As the city defense troops cleaned up the monster corpses outside the city, Song Yueyao reported the situation of the Black Wind Mountains to Yue Shuhong.
Yue Shuhong immediately sent scouts to investigate. When the scouts reached the mountain filled with monster corpses, they were completely shocked. The number of monster corpses here was nearly as many as those piled up outside the city.
Especially notable was a square platform piled high with monster corpses, all of which were large monsters, and a rough count showed there were more than twenty. The scouts also spotted the famous giant bear monster known for its immense strength, but now it had turned into a slightly rotting corpse, giving off a terrible smell, and was stacked beneath the meat platform.
Trembling, the scouts hurried back to the city to report everything to Yue Shuhong. After hearing the news, Yue Shuhong stood in a daze for a long time before letting out a long sigh.
Having held his position in Cangyu City for decades, he knew that all the powerful monsters lurking around Cangyu City had likely been wiped out by Li Hao! If it weren’t for the Tangu Academy assigning tasks at just the right time, and Li Hao happening to take on this job… Yue Shuhong couldn’t even imagine what kind of hell Cangyu City would have turned into at this moment.
He felt both excited and emotional, as a heavy burden that had pressed on his heart for decades finally lifted.
Two days later.
The monster corpses outside Cangyu City were mostly cleaned up, and Li Hao and the others’ academy tasks were declared complete. They had come in a rush, but now their return journey felt relaxed. Yue Shuhong arranged for a carriage for them.
He personally saw them off at the city gate.
“Sir, I have reported the situation in Cangyu City to the provincial government.”
“Also, once everything is settled here and handled properly, I will personally go to the imperial capital to request a death sentence.”
Outside the carriage, Yue Shuhong spoke seriously, cupping his hands in respect.
Li Hao glanced at him and immediately understood that he was preparing to take all the blame himself.
“Do you know that taking all this blame will implicate your entire family?” Li Hao said.
Yue Shuhong remained calm, saying, “I know, so I have already severed ties with my family. I did that twelve years ago. According to the laws of Dayu, if the relationship is severed for over ten years, it is considered no longer connected, and the blame will not be passed on!”
Li Hao looked at him and said, “It seems you’re quite the strategist.”
“Sir is too kind.”
Li Hao didn’t say more, pulling his hand back and lowering the carriage curtain:
“Too bad you won’t get to taste the wine brewed by the Tiger Robe.”
Yue Shuhong’s body shook slightly. After a moment of silence, he looked up and smiled faintly:
“If you don’t mind, when you pass through Cangyu City in the future, just pour a cup on this road, and consider it a drink with me.”
A gentle breeze stirred the curtain, causing it to sway slightly.
A single word came from inside:
“Okay.”
Yue Shuhong’s smile broadened.
The carriage began to move slowly, driven by the coachman, heading down the official road extending along the green cypress trees under the morning sun.
The city and the people at the city gate gradually became smaller.
But they could still faintly see that person waving their arms towards the carriage, as if bidding farewell, and then bowing deeply.
Until they could no longer see each other.
Inside the carriage, only Li Hao, Ren Qianqian, and Li Yuanzhao were present.
The coachman was a soldier from Cangyu City, and after delivering Li Hao and the others to Qingzhou, he would return to Cangyu City himself.
Wei Feng had hurriedly said goodbye to everyone yesterday. With Li Hao around, he no longer needed to secretly protect his young lady.
Compared to her safety, he was more worried that she would really agree to become Li Hao’s attendant.
Although Li Hao was of high status, Ren Qianqian was still the daughter of a master, and being an attendant would leave a mark on her for life.
He needed to rush back and request reinforcements; only his master could persuade her.
As for Li Fu, he was still recovering from his injuries and stayed in Cangyu City to heal.
At this moment, less than half a day after leaving Cangyu City, two fast horses suddenly approached on the official road ahead of Li Hao and the others.
The riders seemed to recognize the Cangyu City flag on the carriage. After passing by the carriage at a distance of several dozen meters, they suddenly pulled on the reins, turned around, and blocked the carriage.
“Stop!”
The riders were a man and a woman. The man was in his twenties, wearing purple battle armor, with a sword at his waist and a feathered hat on his head, looking quite impressive.
The woman wore purple soft armor, had a bow on her back, and a sword at her waist. She had no helmet, just long hair flowing behind her like a cape.
“Are you soldiers from Cangyu City?”
After stopping the carriage, the young man angrily pointed at the coachman.
The coachman was taken aback. Once he recognized their armor, he hurriedly knelt and said, “Cangyu City Defense Department, Corporal Yue Ming, greetings to you, my lords.”
“How did you end up here? Who is in the carriage?”
The young man shouted angrily, “I heard that monsters attacked Cangyu City. Are you deserters from the city?!”
At this point, a fierce killing intent flashed in his eyes.
The coachman Yue Ming quickly explained, “My lords, you’ve misunderstood. The monster disaster in the city has been resolved. I am following the orders of the city lord to escort these academy students back to Qingzhou.”
“Academy students?”
Upon hearing this, the two riders’ eyes shifted slightly. The young man’s expression eased a bit, saying, “Let them come out so I can see.”
The Tangu Academy in Qingzhou was famous across the land, and they were somewhat aware of it. However, for them, there was no need to attend Tangu Academy.
Inside the carriage, Li Hao and the others heard the commotion outside. Yu Wei, sitting at the door, immediately lifted the curtain to look outside, wondering who these people were to be so rude.
It was fine to block him, but there were two people with the surname Li inside the carriage.
“That’s the Xia family’s soldiers.”
Li Yuanzhao recognized their identities through the curtain right away.
Though he hadn’t traveled much, he had learned about these top noble families.
The two riders on the fast horses noticed the youthful faces of Li Hao and the others, along with their Tangu Academy uniforms, and immediately realized the coachman was telling the truth.
“I ask you, what do you mean by saying the monster disaster has been resolved?” The spirited woman looked coldly at the coachman.
The coachman nervously replied, “My lords, monsters caused chaos, but fortunately, Young Master Li came forward and quelled the disturbance.”
“Young Master Li?”
The young man frowned, asking, “Which Young Master Li?”
“Just the Young Master from the Cangyu Divine General’s Mansion,” the coachman replied respectfully.
“Hmm?”
Xia Yong and Xia Qingshuang exchanged glances, surprised it was them.
Wait, Young Master?
To be called that, it should be one of the third generation of the Li family.
After all, the second generation of the Li family were already middle-aged, and only three remained, all famous across the land.
However, they had heard that this monster disaster involved a powerful monster leading thousands of others, and it would require two outstanding talents from the Xia family to suppress it.
Yet, they hadn’t heard of any notable figures from the third generation of the Li family.
More than a decade ago, a few had stirred up some minor waves in the world.
One entered the Wuliang Mountain to study under the Buddha at six years old, and another became a direct disciple of the Qianji Mountain Daoist.
There was also one who was said to have been blessed at birth, personally named by Emperor Yu, leading people to believe he had exceptional talent, but later he disappeared, and rumors spread that he was a cultivation failure, though the truth of that was unknown.
“Could it be that the one from Wuliang Mountain has entered the world?”
The two exchanged glances, realizing that to be called Young Master, it couldn’t possibly be the young lady from the Li family who had made a name for herself on the Qianbang a year ago.
“That Young Master from Wuliang Mountain should be eighteen this year. An eighteen-year-old in the fifteen-mile realm…” Xia Yong’s eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of fighting spirit.
Beside him, Xia Qingshuang remained calm, saying, “In that case, we can rest assured.”
She looked at the coachman and asked, “What about the casualties in the city?”
“Reporting to you, my lord, only over two hundred city guards were injured, and more than ten lost their lives.”
The coachman Yue Ming was extremely respectful.
(End of Chapter)