Chapter 195 – Soul's Sorrow Cannot Overcome Perseverance

The morning sun rose in a cloudless sky.

Yet, on the deck of this passenger ship, a heavy gloom prevailed.

The forty-some survivors could not conceal the sorrow in their eyes. No matter how they had imagined it, they never expected that nearly a hundred people had set out on this journey, yet on the return, they might be carrying the spirits of half that number.

Some of these souls had departed forever, leaving behind endless regrets before they could savor the remainder of their lives.

When this inexplicable feeling struck, it might very well be the greatest sorrow in the Human Realm.

Harboring dreams, only to have them shattered mercilessly by reality.

The once-beaming smiles flashed silently before everyone’s eyes—like memories, more vivid than morning songs; like melancholy, falling to the ground without a trace.

After experiencing this incident, Ye Kuang seemed somewhat unwilling to accept the joys and sorrows, reunions and partings that the future might hold.

In this world, if meetings and separations are inevitable, why must they happen at all?

Not only do they fill one with grief and empty sorrow, but they also leave one unable to let go, heart heavy with melancholy.

At this moment, everyone was immersed in silent grief. Yet, Duke Zhou slowly stepped forward, his voice still resolute: “The departed are gone. Everyone must learn to pull themselves together.”

But as soon as he finished speaking, even he could not avoid the surge of sorrow. Forcing himself to appear composed, he continued, “They will never truly leave, because as long as we remember their faces in our hearts, they will live on in the deepest parts of our souls.”

“Woo…”

Yet, who would have thought that these few words, seemingly meant to inspire, would break everyone’s composure?

Ye Kuang wiped the tears from the corner of his eye and turned to the captain beside him, unable to resist asking, “How much longer until we reach our destination?”

“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, by dawn tomorrow…”

“Grandpa Zhou, please inform everyone to return to their cabins after dinner. As for tonight, no matter what happens, no one is to come out. I will handle everything.” By this point, Ye Kuang’s resolve was evident.

“Ah…” Duke Zhou could not help but hesitate upon hearing this.

Clearly, even an elder like Duke Zhou had doubts about one person bearing all responsibilities alone.

Though it was unclear to what extent Ye Kuang’s abilities had reached, the fact that he had nearly annihilated all the enemies single-handedly demonstrated that his strength was far beyond ordinary.

At present, everyone was still engulfed in grief, trapped in an oppressive atmosphere, making it hard to avoid a sense of unease.

It could be said that, for now, while everyone’s emotions varied, they were largely similar.

Without exception, all were still shaken.

This led to their inner turmoil being written plainly on their faces, affecting anyone who saw them and plunging them into deep despondency.

Ye Kuang naturally took all of this in. He wanted to say something encouraging, but reality was cruel. Since it was unavoidable, the only option was to safeguard this final night of peace.

His heart, too, was clearly moved.

Have you not seen the Yellow River’s waters descending from the heavens, rushing to the sea never to return?

Though yesterday’s memories remain beautiful, today is the true beginning. The road ahead is long and fraught with obstacles, but perseverance will lead to the destination.

And Ye Kuang had made up his mind: since he was born into this world, regardless of whether the future could be predicted or the glories of the past remained, he would follow his heart and take each step firmly in the present.

For as long as the heart lives and the soul endures, anything is possible!At this thought, Ye Kuang walked toward the Heaven Earth Black Yellow Squad, immediately drawing twenty-two pairs of admiring gazes.

If they hadn’t known who Ye Kuang was before, from this moment onward, they would remember his name for the rest of their lives.

It could be said that their captain could rest in peace entirely because Ye Kuang had risked his life to make it happen.

The weight of this bond was already irreplaceable.

“As Duke Zhou said, the departed are gone. I won’t say much about the others, but you…” Ye Kuang’s tone inevitably grew heavy as he spoke, “must learn to pull yourselves together. We don’t know what moves they might make tonight, but if you all resign yourselves to fate now, then there truly is no hope!”

“YES!!!”

The resounding response suddenly echoed around him, and in that moment, even Ye Kuang couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.

This was unmistakably a responsibility, and also the source of their conviction.

Although Ye Kuang was not their captain, at this moment, they had already come to regard him as one.

“I know what you’re all thinking right now, and I ask you to dismiss those thoughts. After all, our paths differ—the road I must walk is still long, very long…” As Ye Kuang spoke, he paused briefly, then couldn’t help but add, “Besides, we’ve only met by chance. Once this matter is resolved, we may never see each other again!”

The eleven members of Heaven Earth Black Yellow: “…”

Hearing this, everyone inevitably fell into silence, but soon, one by one, their eyes began to shine with an increasingly divine light.

Instead, Ye Kuang felt somewhat uncomfortable under such fervent gazes and had no choice but to continue, “The reason I’m telling you this is to make you understand that when you are capable, you must stand tall and step forward. Now, look at them…”

As he spoke, he pointed one by one at the grief-stricken crew members, who were not only pale-faced but also visibly terrified and uneasy. “These people have no combat skills. If they go up there, there’s only one outcome—what that is, I believe you all understand.”

Instantly, the Heaven Earth Black Yellow members exchanged glances, then spoke in unison: “YES!!!”

Seeing this, the corners of Ye Kuang’s lips curled slightly upward. He was clearly somewhat surprised that people from different walks of life could still understand each other so well.

“Very good. I have high hopes for you, but I must also say this: No matter what happens in the future, only do what should be done, and avoid what shouldn’t. Wherever you go, you will be remarkable.” Ye Kuang declared.

As soon as he finished speaking, his voice suddenly became piercingly powerful and resolute: “Because by then, you will understand what responsibility means. Only by experiencing it, never giving up, having the courage to step forward, and understanding one another… can you truly grasp the meaning of ‘ceaseless self-improvement and profound virtue bearing all things.’ What enables one to travel a thousand miles, thriving endlessly, is the breadth of mind of the people of this land. In the face of disaster, what thrives endlessly is our unity and collective resolve.”

After these words, Ye Kuang suddenly gazed into the direction of the boundless deep sea and smiled. “Just like the unknown depths of the ocean, filled with mystery everywhere, yet throughout the ages, ‘she’ has never vanished. This is because they possess an endlessly regenerative cycle… self-sufficient while remaining distinctly interconnected—you within me, and I within you.”

“If I must give an answer, it is simply that sorrow of the soul cannot withstand ceaseless vitality!”