Isolated town in northern border region

Early the next morning, Xiao Lie took off the Taiping Blade from his waist, and with only the precious sword left by the late emperor, went up the mountain alone.

Bisu chased after him to the village entrance, but was stopped by Ledo.

"The prince said that no one is allowed to follow him."

Bisu stomped her foot and watched helplessly as Xiao Lie's figure disappeared into the morning mist.

Xiao Lie was already familiar with the mountain path.

We bypassed the old pine tree with dragon patterns carved on it, followed the stream upstream, passed through the bushes, and headed towards the mountaintop.

After walking for about two hours, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

A vast meadow stretched out before me, the grass knee-high, and the wind rippled through it like waves of green.

At the edge of the meadow, one can vaguely see some scattered wooden stakes, piles of ashes left from camping, and several dirt paths trodden out by horses' hooves.

The dirt road, with its deep and shallow markings, stretches along the hillside into the distance.

The air was filled with a faint smell of horse manure mixed with the scent of grass, making Xiao Lie think he had returned to the grasslands of northern Xinjiang.

"What a wonderful place!"

"With abundant water and grass, and towering over the majestic mountains, it can supply warhorses to the northern frontier to the north, and to the south lies a vast plain. Wherever its iron hooves roam, it will be invincible!"

"Who knew my cheapskate father had such a good eye for location!"

"I will find a way to acquire this precious land, so that Xiao Xiong can breed new warhorses!"

Xiao Lie stood on the meadow for a while, then followed the hoofprints.

He turned into a grove of trees and suddenly stopped.

A stone tablet stands amidst the weeds. It is made of bluestone and is about half a person tall. Its surface is somewhat mottled from the erosion of wind and rain, but the characters are still clearly legible.

The stone tablet has four large characters carved vertically in the middle: "Wuwei Ranch".

On either side is a couplet: on the left, it reads, "Iron cavalry trampled the dust of the barbarians," and on the right, it reads, "Banners pointed straight to the ends of the earth."

Xiao Lie stood in front of the monument for a long time, and a scene he had never seen with his own eyes appeared in his mind—his father, the man who once led the Panlong Guard and thousands of troops to drive the Northern Barbarians all the way to the edge of the grassland.

He was engrossed in watching when a deep voice suddenly came from behind him.

"How magnificent was Emperor Wu's ambition!"

"Your Highness, are you willing to carry on Emperor Wu's legacy and contend for supremacy over the world?"

Xiao Lie suddenly turned around.

His hand was already on the hilt of the sword, but he didn't draw it...

Because the owner of the footsteps was less than five steps away from him.

On this open meadow, someone could silently get so close that drawing a sword would be pointless.

Xiao Lie considered himself to have fought his way up from the battlefield and was the holder of various records in the Trapped Camp!

But the owner of that voice was clearly even more terrifying!

The newcomer was a tall man, wearing an old leather robe, with half an iron mask covering his face, revealing a scar on the exposed half of his face.

He carried an iron bow on his back; the bow was jet black and shiny, clearly not an ordinary item.

His gaze was complex. He looked at Xiao Lie without hostility, but with a hint of respect, and even more so with the gratified expression of an elder looking at a junior.

Beside him stood a young woman in leather armor with her hair tied in a high ponytail; it was Tie Muyun.

Her neck was wrapped with a newly changed strip of cloth, clearly indicating that the wound from that day had not yet fully healed.

Tie Gong walked up to Xiao Lie, but instead of kneeling, he clasped his hands together and bowed deeply.

He took the iron bow off his back, held it in both hands, and handed it to Xiao Lie.

"This humble general is Tie Gong, the former commander of the Emperor's personal guards and the commander of the Panlong Guard."

"This bow was the late emperor's personal treasure bow, which I have kept for ten years. Today, I return it to its rightful owner."

His voice was rough and deep, like sandpaper scraping against rough stone.

Xiao Lie squinted, remaining noncommittal, while Tie Gong pulled out a parchment book from his robes.

"This 'Archery Manual' was written by me at the behest of the late emperor to train the archers of the Great Chu."

"Today, having met the young master, my wish has finally been fulfilled!"

Xiao Lie stared at the iron-framed bow and remained silent for a moment.

He reached out and took it.

The bow was heavy, and there were many deep and shallow marks on the bow arm, as if it had been repeatedly touched.

He didn't say much, but simply slung the bow over his shoulder, took the "Archery Manual," and drew the sword from his waist, pressing the tip against the iron bow's Adam's apple.

"How do you plan to explain the blood debt owed to tens of thousands of people in Qingzhou?"

Iron Bow did not dodge, nor did it retreat even half a step.

He looked into Xiao Lie's eyes and spoke slowly.

"This humble general is willing to sacrifice his lowly life to uphold Your Highness's reputation for benevolence."

"If I can help Your Highness win the hearts of the people, I will die without regret!"

"This humble general is willing to die in place of my adoptive father."

Tie Muyun immediately knelt down.

"Your Highness, I am willing to sacrifice my life to build your prestige and prestige; my death is not a pity."

"I only beg Your Highness to spare my adoptive father's anger and loyalty, and not to punish him harshly!"

Xiao Lie's brows furrowed even more.

"What I want is an explanation, not a deal!"

He sheathed his sword, looked up at the sky, and his voice betrayed no emotion.

"Within three days, hand over all those involved in creating the plague, punish them severely, and bring justice to the people of Qingzhou!"

"If you do not comply, I will fight the Panlong Guard to the death."

Iron Bow was stunned!

Tie Muyun was also stunned!

They had considered that Xiao Lie would be angry, would question them, and would talk about the fate of the world...

They were even prepared to sacrifice their lives to uphold Xiao Lie's reputation for benevolence!

But they never expected...

Xiao Lie truly wanted to severely punish and bring to justice everyone involved in the poisoning, leaving no one alive!

What is His Highness thinking?

The Panlong Guard! The Panlong Guard that the late emperor left you!

Are we just going to hand them over to those peasants to pay for their lives?

Is this how business is conducted?

Tie Gong remained silent for a moment, then cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your Highness is unaware of this."

"Although the deputy commander was the one who suggested the plan for the Qingzhou plague, more than 60% of the Panlong Guard were involved."

"If Your Highness were to bring them all to justice, it would be like cutting off most of the Panlong Guard's arms..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already quite clear.

Tie Muyun quickly replied.

"Your Highness, you can simply send a few people out to take the blame; why make such a fuss?"

"If we arouse the suspicion of that treacherous Xiao Mu, wouldn't our Panlong Guard, who have been lying in wait day and night, become a laughing stock?"

"The Panlong Guard?"

Xiao Lie repeated the word.

"So you think the lives of the Panlong Guards are more valuable?"

"Or am I truly worse than a pig or a dog, intending to first create a plague and then save the people from their suffering, thereby gaining a reputation for 'benevolence'?"

Tie Muyun opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Xiao Lie looked at her, his tone suddenly softening, but that softening carried an unwavering determination.

"I have made myself perfectly clear!"

"Not a single participant can be missing! If even one is missing, it's not a satisfactory explanation."

He sheathed his sword and glanced at the iron bow again.

"One last question."

"Father, was he poisoned by the current Emperor of Chu, Xiao Mu?"

Tie Gong remained silent for a long time before raising his head.

"When the late emperor went on his expedition to the northern frontier, he worked tirelessly day and night."

"Emperor Xiao Mu of Chu once personally visited the army and presented them with a tonic, saying it was to strengthen the foundation and nourish the vital energy of the late emperor."

"The late emperor had no suspicions, and after taking it, his energy and spirit did indeed improve..."

"But after taking the medication for three consecutive days, he died of a heart attack."

Xiao Lie's fingers tightened slightly around the sword hilt, his knuckles turning white.

Although I had suspected it for a while, today I have real witnesses to prove it.

A wave of sorrow washed over him, reminding him of many things.

In Xiao Lie's memory, this royal uncle had once doted on him, and even for a long time after he ascended the throne, he still treated him like his own son.

"Uncle, why did you spare my life?"

"They've already committed fratricide and usurped the throne, so what's killing a nephew?"

Iron Bow did not answer, nor could anyone answer.

Xiao Lie closed his eyes briefly, let out a long sigh, and then opened them.

"Remember! Three days from now!"

"I will be waiting at the foot of the mountain."

He turned and walked down the mountain. Although his figure was still upright, he gave people a sense of inexplicable fatigue.

Tie Gong reached out and stroked the stone tablet, remaining silent for a long time before letting out a sigh.

"Your Highness... looks just like the late Emperor!"

"But the late emperor did not die a peaceful death!"

Tie Muyun asked in a low voice.

"Godfather, will he really attack us?"

Tie Gong's eyes widened.

"You should address him as Your Highness!"

He looked up at the sky, as if talking to himself.

"Just as my third brother said, His Highness has the heart of a child and loves the people like his own children."

He paused for a moment.

"But a pure heart cannot reclaim the throne."

Tie Muyun shrank his neck, as obedient as a rabbit.

"Your Highness is upright and honorable, yet there are some sordid things you have to do!"

"I believe that in time, Your Highness will understand..."

"How loyal we, the Panlong Guard, are!"

As she spoke, her gaze was fixed on the path where Xiao Lie had disappeared into the distance, and there was an indescribable look in her eyes.