Shangguan Fei was terrified knowing that he was going to the northern bank of Xiaoyao Lake.
“Your Majesty, are you seeking revenge for Shangguan Hong? As soon as the Golden Roc Army sees me, they’ll happily kill me and report it to the Supreme King for credit.”
“I believe in you, you won’t be discovered.”
It was good to be recognized, but Shangguan Fei could only force a smile. “I… I’m not making excuses, but what kind of mission is this? Do I have to go? I’d actually rather stay with Your Majesty and contribute ideas.”
“Your ideas are indeed great, but you’re the best person for the mission. I can’t trust anyone else.”
“Well, I didn’t know I was that important. Your Majesty, you’re flattering me.”
“You’re close to the second master Mingshu of the Meng family in the Jade City, aren’t you?”
Shangguan Fei was so astounded that shock nearly escaped him. A few days prior, in order to convince Maid Lotus of his mother’s returning to power, he had claimed that Meng Mingshu was Lady Meng’s confidant. Now the Dragon King was suddenly dropping the name, as if he had eavesdropped on them, or Maid Lotus had confessed everything to him.
“Well, I’m not… sort of, I call him uncle. We’ve been in touch, and we’re acquaintances.”
“That’s enough. Meet with him and send my greetings.”
“Okay… and then?”
“Then you come back.”
“That’s it?” Shangguan Fei did not expect the mission was to say hi, but he soon realized that he could not make it sound easy. “I mean, go through all the Golden Roc Army’s traps, all the risks, just for a word? It doesn’t necessarily have to be me, does it?”
“It’s important, I don’t want to elaborate. If you don’t go, I’ll have to send Shangguan Hong, though I trust you more, to be honest.”
Shangguan Fei cursed the Dragon King in his heart. He had just turned Shangguan Hong into a eunuch, he could not let his enemy have the chance to fight back. He gritted his teeth and put on a solemn face. “Alright, since Your Majesty said it’s important. You can’t trust Shangguan Hong, I’ll do it.”
Thus, Shangguan Fei boarded a small boat and set off overnight. He was filled with doubts about the Dragon King’s true purpose.
Leading 10 soldiers and five New Moon Hall disciples, Maid Lotus and Wu Zongheng set off on the same night. They had promised that they would take Tuo Nengya’s troops to the destination in 15 to 20 days. Then, Maid Lotus would bring back the news.
Six hours later, the Right General Shang Liao left the port leading 50 warships. It was dark and not many were on the dock. Few people noticed that the first Dragon army was marching toward the enemy.
At the same time, the main force of the Dragon’s land army was shifted to the west.
Gu Shenwei had cast a net, but he could only cast in a certain direction. No one knew what he would reap in the end. He might get what he wanted, or something the mission performer had smuggled.
After daybreak, the Dragon King came to the frontline in person. Prime Minister Zhong Heng stayed in the An Kingdom capital. Since the war was about to begin, he felt the need to advise the Dragon King, “It takes more than one day or one battle to win, I hope Your Majesty is covering all the bases. As long as we have the Land of Fragrance, we can still win in the future.”
Zhong Heng hoped the Dragon King would protect himself, but Gu Shenwei had cut off all means of retreat, at least that’s what he said. “The Land of Fragrance is far from the West Region. For now, while it’s unknown to the world, it can invade Xiaoyao Lake quietly. Once it’s exposed, a sneak attack will be impossible. We’ll do our best this time.”
The Dragon King had not bid farewell to the Queen. They exchanged glances when the ships set off.
From east to west, they put three batches of 10,000 soldiers each in the An Kingdom; each of them was a half days walk away from others. The last batch was in the place Gu Shenwei had chosen. The gentle slope had a name—the seaside slope. It implied that things could roll from the top of the hill into Xiaoyo Lake.
The metaphor was often exaggerated; the seaside slope was several kilometers away from the real seaside. The slope was flat; nothing could roll into the water.
The Dragon Army set off with more than 200 large ships. Shang Liao led the best 50 to meet the enemy, and the rest patrolled offshore to protect their right flank with the Dragon army.
On the fifth day, which was also the last day of the 15 days Shang Liao had promised, the war began.
In the meantime, Shangguan Fei’s boat had landed. Maid Lotus and Wu Zongheng went deep into the mountains via Gulping Wind Gorge.
Although Shangguan Fei reluctantly accepted the task, he had refused to take the risks alone. He requested a guard from the Dragon King. “I’m not asking for too much. Yes, I can use Kung Fu, but someone has to protect me in the dark, it’s a must in the Golden Roc Fort.”
He did not choose a New Moon Hall disciple because they bore too much hatred toward the Golden Roc Fort. They would not protest him wholeheartedly. He did not take the young swordsman Chu Nanping or any other apprentice assassins. “Little Chu is conspicuous, others are too young.”
After careful consideration, Shangguan Fei picked the captain of the guards, Long Fanyun.
Long Fanyun did not look happy when he first received the order, but refrained from showing it in front of the Dragon King. Once the ship had left the port, he coldly negotiated with Shangguan Fei, “Don’t talk to me. I’m only in charge of your safety; I will not meddle in other matters.”
Shangguan Fei looked serious. “We go to the north, everything changes on the way. I just want to do my task to merit His Majesty’s trust. I have no other intentions at all.”
Slightly embarrassed, Long Fanyun nodded. He looked at the dark night outside; two boatmen’s figures were moving regularly, driving the boat forward.
However, Shangguan Fei did not take the negotiation seriously. After a short while, he spoke. “My Third Brother’s name is Yun, the same as yours.”
Shangguan Fei had been living in the barracks for a long time. The old soldiers all knew his taste, and Long Fanyun especially hated it. He snapped. “I said don’t talk to me if it’s not necessary.”
“It is necessary… ” Shangguan Fei was polite; he even sounded a little aggrieved.
“Go ahead.” Long Fanyun had to lower his tone.
“Here’s the thing. We have to stay together for a few days; we have to call on each other, right? Most people in Great Snowmountain are named Long, Brother Long is too common, and Brother Fan is unpleasant, Brother Yun sounds like my Third Brother. So, what do you want to call me…?”
Long Fanyun failed to control himself. He punched the roof of the cabin, causing the boat to swing. Boatmen on the outside were startled. “What a big fish, you two inside be careful.”
“I call you Shangguan Fei and you call me Long Fanyun, that’s it.”
Shangguan Fei was alarmed as well, but he managed to hide it. He nodded. “Alright, it’s simple, no mistaking.”
The silence lasted for an hour. Shangguan Fei lay on the bed and seemed to be asleep. Long Fanyun felt relieved, until Shangguan Fei brought up another thing. “What if someone recognizes us, what should we do?”
Long Fanyun sat at the door of the cabin, holding his heavy sword. He did not turn or say a word.
“I am not a big shot, but I’m still the Supreme King’s son, many people have heard of me. As for you, you are the Great Snowmountain kung fu master, the Canopy Peak chief, and the captain of the guards. The entire Western Region knows your name. If I call out your name in the north, a bunch of assassins are likely to show up. I’m not afraid of death, but the mission… ”
Shangguan Fei was nagging, Long Fanyun ran out of patience again. If he had known it would be like this, he would have refused the trip in the first place. The boat was slow, they were not too far away from the port, he even thought about swimming back to the southern bank.
“I have an idea. I’ll call you the elder brother, and you call me the ninth younger brother, what do you think?”
“No.” Long Fanyun spat the word. He would rather die than call him brother.
“What about we pretend to be master and servant? Do you want to be master or servant?”
“Master.” Long Fanyun wished Shangguan Fei would just shut up as soon as possible.
“Good.” Shangguan Fei answered immediately, but soon he had another question. “When you say master, are you calling me? Or do you want to be the master?”
“The Great Snowmountain doesn’t have servants.” Long Fanyun said resentfully, but he soon realized there was a loophole and added, “Unless they were seized by your Golden Roc Fort when they were young.”
“Alas.” Shangguan Fei sighed, as if they were chatting. “It’s not my Golden Roc Fort anymore, how I wish they had seized…”
Long Fanyun pulled his heavy 30 centimeter long sword out of its scabbard. Shangguan Fei immediately corrected himself. “Me… I wish the Great Snowmountain had captured me, so I could be one of you.”
Long Fanyun snorted, thinking that Shangguan Fei would not last one winter in the Great Snowmountain. “The Great Snowmountain only kill, they don’t capture.”
“Right, you never know…”
Long Fanyun suddenly realized they were talking. He put the sword back into the scabbard heavily. “Sleep, stand guard in two hours. You say one more word; I’ll keep your mouth shut.”
Shangguan Fei immediately fell silent and soon began to snore in his sleep.
After two hours, Long Fanyun woke him up.
Shangguan Fei was really asleep. He mumbled. “We’re on a boat in a sea, how can there be any enemy? Brother Fanyun, we don’t keep guard, okay?”
Long Fanyun looked angry. He was not tired at all, but he could not let Shangguan Fei have his way. He pressed the scabbard hard against Shangguan Fei. “Get up and keep guard.”
Shangguan Fei immediately woke up and for a moment thought Maid Lotus was here. He yawned feebly and looked outside the cabin in place of Long Fanyun.
Long Fanyun soon regretted it because Shangguan Fei was more annoying when he was awake.
“Sleep, I’ve warmed the bed.”
Long Fanyun lay at the edge of the bed, away from where Shangguan Fei slept. He was not even covered.
“Speaking of the address, you really look like a master. I’m weak and look weak, do you think people will take me as your…”
Long Fanyun rose up, grabbed Shangguan Yun and threw him inside. He sat outside the cabin alone.
For a few days straight, Long Fanyun kept guard all by himself. Even when he slept, he stayed as far away as possible from Shangguan Fei.
Five days later, the boat landed.