My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

The group followed behind the marriage procession and did not make another move.

The marriage procession quickened its pace and soon arrived at Ganquan County.

When the marriage procession arrived in Ganquan County, it was late autumn.

The wedding procession stretched for dozens of miles, with a lavishly decorated carriage in the middle.

The carriage curtains were drawn low, blocking out the wind and sand from both the outside world and the view.

At the very front of the procession, Chen Mingyuan, the Vice Minister of Rites, rode on horseback, looking exhausted.

He has been traveling for over a month since he left the capital, and is exhausted from the long and arduous journey.

"Eunuch Wang, we've arrived."

Ahead, a troop of cavalry is lined up.

The leader, clad in black armor and riding a black horse, exuded a chilling aura.

Wang Qi, Chen Mingyuan, and the others dismounted, quickly stepped forward, and bowed respectfully.

"Chen Mingyuan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was ordered by the Emperor to escort the marriage procession across the border. He has met with General Li."

Li Xuancang nodded slightly and returned the greeting to everyone.

"Lord Chen, you've worked hard. People have been sent from the grasslands, but according to the rules, Ganquan County must escort them for a while."

"Go to the county town to rest first, and I will personally escort you out of the pass."

"Thank you, General Li."

Li Xuancang's gaze passed over Chen Mingyuan and paused slightly when it landed on the carriage.

The carriage curtains were drawn low, so nothing could be seen.

But his hearing was so sharp that he heard faint conversations coming from inside the carriage, like children asking questions in hushed tones.

Without saying much, he turned his horse around and led the army to guide the way.

The carriage slowly entered Ganquan County, and Princess Zhaoyang peeked at the outside scenery through the gap in the carriage curtain.

Zhaoyang lowered the curtain and looked down at the sketchbook in her hand, its edges already frayed from repeated readings.

That was a treasure she had secretly hidden in the palace, depicting stories of heroes and heroines from all walks of life in the Great Yan Dynasty.

The most captivating pages all depict the same person.

In the illustration, Li Xuancang is eight feet tall, with a broad back and a powerful build. He holds a giant axe and rides a black horse, galloping through the army and invincible.

Zhaoyang held the sketchbook and peered out through the gap in the carriage curtain.

Li Xuancang was handsome and dashing, completely different from the one depicted in the painting.

Zhaoyang lowered the curtain, her heart pounding wildly.

"Chunyan, Lord Li is so impressive!"

She whispered to Chunyan beside her, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes.

Chunyan nodded in agreement.

A few days later, the group entered the county town.

Li Xuancang hosted a banquet to welcome the marriage alliance.

At the banquet, Li Xuancang saw Princess Zhaoyang.

The little girl looked at him, their eyes met, but she didn't look away.

The little girl looked at him with curiosity, admiration, and undisguised worship.

"General Li, I have long admired your reputation, and it is my great honor to meet you today."

Zhao Yang mustered her courage, stood up, and bowed respectfully.

She stammered, clearly nervous.

Li Xuancang stood up and returned the greeting.

The little girl was only up to my chest, thin and small, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.

"You're too kind, Princess."

Li Xuancang's voice was gentle, lacking the coldness he displayed when facing enemies.

"The border area is simple and the hospitality is inadequate. I hope the princess will forgive us."

"No, no, no, it's already very good."

Zhao Yang quickly waved his hand.

"It's much better than I expected. I thought the border area was all tents!"

Chunyan gently tugged at Zhaoyang's sleeve, signaling her not to be impolite.

But Zhao Yang was completely unaware of this. Seeing that Li Xuancang's attitude was gentle, she began to ask questions incessantly.

"General Li, I've seen your sketchbook. It says you lifted a stone weight at three and fought a tiger at five. Is that true?"

Li Xuancang's lips twitched slightly.

He looked at Chen Mingyuan, who awkwardly turned his head away.

"Princess, things in picture books shouldn't be taken seriously. When I was three years old, I didn't even know what a stone lock was."

"What about a five-year-old fighting a tiger?"

Zhaoyang relentlessly pursued him.

Li Xuancang treated Zhaoyang like a child and answered all her questions.

After a brief conversation, her face flushed with laughter, and her earlier restraint vanished completely.

"You were drawn so fiercely in the sketchbook, I thought you were a scary person! I didn't expect you to be so easy to talk to."

Easy to talk to? Chen Mingyuan, who was listening from the side, broke out in a cold sweat.

He had to carefully consider every word he said during his conversation with Li Xuancang, afraid that he might say something wrong and anger this god of death.

How come Li Xuancang became "easy to talk to" in this little princess's mouth?

Li Xuancang neither denied nor admitted it.

Looking down at the smiling little girl, I felt a pang of guilt.

Zhao Yang suddenly stopped smiling and asked seriously, "General Li, have you fought many battles?"

Li Xuancang nodded.

"Have you killed many people?"

The banquet fell silent instantly.

Chen Mingyuan's wine glass hung in mid-air, his face pale.

Chunyan was also startled and reached out to cover Princess Zhaoyang's mouth.

Li Xuancang's voice was low and deep: "I've killed them."

Zhao Yang wasn't afraid. Instead, she took two steps forward and looked up at him.

"General Li, can you tell me... are the people on the grasslands... bad people?"

Li Xuancang looked at the little girl. She was only fourteen years old and looked as pitiful as a little animal, helpless and alone.

She was looking at him expectantly, as if waiting for an answer that would put her at ease.

She was going to the grasslands to spend the rest of her life in a strange land.

She didn't even know whether the people on the grassland were good or bad.

Li Xuancang suddenly felt a tightness in his throat.

He had witnessed too much life and death, and killed too many people; he had long been accustomed to being heartless.

But now, facing this little girl, he found himself feeling a pang of pity.

A fourteen-year-old child shouldn't have to endure this.

Li Xuancang fell silent for a moment, unsure how to respond.

The environment of the grassland people destined them to be brutal, and they had no ethical or moral principles.

Princess Zhaoyang's fate after marrying into that family was predictable; she might not even live to adulthood.

Princess Zhaoyang's eyes gradually dimmed as she did not receive the words she wanted.

Although she was innocent and carefree, she was also very perceptive. Li Xuancang's silence had already given her the answer.

"Princess, you should rest."

Chen Mingyuan walked over and gestured with his eyes, and some palace maids and eunuchs were about to pull Princess Zhaoyang away.

"General Li, may Zhaoyang stay here for a few more days?"

Zhao Yang looked at Li Xuancang with a pleading expression, wanting to stay a few more days.

Once you reach the grasslands, you can never return.

"Princess, this is against the rules, you..."

Before Chen Mingyuan could finish speaking, Li Xuancang interrupted him.

"Although Ganquan County cannot compare to the capital, it is still quite prosperous. If the princess wishes, she may stay for a few more days."

Li Xuancang couldn't bear to refuse and agreed to let her stay a few more days.

"Lord Li, this..."

Chen Mingyuan and Wang Qi wanted to refuse, but Li Xuancang's gaze swept over them, as if a heavy burden was pressing down on them.

All the words they wanted to say were stuck in their throats; they dared not utter a sound.

"Thank you, General Li."

Zhao Yang was overjoyed and thanked Li Xuancang.