Published: March 8, 2025
Li Chunbo stood proudly at the mountain's peak, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze deep and distant, lost in thought.
Members of the Li family filed out one after another, quietly standing behind him. Apart from the rustling of their clothes in the wind, there was not a single sound. The line composed of Li family members grew longer, and the number of people increased, all maintaining a solemn silence as they stared down at the ground below.
What once were hills and valleys, along with many undulating mountains, had now turned into a flat expanse—just a stretch of level ground.
Or perhaps, a graveyard!
The changes in this place, where time had woven its tapestry, had occurred in the blink of an eye. The vibrant life of yesterday had turned into wisps of smoke today.
It was that simple.
The sky was filled with raging winds and thunder, hailstones fell rapidly, becoming denser and larger, until they were nearly the size of fists, crashing down hard.
The crowd stood at the highest point of the nearby peaks, almost the closest place to the sky, completely exposed to the elements. The hail struck them solidly, yet no one made a move to evade it, as if it were falling upon someone else, indifferent to their own pain.
There is no greater sorrow than a heart that has died; the grief that pierces the soul makes a slight physical pain seem trivial!
"Originally, this place was shrouded in ice and snow. For countless years, Li family members have sacrificed their lives to defend this land, and we lost many along the way. In this family battle, first, eight thousand willingly marched to their deaths, perishing with the enemy; then, another thirteen hundred met their demise here!"
"With nine thousand nine hundred and twenty members of the Li family deployed this time, now, nine thousand three hundred remain forever here!"
"They have all departed! Their souls have gone to the Nine Springs, never to return!"
Li Chunbo's voice was calm and indifferent as if he were stating a mere fact.
However, each word he spoke brought tears to the eyes of those who heard it, and the sound of quiet sobbing was faintly audible.
"Perhaps it is not the case that we will never meet again. They have just gone ahead, scouting the path. Tomorrow, we too may die here! There will be no exceptions. The remaining six hundred of us will journey together in the Yin Realm, walking the Road to the Underworld."
Li Chunbo stood with his hands clasped behind him, his clothes billowing in the storm, his eyes contemplative as he said, "In the past, I built the Li family alone. Now, I will lead you all to another world! I will be the vanguard!"
He let out a cold laugh, saying, "But this land will remember, they once bore the surname Li!"
"Yes! This land will surely remember, they once bore the surname Li!" everyone shouted in unison, their blood boiling despite being pelted by the icy hail.
"Li Xiong Tu!" Li Chunbo called sharply without turning around.
"Here!" Li Xiong Tu stepped forward robustly, coming to stand before Li Chunbo. His body was covered in wounds, many parts wrapped in bandages, fresh blood seeping through.
"This is a battle for my Li family. You are not one of us; the Li family does not need an outsider!" Li Chunbo's expression was unyielding, his voice cold and severe. "Now, get out of the Li family! Immediately, leave now!"
Li Xiong Tu's face changed dramatically. "Ancestral Patriarch?!"
"Do you dare defy orders?! Should I repeat myself?!" Li Chunbo said ominously.
"I wouldn’t dare! Though I bear the ‘Li’ surname, I am not truly a descendant of the Li family. I regret this deeply and have often received great kindness from the Li family, which I cannot repay! I would never hesitate to obey the orders of the Ancestral Patriarch! But at this critical moment for the Li family, if I were to avoid battle now, how could I face the heavens and earth? A true man seeks to live honorably, with a clear conscience. Li Xiong Tu may be weak, but I still wish to fight to the death against the enemy! Regardless of how powerful the enemy may be, we will do our best to resist. Even if it ultimately proves futile, there is still a chance to perish together!"