Chapter 111: Countless Heroic Spirits (First Update, Thanks to the Generous Patron from the Kingdom of Yelang)

"Right here," the white silhouette said. "I must go now. I wish you all good luck."

As she spoke, a soft white light began to radiate from her body, as if she were enveloped in a divine radiance. She rose slowly, as though drawn by an invisible force, flying higher and higher until she vanished into the distant horizon.

Yang Dianfeng watched her go and asked, "Has she ascended to become an immortal?"

"Perhaps. She may have finally found release and departed for a better world," Zhang Baolian sighed.

With the female ghost gone, the three began to look around, carefully searching for traces of the Fusang people. The area was filled with a forest of stone monuments, each engraved with unfamiliar names. A chilling atmosphere quietly pervaded the air, causing Zhang Baolian to shiver involuntarily. She reached out and felt for the talismans in her bag.

Yang Dianfeng walked up to a stone monument and studied the inscription intently, his brows furrowed in deep thought.

"Brother, come look at this!"

Gu Xiangnan walked over to join him in examining the monuments.

"And look at these as well," Yang Dianfeng said, pointing to the neighboring gravestones.

These monuments all shared a common trait: everyone buried within was a martyr. Although they had sacrificed their lives at different times, spanning several centuries, they had all been the bravest warriors of their eras, having willingly given their lives for the peace of the nation and the happiness of its people.

Gu Xiangnan nodded. "So, this is a martyrs' cemetery."

Zhang Baolian recalled, "No wonder the proprietress of the breakfast shop didn't want my money when she heard I was coming to pay respects to my grandfather. She must have thought I was a descendant of a revolutionary martyr."

The three stood before the graves and bowed in unison to pay their respects to the heroes.

Just as they were about to leave, they turned around to find countless figures appearing around them.

These figures were blurred and translucent, floating in the air with their feet not touching the ground. They wore uniforms from various eras, some adorned with medals—clearly, these were the heroic spirits of those who had died for their country.

Zhang Baolian steadied herself and asked, "You can see them too, right?"

Gu Xiangnan nodded. "Yes, they must be the spirits of the martyrs."

"Xiao Nan, do you sense something amiss?" Zhang Baolian asked.

Gu Xiangnan pondered for a moment before looking up at her. "Are you wondering why these spirits have remained here for so long, unwilling to depart?"

Zhang Baolian nodded, her expression complex.

Yang Dianfeng chimed in, "Could it be that this all has to do with that sword from earlier?"

Zhang Baolian nodded in response. "Exactly. If that sword could pin down the dragon vein, it could certainly pin down these heroic spirits. We pulled out the sword, and only then were these spirits able to find release and emerge from the tomb."

Yang Dianfeng said with a touch of pride, "Heh, that was an unintended kindness. It is my honor to be able to help these martyrs!"

Gu Xiangnan frowned. The martyrs' cemetery was situated right next to the Dongsheng Building, yet that building had been constructed by the Fusang people. In such a vast country, why choose a location right next to a martyrs' cemetery? The motive was clearly impure.

Gu Xiangnan bowed respectfully to the surrounding spirits. "Honorable heroes, I am Gu Xiangnan. I apologize for the disturbance today, but I must pass through this area. I humbly ask for your permission."

However, the spirits did not disperse; instead, they gathered in greater numbers, surrounding the three of them. Zhang Baolian had many ways to scatter these souls, but these were heroes who had died for their country—under no circumstances would she harm them.

As the spirits crowded closer, reaching out their hands, ethereal sounds filled the air. The temperature plummeted, and an aura of death pressed in upon them.

"Stay away from them! This death aura will drain our remaining lifespan," Zhang Baolian warned urgently.

The three were forced to retreat step by step until they were backed into a corner of the cemetery with nowhere left to go.

At that critical moment, a flash of golden light appeared, and Han Fei arrived. Clad in armor and wielding a long sword, he descended like a god of war, hovering in the void.

"I am Han Fei, the General of the Northern Garrison of the Great Song! I have come specifically to rescue you!" Han Fei declared majestically.

The spirits seemed frozen, their gazes fixed upon Han Fei. Zhang Baolian seized the opportunity, pulled a talisman from her pocket with two fingers, and began to chant. The talisman ignited without a flame, and beams of light shot forth from the stone monuments. The figures began to grow clearer.

Seeing Han Fei, the spirits were filled with excitement and awe. They knelt on one knee in unison and cried out, "Greetings, General!"

Han Fei nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "Honorable souls, you have suffered. I know you were trapped here, unable to be reincarnated. Today, are you willing to join me in settling the score with those foreign invaders?"

The spirits, eyes filled with gratitude, shouted in unison, "We are willing to follow the General!"

Seeing this, Gu Xiangnan quickly asked, "Honorable heroes, can you tell us where the Fusang people are hiding?"

A spirit with a weathered face, wearing a tattered uniform, stepped forward and replied, "The Fusang people are hiding in a dilapidated shed behind the cemetery. There are many weapons there. For living men like you to go there rashly might be dangerous."

A cold glint flashed in Han Fei’s eyes. He gripped his sword and said sternly, "Xiao Nan, let us go together!"

Gu Xiangnan agreed. To avoid alerting the enemy, they remained silent, and the spirits entered a state of invisibility.

The dilapidated shed was hidden within a dense forest; had it not been for the guidance of the spirits, they would have struggled to find it. Gu Xiangnan crept toward the shed. It looked ancient, with walls built of mud and stone and a broken roof revealing the wooden beams beneath.

Gu Xiangnan gently pushed open the old door. Suddenly, he felt a rush of air moving rapidly toward him, followed by a sound.

"Bang!"

A gunshot. It was a bullet!

Gu Xiangnan’s pupils constricted as his body reacted instinctively. As the bullet aimed for his head, he tilted his neck and caught the projectile precisely between two fingers.

The Fusang people had never seen such a feat and began to shriek in terror inside the dark room. Gu Xiangnan was startled. These Fusang people were indeed cunning to set an ambush here. He looked into the room and saw several Fusang men holding firearms, firing from the shadows.

"Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!"

A hail of bullets swept toward him. The Fusang men were truly treacherous; seeing that Gu Xiangnan could catch a bullet, they unleashed a full barrage, eager to see how he would handle that.

Gu Xiangnan flashed to the side. Before he could even steady himself, a round object was tossed from the room. It was a grenade, flying directly toward Yang Dianfeng and Zhang Baolian.