Volume Three: Rising Fame Chapter Thirteen: The Five Great Legions

The Azure Mountain Army departed from within the city. Along the streets, not a soul was seen; only after leaving the vast metropolis and stepping onto the broad road did they finally encounter the winding streams of people near the city gates outside. Clearly, there were restrictions in place. Li Yu withdrew his gaze, somewhat disappointed.

He had hoped to take advantage of this opportunity to glimpse the splendor of the county seat, but all he saw were tightly shut gates and deserted streets.

"Young Master, the next stop hasn't been decided yet," Xiao Cui said, trotting alongside the side of the carriage.

'Is it for safety reasons?' Li Yu was not particularly surprised. This was, after all, a military secret; it was normal not to disclose it directly. He turned to Xiao Cui, "You should come up too."

Xiao Cui glanced longingly at the spacious carriage, hesitated, but ultimately shook her head. "Young Master, I'm a sixth-rank cultivator—running alongside is no trouble at all," she said, blinking.

Beside her stood two others, both recently assigned: one in charge of Li Yu's daily life, the other responsible for his lessons during this period. Their roles were performed in earnest. If not for their arrival, Xiao Cui felt she might have forgotten her training altogether.

How could a qualified bodyguard sit together with the one they protect? Such behavior would have been punished during training!

Li Yu's gaze swept over the two new women, sensing Xiao Cui's restraint; he said no more. To be assigned to his side at such a critical moment implied deeper intent—perhaps death-defying guards?

He'd initially wanted all three to ride together, but the newcomers resolutely refused, leaving Xiao Cui caught in the middle. Whatever was said afterward, she no longer dared to board.

Li Yu ceased his musings and was about to meditate when a man's voice called out from the side.

"Li Yu, how does the carriage suit you? Would you like a different one?"

Li Yu looked over in surprise, delighted. "Qing Yangde? What are you doing here?"

The newcomer rode a snow-white tiger, unusual in that its limbs bore serpentine scales, and its body was clad in icy armor, cutting a formidable figure. Seated atop that beast was Qing Anqi's elder brother—on the day Li Yu was "taken," they had met briefly; Qing Yangde had spoken up for him then.

Li Yu had a favorable impression of him, though they hadn't met since.

"I'm only a few years older than you—just call me Yangde. I'm a general of the Qingyang Army and one of the leaders of this operation, so of course I'm here," Qing Yangde replied with a hearty laugh. "I heard your name was on the list among those selected for this expedition. As soon as I finished my tasks, I came looking for you!"

His gaze lingered on Li Yu, eyes narrowing in disbelief.

Sixth-rank cultivation!

Qing Yangde was secretly astonished. He recalled their first encounter, when Li Yu was merely a mortal; he had assumed at the time that Li Yu's claim of "Thunderblood lineage" was just youthful bravado with Qing Anqi. Yet unexpectedly, it turned out to be true—and in this short span, Li Yu's cultivation was now equal to his own, perhaps even stronger!

He certainly didn’t think he could defeat a fifth-rank cultivator.

"I heard you gave Qing Yuan a beating! That must have felt good!" Qing Yangde said, touching the scar on his cheek with satisfaction.

"..."

Li Yu smirked. "A trivial matter!"

A thought struck him. He’d heard rumors afterward that Qing Yuan bore a deep grudge against the county lord, and years ago had disfigured one of the lord’s children. Was it Qing Yangde?

"Yes, it was me," Qing Yangde admitted candidly. Seeing Li Yu’s probing look, he spoke plainly, "I was simply outmatched—nothing to be ashamed of."

"You take things lightly," Li Yu laughed.

Qing Yangde, with thick brows and a tall, scholarly build, ought to have exuded an air of refinement, but the scar on his cheek marred that image.

"I'm not relying on looks to get by," Qing Yangde joked, blinking.

As the child of the Azure Mountain County Lord, he was not the only son, but his status was still noble. If he wanted to be a wastrel, he could; a handsome face was just a bonus, not a necessity.

"We're the Azure Mountain Army, so how come you're calling it the Qingyang Army?" Li Yu shifted the topic, not lingering on old wounds. Instead, Qing Yangde’s earlier words piqued his curiosity.

"Ah, that's something I wouldn't tell most people," Qing Yangde said solemnly. He glanced around to ensure no one was listening, then continued.

"A county is only permitted one army."

"The Azure Mountain Army is the official name for all troops in the county. Outside, regardless of which corps is on assignment, they all call themselves the Azure Mountain Army; but in reality, we have five corps internally, each with its own title."

Li Yu had initially dismissed the matter, but his mind soon caught on. He marveled inwardly, "That’s quite the trick!"

"As long as you understand, that's enough. I need to get back to work," Qing Yangde said, waving as he turned his white tiger beast away.

His visit was at Qing Heng’s instruction to deliberately befriend Li Yu. With so many military affairs to attend, Qing Yangde knew not to overdo it—he made his acquaintance and moved on.

Li Yu watched Qing Yangde depart, then closed his eyes to rest in the carriage.

This brief exchange was hardly as superficial as it seemed. Beneath the casual banter, the information revealed was startling, with at least two deeper implications.

On one hand, it showcased Azure Mountain County's military strength. In this world where cultivation was possible, power was the bedrock of truth—when strength speaks, all else falls silent.

Qing Yangde said the Azure Mountain Army was just a façade, hinting that the county’s true power was far greater, lest Li Yu, upon leaving the county, believe the rumors and underestimate its strength.

On another level, it was a way of saying, ‘See, I can share these secrets with you openly—doesn’t that mean we’re close?’

Li Yu understood that during the assembly of the Hundred Families, many would take an interest in him—some friendly, some hostile, some offering olive branches.

The Qing clan had clearly anticipated these dynamics, and though not overly zealous, they had shown appropriate goodwill.

Two days of relentless marching passed, thanks to the fact that most of the troops were eighth-rank cultivators in the martial or divine arts; otherwise, such exertion would have been unbearable.

By dusk on this day, as they reached an open plain, the order was relayed through the ranks.

The army halted as if a great machine had suddenly stopped. They stood firm, then divided into squads, campfires flaring up all around as defensive works were erected.