CHAPTER 94: CHAPTER 65: TO SEEK AN EXPLANATION!_2

He passed a cigarette to the scruffy man, who accepted it.

Zheng Fan stood up and lit the scruffy man’s cigarette with a match. The man accepted.

The woman was cooking, while the two men sat there, puffing out clouds of smoke.

A little while later, the dumplings were ready.

"Siniang, do we have any wine?"

Siniang nodded. "Yes."

"Bring it over. Dumplings and wine, a classic pairing—the more you drink, the merrier!"

"Right away."

Siniang fetched the Baijiu, which A Ming had brewed as a byproduct when he was making perfume; it was quite potent.

Zheng Fan personally poured the wine, first for the scruffy man, then for himself. The scruffy man raised his cup and was about to take a sip when he noticed Zheng Fan had also lifted his. A hint of a smile touched the corner of his mouth as he clinked glasses with Zheng Fan.

When they clinked glasses, Zheng Fan held the rim of his cup below the other man’s.

Siniang noticed this but said nothing, quietly pouring vinegar into the men’s dipping saucers.

After one sip of the wine, a glimmer of brightness seemed to appear in the scruffy man’s cloudy gaze. He placed his wine cup down. Zheng Fan prepared to pour him another, but the man blocked it with his hand, saying, "What a pity. I’ve never had wine this good before."

Zheng Fan smiled. "Then have a few more."

The scruffy man shook his head. "I can’t. If I drink more, I’ll be reluctant to die."

Hearing this, Zheng Fan placed the wine jug at the other man’s feet. "Then drink as you die."

The scruffy man pointed at Zheng Fan and said, "Fair point."

At that moment, the tent flap was lifted, and Yang Wenzhi, clad in armor, walked in. He saluted Zheng Fan. "Zheng Colonel, I’ve just been ordered to the handover. I estimate it won’t be until after nightfall that it’s our turn for our birthday tribute convoy to be inspected."

This was truly a queue for presenting gifts, and they had to wait until nightfall just for their turn.

"Alright, I understand. You may go and rest."

Yang Wenzhi acknowledged and turned to leave, but then he paused, turned back, and bowing, said, "Zheng Colonel, the Recruitment Envoy is still waiting for you to make arrangements for him."

Zheng Fan laughed.

So, it’s you.

Siniang also laughed.

So, it’s you.

Then, Yang Wenzhi also laughed. However, he didn’t want to laugh; his mouth merely twisted, followed by his face and neck contorting.

"CRACK..."

The next moment, Yang Wenzhi, who had been alive and well, was now a pile of mangled flesh spread across the carpet in the tent.

Zheng Fan picked up his chopsticks, took a dumpling, dipped it in vinegar, and put it in his mouth. Closing his eyes, he savored it with relish.

The scruffy man didn’t use chopsticks, instead grabbing the dumplings with his hands. They were very hot, but he ate them with gusto.

The three people in the tent collectively ignored the pile of mangled flesh, continuing to eat and drink.

Zheng Fan ate slowly. The scruffy man, however, ate as if he’d just been released from prison, devouring one plate after another. Siniang had to make dumplings three more times, and he polished off every single one himself.

Finally, Siniang said apologetically, "There’s no more."

There was no dough or filling left; it was too late to make any more from scratch.

Only then did the scruffy man put down his plate and pat his belly contentedly. He stood up, a bit unsteady on his feet. He looked down at Zheng Fan, who was still sitting on the ground, and said, "Tell me your name again."

"A true man never changes his name, no matter the circumstances—Fanli."

"Then why do I hear your subordinates call you Zheng Colonel?"

"My surname is Zheng. My full name is Zheng Fanli."

"HAHAHAHA..."

The scruffy man burst out laughing, and Zheng Fan laughed with him.

The scruffy man strode towards the tent entrance.

Zheng Fan stood up, picked up the wine jug, and followed him. "Your wine."

The scruffy man turned, reached out, and took the wine jug.

The tent flap was pushed aside.

The scruffy man lifted the jug, took a large gulp of wine, and then strode off. He moved slowly, yet also very quickly, his figure becoming a series of afterimages within the encampment.

He walked up to the carriage where the Snow Wolf was caged, still holding the wine jug in one hand, and lifted the entire carriage with the other.

The four horses tethered to the carriage began to struggle, their hooves dangling in the air, and they neighed in distress.

Inside the carriage, the Snow Wolf, which had been listless and dispirited throughout the journey, began to howl in terror.

The scruffy man took another gulp of wine.

Then, he began to run.

Alone, hoisting a massive horse-drawn carriage, he started to sprint through the camp.

"THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD!!!"

The earth began to tremble, as if the earth itself drummed an accompaniment to his steps.

He ran with immense momentum, like a goshawk taking flight!

On the riverbank, the more than one hundred tribute-escorting delegations were startled, as were the nearby North Border Army soldiers.

"AWOOO...!"

A desolate horn blast echoed. This signal carried a simple, clear message: Enemy attack!

The running continued. The tremors continued!

If one looked down from the sky, one could clearly see a stream of qi surging from the riverbank towards the Earl of North Border’s estate.

From all directions, torrents of black-armored cavalrymen from the North Border Army swarmed in!

The Earl of North Border’s estate had no city walls, but it had a main gate—a towering memorial archway erected a hundred years prior.

Atop it were the two characters for "North Border," personally inscribed by the Yan Emperor of that generation.

On the left side of the archway were four characters: *Never Build City Walls!*

On the right side, four characters: *Wings of the Nation!*

And at that very moment, a horse carriage—complete with its four horses and the people and beasts inside—was hurled forward, smashing violently into the archway.

"BOOM!!!"

The archway collapsed, sending up clouds of dust.

When the dust settled, a large crater was revealed in the ground. Beside it stood the figure of the scruffy man, wine jug in hand. A thunderous roar erupted from his mouth, echoing across the riverbank!

"Shatuo Queshi, former Left Valley King of the Barbarian Royal Court, is here to offer birthday felicitations to the Marquise!"

The converging North Border Army cavalry halted their horses at their respective commanders’ signals.

A visitor was a guest, whether welcome or unwelcome. As hosts, there were proper protocols to observe when a guest arrived.

Yet, even though no charge had been ordered, three thousand armored cavalrymen had already surrounded the scruffy man! They awaited only the military command from the estate, upon which they would undoubtedly slay this brute!

After a short while, an aged voice called out from within the Earl’s estate:

"The Old Madam says she thanks the Left Valley King for his kind intentions. If it is convenient, you may enter the estate for a cup of wine."

The scruffy man lifted his wine jug, took a hearty swig, and laughed. "I’ve brought my own wine. Besides, I have already resigned from the position of Left Valley King. Today’s events have nothing to do with the Left Valley King or the Royal Court!"

With that, the scruffy man took another large gulp of wine and shouted, "I request the Princess come out and meet with me!"

After a while, the aged voice from within the estate resonated once more:

"The Old Madam says the Princess is young and mischievous. The Left Valley King is a hero and elder of the barbarian tribes; you should not lower yourself to the level of a junior."

At these words, the scruffy man’s eyes instantly turned bloodshot. A terrifying aura erupted from him!

Holding the wine jug in one hand and pointing towards the Earl’s estate with the other, he spoke, his voice laced with anguish:

"The Princess is young? The Princess is mischievous? Then what of the five thousand innocent women, children, and elderly of my Shatuo tribe?

Today, I, Shatuo Queshi, stand here as a remnant of the Shatuo people.

For the five thousand women, children, and elderly of my Shatuo tribe, I demand an explanation from the Princess!"