Naked Sword Art

Chapter 522: Protect Fang

"Prepare yourselves," Li Lian shouted. "They’re coming!"

"Who’s coming?"

The answer arrived before she could respond.

A thunderous roar echoed through the valley.

The sound of countless beasts rolled across the land, shaking the soldiers to their cores. The clan’s history was written in blood and war against beast hordes—this sound was unmistakable.

"A beast horde? Why now?"

"Who cares why—we fight tonight! Kill them!"

Though the beasts were still beyond sight, their approach grew louder by the second.

The camp erupted into motion. Soldiers formed ranks with practiced precision, weapons drawn, formations locking into place.

The Li Clan had a long history of fighting beast hordes. Over the last few generations, combat against them had become second nature—less a duty and more a way of life.

At the front of the army stood Li Huxin, broad and unyielding. Behind him were his sons and daughters, captains of their own teams, already issuing orders.

"Father," one of them reported, "we estimate the number of beasts to be in the tens of thousands."

"We won’t be able to stop them head-on."

Li Huxin closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with resolve.

"Li Mu. Li Yung. Send word to the other Generals. Alert them immediately," he ordered. "Once the horde commits, we’ll strike their backline and flank the remainder with support from the other camps."

No one questioned him. They moved to comply at once.

"No," Li Lian said suddenly. "We can’t do that."

The captains turned.

"Why not?" Li Huxin demanded.

"Xiao Fang is in seclusion," Li Lian replied. "We have to draw the beasts away from this camp."

"He’s in seclusion? Now?"

"No wonder he isn’t here."

"Do you really expect us to change our entire strategy because of a single person?"

"An outsider, no less."

Her siblings’ voices overlapped, disbelief clear in every word.

"I don’t care what any of you do," Li Lian said firmly. "But I’m not leaving him."

"Lian!" Li Huxin roared. "Do not defy me." His gaze hardened. "I know you refuse to listen—to anyone, even your own father—but I will not allow you to stand in the path of a beast horde of this size. It’s suicide. He chose to enter seclusion here, knowing the risks. Either you interrupt his cultivation... or you let him die."

"I listen to my husband," Li Lian said calmly, turning away. "I will not interfere with his plans. And I will not let him die."

She walked off without hesitation. No one tried to stop her.

"Father," one of his sons asked quietly, "what now?"

Li Huxin watched Li Lian leave, fury etched across his face. Then, slowly, his clenched fists relaxed as realization settled in.

"She’s no longer my little girl," he said quietly. "She’s his now."

Whether they ended up getting married or not, he knew where her heart lied.

The words were bitter, but the war allowed no room for sentiment.

"Take to the hills," Li Huxin commanded. "Let the horde pass, then strike their backline."

"Yes, Father."

As the army shifted to carry out his orders, Li Lian returned to Xiao Fang’s tent—intent on informing Xun Wei and Xiao Hei of her father’s plan before the beasts arrived.

A war with the Song family clan had yet to start, but a new war against a horde of beasts was about to begin.

.

.

.

Li Roh and Li Anru arrived at the edge of Xiao Fang’s tent just as the camp trembled with distant roars. The ground vibrated faintly beneath their feet, the sound of beasts echoing through the valley like rolling thunder.

Li Anru’s expression hardened when he saw Li Lian, Xun Wei, and Xiao Hei standing outside of Xiao Fang’s tent.

"Captain Lian, have you seen our captain anywhere?"

"We haven’t been able to find him," Li Roh added.

"He’s in there," Li Lian replied flatly, standing before the tent entrance. "But we’re not moving."

Li Roh blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean... we’re not moving?" he asked carefully.

"Exactly what I said."

Li Anru frowned. "A beast horde is approaching. Tens of thousands, from what I heard. Every other unit is repositioning. If we stay here—"

"You’re right, everyone is moving, unfortunately for you, your captain is currently in seclusion," Li Lian said plainly. "Though if you’d rather desert your captain, we won’t stop you."

"He’s in seclusion? Why here of all places?" Li Anru asked.

"Whatever his reasoning is, since he decided to do so, we intend to stay and keep guard."

Li Roh quietly glanced past them, toward the tent flap. He couldn’t sense anything from inside—no Qi fluctuations, no pressure, no warning signs. It was as if the tent was completely empty.

"Is he really in there?" Li Roh murmured.

"He is," Xun Wei replied, answering his unspoken doubt.

"Honestly, I don’t understand why we can’t notify him about the approaching horde," Li Roh said. "I’m sure he’d understand."

"Does it matter? We need to leave. I told him I would stake my life if he planned to accomplish something meaningful in this war," Li Anru said grimly. "But dying to a beast horde isn’t what I agreed to." He straightened. "General Huxin has ordered everyone to take to the hills. If you don’t move now, you’ll be isolated—and your deaths will be guaranteed."

He turned away.

"Roh, let’s go."

No footsteps followed.

Li Anru paused, then turned back. "Roh? What are you waiting for?"

"I’m staying."

Li Anru frowned. "What?"

"I’m staying with my captain," Li Roh repeated, his voice steady.

Li Anru looked at them one by one, disbelief etched across his face. "Have you all lost your minds?" he snapped. "Fine. If you want to die here, then die. See if I care."

With that, he headed toward the hills.

Silence settled in his wake.

Li Lian was left standing with Li Roh and the silent clones of Xun Wei and Xiao Hei. Though the clones could offer some support, the reality was harsh—she was effectively alone in defending Xiao Fang’s tent, accompanied only by a Refinement Realm cultivator.

She glanced sideways at Li Roh, surprised to find him still standing there.