Volume Three: Fame Ascends Chapter Fourteen: Bandits Emerge

Li Yu stepped down from the carriage, initially intending to lend a hand and experience the thrill of outdoor cooking. However, Xiao Cui gently persuaded him otherwise, and then a soldier arrived with a message.

"Yangde has invited me to dinner?" Li Yu asked in surprise.

"Yes. The general’s exact words were, ‘If the young master is not interested, then let it go,’” the soldier replied, bowing.

Li Yu said, "Lead the way, I’ll go with you."

Surely it wasn’t just a simple meal? Judging from their previous exchanges, Li Yu sensed there might be something else of interest awaiting him. His heart brimmed with anticipation.

"Young master, shall I go with you?" Xiao Cui asked.

The two maids who had arrived earlier also looked to him.

"You all just wait here," Li Yu waved his hand. "I’m not going far, just walking within the camp—nothing unexpected should happen."

The group glanced around. In a short time, the Qingyang Army had already constructed comprehensive fortifications, a testament to their strength—such efficiency alone proved this was a formidable force.

So they didn’t insist—if anything did happen, the soldiers would recognize Li Yu’s attire and know to protect him. With these maids in tow, they would be able to rush to his aid in time.

Li Yu mounted the exotic beast that had pulled his carriage and, following the guide, headed for the tent.

"Come, come, quickly, have a seat!"

Qing Yangde immediately spotted Li Yu behind the soldier, stood up, and warmly beckoned him over.

This tent was much larger than the others, and inside, only Qing Yangde was present. In the center stood a square stone slab, about a meter long and wide, from which radiant beams intertwined, forming a holographic image suspended in the air.

Li Yu glanced at it and saw it displayed a portion of this small plain, dotted with countless points of light, which must represent various lifeforms meeting certain criteria.

High technology!

Cultivation-based high technology!

Li Yu’s eyes lit up.

Qing Yangde explained, "This is a projection stone. It can display the terrain within its range and some creatures below the fifth grade."

A fifth-grade cultivator of the Divine Path could manifest a spiritual domain; if they wished to hide themselves, they could easily evade detection.

And for those of even greater power, their means of concealment would be even more formidable.

"Why are you using this now?" Li Yu asked, curious.

They hadn’t even left Qingshan County, yet such precautions were already in place. He noticed the projection stone was rapidly consuming divine crystals.

"The Hundred Clans Assembly began the day we set out," Qing Yangde shook his head.

Along the way, each clan would face harassment from others; hostile clans might even use the opportunity to strike from the shadows. Ordinary soldiers were less of a concern, but capturing a young member of high bloodline was a savage blow to rival clans—a scheme attempted every year.

"But let’s not dwell on that," Qing Yangde said, pulling up a small table. "Let’s eat first."

Three dishes and a soup.

Li Yu glanced at the table and suddenly felt a pang of regret, as if he wished he hadn’t come.

"A general doesn’t enjoy any special privileges," Qing Yangde smiled. "I eat what the soldiers eat. These might look plain, but they’re rich in spiritual energy."

Li Yu nodded.

He’d only hesitated because he was startled by what Qing Yangde ate—it was so different from the delicacies he’d imagined. Still, by his own standards, this meal was far better than those in Stone Village.

He had no trouble accepting it—if anything, it was just that his palate had been spoiled lately by the Qing family’s fare.

"During the tournament, I was out training the troops. I didn’t expect you to take first place—impressive!" Qing Yangde gave him a thumbs-up.

Li Yu replied shyly, "I just trained a bit less than the others, so I could be a bit better than them. That’s what makes a genius, isn’t it?"

Qing Yangde coughed, forcing down a mouthful of rice before shaking his head. "Genius doesn’t do you justice. In your short time cultivating, you’ve surpassed what I achieved in over a decade!"

"And I only have a fifth-grade bloodline. No matter how much I train, I’ll hit a ceiling there," Qing Yangde continued. "But my elder brother… he has Anqi’s third-grade bloodline, so at least the Marquis’s line won’t decline."

Li Yu remained silent, listening intently.

"My little sister is gravely poisoned now. We’re still searching for news of the Snow Fox Demon Vine. If it’s really in the secret realm, I hope—on account of how my sister once saved you—that you’ll…"

"I already consider Qing Anqi my own sister," Li Yu smiled. "All I can say is, if the Snow Fox Demon Vine is there, I’ll make sure to bring it back!"

Qing Yangde nodded. "That’s all I needed to hear!"

The two fell silent, quietly finishing their meal.

Judging by this, Li Yu thought, he must live just like the soldiers most days.

Li Yu observed the man before him: eating heartily, his movements natural and unforced, clearly not putting on an act to win favor. Li Yu nodded approvingly.

Compared to the ostentatious ways of Qing Yuan and Qing Zixuan’s family, the few children of Marquis Qing Heng, though Li Yu had met only two, both left a very good impression.

"Not spoiled by sudden wealth!"

Qing Yangde also found his liking for Li Yu growing. Though his father had hinted at building a closer relationship, he had his own standards, and this meal brought him a step closer to appreciating Li Yu.

He remembered, the first time he met Li Yu, Li Yu had addressed him as "brother," with a poised and unflinching demeanor that left a deep impression. After Li Yu awakened the Thunder Bloodline and earned the family’s status of "seed," the two hadn’t met again.

This time, Qing Yangde had deliberately arranged for everyone to eat from the communal pot, and to his surprise, Li Yu dug in with great relish in his presence.

They soon finished their meal.

"I called you here mainly to discuss matters concerning the Hundred Clans Assembly," Qing Yangde said, pulling out a hefty stack of documents and handing them to Li Yu. "The demons are fierce, and with the front lines strained, this Assembly carries extraordinary significance."

Li Yu took the thick dossier, its pages densely filled with information on the various clans.

"As you know, the Assembly determines the quotas for the campaign, so many will stop at nothing to gain advantage. Here you’ll find details on the clans you should be wary of."

"We have that many enemies?" Li Yu hefted the half-foot-thick stack.

"…Some are allies as well," Qing Yangde admitted after a pause.

"That’s a relief. Otherwise, mowing down so many would be exhausting!" Li Yu flashed a brilliant smile.

"Interest comes first—even allies may not remain so," Qing Yangde warned solemnly.

Suddenly, a voice called out from outside the tent.

"General, there are bandits raiding a village twenty miles to the southwest."