Chapter 138: The Northern Barbarians’ Strategist

He couldn’t stop thinking about the red, tiger-shaped mark he’d glimpsed just now on that man’s left wrist.

Bai Yunxing couldn’t help but glance back again.

The Third Prince of the Northern Barbarians had a strategist under his command, a man named Bei Lanfeng. Brilliant and cunning, that much was expected. But what truly made him infamous was his ruthless nature—ruthless to the Great Yu Dynasty, and even more so to his own people.

Bai Yunxing had never seen this strategist in person, but his fifth brother had. The price he paid was a leg.

That had been six months before his death.

His fifth brother had been leading a scout unit in the dead of winter, snow falling thick and silent, when they encountered a group of raggedly dressed Northern Barbarian children. They were young, the oldest barely past ten, boys and girls alike.

The children were unarmed and visibly terrified at the sight of Great Yu cavalry, trembling uncontrollably, their faces full of fear.

The Mu Family Army was known for its valor, but when it came to unarmed women and children, they had never stooped to indiscriminate slaughter.

No one could have imagined that these seemingly harmless children—seven or eight of them—had Thunder Bombs, a newly developed weapon by the Northern Barbarians, strapped to their waists.

It turned out the fear in their eyes wasn’t from seeing the Mu Family Army. It was from knowing what they were about to do—throw themselves at the soldiers, ignite the bombs on their bodies, and die together with the enemy.

That move was brutal.

The Mu Family Army fought to protect their homeland, to defend the homes of the defenseless, to safeguard a nation built from countless families.

Had the Northern Barbarians used such a tactic in the final throes of their downfall, it might have been seen as tragic and heroic.

But to use children—those who should be protected—as weapons while the two sides were still evenly matched?

It forced the Mu Family Army to harden their hearts against the Northern Barbarian civilians. It tore at their beliefs. That, too, was a kind of torment.

Once was enough to learn the lesson.

Just then, the scholar-like man turned around. His features were gentle, as if curious about the gaze that had been fixed on him.

Bai Yunxing quickly suppressed his thoughts, making sure nothing showed on his face.

Their eyes met briefly before the man looked away.

Nothing to worry about. Just a child.

“Yunxing, let’s go!”

His father’s cheerful voice rang out. Bai Yunxing looked up and saw him silhouetted against the setting sun, carrying the food box in one hand and four kids’ satchels in the other.

His eldest brother seemed curious about what he’d been looking at and turned toward the Zhenxiu Restaurant as well.

His younger brother stood quietly beside their father, watching him with an unreadable expression.

His little sister was waving at him, standing in the golden light with her hair tied into two tiny buns, looking like a dumpling¹ come to life. “Big Brother, let’s go!”

Bai Yunxing chuckled and ran toward his family.

“Coming! Let’s go, let’s go! Time to head home!”

The last rays of the sun peeked out like a shy little head.

Jiang Dai leaned against the doorframe and saw them from afar—one tall figure and four little ones walking toward her.

Perfect.

Bai Tian strode happily in front while the four children scurried behind him on their short legs, nearly airborne.

【Would it kill him to slow down for the kids?】

Jiang Dai couldn’t help but think.

Juanjuan nodded to herself. Exactly!

Daddy walked so fast, but somehow all her brothers could keep up—and so could she!

Mostly, Juanjuan just missed her mommy.

“Mommy~”

She stopped trying to keep pace and broke into a run, her tiny voice trembling with excitement as she dashed toward her mother.

With a soft thud, she wrapped her arms around Jiang Dai’s leg.

Jiang Dai looked down at the little one clinging to her leg and her voice instantly softened. She reached out with her uninjured hand to gently stroke Juanjuan’s chubby cheek.

“Our little Juanjuan is back!”

Bai Tian, just arriving, shivered at the sound of her voice.

【Wait a second… Is that how she talks to me when she’s with Juanjuan?】

Juanjuan turned to look at Bai Tian, her eyes sparkling.

Bai Tian: !!!

【I can’t help it! Juanjuan’s just too cute!!!!】

【And Yun’an too, Yun’an is such a good boy!】

Bai Yun’an, suddenly catching his father’s loving gaze: ?

【What’s gotten into him now?】

Though he wondered, Bai Yun’an didn’t let anything show. He even gave his father a shy little smile.

Bai Tian: 【So well-behaved!! But the second son’s great too—steady and dependable. The eldest…】

His gaze drifted to his oldest son.

Bai Yunqi: ?

“Dad, why are you looking at me like that?”

Even his tone had that rebellious edge.

Bai Tian: … “Because you’re good-looking!”

Bai Yunqi smirked proudly. “I know. And I’ll only get more handsome.”

Bai Tian: …

Jiang Dai looked at her smug eldest son and the clearly speechless Bai Tian, then laughed. “That’s right! Our Yunqi’s only going to get more handsome! He’s already way ahead of his dad!”

Bai Tian: ?

【Hey now, why drag me into this? Complimenting one by stepping on the other?】

“Well, of course! I take after Mom, and Mom’s beautiful!”

Bai Yunqi added, delivering a critical hit to his father.

Bai Tian: ???

“Bai Goudan, are you calling me ugly?!”

Seeing his father roll up his sleeves and charge forward, Bai Yunqi turned and bolted.

Bai Tian saw him run and gave chase. The mood was already set—how could he not follow through?

“I didn’t! You said it yourself, not me!!!”

Bai Yunqi didn’t mind at all. Once the mood hit, he ran. Back in the sect, the old men used to chase him around all the time. He was used to it.

Only…

【The old men in the sect were still spry. They could catch me. This dad, though… no spiritual power, slower than me. A little jog will do him good.】

Juanjuan: …?

Hearing her big brother’s thoughts, she suddenly felt a little sorry for their dad.

Translator’s Notes