Chapter 100: The Struggle (Part Thirty-Four)

Before a towering and majestic city gate, thousands of warriors clad in black armor surrounded a lonely two or three figures.

Crimson smoke and dust rose from behind the gate. Those few figures shouted and howled desperately, as if calling out someone’s name.

The thousands of black-armored soldiers, both horse and rider armored and grim-faced, leveled their lances in formation. The spear tips formed a massive ring of steel, inching step by step toward the isolated figures.

Xu Le felt as if he were hovering above the entire battlefield, looking down on everything. Every scene was so vivid, so real.

For some unknown reason, he wanted to descend and stand with those few lonely figures, but an invisible force kept him suspended in midair, unable to move.

It was a pain that came from the deepest part of his heart.

Suddenly, Xu Le heard those few figures crying out. Their voices seemed squeezed from their lungs, splattered from their blood, and wrung from their very lives.

Only three words.

“Lord Le!”

Xu Le abruptly woke from the dream. As he opened his eyes, he saw a pair of clear blue eyes watching him intently. Upon seeing him awake, the owner of those eyes swiftly darted away and sat down quietly in the corner.

The owner of those eyes had long, waist-length black hair and a delicate, charming face. It was the little wolf girl, Buli.

Actually, Buli was quite pretty—unlike the matchmakers back in Xu’s hometown who praised their proposed brides as excellent housekeepers. Xu Le had secretly gone to see one with Han Yue; indeed, she was a capable housekeeper, with a waist four or five feet around and hips like millstones, able to handle any hard work.

With such thoughts turning in his mind, Xu Le struggled to sit up, feeling as if his brain was mush and his whole body ached faintly. Shadows flickered around him—his subordinates and even Luo Dun had come over, waiting for him to wake in this empty room.

Xu Le spoke with surprise; his voice, usually clear and youthful, was now hoarse and low: “How long have I been asleep?”

Song Bao was the first to approach, wearing a broad smile. “Lord Le, you’ve been asleep since you returned—until midnight. That’s at least six or seven hours. You must have been exhausted these past couple of days.”

Behind Song Bao, several young martial artists hurried forward, some carrying hot water basins, others carrying white salt for rinsing their mouths, all eager to serve attentively. Han Yue and a few villagers were pushed to the back.

Xu Le shook his head, his mind gradually clearing. He understood now that he was simply worn out.

At nineteen years old, his muscles and bones had not yet fully matured. Though his grandfather had personally trained him to master great skills, he had not yet endured the long, grueling trials of real battle. Yesterday, he had twice broken into enemy camps and narrowly escaped death both times—no wonder he was so fatigued.

But such an ordeal was worth more than ten years of training back in Xu’s hometown. More importantly, despite the danger, neither his companions nor Luo Dun and Buli had been harmed. That was better than anything!

Although he had stepped straight into the treacherous three-way struggle of Mayi upon arriving at Cloud City, and had assumed the position of the new tribal leader of the Liang Hai special unit, with no chance to return to his former peaceful life, Xu Le believed that no matter what crises he might face in the future, he would overcome them.

As long as he followed his grandfather’s advice and acted with integrity and courage.

Xu Le waved for Song Bao and the others to leave, jokingly scolding, “We are men of Mayi—strong and vigorous. My hands and feet are still fine; why bother with such formalities?”

Song Bao smiled awkwardly, unconcerned.

Everyone at Cloud City had witnessed Xu Le’s abilities and his care for those around him. Now, with the Liang Hai special unit as their foundation, they were beginning to form a budding new force amid the chaos. As house retainers, their role was to fight fiercely during war and serve their lord diligently in peace. This was the path to building their own future. What was wrong with being strong and vigorous? They still needed to humble themselves before their lord.

Seeing Xu Le finally awake, Luo Dun, who had been waiting nearby, approached him.

“How do you feel?”

Xu Le smiled modestly. “If grandfather were here, he’d say I need more training. But after a day of fighting, I’m just this tired.”

Luo Dun chuckled. “You accomplished so much today! You turned Cloud City and over a thousand Yue tribes upside down. A great general must be able to fight, endure hunger, sleep, and hardship. If you can’t recover now, rest a few more days. Liu Wuzhou has already sent people to take care of things and said that if you return to lead the Liang Hai unit, he will send troops to assist. If you want to move south to Cloud City, he’ll arrange a place for us. I don’t think Mayi will erupt into battle soon. You can rest one or two more days, Ah Le.”

Xu Le calmed down and looked around. Han Yue understood and stood at the door, vigilantly watching outside.

This residence was clearly meant for guests, with spacious rooms. However, the Heng’an Yingyang Mansion was poor, and the rooms were sparsely furnished. Xu Le’s bed was just a straw mat, fresh rice straw covered with a cheap hide common in Cloud City.

Everyone knelt on the floor around Xu Le, ready to listen.

Though the conditions were simple, this was already the embryo of a new power group.

Regarding Luo Dun’s proposal, Xu Le slowly shook his head. “We will depart at dawn. Do not accept military assistance from the Heng’an Yingyang Mansion. The struggle between the two Heng’an Mayi families is about to begin. At this moment, we must not get involved in their conflict.”

Not only had his grandfather warned him, but Xu Le also saw through Liu Wuzhou’s wolfish eyes during their brief dealings. Liu Wuzhou had ignored the Yue tribes’ annexation of the Nine Clans, hiding some unknown scheme. Though Xu Le was formidable in battle, compared to the Heng’an Mayi families, he was as weak as an ant. If he got drawn deeper, he would be swallowed whole without even bones left behind.

If he were alone, he had no fear—fight if possible, flee if not. But he had a grandfather in Shenwu and the Liang Hai unit to lead.

Xu Le’s great deeds in Cloud City, including capturing Zhang Wansui, had seriously offended Wang Rengong. News of this would soon spread. He needed to get his grandfather out of danger quickly.

Though Luo Dun was two generations older, he obeyed orders carefully and nodded. “I’ll arrange everything immediately. We’ll depart early tomorrow. I will politely refuse Liu Wuzhou’s offer. At this moment, Liu Wuzhou is about to go to war with Wang Rengong; he won’t want to offend us seriously.”

Xu Le looked again at Han Yue, Song Bao, and the others, and said to Song Bao, “You will follow Grandfather Luo to the Liang Hai unit to help him lead the tribe and prepare for the southern migration.”

Song Bao was surprised. “Lord Le, what about you?”

Xu Le’s voice was steady. “Han Yue and I will go to Shenwu to bring my grandfather and the others out. We’ll send a messenger later to arrange a meeting place.”

No one knew what changes the Mayi region would undergo in the days ahead, or which place would truly be safe. They could only proceed step by step. But Xu Le’s plan revealed his stance clearly: he would never get entangled in the strife between Liu Wuzhou and Wang Rengong.

Luo Dun nodded. “It’s time to get Old Xu out quickly. You captured Zhang Wansui—if Wang Rengong hears of that, he’s a ruthless man!”

Xu Le stood up, and everyone rose with him.

“Hurry and prepare your luggage. We leave at first light tomorrow! Though Mayi may descend into chaos, I will protect everyone’s safety!”

Everyone obeyed immediately, including old Luo Dun, who quickly began to organize preparations. Only the little wolf girl, Buli, remained kneeling in the corner, glancing anxiously at Xu Le from time to time.

Now, besides Luo Dun, Buli trusted and believed that Xu Le was someone to be protected.

Xu Le smiled warmly at Buli, but she seemed overwhelmed and nervously turned her head away. Xu Le did not mind, gazing out at the night sky beyond the door.

Faintly visible were the flickering lights upon the city walls.

It could be said that he had single-handedly stirred the storm about to sweep across the Mayi region. Could he lead those he cared for to weather this immense tempest safely?