Chapter 630 "This oath is witnessed by heaven and earth, and heard by gods and spirits! If I break it, may I be forsaken by both gods and men!"
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Four days later, Li Qiutian finally returned.
What she brought back was not a triumphant team, but a broken, exhausted squad filled with tragedy and deathly silence.
Fewer than fifty members of the Xuanjia Dark Blade clan survived and made it to Shimane Prefecture.
Of the more than 300 carefully selected and well-trained Xuanjia Dark Blades who set out, fewer than 50 have survived and been found and brought back to Shimane Prefecture by Li Qiutian.
Moreover, almost all of these fifty people were injured.
They gathered in the hall of a large mansion in Shimane Prefecture, most of them dressed in rags and looking haggard.
Their eyes had lost their sparkle, replaced only by the numbness of surviving a catastrophe, the grief of losing their companions, and a deep-seated weariness.
Among them, some had lost an arm, their empty sleeves fluttering in the wind.
Some people have lost a leg and can only stand with the help of their companions or with simple crutches;
Some people have hideous scars on their faces;
Some of them were wrapped in blood-soaked bandages and were barely breathing.
Upon receiving the news, Li Shiyue rushed over immediately.
When she stepped into the hall and saw the fewer than fifty people, all of them covered in wounds, she stopped in her tracks.
Even though Li Shiyue was a general with a heart of stone who had experienced mountains of corpses and seas of blood, at this moment her heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and a suffocating pain quickly spread across her chest.
She slowly walked to the front of the crowd, her gaze sweeping over each face, whether familiar or unfamiliar due to pain and suffering.
She saw the bewilderment and pain in their eyes, and the faint glimmer of light that had barely coalesced when she arrived.
Li Qiutian stood beside her, his voice low and hoarse: "General... everything that could be brought back is here."
The task... is mostly complete.
But we... lost more than two hundred and fifty brothers and sisters..."
The hall was silent, save for the mournful sound of the wind blowing through the windows.
Li Shiyue took a deep breath, suppressing the soreness in her nose and the heat in her eyes.
She didn't shed a tear; she couldn't express her sadness and guilt in such a weak way in front of them.
She needed to give an explanation and a promise to the Dark Blades who returned alive, and to the heroic souls who remained forever in enemy territory.
Two breaths later, Li Shiyue's voice rang out clearly in the hall. It wasn't loud, but it carried a resolute power that reached the ears of everyone present.
"Everyone!"
You're back!
very nice. "
She paused, lowered her head to relieve the stinging sensation in her nose, and then raised her head again, her gaze sweeping over the crowd once more.
"I'm so happy to be standing here and seeing you all!"
But... of the three hundred Dark Blades, who were ordered to venture deep into the heart of the enemy's lair to carry out a deadly mission, only... you have returned.
You did it!
With your courage, wisdom and sacrifice, you have successfully shaken the foundations of Japan and caused a break in their power transition!
Every one of your names, including the Dark Blade who never returned, along with the merits you all rendered in this silent war, will be remembered!
At this point, Li Shiyue raised her voice slightly, conveying an undeniable certainty!
"I, Li Shiyue, hereby swear on my personal honor and in my capacity as the commander of the Zhenhai Navy, to you, and to those heroic souls who will never return—"
“In the future, I will definitely erect a monument for all of you here, on the land of Japan, in the place where you once fought and bled!”
A monument that will make future generations of Japanese tremble with fear and that we, the people of Jian'an, will forever admire!
Your names will be engraved on that monument!
Regardless of life or death, regardless of the magnitude of your achievements, each and every one of your names will be engraved upon this record!
Upon hearing Li Shiyue speak these words so solemnly, some of the Dark Blades in the hall trembled slightly, and their numb eyes began to show signs of life.
“The people of Jian’an will all remember you!”
We will remember the enormous sacrifices you have made today for the peace of our homeland and for future generations!
Your achievements will not be forgotten with the passage of time; they will be ingrained in the blood and soul of Jian'an!
Then, Li Shiyue's tone became more specific and heavy, as if she were making a blood oath.
"I, Li Shiyue, hereby promise that whether you are standing here alive or have already sacrificed yourselves for Jian'an, your families will receive the most proper care!"
Your parents will be cared for by me, Li Shiyue, until their old age;
Your brothers and sisters can all work in the military training center or any of my properties.
Your children may attend school, and I, Li Shiyue, will fund their upbringing!
In the future, they may also join the military service or the naval garrison!
As long as I, Li Shiyue, live in this world, and as long as Zhenhai Army exists, I will support your families every single day!
This oath is witnessed by heaven and earth, and heard by gods and spirits!
May those who defy this be forsaken by both gods and men!
After Li Shiyue finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.
Then, someone let out a suppressed sob, followed by a chorus of weeping, sobbing, and wailing that filled the hall.
Those hardened warriors who had endured countless life-or-death trials and witnessed the tragic deaths of their comrades without shedding a tear could no longer suppress their emotions.
Those who are alive weep for their fallen comrades, and also for Li Shiyue's weighty promise.
The disabled grieve for their own fate and weep for the security of their family's future.
A young man who had lost an arm clutched his empty sleeve tightly with his remaining hand. Tears streamed down his face, but he tried his best to straighten his back.
A woman with a scar on her face bit her lip to stop herself from crying out, but hot tears still streamed down her face.
Li Qiutian turned her head away; she had witnessed too many horrific scenes while receiving the Xuanjia Dark Blade.
In fact, there were more than fifty Dark Blades who were able to reach the stronghold;
However, many people still couldn't hold on after reaching the stronghold!
Before Li Qiutian went to pick up the people, he also got a whole bottle of Rejuvenation Pills from Li Shiyue, intending to feed them the Rejuvenation Pills directly when he encountered Anren who was seriously injured.
At least, at least I've saved my life.
But... before the pill was even taken out of the porcelain bottle, several people immediately fell silent.
So, seeing everyone in the hall looking like this, Li Qiutian's eyes also reddened.
Looking at these hidden blades, Li Shiyue felt an overwhelming surge of emotions.
She knew that no amount of words could bring back those two hundred-plus precious lives, nor could they heal the physical and mental trauma of these survivors.
All she can do is remember them, make amends to them, make their sacrifices meaningful, ensure their blood was not shed in vain, and allow them to live out the rest of their lives in peace.
"Take good care of your injury."
Li Shiyue concluded, her voice regaining its calmness yet carrying a profound strength, "Coming back alive is the greatest victory."
From now on, you can regain your identities and appear anywhere openly and legitimately!
After saying this, Li Shiyue nodded to Li Qiutian, then turned and left the hall with firm steps.
Behind her stood the group of weeping, wounded soldiers, who had found a sliver of support again because of her vows and promises.
Li Shiyue knew that the victory in this battle was due to Anren's sacrifice, which allowed her and Zhenhai Army to build the foundation for her foothold in Japan.
But at the same time, this also burdened her with a deeper responsibility.
The road ahead is still long and full of thorns.
Remembering the sacrifices and keeping her promises will be an inextinguishable light on her future path.
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