Chapter 997: Chapter 993: A Hidden Threat
"Cough, cough, cough..." Yun Poxing coughed incessantly in agitation, "Such sharp methods, may turn against us in the future! Cough, cough, cough!"
"My Great General!" The Empress of Xiliang turned to look at Yun Poxing, her voice indifferent, her eyebrows deep and solemn, with desolation in her eyes, "If this continues, will Xiliang still have a future? As long as Xiliang can survive, no matter how it turns against us, even if it sends me to hell... I would have lived up to the subjects of Xiliang, lived up to my father, lived up to my ancestors!"
The Empress of Xiliang no longer hesitated and ordered all the Taiyi from the Imperial Medical Bureau to head to Shouan Palace, as the Empress Dowager’s health was in dire condition... summoning the Zhai family, one of the Eight Great Families from the Empress Dowager’s maternal family, to the palace quickly.
The Empress of Xiliang knew if the Empress Dowager was indeed failing, with the Zhai family members entering the palace, the Eight Great Families surely wouldn’t be able to sit still and follow to visit.
She had already ordered that the news of Princess Pingyang’s capture must not spread outside, and as long as members of the Eight Great Families entered the palace... they shouldn’t think of leaving.
Yun Poxing remained silent, never had he been so terrified before...
The current turbulent Xiliang, with its capital Yunjing, was brewing a new storm, as the Empress, who strived to implement new governance for several years, finally decided to deal with the internal threat.
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Yun Lingzhi, the second son of Yun Poxing, received orders from the palace to escort Xiao Ruohai and his people on horseback to the Huoyun Army camp.
Yun Lingzhi guessed his father dared to let him lead the Zhou envoy and his people to the Huoyun Army camp because preparations were already made; he just needed to stall a bit, leading them around to buy time for the camp to move Yun Lan.
The Bai family guards accompanying Xiao Ruohai were once brothers who retired from the Huying Camp after being injured. As long as they walked through the Huoyun Army, they would surely be recognized by the Bai family army.
After all, the Huying Camp is the fierce arrow of the Bai family army, and there are only so many of them...
If the Bai family’s Young General trained the Huying Camp, there would be no doubt that they would recognize each other.
Xiao Ruohai led his men on horseback with Yun Lingzhi heading towards the Huoyun Army camp. At the fork of the mountain path, seeing Yun Lingzhi seemingly wanting to take a detour, Xiao Ruohai reined in his horse.
Yun Lingzhi turned his horse around, smilingly cupping his hands towards Xiao Ruohai: "Sir, are you perhaps tired and wish to rest?"
"Not truly tired..." Xiao Ruohai’s lips curled into a faint smile, pointing to the rightmost path with an ebony whip, "Mr. Yun seems to have taken the wrong path; this side should be closer."
Alarm bells rang in Yun Lingzhi’s heart, as he only received his father’s order to take the Zhou envoy and his people to the Huoyun Army camp, unaware that... the Zhou people had already figured out the camp’s location.
A dull thud echoed in Yun Lingzhi’s heart as he speculated whether the Zhou people had also discovered Yun Lan’s identity.
His original plan was to lead the Zhou people to the most treacherous path, so if one or two of the Zhou envoys happened to fall to their death, there would be fewer people to find someone at the Huoyun Army camp. At night... it would be even harder to find any trace, but unexpectedly, the Zhou people actually knew the way, causing some panic in his heart.
The current Xiliang cannot afford to offend Zhou. If the Zhou people already knew the location of the Huoyun Army camp and Yun Lan’s identity, would not finding Yun Lan today bring trouble to Xiliang?!
Yun Lingzhi was deeply worried, but his face didn’t show it, smiling as he said: "Though this path is closer, it’s rugged with one side being a cliff; it’s rather dangerous. However, this side might take a slightly longer route... it’s somewhat smoother! It’s my fault for not explaining this earlier, but by your consideration, which path seems suitable?"
Xiao Ruohai had achieved his purpose in probing Yun Lingzhi and hence did not insist, saying: "Then let’s follow your lead, Mr. Yun, please guide the way!"
Yun Lingzhi smiled in response, pulling the reins and turning his horse to lead in the front, while his hand, gripping the rein, was sweaty.
Entering the narrow path lined with tall trees, dense green intertwining vines blocked out the sky, as if there was no end, with occasional speckles of golden light penetrating through, casting mottled patches amidst the dim, chill path.
Following Yun Lingzhi at a gallop, the entrance of the path loomed ahead, and Yun Lingzhi’s horse slowed down.
Emerging from the forest path, the golden light was blinding, making it hard to keep eyes open. The verdant forest path lay behind, with the road ahead narrowing... terrifyingly rugged, and the horses walked cautiously, slipping now and then, sending loose stones skittering down the cliff, eerily alarming.
Xiao Ruohai looked at Yun Lingzhi’s back before casting his gaze around, observing the surroundings once more. This mountain, with its steep cliffs, indeed served as a good training ground for the Huying Camp.
Silently, he mapped out Luoxia Mountain in his mind, in case of a future conflict with Xiliang, knowing it would surely be useful, no... it would definitely be useful.
After treading along this cliff for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the narrow path gradually widened, and both horses and men were soaked with sweat, scorched by the fiery sun, parched.
The group reached the wide path, surprisingly no one from Zhou fell, which was beyond Yun Lingzhi’s expectations. To gain time, he slowed down and rode alongside Xiao Ruohai: "Sir, shall we rest a bit?"
"Better hurry to the Huoyun Army camp! If you’re tired, Mr. Yun... you may rest here." Xiao Ruohai had grasped the terrain, "I also know the way, Mr. Yun, just leave the token with the men below, and we can proceed."
Yun Lingzhi merely smiled: "Not at all, I was fearing the Zhou gentlemen may be tired. Since you’re not tired, let’s quicken the pace, and strive to arrive before sunset."
"Please..." Xiao Ruohai made a gesture of invitation.
Yun Lingzhi had no choice but to lead the way, and before long... the hidden Huoyun Army sentry blocked Yun Lingzhi’s path, but with the token, the group was allowed to pass.
In total, there were six sentry points set up along the way. After passing the sixth, they finally heard the training shouts from the military camp.
Descending a dense forest slope, the camp abruptly appeared before them. Xiao Ruohai saw the camp facing the cliff, bathed in the sunset glow, turned a fiery red, like flames burning. Hundreds of soldiers, descending using ropes from the cliff, tightly packed. One group charging down, followed immediately by the second, swooping down like eagles hunting prey, wildly impressive.
This... was undoubtedly the Huying Camp of the Bai family!
"Sir Xiao!" The Bai family guard, formerly from the Huying Camp, pulled the reins forward, blood boiling, staring at Xiao Ruohai, eager to rush in and see if any of their generals from Huying Camp were still alive!
"May I know, which general is training this Huoyun Army... and what is their name?"