Chapter 236 - Return to the Imperial Capital

Go to the northern frontier, or return to the Imperial Capital. The classic two-way choice.

Xu Yuan did not rush to decide. He sat there, carefully weighing the matter in his mind. Lou Ji was in no hurry either. She remained quietly seated across from him, waiting for his answer.

After a long while, Xu Yuan leaned back in his chair and smiled. “I think I’ll return to the Imperial Capital.”

Lou Ji did not react. She merely reminded him, “Your father is the one asking this question, you know.”

“I know.”

For Lou Ji to ask him so bluntly, she had most likely been acting on instructions from that old man back in the Imperial Capital.

That was why, under Lou Ji’s gaze, Xu Yuan looked rather helpless.

Lou Ji lightly tapped a finger against her fair cheek, a trace of boredom in her eyes. “Mhm. I thought you would choose to go north with your big sister.”

“What could I even do at the northern frontier right now?” Xu Yuan asked with a smile. He had always known his own limits. He was no all-knowing genius born proficient in everything under the sun.

The situation in the north was nothing like the petty squabbling around the Myriad Manifestations Sect. The two sides had probably committed close to a million troops by now.

First, he knew nothing about military formations or battlefield cultivation arts. Second, he knew nothing about strategy and warfare. Third, his cultivation was so low that he was practically cannon fodder.

Anyone capable of making waves on a battlefield like the northern frontier was a ruthless monster in their own right, and the situation there was tangled beyond belief.

Go north under those circumstances? What for? To become the next God of War of Tumu Fortress? Of course, even if Xu Yuan wanted to play that particular war hero this time, he would not get the chance.

The entire northern campaign was part of the Emperor’s plan. The Chancellor's Manor was, at most, assisting from the sidelines.

Lou Ji spoke slowly, staring into Xu Yuan’s eyes as she reminded him, “At the very least, you could broaden your horizons. That old man Zong Qingsheng barely knows you.”

She paused, then continued in a gentle, earnest tone, “Your big sister may have no objections to you, but I’m not the only person serving under your father. There are certain things where you still need real accomplishments if you want everyone to accept you.”

Xu Yuan blinked and instantly understood what the old auntie meant. His father wanted him to go north and gild his reputation, while also making his presence known to Zong Qingsheng, the man currently holding the Chancellor's Manor’s military authority.

After considering it for a moment, however, Xu Yuan refused. “Forget it. There will be plenty of chances to earn achievements and win people over in the future. As for Mister Zong...”

He paused, then looked at Lou Ji with a helpless smile. “What identity do you think I should use when I go to meet him?”

Lou Ji froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. “You little brat. You really have thought this through.”

Xu Yuan could only spread his hands helplessly. “What choice do I have? If I go to the northern border now, I can only go in one of two identities. Either I hide who I am from Mister Zong and serve as an ordinary adviser, or I go openly as the legitimate son of the Chancellor's Manor. The first option could get me killed. The second would only make Mister. Zong’s life difficult.”

And by make his life difficult, Xu Yuan did not mean he would actually interfere with anything. The simple fact that he was there, even if he did absolutely nothing, would already be a headache for the man.

The Great Flame Empire was a textbook feudal immortal dynasty.

The heir to the Chancellor's Manor was not elected by its senior officials. Xu Yinhe alone decided who inherited it, and by now, nearly everyone within the manor’s inner circle knew about the Third Young Master.

If Xu Yuan went to meet Zong Qingsheng now, it would be about the same as the current crown prince visiting the border army to supervise the war. Of course, in a conflict of this scale, he probably would not be given any actual authority. But his status alone would be like having an emperor emeritus perched atop Zong Qingsheng’s head.

Lou Ji naturally understood the problem. She tilted her head and considered it for a moment before murmuring, “From what I know of that old man, he probably wouldn’t care. Mhm... he’s a very traditional military officer. Loyal and disciplined. But when it comes to carrying out military operations, there are times when he won’t even obey your father’s orders.”

Xu Yuan rolled his eyes and refused again. “Still no. A man should know his own limits.”

Lou Ji stared at him without saying a word. She clearly did not believe that was his real reason.

Seeing the look in her eyes, Xu Yuan stopped making excuses. He sighed and quietly voiced the most important reason of all. “Do you really think Father and the Emperor’s plan is guaranteed to succeed? I’m still too weak, and the situation at the northern border is far too chaotic.”

In plain language: his cultivation was low, and he was afraid of dying.

The 30,000 elite Blackscale troops Zong Qingsheng had taken north should be able to catch the enemy off guard and break the siege of Black Dragon Mountain. They might even coordinate with the forces inside and win a major victory.

But what happened after the siege was broken?

Once the three northern frontier army contingents arrived and joined the two already stationed at the border, they would also have 40,000 Feathered Forest troops and nearly 100,000 Blackscale soldiers deployed throughout the north.

Against the barbarians, the advantage would indeed be theirs. But only against the barbarians. No one knew what vicious new trick the sects might pull next. They had already discarded 60,000 elite soldiers and two Origin Awakeners as expendable pawns without the slightest hesitation. It would hardly be surprising if they created another earth-shattering disaster.

And because of how military formations worked, Zong Qingsheng, as the commanding general, had to travel with the main camp. If Xu Yuan wanted to coast along and collect some easy merit, he would naturally have to follow him.

Send Xu Changge instead, and it would be different. His cultivation was high enough that even if their formation collapsed, he would still have a chance to escape.

But if Xu Yuan went? That half-baked Sage’s remnant soul inside him would probably not be enough to save him. Most likely, he would be trapped there along with everyone else.

Lou Ji quietly pursed her red lips. After a moment, she sighed and rose to her feet. “All right. Since you’ve put it that way, Changtian, I’ll pass your answer on to your father.”

With that, she swayed her hips and left.

ᯓ➤

“So, Changtian refused?” A calm, deep voice came from the round communication crystal, echoing softly through the dim secret chamber.

Lou Ji leaned against the wall with her arms folded and replied indignantly, “His cultivation is far too weak. You never should have considered sending him in the first place.”

“Is that so?” There was no hint of emotion in the voice.

Lou Ji frowned, displeasure creeping into her tone. “Lord Chancellor, don’t tell me you intend to force Changtian to go?”

A brief silence followed. When the middle-aged man spoke again, his voice was steady and brooked no argument. “And if I do?”

Lou Ji’s fists tightened slightly, but she did not challenge him outright. “Then at least wait until I reach the northern border and reactivate the Blackscale Guard’s intelligence network there. Otherwise, it would be far too dangerous for him.”

“Lou Ji, you seem very protective of him.”

“Hmm?”

“I never intended to send him to the northern border in the first place.”

Lou Ji remained with her arms folded, one finger lightly tapping against her shoulder. She let out a quiet breath of relief. “Then why did you ask me to question him?”

“Young people are always eager to prove themselves. I thought his attitude might have changed after dealing with the Myriad Manifestations Sect, but it seems I gave him too much credit.”

After a short pause, the voice continued, “Leave for the northern border as soon as possible. This incident came without warning, but we must do everything we can to cooperate with Li Yaoxuan. If this succeeds, the three northern provinces will have no foreign threats to fear for the next hundred years.”

Lou Ji’s beautiful eyes narrowed, and she slowly straightened. “Understood. What about Changtian?”

“Changtian... let him return to the Imperial Capital by himself. The matter of his marriage agreement needs to be properly explained to him sooner or later.” The voice paused briefly. “Besides, I haven’t seen him in a long time.”