Kill the enemy and get a wife? I'll single-handedly slaughter my way through the Northern Barba

Daqian, Zhenyuan City.

After the Northern Barbarians sent their peace treaty, there was no further fighting between Zhenyuan City and the Northern Barbarian army.

Lin Feng spent his days training, drinking, and sparring with Li Ping'an and Lü Zheng, living a carefree and leisurely life.

Despite his busy schedule, he would always take some time to visit Du Banruo.

The two had just had physical intimacy and were deeply in love.

Unfortunately, a sudden cold swept through the city, and people fell ill one after another.

Du Banruo followed Zhang Jing on medical outings everywhere, often keeping herself extremely busy.

Although Lin Feng wanted to be intimate with her, he could only refrain from disturbing her, not wanting to make her suffer too much.

Inside a tavern in Zhenyuan City.

As the sun set, Lin Feng and his two companions sat around a table drinking.

"Brother Lin, I have already consulted Mr. Su about your painting."

Li Pingan shook his head helplessly: "Mr. Su is very learned and knowledgeable, but he has never seen that pattern before."

"Where did you see that flower? And how could it look like a yin-yang symbol?"

Lin Feng sighed softly, "I... this matter is rather strange, you can help me find out more."

He paused, then looked at Lü Zheng and asked, "Brother Lü, have you made any progress on your end?"

Lu Zheng scratched his head and said, "I asked my godfather and several senior officers in the camp, and they haven't seen it either."

"Brother Lin, I think you should try to find someone in the Taoist community. That thing is probably just something drawn by some idle Taoist priests to fool people."

Li Ping'an nodded repeatedly: "Brother Lü is right. Some Taoist sects in Liaodong love to use these mystical tricks to bewitch believers."

"A few years ago, my father even sent troops to wipe out a cult that was using the name of Taoism to swindle and deceive people."

Is that really the case?

Lin Feng was puzzled, but then a brilliant idea suddenly flashed in his mind.

The pill Zheng Yan swallowed came from Xuanji Palace, and Lu Qingqing, as a disciple of Xuanji Palace, must know something about it.

He wanted to see Lu Qingqing when he had time and try to find out her secrets.

"Raymond Lam!"

Lin Feng was lost in thought when he suddenly heard someone calling him from outside the tavern.

"Miss Liu?"

Turning around, I saw Liu Ruyan, dressed in men's clothing, walking with Prince Zhou, Li Ji.

"What Miss Liu? Call me Young Master Liu!"

Liu Ruyan glared at him, her tone carrying a hint of protest.

"Your humble servant greets Your Highness Prince Zhou!" Lin Feng and the other two quickly stood up and bowed.

"No need for formalities!"

Li Ji smiled and waved his hand: "Recently, there has been a cold in the city. I was going to distribute herbs to the people when Ruyan said she was inquiring about that rare flower for you, so I came to see if I could help."

"Does His Highness Prince Zhou know the origin of the flowers in the painting?" Lin Feng immediately became interested and asked.

"When I was young, I often went to the literary library in the palace to read some strange tales and notes."

As he spoke, Li Ji's expression drifted into reminiscence.

"About ten years ago, I saw the flower in your painting in an ancient book... This flower is called the Boundless Flower."

Wuji Flower?

Lin Feng nodded slightly and quickly asked, "Your Highness, does such a wondrous flower truly exist in the world? What is its use, and where does it come from?"

King Li Ji of Zhou smiled and said, "This flower is recorded in ancient books, but I was born and raised in the capital. Although I have seen all the treasures in the world, I have never seen this flower in person."

"Legend has it that this flower originated from the Queen Mother of the West in Kunlun Mountain. When King You of Zhou traveled to Kunlun Mountain, he brought the seeds of this flower back to the country."

Li Ping'an stroked his chin and said, "Kunlun Mountain and the Queen Mother of the West are both legendary places and figures. There is no Kunlun Mountain in the world, let alone the Queen Mother of the West. It is likely that these were fabrications by the authors of ancient books."

King Li Ji of Zhou nodded in agreement: "I also think it's fabricated."

"The ancient book also says that later, when the Great Zhou Dynasty was engulfed in war and the world was engulfed in flames, all the Wuji Flowers in the country were destroyed by the war, and only the Tianchi Lake still had them."

"You must have heard of the Heavenly Pool Palace, the sacred site of the Liao Dynasty, right?"

According to the book, the remaining Wuji flowers are all located in the vicinity of Tianchi Palace.

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Feng finally revealed the truth to everyone.

"Your Highness, could the Northern Barbarian National Preceptor be connected to the Heavenly Pool Palace of the Liao Dynasty?"

"Actually, I saw this pattern on the embroidery on the brocade pouch that Zheng Yan used to store elixirs."

Upon hearing this, Lü Zheng almost laughed in exasperation: "Brother Lin, why didn't you just say so earlier? Why are you being so secretive?"

"What, are you afraid that the sorcerer national advisor of Xuanji Palace will use magic to deal with you from afar?"

Lin Feng smiled apologetically: "The Northern Barbarian guards are cunning; I was just afraid of attracting their attention."

After speaking, he turned to Li Ji: "Your Highness, what do you think?"

King Zhou, Li Ji, glanced around and slowly said, "After all, I've been watching for ten years, and I can't remember many of the details."

"The effects of the Wuji Flower, in particular, seem to be recorded in ancient books, but I am no longer familiar with them."

"In that case, once I send a message back to the capital, I will ask my elder brother to investigate. I will also send the copy you drew back to the capital."

"I will complete the rest of the information once my elder brother sends word."

"As for your mention of the Northern Barbarian National Preceptor and the Heavenly Pool Palace... I think it's unlikely."

Li Ji offered Lin Feng a suggestion: "The Northern Barbarian National Preceptor is a devout follower of Taoism and even built the Xuanji Palace to promote Taoist practices."

"Perhaps this thief simply saw that the Wuji flower resembled the Taiji symbol, which embodies the principles of Yin and Yang, and used it as a symbol. You don't need to worry too much."

Li Ji's words of comfort eased Lin Feng's mind slightly, but the thought of the tattoo on Du Banruo's collarbone brought back that sense of unease...

The Great Qian Dynasty, the capital city.

In late autumn, a cold wind swept into Fengtian Hall, but it could not dispel the tense and "fiery" atmosphere inside.

"Your Majesty, this cannot continue!"

Minister of War Cao Kun, with a solemn expression, said loudly, "Although His Highness Prince Qin achieved a great victory over Bayan Mengke at Niujiaoyuan, Bayan Mengke is like a centipede with a hundred legs; though dead, he does not fall down!"

"Continuing to fight to the death will only increase our army's casualties."

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you issue an edict ordering His Highness Prince Qin to withdraw his troops and fortify Zhenyuan City!"

With Qin King Li Yan's great victory at Niujiaoyuan, his reputation and prestige in the capital have soared, and he has many supporters in the court.

Upon hearing this, Minister of Revenue Park Jin smiled slightly and retorted, "Lord Cao, although you are in charge of the Ministry of War, I still want to speak up for the Prince of Qin!"

"Back then, you strongly advocated for holding Zhenyuan City, and even advised His Majesty in court to strictly restrain the Prince of Qin and forbid him from leaving the city to meet the enemy. But what was the result?"

Park Jin shrugged, his tone full of smugness: "The King of Qin is a military genius. What are Bayan and Mengke compared to him? They were defeated by him, weren't they?"

"Lord Cao, what makes you so certain that the King of Qin cannot achieve victory this time?"

It was common knowledge in the court and among the people that the Crown Prince Li Yu of the Great Qian Dynasty was weak and frail, while the Second Prince, Prince Qin Li Yan, was the bravest in the army.

The Battle of Niujiaoyuan further proved this point with the facts.

The courtiers who supported the King of Qin all stood tall and straight, just like Park Jin.

Emperor Li Dan sat upright on the dragon throne, his aged face revealing his weariness.

His eyes shifted slightly, and his gaze fell on General Lu Jian.

"Lu Qing, what do you think?"

General Lu Jian commands all the troops in the land and is also the maternal uncle of Crown Prince Li Yu, making him a man of high status.

When the emperor called on him, he pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, Bayan Mengke is a shrewd and experienced commander, skilled in both offense and defense. In the Battle of Niujiaoyuan, it is true that the King of Qin was brave, but upon closer examination of the reasons for the victory, General Zhang Liao's heroic sacrifice despite being wounded cannot be overlooked."

"Although Boyan Mengke was defeated, he should not be underestimated. The King of Qin will likely find it difficult to break through his camp. It would be better to order him to withdraw and regroup."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Wang Jin scoffed lightly and laughed, "Heh heh, the General has always been a proponent of war, why is he acting so out of character today?"