Chapter 88

Opening his eyes, Dongfang Xiuzhe stared blankly at the ceiling, the sharp pain in his head causing his brows to furrow tightly.

"The injuries I sustained are finally worth something!"

A bitter smile crept across his face, and his expression gradually became more serious.

During the process of treating Ye Xingshou, he had made a significant discovery: a major hidden danger within himself. Fortunately, he had discovered it early; otherwise, if it had suddenly erupted in the future, it might have cost him his life.

The hidden danger was that his cultivation speed was too fast. While this was not inherently bad, it was predicated on having a solid foundation.

It was like building a skyscraper; if the foundation was not strong, the higher it was built, the greater the risk of collapse!

The reason Dongfang Xiuzhe was so severely injured this time was not only due to the excessive consumption of true essence but also because his foundation was not yet solid enough.

"I have always focused on the basics, but I didn't realize that even this level was still insufficient!"

A self-deprecating smile appeared on his face, but there was no sign of disappointment. On the contrary, he looked quite happy.

It was no wonder he was so relaxed, as he had already figured out how to eliminate this major hidden danger: by compressing and purifying the true essence and mental energy within his body to the maximum extent.

At the same time, he needed to further temper his physical body, increasing its density and strength.

If he succeeded, not only would he lay an unbreakable foundation, but his cultivation would also advance significantly, achieving two goals at once.

Of course, this was not the most exciting thing for Dongfang Xiuzhe.

What truly made him happy was that he had gained two capable subordinates overnight.

As for his injuries, though they looked serious, they would heal after a few months of recuperation.

Struggling to sit up in bed, he noticed that the room was empty, with no one else around, not even Wang Junqi, who should have been lying on the opposite bed.

"I wonder who bandaged me up; they did a pretty good job!"

Looking at the neatly wrapped bandages, Dongfang Xiuzhe praised the person in his heart, and the image of Liu Hong flashed in his mind.

The sun was already high in the sky, and it was almost noon.

Thanks to several "Recovery Charms," Dongfang Xiuzhe had regained some strength, though his body still ached. Nevertheless, he managed to walk out of the room.

The weather was particularly good that day, with clear skies and warm sunlight bathing the earth.

Dongfang Xiuzhe moved slowly, and when he saw the scene outside, he was filled with confusion.

In the dormitory area for the senior class, he saw many parents with large and small bags, bustling about as if they were moving.

Continuing forward, he found the same situation in the junior class dormitory.

"What's going on today? It feels strange!"

Just as Dongfang Xiuzhe was about to ask someone, he saw Li Erniu pulling a young man toward him.

After a brief chat, Dongfang Xiuzhe learned that the "Grassroots启蒙 School" was dissolving, which was why there were so many parents, and why everyone looked so strange.

Li Erniu introduced him to the young man with dark skin and a simple appearance. His name was Li Daniu, Li Erniu's older brother, and the two had relied on each other since childhood...

Two days later, Dongfang Xiuzhe boarded a carriage to return home. In the same compartment were Liu Hong, Li Erniu, and Li Daniu.

Dongfang Xiuzhe had already promised to find jobs for the two brothers, anything that would be better than farming and manual labor.

With the dissolution of the "Grassroots启蒙 School," the hopes of poor children to rise in the world were dashed. Meng Laikai had left with Wang Junqi, and even Liu Hong didn't know where they had gone.

Liu Hong was in the compartment because she had agreed to be Dongfang Xiuzhe's bodyguard, though the duration of her service was up to her.

"This is from Ren Tianxing," Liu Hong said, handing him a letter.

Dongfang Xiuzhe was not worried about Ren Tianxing's disappearance, as they had signed a contract, and Ren Tianxing could not escape his grasp, no matter where he went.

Moreover, Ren Tianxing might not be fleeing but rather dealing with some personal matters. Once those were resolved, he would return.

The content of the letter confirmed this.

The carriage stopped and started, and three days later, it finally entered Tianbo City, which he had been away from for several months.

Returning to the mansion, he was warmly welcomed, but there's no need to go into details.

That evening, a grand banquet was prepared to welcome the young master Dongfang Xiuzhe, and the entire general's residence was filled with joy.

Due to his injuries, Dongfang Xiuzhe did not eat much. After chatting with his mother for a while, he returned to his own courtyard and quietly meditated to heal his injuries.

Ten days passed in a flash.

During these ten days, Dongfang Xiuzhe's injuries gradually improved, and he no longer felt pain when moving around.

Liu Hong was settling in well. She was staying in Dongfang Xiuzhe's courtyard as a tutor and had not been idle, teaching Chen Yue some magic knowledge every day.

Chen Yue and Chen Xing, the two young girls, one active and one quiet, led Dongfang Xiuzhe to decide to teach them according to their individual characteristics.

As for Li Erniu, he was also placed by Dongfang Xiuzhe's side, but as a junior attendant. His daily task was to practice combat techniques with Chen Xing, and he often ended up bruised and battered, but he had no complaints. Here, he not only ate well and dressed well but also gained practical combat experience, ensuring that the skills he learned at the "Grassroots启蒙 School" would not go to waste.

Li Daniu, on the other hand, became a cook in the army, a significant improvement from his previous status as a lowly civilian. He received a regular salary and many benefits from purchasing ingredients, which was far better than the meager earnings from manual labor. In a year or two, he might even be able to marry a wife.

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General Yixi Qi, the border general, stroked his beard and looked at the defense map in front of him, feeling extremely anxious.

"Put it away, put it away!"

The more he looked, the more annoyed he became, so he had someone put the map away, out of sight, out of mind.

"Shadow Five has been gone for so long; he should have sent some news by now. Why is there still no word?"

Pacing in the tent, the armor on his body made a "clinking" sound.

The more Yixi Qi thought about it, the more anxious he became. If there was no news from Shadow Five, he didn't know if he would go mad.

Shadow Five was someone he had bought at great expense from the Dark Auction House after a fierce bidding war. Over the years, Shadow Five had helped him immensely, eliminating many opponents and was considered his most trusted and valuable asset.

He would rather the attack on Tianbo City fail than have Shadow Five suffer any harm!

Originally, Yixi Qi had not planned to send Shadow Five. A year ago, he had devised a clever plan to attack from both inside and outside.

He had sent envoys with over two million gold coins and a precious storage ring to bribe a band of bandits near Tian Lang Cliff in the Lan Yu Kingdom, asking them to spread rumors and create chaos in Tianbo City at a critical moment.

To ensure success, Yixi Qi had also sent over a hundred elite soldiers to Tian Lang Cliff...

But who could have predicted that the entire band of bandits, including the hundred elite soldiers he had sent, would be wiped out in a single night by some despicable person?

Thinking about it made Yixi Qi grind his teeth in frustration.

Just as Yixi Qi was about to go outside to clear his mind, Shadow Five appeared like a ghost.

"Shadow Five? You're back!"

Seeing Shadow Five, Yixi Qi, who had been in a foul mood, immediately perked up.

Shadow Five looked strange, and his gaze toward Yixi Qi was different from before, but Yixi Qi, eager to know the outcome, did not pay much attention.

"Did you have any success? Did you capture Dongfang Long's son?" Yixi Qi asked impatiently, sitting down in a chair.

Shaking his head, Shadow Five said calmly, "The mission failed. I clashed with Dongfang Long, and he is very powerful!"

"Even you couldn't do it?" A hint of disappointment flashed in Yixi Qi's eyes, but he did not blame Shadow Five. Instead, he said, "Dongfang Long is indeed formidable. I once fought him in battle, and he was one of the enemies I least wanted to face."

Shadow Five stood silently, saying nothing.

"Alright, you must be tired. Go and rest!" Yixi Qi sighed, falling into deep thought.

"Report—"

After an unknown amount of time, a soldier ran in.

Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Yixi Qi asked sternly, "What is it?"

"General, a stranger has come to see you and says he has important matters to discuss," the soldier reported, bowing and keeping his head down.

"A stranger?" Yixi Qi pondered for a moment, then waved his hand. "Do not see him! Drive him away!"

"Yes, sir!" The soldier was about to leave when Yixi Qi called him back.

"What does he look like, and what else did he say?"

"General, he is short and dressed like a commoner. He claims to be a servant of Dongfang Bao," the soldier reported truthfully.

"Dongfang Bao's servant? Dongfang Bao?"

Muttering to himself, Yixi Qi knew a bit about Dongfang Bao. When investigating Dongfang Long, he had also looked into the members of the Dongfang family.

"If I remember correctly, three years ago, Dongfang Bao and Dongfang Long severed their brotherly ties. Why would his servant come to me?"

Yixi Qi could not figure out the mystery. After some thought, he told the soldier, "Go, bring him in!"

Shortly after, a short man in gray clothes was led into the general's tent by the soldier.

"…What a cunning plan, so sinister! This time, Dongfang Long will not escape death, ha ha~"

Inside the tent, Yixi Qi's rough laughter echoed.

Outside the tent, Shadow Five's figure gradually disappeared into the shadows...