News Reached Home

News of Li Xuancang's promotion to squad leader quickly reached Azure County, and the officials once again came to Azure Creek Village to congratulate the Li Family.

The news spread without wings, swiftly traveling through every village and town within dozens of miles.

Upon hearing it, the common folk were shocked—and deeply envious.

In the eyes of ordinary people, becoming a Battle Soldier was enough to transform a family's standing. A squad leader was something they wouldn't even dare dream of.

As the news spread through the nearby towns, it also reached the Li Clan of Black Stone Town word for word.

The Li Clan had been established in Black Stone Town for many years. Though they couldn't compare to the great clans, they were still flourishing, with many branches and members.

The clan elders controlled the clan's resources. They had always despised the poor and favored the rich, currying favor with the powerful.

Back when the Li Family had fallen into ruin, weighed down by taxes and labor levies, and Li Xuancang had been forcibly conscripted to the border as cannon fodder, Father Li had taken the whole family and gone humbly to the clan for help.

He'd only asked the clan to reduce some of their taxes and exempt Li Xuancang from military service, so they could preserve the family's only male heir.

But the Li clan elders and relatives had all looked upon them coldly, speaking with biting cruelty and despising the ruined Li Family for dragging down the clan.

Not only had they refused to help, they had driven the Li Family from the ancestral hall and declared that the family had long since declined, that they no longer deserved a place in the Li genealogy. They left the old and weak members of the family to fend for themselves in those chaotic times.

Those indifferent faces and cruel words remained vivid in the Li Family's minds, carved into their bones.

Now, they heard that Li Xuancang—the abandoned son they'd once believed destined to leave his bones at the border—had fought through blood and fire on the frontier and become a squad leader commanding ten men.

Not only had he sent silver home, but the Li Family had also received exemption from labor levies and taxes, along with the protection of a border army registry. The entire Li Clan erupted.

Inside the clan hall, several elders sat in the seats of honor, their faces shifting from green to white, their hearts filled with shock and regret.

"Who could've imagined... who could've imagined that Li Xuancang would truly make something of himself at the border? That's a squad leader—a genuine military officer. Our Li Clan has never produced someone like him."

The Li Clan had sent some of its members to enlist before, but all of them had died on the battlefield. Not one had even obtained the military registry of a Battle Soldier.

Yet Li Xuancang, whom they'd once thought certain to die, had suddenly made a name for himself. Not only had he survived the brutal battlefield, he'd become a squad leader, able to exempt part of the clan's taxes and labor levies. They could scarcely believe it.

"If we'd only lent them a hand and pulled the Li Family up back then, we could be basking in the military officer's glory now!"

"Foolish! Utterly foolish! Tax and labor exemptions, and the protection of a military registry—what an honor!"

"We let such a chance to curry favor slip through our fingers. The more I think about it, the more I regret it!"

"..."

The clan elders beat their chests and stamped their feet, filled with remorse. Their cold indifference back then had made the clan miss an opportunity to soar.

The Li relatives below wore regretful expressions as well, murmuring among themselves.

They had joined in excluding the Li Family back then, watching them suffer without the slightest pity. Now, they only hated themselves for being blind and missing such a perfect chance to ingratiate themselves.

In these chaotic times, a border military officer carried enormous weight. As a squad leader, a single word from Li Xuancang could spare the clan plenty of trouble.

With the protection of his military registry, he could even shield the entire Li Clan from predatory gentry, bandits, and demons, while their taxes could also be reduced as circumstances allowed.

But now, it was all moonlight in the water, flowers in the mirror. Li Xuancang's glory had nothing to do with them.

Before half a day had passed, the Li Clan elders and relatives could no longer sit still.

"No. We can't remain unmoved like this. Bring generous gifts and head to Azure Creek Village."

After turning the matter over and over, they still decided not to give up this opportunity. Even if they had to swallow their pride, they would establish ties with the Li Family.

Ideally, they would have the Li Family return to the clan and share in the glory Li Xuancang had brought.

In this harsh, man-eat-man world, face was the cheapest thing there was.

They all changed into respectable clothes, carrying gifts of rice, flour, cloth, cured meat, and more as they set off in a grand procession toward Azure Creek Village.

Their faces were piled with fawning, ingratiating smiles, with none of the cold arrogance they'd displayed before.

The Li Family was busy tidying the courtyard, their eyes filled with concern for their son far away.

From time to time, they took out the silver and letter Li Xuancang had sent back. Seeing the letter written in their son's own hand gave them something to hold on to.

Dozens of Li Clan members arrived at Azure Creek Village in a great show of force, immediately drawing the attention of many villagers.

"What is this? Where did so many people come from?"

"Who are these people? What are they doing in our village?"

"Come on, let's follow them and take a look."

"..."

The villagers were puzzled and worried that these people might pose a danger. They hurriedly put down their work and gathered around the Li Clan members.

"Stop! Who are you people? What business do you have in Azure Creek Village?"

The villagers blocked the Li Clan members and questioned them loudly.

Though the Li Clan group was large and imposing, the villagers weren't the least bit afraid.

Everyone knew Azure Creek Village had produced a squad leader and was under the government's protection. Whoever dared cause trouble here would definitely bite off more than they could chew.

"We are relatives of Li Dahai. May I ask where the Li Family lives? We'd trouble you to show us the way."

Li Changfeng, an elder of the Li Clan, smiled and cupped his hands toward the villagers, revealing their identity and stating their purpose.

At those words, the villagers showed knowing expressions.

"Li Family relatives. They've come to curry favor with the Li Family too."

The villagers whispered among themselves, immediately understanding the Li Clan's purpose.

Since word of Li Xuancang becoming a squad leader had spread, people had been constantly coming to curry favor with the Li Family. There had been quite a few local gentry and powerful families, and the villagers were already used to it.

"The Li Family is up ahead. I'll take you there!"

Someone volunteered, hoping to seize the chance to ingratiate himself with the Li Family as well.

"Thank you."

With someone leading the way, the Li Clan naturally had no objections.

The Li Family was sorting through their things: grain, cloth, meat, fine wine, rouge and face powder...

There was a dazzling variety, everything one could want.

All of it had been sent by local gentry and powerful families over this period. Qian the Tycoon had sent the most.

After learning that Li Xuancang had become a squad leader, he had spent every day trembling with fear, unable to eat or sleep in peace.

He had people deliver things, leave them at the door, and depart at once, terrified that the Li Family might refuse them.

A burst of commotion came from outside, startling the Li Family. They hurried out through the courtyard gate.

The moment Father Li saw who had come, his face darkened at once.

He had just turned to leave when Li Changfeng hurriedly called out to him.

"Dahai."

Father Li stopped. The Li Clan elder led a group of relatives and hurried toward the Li Family.

The moment they drew near, they plastered smiles across their faces and cupped their hands to greet Father Li and Mother Li.

"Congratulations, Brother Li. Worthy Nephew Xuancang has achieved merit at the border and become a squad leader. He is truly the glory of our entire Li Clan."

"Yes, yes. I always knew Worthy Nephew Xuancang was no fish trapped in a pond. I could see even then that his talent was extraordinary. Now, he has indeed brought glory to his family name."

"Brother, Sister-in-law, you've suffered these past years. The clan failed to care for you properly. We've come specially today to apologize, and we've brought some food and clothing as well. You must accept them."

"..."

Their voices were warm and eager, their flattery boundless, as though they hadn't been the very people who had driven the Li Family from the ancestral hall and looked on coldly all those years ago.