Madam, please listen to my explanation.

Chapter 133 Still claiming he's not a boy?

"Fortunately, my two benefactors are only going to Southern Liang. Listen to my advice, and do not attempt to go to Youzhou."
"Oh, Young Master Fan, it's so cold, why are you using a fan?"

Fan Yu's face stiffened, and he quickly put away his fan.

Before they could recover from the sudden attack, they heard the other party continue:

"So it really is my problem. Not just Brother Fan, look at this Young Master Xiao, he seems to be flushed from the heat too."

"Meow-"

Li Junruo suddenly felt a pang of regret. For the first time in her life, she had come to agree with Xiao Han's foolish idea.
We should have killed this guy right then and there!

"Ahem, let's not talk about that. Brother Chen, I see that you are young and have a restrained divine light. You probably already have a cultivation level of at least the fourth rank. In addition, with your identity as a member of Hidden Sword Manor, you should be more than capable of protecting yourself. How did you end up like this?"

You just told me that the journey from Youzhou was indeed so dangerous.

Chen Xinghe sighed and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture: "Excellent! Brother Fan, your attention to detail is truly admirable!"

His expression was sincere, and he said with great distress, "To tell you the truth, I am the Southwest Branch Master of Hidden Sword Manor. I was originally entrusted by my adoptive father to go to Youzhou to handle a very important matter!"
After leaving Nanliang, the journey proved far too treacherous. I, Chen, was unworthy; though I could clearly see the edge of Youzhou City, my cultivation was insufficient, and I was alone, so I could only sigh and turn back. Although I was saved by my two benefactors, I have ultimately jeopardized the important matter. I am utterly ashamed to face my godfather.”

"What is it?"

Xiao Han blurted it out.

He naturally knew about Hidden Sword Manor.

Although this man is annoying, he has already reached the fourth rank of cultivation at a young age, and can definitely be called a dragon among men.

Such talent means there is a high probability that he will be able to break through to the sixth-grade Celestial Realm in the future.

This alone is enough to make him a guest of honor for many powers.

The only person he could respectfully call "godfather" was the incredibly wealthy Master Wu.

Although he grew up in Qinque, he had heard that the wealth accumulated in Cangjian Villa was probably comparable to that of the Great Yan Kingdom's treasury!
Not to mention, the other side also possesses the smelting methods for the most advanced weapons, such as knives, spears, swords, and halberds, on the entire Qin continent.

With the exception of a certain emperor from a different clan, over the past hundred years, several emperors of Yan have shown him considerable respect.
It's hard not to be curious about something that involves this legendary figure.

Perhaps, with a little effort, it can even achieve some unexpected results.
"Ah, this..." Chen Xinghe looked troubled.

"Chun Nan!"

Fan Yu said coldly, "The road to Youzhou is difficult, as everyone knows. How could Brother Chen be so willing to risk his life to go there? It's not a trivial matter."

We've only just met; how can I presume to inquire about such matters!

As he spoke, he winked at his companion.

Xiao Han looked embarrassed, but even a fool would instantly understand.

The road ahead is long, and there will be plenty of opportunities to get information out of the other party!

What we should be concerned about now is whether the other party has really penetrated deep enough to see Youzhou City, as he said. With him leading the way, the chances of success on this trip will be greatly increased!

"I apologize, Brother Chen, it was my presumption!"

"It's alright, it was my fault. You two saved my life, and I shouldn't have..."

Chen Xinghe scratched his head sheepishly.

"Brother Chen, there's no need to make things difficult for me. This is Chu Nan's first time going out to gain experience, and he doesn't know anything. Please don't take offense, brother!"

Perhaps because of the close contact just now, Fan Yu patted Chen Xinghe on the shoulder casually and said with a smile:
"To be honest, Brother Chen, my master has long admired Master Wu. Since we have met, it must be fate! My brother and I, along with the bodyguards behind us, are willing to lend you a hand and travel together to Youzhou City!"

"Oh no! How can this be?"

Chen Xinghe looked troubled.

"I am deeply grateful to you both for saving my life. How could I repay kindness with enmity and put my benefactors in danger?"

Although he was verbally refusing, even someone as dense as Xiao Han could tell that the other party was already wavering.

Fan Yu waved his hand dismissively, his face full of righteous indignation:
“There’s nothing wrong with that, Brother Chen. The three of us hit it off immediately. Besides, it’s only a few dozen miles from Nanliang to Youzhou. With so many of us together, we can at least look out for each other. Even if we really can’t make it, we can always turn back!”

"I will never forget your great kindness!"

He bowed deeply to the two of them, 'Chen Xinghe' secretly chuckled to himself.

A true man's word is his bond!

But Chen Xinghe will never forget this, what does it have to do with me, Xu Jinhuan?

"Okay! It's decided then!"

Fan Yu patted his chest, and some excess fat could be seen bulging slightly.

He seemed to have become the leader of this group, making decisions directly for everyone.

They've taken the bait.
He had been lying there beforehand, intending to observe what this pair of clever and secretive individuals were up to.

The two changed their appearances along the way, and even the manpower behind them was gradually gathered from various places.

Little did he know that his spies had already spread throughout the entire Great Yan.
Seeing his fiancée heading south, he impulsively decided to lie in wait here beforehand, hoping to blend into the group.
Fan and Xiao exchanged a silent glance, their unspoken understanding unspoken.

Once this guy leads me to the vicinity of Youzhou, I won't have to worry about how to extract the secrets of Cangjian Manor!
At that point, whether to kill or bury will be entirely up to you.

For a moment, the three people, each with their own ulterior motives, exchanged a knowing smile, enjoying each other's company.

"Let's go, Brother Chen. Enough with the small talk, let's chat on the way!"

"Alright, thank you very much, benefactor!"

Fan Yu mounted his horse, but to his surprise, the man named Chen Xinghe followed him all the way.

"Brother Chen, you..."

Chen Xinghe looked up and smiled, scratching his head sheepishly:
"My injuries have not yet healed, and besides, I don't see any extra horses in this group."

"Get on my horse!"

A furious shout!

Chen Xinghe turned his head in surprise and saw Xiao Han's hair standing on end in anger, as if he was about to draw his sword and kill someone at any moment!
He was startled by the other party's inexplicable attitude and involuntarily took a step back.

Then, as if suddenly realizing something, Chen Xinghe's gaze darted back and forth between the two of them, his face filled with disbelief:

"My benefactor, you...you all!"

Xiao and Li exchanged bewildered glances, while Chen Xinghe immediately seemed to understand, his gaze towards them now carrying a hint of ambiguity and deeper meaning.
"So that's how it is. My benefactor, there's no need to be so formal. Homosexuality is not a shameful thing these days!"

Hmm. I'll go find another brother to ride with.

"Come up!"

Just as Chen Xinghe was about to take a step, Fan Yu behind him shouted angrily!
"Brother Fan, there's no need for that."

Fan Yu's face flushed red with anger. "I told you to come up here!"

Do not!
Xiao Han was instantly furious, raised his arm, and shouted into the distance, "Yu!"

"Shut up! It's all your fault that Brother Chen misunderstood. Go stand over there!"

"Oh, so it was a misunderstanding? Thank you so much, Brother Fan, for helping me out again!"

Xiao Han could only watch helplessly as the two drew closer and closer, a surge of anger rising within him, causing his horse to tremble in fear.

Now that things have come to this, any further words from me would be like smearing mud on my crotch—even if it's not shit, it'll still look like shit.
Chen Xinghe tucked Sang Biao into his clothes, placed his hand on that soft, boneless hand, and leaped onto the horse's back.

Noticing the murderous gaze behind him, he simply reached out and wrapped his arms around the other person's slender waist.

The person in his arms paused slightly, and he chuckled inwardly.

It smells so good. And you still say you're not a effeminate man?

"Let's go, Brother Fan. We're not far from Nanliang now. Apart from some snow and corpses along the way, there's nothing dangerous."

"Let's hurry, we can get into the city before dark."

"it is good"

"By the way, Brother Fan, please forgive my bluntness, but going south at a time like this is definitely not a good choice."

"To be honest, Brother Chen, behind us are eight whole boxes of fur coats and cotton-padded clothes. We were entrusted by our master to deliver these warm clothes to the people trapped ahead."

Now that we've arrived in Southern Liang, why not try our luck in Youzhou as well?
As fellow citizens of the Great Yan, how could we bear to watch them freeze to death in the icy wilderness!

Li Junruo delivered her prepared speech without batting an eye.

Chen Xinghe, standing behind, seemed to suddenly become agitated; even the hands that were wrapped around her waist tightened.

"Your benefactor is so righteous!!!"

"No, it's nothing. Brother Chen, please be gentle."

"Benefactor."

"Ok?"

"You smell so good, I mean, you're so soft."
"Forgive my bluntness, but given your health, reaching Youzhou will likely be no easy feat."

"No need for your trouble, Brother Chen. Could you please move your hand a little lower?"

"Oh, here?"

"."

"Meow!"
-
"Young Master Xiao, Young Master Xiao."

The caravan continued its journey, and in less than half an hour, it arrived at a snowy and icy landscape, where the entire team's speed immediately slowed down considerably.

Xiao Han, whose face was gloomy, turned around in confusion upon hearing the voice of the Hegu Tower.

"Take a step to speak!"

He subtly slowed down, allowing the 'bodyguards' behind him to run ahead and surround him and Hegu Tower in the middle.

"Master Gu, what's the matter?"

Heguta looked at the two people and one horse at the front and whispered:
"Young Master Xiao, don't you think there's something strange about this person's arrival?"

Not only was the timing too coincidental, but who would knowingly carry a cat with them when there's danger ahead?

Xiao Han was taken aback upon hearing this!
Yes! Why didn't I think of something so obvious?
"Master Gu is absolutely right. I saw through this boy's sinister intentions at first glance!" Hegu Tower's eyes twitched. He hesitated, unsure whether to utter a curse, but ultimately, he could only grit his teeth and say:
"Your Highness is wise."

Xiao Han: "Ahem. But Master Gu, there's no need to worry. You may not know this, but Young Master Junyu is much more intelligent than you think."

Besides, this fellow's cultivation level is mediocre. With so many of us here, we don't need to worry about him causing any trouble.

Heguta nodded with a stern face, "It's good that you know what's going on, young master."

The entire journey was speechless.

As they got closer to Nanliang, they discovered that, just as the other party had said, they could occasionally see limbs that were not completely covered by snow in the snow along the way.

Most of them, like Chen Xinghe who suddenly appeared, were facing north.

It was clear that they were people who could not withstand the prolonged cold and were trying to escape to the north.

Unfortunately, lacking the other party's abilities, most of them are now frozen stiff, beyond saving even by a god.

"The city of Nanliang had long since turned into a snow-covered wasteland. These people, in a desperate attempt to escape north, all perished along the way."

Chen Xinghe sighed softly.

"So, according to this logic, this Sword Immortal has injured the enemy a thousand while losing eight hundred of his own?" Xiao Han, who had followed, said sarcastically.

Although he respected the strong, no matter how strong the opponent was, they were still from an enemy country, and it was possible that they would eventually go to war.

"Brother Xiao, how could you utter such disrespectful words!"

Ahead, Chen Xinghe on horseback suddenly turned his head and questioned:

"If it weren't for the Sword Immortal blocking our way, by now, both Youzhou and Nanliang would probably be nothing but a pile of bones!"

Fan Yu sighed softly, "Indeed, I wonder when the Sword Immortal will be able to slay those great demons and restore peace to our Southern Territory! Brother Xiao, Brother Chen is one of us, he won't stand on ceremony. Once we enter Southern Liang, please don't speak nonsense again!"

"understood"

Xiao Han scratched his nose.

As expected of Junruo. She can immerse herself in the role of a Yan person so quickly.

As expected, Brother Hegu's worries were completely unnecessary.
The surrounding area was a vast expanse of white, and everyone had long since lost their way.

The thick snow had long since made it impossible for horses to pass through.

Xiao Han could only reluctantly act as the vanguard at the front, wielding his dark giant sword with great force to clear a path for the troops behind him.

"So powerful! Young Master Xiao is so young, could he already have a sixth-grade cultivation level?"

You have a good eye!
Behind him, Chen Xinghe's exclamation naturally did not escape Xiao Han's ears.

He was feeling quite smug when he heard Junruo say softly:

"Indeed, although Chu Nan is stupid and clumsy, his swordsmanship is indeed unique."

Xiao Han's sword-wielding movements suddenly froze.

Why is it that while I'm sweating buckets ahead, that person can walk with Jun Ruo in his arms for so long?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He suddenly turned around and roared:
"Hey! Brother Chen, it's almost dark! You're not lost, are you?"

"Chu Nan, look!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Han turned his head and strained to look.

That is
Not far ahead, amidst the swirling snowflakes, one could faintly see clusters of leaping flames overhead!
If nothing unexpected happens, those are torches on the city wall of Nanliang!

Fan Yu's eyes crinkled into crescent moons with joy: "Brother Chen, it's all thanks to you!"

The fleeting joy that had just risen in Xiao Han's heart vanished instantly.

Snowflakes drifted down, and the north wind beside me grew ever more bleak.
"Hey! Open the city gate! It's me, Chen Xinghe from Cangjian Manor! I've returned with warm clothes!"

Xu Jinhuan arrived alone at the city gate, waving the fur coat in his hand and shouting.

After all, he had just made a boast that he was only one step away from reaching Youzhou, so it wouldn't be appropriate for him to act as if he had never been there before.
The guards on the city wall naturally didn't recognize Chen Xinghe, but they did recognize the life-saving item in his hand!

Glancing at the large boxes behind the other man, the guards, who had long been fed up with the freezing weather, couldn't help but swallow hard.

"Please wait a moment, gentlemen. I will go and inform the city lord immediately!"

A guard with trembling teeth hurriedly ran to report, and soon, the group was personally welcomed into the city by the city lord, Liu Shu.

Lord Liu, whose face was already red from the cold, excitedly grasped Chen Xinghe's hands:

"Haha, so it's Brother Chen. You've gone to great lengths to bring so many warm clothes. On behalf of all the people of Southern Liang, I thank you all!"

The shrewd and experienced Lord Liu wouldn't care who Chen Xinghe was; he only needed to recognize the waist token of Hidden Sword Manor.

What's more, they were carrying life-saving supplies. There's no doubt, these are family!
"Lord Liu, please rise. It's all part of my duty!"

Xu Jinhuan helped him up and quickly gestured behind him:
"I was just passing by. These warm clothes were brought by Young Master Fan and Young Master Xiao!"

"Very well, you are all young heroes. You must be tired from your journey. Please follow this old man to the inn to rest!"

Liu Shu was genuinely happy.

Eight wooden crates in total; if they were all filled with such fine furs, I wonder how many people could have survived!
The fact that the city lord himself is leading the way is an extremely high honor.

Behind him, a group of guards had already gone to carry the boxes, which were to be distributed to the people immediately.

Unexpectedly, he was stopped by that young master surnamed Fan.

"Please wait a moment, gentlemen."

Liu Shu looked at them with suspicion, thinking that the other party was planning to make an exorbitant demand.

Then the slightly effeminate young man cupped his hands and said, "Lord City Lord, please forgive me, but only half of these eight boxes can be kept."

"My lord, please don't misunderstand. It's not that I intentionally interfered; it's just that we plan to try and transport the remaining half to Youzhou City!"

Liu Shu's expression immediately changed drastically.

"Young heroes, the inn is just ahead. Let's go inside and have a chat."
-
A moment later, Chen Xinghe, Fan Yu, and Xiao Chunan sat with Liu Shu around the bonfire in the center of the post station's main hall.

Lord Liu, his face full of worry, placed his hands in front of the fire, trying to dispel the chill from his body.

"My dear friends, it's not that I want to keep these warm supplies for myself, but the road to Youzhou is becoming more and more dangerous every day."
To be honest, just a few days ago, even General An, the General Who Guards the West, returned defeated. Not to mention now, in this icy and snowy land outside the city, suddenly many more eyes have appeared.”

"how do I say this?"

Seeing Fan Yu's questioning gaze, Chen Xinghe pretended to be profound and shook his head with a smile.

Just kidding, I just arrived and I don't know what this old ghost is talking about.
Liu Shu sighed and said earnestly:
"They are real eyes!"

Although the city is now sealed off by heavy snow, I have not dared to relax my guard for a single moment!

I am not afraid of death, but I have to consider the people in the city. What if the Sword Immortal is defeated and the people are still dreaming when suddenly the army of the lowly people from the Southern Frontier presses in?
As it turned out, starting last night, the soldiers guarding the city walls indeed noticed something amiss. From the snow outside the city, pairs of eyes gleaming green were gradually appearing!

"How could this be?"

Fan Yu immediately exclaimed in surprise.

It wasn't that he was feigning nervousness; it was simply because Youzhou had a unique geographical location, bordering the Southern Frontier to the south and the Great Zhou Dynasty to the west. As the southern gateway of the Great Yan, it had always served as the last barrier between the human race and the Southern Frontier.

For thousands of years, the Yan and Zhou dynasties fought countless battles, but no one had ever set their sights on Youzhou.

The reason is simple: once Youzhou falls, not only will the Southern Liang and the Great Yan territory behind it be affected, but even the Great Zhou Kingdom will face the threat of the lowly people of the Southern Frontier!
Now, some things of unknown origin have suddenly appeared outside the city.
By any measure, this is not a good omen.

"If the Sword Immortal has already been defeated, there will be more than just a few 'eyes' outside the city. Lord Liu, please stop keeping us in suspense. What exactly is going on?"

Upon hearing that it had just happened last night, Xu Jinhuan stopped pretending to be mysterious and asked.

Liu Shu: "Fortunately, ravens are not limited by this kind of weather and can still carry messages to some extent. Earlier today, I just exchanged letters with the Prefect of Youzhou, that's all."

As Lord Liu recounted the events in detail, the group gained a general understanding of what had happened.

It turns out that just a few days ago, the sword immortal Shen Ye displayed his divine power and severed one of the heads of 'Yamata'!
In an instant, blood rain poured down over the entire Youzhou region, and the people scrambled to take cover.

Even so, many houses were still destroyed by the snake blood, which was full of venom.

What's even more terrifying is yet to come.
The blood rain fell for nearly an hour, and many who couldn't dodge it in time were drenched in it.

They were in unbearable pain, rolling on the ground, and soon stopped breathing.

That night, Prefect Meng made a decisive decision to gather the dead and burn them to prevent the spread of plague.

Before the fire could even get going, those who had died tragically suddenly came back to life, their emerald green eyes widening!
Those corpses were incredibly strong, covered in dense snake scales that made them impervious to water and fire, making them extremely difficult to deal with!
The garrison of Youzhou exerted a great deal of effort to quell the riot in the city.
The method used was not to kill them, but to drive them away.

A large number of corpses poured out of Youzhou City, with the intention of killing them in the harsh environment outside the city.

It now appears that their wishes have not been fulfilled, and many of them have even reached the outskirts of Nanliang City.
"That's roughly the situation. I understand the concern of you young heroes for the people of Youzhou. However, please think carefully before you act!"
If you believe your cultivation is superior and wish to venture out of the city to test your skills, I will not prevent you. However, please be extremely careful; if things do not go well, return as soon as possible!

After giving his earnest instructions, Lord Liu told everyone to rest early before leaving the inn.

The remaining three looked at each other in shock.

"My two benefactors, it seems that the road ahead is more dangerous than I knew. Why don't you leave the remaining furs and other items behind and return home quickly?"

Xu Jinhuan tentatively asked.

After all, he couldn't let his image of being grateful and repaying kindness be ruined. If the two of them started to back down, it would mean that their ambitions weren't in Youzhou, but rather something else entirely.

I can simply go alone and remind others to keep an eye on this group.

Unexpectedly, the two people in front of him said in unison, almost without hesitation:

"Try it!"

Fan Yu sighed inwardly.

Both of them had reasons that compelled them to go to Youzhou.

Now that we've come this far, how can we be willing to go back?

“A true man keeps his word. Since I promised to accompany Brother Chen on this journey, I cannot give up halfway.”

No matter how dangerous the road ahead, we have to try to find out. It's getting late, Brother Chen, you should get some rest.

After saying that, Fan Yu got up first and headed towards the room assigned to him, with Xiao Chunan following closely behind.

Xu Jinhuan watched the two figures disappear into the distance and rubbed his chin.

Interesting
What exactly are these two guys trying to do?
(End of this chapter)