CHAPTER 238: CHAPTER 237: I DIDN’T HAVE MUCH HOPE TO BEGIN WITH

On the night of the ninth day of the first lunar month, Xia Tingfeng, an Imperial Bodyguard, led one hundred soldiers of the Imperial Forest Army from the Capital City, rushing toward Yanguan City. According to intelligence reports from General Xiao, Fan Changsheng had been kidnapped on his way back to the Capital City from Yanguan City.

Xia Tingfeng, holding a map, charged ahead at the forefront on his horse. In the dark of night, his armor shone with a grim silver light, the red tassel on his helmet flying wildly in the night breeze. Beneath his dense eyebrows, a pair of bright eyes glinted sharply, like those of an eagle, seemingly able to penetrate everything in the dark.

After a nocturnal journey of several hundred miles, the troop arrived at the site of the kidnapping two days and nights later, joining forces with the Cavalry from Primus Camp sent by General Xiao.

The head of the Cavalry unit from Primus Camp was General Chen. This man, around forty years old, was quite skilled and proficient in strategy, possessing his own set of protocols for marching and fighting. In his early years, he had followed General Xiao into battle and earned several military exploits. Experienced and capable, he was considered a fine general. However, he had one flaw: obstinate self-opinionatedness. Because he adhered to his own methods, he often thought too highly of himself and refused to listen to others’ opinions.

This time, seeing that the Imperial Forest Army was led by an obscure young man—and an unfamiliar, wet-behind-the-ears youth at that—he was extremely displeased and snorted lightly.

"Which noble young master is this, coming here to take credit?"

He had seen far too much of this. Many scions of noble families were reluctant to study; ten years of arduous study with no guarantee of passing the imperial examinations was simply too tormenting. The path to becoming a Military Official was far easier.

Learn a smattering of martial skills, earn some military achievements in the army, and then, relying on connections, one could still manage to secure a decent official position. Of course, such people were generally not well-regarded.

Xia Tingfeng dismounted and approached General Chen, greeting him politely with a fist salute.

"General Chen!"

General Chen looked down at him haughtily, his eyes practically rolling up to the heavens, and replied with a dismissive scoff, "Yes, greetings. What’s your surname?!"

Xia Tingfeng replied, "Xia."

The Imperial Forest Army and the Three Great Camps were both directly under the Emperor’s command and considered to be on equal footing. General Chen was not Xia Tingfeng’s superior. Xia Tingfeng’s gesture of courtesy to him was merely the respect a junior shows to a senior.

However, Xia Tingfeng frowned slightly. Why does this man seem so... off? Is he looking down on me?

General Chen quickly mulled it over. "In the Capital City, there’s no prominent noble family with the surname Xia! Where are you from?"

Xia Tingfeng’s brow furrowed completely. What? Just because I’m on an errand for the Emperor, I have to get my family background checked?

He was quite displeased, but out of respect for his senior, he reluctantly replied.

"I was not born in the Capital City."

Without waiting for General Chen to ask anything further, Xia Tingfeng immediately cupped his fist again. "I’ve just arrived and need to familiarize myself with the surroundings. If you’ll excuse me."

With that, he turned and strode away, leaving General Chen utterly bewildered.

It all happened so suddenly that by the time General Chen snapped back to his senses, all he saw was a tall, aloof figure receding into the distance.

What in the world?! How dare he! I’m actually being scorned by a junior! he fumed internally.

"Hmph! Even if you’re not from the Capital City, you must be from some other influential family!" he snorted.

Someone without connections or power wouldn’t dare to give me such attitude!

Thinking this, he felt a little better and turned to walk in the opposite direction from Xia Tingfeng.

Just you wait, you insolent brat! No skills, yet such a temper. Sooner or later, you’ll come begging me! That Fan Changsheng is a devil incarnate!

If I can’t catch him, I don’t believe you can!

With that thought, he slapped the dust off his pants and walked toward the Primus Camp, bellowing as he went, "Men! Continue the search! Find him!"

「Not far away, in the Imperial Forest Army’s encampment.」

Xia Tingfeng was intently studying a map, his brow furrowed. His hawk-like eyes, sharp as blades, swept over every corner of the map.

"This is a valley with treacherous terrain. That’s why they were ambushed here!"

One of his men asked, "We don’t even know where he went. Are we supposed to search aimlessly?"

Another soldier added, "Yeah, I heard that devil incarnate has proclaimed himself king of these mountains. He’s supposedly even more ruthless than actual bandits!"

"There’s no way we can find him!"

The men Xia Tingfeng had brought were all from the Imperial Forest Army, and most had sparred with him during the selection process. Those he had defeated were thoroughly convinced of his capabilities, so they naturally regarded him as their leader now. Of course, the Emperor had indeed appointed him to lead these one hundred Imperial Forest Army soldiers.

Xia Tingfeng stared at the map for another long moment. Finally, he slowly reached out and pointed to a town over a hundred miles away.

"Here."

If I’m not mistaken, he’s there!

"Ningguan City?" one man asked.

Xia Tingfeng nodded.

Although the others were skeptical, none dared to voice their doubts. If you have doubts, you’d better have a better idea yourself, they thought, keeping silent.

"All troops, listen to my command!" Xia Tingfeng declared. "We rest tonight. At dawn tomorrow, we head to Ningguan City!"

"Yes, sir!" the Imperial Forest Army replied in unison.

Xia Tingfeng nodded. His own men were reliable, after all. In the world of martial artists, strength inherently commands respect. Superb martial skill is far more important than a distinguished family background!

When General Chen heard of Xia Tingfeng’s decision, he was predictably displeased.

"You insolent brat!" General Chen fumed. "Have you scouted the terrain? Do you understand the enemy? Do you know where he likes to hide? Have you made any inquiries?"

"Hmph! You might look decent enough, but I must warn you, young man," he continued, his face etched with disdain, "if you lack true ability, don’t go recklessly giving orders!"

Xia Tingfeng, his patience worn thin, retorted curtly, "General Chen, you may do as you see fit!"

With that, he turned on his heel and strode off.

General Chen sneered and turned to his adjutant.

"Look at these young people nowadays..." he grumbled. "The Emperor sends him, and I actually thought he might have some real ability. How unexpected!"

His adjutant, standing beside him, looked somewhat perplexed.

"General," the adjutant ventured, "I also think Guard Xia has a point. Fan Changsheng is notoriously unruly. Why would he skulk around hiding in these remote mountains?"

General Chen was infuriated that his own subordinate seemed to be siding against him. "Nonsense! My intelligence reports state that Fan Changsheng often hides in the mountains, posing as a bandit, robbing and pillaging, and setting traps to extort passing merchants."

"He just escaped, has no Silver, and will surely resort to such tactics!"

The adjutant fell silent.

Fan Changsheng doesn’t necessarily have to play bandit, he thought. Ningguan City is the largest city around here, bustling with merchants and all sorts of people—a prime place to make a fortune! Besides, it’s also a wonderful place for... indulgence. Wine, women, song... COUGH. COUGH.

Typical ruffian behavior, isn’t it?

「The next morning.」

The Imperial Forest Army swiftly packed up and set off toward Ningguan City.

On the way, one of his men suddenly asked, "Guard Xia, what about General Chen and his troops?"

Xia Tingfeng, mounted on his horse, stared straight ahead with a stern gaze, galloping onward. It was quite a while before he answered.

"Let them be."

He hadn’t counted on them in the first place, had he?