CHAPTER 1861: CHAPTER 1854: FENG’S RETURN

Luo’er stared intently at the bonfire, speaking coldly without turning his head: "You still know how to come back, but you’re no longer a member of our Advance Team."

Upon hearing this, Feng felt her head buzz, her eyes instantly reddening, tears bursting forth.

"Luo’er..."

Tangmo reproachfully complained, hurriedly trying to soothe the situation.

"Leaving the team without permission and meddling in another country’s affairs, I can’t bear that responsibility. What am I supposed to do, take her back to face a military court? Or boldly admit that after leaving the team, she’s no longer an Advance Team member but a Princess of the Dongsheng Empire, so military law won’t affect her anymore." Luo’er said.

"Punish if you must, but don’t say such angry words, you know that Feng only has us as family. If we don’t want her, where else can she go?" Tangmo said with a slight frown.

"Family, she’s the Empire’s Princess, she’s out of my league. Not enjoying wealth and prosperity in Shengjing, but coming to the wilderness to endure hardships with us, for what?"

"Luo’er!"

Tangmo raised her voice, somewhat angrily saying, "Speak to the matter at hand, what you’re saying is too much. You’re the Captain, if there’s a punishment, say it, no need for such resentful words."

"Since you know I’m the Captain, you should know that the final responsibility falls on me. Why, can’t I say a few words?" Luo’er replied irritably.

Feng listened silently to their argument, suddenly fell to her knees with a thud before Luo’er, lowering her head and sobbing, "I’m sorry, it’s all my fault, punish me any way you want, but please don’t exile me, I have nowhere to go. I beg you, don’t send me away..."

It was clear she really couldn’t bear to leave the Advance Team. In her eyes, only the Advance Team was her true home, and as for that so-called Throne, she cared nothing for it.

However, faced with her plea, Luo’er seemed unmoved. He simply lowered his head, shut his eyes, and said coldly: "Just now, the Dongsheng Empire’s cavalry was here looking for you. If you stay with us, they’ll come knocking sooner or later, so..."

Upon hearing this, Feng’s face instantly paled, her eyes showing a look of despair. Luo’er’s response almost confirmed her expulsion.

"Wait a moment," Tangmo stepped forward, anxiously shouting, "We can’t send Feng away, she’s our family. Abandon her in a foreign land, how can you bear it? If that’s the case, then I’ll stay with her, wherever she goes, I go, since I’m her guardian."

"She’s already grown, she doesn’t need you as a guardian."

"No matter what, I will never abandon her. I’m her elder sister, I can’t give up on any sibling."

Tangmo seemed to have resolved herself.

"Sigh..."

Hearing Tangmo’s resolute tone, Luo’er sighed softly, closing his eyes as he said helplessly, "You guys are always like this, never taking rules and regulations seriously. Since you claim to be her guardian, that means you also have responsibility. When we go back, you two can accept punishment together."

"Really?"

Tangmo’s eyes lit up, and she made a sound of joy.

If she didn’t hear wrongly, Luo’er spoke of returning, which suggested his tacit approval of Feng’s reintegration to the team, otherwise, there wouldn’t be a mention of punishment.

"Quick, say thank you." Tangmo turned around, excitedly urging Feng.

"Thank you..." Feng uttered from the bottom of her heart.

"You all never regard me, as if I’m just supposed to be easy-going. Remember, this is the Advance Team, and I’m the Captain of the Advance Team. In this team, everything I say goes, orders must be obeyed, understood?" Luo’er sternly said.

"Understood, understood..." Feng replied, head lowered, lacking confidence.

To be honest, Luo’er wasn’t that angry about Feng’s unauthorized interference in Dongsheng Empire’s internal affairs, or at least not as angry as he seemed.

The real reason for his displeasure was mainly because Feng didn’t inform him before leaving. This made Luo’er feel his authority was challenged.

After all, he’s the Captain of the Advance Team, the core of the team. If he can’t manage his members, there’s no point in having the Advance Team.

And most importantly, Feng’s unauthorized action disrupted his original plans. Now, whether Luo’er acknowledges it or not, with Feng’s return, they have effectively involved themselves in Dongsheng Empire’s affairs.

It’s fortunate that Earth’s forces haven’t yet reached East Continent. Otherwise, their actions wouldn’t be something easily resolved internally.

"I’m tired, go do what you need to do, stop bothering me." Luo’er rested his head in his hand, his tone still unfriendly.

"Let’s go, Luo’er is still angry, apologize after he calms down."

Tangmo said, pulling Feng from the ground.

Tangmo understood Luo’er well. There’s no way he would leave Feng in Kyushu; seeing her return, Luo’er might be even happier than she was, just constrained by the dignity of a Captain, so he had to put on a tough face.

She also knew that, often, other Advance Team members intentionally or unintentionally undermined Luo’er’s authority as Captain, treating him as a mascot within the team.

But everyone should recognize one fact.

That is, the Advance Team was formed around Luo’er. In this team, Luo’er’s authority must be acknowledged, otherwise, it wouldn’t unite the team.

Luo’er had a protective nature. Once he accepted Feng back, no matter how many people the Dongsheng Empire sent, they wouldn’t take her away from his side, even if it meant using force.

Tangmo led Feng away from Luo’er’s aura, sitting opposite the bonfire. Baiyue came forward, handing over a long knife, saying, "Here you go, welcome back."

"I’m sorry, I caused you all trouble..." Feng accepted her sword with both hands, bowing her head in guilt.

"Don’t say that. Even without you, the Wu Dynasty wouldn’t have spared us. We’re used to it." Tangmo smiled, comforting her.

"The Emperor Wu is currently facing a severe situation; the Yunbei States refuse to pledge allegiance to the new Emperor Wu and are rejecting the transfer of the new army. It seems war is imminent." Feng continued.

"You’re saying the Yunbei States intend to resist the current Wu Dynasty?" Baiyue immediately took an interest, eagerly asking.

"Yes, but I don’t know much..." Feng paused, cautiously saying, "They don’t consider me an outsider, so they don’t avoid me when discussing matters, so I overheard a lot about the Wu Dynasty.

"Tell me!" Baiyue said excitedly.

"Luo’er would be very interested in this intelligence."

Tangmo muttered to herself, instinctively glancing at Luo’er. He still wore a stern face, staring woodenly at the bonfire, but his long, drooping elf ears couldn’t help but lift, making Tangmo chuckle.

"In general, the Wu Family is overstepping, and they’re aware of it," Feng answered honestly, "To eliminate the Wen Family’s influence, they’ve thrown the Imperial Court into chaos, and now many administrative bodies have come to a standstill, unable to find people to replenish, from local to central, all high positions are a mess.."

"When the Wen Family held power, the East Prosperity Nine States were already filled with refugees, but the Wen Family could at least keep control. With the Wu Family in charge, everything’s in chaos, refugees have turned to mobs, and uprisings are happening everywhere, the Wu Family can’t find manpower to suppress them. The basics are disregarded, allowing the uprisings to grow unchecked."

Baiyue was familiar with the situation Feng mentioned. It seems the Wen Dynasty had loosened population controls to weaken the aristocratic families’ influence. Perhaps this impacted the Empire, but to counter the aristocratic families, the Wen Family no longer cared about the influence.

Evidence showed the Wen Family could somewhat maintain control over the mobile population, preventing them from gathering to cause trouble.

But with the Wen Dynasty’s rule replaced by the Wu Family, this burden became the first major issue the Wu Family faced. It’s as if the Wen Family anticipated today, deliberately laying a mine for the Wu Family.