Starting as a prodigy wanting milk? A world-destroying deception in the opposite direction.

The cleanup of the streets and the reassurance of the residents are still ongoing.

A faint, calming fragrance lingered in the air.

It was lit to commemorate Senior Yun Tianhe, whose image of burning his life to suppress the wrath of the gods is still etched in everyone's heart.

People unconsciously slow down when cleaning up broken bricks; they always avoid the word "sacrifice" when talking in hushed tones.

Even when children cry, adults will only cover their mouths and gently murmur:

"The old immortal Yun is watching from heaven."

This natural disaster not only took away precious lives, but also the peace and stability of the past.

Senior Yun Tianhe's sacrifice is like a boulder weighing on everyone's heart. The grief has not yet subsided, and fear of the future has been added.

The guardians of the capital city intensified their patrols day and night, and the sound of their orderly footsteps was particularly clear in the quiet streets and alleys, which was the only comfort they could give to the people.

At least, at this moment, someone is doing their utmost to protect this land.

Everyone is silently praying, hoping to get out of the shadows soon, and hoping that those who have passed away can rest in peace in another world.

That day, while Shen Zhen was sorting through Lu Renjia's belongings, her fingers touched a hard object in the inner pocket of the clothes he wore when he first entered the Jingxie Division. After taking it out, she found that it was a booklet.

The booklet is very thin, and the cover is worn.

Shen Zhen carefully opened it; the handwriting was neat and legible:

[September 8th was my first day at the Exorcism Bureau, and I was immediately assigned a mission. Fortunately, Captain Shen's skillful command, his willingness to risk exhausting his mental energy, and the excellent teamwork of the members ensured the mission was successfully completed.]

On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, Jin Wanquan was arrested for colluding with heretics. During his trial, he was taken away by the Crown Prince, which angered everyone.

On the tenth day of the ninth month, I heard that Jin Wanquan had been intercepted and killed. I was in a great mood. People like him should not live.

Instructor Chen said my swordsmanship has improved, but my fist techniques are still not working correctly, and I need to practice more.

During practice, Wu Xian had an accident and almost injured Qi Xuejian.

[September 11th, I dreamt of my mother last night. She told me to live well.]

The last record is from the day before the Fushen ceremony.

The ritual to appease the spirits begins tomorrow, September 12th. I'm a little nervous, but I'll do my best.

Shen Zhen gently closed the booklet and ran her fingertips over it a few times.

Those neat handwritings contained all of a young man's hopes for the future, but now all that remains is this cold touch.

He suddenly recalled the look in Senior Yun Tianhe's eyes before his death, a look that held compassion for all living beings and expectations for future generations. They were all protecting what they wanted to protect in their own ways, but some of them left too soon.

"Team Leader Shen."

Wu Xian and Chen Xi walked over at some point. Wu Xian's eyes were red, while Chen Xi pursed her lips and her jaw was clenched tightly.

Wu Xiandao:

"Lu Renjia's family... has been found."

He lives in the westernmost slum; his father has passed away, his mother is bedridden and paralyzed, and he has a ten-year-old sister.

"What about the compensation?"

"The Divine Grace Treasury said that according to the rules, they will first pay six months' salary, twelve taels, and the rest will be paid when the treasury has more funds." Chen Xi's voice was a little tense.

"Team Leader Lei even slammed his fist on the table with the people from the Divine Grace Cult because of this."

Moreover, what the Lu family lacks most right now isn't money, but manpower to provide long-term care for the patient.

Shen Zhen was silent for a moment, then stood up: "Take me there."

The slums are the most dilapidated corners of the capital.

The alley, overflowing with sewage, was so narrow that only one person could pass at a time, and the air was filled with the smells of mildew and cheap liquor.

Shen Zhen and his two companions walked through these streets and alleys, with mottled earthen walls on both sides.

Every now and then, emaciated refugees or drunkards with cloudy eyes would lean against the corner of the wall. They were all victims of the natural disaster, and their eyes were filled with only numbness and despair.

Wu Xian and Chen Xi led Shen Zhen to the deepest part of a dilapidated courtyard.

The gate to the courtyard was half-open, or rather, the crooked wooden door had long since lost its function as a door.

Shen Zhen gently pushed open the rickety door. The yard was overgrown with weeds, and some moldy firewood was scattered in the corner. A weak cough came from inside the house.

Pushing open the door, the room was dark and damp, with only a small window letting in a faint light.

There was only a kang (a heated brick bed) and a stove in the house.

On the kang (a heated brick bed), an old woman with a haggard face lay, covered with a thin quilt full of patches, staring at the roof beams, motionless.

A little girl of about ten years old was sitting by the kang (a heated brick bed).

Hearing the noise, she immediately raised her head. Her dirty little face and wary eyes looked at the person who came, and her hands instinctively tightened their grip on the tattered clothes she was mending.

"Aunt Lu," Wu Xian said in a low voice, trying to make her tone as gentle as possible.

"We are Lu Renjia's... colleagues."

The woman's eyes slowly turned towards the doorway, her lips moved, but no sound came out.

The little girl spoke hesitantly, her voice clear and childlike:

"Do you know my brother?"

Shen Zhen squatted down and took out a small cloth bag from his bosom.

Inside was his salary for the month, plus ten taels he got from Shen Zhenglan and six taels of advance pension, totaling eighteen taels.

"Your brother has gone on a business trip." Shen Zhen stuffed the cloth bag into the little girl's hands, his tone calm, but his gaze avoided her probing eyes.

"This is his salary and the reward he received, which he asked us to bring back. Please take good care of Mother."

The little girl squeezed the cloth bag, then asked blankly, "Long-distance business trip...where did you go?"

"In the western border region, the Exorcism Bureau has a major case to handle and needs skilled personnel." Shen Zhen tried to make her voice sound natural.

"It might take a year or two. He told you not to worry, to buy medicine for your mother on time, and to remember to buy charcoal in the winter."

The woman suddenly started coughing violently, so violently that she curled up in pain.

The little girl quickly ran to pour water into a broken bowl and hurriedly helped her mother up.

Shen Zhen's gaze swept over the bowl of thin porridge by the kang (a heated brick bed), which was almost empty, with a thin skin on the surface.

He felt a tightness in his chest. Senior Yun Tianhe had protected these families struggling to survive with his life.

He turned to Wu Xian and said:

"Go to the next street and buy 20 jin of rice, 5 jin of meat, and some vegetables that keep well, now."

Wu Xian nodded vigorously, turned around and ran out quickly.

Chen Xi stepped forward, without saying much, and silently took the bowl from the little girl's hand, gently trying to feed Aunt Lu water.

Shen Zhen stood silently in the house for a moment, then walked into the yard, picked up the rusty axe, and began chopping wood.

The axe rose and fell, the dull chopping sound echoing in the deathly silent alley.

Chen Xi rolled up her sleeves and began tidying up the messy room.

Actually, there wasn't much room to clean. Apart from the old pot and a few chipped bowls, there were hardly any other items.

She wiped the thick grease off the stove, washed and put away several chipped bowls, her movements delicate and silent.

Before long, the firewood in the corner of the yard was piled up neatly.

When the little girl came out with an empty bowl, Wu Xian also ran back, panting, carrying a full bowl of rice, meat, and vegetables.

Shen Zhen took the things and skillfully started a fire, washed the rice, and cut the meat.

He cooked a pot of thick rice porridge, the aroma of which gradually dispelled the musty smell in the house, and also stir-fried a simple meat dish.

When the steaming hot food was served on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), a glimmer of light seemed to appear in the eyes of Aunt Lu, who had been silent all along.

They ate the meal in a harmonious and warm manner.

Although Aunt Lu remained silent, when she occasionally looked up at the crowd, her gaze held a touch of gentleness and gratitude.

Shen Zhen frequently served food to Chen Xi and the little girl, her actions natural and full of care.

After finishing their meal, everyone cleaned up the pots and pans.

Before parting, Shen Zhen said:

"We have enough grain and vegetables to last for a while; we'll come back in a few days."

The little girl looked up at him, her eyes sparkling:

"Are you really... my brother's colleague?"

"Hmm." Shen Zhen saw her clear eyes and couldn't help but think of her own sister, as well as those who had passed away to protect that clarity.

"When he returns, will he become a hero like the old immortal Yun?"

Shen Zhen touched her head, her throat tightened, and she didn't answer.

Lu Renjia is already a hero, but he can only temporarily conceal this honor with lies.

After walking a short distance outside the courtyard, he turned around and bowed deeply in the direction of the courtyard:

"Aunt Lu, I'm sorry." Facing the direction where Senior Yun Tianhe sacrificed himself, and to the young soul of Lu Renjia, he silently said:

"Don't worry, we will protect this peace for you."

It was nearly noon when we came out of the slum.

Wu Xian followed behind Shen Zhen, and after holding back for a long time, finally spoke:

"Captain Shen, we lied just now."

"Sometimes a lie can earn even greater kindness." Shen Zhen's steps didn't falter, but her voice deepened.

"Only this grandmother and granddaughter are left in the Lu family. If they knew the truth, I'm afraid Aunt Lu wouldn't even be able to hold on to her last breath."

Wu Xian and Chen Xi nodded silently.

"That's just how the world is." Shen Zhen gazed at the distant outline of the Fu Nian Temple.

"Those who are alive have to find a way to survive; sometimes lies are more effective than the truth."

And all we can do is hope that the hope within these lies can one day become reality.

When the three of them reached the street corner near the Jingxie Si (a local deity), they saw a group of people gathered in front of the notice board, including people from the temple and ordinary people from the neighborhood.

"What happened?" Wu Xian squeezed in.