novelraw Chapter 36 – Raise the national outcry, slaughter the dogs of the Myriad Races! This is the anger of all humanity
Chapter 36 – Raise the national outcry, slaughter the dogs of the Myriad Races! This is the anger of all humanity
Su Bai curiously looked in the direction of the voices, seeing a crowd surging on the distant street, with banners held high above their heads.
"Kill all the Myriad Races scum, humanity will prevail!!"
Su Bai could tell these were ordinary residents near the Martial Academy, and even recognized some shop owners at the front of the crowd.
Their expressions were filled with anger, eyes seemingly ablaze, fists clenched tightly above their heads, each shout hysterical.
The crowd was fervent!
This was the first time Su Bai had witnessed such a parade, the voices growing closer, each shout echoing in his ears.
Seeing this scene, Su Bai couldn't help but be moved, memories of the battlefield resurfacing.
The same hysterical roars.
These were the voices of humanity's deep hatred for the Myriad Races' invasion!
What Su Bai didn't know was that this scene wasn't just happening outside the Martial Academy, but all over the country, countless crowds were shouting, expressing their inner anger through collective parades!
Hundreds of Martial Academies across the country had mostly returned in defeat, with many students completely wiped out.
Even though Jiangzhou Martial Academy returned triumphantly, only five hundred out of over twelve hundred returned.
So many young warriors died on the battlefield.
So many parents lost their beloved children!
So many families were torn apart by these beasts of the Myriad Races!
The invasion of the Myriad Races was a calamity for all humanity, even ordinary people contributed in their own way.
Seeing this scene, Su Bai couldn't help but be moved.
...
Yushan County, Su Family.
Su Xiaomei had just finished watching an episode of a TV drama and was about to change the channel when she inadvertently saw the news mentioning Su Bai. She thought she must have seen it wrong, rubbed her eyes, and looked again.
"Student Su Bai, outstanding military achievements, awarded a first-class merit, and a Gold Medal!"
Immediately, Su Xiaomei ran to her father's room, banging on the door.
"Dad, Dad! Come out quickly, Su Bai is on TV!"
But when Su Bai's father saw the news, although he was happy for his child's high honor, his face was more filled with worry and concern:
"I didn't expect so many people to die in this war."
"Xiaomei, Jiangzhou Martial Academy called at noon saying tomorrow is the day they're holding a funeral at the school. Shall we all go to Jiangzhou Martial Academy to see your brother?"
Su Xiaomei grew up with Su Bai, and the siblings have always been close. They hadn't seen each other for over three months, and upon hearing her father say they would go to see Su Bai, her grape-like eyes lit up with joy:
"Yes! I want Su Bai to treat me to a feast!"
Clearly, Su Xiaomei hadn't realized how solemn and serious the funeral at the Martial Academy would be, not a place for her to play around.
Su Father looked at his lively daughter, shook his head helplessly, and affectionately patted her head.
...
After walking with the parade for a while, Su Bai returned to his dormitory.
When he saw the military news channel, he remained silent for a long time, recalling the parade. Only then did Su Bai understand why those ordinary people, despite never having been on the battlefield, could shout so heartbreakingly.
If he were to die on the battlefield, his father, mother, and Xiaomei would probably be as sad and heartbroken as those in the parade.
By six in the evening, Su Bai, with a heavy heart, arrived at the training ground.
Dozens of bonfires blazed in the Martial Academy's training ground.
Over eight thousand students and instructors gathered around the bonfires.
All sorts of supplies—food, barbecue grills, beer, drinks, fruits—were fully prepared.
The Old Principal, dressed in the Martial Academy's formal attire, held a microphone and spoke word by word:
"Students!"
"I believe you've all seen today's news and the headlines of major media."
"You've proven your bravery and fearlessness to the Myriad Races with your blood. You are the pride of Jiangzhou Martial Academy!"
"This time, you've made great achievements! You are heroes!"
"I believe everyone has seen today's news and the headlines of major media."
"Now, let's give our heroes a warm round of applause for their triumphant return!"
"Tonight's bonfire party is held for our heroes! Drink to your heart's content!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd, and the shadows of the battlefield were dispelled at this moment.
Those classmates who went to the battlefield with Su Bai knew that without him, they would have been like other provinces' schools.
Being able to return alive was a blessing, let alone this celebratory bonfire party.
"Whoo-hoo!!"
"Drink to your heart's content!!"
The Martial Academy usually enforced a ban on alcohol, but today, with the Old Principal's permission, they could drink as much as they wanted!
At this moment, Su Bai and Lin Yanran stood at the edge of the crowd, holding wine glasses, watching the jubilant students.
Both of them preferred quiet, and watching the lively scene from the side was enough for them.
By the bonfire, Han Jiagang and a few other roommates were already flushed from drinking.
Han Jiagang shouted:
"Come on, brothers, being able to return from the battlefield is a blessing, let's drink freely today!"
"Drink! We won't stop until we're drunk!"
"Yes, we really need to thank Brother Su this time. If it weren't for him, we probably wouldn't have made it back!"
"Huh? Where's Brother Su?"
Han Jiagang, flushed, looked around and finally spotted Su Bai at the edge of the crowd.
"Brother Su, why are you two in the corner? Come, come, drink with us!"
Just as Su Bai was about to refuse, Tao Jiajun also came over:
"That's not right, Brother Su, you're the main character today, come on, everyone shout with me!"
"Su Bai, Su Bai, Su Bai!!"
The students who went to the battlefield with Su Bai all raised their right hands, joining in the chant.
"Su Bai, Su Bai, Su Bai!!"
In an instant, all the students and instructors present raised their right hands, clenched their fists, and waved them towards the sky.
"Su Bai, Su Bai, Su Bai!!"
"Su Bai, Su Bai, Su Bai!!"
Thousands of people chanted Su Bai's name.
Cheers, applause, and shouts filled the air.
Su Bai, who always preferred peace and quiet, was overwhelmed by the scene, momentarily at a loss.
The excited students even ignored Su Bai's bewilderment, lifting him up and tossing him into the air.
When Su Bai fell, countless hands caught him, then tossed him up again.
Lin Yanran watched the embarrassed Su Bai from the side, smiling softly, a scene that prompted another round of cheers from the boys.
The Old Principal, Chief Instructor Zhang Kai, and various Martial Academy instructors all held their wine glasses, joining the students in their revelry, shouting, and drinking.
They cursed the inhumane Nether Cats, lamenting the brothers who would never return.
Many people cried as they drank.
Some laughed wildly, but tears still hung at the corners of their eyes.
These iron-blooded warriors, who faced the tidal wave of Nether Cats on the battlefield with courage, shouting and fighting, now shed their toughness.
They were still just a group of eighteen-year-old kids.
Under the night sky, the blazing bonfires seemed to symbolize these young students' fierce resistance against fate and the darkness of the Myriad Races.
After the bonfire party ended, the students didn't even know how they made it back to their dorms.