Legend of the Cyber Heroes
Chapter 712 - 356: The Ninth Martial God [Part Five]

Chapter 712: Chapter 356: The Ninth Martial God [Part Five]

After that, another half a year passed.

Xiang Shan took the stage once again. He sat obliquely on a simple platform, holding a self-made musical instrument, with a pile of worn-out boxes beneath him.

The scheduled performance was nearing its end. This time, it went smoothly as well. Some stories, mixed with a few songs, were planted deep within the hearts of the audience. Here, the high-ranking Scientific Knights, Soldiers, civilians, and Heroes could briefly share a common sentiment.

Culture.

Xiang Shan combed through the past stories of Ingrid.

At that moment, new listeners entered from the cave entrance. A few individuals skilled in Martial Arts turned their heads to look. Among these people were both Scientific Knights and Heroes.

After confirming that the newcomers were not Mobile Cavalry who would draw their guns upon meeting, they continued to focus their attention on Xiang Shan.

But upon seeing one of them, Xiang Shan fell silent for a moment.

"Now, it is time to tell the final story of today. It is a fable and also a fragment from the past."

Xiang Shan gently strummed the strings of his instrument.

"Long, long ago, a person who wanted to save the entire world asked another who merely wanted to heal the sick and injured, what the meaning of his actions was if the world did not change, if humankind did not change, diseases deadly today would still plague humanity tomorrow."

"The healer told another fable. After a tsunami, small fish stranded on the beach—in the old Earth, there were small animals in the water bodies, which I have mentioned in other stories as well. These species, called ’fish,’ could only survive in water and could not move on land. As the sea level receded and the remaining seawater gradually dried up, these fish were doomed. At that moment, a child picked up a fish from the ground and threw it back with all his might..."

The story of "The Little Fish that Cared," Xiang Shan still remembered.

"In the distant past, humans were easily hurt and fell sick readily. Because humans were so fragile, they needed specialized people to heal and save them. In the past, these people were called ’doctors.’ This term is now used in the ranks of the Scientific Knights to signify a certain class, but here it represents medicine, life..."

"Though technological advances have rendered ’medicine’ no longer a necessity for humans, their character focused on seeking happiness for each individual and their hopes for humankind’s well-being, are still worth carrying on to today."

"The final song of today, to my ideals, to my friends from the past, and also to those great people from the remote past..."

Xiang Shan changed the melody. He gazed through the small patch of sky visible from the cave entrance, watching the night sky where a star of negative brightness shone.

He opened his mouth and said: "あの苍ざめた海の彼方で[Beyond the pale sea]/

今まさに谁かが伤んでいる[someone is enduring pain right now]"

As he said, this was a song for the healers—"Riding on the Back of a Silver Dragon/銀の龍の背に乗って".

Of all the songs Xiang Shan had sung to this day, this one was not the best, nor the most famous.

But it was the most appropriate for the moment, and strangely fitting for Xiang Shan’s mood at this very moment.

"まだ飞べない雏たちみたいに[Like young fledglings that cannot yet fly]/

仆はこの非力を叹いている[I lament my own helplessness]/

急げ悲しみ翼に変われ[Hurry, sadness, transform into wings]/

急げ伤迹罗针盤になれまだ[Hurry, scars, become a compass now]

飞べない雏たちみたいに[Like young fledglings that cannot yet fly]

仆はこの非力を叹いている[I lament my own helplessness]

"Until my dreams come to fetch me,"

"yesterday I was trembling, merely waiting in vain,"

"Tomorrow, I shall proceed to the foot of the dragon,"

"Climbing the cliffs, I will call out: ’Let’s go!’

An unknown Martial God stood up, and across the thick rock layers, roared toward the sky:

"Riding on the back of a silver dragon"

"Let’s go to the desert of life."

"Riding on the back of a silver dragon,"

"Let us pass through the vortex of rain clouds."

Xiang Shan finished his song and didn’t linger, instead quickly departing with his instrument on his back.

As he passed the last two members of the audience, he paused briefly.

The artistic creators and their audience on Mars had their own tacit understanding. The next singer took the stage for an impromptu performance, and the already satisfied crowd dispersed on their own.

Only two followed him.

Xiang Shan, trailed by the two "tails," weaved through Mars’s complex cluster of buildings. It wasn’t until fifteen minutes later that they reached a security corner where the surveillance was "unexpectedly damaged."

Xiang Shan turned around, opened his arms: "Doctor Tao, Florence, long time no see..."

He was greeted with a punch to his face.

Xiang Shan lost his balance from Tao Enhai’s punch and fell to the ground, looking up.

Tao Enhai said, "I wasn’t supposed to hit you. But... you shouldn’t have come back to life... Xiang Shan."

Xiang Shan wasn’t angry. After all, he completely agreed with Tao Enhai. Lying on the ground, he chuckled: "Speaking of which, you guys aren’t just going to walk away, right? Inga hit me and then ran away. That was so... damn, unjust. You’re not going to leave too, are you?"

Half a year ago, Xiang Shan, overwhelmed by emotion from reuniting with an old friend, suddenly embraced Ingrid.

The personal characteristics of this series of actions were not obvious. Ingrid stiffened for a few seconds, yet she recognized Xiang Shan.

Then, without saying a word, she pushed Xiang Shan away and turned to leave.

Thanks to the enhancement in cognitive abilities provided by the Soth Divine Realm, Ingrid’s skills in tracking and counter-tracking were superior to Xiang Shan. By the time Xiang Shan got up from the ground, Ingrid had already lost him on his home turf.

"I totally don’t get why she had such a big reaction!" Xiang Shan complained.

Tao Enhai hesitated, then pulled Xiang Shan up: "That... is understandable. It was Chen who proposed that idea, implemented by those few in the cognitive science field. The creation of the Second Martial God was a mistake... their ultimate inability to face it is understandable."

Xiang Shan stood opposite Tao Enhai: "What about you guys? What are you here for this time?"

Tao Enhai hesitated, then sighed, "At least we once fought alongside the Seventh Martial God... I think, maybe, you could use a little help."