Chapter Eighteen: The Lord of Hexi Fortress

“Brother, you’re incredible! You actually killed nineteen Khitan soldiers!”
“Nineteen? Those were nineteen ruthless Khitan warriors. How on earth did you manage that?”

The entire Hexi Fort was abuzz with shock and excitement. Erhu, standing right beside Li Xiao, was practically bursting with emotion. Clutching Li Xiao’s back, he shouted in celebration.

Having grown up following Li Dalong everywhere, at this moment, his admiration for Li Xiao soared to unimaginable heights. This was his big brother!

Beside them, Dahu also wore an excited expression. Standing on Li Xiao’s other side, he eagerly said, “Erhu and I together only managed to kill two Khitan soldiers—barely a fraction of what you took down!”

“Brother, teach us how to kill, will you? We want to kill even more of those Khitan scoundrels someday, to avenge Dad and Second Uncle!” Erhu shouted, clamoring to learn from Li Xiao.

Li Xiao grabbed both of them by the back of their heads, rubbing them firmly, and reassured them gently.

“This is your first time on the battlefield; it’s natural to be unskilled. Killing two Khitan soldiers is already impressive.”
“From now on, train with me in archery and martial arts—you’ll get stronger and stronger!”

Hearing this, both wore faces full of longing, imagining themselves as fierce warriors like Li Xiao, invincible on the battlefield.

In truth, Li Xiao’s tally of nineteen kills involved a bit of cleverness. The main reason was his precise archery.

In his previous life, through extensive firearms training, Li Xiao had become a sharpshooter of legendary skill. He was equally adept with the bow—hitting targets at a hundred paces was no exaggeration.

In this life, after some initial adjustment, he quickly regained that mastery. Most of those nineteen Khitan soldiers had been felled by his arrows from a distance. Only six or seven actually fell to his blade.

Strangely, perhaps due to his transmigration, Li Xiao felt his strength had grown even greater.

An eighty-pound mounted bow, which in his previous life would have exhausted him after ten shots, no longer wore him down. Whenever he felt fatigue creeping in, a surge of heat swept through his body, instantly amplifying his strength.

He also sensed intuitively that he had not yet reached his physical limits.

Only fifteen years old!

As he grew older, his physique would strengthen, and his power would become even more formidable.

Li Xiao wondered how far he would eventually rise—could he become a mighty general like Chu Ba Wang or Li Cunxiao, unstoppable before the enemy?

“Dalong, well done! You’ve made your grandpa and dad proud!”
“A true son of Hexi!”
“A tiger’s son is no dog!”
“To hell with those Khitan bastards—next time we see them, we’ll wipe them out!”

As Li Xiao spoke with his two younger brothers, more and more eyes turned to him.

Men and boys alike gave him thumbs-up, their gazes brimming with admiration and respect.

The spirit of the Northern Border was bold and unyielding; its people revered warriors above all.

Without question, through this battle, Li Xiao had won the villagers’ hearts with his deeds.

No one thought of him anymore as just a boy.

His influence among the people rapidly approached that of his father.

They only said, “A tiger’s son is no dog.”

Li Xiao responded to their praise with a light smile, never once showing arrogance.

He knew well that relying on his strength alone was futile.

No matter how mighty he was, he couldn’t wipe out all the Khitan warriors by himself.

The true strength must come from the people.

In this world, Li Xiao’s foundation lay with the villagers of Hexi Fort—the Han people of Jinzhou and the entire Northern Border region.

Next, Li Xiao stepped forward to claim his spoils of war.

For killing nineteen enemies, he received twenty-five horses, twenty-three curved swords, eighteen longbows, four strings of copper coins, and various other items—daggers, bone talismans, leather armor, scattered about.

All had belonged to the Khitan and Khitan-allied soldiers, but now they were his.

Though he didn’t need so many weapons himself, in the Northern Border—where war was a constant threat—no one ever complained about an excess of arms and horses; they were always in short supply.

Here, weapons, horses, and provisions were hard currency.

He could keep these supplies, and perhaps someday use them to form a volunteer cavalry unit.

After distributing all the spoils, the old patriarch slowly stepped forward, climbed atop a large rock, and scanned the crowd.

Instantly, all chatter ceased.

His standing and influence in Hexi Fort remained unquestioned.

“Friends,” the old man began, his voice heavy with urgency, “the Khitan have come. Our days will no longer be peaceful.”

The earlier joy of victory faded away.

Everyone understood that the band of Khitan cavalry they had just defeated was but a small force. Soon, many more would arrive.

Then, the old man’s tone shifted to one of quiet resignation: “I am old now.”
“Hexi Fort’s heavy burden is becoming too much for me.”
“It is time to choose a young man to take my place.”

His words hung in the air, met with silence as all eyes fixed on him.

Many had already sensed this for some time.

Years ago, the old man had gradually withdrawn from managing Hexi Fort’s affairs, entrusting them to Li Xiao’s father, Li Dahai.

“The battle at Beishan cost Dahai his life. Erjiang’s fate remains unknown, and of our hundred brave soldiers from Hexi Fort, who knows how many will return?”

The old man’s voice rang out across the village square, steady and devoid of emotion, yet each word carried undeniable weight.

His prestige in Hexi Fort was unwavering.

“But those of us left here must avenge them and live well.”
“Us old folks may have the will, but we no longer have the strength.”
“We must rely on the young.”

With that, the old man beckoned gently to Li Xiao: “Dalong, come here.”

All eyes immediately fell upon Li Xiao, fully understanding the old man’s intention. No one voiced objection or doubt.

Li Xiao himself had always known this day would come—just not so soon.

He had thought the old man would wait until after the Khitan threat was fully resolved before passing on the mantle.

Though sudden, Li Xiao did not falter.

He took a deep breath, his expression firm, and stepped forward to stand beside the old man.

As all eyes in Hexi Fort fixed on him, Li Xiao met their gazes without fear.

No one challenged him; some even nodded quietly, smiling in support.

Especially among the dozen or so young men who had fought alongside him—they had witnessed his strength firsthand.

Though their elders, they were thoroughly convinced of Li Xiao’s capabilities.

Moreover, the position of Hexi Fort’s lord had long been passed down within the Li family.

Everyone accepted this tradition.

With Li Xiao’s father gone, it was only natural for him, as the eldest grandson, to inherit the leadership from the old man.

“Dalong is my eldest grandson, a child raised in front of all of you.”
“Everyone has seen his performance in today’s battle.”
“His archery is precise, his courage unmatched, and his skills in deploying troops have been learned well from this old man.”
“He truly surpasses the master!”
“So, I intend to have Dalong take over as Hexi Fort’s lord today.”
“If anyone has thoughts, feel free to speak openly.”

As the old man finished, whispers spread among the crowd, but no one voiced opposition.

Though some thought Li Xiao was still young and lacked the prestige of the old man or Li Dahai, his performance today had won them over.

They believed Li Xiao had the capacity to lead Hexi Fort well.

At least, he would not do worse!

Sure enough, shortly after, Li Xiao’s great uncle—brother to the old man—stood and declared loudly:

“Dalong is a good child with undeniable ability. I believe he will do better than his grandpa and father.”

Hearing this, Li Xiao knew the elders had discussed the matter beforehand.

The great uncle held considerable respect in the village; with his endorsement, no one would object.

“Dalong is the right choice.”
“Hexi Fort’s lord should indeed be Dalong.”
“I trust he’ll do well.”

One by one, the villagers nodded in agreement.

Essentially, this was a family matter.

Normally, the transfer of power in Hexi Fort was straightforward, but Li Xiao’s father’s misfortune had created a vacuum.

Li Xiao’s rise to lordship required not only the old man’s consent but also the support of the people.

Li Xiao understood this was because his reputation had yet to fully reach that level.

But he believed that given time, he would win everyone’s hearts completely.

“Fellow villagers, elders, thank you for your trust.”
“Since I have accepted this role, I will do my utmost.”
“Not only to avenge my father and the others, but more importantly, to lead all of us to survive.” Li Xiao addressed everyone in Hexi Fort.

At that moment, the fourth-generation lord of Hexi Fort was born: Li Xiao, also known as Li Dalong.

A mere fifteen years old.

From then on, the fate of two hundred fifty-two households and thirteen hundred fifty-eight souls rested entirely on his young shoulders.

Li Xiao’s foremost goal was to lead his people through the coming Khitan rampages and ensure their survival.