Chapter 119 - 104: Xirong Invades the Border

Chapter 119: Chapter 104: Xirong Invades the Border

The Zhou Family doesn’t even have the right to be angry. I’m not asking you to solve their problems—after all, you’re only a Captain right now—but you must care for Hongling. Do you understand?

Something like this has happened, and even I’ve heard about it, yet you’re somehow still unaware. In life, it’s rare to find a woman you admire who also treats you so well.

Don’t take her for granted." Lu Yuan nodded.

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. ’In the end, this is all just political infighting within the Dayong court.’

Thinking of this, he no longer felt so opposed to going to the Western Border. ’Since I’ve joined the army, the only way to climb the ranks is through military achievements.

I’m already a Captain at the Meridian Passage Realm.

And reaching the Innate Realm doesn’t seem too far off.

On this trip to the Western Border, not only will I increase my strength, but I’ll also advance my rank.

I’ll help the Zhou Family take back what is theirs.’

He was well aware of how much Zhou Hongling had taken care of him since he’d arrived at the Northern Border.

With this in mind, he said softly, "Don’t worry, Mother. I have this under control."

"It’s good that you have it under control. Just remember to look after that girl. It’s already difficult for a woman in the army, and from what I can see, she has a very strong-willed personality."

"I will, Mother," Lu Yuan replied.

His mother said no more. After the meal, Lu Yuan left.

He was departing for war the next day, so he went to bed early.

Early the next morning, Lu Yuan left the manor with only his Personal Guards, taking care not to disturb his mother. The moment he pushed the gates open, he saw Zhou Hongling already waiting there.

She walked up to him. "Once you get to the Western Border, remember that your life comes first. Don’t be reckless."

As a soldier herself, Zhou Hongling knew full well that the Xirong warriors were not to be trifled with.

Lu Yuan nodded and looked at her. "I heard someone’s causing trouble in the buffer zone?"

Zhou Hongling paused, taken aback. "I wasn’t going to tell you, but since you know... Shang Yong, the Marquis of Zhenbian, is apparently coming to preside over the Northern Border.

The Marquis of Jiuse, Hong City, may be transferred away.

Shang Yong has a history of conflict with my Zhou Family, and he’s not coming with good intentions. He hasn’t even arrived, but he’s already sent a letter demanding our family withdraw from the buffer zone."

"And what does the family intend to do?" Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"My father’s plan is to ignore him for now and see whether the Marquis of Jiuse stays or goes. If Shang Yong really does come, I’m afraid things will become very difficult for the Zhou Family."

Zhou Hongling smiled helplessly.

Then, forcing a cheerful tone, she said to Lu Yuan, "So, while you’re keeping yourself safe, you’d better perform well. If you really manage to become a marquis or a general, I’ll be counting on you to look out for me."

She was clearly joking, but Lu Yuan replied with deadly seriousness, "I will."

Then, his gaze shifted to Zhou Xiong and the others behind him. "Move out!"

As he gave the order, the column of soldiers slowly began to move forward.

Zhou Hongling watched until Lu Yuan had led his troops out of the city.

A look of reluctance and helplessness surfaced on her face.

Lu Yuan, meanwhile, passed through the gates and headed for the Western Border. Along the way, he saw contingents from other fortresses also on the move.

He even ran into some acquaintances.

After all, during the expedition Beyond the Passes, he had interacted with many Captains and Garrison Generals.

Along the way, he learned that the current conflict was exceptionally fierce. Not only had Dayong mobilized troops from various regions, but it had also dispatched a hundred thousand soldiers from the Imperial Guard—a deployment of a scale unseen in recent years.

Nothing like this had happened even during the campaigns against the Northern Barbarians.

The Western Border wasn’t too far from the Northern Border, but the journey still took a full two months.

Upon arriving at the Western Fortress, Lu Yuan and his men were assigned to the Central Army, tasked with supporting the Imperial Guard in direct confrontation with the Xirong.

The grand army was led by Dayong’s Duke Zhenyuan, a general renowned throughout the empire and a high-ranking noble as well.

Unlike other nobles, however, he did not treat generals from common backgrounds as outsiders and was famous for his integrity and impartiality.

This was why the Yong Emperor had sent him; the Xirong were exceptionally strong this time, and to achieve victory, there could be no internal discord.

Otherwise, the slightest misstep could lead to defeat. If the western front were to be breached, the people of the entire Western Border would be put to the sword by the Xirong.

For Dayong, that was an unacceptable price to pay.

Lu Yuan had just finished setting up camp at the Western Border when he ran into Zhang Zhe. It was no coincidence; the man had obviously been watching for him.

And so, just as the camp was established and Lu Yuan stepped outside to inspect it, Zhang Zhe approached with a dozen or so Imperial Guards. A smug look crossed his face as he sized up Lu Yuan.

"Well, what do you know. You’re a Captain now. Promoted pretty quickly, weren’t you," Zhang Zhe said coolly.

Lu Yuan paid him little mind, his gaze instead falling on the Imperial Guard. ’I’ve heard the Imperial Guard is divided into tiers.

The unit Zhang Zhe commands isn’t the strongest among them, yet even their common Warriors have reached the Muscle Refining Realm.

And their armor, all forged from refined iron, is countless times better than what the Border Army wears.’

Lu Yuan made a rough estimate. ’The cost to assemble an army like this must be astronomical.

You could tell just by comparing them to the thousand elites of the Celestial King Stronghold.

Zhang Zhe’s strength is probably at the late Organ Refining Realm. It won’t be long before he breaks through to the Blood Movement Realm. The Imperial City truly nurtures talent.’

Seeing Lu Yuan’s lack of response, Zhang Zhe’s anger flared, but he kept his composure. He said coolly, "The Western Border is nothing like the Northern Border. I hope you manage to survive so you can watch me climb the ranks. I will prove to the clan that the decision they made back then was the right one."

"You don’t need to tell me that," Lu Yuan said flatly.

He then turned and walked back to his camp.

Zhang Zhe felt as if he had punched a bale of cotton. His anger found no release, and the frustration nearly made him wrench his own back.

Seeing Lu Yuan walk away, he had no choice but to turn to the Personal Guards behind him and say, "Let’s go."

With that, he returned to his own camp.

Lu Yuan ignored him completely. Once inside his tent, he immediately opened his system panel.

He was ready to check if his cultivation had reached the threshold for a breakthrough.

After all, two months had passed since he left the Northern Border.