"If this were during a time of beastly chaos, just in the bit of time earlier, you would have died at least ten times," Nie Fengxing glanced at Ye Huangyu.

Intuition told him that Ye Huang today seemed a bit strange.

Ye Huang was sent to Nie Fengxing by the Marquis, and Nie Fengxing naturally paid extra attention. Up to now, Ye Huang's performance had been impeccable. Today was the first time he made a mistake.

"In a while, once the West Expedition Army arrives, I will be going to Qi City to report my duties, and you will accompany me as my attendant," Nie Fengxing chose Ye Huangyu to accompany him for a reason. Among his many team leaders, only Ye Huang came from the Xia Capital and understood some etiquette; the others were all unrefined.

Upon hearing this, Ye Huangyu's lips trembled, casting the news of Hong Fang's imminent arrival in the Xixia Plain all the way to the Zhao Wa Country.

Nie Fengxing's attendant?

That would mean she had to serve Nie Fengxing closely.

Closely... Just thinking of the word made Ye Huangyu's scalp go numb.

Ye Huangyu instantly felt as if a cloud of doom loomed overhead, swallowing hard, she really wanted to refuse.

"You don't wish to?"

"Ye Huang will unconditionally obey all commands from the General."

Ye Huangyu dared not say the word "no," as the other team leaders around her sent her expressions of utmost sympathy.

Tsk tsk, General Nie's near-body Guard, this delicate-skinned Ye Huang is going to need all the luck he can get.

The military-level meeting soon concluded, and a few team leaders filed out of the tent, one after another; when it was Ye Huangyu's turn, Nie Fengxing called out to her.

"Ye Huang, do you know General Hong Fang of the Western Expedition?" Nie Fengxing's question sent a shiver down Ye Huangyu's spine. Could it be possible that Nie Fengxing had seen through something?

Nie Fengxing was not an unrefined person like Lan Yingwu; he was born into a noble family, exceptionally adept at reading expressions and sentiments.

He clearly saw that Ye Huang's face momentarily lost its composure at the mention of Hong Fang's name.

"In the Xia Capital, eight out of ten people have heard the name of Grand Protector Hong Fang. I am just a minor figure; I just heard of his reputation, nothing more. I am not familiar with him," Ye Huangyu replied carefully after deliberation.

Such a response was indeed logical and reasonable.

"Do you know why I want to take you to Qi City?" Nie Fengxing stood up, walked over to Ye Huangyu.

Nie Fengxing was very tall; even amongst the women, Ye Huangyu, who was considered to be quite tall, still looked much shorter standing next to him.

Perhaps due to his noble birth, Nie Fengxing did not carry the unpleasant odor of sweat common to other soldiers in the camp. Instead, there was a faint scent of musk on him, which was quite pleasant.

The pressure brought by his height and the unique authority of a superior made Ye Huangyu subconsciously want to step back, but the forceful gaze from Nie Fengxing held her in place, forcing her to stand stiffly, head bowed.

From Nie Fengxing's angle, he could just make out the clear and translucent profile of Ye Huangyu's face, as well as her delicate earlobes.

After four months of military life, although Ye Huangyu's skin had turned a bit darker, it was far from rough; it was so delicate that not even a pore was visible.

Staring at her earlobe, Nie Fengxing suddenly remembered a joke overheard earlier from a few other team leaders passing through the camp.

"I wonder if Captain Ye has any unmarried sisters at home; just by looking at his appearance, if he had a sister, she must be a great beauty."

If Ye Huang were a woman... Nie Fengxing's thin lips curved slightly, finding it somewhat amusing.

Ye Huang's earlobes were delicate and exquisite, yet they bore no piercings; he simply had a somewhat feminine appearance.

"I am ignorant and do not understand the General's intentions." Feeling the two scorching gazes above her head, Ye Huangyu's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain composed.

"Your military merits have accumulated to a certain extent. Keep up the good work. This time, I am taking you to Qi City to broaden your horizons, so that the next time you go there, you will become Daxia's fastest-promoted General." Nie Fengxing's palm landed on Ye Huangyu's shoulder, pressing down firmly.

All of a sudden, Ye Huangyu raised her face.

Their eyes met, and then quickly diverted.

"Thank you, General, for your cultivation." Ye Huangyu expressed her understanding, bowing and exiting the tent.

Outside the tent, unknowingly, darkness had fallen.

A moon as large as a jade disk rose from one end of the vast horizon.

The youngest General of Daxia... Hong Fang, one step closer to the day of my successful revenge.

Looking at the rising moon, Ye Huangyu's eyes were resolute and heavy.

In the same Daxia, under the same bright moon, compared to Ye Huangyu's surging emotions, the atmosphere at the Lan Residence tonight was somewhat subdued.

An Imperial Decree was enshrined on the altar table.

Not long after parting with Feng Xun, Ye Lingyue returned to the Lan Residence, and this Imperial Decree had already been sent over before that.

"Emperor Xia wants Ling Yue to go to Dan City to be a Master Alchemist?"

"How can this be, father, you must go to the palace and plead with His Majesty." Lan Cai'er panicked upon hearing this.

Lan Yingwu also learned of this matter only after reading the Imperial Decree; otherwise, he would have definitely begged Emperor Xia to change his mind.

What was Dan City? Even if Ye Lingyue was not clear, how could Lan Yingwu not know?

Especially with the current chaos in the northwest, asking Ye Lingyue, merely a fifth or sixth rank Alchemist, to lead Dan City was out of the question, let alone whether she could even safely arrive there.

"The Imperial Decree has been issued, and it is impossible to change it now. Needless to say, this must be a trick by Hong Fang and his faction." After Yao Concubine's death in the Lan Residence, Lan Yingwu had arranged even stricter guards around the residence, all to prevent Ye Lingyue from being retaliated against by Noble Princess Consort Luo and Hong Fang's faction.

Day and night, they were vigilant, but they had not expected that Ye Lingyue would need to go to Dan City.

While discussing, Master Long Yu came to visit.

Even Master Long Yu, who was aloof from worldly affairs, had heard this news, which was somewhat unexpected by Ye Lingyue.

"My precious disciple, I've heard that you are going to Dan City. That place is a den of dragons and snakes; you must be extra careful." After speaking, Master Long Yu took out bottles and jars of Elixir Pills, and handed them all to Ye Lingyue.

"You're familiar with Xiao Qing. It has fifty Yin Elixirs inside its body. On the way to Xia Capital, it should be able to help you out of many troubles." To Ye Lingyue's surprise, Master Long Yu even gave her his most treasured Alchemy Beast Triangular Flood Dragon.

Ye Lingyue had been following Master Long Yu for some time now; Long Yu truly cherished his well-behaved disciple, but alas, he could not change Emperor Xia's mind.

The Imperial Decree has been issued; if Ye Lingyue did not go to Dan City, that would be defying the Imperial Decree.

"Sect Leader, Yan Che will accompany you to Dan City." Upon hearing this, Yan Che insisted on following Ye Lingyue to Xia Capital.

"Ling Yue, let me accompany you; I can protect you on the way." Lan Cai'er volunteered eagerly.