Chapter 15: Defeat

Yanbei border, Yuan Yue City.

Inside the city, gloom hung heavy; outside, the ground was scarred with craters and pits. A hundred li away, in a range of peaks and forests, massive figures of varied forms lurked, shadows of demons thick and dense, alongside slender human-like figures seated atop the peaks.

The ground here was stained with blood, bones piled like a thicket of firewood, skins torn like rags, casually draped over branches and rocks.

At this moment, a beautiful young woman held another arm covered in military armor, gnawing on its fingers, her lips and cheeks smeared with bright red blood, yet she paid no mind.

Suddenly, a tiny black dot shot swiftly across the sky; as it drew near, it revealed itself to be a three-clawed black bird, over ten meters long.

It shrank its form, and upon landing, transformed into a graceful young boy, wearing a black headband, stepping lightly toward the group seated around, then approaching the young man in white robes, with a long zither laid across his knees.

The young man lightly plucked the zither strings, sending out faint melodic waves, yet his gaze remained still, gazing far off toward the city that looked like a rotten stone.

There, faintly visible, were the dark, oppressive clouds gathering above the city, and blurred figures standing along its walls.

“White Shenjun.”

The black-headed boy bowed slightly, his expression respectful, and said to the white-robed youth: “I just received word—the useless flesh vessel we sent earlier failed, and even alerted the Divine General’s Mansion. Now the entire mansion is on high alert; it’s said the child is secretly protected by a powerful guardian.”

“Even this failed? Useless trash!”

A burly, massive man beside him scowled, his lips curling slightly to reveal sharp, inhuman fangs.

“Wasn’t he already embedded near the child?” The beautiful woman chewing the arm frowned, pausing her chewing to look at the black-headed boy.

“It’s been half a month—his identity couldn’t have been exposed. How could he still find no chance to strike?”

Nearby, a young man with yellow eyebrows frowned: “To prevent the Divine General’s Mansion from giving false intel, Xing Wu Hou deliberately concealed the child’s true condition. We specifically sent this Zhou Tian realm flesh vessel—if he struck with a single explosive punch at close range, even a Tenfold Tongli cultivator couldn’t dodge. Even if there were guards nearby, they couldn’t react in time, right?”

The black-headed boy sighed: “The exact details are unknown. Who knew the thing was this useless?”

“Hmph! Failed and still alerted the Divine General’s Mansion. If this news reaches Li Tiangang, he’ll surely send more guards. Damn thing!” The burly man growled again.

The black-headed boy nodded slightly: “If we’re to assassinate now, it’ll be even harder. Since the flesh vessel failed, his family no longer needs to live—let the little ones down below feast on them.”

“They’ve already devoured them all.”

The woman bit off another finger as she chewed.

The black-headed boy fell silent, turning his gaze to the white-robed youth who had stopped playing, his eyes betraying quiet reverence: “White Shenjun, what’s our next move? Should we launch a direct assault?”

Everyone else turned to him, awaiting his orders.

White Shenjun showed little emotional fluctuation, gazing steadily at Yuan Yue City in the distance, speaking softly: “The Li family is truly a stubborn bone to chew. If we launch a direct assault, our losses will be too great.”

“Indeed, those bastards won’t lift a finger. Total scum.” The burly man grumbled.

“Then should we still attempt assassination?” The black-headed boy asked.

White Shenjun turned to look at him: “What do you think?”

…

…

After Li Hao’s assassination attempt, the Divine General’s Mansion tightened its security further.

He Jianlan deployed elite inner-court cultivators to guard the front courtyard and individually screened every retainer who had joined the mansion in the past three years.

The incident caused a huge stir, yet every courtyard cooperated wholeheartedly—after all, this assassination had been far too dangerous; everyone feared it might happen to their own child.

Through the Li family’s intelligence network, the assassination was traced back to demons from Yanbei.

Li Hao sought out his aunt, asking her to conceal the assassination news, to keep it from reaching Yanbei, from reaching that couple’s ears, lest it disrupt the frontline war.

Hearing this, He Jianlan stared blankly, gazing at Li Hao’s small face, her heart tightening as if gripped by an invisible hand.

This child had nearly been assassinated because of the Yanbei war—and yet he still worried about affecting that front. He was so thoughtful, it broke her heart.

But the assassination had been too public; concealing it was impossible.

News reached Yanbei’s border soon after.

Xing Wu Hou, deep in military planning at his camp, flew into a rage; Ji Qingqing was equally furious. They immediately understood the demons’ intent: to use Li Hao’s death to shake morale and force them to abandon the Yanbei battlefield.

The moment they withdrew, a thunderous assault would surely follow.

Xing Wu Hou could not abandon this battlefield. Furious, he dispatched his most trusted confidant that very day to return to the mansion and guard Li Hao personally.

News came from within the mansion: the assassination had been thwarted by a hidden guardian near Li Hao.

But Xing Wu Hou knew—he had not sent anyone to secretly guard Li Hao.

Shanhe Courtyard had its own guards, and was located deep within the Divine General’s Mansion. He never imagined anyone would dare assassinate a child.

If Li Hao had shown extraordinary martial talent, he might have worried—and sent hidden guards to prevent the Li family’s future prodigy from being snuffed out in infancy.

But a child with no martial talent posed no threat. And yet, even he nearly died.

And all of this was because of this damned stalemate.

Several days later, on the Yanbei battlefield, the Li family army launched a thunderous strike, wiping out a nest of demons overnight. The news spread, making every demon feel the Li family’s fury.

…………

Time eventually settled into quiet.

Half a year passed; Li Hao turned seven.

The assassination was half a year in the past; no one in the mansion mentioned it anymore.

The elite warrior sent back from the army by Xing Wu Hou had accompanied Li Hao constantly for these six months—a tall, middle-aged man, stern-faced, cautious and meticulous, named Li Fu.

It was said Li Fu had been an abandoned infant, taken in by the Li family. At the time, some said his fate was tragic, but to have been left at the doorstep of the Divine General’s Mansion was a sign of great fortune, so he was given the Li surname and named Fu.

In his youth, Li Fu grew up alongside Xing Wu Hou in Shanhe Courtyard.

He was seven or eight years older than Xing Wu Hou, treating him like an elder brother in daily life, yet in the military, they held superior-subordinate roles.

Li Fu was also one of Xing Wu Hou’s most trusted right-hand men.

“Fu Bo, you lost again.”

In the pavilion, after a game of weiqi ended, Li Hao grinned.

Li Fu’s stern face showed a trace of helplessness: “I’m your father’s generation. You should call me Uncle.”

“But ‘Fu Uncle’ sounds like ‘Fool’—I only want to win at chess, not admit defeat.” Li Hao pouted.

Li Fu had no reply—because of this stupid pun, he’d been promoted to “Grandpa.”

“You can call me Li Uncle.”

“But here’s the Li family—too many Lis. If I call you Li Uncle, I won’t know who you are.” Li Hao said.

Li Fu sighed again.

“I say you shouldn’t have been named Fu. Since everyone says you’re lucky… you should’ve been named Li You.”

Li Hao spoke seriously: “Look, ‘Li You’ sounds so much better—you have, you have, everything belongs to you—perfectly matching ‘Wuque’!”

Li Fu almost wanted to tap his little head. Unlike Xing Wu Hou’s rigid nature, this son was slick and cheeky.

“Stop talking nonsense. If your father were here, he’d beat you senseless—disrespectful brat.” Li Fu scolded sternly.

“But he’s not here.” Li Hao replied casually.

Li Fu was about to reprimand him, to curb his growing insolence, but hearing that offhand remark, his heart trembled.

When Xing Wu Hou had marched off to war, Li Fu had gone with him—he knew that Li Hao was seven this year, and that the Marquis had been in Yanbei for seven years.

The Yanbei situation had trapped Ji Qingqing, who had originally come to swiftly conclude the campaign, preventing her from returning home, unable to leave her husband in danger.

This child, without parents for seven years—surely he must be lonely? Li Fu felt a pang of pity, softened, and sighed: “Your father has his own burdens. Don’t blame him.”

“I’ve never blamed him.” Li Hao said seriously.

Li Fu looked into his eyes, warmth spreading in his chest, and said: “You’re very mature.”

Mature? Li Hao grinned.

At that moment, a half-grown figure returned to Shanhe Courtyard.

Li Hao turned and saw Bian Ruxue returning from the training ground.

The little girl had grown into a young girl; her youthful face now clearly revealed beauty.

“Why are you back so early? Hungry?” Li Hao called out with a smile.

Bian Ruxue saw Li Hao, walked over holding her sword, her expression gloomy: “I’m not hungry.”

“What’s wrong? Someone upset you?” Li Hao teased.

Bian Ruxue clenched her teeth, turned her face away, and said nothing.

Li Hao had asked idly, but seeing her reaction, he raised an eyebrow: “Tell me what happened.”

“Nothing.” Bian Ruxue stood, hugged her sword, and ran off to her usual sword-practice spot.

Li Hao thought for a moment, called over the female attendant who trained with her, and asked: “What’s wrong with Xue’er?”

“My lord, Miss Xue’er sparred with someone on the training ground and lost.” The attendant, though aware Li Hao was a martial waste, still spoke respectfully, with Li Fu present.

“That’s all?”

Li Hao relaxed: “So she lost once? Victory and defeat are common for warriors. Just win next time. Can’t she handle losing?”

The attendant hesitated, lowered her head: “No, my lord. The one who defeated Miss Xue’er was cruel—he mocked you right in front of her. That’s why she’s so angry.”

“Huh?” Li Hao hadn’t expected his name to be involved. So the little girl was fighting for him? He glanced toward the distance—the girl was already practicing her sword, her expression furious.

His eyes flickered slightly; he told the attendant: “I understand. You may go.”

(End of Chapter)