Chapter 5, Ode to the Ranger

"Meteor, could you please keep your voice down in the future?" Tianxiong complained

Looking at Tianxiong's dull expression, Yegao seemed to be inspired by some force, becoming increasingly agitated as she said: "Alright, we humans have nothing left; all we have are unfortunate stories. If the esteemed ranger wishes to listen, we have plenty to share, so let me start with my family. My father was the king of the Liancheng Kingdom, quite impressive, isn't it? He was turned to ashes by the enemy's sorcerer in the first great battle against the divine race, and his deputy could only salvage a set of his teeth. My mother died in the massacre of the defenseless in Tiandu by the divine race. Along with her perished a hundred thousand unarmed women and children. ... He was turned to ashes by the enemy's sorcerer in the first great battle against the divine race, and his deputy could only salvage a set of his teeth. My mother died in the massacre of the defenseless in Tiandu by the divine race. Along with her perished a hundred thousand unarmed women and children. ... I am fortunate; I still have a grandfather, who is my last relative in this world, but today ... today ..."

"Are you here again?" Tianxiong asked loudly

Tian Xiong stared blankly at Ye Ge's tear-streaked face, feeling a lump in his throat, almost unable to speak. After a long pause, he stammered, "I... I am very sorry."

In the adjacent room, the resounding snoring of his father reached his ears. As the owner of the most popular tavern in the outskirts of Bihong City, his father was exhausted from the celebrations of the Firebird Festival on Ranger Island yesterday. Even his mother, who tended to the vegetable garden, and his beloved younger sister were pulled in by their father to help serve the guests. Tianxiong's workload was even heavier; he had deliberately taken on a workload far exceeding that of others, earning the admiration of the entire family. Despite this, he still found it difficult to fall asleep peacefully at night.

Liu Lianhua responded with a sound, picked up two wine glasses, clinked them together, producing a crisp sound, and sang aloud: "The Taihang Mountains have snow that does not melt for a thousand years, incomparable to the frost of the Tianshan Mountains stretching for ten thousand miles"

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The enormous waves once again crashed down heavily on Tianxiong's face, but this time he seemed completely oblivious to everything around him

As he watched the people laughing heartily, Tianxiong suddenly felt a wave of numbness in his mind, as if the nerves that sensed joy and happiness had frozen in an instant. The vibrant images of singing and dancing before him became dim and blurred, and the cheerful voices turned into indistinct noise, causing his head to throb with a maddening pain

She proudly raised her head, refusing to let the abundant tears fall down her cheeks. Struggling to hold back her sobs, she said loudly: "Today, my only relative has died in the last city of humanity. The divine beings lifted his remains, celebrating their complete defeat of human resistance. He left this world with the deepest shame and regret." The divine beings lifted his remains, celebrating their complete defeat of human resistance. He left this world with the deepest shame and regret.

Then can I take that pair of treasures to the store, is that alright? Tianxiong asked

She is still that young girl—Ye Ge, kneeling in front of the mirror, gazing with a sorrowful look at the enchanting night scene of the azure sky and heavenly pool, as if entranced by the view before her.

"Tianxiong!" A piercing cry from the meteor echoed in his ears like thunder, startling him to the point where he nearly collided with the ceiling

"Come, raise your glass, we toast to you!" The alcoholics, who, like him, were addicted to drinking, all lifted their glasses, and a loud and enthusiastic clinking of cups echoed continuously throughout the room

His words elicited a flurry of playful calls, "If Tie Yi Bei is considered a regular customer, then do we count as one?"

Her image in the water mirror gradually began to blur and eventually disappeared

"Good!" The passionate singing drew passersby outside the tavern continuously into the building. Inside, the crowd was shoulder to shoulder, so tightly packed that a needle could hardly fit through. Those who could not squeeze in joined in the singing and dancing outside, laughing and cheering, fully enjoying the joy of the fencing festival

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"Why do you want to know? The life and death of the human world have nothing to do with you wanderers, do they?" A sorrowful red glimmered in Night Song's eyes, "Or is it that you find the monotonous happiness of a peaceful life too boring and wish for me, a human, to share some tragic stories to spice things up?"

The light and agile skimming boat resembled a black swallow soaring through the air for a long distance before gliding down into the water. Tianxiong turned around, took a wild run, and then leaped high into the air, chasing the hazy silhouette of the skimming boat in the night. As he landed on the skimming boat, this swift vessel raised its bow high, resembling a fast arrow released from a bow, cleaving through the waves surging in front of it, heading towards the center of the lake

The owner of Tianlong is overjoyed by the profits from today's tavern business. Upon hearing the news that Tianxiong is going to compete in a sword duel, he becomes even more excited and quickly says: "Son, competing with the champion in swordsmanship, even if you lose, it is still an honor. Just remember not to bring shame to the Drunken Sword Workshop."

"Iron Cup, you have drunk too much!" A large group of variously dressed men and women gathered around burst into laughter at the comical appearance of Iron Cup.

Tianxiong was astonished by Yeger's eloquence, momentarily rendered speechless, repeatedly pondering in his heart: Does she really appear to be twelve years old? Or has suffering caused her to mature early?

His words stirred up a wave of cheers in the tavern. Tie Yi shouted out loudly, "Boss Tianlong, give me another cup! I am a regular customer after all"

"Good!" As soon as the first verse of the song concluded, the intoxicated crowd immediately erupted into wild applause and cheers.

"Good! Liu Lianhua, you start!" everyone said in unison

It seems that the atmosphere in the tavern is not as lively as expected. Tianxiong's father loudly proclaimed at the counter: "Dear fellow villagers, in celebration of this year's Firebird Festival and the Swordsmanship Festival being so close together, I, the owner of this establishment, invite everyone to drink another round. Please, do not hold back."

The chirping of cicadas in the dead of night effortlessly roused Tianxiong, who was struggling wildly in a nightmare, from his bed

He screamed wildly, pleading with the heavens to awaken him from this terrible dream, until his throat became hoarse. When he awoke, he found himself madly in love with the sound of the summer cicadas.

At this point, she could no longer withstand the cruel onslaught of sorrow, and several clear tears flowed uncontrollably down her face, which she desperately tried to maintain with composure.

Gradually, scenes of devastation in the human world began to emerge in his mind: those human warriors who were killed by enemy magic before they could even engage in battle, those defenseless women and children who were slaughtered by the enemy, and that night song who suffered misfortune and had nowhere to seek help. They were all his compatriots, being brutally murdered, humiliated, losing hope, and losing faith, while he remained here, doing nothing, listening to the praises of the ancient rangers, witnessing the misfortunes of the world, yet refusing to extend a helping hand. They were all his compatriots, being brutally murdered, humiliated, losing hope, and losing faith, while he remained here, doing nothing, listening to the praises of the ancient rangers, witnessing the misfortunes of the world, yet refusing to extend a helping hand

"There is no time to complain. Do you still remember the youth champion of last year's fencing festival, Xiaohao?" asked Liuxing loudly with one eye.

She glared fiercely at Tianxiong, "Oh, this is certainly yet another interesting story for the esteemed rangers. Rest assured, Ranger, before I die, I will instruct my attendants to inform you of the details surrounding my cause of death."

Tian Xiong, who had long been captivated, finally came to his senses. In a flurry, he carried a full tray of fine wine, weaving through the crowded crowd, distributing the wine glasses at various tables. Those who received the exquisite wine were even more exuberant, singing and dancing. Tie Yi had already climbed onto the table, dancing gracefully in harmony with the rhythmic clinking of glasses from the crowd.

In the nightmare, he found himself bound to a tall wooden stake, helplessly watching countless fellow humans being deprived of their lives by the executioners of the divine race. He also saw the little girl in the water mirror—Ye Ge—being thrown into the raging flames by several divine warriors. Her lustrous, beautiful hair was ignited by the fire like a butter candle, and her snow-white, enchanting skin turned to charcoal. She neither screamed nor struggled. ... She sat quietly in the flames, her beautiful, dark pearl-like eyes staring blankly at him ... her lustrous, beautiful hair was ignited by the fire like a butter candle, and her snow-white, enchanting skin turned to charcoal. She neither screamed nor struggled. ... She sat quietly in the flames, her beautiful, dark pearl-like eyes staring blankly at him ...

"Remember, isn't he a student of the Iron Sword Workshop?" Tian Xiong asked

"Please wait a moment," Tianxiong said hurriedly, "I... I just want to know, how is the human world now?"

"To the fencing festival, let us have another drink!" shouted a middle-aged rogue, already inebriated, in the City Tavern run by Tianxiong's father. His flushed, alcohol-stained nose wobbled comically with his loud call, as if performing an unknown dance.

The bright moon, suspended in mid-air, casts a gentle silver light, while the shimmering lake water has begun to ripple faintly

Indeed! This time, at https://m.hetushucom.com, he drew lots to select his opponent, and in the first round, he chose your Drunken Sword Workshop. Gaoshan came to inform me that you are the best swordsman in the Drunken Sword Workshop, so you should prepare quickly; the sword match is about to begin. I wish you good luck!

Suddenly, a faint sound of water waves echoed softly, emanating from the azure sky pool. Tianxiong abruptly sprang up from his bed, pushed open the wooden window at the head of his bed, and leaped out of the room. He jumped out of his garden, crossed the silent streets, and ran at the fastest speed of his life towards the edge of the sky pool.

No, that is not what I meant... Tianxiong felt his mind in a state of confusion, "I just wanted to say... I hope you can be safe, and I hope the human race can survive this catastrophe"

"Let us sing a song! I ask the shopkeeper for another cup of wine!" shouted a famous bard from the City of Azure Skies, raising his wine cup high.

The tavern owner, Tianlong, hurriedly urged his son, Tianxiong, "Quickly, young Xiong, bring the wine!"

"I beg your pardon?" Night Song exclaimed loudly. "Why should you feel sorry? The life and death of the human race have nothing to do with you, do they? Or do you find my story uninteresting, not worthy of your appreciation? Oh, then you must enjoy hearing this story: the people who still resist are being driven like dogs into the wild lands of the Southwest continent, struggling to survive in the endless, sunless jungles, where every day someone dies of hunger. Yesterday, my closest maid died of jungle fever, and I buried her with my own hands. Oh, then you must enjoy hearing this story: the people who still resist are being driven like dogs into the wild lands of the Southwest continent, struggling to survive in the endless, sunless jungles, where every day someone dies of hunger. Yesterday, my closest maid died of jungle fever, and I buried her with my own hands. Perhaps tomorrow, I too will die; who knows!"

"It really seems that everything happens at once." Tian Xiong complained, turning around to look for his father

Night Song furrowed her brow as if disturbed by someone, looking up at Tianxiong, "It’s you again. This time I am not seeking help, so please leave me alone"

The drunkards clinked their wine glasses loudly with chopsticks and sang in unison: "The sons of Taihang are valiant, tearing apart tigers and leopards with ease. Wild geese fly across the vast sky, landing on distant peaks, while those who commit evil go unchecked. The lonely sound of the Dragon Spring rises, as a solitary figure rides out from Tianshan. The gates of Taihang Mountain open one by one, like thunder, iron cavalry charging through the clouds. Blades gleam like fire, horses like dragons, the sound of swords still echoes today. The mournful strings chill the heart, a clear spring flows into the heavenly pass, the light of the sword illuminates heaven and earth, and no one can sleep tonight. The gates of Taihang Mountain open one by one, like thunder, iron cavalry charging through the clouds. Blades gleam like fire, horses like dragons, the sound of swords still echoes today. The mournful strings chill the heart, a clear spring flows into the heavenly pass, the light of the sword illuminates heaven and earth, and no one can sleep tonight."

The Heavenly Water Mirror of the Azure Sky Lake hangs solitary above the silent, still waters, with not even a single shadow of a swan in sight. The most active golden-scaled carp in the lake also seem to sense something amiss, no longer daring to surface. Tianxiong positions the boat directly in front of the mirror, raises his head, and anxiously gazes toward the center of the mirror.

"What about those paired mandarin duck twin swords?" Boss Tianlong asked. "Alright, take them! Just be careful not to damage them."

As soon as these lyrics were sung, everyone burst into cheers. It turns out that this is the most popular poem from Ranger Island, telling the story of a legendary swordsman who once roamed the world and a group of bandits skilled in the use of long knives, who gathered in the mundane Taihang Mountains for a momentous showdown.

The human race needs help!" Ye Ge stood up, "No blessings are needed.

Tianxiong understood that it was the residual waves formed by the vortex when the Water Mirror appeared. He untied the mooring rope of the Jian Shui boat, which was docked on the shore, lifted it high out of the water, and then with a sudden low shout, he exerted all his strength to throw it towards the center of the lake.

After downing another cup of fine wine, Liu Lianhua seemed even more spirited, singing loudly: "Where the sword light rises, the white crane comes; atop the Taihang Mountains, it dances in a circle. Like flowers, white feathers fall in a flurry, as the long wind sweeps up to the heavens. Like thunder, the iron cavalry raises a mournful sound; the wild goose's feather breaks its wing, staining the dust with blood. The thunderous knife wind sounds hoarse and muted, like a rainbow, its momentum goes and does not return. The men of Taihang are valiant and fierce, yet alas, in this life, they do not act for good. Thirty-six knives face one sword; how can a mountain chicken contend with a phoenix? The morning snow buries the bones of the wicked, while the solitary figure in green returns to the Heavenly Mountain." The men of Taihang are valiant and fierce, yet alas, in this life, they do not act for good. Thirty-six knives face one sword; how can a mountain chicken contend with a phoenix? The morning snow buries the bones of the wicked, while the solitary figure in green returns to the Heavenly Mountain.

To celebrate the annual Sword Festival, every resident of Ranger Island dresses in red and green, with families coming out in their finest attire. Several large temple fairs, which are rarely held, coincide on this day. In the streets of the outskirts of Azure City, the lively sounds of firecrackers, the laughter and joy of women and children, and the bustling noise of the fairgoers blend together, creating a festive atmosphere on Ranger Island that feels as fervent as boiling water.