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Chapter 120: Dragon Pass Road
Chapter 120: Dragon Pass Road
Bian Ruxue lifted her head slightly.
What she saw was the warm, smiling young man by the campfire.
However, she felt that although his smile remained the same, there seemed to be a great distance between them.
But this feeling vanished in an instant, as if it were just an illusion.
She thought of the sword.
Her restless heart suddenly found a place to rest.
She thought of the ultimate legendary sword technique at the peak of the Sword Dao.
She said softly, "Brother Hao, your talent is better than mine. Perhaps you will reach that peak before I do."
"Maybe not."
Li Hao spread his hands slightly and said, "As you can see, I don't even have a sword."
"..."
Bian Ruxue was taken aback, then she laughed bitterly.
A swordsman without a sword was no longer a swordsman.
But the exquisite and unparalleled sword technique Li Hao had displayed during his battle with Li Tiangang still lingered in her mind.
How could such a supreme sword technique and overwhelming sword intent come from someone who seemed indifferent to swords?
It seemed that it had always been this way since he was young.
What does Brother Hao really care about?
At that moment, a figure silently descended from the treetops and landed on the ground by the campfire, interrupting Bian Ruxue's thoughts. Her puzzled gaze instantly cleared as she looked over.
She saw an old man in a green robe, with white hair and beard, his hair tied up carelessly with an old wooden hairpin.
He sat down on a log by the campfire, fanning the aroma of the roasted tiger meat towards his nose and said with a sigh, "Without any seasoning, you can still make such a delicious meal. It's a shame you didn't become a chef!"
"I would if I had the chance."
Li Hao smiled.
"Is it done?"
"Ready to eat."
Hearing this, Feng Boping didn't hesitate, picking up a roasted tiger paw and blowing on it.
The tiger paw had been cut with several slits, and salt and wild herbs Li Hao had collected along the way had been sprinkled inside and mashed, then spread into the meat. Now, as it roasted, the flavors had seeped into the meat.
Feng Boping ate with no regard for his image, juice dripping down his chin.
Li Hao smiled, drew Ren Qianqian's sword, and used it as a meat cleaver.
He cut a few slices, then picked up some leaves to use as plates, handing one to Ren Qianqian.
"Thank you, Young Master", Ren Qianqian said with a gentle smile, taking it in both hands.
Li Hao did the same with another tiger paw, placing the meat on a large mulberry leaf and gesturing to Bian Ruxue.
Bian Ruxue, who had been traveling and chasing for days without proper food or rest, felt her stomach rumble at the enticing aroma. She walked over and took the leaf, looking at it briefly before breaking off a twig to use as chopsticks and picking up a piece of meat.
"This is really delicious!"
As soon as the tiger meat touched her tongue, Bian Ruxue's eyes widened in surprise. The taste was truly exquisite.
She had cultivated in the Sword Hut, rarely enjoying such delicacies. According to her master, indulging in pleasure would surely corrupt the Sword Heart, leaving no room for the sword in one's heart, only room for food, drink, and entertainment.
Therefore, the food in the Sword Hut was always quite simple.
"Enjoy it while it's good."
Li Hao smiled.
He picked up another tiger paw, cut it in half, and threw a piece to Little White Fox. He then blew on the remaining piece and started to eat it.
"Who is this senior?"
Bian Ruxue, while eating, looked curiously at Feng Boping. She wondered when Li Hao had met such a profound old man.
"My name is not something you need to know."
Feng Boping chuckled and ignored her, continuing to eat and drink.
He had a flask of wine at his waist. After drinking, he passed it to Li Hao.
Li Hao didn't hesitate, taking a bite of meat and a sip of wine. The spicy taste and meat aroma filled his mouth, and he exclaimed in satisfaction!
Seeing Li Hao like this, Bian Ruxue was somewhat dazed. Drinking seemed to be something only rough men did, and although most men enjoyed alcohol, Li Hao was still so young.
"Brother Hao, you should drink a little less..." Bian Ruxue couldn't help but say.
Feng Boping laughed loudly. "Little Rat, your fiancée hasn’t even crossed the threshold yet, and she’s already trying to manage you."
Li Hao, however, merely smiled faintly and didn’t respond, continuing to eat and drink.
Bian Ruxue’s cheeks turned a delicate shade of red. Seeing that Li Hao wouldn’t be swayed, she stopped trying to persuade him and lowered her head, eating her meat politely.
In the dark forest, sparks flickered in the night.
The long night was silent.
After they had eaten their fill, everyone settled down to rest.
Li Hao lay comfortably by the campfire, his expression peaceful and content, a faint smile lingering on his lips.
Bian Ruxue sat by the fire, occasionally adding a log to keep it burning. She would glance at the young man from time to time, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Clearly, they had just left the Divine General Manor, and he had been severely injured, even breaking ties with his father... yet why did he look so at ease in his sleep?
What was he dreaming about? Who was in his dreams?
The girl couldn’t know. She slowly withdrew her gaze and stared at the dancing embers of the campfire, lost in thought...
Birds fluttered in the forest as the dawn light gradually broke through the darkness.
The campfire had gone out.
A new day had begun.
At the edge of the forest, on the Liangzhou highway, Li Hao bid farewell to Bian Ruxue, telling her to return home and not to worry.
Bian Ruxue, having said her piece, didn’t insist further. She picked up her sword, turned back three times, but saw that the young man had already moved on. She didn’t look back again and walked straight along the path she had come, returning home.
Deep down, she felt a subtle sense of relief.
Since Li Hao didn’t need her company, she could now focus entirely on pursuing her Sword Dao.
"Brother Hao, I will climb to the peak of the Sword Dao and tell you what I see..."
The girl murmured to herself, her gaze gradually steadying.
...
...
Following the highway, the cypress trees gradually thinned out. In some places, the cypresses had clearly been destroyed and crushed, but no one had bothered to replant them.
The highway itself was increasingly dilapidated, with cracks and deep indentations, as if a giant python had passed through, leaving its mark.
"Beyond here lies Dragon Pass Road."
Feng Boping’s eyes also grew slightly more serious.
Dragon Pass Road extended from the border highway like a sharp spike, stretching for thousands of miles to Heavenly Gate Pass, where the Li Family’s garrison was stationed in Cangya City.
Dragon Pass Road was the only route to Heavenly Gate Pass, a long and arduous path that even on horseback took a full day to traverse. It had been forged thousands of years ago by the Dayu Empire’s first emperor, who had led the Li Family’s ancestor to conquer this land step by step.
With this road, the Dayu army could advance swiftly to the borders of the Beilin Kingdom, which was one of the six neighboring countries subjugated by Dayu and had become a vassal state. However, as the Dayu Dynasty declined, these vassal states seemed to be growing increasingly restless.
Li Hao gazed into the distance, faintly seeing a broad white road stretching straight ahead.
"Here so soon."
Li Hao sighed and continued forward.
Before long, they encountered an old man and his grandson carrying baskets of herbs on the highway.
Although Li Hao, Little White Fox, and Ren Qianqian were walking leisurely, their pace was still faster, and they gradually caught up and passed the pair.
The old man and his grandson noticed Li Hao and Ren Qianqian from a distance, their eyes filled with caution and even a hint of nervousness. Despite the highway being wide and empty, they instinctively moved to the side to avoid them.
Once they saw that Li Hao ignored them, the two breathed a sigh of relief.
They trudged along slowly in the distance, careful not to appear suspicious.
But this behavior struck Li Hao as peculiar. The people here seemed to be extremely wary and fearful of strangers.
"Young man, are you planning to go further?"
Just as they were about to enter Dragon Pass Road, an elderly voice called out from behind.
Li Hao stopped, turned his head, and looked at the grandfather and grandson with a slight surprise. He didn't expect them to initiate a conversation. Smiling, he said, "Can't go forward?"
The Master, with his basket full of medicinal herbs, glanced at Li Hao and then at Ren Qianqian. He thought to himself that these two were likely not Demons but rather young descendants of a noble family out to hone their skills.
He sighed inwardly and said to Li Hao, "Young man, if you go any further, you'll reach Dragon Pass Road."
"Hmm?"
Li Hao looked at him with a hint of confusion.
Seeing that Li Hao still didn't understand, the Master sighed and continued, "Once you reach Dragon Pass Road, you can't go any further. It's infested with Demons!"
"Demons?"
Li Hao was taken aback and exchanged a glance with Ren Qianqian. He asked, "Isn't Dragon Pass Road still within the borders of Dayu? The Demons should be beyond Heavenly Gate Pass at the end of the road."
"Heavenly Gate Pass?"
The Master was momentarily stunned but then shook his head. "There is no Heavenly Gate Pass anymore. All that remains is a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, with a thick stench of decay and death."
As he spoke, he glanced at the sky, realizing it was getting late. He immediately said, "Young man, I understand your desire to slay demons and uphold justice. It's good to have a noble heart, but this is no place for you to play hero. You should leave as soon as possible. Once it gets dark, even the official road won't be safe..."
With that, he took his grandson's hand and continued walking forward, carrying the basket of herbs on his back.
Only the young grandson, carrying a small basket, occasionally looked back.
After they had walked a kilometer away, the young grandson suddenly said, "Grandpa, they seem to have gone in."
"What?"
The Master was startled and turned to look, but the road was empty, with no sign of the young couple.
He couldn't help but sigh, "A good word is hard to convince those who seek death."
...
On Dragon Pass Road, Li Hao and Ren Qianqian continued their leisurely walk.
But not long after, Li Hao's expression changed, and he stopped, looking in the direction the grandfather and grandson had gone.
"Master Li?"
Ren Qianqian was puzzled.
Li Hao didn't speak, just scanned the area and spotted a wooden stick. He bent down to pick it up and, using this rough stick, casually flicked out a sword energy!
The sword energy was as gentle as a breeze, passing silently but swiftly across the road.
It was like a gentle wind stirring, sweeping past the grandfather and grandson who were still walking slowly and laboriously, lifting the hair at their temples as if a warm breeze had blown from behind them.
The breeze continued for over twenty miles ahead.
There, a Demon resembling a crocodile was crouched by the roadside, waiting to strike.
Suddenly, a gentle wind swept along the road.
The Demon seemed to sense something, its pupils narrowing, and just as it was about to move, its body stiffened.
Then, from its forehead to its body, it split open, blood and entrails scattering everywhere...
...
Li Hao smiled slightly and tossed the wooden stick to the side of the road.
He clapped his hands and continued forward.
Ren Qianqian was confused but didn't ask further. Li Hao often did strange things on the road, and she had long grown accustomed to it.
As they delved deeper into Dragon Pass Road, Li Hao encountered numerous decayed Demon bones, reduced to white skeletons, left unattended.
Along the way, he also came across Demons resting on Dragon Pass Road, treating this once-feared path as their cozy bed.
Li Hao didn't hesitate, easily dispatching these Demons without Old Feng's help.
As they walked, Li Hao's expression grew increasingly grave, finally understanding why the Master had spoken those words.
Dragon Pass Road, opened thousands of years ago, was now in a state of disrepair.
In theory, the Li Family should have had people guarding this area. Why had it fallen into such a state?
After stopping and walking several times, Li Hao finally led Ren Qianqian and Little White Fox to the end of Dragon Pass Road.
(End of Chapter)
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