Chapter 227 - 158: Returning with the Captured King, Shocking All Parties

Chapter 227: Chapter 158: Returning with the Captured King, Shocking All Parties

A smile even touched Xiao Ku’s usually placid face.

The gains this time were simply too immense. Two Kings had been captured, and the Northern Barbarians’ millennium of division was shattered.

If they were unified, they would finally shed their history of weakness.

Not to mention anything else, they could gain six more Earth Immortal experts—provided, of course, that the two Kings were willing to surrender.

Otherwise, it was hard to say what would happen.

"Have the Scouts reported back?" Lu Yuan hadn’t let victory go to his head.

At the moment, his only concern was their current situation.

"We’ve already scouted the area. There are no Ancient Barbarian armies nearby. We can rest a while longer," Xiao Lie said quickly.

Lu Yuan nodded. "Rest for four hours, then we move out. Once we return to the land of the Northern Barbarians at top speed, this matter will be settled for good."

He still didn’t dare send news back until they returned to the lands of the Northern Barbarians. There were too many variables.

No imperial court would want to see a unified Northern Barbarian nation emerge.

The moment news of the two Kings’ capture got out, the other imperial courts would likely dispatch experts to cause trouble.

That was not something he wanted to see.

"As you command!"

Xiao Lie immediately replied, then ordered the army to rest. The use of Elixirs and food was now unrestricted.

The same went for the warhorses. After all, the most important thing now was getting back.

Four hours later, all the Warriors were reinvigorated.

"Move out!"

Lu Yuan shouted, waving his arm.

In the next instant, they charged off in the direction of the Northern Barbarian lands.

For the next half a month, the army advanced by mostly evading the armies and tribes of the Ancient Barbarian Race.

Of course, they inevitably encountered some who blocked their path, but Lu Yuan and his men cut them all down. Though they faced some hardships and lost some men, they pressed on.

But in the end, they finally entered the territory of the Northern Barbarians.

Outside River Valley Pass, Xiao He had already come out to welcome Lu Yuan and his forces by the time he saw them.

The Warriors, who had been spirited and clad in iron armor when they first set out, now had an unconcealable exhaustion in their eyes.

Even with their powerful cultivation, they were simply too tired.

The constant fighting along the way had tempered them as never before, but it had also left them with an unprecedented level of exhaustion.

Even Xiao Lie was covered in blood and grime.

"Greetings, Prince. We welcome your return." Xiao He had just come forward when he knelt on the ground, his face filled with excitement.

After all, the army had been gone for so long that everyone thought something terrible had happened.

He never expected them to actually return.

As for whether they had captured the Shengman and Ancient Barbarian Kings, Xiao He didn’t dare to ask, nor was he in any mood to.

Lu Yuan nodded. "Is all well with the imperial court?"

"All is well, but Her Majesty and the Crown Princess were unable to contact you. So, some time ago, they personally led two hundred thousand Beast Riders toward the border. They are expected to arrive tomorrow," Xiao He replied immediately, not daring to waste words.

Lu Yuan hadn’t expected Xiao Shi to come personally. A warm feeling spread through his heart.

He looked at Xiao He and said, "Alright. Let’s head back first. Let the men rest."

After speaking, he glanced at Xiao Lie.

CLANK CLANK CLANK!

The sound of dragging chains rang out, and Xiao He saw three figures being hauled forward.

"This is the Shengman King, the Ancient Barbarian King, and Manliang. Guard them well. Don’t let them escape," Lu Yuan said calmly.

Xiao He’s eyes widened in an instant.

’He can’t believe Lu Yuan and the others actually did it.’

A wave of regret washed over him. ’If I had been able to go on this campaign, the glory would have been immense!’

’I should have begged the Prince to take me with them back then,’ he thought.

His hands, however, didn’t stop moving. He took hold of the chains and said, "Rest assured, Prince. As long as I draw breath, they will not escape."

After speaking, he ordered his soldiers to take the three men down to the dungeon.

Lu Yuan, however, was still uneasy. He looked at Xiao Ku and said, "I’ll have to trouble you, Venerable."

The latter nodded. "I’ll head over right now."

He then followed them to the dungeon.

After all, these three captives were far too important.

There was no room for complacency.

Once everything was arranged, Xiao Lie and Lu Yuan entered the City Lord’s Mansion. Xiao Lie couldn’t help but speak up, "Prince, can we report to Her Majesty now?"

"Yes, make the report. Explain everything clearly."

’We’re back in the lands of the Northern Barbarians now.’

’Plus, two hundred thousand Beast Riders will arrive tomorrow.’

’Even if the other imperial courts find out, there will be nothing they can do.’

’Next, Xiao Shi just has to wait at the border for the Shengman and the Ancient Barbarians to offer their instruments of surrender.’

’With our army pressing down on them, and the Kings of both tribes captured...’

’...surrender is the only path left for them.’

"As you command!"

Xiao Lie responded, then excitedly took out a Sound Transmission Stone.

Although they had achieved great merit this time, the long period without reporting their specific situation to the court had left him feeling very anxious.

After all, not everyone was trusted the way Lu Yuan was.

As for Lu Yuan, he didn’t eat the meal Xiao He had prepared. Instead, he returned to his own courtyard and had someone prepare a hot bath.

He, too, was exhausted.

’Now that I’m back in the lands of the Northern Barbarians, I can finally rest.’

As his body soaked in the hot water, he finally began to feel human again.

Meanwhile, Xiao Shi, who was already near the border pass, sat in her imperial palanquin, resting with her eyes closed. With no news from Lu Yuan for so long, she had already prepared for the worst.

Xiao Hua sat beside her.

She kept her head down, not saying a word. She still hadn’t told the Lu Clan what had happened with Lu Yuan.

’If I let them know, I don’t know how I would ever explain it.’ On top of that, Xiao Hua herself was overcome with grief.

Just as mother and daughter sat in the palanquin, each lost in their own thoughts...

...Xiao Shi’s Sound Transmission Stone suddenly lit up.