Chapter 42: Heading North, Entering Barbarian Territory!

 

“At midnight,” 

 

Shen Yian calmly replied, meeting Xuanwu’s eyes.

 

Xuanwu put down his teacup. “Very well. At midnight, we’ll leave the city with you, sir.”

 

“He stays.” Shen Yian pointed at Zhuque.

 

Zhuque, bewildered, pointed at himself. “Me? Why?”

 

“Someone is needed to take charge of Saibei.”

 

Xuanwu quickly understood Shen Yian’s meaning and spoke up. “Zhuque, you’ll stay behind to guard the northern frontier.”

 

“Why?” Zhuque still hadn’t caught on.

 

“You’re weaker than me, kid. Is that reason enough?” Xuanwu chuckled.

 

Zhuque’s face fell. He grumbled, “Give me two more years, and I’ll definitely catch up to Master Xuanwu.”

 

“Haha, alright. I’ll be waiting for you, kid.”

 

“Sir, is there anything else we need to prepare? Please don’t hesitate to instruct us.”

 

“Nothing else.”

 

“Gentlemen, is there anything else?”

 

Shen Yian stood up and was about to go out.

 

“May I accompany you to your lodgings first, sir?” Xuanwu asked.

 

“Okay.” Shen Yian did not refuse.

 

Since Xuanwu was coming along, some preparations had to be made together.

 

“Zhuque, guard the northern frontier well.”

 

Xuanwu stood up, his tone particularly serious.

 

He wasn’t sure if the barbarians would become desperate after they made their move.

 

“Please rest assured, Master Xuanwu,” Zhuque stood up, bowed, and said with a serious look.

 

After leaving the Martial Guard Division, the two walked slowly down the street like ordinary pedestrians. The setting sun stretched their shadows long.

 

“It’s been a long time, Your Highness, King of Chu,” Xuanwu stroked his stubble and sighed with a smile.

 

“You recognized me at first glance?” Shen Yian glanced at him.

 

“To be precise, I knew when I received His Majesty’s urgent order from a thousand miles away. I couldn’t think of any other prince His Majesty would value so highly, or any other prince who would have such capabilities.”

 

“Father treats us all equally. What do you mean by ‘value highly’?” Shen Yian said with a light laugh.

 

“I spoke out of turn. Haha!” Xuanwu laughed meaningfully.

 

“Master Xuanwu, when we were in Sixiang City, you seemed to have borrowed 500 taels of silver from me. You haven’t paid it back yet.”

 

“Cough cough! Really? When did that happen? I’ve almost forgotten.”

 

“Are you trying to default on your debt?”

 

“I wouldn’t dare! It’s just that I’m a bit short on funds recently. Would Your Highness mind waiting until next month’s salary is issued?”

 

“Forget it. I don’t want to chase you around for a mere 500 taels.”

 

“Your Highness is truly magnanimous!”

 

“I’m getting married next month. Do you have time to attend the wedding banquet?”

 

“I’m not sure. I’ve been quite busy lately. If I return safely from this trip, I still need to go to Suzhou.”

 

“Don’t worry. Even if I can’t make it, I’ll definitely send Your Highness a wedding gift.”

 

Shen Yian smiled, “As one of the prestigious Four Symbols, I trust your gift won’t disappoint me.”

 

“Ahem, of course.” Xuanwu laughed awkwardly.

 

At the Northern Commercial Association branch.

 

Faced with the imposing aura of four top experts, even Xuanwu felt a bead of cold sweat roll down his forehead.

 

Has His Highness finally revealed a large chunk of his iceberg?

 

However, he didn’t expect to see an old acquaintance among them.

 

Xuanwu narrowed his eyes at Shen Jun, “I didn’t expect you to be one of His Highness’s men.”

 

He had wondered when such an expert had appeared in the martial arts world.

 

“You two have crossed paths before?” Shen Yian asked with interest.

 

Since he dared to bring Xuanwu along, he wasn’t afraid of him reporting Yin Hai and the others to the old man. The iron ship he and the old man had built together wouldn’t capsize so easily.

 

Moreover, the cunning old fox Xuanwu had probably already thought of an explanation that wouldn’t offend either side.

 

“In response to Your Highness, we briefly crossed swords in Kaifeng City,” Shen Jun replied after a moment’s thought, changing his form of address.

 

“Who won?”

 

“Naturally, I had the upper hand,” Xuanwu snorted with a smile.

 

Shen Jun didn’t respond, but his robes billowed without wind, his eyes filled with killing intent.

 

“Well, not entirely. Let’s say we were evenly matched,” Xuanwu rolled his eyes and changed his tune.

 

Back then, he had landed a sneak attack. In a real fight to the death, the outcome would be uncertain.

 

“Alright, if you two want to fight, when we return, I’ll personally choose a place for you to settle this,” Shen Yian said with a smile, interrupting the two as the tension grew.

 

“Hm? I didn’t agree…”

 

“Thank you, Your Highness!” Shen Jun’s voice drowned out Xuanwu’s.

 

“Hahaha!” E Lai, enjoying the show, burst into laughter.

 

Xuanwu glanced sideways. What met his eyes was an ancient fierce beast with overwhelming might pressing down on him. His body instinctively wanted to resist.

 

Terrifying!

 

Only then did he notice that the martial arts of the tall, robust man before him had likely reached the legendary realm of unity between man and heaven.

 

Monsters, every one of them is a monster!

 

“Alright, after dinner, we’ll make our final preparations and set out,” Shen Yian said calmly.

 

“Yes, Your Highness!”

 

After dinner, everyone gathered in Bai Shi’s room.

 

“Your Highness, please look,” Bai Shi held up a mirror.

 

Shen Yian nodded at the handsome Western face in the mirror. “Very good.”

 

Xuanwu asked curiously, “Do I need to disguise myself too?”

 

“Yes,” Shen Yian nodded.

 

They would also change into barbarian clothing later. This was all to reduce the risk of exposure.

 

The six of them couldn’t travel through the air freely as they did within Great Qing borders. If they attracted the attention of barbarian experts, the risk would greatly increase.

 

A dozen minutes later, Xuanwu looked at his drastically changed appearance in the mirror and asked, puzzled, “Why is my nose so big?”

 

Not only was the nose big, it was also red, as if someone had punched it.

 

Bai Shi explained gently, “To avoid wasting materials.”

 

“Why doesn’t he need a disguise?” Xuanwu pointed at Shen Jun.

 

Shen Jun took off his conical hat. Due to his cultivation technique, his pupils had already turned a dazzling gold, his hair had turned gray, and the lower half of his face was covered by a black iron mask.

 

Xuanwu’s eyes widened as he realized Shen Jun was now wearing black armor with gold patterns under his clothes.

 

“Gilded Black Tortoise Armor!”

 

“So that damaged defensive treasure from years ago fell into your hands and you’ve even repaired it!”

 

Shen Jun snorted lightly but didn’t respond.

 

“Change clothes,” Shen Yian reminded everyone not to dawdle.

 

“We’re changing here?” Xuanwu asked, bewildered, looking at the armor and clothes thrown into his arms.

 

“We’re all men here, what are you shy about?” Shen Yian said, flexing his bare arms.

 

Xuanwu: “….”

 

Your Highness, King of Chu, shouldn’t you pay a little attention to royal etiquette?

 

After changing clothes, Shen Yian put on a hood to cover his long hair and pulled out a bloodstained mercenary badge. “Now our identity is that of a small mercenary team.”

 

Every time the barbarians came south, besides regular troops, there were numerous mercenary groups. A little money and the promise of freedom to pillage was enough to make them risk their lives.

 

“I’m the team leader now, don’t use the wrong form of address later,” Shen Yian reminded with a smile.

 

They didn’t need to worry about communication. Besides him, Bai Shi and Xuanwu also understood the barbarian language.

 

At midnight, the city gates opened slightly, and six fast horses galloped out.

 

Ye Feng watched the slowly closing gates with mixed feelings.

 

He had a premonition that something big was about to happen, but at this crucial moment, an imperial edict had arrived.

 

As both a father and a general, he was hesitant.

 

“General Ye.”

 

“Lord Zhuque?” Ye Feng turned and bowed.

 

“General Ye, Master Xuanwu instructed me to inform you that if they return in three days, you can depart then.”

 

“If they don’t return in three days, you need to delay your departure by one day.”