After a moment, the overwhelming aura faded. Henry Yu's whole body went limp, and he had to prop himself up with his saber to keep from collapsing.
"You... you really are the Grand General?"
Although Henry Yu was still a bit skeptical, he was now seventy or eighty percent convinced.
Ian Song said coolly, "There were no Wolf Cavalrymen with the surname Yu, and every technique they practiced was personally taught by me. So, tell me—where did you get your cultivation method? If you're not a Wolf Cavalry descendant, I'll have to take back all your cultivation."
Back then, Ian Song trained a thousand Wolf Cavalry riders. With his photographic memory, he only needed to glance at the roster once to remember every single name. Even now, he could recall all one thousand Wolf Cavalry riders.
"You really are the Grand General!" Hearing Ian’s words, Henry Yu couldn’t hide his joy. With a thump, he knelt to the ground: "Wolf Cavalry rider Ryan Lü’s son, Henry Lü, greets the Grand General!"
"What proof do you have?" Ian continued, though his expression softened a bit. Ryan Lü was one of the first Wolf Cavalry riders to reach the Innate Realm. In the Battle of the Burial Ground, he killed no fewer than five hundred soldiers from the Yan–Zhao coalition.
"Grand General, please follow me!"
Soon, Henry Yu led Ian into a hidden chamber, with Lena Yu accompanying them.
The chamber was small, but inside stood a shrine, and on it was Ryan Lü’s memorial tablet.
Seeing the memorial tablet, Ian was now inclined to believe that Henry Lü really was Ryan Lü’s son.
"How did he die?" Ian’s voice grew more somber as he picked up a stick of sandalwood incense from the shrine, lit it, and placed it in the censer.
A look of grief flashed across Henry Lü’s face. "Thirty years ago, the Qin army reached the capital of Qi."
At that time, my father was already one of Qi’s leading generals. He led our troops out of the city to fight the Qin army head-on, but the gap in strength was too great. My father was besieged by top experts under Vivian Gee and couldn’t break free. In the end, he fell in battle.
I was only eight years old that year, but my father always told me that without the Grand General, he was nothing. He warned me I could betray anyone—except the Grand General.
On the eve of the final battle, my father drugged me and hid me in a civilian cellar inside the capital.
When I woke up, it was days later. The Qin army had already withdrawn, and the whole capital was nothing but ruins.
Because my father always believed the Grand General would return, he told me before the battle, 'Son, if I die, you must live on—if possible, infiltrate Qin and wait for the Grand General’s return.'"
At this point, Henry Lü knelt again. "Grand General, just give the order and I’ll raise troops against Qin right now!"
"Father, you...!"
Lena Yu was utterly shocked to hear her father talking about rebellion.
"Linglong, come kneel with me—let’s pay our respects to the Grand General together!"
"No need!"
Ian waved his hand and helped Henry Lü up. "The world is already unified. If war breaks out again, it’s the common people who will suffer most."
Hearing Ian’s words, Henry Lü actually felt relieved. Though he’d said he was willing to rebel on Ian’s command, he truly didn’t want to. It wasn’t that he’d betrayed his old loyalties, but as Ian said, if war came, it would be the people who suffered.
A quarter of an hour later.
The three of them left the secret chamber.
"I heard you secretly collected a painting I made back in the day. Where is it?" Ian looked at Henry Lü and asked.
"Reporting to Grand General, I’ve kept that painting hidden in my room all this time. I’ll fetch it for you right away!"
Henry Lü hurried off and soon returned, carrying a long black wooden case.
"Grand General, the painting is inside!" Henry Lü offered it up with both hands, explaining, "I came across it by chance, and have kept it safe ever since. Now I can finally return it to its rightful owner!"
Ian took the case, opened it, and unrolled the scroll. He couldn’t help but tremble slightly. The painting showed an exquisitely beautiful young girl with a playful smile—Lily.
It was actually Lily’s portrait. Ian suddenly had a bad feeling.
"Could Lily already be dead?"
At that thought, an overwhelming surge of killing intent erupted in Ian’s chest. Instantly, the temperature in the hall plummeted by dozens of degrees, as if they were plunged into an icy wasteland. Even Henry Lü, with his cultivation, found it hard to bear; Lena Yu’s face turned as white as paper, and with a faint groan, she started to collapse.
The soft sound snapped Ian back to himself. He quickly withdrew his killing intent and caught Lena Yu before she hit the ground. Grasping her hand, he channeled a strand of sword essence into her body to dissolve the residual damage.
"Miss Yu, I’m sorry—I lost control for a moment!" Ian said apologetically.
"Mr. Song, I’m fine now. Could you let go?" Lena Yu said, blushing.
"Sorry!"
Ian quickly helped Lena Yu steady herself.
"Henry Lü, do you know where Vivian Gee is now?" Ian asked again.
"After helping Qin unify the world, that woman went into seclusion. There’s been no news of her for years, so I really don’t know where she is!"
"If that’s the case, forget it."
Ian waved his hand dismissively.
In his heart, he’d already sentenced Vivian Gee to death.
Suddenly, Ian turned to Lena Yu and said, "By the way, Miss Yu, do you still want to return to the palace? If you do, I’ll take you back. If not, you can stay here—I’ll personally speak to Emperor Aiden for you."
If Lena Yu had nothing to do with him, Ian wouldn’t need to worry about her. But since she was a Wolf Cavalry descendant, he felt obligated to look out for her.
Being a consort looks glamorous, but only when you’re favored. Once you lose favor, life gets hard. Besides, Emperor Aiden had already lost his manhood—if Lena Yu returned to the palace, she’d just be a living widow.
"I..." Lena Yu’s eyes flickered with hesitation. Finally, she bit her lip and looked at Ian. "Mr. Song, I’d like to stay by your side as a maid—to serve tea and run errands. Would that be alright?"
"Why put yourself through that? Whether you go back to the palace or stay at home, it’s much better than living with me!" Ian said with a wry smile.
Lena Yu’s expression grew even more determined. "I grew up listening to stories about you, sir. In my heart, you’re the greatest hero in the world. Being able to serve you is a blessing earned over eight lifetimes—please let me stay!"
Ian fell silent.
"Grand General, it really is my daughter’s good fortune to serve by your side. Please let her stay!" Henry Lü chimed in.
"Sir, is it because you look down on me—as a withered flower, a ruined woman?" Lena Yu’s eyes filled with tears, her pretty face full of sorrow.
"Fine, if that’s what you want, I’ll take you in." Ian said, a bit helplessly.
"Thank you, sir!"
Seeing Ian agree, Lena Yu was overjoyed.
Cloud Prefecture, Cliff Mountain.
Cliff Mountain wasn’t tall, but the scenery was exceptionally beautiful. However, it was private property—without the owner’s permission, no one could enter. To the locals, Cliff Mountain was a mysterious place.