Chapter 15: Defeat

Yanbei Borderland, Yuan Yue City.

The city was shrouded in gloomy, sorrowful clouds. Outside its walls, the land lay ravaged—pitted and uneven, scarred by battle. Deep within a distant peak and forest, colossal, grotesque figures lurked in various shapes. A multitude of demonic shadows, and slender, humanoid silhouettes, sat cross-legged atop the mountain ridges.

The ground was splattered with blood. Bones lay scattered like firewood. Torn, blood-stained skin hung loosely from branches and rocks, as if draped by some macabre hand.

At that moment, a beautiful young woman, her face delicate yet haunting, clutched a severed military armor-covered arm in one hand, gnawing on her fingers. Crimson blood stained her lips and cheeks, but she paid it no mind.

Suddenly, a tiny black speck streaked across the sky. As it drew near, it revealed itself—a three-clawed black bird, over ten meters long. It folded its form and landed, transforming into a slender, graceful youth in a black scarf. With light, swift steps, he approached the circle of figures and stopped before a young man in white robes, his knees cradling a long lute.

The youth plucked a single string, sending out a faint, lingering ripple of sound. His gaze remained fixed on the horizon, on the city that looked like a rotten stone—dull, lifeless, yet still standing.

Above the city, dark clouds gathered in thick, oppressive masses. On the city walls, faint, scattered figures could be seen—ghosts of resistance.

“White Godlord,” the youth in the black scarf bowed slightly, voice respectful. “I’ve just received word. The Meat Vessel I sent earlier… failed. Worse, he triggered alarms at the Divine General’s Residence. The entire household is now on high alert. Rumor has it, the Child Beside is being secretly protected by a high-level expert.”

“Failed? How could it fail?” A massive, broad-shouldered man growled, his face darkening. He parted his lips slightly, revealing sharp, unnatural fangs—clearly not human.

“Didn’t you say he’d already infiltrated the Child Beside?” The beautiful woman, still chewing, paused mid-bite, her eyes narrowing at the black-scarfed youth. “It’s been half a month. His identity couldn’t have been exposed. So why, after all this time, did he fail to find an opening?”

A young man with a yellow eyebrow frowned. “To prevent misinformation from the Divine General’s Residence, Xing Wuhou deliberately concealed the Child’s true nature. We sent a Meat Vessel from the Circulation Realm specifically. If he’d delivered a single punch at close range, even a Tongli Stage Tenth Level expert couldn’t have dodged. Not even with a master watching nearby—reaction time wouldn’t be enough.”

The black-scarfed youth exhaled a quiet breath. “Details are unknown. Who knows what kind of useless thing we sent?”

“Hmph. Failed and raised the alarm. If Li Tian’gang hears this, he’ll certainly send reinforcements. Damn waste of time,” the massive man growled again.

The youth nodded. “Next attempt will be even harder. And since the Meat Vessel failed… there’s no need to keep his family. Let the lower ones feast on them.”

“Already done,” the woman replied, biting off another finger, chewing slowly. “They’re all gone.”

The youth said nothing more. Instead, he turned to the white-robed youth, his eyes filled with quiet reverence. “White Godlord, what now? Should we launch a direct assault?”

All eyes turned to him, awaiting orders.

The White Godlord showed no visible emotion. His gaze remained locked on Yuan Yue City. He spoke softly, almost tenderly:

“This Li family… truly a stubborn bone to crack. A frontal assault would cost us too dearly.”

“Agreed,” the massive man grumbled. “Those lazy bastards refuse to lend a hand. Filthy cowards.”

“Then… should we still proceed with assassination?” the black-scarfed youth asked.

The White Godlord turned to him, eyes sharp. “What do you think?”

…

Since Li Hao’s attempted assassination, the Divine General’s Residence had tightened its defenses even further.

He Jianlan stationed elite warriors from the Inner Courtyard at the front courtyard, and had every servant who had entered the mansion within the past three years thoroughly screened.

The commotion was enormous—but all the courts complied willingly. This assassination had been too dangerous. Everyone feared it might happen to their child.

Through the Li family’s intelligence network, they traced the attack back to the Spirit Beasts of Yanbei.

Li Hao sought out his elder aunt, pleading with her to keep the assassination news from spreading to Yanbei—especially not to that couple. He didn’t want the frontline’s morale disrupted.

When he spoke, He Jianlan was stunned. For a moment, she stared at Li Hao’s small face, a strange, aching sensation gripping her chest.

This child—had nearly died from an assassination linked to Yanbei’s war, and yet he still worried about the battlefield’s stability. So responsible. So heartbreakingly mature.

But the news had already spread too wide. Concealment was impossible.

Within days, Yanbei Borderland received the report.

Xing Wuhou, deep in military planning at his camp, erupted in fury. Ji Qingqing, too, was enraged. Both instantly understood the Spirit Beasts’ intent: kill Li Hao, shake the army’s resolve, force them to abandon Yanbei.

And once they left, the enemy would strike with overwhelming force.

Xing Wuhou couldn’t abandon his position. Furious, he sent his most trusted subordinate back to the mansion that very day—charged with guarding Li Hao.

The residence reported that the assassination had been foiled by someone secretly watching over Li Hao.

But Xing Wuhou knew—he hadn’t sent anyone.

The Mountain and River Courtyard had guards. It was deep within the Divine General’s Residence. He never imagined anyone would dare attempt to assassinate a child.

If Li Hao had shown exceptional Martial Dao talent, he might have worried. He might have secretly assigned protection, to preserve the future star of the Li family.

But this child? No Martial Dao talent. No threat. Yet he’d nearly died anyway.

All because of this damned stalemate.

Days later, the Li family military camp in Yanbei launched a thunderous strike. In a single night, they wiped out a den of Spirit Beasts. The news spread like wildfire—sending shockwaves through every beast in the region. The Li family’s fury had been awakened.

…

Life, in time, slowly settled back into calm.

Half a year passed. Li Hao turned seven.

The assassination attempt was now a distant memory. No one in the mansion spoke of it anymore.

The warrior Xing Wuhou had sent back—Li Fu, a tall, solemn man in his prime, quiet and meticulous—had stayed by Li Hao’s side for the past six months.

Li Fu had once been an abandoned infant, found at the gates of the Divine General’s Residence. People said his fate was tragic, yet being found at such a place was no small fortune. So he was given the name Fu—a single character, meaning “fortune.” He took the surname Li.

Years ago, he had grown up alongside Xing Wuhou in the Mountain and River Courtyard. Though seven or eight years older, he treated Xing Wuhou like a younger brother—yet in the military, they were master and subordinate. Li Fu was Xing Wuhou’s closest confidant, his right hand.

“Uncle Fu, you lost again,” Li Hao grinned, pushing back his chess pieces after a game.

Li Fu’s stern face couldn’t hide a flicker of resignation. “I’m your father’s peer. You should call me Uncle.”

“But ‘Uncle Fu’ sounds like you lost,” Li Hao pouted. “I play to win. I don’t like losing.”

Li Fu was speechless—another petty pun, and suddenly he was three generations older.

“You can call me Uncle Li.”

“But there are too many Li’s here. If I call you Uncle Li, I’ll never know which one you are,” Li Hao said with a smirk.

Li Fu sighed again.

“Honestly, you shouldn’t have been named Fu. If you’re truly blessed… you should’ve been named Li You.”

Li Hao spoke seriously. “Li You? Now that’s a perfect name. Li You—‘Li You’—‘You have, you have.’ Everything belongs to you. It’s destiny!”

Li Fu nearly smacked his head. Unlike Xing Wuhou, who was rigid and formal, this boy was sharp-tongued, endlessly clever.

“Stop making up nonsense. If your father were here, he’d give you a good beating. No respect!”

“Problem is,” Li Hao shrugged, “he’s not here.”

Li Fu was about to scold him—teach him some manners—when that casual remark struck him like a blade.

Xing Wuhou had gone to war years ago. Li Fu had followed. Now Li Hao was seven. The侯 (Hou) had been in Yanbei for seven years.

The situation in Yanbei had trapped even Ji Qingqing—once ready to end the war quickly. She couldn’t abandon her husband in danger.

This child… hadn’t seen his parents in seven years. How lonely must he have been?

Li Fu’s heart ached. His sternness softened. He sighed.

“Your father has his burdens. Don’t blame him.”

“I never did,” Li Hao said, looking up at him, eyes serious.

Li Fu looked into those eyes. A warmth spread through him.

“You’re a good child,” he said, almost to himself.

Good? Li Hao smiled. A small, quiet smile.

Just then, a half-grown figure returned to the Mountain and River Courtyard.

Li Hao turned. It was Bian Ruxue—back from the training ground.

The little girl had blossomed into a young lady. Her youthful face still soft, yet unmistakably beautiful.

“Why are you back so early?” Li Hao grinned. “Hungry?”

Bian Ruxue approached, sword in hand. Her expression was heavy, distant.

“No. I’m not hungry.”

“Did someone upset you?” Li Hao teased.

She gritted her teeth, turned her face away, silent.

Li Hao had only meant to be playful. But seeing her mood, he raised an eyebrow.

“Tell me. What happened?”

“Nothing,” she said sharply, then turned and strode off—her sword clutched tightly, heading straight for her daily sword practice spot.

Li Hao thought for a moment, then called over the female attendant who trained with her.

“What’s wrong with Snow? Why is she so upset?”

The attendant bowed respectfully. “Young Master, Miss Bian lost a sword duel today on the training ground.”

Though Li Hao was the Wu Dao Pariah—unrecognized, even mocked—she still spoke with deference.

“Just a loss? That’s nothing,” Li Hao said, relieved. “Martial cultivators, wins and losses are part of the path. She’ll win next time. Why’s she so worked up?”

The attendant hesitated, then lowered her voice. “It’s not just that, Young Master. The one who beat her… was cruel. He mocked you right in front of her. That’s why she’s so angry.”

“Wait—me?” Li Hao blinked. So this was about him? The girl was fighting his battle?

He glanced toward the training ground. The girl was already swinging her sword, her movements sharp, furious.

A flicker passed through Li Hao’s eyes.

He turned to the attendant. “I understand. You may go.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end