163: Chapter 0163 It's still you who are thick-skinned

Xiao Qingxuan stepped through the snow and, after only a few steps, encountered four hidden guards who came to intercept her.

"Who goes there? Raise your head!!"

Before the hidden guards had even finished speaking, the white snow on the ground suddenly solidified and shot out several shards of ice!

The ice shards were like knives, slicing directly through their throats!

The four of them fell, filled with resentment and terror, not even knowing how they had died!

Xiao Qingxuan took a deep breath. Although she had ordered the execution of many people before, this was her first time killing in such a manner.

"This Cold Jade Art is truly formidable. No wonder my husband said it was a secret technique of the Taoist sect; its power rivals that of a Heaven Grade cultivation method..."

Feeling reassured, Xiao Qingxuan walked straight into the large tent.

He Haoan was pouring himself a drink at that moment; after all, his dream of "warming wine to behead the Mu woman" had been shattered, so he had no choice but to "get drunk alone"!

Seeing the woman in the black cloak suddenly appear, He Haoan was startled.

But when he saw Xiao Qingxuan's face clearly, he felt she was an otherworldly beauty and was momentarily stunned.

"Beauty... who are you..."

Upon hearing this form of address, Xiao Qingxuan's eyes turned icy and filled with rage. No one had the right to flirt with her except for Lin Xiao!

With a flip of her slender hand, the overbearing and icy Cold Jade True Qi raged wildly!

Outside the large tent, a thousand piles of snow swirled up, transforming into a tornado that tore the entire tent to shreds!!

Accompanied by screams, a moment later, both inside and outside the tent, He Haoan and the dozen or so hidden guards who had rushed to protect him had their bodies pierced by ice and snow.

Amidst the ruins of ice and snow, patches of crimson were stained...

Outside the city gate.

More than half an hour had passed.

After Mu Wanying killed Master Gao Jinyi, she had expected a great battle to follow, but it did not happen.

Seeing that she had almost finished her pot of wine, the woman felt bored; these garrison troops were too cowardly.

Just as she was feeling bored, Mu Wanying noticed that Lin Xiao had disappeared?

Only a red ribbon was tied under a tree.

"Red?"

Mu Wanying recalled the code they had agreed upon before coming.

White meant retreat, black meant direct assault...

Red should mean for her to proceed according to the plan.

Mu Wanying exhaled a puff of white mist and took another pot of wine from her saddlebag.

"Then I shall drink a little more..."

On the city walls, a group of garrison soldiers looked at the female general, who finished one pot of wine only to start another, with expressions of awe!

She truly didn't take their thousands of garrison troops seriously at all!

Meanwhile, Prefect Sun Zhao was sitting in his carriage, calculating what he should do if Mu Wanying attacked the city later.

If he had guessed wrong and Lin Xiao hadn't come, and it really was just Mu Wanying alone, then it might not be impossible to fight...

Even a Martial Arts Grandmaster has a moment of exhaustion.

The key was that the fates of the prefects of Baishui, Wu Mountain, and Lincang had been too miserable.

Even if he opened the city gates to welcome the Zhenbei Army, could his life be saved?

Prefect Sun Zhao considered himself not a corrupt official, but he hadn't done anything to recklessly slaughter people either. If he were beheaded by the Zhenbei Army, what would happen to his family?

Just as he was suffering, he heard the horses startled and neighing a few times.

"What is going on?"

Prefect Sun Zhao had just lifted the curtain when he saw the driver in front with a look of terror.

A man in black turned his head, looking at Prefect Sun Zhao with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"Prefect Sun Zhao, shall we chat?"

Although it was their first meeting, Prefect Sun Zhao's almost immediate reaction was to guess the man's identity!

"General... Lin Xiao?"

Lin Xiao nodded. "Good eye."

Seeing that the garrison had not launched an attack, Lin Xiao knew that it was highly likely that Prefect Sun Zhao had stopped them.

There were only two possibilities for this:

One, Prefect Sun Zhao was preparing for battle, intending to give Mu Wanying a head-on blow.

Two, Prefect Sun Zhao did not want to fight and was not a die-hard loyalist of Prince Bai's faction.

Regardless of which it was, at least Mu Wanying was safe for now.

Therefore, Lin Xiao intended to find Prefect Sun Zhao directly.

It was freezing outside and there were few people, so finding the prefect's carriage was naturally not difficult for him.

[Prefect Sun Zhao, 55 years old, Prefect of Qinshui Prefecture, Aptitude: yellow grade]

[Trait: Social Climber (Special), Water Management, Commerce]

As expected!

This old guy was a typical fence-sitter and couldn't be considered loyal to anyone.

Moreover, Prefect Sun Zhao was nearly sixty years old and would be retiring in a few years, so he certainly wouldn't want to get involved in too much trouble.

"Lin Xiao truly has extraordinary insight. In the vast city of Qinshui, you were able to find this humble official so quickly."

Prefect Sun Zhao muttered to himself, his carriage had no special markings, so how had he been caught?

Could it be that there were Zhenbei Army spies hidden around him?

It was too terrifying!

"Prefect Sun Zhao, a straightforward person doesn't speak in riddles. I have come to ask you one thing... will you surrender?"

Lin Xiao was direct; there was no need to beat around the bush with an old fox like Prefect Sun Zhao.

Prefect Sun Zhao smiled bitterly, thinking that young people were just too hot-headed and didn't leave any room for negotiation.

"Lin Xiao, with your skills, killing me would be as easy as crushing an ant."

"How would this humble official dare to be so ignorant as to make an enemy of your Zhenbei Army?"

Prefect Sun Zhao sighed: "To tell you the truth, although I am just a minor prefect, I was a jinshi scholar during the time of the previous emperor, a student of the Son of Heaven. How could I truly defect to treacherous rebels like Prince Bai?"

Lin Xiao smiled. This old Sun, still trying to gild his own lily?

He didn't expose him, but went along with it: "Prefect Sun Zhao, the Zhenbei Army is the orthodoxy of the Great Gan. Joining me is truly a wise move!"

"How about this: as long as you agree to three things, not only will I not kill you, but this position of prefect will still be yours to hold!"

Prefect Sun Zhao was overjoyed; he had never expected to be able to keep his official hat.

"Lin Xiao, please speak!"

Lin Xiao said loudly: "First, hand over the military tally and open the city gates. I want the entire garrison to line up to welcome Mu Wanying into the city!"

"That is only natural!"

Prefect Sun Zhao thought to himself, those brats are dying to surrender! Who wants to throw their life away?

"Second, open the floodgates immediately and let all cargo ships reach Lincang as soon as possible! There must not be any further delay!"

Prefect Sun Zhao nodded repeatedly: "It should be so! I have long been unable to stand those parasites in the water transport!"

"The third point: I ask that you personally write a proclamation denouncing Prince Bai, announcing the crimes of Prince Bai, the Earl of Anyang, and others to the world!"

"You must make it clear that the interception of the Cang River cargo ships was entirely the doing of Prince Bai and his cohorts, and that their crimes are heinous!"

"Give full credit to my Zhenbei Army for restoring order and turning the tide, and to the descendant of the Mu Family for single-handedly saving Qinshui, rescuing the thousands of people of the Cang River from fire and water!"

Prefect Sun Zhao opened his mouth wide, looking dumbfounded!

No wonder you, Lin Xiao, rise through the ranks so quickly; you are truly the thickest-skinned!!

"Lin Xiao, if this proclamation is issued... I fear my whole family will not have long to live..."

Prefect Sun Zhao wasn't afraid of anything else, just assassination.

After all, Prince Bai had the dark history of the Faceless Boy, and everyone was afraid.

Lin Xiao smiled and reached out to pat the old man's shoulder.

"Prefect Sun Zhao, you don't think I'm negotiating with you, do you?"

Prefect Sun Zhao shuddered all over, only then realizing that he had no choice at all.

"This humble official would not dare. Although my position is low and I am of little importance, to repay the imperial grace, I am willing to join you, General... in restoring the nation!"