Chapter 772: Chapter 180: Honoring Loyal Souls Today [Ten Thousand Words!]
"This time, it is a personal action of our Baiyun State Guardian Hall and does not represent similar activities from other Guardian Halls, so... there is no comparison. It’s the first event, and if there are any shortcomings, we ask for your understanding."
Fang Che’s voice started to lower: "In the eyes of ordinary people, the department of the Guardian Hall is like immortals, lofty and flying around every day, moving mountains and overturning seas, with a single battle capable of taking down a small mountain... It seems impressive, but only we and our families know what kind of job this is."
"The Baiyun State Guardian Hall, established... to date, the cumulative number of entries has become incalculable. But from four thousand years ago till now, a total of 3,945,600 entries!"
"In these four thousand years, 471,979 brothers have sacrificed their lives!"
"On average, one in eight people dies in battle! With an average yearly sacrifice of more than a hundred people."
"An eight-to-one chance of dying!"
"Those truly peaceful years where nothing happened for an entire year don’t even add up to two hundred years in total."
"During major wars and crises, sometimes overnight, the entire Guardian Hall would be martyred, with no survivors. There was once a year when every post in the Guardian Hall rotated three times in one year!"
"The first two groups were all martyred, sacrificing collectively, with no survivors."
"Choosing to become a Guardian is actually not a choice for glory, not for being lofty, not surrounded by flowers, but for death and sacrifice!"
"As a Deacon of the Guardian Hall, I, Fang Che, can represent all our brothers and all the heroic souls, by saying: We are not afraid of death, nor do we worry about sacrifice!"
"But the ones we feel most sorry for are you!"
"We seek benevolence and gain benevolence, willing to give everything for faith, for persistence, for the continent. But while we give our all, we have also given up your happiness!"
"This is our biggest apology and also the greatest regret for all our fallen heroic spirits!"
"We have done right by the continent, right by the people, right by our perseverance, right by our faith, right by ourselves, right by the golden stars on our collars, right by our uniforms, right by our cultivation, right by the conscience of heaven and earth, yet we have wronged only you!"
"This year alone, having passed not even half a year, we have already had seventy-three brothers enter the West Mountain Cemetery!"
"In the future, more will continue to enter."
Fang Che’s voice was deep: "Therefore, today, we give it our all, bearing the pressure of the entire world, to hold this event, to apologize to the families of the heroes, with a promise of the glory they deserve and a small token of... consideration."
He waved his hand.
Zhao Ying’er and others walked in uniformly, each holding a tray, placed in a corner of the wall, stacked high on the trays.
Fang Che took a small brocade box from the top.
"The first item is this Hero Badge, crafted by our Baiyun State Guardian Hall. The words ’Baiyun Hero’ are sent to all our fallen brothers, and also to ourselves."
"Sword and Saber Crossed, Loyal Souls Forever."
"On the back, a line of small script, with the hero’s name in the middle, and on either side, the small words: If my family has not acted unjustly or unlawfully, the Baiyun State Guardian Hall must uphold justice!"
"This is our promise to the heroes. All injustices, we will step forward to address. From now on, no one dares to bully you! If anyone offends, I, Fang Che, hereby set a rule!"
He looked around at all the current personnel of the Guardian Hall with steely eyes and stated word by word: "Strict and severe, no leniency!"
"Strict and severe, no leniency!"
The crowd shouted in unison, their blood boiling.
"When departing, each family is to receive their own piece."
"Additionally, in acknowledging the arrival of family members, we have prepared a token of appreciation for each household, though it may not be much!"
Fang Che said, "A few Elixir Pills to lay the foundation for children, a few to strengthen bodies, two pills for extending the elderly’s lifespan, and a silver note worth one thousand taels for each family."
All those present were collectively moved.
These items, though not many, are extremely valuable to ordinary families, with a total market value of at least twenty thousand taels of silver.
Currently, there are eight to nine thousand households present, right?
Including all the expenses today, it’s an astronomical figure that an average person would not dare to even dream of!
Even if the Guardian Hall has channels to get discounts, the numbers must still be enormous!"
"Today, there are... more than eleven thousand two hundred households present, each of which will have one! After tonight’s banquet, everyone can come to collect a token."
"We are deeply ashamed that the heroes gave their all, and yet we can only offer these meager items."
Fang Che earnestly said: "Everyone doesn’t need to feel embarrassed, this is the legacy of the heroes, this is where the honor lies! Please, do not refuse!"
The crowd below was deeply moved.
They are all family members of heroes, how can they not know the true situation of Martial Artists?
The cultivation resources for Martial Artists are always scarce.
Every Martial Artist’s family lives tightly.
Perhaps in the eyes of ordinary people, it’s already luxurious and proud; but only their own people know, it’s completely not the case.
Especially for those who have no sidelines, whose strength is not enough to generate any extra income...
And they are very clear about the financial situation of the Guardian Hall; though it can’t be called a government office without resources, it’s absolutely impossible to meet all the cultivation needs of so many Martial Artists in one place."
