Volume 2 - Chapter 63: Reinforcements and the Haotian Banner - Part 2
“They must believe that even if they breach Tianmen Pass while I’m away, they’ll have to retreat as soon as I return. After all, there are far too many battle flags here.”
Li Hao knew these demonic creatures from beyond the pass must have experienced the might of his Haotian Battle Flags. At the very least, the Tianji Hall would have forewarned them.
Seeing the battlements of Cangya City bristling with battle flags, it indeed took considerable courage for the demons to come this far.
Shaking his head, Li Hao dismissed further speculation. The fact that these demons dared to attack the Western Frontier indicated they had genuine designs on invading Liang Province. He would have to hold the line at Tianmen Pass.
“The world is beginning to descend into chaos...”
Feeling the weight of his responsibilities, Li Hao resolved to redouble his efforts. He sent Ren Qianqian to invite the renowned chess sage, the Little Chess Saint, Xu Zhouyuan.
Li Hao treated such masters of the arts with the utmost respect. Ren Qianqian, following his lead, approached the inn where Xu Zhouyuan resided with great courtesy, clearly explaining Li Hao’s invitation.
Xu Zhouyuan, now past seventy, had white hair and a frail physique. Lacking martial talent, he had not cultivated but instead relied on his fame to accumulate modest wealth, which he used to purchase mild body-strengthening pills.
Even so, his mortal constitution could not endure overly potent medicines. The pills he consumed merely extended his lifespan by about ten years and slightly enhanced his vitality compared to ordinary elders.
When Xu Zhouyuan’s attendant saw Ren Qianqian, he was overwhelmed and hurriedly ushered her inside.
Upon learning that the young general sought his company again, Xu Zhouyuan chuckled. Recalling their previous matches—grueling and evenly matched—he felt his competitive spirit ignite and readily agreed.
Ren Qianqian presented ten taels of gold to the Little Chess Saint, who promptly declined. However, Ren Qianqian insisted, stating it was the young master’s custom. Reluctantly, he accepted the gift.
… After all, he had already received over a dozen pouches in this manner.
Gratitude upon gratitude, generosity upon generosity...
With a wide smile, Xu Zhouyuan followed Ren Qianqian to the carriage bound for the small fenced courtyard.
When the scions of nearby noble families recognized Ren Qianqian, they gasped in astonishment. Observing her humility and deference toward Xu Zhouyuan, they assumed the old man must be a master at the Fourth Pillar Realm.
However, after the carriage departed, the inn’s staff informed them that the elder was merely a mortal known as the Little Chess Saint.
“A chess player?”
The crowd was astonished. A mere mortal, yet he warranted such courtesy from the famed swordswoman prodigy?
...
In the small fenced courtyard, Li Hao had already prepared refreshments, brewed tea, and cleaned the bamboo mats.
Hearing the carriage wheels, he knew the venerable guest had arrived.
When Xu Zhouyuan entered, Li Hao rose to greet him immediately. “Senior, thank you for making the journey.”
“Young General, please, you flatter this old man,” Xu Zhouyuan replied quickly. Though he bore the title of Little Chess Saint and enjoyed some renown, the Great Yu Divine Dynasty was founded on martial strength.
In this world, it was the warriors who commanded the highest respect.
The Dao of Chess? To many, it was a trivial pursuit, not even worth considering as a proper discipline.
“Not at all. Please, have a seat, Senior.” Li Hao gestured for him to sit and poured him tea.
Though he had received such hospitality from Li Hao before, Xu Zhouyuan remained cautious and polite, saying, “Young General is far too kind.”
Serving alongside a powerful figure was akin to serving a tiger; for scholars and literati in the company of generals, such vigilance was only natural.
“Senior, there’s no need to stand on ceremony.”
Li Hao smiled warmly, waved everyone else away, and made a gesture inviting Xu Zhouyuan to begin.
Xu Zhouyuan had just taken a sip of tea when he immediately set the cup down, his fingers moving toward the chess set.
Ren Qianqian, knowing Li Hao’s intense focus on chess, quietly moved to a corner to train and keep watch, ensuring no interruptions.
The courtyard returned to tranquility.
Sunlight streamed through the corridor’s eaves, landing on the shoes Xu Zhouyuan had removed, and the grass between the courtyard’s stone tiles gleamed with fresh green hues.
One move after another, the two quietly immersed themselves in the game.
Gradually, Xu Zhouyuan shed his initial restraint, fully absorbed in the flow of placing pieces on the board.
By the end of the first game, Li Hao managed a narrow victory.
The Little Chess Saint’s skill was exceptional, comparable to a fifth-dan master. Even a momentary lapse on Li Hao’s part could have easily turned the tide.
Noticing the experience points displayed on his system panel, Li Hao smiled faintly and invited Xu Zhouyuan to begin another round.
The peaceful atmosphere persisted until a sharp shout shattered the quiet.
“Report!!”
Startled, Xu Zhouyuan flinched, dropping a chess piece that disrupted the delicate balance of the board.
Bang!!
A colossal, pitch-black hand descended abruptly. The dazzling golden light of the defensive array flickered violently as countless divine patterns spun rapidly. However, they ultimately failed to withstand the force. With a resounding crash, the array shattered, and the massive demonic palm smashed down, obliterating the foundation stones of the defensive line outside the array.
As the array broke, a gaping breach opened in the Great Wall. In an instant, waves of demons surged through like a tide, pouring through the gap beneath the command of the massive Great Demon King, breaching the Great Wall and charging toward the city.
The soldiers of the Xuanzi Army spat blood as they were flung to the ground, unable to hold their positions.
“Father!”
Li Wushuang’s eyes widened as she saw the figure of Li Xuanli flying backward, crashing against the city walls and shattering the stonework. His armor was crushed inward, and even his indestructible body was severely wounded.
Rushing to his side, Li Wushuang helped Li Xuanli to his feet.
“Hurry! Retreat immediately!”
Li Xuanli staggered to his feet, his crimson face filled with fury as he gazed at the three Demon Kings hovering in the air. Despite his anger, the sight of his daughter brought clarity to his thoughts.
“Pull back the defensive lines! Withdraw immediately!”
“Raise the signal for reinforcements!”
His furious roar echoed.
The deputy general who had come to assist swiftly issued orders, and soon, columns of smoke spiraled into the sky, signaling an emergency request for aid.
“Cover the governor’s retreat!”
The other generals, realizing the gravity of the situation, gathered swiftly. Their expressions turned grim, for they knew it was a matter of life and death.
Without a Fourth Pillar Realm cultivator to anchor the defenses, the broken array left them utterly vulnerable to the three Demon Kings.
“Kill!!”
A general in the Three Immortals Realm roared as he hurled his spear, leading his battalion in a desperate charge.
Two immense torrents collided—one a human army, the other a swarm of demonic creatures. Blood and limbs flew as the two forces clashed fiercely. The battlefield was a chaotic tapestry of carnage, the black and white pieces on a chessboard mirrored in the chaotic lines of combat.
...
Xu Zhouyuan’s gaze returned from the disrupted chessboard to the messenger who had rushed in to deliver the report. The officer strode into the courtyard, and upon seeing Li Hao, immediately knelt on the stone tiles before the chess table, presenting a military report with both hands.
“Young General, this is a dispatch from the Liang Province military governor!”
Li Hao frowned. The disruption to the chess game annoyed him, but he knew the importance of military intelligence. Waving the messenger forward, he took the report.
He had barely glanced at it when another figure stormed into the courtyard.
Li Hongzhuang, clad in gleaming crimson armor, entered at a brisk pace. Having spent much of her life at the frontier, she rarely removed her armor except to bathe or sleep. Even then, she wore soft armor, ready to leap into battle at any moment.
“I just heard that a rider covered in blood brought a message to the city. Did something happen on the Western Frontier?!”
Her words caused Li Hao’s expression to darken. He quickly scanned the military report, his gaze sharp as he absorbed its contents.
“The Western Frontier has fallen. A Demon King leads the assault.”
Li Hao’s tone was grave. The speed of the breach shocked him.
Only last night, the sentries had reported a gathering of demonic forces. The intelligence had reached him by morning, and now, by the afternoon, the Western Frontier had already been overrun.
Even with defensive arrays, the line had collapsed in less than a day.
However, the presence of three Demon Kings explained much.
Li Hongzhuang’s pupils contracted sharply. “Three Demon Kings?! What about Fifth Brother? Is he... is he safe?”
Fear tightened in her chest as scenes of her brothers’ past deaths flashed through her mind—the endless funerals, the mournful wails of her family, and the bleak white mourning clothes.
“He’s still alive for now.”
Li Hongzhuang exhaled in relief, her heart settling somewhat. “Did Fifth Brother request reinforcements? With the array broken, how are they planning to hold their ground?”
Li Hao shook his head as he reviewed the report again. Sighing, he set it aside.
“No, he didn’t ask for reinforcements. Instead, he warned us to stay vigilant against the Demon Kings. He mentioned they’ve already retreated to the second defensive line.”
Li Hongzhuang froze, then nodded slowly, her expression complicated. “So... should we go to help them?”
Li Hao considered the question carefully. The defensive arrays at Tianmen Pass were still under the control of his dark side incarnation, providing a measure of security.
As he deliberated, another urgent report arrived from the courtyard entrance.
“Report!”
A soldier of the Haotian Army rushed in. “Young General, we’ve spotted warning beacons from beyond the pass. Our scouts have been attacked!”
Li Hao and Li Hongzhuang exchanged grim looks.
The Western Frontier had just fallen, and now demons were appearing here as well?
“How many?” Li Hao asked.
“We haven’t determined the exact number yet.”
Li Hao glanced at Li Hongzhuang, whose expression had grown increasingly tense.
Her thoughts mirrored his own: consolidate forces, hold the line, and wait for reinforcements.
After a moment’s silence, Li Hao spoke. “Based on the timing of this report, the Western Frontier forces should already be entrenched at their second defensive line. Here’s what we’ll do—take Li He with you and carry my Haotian Battle Flags to assist them.”
“You and Li He are both in the Three Immortals Realm. If you move at full speed, you’ll reach them quickly.”
Li Hao planned to send his battle flags, which carried fifty percent of his offensive strength, as a terrifying trump card comparable to a full-force strike from the Dao Heart Realm. This would significantly bolster their defenses against the demonic tide.
This way, he could help his Fifth Uncle resist a considerable number of demons.