knife

Chapter 176 Because I owe you

Dragonflame Valley is a closed little society that is basically self-sufficient. Although it is extremely scarce in resources, it can still meet the most basic needs.

This is a group of people who are extremely hardworking.

Even under such unfavorable conditions, they are still striving to improve their living conditions.

The Yuan people's attitude towards them was simply to keep them alive, and they could only allow them to live to the bare minimum.

This was simply out of respect for Princess Chang Le.

Otherwise, why would the Yuan people tolerate a group of former enemies living on their territory, yet refuse to pledge allegiance to them?
If Princess Chang Le were to pass away one day, these people's survival would likely become a problem.

Ordinary people in the valley may not be aware of this, but the leadership in the valley probably is.

So after Gao Qunshu, people gradually left the valley.

This includes the Dragon Flame Army, which fought for the Yuan people in the Western Sea.

Along the way, Li Dachui felt that the entire Dragonflame Valley was trying to build an impregnable defensive fortress.

This is preparing for the worst.

If the Yuan people were to truly turn against us one day, then battle would become the only option.

Only by becoming strong enough to be an unbreakable and indestructible force can one ultimately survive.

Don't place all your hopes on others.
Strive to earn the right to live through your own efforts.
Li Dachui admired this attitude.

Regardless of the final outcome, the fact that these people in the valley can see these problems and work to solve them speaks volumes about their abilities.

The spot where we are standing now should be the core of Dragonflame Valley.

On a gentle slope, rows of houses stand side by side, and the road winds and turns, rising from the bottom of the valley to the mountainside. Above them are cliffs. What is most amazing is that the row of houses where Li Dachui is now is not under blue sky and white clouds, but over a protruding cliff.

Even without roofs, these houses won't be exposed to the sun or rain.

All the buildings here are constructed from stone.

Dragonflame Valley is rich in stone resources, but wood is scarce.

The clay dug out from the riverbed, along with the ubiquitous stones, became the raw materials for building houses.

Thatched roofs and felt made of mud were placed over the stone houses, providing warmth in winter and coolness in summer, and also acting as fireproofing.

The houses are all built very tall, but the windows are very small.

In Li Dachui's view, these were small fortresses.

A group of people who are extremely insecure take their defensive posture to the extreme, even in their comfortable daily lives.

"I've come to take everyone home!" Li Dachui got straight to the point, without beating around the bush at all.

Cui Hu glanced at Wang Shan and the others inside the room and slowly said, "We were in Dragon Flame Valley, where information was scarce, and we were unaware of the situation outside. Although Qun Shu came from the valley, he has been trying to persuade us to serve the Tiele, so we have never dared to fully believe the news he brought. Moreover, we are also very curious as to how Protector Li was able to swagger into the Yuan Kingdom?"

Li Dachui nodded and said, "I entered the Yuan Kingdom under the name of a disciple of Changchun Valley. The reason I was able to get here is because I made a deal with Tiele. The deal is simple: Tiele wants to seize the Yuan Kingdom's crown prince position, while I need to defeat Linghu Ye and control the entire Guanwai region. Currently, both of us are in a weaker position compared to our opponents, so an alliance has become a mutually beneficial option."

"The Beiting Protectorate has split into two Protectorates, Andong and Anxi?" Cui Hu said with some emotion.

“Linghu Ye has ulterior motives and wants to emulate the Li family’s usurpation of Yong’s throne!” Li Dachui laughed. “The court, in order to balance the forces outside the pass and restrain Linghu Ye, prevents him from advancing into the interior. We will seize the opportunity to take control of half of the area outside the pass. Of course, this is not our end goal. What we want is to replace Linghu Ye.”

“Governor Li, we are traitors to the court!” Cui Hu said meaningfully, “and not just any ordinary traitors. The court only has one way of dealing with people like us: kill us wherever we are encountered, without any law, without trial, without any reason!”

Li Dachui shrugged: "Military Advisor Cui, just six months ago, I was a bandit leader who roamed the borderlands. I can hardly be called loyal to the Qin Dynasty. To put it bluntly, after I replace Linghu Ye, I'll also keep an eye on the interior. If Chang'an is ever on the verge of collapse, I'll naturally lend a hand." "Then what's the difference between you and Linghu Ye?" Wang Shan couldn't help but ask.

“There’s a huge difference!” Li Dachui said, “Linghu Ye has his sights set on that position, wanting to vie for the world, while I, on the other hand, first need to secure the area outside the Great Wall, ensuring that the Yuan people cannot invade it, before I’ll spare a little attention to the area inside the Great Wall. If there’s an opportunity, I’ll reach out; if not, I’ll just let it go!”

"Are you the bandit Li Dachui?" Huang Yi, the military advisor, couldn't help but ask.

“Exactly, he’s renowned in the bandit world!” Li Dachui laughed. “The kind of person who was able to negotiate a deal with Linghu Ye back then.”

"If one didn't have such strength, it would be impossible to rise to become a high-ranking official of the court outside the Great Wall in such a short time!" Cui Hu exclaimed. "Murderers and arsonists wear golden belts, while those who build bridges and roads leave no trace of their bodies!"

“Military Advisor Cui, I’m not that kind of person. You’ll understand what kind of person I am once you get to know me better!” Li Dachui retorted. “I wouldn’t dare call myself a Robin Hood-like figure who robs the rich to help the poor, but I’ve never acted with a guilty conscience!”

Cui Hu cupped his hands in greeting: "Governor Li, you're overthinking it. I was just speaking from the heart. To be honest, I still have some doubts about your proposal, because I really can't understand why you're so eager to bring us back! We only have a mere 20,000 men. While we might contribute to what you want to do, it's certainly not decisive. And I can guess that you'll have to pay a heavy price for the Tiele to agree to let us go. Whatever it is, I don't think we're worth that price. I won't feel at ease until I understand this. Governor Li, to you, 20,000 men is just a number, but to us, they are our dearest friends and family!"

Li Dachui nodded, stood up, glanced at everyone in the room, then looked at Gao Qunshu, before saying, "From an official standpoint, as the Deputy Protector-General of the Anxi Protectorate, I absolutely do not want any of my comrades to be trapped in enemy territory, unable to return home. Moreover, to be frank, the strength of Dragon Flame Valley is extremely important to the Anxi Protectorate."

Taking a deep breath, Li Dachui continued, "Personally speaking, this is what I owe you!"

Apart from Gao Qunshu, everyone in the room looked at Li Dachui with a bewildered expression.

“Li Duhu owes us? What makes you say that?” Cui Hu asked in confusion. “Before receiving Qunshu’s message, we knew very little about Li Duhu.”

“My father is Li Anze, and my mother is He Qingqiu!” Li Dachui said, enunciating each word clearly.

With a bang, Wang Shan actually broke the chair he was sitting on and fell to the ground. For someone at the seventh level of the Profound Origin Realm, this meant that he had directly lost control of the true energy in his body.

Zhao Kui, Zhu Zhong, and Huang Yi all jumped up, their eyes wide as they stared at Li Dachui. The only one who could still maintain his composure was Cui Hu. He stared intently at Li Dachui, his lips trembling, and slowly raised his hand, pointing at Li Dachui, saying, "Li Dachui, such jokes are not to be taken lightly!"

Li Dachui looked at Cui Hu and the others and said slowly, "Back then, because of the matter of your parents, you all had to flee your homes. Countless relatives and friends were implicated, and you were trapped in this open-air prison for decades. I didn't know this before, but now that I do, no matter what the price is, I urge you all to return home."

"Although the Crown Princess was already six months pregnant back then, I heard that she did not give birth in the end, but died together with the Crown Princess!" Cui Hu said, trembling.

“If that weren’t the case, how could I have survived to this day!” Li Dachui stretched out his hand, and a star-shaped flower appeared on his fingertip, then split in two, two into four, four into eight. “If I weren’t their descendant, Princess Chang Le wouldn’t have arranged for me to meet you and promised to let me take you away.”

The phoenix departs from its fiery form and burns fiercely.

No one had any doubts anymore.

Cui Hu looked up at the sky, and two streams of clear tears flowed down his face.

Wang Shan strode out the door, stood on the circular dam, and roared to the sky.

Zhao Kui, Huang Yi, and Zhu Zhong covered their faces and wept uncontrollably.

Twenty-five years!
When they fled, the youngest, Huang Yi, was already eighteen years old.

Compared to the younger generation in Dragonflame Valley, they can be considered direct victims of this incident.

Their fathers, however, mostly perished in this coup.

Now, the descendants of the crown prince to whom they once served have suddenly appeared before them.

"Do we still have any hope of revenge?" Cui Hu wiped away his tears and asked in a low voice.

They had given up all hope of revenge, and they were unwilling to submit to the Northern Yuan and seek revenge with the help of a foreign tribe. Even if they succeeded, they would not feel any satisfaction deep down.

But it's different now.

Li Anze and He Qingqiu have descendants!
"There is certainly hope!" Li Dachui said confidently. "At least, I can take down a dagger like Linghu Ye first. As for the enemies behind the scenes, we'll have to deal with them slowly. Gentlemen, I can't guarantee that one day I'll march on Chang'an and wipe out all the enemies. For me, making everyone live better and more comfortably, and ensuring a better future for everyone's descendants, is more important than revenge. Of course, if the opportunity arises, I won't hesitate for a moment."

(End of this chapter)