tti once stopped them and promised he would tell the Magic Association about this place. He said they could harvest the Soul Blossoms here. But his greed got the better of him and he ended up harming...At that time, Tuoba Han hadn't quelled the internal strife and didn't want to start a war with the Han kingdom because of a princess, so he could only give up. However, this became a thorn in his heart, after all, his elite squad died because of this woman.

Tuoba Han endured for three years, completely eradicating the remnants of Tuoba Qi's power. Then, he spent another ten years recuperating, increasing the population, and training soldiers.

Then, year after year, they sent spies into the Han Kingdom to gather intelligence, initiating a series of probes. For many years, the border regions had been peaceful, but now they were frequently harassed.

And the harassment keeps escalating. Last winter, Mongolia experienced a once-in-a-century cold snap, killing herds of cattle and sheep, and even people. Pastures were also severely damaged by the freezing temperatures, leaving less grazing land for the coming year.

To survive, the Mongol people secretly infiltrated villages on the border and looted them. They showed no mercy to resisting Han Chinese, leaving ten out of every ten houses empty.

The people of border villages in the Han Kingdom were plagued by unrest. In order to survive, they fled their border villages and migrated to the Hanzhong region in large numbers. The influx of refugees also caused small-scale chaos in the towns and villages of Hanzhong, setting off a vicious cycle.

The emperor was the ruler of the Han Kingdom, and he certainly could not ignore his people. He allocated silver to appease the people on the border and ordered the army to take the initiative and suppress the further harassment from the Meng nation. However, both sides knew that this war was inevitable.

The king of Mengguo, Tuoba Han, aimed to secure the survival of his people, expand his territory, and avenge the loss of his elite troops inflicted by Xiangyi who had abandoned him years ago. After suppressing the internal turmoil, he began laying the groundwork for war early on, gradually provoking conflict.

China, for the sake of national dignity and to subjugate Mongolia, could not allow the latter to grow powerful, nor would it tolerate repeated insults to its royal authority. This battle was simply a matter of time.

But warfare is not just a matter of soldiers and generals. It also involves paying military salaries, preparing rations, updating weaponry, purchasing horses, and so on. Each of these requires silver, and it's a constant drain. The national treasury isn't a treasure chest that can conjure up money out of thin air.

The Emperor also had to consider the expenses of building riverbanks and constructing tombs, which required a lot of silver. It was impossible for him to drain the entire national treasury for a single war. Therefore, when rumors about treasure circulated in the rivers and lakes, His Majesty ordered the Dark Guard Group B to gather information. If they could find this so-called treasure and bring it back to the imperial city, that would be best.

The leader of Group C knew that Princess Xiangyi was persistent in her pursuit of Xiaoqi. To prevent Xiaoqi from acting irrationally out of frustration, he sent him out on a mission as a test to see if he was ready to take over as the leader of Group C.

If Xiao Qi manages to successfully find and bring back the treasure this time, it will be a great accomplishment. He can also smoothly transition his position, allowing Xiao Qi to take over.

Ultimately, Qiqi became Xiaoqi and took on this mission. She successfully left the Imperial City and used the identity of a county magistrate who was leaving to observe filial piety to travel to the source of the news: Longxi.

Qi Qi himself was no slouch when it came to fighting, but in order to conceal his identity, he chose to disguise himself as a weak scholar. The dark guards in his group also transformed into his attendants, following him everywhere. Little did they expect to encounter Lady Zhen, who was also returning to Longxi to visit her family, on the road.

Qi Qi agreed to travel with Madam Zhen and her entourage because of a young girl named Lian Yi. The girl seemed to be around his age, but whenever he was in her presence, he felt a sense of familiarity. He couldn't say for sure if they had met before, as he had no recollection. Therefore, he decided to travel with Madam Zhen, hoping to unravel the mystery in his heart.

The caravan had traveled for half a day and encountered no trouble. The people sent to escort the "Phoenix Perched on Wisteria" mother and child had also caught up with the convoy.

"Young Master Qi, those two men have been sent to the authorities. I found they exposed themselves because of wounds on their ankles. The technique wasn't done by us brothers."

The man whispered a report to Qi Qi.

What were you hurt by

"It doesn't look like much, just two ankle bones pierced through with holes the size of mung beans. But we didn't find any weapons near them."

Qi Qi, after hearing this, subconsciously glanced at the last carriage in the convoy.

"Master suspects that Madam Zhen and her people did this"

> Lady Zhen once said that the young girl named Lian Yi by her side was skilled in martial arts.

Qiqi said thoughtfully. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

"The difference between being skilled and truly masterful is vast."

Everyone here is a seasoned practitioner, and they can clearly distinguish the differences.

"I see that the girl is lithe and agile, she must have some skill. As for her level, I'll find an opportunity to test her."

"Understood."

"There are two days' journey to the next stop, we need to speed up."

Qi Q said, then ordered someone to spread the word, and the team sped up again.

Liàn Yī rode her horse, observing Qí Qī's troop as well. Ever since Zhēn Aunt had voiced her suspicions, Liàn Yī had also been curious. Now she wondered: just who was this Master Qí on their side

When she entered this realm, she saw the tragedy of Yingze Mountain Villa. At that time, her original body was taken away by Wang Yingying, while the boy was taken away by Xu Fengze. When Aunt Zhen went to look for him, there was no infant corpse beside Xu Fengze, it is very likely that her younger brother was still alive, but it was unknown whether he was taken away by Princess Xiangyi or rescued by someone else.

The convoy will be passing through a gorge the next morning. Once they pass through it, they will enter Huai'rou County, the largest county for hundreds of miles around.

"Young Master, there are rumors of bandits in the vicinity. They often rob travelers and merchants who have to pay them a hefty sum to pass safely. Those traveling alone fare much worse, almost none survive this stretch."

"Doesn't the magistrate of Huai'rou care"

"The troops surrounded and attacked several times, but those bandits were familiar with the terrain. They played hide-and-seek with the government soldiers in the mountains, resulting in many casualties."

The magistrate of Huirou County has sent several memorials requesting that troops be dispatched to encircle and suppress the bandits. But as you know, the current situation doesn't allow for troop withdrawal, so many people choose to go around this gorge, even if it takes three more days, rather than passing through here.

Then I'll meet them. If it's convenient, I'll take care of them.

Okay.

"Tell Mrs. Zhen and her people to enter the valley a little later than planned and see how the other side reacts."

"Yes."

Ripple's eyes lit up after hearing the other person's explanation, and she immediately smiled and said:

"Perhaps I could lend a hand to Master Gongzi. My martial arts are decent, and besides, this is the first time I've encountered bandits who rob travelers. I want to broaden my horizons."

The guard wore a slightly embarrassed expression, feeling that this person was the epitome of "curiosity killed the cat." However, he was articulate and didn't outright refuse. Instead, he bowed politely and said:

"In that case, it would be a great help if the Heroine could hold back for now. We will act as the vanguard and negotiate with the other party first. If we are defeated, we will then send a signal for the Heroine to come to our aid. What do you think"

"Sounds good! I also think I should make an appearance at the most crucial moment, that's more impressive. You tell Young Master Qi, I'll definitely cooperate with your actions."

Ripple raised his whip in excitement and replied.ometimes what your eyes see is not necessarily the truth.As soon as the words left her mouth, a dagger materialized in her hand. The aura it emitted caused even the Ghost Officials to involuntarily ta...