A soul returns to its homeland; falling leaves return to their roots.
In his home universe, there are two sayings that represent the ultimate wish of every border guard: even if they die in battle, they hope their remains can return to their homeland to be buried.
Beyond that, they have no other requests.
Lin Hong stood in silence, organizing the memories of the young Evan.
In those memories, the old man had watched the siblings grow up.
During those lonely years when the brother and sister were often separated from their parents, the old man had become a grandfather-like figure, closer to them than kin.
Although Lin Hong realized that he had inherited young Evan’s memories, that did not mean he had inherited the complex emotions tied to them.
But that did not stop him from feeling that he should do something.
After all, setting aside the memories, he looked at it from his own perspective: an old man who had been loyal and diligent to his masters his entire life should have been able to spend his twilight years in peace.
Instead, he had been treated as feed by followers of the Evil Clan, his body eroded and his flesh gnawed away in the cruelest manner, leaving behind only a hollow shell.
It was evident that even if this faction of the Evil Clan had merged with this world for unknown reasons, becoming deities and bound by its rules, their essence remained unchanged.
They brought plunder and destruction, trampling upon all things beautiful.
One could say that dying ten thousand times would not be enough to atone for their crimes.
In contrast, Lin Hong held specific principles regarding innocent victims who suffered such aggression.
Therefore, he contemplated.
He wanted to save this old man, unwilling to watch such an innocent life depart, ending in agony.
The caravan arrived at the outskirts of Rock Town before dusk fell.
Lin Hong and Lovira stepped out of the carriage at the town entrance and proceeded on foot, following the address to guide the carriage carrying the old man.
This was a typical border town built against a low, rocky hill.
The houses appeared simple and sturdy, and alarm towers could be seen in the distance.
The imperial knights responsible for security were experienced and did not enter the town all at once, as that would have been too conspicuous.
Following the lead knight’s orders, the majority of them dispersed outside the town, camping in the hidden woods to maintain vigilance.
Only two of the most elite knights changed into casual clothing, guarded the carriage, and accompanied Lin Hong and Lovira into the town.
The town was quiet and desolate with few pedestrians.
The occasional townsperson who passed by wore thick clothing, their eyes brushing over the group of strangers before quickly looking away and burying their heads to continue their walk.
Following the address they had obtained, the group arrived in front of a courtyard on the east side of town.
This was the home of the old steward, Robert, in his hometown.
Hearing the commotion, two middle-aged men, dressed in armor and as tall and sturdy as iron towers, hurried out of the house.
Their features bore a slight resemblance to the old steward, Robert.
They were clearly his sons, having rushed back from their place of service after receiving the news.
The two middle-aged men looked heavy-hearted and exhausted, with bloodshot eyes, yet their movements remained disciplined and respectful, as befitted soldiers.
They had clearly learned the status of the new arrivals.
They stopped in front of Lin Hong and Lovira, struck their right fists against their left chests, and gave a respectful military salute.
“Young Mistress, Young Master.”
“Please, brothers, do not do this. It is we who… have disturbed you.”
Lovira stepped forward immediately, bowing in return.
Her eyes were filled with sincerity and respect, and there was sorrow in her voice.
“Young Mistress…”
The two middle-aged men trembled slightly, wanting to say something but ultimately holding their tongues.
They turned to the side, leading the two into the house.
The interior of the house was simple and plain, yet orderly, reflecting the neatness of a military family.
The old man had already been escorted into the inner room to be settled.
Lin Hong and Lovira were assigned to the floor above, which had clearly been meticulously cleaned.
Everything was old but spotless.
The two knights were arranged to stay in a vacant house belonging to a townsperson nearby, allowing them to maintain watch from close range.
That night, all was silent.
Rock Town drifted into tranquility, save for the cry of a night owl from the distant mountains and forests.
Lin Hong sat cross-legged in his small room, his daily cultivation uninterrupted.
He submerged his mind into his body.
At this moment, the primordial and acquired energies within this body surged and intertwined, forming a small river of energy.
It was far more powerful than when he had first begun his cultivation, circulating through his body and radiating vitality and life force.
Because he had absorbed a significant amount of original-grade energy in that mysterious starry sky—the suspected origin of the universe—he used this energy as firewood and nutrients.
He cast it into his internal furnace, strengthening the internal minor cycle itself.
The internal cycle received nourishment and was sublimated, constantly producing energy that nourished his physical body in increasingly subtle and refined ways, strengthening its vitality.
While rotating his cycle, Lin Hong also pondered the possibility of healing the old man.
Now, the old man’s greatest problem was that his body had been hollowed out, his flesh and blood withered.
Therefore, conventional healing magic and precious medicinal potions were useless.
Because magic power and medicinal effects entered a body that was essentially barren; there was no soil for them to function.
How could they be effective?
They could only ensure the condition did not worsen, but they could not heal him or restore his vitality.
Lin Hong contemplated, continuously flipping through the healing sutras he had mastered within his mind.
In his home universe, they had fought against the Evil Clan for years, constantly locked in slaughter.
The Evil Clan was sinister, and the injuries they caused were terrifying.
Like poison, they carried a horrific corrosiveness, some even affecting the very origin of cultivation.
Consequently, under the pressure caused by the enemies, his home universe had derived various healing scriptures and secret techniques that delved into the origin.
What Lin Hong wanted to do was to find a way to supplement the old man’s original life force, allowing the withered soil of his flesh and blood to regain a degree of activity.
Once that was done, healing magic and potions would be able to take effect.
But in the end, this was only a general framework, because these healing scriptures and secret techniques were all closely related to the Creation Return to Origin Sutra and a series of other foundational laws.
However, the old man had never practiced these arts.
He was not like his comrades and brothers in his home universe, whose bodies had a sturdy foundation, resembling humanoid fierce beasts with tenacious life force and iron-like wills, capable of enduring the strain and never dying, able to jump around again after lying in bed for a few days.
But the old man was different.
He was too weak, and his flame of life was about to extinguish.
Therefore, he had to be cautious.
Thus, that night, Lin Hong multi-tasked.
While cultivating, he constructed a virtual scenario in his mind, constantly simulating and practicing.
The next morning, as the sky was just beginning to brighten, Lin Hong was startled by footsteps and whispering outside the small courtyard.
Confused, he opened the door and stepped out.
He saw that outside the gate, dozens of townspeople had gathered, men and women, young and old, holding small specialty items from their border town, food, and other things.
They were waiting quietly, their faces filled with worry, anxiety, and sadness.
At the entrance, the two middle-aged men, who looked like iron towers, were visibly moved.
Yet, they were shaking their heads, speaking with several elderly people who appeared to be town elders, seemingly politely declining the offerings.
As it turned out, many years ago, the young steward Robert had left the town and, through his own talent, became a personal guard to the Duke of Vane, eventually becoming his steward.
In theory, this was considered a soaring success, making him an incredible figure of status.
However, the old man never forgot his hometown.
He had always remained anonymous, using his own channels and capacity to help his home.
Over the years, bit by bit, silently and invisibly, almost all the townspeople had received the old man’s kindness.
The older generation of townspeople knew this well, and most of the younger generation had learned of such a person from their elders, keeping it in their hearts.
Now, the news had spread somehow.
Upon hearing that the old man was critically ill and returning home, the townspeople had spontaneously come to visit, hoping to see if they could help.
Lin Hong stood by the window.
His five senses were sharp after several rounds of strengthening over the past few days, and he easily captured fragments of prayers and whispers, understanding the reason for the scene.
He felt that such a person, even if he were to pass away, should do so surrounded by his family and neighbors, feeling satisfied and at peace, departing with a smile.
Not like this, hollowed out by evil, ending his life in agony.
Moreover, it was not that he lacked the ability.
He could completely accomplish this; it was a deed with a hundred benefits and no harm, meritorious as building a seven-story pagoda.
He had no reason to hesitate.
“Tonight, a nameless miracle doctor shall emerge!”
Lin Hong whispered to himself.