd. He clearly remembered the girl he had laughed and chatted with in Nanhai City, Ah Li. He also clearly remembered her face.
Ada looked up and peered closely, but she didn't seem like the person he remembered.
This person was clad in red armor, with two swords sheathed at her waist, and her hands and feet were bound with chains.
Especially her eyes; a white cloth stained with blood completely covered them.
A malevolent aura permeated her entire being, making her nothing like the lively and gentle girl he once knew. She was more like a legendary demoness.
Ada followed the procession forward. He heard that today, they would hold a joint trial of the Four Cities in the heavily guarded military camp of Beishen Capital, to convict the Myriad Demon King and decide the fate of the Alliance army.
The Alliance soldiers were taken to the dungeon, awaiting the end of the sentencing. As for the main culprits, the Myriad Demon King, Lin'er, and the Four Elders, they were to be escorted to the military camp for the final trial.
The area was open to everyone today, allowing all citizens of Beishen Capital to witness their fairness, justice, and openness.
The lords of the Four Cities, escorting the carriage, led them from Cross Street towards the west street, then north along the west street to a high-walled iron gate.
With the help of the guards at the gate, the carriage was then sent into the military camp.
On the vast open ground, a crowd had already gathered, with a cleared space in the very center. A table, over a meter long, was placed in the middle.
About a meter in front of the table, several chairs were placed, and behind the table, several rows of long tables were set up.
At this point, the lords of the Four Cities were the first to walk over and take their seats at the head table, with other civil officials seated on either side, including Han Chenzi, who had been sent to Xizi Country to deliver the message.
The generals who had sustained minor injuries and survived the great battle were seated in the chairs behind.
They had not even had time to tidy their clothes or change their attire before eagerly presenting the Alliance's crimes to the world.
The herald at the side, seeing that everyone was seated, and with a crowd of confused Beishen Capital citizens gathered around,
He loudly called out, "Bring forth the main culprits!"
At this, the guards by the carriage slowly opened it, helped the individuals down, and escorted them from the side to the long table.
At this moment, Zhou Yuan, a civil official on the far left, stood up to accuse the Alliance of its crimes.
"The Three Alliances, led by the Myriad Demon King, consist of the Ghostly Tribe, the Mermaid Tribe, and the Twenty-Four Mountain Lords.
Among the Three Alliances, the Ghostly Tribe and the Four Cities have had long-standing grievances, thus initiating this war.
Although the Mermaid Tribe had some disagreements with the Four Cities, they had been living in peace for many years. As for the Twenty-Four Mountain Lords,
They occupied the mountains of the Four Cities and should have been grateful for the grace of the City Lords. Instead, they listened to the slander of the Ghostly Tribe and became enemies of the Four Cities, ultimately meeting their deaths, which was their own doing."
After detailing the crimes of the Alliance, he then spoke of individual crimes.
"Li Lin'er, an elder of the Ghostly Tribe, repeatedly instigated disputes between the four factions. The fall of the three cities was his doing, a grave offense.
The four elders of the Ghostly Tribe, Wangu, Hei Yi, Mo Xuefu, and Zhu Liuyun, were originally subordinates of the Myriad Ghost King a thousand years ago.
Yet, they did not learn from the Myriad Ghost King's mistakes, but instead plotted for years, attempting to overthrow the Four Cities and seize control of the world. Their current predicament is their own fault."
He paused for a moment, then spoke of the main culprit of this battle.
"The Myriad Demon King, the principal offender who incited the three armies to serve him, his main crimes are as follows:
Disrupting world peace, attempting to seize three cities, causing refugees to be displaced and the populace to wander aimlessly, and even inciting our city's soldiers to mutiny.
He has killed countless soldiers of our Four Cities. All these acts are truly heinous and provoke the wrath of both gods and men."
Qinglong asked me, "Myriad Demon King, do you have anything to say?"
Listening to their narrative, I found it utterly laughable and couldn't help but burst into laughter, "Hahaha! Hahaha!"
Xuanwu angrily asked, "Myriad Demon King, what are you laughing at!"
I shook my head and said,
"It's truly laughable. Who initiated this battle? Was it us?
No, it was you. Since you want justice, then I will tell you the truth of this justice in front of everyone.
While the Ghostly Tribe and the Four Cities have had grievances for a long time, it did not warrant annihilation.
What did you, the Four Cities, do to them? The Ghostly Tribe, regardless of men, women, or children, were all ruthlessly slaughtered without mercy.
And when I was in Black Mountain, I was repeatedly attacked by your combined forces. You massacred my Black Mountain territory, forcing us to Black Mountain for annihilation.
If we hadn't fought back with all our might, today! Would the Ghostly Tribe still exist today?
Would I still have the right to stand here and speak? If you had shown mercy and allowed us a place to live,
A peaceful life, we would not have rebelled, nor would we have attacked the Four Cities!"
Ai Qing was about to retort, but Qinglong stopped her. He wanted to hear what I had to say.
Then I continued to speak about other matters.
"Although you had no dealings with the Mermaid Tribe, you were still wary of each other.
Openly, one forbade going to sea, and the other forbade coming ashore. Secretly, you exchanged blows and drew swords.
Therefore, the Mermaid Tribe was destined to have this battle with the Four Cities. I merely gave everyone an opportunity.
As for my Twenty-Four Mountain Lords, they were all pitiable people.
Although they each occupied their own peaks, they were unsupervised and annually took in displaced individuals.
From hope to disappointment with the Four Cities, they followed me in this great endeavor.
It is a pity that they died too soon. I didn't even have time to thank them, nor to give them a better future."
As I spoke, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Tears welled up in my heart, but they could no longer fall.
Qinglong, listening to my account, felt a surge of indignation and slammed the table, shouting at me, "Are you finished talking!"
I shook my head and said,
"No, I still want to speak for my people, who have been forgotten for who knows how many years, and that is the Divine Horse Tribe.
They have been punished for five thousand years; it is enough. Return their freedom to them."
Zhuque laughed at me, "You're in this state, and you're still thinking of others. Do you think we'll listen to you?"
I smiled slightly and replied,
"This is what I was meant to do. But I have lost. Since I have lost, then these matters must be handed over to you.
If you want another Liu Muye, or a third, then do nothing, continue to hold onto your hatred, make more enemies for yourselves, and bring more disaster to the Four Cities."
Baihu angrily retorted, "Liu Muye! Don't push it too far. You are a defeated criminal now, what right do you have to lecture us."
"The dying speak with good intentions. If you are not for the happiness of the people, not for world peace, then what right do you have to sit in these City Lord positions.
If you do not strive for the people's happiness, do not consider the world, but merely indulge in self-hatred, then you might as well change professions and become thugs. That way, you can freely vent your inner dissatisfaction."
"Liu Muye, don't be so arrogant!"
"Am I? I'm just stating the facts."
The people around seemed to have heard a new perspective and agreed with my words.
For so many years, the Four Cities had indeed been pursuing and killing the Ghostly Tribe, thereby deepening the hatred between the Four Cities and the Ghostly Tribe.
However, these past grievances should also come to an end. The hatred from ten thousand years ago should not be imposed upon the descendants.
Lin'er was deeply moved. The Ghost King had indeed chosen the right person. It was a pity that fate dictated it could only go this far. Whether it could be resolved now depended on the lords of the Four Cities.
Lin'er knew that the lords of the Four Cities had always hated the Ghostly Tribe because the Ghostly Tribe had annihilated the entire Divine Race ten thousand years ago.
This ultimately led to this hatred being passed down through generations. Now, it was time to bring it to a close.
He said, "I only recently learned that the hatred in the hearts of the lords of the Four Cities stems from the Demon Race initiating the war ten thousand years ago.
It caused great chaos in the world and led to the demise of the Divine Race, which is why you hate us so much, why you hate the Ghostly Tribe.
On behalf of my ancestors, I apologize to you here, hoping that the grievances between the Ghostly Tribe and the Divine Race can be resolved today."
Saying this, he walked to the side and bowed three times to the lords of the Four Cities. The Four Elders also cupped their hands and apologized,
"Indeed, our ancestors wronged you. We apologize to you here on behalf of our ancestors."
With that, they also knelt down to apologize for their ancestors. I said,
"As the leader of the Ghostly Tribe, I must also apologize to you for the mistakes of my ancestors."
After saying this, I also knelt down and kowtowed three times to them on behalf of the Demon Race.
The people around were moved to tears by this scene. Their hearts, initially filled with anger and hatred,
Could not help but admire the courage and attitude of the Ghostly Tribe people, who, in this situation, could humble themselves to atone for their ancestors.
The four had repaid a debt of a thousand years, and today, it finally yielded results. Various emotions surged within them.
Past events flashed before their eyes like lightning. Overwhelmed by sadness, they turned away to suppress their tears. Qinglong waved his hand, signaling Ai Qing.
Ai Qing then said, "The trial has concluded. First, escort the war criminals to the dungeon to await sentencing."
With that, several people came forward to take us away. The lords of the Four Cities composed themselves and then returned with the crowd to the Beishen Royal Palace.
Upon returning to the palace, the four dismissed everyone and headed straight for the Divine Hall. As they entered, they saw a figure in red clothing, indicating he had been waiting there for a long time.
"Cousin," the four said in unison.
Liu Xiang turned around and saw them all looking dejected, as if they had suffered a setback.
Yet, today was an important day of victory and judging the enemy; they should have been happy. Why did they have such expressions?
Liu Xiang curiously asked, "Brothers, what's wrong? Are you not satisfied with the trial results?"
"No," Qinglong replied faintly, then continued,
"We have pursued for a thousand years, hated for a thousand years, and only today have we received an answer.
The knot in our hearts, which has been troubled for a thousand years, has finally been untied, yet we do not feel happy. Instead, we feel empty and lost."
Liu Xiang asked them, "What do you brothers intend to do?"
Xuanwu said, "I think what Liu Muye said is not wrong. We were blinded by hatred, which led us to make so many mistakes. It is time to make a change."
Liu Xiang asked, "What about those war criminals?"
Qinglong replied,
"For now, let's keep them temporarily imprisoned. Once we have sorted out matters in the city, we will send people to the other three cities to take over their affairs. Later, we will send these people back to their residences."
"And Liu Muye, what do you plan to do with her?"
The four had not yet decided how to deal with her. Zhuque said,
"As the main culprit, releasing Liu Muye would be an injustice to the world. She can only be executed. I suggest that in a few days, we give her a cup of poisoned wine to allow her a proper burial."
The other three also agreed with this suggestion, and Liu Xiang concurred.
Liu Xiang cupped his hands and said, "Since my three brothers have made their decision, I will not disturb you further. I wish to go and see Liu Muye."
Qinglong waved his hand, "Go ahead."
Liu Xiang then flashed into the dungeon and found Muye in the innermost, dim, and cold iron cell.
She was like a caged songbird, confined within the iron bars, quietly awaiting her fate.
He did not enter, but watched from afar.
I sat on the ground, looking up at a sliver of sunlight from the skylight.
In my mind, Liu Shinian, Heifeng, Xue Gucheng, Yan Wushuang, and Xue Ruyi kept reappearing.
Yue Jiucao, Shui Fang, Ying Lu, Ye Changfeng, Zhu Yan, Gui Ye, and Fu Zimo, the grand hall gathering in Black Mountain, the rooftop drinking party at night.
I also remembered the night on the rooftop in Xizi Country with the Twenty-Four Mountain Lords, painting each other's pictures, filled with laughter and joy. I remembered that scene being recorded.
Lin'er had framed that painting and hung it in the great hall. I had thought of retrieving it after victory, but now it seemed I could not go back.
Memories of Tianlong, Wangyuan, Qingyu, and Muhan surfaced. How could I forget them?
Although they were from the Mermaid Tribe, they had also brought me unforgettable memories. I remembered returning from Penglai Island,
Passing through the plains that night, they sparred with each other, teaching the art of water manipulation.
Every little detail, recalling them felt like it had just happened yesterday. I just didn't know if they could wait for me.
On the road to the Yellow Springs, I would be too lonely. If there were a next life, I would still want to be their good friend, their family.