Chapter 86 The Peace after the War

The great battle that determined the life and death of the Spiritual Domain and the Cultivation World was like a protracted and extremely tragic apocalyptic disaster that spread wantonly between heaven and earth. It was like a violent storm carrying the power to destroy the heavens and the earth, showing no mercy or compassion. With irresistible force, it mercilessly dragged the two worlds into the endless abyss of darkness. On the battlefield, the sharp blades with a cold luster shimmered with a chilling light, interweaving and reflecting with the dazzling but destructive light of spells, forming a strange and tragic scene. The deafening shouts of killing and the heart-rending screams rose one after another, intertwining into a terrifying and heart-breaking elegy of the infernal world on earth. The sound was like sharp blades stabbing directly into people's eardrums, making their ears buzz and their hearts and souls tremble violently, as if they were about to be completely torn apart by this endless pain and despair.

The earth was wantonly soaked and stained with blood. The thick, dark red liquid flowed like a winding stream, gurgling and seeping into every inch of the land. Every drop of blood seemed to wordlessly tell of the cruelty of the war and the insignificance and fragility of life in the face of the flames of war. At that time, life was like a flickering candle in the strong wind that could be extinguished at any moment. The dim light was so faint under the shroud of darkness, and it could be completely swallowed up by the overwhelming darkness at any time, extinguishing the last ray of hope.

Now, after going through the difficult ordeal and unyielding struggle over a long period of time, the thick smoke of gunpowder has finally dissipated slowly, bit by bit, like the ebbing tide of the sea. The pungent and nauseating smell of blood in the air, mixed with the scorching and hot breath, has also gradually faded away, leaving only a faint trace that seems to be carried away by the gentle breeze at any moment, quietly reminding people of the unforgettable and miserable years in the past. The Spiritual Domain and the Cultivation World, these two worlds that have been mercilessly baptized by the flames of war, riddled with holes and scarred, are like waking up slowly from a long and extremely cruel nightmare. At this moment, every inch of the land and every living being are greedily breathing in this hard-won peaceful air, feeling the peace and comfort brought by this tranquility. This peace is extremely precious. It is like a long-awaited clear spring in the vast desert, and also like a shining ray of dawn in the endless darkness, carrying the hopes of countless people for the future and the powerful force of rebirth.

In the main city of the Spiritual Domain, the warm atmosphere of celebrating the victory spreads rapidly to every corner of the city like a raging fire. The streets are decorated with lanterns and streamers. Colorful lanterns are hung high, swaying gently under the caress of the gentle breeze, just like a group of fairies in colorful clothes dancing joyfully. With their agile and light postures, they freely express the joy and happiness of victory. In the streets and alleys of the city, and in the fields and farmlands of the countryside, everywhere is filled with the joy and happiness of having survived the disaster. People flock to the streets like a tide, with bright smiles blooming on their faces. The smile is like a flower that blooms wantonly in the spring sun, and every delicate petal is full of vitality and infinite hope for the future. People who embrace each other have excited tears shining in their eyes. These tears are full of mixed feelings after going through countless hardships, as well as the joy and relief of regaining peace. They cheer and jump for joy, celebrating this hard-won great victory in the warmest and most unrestrained way. The cheers and laughter are intertwined and echo in the sky above the city for a long time, as if to spread this joy to every corner of the world.

The children are laughing and running in the crowd like lively and cheerful fawns, freely releasing the joy and vitality in their hearts. They wave self-made small colored flags in their hands. On the flags are carefully painted exquisite patterns symbolizing victory and peace. Some are white doves spreading their wings, which symbolize freedom and peace, and some are shining suns, which represent hope and light. Every pattern is full of children's infinite yearning and longing for a better life. Their clear and melodious laughter echoes like silver bells in every corner, adding a touch of innocence and liveliness to the warm atmosphere of celebration, making people feel warm and touched in this joy. The adults gather in groups of three or five, excitedly talking about every bit of the war. Their voices rise and fall. Sometimes they are passionate and loud, telling the exciting scenes of the fierce fighting on the battlefield and the heroic charges; sometimes they are full of emotions, recalling those unforgettable days of fighting side by side and sharing weal and woe, and the deep friendship. There is a light of gratitude and pride for having survived the disaster in their eyes. This is a high recognition of their own and their comrades' heroic performances in the war, and also an extremely precious attitude towards this hard-won peace.

In the tavern, the rich and mellow aroma of wine spreads everywhere, filling every inch of the air in the tavern, as if also cheering for this victory. People raise their glasses one after another to celebrate and drink heartily for this hard-won victory. The clear sound of glasses clinking is pleasant to the ear, interwoven with people's laughter and conversation, as if playing a passionate and inspiring victory hymn. In every glass of wine, there is people's farewell to the past difficult years, as well as their infinite yearning and longing for a better life in the future. In the bazaar, there are a wide variety of goods. The stalls are lined up one after another, and it is extremely lively. The vendors warmly solicit customers, with sincere and simple smiles on their faces. People shuttle through the bustling crowd, carefully selecting the items they like, either a beautifully crafted accessory or a precious and rare book. Every selection and transaction seems to declare the return of life, and the former prosperity reappears. Every transaction and every conversation here are full of a strong flavor of life, making people deeply feel the preciousness and beauty of peace.

However, in this lively atmosphere of celebration, there is also a trace of heaviness and solemnity quietly permeating. People have not forgotten that this victory was bought with the precious lives and hot blood of countless heroes. In the central square of the city, a solemn monument has been erected. The spotless white marble shines with a holy and solemn light under the sunlight, like an eternal lighthouse illuminating people's hearts. On the body of the monument, the names of the sacrificed heroes are densely engraved. Every name is like a dazzling star, shining forever in the long river of history. Behind every name, there hides a moving and praiseworthy hero story. Maybe it is a young and heroic soldier who, in order to protect his comrades in arms, resolutely rushed towards the fierce firepower of the enemy, and his life was frozen in that moment; or maybe it is a wise old man who, with his lifelong wisdom and experience, contributed his last strength to the final victory of the war until the last moment of his life.

People come here one after another, holding carefully selected flowers in their hands, either delicate and passionate roses, expressing deep admiration for the heroes with their warm and rich colors; or elegant and pure lilies, placing infinite remembrance of the heroes with their pure and noble postures. They walk slowly and gently to the front of the monument, their steps extremely light and slow, for fear of disturbing the heroes who are sleeping in the long river of history. After gently offering the flowers, they slowly lower their heads and observe a moment of silence. Time seems to stand still at this moment. Their eyes are full of grief and respect, and their lowered heads express deep remembrance and reflection on the heroes. They silently pray in their hearts, hoping that the heroes can rest in peace in heaven, and also hoping that this hard-won peace can last forever and will no longer be shrouded in the haze of war.

In the ancestral hall in the countryside, the elders sit on the futons with solemn expressions, telling the younger generations the heroic deeds of the heroes. Their voices are low and powerful, as if carrying a mysterious power that can travel through time and space, vividly presenting those thrilling and gripping battle scenes, as well as the heroism, selflessness and dedication of the heroes, one by one, in front of the children. The children gather around the elders, their eyes wide open, full of curiosity and respect. They listen attentively, as if they were on the scene themselves, personally feeling the cruelty of the war and the greatness and nobility of the heroes. In their young hearts, seeds of admiration and courage are planted. These seeds will take root, sprout and grow strong in the days to come, inspiring them to move forward bravely and never flinch when facing difficulties and challenges, and to become people as upright and heroic as the heroes.

Lin Yu is undoubtedly the most dazzling hero in this war. His name, like the most brilliant star in the night sky, quickly spreads in both the Spiritual Domain and the Cultivation World. Whether it is in the bustling bazaar in the prosperous city or in the peaceful and quiet courtyard in the remote village, people are passing on his heroic deeds from mouth to mouth. On the busy and noisy street, the storyteller slaps the waking block fiercely, instantly attracting the attention of the crowd, and then eloquently and vividly describes his valiant posture on the battlefield. His voice rises and falls, sometimes passionate and loud, sometimes low and gentle, accompanied by vivid and infectious gestures, telling vividly how Lin Yu fought bravely among thousands of troops and how he cracked the enemy's plots with his extraordinary wisdom. The audience is sometimes amazed and deeply impressed by Lin Yu's bravery and wisdom; sometimes they applaud warmly, expressing their admiration and appreciation for him with the enthusiastic applause. The old people in the courtyard leisurely shake their cattail fans and tell the children how Lin Yu turned the tide and saved the world from danger at a critical moment. The children gather around the old people, their eyes shining with admiration, and they listen fascinated. In their hearts, Lin Yu is their super idol, the perfect embodiment of courage and justice. Lin Yu has become an immortal symbol of courage and justice, inspiring generation after generation of people, giving people the firm strength to move forward bravely when facing difficulties and challenges, and firmly believing that justice will eventually prevail over evil, and light will surely dispel the darkness.

However, Lin Yu himself has not become complacent or arrogant because of these overwhelming praises. Whenever he hears people's compliments on him, a complex and indescribable emotion surges in his heart, a mixed feeling of various emotions. He knows very well that this victory is by no means his own merit alone, but the result of the concerted efforts of countless people. The faces of those sacrificed comrades often clearly emerge in front of his eyes, as if everything had happened just yesterday. Some of them, in the intense and cruel battle, without hesitation, threw themselves at the enemy's sharp blades to protect him, and their lives were frozen in that moment, becoming an eternal pain in his heart; some of them stepped forward at a critical moment, exchanged their precious lives for the turning point of victory, and selflessly left the hope of survival to others. Their voices and smiles, their heroism, are deeply engraved in his heart, becoming an incurable pain in his heart. Besides the grief, he is also filled with gratitude.

He often goes alone to the front of the monument, holding a bunch of white chrysanthemums in his hand. The spotless white petals are just like the pure, noble and untainted souls of the heroes. He stands there quietly for a long time, gazing affectionately and intently at the names on the monument, silently remembering those lost lives in his heart. His thoughts involuntarily drift back to those years filled with the flames of war and the thick smoke of gunpowder. Every thrilling battle scene and every unforgettable experience of fighting side by side with his comrades emerge vividly in his mind like a movie. He secretly vows in his heart that he must make their sacrifices more meaningful, do his best to protect this hard-won peace, and let the spirit of the heroes be passed on forever, inspiring future generations to keep moving forward.

After the war, Lin Yu declined the grand celebration invitations carefully prepared by all parties. He has only one urgent and strong wish in his heart - to return to Qingyun Sect and be by Su Yao's side. During the long years of war, Su Yao has always been the deepest concern in his heart and the inexhaustible source of motivation for him to persevere in the darkness. Whenever he is in a desperate situation and isolated on the battlefield, Su Yao's warm and bright smile will involuntarily emerge in his mind. That smile is like the warm and bright sunshine in spring, giving him endless strength and courage, allowing him to see the dawn of hope in the abyss of despair. When he steps into the familiar Qingyun Sect, the familiar and cordial atmosphere rushes towards him. It is the fresh and natural fragrance of the plants and trees in the mountains and forests, mixed with the unique quaint and elegant charm of Qingyun Sect, which instantly brings great comfort and peace to his tired heart that has been baptized by the flames of war.

From a distance, he sees Su Yao's familiar figure standing in front of the door waiting. There is a lot of fatigue and worry in Su Yao's eyes. These days, she has been worried about Lin Yu's safety every day and couldn't sleep well, and she has become much gaunter. Her face is full of the vicissitudes of life and the traces of concern, but the moment she sees Lin Yu, her eyes light up instantly, like the most brilliant stars in the night sky, and tears uncontrollably well up in her eyes. These tears are tears of joy, overjoyed at Lin Yu's safe return; they are tears of yearning, full of deep concern and endless yearning for Lin Yu; they are also tears of relief. Seeing Lin Yu standing in front of her safe and sound, her heart that has been hanging for a long time finally settles down. Lin Yu quickens his steps forward, and all the fatigue and vicissitudes disappear instantly at this moment, as if gently brushed away by a warm and gentle spring breeze, leaving no trace. The two hug each other tightly, as if the whole world stands still at this moment, and time seems to freeze. Thousands of words turn into this affectionate hug. They can clearly feel each other's heartbeats, which is the joy and peace after a long separation, and it is the close dependence and unwavering support of two hearts after experiencing countless storms.

Lin Yu decides to temporarily put aside the pace of cultivation and adventure and wholeheartedly accompany Su Yao. Over the years, he has been running around. In order to protect the Spiritual Domain and the Cultivation World, he has been separated from Su Yao for most of the time, and he is filled with guilt and self-blame in his heart. Now, he just wants to make up for what he has owed her over the years and give her more company and love. They travel through the mountains and rivers together, walking on the misty mountain paths. Under their feet is the soft and moist soil, carrying the warmth and love of the earth mother; by the roadside are colorful wildflowers in full bloom, exuding a fresh and elegant fragrance, as if telling them about the beauty and tranquility of nature. They feel the tranquility and beauty of nature, as if time has slowed down its hurried pace for them. Every gentle caress of the breeze and every cheerful tweet of the birds have become the loyal witnesses of their love.

They row a boat on the rippling lake. The sun shines on the lake, and the waves sparkle, just like countless shining diamonds or golden fish scales jumping. The fish swim merrily in the water, and occasionally jump out of the water, splashing small waves, as if cheering for their happiness. They enjoy the warm touch of the sun and the gentle kiss of the breeze, and their hearts are full of comfort and satisfaction. At that moment, it seems that there are only the two of them in the world, immersed in this peaceful and beautiful time, forgetting all the troubles and sorrows in the world. They shuttle through the bustling towns. On both sides of the street are antique shops, and the aroma of various delicacies comes to their noses, making them salivate. They taste the delicacies from all over the place, either crispy and delicious pastries that melt in the mouth, and the sweet taste slowly spreads on the tip of the tongue, as if telling the sweetness of life; or delicious soup, and the warm soup nourishes the heart, making people feel the warmth and happiness of home. They experience the liveliness and warmth of the world of mortals. Every satisfied expression when tasting the food and every smile at each other make this peaceful happiness deeper and richer.

They share the little joys in life, either an inadvertent knowing smile that silently conveys deep love for each other; or a warm and romantic dinner, with the candlelight flickering, reflecting their happy and sweet faces, as if time stops for this moment. These ordinary but precious moments have turned into extremely precious memories, deeply engraved in their hearts, becoming the most valuable wealth in their lives. The days flow peacefully and happily like this, becoming the most beautiful time in their lives. Every memory is a priceless treasure of their love, worthy of their whole life to cherish and care for with their hearts.