Blossom in Adversity

C93. Attack and Defense.

Chapter 93: Attack and Defense

During her stay at Yingshan Pass, Hua Zhi spent most of her time sleeping and chatting with relatives about the family's situation.

She knew that many people were observing her as she walked the streets. Each time she descended the stairs at the inn, there would be a moment of silence, with eyes either curious or astonished, but without malice.

Before coming, she had read many books related to Yingshan Pass. She understood the geography and topography of the area, could recount the accomplishments of the Wu family who had guarded the place for over a hundred years, and had even gathered information about the local customs.

She feared inadvertently committing taboos that would make it harder for the Hua family to establish themselves. As a woman, there were places she couldn't enter, but fortunately, Yingshan Pass was not among them.

She also worried about the people in the north being difficult to deal with. The Hua family were all scholars, and in the event of conflict, she was afraid they would be at a disadvantage. However, upon arriving, she realized she had made the mistake of generalizing.

The locals were indeed tall and sturdy, able to withstand the freezing weather and even rub snow on their bare arms. However, they didn't oppress the exiles who had come here. On the contrary, they seemed to protect them, treating them as their own.

In reality, it was quite similar. Few of the exiles who came here could return to prosperous lands. They would eventually settle and die here.

Perhaps the Hua family had been included in that category, thought Hua Zhi. But she wouldn't accept that fate, not at all.

Even if the Emperor's words were law, he would die! At fifty years old, he already had an average age for a monarch in the Daqing dynasty. When a successor ascended, there would surely be a way.

She would ensure that Bai Lin went far, so far that the new Emperor would see him, listen to him, and grant his requests.

As she walked out of the inn, the bright white sun greeted her. Despite feeling little warmth on her body, her heart felt brighter, as if it too was basking in the sunlight. The smiling faces of the people passing by seemed more abundant.

"I should return."

Gu Yanxi wasn't surprised. She had been here for three days already, and her goal had been achieved. Considering the Hua family's situation, Hua Zhi couldn't stay any longer.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

Hua Zhi glanced at him but didn't say anything, adjusting her cloak and heading towards the nearby mansion.

As she was escorted to the door and watched as she entered the house, Gu Yanxi turned and left, needing to make some preparations.

Today was a rest day, and even on days without designated rest, they all stayed at home as requested by the patriarch.

The younger generation stood in the courtyard, glancing towards the gate from time to time. When they saw Hua Zhi enter, they greeted her warmly. Hua Zhi smiled at her brothers whom she rarely saw, walking towards the entrance of the main hall where heavy curtains had already been drawn from the inside.

Hua Baili stood there like a white poplar, his eyes gleaming. "Eldest sister."

"You look much better." Hua Zhi entered, bowing respectfully to the elders in the room.

Hua Yizheng's voice carried a sense of joy. "Not just them, even my cough has improved significantly. The physician you brought is very skilled."

Ignoring the beckoning gesture from her fourth uncle, Hua Zhi stood by her father's side. "She will stay here for a while. It's an opportunity for her to treat you properly. We need to eradicate the root of this illness."

"Not returning together? Does she have a place to stay here?"

"You don't need to worry about that. Let her be, she has status behind her, and she is skilled. No one should dare to bully her."

Hua Yizheng was a clever man and immediately understood, choosing not to ask further questions.

Hua Pingyu finally had the opportunity to speak, clearing his throat subtly and instructing, "Bai Li, bring a chair for your eldest sister to sit and talk."

If it were just the elders of the family present, Hua Zhi would have dared to sit. After all, they were family, and no one would pick faults with her. However, with all the members of the Hua family gathered today, including distant relatives, she couldn't sit on an equal footing with them. Just as she was about to remind Bai Li to bring a small stool, she saw her younger brother already placing one at their father's feet.

Hua Zhi smiled at him, and Bai Li's eyes sparkled even more.

After addressing the questions that had come up that day, which had been asked multiple times before, it was already noon when no one could think of any more questions. It was then that Hua Zhi announced her decision, "I plan to return tomorrow."

The room fell silent, and Hua Pingyu instinctively asked, "So soon? You haven't been here long."

"I worried about you all at home, and now that I'm here, I worry about the family at home." Hua Zhi self-deprecatingly raised the corners of her mouth. "Grandmother is getting older, and I need to go back to help out."

"It's time to go back. The colder it gets, the harder it will be to endure the hardships." Hua Yizheng instructed, "Chen Shan, go check on the food, speed things up."

"Yes."

"After asking questions for a few days, it's time to finish up. After dinner, everyone can disperse. If anyone wants Hua Zhi to bring something back, start preparing. Nothing too heavy though."

Everyone responded in unison.

After a rather subdued meal, Hua Zhi followed her grandfather back to the room.

Hua Yizheng pointed to the chessboard. "Come play a game with your grandfather."

Hua Zhi was truly a versatile person. She could write both boldly and delicately, play a steady defensive game in chess, or launch an aggressive attack. Previously, when playing chess with her grandfather, she had mostly focused on defense, but today she changed her strategy and launched a strong offensive from the start.

The game unfolded with grand sweeps and traps laid out in plain sight. Avoiding one trap only led to falling into another. By the time she managed to escape one trap, she found herself surrounded on all sides.

Hua Pingyang, who had entered a step late, increasingly felt shocked as he watched. Hua Zhi was like a sharpened sword, incredibly sharp. While his father could match her moves, Hua Zhi's sharpness would likely have led to his defeat.

Hua Yizheng had never been so serious before. For every move, he had already considered the next five or ten steps. Immersed in the game for decades, he had this ability, but he gradually realized that Hua Zhi had also achieved it. Whenever he made a move, she was right behind him. For every step he made, she kept pace, quickly following his lead. When he slowed down, she continued to press on.

"It's a draw." Looking at the board filled with black and white pieces, Hua Pingyang didn't know how to describe the feeling at that moment. Incredibly, Hua Zhi had played on par with her father.

Hua Zhi's brow glistened with sweat; she had truly given it her all.

"Grandfather, you let me win."

"I didn't let you win; this is just my usual level." Hua Yizheng's gaze remained fixed on the chessboard, specifically on the black dragon piece. The move he had blocked was extremely strained, with a faint feeling that he couldn't contain it. If he had hesitated for a moment, he would have already lost.

"Zhi'er, when you played chess with Grandfather, how much of your skill did you use?"

"One hundred percent," Hua Zhi replied, her fingers tracing the rough surface of the chessboard. She missed Grandfather's old chess set, which always felt so warm to the touch. "Defense is inherently more difficult than offense. I've always been better at attacking."

Hua Yizheng looked at her and smiled. The Hua family's current situation couldn't be turned around by mere defense