"The Li family has been defeated!" This news quickly spread to every corner. The Li family’s territory was close to Chang'an, and from this day on, cries of lamentation filled the official roads of the Huainan region.
Straw mats wrapped around hundreds of corpses, including the patriarch of the Li family and the head of the family. A four-wheeled cart carried their bodies away along the official road.
All along the way, mosquitoes buzzed incessantly, mingling with the cries of blood and tears, moving all who heard.
White mourning banners fluttered in the air.
The Li family’s three sons and a few women sat inside the cart, wailing in grief, lost to the world.
Li Sanlang emerged from the carriage, tears streaming down his face, and rode his horse alone. He turned back to look at the towering, vast city of Chang'an and closed his eyes.
Behind him, his elder brother also came out, lips pale, face haggard. He glanced at Li Sanlang, mounted his horse, and said softly, "From now on, the Li family will rely on us brothers."
Li Sanlang nodded.
Li Erlang said, "In the past... you couldn’t learn anything well, I don’t blame you, and neither would Father. The world is too chaotic now, better to just guard that piece of land and not make any moves."
Tears streamed down Li Sanlang’s face again.
He sat dazed and lost on his horse for a long time, until they reached a barren open field covered in withered grass. No one spoke; there was only the buzzing sound. After a long while, someone finally whispered, "Bury them."
Li Sanlang knelt there numbly for a moment before suddenly fainting and falling to the ground without a sound.
...
The Li family’s army was in chaos and turmoil, and Chang'an also suffered heavy losses. This was undoubtedly a good opportunity, and forces from other places had already heard the news and were rushing to Chang'an.
The rainy season was approaching, and the Northern Army was still stationed in place, not yet having mobilized. Although the Li family’s situation opened up a path in Chang'an for everyone, it also served as a warning bell for those coveting Chang'an, calming many restless hearts and deterring reckless attacks. The previously festering refugees around Chang'an grew weaker, and with the humidity and high temperatures, the disease began to spread aggressively.
In the sweltering heat, Xu Zhen sat in the military tent, sighing deeply.
Li Taiwei was dead.
How could he have died... it was just a battle, how could the Li family’s great general have been killed?
Li Sanlang, that little kid, must be feeling terrible after losing his family. After all, he was her student; she should go see him.
But now, rumors favorable to them had spread through the streets and alleys, and with the Northern Army so close to Chang'an and already having begun their plans, it was the perfect time to move, not to be wasted.
After pondering for a moment, Xu Zhen decided she had to apologize to Li Sanlang and Li Taiwei later, and focus on attacking Chang'an first.
With no emperor in power, chaos everywhere was understandable. The Northern Army quickly reorganized and prepared to march.
The mighty Wei River flowed, its waves like runaway wild horses surging forth. On the day of the march, as the army stood before the military tent, rain suddenly began to fall from the sky. Xun Qianchun didn’t mind, mounting her horse to lead the troops.
Xu Zhen walked over, her long robe trailing, and stood beneath the horse, pulling on the reins with a smile, "Who would’ve thought we’d end up picking up leftovers..."
Xun Qianchun said, "I'll explain things to Li Sanlang after some time."
Xu Zhen sighed and advised, "Chang'an is easy to defend and hard to attack. Even though we’re taking advantage of the situation, it’s still dangerous. If we can’t win, retreat immediately, don’t get entangled."
Xun Qianchun nodded, "I understand."
Xu Zhen added, "Make sure nothing goes wrong."
Xun Qianchun replied, "Alright."
Xu Zhen said, "Set off then."
Xun Qianchun glanced at Xu Zhen and said, "I am not the Li family’s army."
Xu Zhen didn’t respond.
Xun Qianchun said, "Since you, sir, are immortal, I won’t die either, for your sake." After saying this, she led the army away, leaving behind a vast expanse of silver-armored figures in the rain.
The rain drummed steadily on the tent.
After watching the army depart, Xu Zhen returned to the tent, supporting her forehead as she pondered.
She was contemplating how to end the turmoil.
She knew that those she was up against might not be ordinary people, yet her abilities were limited, and ordinary methods might be of no use at all.
Should she try seeking help from the system?
After thinking it over, Xu Zhen decided to call up the system and asked, "Why has the beggar become so powerful?"
The system was silent for a moment before replying, "Butterfly effect."
Xu Zhen asked, "What? Is it my fault? I haven’t taught her anything!"
The system remained silent.
Xu Zhen said, "Can you give me a clear hint?"
The system replied, "Cannot disclose too much information."
Helpless, Xu Zhen closed the system and began to look into other matters. She hadn’t looked at the system interface in a long time, and upon revisiting it, she noticed the villain whitening cards she hadn’t seen in a while.
She didn’t know when, but more cards had gradually appeared, including ones for Li Sanlang, Xie Guang, a favored concubine, and even... the little beggar’s!
Xu Zhen opened the little beggar’s card to take a look.
It read: [Once controlled by drugs, committed all sorts of evil, now recovering.]
So the little beggar had once been a villain, influenced by drugs. Xu Zhen examined the card for a while, finding it truly fascinating.
She continued looking through the cards, and as she did, she realized she needed to take action.
Thunder rumbled loudly across the sky, and Xu Zhen stepped out of the tent with an oil-paper umbrella. She stood there thinking for a moment, then spoke to the guard at the entrance, mounted her horse, and rode south.
**Author's Note:**
Today’s chapter is short because... I got sick right after setting a goal yesterday. I will definitely write more tomorrow t_t
