The Attack (Thanks to Hardcore Level 9 for the Monthly Ticket)

Snot Tao and Little Fatty had taken a dislike to Su Hao long ago. He acted all precocious despite being so small, utterly obnoxious. And Qing Qing had personally invited him to play with her several times, yet he had actually dared to refuse. Simply unforgivable! If Qing Qing had not stopped them, they would have beaten Su Hao up ages ago. Now that they had Qing Qing's orders, the two of them were like starving wolves spotting a chunk of fat meat, their eyes gleaming as they pounced on Su Hao together.

Seeing the two rush at him, Su Hao remained perfectly calm. He sidestepped to the right, dodging Snot Tao's bear hug, then turned sideways to evade Little Fatty. With a hook of his toe, he tripped Little Fatty, sending him sprawling face-first onto the ground. His heavyweight bulk kicked up a cloud of dust. Groaning and whining, he could not get back up for quite a while.

Snot Tao turned around and flew into a rage. He stretched out both hands to seize Su Hao, but just as he was about to grab his arms, Su Hao swept both hands outward. An enormous force knocked Snot Tao's hands away. Before he could react, Su Hao had already leapt up and slammed a fist into his nose.

"Ah~"

With a miserable scream, Snot Tao immediately squatted down, clutching his nose.

After landing the blow, Su Hao suddenly felt something sticky on his right fist. He raised it for a look, and goosebumps instantly rose all over his body.

"This Snot Tao... Of all places to hit, I had to hit his nose..."

Su Hao immediately ran behind Snot Tao and, before he had recovered, rubbed his fist clean against him with all his strength.

By then, He Qingqing was already dumbstruck. She had never expected Su Hao, so small in stature, to take down Snot Tao and Little Fatty, both a head taller than him, in just a few moves. These were her two most capable lieutenants.

He Qingqing realized it was time for her to step in and clean up the mess. She would knock Wu Xiangwu neatly to the ground and reaffirm her status as the young lady.

"Wu Xiangwu, don't get cocky. Take this!"

With that, He Qingqing tossed her hair, clenched her soft little fists, and charged over.

Su Hao shifted his feet and slipped behind He Qingqing. Resisting the urge to kick her, he reached out and gave her a shove. Like Little Fatty, she fell face-first onto the ground and got a mouthful of dirt.

"Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're a little girl. Keep bothering me, and I'll make every one of you cry." After flattening all three of them, Su Hao finally voiced his demands loudly and with complete confidence for the first time.

"Wu Xiangwu, you're a bully!" He Qingqing's eyes brimmed with tears, as though she would burst into tears the next moment.

"What? I'm the bully?" Su Hao said exaggeratedly. "You're the ones bullying me by ganging up on me, all right? I'll say it one more time: I just want to be alone in peace and quiet. Don't come bother me again. I don't have time to play children's games with you."

"Hmph, I'll never speak to you again!" He Qingqing got to her feet, stamped her foot, and ran away. Once she was far away, she finally could not hold it in any longer and began to cry.

The two little followers immediately chased after her.

Before leaving, Little Fatty threw down a threat. "Wu Xiangwu, just you wait."

Snot Tao covered his nose and buzzed, "Exactly, exactly."

Su Hao raised his fist. "Get lost, or I'll make you cry too."

Only after the three little brats vanished from sight did Su Hao let out a sigh of relief. After more than a year, he had finally shaken off those three pests. He Qingqing always came looking for Su Hao whenever she had nothing better to do, demanding that he play with her. Otherwise, she threatened him with force, irritating Su Hao beyond endurance.

Su Hao knew what He Qingqing wanted. She simply wanted to turn him into one of her little followers, like Snot Tao and Little Fatty, obedient to her commands. But how could Su Hao have time to play such games with them? Whether he could even grow up safely in this life after Rebirth was still a question. Danger could descend without warning at any time. Without the ability to protect himself, even the tiniest accident could carry him away.

More than a year later. Snowflakes drifted down, draping Tea Mountain Outpost in a thick white coat. Everywhere the eye could see was a vast expanse of white.

Su Hao was five years old. He was wrapped tightly in a thick coat, yet it was still obvious that this little boy was different. He was nothing like an ordinary five-year-old child, looking as sturdy as a little calf.

Over the past year, the little brats' group led by He Qingqing had challenged Su Hao several times, but every attempt ended in failure. They had no choice but to admit that they were no match for this little runt who stood a head shorter than them.

That day, the trio, bundled so thickly in clothes that they resembled three round balls, gathered once again.

"Young Lady, are we going to find that bastard Wu Xiangwu again today?"

"That's right. This time, my father taught me a move called Backhand Snatch. I'll definitely be able to defeat Xiangwu."

Little Fatty hesitated from the side. "Young Lady, can we really beat him? He's getting stronger and stronger. I can't even touch the corner of his clothes."

"Why all the nonsense? If I say we can beat him, then we can beat him. Do you believe me?"

"Yes!" ×2.

"Good. Come closer. Let's make a plan." He Qingqing beckoned, and the three immediately huddled together.

"Like this and that... we'll definitely be able to knock him down."

"Good! Young Lady is wise!"

Tea Mountain Outpost's walls were now covered in thick snow, with only one sentry post glowing with flickering firelight.

Suddenly, a burly warrior in a leather coat sprang to his feet, shaking the snow from his body. He rushed into the wind shelter, shook awake his companion beside him, and said urgently, "Old Li, wake up! Something's happening!"

Old Li jolted fully awake, flipped over and sprang up, then immediately looked outside. In the distant white snowfield, a large swarm of tiny gray dots was moving swiftly. They were headed straight for Tea Mountain Outpost. At this speed, they would be here before long.

"It's a pack of Green-Eyed Coyotes. There are no fewer than a hundred of them. Winter food must be scarce, so they're risking an attack on our village." Old Li immediately recognized the gray dots. He grabbed his sword and shield, then said to the warrior who had awakened him, "Lu Gao, ring the alarm at once. Then run around the village and tell every household that women and children are to shut their doors and windows and hide."

"Got it!" Lu Gao answered and immediately ran back.

As Old Li watched the coyote pack draw closer and closer, he quickly took off a cloth strip and tightly bound his hand and sword together. He tested a few slashes, then nodded in satisfaction and bared an ugly grin. "It's been a long time since I stretched these old bones. While the others aren't here yet, I'll warm up first. Heh heh!"

With that, Old Li gripped his shield and leapt down from the high wall.

Clang~ Clang~ Clang~

Very soon, three bell chimes rang throughout the entire village.

He Jianyong's eyes flew open. He flipped up, took the large saber from the wall, and pushed open the door. As he ran at full speed, he shouted, "Ferocious Beasts are attacking! Women and children, take cover immediately! Warriors, follow me to the wall!"

Wu Yuntian had been pondering the "Blood Qi Strengthening Wave" Su Hao had mentioned, yet he could not make sense of it. Hearing the bells suddenly ring, he immediately stood, grabbed a sword and shield, and pushed open the door. But once outside, he stopped, turned his head, and searched all around for Su Hao, only to find no sign of him.

"Where did Xiangwu run off to?" After looking around without finding him, Wu Yuntian stopped thinking about it and immediately ran toward the village wall. His thoughts were simple: as long as they kept every Ferocious Beast outside the village, the village would not be in danger.

And where was Su Hao at this moment?