Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

Li Yuan looked at Li Chongwen, who was kneeling on the ground in a disheveled state, his eyes showing no emotion. He took a few steps forward, stopped in front of Li Chongwen, and calmly asked, "Father, would you be willing to go back with me?"

Li Chongwen raised his head and looked at his son. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes. In the past two years, Li Yuan had grown taller and more mature, looking more and more like his mother. There was no trace of his mother in him anymore.

The timidity that once graced his face had vanished; he was now tall and upright, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

A calculating glint flashed in his eyes as he asked urgently, "Yuan'er, after we return, could the punishment I received when I was exiled to Lingnan be waived?"

Seeing that Li Yuan remained silent, he said in exasperation, "I am your own father! You are now working in the Demon Suppression Division and are a genius of the Divine Martial Academy. If you just say a word to the higher-ups, they will definitely give you face."

Li Yuan looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then firmly shook his head: "The laws of the court will have their own judgment, and I cannot abuse my power for your sake."

"But I will ask the officers escorting you to take good care of you on the way, so that you will suffer less," Li Yuan sighed.

Li Chongwen's face immediately darkened. He glared at Li Yuan with resentment, then suddenly stood up, pointed at Li Yuan's nose, and began to curse.

"You unfilial son! I raised you with so much hardship, and this is how you treat me?"

His face was contorted in pain. "Now that you've achieved great success, you think you can just abandon me? Do you have any conscience? How can you face your dead mother?"

His insults grew increasingly vulgar, spittle flying everywhere, drawing the attention of the distant garrison.

Li Yuan stood quietly, letting him swear at him without any expression on his face. He was not the original owner of this body and had no feelings for Li Chongwen whatsoever, so it didn't matter to him.

He did not refute or explain; he simply endured the insults in silence.

Yu Chifeng watched from the side with a furrowed brow. He admired Li Yuan. No matter how despicable Li Chongwen was, he was still his biological father. If he were to be branded as unfilial, he would inevitably be tainted and criticized in the future.

He couldn't help but speak up, "How about I submit a memorial requesting His Majesty's pardon..."

Li Chongwen's eyes lit up, but before he could even feel happy, Li Yuan bowed deeply to Yuchi Feng.

He straightened up, looked at Li Chongwen, and slowly said, "I've had a wish since I was a child."

Li Chongwen was taken aback, wondering why he suddenly brought this up.

"That means joining the army." Li Yuan's gaze passed over Li Chongwen and looked at the majestic pass in the distance. Looking at the upright figures on the pass, he said, "I want to become a soldier like General Yuchi, upright and ruthless, yet with the common people in his heart, protecting the people of the country."

His tone gradually became more impassioned, "I want to use my sword to protect the people on this land, so that they are not harmed by evil spirits or ravaged by war."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Li Chongwen again, his eyes resolute: "If I were to prioritize personal feelings over public duty and cover up your crimes today, how could I face the task of commanding thousands of troops in the future?"

He stepped forward, his voice filled with fervor, "How can I face those comrades who sacrificed their lives for the country? Let alone have the right to look down upon heaven and earth with a clear conscience!"

These words, spoken with such force, stunned everyone present.

Yu Chifeng looked at Li Yuan with a moved expression in his eyes. He had seen too many geniuses and too many prodigies, but it was rare to see someone at the age of seventeen who remained steadfast in the face of family ties.

This kid is destined for great things!

The Demon Emperor Chen Su also looked at Li Yuan, his eyes behind the mask flickered for a moment, and he slowly began to clap his hands.

"Clap clap clap—"

"What a fine example of looking up to heaven and earth with a clear conscience." The voice of the Chen Su Demon Emperor carried a hint of heartfelt praise. "I knew I hadn't misjudged you, Li Yuan. You are even more interesting than I imagined."

Seeing Li Yuan's resolute attitude, Li Chongwen glared at him with resentment. He was an exiled criminal who had flattered the demons. With Li Yuan's character, he would surely not get away with it when he returned.

It would be better to stay with the demon race. The more successful Li Yuan becomes, the more the demon race will value him in the future. After all, keeping him around can also be used as a hostage.

Li Chongwen's eyes darted around, and he immediately changed his expression, turning around and kneeling down in front of the Chen Su Demon Emperor with tears streaming down his face.

"Your Majesty, look at this unfilial son! I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and take him in! I am willing to serve Your Majesty like a slave, without any complaints!"

The Demon Emperor of the Stars glanced down at him, a hint of disdain in his eyes, but for some unknown reason, he nodded: "Very well, you can follow the Eagle King then."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Chongwen was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly. Then he scrambled to his feet and ran behind the Green-Eyed Eagle King, bowing his head and displaying the obsequious demeanor of a lackey.

A sharp glint flashed in Li Yuan's eyes. How could he not know what the old man was thinking? He asked in a deep voice, "Father, have you thought this through? If you go back, I can plead with the higher-ups and use your military merits to offset your sentence in the future."

"But if you insist on staying in the demon race and aid the wicked in the future, don't blame me for not showing any filial piety." His voice turned cold. Today, in front of General Yuchi, he severed his kinship with him so that there would be a witness in the future.

Li Chongwen glared at him fiercely, "You unfilial son! If you're truly filial, you'll immediately pardon my punishment; otherwise, there's no point in discussing anything!"

"It's impossible!"

Li Yuan repeated his previous statement. He sighed softly and looked at Yu Chifeng, "Senior, this matter is over. As a son, I cannot change my father's decision. Please forgive me."

Yu Chifeng also shook his head. Li Chongwen was of bad character, but unexpectedly his son was so upright. It was truly a case of a bad bamboo producing a good shoot.

He looked at Li Chongwen and said, "Fine, we can't force this matter. But as for you, Li Chongwen, you can only be considered a fugitive from the Tang Dynasty. You'd better take care of yourself."

Li Chongwen looked at Li Yuan with a sinister gaze, "My mind is made up. As long as this unfilial son is alive, I will never return to the Tang Dynasty!"

Yu Chifeng shook his head and turned to Chen Su Demon Emperor, "Since you admit you have no intention of being enemies with the Tang Dynasty, will you withdraw from Liangzhou territory?"

The Demon Emperor of Chensu shook his head: "I have said that I can control the demons of Tiger Wolf Gorge, but the others are not my subordinates, and I have no right to order them to retreat."

Just then, the array passage at the pass opened, and a person rushed in.

"General Yuchi, urgent report from Xuansuo Pass! A large number of demon king-level experts have suddenly appeared outside the pass and are fiercely attacking the walls. Lord Feng Wuhen has already gone to provide support!"

The newcomer was Chen Shuo. Seeing his grave expression, Yu Chifeng abruptly turned his head and stared intently at the Demon Emperor Chen Su: "Did you arrange this?"

The Demon Emperor of Chensu raised an eyebrow slightly. "I only asked the Demon Emperor to help hold back the experts who came forward. I did not allow him to launch a full-scale attack. I was unaware of this matter."

He looked at Li Yuan and said, "I will keep my promise and leave this place. However, I believe we will meet again. I hope that by then, you will have grown to the point where you are qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with me."

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and waved it. A beam of light flew from his fingertip and slowly flew towards Li Yuan.

"It's fate that we met; I'm giving you a great opportunity."

A crystal, entirely azure blue, spun gently in the air, its interior flowing with pure stellar energy.

Li Yuan glanced at it, and a strange feeling rose in his heart. The bronze palace in his mind trembled, as if it was yearning for something.