Chapter 14: The Most Vulnerable Place

What in the world? The Thin Youth’s mind went blank for a split second, unable to tell who the real assassin was.

But the crushing pressure on his throat snapped him awake. He stared in terror at the small boy before him.

What kind of monster was this?

Just seven years old — and yet possessed of such terrifying strength. Even a Strength Integration Realm cultivator at the peak of their tenth level, augmented by the Divine Blood Revival of that侯 (Hou), shouldn’t be this powerful!

“Who sent you to assassinate me?” Li Hao fixed him with a piercing gaze, his mind racing through fragments of information. Chess — the boy had used chess as a way to get close. That meant his sole purpose in coming to the Divine General’s Residence was murder.

The Thin Youth remained silent. The child before him displayed power and mental maturity far beyond any ordinary six-year-old.

He’d thought he was dealing with a weak, useless little thing — but instead, he’d uncovered something monstrous.

“You’re not a wasted martial artist hiding your cultivation,” the Thin Youth narrowed his eyes. “Is this your own doing… or your father’s orders?”

Now that the assassination had failed, and with death pressing down on him from the grip around his throat, he suddenly grew calm. He knew he was already doomed.

Assassinating a direct bloodline heir within the Divine General’s Residence was a nine-out-of-ten death mission. And now, he’d failed.

“You know my father?” Li Hao’s eyes flickered.

“Come now,” the Thin Youth sneered coldly. “Who in this world doesn’t know Xing Wuhou? He now guards the borderlands. Not long ago, he summoned martial practitioners from across the江湖 (Jianghu) to Yanbei to assist in pacifying demons. A single call, and a hundred answered. His reputation is unmatched.”

Pacifying demons? Li Hao frowned. So the situation in Yanbei had deteriorated to such a point that even the江湖 had to be called in?

“You were sent by my Second Lady?” Li Hao asked.

The Thin Youth blinked, then suddenly understood — a flicker of mockery flashed in his eyes.

“You’ve been assassinated before? I didn’t think the Iron-Clad General’s Mansion harbored such corruption within. No wonder you pretend to be useless. But tell me — I didn’t see you training. How many hours a day do you practice?”

I’ve been training with you all along… Li Hao stared into his eyes with calm detachment. “You answer my question first. Then I’ll answer yours. That’s how it works — a fair exchange.”

The Thin Youth raised an eyebrow, then let out a soft laugh. This child was truly fascinating.

“Either way, I’m dead. You’ve ruined my mission. My family’s gone. Why would I tell you anything?” He sneered lightly.

Li Hao said, “Because I see you don’t want to die. You’re afraid. And death comes in many forms. I can give you a painless one.”

The Thin Youth’s smile vanished. He fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: “The one who sent me… was…”

Suddenly, his arm trembled — and he launched a punch straight at Li Hao’s head.

Li Hao tilted his head slightly — effortlessly dodged — and didn’t strike back. He simply stared coldly.

The Thin Youth felt his heart sink into the abyss. The gap between them… was this huge?

He, a Circulation Realm powerhouse, felt like a child in front of this boy — completely exposed, utterly transparent.

The sheer contempt in those eyes crushed him. He lowered his fist, defeated.

“You’re a monster.”

“Speak,” Li Hao said coldly. “You know we’re the General’s Clan. We’ve captured countless prisoners, tortured countless criminals. The methods we use — you can’t even imagine. The pain is endless. If I wanted, I could give you a quick death. But I won’t, unless you tell me.”

A flicker of fear crossed the Thin Youth’s eyes. He knew the child wasn’t lying. His stomach twisted with dread.

“If I tell you… will you let me live?” he asked, his voice tinged with desperate hope — clinging to the idea that this child might still be innocent.

“Yes,” Li Hao replied.

Spit! The Thin Youth almost choked. So quick? So damn sincere? You’re lying through your teeth — are you even trying? He let out a bitter laugh.

“Fine. It doesn’t matter now. The mission failed. My family’s dead. I came from Yanbei. The one who sent me… was the White Godlord.”

“The White Godlord?”

“That’s right. One of the Three Demon Gods of the Demonic Realm in Yanbei. His power is terrifying — and your father’s long-time enemy.”

The Thin Youth’s gaze was heavy with complex emotion.

“Your father is a genius on the battlefield. The Li Clan army fights like demons — fearless and relentless. Yanbei should’ve already fallen. But now, the front lines are frozen. So the White Godlord sent me to assassinate you — not just to kill you, but to spread the news of your death throughout the Divine General’s Residence… and beyond, all the way to the Yanbei border. If your father hears of it… his morale will shatter. If he abandons the battlefield to return… Yanbei will fall. And the Spirit Beast hordes will pour through.”

He stared hard at Li Hao.

No one knew — this child was the single most critical factor in the survival of tens of thousands of people across Yanbei.

Li Hao was stunned. So it was all because of Yanbei.

The war there had reached even this distant, secluded residence — thousands of miles away.

“Your father guards Yanbei. He’s battle-hardened, flawless in every way — untouchable. But you… you’re their only weakness. The most vulnerable place.”

Only by striking at you could they break your parents. Only by killing you could they breach the Yanbei frontier.

Li Hao remained silent, absorbing the words. After a long pause, he finally said, “You’re human. Why serve the Spirit Beasts?”

The Thin Youth froze. He paused, then looked at Li Hao with a quiet, bitter gaze — eyes filled with envy, hatred.

"Not everyone is as lucky in life as you. You wouldn’t understand."

"Is that so?" Li Hao remained calm. "I was born without parents beside me. I was betrayed by those closest to me. And now, I’m being hunted because of my parents. Tell me — do I seem lucky to you?"

The Thin Youth opened his mouth — then closed it. He wanted to speak, but words failed him.

Li Hao said nothing more. “I promised you — I’d let you die painlessly.”

“Hmph. You’re… surprisingly kind,” the Thin Youth forced a bitter laugh, still mocking.

No matter how many words he spoke, the end was inevitable. He was afraid — deeply afraid. That’s why he’d sold himself to the Spirit Beasts in the first place.

Li Hao didn’t seem to hear the mockery. “Actually, I don’t want to kill you.”

“Oh?” The Thin Youth’s eyes narrowed with disbelief.

“Because your chess skill is good,” Li Hao said seriously.

The Thin Youth froze.

After a long silence, he finally managed a weak, bitter smile. “But… I’ve never beaten you.”

“Next life,” Li Hao said, his hand beginning to tighten, “don’t train in martial arts. Just play chess. At least then, you’ll live longer. And easier.”

The Thin Youth tried to struggle — but when he met Li Hao’s cold, composed eyes, all hope vanished. He let out a hollow, resigned laugh.

“You’re a strange child.”

In the end, Li Hao crushed him.

As the life drained from him, the Thin Youth fought desperately — but it was futile.

Only after the assassin was dead did Li Hao remember: he still didn’t know the man’s real name.

And the servant identity he’d used to infiltrate the residence? That name had been granted by the Li family itself.

But… it didn’t matter.

—

—

The body was gone. Li Hao called for a servant — who nearly fainted from shock.

That night, the entire Divine General’s Residence trembled.

Lights flared across every courtyard. Ladies who had already gone to sleep rushed out in their robes, eyes wide with alarm. When they saw the corpse of the assassin slumped over the chess table, their faces paled in horror.

How could a killer have slipped into the Divine General’s Residence?

He Jianlan, usually so composed and dignified, lost her poise entirely. She rushed forward, clutching Li Hao tightly, frantically checking him from head to toe.

“Are you hurt? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Auntie,” Li Hao said gently.

Only after confirming he was unharmed did she relax. Then she questioned him carefully. And Li Hao delivered the rehearsed story — flawless, believable.

“The assassin attacked. At the last moment, an old man appeared and killed him. Then he vanished.”

Li Hao thought: If the residence could be breached by one assassin, making up a mysterious old man shouldn’t be hard. After all — you didn’t even know who the assassin was. Why would you know about other masters?

Hearing this, He Jianlan’s heart jolted. A suspicion formed — Was it Xing Wuhou, secretly sending a top warrior? Or… perhaps one of the elders of the clan?

She suppressed her thoughts. She didn’t doubt Li Hao’s words. After all, no matter how mature he seemed, he was still just under seven — a child who hadn’t even stepped onto the martial path.

Without a master’s secret protection, he would have died instantly.

Then, she sent Xuejian to take Li Hao and the little Bian Ruxue to the Changchun Courtyard to rest — to calm their nerves.

She remained behind, sitting in the grand hall of the Mountain and River Courtyard. She summoned the servant who had accompanied Li Hao during their chess games, as well as the first servant who had answered his call — and began a meticulous interrogation.

At the same time, she dispatched elite guards to examine the corpse.

Soon, the servants’ testimonies came in.

When the assassin had entered the residence. How he displayed his chess talent in front of the Mountain and River Courtyard’s servant. How he’d tried to build rapport — all meticulously planned.

Clearly, he’d researched Li Hao thoroughly. Chess was the bait — the perfect method to get close.

Later that night, the autopsy results arrived.

The assassin was a Circulation Realm cultivator — around third or fourth level.

Outside the residence, that was a respectable cultivation level. A skilled wanderer, capable of earning a name in the江湖, even doing heroic deeds. But here — in the Divine General’s Residence, where masters and elites abounded — he was nothing more than an ordinary, forgettable presence.

Yet — killing a six-year-old child? That level was more than enough. It was like using a great sword to kill a fly.

And worse — he’d consumed a special elixir, one that sealed his Qi sensitivity. That was why no one had sensed him.

Hearing this, every lady in the residence felt cold dread.

If today’s target had been one of our own children… we’d have lost them without a chance.

A child, suddenly attacked by a Circulation Realm killer — it was unthinkable.

Liu Yuerong, who had previously entertained idle suspicions, finally let go of her doubts.

Even if Li Hao’s Divine Blood hadn’t been erased, he could never have killed this assassin alone.

So the couple, though far away at the frontier, had clearly prepared for their child’s safety.

Thinking this, she shivered inwardly. My own attempt to poison him — no one else would know. It happened in the Water Splendor Courtyard, and my own court has strong guards…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end