Whether it be the lickspittles of the Li family, the father and son of the Li household, passersby, or the street vendors, all immediately turned pale with fear.
A thousand marauding bandits?
Wasn't the Western Yan town at the frontier of the Great Wu Dynasty facing imminent destruction?
In an instant, the street became empty, all shops slammed their doors shut, and the entire county plunged into chaos, with people fleeing in all directions.
Though Western Yan town was strategically located near the crucial trade route on the border between the Great Wu Dynasty and Western Yan Kingdom, it had long been a target for greedy and murderous bandits who thrived on plundering.
The notorious Old Blade, a ruthless figure who terrorized the trade routes between the Wind Xuan Kingdom and the Great Wu Dynasty, had instilled fear in children with his savage ways. He commanded a group of merciless outlaws numbering in the hundreds, all of whom had blood on their hands. Despite repeated military crackdowns by both countries, he had managed to escape each time. This time, however, he had rallied over a thousand bandits and set his sights on Western Yan town.
Li Da Hu's face shifted through various expressions as he said, "Let's go, back home!"
"Oh!"
Much like the fearless naivety of the ignorant, Li Xiao Bai harbored no deep fear of these desperate marauders.
No matter what happened, there were always those in higher places—officials, soldiers, or even towering figures—who would protect them. Worst case, they could pack up and flee.
The house servants and farmers, having received their pay, dispersed to take refuge with their families, and the Li family's estate quickly became a flurry of activity.
Maids and house servants bustled about, loading valuables onto carts outside the estate. Li's family, with its vast wealth, required no fewer than thirty to forty large carts, with five of them filled entirely with copper coins. The head steward, Li Fu Gui, and his brother, the second steward Li Man Cang, were working tirelessly in the heat.
Wealth and influence did not equate to the ability to fight. When the bandits arrived, even the Li family had to run.
As the third son of the Li family, Li Xiao Bai did not need to carry anything himself. He leaned against the moon gate in the inner courtyard, staring absentmindedly at his palm. The distant, scholarly voice of his second brother, Li Qing, echoed in his ears, as if the impending disaster had nothing to do with him. Li Qing, known as the bookworm of the town, was still quietly immersed in his studies.
Before Li Xiao Bai had boarded the boat with the Bai family father and daughter, the lotus drawn with simple black lines had not yet appeared. It only manifested when the monk with the name Zhi Du recited his scriptures, and with an eerie, burning sensation, it suddenly emerged.
Strange occurrences didn't end there. Deep within Li Xiao Bai's heart, a seed had mysteriously taken root. Invisible and intangible, it could be sensed, like a lotus seed.
There was also the faint, possibly imagined sound of a sword hum.
After pondering for a while, Li Xiao Bai wasn't sure whether these events were connected to the fragments of memories in his mind. However, based on his current physical state, there seemed to be no ill effects. The lotus seed in his heart and the lotus flower on his palm coexisted naturally.
"Xiao Lang!"
A call pulled Li Xiao Bai out of his thoughts as he gazed at the lotus flower in his hand.
He looked up at the man before him, whose face bore a striking resemblance to his own, and instinctively called out, "Elder Brother!"
Li Da Hu had three sons: Li Mo, the eldest; Li Qing, the second; and Li Xiao Bai, the youngest. Unless another sibling was born, Li Xiao Bai would likely be stuck with his position as the third son.
It was much like how Wang Xiao Mao's mother had three sons: Da Mao, Er Mao, and Lao San, though no one ever called the youngest "San Mao."
It seemed that Old Li was a devoted man. Since his wife passed, he had remained alone, never even considering taking a concubine to warm his bed. Aside from not chanting Buddhist scriptures, not living in a thatched hut, and enjoying some extra meals, he was essentially no different from the reclusive Zhi Du.
Li Xiao Bai had not expected his elder brother, Li Mo, who had been wandering and seeking immortality, to suddenly return.
Perhaps sensing his confusion, Li Mo smiled and said, "I'm staying for good this time, to rest at home."
Though his face bore a gentle smile, his tone was tinged with a sense of resignation.
"Did you find immortals, Elder Brother?"
In this world, there were mortals, demons, and immortals. Li Xiao Bai was deeply curious about these supernatural beings.
Li Mo paused for a moment before shaking his head with a bitter smile. "I left at thirteen to seek immortality. Now I am twenty-five. In these twelve years, I've encountered nothing but frauds. Immortals? Even if they exist, why would they look down on a mortal like me? How could someone like me recognize a true immortal? Sigh."
Fifteen years spent chasing an obsession, only to be left with a sigh of regret. The eldest son of the Li family had returned to square one, his quest for immortality nothing more than a distant memory.
"Xiao Lang! Xiao Lang! Your father wants you in the front hall! Master Wu and Miss Wu are here."
The second steward, Li Man Cang, came running from the front yard, his face drenched in sweat.
"Elder Brother!"
Li Xiao Bai cast an apologetic glance at Li Mo. Had it not been for the steward's summons, he would have been keen to hear more of his elder brother's search for immortality.
"Go on," Li Mo nodded in acknowledgment.
"We'll talk later, Elder Brother."
Li Xiao Bai followed the steward to the front hall.
"…Rest assured, Master Wu, Xiang Jun is quite safe here. The Li family may not have everything, but protecting those under our roof is something we excel at. Ah, Xiao Lang is here! Come, greet Master Wu!"
Li Da Hu's hearty voice echoed from the front hall. When he saw Li Xiao Bai, he waved him over.
"Father!"
Li Xiao Bai's gaze turned to a middle-aged man in a grey-white coarse hemp robe. He stepped forward, bowed deeply, and respectfully said, "Greetings, Master Wu!"
This was the so-called "father-in-law" who had arranged Li Xiao Bai's betrothal.
If not for the recent scandal involving peeping at Widow Jiao, followed by three days of disappearance, and the approaching threat of marauding bandits, the two families might have been preparing for the wedding by now.
Master Wu surveyed Li Xiao Bai with a slow, measured gaze and stroked his beard. "Hmm, good to be back. Let's not be reckless anymore."
He seemed unconcerned with the rumors swirling about the street.
After all, who hadn't been rebellious in their youth? Compared to Li Da Hu's "back in my day" stories, Li Xiao Bai was practically a well-behaved model child.
"Thank you, Master Wu!"
Li Xiao Bai bowed again, lifting his eyes to see not just Li Da Hu and Master Wu, but also a young woman standing nearby.
She wore a lotus green robe with water blue trim, and her hair was styled in a high cloud knot adorned with a red jade bead. She held a dark blue wax-dyed fabric bundle with rose motifs. Her skin was as fair as snow, and her delicate, oval face with slightly pointed chin was set off by sharp phoenix eyes and a refined nose. She exuded an air of elegance and composure, unlike the usual rustic women.
"Little Bai, may you be blessed!"
Upon noticing Li Xiao Bai's gaze, Wu family's young lady blushed and immediately curtsied with a modest smile.
"Xiang Jun, my lady!"
Li Xiao Bai quickly returned the gesture with a bow.
Li Da Hu truly had the heart of a good father-in-law. He had not sought a heavy-set, coarse woman for his son. Li Xiao Bai secretly sighed with relief.
If perfect were a score of one hundred, the woman before him would score ninety-nine, the one point deducted merely to avoid arrogance.
It was clear that Master Wu and his daughter had come to Li's household due to the impending threat of the bandits. Rather than risk her safety, they chose to place her under the protection of the Li family, with whom they had already arranged a marriage.
"Ha ha! Xiao Lang, make sure you take good care of Xiang Jun. The sooner you have children, the sooner the Li family will have heirs. Ha ha! In my day, I led the brothers to conquer lands, and once, we were pursued for three days and nights. It was during that time I met your mother, a beauty just like Xiang Jun. I was struck by her beauty the moment I laid eyes on her…"
Li Da Hu's rough laughter filled the air as he began reminiscing about the "good old days."
Li Xiao Bai couldn't help but wonder if the rumors about his father being a former gang leader were true, based on his alarming laughter and tendency to talk about "the good old days" as if he were a local thug.