If the martial cultivators of the Nanhai Guanyin Sect could initially disregard Xu Long Xiang, the arrival of Xu Fengnian quickly shifted the atmosphere decisively in favor of the local powers. Fortunately, Xu Fengnian did not act arrogantly, but instead approached an elderly woman he had briefly met outside Youyan Villa. He greeted her warmly and even playfully remarked to Mei Yingyi, who had displayed remarkable sword-finger techniques on the lake: “Esteemed Senior, your finger sword technique has benefited me greatly. I’ve even borrowed it for several fights afterward. I hope Senior won’t mind.”
Mei Yingyi, living up to her manly name, stood her ground before this influential prince who stirred both court and martial world. However, her smooth, fair cheeks flushed slightly, adding a charming allure. Her voice was soft but not seductive as she teased in return: “It is my honor that such a minor skill caught Your Highness’s attention. But I dare to make one request—if Highness ever uses my finger sword technique in battle again, please mention beforehand that it is the exclusive technique of Mei Yingyi from the Nanhai Guanyin Sect. Then I shall be renowned throughout the world.”
Xu Fengnian chuckled: “That can be arranged. To be honest, I once had half a master, Jian Jiuhuang, whom you might have heard of. Back then, before I had learned martial arts or swordsmanship, I always hoped that one day when he dueled others across the martial world, he’d mention my name somehow. Then I could boast about it to all the female martial heroes. So, Senior and I are of the same mind—can we call ourselves heroes who admire each other?”
Mei Yingyi covered her mouth and laughed lightly, but did not continue the banter. She was careful not to overstep. After all, treating powerful figures as compassionate Bodhisattvas was a mistake—rulers’ hearts are unpredictable, and serving them is like serving alongside tigers. As a minor figure, she might be devoured without a trace, and even then, the tiger might still feel unsatisfied. Still, being called “Esteemed Senior” by the mighty Prince of Beiliang filled her with joy, and she did not bother hiding her delight.
Xu Fengnian turned to a young cultivator who had been hiding behind his senior brother, grinning: “What, can’t recognize me just because my hair changed color? Back then, you were mighty bold, shouting ‘Sit the River’ at me without hesitation.”
The young man turned red and stepped forward, saying bitterly: “To have crossed swords with Your Highness is an honor for which I have no regrets. Even if today Highness wishes to punish or kill me, Xu Qingxing will not utter a single complaint, nor dare to resist.”
Xu Fengnian smiled: “Oh, you’re a fellow clansman. Then I really have no reason to fight you. Once you enter Liuzhou, don’t treat yourself as an outsider. If there are any rare treasures you need and we have them in Beiliang, feel free to ask. For the sake of our shared surname, I wouldn’t dare hide anything.”
The young man grinned: “Then I won’t hold back! If Highness turns stingy later, Xu Qingxing will just go to your mansion gates and throw a tantrum.”
Xu Fengnian nodded and smiled, letting it go.
The charcoal-selling girl turned her head sharply, rolling her eyes in disdain at this honey-tongued, treacherous fellow.
Later, Xu Fengnian borrowed a warhorse from the Longxiang cavalry to symbolically accompany the group of Nanhai cultivators for a stretch of the journey. Riding side by side with Tan Tai Jing, the Guanyin Sect’s leader, now fully restored to her calm demeanor, asked indifferently: “When will the Northern invaders march south?”
Xu Fengnian did not treat this as a secret military matter but answered candidly: “There will be small-scale battles soon. At the beginning of the year, my younger brother’s ten thousand Longxiang cavalry stunned them. The new Nan Yuan Da Wang, Dong Zhuo, and the Northern Empress will not swallow this insult easily. Even if they can endure, to appease the morale of their troops, they will urgently need a decisive victory to mark a good beginning. However, exactly which border among Liang, You, and Liu provinces they will target remains uncertain to us. We can only respond with steadfastness. Master Tan Tai, if you wish to accumulate merit, and I need blessings for fallen soldiers, I hope we can both benefit…”
Tan Tai Jing smiled and finished the sentence: “A pleasant transaction?”
Xu Fengnian paused. “That doesn’t sound like something a reclusive master like you would say.”
Then followed a natural, prolonged silence. Their statuses and ages were worlds apart, making it difficult to find any polite small talk.
Before parting, Tan Tai Jing finally said something seemingly irrelevant: “My late master visited the Central Plains martial world twice. The first time was to the Demon-Slaying Platform at Longhu Mountain to discuss Dao with the immortal Qi. The second was to search for a white dragon. My master left a final instruction that this white dragon was different from ordinary river serpents—it did not follow the river to the sea, but swam upstream. He could only deduce that the dragon reached the vicinity of the Ghost Gate, but its whereabouts afterward were unknown.”
Xu Fengnian, seated high on his horse without holding the reins, his hands tucked into his sleeves, smiled: “Master Tan Tai suspects the white dragon swam all the way to Beiliang? Just a question—why do cultivators, especially accomplished ones like you, care so much about the whereabouts of a river dragon that hasn’t even been transformed into a true dragon yet? Is there a deeper reason? If it doesn’t involve the Guanyin Sect’s private matters, would you mind sharing it with me?”
Tan Tai Jing shook her head, her tone firm: “This matter has nothing to do with Beiliang’s affairs. I cannot disclose it.”
Xu Fengnian did not press further, nor did he show any interest in prying. He simply smiled and let it go.
Li Mofan’s thousand Longxiang riders did not continue the escort. Xu Fengnian returned the warhorse to the common cavalryman and sat behind his younger brother Xu Longxiang, who was acting as his driver. Clearly, his comrades envied the rider whose horse had been sat upon by the young prince, while the rider himself considered it a great honor, his face beaming with pride. The bearded officer approached and slapped the rider’s head, laughing: “Damn it, you brat, don’t whine to me about your share of the military merits anymore!”
Though the rider was young, he was a seasoned veteran of the Longxiang army. Previously, he had beheaded a high-ranking Northern enemy, which was initially counted as an ordinary kill. Later, news from the Southern Court revealed the man was a noble of the Yelü clan—though only a minor branch, by Beiliang military law, he should have been promoted to a commandery captain. Naturally, the soldier was Unconvinced (furious), constantly pestering the bearded officer for recognition. In truth, everyone knew the promotion was secondary; the real motive was to pressure the officer for his precious wine reserves. This time, when the prince needed a horse, the officer cleverly gave the opportunity to the young soldier, hoping this would finally spare his remaining few jars of wine. But the rider, with a stubborn glare, declared: “Commander, we agreed beforehand—this is a separate matter. If you try to cheat me, just wait—I’ll go straight to the prince and file a formal complaint!”
A formal complaint to the prince?
No one around the outspoken rider found anything wrong with it. In Beiliang, the Prince was already the rightful emperor in all but name—just lacking a dragon robe and throne. The prince simply didn’t care for such things.
The bearded officer gritted his teeth: “Damn it, don’t give me that nonsense. Let’s settle this once and for all—I’ll give you a whole jar of wine. How about that? If you dare ask for another drop, I’ll strip you naked and tie you to a horse, dragging you around the camp a few times!”
The rider grinned: “Deal!”
Being tied naked to a horse and dragged around the camp was a unique punishment in the Longxiang army. Every native-born rider, including the two deputies Li Mofan and Zhang Lingbao, had experienced it at least once. An old veteran who had suffered this fate eight times boasted about it, always claiming the experience was unforgettable, more thrilling than riding a woman in bed. Of course, few believed him.
Li Mofan glanced sideways at the carriage and hesitated before finally ordering his personal guards to keep a respectful distance.
Xu Fengnian lifted the curtain and looked at the crimson armor standing alone inside the carriage. Even without a wearer, it exuded a cold, piercing aura. After collecting the five pieces of the Red Armor, Xu Fengnian had ordered the two great Mozi masters beneath Qingliang Mountain to forge them into a single set. This was both to protect his younger brother Huangman’er in future battles and to forcibly suppress Xu Longxiang’s impending breakthrough to a higher realm. Each time Xu Longxiang donned the armor, it was a painful ordeal. Yet, whatever his older brother commanded, he never questioned. Back then, Xu Xiao had tried every method—soft and hard—to get his youngest son to study under the old Grandmaster Zhao Xituan at Longhu Mountain, but failed. When Xu Fengnian returned from his three-year journey and simply said one word, it was done. In royal or noble families, brothers often harbored resentment—whether over Struggle between the legitimate and the illegitimate (legitimacy disputes) or seniority. Yet the Xu family of Beiliang remained united like no other.
After becoming the Prince of Beiliang, Xu Fengnian had to subdue officials, pacify the border armies, and confront Wang Xianzhi. He had never found the right moment to speak to Huangman’er, or rather, he had never known how to begin. After Huangman’er’s awakening, he had grown increasingly contemplative, developing his own ideas. Now commanding an army of thirty thousand, the Longxiang army obeyed him completely. Yet Xu Fengnian still saw Huangman’er as the little boy with snot running down his nose. As Huangman’er grew, Xu Fengnian found it harder to bridge the gap, to speak freely.
Occasionally, Xu Fengnian recalled how Xu Xiao must have felt when dealing with his rebellious son—probably facing similar struggles. When Xu Fengnian was Huangman’er’s age, he had been a wild, lawless demon-child, impossible to discipline. Xu Xiao could neither bring himself to beat him nor know how to guide him. After his wife’s death, he was both father and mother to his children, yet he was merely a rough, unrefined general. He led armies with brute force, subduing opposition through sheer strength. But with his eldest son, could he have handled things so simply?
Gazing at the endless, barren yellow sands stretching beyond Liangzhou, Xu Fengnian smiled faintly and softly asked: “Huangman’er, do you miss Father?”
Xu Longxiang, his back to his brother, nodded vigorously.
Xu Fengnian continued: “People say Mother died giving birth to you. But in truth, her health had already been ruined by the White Robe Incident. If Xu Xiao had no eldest son, or no sons at all, he could have lived out his days as a noble king, his posthumous title honored and respected, not that ridiculous ‘Wu Li.’ So, if anyone owes apologies to our parents, it’s not you.”
“I know Xu Xiao favored me. You and the two sisters never received the same attention.”
Xu Longxiang gripped the reins, silent.
Leaning against the carriage wall, gazing at the vast sky stretching higher and wider than anywhere in Liyang, Xu Fengnian spoke gently: “In truth, Xu Xiao loved us all deeply, more than he should have. But for you and the two sisters, being the younger siblings, it was different. Not because he truly favored me, but because he was a rough soldier who enlisted at fourteen, never understanding the difficulties of raising children. After Xu Xiao passed, I confronted Wang Xianzhi and entered the Spring and Autumn Dream, seeing the young Xu Xiao—before he came to Beiliang, not yet the mighty figure he later became. I saw him standing outside the Military Affairs Office in the pouring rain all night, refused entry by the ministers who would not grant him a single soldier or grain of rice. I saw him crouching among the corpses after a battle, stifling sobs, far from the later tales of unstoppable might he liked to tell. I saw the struggling general he once was, sharing hardtack with my master and Zhao Changling.”
Smiling slightly, eyes half-closed as he gazed at the clear sky, Xu Fengnian continued: “To be honest, only in death could he finally rest. If it weren’t for his children, he would have long joined Mother below. He held on with sheer will, fighting against King Yama himself.”
Straightening up, his voice deepened: “Many have said Beiliang should rebel against the Zhao court, that with thirty thousand iron cavalry, we could conquer the Central Plains. History is merely a servant girl, painted however the victorious dynasty desires. Would the Xu family not be praised? But Xu Xiao never explained his reasons, and I’ve pondered this question without an answer. Perhaps there is no reason at all. Xu Xiao was not that kind of man, or he would never have reached Beiliang. Just as Xu Xiao loved you and me—there was no reason. He was our father, and he loved us. That was all.”
Xu Fengnian, without realizing it, had developed the habitual gesture of folding his hands into his sleeves as he spoke, “We, as sons, must ensure that Xu Xiao doesn’t receive posthumous disgrace. Every word less is better, and it’s quite simple. My guarding the northwest is a duty entrusted to me by Xu Xiao, a matter of course and also simple. As an elder brother, I don’t want my younger brother to die on the battlefield. At the very least, I don’t want to see you die before me, and there’s no reasoning behind it. Little Manner, do you hear me? If you dare to make me retrieve your corpse from the battlefield, don’t expect to be my brother in your next life. Everyone has selfishness. Even Xu Xiao said that, in principle, no one’s loved ones or sons should die more than others. But can’t he do it? I’m the same.”
Xu Fengnian continued calmly, “When the great battle begins, many people will surely die. It might be Yuan Er-ge, or Yan Wenluan, or even Lu Qiu’er. Still, I hope we can die further north.”
Suddenly, Xu Fengnian laughed, “Who knows, maybe we can even conquer the Northern Desolate entirely, right? If a good-for-nothing like your brother can become the strongest cultivator in the world, even if only for a short while, wasn’t he truly the strongest cultivator in the world? What other difficulty in the world could matter after that?”
Xu Longxiang turned his head and smiled foolishly.
After the carriage had traveled several miles, Xu Longxiang suddenly turned his head again, and the boy blinked his eyes.
Xu Fengnian, half-laughing and half-crying, said, “You want to ask your brother whether he misses women? Of course I do, how could I not? I always have. At first, I was worried about breaking the Grand Yellow Courtyard cultivation technique given by the late Taoist Abbot of Wudang, which forbade eating meat, so I had to endure it. When I could endure no longer, I had to endure even more. That was truly miserable. Only much later did I learn that the restriction was lifted. My only complaint against the old Abbot was this: old immortal, why didn’t you tell me earlier? However, after returning from the Northern Desolate, one matter followed another, so I couldn’t think about it anymore. My heart no longer feels so heavy about it. It’s just left to fate now. Little Manner, let me ask you something. Between your two sisters-in-law, which one do you prefer?”
Xu Longxiang smacked his lips and chuckled.
Xu Fengnian immediately understood: it was the Lu family girl who made double ninth cakes, not the renowned female literary giant.
Suddenly, Xu Longxiang jumped down from the carriage, slightly bent over, and turned his head to look at Xu Fengnian.
Xu Fengnian hesitated for a moment and then jumped onto Little Manner’s back.
Just like when they were young, Xu Longxiang shouted loudly, “Flying!” and ran all the way with his brother on his back.
This left Li Mofan and his thousand elite riders of the Dragon and Elephant cavalry staring in astonishment.
But almost everyone simultaneously had the same thought: we go to the border to fight the enemy, entrusting our backs to Prince Xu of Beiliang just as the old generation of Xu family soldiers entrusted their backs to General Xu Xiao. This is the greatest truth for the Beiliang iron cavalry today.
These are things etched into our bones; there’s no reasoning behind them.
Moreover, who says that this young Prince of Beiliang cannot rival the young butcher, Chen Zhibao?
The bearded officer turned his head to glance at the young cavalryman who had been grinning all the way, then rode up beside Li Mofan and softly said, “General, I don’t know much about loyalty or those fancy words. Those are for scholars to talk about. But I think…”
Li Mofan interrupted his subordinate, raising his horsewhip to point ahead at the two brothers whose backs were almost visible, and solemnly said, “What? You want to express your loyalty? Look, the Commander and the Prince are right there. Go tell them yourself. As for me, just like you, I hate those scholars and their talk. In the past few years, among those who shouted about going home to buy big houses and pretty girls to enjoy life, you were one of them.”
The officer was fortunate to have dark skin, so his blushing wasn’t obvious. He tugged at his lips and muttered, “Well, back then, I just wasn’t confident. Who wouldn’t hesitate to entrust their life to an unreliable leader? I, Qian Wu, am just an ordinary man…”
The officer’s voice grew softer and softer, until it was barely audible.
Li Mofan didn’t look at his longtime comrade who had shared life and death with him, and calmly said, “As for the past, I don’t care. Even if you desert and return to enjoy life, it’s what you deserve, and I, Old Li, won’t despise you. But after that, don’t expect to drink and eat with me at the same table anymore. I, Li Mofan, can’t afford to lose face like that.”
Qian Wu raised his head and grinned, saying, “General, your words really hurt me. My heart is really broken. It’ll take several bowls of good wine to heal it.”
Li Mofan finally showed a slight smile and muttered, “Damn it, having soldiers like you is already embarrassing enough.”
Qian Wu, with a carefree grin, said, “But it’s all thanks to you, General, raising me like a child, so it’s not others’ fault.”
Li Mofan shouted, “Fan Xilong, listen to my order! When we return to the camp, hang Qian Wu over a horse!”
Qian Wu widened his eyes and raised his voice, asking, “What?!”
A nearby officer laughed and said, “Understood!”
Qian Wu dared not question his deputy general Li Mofan, but turned to the gloating bastard and roared, “Damn you, Fan Chui-zi! My daughter will never enter your house for the rest of her life! You dream of becoming my son-in-law!”
Fan Xilong was indifferent, lazily rubbing his ear and saying, “My daughter is pretty, so she won’t have trouble finding a husband. If your son hadn’t read a few books and bewitched my daughter into refusing anyone else, even if you knelt at my door for three days and nights, would I even acknowledge you for a second?”
The nearby Dragon and Elephant soldiers burst into laughter.
Angry and embarrassed, Qian Wu cursed, “Those who laugh out loud will all hang over the horses with me! Let’s see whose cock is bigger! Whoever has a bigger one than mine gets an extra round!”
Some bold cavalrymen immediately laughed and said, “Commander Qian, then we’ll all have to circle the camp many times.”
Qian Wu turned around, smiling without mirth, and said, “You little bastards are good! When the time comes, I’ll pick the biggest cock and chop it off to go with my wine!”
A chorus of groans followed.
Li Mofan listened to his subordinates and their subordinates’ playful banter, trying to keep a stern face but unable to suppress his bright smile.
He couldn’t claim that all the Beiliang border troops could make the Northern barbarians cry for their mothers, but his Dragon and Elephant troops, even a thousand of his elite soldiers, could still treat three thousand elite riders from the Northern Desolate as mere playthings!
Damn the Liyang court! For years, those officials from the six ministries of Tai’an city to the states, prefectures, and counties had been shouting that the Beiliang army was merely famous in name only!
Li Mofan reined in his smile, his face darkened, his eyes especially burning with intense heat, and he coldly said, “This time, whoever kills the most enemy officers won’t be allowed to be stolen from me!”
At the same time, the Wu family’s hundred riders had already entered Hezhou, nearing the border of Beiliang.
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