Dragon Gate Swordsman

Chen Huijie, who was stopped, felt that Wen Yue was a little strange today. Besides, these four people did not look like police officers, especially the one leading them... For some reason, she felt an inexplicable sense of closeness in her heart.

Is it because the other party is also a dragon?

As for Ying Zhen, he did not say anything else. Ever since the coronation ceremony, the almost disappeared family affection has been his weak spot. Now seeing his cousin whom he already owed something, he did not know what to say.

Fortunately, at this moment, Wei Yanwu's voice came from not far away.

"So you are here..."

He walked over step by step with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on Ying Zhen, "Let's go, let's talk in my office."

……

To be frank, Wei Yanwu was somewhat afraid of his nephew.

The other party's abilities, methods, mind, vision, and even ruthlessness far surpassed any previous generation of true dragon emperors, and could even be compared with the greatest monarchs in Terra's history.

But don't forget, he is only thirty years old this year...

"Uncle, the last time you and I met, it's been about ten years now, right?"

"...Eleven years."

"Oh? Look at my brain. When there are too many things to do, I can't even remember things like this."

Wei Yanwu's expression was very calm. He sat on the chair like an old monk in meditation, and had no intention of responding.

There are not many people in this land who can make him "admit defeat", but the true dragon emperor Ying Zhen in front of him is definitely one of them.

This kind of performance also made Ying Zhen no longer want to beat around the bush.

"Excuse me, uncle, why did my good friend Chongxiao suddenly resign and leave?"

"Maybe he's not feeling well and needs long-term treatment, so he can only follow Rhodes Island."

"Feeling unwell?"

Ying Zhen almost laughed out loud.

With Chongxiao's physical fitness comparable to that of a giant beast, if he were to become unwell, what could a mere Rhodes Island do to cure him?

You might as well say that he covets Kal'tsit's beauty.

But after the smile, Ying Zhen's face darkened... Since Wei Yanwu chose such a ridiculous reason, it meant that Chongxiao's departure was false and he was the one who interfered.

"Uncle Emperor... would you rather expel him than have him serve Da Yan?"

"Serving Da Yan is the duty of Da Yan's people. This includes me. We must do our duty. But... Chong Xiao may not be a Da Yan's people."

This is the truth. No one can find out about Chongxiao's life before the natural disaster, and no one has ever found anyone who knew or even saw Chongxiao before that.

"Has the uncle ever asked Chongxiao about this?"

"Never."

"How can you be sure?"

"I can't be sure..."

Wei Yanwu suddenly sighed, "I know that your majesty thinks highly of Chongxiao, but there are some things...he really can't do, and that's not what he should bear."

There was a hint of sharpness in Ying Zhen's eyes, but they returned to normal after just a few seconds.

At least, on the surface, it's normal.

"Let's put this matter aside for now. There is still a long way to go. When I see Chongxiao again, I will ask him in person."

"Thank you... Your Majesty."

"There is one more thing. I have heard that Ursus is eyeing Longmen covetously and is even willing to support terrorists... This is intolerable!"

Ying Zhen stood up slowly, his face full of murderous intent, "I have ordered Huo Ying and Li Yaoshi to lead the Yicong and Anxi armies to bring our Great Yan's newest battle fortress here to connect with Longmen, and also transferred Wu Zhenren Zhongyue and the two descendants Ling and Qi here, all under the command of the emperor's uncle."

"If Ursus does anything illegal again, the emperor's uncle can directly lead his army north to attack their homeland!"

Star Bear: Snowy Night (Part 1)

Snowy nights in the East have never been so peaceful and beautiful.

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse, the lights were on, and Sekigahara Castle, which was once occupied by swords, spears, halberds, blood and fire, became a place where civilians could live and work in peace and contentment after only two years.

Looking at the children running happily with laughter, lingering in front of the mobile stalls, begging their parents in their baby voices for embroidered balls or hand-cranked bells, who wouldn't want to smile knowingly and enjoy the wonderful life brought by peace?

The Go-Saga shogunate, which ruled the area north of the Osaka Line, and the Emperor Go-gen, who ruled the area south of the Osaka Line, had been fighting each other for nearly a hundred years, but one side had never completely overwhelmed the other.

Therefore, whenever the two sides were unable to sustain themselves due to lack of money, food and population, they would cease fighting and resume production and development with an invisible tacit understanding.

In this way, the Sekigahara Castle, which was a battleground for military strategists, was able to return to prosperity under the governance of the Guangyan shogunate...

But at this moment, on another street dozens of meters away from the temple fair, a figure appeared that was out of place with the civilians who lived and worked in peace and contentment.

The people of the East are mainly ghosts, with a small number of Elafia and Volper. Their customs are more like wild than tough. It was not until more than 50 years ago that a large number of scholars brought back countless advanced concepts and knowledge from the neighboring country Dayan, which made education popular and the ignorant and backward system of the past began to change.

To this day, although the East has not yet entered into true modernization, it has already had a sense of prosperity and is trying hard to get rid of some of the "chronic diseases" that are hindering this trend.

For example...these three people who just walked out of the tavern.

They are the most common ghost tribe in the East. They are wearing sacrificial armor tailored for veterans who have fought on the battlefield for many years by the Go-Yan shogunate. They have sharpened long swords hanging from their waists. They are undoubtedly the absolute main force in the Civil War: the samurai.

However, they had just drunk countless amounts of fine wine, and they were staggering as they walked, with an irritable look on their faces, and they kept cursing the current leader of Sekigahara Castle: Settsu Hikaru.

"A no Yaro! Guang Yuan's bastards are so offensive, but the Lord of Settsu Castle actually allows their caravan to come and go freely!"

"This is simply ruining the general's reputation. The caravan leader should be beheaded in public!"

"That's right! That's how it should be!"

The samurai were obviously drunk and spoke without thinking, completely disregarding the lord of Sekigahara Castle.

The East Country is different from the vast and prosperous Dayan. Due to years of war, its resources, population and technology are unable to support the operation of many giant mobile cities... Just like this Guanyuan City, it is composed of only four city blocks. Its overall scale is more than half that of its counterparts in Dayan.

Even so, the status and position of a city lord cannot be arranged by just a few warriors.

The reason why they dared to speak so arrogantly in the streets was because their identity as samurai was once a symbol of status and honor in the East.

Not far away, the sound of wooden wheels turning could be heard... It was a hurried couple, the Wolpers, who were about to pull their stall cart to the temple fair to sell snacks and drinks.

But unfortunately, there was a Guangyuan Shendao Sect's amulet hanging on their booth cart.

In today's East Country, even merchants in the far north worship the amulets made by Guangyuan Shintoism, because the most successful entrepreneurs in the East Country almost all came from the south, and the Guangyan Shogunate was also positively influenced.

However, in the eyes of the samurai whose minds have been intoxicated by alcohol, this is an act of "betrayal".

"Hey! Stop!"

The Wolpers were at a loss and tried to escape faster, but were stopped by the warriors in advance.

With their short stature, they were like powerless pig beasts in front of the ghost warriors who had experienced war.

"Master, what's wrong?"

"What is that! Huh!?"

The ghost warrior pointed at Guangyuan Shendao Sect's protective amulet fiercely, as if he was going to slap the person in the face if they disagreed with him.

"Yes... yes... it's just... a talisman for seeking wealth..."

"Where did you get it from!?"

"It's... a caravan! The caravan that came to Sekigahara Castle last week!"

The nervous Wolpers did not dare to hide anything and told everything directly.

Since the northern shogunate and the southern emperor negotiated a ceasefire two years ago, the Osaka Line, which had been completely blocked, has been restored to normal operation. A large number of caravans and travelers have begun to travel between the north and the south, promoting economic recovery.

In view of this, the appearance of the amulet of Guangyuan Shinto Sect in the hands of merchants in Guanyuan City is not a strange thing worthy of attention.

Unfortunately, they encountered a samurai who had lost his mind.

"How dare you buy things from those bastards? And put them on display for everyone to see?"

Before he finished speaking, the long sword had been unsheathed, and the cold light reflected on the blade shot sharply towards the terrified faces of the Wolper couple... They could never have imagined that they, who just wanted to do some small business, would encounter such a situation.

However, at this moment, two fingers suddenly appeared in the air and tightly clamped the warrior's sword.

"You are... who are you!?"

What responded to him was not any words, but the crisp sound of the blade being forcibly broken.

And an iron fist of incredible power.

The tall body of the ghost warrior flew directly into the air, and then fell down in an extremely clumsy posture, shaking up a cloud of mist-like snowflakes.

"You guys leave here right now."

The short voice startled the Wolpers for a moment, and then they pulled up their stall cart and ran away quickly without even a word of thanks.

The status of samurai was extraordinary in the north ruled by the Go-Yan shogunate. If they did not want to be involved in greater trouble, their only choice was to disappear as quickly as possible.

As the sound of the wooden wheels gradually faded away, the figure that had knocked the warrior away stood in the middle of the street, blocking the direction in which the Wolpers were leaving.

The wide, tattered-looking robe concealed his features, body shape, and even gender, but one could still tell that he was taller than the ghost warriors, and that his right hand was wrapped in cloth… Just now, it was this right hand that easily knocked away an experienced warrior.

"With this outfit... are you a wanted bandit? Take off your hat! Quickly!"

After all, he was a well-trained Eastern warrior. After realizing that the opponent was not simple, he sobered up immediately and picked up the weapon in his hand.

But the suspicious people didn't seem to take them seriously...

"...two years...less than two years."

"What did you say!?"

"You... were all warriors who once fought against the Guangyuan Army. How come you have become bastards who only know how to bully civilians?"

The three of them looked at each other in surprise and doubt, and a chill ran down their spines.

Anyone who can see this at a glance must be someone extraordinary.

But the essence of a samurai is loyalty and bravery. When they faced Guang Yuan's army on the battlefield, they would not retreat, so it is naturally impossible for them to turn around and run away now.

Let’s subdue this guy first!

The three people fighting side by side instantly sensed their companion's thoughts, and then took a step forward and rushed towards the mysterious man one after another.

However, they soon discovered that this was a wrong decision.

Facing the oncoming sharp blade, the mysterious man did not dodge, but simply raised his left hand and grasped it tightly... The assassination iron claws commonly used by Eastern ninjas can effectively restrain samurai swords, but in this man's hand, they are more like ordinary iron gloves.

“…I don’t want to kill anyone.”

He twisted his left hand hard, breaking the blade, and then kicked the second warrior who rushed forward to the ground.

"But I don't mind..."

He suddenly took a step forward and knocked the stunned opponent away with his shoulder. At the same time, his right hand reached out like lightning and grabbed the wrist of the third warrior, throwing him and his sword in a semicircle, smashing him hard on the snowy ground.

"People from harm."

After these two sentences, the three battle-hardened warriors were no longer able to stand up. Only the splashed snowflakes were slowly falling down, forming a cruel yet somewhat sad picture.

"You...you must be Guang Yuan's...spy! You can't...leave!"

"spy?"

The mysterious man was about to leave, but suddenly stopped.

He slowly bent down and pulled his hood back a little, revealing the fallen warrior's face full of fear and horror.

"Are you... sure?"

……

Settsu Hikaru, the lord of Sekigahara Castle, was a hero who ended the war in the eyes of the common people of the Eastern Kingdom.

Two years ago, as the general commanding the shogunate's Second Army, he resisted enemies several times larger than himself and completely crushed Emperor Mitsurugi's desperate counterattack on the Osaka Line. He then strongly supported the shogunate's decision to cease fire.

In the eyes of the shogunate, he was an important official with good leadership; in the eyes of the samurai, he was a brave and decisive general; in the eyes of the common people, he was a leader who understood the big picture.

Although there were some hot-tempered samurai who thought that Settsu Mitsuru's active trade with Mitsurugi after the war was unacceptable, in general, in the areas ruled by the Mitsurugi shogunate, the vast majority of eastern residents were proud of this wise leader.

Settsu Hikaru was a self-disciplined and frugal person by nature. Even though he controlled Sekigahara Castle, one of the richest mobile cities in the East, he still lived a life that could be described as poor.

In the only dojo he applied for from the shogunate, there were no gorgeous and exquisite decorations or priceless treasures. There were only samurai swords and iron stakes that helped him practice all day long, and an old servant who went to and from get off work on time.

But today, an uninvited guest appeared in the dojo.