The Commandery Princess's Fiery Might, Exposed Identity, Coerced for His Life, Infiltrating Jade City

Xu Cheng was tied to a wooden stake and unable to move. The Wolfhead Army formed a circle around him and then dispersed. The undercover agents were led out of the cave, and two holes were dug in their hoods to expose their eyes so they could see the outside world.

To demonstrate his loyalty, Li Jinkui personally carried out the execution. He drew a dagger from his waist, took out a jar of fine wine, drank several mouthfuls, and felt extremely refreshed. Then he sprayed out a mist of wine, which drenched the blade.

He threw a punch from a distance, unleashing a wisp of fire. The dagger immediately ignited with a ghostly green flame. This was the "Ghostfire World-Suppressing Fist," a gift from Commandery Princess Anyang, symbolizing that like a ghost fire, it travels in the dark night, protecting the world for her.

The Wolfhead Army is a secret force secretly maintained by Commandery Princess Anyang. They do not know each other's faces; their armor is their disguise. A high-ranking officer like Li Jinkui can command the Wolfhead Army and wields considerable power. If anyone shows the slightest disrespect to Commandery Princess Anyang, he will immediately be replaced. The Wolfhead Army is unaware that their leader has been changed.

Moreover, the name "Li Jinkui" was bestowed upon him by the Commandery Princess Anyang. Li Jinkui has only seen the Commandery Princess once from afar, but he knows Commandery Princess methods well. He is both afraid and respectful of her, and his only recourse is to be loyal.

He deliberately used the "Ghostfire World-Suppressing Fist- Suppressing Fist" at this moment, intending to flatter and curry favor: the Commandery Princess bestowed martial arts upon him, and he was extremely honored, never daring to forget it for a moment, and studied it diligently every day. The eerie green ghost fire made his face look sinister.

Once the will-o'-the-wisp had burned out, the dagger's edge was fully revealed, its blade scorching hot. Commandery Princess Anyang coldly gave the order, and Li Jinkui stepped forward to begin the execution. The blade fell, cleanly slicing off a piece of good flesh.

Then came screams and wails of agony, desperate struggles. Although the Black Wolf Army had fought on the battlefield and often carried their heads on their waists, they had rarely seen such a horrific scene. Their hearts trembled for a moment, and one or two Wolfhead Army blinked slightly.

Commandery Princess Anyang need not say a word. Anyone who blinked will automatically step out of the ranks, receive their sword as punishment, and take several blows for Xu Cheng.

Thus, during the long execution, no one dared to blink. Their eyes were dry and painful, yet they forced them wide open to witness the gruesome scene of bloodshed.

The captured undercover agents covered their mouths and wept, huddled together in fear, as if they were in hell. Xu Cheng was initially terrified and pleaded desperately, revealing all the information he knew about the situation in Jade City, just to save his life and be used by the Commandery Princess again.

Later, when the pain became unbearable and he saw that his abdomen had ruptured and his chest was open, he knew he could hardly survive. So he started cursing loudly, calling Commandery Princess Anyang a slut, a whore, a heart of stone, arrogant and conceited, and a foolish woman, and so on.

Commandery Princess Anyang sat calmly. Li Jinkui, however, was enraged. He punched her, smashing her mouth and tongue, then cut off her tongue, rendering her unable to speak again. He then shaved off her flesh and bones, committing extreme cruelty.

The torture didn't end until dusk. Xu Cheng was now just a skeleton, his head still opening and closing its mouth as if trying to speak, but it was all incoherent and gradually faded away. He died such a tragic death.

Li Xian tried to remain calm, but his heart was far from at peace. "I've been wandering the martial world for several years. I once encountered the Jar Immortal, who brutally murdered the guards of the manor; I already found that cruelty utterly appalling. But this execution I witnessed today is even worse. This world is far too cruel—though I crave fame and fortune, my life must not be decided by a single word from someone else. I must become stronger!"

Although the Great Wu is vast, with a border spanning tens of thousands of miles and boundless seas, who among all beings who still have a breath left and can run and walk, whether birds or beasts, can truly control their own lives? Even if they do, they are extremely rare.

I composed myself and blended into the crowd.

Li Jinkui, covered in blood, knelt on one knee, cupped his hands, and said, "Commandery Princess, three thousand seven hundred cuts, not one less, not one missing. When the last cut fell, the traitor Xu was still alive for three breaths!"

Commandery Princess Anyang said, "Indeed!" She continued, "General Jin Kui has rendered meritorious service in slaying the traitors, working tirelessly and without complaint; his helmet is stained with blood. I bestow upon you a 'Treasure Buddha Golden Garment,' so that in the future, when you fight for me, your body will remain unstained by blood, protected by the Buddha's essence, warding off disasters and difficulties. I also bestow upon you three thousand taels of silver, forty servants, fourteen coins of Essence Treasure, military merit—and a beautiful woman to accompany you. Are you still willing?"

The soldiers were initially terrified, but upon hearing of the generous gifts bestowed upon them by Commandery Princess Anyang, they felt a surge of envy. They were all even more convinced of her virtue, thinking, "If we only remain loyal to Commandery Princess Anyang, the punishment of being slowly sliced to death will have nothing to do with us. On the contrary, if we achieve merit, we might truly rise above others and accomplish great things."

Commandery Princess Anyang scanned the expressions of her generals, knowing that her goal had been achieved. Controlling people is like breaking iron; brute force will only provoke resistance. She needed to gently guide them, like bending iron, to break it and win their submission.

She glanced sideways at the group of undercover agents and miscellaneous people. These people had all infiltrated Jade City without her knowledge. She wouldn't entrust them with important tasks, but they were a crucial part of her plan, subtly influencing and eroding them. Seeing them all trembling with fear, she said, "These are the righteous men who volunteered to infiltrate Jade City for me?"

Li Jinkui said, "That's right! Last night, during the search for Xu Cheng, these righteous men, upon hearing the name of the Commandery Princess, were filled with admiration and respect, and voluntarily joined us."

Commandery Princess Anyang said "Oh." A moment of silence followed.

Li Jinkui gave a wink. The doctor, being quick-witted, immediately stepped forward, knelt down, and kowtowed, saying, "I... I am thrice blessed to be able to... to risk my life for Your Highness, Commandery Princess. Thank you... Thank you for your favor, Commandery Princess Commandery Princess. Please grant me a mission."

They kowtowed repeatedly. Dozens of people looked at each other in dismay, and seeing this, they all kowtowed to show their loyalty, resulting in their heads being broken and bleeding.

Taking advantage of the situation, Li Jinkui flattered her, saying, "Your Commandery Princess possesses the grace of Celestial Person and the demeanor of a powerful ruler. With the help of many, even doctors and farmers alike are willing to Commandery Princess with utmost devotion. How could anything not be accomplished?"

Commandery Princess Anyang was overjoyed upon hearing this, and laughter rang out. She continued, "My righteous friends, since you have decided to help me, I will certainly not treat you unfairly. But you should also learn from this example and not follow the path of someone who ended up in such a miserable state."

Commandery Princess Anyang feigned a rebuke, saying, "General Jin Kui, your preparations for this matter are poor. You haven't properly entertained these righteous men, resulting in their clothes being dirty and disheveled."

Li Jinkui hurriedly replied, "Yes, it was my oversight. Quickly—quickly—take all the righteous warriors to the stream to wash up."

He gave the soldiers a look, and then several dozen men led the undercover agents to a stream to wash off the filth.

Regardless of age or gender, everyone stripped naked and washed themselves with stream water.

Commandery Princess Anyang looked at the bloodstains on the ground and said with utter disgust, "This ungrateful wretch is filthy, his flesh reeks of blood, his body is foul and filthy, and he's an eyesore. Just throw him into the wilderness and feed him to the wild dogs. He deserves this fate."

Li Jinkui casually gestured, and dozens of Black Armored Corps stepped forward to clean up the execution ground. Seeing that his comrades had all left, Li Xian joined the crowd, bending down to clean up the scraps of flesh and collecting them in a large wooden basin.

Commandery Princess Anyang suddenly laughed and said leisurely, "Interesting, very interesting."

Li Jinkui asked, puzzled, "Commandery Princess, what is it you wish to do?" He then approached respectfully.

The woman in the red dress frowned, then swiftly struck, delivering a series of dull slaps to Li Jinkui's face. Each slap was extremely muffled. She then flashed back to the side of the Red Phoenix Palanquin.

Li Jinkui's cheeks were swollen and red, with traces of blood seeping out. Even though he didn't understand, he knew that Miss Hong Luo must have had a reason for taking action. Terrified, he knelt down heavily with a thud.

The four maidens all knew that Commandery Princess Anyang had suddenly become angry. Commandery Princess Anyang asked in a stern voice, "You, Li Jinkui, do you also want to betray me!"

Li Jinkui was so frightened he nearly jumped out of his skin, stammering, "Ah! Commandery Princess —I—how could I dare!"

Commandery Princess Anyang said, "Then let me ask you, who is he? Do you intend to secretly install your confidant to replace my Wolfhead Army, playing a trick on me, feigning one move while secretly taking over my territory?!"

The sound reverberated in all directions, its majesty unparalleled. The four beautiful women looked at Li Xian, then at Li Jinkui, their invisible auras already locking onto him.

Li Jinkui followed the gaze and slowly turned his head to look. Confused, he said, "What does the Commandery Princess mean by this? The Wolfhead Army was cultivated by you. I, Li Jinkui, received your favor and relied on your power, merely managing the Wolfhead Army on your behalf. I know I have no right to delay the soldiers. This Wolfhead Army —it is what it was like when you handed it over to me, and it is what it is now—"

Li Xian frowned, realizing he had been exposed. He pondered a plan.

Commandery Princess Anyang said, "You idiot, you didn't even know that the Wolfhead Army had been infiltrated."

Li Jinkui said, "Ah! This—how is this possible? I've met this person before. He doesn't seem—he doesn't seem like an outsider."

Commandery Princess Anyang said, "Even though you haven't betrayed me, your military discipline is lax and your abilities are insufficient. If the situation becomes critical, you will commit an immeasurable mistake. You shall go and lead eighty soldiers, and return to your position as squad leader!"

Li Jinkui's face was ashen, as if struck by lightning. He turned and glared hatefully at Li Xian, then suddenly sprang up and threw a powerful punch at Li Xian. Li Xian had intended to hide and escape at a good opportunity, but unexpectedly, he had inadvertently revealed his identity.

Since that's the case, how can he just sit and wait to die? He was wary of Li Jinkui, and also wary of the four women in the Red Phoenix Palanquin. Sensing that his aura was locked on, he pondered how to escape and survive.

At this moment, Li Jinkui attacked in a rage. Li Xian's mind raced, and he had a brilliant plan. He pretended to meet the punch head-on, fist to fist. When the two fists collided, although Li Jinkui had a higher level of martial arts cultivation, his physical strength, instantaneous burst of power, and the ferocity of his punches were far inferior to Li Xian's.

In an instant, Li Jinkui's black armor trembled, his arm bent, and his internal organs shifted. A powerful gust of wind from the punch surged forth, blowing him back several steps. Li Jinkui's strength in killing enemies on the battlefield was already considered superhuman.

He was once favored by Commandery Princess Anyang, and because of his innate superhuman strength, he had just attacked in a fit of rage. He did not use any martial arts techniques, but relied solely on brute force and inner strength to kill without being able to break through armor and shatter stones. However, in this fight, he was defeated in an instant. His anger subsided, and he realized that there are always people more powerful than him, and there is always something beyond his reach.

Taking advantage of the situation, Li Xian charged into the ranks of the Black Armored Corps. At this moment, the Black Armored Corps were arranged in a circle, observing the execution by slow slicing. They were close together and naturally could not form a proper formation. Li Xian's deliberate charge into the crowd at this moment seemed like a mistake at first glance, but in fact, it was just right.

Commandery Princess Anyang was taken aback, and murmured, "A brilliant plan."

The Black Armored Corps were immediately thrown into chaos, all trying to capture Li Xian. Li Xian possessed immense strength, displaying the advantage of pure physical power. With a single move, "Clearwind Gut-Sweeping Leg," he knocked several men to the ground.

Then, grabbing one person with each hand, he slammed them into the crowd, causing the Black Armored Corps to stumble and fall, their steps becoming chaotic. At this point, forming a battle formation was extremely difficult. Two squad leaders attacked from the left and right, both possessing First Martial Realm. Their martial arts techniques were quite impressive, Gale Palm and the Rippling Water Blade respectively.

Water fuels the wind, wind fuels the fire, and fire fuels the surging waves.

Li Xian defended against the combined attacks while simultaneously countering various martial arts techniques, including swords, spears, and clubs. The attacks were dense and chaotic, but thanks to his double Double Pupils and martial arts prowess, he could handle them all with ease. He countered with Four Directions Fist, Clearwind Leg, Vast-Expanse Leg, Iron-Copper Body, and more.

Heavenly Thunder Finger – Use it all.

After a brief struggle, the Wolfhead Army suddenly fell into disarray. They were beginning to regroup, but abruptly stopped moving. It turned out that Li Xian had used the "Blood-Spitting Canon," spitting blood that turned into mist.

The bloodstains concealed the details inside the helmets. With thousands of people in disarray, even if their true faces were revealed, their attire made it difficult to distinguish friend from foe. Relying on the details inside the helmets required even more careful observation. Li Xian's tactic of confusing the enemy struck at the heart of the Black Armor Army.

He had originally planned that if forced into a corner, a battle would eventually be necessary, and he would use this tactic to maneuver. Now that he had actually used it, although its effectiveness far exceeded his expectations, he felt no joy.

Li Xian created chaos everywhere, taking the opportunity to blend into the crowd and escape. Li Jinkui was frantic; every battle formation has its advantages and disadvantages. The Black Armored Corps, gathered together, resembled warriors with their hands and feet bound. Suddenly attacked, unable to untie themselves, they were forced to take several punches.

If Princess Anyang did not appear, the Black Armored Corps would scatter and patrol. At the slightest sign of trouble, they would gather and surround the enemy, forming a battle formation. This would make them stronger both internally and externally, making it difficult for Li Xian to disrupt their formation. In martial arts contests, victory or defeat is ever-changing.

Different circumstances lead to different results.

Li Xian was on high alert. Suddenly, a warning came to his mind, and he thought to himself, "It's coming!" He snatched the iron spear beside him and used the "Gale and Tenacious Grass" move to slash at the sky.

Qingyao lightly touched the tip of the spear with her toes, standing gracefully on it. Li Xian sensed the danger, thinking, "This woman is extremely powerful, at least at the Third Realm." Li Xian flicked the spear, secretly playing the "Ghost's Wail Tone.

The Remnant Brute Spear split into several shadows, thrusting towards Qingyao repeatedly. Each time, she dodged, her toes barely touching the spear tip. Li Xian remained calm instead of annoyed. "This woman is undoubtedly a master; a direct attack will hardly be enough to defeat her. Moreover, she doesn't need to make a move; she only needs to lure me into attacking, causing the Wolfhead Army to regroup, and then she can take me down."

He immediately slammed his spear into the ground, the immense force mixed with the shockwave of the "Heavenly Thunder Finger." Instantly, a cloud of gray mist filled the air around him, stretching for tens of feet. He then swirled his spear, the Pure Astral-Qi Garment hanging from the tip, making it appear as if he were waving an invisible flag.

The resulting wind and waves swept up the swirling air, creating a powerful vortex. This hindered the Black Armored Corps group from forming their formation for a moment. Qingyao raised her eyebrows slightly, flipped her delicate hand, and a cyan silk ribbon flew out, quickly binding and restraining Li Xian.

Qingyao said, "In that case, let's see how you—" Li Xian used the Golden Light Technique and instantly leaped more than ten feet away.

Li Xian conjured up a gray mist, leaving him with no choice but to use the Golden Light Escape. However, the Golden Light Technique was extremely energy-consuming.

After several leaps, Li Xian must be exhausted. But he must first escape the danger before considering how to escape further. Qingyao followed, stepping through the air and treading on the dust and mist. Li Xian's leaps were swift and golden, but Qingyao's lightness skill was superb, and she could not shake him off.

Qingyao doesn't know martial arts techniques like "Spring-Severing Hand" or other similar techniques. Although she is stronger than Li Xian, she can't defeat him for the time being.

Li Xian finally managed to shake off most of the Black Armor Army on his twelfth attempt. His heart meridian had been greatly healed, and he had cultivated a sense of self-reliance, resulting in a significant increase in both energy and physical strength. Twelve attempts were no longer his limit. However, he also felt that his physical strength had been greatly depleted, and his clothes were soaked with sweat.

Li Xian saw that Qingyao was more than ten feet away, but he still couldn't shake her off. He looked around and saw that the Yellow-Skirt Woman and the woman in the red dress were following him. Li Xian knew that escape was impossible, so he had to come up with another plan to find a way to survive.

Having stopped his Golden Light Technique and stood still in the air, he cupped his hands and said, "Miss Qing, there's no need to chase me. I surrender."

Qingyao, being of good temperament, raised an eyebrow to observe Li Xian, then shot out two beams of green light. Seeing that Li Xian was no longer dodging, she gracefully landed nearby and said, "Disarm."

Li Xian dropped his spear. Hong Luo quickly arrived and said, "Sister Qing, this thief is cunning. The Commandery Princess ordered us to come and help you."

Qingyao said, "He's no longer trying to escape." Huang Su said, "Why not bind him again?" Qingyao glanced at Li Xian and thought it made sense. She shot out two strands of green silk and wrapped them around Li Xian's wrists.

Huang Su and Hong Luo exchanged a glance, both feeling that Qingyao was too kind. They each stood on either side of Li Xian, watching his every move.

Li Jinkui suddenly swung his broadsword at her, but Qingyao picked up a pebble and shot it at Li Jinkui.

Li Jinkui was sent flying backward, his broadsword flying high into the air and embedding itself beside him.

Qingyao said, "General Jin Kui's military skills are flawed and disappointing."

Li Xian bowed and thanked her, saying, "Thank you for protecting me, Miss Qingyao." Qingyao replied, "I'm not protecting you; whether you live or die is up to the Commandery Princess."

Having just witnessed Li Xian's remarkable intelligence and his confident demeanor when abandoning his escape plan, I decided to observe him further.

They soon arrived beside the Red Phoenix Palanquin. Li Xian cupped his hands and said, "This humble one Qingning Li Xian, greets Commandery Princess Anyang."

Commandery Princess Anyang sipped her tea, having witnessed the scene just now. Her expression remained calm, neither joyful nor sorrowful, and she said, "Qingning?"

Where is that place?

Li Xian said, "Yunan Circuit, Qiongtian Prefecture, Qingning County." Commandery Princess Anyang said, "I've heard of Qiongtian Prefecture, but I've heard of Qingning County. Tell me, what is your purpose in hiding my Wolfhead Army? Confess quickly, and I may grant you a whole corpse."

Commandery Princess Anyang's voice suddenly turned cold. "If there is even the slightest bit of deception, then what happened to Xu Cheng just now will be your fate."

Li Jinkui said, "Please, Commandery Princess, allow me to carry out the execution myself!" Li Xian glanced at him indifferently, thinking that this man was narrow-minded and lacked the demeanor of a general. She said, "I infiltrated the Wolfhead Army without any purpose. If I had to say, it would be to find a way to survive."

"I am originally from Qingning County. After some twists and turns, I decided to go to Jade City to seek fortuitous opportunity. Relying on my medical skills, I practice medicine and treat the sick along the way. Yesterday, I passed through Peaceful Town, but having no money to stay at an inn, I chose a quiet place at the foot of the mountain to rest."

"That time, when we were suddenly caught in a mountain search, in the heat of the moment, I switched identities with a member of the Wolfhead Army. That person was there."

Pointing to the original owner of the helmet, who had been stripped naked and was washing his body, Commandery Princess Anyang said, "Go, remove this person's hood."

Two soldiers removed the hoods and led the soldier to the Red Phoenix Palanquin. The soldier pointed to his throat, unable to utter a sound. Li Xian said, "I have already silenced him by pressing his acupoint; please allow me to release it, Sister Qing."

Hong Luo cursed, "Who's your Sister Qing? Watch your mouth!" Qingyao withdrew her Qingjuan. Li Xian released the pressure point that had silenced the soldier, who stammered, "Commandery Princess! I--I--"

Commandery Princess Anyang angrily said, "You shameless wretch! Is what he said true?" The soldier replied, "Yes—it's true. That day, I was chasing after a doctor and broke away from the battle. Suddenly, I was knocked unconscious by something. When I woke up, my head was covered with a black hood, and I couldn't make a sound. I was then brought here."

Commandery Princess Anyang, having learned the whole story, was furious. Although the Wolfhead Army wasn't her trump card, she had painstakingly cultivated it. The recent turmoil had exposed their utter weakness. She said, "I once said, the Wolfhead Army Wolfhead Army, if they show their faces, then what?"

The soldier trembled and said, "Then... then I will die a violent death." Commandery Princess Anyang angrily said, "Guards, drag him down and beat him to death!"

Li Jinkui grabbed the soldier and threw him into the crowd. The soldiers slapped him, beating him into mincemeat.

Commandery Princess Anyang addressed the crowd, saying, "From the moment you joined the Wolfhead Army, you ceased to be human, but became the ghosts dwelling within these wolf helmets."

The Wolfhead Army, shouting their orders, knelt in orderly ranks, submitting to the Commandery Princess. Commandery Princess Anyang said, "Since you are merely staying in the mountains, if you have a clear conscience, simply tell the Wolfhead Army the truth. We, the Wolfhead Army, are a righteous army; how could we make things difficult for you? Yet you make unfounded guesses. Although you have your reasons, the crime of hiding in the mountains is undeniable and unforgivable. Let's drag them away and fight them!"

Qingyao shook her head slightly. Li Xian calmly said, "Commandery Princess Anyang, I have already admitted to the crime of harboring the enemy. But I would like to ask for a chance to atone for my crime through meritorious service."

Commandery Princess Anyang asked, "To atone for one's crimes with meritorious service? How can one atone for one's crimes, and what merit can one perform?"

Li Xian said, "I am willing to lie in wait in Jade City."

Commandery Princess Anyang sneered, "I already have many righteous men helping me in Jade City. What use is one more or one less person to someone as filthy and worthless as you?"

Li Xian said, "If the Commandery Princess wishes to overthrow Jade City, she needs talented people. I, Li Xian, consider myself a talented person and am confident I can help the Commandery Princess. I would like to ask, what position does Xu Cheng hold in Jade City?"

Huang Su cursed, "You lowly commoner, how dare you question the Commandery Princess?!"

Commandery Princess Anyang said with great interest, "Xu Cheng Silver-Faced Lang of Jade City."

Li Xian said, "Very well, Your Commandery Princess has lost a Silver-Faced Lang, and this position will eventually need a replacement. Give me three years, and I will definitely be able to take on the role of Silver-Faced Lang."

Commandery Princess Anyang said with great interest, "A newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger. Do you know how many years it took Xu Cheng to become Silver-Faced Lang? Xu Cheng is already a dragon among men, but it still took him thirteen years to achieve that."

"His Qidian was as a martial arts instructor in Jade City, a Qidian that those righteous men could never reach in their lifetimes of struggle."

Even so, it would take a full thirteen years to climb to the Silver-Faced Lang.

"And I poured my resources into making you Silver-Faced Lang. You only need three years? Where does your confidence come from? Even someone as well-known as Xu Cheng dared to betray me. I would never invest in someone like you with an unknown background. Without connections or foundation, how difficult is it for you to become Silver-Faced Lang?"

Li Xian calmly said, "I have no confidence, but—to survive, I have no choice but to climb upwards at all costs."

Commandery Princess Anyang, recalling the situation just now, realized that this young man had managed to infiltrate the Wolfhead Army so quickly without even Li Jinkui noticing, which showed that he had some ability. She thought it wouldn't hurt to let him try. She said, "I dislike those who talk big and use flowery words the most."

"What if you cannot become the Silver-Faced Lang within three years?"

Li Xian thought to himself, "I'll have to find another way to escape. I can't just sit here and wait to die." He sincerely replied, "Whatever Xu Cheng says, I'll do!"

Commandery Princess Anyang narrowed her eyes slightly. "Interesting, very interesting. Don't agree too readily. Even if you enter Jade City, you'll still be under my control. Three years will pass in the blink of an eye. If you're willing to endure a thousand cuts for the sake of surviving for three years, whether it's worth it or not is up to you to consider."

Li Xian cupped his hands and said, "The term is three years. If I am not promoted to Silver-Faced Lang, then I will be at the Commandery Princess's disposal."

Li Jinkui clenched his fists, looked at the Red Phoenix Palanquin, then glanced coldly at Li Xian, awaiting the judgment of Commandery Princess Anyang.

After a long silence, Commandery Princess Anyang said, "Fine, I'll allow you to live for three years!"

(p: Jade City will be the place where Xiao Li truly begins to make a name for himself! Don't worry, everyone, Xiao Li will rise again!)