The Peculiar Border and an Unexpected Encounter

“Recently, troop movements along the border have been exceedingly frequent…”

The tall woman’s face was etched with solemnity.

“Everyone’s attention has been focused on the enemy’s military deployments, which has given that demonic beast an opportune moment to strike,” she explained, her expression grim. “To be frank, our spies in Zhao have reported something peculiar about their border.”

“Peculiar?” Yu Qingxuan’s brow arched at her words.

“Yes, an indescribable feeling. According to our intelligence, nine out of ten villages near the Zhao border are deserted. We’re unsure if this is related to the demon beasts you mentioned, Sister Qingxuan.”

A worried expression settled upon the tall woman’s face as she spoke.

Though she served the Qin army, the common folk of Zhao were innocent.

“Since you’re already aware of this matter, what is the higher-ups’ stance?” Yu Qingxuan inquired.

“To ignore it, and simply perform our duties.”

A wry smile touched the tall woman’s lips as she delivered the news.

She recalled a time when humanity first arrived in the Northern Lands; the army had been a crucial force in eradicating demon beasts.

Now, entangled in their own conflicts, they had utterly forgotten their former purpose.

Moreover, as a military strategist, she had always been meticulous in handling affairs concerning other nations, lest she provoke acts of war. The current relationship between the two countries was already akin to a powder keg.

“Sister Qingxuan, I implore you to investigate this situation, if only for the sake of the people of both Qin and Zhao. Will you?”

Suddenly, the tall woman dropped to one knee, addressing Yu Qingxuan.

“I hadn’t realized that in the years since we last met, you’ve become someone who cares for the common folk.”

A complex gaze flickered in Yu Qingxuan’s eyes.

“After all, I didn’t have the high starting point you did, Sister Qingxuan. I enlisted at fourteen, rising from centurion to chiliarch, and now to a great general. I deeply understand the hardships of the lower-ranking soldiers. If everyone had enough to eat, who would choose to be a soldier?”

The tall woman replied.

Yu Qingxuan fell into contemplation, yet only moments later, she made her decision.

“Very well! I promise you, I will investigate the Zhao border.”

She couldn’t discern if her sister’s words truly stemmed from such noble righteousness, or if she merely wished for Yu Qingxuan to gather intelligence within Zhao territory.

“Junior Brother…”

Yu Qingxuan then turned to Qin Yan, unwilling to let her junior brother wade into such troubled waters.

“Senior Sister, if you intend for me to return to the sect, you can forget it.”

Qin Yan instantly grasped Yu Qingxuan’s meaning, shaking his head as he replied.

This journey’s original purpose was to uncover the mastermind; how could he abandon it halfway?

As the saying goes, ‘kill the abbot and still hope to escape’? Now that the tiger demon was dead, only by eradicating its roots could he find peace of mind.

Yu Qingxuan harbored a trace of chivalry in her heart, and Qin Yan was no different. Was he truly to become a sniveling man in this world?!

Witnessing the situation, Xiao Miao nodded as well. Being unaligned with any sect or faction, she was, in fact, the most suitable choice. Since Qin Yan had made his decision, she naturally had no objections.

Thus, traveling to Zhao became the trio’s objective.

****

Days later.

Zhao.

Yougu City.

This was a small city situated on the Zhao border.

Qin Yan and the two women walked through the streets, observing their surroundings. The scenery was quite similar to that of Qin, yet compared to the bustling fortifications of the border cities, this small city possessed a distinct tranquility.

The three of them had disguised themselves, as discretion was paramount.

They casually found an inn by the roadside and booked three guest rooms.

The trio gathered in one of the guest rooms.

“This truly is strange,” Yu Qingxuan murmured, gazing out the window at the crowds below.

Why did she feel this way?

Because along their journey, not a single person was found in the villages outside Yougu City. It was as if they had been ravaged by mountain bandits, yet not a single corpse could be seen.

“Within the city, however, there’s no discernible abnormality,” Xiao Miao remarked.

Xiao Miao spoke up then, noting that Yougu City appeared no different from any ordinary settlement.

Small merchants and peddlers were abundant.

Listening to their conversation, Qin Yan felt a persistent sense of unease, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint its source.

“Perhaps we should find a tea house; that’s where the most information can usually be found,” he suggested.

Yu Qingxuan nodded, and Xiao Miao followed suit.

****

The trio then proceeded to the city’s largest tea house.

The place was bustling with activity, and a steady stream of patrons flowed in and out.

“Welcome, esteemed guests, please come in…”

A waiter greeted them, his demeanor overtly enthusiastic.

The three took a seat in the main hall; for the purpose of gathering intelligence, there was no need for a private room.

“What would the three esteemed guests like to drink?” the waiter politely inquired.

“Just some tea will suffice,” Qin Yan replied.

“Right away, esteemed guest, please wait a moment.”

The waiter noted their order and departed.

Just as the trio prepared to listen to the conversations around them, a woman wearing a veil, revealing only a pair of foxy, alluring eyes, suddenly took a seat before them.

Yu Qingxuan’s brow furrowed slightly at this, a thought flashing through her mind: ‘Is she here to cause trouble?’

She extended her spiritual sense to probe, only to find the other party doing the same. In their clash of spiritual power, they proved to be evenly matched.

The woman opposite was also a Golden Core cultivator, a fact that left Yu Qingxuan somewhat startled.

‘Are Golden Core cultivators truly so common in Zhao? To encounter one in a mere mortal tea house…’

A female voice, transmitted through spiritual sense, reached the ears of Qin Yan, Yu Qingxuan, and Xiao Miao.

“Whether we are or not, what concern is it of yours, fellow Daoist?”

Yu Qingxuan tensed, ready to strike at any moment.

“There’s no need to be tense, fellow Daoist. I’m merely curious as to why you’ve come to this small Yougu City; I bear no ill will,” the cultivator replied with a smile, her voice exceptionally pleasant.

“We are simply traveling, and having arrived in your esteemed land, we hope for the understanding of local cultivators,” Yu Qingxuan responded via spiritual sense.

“Is that so?” The cultivator seemed somewhat surprised. “For individuals so young to possess such cultivation, you must be disciples of some sect, I presume? Qin and Zhao have been unstable lately; be careful not to lose your lives.”

The cultivator’s gaze then fell upon Qin Yan. With a sweep of her spiritual sense, she gleaned most of what she needed to know.

Qin Yan’s male identity, his innate talent, and his age.

Such an act was clearly a provocation; both Yu Qingxuan and the cultivator were probing each other.

The cultivator’s words were unambiguous: she wanted the trio to leave swiftly.

If Qin Yan hadn’t been present, Yu Qingxuan would have erupted then and there.

It was unexpected that such an incident would occur immediately upon their entry into Yougu City, within Zhao territory.

It was quite unforeseen.

“We appreciate your warning, fellow Daoist. We shall depart from this place now,” Yu Qingxuan replied, a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“There’s no need for such haste, fellow Daoists. Whether you choose to travel further into Zhao or return to Qin, either would be preferable to this small city on the front lines of war, wouldn’t it? I am merely thinking of your well-being.”

The cultivator sighed softly, as if truly concerned.