Chapter 57: Summoning Elder Zhong from Retirement

Veterans Camp.

Zhong Yushu sat on a stool, leisurely fishing with a rod in hand.

Humming a tune.

His face radiated a joyful smile.

Yu Sheng's method was truly effective. He had given it a try, and these past few days, he hadn’t needed to hustle as before—the operations were running smoothly on their own.

If luck held, perhaps in time, he might make a fortune.

Then, he could send more money to the families of his old comrades.

It was a pity he hadn’t been educated earlier; with such a brain, he would have started much sooner.

Sitting by the lake, he indulged in thoughts of a bright future.

But soon, Zhong Yushu’s brow furrowed slightly.

From a distance, Pavilion Master Lin, dressed in a suit, approached slowly.

“Why do you always come here bothering me?”

“Don’t interrupt my fishing, just go away!”

Zhong Yushu’s face showed a hint of wariness as he spoke cautiously.

A hint of guilt in his eyes.

Could it be about the gang selling discs? Had someone reported him?

That shouldn’t be the case.

According to Yu Sheng, after viewing such spirited and righteous content, nobody should report him out of good conscience.

Especially since the sales pitches he taught them were designed to ensure viewers felt exhilarated.

He hadn’t lied, had he?

“Elder Zhong.”

“The fourth-generation descendant, Lin Feng, pleads for you to come out of retirement!”

Pavilion Master Lin clasped his hands together and bowed deeply, his expression solemn.

Zhong Yushu’s heart steadied, and he waved his hand impatiently, “Go, go, go! With these old arms and legs, what kind of ‘mountain’ can I come out of?”

“With my current condition, a gust of wind at Demon-Suppressing Pass could knock me over.”

“Go back from where you came.”

With that, he even turned his body around, not sparing Pavilion Master Lin a glance.

“Since the resurgence of spiritual energy, almost all of the first generation ancestors have died in battle.”

“Very few of the second generation remain.”

“Now, it's the third generation elders who are struggling to hold the front lines. As the backbone of our predecessors, Demon-Suppressing Pass cannot be without you!”

“Young Lin Feng, on behalf of all humanity, I implore you to come out of retirement.”

He bowed even lower, his tone more resolute than ever.

Zhong Yushu gazed at the tranquil lake surface. "The awakened item is broken, and so is my heart. I'm a cripple... What can I use to save humanity? This burden is too heavy; this old man can't carry it."

Zhong Yushu was somewhat lost in thought, his voice somber.

"Please, Elder Zhong, come out of retirement!"

Pavilion Master Lin repeated the request, but this time, he held a wooden box in his palm, presenting it forth.

...

Zhong Yushu tilted his head to glance at the wooden box, his gaze as deep and still as an ancient well.

He knew that consuming what was inside the box would restore him to the once invincible Zhong Yushu, who triumphed in every battle atop the walls of Demon-Suppressing Pass.

But he... was already old.

So old that he could no longer shine much light for humanity. Yet, this medicine could create a new war deity.

So...

Zhong Yushu simply ignored it.

"Please, Elder Zhong, come out of retirement!"

This was the fourth time Pavilion Master Lin had spoken, and now, the middle-aged man was kneeling upright on the ground.

"Internal strife and external threats plague Mobei!"

"If Elder Zhong does not act to stabilize the universe, it is akin to watching them march to their deaths."

Pavilion Master Lin's face was expressionless.

Zhong Yushu, sitting on his stool, stiffened suddenly and stood up swiftly. Although he sported a comical goatee, his eyes now radiated an icy chill.

As he stood, it seemed as though a ferocious beast of a flood had silently awakened.

"Are you... using the lives of ordinary people... to threaten me?"

His voice was filled with murderous intent.

Even the old soldiers, who had been watching the scene unfold with anticipation, froze at that moment.

"You bastard!"

"Scum!"

"A disgrace to humanity!"

A group of people cursed angrily, supporting each other with their canes, and turned to head into the city to offer support.

Given their current condition, it was akin to a suicide mission, but they walked without any hesitation, and everyone's reactions were unanimously determined.

"You can call me shameless!"

"You may think I am threatening you with the lives of the common people!"

"I don't care about these accusations."

"But, the demon race wants your life, and they are willing to pay a high price."

"Cults are causing large-scale disturbances in several provinces nearby."

"Even Jiangbei Province is engulfed in warfare."

"With the Pavilion Master stationed in Baichun, the high-level forces in the entire northern region are now fully engaged."

"The demon race is afraid, afraid of you coming out of retirement."

"The very fact that the demon race is so wary of you, to the extent of paying a huge price to get the Cult to act, proves that you... are still the war deity of old."

"A deity who single-handedly defended a pass."

"I'm not afraid to tell you that there are no extra forces left in Jiangbei Province to support Mobei. The last of the high-level forces is me."

Pavilion Master Lin's voice was calm, showing no sign of emotion: "Currently, I have not gone directly to support Mobei but have come here first. No matter how it is explained, it has delayed the battle opportunity and harmed the civilians."

"So, this morning, I officially resigned from the position of Vice Pavilion Master."

"Once this is over, if I am still alive, I will go to Demon-Suppressing Pass."

"To fight until the very last moment of my life."

"Now, for the stability of the entire situation in Jiangbei Province, and for the missteps of the demon race and the Cult, please, Elder Zhong... come out of retirement!"

This was the fifth time Pavilion Master Lin had made the plea.

Zhong Yushu silently watched him, the pressure immense.

"Elder Zhong, please come out of retirement!"

"We don't even know the situation in Mobei yet!"

"Saving people is what's most urgent."

The group spoke anxiously.

With a soft sigh, Zhong Yushu shook his head and picked up the wooden box, holding it in his hands.

Suddenly, a light laugh sounded.

"Is the backbone of our humanity about to emerge?"

"It is an honor to witness this scene."

The young man who had previously appeared at the foot of Demon-Suppressing Pass, still in his black robe, stepped forward with two others.

He bowed slightly to Zhong Yushu.

"Pantheon Sect's God-Envoy Wei Le, at your service, Elder Zhong."

Though bowing, his head remained raised.

His gaze was calm.

"A brat from the Cult?"

"Bringing just a couple of things like that isn’t going to cut it."

Zhong Yushu didn't even bother to glance at the man from start to finish, merely muttering a few words before opening the wooden box to reveal a blood-red pill inside.

"Elder Zhong, in the eyes of someone like you, I might be less significant than an ant."

"But what about humanity?"

With a gentleman-like smile, Wei Le spoke, "This medicine, should you choose to consume it, will prompt the demon race to launch another assault on Demon-Suppressing Pass within three days."

"A true battle will then commence."

"When that happens, countless lives will be devastated, and war will rage. As a fellow human, my heart cannot bear it."

Despite these words, there was no trace of sadness on the young man's face.

His smile remained serene.

He acted as if he held all the cards.

As if he controlled everything under the heavens.

"Oh, you're not even human."

"And you certainly don't represent the demon race."

"At the end of the day, you're just a rat living in the crevices between the demon race and humanity."

"Actually, that's not right, even rats can be demons."

"You're not even worthy of being called a rat."

Zhong Yushu said with a smile, slowly bringing the pill towards his mouth.