121. The Haotian Banner!

Chapter 121: The Haotian Banner!

The news of the withdrawal spread, and numerous soldiers who were resting and healing in the tents gradually emerged, appearing dazed and disoriented.

Upon hearing the repeated loud announcements from several deputy generals, the numb faces of the soldiers gradually showed signs of life, followed by a chorus of sorrowful cries and wails.

Many soldiers hugged their heads and wept bitterly, while others ran to the burial mounds to find their fallen comrades, laughing and crying simultaneously. They scooped up handfuls of yellow earth from the graves and tucked it into their armor, intending to bring it home.

"Report to the Commander!"

"All 9,623 soldiers of the 100,000 Blood Fiend Army's Red Character Battalion have assembled!"

"Awaiting orders!!"

A middle-aged deputy general from a branch of the Li family stood before Li Hongzhuang, his voice hoarse yet powerful, and his eyes were already wet with tears.

Li Hongzhuang's moonlit face trembled slightly. Her gaze swept over the deputy general and the gaunt, tearful faces behind him.

Finally, her eyes settled on the distant burial mounds.

Over ninety thousand soldiers had already found their eternal rest there.

They were soldiers she had personally trained, each one.

The vast expanse of burial mounds far exceeded ninety thousand, encompassing the troops led by her third and sixth brothers, all buried in that boundless field.

Even the usually numb Li Hongzhuang couldn't help but feel her eyes redden slightly.

Controlling her emotions, she took a deep breath and loudly declared, "I hereby announce, the Blood Fiend Army will set out today to go home!!"

The words "go home" echoed in the ears of the 9,623 soldiers, bringing tears to their eyes.

"The entire Blood Fiend Army, received!!"

Three deputy generals and all the soldiers shouted in unison.

When they said "entire," they included the more than ninety thousand souls buried there, intending to take their spirits home as well.

Finally, they could embark on their journey home...

Amidst the sounds of joyful tears, a deputy general stepped forward, saluted Li Hongzhuang, and asked, "Commander, what about our reinforcements?"

"Reinforcements..."

Li Hongzhuang looked at Li Hao beside her and said, "He is the reinforcement to take your place."

The deputy general looked at Li Hao, stunned.

Their replacement... was this child?

"Commander, this..."

"Don't ask, just go, go home before it gets dark and the roads become dangerous!" Li Hongzhuang's face regained its stern, cold expression.

Seeing this, the deputy general dared not speak further. He nodded and took another look at Li Hao, remembering the young boy's face.

The conversation between the two was overheard by other soldiers. Their initial excitement turned to shock. Withdrawing all their forces and leaving this place to a child?

Many soldiers cried out anxiously, asking why, and some even declared that under these circumstances, they would stay behind.

But Li Hongzhuang remained cold-faced and unresponsive. Under the shouts of several deputy generals, the soldiers were eventually driven away to pack their armor and equipment, readying themselves for the journey home.

Li Hao silently watched as one by one, the soldiers passed by him. He could smell the dust and the thick scent of blood on these veterans.

The little white fox squatted obediently at his feet.

Ren Qianqian stood quietly behind Li Hao, holding her sword. Seeing the scars, broken armor, and bent blades of these soldiers, her heart trembled, and her eyes reddened.

"Commander, aren't you leaving?" another deputy general asked Li Hongzhuang, unable to hold back.

Li Hongzhuang shook her head slightly, "You go first. I'll come later. No need to wait for me."

She knew that if she said she would stay, many of these soldiers would insist on staying with her, regardless of orders.

After years of fighting together, they had risked their lives for each other. How could they easily leave?

Hearing this, the deputy general hesitated, then glanced at Li Hao, still unable to understand why a rich young master was sent as reinforcements to guard this isolated place.

But with Li Hongzhuang not explaining, they could only follow orders.

As the 9,000-plus soldiers left, the camp became eerily quiet and empty.

Only Li Hongzhuang, Li Hao, Ren Qianqian, and the little white fox remained.

Li He was nowhere to be seen. He had privately told Li Hongzhuang that he would only intervene if Li Hao's life was in danger. Otherwise, he would not interfere in anything.

Li Hongzhuang didn't say much about this.

From what Li He had told her, she understood some of what had transpired between Li Hao and his father but did not fully grasp the situation.

Her focus was solely on defending this lone city.

Li He had also conveyed a message: the Great Yu Kingdom was currently engulfed in chaos, with demons causing trouble everywhere. The emperor had already considered abandoning Tianmen Pass temporarily.

When the kingdom regained its strength, they would reclaim it.

Thus, even if the place was lost, there would be no blame, and any punishment would fall on Li Tiangang.

Given Li Tiangang's significant contributions, any punishment would be superficial at best, merely for show.

In other words, this place had already been abandoned.

No more reinforcements would come!

Li He told her she could leave anytime, not to lose her life here.

But leave?

Li Hongzhuang gazed at the countless burial mounds. In her mind, she saw her third and sixth brothers drinking and fighting, shedding blood and tears for this land. Every inch was soaked with the blood of their soldiers! The emperor might abandon it, Li Tiangang might abandon it, but... she did not want to abandon it!!

Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and walked into the camp.

While the soldiers had left, some tents remained, creating a facade to mislead the demons into thinking they were still numerous.

"Find any tent. The conditions are simple. Since the city was destroyed, the civilians were relocated over a decade ago," Li Hongzhuang told Li Hao casually as she walked into the camp.

Li Hao nodded, glanced around, and saw the distant burial mounds.

He walked over with Ren Qianqian and the white fox, his gaze sweeping over the names or unified titles carved on the wooden plaques.

The cold wind blew, giving Li Hao a piercing feeling.

"These... are all the heroes who died here?" Ren Qianqian's pale face was covered as she trembled and spoke.

Seeing it with their own eyes, more than ten thousand graves, was an indescribable shock.

The usually lively white fox also remained still, sitting quietly at Li Hao's feet, watching silently.

Li Hao fell into a brief silence.

He had come here to repay the blood and bones he owed.

Once three years passed, he would be free of his debt.

But seeing the countless soldiers here, he felt that there might be more to his stay than just repayment.

During these three years, perhaps he should do something more.

Unfortunately, his current cultivation was still too weak.

At the Celestial Master level, he could establish a sect in the kingdom, but at this dangerous border, he could fall at any moment. He still needed Feng Lao's protection.

Only by reaching the Three Immortals Realm would he have true self-preservation.

"My cultivation speed is still too slow..." Li Hao's eyes deepened.

Although reaching the Celestial Master level at fourteen was extraordinary, it was not enough for this perilous frontier.

He needed to become stronger, faster! Taking a deep breath, Li Hao left the burial ground and entered the camp.

Searching the tents, he found no food or drink. Walking further, he saw Li Hongzhuang sitting on the small mound marked "Cangya City," polishing her sword.

"Commander Hongzhuang."

Li Hao called out, approaching her.

Li Hongzhuang raised an eyebrow, looking at the approaching boy with a frown, "You should call me Aunt."

"I'm not a member of the Li family anymore," Li Hao replied.

Recalling what Li He had said, Li Hongzhuang's face darkened, "Why has it come to this?"

Li Hao shook his head, not wanting to explain, "It's getting late. Are you hungry? I can find something to eat."

"Night is falling, and demons will be out. It's best not to leave," Li Hongzhuang said, knowing Li He would protect Li Hao but not wanting him to take risks.

Li Hao looked up at the rising moon and emerging stars.

He smiled, turned away from the mound, and led Ren Qianqian and the white fox through the camp, searching the tents.

The tents were clean, though they contained some broken armor and smelly clothes. In the mess hall, he found some salt pots.

Smiling, he released his spirit, scanning the surrounding wilderness. Soon, he found a demon.

Bending down, he picked up a broken sword blade and flicked it like a stone.

The fragment flew out, instantly piercing the demon's head thirty miles away.

The demon's body twitched before losing life.

Li Hao used his power to bring the body over.

It was a three-ton demon, resembling a mix of pig and lion, with protruding fangs.

Using Ren Qianqian's sword as a butcher's knife, he swiftly gutted the demon, removing its innards and cutting it into pieces.

"Qianqian, start a fire."

"Yes."

Over the past few days, Ren Qianqian had become accustomed to assisting Li Hao. Nodding, she gathered firewood and soon had a fire burning.

Li Hao prepared the demon meat, selecting the best cuts and skewering them on sharpened sticks or broken spears, then set them over the fire.

With salt and simple seasonings, the meat sizzled, releasing a tempting aroma.

While the meat cooked, Li Hao approached a tent.

After examining the black-and-yellow patterned tent, he dismantled it and cut it into strips with a sword.

Using the demon's fur, he made brushes and painted on the fabric with its blood.

"What are you doing?" Li Hongzhuang's sudden voice startled Li Hao. She had followed the scent of roasting meat.

Li Hao looked up, smiled, "Your Blood Fiend Army's banner has been taken down. I'm making a new one."

"My banner isn't completely gone; some remain," Li Hongzhuang said.

Li Hao smiled, "That's yours. This banner is mine."

"?"

Li Hongzhuang watched as Li Hao finished his work. Using his power, he dried the blood-soaked fabric, then summoned trees from miles away, fashioning poles.

He wrapped and tied the fabric to the poles, then planted them in the ground, raising a makeshift banner.

The cloth fluttered in the night wind, revealing two characters written in demon blood: Haotian!

Li Hongzhuang was stunned, then turned to Li Hao, "You're in the Fifteen Mile Realm?"

Li Hao shook his head.

"I'm in the Celestial Master Realm," he said truthfully.

"?"

Li Hongzhuang's pupils contracted, staring in disbelief.

Celestial Master Realm? Li He had not mentioned Li Hao's cultivation level, only the family issues.

Stationed at the frontier, she had little news from the kingdom, focusing solely on defending against demons.