74. Xia Qingshuang
Chapter 74: Xia Qingshuang
While the city defense army was clearing the demon corpses outside the city, Song Yueyao reported the situation of the Black Wind Mountain range to Yue Shuhong.
Yue Shuhong immediately dispatched scouts to verify the information.
When the scouts saw the mountain of demon corpses, they were utterly shocked.
The number of demon corpses there was no less than the pile outside the city.
Especially the neatly stacked high platform of demon corpses, all of them were great demons. A rough count showed there were more than twenty.
The scouts also saw the once-renowned Mighty True God Bear Demon from outside the city, now just a slightly decayed, foul-smelling corpse, stacked under the meat platform.
With trembling legs, the scouts hurried back to the city to report everything to Yue Shuhong.
After hearing the report, Yue Shuhong stood in a daze for a long time before letting out a long breath.
Having sat in Cangyu City for decades, he knew that the lurking great demons around the city had all been slain by Li Hao! If it weren't for the timely assignment from the Tan Palace School and Li Hao taking on the task... Yue Shuhong couldn't imagine what kind of hell Cangyu City would have become.
He felt both excited and melancholic. A weight that had burdened his heart for decades finally lifted.
Two days later.
The demon corpses outside Cangyu City were mostly cleared, and the mission for Li Hao and his companions was officially declared complete.
Their departure was hasty, but the return was relaxed and leisurely. Yue Shuhong provided a carriage for them.
He personally escorted them to the city gate to bid farewell.
"Young Master, I have reported the situation in Cangyu City to the provincial government."
"Moreover, once everything here is settled, I will personally go to the capital to request a death sentence."
Outside the carriage, Yue Shuhong solemnly clasped his hands.
Li Hao glanced at him and understood immediately—Yue Shuhong planned to take all the blame upon himself.
"Do you realize that taking all the blame will implicate your entire clan?" Li Hao asked.
Yue Shuhong's expression remained calm. "I know. That's why I severed all ties with my clan twelve years ago. According to Dayu law, severing ties for over ten years means no association and no implication."
Li Hao gazed at him for a moment. "It seems you are quite the strategist."
"Young Master flatters me."
Li Hao said no more, drawing the curtain down on the carriage window.
"Unfortunately, you won't get to taste the wine brewed from the Tiger Robe's head."
Yue Shuhong's body shook slightly. He was silent for a moment before raising his head, a faint smile on his face.
"If the Young Master doesn't mind, perhaps you could pour a cup on this road when you pass by Cangyu City in the future. It will be like drinking with me."
The breeze fluttered the curtain slightly.
A single word came from within.
"Okay."
The smile on Yue Shuhong's face grew wider.
The carriage began to move slowly. Under the driver's whip, it followed the road lined with cypress trees, moving forward under the morning sun.
The city and the people at the gate gradually grew smaller.
But it was still possible to see someone waving at the carriage, seemingly saying goodbye, followed by a deep bow.
Until they could no longer see each other.
...
Inside the carriage were only Li Hao, Ren Qianqian, and Li Yuan Zhao.
The driver, a soldier from Cangyu City, would drive the carriage back to Cangyu City after dropping them off in Qingzhou.
Wei Feng had bid farewell the previous day. With Li Hao around, there was no need to protect his young lady from the shadows.
More than his lady's safety, he was now more worried that she would agree to become Li Hao's attendant.
Though Li Hao's status was prominent, Ren Qianqian was still the daughter of a master. Becoming an attendant would leave a mark on her status for life.
He needed to hurry back to request reinforcements. Only the master could persuade the lady.
As for Li Fu, still recovering from his injuries, he remained in Cangyu City to recuperate.
After less than half a day away from Cangyu City, two fast horses suddenly approached from the front.
The riders seemed to recognize the Cangyu City flag on the carriage. After passing by for several dozen meters, they suddenly reined in their horses and turned back, stopping in front of the carriage.
"Stop!"
The riders, a man and a woman, were both in their twenties. The man wore purple armor, a saber at his waist, and a feathered helmet on his head, looking heroic.
The woman wore soft purple armor, with a bow on her back and a sword at her waist. She had no helmet, just long black hair flowing with her cape.
"Are you a soldier from Cangyu City?"
After stopping the carriage, the young man grasped his whip and pointed angrily at the driver.
The driver was stunned. Recognizing the armor of the two, he quickly stood up and knelt. "Yue Ming, section leader of Cangyu City Defense Force, greets the two lords."
"Why are you here? Who is in the carriage?"
The young man shouted, "I heard Cangyu City was attacked by demons. Are you deserters?!"
His eyes showed a murderous intent.
The driver, Yue Ming, hurriedly explained, "The two lords misunderstand. The demon trouble in the city has been resolved. I am under orders from the city lord to escort these Tan Palace students back to Qingzhou."
"Tan Palace students?"
Hearing this, the two's eyes flickered. The young man relaxed a bit. "Let them come out so I can see."
Tan Palace School in Qingzhou was renowned, and though they didn't have the necessity to study there, they were aware of its prestige.
Inside the carriage, Li Hao and his companions heard the commotion outside. Yu Wei, sitting at the carriage door, lifted the curtain to look out, wondering who these unwise people were. Blocking him was one thing, but the carriage carried two members of the Li family.
"Those are Xia family military uniforms."
Li Yuan Zhao, looking through the curtain, immediately recognized their identities.
Being from a divine general's household, he had learned about these top-tier noble families even though he hadn't traveled much.
Seeing the young faces and the Tan Palace uniforms, the two riders knew the driver was not lying.
"Tell me, what do you mean the demon trouble has been resolved?" the heroic woman coldly asked the driver.
The driver nervously replied, "The demons caused chaos, but luckily the young master from the Li family intervened and quelled the demon unrest."
"Young master from the Li family?"
The young man frowned. "Which young master?"
"The young master from the Li family of Qingzhou," the driver respectfully replied.
"Hmm?"
Xia Yong and Xia Qingshuang exchanged glances. Could it be them? Wait, young master? Being called that, it must be one of the third generation of the Li family.
After all, the second generation of the Li family were middle-aged men, all well-known.
But this demon trouble reportedly involved a Fifteen Mile Realm great demon leading tens of thousands of demons. Such a force would require at least two Fifteen Mile Realm geniuses from the Xia family to suppress.
But none of the third generation of the Li family were known.
Over a decade ago, a few had caused a stir.
One had joined the Boundless Mountain Buddha's sect at six, another had apprenticed under a Daoist from Thousand Mechanism Mountain, both becoming direct disciples.
It was said another, born with great fortune, was personally named by Emperor Yu, leading people to believe he was highly gifted. However, he had since disappeared, rumored to be a cultivation failure, though the truth was unclear.
"Could it be the one from Boundless Mountain has come out into the world?"
The two exchanged glances. Being called a young master, it couldn't be the Li family girl who made it into the Qian list a year ago.
"The one from Boundless Mountain should be eighteen now. An eighteen-year-old at the Fifteen Mile Realm..." Xia Yong's eyes showed a hint of fighting spirit.
Next to him, Xia Qingshuang remained calm. "If that's the case, we can rest assured."
She turned to the driver. "Tell me, how are the casualties in the city?"
"Reporting, my lord, only over two hundred city guards were injured, and more than ten perished."
The driver Yue Ming was extremely respectful.