The Demon Lords

Chapter 976 - 222: Cheap Name

Upon leaving the ancestral hall, Zheng Fan opened his umbrella again.

Lord Jingnan walked in front, while Zheng Fan lagged half a step behind, not deliberately exposing half his shoulder to the rain, as the umbrella was large enough.

After all, it was a military item, how could he use a small flower umbrella meant for women?

Actually, Zheng Fan still felt that the lord was too anxious.

The most crucial point was, Lord Zheng didn’t see himself as a blessed general. His fortune stemmed from his strength rather than traditional luck,

as he never felt that he’d inevitably be shot by a stray arrow during a charge on the battlefield;

If not for A Ming carrying Mo Wan,

he would have been shot into a porcupine long ago, nothing like those leads who can bid long farewells to brothers or women unscathed.

Precisely because he had a clear understanding of himself, he used to have no family assets, naturally needing to risk his life. Now that he had assets, and was beginning to accumulate strength, he naturally wanted to proceed steadily.

Give me three more years, rotate the Snow Sea Gate army once more, and cooperate with other armies— wouldn’t a straightforward push be better?

This is simply a matter of perspective, as stalling for time might benefit Snow Sea Gate, but given the current three-state situation, it might truly turn into a case of rising and waning.

The most important point is,

Zheng Fan understood,

not only the Yan Emperor was impatient, but Lord Jingnan was also somewhat impatient.

The lord didn’t go wandering elsewhere; indeed, there wasn’t much to see around Fengxin City these days.

Upon returning to the mansion gates,

Zheng Fan saw Seventh Uncle standing there. Upon the appearance of Lord Jingnan, Seventh Uncle immediately knelt to greet,

sincerely saying:

"Please, my lord, examine my family’s miss."

After settling the lady, Seventh Uncle waited anxiously but didn’t see Lord Jingnan appear, and upon sending someone to inquire, he learned Li Fusheng had already led his troops out of the city.

Helpless, Seventh Uncle had no choice but to personally wait at the mansion’s entrance.

Tian Wujing said nothing, continuing forward to enter the mansion.

Zheng Fan, standing behind, showed a pleading expression,

and said:

"My lord, the lady, my lord, the lady......"

Tian Wujing remained unmoved.

Seventh Uncle shuffled on his knees, blocking Lord Jingnan’s path into the mansion.

Lord Jingnan then extended his foot, seeming to kick it forward.

"Bang!"

Seventh Uncle was kicked over, but he immediately scrambled up, instinctively reaching for his sword with his left hand.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

A group of armored soldiers at Lord Jingnan’s mansion gate immediately drew their swords toward Seventh Uncle.

They didn’t care if this old man was from Earl of North Border’s mansion; they simply knew anyone who dared draw a sword before the lord was destined to die!

Seventh Uncle didn’t draw his sword but rested his forehead to the ground,

pleading:

"My lord, please, examine my family’s miss."

Tian Wujing remained unmoved, walking into the mansion.

Zheng Fan, anxious, glanced at the back of Lord Jingnan while looking at Seventh Uncle in distress,

then turned his head,

appearing helpless, he could only follow into the mansion.

After entering, Zheng Fan asked, "My lord, was he about to draw his sword just now?"

When it’s time to rub salt in the wound, you must do so; no need to be polite.

"His aptitude is lacking, so he took an unorthodox path, dedicating his life to one sword, but it can’t kill me—though it could kill you."

"Um..."

"Isn’t Yu Huaping with you?"

"Um, he’s with me, but..."

"Still not recuperated?"

"He can now walk around, even do some tasks."

Upon hearing this, Tian Wujing nodded slightly, saying, "Does he still appear very weak?"

"Yes."

Tian Wujing said no more, leading Zheng Fan inward, entering a study.

It was said to be a study, but there weren’t books on the shelves inside. On the walls hung a large map.

"Between Jin and Chu, there are mountains and rivers obstructing the way. Though it’s not as treacherous as the old Shengle path into the snowy plains, it’s still considered perilous. Moreover, Skybreak Mountain is home to various mature barbarians, which might not pose any threat, but the Chu have built numerous fortresses there."

The wild people in the Skybreak Mountain are generally a scattered bunch; at most, three or four tribes might unite for a skirmish. However, the Chu are different—Chu State is a proper nation.

When you head over, even if it’s a small fortress with only a dozen soldiers stationed, once it spots you and lights the beacon fires, you’d immediately be exposed.

By the time you huff and puff over those mountains, a Chu army might already be waiting for you.

"It’s very difficult to get through." Zheng Fan exclaimed.

"Precisely because it’s difficult, that’s why you’re being sent." Tian Wujing turned around, picking up a teapot while continuing: "Everyone says that the two marquises of Yan from north to south forced entry into Jin, defeating half of Jin in one battle, but back then I, and Li Liangting’s men, were the elite of both North and South armies.

The Qian people and literati enjoy flattering each other, building each other up with claims of one gentleman here and one scholar there;

even your Yu Huaping was praised into a swordsmith of Chu State."

"My lord means..."

"It’s really all the same. In the military, you must strive to accrue more merits. The soldier trusts only one thing: who they follow can win battles.

In the previous Snow Sea Gate operation, you performed well but it’s still not enough."

Lord Zheng very much wanted to say: I’m not rebelling tomorrow, what is enough or not?

"The new year is still far, not urgent at the moment. You may return to prepare well."

"Yes, my lord."

"It’s exhausting to travel back and forth."

"My lord speaks too highly."

"Alright, I won’t keep you. Leave through the back door. Qian’er’s situation won’t be faulted on you; when Li Fusheng returns, I’ll have a plan."

"Yes, my lord."

Zheng Fan took two steps back,

Before turning to leave, he looked up at Tian Wujing again,

and said:

"Lord, take good care of yourself. I brought a lot of food and drink this time, worried about the bland meals here, to add some flavor for you.

Besides,

there’s also..."

Zheng Fan reached into his chest, took out a small cloth bundle, and opened it. Inside was a small top.

He placed the little top on the tea table,

Tian Wujing’s gaze fell on this top and did not move away.

Zheng Fan chuckled and said:

"It’s too big now, this one’s too small and can’t be worn anymore."

Tian Wujing nodded,

reached out,

picked up the top, and his fingertips couldn’t help but stroke it.

"Lord, I’ll be off now. After a while, I’ll lead a force of soldiers to come over again."

Lord Jingnan nodded slightly, without speaking.

Zheng Fan bowed and left, afraid of encountering Seventh Uncle, he didn’t take the front door, but slipped out the back.

By now, the sky was already darkening, but just having received the new task, Zheng Fan dared not delay, so he found his unit outside the city gates.

Inside the tent,

a campfire was cooking soup,

with everyone sitting around.

Zheng Fan relayed the matter again and said:

"The matter is like this. Counting the time for returning, we have about a month to prepare."

Siniang spoke up: "We still need to ask A Cheng about this matter, right?"

Xue Three said: "It should be asked, but My lord cannot personally lead the army to cross secretly. No one’s watching the hometown. I think, since it’s just a thousand cavalry, A Cheng won’t have much to contribute, better let that stinking zombie continue guarding home.

My lord, rest assured, when we return, I’ll pull out my men first, go there in advance to scout, and when the river surfaces freeze completely by January, you can cross leisurely."

A Ming took a sip of blood and said:

"Is Lord Jingnan treating us like a lottery ticket? Always hoping to hit the jackpot?"

Xue Three chuckled and said: "Lord Jingnan is cultivating My lord. The intention is quite clear. Let’s think this over again and decide who to take with us this time.

Siniang, she’s gotta come."

Xue Three was very mindful of having the right attitude.

"The stinking zombie guards home, I, A Ming, will definitely be accompanying, and Mo Wan should recover by then as well. For My lord’s safety, he must come too."

"What about the blind one?" A Ming asked.

"Home needs one literary and one martial," Xue Three said.

With Siniang going along, someone capable of management should be left at home.

Even if the blind one hasn’t progressed, compared to stitching, you can only let him be a bit aggrieved.

Zheng Fan raised his hand,

and somewhat puzzled said:

"No matter how we calculate, it feels like we’re missing something?"

...

"Cough, cough... cough, cough..."

The sword maid lay on the bed, looking very worn-out, even her cough lacked strength.

Fanli stood beside her, looking at her.

The doctor had just left, prescribed medicine, and Fanli had already asked the waiter to help brew it.

But whether the medicine would work, Fanli wasn’t very hopeful.

Because Fanli knew, the sword maid wasn’t infected by ordinary cold;

Normally, a cold comes from the outside inside, but this time it was triggered from within.

Her naturally sword embryo physique suddenly had issues for unknown reasons, causing her body’s vitality to start disordering.

Originally, Fanli was with the sword maid ahead of the county lord leaving Yanjing, but due to her illness, they delayed nearly a month, just now reaching Ying Capital City.

The sword maid struggled to open her eyes, looked at Fanli, and weakly said:

"Big guy, am I going to die soon?"

The illness came fiercely, it’s no wonder the young girl would be flustered.

Fanli nodded and said:

"Looks like you might be."

"It’s all my fault, delaying your important matters."

"Yeah."

The sword maid felt suffocatingly in her chest, slightly pursed her lips,

and said:

"Big guy, after I die, how are you planning to bury me?"

"Turn you into a human stick, easy to carry."

"......," the sword maid.

"You take a rest first, hang in there a bit longer, later I’ll go wander around the city, see if I can bring back a swordsman to take a look, I still think your problem might be related to swords."

Saying this,

Fanli got up, looked at the sky already dark outside, he’d draped a pre-prepared sack over his shoulder, ready to head out.

The sword maid weakly said:

"What if you leave and I go too, then what?"

The voice was very small, but Fanli heard it as he reached the door.

Immediately shook his head and said:

"Do you know why I gave you this name?"

"I think... if you didn’t say this name... I could hang on a bit longer..."

Fanli just continued on his own and said:

"Because, you know, a bad name, easy to raise."