Martial Cultivator

Chapter 960.2: Smoke Signals Visible - Part 2

A few days later, the convoy arrived before the first checkpoint of the Northern Frontier Great Wall. Weng Quan rode up to the checkpoint, dismounted in one motion, took out the official document he carried with him, and handed it to a middle-aged deputy general.

The latter took it, glanced through it, then raised his head and said with a smile, “Much obliged, brother.”

Weng Quan chuckled. “No trouble at all. We are all contributing to the country. If anyone is more burdened, it would still be you all.”

The deputy general glanced at the endless line of carriages behind him and asked in a low voice, “This batch of military equipment is not ordinary, is it? In the past, when delivering military equipment, your warden faction was never assigned to escort it?”

Weng Quan shook his head and lowered his voice. “I definitely cannot speak of this matter, but there is one thing I can tell you, Elder Brother.”

The deputy general raised his brows and smiled. “Brother, speak quickly.”

Weng Quan did not beat around the bush and said plainly, “Do you know Great Sword Immortal Yu? He is in the convoy right now, escorting the military equipment to the Northern Frontier.”

“Great Sword Immortal Yu? You mean that great sword immortal who once headed south together with His Majesty?”

The deputy general sucked in a cold breath and immediately stopped asking further questions. When he looked at those carriages again, his gaze burned with intensity. “I just wonder if I will get a share of it.”

His fingers kept rubbing the hilt of the saber at his waist. Then he returned the document to Weng Quan and had the barricades moved aside.After that, the carriages passed through slowly. The deputy general stood to one side, watching quietly. Only when he saw that figure in green robes did he clasp his fists heavily.

Yu Xiyi lowered his head and smiled. “You have all worked hard.”

After passing this checkpoint, there were more like it ahead. As the most important Northern Frontier Great Wall of the Great Liang Dynasty, its significance needed no explanation.

Layer upon layer of inspections was enough to prove the importance of this place.

After passing several checkpoints, everyone finally saw the outline of that Northern Frontier Great Wall. From afar, it seemed to tower into the clouds.

Jiang Xiao'an said in shock, “Master, it really is so tall!”

Although it was not Yu Xiyi’s first time seeing it, he still felt somewhat shaken. He raised his head and sighed, “Indeed.”

After passing another checkpoint, several riders came galloping from afar. The one in the lead was none other than Gao Xuan, whose reputation among the younger generation in the Northern Frontier was second only to Xie Nandu.

This young general clasped his fists atop his horse and laughed loudly, “Gao Xuan greets Great Sword Immortal Yu!”

Yu Xiyi straightened his back and looked at this young general, smiling as he said, “General Gao’s great name has long been like thunder in this Yu’s ears!”

Gao Xuan smiled. “Truly?”

Yu Xiyi’s expression did not change as he nodded. “Naturally.”

Before coming to the Northern Frontier this time, this Great Sword Immortal Yu had indeed learned his lesson. He had flipped through the Northern Frontier’s military reports in advance and memorized quite a number of generals by heart.

For example, the cavalry commander Li Changling, and this rising general Gao Xuan, were both among them.

Gao Xuan smiled faintly. His gaze then fell on the boy beside Yu Xiyi who was panting heavily, and he asked curiously, “I heard long ago that Great Sword Immortal Yu took in a little girl as your final disciple. And this one?”

Yu Qingfeng said with some disdain, “Surname Gao, don’t think of me as his disciple. I am my master’s first and eldest disciple!”

Gao Xuan let out an “oh,” then smiled. “So it is Young Hero Yu, the first and eldest disciple of Lord Warden Commander. As expected, your bearing is extraordinary.”

Yu Qingfeng had not thought much of Gao Xuan at first, who told him to look at him that way just now? But hearing these words, his impression of him changed. Yu Qingfeng clasped his fists and, putting on a proper manner, smiled. “You’re not bad either, General Gao!”

Gao Xuan only smiled it off, then turned to Yu Xiyi and said, “Great Sword Immortal Yu, you have come a long way. Please, enter the city.”

Yu Xiyi nodded slightly, lightly squeezed his horse’s belly, and followed this young general forward.

That the Northern Frontier army had sent Gao Xuan here to receive them was something Yu Xiyi found quite pleasing. But he also understood that, firstly, it was indeed because of his identity as a Great Sword Immortal, and secondly, more importantly, because of the five thousand sets of armor he had brought.

The two rode side by side. Gao Xuan took the initiative to ask, “How is the Lord Warden Commander in the Divine Capital these days?”

Yu Xiyi smiled. “As the greatest powerful minister of the present age, if he wants to live well, who could make things difficult for him?”

But Gao Xuan shook his head and said, “I do not quite agree with Great Sword Immortal Yu’s view. The higher one’s position and authority, the more one must tread on thin ice, proceeding with utmost caution. In the few years since Great General Ning came to the Northern Frontier, much of his hair has already turned white. His worries day and night cannot be explained in just a few words.”

Yu Xiyi glanced at Gao Xuan but did not agree. Instead, he thought about Chen Chao over these past years, constantly running about, never truly idle. Although he never complained in front of him, whether he suffered or not was not something only he himself knew, others could see it as well.

“However, with the Lord Warden Commander in the rear, we truly feel much more at ease. In the past, who could have imagined that the frontier army’s equipment could be updated so quickly? Who could have thought that there would be so many Dragonblood armors? The Lord Warden Commander has truly worked hard.”

These were Gao Xuan’s heartfelt words. Among the generals of the Northern Frontier today, their respect for Chen Chao was growing by the day. After all, this man had not only slain many great demons in the Northern Frontier, but had also tirelessly labored for the entire frontier army.

Yu Xiyi joked, “If you truly feel for him, there’s no need to say all this. Just send that girl surnamed Xie back, let him look at her day and night, I reckon he’d be much happier.”

Gao Xuan laughed awkwardly. “But now, the Northern Frontier cannot do without Xie... Miss Xie either.”

Yu Xiyi suddenly recalled previous rumors and asked curiously, “Is she truly indispensable in the Northern Frontier now?”

Gao Xuan smiled and nodded. “When it comes to the Northern Frontier’s military affairs, Miss Xie likely understands them best. She is an expert in leading troops into battle, and when it comes to major decisions, even Great General Ning must ask for her opinion.”

As the two chatted idly, they soon arrived before the Northern Frontier Great Wall. After that, the two entered the city. Gao Xuan smiled and said, “Great Sword Immortal Yu, you are not in a hurry to leave, are you? Shall we go take a look at the General’s Office?”

Yu Xiyi rubbed his head. “I can stay for a few days. Before the Ministry of Works finishes forging the second batch of armor, I am not in a hurry to return to the Divine Capital.”

Gao Xuan nodded and was just about to speak when, in the distant sky, a streak of black smoke suddenly shot upward in haste. Along with it came an extremely shrill sound.

Gao Xuan was startled.

Yu Xiyi also sensed something unusual. “This is?”

Gao Xuan’s expression turned grave as he said in a low voice, “The demon race... has begun advancing south.”