Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

Chen Qian led the three men to the vicinity of the central army, where there were two larger and neater tents.

"My esteemed guest, please take a look. These two tents are spacious and quiet."

There were guards on all sides in shifts, so there was absolutely no disturbance.

I will send someone to purchase ginseng to replenish your vital energy shortly, and the medicinal meal will be delivered soon.

The food in the camp is not good, and I'm afraid the envoy won't be used to it, so I'll have someone buy some.

Song Zhaoxue nodded.

"That's excellent, thank you, General."

Li Fu remained silent, his sharp gaze sweeping over the military camp's defenses.

Seeing that the camp was well-defended, the soldiers were skilled, and the arrangements were thorough, he nodded in approval.

"No matter how skilled Yin Hu is in archery and lightness of foot, he would never dare to rush in and assassinate a thousand well-trained border troops with bows and crossbows."

Chen Qian dared not slack off in his work.

Within half an hour, bedding had been laid out inside the tent, a charcoal brazier was lit, and hot tea and food were served.

The camp's medicine storehouse immediately dispensed the medicine and prepared medicinal meals.

Once everything was in order, Chen Qian came to report in person.

Two fast horses have been dispatched. One team, carrying his order, will deliver the message to the Qin Prefecture government office. The other team will increase the number of overt and covert sentries around the military camp to strengthen security and prevent the murderers from getting close.

Song Zhaoxue sat upright in the tent, her demeanor and understated majesty as a noblewoman of the imperial family completely different from her lively and unrestrained nature on the way.

She expressed satisfaction with Chen Qian's arrangements and offered a few words of gentle encouragement.

"No, no, it's my duty."

Chen Qian didn't dare to raise his head and respectfully took his leave.

The curtain fell, leaving only Li Fu, Song Zhaoxue, and Wei Ying, who was sitting cross-legged and meditating after taking her medicine.

Song Zhaoxue glanced at Li Fu, let out a long sigh of relief, relaxed, rubbed her temples and sighed, "Finally I can catch my breath. Pretending to be all high and mighty is quite tiring."

Li Fu smiled slightly and said truthfully, "You were very imposing just now; General Chen was quite frightened by you."

Song Zhaoxue said.

"He's just afraid of the token. As for his demeanor... anyone can put on a cold face, there's nothing to say about it."

She walked to the edge of the tent, lifted a corner, and looked out at the guards standing at attention with guns and the patrol in the distance, a smile playing on her lips.

"Li Fu, you see, now it's Yin Hu's turn to worry, isn't it?"

"Since I stepped into this military camp, I don't think I've heard the roar of a tiger again."

Li Fu walked to her side and looked out of the camp.

As the sun sets, the camp flags flutter in the breeze, creating a solemn and peaceful atmosphere.

In the distance, mountains rise and fall, and dense forests stretch deep, but the harassing arrows and tiger roars seem to have been separated by the heavily fortified military camp into another world.

Li Fu gazed intently at the dense forest outside the military camp.

"The hunter lost the opportunity to conceal himself in the hunting grounds and launch proactive attacks, watching as his prey retreated into his impregnable fortress. All his previous patient planning and attempts to wear down the enemy became futile."

For a proud assassin like Yin Hu, he would definitely take action.

I wonder what he'll do next?

Song Zhaoxue's eyes lit up. "You mean, what if he couldn't resist trying to get closer to the military camp to look for an opportunity?"

"It's possible," Li Fu analyzed.

"His lightness skill is superb. He might take advantage of his skill and daring to sneak close at night to investigate, or even try to provoke us by shooting arrows from a distance to provoke us to come out."

However, military camps are not like the open field; they are heavily guarded and filled with hidden sentries, making it difficult for him to remain undetected once he gets close enough.

Once spotted from afar, facing the barrage of powerful bows and crossbows from the army... I wonder if he has the protective inner energy that you and I possess.

Wei Ying calmed her breathing slightly, her complexion improved, and she said softly.

"In this way, the initiative returned to our hands."

We can rest and recuperate properly, and wait for the opportune moment.

If he can't contain himself and makes a move, it will give us our opportunity.

Li Fudao said, "Let's get a good rest tonight."

I'll discuss things again tomorrow when I'm feeling better.

We can now think of a way to turn defense into offense.

As night deepened, the military camp was quiet except for the sounds of patrolling footsteps and bugle calls.

Song Zhaoxue and Wei Ying rested in another tent, while Li Fu also enjoyed the rare tranquility. With the Nine Yang True Qi and the perfected Iron Shirt technique, he no longer had to worry about Yin Hu's surprise attack with a cold arrow.

Inside the tent, he sat cross-legged in meditation, circulating his Nine Yang True Qi throughout his body, but his mind did not stop, recalling the events of the day.

"According to the words of the Snake before its death, four of the twelve fierce signs have come directly, led by Tiger, one of the four great masters."

Now that the Snake has been eliminated, only the Tiger, Rabbit, and the Dog (who has never appeared) remain.

The Rabbit at least showed its form on a rooftop in the distance, but the Dog was nowhere to be found, its whereabouts unknown.

Li Fu closed his eyes and pondered.

Each of the twelve fierce signs has its own unique skills, and it is unknown what kind of martial arts or assassination methods the Rabbit and Dog possess.

He was wide awake and wide awake even after adjusting his breathing in the middle of the night.

He simply got up and slowly walked out of the tent.

In the darkness of night, the military camp was sparsely lit, and the moonlight shone on the rows of tents, casting a cool glow.

In military camps, no one dares to move around freely.

When the patrolling soldiers saw him, they all bowed respectfully and dared not stop him, for everyone knew that he was a nobleman who had come with the emperor's envoy.

Li Fu strolled around leisurely, keeping an eye on his surroundings.

He knew that by hiding in the military camp and being protected by border troops, he would no longer be harassed, but perhaps he would no longer have to worry about assassination.

But what he wanted was not safety, but to capture all twelve villains in one fell swoop.

Wandering outside the camp at this time would provide an opportunity for the lurking assassin to strike.

Wandering outside the camp at this time would provide an opportunity for the lurking assassin to strike.

Li Fu walked slowly through the military camp, deliberately taking more dark and secluded routes. However, after walking around, the surrounding area was quiet, with only the sound of the night wind rustling the banners.

There were no arrows piercing the air, nor any hidden weapons striking the body.

"They're quite composed."

Li Fu felt a pang of regret, but he wasn't in a hurry.

The contest between hunter and prey is all about patience.

As Li Fu was about to return to his camp, he suddenly heard hushed conversations coming from the main tent. It was Chen Qian and his deputy.

He had exceptional hearing; even though they were eight or nine feet apart, he could hear clearly.

"General, is the identity of that envoy... truly correct?"

The lieutenant's voice was hesitant, "The gold medal has no writing on the back, which is against regulations, and I feel uneasy about it."

Chen Qian said in a deep voice, "When I sent someone to the prefectural city to deliver the order today, I also asked the prefect of Qinzhou to verify whether he had heard of this matter."

The prefect sent a reply confirming the matter, stating that only one imperial gold plaque of this design had been issued before, and it was bestowed upon a member of the Prince of Chu's family.

"The King of Chu?" The lieutenant exclaimed in surprise, his voice dropping even lower. "You mean... the King of Chu who has been deposed and reduced to a commoner by the Emperor?"

When officials in the court discussed matters concerning the imperial family, they were always extremely cautious and dared not speak recklessly.

Especially when it comes to that one prince who was the only one to be deposed, he is extremely secretive about it.

Only in the dead of night, in the tents of his confidants, would he dare to mention a few words.

"Besides the current emperor's third son, the Prince of Chu, who else has been deposed as a prince and demoted to a commoner?"

Chen Qian sighed, "Judging from his age, that envoy must be the daughter of the King of Chu."

Outside the tent, Li Fu's heart stirred.

He had heard of the name of the King of Chu among the common people.

"King Chu, it is said that he is the emperor's most beloved youngest son. He was intelligent and outstanding from a young age, with many military achievements. He is kind and polite and has a reputation as a chivalrous king."

There were even rumors back then that the emperor had favored the King of Chu to succeed to the throne and wanted to depose the eldest son and establish the younger one in his place.

Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, the King of Chu suddenly went mad, behaved improperly in front of the emperor, and even set fire to the palace.

The emperor was furious and stripped him of his title, imprisoning him in Junzhou.

From then on, this once-glorious prince disappeared from the court and the public eye, and was never heard from again.

Inside the tent, the deputy general whispered, "Since the King of Chu has been deposed and reduced to a commoner, his daughter... should not have any title or rank."

"Even without a title or rank, one must never be negligent."

Chen Qian spoke in a serious tone.

"After all, they are of noble birth, and their blood relatives with the emperor are inseparable."

I heard that when the King of Chu was first deposed, the emperor was furious and imprisoned him, sealing off his residence and forbidding anyone from contacting him.

There were rumors in the court that the current emperor might execute the Chu King's lineage, and the matter remained unresolved...

He paused, his voice growing deeper.

"Later, for some reason, perhaps because the emperor was getting old and cared more about family ties, he issued an edict that, apart from the King of Chu himself, his family members would no longer be imprisoned."

He also bestowed this imperial gold plaque, granting the holder the same privilege as the emperor himself, to prevent them from falling into weakness and being bullied.

Recalling how that dignified noblewoman had somehow attracted the pursuit of the Twelve Fierce Generals during the day, the lieutenant general paused for a moment before speaking.

"General, there are no outsiders here, so I'll venture to speak... I've heard that madness can be passed down through bloodlines. If the father is mad, his children often are too..."

"Silence!"

Chen Qian interrupted sharply, and the sound of him slamming his hand on the table echoed inside the tent.

"Are you out of your mind?"

How dare you say such things?

Do you consider yourself a high-ranking official in the imperial court? Just that one sentence is enough to send your entire family to their deaths!

He took a deep breath, his voice trembling: "Know that His Majesty is also... This matter ends here; let us not discuss the nobleman again!"

The lieutenant was clearly terrified, repeatedly agreeing and daring not to say another word.

Li Fu stood in the shadows outside the tent, holding his breath and concealing himself as if he had blended into the night. His martial arts had reached a state of perfection, and the two people inside the tent were completely unaware of his deliberate concealment.

Listening to the conversation inside the tent, he frowned slightly, a complex emotion passing through his mind.

"So Zhaoxue is the daughter of the King of Chu..."

He recalled that when Wei Yang had told Song Zhaoxue's fortune before, he had said that she was a tall tree that would be accompanied by many sorrowful winds and that she would suffer many hardships in her life. Song Zhaoxue praised the prediction as accurate.

At the time, he thought it was just the deceptive talk of a charlatan; what kind of hardship could a noblewoman from the royal family possibly suffer?

In retrospect, Wei Yang Hu Meng's fortune-telling prediction actually came true.

The saying goes that a fallen phoenix is ​​no better than a chicken. This is especially true for the sons of the imperial family. Once they lose power and are imprisoned within high walls, what difference is there between them and being in jail?

For an innocent child, an age that should be filled with romantic play, instead, he is faced with four high walls, seeing only the sorrowful faces of his family, a father who has gone mad, and the cold, ruthless imperial guards standing guard with their weapons...

What kind of life would that be?

Moreover, anyone with a brain would know that when rumors of the emperor's intention to execute the Chu King's lineage spread, even if no one dared to openly bully them, their political enemies would likely have no shortage of attempts to take advantage of their misfortune, make things difficult for them, or give them cold looks and ridicule in private.

"The imperial family is ruthless. Once the emperor is angry, bloodline and sons are irrelevant. Only if the emperor acknowledges them can one be considered a son. If the emperor does not acknowledge them, then they are nothing."

Even a deposed crown prince could be forced to his death by officials taking advantage of the situation, let alone a deposed prince.

Li Fu frowned.

"In such a growing environment, no one can remain calm in the face of death; the death that hangs in the balance is an endless torment."

Even though the emperor later showed mercy, lifted the confinement, and awarded him a gold medal, how could the shadow of his childhood be easily erased?

He suddenly remembered Song Zhaoxue's usual appearance.

That lively and spirited demeanor, sometimes charmingly naive, sometimes cunning, those clear and bright eyes, that innocent curiosity about the world of martial arts...

"I really don't know how she grew up to be like this."

Li Fu was filled with emotion.

He suddenly had a strong desire to meet Song Zhaoxue's mother.

"My father went mad. It must have been my mother who raised her single-handedly and took meticulous care of her, creating a small, warm world for her in such a cruel environment."

She must have been an extremely resilient, gentle, and great woman; otherwise, how could she have protected her daughter so well under such circumstances, allowing her to retain light and kindness in her heart?

The conversation inside the tent had ceased, leaving only the faint sound of the lamp flame crackling.

Li Fu quietly turned around and slowly walked back to his tent to rest.

The night passed, and nothing happened.

The Tiger did not appear, perhaps because it was truly intimidated by the military camp, or perhaps it was spying from afar, waiting for its opportunity.

A night's rest is enough for a martial arts master to fully recover his energy.

After a night of rest and recuperation, Wei Ying ate some medicinal food, and her energy recovered somewhat. She was no longer in serious trouble.

The next morning, as dawn broke, the bugle call for drills sounded in the camp.

The army sent breakfast, which was a delicacy specially purchased from the city, in case the distinguished guests were not used to the food.

After the three finished breakfast, Chen Qian came to report.

Dressed in military uniform, Chen Qian walked steadily to the tent where Song Zhaoxue and the others were temporarily residing. He clasped his hands and said loudly, "This humble general, Chen Qian, requests an audience with Your Excellency the Envoy."

Inside the tent, Li Fu and the other two had finished their meal and were discussing how to lure out and deal with Yin Hu and the other several villains who were secretly watching them.

Upon hearing this, Song Zhaoxue sat upright in the main seat, cleared her throat, and said, "General Chen, please come in."

Chen Qian lifted the curtain and entered the tent, bowing respectfully to report:

"Reporting to Your Excellency, I have followed your instructions and last night I dispatched three times the number of scouts, both overt and covert, expanding the patrol area to five miles around the camp."

The messenger on horseback who went to the prefectural capital to deliver the order has also reported back that the prefect of Qinzhou has dispatched personnel to set up checkpoints at various key points to search for and capture the thieves.

Please rest assured, sir.

Song Zhaoxue nodded slightly, maintaining a composed demeanor, but her mind was not entirely at ease.

She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Thank you for your trouble, General."

However... I am not very familiar with military defenses. May I ask, General, how is the defense of this camp?

After all, your army usually trains and is stationed to guard against large foreign armies or border bandits. You probably don't have much experience dealing with assassinations by martial arts masters like these.

She still showed some concern about this.

Chen Qian sensed the worry in her voice, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said solemnly:

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency, we will not slacken our efforts in defense."

My camp comprises six battalions of soldiers, including infantry, cavalry, archers, and crossbowmen, totaling over 3,700 men.

The camp was built along the mountainside, covering an area of ​​about 450 square steps, and was heavily fortified.

Let alone ordinary petty thieves, even if there were truly legendary martial arts masters who could draw powerful bows and shoot hundreds of paces away, their arrows would have already lost their power after traveling such a distance, making them ineffective in causing harm.