The two sides were separated by a great distance, but they could clearly see each other's expressions. Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and confirmed the other party had left. He couldn't help but shake his head. A wave of exhaustion that was difficult to suppress surged into his heart. After being chased by the Western Hu pack of wolves for three days, both sides had exhausted themselves. Since the other party had given up, he would not feel any disappointment. There was only relief.
After waiting for three days, the pursuit that had been going on for three days seemed more like a child's game. It was not very dangerous, and neither side had even pulled out their knives or shot an arrow. But in reality, both sides knew what this pursuit represented and what kind of danger it hid.
Fan Xian and his group entered deep into the grasslands and confidently left. Although they had not truly fought, they had left a deep shadow in the hearts of the Western Hu people. Many years ago, the Qing Kingdom's largest border expansion operation had also been carried out under the secret leadership of the Overwatch Council. Even now, the person called Chen Pingping was still a legend on the grasslands who was treated like a demon. Fan Xian's trip to Western Hu could be considered to have continued the Overwatch Council's excellent tradition. After taking over, he arrogantly patrolled the territory.
This was a heavy blow to the spirits of the people on the grasslands. The Western Hu court wanted to unify the grasslands and fight against the Qing Kingdom, but they could not keep a group of people deep in the grasslands. Presumably, this would allow them to have a clearer understanding of their own strength. It would also make the Western Hu tribe, which had been incomparably glorious these two years, more careful when sending out troops.
Chief Su Bida had chased for three days in vain and was forced to turn back gloomily. He looked helpless and sorrowful, but in Fan Xian's eyes, there was a different meaning. This master of the grasslands had retreated so resolutely. This kind of courage to give up and being able to suppress the Hu riders' warlike nature was truly an oddity on the grasslands.
If this person, with Haitang's help, truly unified the grasslands, he would probably become a great danger to the Qing Kingdom.
Fan Xian blinked his eyes. His long eyelashes were covered in dust. He looked like a native toying with the warriors of the grasslands in the palm of his hand. However, he was not very happy. On the contrary, he appeared lonely and helpless.
"Let's go." He pulled on the reins and rode toward the bottom of the meadow under the setting sun. The warhorse beneath him was jubilant.
…
…
Although it looked like the pursuing soldiers of the court had retreated, the Black Knights still did not relax. Who knew whether or not the ruthless Western Hu people would create a false impression and then attack from the side and rear? On the grasslands, the Hu people had the help of eagles. It completely nullified the effectiveness of the circular telescope in Fan Xian's hand.
Because of this, the group of people who had escaped from the grasslands still did not dare to slow down. They forcefully supported their exhausted bodies and urged their warhorses, which were soaked in medicinal sweat, to gallop towards the east. It was not until seven days later that the group entered the entrance of Hong Mountain that they were truly relieved.
Red Mountain was a very strange terrain in the eastern part of the grassland. It was formed by natural piles of earth and stone. After thousands of years of north wind, it had been cut into isolated mountain peaks. The mountain peaks were all crimson red. They looked as shocking and murderous as the imperial calligraphy in the imperial study.
The path to enter the pass was at the bottom of these red mountains. It was a winding path that resembled sheep intestines. Fan Xian walked at the front of the group and accepted the leather pouch Jing Ge handed him. He drank a mouthful of water to moisten his sore throat. In a raspy voice, he said, "After finishing things here, I'll have to lie in bed for two months when I return to the capital."
A rustling sound came from the red mountain. It seemed that someone had stepped on the sand and stones on the mountain. Jing Ge couldn't help furrowing his brows. Fan Xian knew what he was thinking and laughed loudly. However, because of his throat, the laughter was particularly unpleasant to hear. The Qing Kingdom's Western Expedition Army lying in ambush at the mouth of Hong Mountain looked extremely tired to have allowed their group to catch such an obvious sound.
The sound of horse hooves rang out from the valley ahead. The dust-covered Crown Prince Li Hongcheng led the Dingzhou army over to welcome them. Li Hongcheng squeezed his horse's belly and came to Fan Xian's side. Looking at Fan Xian's wretched appearance, he couldn't resist shaking his head and said, "I told you long ago, Su Bida is an ambitious and ruthless figure. How could he be tricked by you?"
Fan Xian glanced at him and said, "At least I brought him out for six days. These six days are enough to do some things."
"Is there a need to be so careful just to kill the Northern Qi people in the court?" Li Hongcheng glanced at him disapprovingly. After confirming that the kid was unharmed, he relaxed and continued, "Did you fight with the Western Hu people?"
"No, I just moved my feet."
The two groups met together. Their power immediately increased. In a moment, they had left the mouth of Hong Mountain, which contained thousands of years of wind and sand. In order to hide the news and prevent anyone from reporting it to the Western Hu court, there were 8,000 Qing elite soldiers lying in ambush at the mouth of Hong Mountain. They were all close relatives of the General's manor, as well as frontline soldiers in Qingzhou. They had not gone through Dingzhou to make any large movements.
"We've waited here for seven days and haven't seen anything. Shouldn't the Overwatch Council give us an explanation?" Li Hongcheng pressed his blistered lips together.
"Forget it." Fan Xian gently squeezed his horse's belly. There wasn't a spot on his body that wasn't sore. He glared at him and thought to himself that the ambush at the mouth of Hong Mountain was just a preparation. Who could say for sure how strong the Chief's jealousy was? Furthermore, this place was still a few days away from Qingzhou. Instead of rushing back, they were still arguing endlessly. It was truly a very risky thing to do.
What he was concerned about was the situation inside Dingzhou. "Have they acted?"
"I left before they acted. The governor's manor is cooperating with your subordinates. I've given military orders, so don't worry," Li Hongcheng looked at him and said. "Although I don't know the specifics, there have been reports coming in over the past few days. The operation should be going smoothly. The Northern Qi spies in Dingzhou have basically all been pulled out by your subordinates."
Fan Xian nodded and didn't say anything more. After this battle, the grasslands once again sank into chaos. Most importantly, one Overwatch Council had entered the grasslands while the other was scattered in Xiliang Road. They had successfully wiped out all of the spies the Northern Qi Emperor had buried on this vast battlefield. The ruthless methods Ku He had used before his death, the excellent situation that the Northern Qi Emperor and Haitang had used two years to construct, had turned into a bubble because of his even more ruthless and shameless response.
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Four days later, nearly 10,000 of the Qing elite troops finally withdrew from the grasslands and entered Qingzhou. This group of soldiers had not fought a single battle with the Western Hu riders. They had completely served as the backdrop for the Overwatch Council's actions. Their morale was not as high as when they had set out. Additionally, they had endured for too long at the mouth of Hong Mountain. They looked like defeated soldiers.
The mental state of the Black Knights of the Overwatch Council was not much better. If it were not for the fact that they wanted to give Fan Xian face, these people would probably immediately fall to the ground and fall asleep.
Once they entered Qingzhou, Fan Xian immediately ordered the Black Knights to rest. Jing Ge accepted the order and left. However, they could not immediately bathe and eat. First, they had to take good care of the hundreds of horses specially trained by the Overwatch Council. The medicinal power in these horses' bodies had already begun to recede. They could not hold out much longer. If they were not quickly treated, they would probably gradually die.
These hundreds of human-like military horses were the saviors of the Overwatch Council's Black Knights. No one wanted to see them finally fall into such a tragic state. However, everyone knew that after this thousand-li run, this group of black horses would never be able to recover their original spirit. Inevitably, they felt a bit sad in their hearts.
Fan Xian followed the army of the Western camp and met the suspicious gazes from both sides of the road in Qingzhou. The soldiers and merchants had guessed this young man's identity. They also guessed that the court must have carried out a major operation on the grasslands. Looking at the tired and listless appearance of the Dingzhou army, everyone thought that the court's operation on the grasslands had failed. The gazes they turned toward him were strange.
Fan Xian and Li Hongcheng had just entered the Qingzhou military yamen when Ye Ling 'er, who had received the news, rushed back from the palace walls. Rushing into the back room, she pushed open the door and angrily said, "Do you think you're a god? How dare you bring so few people deep into the grasslands. Aren't you afraid the Hu people will eat you alive? "
Ye Ling 'er had her own reason to be angry. Although Fan Xian had not lost anything this time entering the grasslands, in reality, he had taken a great risk. Thinking of this, anger rose in Ye Ling' er's heart. If Fan Xian died on the grasslands, what would happen to Lin Wan 'er? What would happen to the two children?
As Lin Wan 'er's bosom friend, she had sufficient reason to give the harshest criticism of Fan Xian's rash actions. Of course, there was another reason she was angry. Fan Xian had come to Qingzhou but had not come to see her. He had hidden such an important matter from her.
Fan Xian paused with wisps of mist in his eyes as he watched the young lady of the Ye family break through the door and enter. His gaze unconsciously moved from the light armor on her body to the familiar and beautiful face. His heart was slightly moved. He knew that she was indeed concerned about his safety. However …
"Looking at your appearance, you want to eat me alive even more than the Hu people," he said with a worried expression. "Wangfei, Hongcheng and I aren't wearing clothes. You don't have to be so anxious, do you?"
After entering the Qingzhou military yamen, Fan Xian and Li Hongcheng, who were covered in wind and sand and sore all over, had used their power and position to immediately prepare two large buckets of hot water. They were soaking comfortably when unexpectedly, a woman barged in. Furthermore, her identity was special.
Ye Ling 'er had grown up in the Dingzhou army. Her personality was bold and forceful. She was very different from other women. Hearing Fan Xian's words, she realized that Fan Xian and Li Hongcheng were naked and curled up in the large wooden buckets. These two people still wore purposefully shy expressions on their faces. It was very annoying.
On the contrary, she was not embarrassed or angry. She just spat at the side of her feet and elegantly turned to leave.
…
…
On the grasslands, the Left Virtuous Prince had been assassinated. Something had happened to the court. It was certain to sink into chaos. As the head of the Qing court's military stationed in Xiliang Road, Li Hongcheng had to quickly report this matter to Jingdou. At the same time, he had to return to Dingzhou to hold down the camp and move military power in order to deal with the newest change in the situation on the grasslands. Thus, the next day, he left Qingzhou.
Fan Xian stayed. It was not because of the good scenery in Qingzhou or because of Ye Ling 'er. It was because he wanted to wait for a few people to return before he could truly relax.
After a few days, the Central Plain merchant group Fan Xian had mixed into finally returned to Qingzhou covered in dust. Calculating the time, this merchant group had traveled very quickly. The path the merchant group took on their return journey was not the same as the path Fan Xian had taken. On the contrary, they had missed the soul-stirring chase.
Seeing this group of merchants return safely, Fan Xian's mood relaxed slightly. He had been worried that because of the Overwatch Council's actions, these merchants from the Central Plain would become the target of the Hu people's revenge. Unexpectedly, the Hu people, under their rage, were still able to resist attacking the merchant group. It looked like Haitang's teachings these two years on the grasslands and the Chief's decisions about the future had already affected many people.
Soon after, a lonely shepherd who had lost his cows and sheep and was unable to continue living on the grasslands also entered the city of Qingzhou. However, no one knew that in this half a year, this lonely shepherd was playing the role of a mute servant who was used to hunching his body.
The Shadow had also returned safely. Fan Xian's heart relaxed a great deal. However, there was still no news from Thirteenth Wang. He didn't know what his situation was, which worried him greatly. Although the Overwatch Council was used to using sinister methods to deal with all enemies, any method needed a powerful executor.
Fan Xian himself was a powerful ace. He also had the Shadow as his subordinates. If it weren't for these terrifying generals, even if he had lured Haitang and the Chief away, he would not have been able to achieve the Overwatch Council's goal.
The Northern Qi people in the court would be dealt with by the Shadow. The Left Virtuous Prince, who had to die, needed another powerful warrior. Fan Xian had always been troubled by this. There were only a dozen top aces in the world. It was not until a long time later that he sent a probing invitation to Thirteenth Wang through Baoyue Brothel.
After the Dong Mountain incident, Thirteenth Wang had been serving the heavily injured and dying Sigu Jian in the Sword Hut in Dongyi. However, Sigu Jian miraculously dragged on and did not die, so Thirteenth Wang never appeared in front of people again. Although Fan Xian and Thirteenth Wang had an agreement two years ago, he didn't know if it was still in effect. Thus, this invitation was only a test.
Thirteenth Wang did not reply to a single word of this invitation. He directly left Dongyi and came to Jingdou to find Fan Xian.
Fan Xian, the Shadow, and Thirteenth Wang, the three aces went deep into the grasslands. They each had their own duties. In terms of the execution power represented by top aces, the present Overwatch Council was even more terrifying than when Chen Pingping was in power.
It was because of Thirteenth Wang's arrival that Fan Xian made up his mind to enter the grasslands. Because this person's identity was too special, Fan Xian didn't want the Palace to be too suspicious of him. Thus, he purposely hid his identity along the way. He only brought him into the merchant group and then separated.
He still didn't understand why Thirteenth Wang was still willing to continue the previous agreement after Sigu Jian had been beaten into a cripple by the Emperor. He didn't have time to think about this. He only hoped that Thirteenth Wang would be able to return safely after assassinating the Western Hu Zuoxian Queen.
After a few days, Fan Xian finally received the news he had been waiting for. More accurately speaking, everyone knew of Thirteenth Wang's return. Unlike the Shadow's quiet return, the return of this thirteenth disciple of the Sword Hut startled the entire Qingzhou.
That day, the scorching sun hung high in the sky, shining down on Qingzhou City, causing the biting cold autumn wind to completely lose its temper. The green bricks at the city gates seemed to be about to emit smoke, and just like that, a bloody man walked through the city gates of Qingzhou City.
The soldiers of Qingzhou looked warily at the bloody man. Holding long spears in their hands, they surrounded him. Enveloped by the coldness and murderous intent emanating from the bloody man's body, fear grew in their hearts.
The man wore a Hu people's fur jacket. If the leather jacket with more than 30 cuts could still be considered a leather jacket, endless amounts of fresh blood seeped out of the holes in the leather jacket. It solidified, spread, and covered his entire body.
No one knew how long the bloody man had walked on the grasslands. The bloody wounds had already begun to fester. Flies and mosquitoes danced around his body. It looked strangely wretched.
The Qingzhou guards didn't know who this person was. They only knew that for him to be able to walk out of the grasslands with such heavy injuries, he was certainly no ordinary person.
The man opened his eyes. His lips were covered in bloody blisters. To the soldiers surrounding him, he said, "Tell Fan Xian that I have done what I promised him."
Receiving the news, Fan Xian rushed over and supported him. Looking at the wounds on his body, his heart was filled with a chill. He was responsible for luring out the Chief and Haitang for the operation on the grasslands. In the end, Haitang would not kill him. Furthermore, the Shadow had acted silently and did not take much risk. The truly difficult part was Thirteenth Wang assassinating the Left Virtuous Prince.
Fan Xian didn't know how Thirteenth Wang had killed the powerful Left Virtuous Prince in the endless Hu camp. He only knew that what he had promised him had been completed perfectly.
He carried the unconscious Thirteenth Wang back to the military yamen. With a silent expression, he began to treat this fierce warrior. Ye Ling 'er handed him needles and knives behind him. Her face was full of shock and curiosity. She wondered who this Overwatch Council official who had been cut more than 30 times was. How could he survive like this?
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