Volume 2 - Chapter 37: The Rise of a City
With the defeat of the three Great Demon Kings, the demonic tide beyond the pass was also swiftly crushed. The creatures scattered in all directions, though most were hunted down, hacked to death by chaotic swords and blades.
The numerous grandmasters returned to camp, first paying their respects to Lu Chunsheng and Li Muxiu, and then gathering before Li Hao.
Nearly all of them were covered in blood. Some bore grievous injuries—one with a severed arm, another with a torn calf crudely bandaged. Others had ghastly wounds: an eyeball gouged out or half a face flayed by demons, leaving only a bloodied mess, hastily treated with medicinal powders.
If not for Lu Chunsheng's timely arrival, they likely would have faced total annihilation in this battle.
“We’ve won!”
Someone exclaimed, and the others visibly perked up.
Compared to their casualties, the number of demons slain was far greater.
Yet among the dead were many valiant warriors from across various provinces, who now rested here eternally.
Li Hao said nothing. He merely bowed deeply to them.
Although this operation was orchestrated and guided by the Tianji Tower, the sacrifices these people made were real and undeniable.
Lu Chunsheng didn’t linger. He told Li Hao, “I’ll wait for you at the Tianji Tower,” before turning and vanishing like a breeze.
In the distance, a group of warhorses galloped toward the camp, led by a figure clad in crimson battle armor—it was none other than Li Hongzhuang, who had returned from Qingzhou.
Seeing Li Hao’s battered, bloodied state, even Li Hongzhuang, who had witnessed countless soldiers die in battle, felt her eyes grow misty. She stepped forward and said, “I’m late!”
Li Hao shook his head slightly and replied, “Thank you for the reinforcements.”
“Why thank me?” Li Hongzhuang retorted, her eyes reddened.
Li Hao didn’t respond further but turned to Lin Qingfeng, a grandmaster standing nearby, his limbs still intact.
“Senior, may I trouble you to tally the fallen heroes? If their identities can be confirmed, all the better.”
Lin Qingfeng nodded slightly, called a few others, and left.
Li Hongzhuang interjected, “You should leave this to me.”
She turned and commanded, “Brothers, count the battlefield. Gather all our fallen comrades and try to piece together their remains as much as possible!”
“Yes!”
The Blood Fiend Army behind her answered in unison, then swiftly rode off to carry out the task.
Li Hao slumped to the ground, exhausted. The Sacred Heart Talisman in his hand had burned to ashes.
Thinking of how Chu Jiuyue had gifted him this talisman, it seemed she had foreseen today’s events.
And Lu Chunsheng, the leader of the Tianji Tower, had “coincidentally” appeared just as he activated the talisman. Everything seemed far too fortuitous.
Li Hao sat casually on the sandy ground, his legs splayed out. His gaze lingered on the distant, serene sunset. A trace of bitterness appeared on his lips.
Regardless of the circumstances, the assistance from the other side had been genuine. Without it, he would have suffered grievously today, if not perished altogether, and the promise made earlier would surely have been broken.
If Emperor Yu was indeed the old man playing chess by the riverside, Li Hao could only say that while he had won those two games back then, today’s move by the other party had struck at his lifeline with ruthless precision.
...
...
In Yuzhou’s Sacred Imperial City...
In the rear gardens of the towering imperial palace, where the snow had mostly melted, lay a sparsely snow-covered flowerbed.
One section of the flowerbed already showed new buds. This year’s harsh winter was nearing its end, signaling the arrival of spring.
“Your Majesty, the plum blossoms stand proud, and the forsythias are about to bloom,” Chu Jiuyue remarked softly, his voice deferential as he gazed at the faint yellow emerging in the flowerbed.
The snow in the garden had been meticulously cleared, and the flowerbed itself was carefully tended. Each flower seed had been selected from thousands, ensuring that only the finest varieties were planted.
“Indeed, winter is ending, and spring rain is approaching...”
Emperor Yu strolled through the garden at a measured pace. At Chu Jiuyue’s words, he paused before the flowerbed, glanced at it briefly, then lifted his gaze toward the distant horizon.
His expression flickered for a moment, and he murmured, “The matter at Tianmen Pass should be nearing its conclusion.”
Chu Jiuyue calculated the time and nodded. “In two days, news from Chunsheng should arrive.”
“This time, the intent was too obvious. That child will likely sense it.”
Emperor Yu’s lips curved slightly as he thought of the youth by the river, the one who had spoken of “worldly fame and wealth as mere dust, and prosperity as fleeting clouds.”
The boy had dared to forsake the Li family name, as if embodying his claim that “a young man should have a young man’s boldness.”
While indifferent to fame, he harbored a brash and spirited heart—a quality Emperor Yu found deeply endearing.
“Wasn’t it Your Majesty’s intention for him to realize it?” Chu Jiuyue feigned ignorance, avoiding overt flattery that might seem too shallow. Given the Emperor’s admiration for the boy, such words might also inadvertently diminish the latter.
“If he sees through it, will he harbor resentment toward Your Majesty?” Chu Jiuyue asked.
He knew that what the Emperor sought was not mere praise.
“Haha...”
Hearing this, Emperor Yu chuckled softly. “As long as it’s a plan, it follows a path, and paths can always be discerned.”
“All schemes in the world pale before genuine sincerity.”
“Only true sincerity cannot be unraveled.”
Chu Jiuyue was momentarily stunned, then glanced at the Emperor. Did this mean His Majesty was genuinely sincere toward the boy?
His gaze flickered. He wasn’t sure if this was believable.
But since the Emperor had said so, he could only believe it.
...
...
In Liangzhou’s Tianmen Pass...
Within the camp of Cangya City, the martial artists and grandmasters who had come to assist from various provinces had suffered severe losses. A third of them had fallen in battle, and another third bid farewell to Li Hao and departed.
The remaining portion chose to stay behind, planning to help Li Hao guard the area for a little longer.
Everyone had seen Li Hao’s grave injuries, and they patiently awaited his recovery.
In the burial ground within the pass, many new graves were added.
Among the fallen grandmasters, there were also those whose family members or disciples came to claim their remains for proper burial.
Li Hao naturally granted them permission.
On a hill beyond the pass, two figures sat together. The snow and wind had ceased, leaving them with only two jugs of wine. These were none other than Li Muxiu and Feng Boping.
“Caught anything interesting recently?” Feng Boping asked casually, sipping his wine as he gazed at the snowy landscape.
Li Muxiu shook his head slightly. “Haven’t been in the mood to fish.”
Feng Boping was momentarily taken aback. He scrutinized his old friend and suddenly asked, “Did your rush to reinforce us truly come at the behest of your Li family’s True Dragon?”
Li Muxiu lowered his gaze, idly stirring the snow with his fingers without responding.
Feng Boping sighed, as if understanding the answer. “If you say that, is it to convince Hao’er to return? Are you certain you want him back there? Even as an outsider, I can hardly bear to watch, and I don’t believe you truly have the heart for it.”
Li Muxiu’s hand froze mid-circle in the snow. He lifted his head, turning to look at Feng Boping.
“If I don’t say it, will Hao’er ever return? You saw how perilous this battle was—he and you almost died!”
“Even if he has to swallow his pride to go back, at least it’ll be safe there. When Hao’er eventually inherits the True Dragon mantle and surpasses his father in strength, he’ll no longer have to endure anyone’s whims.”
Feng Boping fell silent for a moment before asking, “And what of the True Dragon’s true intentions? If you weren’t sent by him, what has he done? Surely, he’s aware of what Tianmen Pass would face?”
Li Muxiu sighed. “He went to Liangzhou’s eastern border. The border garrisons there were under attack, and Xuanli was unable to dispatch reinforcements in time from the west. Moreover, the assault there was likely a feint by the demons to divert attention. So, the True Dragon led the expedition personally.”
“When Hongzhuang returned, it coincided with his departure. These are turbulent times. Who knows what the next few years will bring?”
Feng Boping frowned. “Things are this chaotic? If the demons outside Liangzhou have been exposed, they wouldn’t likely strike here again or shift their focus. There’s no reason to fixate on this place.”
“And hasn’t the Emperor sent reinforcements? This is a rare opportunity to lure and annihilate them.”
Li Muxiu shook his head. “The Emperor’s forces are spread thin. The attacks aren’t limited to Liangzhou—several other major provinces are also in dire straits. Did you know that three months ago in Qizhou, the border almost fell? Three cities were destroyed overnight, and not a single soul escaped. That’s the Xia family’s territory, and now even they are on high alert.”
“So, you went to the Xia family because of this?”
Li Muxiu took a swig from his wine jug and didn’t elaborate further.
Sharing too much about military matters wouldn’t benefit an old friend like Feng Boping.
Feng Boping realized he’d pried too far and, though a close confidant, knew that certain boundaries should not be crossed.
“Hao’er’s situation here—don’t worry. This old life of mine can hold on for a few more years,” Feng Boping reassured him.
Li Muxiu looked at him and nodded. “You’ve been tethered here for three years. It’s been a hard burden for you.”
“Cut the nonsense. If it’s truly that hard, let me have a stroll through your Li family’s ancestral treasure vault when this is over,” Feng Boping grumbled.
Li Muxiu scoffed. “Keep dreaming.”
...
Those who stayed at Tianmen Pass gazed upon what was left of Cangya City—now reduced to a small mound of earth. Nearby lay an expansive burial ground, its countless graves stretching like an unbroken wall.
At that moment, they finally understood the true meaning of a frontier city.
This was a city built of flesh and blood, a city of heroic spirits.
Many were deeply moved and chose to remain, helping Li Hao rebuild Cangya City.
With the assistance of the martial artists, the project commenced quickly and progressed at an astonishing pace.
The collective network they brought extended far and wide. While construction materials such as stone and timber were gathered locally, essential supplies were transported from nearby towns.
As a result, the Dragon Pass Path, which had lain dormant for decades, began to stir with life.
Trade caravans raised their banners along the path, and even escort agencies began traversing it.
This once-deserted road was becoming a true thoroughfare once again, leading to none other than Cangya City.
Beyond the small mound of earth, towering city walls now rose. With the help of Fifteen Li martial artists and grandmasters, transporting massive stones was effortless, enabling the city’s rapid construction.
Day by day, the city took shape, its progress extraordinary.
Buildings sprang up, adorned with dragon carvings and phoenix motifs, crafted with exquisite care.
On the city walls, as a rope was pulled, a military banner unfurled in the wind.
Emblazoned on it were two massive black characters:
Haotian!