Chapter 1494: The Visitor

Sensing the extraordinary aura outside the door, Yi Feng and Miss Bai knew that the visitor was no ordinary person. They exchanged a glance, a trace of seriousness appearing in each other's eyes.

The aura of the person outside was formidable, and it was unclear whether they were friend or foe. Neither of them dared to be careless, and they quietly stood up.

The next moment.

A steady knock sounded at the door.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The sound was calm and rhythmic, indicating that the visitor was polite and seemed to harbor no obvious hostility.

Yi Feng felt slightly relieved and stepped forward to open the door.

When the courtyard gate opened, several people standing outside bowed respectfully. They were all dressed in fine attire and carried themselves with an air of nobility.

The young man at the forefront, in particular, wore an exquisitely embroidered robe and exuded an aristocratic demeanor. The others behind him, despite their impressive cultivation, followed him with deference.

When the young man spoke, his words were even more astonishing.

"Great Hero Yi, it's been a long time."

Hearing this, Yi Feng was taken aback.

He had been living in seclusion in this small mountain village for years and had never revealed his name to outsiders. Even the children he saw daily at the village school only knew him as "Brother Dumb."

This person, who seemed unfamiliar, appeared to know him?

Yi Feng grew more cautious and tentatively replied, "You must have mistaken me for someone else. I am not any 'Great Hero Yi.' I am just a simple farmer named Dumb."

The young man in the luxurious attire smiled and bowed again respectfully. "Great Hero Yi, you jest. I have been following your exploits for a long time."

"Back then, you founded the New Sword Sect and single-handedly destroyed the Snow Moon Holy Land. Your talent and terrifying speed of cultivation left a deep impression on everyone."

"Later, you entered the Void Sword Tomb, and shortly after, the tomb self-destructed. You must have obtained the divine sword and comprehended the Dao of the Sword."

Hearing the young man's detailed knowledge of his past, Yi Feng became even more wary.

Even though the young man's words were accurate, Yi Feng immediately denied them. "You really have the wrong person. I am just a farmer. I know nothing of any Holy Land, nor have I obtained any divine sword. A few years ago, I fell seriously ill and even lost my memory of village affairs."

However, the young man's smile only deepened. "Great Hero Yi, we have been watching you all along. You cannot hide from us. Your cultivation was restored years ago, and your memories must have returned as well."

Hearing this, Yi Feng's heart sank.

The visitor knew everything about him, down to the smallest detail. Even if they harbored no ill intentions, it was deeply unsettling.

After a moment of silence, Yi Feng decided to drop the pretense and asked directly, "Who exactly are you? I have already decided to leave the martial world behind and have no grievances with you. I only wish to live a peaceful life. Why have you come to disturb me?"

At this, the young man's expression turned sincere. "Great Hero Yi, you misunderstand. I am Luo Hetu, the Crown Prince of the Bright Moon Dynasty. We have long admired your talent and character, which is why we have been following your journey. However, recent circumstances have forced us to seek your help. If we have caused any offense, we sincerely apologize."

With that, Luo Hetu and his entourage bowed respectfully, their faces filled with apology.

Hearing that the visitor was the Crown Prince of a dynasty and seeing him lower himself with such courtesy, Yi Feng felt a slight sense of goodwill. Following the etiquette of a host, he returned the bow and gestured for them to enter. "Please, come in and let us talk."

The two men slowly entered the courtyard, while the attendants and guards remained outside, all displaying impeccable manners.

Once seated at the stone table in the courtyard, Miss Bai served a cup of tea. Luo Hetu stood up to thank her, exchanging a few polite words before turning to Yi Feng and explaining his purpose.

"Great Hero Yi, I would not have dared to trouble you if it were not absolutely necessary."

"To be frank, the Bright Moon Dynasty and the Eastern Spirit Dynasty have been enemies for generations, and the animosity between us has reached a point where it is almost impossible to resolve. Our strengths are evenly matched, and the dozens of smaller vassal states have maintained a delicate balance because of this."

"However, in recent years, the Eastern Spirit Dynasty has recruited many powerful experts, gradually tipping the balance. The friction between our two nations has become increasingly frequent, with battles breaking out constantly. I fear that a full-scale war is imminent!"

"When that war breaks out, it will affect dozens of nations within a radius of thousands of miles, and countless lives will be lost!"

Hearing this, Miss Bai's expression turned solemn.

Yi Feng also felt the gravity of the situation and sighed inwardly.

The struggle for power never ceases. The world is in a constant state of division and reunification, with nations endlessly fighting. In the end, it is the common people who suffer. The thrones built on blood and tears are but fleeting glories, as transient as a dream.

Is all of this truly worth it?

To be honest, Yi Feng had no interest in such conflicts, nor did he care about the future of the world. He only wanted to live a peaceful and simple life.

He never considered himself a great sage, just an ordinary person—perhaps a cultivator with some skill, but still a person with his own share of selfish desires.

Seeing that Yi Feng remained silent, Luo Hetu grew anxious and continued to plead.

"Great Hero Yi, when the war between our two nations breaks out, it will affect an area spanning thousands of miles. Countless lives will be lost, and the people will be displaced. The wilderness will be littered with corpses, and parents will be forced to abandon their children to survive..."

"Can you truly stand by and watch such a tragedy unfold?"

"Moreover, once this unprecedented war begins, not only will our two great dynasties be plunged into a sea of blood, but the smaller vassal states will also be drawn into the conflict. The battlefield may stretch across more than ten regions, and no one will be spared!"

"In such a horrific war, even cultivators like us will struggle to protect ourselves, let alone ordinary people."

"As the saying goes, 'When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken.' Once the war begins, all living beings will be caught in its wake, and the number of civilian casualties will be beyond counting!"

"By then, even this small mountain village will be ravaged by war. Even if you and your wife, with your profound cultivation, can escape unscathed, what about the children and women in this village? How will they survive?"

At this point, Luo Hetu stood up, clasped his hands, and knelt down in a deep bow.

"Great Hero Yi! I beg you, for the sake of all living beings, lend us your aid this once. In the future, I, Luo Hetu, will repay this great kindness, even if it means serving as your ox or horse!"

Seeing the Crown Prince kneel and plead so earnestly, both Yi Feng and Miss Bai were visibly moved.

After a moment, Luo Hetu's eyes turned red, and his earlier composure was replaced by desperation.

Yi Feng was now torn.

Although Luo Hetu's plea felt like a moral burden, his words were undeniably true. If a war between the two dynasties were to break out, this small village nestled between them would undoubtedly be reduced to ashes.

The laughter of the children...

The peaceful, idyllic village.

All of it would be consumed by the flames of war.

The more Yi Feng thought about it, the more conflicted he became, and his selfish desires began to waver.

At that moment, the faint sound of children's laughter grew closer. A few mischievous kids had even run up to the gate, peeking inside and calling out curiously.

"Brother Dumb, are we having class today?"

"Brother Dumb, what are you doing?"

"Who are these people?"

...

Seeing the innocent, curious faces of the children outside, Yi Feng's heart trembled, and his hands clenched involuntarily.

The subtle change in his expression and movements did not escape Miss Bai, who had been quietly listening all this while. She gently placed her hand on his, her eyes filled with unwavering encouragement and tenderness.

Though she said nothing, her silent support spoke volumes.

Finally, Yi Feng let out a soft sigh and nodded at Luo Hetu.

"Alright, I agree to help you."