Chapter 1021: Chapter 1014: Respect those who are courageous

The Russians sent a welcoming party and arranged the best hotel in Moscow for Chen Yu’s family, as well as preparing a lavish banquet to celebrate his and Jounouchi Hiromi’s arrival.

Judging by the grandeur of the preparations made by the Russians, they were indeed very serious about welcoming Chen Yu, with all the hospitality matching the standards for receiving a Demigod. Yet, Chen Yu had little interest in the so-called welcoming banquet they organized, and Jounouchi Hiromi also seemed unimpressed by such gatherings.

Rather than attending the banquet, Chen Yu was more intrigued by the Russian demigod who came to meet them.

The Russian demigod, still wearing old Soviet-era military attire, bore heavy old injuries, which not only made his complexion pale but also caused him to be plagued by incessant coughing.

Although Chen Yu provided him with some adjustments at the train station, it only served to suppress the coughing and couldn’t even be considered healing.

Chen Yu could tell this Russian demigod was likely injured internally, damaging his lungs, and hadn’t received proper treatment, leading to lasting side effects that caused his continuous coughing.

Even though demigods have strong physiques, once severely injured, healing becomes particularly difficult, and recovery is slow.

Deciding not to attend the banquet, Chen Yu chose to sit and chat with this Russian demigod rather than dealing with those bothersome officials.

Although those Russian officials were people Chen Yu was meeting for the first time and they didn’t seem to make him uncomfortable, Chen Yu truly wasn’t keen on wasting time socializing with people he might never meet again.

Jounouchi Hiromi similarly didn’t attend the banquet, instead taking her daughter directly to the hotel prepared by the Russians, planning to have a good rest.

Though traveling from Siberia in a luxury train carriage was indeed lavish, even modern trains are hard to describe as comfortable, let alone the century-old carriages from the Tsarist Russia era.

Despite these trains being refurbished and meticulously maintained by the Russians, they couldn’t mask their age, feeling neither particularly uncomfortable nor comfortably cozy after a hundred years of service.

Moreover, traveling itself is a tiring endeavor, regardless of how comfortable or luxurious the transportation might be.

The absence of the three demigods from the banquet undoubtedly made the Russian officials, who had carefully prepared the event, feel quite troubled, yet they couldn’t express any complaints, for demigods are entitled to such whims.

Even during the Tsarist era, demigods didn’t need to pay homage to the Tsar, so a group of ordinary officials held even less sway.

Then Chen Yu followed this Russian demigod to a bar near Red Square.

“This is a bar we used to frequent, every time after the military parades in Red Square, we would gather here to drink,” explained the Russian demigod in Soviet military attire to Chen Yu, gazing at the historically vibrant bar. Chen Yu could discern that “we” referred to the demigods from the Soviet era, a time belonging to the Red Empire.

“It sounds like a place with much history. Do you still gather here now?” Chen Yu asked the Russian demigod, though aware there were only three demigods left in Russia.

However, the demigod nodded affirmatively, “Whenever we can return here, we are able to reunite.”

With that said, the Russian demigod pushed open the bar door, leading Chen Yu inside.

The bar’s interior was modest, seemingly a quite ordinary establishment with limited space, boasting a single bar counter and only a scarce few tables.

The Russian demigod appeared quite familiar with the bar’s owner, casually greeting him before pulling Chen Yu toward a table to sit down.

“Only vodka is served here, the finest vodka in all of the Soviet Union,” introduced the Russian demigod succinctly. Once the proprietor brought out a white glass bottle and two glasses, he thanked him and continued, “When we used to come here, we would fill the place. I still remember the first time was to celebrate the bar’s opening; its first owner was a veteran who endured the October Revolution with us, and helped build the Soviet Union. The current owner is his grandson.”

While recounting this, the Russian demigod unscrewed the bottle and poured drinks for both Chen Yu and himself.

Sipping this vodka, deemed the best by the Russian demigod, Chen Yu felt the fiery warmth blaze from his throat to his stomach, admitting it was indeed exquisite liquor.

“The October Revolution… Such distant history. Without demigods, no one could possibly survive from that era to present times, right?” Chen Yu remarked, glancing at the Russian demigod as his gaze lingered on the faded black-and-white photographs adorning the bar wall.

The Russian demigod pointed to one photo, telling Chen Yu, “I remember this picture; it was during the great Patriotic War. Countless young men, driven by love for their homeland, went to the battlefield resolutely.”

“Russia may be vast, but we have no road to retreat. Behind us lies Moscow,” quoted Chen Yu from the famous movie line, a statement that perhaps wasn’t uttered in history but best encapsulated the sentiment of the Soviet Union’s great Patriotic War: “To those who are courageous.”

Chen Yu raised his glass, with a peculiar toast honoring the brave individuals rather than the war, which held immense importance to the Russians.

“To those comrades who sacrificed,” echoed the Russian demigod, lifting his glass.

For him, those were his comrades, allies, and friends who fulfilled their missions and fell for a noble and grand ideal, leaving him as the lone survivor.

What saddened him the most was failing to preserve everything the valiant sacrificed individuals struggled for—the nation they passionately championed no longer existed.

“What’s your name?” Chen Yu, for the first time, asked the Russian demigod for his name.

“Andrei. Andrei Petrovich. In Russia, among every ten people, there’s always one named Andrei,” replied Andrei with a smile directed at Chen Yu, who then noticed that despite his pale complexion, Andrei possessed a remarkably charming smile.

As they continued drinking, the bar door swung open, revealing a towering woman in a black coat who had to duck to enter the doorway.

“Mikhailovna!” greeted Andrei, raising his glass towards the woman who entered, acknowledging her presence as another Russian demigod.