A Helpless Choice

Rustle!

The two guards at the gate lifted the flap of the main camp tent, and Li Yi strode in with his head held high.

"General, you sent for me?"

General Guan knew that Li Yi had taken men to seek out the Cao Family caravan.

Seeing the change in Li Yi's bearing, General Guan nodded subconsciously.

If he was not mistaken, Li Yi's cultivation and strength had improved again.

After signaling the other officers in the tent to withdraw, General Guan had Li Yi sit at a desk below him.

"Cao Li and the other man died because of you, and Cao Cheng was killed by your own hand."

"You and the Cao Family now share a blood feud as deep as the sea. The Cao Family will not let you off!"

Li Yi nodded slightly as he listened to General Guan.

But that was simply how the world worked. If he had not struck, the one who died would have been him.

Li Yi did not regret forging such a bitter enmity with the Cao Family.

"With me protecting you, no matter how dissatisfied the Cao Family may be, they would not dare lay a hand on you openly."

General Guan's words stirred something in Li Yi's heart.

General Guan knew every detail of what he had done to the Cao Family and had protected him repeatedly; he would not bring this up without cause.

General Guan sighed, looking at Li Yi with helplessness in his eyes.

"You could say I have you to thank. The ambush that wiped out two thousand Qing Kingdom soldiers earned me recognition from the imperial court."

"Not long ago, I received military orders."

"I am to report to Wild Goose Pass for duty in the near future."

Li Yi had heard of Wild Goose Pass. It was a perilous place, one that the Chen Kingdom and Qing Kingdom both fought desperately to claim.

In other words, it was the true front line of the war between the Chen Kingdom and the Qing Kingdom.

"If I leave Blackstone Town, the new general may not protect you."

"If you are willing, I can bring you to Wild Goose Pass as well. Wild Goose Pass is a strategic location under military control. No matter how powerful the Cao Family is, it will be difficult for them to meddle there lightly."

General Guan laid out the stakes and looked at Li Yi with concern.

"You can take a few days to think it over. Will you remain here, or come with me to Wild Goose Pass?"

Listening to General Guan, Li Yi sank into thought.

Setting aside the threat of the Cao Family, his martial skills were exceptionally suited for development in the army.

Though the fighting at Wild Goose Pass was fierce, plentiful battles meant plentiful opportunities to earn merit!

Since the Cao Family was one of the Chen Kingdom's seven great clans, he would borrow the army's power to strengthen himself and contend against them!

Going to Wild Goose Pass was not merely his only choice—it was also the choice most beneficial to him!

"General, there is no need to think for several days. I can give you my answer now!"

Li Yi lifted his head toward General Guan and said in a deep voice:

"I choose to go to Wild Goose Pass with you!"

At those words, General Guan burst into laughter and took a sip of strong tea.

"I knew it, kid—you'd definitely choose Wild Goose Pass!"

"Since you have chosen Wild Goose Pass, I will grant you five days' leave to settle your family affairs. In five days, we will depart for Wild Goose Pass!"

"Thank you, General!"

Li Yi was overjoyed. After discussing some details with General Guan, he left the main camp.

Outside Blackstone Town, Li Yi looked at the familiar village, a smile appearing on his face.

"In three days, we will gather here. Do not miss the time."

Looking at Liu Ye and the other two guards before him, Li Yi gave each of them twenty taels of silver and sent them home to bid farewell to their families.

As Li Yi's personal guards, they would also follow him to Wild Goose Pass.

After giving them a few instructions, Li Yi headed home.

Inside his family courtyard, Liu Fang, her belly swollen with pregnancy, was embroidering clothes. Beside her, Liu Ru squatted on the ground, brewing miscarriage-prevention medicine.

Meanwhile, Li Xin and Li Yue were sparring.

"Brother! You're back!"

Li Yue looked up and immediately spotted Li Yi.

At once, everyone turned toward him, their faces brimming with joy.

Seeing Liu Fang supporting her waist, Li Yi felt a warmth rise naturally within him.

Her belly carried my bloodline.

"Brother, hurry and eat!"

At the dinner table, Li Yue picked up a piece of meat and placed it in Li Yi's bowl.

Faced with the lavish spread of wine and meat before him, Li Yi's body and mind, exhausted for so long, unconsciously relaxed a great deal.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes.

Seeing that everyone had eaten their fill, Li Yi set down his chopsticks and said to Li Xin, "First thing tomorrow morning, find suitable buyers for all the family's houses and land."

"In a few days, I'll take you all to Wild Goose Pass!"

Li Yi briefly explained the situation, then had Liu Fang sell off her family property as well so they could head north together.

After hearing Li Yi's words, no one voiced the slightest objection to leaving their hometown for Wild Goose Pass in the north.

Without Li Yi's protection, in these troubled times, they could only be like wild grass, liable to be trampled to death at any moment.

Early the next morning, they split up and set about handling their various affairs.

Whoosh!

Li Yi lit incense candles and planted them before the grave.

"Brother Erniu, we're going to Wild Goose Pass."

As Li Yi burned paper offerings, he murmured softly. Beside him, Liu Fang, supported by Liu Ru, stood with her head lowered.

"This time, when I go to Wild Goose Pass, I'll surely fight my way to an even greater future!"

"The things I promised you before—I'll fulfill them sooner or later!"

After burning the spirit money, Li Yi poured wine before Li Erniu's gravestone.

"Let's go!"

After paying his respects to Li Erniu, Li Yi led everyone out of the village.

"Hyah!"

Li Xin cracked his whip as the carriage carrying Liu Fang and the other women slowly made its way toward the military camp.

With his bundle on his back, Li Yi turned for one last look.

Blackstone Town was gradually fading from his sight.

"Who knows when I'll be able to come back after this?"

After a brief surge of emotion, Li Yi resolutely turned back and strode toward the military camp with firm steps.

Why must one's bones be buried in the land of one's birth? Wherever in life there are green hills is home!

This time, aside from Li Yi's family, Liu Fang's nephew Dog Egg would also be going with them to Wild Goose Pass. Liu Fang would be giving birth before long; one more person meant a little more convenience.

Han Jia would also head to Wild Goose Pass together with the First Platoon under Li Yi's command.

Gale Camp would be placed under the command of the former Second Platoon commander.

Perhaps because of the constant warfare over the years, Wild Goose Pass's land had been stained with too much blood, leaving the whole place bleak and desolate.

Li Yi plucked away the wild grass blown against his face and stared intently at the camp ahead.

After following General Guan to Wild Goose Pass, Li Yi had been appointed acting company commander in the Bowmen Camp.

Of the two hundred men in his company, aside from the fifty men of the First Platoon that Li Yi had brought with him, the other three platoons were composed mainly of recruits!

"Sound the horn! Assemble!"

At Li Yi's command, Han Jia raised an enormous horn and blew it.

Oooooo—

As the horn sounded, the many recruits in the camp froze for a moment before quickly gathering under the organization of the veterans.

Before long, the soldiers of the three companies had assembled.

Surrounded by the veterans of the First Platoon, Li Yi stepped before the crowd.

"I am your company commander, Li Yi!"