Origin Paradise!

The alpha wolf's cubs also appeared one after another; they were all small and in their adolescence.

Just as Lao Hei was about to say something formal, he heard someone's voice.

Is it safe?

"Confirm your location."

"The player has prepared everything for you."

Old Hei replied, "Xiao He, I've become the big brother."

He gave a brief overview of the current situation.

"Then you can lead them to play for now. I'll contact you if you need anything. I've caught a little girl, a white snake."

"Fourth sister, help me buy her a small gift when we meet."

Old Hei understands Xiao He's character. Since she specifically mentioned it, it's highly likely that they've formed an animal partnership. The White Snake's abilities must be effective and complementary to Xiao He to some extent; in short, they're not the kind of people who absolutely can't get along.

"Understood. Wuhe is on his way to find you. The two of you should try to meet up to ensure your safety."

"The demon race has a moon-worshiping cultivation method; if you're interested, you can ask those white wolves."

"Far from the snow-capped mountains, there lives of silver."

"Don't come to the Ink Great Wall for now. The Northern Barbarians may have some unusual plans. Let's wait and see."

"Remember to kill all the alpha wolf's cubs."

Old Black glanced at the little white wolves and suggested:

"Keep the wolf cubs. After the mission is over, at least the white wolf can continue to lead this pack. I'm just a passerby. Once they grow up, they won't be a threat to me anymore."

"Of course you can, I'm just suggesting it, the decision is yours."

After the communication ended, Lao Hei decided to retrieve the alpha wolf's carcass to establish his image of benevolence and righteousness.

Chapter 115 Daming Mansion

The next morning.

After leaving the ruins of White Snake Village, Jiang He returned along the same route and caught up with the convoy by following the tracks left on the ground.

Yesterday afternoon, the convoy had already joined up with the two thousand county soldiers personally led by the prefect.

The escort team became quite large, with the prefect bringing many of his nephews and younger relatives. Although the journey to Daming Prefecture was not far, the team was complete with servants, maids, and even cooks.

"I've heard that you, Lord, possess the strength to shoot an arrow through a willow leaf from a hundred paces away. You are truly a young hero."

The prefect rode on horseback, looking strong and powerful with thick arms. He didn't look like the legendary first-class scholar at all. He was the third-ranked scholar in the early years of Xuanhe and a well-known scholar in the whole country.

At this moment, the prefect was carrying people in a decorated sedan chair, clearly indicating his intention to make friends with them.

"It's not as good as Prefect Zhu's photographic memory."

Jiang He clasped his hands in response. The prefect of Daqian County was a fourth-rank official with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain), the same rank as a deputy commander. In theory, civil officials and nobles should not get too close, but Yizhou belonged to the Anbei Governor's Office, and the King of Anbei was no different from a local emperor. Therefore, civil officials would occasionally gravitate towards the military group.

The court ignored this almost transgressive behavior. The emperor was focused on Taoism and rarely inquired about external affairs. In most people's eyes, as long as the Grand Eunuch and the Five Pecks Taoist Master were still alive, the Four Great Governors would not be able to rebel. At the same time, once the border troubles were quelled, reforms would follow.

Upon hearing the response from the Duke of Pingluan, Prefect Zhu's smile broadened slightly.

Just then, a scout came to report.

"My lord, Your Excellency the Prefect, the escort team of the Prefect of Long'an has reached within twenty miles."

Prefect Zhu waved his hand and said, "This journey is enough with me and the Earl. Let Prefect Long'an focus on suppressing the bandits. There were more than one person from Long'an among the enemy cavalry we encountered. I am outspoken, and we'll see if the Prince remembers this matter when we meet him."

Beside Prefect Zhu, a mid-ranking military officer serving as the leader of his personal guards rode off on horseback, leaving the convoy and heading twenty miles away.

Escorting the princess back to Daming Prefecture was a golden opportunity to show off to the Prince of Anbei. Previously, their position was illegitimate, but now that the caravan had been attacked, everyone was vying for it, and among them, Prefect Zhu reacted the fastest.

The convoy continued on its way, with several groups being turned back halfway through.

In the afternoon, the majestic outline of the Jianchi Mountains gradually became clear, and a great river flowed continuously, lying across the front and side, with surging waves crashing against the banks with a magnificent momentum.

Magistrate Zhu cracked his whip, pointed at the great river, and laughed: "My lord, look, that is the famous Jian River. The villages and towns along the way are not disturbed by ghosts and demons. Emperor Guangwu of ancient times once pointed at the Jian River and made an oath with his mortal enemy, vowing that he would never pursue the revenge for killing his brother after the enemy surrendered. And it really came true. His magnanimity deserves the word 'great'."

"However, just two hundred years ago, the Sima clan also made a vow to uphold the rule of the water, deceiving their political enemies into trusting them. But they broke the vow afterward, making the oath utterly infamous. The man was nearly a hundred years old, with the eyes of an eagle and the gaze of a wolf. He outlived three generations of powerful rulers and finally took their place. Although he was glorious for a time, he left a bad name for eternity, and few of his descendants died young..."

Jiang He was slightly surprised, as the local anecdotes and the current history of the region had a great deal in common.

Prefect Zhu was speaking with great interest when he happened to glance to the side and his pupils dilated in shock. It was as if a chill ran down his spine and straight to his brain. He saw a white snake coiled around the neck of the fourth-rank official, the Duke of Pingluan, beneath his dark crimson robes. The snake's golden vertical eyes stared at him menacingly.

What's worse, upon closer inspection, he noticed that the Duke of Pingluan's eyes were even colder and more lifeless. Even the prisoners in the county city's dungeon who had killed more than a dozen people seemed much gentler in comparison.

"What is it, Lord Zhu?"

Jiang He was puzzled; hadn't this guy seen the snake?

Prefect Zhu forced a smile: "Perhaps I just caught a cold recently."

Lord Zhu remained much quieter for the rest of the journey.

Jiang He was happy to have some peace and quiet, so he ordered two cavalrymen to catch a few field mice, which the little white snake caught and swallowed whole.

"We're not getting enough to eat," Zhuang Ya said earnestly.

"How much do you eat?" Jiang He asked seriously.

Zhuang Ya thought for a moment and replied, "Three cows can keep you from going hungry for half a month."

Jiang He breathed a sigh of relief, "She doesn't eat that much."

In Yizhou, a young and strong ox is worth 20 taels of silver, which is equivalent to the annual expenses of a normal family of three. However, killing an ox without permission is a serious crime, and the oxen in the big restaurants are all "sick oxen".

……

As evening fell, the procession arrived at the south gate of Daming Prefecture.

The ancient and mottled city walls stretch as far as the eye can see, with solemn pavilions standing on them and vermilion pillars covered with magnificent carvings. A tributary of the Jian River flows through the city, and one can vaguely see the water town-like restaurants and dance halls inside.

With its high walls and deep moats, Daming Prefecture, the second largest city in the country, has a population of one million. Merchants and travelers from all over the country gather here, and the Hangming Canal carries a constant stream of boats back and forth. Not far outside the city, the Anbei Army camp is stationed, effectively suppressing martial artists from breaking the law.

The convoy stopped, and a great commotion of gongs and drums erupted at the city gate.

Boom!

Strong soldiers with red ribbons tied around their arms beat the war drums with all their might, the sound resounding and powerful. Hundreds of young women in light armor waved their long sleeves, their postures vigorous and powerful. With every move, their long sleeves seemed capable of destroying trees, their power astonishing.

A dignified and imposing middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back in the middle of the road. Anbei King Jian Changping was over fifty years old, but due to his considerable skill and tall stature, he looked as if he were in his prime. He wore a vermilion armor with carved pythons and inlaid with gold and jade, and a long sword hung at his waist, making him look majestic.

The princess stepped down from the carriage. In contrast to her father's solemn treatment, she was only dressed in a simple Taoist robe with a white veil covering her face.

"Greetings, Father, Uncle Yan, Grandmaster Hongzhou, Generals, and Your Excellency."

The prince was not the only one who came to welcome the princess back to her hometown. The head of the Yan family, the eldest son of the current prime minister, was also among them. The refined middle-aged man nodded with a smile.

"When you have achieved success in your cultivation of Taoism, choose an auspicious day to inherit the title. Do not forget to take care of your two good-for-nothing children."

Upon hearing this, the military officers all glared angrily, or at least appeared so. Although the Prince's mansion maintained its power on the surface after the prince's death, a major problem had arisen internally. According to outside speculation, the four generals, who had originally been law-abiding, had all harbored some unspeakable thoughts.

The princess smiled faintly and replied politely, "There's no need for Uncle to worry. I will become a Grandmaster, and taking care of a couple of people will be a piece of cake."

The Yan family head's smile remained unchanged. "That would be excellent."

Princess greeted everyone, while Prince Anbei watched quietly. It was unprecedented for a woman to inherit a royal title. In comparison, there were precedents for controlling the court or even becoming an empress. However, this was not just wishful thinking. As long as Princess became a Grandmaster, she could easily control an army of 160,000. Her pure power would be enough to break down worldly barriers.

"The Daoist master is unparalleled in both talisman and sword techniques. I wonder how much of it the princess has mastered?"

A robust old man asked a question.

Princess Jian Fuxue suppressed her smile and cautiously estimated, "Even if it's just talismans, it's less than one-tenth. The power of a Grandmaster is awe-inspiring."

The old man, Hong Zhou, shook his head and turned to leave, as if he had come specifically to ask that question.

Chapter 116 Situation

In the convoy.

Prefect Zhu couldn't help but whisper to someone.

"Grandmaster Hong is the seventh most powerful man in the world. It is said that two years ago he went deep into the Northern Barbarians, beheaded three hundred armored soldiers and returned. His great sword is powerful and strong, and no one can stop him. Now he is the nominal sect leader of the Daming Sect. This sect is like those Yangzhou Chambers of Commerce, a mixed bag."

"But something's not right today. The Yan family and the Prince's Mansion have always been at odds, but it's never come to the point of publicly embarrassing each other. The Yan family head made a veiled criticism of the Prince's Mansion for having no successor, and the Prince remained silent. Perhaps he was in the wrong first."

"Lord, why don't you say anything?"

"Feeding the snakes."

"Ok."

After the princess exchanged pleasantries with everyone, the drummers and the dancers with flowing sleeves all left.

The Prince of Anbei spoke up: “My daughter was attacked midway, but fortunately she was protected by the Marquis of Pingluan. I would like to offer a gold token as a token of my appreciation. Prefect Zhu escorted her all the way, and he has done a great service. Why don’t you stay in Daming Prefecture for a few days to rest? Tonight, I will host a banquet at my residence. Please come and join me.”

"Your Highness is too kind."

"Isn't this reward a bit too much?"

"Keep quiet. Be careful with your words these days."

"On the way to quell the rebellion, the Marquis of Pingluan defeated a cavalry force of over a hundred armored men. It is said that this young man is only seventeen years old."

“His uncle is truly a pity; he didn’t leave behind any good fortune, which was all taken by outsiders.”

The discussion became somewhat noisy, and Prefect Zhu was overjoyed. The so-called stay in Daming Prefecture for a few days was tantamount to the prince's personal promise that he could stay in the Anbei Governor's Mansion.

Jiang He obtained a golden python token, which was of exquisite quality.

Prefect Zhu said with a smile, "My lord, this is the Chengxuan Tower token. Gold, silver, copper and iron are corresponding to the four floors of Chengxuan Tower respectively. It contains martial arts from all over the country. The holder of the gold token can choose any one to take away. It is the greatest foundation for the Prince's Mansion to recruit masters from all over the world."

"Aren't you afraid of snakes anymore?" Jiang He asked, turning her head to the side.

Prefect Zhu chuckled, "Lord, please don't mention it again."

The caravan and county soldiers were arranged by one of the four generals, while the rest rode horses or came by carriage to the Prince's Palace.

Jiang He, riding on horseback, surveyed his surroundings, while Zhuang Ya cast curious glances at her neighbors.

As dusk settles, the city of Daming is at its most prosperous. The streets are crisscrossed, shops line the streets, the night market is bustling, carriages compete for space, horses gallop along the roads, gold and jade gleam, and the air is filled with the fragrance of fine silk.

The main road runs through the entire city, parallel to the Jian River tributary. At the center stands a towering iron tower, as tall as a mountain, entirely covered with brown glazed bricks, resembling an iron pillar. The bricks are decorated with dozens of patterns, and the bricks and stones are joined together as if by an axe, with tenons and grooves, and are stacked tightly.

The Twelfth Floor Demon Suppression Tower imprisons hundreds of members of the Demonic Cult and outlaw heroes. Every day, the Governor's Office escorts prisoners out of the tower to the night market for execution, and onlookers often applaud and cheer.

Beside the Demon Suppression Tower, the solemn and grand royal palace comes into view.

The area in front of the gate was exceptionally spacious, with hundreds of servants coming out to arrange the carriages and horses. The main gate of the Prince's Mansion remained closed. Although there were many guests tonight, all of whom were prominent figures from Daming Prefecture, this gate was only open to two types of people: the emperor or the crown prince, and grandmasters. Both of these individuals had passed through this gate in history, so the standards would never be lowered easily.

Everyone filed in.

A dark figure landed in front of Jiang He.

The Prince of Anbei turned around and said, "Lord Pingluan, you should go with him to Chengxuan Tower first, receive the ultimate skill, and then come back to take your seat. Tomorrow you will take office as the Vice Commander, in charge of all the lawsuits in the north of the city. The official seal and all the clothing have been sent to your residence. As for that house, it is a gift from me, and it is right next door."

One of the generals said indignantly, "Your Highness, why show him such favor? He's just a young boy who inherited a title."

The head of the Yan family laughed and said, "Of course it's because the four of you have been dishonest. He's a newcomer, and a young nobleman who's arrogant about his martial prowess. Is there a more suitable knife for him?"

With a single sentence, he offended the Prince of Anbei, the Earl of Pingluan, and the four generals, which thrilled the civil officials.

General Chen, who had just spoken, couldn't help but look at someone with a hint of wariness and suspicion in his eyes. Although the head of the Yan family had malicious intentions, his words were true. If this Earl was not greedy enough for military power, he would definitely replace one of them before he would be satisfied.

As for the possibility of them being law-abiding, they are too young to be trusted. Most young people in the army are ambitious, as General Chen, having been through it all, knows all too well.

The Prince of Anbei glanced at General Chen, who had his head bowed, and sighed almost imperceptibly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Jiang He clasped his hands in a fist salute and left with the experts from the Prince's Mansion.

"Patriarch Yan, have I been too lenient with you?"

The head of the Yan family bowed and apologized, "Then please, Your Highness, spare my life for my father's sake."

Having said that, the refined middle-aged man smiled broadly, clearly showing no fear. The King of Anbei did indeed have thousands of troops, but he had never been qualified to rebel. Not only was he lacking in Grandmaster-level combat power, but the Anbei Governor's Office also heavily relied on grain transported from the south. Due to the presence of the Northern Barbarians, the soldiers of Yizhou could not possibly hand over their parents and families to the barbarians for slaughter and go south with the King to rebel. In his eyes, the so-called Governor King was nothing more than a large prisoner.

The Prince of Anbei snorted coldly and announced the result that should have been revealed at the banquet.

"The Yan family's military commander in Mohun City has been executed tomorrow for dereliction of duty due to the loss of 120 sets of iron armor from the armory. His 6,000 troops will be temporarily placed under the command of the Duke of Pingluan."

In the crowd, Prefect Zhu was speechless. He never expected that the situation in Daming Prefecture would reach such a tense point. Those 120 sets of iron armor probably fell into the hands of the enemy cavalry that attacked the caravan. The Prince of Anbei's extraordinary bestowal of the golden edict was merely an attempt to appease his other subordinates. He would still be fair in rewards and punishments and would not use this matter to implicate others.

The head of the Yan family was furious. "I've already said it, the Yan family has never intended to attack or break the rules. That was something our subordinates did on their own!"