Chapter 44: How Should We Settle This, My Lord?
"Damn Grand Xia Empire martial artists!" Sneering, the noble youth cursed under his breath. He stared at Tie Ma and said coldly, "I am Viscount Zhou Xiu of the Longdu Empire!"
Zhou?! That’s one of the major families in the Longdu Empire!
Tie Ma glanced at Huang Sihai, then turned to Zhou Xiu again, snorting. "Why are you attacking a merchant caravan from our Grand Xia Empire?”
"Heh. They’re nothing but stupid commoners. So what if I kill them? You better not meddle in my affairs,” Zhou Xiu said coldly. "I came to the Grand Xia Empire this time to marry the sixth princess. You best get out of my way!”
"Marry the sixth princess?" Tie Ma and Huang Sihai were stunned.
Fang Chen's expression darkened. Seems like the Grand Xia Emperor was planning to form ties and build an alliance with the Longdu Empire via arranged marriage. Was that the leverage he intended to use against Qingsong?
Those from the caravan also heard what he said, and the head guard’s expression turned solemn. The young lady’s face wasn’t much better. That was actually the man chosen to be the sixth princess’s husband?!
Considering Zhou Xiu's status as a viscount, they couldn't afford to mess with him. If something were to happen to him, all of them would be implicated!
"What should we do...?" The head of the guards asked, a wry smile on his face.
At that moment, a group of mounted soldiers suddenly arrived.
"Those are troops from Grand Xia!” The members from the caravan happily cheered.
The soldiers from the Grand Xia Empire wore their military uniforms. All of them were equipped with excellent equipment, and their swords hung neatly by their waist. The leader exuded an aura of majesty.
Beside him was a youth who had refined features, and who was surrounded by scholars from the Longdu Empire. When he saw Zhou Xiu, joy appeared on his face. "Brother Zhou, I'm here to welcome you on behalf of the crown prince!" he yelled. He was none other than Tao Yu, the son of the minister of rites, a well-known scholar in the Grand Xia Empire.
Those scholars beside him were also literary talents from the capital city.
"Tao Yu, you came just in time. These martial artists from your empire killed nearly half my men. Tell me, how should we handle this?” Zhou Xiu was wild with joy now that they’ve arrived. He pointed at Tie Ma and Huang Sihai while screaming his head off.
The members from the caravan were dumbfounded. They had thought that everything would take a turn for the better now that soldiers from Grand Xia had arrived. But who would have thought that they were here to welcome Zhou Xiu?
"What? How can that be?” Tao Yu was furious. He looked at Tie Ma and scolded, "Who are you people? How dare you lay hands on a distinguished guest of the Grand Xia Empire? General Yuwen, take them down! We’ll bring them to the crown prince for punishment!”
"Yes!" General Yuwen nodded coldly. Just as he was about to make a move, he noticed a familiar face, one that left him stunned. He stared at Huang Sihai in disbelief.
"General Yuwen?" Tao Yu urged.
"Something's not right," General Yuwen said in a low voice, his expression sinking.
Tao Yu frowned. "What's wrong?"
"That’s... that’s Huang Sihai. He’s one of the four Dragon Generals. Shouldn’t he be imprisoned in the Grand Brilliance Bureau?” General Yuwen said as he pointed at Huang Sihai.
Tao Yu was shocked. "What? Huang Sihai!?" His eyes drifted over slightly, taking a closer look. When he focused on that face, realization suddenly hit him, and he finally recognized Huang Sihai, causing his expression to change several times over.
Huang Sihai grinned. "General Yuwen, I heard that after returning from the Three World Mountain, you went and became the crown prince’s guard? Looks like you’re living the good life.”
General Yuwen cupped his fist and greeted, his expression complicated. "Greetings, General Huang. It’s been five years since we’ve last met. I hope you’ve been well...”
Five years ago, he was once under Huang Sihai’s command, and by extenstion, that would also mean that he served under Fang Chen.
After the battle at Three Worlds Mountain, Fang Chen’s faction was disbanded, and everyone who served under him seeked refuge elsewhere. He was one of them.
Those who chose not to join other factions had to endure a pretty sad fate. Huang Sihai spending five years in prison was a great example.
Huang Sihai pointed at Zhou Xiu and sneered. "Don’t waste my time. I’m going to kill this little bastard today. Do you intend to stop me?”
"Tao Yu, who is this?!” Zhou Xiu yelled, seemingly pretty flustered.
Those from the caravan were also full of curiosity. From the looks of it, those martial artists who helped them weren’t ordinary people. Otherwise, the general from Grand Xia wouldn’t carry such an expression of struggle.
Glancing at Huang Sihai, Tao Yu sneered. "He's just a defeated general; one of the former four Dragon Generals under Fang Chen.”
“One of the four Dragon Generals who were under Fang Chen?!”
Everyone gasped in shock.
The young lady and head of the guards from the caravan revealed dumbfounded expressions. They didn’t think that the person protecting them would be one of the legendary Dragon Generals!
Zhou Xiu was also startled, but he quickly regained his composure. Fang Chen was no longer the man he once was. Furthermore, his own status now was much higher than it once was. He definitely had nothing to fear anymore.
"Hmph, it’s no wonder you dare to act so arrogantly before me. What’s the matter, did your owner not come out with you today? Did he leave you to wander about leashless? How dare you strut around before me without your master, you ownerless dog!” After insulting Huang Sihai, he turned to Tao Yu and the others. “He killed so many of my men! If you don’t give me a proper explanation, I’m not taking a single step into your Grand Xia Empire! You can relay the message to your emperor telling him that the marriage alliance is off! When the Qingsong Empire deals with you in the future, we won’t lift a single finger to help!”
Tao Yu's expression changed abruptly. He whipped his head toward Yuwen Jing and ordered, "General Yuwen, I order you to quickly capture them. They have already affected the relationship between Grand Xia and Longdu. Their crimes are unforgivable!"
"Young Master Tao, I’m at the late Qi Detonation Stage. General Huang is comparable to an expert in the Qi Manipulation Stage. We won’t be able to handle him with our small group of soldiers...” Yuwen Jing wore a bitter smile.
Tao Yu was stunned, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly, Damn martial artists.
Yuwen Jing's expression changed slightly, but he didn't say anything.
Tao Yu looked at Huang Sihai and said in a deep voice, "Huang Sihai, your actions have jeopardized the relationship between our two empires. I hope you put down your weapons and surrender."
"Where are those weapons you speak of?" Huang Sihai looked at his fists and laughed.
Tao Yu's expression changed slightly. "Hurry up and turn yourself in. There’s no need for all this crap!”
Huang Sihai pointed to Zhou Xiu and sneered. "Heh. You’re not qualified to tell me what to do. This fellow treated the citizens of our Grand Xia Empire as prey and hunted them down for fun. How do you think this matter should be handled?”
Their expressions changed slightly. Actually, they had long since noticed what had happened with the merchant caravan. It was just that they’ve heard of Zhou Xiu’s temper, and decided not to harp on the matter and let him do as he wished.
"We’ll investigate this matter when we return. You’re just a commoner. You have no say in this, anyway,” Tao Yu said coldly.
"Did you hear that? Even if your master was personally here, he has no right to even open his mouth in front of me. Besides, I only killed some lowly civilians. Even if your emperor were to learn of this, he wouldn’t make things difficult for me. You two better act a little more sensibly.” Zhou Xiu sneered.
"My lord, how should we handle this?” Huang Sihai ignored Zhou Xiu completely and bowed respectfully in the direction of a lonely carriage in the distance.
My lord?!
The expressions of those present changed yet again.
The head guard looked at the young lady. They both sucked in a cold breath in unison. Is... Is Divine General Fang here?!
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