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Northern Yan border, Yuan Yue City.
Within the city, a melancholic atmosphere prevailed, and outside, the ground was scarred and cratered. In a mountain forest, a hundred miles away, enormous figures of varying shapes lurked, heavily shrouded in shadows, along with slender figures with human appearances, sitting cross-legged on the peaks.
The ground was stained with blood, corpses lay like a charnel forest, and strips of skin hung loosely from branches and rocks like tattered cloth.
At this moment, a beautiful young woman was holding another hand covered in armor while gnawing on the fingers, her lips stained with fresh blood, yet she paid no mind.
Suddenly, a black dot appeared in the sky, speeding toward them. As it drew closer, it became clear that it was a three-clawed black bird over ten meters long.
It retracted its form and, upon landing, transformed into a graceful young man, his head covered with a black scarf, who walked lightly toward the group seated there, stopping before a young man in white garments with a long qin resting on his knees.
This young man gently plucked the qin strings, emitting a lingering soundwave, while his gaze was fixed in the distance on the city, which looked like a foul rock.
It seemed that one could vaguely see dark clouds gathering over the city and indistinct figures standing on its walls.
"Monarch Bai,"
the black-scarfed youth slightly clasped his fists, respectfully addressing the young man in white, "We just received news that the useless flesh breed we sent earlier failed and alerted the Divine General Mansion. The whole mansion is now on high alert, and it's said that there's a master secretly protecting that child."
"How could it fail? Useless thing!"
An imposing and towering figure beside him scowled, slightly baring sharp teeth that did not resemble those of a human.
"Weren't they supposed to have already infiltrated that child's side?" The beautiful woman chewing on an arm frowned, also pausing her chew, and looked at the youth with the black scarf.
"It's been half a month; his identity definitely wasn't exposed, yet such a long time and still no chance to strike?"
A young man with yellow eyebrows furrowed his brows and said, "To prevent misinformation from the Divine General Mansion, the Marquis deliberately concealed the child's real situation. We specifically sent this Zhou Tian Realm flesh breed. If it struck with a punch at close range, not even a Ten Layers Universal Force Realm could escape. Even if there was a master protecting nearby, they wouldn't react in time, right?"
The young man with the black scarf sighed, "The exact process is unknown; who would have thought that thing was so useless."
"Hmph, they not only failed but also alerted the Divine General Mansion. Once this news reaches Li Tiangang, he will definitely assign more people to protect him, damn thing!" The stout man grumbled again in anger.
The black-scarfed youth nodded slightly, "If we were to attempt another assassination, it would likely be even more difficult. Speaking of which, since the flesh breed failed, its family doesn't need to be kept alive. Let the little ones below enjoy them."
"They were devoured long ago."
The beautiful woman bit off another finger and said while chewing.
The black-scarfed youth fell silent and looked toward the white-clothed youth who had stopped playing the qin, his eyes revealing a hint of respect, "Monarch Bai, what should we do next, attack directly?"
The others also looked toward him, awaiting his instructions.
Monarch Bai's emotions seemed relatively unchanged; he gazed toward Yuan Yue City, speaking softly, "This Li Family, they are truly a tough nut to crack; a direct assault would cause too much loss for us."
"Indeed, those guys refuse to put in any effort, truly bastards," the imposing figure grumbled in displeasure.
"Do we have to attempt an assassination?" asked the youth with the black scarf.
Monarch Bai turned to look at him, asking, "What do you think?"
...
...
Since Li Hao was attacked, the Divine General Mansion's vigilance had become even tighter.
He Jianlan had summoned powerful figures from the inner courtyard to oversee the front courtyard, thoroughly inspecting every house servant who had entered the mansion in the past three years.
The event caused a massive stir, but each courtyard cooperated actively because this assassination attempt was too perilous, and everyone feared it might happen to their own children.
Through the Li Family's intelligence network, it was uncovered that the assassination was actually linked to the demons over in Northern Yan.
Li Hao approached his aunt, expressing his desire for her to conceal the news of this assassination attempt, preventing it from reaching Northern Yan or the ears of that couple, to avoid disrupting the front line's battle conditions.
Hearing Li Hao's request, He Jianlan was initially taken aback, and as she looked at Li Hao's young face, something seemed to tug at her heart.
This child had nearly been assassinated due to the Northern Yan conflict, yet he was still worried about affecting that side, so understanding that it was heart-wrenching.
However, the news of the assassination was too significant to hide.
It wasn't long before the Northern Yan border received the news.
The Marquis of Punishment, pondering strategies in the military camp, was furious, and Ji Qingqing was likewise enraged. They promptly discerned the demons' intention, realizing that the plan was to use Li Hao's death to shake their army's morale, forcing them temporarily away from the Northern Yan battlefront.
If they left immediately, a massive attack would undoubtedly follow.
The Marquis of Punishment could not afford to abandon the battlefield, and amidst his fury, he dispatched his trusted aides from his side to return to the mansion and personally protect Li Hao.
Word from within the mansion conveyed that the assassination had been thwarted by those secretly watching over Li Hao.
However, the Marquis of Punishment knew that he had not assigned anyone to guard Li Hao secretly.
The Mountain and River Courtyard was well-guarded, situated within the Divine General Mansion itself; he had never imagined anyone would attempt to assassinate a child.
If Li Hao had displayed astonishing martial arts talent, he might have taken precautions, secretly assigning someone to protect him to prevent the premature death of a future prodigy of the Li Family, withering in its cradle.
But a child with no martial arts talent, posing no threat, still nearly fell victim.
And all of this, because of the damned stalemate they faced.
Days later, on the Northern Yan battlefield, the Li Family Army launched a swift attack, clearing out a demon nest overnight. The news spread, letting all demons feel the wrath of the Li Family.
...
...
In the end, life gradually returned to normal.
Half a year passed, and Li Hao turned seven.
The news of the assassination attempt was already half a year old, and by now no one within the mansion mentioned it.
The powerful figure sent back from the army by the Marquis of Punishment followed Li Hao at all times during these six months. He was a tall, middle-aged man, unsmiling, meticulous and careful, named Li Fu.
It was said that Li Fu was an abandoned baby years ago, taken in by the Li Family. At the time, some said that even though the child's fate seemed tragic, finding shelter at the threshold of the Divine General Mansion was a fortune in itself, so he was given the surname Li, a single name, Fu.
In the early days, within the Mountain and River Courtyard, Li Fu grew up accompanying the Marquis of Punishment.
He was some seven or eight years older than the Marquis of Punishment and treated him with brotherly care, though in the army, they were in a superior-subordinate relationship.
Simultaneously, Li Fu was also the Marquis of Punishment's right-hand man, one of the most trusted individuals.
"Uncle Fu, you lost again."
In the pavilion, after a game of chess, Li Hao said with a cheerful smile.
Li Fu's solemn expression involuntarily showed a trace of helplessness, "I am considered your father's peer, you should call me uncle."
"But calling you Uncle Fu sounds like I'm saying 'concede.'" Li Hao pouted, "I only want to win in chess, I don't like conceding."
Li Fu was rendered speechless, realizing that this silly homophony led to his senior status being dismissed.
"You can also call me Uncle Li."
"But this is the Li Family; there are too many with the Li surname. If I call you Uncle Li, I'm afraid you wouldn't know who I meant," Li Hao replied.
Li Fu felt a bit exasperated.
"I should say, Uncle Fu, you shouldn't have been named Fu. Since they say you have fortune... you should be called Li You."
Li Hao earnestly suggested, "Look, isn't the name Li You pleasant? You have, you have, it implies completeness!"
Li Fu had the urge to tap his little head; unlike the conscientious and serious nature of the Marquis of Punishment, his son was rather cheeky.
"Stop with your nonsense, if your father were here, he would surely scold you thoroughly, so impertinent." Li Fu sternly scolded.
"The issue, he is not," Li Hao said casually.
Li Fu was about to reprimand him to prevent his behavior from getting out of hand, but upon hearing the offhand comment, something in his heart trembled.
Back when the Marquis of Punishment went on campaign, Li Fu accompanied him, naturally aware that this year Li Hao turned seven, and the Marquis had been in Northern Yan for seven years as well.
The situation in Northern Yan prevented Ji Qingqing, who initially accompanied him for a quick victory, from returning, unable to leave her husband in danger.
The child, without parental presence for seven years, must be feeling very sad, right?
Li Fu felt a twinge of pity and softened, sighing, "Your father has his difficulties; don't blame him."
"I've never blamed him," Li Hao seriously replied.
Li Fu looked into his eyes, a warmth emerging in his heart, feeling a sense of relief, and said, "You are very understanding."
*Understanding?* Li Hao grinned.
Just then, a young figure returned to the Mountain and River Courtyard.
Li Hao turned to look, recognizing Bian Ruxue, who had just returned from training at the martial arts field.
The young girl, once a little girl, now showed traces of youthful elegance on her tender face.
"Why are you back so early today, feeling hungry?" Li Hao waved with a smile.
Bian Ruxue saw Li Hao, hugged her sword, and walked over, her expression somewhat sullen, only saying, "I'm not hungry."
"What, did someone upset you?" Li Hao teased.
Bian Ruxue clenched her teeth slightly, turned her head away, and said nothing.
Initially, it was a casual question, but seeing this, he raised an eyebrow slightly, "Tell me, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing." Bian Ruxue got up, hugging her sword, and ran off to her usual sword practice spot.
Li Hao contemplated, then called upon the maid who accompanied her in practice, asking, "What's wrong with Xue'er?"
"Young master, Miss Xue'er lost in a swordsmanship contest at the martial arts field," the maid replied respectfully, though aware of the young master's reputation for being a martial arts failure, she remained polite because Li Fu was present.
"Just this little thing?"
Li Hao relaxed, "It's just one defeat. For a Martial Artist, victory and defeat are common in the Military School; there will be another chance to win. Why, she can't take losing?"
The maid hesitated for a moment, lowered her head, and said, "No, young master. The one who defeated Miss was rather vile, even belittling the young master in front of her, which is why Miss was so upset."
"Ah?" Li Hao hadn't expected it involved him. So this little one was trying to stand up for him?
Li Hao glanced at the distance, where the young girl was already practicing her sword, yet her manner appeared quite incensed.
His gaze flickered slightly, and he told the maid, "I understand, you may leave for now."
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