"Don't say such things." Elder Xiao looked at the player and said, "Young brother, you are still young and have not experienced the pain of war. I have seen it on the border, where there is no one to be seen for thousands of miles, not even a rooster crows. How can you, as a citizen of the Song Dynasty, turn a blind eye to such a tragic scene?"
Such sentiments are difficult for pampered interstellar dwellers to understand.
They haven't experienced war for generations, and they don't even have the concept that "being attacked can kill people" in their minds. They only know the verbal propaganda that "war is bad."
Zhou Liye couldn't help but step forward and ask, "Master Xiao, is there really no other way?"
Elder Xiao looked at Zhou Liye, seemingly recognizing him as one of the members who had carried out the mission to rescue him from prison. His expression softened slightly, and he said, "Since you call me 'Hero,' you should know: the lesser heroes help the weak and punish the strong; the greater heroes serve their country and its people. I, Xiao, am just a commoner, and I feel quite honored to have achieved what I have today, haha! Come, there's still one day left, let's have a drink!"
After he finished speaking, the task became: "On the last day, please bring wine to drink with Elder Xiao."
Zhou Liye's mind went blank for a moment, as if something had struck the top of his head. A surge of immense power made him feel enlightened, and at the same time, tears involuntarily streamed down his face.
The lesser heroes help the weak and punish the strong; the greater heroes serve their country and its people.
These words were like the beginning of the world, completely shattering his defenses. Now he was filled with shock and stood there dumbfounded.
Behind him, Teacher Zhou sighed deeply and said, "He's a good man... no, he's a hero! A great hero!"
The comments section suddenly quieted down, everyone was stunned.
A day in the game only lasts for twenty minutes, which sometimes makes the wait feel like a very long time.
This time, however, all the players stayed inside the restaurant, each having a drink and exchanging a few words with Elder Xiao.
Everyone felt that time was passing by far too quickly!
How could such a hero have to die so young?
Who would be like him, having finally been rescued from a dangerous situation, only to return and die for a promise?
But Elder Xiao had made that decision. After finishing his drink, he showed no change in expression and said, "It's time. Come back with me."
The mission also changed in real time, and all the players in the group wore sad expressions as they escorted Elder Xiao to the border once again.
Many players who hadn't accepted the quest also followed behind to escort them, and the group arrived at the agreed location in a grand procession.
There, the emperor and prince of the neighboring country were indeed waiting in person.
Upon seeing Elder Xiao arrive, the Emperor was greatly surprised and said with a complex expression, "I misjudged him. He is indeed a true hero. Good, good! As long as this man remains in the martial arts world of the Song Dynasty, he will be like an unyielding banner, with heroes from all over the land following him. To exchange such a life for my decades-long vow is not a loss!"
Elder Xiao said, "I, Xiao, have arrived. Please keep your promise, Your Majesty!"
Next, the two swore an oath by drinking blood, and the emperor truly made the vow—
He swore an oath with his throne and bloodline that after Elder Xiao's death, he would never take the initiative to launch an army south within ten years, and during his own lifetime.
Once this important matter was completed, Elder Xiao and his men relaxed completely, even showing relieved smiles.
Then he took out the golden knife that had been prepared on the table, ran his hand over its gleaming blade, and then plunged it into his own heart.
At this moment, his heart pulse was severed, and there was no hope of survival.
Elder Xiao slowly sat down in the chair and said to the prince beside him, "Good brother, we have different positions, so there is probably no chance for us to eat meat and drink wine together again in this life. Brother... I don't blame you. I don't blame you."
After saying that, he sat there, slowly closed his eyes, and a smile remained on his face.
The players watching this scene from afar all felt as if they had been hit by a hammer, and were so upset that they wanted to cry.
Zhou Liye was the first to choke up, and she took a tissue to wipe her tears.
Behind him, Teacher Zhou reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder, sighing, "This is his choice."
Seeing Elder Xiao finally die, the emperor sighed and said, "He sought benevolence and obtained it; he died a worthy death. How magnificent! Guards, properly collect his body and send it back to the pass. Tell them that he is the greatest hero and valiant man of the Song Dynasty! I admire his will and have sworn never to invade the Song Dynasty again!"
After he finished speaking, the prince beside him was the first to take care of Elder Xiao's body.
After taking the golden knife down, Elder Xiao's voice and appearance were still vivid, as if he could wake up at any moment.
The prince glanced at it again, then suddenly knelt before the emperor and said, “Your Majesty, Brother Xiao and I have been sworn brothers for many years, as close as brothers. When we swore our oath, we said, ‘We do not ask to be born on the same day, month, and year, but we ask to die on the same day, month, and year…’”
The emperor suddenly realized something and asked, "What are you trying to do?"
The prince said, “I bear half the responsibility for Brother Xiao’s death. As a subject, I had no choice but to devise a plan to capture him, which already violated my oath. I am an unrighteous and wicked man, and I have no face to continue serving Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will take care of my parents. Now that I have fulfilled my promise to him, I am ready to go with Brother Xiao.”
After saying this, without waiting for the emperor's reaction, he drew the golden knife and committed suicide on the spot in the same manner.
On his deathbed, he smiled and said, "Brother Xiao, please wait for me a few steps on the road to the Yellow Springs!"
The emperor had no time to stop him and stood there stunned for a long time.
After a long while, he sighed deeply, "Friends who would die for each other, sharing life and death... Alas, what is the point of all this?"
"Wow!"
Zhou Liye cried again, snot bubbles forming on her nose, and sobbed, "It's so heartbreaking, so heartbreaking!"
The comments in the live stream expressed similar sentiments; everyone felt a strong sense of shock and an indescribable regret.
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My tears are like the Milky Way, sob sob sob.
[What a great hero! He's just the biggest idiot in the world...]
I suddenly understand what "great hero" means. Seriously, seriously!
Tragedy is the destruction of something beautiful for people to see...