The people of the dead city were cornered, having retreated to the city gates. This was their last line of defense, and they would absolutely not let this group of hypocrites in.
Only the old, weak, women, and children remained in the city, utterly defenseless, and these self-proclaimed righteous sects would show them no mercy.
The leader, Alliance Leader Li, chuckled, "Your City Lord is not coming back. Is there any point in you holding on? As long as you lay down your weapons, we will spare your lives."
"Hmph!" the guards of the dead city shouted. "It was the Li family who drove me out. It was freezing that day, and you falsely accused me of theft, nearly letting me starve to death in the snow."
"If the City Lord hadn't returned from a mission then and seen me, I would have been dead already!"
Other guards also cried out, "Exactly! I had exceptional talent, but my sect master was jealous and severed my tendons, casting me down the mountain. If not for the City Lord and the dead city, I wouldn't be standing here today."
More people recounted their pasts, their spirits soaring. They should have died long ago; their voluntary stand here was to repay a debt of gratitude.
"We believe the City Lord will return and will defend this place to the death!" their voices echoed through the city gates, filled with deep encouragement.
Alliance Leader Li regarded them as a bunch of fools. "Kill them. Once we eliminate the dead city, we will remove our greatest threat, and there will be no need to worry about their retaliation."
He retreated to the rear, giving orders to these so-called righteous sects.
The two sides clashed again. The dead city was heavily wounded, and more and more fell.
The people on Alliance Leader Li's side wore smug expressions, their swords plunged into the bodies of the dead city's defenders.
At this moment, a piercing cry came from behind them. They turned to see Jun Yelan, with silver hair, charging forward like a vengeful ghost from hell.
Beside him stood a woman, Lan Yan.
Lan Yan looked at Jun Yelan and said, "City Lord, let's scatter these people." She noticed that Jun Yelan still retained a sliver of lucidity, able to hear her words but unable to respond.
Jun Yelan raised his palms, directly sending those around him flying, instantly turning the tide of the battle.
Alliance Leader Li stood frozen, muttering, "Impossible, how could he have returned!" He noticed the predatory gleam in Jun Yelan's eyes, like a viper's, and panicked, shouting, "Kill him quickly!"
The Li family members rushed forward, only to be struck down in the next instant.
The surviving members of the dead city, with only half their lives left, cried out in excitement, "The City Lord is back! He's back!" They propped themselves up, struggling to kill the sect members before them and continue the fight.
Jun Yelan, no longer burdened by worry, thrashed the sects, leaving them in disarray. He stood at the city gate, an embodiment of death, causing the remaining attackers to dare not approach.
Alliance Leader Li felt a profound terror, accompanied by searing pain in his internal organs. He collapsed to the ground, crying out in agony, "Give me the antidote."
Jun Yelan didn't even spare Alliance Leader Li a glance. He turned to Lan Yan and the people of the dead city behind her and said, "Let's go back." His mind had regained clarity, though his hair remained silver.
This was the first time he had maintained his sanity in such a state, all thanks to Lan Yan's presence.
The wounded people of the dead city, supporting each other, walked towards the city gate.
The gate opened, revealing their waiting families and grateful citizens.
Jun Yelan took Lan Yan's hand and walked in.
The sect members at the city gate, witnessing this, dispersed. Only the Li family remained. They looked at Alliance Leader Li writhing on the ground and asked, "Master, what happened to you?"
Alliance Leader Li pointed towards the city gate, but no one understood. His eyes widened, the pain preventing him from shouting, and he could only convulse on the ground. Gradually, his limbs began to rot.
Those around him fled in terror, ignoring Li Wan'er, who had just arrived.
Li Wan'er, indignant, saw her father's state and quickly ran. In her haste, she stumbled and fell, her head striking a hard stone.
Lan Yan and Jun Yelan returned to the City Lord's Hall, finding the familiar White Tiger and Lu Qi.
The White Tiger ran towards Lan Yan, biting her sleeve, its face filled with sadness.
"Oh, little White Tiger, you've become so diligent," Lan Yan stroked the White Tiger's head. "I'll make you something delicious tonight as a reward for saving me last time."
The White Tiger immediately cheered up, lying on the ground in its usual lazy posture.
Lu Qi, seeing this, wiped tears from her eyes. "Lan Yan, it's so good that you're back." She couldn't help but hug Lan Yan and whisper in her ear, "The City Lord hasn't eaten or slept properly these past few days, constantly missing you."
Lan Yan paused, then smiled. "I will take good care of him from now on. Lu Qi, thank you." Ever since she had arrived, Lu Qi had helped her immensely, treating her like a sister.
"You don't need to thank me. I should be thanking you," Lu Qi smiled, releasing her and leaving with the White Tiger, so as not to disturb the two of them.
Lan Yan looked at Jun Yelan, who had been waiting for her. She approached and asked, "City Lord, do you want to rest?" She noticed Jun Yelan's pallor and that his hair had not returned to black.
Jun Yelan shook his head, his eyes lighting up at Lan Yan's smile. A slight curve formed on his lips. "Walk with me."
"Okay," Lan Yan felt something slightly strange about Jun Yelan, though she couldn't quite place it. She accompanied him along the covered walkway towards the hall.
Jun Yelan produced a money pouch from his怀. "This is what Alliance Leader Li dropped. It's yours."
Lan Yan took it and smiled. "This contains all my worldly possessions. It's good that it wasn't lost." Then Jun Yelan handed her another money pouch, and she looked at him in confusion.
Jun Yelan smiled. "This is my money pouch. From now on, you will manage it."
Lan Yan was momentarily stunned, then realized that Jun Yelan was proposing to her! "Yes, I will manage it well." She accepted it, her lips blooming into a radiant smile.
Jun Yelan smiled as well, wishing they could be like this forever. A metallic taste filled his mouth. "Lan Yan, I'm a bit hungry. I want to eat the roasted pigeon you made."
"Okay, I'll go roast it for you." Lan Yan, holding two money pouches, walked towards the kitchen with a beaming smile.
After she left, Jun Yelan covered his mouth, and a pool of blood appeared in his hand. The Saintess had told him he wouldn't live much longer; it seemed his time was up.
His eyelids drooped as he reached out towards Lan Yan's retreating figure, a faint smile on his lips.
Lan Yan, worried Jun Yelan might be very hungry, quickly prepared the pigeons. She walked over with the roasted birds, calling out happily, "City Lord, the pigeon..."
She suddenly froze, seeing Jun Yelan sitting on the railing, appearing so weak he seemed about to die.
Her heart constricted, and she tightened her grip on the plate, walking towards him step by step, her fingers trembling as she brought them close to Jun Yelan's nose.