476: Chapter 476 Am I Useful?

Between the vast heaven and earth, the Alimu Mountain range resembled a white snow dragon.

It stretched south from the endless snow-capped mountains, vertically dividing the Northern Barbarians and the Khitan.

Sandao Sea was located at the eastern foot of the mountain range, beyond the ancient glaciers.

The climate here was cold year-round, forage was scarce, and few people ever visited.

With Lin Xiao's help, Tulishen and Gu Zhiyao followed along; in just one day and one night, they covered a distance that would normally take three days.

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"It's just up ahead."

Tulishen pointed toward the massive rocky mountain range in the distance.

"Your Highness, there is a saying on the grasslands: people can lie, but horses cannot."

"The numerous traces of cavalry activity here appeared after Khitan King Yelü Dachuan started the war."

"Furthermore, our people personally saw Khitan King Yelü Dachuan's Golden Wolf Guards appearing in this area."

"Although the Golden Wolf Guards number fewer than a hundred, they are all elites from the White Wolf Cavalry—experts who have fought their way through the battlefield."

Tulishen looked anxious; he didn't know how many troops Khitan King Yelü Dachuan still had with him.

There were only three of them. Even if the Prince of Zhenbei possessed peerless martial arts, fighting in a narrow cave meant the biggest problems weren't skill, but exhaustion and the constant risk of cave-ins.

However, he hoped Lin Xiao could rescue Marshal Suhe, so he didn't dare speak plainly.

"This Prince knows what you're thinking. Once we arrive, I'll charge in alone. You two just wait outside."

Lin Xiao didn't actually care how many elite soldiers and fierce generals Khitan King Yelü Dachuan had with him.

Unless someone from the Heavenly Palace came, army numbers were just a figure to him.

"Your Highness, that's not what I meant!"

Tulishen hurriedly said, "Since Your Highness has come to help rescue my adoptive father, what do I have to fear? I'm just afraid..."

"You misunderstand."

Lin Xiao waved his hand. "This Prince isn't saying you're a coward. Leaving you outside is purely because... you'll only slow me down."

"..."

Both Tulishen and Gu Zhiyao were stunned.

One was a battle-hardened Martial Arts Grandmaster, and the other was a Medical Grandmaster from Medicine King Valley; anywhere in the world, they would be considered heavyweight figures.

How did they become "burdens" when it came to the Prince of Zhenbei?

Lin Xiao looked back and smiled. "Don't be angry. This Prince isn't targeting you. You'll understand in a moment that I'm just telling the truth."

"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare..." Tulishen gave a bitter smile. Even if he felt a bit stifled, he could only take it.

After all, he couldn't even defeat the man's Princess Consort.

Now that he knew she was actually the Empress, he felt a bit better about it.

Gu Zhiyao, on the other hand, didn't mind. Her cultivation path wasn't focused on combat anyway. Since Lin Xiao said he didn't need her, she was happy to take it easy.

Besides, her main goal was to find the lost item; it was for the best if someone could clear the obstacles for her.

"Eh?"

Lin Xiao suddenly sensed something. He changed direction and led the two toward a nomad's tent.

Although few people lived in this area, it wasn't a total wasteland; some nomads had lived here for generations.

"Your Highness, these two have no cultivation. They should be commoners."

Tulishen saw two nomads cooking food in pottery vessels and didn't notice anything wrong with them.

Lin Xiao landed beside them. "Do you speak the language of the Central Plains?"

The two nomads were startled and said something in the grassland dialect in a panic.

"They're begging you not to kill them," Tulishen translated.

Lin Xiao said, "Tell them I already know they are Khitan King Yelü Dachuan's eyes and ears, stationed here to keep watch."

"Tell me where Khitan King Yelü Dachuan is hiding, and I'll let them live. Otherwise, they die now."

Tulishen was stunned. "Your Highness, how did you know they were spies?"

"Stop talking nonsense. If you want to save your adoptive father, hurry up!"

Lin Xiao couldn't exactly say he saw the "Scout" labels over their heads, could he?

Tulishen hurriedly interrogated them. Seeing they were exposed, the two Scouts' eyes turned fierce. They grabbed meat-cutting knives and tried to slit their own throats!

But how could they succeed in front of Tulishen? Their arms were immediately broken.

"Your Highness truly has eyes like torches!"

Tulishen was thoroughly impressed. He grabbed one of the spies and demanded, "Speak! Where is Khitan King Yelü Dachuan!?"

If they could find the exact cave in the vast mountains, it would save a lot of time.

The spy sneered, "Long live the King! Just kill me!!"

Tulishen gritted his teeth, realizing these two were suicide agents. He didn't know how to handle them.

"How about I try?"

Gu Zhiyao suddenly stepped forward with a gentle smile. "Perhaps I can make them talk."

"Divine Doctor Gu, are you going to..."

Before Tulishen could finish his question, Gu Zhiyao took out several silver needles and flicked her hand, sending them into various acupoints on the two spies.

Next, blood-curdling screams echoed across Sandao Sea!

In just a few moments, the two were covered in saliva and snot, weeping and begging for mercy.

Tulishen's face twitched. Even a fierce grassland general like him couldn't help but shudder.

He had just broken their arm tendons and they hadn't reacted much. How painful must this be!?

Lin Xiao saw a hint of "excitement" in Gu Zhiyao's eyes. Remembering that this woman also liked to bite his ear...

Damn! She doesn't have that kind of fetish, does she?

Gu Zhiyao winked at Lin Xiao. "Well, Your Highness? Bringing me along is somewhat useful, isn't it?"

"When did this Prince ever say you were useless? Since I'm bringing you along, I naturally intend to put you to good use."

Lin Xiao smiled meaningfully.

Gu Zhiyao couldn't quite handle the man's predatory gaze and had to look away.

Soon, the two spies, in agonizing pain, confessed everything about where Khitan King Yelü Dachuan was hiding.

Lin Xiao then told the two to wait there while he headed alone toward a cave to the north.

Watching Lin Xiao's fly-like speed, the two didn't even have time to say anything. They could only lament that they truly were burdens.

Meanwhile.

Inside a grotto filled with murals, Khitan King Yelü Dachuan was holding two of his favorite concubines, drinking wine and eating meat.

Directly opposite him, a white-haired old man, covered in wounds and half-dead, was tied to a wooden stake.

With a glance from Khitan King Yelü Dachuan, a nearby guard brought a bowl of Kumis to the old man's lips.

Smelling the aroma of the wine, the old man hurriedly opened his mouth to drink.

But the guard quickly pulled the wine away, leaving the old man's mouth hanging open in vain.

"Hahahaha..."

Khitan King Yelü Dachuan laughed loudly. "Look at this! The grand Marshal Suhe of the Northern Barbarians, once such a majestic figure, is now reduced to this pathetic state!"

"This is the price for trying to scheme against me! You brought this on yourself! Haha..."

The women and guards laughed along, their arrogant laughter echoing throughout the cave.

Marshal Suhe opened his swollen eyelids and said weakly, "Laugh, go ahead and laugh... Yelü Dachuan, you are truly pitiful. Your death is imminent, yet you don't even know it..."

"Oh? What brilliant insight do you have, Marshal Suhe?" Khitan King Yelü Dachuan asked mockingly.

"Have you never wondered... why Yelv Heqi didn't take you with him to attack the Northern Border?"

Khitan King Yelü Dachuan frowned, a trace of suspicion flashing in his eyes.