Chapter 84. The Wind Blows (4)

A carriage? The Chief Military Officer?

And he came all the way to this place, where the Third Prince of the Heavenly Horse Sect lives? Why on earth?

Xueliang stared at him for a moment, then tilted her head.

"It's not possible."

"…?"

"I'm busy right now. Oh, I believe you heard from behind, so you should know."

She looked at Weihonglian.

Weihonglian's mouth opened and closed like a fish, clearly shocked.

"Hey, Chief Weihonglian."

"…."

"Madwoman?"

"Who the hell are you calling a madwoman… Ah?"

"Damn. Want to shout louder? Why don't you shout it to the world? Huh?"

"No, I didn't realize it was you, Prince."

"Alright, take the Chief Military Officer and leave. Got it?"

"Yes, yes?"

"Take your hand off. I'm closing the door."

Weihonglian was taken aback.

"Prince! Prince!"

"What now?"

"The Chief Military Officer is here, and you're going to turn him away?"

Xueliang snorted.

"Is there a law that says a landlord must receive every visitor?"

"…!"

"I'm already busy as hell, damn it. Whether your hand breaks or not, I'm closing it now."

Weihonglian quickly withdrew his hand, knowing Xueliang was someone who would do what she said.

At that moment, Houyaocheng stepped forward.

"Third Prince."

"Is there something you want to say?"

"You said you were going to the armory, right?"

"Yes, but—"

"Why are you going to the Demon King Armory? The Heavenly Horse Armory… Oh! Now that I think about it, you said you went in once before, right?"

Xueliang snorted. He had suspected as much.

"Yes, so I'm going to the Demon King Armory."

"The sword you brought before isn't needed anymore, I see."

"So, I'm going to the armory, then?"

"Ooh? I heard you've been using some incredible Dao techniques lately. Did you change your approach?"

"What if I did?"

"Amazing!"

"Thank you for the compliment."

"They say a born genius who also works hard can achieve anything!"

"I don't know about being a genius, but I've worked hard."

"A man of perseverance! Impressive!"

"Thank you again."

The three people were stunned by the natural flow of their conversation. Even Jinhu, who was sitting far away, was rolling her eyes.

'What is this strangely familiar conversation? Could they know each other well?'

Everyone held their breath, looking back and forth between the two.

"By the way, with your excellent skills, will you be satisfied with just the Demon King Armory?"

"Since my skills are good, the Demon King Armory is sufficient."

"Ha! I hadn't thought of that, but it makes sense."

"Are you done talking now?"

"Would you like to enter the Heavenly Horse Armory?"

The room froze.

Xueliang's eyes narrowed.

"You're saying you'll let me into the Heavenly Horse Armory? Me?"

"Yes."

"Even though I've been in and out before?"

"Of course."

"Is that possible?"

"Why would I lie when it would be exposed immediately? I don't do that."

"You're wise. I don't lie either, unless absolutely necessary."

"A meeting of sages! I'm looking forward to our conversation today."

"Can't be done just like that, right?"

"Life is about equal exchange, isn't it? You seem to have experience, don't you?"

"True… So, what's the price?"

"For a skilled warrior, the Heavenly Horse Armory doesn't matter much, does it?"

"True."

"I can't ask for much, then. How about giving me the Prince for the day?"

"…What?"

"Just a casual chat, and a drink tonight. Don't misunderstand."

"Without an explanation, I would have misunderstood for sure."

"Thankfully, I explained. By the way, I really like that woman."

Xueliang chuckled.

"Wait a moment. I'll change and come out."

"Take your time."

Houyaocheng, with his hands behind his back, smiled brightly.

Xueliang entered the room, leaving Houyaocheng and Weihonglian outside. Madongfil followed him in.

"Prince."

Madongfil's face was a mix of surprise and confusion.

"Perhaps… you and the Chief Military Officer have known each other for a long time?"

"No way."

"Ah… But, well…"

"…"

"It was a very intimate conversation… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have listened as a subordinate."

"Don't worry about it. We were in the same room anyway."

"Ah, yes."

"Anyway, Dongfil."

"Yes, Prince."

Xueliang, dressed in black martial clothes, a belt, and a saber, spoke seriously.

"Go to the Joyful Bliss Master for a moment."

"The Joyful Bliss Master?"

"Ask if there was a meeting with the Chief Military Officer while I was outside the sect."

"…"

"If there was, find out what they talked about, and if anything was said about me."

Madongfil tilted his head.

'Why the Joyful Bliss Master?'

Meanwhile, Xueliang's face was more serious than ever.

'Damn it.'

This was the first time Xueliang, as the Third Prince, had met Chief Military Officer Houyaocheng. But as a reincarnated soul, he had known him before.

On the other hand, Houyaocheng knew a lot about him.

Not only about the previous Xueliang, but also about him after reincarnation.

His casual remarks were filled with ominous content.

- Ooh? I heard you've been using some incredible Dao techniques lately. Did you change your approach?

He had properly wielded a sword when he destroyed the Fourth Prince Hongweimen.

Of course, the news had spread, so the Chief Military Officer couldn't have missed it.

Xueliang's real concern came next.

- Life is about equal exchange, isn't it? You seem to have experience, don't you?

- I can't ask for much, then. How about giving me the Prince for the day?

He had mentioned the price first, but the talk of high value, equal exchange, and experience was peculiar.

Dao techniques, transactions, experience.

These three seemingly unrelated words brought the Joyful Bliss Master to mind.

'He appeared two days after I arrived at the sect. So…'

Rustle!

Xueliang, dressed in a white robe, looked excellent.

'Should I assume he knows I went outside the sect? Maybe the Joyful Bliss Master told him.'

Regardless, he wanted to avoid Houyaocheng.

The reason was that his extrasensory perception had been triggered the moment they met.

Despite recent events, he had never felt such an alarm when meeting someone.

It meant that Xueliang had become strong enough that most people no longer posed a threat.

But his extrasensory perception had gone off loudly when he saw the Chief Military Officer, who had only a handful of martial arts skills.

What did that mean?

"Did you wait long?"

"Ha ha! Long? I didn't even notice the time passing, enjoying the scenery. It's amazing! I wondered why you lived in such a secluded place, but it's because of this peaceful view!"

"…It's desolate, though?"

"That's the charm. Places with many trees also have many insects."

Xueliang smiled.

"Shall we go?"

"Sure."

He turned to Weihonglian.

"You wait here."

Weihonglian couldn't speak, as Xueliang's smiling eyes were anything but friendly.

"Ang!"

Jinhu quickly climbed onto Xueliang's shoulder.

"Oh? Do you keep it? It's such a cute fox?"

"I don't keep it; we just live together."

"Can I touch it?"

"It'll bite your fingers off."

"Hehe."

"I'm serious."

"…Ah, yes."

* * *

The distance from Xueliang's residence to the Heavenly Horse Armory was considerable.

They could have taken a carriage, but they chose to walk.

More accurately, Xueliang wanted to walk. He wanted to learn more about him through conversation.

They walked side by side, talking for about two hours.

Xueliang couldn't figure out anything about Houyaocheng except for one thing.

"So, what did you do?"

"I don't know. What did I do?"

"I said this: 'You bastards! I am the Chief Military Officer of the Heavenly Horse Sect! If I die here, the main sect will chase you to the Western Regions and kill you!'"

"And what happened?"

"What do you think? They laughed at me. What good would talking do to ignorant bandits who live by theft?

In the end, I was stripped of everything and returned to the sect looking like a beggar."

The unbelievable story of being caught by bandits and returning empty-handed during his first leave ended there.

Whether it was true or not, Houyaocheng knew how to make the listener enjoy the story.

His perfect breath control, the ability to create the right atmosphere with his voice, and his timing in delivering punchlines made it feel like listening to a skilled ensemble.

"So, what happened to those bandits?"

"Who knows? No report came in, but…"

Houyaocheng made a slashing motion across his neck with a serious face.

"They probably all got it, didn't they?"

"But you went on a mountain and river tour without any escort?"

"I wanted to enjoy freedom. I was so tired of work that even seeing the faces of the main sect's members drained my energy."

He moved between truth and fiction. It was impossible to tell where the fiction ended and the truth began.

"Brave of you."

"Ha ha! You're braver, Prince!"

"Why do you think so?"

"Isn't it obvious? I went on leave officially, but you went secretly. That kind of boldness isn't something just anyone can show."

Indeed, he knew.

Xueliang smacked his lips.

"I didn't tell the Sect Leader."

"Really? You're admitting it?"

"What's the point of lying to someone who already knows everything?"

"Ha ha! You said you don't lie unless necessary. It's true! I admire your manly honesty!"

Well, well.

"But, tell me."

"Hmm?"

"Even if I don't tell him, the Sect Leader probably already knows, doesn't he?"

"…"

"I haven't met him directly, but I'm sure of it."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because the Sect Leader can't not know what I know, right?"

Xueliang was speechless at the matter-of-fact statement.

But it was true. While he wasn't sure if Li Chianshang was as perceptive as Houyaocheng, he was definitely more informed.

"So, I'm in a pretty dangerous situation right now."

"It could be, or it might not be. I can't see what the Sect Leader is thinking or how he will act."

That's true.

Li Chianshang was such a unique and absolute ruler that even a remarkable Chief Military Officer like Houyaocheng would find it difficult to analyze his behavior.

Xueliang nodded.

"Whatever, let's move on."

"Ha! Move on? This isn't something to be taken lightly. The more I see, the more…"

"What's the real reason you came to find me?"

Houyaocheng winked.

"Simple curiosity."

"Curiosity?"

"Yes, I can't stand not knowing what I'm curious about."

Xueliang didn't ask why he was curious about him. He seemed to understand without needing to ask.

Click.

Xueliang stopped walking.

"Huh? Why are you stopping? We still have about five li to go to the Heavenly Horse Armory?"

"I have to stop."

"What do you mean?"

Xueliang stared at Houyaocheng and smiled.

Houyaocheng's face, which had been pretending not to know, suddenly stiffened.

Swoosh.

"There's no one around."

"…"

"You really did go on a mountain and river tour alone. I can't sense any guards."

"…Why are you being so scary?"

Xueliang's tone changed.

"No matter how I think about it, the atmosphere is off."

Thud.

A blade was placed on Houyaocheng's shoulder.

Xueliang's eyes turned icy cold.

"Are you ready to lose your head?"