Chapter 57: Surprise Attack
As dusk approached...
Li Hao and his group raced along the main road. They occasionally passed roadside tea stalls and small vendors, providing a place for weary travelers to rest from their journey.
Along the way, they encountered escort companies transporting goods, spirited heroes of the jianghu traveling together to slay monsters, and farmers working diligently in the fields next to the road, as well as small villages dotting the landscape.
The cypress trees on both sides of the road stood tall, extending toward the blue sky and white clouds above.
When they reached a tea stall, the enticing aroma of steamed buns made the riders pull on their reins.
"Shall we take a break?" Yu Wei asked eagerly.
Li Hao, hearing a rumble from Li Yuanzhao's stomach, smiled and replied, "Let's go grab a bite."
"The sun is setting soon—could it be dangerous out here?" Du Qiuyue asked, slightly concerned.
The tea stall owner, who had sharp ears, overheard and chuckled. "You needn't worry, young heroes. The four Divine General Mansions guard the borders of Great Yu, leaving no monsters within our lands. Even this old man isn’t afraid, so why should you be?"
The group turned to Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao, who then asked the owner with a smile, "Sir, isn’t it true there are five Divine General Mansions? Why did you say four?"
"Oh, there is a fifth, but I've heard it doesn't guard the borders. It’s likely stationed in the Imperial Capital," the stall owner replied with a laugh.
Du Qiuyue whispered, "It's fortunate Wang Han isn't with us. If he heard that, he’d be furious."
Yu Wei nodded in agreement. "The Mansion of Tianzhao Divine General guards the River of Death, enduring countless sacrifices, yet few know of it. Just as few recognize the Li family’s efforts at the borders, fighting monsters. People only hear about the Divine General Mansions and rarely bother distinguishing one from another."
At this, Yu Wei sighed, seemingly lamenting the lack of recognition for the Li family’s sacrifices, with a hint of admiration in his words.
Li Hao, however, showed no sign of anger. He simply nodded and said:
"The common people live hard lives, counting each scrap of silver. They have neither the leisure nor reason to look up and know these things. And even if they knew, it wouldn’t change their lives much. Our Li family defends the borders not for fame or gratitude, but because the borders need us, and the people need us."
Yu Wei, who had meant his words as praise, looked momentarily stunned, while Du Qiuyue glanced at Li Hao in mild surprise and a growing respect.
Initially, they had thought of Li Hao as just another carefree young man, but his words shattered that impression, instilling a deep sense of reverence for the authority held by the Divine General Mansion.
Beside him, Ren Qianqian, who cradled her sword, looked up at Li Hao, her gaze lingering on his refined, handsome face, with a gentler expression than before.
"Hao-ge is absolutely right," Li Yuanzhao, who had initially shown some dissatisfaction, now looked excited by Li Hao’s words.
Li Hao chuckled, patting Yuanzhao on the shoulder. "Come on, let’s go in for some tea. My treat."
"No, no, I can't let you do that. We're headed to Qizhou to slay monsters—practically a favor for my hometown. I should be the one thanking you on behalf of the people of Qizhou. I’ll cover all the expenses on this trip!"
Seizing the moment, Yu Wei quickly entered the tea stall, calling for the owner to bring tea and snacks.
"Boss, with night approaching, are you really not worried about monsters?"
Du Qiuyue poured herself a cup of tea but didn’t drink right away; instead, she took out a silver needle to test it, showing a practiced hand. After confirming it was safe, she cleaned the cups for the group.
"In some places, maybe, but this road is quite safe. I’ve been running this stall for decades and have never had any trouble," the stall owner replied with a smile.
"Your luck really is remarkable," Li Hao remarked, impressed.
In the lands of Great Yu, monster attacks were rare, but they did happen every year. For those like them, who dealt regularly with monsters, such incidents were common knowledge.
But with limited information and the slow spread of news, the average person seldom heard about these attacks unless it was a particularly sensational incident. Small-scale monster attacks often went unnoticed.
The Demon Subduing Division also played a role in this, deliberately concealing some monster-related news to prevent public panic.
After all, a peaceful populace contributed to a prosperous dynasty. If fear of monsters spread, how would merchants dare to travel, or escorts to do their jobs? Even farming could be impacted if workers were too afraid to leave their homes.
...
Before long, food and drink were served. The steamed buns were delicious, and Li Hao devoured two baskets, praising the stall owner and eagerly asking about the cooking process, much to the surprise of his companions.
Li Yuanzhao, already accustomed to Li Hao’s unconventional ways, was more curious about Ren Qianqian beside him. "Why do you always hold your sword? Isn’t it bothersome when eating?"
Du Qiuyue and Yu Wei also looked at the girl. Even when eating steamed buns, she used one hand to cradle her sword and the other to hold chopsticks.
Ren Qianqian frowned, looked up at Li Yuanzhao, and after a moment of thought, responded calmly, "The sword has become part of my body. I don’t even notice it anymore."
Du Qiuyue said admiringly, "I’ve heard that achieving Sword Heart requires constantly keeping your weapon close by. I’ve tried before, but it just doesn’t work."
"You have to love it first," Ren Qianqian replied earnestly.
"I do love it," Du Qiuyue replied with a wry smile.
Ren Qianqian glanced at her but said nothing further.
One’s heart always knows the truth of one’s affection, even if the mind doesn’t, which is why it’s called ‘engraving on the heart.’
...
After finishing their meal, the group noticed Li Hao still chatting animatedly with the stall owner. The old man looked increasingly bewildered, his secrets almost slipping under Li Hao’s questioning about dough kneading, warm water, fermentation, and removing the gaminess from meat fillings. Had it not been for Li Hao’s attire, the owner might have mistaken him for an experienced chef.
"Young hero, I suppose you’ve had enough now..." the stall owner said with a forced smile, reluctant to reveal more, lest Li Hao master his recipe.
Realizing the stall owner’s hesitation, Li Hao smiled and was about to say goodbye when his eyes suddenly narrowed.
He raised his hand, catching a flicker of black light.
The ground beneath him sank several inches from the impact.
Li Hao opened his palm to find an oval-shaped scale.
In an instant, his Divine Soul left his body, radiating like golden light. Only those in the Spiritual Wandering Realm could perceive it as it surged out from his head, traversing the heavens.
Within moments, Li Hao saw, fifteen li away, a beautiful woman with bewitching features and scales on her jawline, standing atop a tree branch, looking stunned in his direction.
Li Hao’s gaze turned icy. A demon?
Perched on the tree, the Black-Scaled Demoness stared in disbelief.
How could her scaled attack from fifteen li away fail to kill that human brat? He had caught it so effortlessly!
"I have some business to attend to. Wait here—I’ll be back soon."
With the scale in hand, Li Hao stepped out of the tea stall, addressed the four companions at the table, and vanished from sight in an instant.
Yu Wei, mid-sip, spat out his tea in shock.