Chapter 74: The Saintess Will Not Cry

The two joined forces to attack, once again creating distance.

Just as they were about to accelerate, Dino and Jimmy exchanged a knowing glance, then Dino said:

“Saintess, you all go ahead. We will hold them off to buy you time.”

His expression was serious, looking as if he was prepared to face death.

Jimmy followed up, saying, “Our speed is too slow; we would only hold you back. Without us, you should be able to shake off the pursuit of the knights, and we will buy you time.”

Behind them, all the villagers wore the same expression.

Michelle quickly understood what they were planning to do. “I won’t agree; if we leave, we leave together!”

She was the one who brought these villagers out, so she naturally couldn’t just abandon them; that would be too irresponsible.

“Saintess, this is our own request. You don’t need to worry about us running away. Once we shake off the pursuers, we will immediately regroup with you and accept the punishment we deserve. Besides, we are sinners; whether we live or die doesn’t matter.”

Dino was very insistent.

“Don’t casually talk about death; life is very heavy.”

Michelle didn’t want to hear such words.

Jimmy spoke again, “Saintess, we are very grateful for the opportunity you have given our village. You are willing to forgive our sins and even plan to help us so that the village can continue. We have no way to repay you; this is the only thing we can do for you.”

“That’s right, Saintess, please let us do something for you.”

“Consider it our atonement; otherwise, we will always feel uneasy in our hearts.”

The other villagers echoed in agreement, their faces filled with pleading.

“My wife has always hated me being a thief, but there was no way to survive. No matter how I make excuses, it’s wrong. It was you who rescued us from the abyss.”

“My child is due next month. I don’t want him to have a thief for a father, nor do I want him to be born a thief. It was you, Saintess, who changed his fate. I am truly grateful to you.”

“We are all the same. Although I don’t have children yet, I don’t know if it’s my problem. I love my wife dearly, but I told her that after I leave, she can find another man, yet that foolish woman still disagrees.”

The villagers each had their own sorrows. Clearly, it was a heavy matter, yet they spoke of it happily, their faces adorned with relaxed smiles, completely unrecognizable as people going to their deaths.

The only ones who couldn’t smile were Michelle and Leo.

Leo admired their resolve; they dared to take responsibility, and at their core, they were still a group of simple villagers.

“This won’t do.”

Michelle knew she shouldn’t stop them, but she couldn’t accept it psychologically; she couldn’t bear to watch them go to their deaths.

Her face was filled with sorrow, yet she didn’t know how to open her mouth to stop them, and the atmosphere gradually became heavy.

“Saintess, there’s no time. If we wait for the knights to recover, none of us will be able to escape.”

Dino’s face was filled with urgency, as the knights who had been struck by lightning were already speeding up to organize their formation.

Leo silently sighed and said, “Michelle, don’t let down their intentions, and don’t underestimate their resolve. For them, rather than staying in a dark dungeon for the rest of their lives filled with regret, it is better to die gloriously in battle. At least for them, fighting for you is a just cause, and dying in such a way is the best atonement.”

Boom!

The lightning in the sky rumbled again, and the rain fell heavier. Michelle’s silver hair was completely soaked, and the icy rainwater slid down her cheeks.

She came to a realization, slightly lowered her head, then raised it again to look at the villagers.

She decided to respect the villagers’ wishes; she couldn’t say goodbye to them with a sad heart. She needed to send them off with a smile, which would be the greatest affirmation for them.

“I understand now. Thank you all; I will always remember this.”

Her expression was very gentle, her smile warm and lovely, like an angel’s smile, beautiful yet tinged with sadness. The rainwater slid down her cheeks like tears, adding a touch of sorrow to her smile.

Seeing this smile, the villagers were stunned. This beautiful smile blooming for them was the best farewell and the greatest recognition!

“Saintess is the best!”

“We will fight for Saintess!”

“Everything is for Saintess; damn the knights, we will slay you!”

A surge of passionate emotions instantly welled up in the villagers’ hearts, their momentum strong, and their fighting spirit greatly increased.

They probably never thought before that they would willingly go to their deaths for a kind and lovely girl.

Leo looked at Michelle’s smile, which was holding back sadness, and his heart could never be calm.

What flowed down her face was rainwater, not tears.

The Saintess will not cry, and she will never cry in front of him!

These foolish nobles are doomed! Even the gods can’t save them!

His gaze was as cold as ice, and the killing intent overflowed uncontrollably, as a ferocious beast in his heart was about to break free from its cage.

He jumped off his horse, crossed over the villagers, and faced the knights struggling against the thunderstorm, raising his long sword.

“Leo?” Michelle didn’t understand what he was about to do.

Under the pitch-black night sky, lightning split the darkness, bringing a brief light to the world.

A shocking aura was released, soaring into the sky, and suddenly the winds rose, dark clouds rolled, and the world changed dramatically.

Lightning tore through the sky, and the ominous wind howled, while the heavy rain washed over the world.

A towering shadow of a demon was released from Leo, exuding a strong sense of death and pressuring heaven and earth.

It was like a demon that could destroy the world, casting a terrifying shadow over everything.

The knights in front were targeted by a terrifying unknown creature, their hearts trembling with unease.

Before them stood what seemed like a deity, while they felt like tiny ants, unable to escape the deity’s control no matter how they struggled.

The mighty demon shadow raised its slaughtering knife, and all beings fell silent. With a single sweep, it divided heaven and earth, marking the boundary between life and death.

The knights and their horses were split in two, blood splattering the ground, quickly washed away by the pouring rain.

In this strike, nearly two hundred knights were killed or injured.

Even those who survived were eroded by the sword intent, suffering serious aftereffects, and their combat power greatly diminished.

Leo’s aura weakened, and the iron sword in his hand turned to iron dust, which was the strongest sword intent he could currently condense to the extreme, daring to challenge heaven and earth!

He jumped back on his horse and urged Michelle, “Let’s go.”

“Mm.”

Michelle responded in a daze, her eyes somewhat lost. Is he angry for me?

“The knights’ combat power is greatly diminished; do your best to survive.”

Leo squeezed his legs against the horse’s belly, and the steed galloped away, with Michelle closely following.

The villagers were still in shock from Leo’s strike, but quickly reacted to his words.

“Charge! Don’t let down the expectations of Saintess!”

The villagers, armed with weapons, charged towards the knights who were reorganizing.

Their eyes became fierce, inspired by Leo and Michelle, their morale soaring as they plunged into the knights, fighting fiercely.

One by one, villagers were injured and fell to the ground, but they fought recklessly, disregarding life and death, their faces bearing smiles of relief, wild and terrifying.

This was their journey of atonement.

From the pain and struggle of raising the slaughtering knife for the first time, to the subsequent sinking and numbness, and finally to atonement and hope.

They had experienced too much, long since viewing life and death with indifference, fighting for their Saintess, dying with purpose.

“Hahaha! In the future, I can proudly tell my children that we are not bandits; we are knights who protect the Saintess and fight for her! They are the glorious descendants of knights!”

Blood spilled from Dino’s mouth as he shouted hoarsely.

Even with serious injuries, his eyes remained clear, and his faith supported him, preventing him from falling.

A spear flew in and pierced his chest; his gaze dimmed, but he still did not fall, propping himself up with the spear, standing firm.

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