Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 574 Determination
Master Liaoshen knelt down and bowed to Yan Xianlin, saying, "I am over fifty years old and have lived a mediocre life, yet I consider myself extraordinary and think I can achieve great things. After repeatedly hitting a wall, I still want to go south to Puxian to look for opportunities."

However, even in Puxian County, the young son-in-law could not escape the fate of being neglected. He finally realized his own inadequacy and decided to wander the world as a wandering monk.

Unexpectedly, he was valued by Master Li and appointed as the deputy commander of the Demon Suppression Camp.

Although the son-in-law did not contribute much, seeing the Demon Suppression Camp gather five hundred people in just two months, showing a domineering presence over Pudong, he couldn't help but feel excited.

However, the son-in-law was ultimately all talk and no action, and suggested that Master Li lead his troops on a northern expedition, which ruined the promising situation of the Demon Suppression Camp.

I have often felt remorse for this, both for my own incompetence and for the lives of my brothers. Today, when Master Li came to find me and still expressed his trust, I was deeply grateful. However, I also hesitated, worried that I might repeat the same mistakes and cause the Demon Suppression Camp to suffer again, and also fearing that after parting ways at Sifang Valley, I would betray Ziyan's kindness.

But in the end, the son-in-law made up his mind.

I go without any ambition for glory, only seeking peace of mind. If I cannot help Master Li quell the demonic calamity and comfort the souls of my brothers in heaven, then I have lived in vain. I hope my father-in-law will grant my request.”

After he finished speaking, there was complete silence in front of the bamboo house.

Even Li Xiangming was slightly moved.

Before the Demon Suppression Camp headed north, he did hesitate for a while and did ask Master Shen for his opinion.

At that time, Master Liaoshen strongly urged him to go north, not only to defeat the northern monsters and protect Monkey Valley.

There was an even deeper consideration: to raise the banner of the Demon Suppression Camp in Pudong!
After the Demon Suppression Camp was established, it was stationed near Monkey Valley. Although it had achieved a great victory at Jinlinpo, it did not expand due to its serious injury and return home. At least it did not make the demon-hunting cultivators entrenched in Monkey Valley restless.

In order to publicize the achievements of the Demon Suppression Camp, he had to resort to trickery—he impersonated the white lion captured at Maojing Mine as a Bone-Melting Demon Cultivator from the Jinlinpo Beast Tide and paraded it through Monkey Valley to demonstrate his power.

Later, when the Demon Suppression Camp went south to Dingfeng Village, they only made a brief appearance.

In short, the Demon Suppression Camp did not have any particularly impressive achievements.

Outsiders lack confidence in the Demon Suppression Camp's ability to resist the beast tide.

For this reason, the main body of the Demon Suppression Camp has always been the six demon-hunting teams: Divine Wind, Golden Eyes, Crimson Flame, Mad Lion, Evil Dog, and Black Cat, with at most one more, the Azure Frost Demon-hunting Team, which has been recruited.

The other demon-hunting groups completely ignored the Demon-Suppressing Camp.

Apart from the Li family, whom he forcibly dragged into the conflict, all the other forces in Pudong outside Monkey Valley remained indifferent and uninvolved.

The Demon Suppression Camp desperately needs a victory to prove itself.

If they win this battle, the Demon Suppression Camp will gain even greater support from the Li family; it will show the demon-hunting cultivators of Monkey Valley that there is profit to be made; and it will let all the forces in Pudong know that they have a second option besides fleeing in panic.

Ultimately, the Demon Suppression Camp will expand from five hundred people to one thousand or two thousand people.

As long as the beast tide continues, Li Xiangming, as its leader, will become the most powerful person in Pudong, without exception.

This influence could easily help him secure the greatest benefits for the Li family, and at the same time help the Li family rise at an astonishing speed in Pu County.

Of course, these are just nice ideas.

Those who offer advice only need to point out the right direction.

As a decision-maker, one must consider all the obstacles that may arise along the way.

Faced with immense pressure, Li Xiangming once considered giving up on Monkey Valley. However, the support of the Lingluo Chamber of Commerce, the smooth progress of the anti-traitor plan, and the unexpected arrival of Li Chengfeng, among other factors, boosted his confidence.

He wasn't blindly fighting demons, but rather he was determined to win—at least at that time.

However, no matter how much he cut off his head, he never expected that the beast tide from Lingyue Peak of Daishan would suddenly head south and wipe out the entire Demon Suppression Camp.

Ultimately, it was Li Xiangming who misjudged the situation and headed north at the wrong time, leading to the disastrous defeat of the Demon Suppression Camp.

However, the northward expedition to subdue the demons was not inherently wrong.

Otherwise, the Demon Suppression Camp should not exist!

Master Liaoshen was merely offering advice, and he was not wrong. The responsibility for the defeat of the Demon Suppression Camp lies with Li Xiangming.

Li Xiangming had already turned the page, rebuilt the Demon Suppression Camp, and continued the great cause of fighting demons, but he didn't expect that Master Shen was still blaming himself and expressing a strong desire to atone for his sins.

"Master, you don't need to do this."

Li Xiangming comforted him, saying, "Pu County hasn't seen a large-scale beast tide for over thirty years. This time, the demonic beasts of Puyin Mountain are incredibly powerful, even the Bailu Sect is helpless against them. The defeat of the Demon Suppression Camp is inevitable. If the brothers in the afterlife knew that you were still clearing out demonic beasts near Luyang Mountain, how could they blame you? You can stay in Luyang Mountain with a clear conscience and protect the peace of this area. If you return to the Demon Suppression Camp with me, it should be to fulfill your ambitions."

Master Liaoshen shook his head, turned to Li Xiangming, and bowed again, saying, "In the past, I always thought that as long as someone obeyed my orders, I would surely achieve great things. Now I realize that this was nothing but the delusion of a mediocre person. I only ask to join the Demon Suppression Camp as an ordinary cultivator and serve Hall Master Li with utmost loyalty. If Heaven has mercy and allows us to survive after repelling the beast tide..."

At this point, Master Liaoshen glanced at Yan Ziyan, who was sobbing uncontrollably, and his Adam's apple bobbed: "I hope Hall Master Li will have mercy and allow me to return to Sifang Valley so that I can stay with my wife forever."

Li Xiangming fell silent.

Master Liaoshen regarded the Demon Suppression Camp as a platform to realize his life's ambitions and devoted too much effort to it.

Therefore, when the Demon Suppression Camp disintegrated, this once confident and eloquent monk on the Dai River instantly lost his spirit.

To be honest, Li Xiangming couldn't empathize with him.

He also valued the Demon Suppression Camp equally, and even risked his life to cover its retreat.

However, he could accept the defeat of the Demon Suppression Camp. Even if the Demon Suppression Camp suffered another major defeat at Gushe Ridge, he would find a way to establish a third Demon Suppression Camp, regardless of the past events at Calabash Valley.

Of course, he couldn't demand anything of Master Shen based on his own class and mindset, but he realized more clearly that every decision he made as a leader, whether good or bad, would profoundly affect the fate of those around him.

If he wants a perfect ending, he must be careful and thorough in every step.

Perhaps, this is also a kind of responsibility.

Li Xiangming took back the Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Rope and looked at Yan Xianlin, who was also silent: "Senior has heard a lot. I wonder if you understand Shen's determination? I will release Shen in two or three months, or at most half a year. During this time, I will do my best to protect his safety."

After a pause, Li Xiangming continued, "If you insist on keeping him, I can't stop you. But the others are not sons-in-law of your Yan family, and I must take them with me. That's my bottom line. I hope you can give our Li family some face."

Yan Xianlin's face was gloomy.

He had actually anticipated that the Li family would come knocking on his door and take away the old members of the Demon Suppression Camp.

Why go to such lengths?

Naturally, he couldn't swallow this insult.

Why should anyone from your Li family be allowed to take my son-in-law away?
On Elephant Swallowing Island, the so-called Li family would only be a second-rate power.

He even had the idea of ​​coercing the Li family members!

as a result of?

Would the Li family risk offending a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like him for the sake of a mere twenty or thirty non-family cultivators? Even if the Li family attacked, he could simply take the Yan family to another place to settle down.

However.
The man before him, Master Li, the so-called commander of the Demon Suppression Camp and Liao Shen's superior, left him somewhat helpless.

He was clearly only a Foundation Establishment cultivator; if he used a little force, he should have been able to kill him with a single slap, but he couldn't even manage to slap him.

If this kid gets away, the Yan family really won't be able to move—because no matter where the Yan family goes, they will be closely watched. He can't just ignore his children's lives, can he?
Thinking of this, Yan Xianlin became even more conflicted, clenching his fists, sometimes tightening and sometimes loosening them, and remained silent for a long time.

Seeing this, Li Xiangming gave Master Shen a wink.

Master Liaoshen slowly rose, looked at Yan Ziyan, his lips trembling as if he had a thousand words to say, but in the end, he only uttered one sentence: "I will come back."

Yan Ziyan wiped away the tears on her face with the back of her hand, then suddenly smiled and said, "I'll wait for you."

(End of this chapter)