Chapter Fifty: Preparing to Brew Wine

As dusk fell, Li Yi returned to the Li residence. He had been away for several days, busy training the young recruits, which had prompted some complaints from his grandmother. To appease her, he made time to come home for a meal. As for Li Chengqian, perhaps he was intimidated by Li Yi’s words, or perhaps he simply hadn’t understood them. In any case, when Li Yi returned, he found Chengqian still deep in thought, the poor boy so preoccupied he hadn’t even noticed when Li Yi left!

“Yi’er, what have you been up to lately? You’re hardly ever home, and neither Ye Xu nor Ye Si are around. The house has grown so quiet, I’m not used to it,” Grandmother Hongfu said, settling comfortably into her recliner after dinner, though a sense of emptiness lingered. Old Master Li Jing sat in his high-backed chair, quietly reading, while Cui and Li Deqian listened nearby.

Li Yi scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. “Grandmother, your grandson has been experimenting with new methods of training soldiers. Ye Xu and Ye Si are undergoing retraining, so I’ve been quite busy and haven’t been able to keep you company. It’s my fault, please forgive me. I’ll make sure to spend more time with you in the future.”

She chuckled. “You child, there’s no need to be so formal with your grandmother. I know you’re busy. I’m just grumbling, you don’t need to pay it any mind.”

“Not at all, Grandmother. Things will settle down soon. Once I’ve established everything, I’ll be able to relax and keep you company.”

“Alright, just focus on your work! Don’t worry about the household, everything is fine here.”

“By the way, Grandmother, if you’re bored, you could play cards with someone!”

“Cards? What cards?”

Li Yi slapped his forehead, realizing that all the playing cards had been taken by those ruffians that day. He’d forgotten to bring out his remaining decks, so his grandmother and the others hadn’t seen them yet.

Remembering this, Li Yi retrieved the cards and explained the rules to Grandmother, Li Deqian, and Cui. He taught them the game of Dou Dizhu—a pastime suitable for all ages.

After a single round of instruction, the three began playing under Li Yi’s guidance. Soon, they were completely absorbed in the game, forgetting Li Yi’s very presence. Li Yi couldn’t help but smile wryly; the power of these cards was truly remarkable. Watching the lively Hongfu, it seemed her back no longer ached, nor her legs pained, and even her years-old ailments had eased. If he invented Mahjong, who knew what would happen? This was a reminder: many ailments in the elderly stem from boredom. He really should make more time to bring joy to his grandmother.

Seeing that he was no longer needed here, Li Yi walked over to the old master.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen your grandmother so happy,” Old Master Li Jing remarked, setting his book aside as Li Yi approached. Watching Hongfu’s enjoyment, he smiled in satisfaction.

“Yes, Grandfather. I’ve been too busy lately to spend time with her.”

“You needn’t blame yourself. Just focus on your duties. I’m here to manage the household; you needn’t worry. How is your training progressing?”

“It’s going well, but it’s only been a few days. The real hardships lie ahead. I just hope they can persevere.”

“I truly don’t know what you’re trying to achieve. I’ve fought battles all my life, but in the end, I never mastered the art of training soldiers. It’s really...”

“Grandfather!”

He laughed. “No need to explain, I understand. I’m not so sentimental. By the way, how is that matter you mentioned last time?”

“You mean the suggestion to have you come out of retirement?”

The old master nodded.

“Grandfather, it’s not something that can be rushed. It needs the right opportunity. If it doesn’t come, then I must wait until my soldiers are fully trained.”

“Good. As long as you know what you’re doing. Don't be too eager—proceed steadily.”

Li Yi acknowledged, chatted a bit more with the old master, then returned to the Jiang residence.

The daily political lesson awaited, and from today, Li Yi planned to teach the theoretical foundations needed for special forces training.

“What are you? You are the scythe of Death, the emissaries of the Reaper, the blade of Great Tang. You are the first and last line of defense. You will be the elite warriors of Great Tang, warriors descended from hell, blood-soaked Shuras who can storm hell and slay the King of the Underworld. What is your honor?”

“Loyalty!”

“What is your vow?”

“To be loyal to Great Tang, loyal to the Emperor, to press ever forward, unafraid of hardship, to hone our skills for battle, to become the blade that thirsts for blood. If the nation needs me, I shall sacrifice myself. If the nation needs me, the last bayonet is reserved for me!”

“What is your creed?”

“To defend our home and country, to live and die together!”

The chanting was intense, the recitation almost evangelical. Li Yi felt no qualms about it. Those with beliefs are fortunate; no matter how those beliefs are instilled, at least they possess them.

“Special forces are a special kind of guerrilla unit. And what is a guerrilla unit? The core principles are: when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we strike; when the enemy retreats, we pursue.”

“What are special forces? A perfect fusion of intelligence and physical strength, cunning and wisdom, loyalty and craftiness, combined with rigorous training and excellent equipment, forms the foundation for becoming special forces.”

The Tang Blade is the special force among special forces—capable of fighting in all weathers, all terrains, at any location, under any conditions, for any type of mission. Wherever they fight, they shall always be victorious.

Another busy day passed. Rising at the crack of dawn, Li Yi was accustomed to this life. No matter how exhausting, as long as he lived fully and earnestly, it was enough.

After washing up and morning exercises, it was time for the long run. Now, no one was falling behind—not even the youngest two, who could run the entire distance in one go, though their speed varied. Li Yi planned to start endurance training with weights the next day.

After the run came breakfast—porridge, pickled vegetables, steamed buns. Simple yet satisfying.

“Bingyu, do you know when those ruffians said they’d come for a meal?” Li Yi asked, lifting his bowl, suddenly recalling the group who’d promised to show up and freeload. This time, he was determined to embarrass them.

Bingyu thought for a moment. “Master, it seems they said the day after tomorrow.”

“Good, there’s still time. Later, have someone deliver a few dozen pounds of wine to our courtyard.”

“Yes, Master!”

“Alright.”

After breakfast, Li Yi began the day’s training. Every day brought new challenges, requiring the young recruits to give their all. No matter how tired, they had to endure—people only discover their limits under pressure.

“Are you tired, little ones? Good—you should be! Comfort is reserved for the dead. If you ever feel too comfortable, you’re not far from death.”

“Stand up! Remember this: even if you’re shattered to pieces, as long as you have one tooth left, use it to pull yourself up. I don’t want any weaklings lying on the ground.”

“Faster, all of you! I don’t care about your excuses. You must give your all at every moment. If you lie to yourself now, you’ll lose everything—because you will have lost yourself, lost your beliefs, lost your soul.”

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