Dragon Gate Road

Bian Ruxue raised her head slightly.

What she saw at that moment was a boy with a warm and gentle smile in front of the campfire.

However, she felt that although the smile hadn't changed, there seemed to be a very, very far distance between her and the boy.

But this feeling was fleeting, like an illusion.

She thought of a sword.

The restless heart of the duckweed seemed to have suddenly found a place to settle down.

She thought of the pinnacle of Sword Dao, that Ultimate, legendary Swordsmanship.

She whispered, "Brother Hao, you Heavenly Talent than me. Perhaps you will get there sooner than I do."

That's not necessarily true.

Li Hao spread his hands slightly and said, "As you can see, I don't even have a sword."

"..."

Bian Ruxue was taken aback, then gave a bitter smile.

He was Swordsman, yet he didn't carry Side Sword.

Then he wouldn't be Swordsman.

However, the exquisite sword strike that Li Hao had used during his previous battle with Li Tiangang was still unforgettable for her.

Despite such exquisite Swordsmanship and overwhelming Sword Intent, why does the person before me seem completely indifferent to the sword?

It seems that it has been like this since childhood.

What exactly is it that Brother Hao cares about?

Just then, a figure silently floated down from the treetops and landed on the ground beside the campfire, interrupting Bian Ruxue's thoughts. The confusion in her eyes instantly cleared, and she quickly looked over.

Then they saw an old man dressed in Green Robe, with white hair and beard, his hair casually tied up in a bun, with an Old Wooden Hairpin stuck diagonally in it.

At that moment, the other person casually sat down on Wooden Stake by the campfire, fanned the aroma of the roasted tiger meat towards his nose, and clicked his tongue in delight:

"With so few seasonings, you can still make something this delicious! It's a shame you're not a chef!"

"I want to be one, but I don't have the chance."

Li Hao smiled.

Is it ripe?

"It's ready to eat."

Upon hearing this, Feng Boping became even less polite, picked up a barbecue Tiger Paw, and blew on it.

The Tiger Paw were cut open with salt and some flavorful wild herbs that Li Hao had picked along the way. These herbs were crushed and rubbed into the paws, and now, as they were being grilled, they had all seeped into the meat.

Feng Boping ate with gusto, juices dripping everywhere, completely disregarding his image.

Li Hao smiled, drew Ren Qianqian's Side Sword, and used it as a meat cleaver.

He cut off a few pieces, then beckoned to gather some leaves to use as a tray, and handed them to Ren Qianqian.

"Thank you, young master," Ren Qianqian said with a light smile, taking the gift with both hands.

Li Hao did the same thing again, cutting off the flesh from the other Tiger Paw, placing it on another large Mulberry Leaf, and beckoning it to Bian Ruxue.

Bian Ruxue had been searching and running around for days, and hadn't eaten or slept well. At this moment, she suddenly felt very hungry, and came over because of the tempting aroma.

She took the Mulberry Leaf, glanced at it, and without any disgust, casually broke off a branch to use as chopsticks, picked up a piece of meat, and began to eat.

"This is delicious!"

The moment the tiger meat entered her mouth, Bian Ruxue's eyes widened slightly in astonishment; the taste was simply too delicious.

She cultivated in the Sword Hermitage and didn't enjoy much. According to her master, if she indulged in pleasure, it would corrupt her Sword Heart. From then on, there would be no room in her heart to hold the sword; it would be filled with other things like eating, drinking, and having fun.

Therefore, the food at the Sword Hermitage has always been mediocre.

"Eat more if you like it."

Li Hao smiled.

He picked up a Tiger Paw himself, cut off half, and tossed it to the Little White Fox.

He blew on the rest and then started munching on them.

"Who is this senior?"

Bian Ruxue looked curiously at Feng Boping, wondering when Li Hao had met such an old senior who seemed unfathomable.

"It's best if you don't know my name."

Feng Boping chuckled lightly and then ignored her, continuing to eat and drink by himself.

He carried his own wine at his waist, drank it all himself, and then handed it to Li Hao.

Li Hao didn't stand on ceremony. He ate a bite of meat and drank a sip of wine. After swallowing the wine, the spiciness and meaty aroma entered his stomach at the same time, and he exclaimed how refreshing it was!

Seeing Li Hao like this, Bian Ruxue was somewhat lost in thought. Drinking was something that rough men did, and although most men liked to drink, Li Hao was still too young.

"Brother Hao, please drink less..." Bian Ruxue couldn't help but say.

Feng Boping laughed loudly, "Little Mouse, your wife isn't even married into the family yet, and she's already starting to boss you around."

Li Hao smiled faintly, ignored the remark, and continued eating and drinking.

Bian Ruxue's cheeks Crimson. Seeing that Li Hao couldn't persuade her, she stopped trying and lowered her head to eat her piece of meat politely.

In the pitch-black forest, starlight flickers.

The night was silent.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, they all rested.

Li Hao lay comfortably asleep in front of the campfire, his expression peaceful and content, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Bian Ruxue sat by the campfire, adding a piece of Firewood every now and then, occasionally glancing at the boy, her eyes slightly narrowed.

He clearly came from the Divine General Residence, clearly suffered such serious injuries, and had broken ties with his father... so why does he seem to be sleeping so peacefully?

What did he dream about? And who was in his dream?

The girl had no idea. She slowly withdrew her gaze, staring blankly at the flickering sparks of the campfire...

Birds startled and fluttered in the forest; the Dawn was gradually breaking.

The campfire has gone out.

A new day has begun.

On the edge of the forest, along the Liang Prefecture National Highway, Li Hao bid farewell to Bian Ruxue, telling her to return home and not to worry.

Having said all she could, Bian Ruxue didn't insist any further. Carrying her sword, she turned around Three Times, only to see that the young man was no longer standing there. So she didn't turn back either, and went straight back the way she had come.

She felt a sense of relief deep down.

Now that Li Hao no longer needs her company, she can wholeheartedly pursue her own Sword Dao.

"Brother Hao, I will definitely climb to the pinnacle of Sword Dao, and then I'll tell you what I've seen..."

The girl murmured to herself, her gaze gradually settling.

As you continue along the Official Road, the Green Cypress gradually thin out. In some places, the Green Cypress that were planted have clearly been destroyed and trampled, but they have not been repaired or replanted.

The Official Road gradually fell into disrepair, with some sections cracking and leaving thick, sunken marks, as if a giant python had swept across the Official Road and crushed it.

"Further ahead lies Dragon Gate Road."

Feng Boping's eyes also turned slightly serious.

Dragon Gate Road stretches from the Official Road on the Frontier like a sharp thorn, extending thousands of miles away. At its end lies Heaven's Gate Pass, where the Li Family's garrison is stationed in Azure Cliff City.

Dragon Gate Road is the only way to Heaven's Gate Pass. This road is very long, and it takes a whole day to ride a horse. It was opened up by Great Yu Forefather Emperor thousands of years ago when he led the Li Family Ancestors to conquer and expand the territory step by step.

With this road in place, Great Yu's army could march straight in at any time and advance into the Northern Cold Kingdom outside Heaven's Gate Pass.

The Northern Cold Kingdom was one of the Six Kingdoms subjugated by Great Yu, becoming a vassal state of Great Yu. However, as the Great Yu Dynasty declined, these former vassal states seemed to be showing signs of becoming restless.

Li Hao looked into the distance and could vaguely see a huge white path stretching straight ahead.

"They came so quickly."

Li Hao sighed, then continued forward.

Not long after, on the Official Road in front of them, there was a grandfather and grandson carrying baskets of herbs on their backs.

Although Li Hao walked casually with the Little White Fox and Ren Qianqian, his speed still surpassed theirs, and he gradually closed the gap before overtaking them.

The grandfather and granddaughter noticed Li Hao and Ren Qianqian from afar, their eyes revealing vigilance and even some tension. Although the official Official Road was wide and deserted, they still subconsciously moved to the side.

The grandfather and grandson breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Li Hao ignored them.

They followed slowly at a distance, yet dared not show any unusual behavior.

But this behavior was strange enough in Li Hao's eyes; the people here seemed very wary and fearful of strangers.

"Young man, do you still want to go forward?"

Just as they were about to enter the Dragon Gate Road, suddenly, an old voice called out from behind.

Li Hao stopped, turned around and looked at the grandfather and grandson with slight surprise. He hadn't expected them to take the initiative to speak to him, and smiled, "Can't we go forward?"

The old man, whose basket was full of herbs, looked at Li Hao and then at Ren Qianqian, thinking that these two were probably not Demon, but rather young masters from noble Aristocratic Clan who had come out to gain experience.

He smiled wryly to himself and said to Li Hao, "Young man, the Dragon Gate Road is just ahead."

"Um?"

Li Hao looked at him with a hint of doubt.

Seeing that Li Hao still didn't understand, the old man sighed and continued:

"Once you reach Dragon Gate Road, you can't go any further; it's full of Demon!"

"Demon?"

Li Hao was surprised. Li Hao exchanged a glance with Ren Qianqian and asked, "Isn't Dragon Gate Road still within the territory of my Great Yu? The place where Demon dwell is beyond Heaven's Gate Pass of that road."

"Heaven's Gate Pass?"

The old man paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "There's no Heaven's Gate Pass anymore. There are only mountains of corpses and seas of blood there, only the stench of death and blood."

At this point, he glanced at the sky, seemingly realizing it was getting late, and immediately said:

"Young man, you want to slay demons and uphold justice, right? It's good to have a passionate heart, but this isn't a place for you to play around. You'd better leave as soon as possible, because it won't be safe on this Official Road once it gets dark..."

As he spoke, he took his grandson's hand and carried the herbs forward.

Only the young grandson carrying the small basket on his back would occasionally turn around and look back.

After the grandfather and grandson had walked about a kilometer away, the young grandson suddenly said, "Grandpa, it looks like they went inside."

"What?"

The old man was shocked. He turned around and looked, but the young man and woman from before were nowhere to be seen on the Official Road.

He couldn't help but sigh, saying, "You can't reason with a suicidal person."

On Dragon Gate Road, Li Hao and Ren Qianqian continued their leisurely stroll.

But after walking for a short while, Li Hao suddenly changed his expression, stopped, and looked in the direction of the Official Road where the grandfather and grandson had been walking.

"Young Master?"

Ren Qianqian was puzzled.

Li Hao didn't say anything, but looked around and saw a wooden stick.

He bent down to pick it up, and with the rough wooden stick, casually flicked out a burst of Sword Qi!

The Sword Qi swept past silently like Qing Feng breeze, yet it swiftly traversed a vast expanse.

Like a gentle Qing Feng, it swept past the grandfather and grandson, who were still walking slowly and laboriously on the Official Road, lifting the hair at their temples, as if a warm Qing Feng was blowing from behind.

Qing Feng blows forward, stretching for over twenty miles.

There, a crocodile-like Demon lay crouching by the roadside, waiting for its chance to strike.

But suddenly, a Qing Feng blew along the Official Road.

The Demon seemed to sense something, its pupils contracted, and just as it was about to move, its body suddenly stiffened and trembled.

Then, it split open from its forehead to its body, blood and Organs scattered everywhere...

Li Hao smiled slightly and casually tossed the wooden stick to the side of the road.

Then they clapped their hands and continued forward.

Ren Qianqian was puzzled, but she didn't ask any further questions. She was already used to Li Hao's strange behavior from time to time on the way.

As Li Hao ventured deeper into the Dragon Gate Road, he saw rotting Demon corpses everywhere, reduced to mere skeletons, yet no one seemed to care for them.

Along the way, he also encountered Demon resting on Dragon Gate Road, fast asleep there, having turned this road, which Demon once avoided, into their warm bed.

Li Hao showed no mercy to these Demons; he easily dealt with them without Old Feng even needing to intervene.

As they walked, Li Hao's expression grew serious, and he finally understood why the old man had said those words.

The Dragon Gate Road, which was opened up thousands of years ago, is now in a state of disrepair.

Logically speaking, the Li Family should have had someone guarding this place all these years, so why is this the case?

After walking and stopping frequently, Li Hao finally led Ren Qianqian and the Little White Fox to the end of Dragon Gate Road.