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In the military camp of Wu Ping City
The sky was overcast, but on the training grounds, soldiers trained with fervor, their sweat pouring down as shouts echoed through the air.
Not a trace of laziness could be seen.
Zhu Yan, clad in slightly worn armor, watched the scene with satisfaction and gave a slight nod.
"The Young Master would surely be pleased to see these soldiers..."
But soon, a flicker of anger, frustration, and helplessness crossed his eyes. "What a pity... those soldiers from before..."
"Alas!"
"And I wonder if Li Zhizhao managed to safely reach the Tian Dou Empire, and whether he found the Young Master according to the address you left behind?"
Zhu Yan sighed deeply once more, his eyes filled with worry.
At that moment, a soldier rushed over. "Lord Zhu Yan, someone is looking for you at the main tent."
"Someone is looking for me?"
Hearing this, Zhu Yan furrowed his brows, his mind full of confusion. "Who could it be?"
"Who would dare seek me out now, unafraid of being implicated by my misfortune?"
He was no longer the once-prominent governor of Wu'an City but merely a lowly centurion in Wu Ping City...
And not just any centurion—one who was constantly targeted by Dai Xuan, the current governor of Wu'an City.
If not for his family's status as an imperial in-law, it was uncertain whether he'd even still be standing safely in Wu Ping City.
Thus, Zhu Yan couldn't think of anyone bold enough to seek him out now.
Who wasn't afraid of being implicated by Dai Xuan?
The soldier, struggling to contain his excitement, kept his head bowed and avoided eye contact, feigning ignorance. "They didn't say who they were, but they insisted you must come immediately, or you'll regret it."
"Alright, wait a moment."
Zhu Yan nodded, briefly handing over training duties to his deputy, then followed the soldier toward the tent, his mind brimming with suspicion.
Was it an old friend he hadn't seen in ages?
Or had higher-ups issued new orders?
Along the way, Zhu Yan's mind raced through various possibilities, yet none seemed plausible.
Fortunately, the training ground wasn't far from the main tent, and he arrived soon after.
The tent flap hung low, obscuring the interior.
"Who could it be?"
Zhu Yan took a deep breath, reached out, and lifted the tent flap.
As soon as he stepped inside, Zhu Yan froze, his eyes widening in shock. A look of disbelief flashed across his face, quickly replaced by overwhelming joy.
His legs gave way, and he knelt before the visitor, his voice trembling with emotion:
"Young Master... you've finally returned!"
"My brothers and I have waited for you for so long, enduring countless hardships!"
Dai Chengfeng looked at Zhu Yan, whose armor was battered, beard disheveled, and who appeared far more haggard than three years ago.
He nodded slightly, stepped forward, and helped Zhu Yan to his feet, his eyes filled with concern.
"It's clear you've suffered much, Zhu Yan. It's all because of me."
Hearing this, Zhu Yan quickly shook his head, his tone urgent. "It's not your fault, Young Master—it's my incompetence."
"Alas!"
Dai Chengfeng patted Zhu Yan firmly on the shoulder. "You've done well!"
At this moment, Zhu Fan stepped forward, a hearty smile on his face. "Alright, Chengfeng, Zhu Yan, there's no need for formalities between you two."
"I'm more curious about what happened in Wu'an City after we left."
Instantly, Dai Chengfeng's expression turned cold as he nodded at Zhu Yan. "Zhu Yan, tell me everything that happened."
Zhu Yan raised his head, clasped his hands respectfully, and replied, "Yes, Young Master."
Collecting his thoughts, Zhu Yan began slowly: "Young Master, the story begins a year and a half after you left."
"At first, under my leadership, Wu'an City was developing steadily according to the plans you left behind before your departure."
"Whether it was the construction of Dujiangyan, the selection and training of your personal guard, the welfare of fallen soldiers' families, or commercial development—all proceeded smoothly."
"But a year and a half ago..."
"Lord Dai Tian of the Star Luo Empire suddenly arrived in Wu'an City, accompanied by Dai Xuan."
"He brought an imperial edict appointing Dai Xuan as the new governor of Wu'an City, while I was appointed as deputy governor, tasked solely with commanding the troops."
A flicker of doubt crossed Dai Chengfeng's eyes. "An official decree from my father, the Emperor?"
"And if the decree stated you were to be deputy governor, why are you now reduced to a mere centurion?"
"And in Wu Ping City, no less?!"
Zhu Yan nodded gravely. "It was indeed an imperial decree."
"As for why I fell from deputy governor to centurion..."
At this point, Zhu Yan's eyes burned with palpable anger and humiliation. "Dai Xuan is utterly despicable!"
Recalling the moment Dai Xuan took power, Zhu Yan's tone overflowed with indignation. "The first thing he did upon assuming office was to order the halt of the Dujiangyan project, citing absurd reasons..."
"He claimed it was a waste of money with no practical use, dismissing its benefits for future generations as nonsense."
"Who knows if the Star Luo Empire will even exist a thousand years from now..."
At this, Zhu Yan glanced nervously at Dai Chengfeng. "Young Master, I swear I haven't exaggerated—those were Dai Xuan's exact words!"
"Hmph!"
Dai Chengfeng chuckled softly. "How bold of him to question whether the Star Luo Empire will last a thousand years!"
"I believe you. Go on."
Zhu Yan exhaled in relief and continued. "Of course, I strongly opposed it."
"After all, I knew that Dujiangyan was a project you spent countless nights designing, pouring your heart and soul into it. How could it be stopped so casually?"
"At the time, all the soldiers of Wu'an City stood by me, unanimously supporting the continuation of the project. As a result, the matter was temporarily shelved."
"I thought Dai Xuan would give up, but who could have predicted..."
Regret filled Zhu Yan's eyes. "Suddenly one day, Lord Xu Guotao of Jinshan Pass sent a ten-thousand-strong army."
"They claimed to have received reliable intelligence early on, stating that the Tian Dou Empire intended to retake Wu Ping and take revenge on Wu'an City. This army was sent ahead to protect Wu'an City."
"At the time, I was solely focused on defending the city and didn't think much of it, assuming they were reinforcements."
"But who would have guessed..."
"This so-called reinforcement was nothing more than a gang of bandits in military uniforms!"
Zhu Yan's voice rose, his face flushed with anger.
"These men didn't train; instead, they ran rampant, oppressing the weak, beating civilians, and plundering goods—they committed every evil imaginable..."
"Wu'an City was thrown into chaos, and the people suffered immensely."
"But there was nothing I could do—they were under Xu Guotao's command, and I couldn't afford to provoke them. I endured silently, planning to send them away as soon as the threat from the Tian Dou Empire subsided."
"But then, one day..."
Here, Zhu Yan's eyes flickered with guilt as he whispered, "Young Master, do you remember Yin Xu and Yin Ming?"
"I remember!"
Dai Chengfeng nodded, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "Yin Xu and Yin Ming were twin brothers who later joined the Vanguard Corps. They fought bravely alongside me against twenty thousand soldiers of the Tian Dou Empire until they perished."
"They were true sons of the Star Luo Empire, worthy of every ounce of respect."
Even now, Dai Chengfeng vividly remembered Yin Xu, who charged forward despite sustaining multiple wounds, refusing to retreat until his blood ran dry and he collapsed.
And Yin Ming, who, upon seeing his brother fall, vowed revenge, killing twelve enemies before being pierced by countless arrows, his final laugh echoing heroically.
However, Dai Chengfeng was puzzled. Why had Zhu Yan suddenly brought them up?
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