Su Changge found the situation amusing. He didn’t mind the embroidered pouch containing military orders being opened. After all, a three-year-old child wouldn’t understand anything written in a military decree. He laughed, “Are you sure about using fire attack?”
Su Yun nodded seriously, “Yes, fire attack.”
Seeing his earnest expression, Xi Yaoyue couldn’t help but chuckle. “What would you know? Come down now. Let your father handle business. Don’t you have a meeting with the other generals soon?”
Su Changge waved it off. “It’s fine. They’ll come here.”
“Yun’er, do you even know what fire attack means?” He smiled. “We’re talking about Northern Abyss Insects—not ordinary bugs.”
Right now, on the battlefield beyond the domain, alien races were using the Northern Abyss Insects to block the army inside the Great Wall Formation. Fire attack, flooding, and beast-on-beast tactics were the three main strategies. Fire attack had already been discussed many times but was known to have major flaws.
Northern Abyss Insects were exotic beasts. Without flames that countered their elemental nature, it was nearly impossible to eliminate them. Regular fire could only clean off some debris—like giving them a warm bath.
Su Yun nodded seriously, then propped himself up and landed on the floor with a thump.
“Careful!” Xi Yaoyue hurried to help him, but the little guy had already scurried away.
She sighed. “He’s fast, I’ll give him that.”
Su Changge smiled. “That just proves yesterday’s injuries left no lasting effects.”
Only then did Xi Yaoyue finally relax again.
Su Yun pattered into the study, and soon the sound of rummaging came through.
The couple listened, quickly realizing something wasn’t right.
When they reached the doorway, they were stunned.
The study was a disaster zone—every box was opened, ancient books were scattered everywhere, messier than the northwest border region.
Su Changge was silent. “Your son is… quite capable.”
“He’s your son,” Xi Yaoyue replied dryly.
Su Yun ran back excitedly and shoved a book into Su Changge’s hands. “Father, look!”
Su Changge sighed and took it. “What is this?”
Xi Yaoyue laughed. “Maybe he remembered seeing something about fire attacks in this book. Since you mentioned it, he went to look for it.”
“That must be it,” Su Changge nodded, ready to flip through it casually.
“Is the Marquis of Zhenyuan home?” came a hearty voice from outside.
Su Changge immediately stood. “General Wang has arrived! Please come in.”
He quickly shut the study door.
The dignified Marquis of Zhenyuan couldn’t let others see his study in this state—it was disgraceful.
Swoosh!
A rough, dark-skinned man strode into the courtyard. “Why are you standing out here? Shouldn’t we be talking inside?”
Su Changge’s mouth twitched. “Uh, the weather is nice—I felt like enjoying some sun.”
Su Changge smiled with grace. “No problem.”
Seeing the others, General Wang offered an exaggerated greeting. “This must be your wife—she’s beautiful. And the young master—also beautiful.”
Su Yun thought to himself, “Do you know any other adjectives?”
Xi Yaoyue, seeing they were about to talk business, smiled. “You two go ahead. I’ll take Yun’er for a walk.”
General Wang sighed. “Marquis, you’re blessed indeed. A lovely wife and a… beautiful son.”
Su Changge shook his head helplessly. “Seriously, can’t you think of another word?”
“Yaoyue, take this with you,” he said, handing her the book he hadn’t finished reading.
General Wang was curious. “What is that?”
Su Changge smiled bitterly. “My son said it contains a way to defeat the Northern Abyss Insects. He dug out a military strategy book for me.”
General Wang burst out laughing. “If it holds the answer, I’ll have to take a look myself!”
He was just being polite. He didn’t even extend his hand.
What could a book found by a three-year-old possibly offer?
“What strategy? You two were quick. I’m not even through the door, and you’re already making battle plans,” came a dry, aged voice from outside.
Su Changge and General Wang turned with smiles. “Minister Li is here!”
It was the Minister of War, Li.
He wasn’t a powerful cultivator, nor was he boisterous like General Wang, and he always entered through the front gate like a proper gentleman.
“Marquis of Zhenyuan, you’ve had a hard time defending the outer domain.” Minister Li cupped his hands. “What was that about a strategy to defeat the enemy?”
Su Changge chuckled. “Just my son babbling nonsense—not to be taken seriously.”
“Ah, you can’t say that!” Minister Li squinted with a grin. “Perhaps your son has heaven’s blessing and actually found a winning tactic?”
General Wang chuckled. “If it were that easy, the Great Qian Empire wouldn’t be stuck dealing with a few Northern Abyss Insects.”
“If we’re pinned down at the Great Wall much longer, those outer domain strongholds will fall to the aliens.”
“And every inch of that ground was won with blood and steel!”
Everyone sighed quietly.
Beyond the Great Wall lay more outposts and millions of settlers.
If the insects weren’t dealt with soon, those strongholds would become isolated islands, vulnerable to attack—it was only a matter of time.
Minister Li asked, “So, what exactly did your son say the solution was?”
He, like General Wang, didn’t believe a three-year-old could come up with anything—but he was more tactful.
Even if the idea was useless, discussing it would be a good way to strengthen ties with the influential Marquis.
Su Changge had no choice but to take the book back. “Please have a look, Minister. Just a child’s nonsense.”
Minister Li chuckled and casually flipped it open, intending to skim a few complex passages and offer a few compliments.
But as he read, his expression changed.
Su Changge asked, “Minister, is something wrong with the content?”
“Silence!” Minister Li, usually so composed, suddenly snapped. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Su Changge jumped in surprise and exchanged a shocked glance with General Wang.
Could this book really contain something so improper that even Minister Li, known for his diplomacy, would lose his temper?
Su Changge gave General Wang a pleading look.
General Wang understood and tried to help his friend smooth things over. “Minister Li, even if the book is questionable, it wasn’t the Marquis’s intent. We weren’t planning to read it anyway. Shall we just burn it?”
Smack!
Minister Li slammed the book on General Wang’s head. “You blind fool! Surrounded by treasure and don’t even know it!”
“I tell you to read, and you go herd cows!”
“I tell you to find a plan, and you—you—you want to burn this?!”
His lips trembled with fury.
General Wang was stunned. As a Soul Sea 3rd stage cultivator, being hit by someone in the Dao Harmony 6th stage shouldn’t even tickle.
But this was Minister Li—the head of the Ministry of War, with command over hundreds of millions of troops!
His wrath could shake the entire Central Domain.
And normally, he was a mild-mannered gentleman. What had gotten into him today?
Still confused, General Wang turned to Su Changge. “What kind of book do you keep at home that angers Minister Li?”
“You’d better apologize and settle this.”
Su Changge understood—his friend was trying to defuse the situation.
He was just about to bow when Minister Li stepped forward and held his hand, beaming. “Haha! All credit goes to the Marquis! How could I dare accept your thanks?”
General Wang was dumbfounded. “Wait a second…”
Why did I get scolded and slapped, while you’re getting praised?
He shouted, “Minister Li, this is unfair!”
Minister Li glared at him. “Unfair? You nearly threw away a critical military secret!”
“If I don’t punish you, I’m already being lenient!”
General Wang was stunned. “Critical military secret?!”
Minister Li tossed the book at him. “See for yourself!”
General Wang, puzzled, quickly flipped through the pages.
As he read, his face also changed.
Su Changge was even more confused. “General Wang, what is it?”
General Wang looked up, eyes filled with awe. “The Seven Emotions Flame-Extinguishing Formation!”
“It’s the strategy to defeat the Northern Abyss Insects—we’ve found it!”