Dongping Town, as Zhuge Yabie introduced from the car, was a frontier town of the Eastern Domain Great Camp, and also a strategic outpost. Driving further in for an hour and a half would lead to the Eastern Domain's central military hub, the Great Headquarters.
Dongping Town was not large in area, but due to its status as a frontier stronghold, its strategic importance was considerable. Thus, it was built in a well-established manner. Limited by the terrain, the entire town presented a southwest-northeast orientation.
If viewed from above, Dongping Town resembled a centipede lying on the ground.
In the afternoon, Xiao Yunlong and his party arrived at Dongping Town. After eating and resting there, they would proceed to the Eastern Domain Great Headquarters.
However, what Xiao Yunlong found strange was that while there were many soldiers from the Eastern Domain Great Camp coming and going in the town, there were also a considerable number of Ronin samurai from Fusang.
Many Ronin samurai, with their swords at their waists, walked swaggeringly down the streets in groups. Occasionally, they would whistle and tease women on the street who were dressed more revealingly and had attractive figures. Even on the way to the restaurant, Xiao Yunlong witnessed an incident of Fusang Ronin samurai engaging in a sword fight.
However, since it was a confrontation between Fusang Ronin samurai and did not harm the local residents of the town, Xiao Yunlong was too lazy to pay much attention.
Nevertheless, the phenomenon in the town still made him feel that something was not right. Logically, such a frontier stronghold of the Eastern Domain Great Camp should not have so many Fusang Ronin, and this town seemed to have quite a few idle martial artists as well.
As the saying goes, "With martial prowess, one defies prohibitions." Even without detailed investigation, from what Xiao Yunlong had seen along the way, he could infer that this town was not peaceful; in fact, it could be described as rather chaotic and corrupt.
After entering the private room of the restaurant, Xiao Yunlong could no longer hold back. He turned and asked Zhuge Yabie, who was seated below him, "Why are there so many martial artists, and even so many Fusang Ronin samurai, in such a frontier stronghold?"
Zhuge Wushuang also expressed his dissatisfaction, "If I didn't know beforehand that this was a frontier stronghold of the Eastern Domain Great Camp, I would have thought it was a small town at the foot of a mountain belonging to some ancient martial arts sect in the Western Domain. This place is too chaotic and messy, with all sorts of people from all walks of life. It's simply outrageous!"
Zhuge Yabie hesitated slightly before finally saying, "Reporting to His Highness the Northern King, I am not aware of the specific reasons why there are so many Fusang Ronin samurai and martial artists from all walks of life in the town. After all, I am only a commander of the Eastern Domain Great Camp, and an marginalized one at that. However..."
"However, what?" Xiao Yunlong asked coldly.
"However, according to what I've heard before, this matter seems to be related to the Grand Commander," Zhuge Yabie said.
"Related to the Grand Commander of the Eastern Domain?" Xiao Yunlong raised his eyebrows.
"Yes, Your Highness the Northern King, but I don't know the specifics of the matter," Zhuge Yabie said with an apologetic smile.
Xiao Yunlong did not ask further, as he could tell that the other party truly did not know.
At this point, the group began to eat. After a short rest, they got back into the car and headed southwest. However, the road beyond Dongping Town was clearly different. There were heavy checkpoints, and while not every ten steps had a checkpoint, there was at least one every kilometer.
Moreover, there was only one road leading into the mountains. Any vehicle had to pass through this road. Fortunately, Zhuge Yabie was a commander of the Eastern Domain Great Camp, and with his commander's order, the soldiers at the checkpoints naturally did not make things difficult and let them pass directly.
However, because the road into the mountains was not very good and wound around many turns, it was not until it was completely dark that they still had not reached the legendary Eastern Domain Great Headquarters.
Although he was the King of the Northern Territory, this was Xiao Yunlong's first time visiting the Eastern Domain Great Headquarters, so he couldn't help but feel a bit curious.
Suddenly, after the car turned a corner, the scene ahead opened up. Ahead was a vast and open valley. The lights in the valley were like scattered stars, and the streets were like rainbows, appearing truly grand and spectacular.
Even the mountainside was adorned with various dazzling and bright lights, suggesting that there were many magnificent buildings on the mountainside as well.
The valley was very large, extending inwards like a jade belt floating on the ground. The building complex covered almost the entire vast valley, and from the entrance, one could not see the end. One did not know how large this prosperous city was!
"How spectacular! Is this the Eastern Domain Great Headquarters?"
The people in the car couldn't help but exclaim with admiration upon seeing the scene before them. Compared to this, the Northern Territory Great Headquarters seemed much more shabby and even desolate.
"Yes, this is the Eastern Domain Great Headquarters. To call it a military camp is an understatement; it's more like a city in a valley. Of course, beyond the pass in the distance, that is a restricted area. Even I, as a commander, cannot enter without the King's order from the Eastern Domain or the Grand Commander's token, otherwise, death is the penalty!"
Zhuge Yabie pointed towards the hazy pass ahead, which resembled a gourd's mouth.
Zhuge Wushuang smiled and said, "Of course, every military camp has its secrets and restricted areas."
Zhuge Yabie turned to look at Xiao Yunlong and said loudly, "Your Highness the Northern King, and all the generals of the Northern Territory, welcome to our Eastern Domain Great Headquarters!"
Xiao Yunlong immediately waved his hand, "Let's go, you lead the way!"
Then, the group drove past the last checkpoint and officially entered the Eastern Domain Great Headquarters.
The mountain breeze in the evening was already slightly cool. After parking the car, Zhuge Yabie couldn't help but ask again, "Your Highness the Northern King, do you really not need to notify the King of the Eastern Domain or the Grand Commander? You know your status is extraordinary. By rights, my level is not enough; at least the Grand Commander should come out to greet you!"
Xiao Yunlong waved his hand and smiled, "My status is extraordinary, but my current status is also quite awkward and sensitive. For now, do not notify the King of the Eastern Domain, nor tell the Grand Commander. Treat us as your friends."
Zhuge Yabie did not know what His Highness the Northern King's intentions were for visiting the Eastern Domain this time, but he was not foolish enough to ask directly. He nodded and said, "Alright then, I will host you with the highest specifications I can manage, as a welcome reception!"
"You fellow, the master has spoken, so you don't need to be so fussy. Just do as you see fit, and hurry up and prepare a good meal. I've been traveling all day, and my stomach is rumbling," the burly Tu Fu grumbled. This guy was large, so his appetite was naturally not small.
Zhuge Yabie said with a hint of annoyance, "Didn't we just eat at the restaurant in Dongping Town this afternoon?"
"That can hardly be called eating; at best, it was just to fill our stomachs!" Tu Fu retorted equally annoyed.
"Alright, I know what to do. I was originally planning to go to the restaurants in the living area, but it seems I have to go to the grand hotel in the encampment area!"
Zhuge Yabie shook his head, thinking that this extraordinary reception banquet would likely have to be paid out of his own pocket. Since Xiao Yunlong's identity was not to be disclosed for the time being, the extraordinary reception could not be reimbursed.
Then, the group arrived at the Eastern Domain Great Headquarters Hotel. It was evident that this hotel was almost the best hotel in the entire Eastern Domain Great Headquarters. Although there were many restaurants in the living area, their scale and level could not compare to this hotel named after the Eastern Domain.
The entire hotel could even be described as magnificent, like a palace. However, standing in the encampment area of the Eastern Domain Great Headquarters, it seemed somewhat out of place, even extravagant.
Zhuge Yabie did not book the highest-spec "Heavenly" private room, as this room was only for important officials from the capital or kings from other territories. He chose a mid-to-upper-level private room, which had a very quiet and elegant environment.
Perhaps because this was the encampment area and it was evening, there were no guests in the entire grand hotel, making it appear too quiet.
However, just as the dishes in the private room were being served and everyone was about to start eating, the outside gradually became lively, even boisterous.
Xiao Yunlong frowned but said nothing. However, the noise grew louder and louder, and even heavy metal DJ music was played openly outside. It sounded like a large gathering or party was being held in the dining hall.
"Damn it, it's so noisy! What the hell is going on outside!" The hot-tempered Tu Fu couldn't take it anymore and slammed his chopsticks on the table.
"Please, everyone, remain calm. I'll go out and see what's happening and ask them to quiet down!"
Zhuge Yabie finished speaking, got up, opened the door, and walked out.
The moment he opened the door, the noise from the dining hall outside was like thunder, almost as if it would blow up the entire Eastern Domain Grand Hotel.
Xiao Yunlong also lost his appetite and put down his chopsticks to wait.
Soon, Zhuge Yabie returned, but with a dejected expression.
"Uncle Yabie, what exactly is the situation outside? Didn't you stop them just now? Why is it still so noisy?" Zhuge Wushuang asked.
Zhuge Yabie returned with a look of helplessness and sighed, "I'm ashamed to say, it's not that I didn't try to stop them, but I don't have the ability, or rather, the authority."
Tu Fu's eyes widened as he shouted, "Not enough authority? What a joke! You are, after all, a commander of the Eastern Domain Great Camp. In just this hotel, dare they not listen to you?"
Zhuge Yabie shook his head and said with a bitter smile, "The people having a birthday party outside are basically the second-generation rich of the Eastern Domain Great Camp. They wouldn't pay any attention to a marginalized commander like me."
"Damn it, so it's these scoundrels making a racket outside. No wonder you can't control them!" Tu Fu snorted coldly.
Zhuge Wushuang, however, snorted coldly, "This is the encampment area, and this hotel has always only served guests on official business. For these spoiled second-generation rich of the Eastern Domain Great Camp to have a birthday party banquet here, what kind of behavior is this?"
Zhuge Yabie remained silent. In fact, such things were commonplace in the Eastern Domain Great Camp.
Xiao Yunlong's expression darkened. He waved his hand and said, "Zhuge Yabie, go out again and tell them to end the banquet noise immediately. If they want to have a birthday party, they should go to the venues in the living area!"
Zhuge Yabie had no choice but to brace himself and push open the door again.
However, he returned soon after, but this time Zhuge Yabie walked in with a bruised and swollen face, even with blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. Judging by his appearance, he had tried to persuade them outside, failed, and was beaten up.
"Your Highness the Northern King, I am truly..." Zhuge Yabie hung his head, clearly feeling ashamed.
"These scoundrels have truly gone too far!" Xiao Yunlong was instantly enraged and stood up abruptly, walking towards the exit.