Chapter 324: The Road Ahead

Shao Yao hadn’t touched this game in a while, and her hands were practically twitching with anticipation. The moment she was sure Wu Yong had caught onto the rules, she dove in with all the enthusiasm of someone who'd been starved for a challenge.

In the first round, Wu Yong was obliterated, wiped off the map like he didn’t even exist.

By round two, he had started to get the hang of it. It took Shao Yao twice as long to crush him this time, but she still had him at her mercy.

By round three, Wu Yong was matching her move for move, throwing everything he had at her. Though he still came out on the losing end, the gap between them was closing fast.

Hua Zhi wasn’t shocked. After all, no matter how skilled Shao Yao was, she couldn’t outmatch a seasoned general stationed at the border. If Wu Yong didn’t have this kind of ability, Yan Xi would’ve been deeply concerned by now.

By the end of it, one was letting the other win, and the other was clawing to win at any cost. They spent the entire day in the courtyard, so immersed in the game that even when the rest of the Hua family came back, neither of them moved an inch.

Hua Yizheng saw this and decided not to interrupt. “When did General Wu get here?”

“He’s been playing with Shao Yao all day,” Hua Zhi replied, eyes glinting with amusement. She glanced at her grandfather, “Get everyone to come over. Starting tomorrow, this is mandatory for everyone. We’re adding it to the curriculum at the Hua family academy—just for kicks fun.”

Hua Yi Zheng locked eyes with her, his gaze intense and unwavering. Without hesitation, he was the first to stride over, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. The Hua family gathered around the massive sandbox, ready to witness the unfolding game.

In this high-stakes match, Shao Yao had managed to infiltrate the enemy’s ranks, reaching the general, yet it was their own base that fell. Wu Yong emerged victorious, but there was no satisfaction in his win—just a rush of excitement, his blood pumping hotter than ever. He hadn’t expected this quiet, unassuming woman to possess not only impeccable medical skills but also the sharp strategic mind of a seasoned tactician.

"Miss Shao Yao," Wu Yong started, voice smooth but laced with a provocative challenge. "How about another round tomorrow? I’d like to see if you can keep up."

Shao Yao, ever eager, brightened at the suggestion. Her eyes sparkled as she nodded, her interest piqued. Hua Zhi, ever the protective figure, tried to intervene, but she was too late. Shao Yao, blissfully unaware of Wu Yong’s underlying intentions, accepted the offer without hesitation. But Shao Yao didn’t care—she knew Wu Yong would be the one to regret it.

As the evening drew to a close, Wu Yong politely declined the Hua family’s dinner invitation and made his exit, leaving the battlefield behind. The sand table, a silent witness to their clash, stood untouched as he disappeared into the night.

Meanwhile, Hua Zhi returned to her room, taking her medicine before spreading out pen and paper. Her injury hadn’t fully healed, but writing didn’t feel as taxing anymore. As she diligently worked on the rules, detailing them in fine print, the pages piled up—she hadn’t even noticed how much time had passed.

Shao Yao, looking over the papers with a tinge of jealousy, couldn’t help but voice her frustration. "Hua Hua, you never taught me like this when we were learning together."

Hua Zhi smirked, amusement dancing in her eyes as she snatched the paper from Shao Yao’s hands. "If you want me to break down every word for you, I can. Classical history collections are no joke, though. It’s a challenge."

Shao Yao, shaking her head with a playful grin, made it clear she had zero interest in diving into that world.

With a roll of her eyes, Hua Zhi took the paper and tucked it away, tapping Shao Yao lightly on the head. "The Hua family’s been scholars for generations. But the sand table isn’t about writing lessons. It demands care and attention. Get it?"

Shao Yao nodded, feeling a flicker of guilt as she glanced at the new wheelchair she had just finished crafting. She moved it beside her and began pushing the person in need out of the room, silently acknowledging the gravity of Hua Zhi’s words.

*

At this very moment, not just the senior members of the family, but also Hua Yichen and his brothers, were gathered in the study. When Hua Zhi entered, a sudden hush fell over the room, and every set of eyes turned to her. Hua Pingyu, ever the dutiful one, approached the door, leaning in to murmur, "Why aren’t you taking a proper rest? Something wrong?"

She didn’t bother to hide the subtle annoyance, glancing briefly inside before responding, "There's a small issue." Her eyes swept over the room, sizing up the situation. "Is it inconvenient? If it is, I can always come back later..."

Hua Yichen, never one for formalities, cut her off with a sharp but calm tone. "It’s not inconvenient for you. Come in." He stepped away from his desk, his gaze falling on what she was carrying. "For Grandfather?"

With a flick of her wrist, Hua Zhi handed him the papers. "It’s about the sand table."

Curiosity piqued, the others leaned in, gathering around the table. As they began reading, Hua Zhi gave a casual pat to Shao Yao’s hand, a clear signal. "You don’t need to stay here. Go on, do your own thing."

Shao Yao, relieved to escape the heavy atmosphere, flashed a bright grin before darting off, eager to play with the sand table. Her mind already wandered to the piles of medicinal herbs waiting to be prepared. She couldn’t be bothered to stick around in a room full of stuffy bookworms, no matter how kind they were. Those half-formed memories, always flickering in and out of her mind, had been stamped out with brutal efficiency...

Once the last of the papers had been read, Hua Yizheng raised his gaze, disbelief dancing in his eyes as he stared at his granddaughter—one who always found ways to surprise him. "Did you come up with this idea for the sand table?"

Hua Zhi didn’t flinch, her voice sharp as a knife, cool and calculated. "I just borrowed from others’ ideas. But the future of the Hua family is tied to Yangshan Pass, and we need to secure our foundation. Merely being scholars won’t cut it. When it comes down to life or death, who gives a damn if you’re from the Hua family?" She stared into the eyes of every person in the room. "But abandoning all scholarship for military skill? That’s not going to work. The Hua family isn’t built on the concept of war. In the end, we have to leverage what we already know."

Her fingers tapped lightly against her temple, her expression fierce with intent. "The Hua family has stood strong in the court by relying on intellect for years. Moving us to a new location doesn’t change the fact that knowledge is power."

"Hahaha!" Suddenly, Hua Yizheng erupted into laughter—loud, deep, genuine, the kind of laugh they hadn’t heard from him in what felt like an eternity. Everyone, both in the room and out, froze in surprise. It was a sound so rare, it almost didn’t seem real. The old man’s joy was an unexpected punch in the gut of a tense room.

"Father." Hua Pingyang approached, worry evident in his steps, but Hua Yizheng simply waved him off, brushing away the tears of laughter that had gathered in his eyes. "I’m happy, truly happy. Now, tell me, Zhi'er, what do you suggest we do next?"

"Talk to Wu Yong. The Hua family needs to get into the military camp. We can sit here all day and study military tactics from books, but that’s all they are—empty words. We won’t achieve a damn thing with just theory. It’ll hurt both us and others. Wu Yong will see reason."

"Oh?" Hua Yizheng’s eyebrow arched, a spark of intrigue in his eyes.

Hua Zhi shook her head, dismissing the notion. "It’s got nothing to do with Yan Xi. The Wu family and the Yangshan Pass are tied at the hip. As long as the pass holds, Wu Yong’s family stays safe. But if they lose it, Wu Yong won’t walk out of this alive. The Chaoli tribe's ambitions aren’t hidden anymore, and the northern tribes are getting restless because of the drought. Wu Yong knows this—he knows that if both sides attack at once and the Yangshan Pass goes unreinforced, all of Daqing’s elite will be forced to head east. His position is precarious, to say the least. Grandfather, you’ve been a second-rank official, the pinnacle for a civil servant. Your insight and experience outclass most men. As long as Wu Yong’s not a fool, he’d be stupid not to use your expertise."

Hua Zhi’s smile turned sharp, a knowing glint in her eye. "In fact, he’s already using you, isn’t he? Tell me, where do you think that assassination attempt came from?"

In a room heavy with tension, filled with four elders and four adults, all eyes were on the youngest member of the family as she stepped forward. The air had been thick with debates and disagreements about the future—strategies, plans, where to move next. But as she opened her mouth, it all came to an immediate halt. The answer they had been fumbling for had just been handed to them, wrapped in confidence and precision.

Hua Yizheng’s lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. "Got that much faith in your old grandfather, huh?"

"Naturally," Hua Zhi replied, her tone laced with sharpness, a hint of playful defiance. "You taught me well. If I’ve managed to get this good, I can’t imagine you being any less."

Was she throwing him a compliment, or was she boasting about her own talents? Either way, it wasn’t subtle.

Hua Yizheng stared at her, his gaze hardening, but Hua Zhi didn’t flinch. She’d always seen him as nothing more than a paper tiger. Powerful on paper, but hollow in practice. She wasn’t scared of him.

"The sand table is one way to discuss military strategy on paper," Hua Zhi continued, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "But it’s not entirely useless. Once perfected, it’s a weapon. A tool that can control the entire situation—put both the enemy and ourselves in the palm of our hands."

She hadn’t met anyone who truly mastered it. Not her, not Yan Xi—though he had potential. His awareness was sharp, but he was still young. Some things required more than just raw intellect. They needed time, experience, the weight of real-world pressure.

Hua Yizheng raised an eyebrow, intrigued, a flicker of interest in his eyes. "Alright then. Tomorrow, I’ll have more sand tables made. Everyone will set aside time to learn."

Hua Zhi nodded, her tone now a bit more measured, though still commanding. "Tomorrow, don’t go to the yamen. Stay. Wait for Wu Yong to come. And one more thing— the Hua family’s equestrian skills need sharpening. In critical moments, we can only rely on ourselves."

Her words hung in the air like a promise: in the end, no one would have their back but themselves.

———TN: After I upload Chapter 325, I'll be taking a well-deserved break. But don’t sweat it, I’ll be back tomorrow with more chapters for you.