169: Chapter 0169 Shrimp and Pork Heart

Hua Nongying circled the city and entered a quiet little courtyard.

A woman and the girl from earlier were already waiting.

"Subordinate Hua Nongying pays respects to the Pavilion Master!"

Hua Nongying went up and bowed, saying with relief, "Seeing that you are safe and sound, Pavilion Master, I can finally rest easy."

Shu Yelan, in disguise, smiled. "I just arrived in the city and heard that your Zuihua Pavilion was sealed by Lin Xiao?"

"I am incompetent; it is true..." Hua Nongying looked anxious.

"This cannot be blamed on you. Even the Third Master was no match for Lin Xiao."

Shu Yelan smiled. "Don't worry. There is plenty of time. I will make Lin Xiao pay this debt back!"

Hua Nongying's expression became conflicted upon hearing this. She whispered, "Pavilion Master... if I may be so bold, could you please show mercy and not make an enemy of Lin Xiao?"

"Although the Seventh Pavilion's stronghold is gone, most of our sisters are still here. Lin Xiao is highly skilled in martial arts and enjoys high prestige among the people. Why must you oppose him?"

Shu Yelan snorted coldly. "You want to defect to Lin Xiao and betray Yanyu Pavilion, don't you?"

"I would not dare!"

Hua Nongying fell to her knees. "My survival and the skills I have learned are all due to your cultivation, Pavilion Master!"

"It is just that Yanyu Pavilion has fallen apart, and there is really no need for us to provoke such a formidable enemy. I implore you to reconsider..."

Shu Yelan asked coldly, "Then if I insist that you kill Lin Xiao, will you obey?"

Hua Nongying's delicate body trembled. Her eyes reddened, and she bit her lip.

"You have shown me great kindness, Pavilion Master. I am willing to repay you with my life!"

"Heh..."

Shu Yelan shook her head and sighed. "In the end, you would rather die than go."

Hua Nongying laughed at herself. "You misunderstand me, Pavilion Master. I simply know my own limits. Killing Lin Xiao... there is no hope."

"Rather than angering Lin Xiao and implicating my sisters, it would be better for me to simply die."

Shu Yelan raised a hand. "Get up. Don't worry, I have no intention of letting you kill Lin Xiao. I even owe him my life..."

"Ah?"

Hua Nongying's eyes were still teary, and she froze again.

"It was Lin Xiao who saved the Pavilion Master," Liu Hanyi said from the side.

Hua Nongying felt a complex mix of emotions—surprise, joy, and lingering fear!

So, Shu Yelan had no intention of opposing Lin Xiao at all; she was just testing her loyalty!

"Nongying, I intend to reorganize Yanyu Pavilion. Now that Zuihua Pavilion is gone, where are your people?" Shu Yelan asked.

Hua Nongying said solemnly, "They have all been settled in Xinghua Village."

"Xinghua Village? Is that where you train the new recruits?"

"Yes. Lin Xiao wanted us sisters to build a distillery there."

Hua Nongying carefully suggested, "I plan to use the workshop as a front for now. As for the assassin business... we shall plan it slowly."

"Oh? Lin Xiao wants to open a distillery?"

Shu Yelan narrowed her eyes. "The wine you brew is indeed quite good. It shows his keen eye for talent that he was able to find you."

Hua Nongying was delighted. "I was also surprised, but the Northern Trade Alliance is currently gaining momentum, and I believe this is a good opportunity."

Liu Hanyi muttered to herself on the side: Wine? It seems Yu Zecheng also knows how to make wine, and it's very fragrant too.

Strange... why didn't Lin Xiao look for Yu Zecheng instead of Nongying?

Shu Yelan nodded. "Actually, I also have some matters I wish to discuss with him... Do you know when Lin Xiao will return?"

"This..."

Hua Nongying shook her head with a bitter smile. "I only know he went to Qin Water. I do not know when he will return."

At this moment, outside Qin Water city.

General Wu Jinzhe, Qin He, and others arrived at the city gate with their troops.

When they saw Mu Wanying waiting on horseback, along with the old man wearing the prefect's official robes and a large group of officials waiting to welcome them...

The soldiers of the Zhenbei Army all felt as if they were dreaming!

"Mu Wanying, this is..."

General Wu Jinzhe couldn't even bring himself to ask, because it was too bizarre!

"As you can see, Qin Water has surrendered and pledged allegiance to our Zhenbei Army!"

Prefect Sun Zhao hurriedly led a group of officials forward to offer celebratory wine to the officers of the Zhenbei Army.

General Wu Jinzhe and the others looked at each other, their hearts filled with immense shock!

After drinking the wine, Mu Wanying said, "General Wu Jinzhe, lead the entire army into the city for rest as soon as possible. In one hour, assemble at the south pier of Qin Water!"

"The pier? Are we taking a boat back to Lincang?" General Wu Jinzhe asked.

"Back? Back to where?"

Mu Wanying smiled proudly. "Follow me directly south to rendezvous with Lin Xiao and head straight for the provincial capital, Yangquan!!"

When the soldiers heard this, they realized that Lin Xiao had actually gone single-handedly to resist the White Kings Army marching north!?

For a moment, everyone was anxious and eager to leave immediately; they had no desire to rest.

However, Mu Wanying told them to calm down; they had to be well-fed and fully prepared before setting off.

Although heading south was downstream, because there were few warships, the five thousand men had to be dispersed among many small cargo ships.

Some soldiers were prone to seasickness, so the preparations could not be sloppy.

An hour later, over a hundred various ships set off from Qin Water, heading straight toward Yangquan.

On the pier, Xiao Qingxuan waved goodbye to Mu Wanying.

Xiao Qingxuan kept Qin He and several personal guards behind, as she also needed her own people to do some things.

"Truly well-trained! Coming and going like the wind; the Zhenbei Army is worthy of its reputation as a force that shakes the world!"

Prefect Sun Zhao was full of admiration and filled with emotion.

When the army passed through the streets, even though they were exhausted, the formation remained very orderly, without a single sound!

The strict discipline of the Zhenbei Army left a deep impression on the people of Qin Water.

"Prefect Sun Zhao, have you finished writing your manifesto against Prince Bai?"

Xiao Qingxuan asked with a smile. "My husband is urging you to finish the draft quickly."

"General's wife, this humble official spent the whole night working without sleep or food and has already written one. Please, have a look!"

Prefect Sun Zhao took out a piece of paper and presented it with both hands, looking very humble.

Xiao Qingxuan took it without ceremony, opened it, and glanced at it, a playful look appearing in her eyes.

"Excellent literary talent; you are indeed a Jinshi graduate..."

"You are too kind, General's wife!" Prefect Sun Zhao was quite proud.

"However... as a manifesto to denounce a traitor, it lacks a bit of ferocity."

Xiao Qingxuan walked over to a nearby office desk at the pier and said, "Prefect Sun Zhao, let me revise a few parts for you. How about you write it out again on the spot?"

"Ah?"

Prefect Sun Zhao felt a bit of disdain in his heart, but on the surface, he was still smiling. "Of course. Please, General's wife, enlighten me!"

He wanted to see just how good a manifesto a young woman could write!

Xiao Qingxuan didn't waste words. After a moment of thought, she spoke effortlessly:

"Heaven's mandate is constant, and the distinction between righteousness and rebellion is clear. The rebel vassal Prince Bai, having received the grace and shade of the royal clan, sits upon his fiefdom, yet harbors the ambitions of a wolf. His crimes are listed in three counts, and I hereby proclaim them to the world..."

"The first is colluding with the enemy and selling out the country. Prince Bai colluded with the Northern Barbarians, bribing them with gold and women, and arranged for them to be internal agents."

"Hu cavalry marched south, border people were slaughtered, families were torn apart, and rivers of blood flowed. Prince Bai hoarded troops for his own protection, watching and refusing to save them. How poisonous his heart is!..."

Writing up to this point, Prefect Sun Zhao's gaze became dull, and cold sweat poured down!

Good heavens! Is this woman from the Imperial Censorate!?

"Prefect Sun Zhao, why have you stopped writing?" Xiao Qingxuan blinked. "Is my wording too mild?"

"No, no, no!"

Prefect Sun Zhao shook his head like a rattle!

My lady Bodhisattva!

This single charge is enough to make Prince Bai infamous for ten thousand generations; what more do you want!?

Prefect Sun Zhao did not dare to look up and continued to copy obediently.

He finally understood; Lin Xiao would at most cut off Prince Bai's head, but this General's wife—she wanted to destroy Prince Bai's heart!