The Name of Eternals

Chapter 146: Fourth Lord of the Li Family

"Achoo!" In the camp of Cangya City within Tianmen Pass, Liangzhou.

Inside a firewood room covered in snow, Feng Boping was adding new firewood when he suddenly sneezed, nearly extinguishing the flames in the stove.

He rubbed his nose, puzzled, and muttered, "Why did my nose suddenly itch? Is someone talking about me?"

Nearby, Li Hao was kneading dough. Once it was ready, he placed it on another warm stone to ferment.

He then called for the Longxiao Sword, using it to swiftly chop demon meat into minced meat.

"Such a good sword, and you're using it as a kitchen knife."

Feng Boping shook his head in disapproval.

"Make the best use of everything," Li Hao replied with a smile. After preparing all the ingredients, he started cooking.

Since their return from Dayue City, they had resumed their peaceful life within Tianmen Pass.

The demon threats outside the pass and the winds within were isolated by the vast snow, leaving only their daily hunting, fishing, and three meals a day.

As lunchtime approached, Li Hao sent the little white fox to call Song Qiumo and Li Hongzhuang over for the meal.

"Smells delicious!"

Everyone praised Li Hao's culinary skills. Besides their personal worries, their daily highlight was looking forward to his delicious meals.

While eating and chatting, Li Hao asked Song Qiumo to help him purchase some supplies from a nearby town in the afternoon.

Apart from their fenced yard, Li Hao had gradually built other houses in the camp.

With his ability to control objects over fifteen li, construction was easy. He cleaved distant mountains, transported the stones, and made simple stone houses.

"Are you really planning to rebuild a city here?"

Before Song Qiumo could speak, Li Hongzhuang asked, chewing on a piece of meat and staring at Li Hao.

"Not rebuild, just restore the original city," Li Hao smiled. "Since we're guarding the pass, we should have a city here."

Li Hongzhuang gave him a deep look but remained silent. "If the demons don't invade again, that's fine. But what if they destroy what you've built?"

"Then we'll rebuild it."

"And if we can't hold it?"

"Then we'll rebuild again."

"..."

Seeing his carefree attitude, Li Hongzhuang fell silent but felt a hint of hope in her heart.

If this city could be rebuilt and all the demons outside the pass could be suppressed and deterred, restoring the glory of a hundred years ago, her brothers would be moved to tears…

She lowered her head, biting into a piece of roasted meat and tasting a hint of salt.

"I heard you killed that little demon king. What if the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King attacks when I leave?" Song Qiumo frowned. Li Hao had briefly mentioned the events in Dayue City after their return, revealing that he had killed a demon king's only son.

Song Qiumo, being of demon descent herself, understood the little demon king's potential. Comparable to Li Hao in human terms, his death would surely infuriate the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King.

"Don't worry, I have hidden lines within three hundred li. If demons invade, I'll sense it in time to retreat."

Li Hao smiled. The concealment of his fishing lines, combined with the Hidden Bow ability, made it difficult even for a Four Ascension Realm demon to detect.

Additionally, the "Jiang Xue Tu" painting he acquired from Master Bai Chunhai enhanced his ability to blend his attacks with the environment.

Even at close range, it would be hard for a Four Ascension Realm demon to discover his lines, let alone from three hundred li away without any precautions.

Maintaining such long-distance lines drained his strength, but his 98 meridians, coupled with the Yin-Yang dual meridians, barely sustained it.

"Let me go instead," Li Hongzhuang said. "Song is right. Even with this senior's protection, you killed the demon king's son. I've heard the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King treasured his only son. If he hasn't attacked yet, he's likely waiting for Song to leave."

Song Qiumo glanced at Li Hao and softly said, "I initially planned to stay for only half a year, but given your situation, I'll stay for three years."

Li Hao was startled, then smirked. "What about your duties in Tangu?"

"Three years is nothing. I've watched over it for nearly a millennium. It's not a big deal," Song Qiumo replied calmly.

Li Hao knew it wasn't as simple as she made it sound. Song Qiumo, recorded as a demon king in Qingzhou, wasn't allowed to leave for long.

Half a year was likely her maximum allowable time away; staying for three years would be very challenging.

"Let's see. Maybe they won't wait half a year."

Li Hao said, feeling a sense of urgency about his own strength.

He had another option: temporarily abandoning the pass.

But unless facing certain death, he didn't want to break the three-year agreement.

Song Qiumo nodded. "If the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King comes, we'll likely face three demon kings."

Li Hao and Li Hongzhuang knew this from her previous warnings. Besides the two demon kings from the Ten Thousand Mountains, the Dragon Lord who fought Song Qiumo before might also join.

The seemingly peaceful Tianmen Pass was actually on the brink of a devastating invasion.

Li Hao simply nodded, saying nothing more.

In the following days, life continued as usual, with everyone secretly preparing for a possible demon king attack.

But the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King did not act, perhaps wary of a hidden protector behind Li Hao.

Or maybe he was waiting for a better opportunity.

One day, two letters arrived at the small courtyard.

Both were from the Divine General's Mansion in Qingzhou.

One letter was from Li Tiangang.

Seeing the handwriting, Li Hao crumpled the letter and tossed it into the stove as firewood.

The other letter, unsigned, was from his second uncle.

It expressed concern and affection, discussing the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King's potential retaliation.

Li Muxiu warned that the demon king might attack with three or four others and suggested that Feng should take Li Hao to a safer place if necessary.

That place was a secret area with a deadly river, an area only Four Ascension Realm experts could navigate, classified as a forbidden zone.

The place housed Li Muxiu's brother, the Fourth Lord of the Li Family, Li Xiaoran.

In Li Muxiu's generation, six sons remained, three fallen, and the surviving three were Li Qingzheng, Li Muxiu, and Li Xiaoran.

Li Xiaoran guarded that deadly river, once part of Liangzhou but now a forbidden zone due to its danger.

Li Xiaoran was there not just to monitor the river but to rescue the soul of Li Hao's grandfather, Li Tianzong, trapped within.

Li Hao had heard from his second uncle about his fourth uncle's constant attempts to free his grandfather's soul from the river.

To think that deadly river was just outside Liangzhou.

Li Hao pondered briefly before putting away the letter.

Days passed without any sign of the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King, but Li Hao received another reward from the Emperor, delivered by Eunuch Chu Jiuyue.

"Earl, we meet again."

Chu Jiuyue, seeing the familiar faces in the courtyard and the more homely atmosphere, smiled.

Li Hao welcomed him, receiving the decree, learning his title was elevated from a third-class Earl to a first-class Earl.

Additionally, he was granted gold, treasures, and servants.

Li Hao hadn't yet visited his previously granted fief, but now considered it as a future place to settle after his tenure at Tianmen Pass.

After accepting the decree, Li Hao invited Chu Jiuyue to stay for a meal, which he accepted this time.

Eating heartily, Chu Jiuyue left satisfied, secretly handing Li Hao a treasure talisman, revealing it was the true gift from the Emperor, a Saint Heart Talisman.

It could save his life in a crisis.

Li Hao was astonished, knowing from his uncles about this rare and valuable item, usually reserved for Four Ascension Realm experts.

Weapons and armor had classifications, from treasures for the Zhou Tian and Jihun realms to spiritual items for the Shenyou and Tianren grandmasters, up to divine weapons and armor for the Three Immortals and Four Ascension realms, like his Longxiao Sword.

But the Saint Heart Talisman was a consumable, invaluable even to Four Ascension experts.

Li Hao's talisman wasn't an offensive type but a life-saving one.

An offensive Saint Heart Talisman could even threaten and harm Four Ascension experts.