But there were risks. Even though he should be much stronger than these two now, he didn't know what tricks a Sixth Grade might have.

At this moment, Li Yuan was looking at the map spread out on the table. Xiao Mo Mountain was quite far from the counties of Cyan Pool and Qiutang, and even riding on horseback would take three or four days. White Sparrow was just an ordinary bird, and flying there would not be possible.

"I need to take a trip to see.

Apart from these two, there is no other channel through which I can obtain information about the Sixth Grade or the Life Atlas."

Li Yuan pondered.

...

At night, when he was sleeping with the hostess, he brought it up, but didn't mention that he was going to capture Zhao Xiantong and General Gu Xiang.

"Sister Xue, do you know of any channel that can reach over to Cyan Pool?"

"Husband, I'll go check it out tomorrow.

I've just heard that Cyan Pool is quite chaotic over there."

"Sister Xue, how did you know?"

The hostess covered her mouth and laughed lightly: "You martial fool, with your ears oblivious to affairs outside, didn't you see all those refugees coming? People have fled over from Cyan Pool and Qiutang."

"Let's ask about it tomorrow, then."

"Got it. I'll let Sister Yan take care of Xiao Ping'an by then."

The hostess wriggled her hips, and Li Yuan went to sleep hugging his wife and child.

Early the next morning, Xiaolan's voice came from outside the inner residence.

"Master, Mr. Tang says he needs to meet with you for an important matter."

"Okay." Li Yuan responded, dressed himself, kissed the hostess on the forehead, and left.

He arrived at the inner hall, where a weathered-looking man was sitting under a tree, staring off into the distance.

Li Yuan felt something in his heart but still walked over nonchalantly, patting the man on the shoulder, and calling out, "Old Tang."

Tang Chou said, "Master...

The puppet array at Baihua Manor, I have not disgraced my mission and have finally set it up.

From now on, enemies below the Sixth Grade should not think of breaking through here."

Li Yuan "mm"-ed in response and asked, "How's your body holding up?"

Tang Chou smiled as well, saying, "I have two or three days left to live."

Li Yuan fell silent for a moment.

Tang Chou said, "I told Niannian that I want to take a trip to a faraway place to look for a senior brother to discuss higher-level puppetry..."

Li Yuan said, "Aren't you afraid she'll eavesdrop at the door again?"

Tang Chou chuckled, looked up with a smile, as if recalling that teary-eyed little girl from over two years ago, then said with a smile, "I don't regret staying.

Niannian has grown up, she's a genius in practicing puppetry, more talented than I am.

She has already reached the Eighth Grade, all thanks to the beast meat the master provided daily."

Li Yuan said, "She's my daughter too. Since she's reached the Eighth Grade, all the Eighth Grade Demon Beast Meat allocated here will go to her in the future."

Tang Chou's eyes reddened, wanting to bow again, but Li Yuan helped him up.

"Old Tang, take me to see your puppet array."

"After seeing it, I'll leave tomorrow."

"Alright, I'll send you off with fine wine."

Tang Chou suddenly came close, grabbing Li Yuan's sleeve, excitedly saying, "After I die, please do take out my heart, give it to Niannian! Do not let her know it's my heart! Please!"

Li Yuan nodded deeply.

Afterward, Tang Chou did not demonstrate the puppet array himself but rather had Tang Nian demonstrate it.

At eleven this year, Tang Nian was not yet fully grown, but her figure was quite tall, and due to her long-term immersion in puppetry, there was a kind of focused concentration in her eyes.

At this moment, she was wearing a red silk garment and began the demonstration.

Li Yuan ordered two hundred of the Fearless Army to take up bows and arrows to assist in the demonstration.

Arrows were fired continuously, randomly, like rain falling.

The puppets sprang up, managing to deflect all these arrows, not a single one falling into the courtyard.

He glanced at the puppets.

There were sixteen puppets in total; when still, he couldn't see their stats, but once moving, he saw their capabilities.

Ranging from "120" to "220," and their defense was exceptionally strong.

He remembered when he bought them, their levels weren't this high, clearly, they had been "upgraded" by Tang Chou.

"Ordinary puppets can only have set patrol routes and can't change them on the spot.

But these puppets can alter their routes at Niannian's will anytime."

Tang Chou explained, then called out, "Niannian."

The girl in the red dress stepped forward, three Iron Butterflies flew out from each of her sleeves, whistling between the puppets like weaving through flowers, changing the patrol route each time they hit a puppet.

Though it seemed troublesome, it was much better than being completely inflexible.

But puppets were inherently rigid, unchangeable.

Tang Chou continued, "Besides that, I set up a mechanism in the master bedroom, next to the bed. Once triggered, it can directly activate the puppet array..."

"I know about that," Li Yuan responded.

...

The next day, Li Yuan bid Tang Chou farewell; though claiming to go far, he only went to Xiao Mo Mountain.

In the mountain, there was a coffin Tang Chou had prepared for himself.

The two dug the grave together and sat beside the pit when they finished.

Li Yuan took out the fine wine, served the dishes, and drank merrily with Tang Chou until dawn.

As night passed, the sky lightened.

Tang Chou lay on the ground, his once-black hair turning visibly white, and his flesh began to shrivel in a strange manner, as if something within him had let go of all restraints, starting to devour his life.

"In this life, I was proud in my early years. I didn't expect my family to be destroyed, but the end... isn't too bad." Tang Chou laughed heartily, "Life, what's there to enjoy? Death, what's there to suffer... I can't let go of Niannian, and the unavenged hatred."

Li Yuan sat beside him, saying, "Old Tang, you can rest easy now."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.