"Who are you?"
Ning Tiance looked at the drunken young man before him, his expression having long returned to calm.
The storms he had experienced were beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
Although the underlying meaning in Ling Xiao's words just now had indeed disturbed his composure...
But...
He hadn't concerned himself with the affairs of the Northern Frontier for many years.
Or perhaps, he was already powerless to do anything.
Why remain in the Emperor's Center?
If he returned to the Northern Frontier, his wife and child would inevitably be used as leverage by the Zhou Emperor.
Ning'er had been extremely frail since birth. If she were subjected to such hardship again, his heart would find no peace.
"A mere scholar, traveling and arrived here." Ling Xiao tilted his head back and drank a mouthful of cheap liquor.
"You come from the Northern Frontier?"
"Correct." Ling Xiao's gaze was indifferent, completely ignoring the meaningful looks the shop owner was giving him.
The capital had an unwritten rule: one must not mention the words 'Northern Frontier' in front of the War God.
This youth looked only seventeen or eighteen, clearly inexperienced in the ways of the world.
But once he angered War God Ning...
"Oh..." Ning Tiance picked up the wine pot and took a large gulp.
But Ling Xiao only snorted coldly. "The General is truly in a leisurely mood. A hundred thousand Northern Frontier soldiers have died miserably over ten years, yet you enjoy yourself here, happy and carefree."
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Since it's a trap, why is the General so deeply immersed in it? Why hasn't the Northern Frontier received reinforcements in ten years? Why would Great Zhou rather suffer slaughter than send a general there? For someone who has painstakingly schemed against you for ten years, is it worth betraying the million soldiers who revere you like a god?" Ling Xiao's lips moved, but no sound came out.
Yet the two Divine Marquis experts standing outside the door were already looking at him with vigilant eyes.
"Hah."
"State your background. Otherwise, you won't leave this humble shack today."
"Is my background important? Perhaps the General should return and take a good look at your daughter. Isn't it strange that you haven't seen her for ten years?" Ling Xiao sneered, and Ning Tiance's face abruptly turned pale.
"Brat, since you come from the Northern Frontier, I'll spare your life today! Get lost!"
A wisp of Emperor aura quietly spread.
It was like a sea of blood churning, accompanied by the sound of ten thousand horses falling silent.
But Ling Xiao seemed completely unfazed, his gaze calm as he looked at Ning Tiance.
So protective of his daughter indeed. Just mentioning Ning'er nearly shattered the composure of this Great Zhou War God.
"Heh, it seems the General has his suspicions too. 'For ten years we've been separated, one living, one dead, In sheer ignorance despaired.' It seems the General has not only failed the generals of the Northern Frontier but also failed to protect the very family he wanted to guard." Ling Xiao shook his head with a laugh, drank the last mouthful of warm wine, turned, and left with an air of detachment.
"What exactly do you know?" Just as Ling Xiao reached Ning Tiance's side, the latter's voice was already icy cold.
"I met an old woman named Han Yue. She told me that the one inside Yunruo Palace isn't the real Ning'er." Ling Xiao stopped and turned to look at Ning Tiance.
By now, the latter's face was completely stunned. He then stood up directly, grabbing Ling Xiao's clothes. "Where did you see her!! Tell me!! Or I'll make you wish you were dead."
"If the General doesn't believe me, why bother asking? Why don't you go ask the wife who has schemed against you for ten years? Truly absurd." A sinister smile curled on Ling Xiao's lips as a wisp of Emperor aura emanated from his body, instantly restoring clarity to Ning Tiance's eyes.
"Divine Emperor?!" He took a deep breath, his gaze icy as he stared at Ling Xiao. "No matter your purpose, I don't believe Minruo would deceive me. If I see you in the imperial capital again, I will kill you."
"A Ning Tiance who deceives himself is indeed no longer the War God revered by the Northern Frontier. Ridiculous." Ling Xiao reached out, gripped Ning Tiance's wrist, and forcefully pulled his hand away before turning to leave.
If Ning Tiance didn't believe him, he wouldn't have let him leave.
In other words, without the confidence to detain Ling Xiao, he didn't want to sever all ties with this stranger who knew Ning'er's whereabouts.
Han Yue!
That name was unknown to ordinary people.
And this wet nurse of the Princess had indeed disappeared from Yunruo Palace for ten years.
Is it a coincidence?
Or... is Minruo really deceiving me?
From the very beginning, Ning Tiance knew that Zhou Minruo wanted the immortal art of military strategy he supposedly possessed.
But he truly didn't have it.
Still... how could she possibly move against Ning'er?
And if Ning'er isn't in the palace, where is she?
Ning Tiance couldn't figure it out, but... he gradually sensed something amiss.
He originally thought that as long as he was sincere to her, one day the three of them would live a simple, peaceful life.
But now, it seemed he really was... wishful thinking.
As for the answer...
He really should go find Zhou Minruo and ask for clarification.
"Oh, right. Take this Communication Talisman. Once you find the answer, you might want to talk to me." Just as Ling Xiao was about to leave the shack, his steps halted once more. He took out a golden spirit talisman and tossed it to the ground.
"Halt!" But now, the two Divine Marquises guarding outside stepped forward, blocking Ling Xiao's path.
"Speak! Who are you, exactly?"
"Mere Divine Marquises dare block this Emperor's path?" Ling Xiao coldly shouted, the light in his pupils suddenly blazing.
A vast, primordial force descended from the sky, nearly crushing the two figures to the ground.
"General Ning, I'll be waiting." With these words, Ling Xiao finally hesitated no more and walked towards the end of the ancient street.
"Son-in-law, that young man just now... was from the Northern Frontier?" The two Divine Marquises looked somewhat pale. They naturally never imagined that a youth who appeared only sixteen or seventeen could be a Divine Emperor expert.
And, most importantly... he was from the Northern Frontier!!
"Correct." A cold glint flashed in Ning Tiance's eyes. Then, before the two Divine Marquises could react, he suddenly reached out with both hands and grasped their necks.
"Ning Tiance!! You... You want to rebel?!"
Crack!
Overwhelming spiritual light flared up, only to vanish in an instant.
Ning Tiance looked up, watching the youth gradually disappearing at the end of the ancient street, a trace of gravity finally surfacing between his brows.
I failed the million soldiers of the Northern Frontier, and I failed to protect the family I should have guarded.
Zhou Minruo, if you truly had the heart to harm my daughter, then today, I will personally take back everything that belongs to me.
Thud. Ning Tiance released his hands, and the two Divine Marquis corpses fell to the ground with a dull thud.
This thrill of killing... it seemed he hadn't experienced it for... a long time.
A general's rightful place is on the battlefield.
To die wrapped in horsehide, without regret or resentment.
Only after Ning Tiance left the shack and headed in the direction of Yunruo Palace did the owner of the Jiang Yu Inn calmly drag the two corpses on the ground towards the back of the building.
From start to finish, not a single ripple of emotion showed on his face.
It seemed a scene like this, of killing, held no intimidation for him whatsoever.
Instead, at this moment, a faint glimmer of tears shimmered in his eyes.
My General.
Ten years!
You have finally... regained a trace of your fighting spirit!
Regardless of who that young man in white was, he felt a thread of gratitude towards him.
"Huh? That person... didn't leave any silver?!"
Dammit!
A dignified Divine Emperor, actually dining and dashing!
Shameless!