In the barbican of Songshan County, Xu Xinnian exhaled silently after hearing the deputy commander’s casualty report.

“Go now, and tell the soldiers to stay vigilant. Don’t give the enemy’s experts any chance for a night raid.”

After two siege attempts, the enemy’s elite forces remained intact—only the conscripted refugees among their ranks had perished. The Yunzhou army’s commander was clever, using refugee lives to deplete the defenders’ ammunition and crossbow bolts. Moreover, they had hidden experts among the common soldiers who would seize opportunities to scale the walls, wreaking havoc and destroying the defensive ballistae and cannons.

“The enemy commander is intelligent, yet these night raids seem particularly foolish,” Xu Erlang glanced at Miao Youfang beside him. “Something feels odd.”

Miao Youfang shrugged, completely confused. “What’s odd about it? I think he’s smart to attack when we’re unprepared at night.”

“I’ve already explained to you the disadvantages of night sieges. No seasoned commander would be so reckless unless they were under time pressure to capture Songshan County quickly.” Xu Xinnian analyzed calmly.

“Well, I just focus on killing enemies. I don’t get involved in the thinking part.” Miao Youfang first established his position, then began boasting: “I probably haven’t told you, but back in the Ten Thousand Mountains of the Southern Borderlands, this great hero assisted Constable Xu in storming the Buddhist stronghold of Nanfa Temple. We fought to the death against many high-ranking Buddhist monks. In the end, I helped defeat the Second-rank Asura, laying the foundation for the Southern Demon uprising. With me by your side today, you can rest completely assured.”

Xu Xinnian gave him a look and said slowly, “When I was in Qingzhou City, I met Guardian Yuan. He told me all about what happened in the Ten Thousand Mountains.”

Miao Youfang’s expression froze as his bluff was called out. He immediately bared his teeth and said, “That annoying monkey demon.”

To this, Xu Xinnian sincerely agreed: “Great minds think alike.”

The two exchanged knowing glances as if saying: “So you’ve also experienced embarrassing moments with him.”

At this moment, a soldier hurried in and reported loudly: “Lord Xu, the enemy has shot over a message arrow.”

Xu Xinnian’s eyes flickered slightly as he calmly said, “Bring it here.”

Miao Youfang immediately stood up, took the arrow message from the soldier’s hand, and passed it to Xu Xinnian.

After reading it, the latter gave a cold laugh.

“What does it say?” Miao Youfang asked eagerly.

Second Young Master Xu replied flatly: “The enemy commander is called Zhuo Haoran. He says he’ll break through the city within three days, take my head, and send it to my elder brother as a greeting gift.”

…

Ten miles outside the east gate, in the Yunzhou army camp.

The bonfires blazed brightly, and the rows of tents were silent. The soldiers had retired early, while armored guards patrolled back and forth. Scouts kept watch in the outermost perimeter.

Outside the military tent, the imposingly built Zhuo Haoran, clad in armor, personally executed a captured Great Zhou scout.

He licked the blood-covered blade of his sword and sneered, “Who would have thought that the one defending Songshan County would be Li Qian’an’s cousin? Once I breach Songshan County and take that fellow’s head, I’ll preserve it well and have someone deliver it to the Xu family.”

Deputy Commander Zhao Tian said in a deep voice, “According to this scout’s confession, Xu Xinnian is a disciple of Zhang Shen from the Cloud Deer Academy and is well-versed in military strategy. We cannot be careless.”

Knowing Zhuo Haoran’s arrogant nature, he quickly added, “However, with the general’s prowess, breaking the city is just a matter of time. When the Commander-in-Chief learns that you’ve taken Xu Xinnian’s head, he will surely reward you generously.”

Zhuo Haoran nodded: “Pass down the order: whoever takes Xu Xinnian’s head will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver and appointed as a Hundred-Household Commander.”

…

The next day, Li Qian’an awoke from his meditation to see a woman as melancholic as a lilac flower.

Though beautiful, her sorrowful demeanor could make one overlook her beauty, compelling others to want to enter her heart and listen to her grief.

“Lord Xu, you’re awake,” Luo Yuheng said softly.

Ah, it’s you, Little Sorrow… Li Qian’an sighed in relief. Among the seven emotions, the most troublesome were the “Desire,” “Anger,” and “Evil” personalities.

The Anger personality was relatively manageable, just prone to temper tantrums and getting physical when provoked.

The Desire personality was what Li Qian’an feared most, as it meant he’d be in a state of constant arousal for twenty-four hours, leaving his kidneys suffering terribly.

He hadn’t experienced the Evil personality yet—last time it was the last to appear, and Luo Yuheng had driven it away early.

Judging by his aunt’s cautious reaction, Li Qian’an suspected the Evil personality was like the villainous empress in palace dramas.

As long as these three personalities didn’t appear, Li Qian’an didn’t mind the others.

Little Sorrow was very melancholic, always feeling troubled that she was old enough to be her lover’s mother.

“Imperial Preceptor, you are as beautiful as the morning sun, intoxicating to behold.”

Li Qian’an cherished the fragile and sensitive Little Sorrow like a delicate flower.

Little Sorrow revealed a shy, delighted expression and said softly, “Lord Xu need not call me Imperial Preceptor, just call me Yuheng.”

Here we go again, you’re making me cringe… Li Qian’an shuddered, thinking to himself that this was unnecessary—later when she returns to normal, she’ll want to draw her sword and cut me down.

…

At the edge of the Extreme Abyss, on the outskirts of the primordial forest.

Led by Grandma Sky Insect and other transcendent leaders, the Fourth-rank experts from the seven clans gathered at the edge of the primordial forest.

The Insect Clan members felt heavy-hearted. When the power of the Insect God surged, it often meant that transcendent-level insect beasts might be born.

A mentally deranged mutated monster at the transcendent level symbolized slaughter and destruction. In the Insect Clan’s history, many leaders had died at the hands of transcendent insect beasts.

It could be said that transcendent insect beasts were threats that the Insect Clan leaders had to risk their lives to eliminate.

“The Insect God’s power is several times more concentrated than usual,” said the Fourth-rank elder of the Corpse Insect Clan, who had three powerful corpse puppets by his side.

“Forget about transcendent births—the number of Fourth-rank insect beasts will surge in the short term. If we’re careless, we might suffer casualties,” said the elder of the Poison Insect Clan, looking at the six elders of the Force Insect Clan as he spoke.

The Great Elder cursed, “What are you looking at? I’ve killed more insect beasts than you’ve eaten meat.”

Though defiant in speech, Old Zhang’s brows remained furrowed, never relaxing.

The Insect God’s power had rarely erupted, and they had only experienced it twice in their lives. Neither instance could compare to yesterday’s disturbance.

After a night of absorption and digestion, the insects and beasts near the Extreme Abyss had likely begun their initial transformation.

Their strength wasn’t even the main concern—the primary issue was that the primordial forest around the Extreme Abyss was vast and boundless, making it impossible to conduct a thorough search. Any oversight might give future transcendent insects room to breathe.

“Fortunately, we have Constable Xu’s help. He’s a warrior skilled in combat—having his assistance is like adding wings to a tiger,” said the Second Elder of the Force Insect Clan.

The elders of various clans nodded slightly. Even the Poison, Corpse, and Emotion Insect clans, who disliked Central Plains people, had to acknowledge the Second Elder’s words as fact.

“If only we had a sorcerer to help, we could bombard the Extreme Abyss and save a lot of trouble. Or someone from a system like the Human Path of the Dao Gate who could control sword formations,” said a middle-aged man beside Grandma Sky Insect.

As they discussed, everyone saw a golden light riding the wind—it was Constable Xu with his flaming halo behind his head.

Beside him was a woman riding a flying sword, wearing feathered clothes, and holding a horsetail whisk, with a particularly eye-catching vermillion mark between her eyebrows.

When they saw the sword-riding woman, the men of the Insect Clan were stunned, and then showed expressions of infatuation. Reason told them she was a fair-skinned woman from the Central Plains, but their eyes told them she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

They saw in her the type they most adored.

Li Qian’an descended to the ground, nodded to Grandma Sky Insect and the others, and said, “This is the Head of the Human Path and Imperial Preceptor of Great Zhou.”

Head of the Human Path… except for Grandma Sky Insect, everyone stared at Luo Yuheng in surprise. If they remembered correctly, the current Head of the Human Path was a Second-rank expert.

“I specially invited her to help clear out the insect beasts,” Li Qian’an added.

With a Human Path sword cultivator participating, clearing out the insects and beasts would be much easier… the elders of the Force, Heart, Sky, and Shadow Insect clans’ eyes lit up with genuine joy.

Meanwhile, the elders of the Poison, Emotion, and Corpse Insect clans remained either silent or awkward, as they were hostile to Li Qian’an in their hearts.

Because he represented the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Why should they treat an enemy with courtesy? This was their common thought.

But now seeing that Li Qian’an had brought the Head of the Human Path from the distant Great Zhou capital to help the Insect Clan clear out insect beasts.

This sincerity and goodwill made it impossible for them to speak harshly no matter what.

He must have spent an enormous favor to invite the Great Zhou Imperial Preceptor here… the elders of the three clans thought.

“It must have taken an enormous favor to invite the Head of the Human Path here,” the Great Elder sighed.

While others would keep their doubts to themselves, the Force Insect Clan people were known for “speaking their minds.”

Li Qian’an glanced at Luo Yuheng and said “Oh” before continuing: “It’s no trouble, the Imperial Preceptor is my Dao partner.”

When these words were spoken, Li Qian’an saw the more than twenty people present suddenly develop very strange expressions.

The Head of the Human Path was his dual cultivation partner…

Heavens, such an incomparable beauty was claimed by this crude warrior…

Constable Xu truly deserves his title as Great Zhou’s premier warrior, his foundation in the Central Plains is deeper than we imagined…

Hmph, stealing my man…

Various thoughts flashed through everyone’s minds.

Grandma Sky Insect nodded to Luo Yuheng and said, “Let’s depart.”

…

With Luo Yuheng’s assistance, the operation to clear out the insect beasts became easy and swift.

A sword cultivator on the verge of the Lightning Tribulation—the destructive power she could unleash made the Insect Clan members look at her with new eyes.

By dusk, Li Qian’an and the Insect Clan members withdrew from the Extreme Abyss and returned to their clans.

He didn’t return to the Force Insect Clan with Long Tu, but caught up with Grandma Sky Insect and said, “Grandma, may I have a word?”

Grandma Sky Insect walked alongside him for a distance, leaning on her walking stick. The elderly woman asked kindly, “About requesting reinforcements?”

Li Qian’an nodded.

Grandma Sky Insect walked slowly, pondering, “Forget about the Emotion and Poison Insect clans—their prejudice against Great Zhou runs too deep to change overnight. The Corpse Insect Clan might be persuaded though. While Yu Shi has a blood feud with Wei Yuan for killing his father, his clan members don’t harbor such deep hatred for Great Zhou.”

“The Shadow Insect Clan, due to their nature, is only slightly better than the Force Insect Clan, but they also lack material resources and provisions, living in poverty. You can approach them from this angle.”

Due to their nature? Are they playing hide and seek all day… Li Qian’an held back his sarcasm.

“The Heart Insect Clan members are more rational, and Chunyan seems to have quite a good impression of you. With proper negotiation, it shouldn’t be too difficult. The Force Insect Clan can be won over with grain—their people love battle and don’t fear sacrifice. The Sky Insect Clan isn’t skilled in combat, but their art of reading the stars can be useful for sorcerers, so you needn’t worry about us.”

“Thank you, Grandma.” Li Qian’an cupped his hands.

After learning the locations of each clan, he returned to the Force Insect Clan with Luo Yuheng. The first thing the Imperial Preceptor did upon entering the room was to paste talismans on the doors and windows, isolating the inside from the outside.

Meanwhile, Li Qian’an sent Xu Lingyin to Lina’s room.

“Pat, pat, pat…”

In the dimly lit room, the Southern Borderlands climate was hot and mosquitoes were troublesome. Li Qian’an swatted mosquitoes for the Imperial Preceptor until late into the night.

…

The next day, as the morning sun had just risen, Li Qian’an took advantage of the Imperial Preceptor’s slumber to visit the Shadow Clan.

The Shadow Clan was located southwest of the Extreme Abyss, in a rather substantial town. Three-meter-high earthen walls surrounded the town, which backed against mountains, with a small river flowing gently outside the town.

The town had a population of about seven thousand.

This was certainly not the entire population of the Shadow Clan. The Insect Clan had bred in the Southern Borderlands for thousands of years, developing many small tribes, with numerous small villages scattered around this large town.

Li Qian’an shadow-jumped his way there, arriving at the Shadow Clan as the morning sun had already risen high.

The river outside the town was tinged with a gorgeous golden red, flowing quietly.

The town was eerily silent, like a bustling township whose population had suddenly vanished collectively, with an uncanny stillness permeating the deathly quiet.

He looked around and saw a child in Southern Borderlands clothing sitting at his doorstep, nibbling on a steamed bun.

“Where are the adults in your family?” Li Qian’an approached.

As he spoke, he examined the little boy, who wore simple clothes and seemed to have only the steamed bun as his breakfast.

The little boy looked at him blankly, obviously not understanding the Central Plains official language.

At this moment, a young man crawled out of the shadows by the water vat at the doorway, wearing clothing with alternating cyan and blue colors, his face pale, with a cyan cloth wrapped around his head.

“Is this Constable Xu?” the young man asked respectfully.

“Are you his father?” Li Qian’an asked in return.

“I’m from the patrol team. We noticed you as soon as you entered the town. The chief instructed us that if Constable Xu visits, we should take you to see him.”

The young man finished speaking, then looked at the child: “His parents have hidden themselves and won’t come out for at least two hours.”

Now you’re making me want to hide too… Li Qian’an nodded, saying calmly: “Lead the way then.”