Chapter 131: In the Name of Happiness

With everyone’s help, Christina quickly finished packing her belongings. Escorted by four Silvermoon Tribe elk riders, she set off on her elk. Although Christina had heard Sun Licheng describe the northern forsaken lands, this was her first visit. She found the wind biting and the temperature frigid.

Along the way, Christina frequently saw groups of goblins slowly making their way north, burdened with heavy baskets, some pushing small carts crafted by the Flower-Planting Tribe. These goblins appeared gaunt and pale, worn down by hardship.

As they traveled, Christina noticed an elderly goblin suddenly collapse beside her elk, unresponsive for a long moment. She stopped and dismounted to check on him.

“Sir, are you alright?” Christina asked, helping him up.

“He’s starving. The tribe has given up all their food to send to the front lines,” explained a nearby goblin.

Christina suddenly understood. During this prolonged war with Sun Licheng, the Moon Alliance had suffered greatly. By the goddess’s decree, all tribes scrimped and saved, offering their remaining winter provisions. These goblins were the conscripted laborers carrying supplies northward.

Their plight was pitiful: forced to march day and night with no food of their own; if caught stealing from military rations, they faced execution. Defying the goddess’s will was no trivial matter. The elderly goblin, likely exhausted, hungry, and aged, had simply collapsed under the strain.

Christina’s heart ached. She took out a piece of dried meat from her pouch and offered it to the old goblin. He gratefully accepted and quickly ate it. Seeing this, the surrounding goblins gathered, timidly asking for some food as well.

Christina emptied all her dried meat, raising her voice to reassure them: “Don’t worry, I don’t have much food myself. I’ve come to persuade Sun Licheng to surrender. Please hold on; this war will soon end.”

“That’s wonderful. Please, let the war end soon. If it drags on, the Moon Alliance’s goblins will all perish,” the old goblin said, clasping Christina’s hand and bowing with tears in his eyes. Around them, the goblin laborers carefully shared the meat, their eyes full of hope for peace.

Meanwhile, outside Sun Licheng’s valley fortress, Marshal Gernison stood atop a small hill with his men, gazing silently at the battered gatehouse. All wore weary expressions, resigned to their fate.

A few days earlier, a massive explosion had rocked the goblin camp, leaving behind a field of white feathers that horrified everyone. Having heard legends of angels, they knew Sun Licheng had slain a powerful being.

Though the angel was dead, its oppressive presence lingered in the valley, causing the eagles and cyclopes within the army—both scarce and mercenaries to the Goblin Kingdom—to withdraw from the battle. Marshal Gernison, though commander-in-chief, could not force these formidable creatures to fight on. After a few stern words, he let them leave.

Deprived of the eagles and cyclopes, Gernison launched several assaults. Without much ranged power, these attacks were futile, resulting only in thousands of casualties and no gains.

At this point, priests of the Springwater Goddess and the grand shaman of the Star-Moon Tribe arrived together, delivering the latest divine oracle: the army was to cease its attacks and await reinforcements.

Though the offensive halted, unrest grew within the goblin camp. Prolonged combat and long supply lines caused logistical breakdowns. Food shortages led to increased brawls and casualties, spreading despair among the troops.

“Oh goddess, when will the reinforcements arrive?” Marshal Gernison sighed inwardly, eyes fixed on the battle golems guarding the walls.

Two days later, Martin discussed recent military developments with his father, especially the food shortage. As both men frowned, a tribal warrior burst in, reporting: “Great Chief, a beautiful girl has arrived outside, claiming to be the Silvermoon Tribe’s saintess.”

Adolf was puzzled; hadn’t Christina been transformed into an ugly wretch? How could she be here now?

Under his father’s orders, Martin followed the warrior to the gate. There, a remarkably beautiful young woman sat bored atop an elk, protected by four elk riders. She was as radiant as a pure white snow lotus.

“Christina?” Martin asked hesitantly, recognizing her figure.

“It’s me, Martin,” the girl smiled brightly.

“But Chief Vol said you turned into an ugly monster. How are you even more beautiful now?” Martin asked, confused.

“Heehee, this is the blessing of the Silvermoon Goddess. She sent me to persuade Brother Sun Licheng to surrender. Martin, please take me to see the Great Chief,” Christina replied.

Half an hour later, Marshal Gernison sat in his tent, staring in disbelief at the excessively beautiful goblin girl before him. He had expected a formidable being or a large army sent by the goddess, never imagining it would be a saintess from the Silvermoon Tribe.

“What good could a girl possibly do?” he muttered under his breath, though his face wore a polite smile.

“Christina, you say the goddess has sent you to persuade Sun Licheng to surrender?” he asked again, still skeptical.

“Yes, Marshal. The goddess has granted me permission to seek Brother Sun Licheng’s surrender. Look, this is the treasure she bestowed upon me,” Christina said with a smile, showing the enormous sapphire.

The gem shone with a deep azure light, dazzling and unmistakably extraordinary. Gernison knew it was no ordinary stone.

“Very well. I will make the arrangements. Please wait here, Saintess,” he said, nodding and ordering his aides to prepare.

An hour later, under countless watchful eyes, Christina, dressed in clean fur garments and holding the Silvermoon Tribe’s banner, slowly approached the ruined gatehouse.

“Brother Sun Licheng, Christina has come. You must listen to me and surrender to the goddess. I believe we will find happiness together,” the young girl called out confidently, waving her tribal flag.

On her chest, the enormous sapphire gleamed under the sunlight, casting a captivating brilliance that stirred the heart.