Before the Battle

Li Xinjue accepted the order, but he was in no hurry to head to Heaven Mist Mountain.

Out of the snowy mountains, the accumulated snow had melted away. Spring had come today beneath a hazy rain. It dampened his shoulders; when he raised his head, fine rain drifted thickly through the air. The wind blew from the direction where half the sky had been dyed red. Mist on his brows soaked down to his eyelids, and his gaze lowered with it.

Blood Moon had arrived—arrived in Xilang. The wounded family descendants who ordinarily feared him like tigers and wolves in the snowy mountains were no longer training amid these harsh conditions, nor were they to be seen in the Spirit Pool where they healed their injuries.

Li Xinjue suddenly wished this place were livelier. Then they would not have had to don armor forged by the Heavenly Fire Dojo, take up weapons and spiritual medicines, and throw themselves into every corner of Azure Cloud Prefecture. Even if the descendants gathered in some corner and cursed him a few more times as "Old Devil Jue," venting their resentment over his strict discipline, that would have been fine.

There was still someone on the snowy mountain. The young girl wore a leather coat and carried a whip. Gone was her usual arrogance as she raised her head and gazed north toward the Central Plains.

Li Xinjue walked slowly over. "Zhijing, thinking about your father again?"

Li Zhijing had long known that Uncle Jue was coming. Her red lips parted slightly. "I sent a letter to the seniors at Heavenly Mountain. Even if they have to trap him there, they must keep Father in the Central Plains. The entire Southern Border is preparing for war. I saw the family prepare for war before,