General Yun Po and Huang Si were both examining the body of Nie Qirong while Cao Yun and Yun Ping were observing them. With his perception, Cao Yun could tell that the two of them had doubts about the whole situation. In fact, he could hear several soldiers around the command tent. Most likely, General Yun had given orders. The mere fact that no one had attacked Cao Yun proved that they had at least believed his identity. But he could totally understand why they would have some suspicions about him. After all, he had been gone for eleven years and had just admitted to having been in demon territory all this time. How could he have survived that long? How could his cultivation have improved so much?
Many questions naturally came to mind. Honestly, even Yun Ping had questions too. However, he trusted his old friend. Besides, no answer made any sense to him. if Cao Yun was a spy, the demons had chosen the worst possible way to make him sneak back into the Hongchen Kingdom. Moreover, Yun Ping refused to accept that Cao Yun would be coerced into betraying the Hongchen Kingdom and mankind.
Cao Yun was observing General Yun and Huang Si closely. Both of them had clear stigmas of the war on their faces and behaviors. General Yun was an incredibly tall and large man with a black armor. Although his armor was made of some amalgamation of Bin Iron, it had many scars on it. Some parts of the armor were even missing, they were very small but Cao Yun could clearly see them. Here and there, a tiny piece of metal had been ripped out.
When he had first met him, General Yun Po seemed like a god to the young man, but now, Cao Yun was only one grade under him. Even with all his time spent on the battlefield, General Yun Po did not have the same killing intent Cao Yun had. Indeed, Cao Yun's killing intent was most likely unmatched, except for Da Mo himself. After all, Cao Yun had fully incorporated the Drop of Wrath as a part of his soul. Honestly, in a fight, without using his asura cultivation, Cao Yun would probably win, but it would be a tough battle and he wouldn't get out of it unscathed. Moreover, winning and killing one's opponent were two different things altogether.
On General Yun's face, Cao Yun could see that he was concealing a great fatigue, both physical and mental. Eleven years on the front line could have that effect even on the strongest cultivators. Besides, as a general in the Subei Province, General Yun had faced skirmishes for a very long time prior to this all-out war. His own son had lost an arm during the demonic beast stampede and his daughter was apparently soon to join the battleground as well. Although he had no kids, Cao Yun could emphathize with that. General Yun's responsibilities were heavy on his shoulders.
On the other hand, Cao Yun had never actually met Huang Si. Her white hair and light gray eyes had immediately showed him that she was part of the Huang family. The very moment he had seen her, Cao Yun had seen something in her eyes. Not only had she four faint flames in those eyes, showing she had cultivated the 'Nine Chambers of Life Fire' method to a good extent, but Cao Yun also saw a hint of something else. Somehow, she had recognized him, but not just as the Young Sect Master of the Wubei Sect, it was as if someone had told her a lot about him. Judging by her attitude, which was quite warm, Cao Yun wondered if Matriarch Huang or Huang Liyue had talked to her about him. After all, Cao Yun was close to the Huang family. But he was worried about Huang Cixi being the new matriarch, considering his history with her brothers.
Huang Si was around forty-five and was a few years away from attempting her Lesser Tribulation. A cultivator like her should be able to conceal her age completely and would look like a twenty year-old, just like Cao Yun in fact. However, she looked a bit older, although she didn't look more than thirty. Most of it was due to the fatigue he could also read on her face and in her demeanor. Her dress was very bright, with flashes of red, blue and gold as well as embroideries of flames, feathers and birds. She almost looked like an empress, or at the very least, like royalty. Considering that she was the one in charge of the mines and thus the tunnels under the Subei Province, she somewhat was royalty.
The Huang family had probably become the richest family in the Hongchen Kingdom. Cao Yun would soon learn that only the Myriad Cherry Blossom Hall was rich enough to compete with the Huang family. In other words, no family was on their level. In fact, they were gathering more and more influence under Huang Cixi's leadership. If Matriarch Huang somehow managed to become a Sage, the Huang family might supplant the Emperor himself. Even if she failed or, in the worst case scenario, died, Huang Cixi's leadership would insure prosperity for the Huang family.
As Cao Yun was thinking, he heard General Yun's voice.
"She truly is Nie Qirong. Commander Yun Ping claimed that you had absorbed her memories. Is that accurate?"
"It is. I've used a technique I've learned from Spirit Master Xiao when that officer was distracted. I've been able to absorb all of her memories, without any loss. I'll tell you everything I've learned from her."
Cao Yun was lying. Indeed, the 'Melting the Shattered Mirror' had come from Cleansed Asura's documents. However, dropping the name of Spirit Master Xiao had the excepted result. They both knew that Spirit Master Xiao had been very close to Cao Yun, so it was credible. Besides, she was known for her powerful soul and mind techniques. Imagining that Cao Yun had learned a powerful technique that had allowed him to steal all of Nie Qirong's memories, while destroying her soul and killing her without any physical trace, was acceptable. Instead of defending himself, which would probably make him look more guilty, Cao Yun was letting them fill the blanks.
"Unfortunately, it took me too much time and my stealth failed. I'm sincerely sorry about causing such a ruckus. If you need my help on the battlefield, I'll gladly give it to you. But, I do want to go back to the Wubei sect as soon as possible. So much time has passed, and I want to meet with my brothers and sister."
"I understand. But we must make sure that we get all the information we can. What you know might be invaluable. Even if they change their plans and rearrange their armies, the demons won't realize how much information you've got out of this Nie Qirong. We have to capitalize on it as soon and as much as possible."
"Wait... You talked about your stealth. Are you talking about Aunt Liyue's 'Ashen Feather Seal'?"
Huang Si's voice was much calmer than General Yun. Cao Yun could tell that the general was still wary and treading the waters carefully. On the other hand, Huang Si seemed to be more trusting. The fact that she names Huang Liyue showed Cao Yun that his hypothesis was most likely right. Huang Liyue had probably told the high-ranking members of her family about him. Then, it made things easier.
"Indeed. I've been able to master the four layers of the technique. By using the 'Storms in the Crimson Furnace' as a basis, I've found some blood cultivation techniques in the Desolate Sepulcher, so I've been able to adapt 'Blood Withers While Life Flourishes' to my own bloodline. Besides, I do think that Hongyu's bloodline helped me a lot."
Once again, Cao Yun altered the truth slightly, but he wasn't completely lying either. He had modified his blood cultivation thanks to techniques from the Desolate Sepulcher and Hongyu had helped as well. By observing her and being so close to her, he had learned many things.
Huang Si wasn't too surprised, but General Yun was. Hearing Cao Yun's words, he turned to Huang Si and saw that she was expecting this kind of answer. That meant that Matriarch Huang had actually given him the 'Storms in the Crimson Furnace' method. This was a method only used by the Huang family but an outsider had obtained it. Thinking back on the fact that his mount was a powerful Fenghuang, it did make some sense. Clearly, Cao Yun's relation with the Huang family was closer than he had expected. And if Cao Yun had mastered the stealth technique of Huang Liyue, General Yun could believe that he had snuck into the demon camps without being noticed at all. But he still harbored some doubts, especially after hearing about the Desolate Sepulcher.
"You were sent to the Desolate Sepulcher?!"
"Yes. When the spatial rift took me, I thought I was dead, like many people here thought too apparently. But I woke up a slave in the Desolate Sepulcher. Ironically, they treated me well because I was such a rare commodity, as a human. So they taught me several blood arts. Thankfully, a slave revolt took place. The Empyrean Asura Theocracy pressed too much. They demanded more and more slaves so the tribes who were enslaved revolted. I took part in the revolt and the war that ensued. Those demons do not worship the so-called Heavenly Demon God, but the Weaver of Souls, a demon who allied himself with Emperor Nuwa against Da Mo.
"So I wasn't treated any different from the other slaves after the revolt. In fact, they even helped me reach the continent. Then, I've just been using my stealth to get back to the border as fast as I could. Many revolts also happened all over the demon territory. In the North, the Yanbei Region has completely rebelled against the Empyrean Asura Theocracy. They were forced to send the Silver Wolf Marshal himself. Thanks to that, I knew that he wasn't near the border. So I tried to go through, knowing such an opportunity wouldn't arise again."
Of course, Cao Yun knew that it was risky to say that he had been enslaved by demons as the Hongchen Kingdom might think that he was still a slave. But his story made a lot of sense, and in a way, he wasn't completely lying either. Neither General Yun nor Huang Si could detect any falsehood. And since, they had no way of getting intel from the Desolate Sepulcher, they had to believe him. Moreover, if they did get some intel, they would also learn that there had been a revolt of slaves. So Cao Yun's story would check out.
General Yun was almost convinced while Huang Si trusted Cao Yun, almost from the beginning.
"Young Sect Master, please, tell us everything you've learned while traveling the demon territory, and everything you've learned from Nie Qirong's memories."
General Yun's question was exactly what Cao Yun was waiting for. He simply had to be truthful about the intel he had obtained. Of course, Cao Yun didn't tell exactly how he had obtained said intel. But he explained the entire situation of the Empyrean Asura Theocracy. Many of those details were things that were known by the Hongchen Kingdom's intelligence but highly classified of course. General Yun knew a lot and everything Cao Yun told him made perfect sense. That was how Cao Yun planned to prove he wasn't some kind of spy or slave.
As Cao Yun gave more and more details, General Yun's suspicion began to die out, slowly but surely. After almost four hours straight giving many details on the geography, the politics, the religion, the revolts, the army, Cao Yun had completely gained General Yun's trust and respect. Cao Yun's intel was in perfect agreement with what the Hongchen Kingdom knew while adding many things they could check and find out, but also giving precious intel they could never find by themselves. In other words, General Yun could check most of his intel and make sure it was solid, and the rest was still good, useful intel. This wasn't just throwaway information, they could act upon it and see immediately whether it was true or not.
"How long before the Silver Wolf Marshal comes back on the front line?"
"I can't tell for sure. When I left the Yanbei Region, he was still there. Thanks to Hongyu and my stealth, I've traveled faster than anyone else. Considering the revolts in the North but also the current situation on the front line, I'm not sure whether he'll be called back immediately or not. But if he is, then I estimate that the travel back would take three or four months, but I can't be sure at all. I'm just estimating and guessing at this point."
Cao Yun had given everything he could and now, he could only guess on the future. So General Yun was satisfied.
"Thank you, Young Sect Master. If you want to rest, we'll welcome you. But if you want to leave for the Wubei Sect, I'll have to warn you beforehand. The direct path toward the Wubei Sect cuts through the Huogu Province and the Kai Province. As you've learned, both of them have been wiped out by the demons. Although we've slaughtered the invaders, the land has been corrupted. Many demonic beasts now roam those lands full of dark energies. You'll have to take the long way back to the Wubei Sect. Even with your Heaven-Searing Fenghuang, you won't get there in less than three months..."
"Even more reasons for me to leave as soon as possible. But, I would like to trouble you with something. Could you please send letters to my friends, and my brothers and sister? I'm sure you have ways to transmit information much faster than I can fly."
"Of course. The array formations shouldn't be used for trivial matters, but I'll send your letters to anyone you want, don't worry about that."
Obviously, the army had set up array formations that could transmit data and messages directly to other large cities in the Hongchen Kingdom. Those were expensive, but they were essential in war.
"By the way, I also have a message from the Huang family to you."
Huang Si had almost not spoken at all during those four hours, but now she had something to say before Cao Yun left.