"Young Master, someone from the Northern King's Mansion has delivered a letter for you."
Yan Jin Chao said faintly, "Just put it on the table!"
"Young Master, that person named Xiao Huan insisted that you open it personally."
Yan Jin Chao frowned, "Xiao Huan?"
The servant quickly explained, "Young Master, have you forgotten? She's Miss Jiang's personal maid, Xiao Huan."
Yan Jin Chao finally remembered and asked faintly, "Does she need something from me?"
The servant was taken aback, thinking to himself that it was true, the Young Master only cared about things related to Miss A Ning.
"Xiao Huan brought a letter, saying that Miss Jiang Yu Li instructed that you must open it personally."
"I understand," Yan Jin Chao said slowly.
The servant wondered, "Young Master, are you going to open it or not?"
Ultimately, he lacked the courage to ask and turned to leave the room. Just outside the door, he encountered Miss A Ning who was looking for the Young Master.
"Miss A Ning..." the servant said respectfully.
"Is the Young Master inside?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
The servant nodded, "The Young Master is inside."
Xue Zi Ning walked into the room and saw Yan Jin Chao standing there, holding a letter. She walked up and asked, "Is the Young Master busy?"
Yan Jin Chao handed her the letter and said, "Take a look."
Xue Zi Ning was startled. Upon seeing the contents of the letter, her expression gradually grew solemn.
Second Master Feng?
After finally killing Master Feng, another Second Master Feng has appeared?
They are truly endless.
"The Feng Yin clan has been hidden from the world for hundreds of years, and now they re-emerge simply because of the Northern King?"
Hearing Yan Jin Chao's words, Xue Zi Ning's expression turned cold, "I do not know."
When she was young, she had heard her father talk about the Feng Yin clan. They were a mysterious group. Back then, they were almost wiped out by the royal army. It was her great-grandfather, who was the Crown Prince at the time, who secretly rescued them.
In return for the great-grandfather's kindness, the patriarch of the Feng Yin clan vowed to be loyal to the Xue family's royal lineage for all eternity.
Nearly a hundred years had passed, and the Feng Yin clan had never broken their oath.
Were they now going to break their vow?
"A Ning, what are you thinking about?" Yan Jin Chao asked.
Xue Zi Ning looked up at Yan Jin Chao and said, "I want to go to the Feng Yin clan."
Yan Jin Chao was slightly taken aback, "At this time?"
"Yes, I suspect the Feng Yin clan has colluded with the Northern King. I must go personally to confirm. If it's true..."
Xue Zi Ning lowered her gaze, and after a long pause, slowly raised her head. "Then they no longer have a reason to exist."
If they cannot continue to serve the royal family and are allowed to roam the martial world, the world will surely fall into chaos.
This was precisely why they were targeted for annihilation by the royal family back then. They thought they had seen through the ways of the world, but after a century, someone is stirring, wanting to disrupt the entire realm.
"I'll go with you," Yan Jin Chao suddenly said.
Xue Zi Ning was taken aback and said, "Do you know what it means to accompany me?"
"I know." Yan Jin Chao knew that at no other moment had he made a decision so swiftly. He knew that if he didn't go, he would regret it the most.
"Even so, you will still go?" Xue Zi Ning asked again.
Yan Jin Chao nodded, "Yes, my decision will not change."
"Good, I will make preparations. We depart tomorrow," Xue Zi Ning said and left the room.
Xue Zi Ning informed Wen Yu Xi and the others about her intention to visit the Feng Yin clan.
Upon hearing that Yan Jin Chao would also be accompanying her, surprisingly, no one objected.
Xue Zi Ning asked, "None of you object?"
Wen Yu Xi replied, "With Yan Jin Chao there, he will protect you. Why should we object?"
Xue Zi Ning looked at Xue Zi Xuan. Xue Zi Xuan said, "Young Master Yan is highly skilled in martial arts. Sister, you will be safe."
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "You are not wrong about that, but when did you all come to trust him so much?"
Wen Yu Xi smiled and said, "Doesn't His Majesty trust Young Master Yan even more?"
Xue Zi Ning looked at Wen Yu Xi and said, "We leave tomorrow. Shen Yun Xuan should reach the Northern Frontier City in about five days. You will discuss the subsequent matters with Shen Yun Xuan. I hope that by the time I return, the Northern Frontier City will be peaceful."
Wen Yu Xi heard this and knelt on one knee, "Your subject will not fail His Majesty's trust."
Xue Zi Ning stepped forward and helped Wen Yu Xi up, saying, "Get up quickly."
After helping Wen Yu Xi up, she looked at Xue Zi Xuan and said, "When I return, I will take you back to the capital."
Xue Zi Ning smiled and nodded, "Okay, I will wait for Sister to return."
The next day.
Early in the morning, Xue Zi Ning sat in the carriage heading towards the Feng Yin clan. Yan Jin Chao was not present; this was to avoid attracting attention.
Along the way, Xue Zi Ning presented herself as a young nobleman traveling for sightseeing. The person driving the carriage was someone she had found in the Northern Frontier City.
His name was Xiao Wu. It was said that he had traveled extensively with merchants and was known in various regions.
Their destination was Dazhou, the closest place to the Feng Yin clan.
Dazhou was located at the southernmost tip of the former Desolate Marsh. It was perpetually swept by sandstorms, and even seasoned merchants could not guarantee a safe passage every time.
It had become a desolate path for merchants. Once they encountered a sandstorm, losing goods was a minor issue; losing their lives was also common.
At a location closest to Dazhou, Xue Zi Ning settled down. She intended to wait here for Yan Jin Chao to catch up.
Due to the sandstorms from Dazhou, the sun was rarely seen here, resulting in scarce farmland. This area was a hub for traveling merchants.
Looking at the food on the table, Xue Zi Ning was somewhat speechless. She had already eaten sweet potatoes for several meals, and to her surprise, the inn offered the same.
She decided to explore for other food after leaving the inn. There weren't many pedestrians on the road. She finally found a vendor selling steamed buns. After buying two, she took a bite only to find they were filled with sweet potato.
She lost the desire to continue exploring and returned to the inn, where she discovered a roasted duck on the table.
Although she had enjoyed many delicacies before, she had never looked at a duck with such longing as she did today.
Xue Zi Ning felt rather pathetic, but since the duck was in her room, she assumed it belonged to her.
Before she could touch the duck, she felt a shadow flash before her eyes. Looking at the table, the duck was nowhere to be seen.
Xue Zi Ning's face paled in shock. Where was her duck?
She held her breath, sensing if anyone else was in the room besides her. Feeling a faint presence, she leaped towards the roof beams.
As expected, she saw a person there, stuffing her duck into their mouth.
"Let go of my duck!" Xue Zi Ning roared.
"Does your name have to be written on the duck for it to be yours?"
"The duck doesn't have your name on it either, so why are you taking it?" Xue Zi Ning reached out to snatch it.
The other party retreated, preventing her from touching the duck.
However, the other party soon regretted it, because Xue Zi Ning's target was not the duck at all, but the face behind the veil.