Druid Fairy

Chapter 135 The Beast Tide is Coming
Another autumn has passed in the blink of an eye.

There has never been a shortage of happy events at the Li family mansion.

First, Xie Yuan's belly finally showed signs of pregnancy, and the whole family was overjoyed.

Qin treated her like a porcelain doll, taking care of her every day, and managed to make Xie Yuan have a rosy complexion and abundant blood and energy.

Meanwhile, Li Mengze, who was studying at the prefectural academy, had already been enrolled for two years and had shown amazing talent in alchemy.

A few days ago, he even specially asked someone to bring back a bottle of first-grade low-level Qi Gathering Pills that he had personally refined, specifying that it was for his father to use to calm his mind and focus his spirit during cultivation.

Holding the pill, Li Pingcan felt incredibly warm inside.

"This brat, he's even learned to be filial to his old man now."

The feeling of seeing my son grow up is even more comforting than breaking through my own cultivation level.

Li Mengjin has reached the age of seven, the time to have his spiritual roots tested.

With Li Mengze's outstanding achievements as a precedent, the Li family had high expectations for this equally intelligent and lively child.

Only Li Pingcan, on the eve of the test, pondered for a long time by candlelight.

For a family to produce a single immortal talent with a superior wood spiritual root is already a sign of good fortune, enough to attract the attention of various forces. If another exceptionally gifted individual were to emerge, it wouldn't be good fortune, but rather "ostentation."

The wood is beautiful in the forest, and the wind will destroy it.

He understands this principle better than anyone else.

"One in the light, the other in the dark, is the way to last."

The day the spiritual root was tested.

Li Mengjin placed her small hand on the cool Immortal Mirror, her eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.

However, a breath, two breaths... the time it takes for an incense stick to burn has passed, and the mirror remains as still as a deep well, without the slightest reaction.

"How could this happen?"

Master Wang checked the Immortal Reflection Mirror again and had Li Mengjin try it once more, but the result was the same.

"No spiritual roots."

He could only shake his head helplessly in the end.

Li Mengjin bit her lip tightly, forcing herself not to let her tears fall.

He couldn't understand why.
Why can my brother do it, but he can't?

Qin hugged her grandson tightly, knowing how devastating this outcome would be for a child.

After this incident, the news that the Li family had produced a "good-for-nothing" also quietly spread in private.

Li Pingcan was also lamented by outsiders.

He didn't care at all.

In the dead of night, he took the dejected Li Mengjin to the back mountain.

"Father, does not having spiritual roots mean you're useless?" Li Mengjin's voice was tinged with tears.

"Who said that?"

Li Pingcan crouched down, looking directly into his eyes, "Your talent is unique in this world. However, it's not time for your sword to be drawn yet."

He drew a willow branch from his waist, and with a gentle shake in the moonlight, the soft branch emitted a clear, melodious sword-like sound.

"From today onwards, I will personally teach you swordsmanship."

Li Pingcan concealed the fact that Li Mengjin possessed a mid-grade sword spirit root. Since Li Mengjin's personality was not as composed as Li Mengze's, it was better that he didn't know.

He didn't teach those complicated sword moves, but started with the most basic "Thirteen Swords of Wind Return" first move, "Willow Sweep".

"Look at the wind; it has no fixed shape, yet it is everywhere. Your sword should also be like the wind."

He held a willow branch in his hand, his figure swaying swiftly, the sword light gentle, like a spring breeze brushing against Li Mengjin's cheek, allowing him to feel that lightness and ease.

"Look at this water again."

He drew the stream, lightly touching the water's surface with the tip of his sword, creating ripples. "Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. The same is true of swordsmanship. One must know how to borrow momentum and follow the flow, rather than blindly charging and striking recklessly."

Li Mengjin listened with a vague understanding, but his innate aptitude for swordsmanship allowed him to quickly adapt and master the art.

He learned extremely quickly, and in just a few days, he had mastered the "Willow Sweep" move quite well. The wooden sword in his hand was no longer an inanimate object, but had gained a sense of agility.

Father and son, one imparting all his knowledge, the other eagerly learning, passed on the art of swordsmanship in this secluded back mountain.

…………

Life in Peach Blossom Village was not always so peaceful.

On this day, white banners were hung under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village.

The old village chief has passed away.

The old man lived to be a hundred years old, without any illness or disaster, and passed away peacefully in his sleep. According to the village, it was a happy death.

The entire Li family went to offer their condolences.

Inside the mourning hall, somber music played softly, and paper money fluttered in the air.

The old village chief's sons cried their hearts out in front of the mourning hall, their filial piety moving heaven and earth, but their eyes kept wandering around.

Once the guests had left, this performance of "filial piety and virtuous grandson" could no longer continue.

“My father loved me the most when he was alive. He even held my hand before he passed away. I should be the one to take the position of village chief!” Er’er, who was over seventy years old, had the loudest voice. He wiped away his tears and straightened his back.

"Fuck your mother's fart!"

The fifty-year-old third son immediately jumped up, pointed at his eldest brother's nose, and cursed, "Last winter, when Dad had a cough, I was the one who called the doctor and brewed the medicine! And you, you only brought half a pound of pastries, which were almost expired from the shop! How dare you argue with that?"

"That's right! Second brother, you've been hanging around town all year round, and the few acres of land in the village are almost abandoned. You're old and about to die, and you want to be the village chief? I'm the first to object!" The youngest son also joined the fray.

"Stop arguing! What future is there in staying in this poor village? In my opinion, selling those few acres of dilapidated land and this old house and splitting the money is the most practical thing to do! Wouldn't it be better for everyone to take the money and enjoy life in town?"

The group immediately erupted into a heated argument, accusing each other of being "unfilial," "biased," and "selfish," their spittle flying as they revealed all the sordid, everyday matters of the village.

In the corner, Li Xiaoshan, the village chief's most beloved eldest grandson, now a twenty-year-old youth, was trembling with anger.

"Uncles! Grandpa's body is barely cold, and you..."

"Go away! What right do children have to interrupt when adults are talking!"

Li Xiaoshan clenched his fists, looking at his uncles who were so shameless for such petty gains, and felt a deep sadness and helplessness in his heart.

The surrounding villagers pointed and whispered among themselves, but no one dared to step forward to dissuade them.

Just then, a soft cough came from the doorway.

The noisy funeral hall fell silent instantly.

Zhou Yu, the steward of the Li family, was standing quietly at the door.

He wore a long blue cloth robe and had a peaceful expression, but his eyes held a fearsome light.

Zhou Yu, who had once fled from Fenghuang County, finally settled down in Peach Blossom Village and became a trusted steward of the Li family.

"Manager Zhou... Manager Zhou!"

The sons, who had been arguing heatedly, fell silent the moment they saw Zhou Yu, like ducks being choked.

"It's Steward Zhou from the Li family!"

"The Li family has sent people; this is going to be interesting."

The villagers immediately lowered their voices. Everyone knew that in Peach Blossom Village, the Li family was the one who truly held sway. And Zhou Yu was the Li family's representative outside the village.

Zhou Yu slowly walked into the mourning hall. He first respectfully lit three incense sticks before the old village chief's memorial tablet, then turned around and said to the village chief's sons, who were at a loss, "Please accept my condolences."

"Before he passed away, the old village chief once mentioned to my husband that the thing he was most worried about in his life was Peach Blossom Village. After he left, he hoped that this responsibility could be taken over by a steady and fair person."

Zhou Yu's gaze slowly swept over everyone present, finally landing on Li Xiaoshan.

“The old village chief also said that among his grandchildren, Xiaoshan, you are the most intelligent and sensible, with the same demeanor as him back then. This seal,” Zhou Yu took out a warm and lustrous jade from his pocket, “should be handed over to the person the old village chief values ​​most.”

Upon hearing this, the sons turned pale, but dared not utter a single word.

The "master" of the Li family has spoken; who dares to question him?
That's like lighting a lamp in a latrine—it's suicidal!

Li Xiaoshan stared blankly at Zhou Yu, at the jade seal, and his eyes instantly reddened.

He strode forward, took the seal from Zhou Yu, and bowed deeply in the direction of the Li family mansion.

…………

Years pass.

Dragon Palace, in front of the Five Elements Stone Tablet.

Lee Pyeongchan felt like he was about to split open.

He was sitting cross-legged in front of the Sharp Gold Stone Tablet, his consciousness like a piece of iron being repeatedly hammered and refined by countless invisible sword energies.

That invincible, sharp aura sent shivers down one's spine. "This gold elementalist is a volatile guy, and this fire elementalist is a madman!"

Li Pingcan thought to himself, "What do you mean?"

"Very well, this is true cultivation! Only when the five elements are perfected can one establish the foundation of the Great Dao! How can one be content to be a 'farmer' who cultivates both wood and earth?"

Instead of backing down, he immersed himself even deeper, actively embracing the tearing pain, and in the extreme tension, he comprehended the essence of metal energy.

Immersed in the bittersweet practice, the three elements of "metal," "water," and "fire" in the element collection gradually increased their sensitivity to "fifteen," "sixteen," and "thirteen," respectively.

Every improvement thereafter becomes especially difficult.

Li Pingcan did try to find the five elements of heaven and earth, but unfortunately the five elements repel each other, making it extremely difficult to find wild ones in the entire Yunshui County.

One day, Li Pingcan was comprehending the stone tablet in the Dragon Palace when suddenly, under the influence of [Animal Conversation], an unprecedented frenzy came from the direction of the Dayu River.

It was like a depth charge being dropped into a calm lake, and the chaotic thoughts of countless beings rushed into their minds!

"Ok?"

Li Pingcan suddenly opened his eyes, his expression horrified. This was not ordinary panic, but a fear of impending doom!
He immediately left the Dragon Palace.

The azure dragon, which had been leisurely crossing its legs, was now restless, circling back and forth at the bottom of the water, its massive scales slightly open.

"Little carp, can you feel it?"

The Azure Dragon's voice was filled with panic, "I don't know what's going on, but those guys upstream on the Dayu River are all running downstream like madmen! I just saw a giant blue-backed crocodile that abandoned its lair and ran faster than anyone else, looking like its butt was on fire!"

Li Pingcan's heart sank instantly.

The fact that these local monsters would abandon their nests and flee suggests that the conflict upstream was no ordinary one.

It's a plague of beasts!
An unprecedented and terrifying beast plague swept across the entire river basin!
…………

Thousands of miles away, in Songling Prefecture.

Inside the Civil Affairs Department, Li Ping'an was buried in a mountain of files, dealing with a long-standing case.

He has now established himself firmly in the state capital and is becoming increasingly composed and experienced in his actions.

Just then, a trusted aide hurried in and presented a sealed letter, sealed with sealing wax, with both hands.

"My lord, an urgent report from Qingyang County!"

Li Ping'an took the letter and saw only one word, "urgent," written in a flamboyant style. His heart tightened.

He quickly tore open the envelope, skimmed through it, and his pupils constricted.

"A monster riot has erupted, causing a beast plague. Its momentum is overwhelming, and it has already destroyed three major towns along the river! Among the beast tide, there are not only countless treasure beasts, but also monsters with strength comparable to Qi Refining cultivators! The prefecture has ordered all counties along the river to prepare for battle immediately!"

"Beast Plague!"

Li Ping'an stood up abruptly, knowing full well what those two words meant.

This was nothing like the small-scale "beast tide trap" that Liang Zhiyuan had set up in Lingshan. That was just a few treasure beasts that were used to create chaos.

This time, however, it is a true natural disaster, a catastrophe capable of destroying homes and cities and causing immense suffering to all living beings!
"No, we must notify the family immediately!"

He dared not delay for a moment, and immediately went to the study, took out the "communication mushroom" that his younger brother had left him, which could transmit messages over long distances, and said urgently, "Big brother! Little brother! The beast calamity is coming, make preparations quickly!"

…………

When the news reached Peach Blossom Village, the atmosphere in the entire Li family mansion instantly became extremely tense.

After reading the letter, Li Pingfu's resolute face remained expressionless.

"The head of the family..."

Jiang Ling'er followed him in, and seeing her husband's silent back, her eyes instantly reddened. "You...you really have to go?"

Li Pingfu paused in his wiping motion, turned around, looked at his tearful wife, reached out his rough hand, and gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks. His voice was deep and powerful: "Ling'er, I am the magistrate of Yunshui County. It is my duty to protect the land and its people."

Qin rushed over upon hearing the news. She grabbed her son's hand, her voice trembling, "Fu'er, this is no joke! It's a beast plague! You... can't you not go? Let someone else go! You're a county magistrate now!"

“Mother,” Li Pingfu gave a bitter smile, “it is precisely because I am the county magistrate that I have to go. If I don’t go, who will? Are we going to send those half-grown children who can’t even hold a knife properly to their deaths?”

"Then I'll go with you!"

A clear yet stubborn voice came from the doorway; it belonged to Li Yuanhu, who had now grown into a robust young man. He was standing there, his face flushed with excitement, his fists clenched tightly.

"Father! I've broken through to the Divine Fiend Realm! I can help you!"

"Nonsense!"

Li Pingfu's face instantly darkened, and he shouted sternly, "This is not the time for you to play the hero! Stay home obediently and protect your mother and grandmother. That's your biggest task right now!"

"But Father!"

"No buts!" Li Pingfu's voice brooked no argument. "This is an order!"

Looking into his father's stern eyes, Li Yuanhu's burning passion seemed to be extinguished by a bucket of cold water. He could only lower his head in grievance, his eyes reddening.

Qin hugged her grandson tightly, glared at Li Pingfu, but knew that her son was right.

…………

After reassuring his family, Li Pingfu immediately went to the county government office.

As a county constable, he had to obtain the most accurate intelligence as soon as possible.

Inside the county government office, chaos reigned, and the atmosphere was so tense it was almost palpable.

The detectives and scouts in charge of the reconnaissance all looked terrified, and their armor was even stained with blood that hadn't dried yet.

Upon seeing Li Pingfu, Li Yuan reported in a hoarse voice, "Brother, the front lines are about to collapse!"

Li Pingfu's heart sank, and he grabbed him, saying, "Explain yourself! What happened!"

"It's a demonic beast! A real demonic beast!"

Li Yuan's eyes were bloodshot. "It wasn't any of the magical beasts we'd seen before. There was a three-eyed black giant ape, ten feet tall, with immense strength, capable of smashing a city gate with a single punch! And there was a black-scaled river python with barbs, churning the river. The garrison of Wangjiang Town couldn't even hold out for an hour before they were all wiped out!"

The demonic beasts roamed freely, their ferocity overwhelming, beyond the reach of human power. Mortal weapons could not even scratch them; only the magic of immortal masters and the heavy crossbows of the army could barely hold them off for a moment.

Li Pingfu's fingers tightened inch by inch, squeezing the bamboo slip until it made a "crunching" sound.

This is a true natural disaster, a catastrophe that can shake even the entire prefecture.

Li Pingfu took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, his eyes becoming increasingly cold and resolute.

There is no retreat in this battle.

…………

The news of the beast plague could not be kept secret forever.

When the government's conscription notices were posted all over the streets and alleys of Yunshui County, the entire county was in an uproar.

"What? The government is conscripting soldiers? Every household must send one able-bodied man?"

"Damn it! I'm the only son in my family. If I go to the battlefield, how will my parents survive!"

"I've heard that this beast plague is no small matter; it has even alarmed the prefecture. If we mortals go up there, aren't we just going to fill the bellies of these monsters?"

In an instant, public resentment arose and people were filled with fear.

In Zhou Enxian's home, the atmosphere was even more gloomy and desolate.

His concubine, Hong'er, wept with tears streaming down her face.

"What are we going to do? He's our only son!"

Zhou Enxian looked at her son, her weathered face filled with struggle.

How could he not feel sorry for his son?
But who dares to disobey the government's orders?
“The Li family is now the county magistrate. You have a past relationship with the Li family. Why don’t you go and talk to them on their behalf and ask them to make an exception?” Hong’er asked, clinging to her last hope.

"Ugh……"

Zhou Enxing sighed and slowly shook his head.

He knew that at this point, no amount of pleading would be of any use; this was a conscription order from Songling Prefecture.

As the county magistrate, Li Pingfu should set an example. How can we make an exception for him alone?
"do not Cry."

"Back in the day, I, Zhou Enxian, was a renowned expert in Pantao Town. These old bones of mine are not yet at the point where I can't move."

He turned to his concubine and said in a deep voice, "I'll go."

My son is not skilled in martial arts, so going there would only be suicide. He is at least a seasoned martial artist, so he still has a chance of survival in the fight.

Zhou Enxian's decision is just a microcosm of countless families.

Some chose to escape, packing their bedding and fleeing to the deep mountains overnight.

Some chose to submit, crying out as they sent their male relatives to their deaths.

Some people, like Zhou Enxian, planned to trade their lives for one another, sacrificing themselves so that their sons and grandsons could live.

A storm was brewing, and the entire Yunshui County was shrouded in a somber and oppressive atmosphere.

(End of this chapter)