Chapter 611: Garrison
Chapter 611: Chapter 611: Garrison
Gao Yi’s heart pounded in alarm—his opponent’s martial skill was far greater than his own!
He was furious and indignant, but he made a split-second decision. He immediately turned and ran for the main gate!
’If I can just get out of here, I’ll be safe!’
But when he looked back, he found the main gate was already shut. A man in black, close-fitting attire stood there with his arms crossed over his sword, his posture casual.
Their eyes met.
Lian Zhou’s lips curled into a grin.
"You’ve got some skill, but not much."
He didn’t even last three moves.
Gao Yi was enraged, but a deep fear also began to bloom in his heart—’At such a close distance, how did I not sense an ambush?!’
He glanced back and saw that the man he had just fought had already sheathed his sword, his expression cold and detached.
"If I’d known it would be like this, you could have come alone. There was no need to call me."
Lu Yu had made time in his schedule to rush over here. He’d figured that since these two were from Qingzhou, they had some connection to Miss Ye. Capturing them could be seen as a way of protecting her.
The result... they were this weak.
Lian Zhou shrugged. "Who could have guessed? But since you’re here anyway, you might as well see it through, right? You take the fat one, I’ll take this one."
’After all, tying up a guy that fat is a lot of work.’
Lu Yu was speechless.
Zuo Ci was already scared stiff.
He looked around frantically. The servant from before was long gone. He had no idea who these two men were, but judging by their conversation, they clearly didn’t take him seriously at all!
Zuo Ci swallowed hard, forced himself to stand steady, and pointed at them, stammering, "Wh-who are you people! How dare you be so audacious! Do you have any idea who I am!? Be careful, or I’ll make sure you won’t get away with this—"
Lian Zhou picked at his ear impatiently. "So noisy. We came precisely because we know who you are. Who do you think has that much free time?"
The rest of Zuo Ci’s words caught in his throat.
Only then did he belatedly realize something was wrong—this was the Jiang Mansion. It was completely abnormal for these two to appear here so silently!
’Th-this is a trap!’
Zuo Ci was finally, truly afraid. His face went deathly pale, and his legs began to tremble.
"I... but I’ve never offended you. Why are you targeting me? I-I have money! However much you want, I’ll give it to you! I—"
THWACK!
Lu Yu couldn’t listen anymore and knocked the man unconscious with the hilt of his sword.
Zuo Ci’s eyes rolled back in his head as he collapsed to the ground.
Gao Yi’s gaze suddenly sharpened. He looked up in shock. "You... you’re the Black Cavalry Guard!"
It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact.
Lian Zhou smiled. "Oh? A sharp eye you’ve got there. It seems you’re familiar with more than just the Capital City."
The Black Cavalry Guard followed Shen Yanchuan and had only returned to the Capital City in the last year. Most of the time, they operated elsewhere.
Yet this Gao Yi had recognized their identity at a single glance. It was clear he was very knowledgeable about the Black Cavalry Guard.
How could the mere attendant of a county magistrate possess such insight?
Gao Yi’s heart sank. As soon as he confirmed their identity, he was filled with regret. ’I was too hasty! I exposed myself with just one sentence!’
But it was useless to think about that now.
’The Black Cavalry Guard setting an ambush proves they’ve been targeting me for a long time!’
Gao Yi’s mouth went dry and his heart leaped into his throat. His tone softened considerably.
"I... I... I don’t believe I’ve ever offended you. Could there be some misunderstanding?"
Lian Zhou let out a derisive snort.
"It’s useless telling me that. You know better than anyone whether you’ve done things that can’t see the light of day."
Seeing him about to draw his sword, Gao Yi grew frantic.
"You wouldn’t dare! This is the Capital City! Right under the Emperor’s nose! How dare you act so brazenly at the esteemed Jiang Mansion!? And Lord Zuo Ci, he’s a court official! You—"
Lian Zhou looked at him as if he were an idiot.
"You know this is the Capital City too, right?"
Gao Yi was suddenly speechless.
’The Capital City... for the Black Cavalry Guard to act like this, they must have received approval from above!’
An absurd guess surfaced in his mind.
’Could it be—’
"If you have any grievances, you can explain them properly once you’re inside," Lian Zhou said with a click of his tongue and a grin. "I just wonder, if your master finds out about this, will he come and save you?"
...
「Xia City.」
After a powerful windstorm, the city was once again covered in yellow sand.
The sun was hidden behind a thick layer of gray-white clouds, casting a gloomy pall over everything.
A biting north wind howled through the rough, dilapidated city walls, sounding like the wailing of ghosts and wolves.
At the city gate, a squad of soldiers arrived to relieve the guard.
"Finally time," a soldier who had been on duty all day chuckled. "I’ve been standing here since midnight yesterday. The wind’s almost turned me into human jerky!"
Another man spat out a mouthful of sand and wiped his face. "You’re telling me? Who can stand this godforsaken place?"
"Hey, don’t be so sure! I think A Feng is more than happy to be here!" the speaker laughed. "He’s always the most eager one at every guard change!"
At his words, the entire group turned to look at the very end of the line.
There stood a young man who looked to be in his teens. He had only been here for a few months, and the wind and sun had already turned his once-fair skin dark and rough.
Only his clear, bright eyes still held a trace of his youthful spirit.
Compared to these old soldiers, he was indeed still a greenhorn.
However, no one bullied or excluded him because of his age.
It wasn’t because he had come with Feng Zhang, but because just a few days after his arrival, he had killed an enemy on his first trip to the battlefield.
This was the border, a place that valued guts and courage above all else!
If you could fight and kill the enemy, you were a man!
Therefore, as soon as Ye Yunfeng arrived, he quickly fit in with everyone and adapted extremely well.
Another man teased, "Of course he is! Our A Feng is going to be a general someday! He’s not like you lot, who just laze around all day!"
Ye Yunfeng just smiled, unconcerned.
This place was harsh and cold. The soldiers stationed here led dull lives with scarce resources, so trading barbs was one of their few pastimes.
He said, "I still have a jug of Yellow Stone Wine that someone sent over. Whoever’s heading back can help me finish it."
"I’ll go!"
Hearing this, a group of them took off running.
Those left behind all wore expressions of complaint.
"A Feng, that’s not cool! You give it to them but not us?"
"Yeah! Are we brothers or not?"
"That wine is so hard to come by! Only you would treat it so casually, giving it away every time."
They didn’t know Ye Yunfeng’s identity, but they could guess he came from a good family. He wasn’t short on money, and his family often sent many things over.
Every time, a large group of them would be left drooling with envy.
No one knew why he had given up the comfortable life of a young master at home to come to this place and suffer.
But Ye Yunfeng was very generous, which was to their benefit.
Ye Yunfeng’s sharp brows rose.
"You’re on gate duty. What are you thinking, drinking wine? What if the enemy shows up and your drinking causes a disaster?"