Chapter 1414: Huaichang

A whole troop of cavalry,following the lead of the young general, reined in their warhorses.The thunderous sound of hooves ceased in an instant.Neat and uniform, their aura imposing.The dust raised high behind them then gently settled.It was as though a dance had abruptly halted.Truly a rare and elite force!Naturally, it also further highlighted the might of the young general at the forefront.

Jiang Wang’s eyes lit up: “Little Guangshu!”Though this was the first time seeing this child in reality, and his appearance differed from that in the Illusory Realm, Jiang Wang still recognized him at a glance.That inherent spiritual temperament was unique; no other could possess it.

As the words left his mouth, a voice filled with gnashed teeth sounded in his ear: "Do not add the word 'little'!"

A slight smile touched Jiang Wang’s face: “First meeting, I hope General Zuo will look after me.”

The young general, perched high on his horse, nodded with a hint of arrogance, but what he said was: “Brother Jiang, we meet again!”

Jiang Wang watched him with interest, saying aloud: “Meeting in the Illusory Realm doesn’t count.”

Zuo Guangshu let out a light snort, raised his hand in a gesture, and a knight led forward a divine steed with water-blue fur.He tilted his chin up, speaking with a general’s air: “Mount up, we’ll talk.”

The knight leading the horse gently reminded: “This one is also the Young Lord’s mount, specially brought for you. It has a bit of a temper, perhaps His Excellency could be gentle.”

Looking at the horse, its coat was sleek and smooth, its body tall and long. Its mane cascaded like a waterfall, and its water-blue fur all over seemed like it was draped in a layer of ocean waves.Its eyes were wary and held a threatening look, confirming its indeed not-so-good temper.

Jiang Wang casually took the reins, flipped over, and smoothly mounted the horse’s back.The horse twitched its nose, lifted a hoof, and prepared to teach this rude and presumptuous stranger a lesson.

But immediately, a terrifying force pressed down.The hoof, lifted only half an inch, landed heavily on the ground, rooting itself like an old tree, unmoving.The snort it was making also stopped halfway.The horse’s head lowered slightly, its gaze softened, becoming exceptionally docile.

Jiang Wang reached out and stroked the horse’s water-blue long mane, then heard Zuo Guangshu say: “This is your first time seeing me, but not my first time seeing you. While you were fighting for your life on the View River Platform, I was leisurely watching the show below!”

He described not making it into the Yellow River Conference in such a refreshing and unique way!

Jiang Wang gave a light smile, turning his horse with Zuo Guangshu, and did not ask why Zuo Guangshu did not come out to greet him at the time, only saying: “Presumably my heroic bearing has left a deep impression on you!”

Zuo Guangshu instinctively wanted to retort, but the words caught in his throat. He actually felt that what Jiang Wang said was very true, so he simply snorted.Holding the reins, he nudged his boot lightly, and the divine steed beneath him leaped high, accelerating into a gallop.Jiang Wang rode his horse parallel to him.The entire troop of cavalry wearing fiery cloaks also turned at the same time, following closely behind.

The north and south gates of Lingshang City had both been opened wide, and the main streets in the city had long been cleared in anticipation.Such a formidable force of elite cavalry, with hooves like drums, directly passed through this border city.They came roaring in and departed just as quickly.

“Who was that just now? The Young Lord personally came to greet them?” The garrison soldiers of Lingshang City couldn’t help but discuss amongst themselves.“Didn’t you hear him say his surname was Jiang?”“What about being named Jiang?”“The Mountain Sea Realm will open in February. Tell me, among the younger generation, who else surnamed Jiang in this world could make the Young Lord come out of the city to greet them?”“The Champion of the Yellow River!”“The First Inner Mansion in the history books that Yu Beidou spoke of?”“What Yu Beidou spoke of? That’s a confirmed immortal feat! With Inner Mansion cultivation, he killed four great Human Devils in succession!”“He’s already in the Outer Tower realm now!”“I wonder how he compares to Lord Dou Zhao now?”“Hmph, are you crazy? What does someone who just entered the Outer Tower have to compare with Lord Dou?”“Maybe they could still fight? Didn’t he already defeat Chen Su?”“Who is Chen Su?”

The discussions of the people, naturally, always follow behind the strong.Sometimes they are a decoration, sometimes they are mud.

Jiang Wang and Zuo Guangshu rode side by side, the man with immortal grace, the horse like a dragon.Galloping together across the land of Xiong Chu, their hearts were filled with indescribable exhilaration.They were not just good opponents in the Illusory Realm, not just sharing similar interests and enjoying conversations.There was a name that would not be easily spoken, an invisible bond.It made them both feel an extra closeness.

Jiang Wang held the reins, and in the howling wind, he asked aloud: “Where are we going now?”

“First to Huaichang,” Zuo Guangshu said. “The usual preparation time for entering the Mountain Sea Realm is two months. If you had come last year, you would have had plenty of time. It’s a bit late now, we need to hurry. Huaichang is where the Zuo family’s fief is located. My family has made many preparations there, and there are sufficient conditions to help us adapt to the Mountain Sea Realm in advance.”

Jiang Wang said with a wry smile: “I also wanted to come last year…”At that time, his goal was clear: to participate in the Mountain Sea Realm. But as soon as he left the State of Yun, he was branded a demon collaborator, followed by relentless pursuit across the land, troubles coming one after another. It was truly an undeserved disaster.He thought he had missed the Mountain Sea Realm and had broken his promise to Zuo Guangshu. But the intricate case in Linzi ended early, and he happened to need to extricate himself. Zuo Guangshu also said that the Mountain Sea Realm would only open in February of the 3920th year of the Dao calendar, which is why he came to Chu again.

Hearing Jiang Wang say this, and thinking of the thrilling experiences he had recently undergone, Zuo Guangshu’s hand on the reins paused. He still looked straight ahead, but his voice suddenly became much softer: “I didn’t mean to blame you…”

Both of Young Lord Zuo’s mounts had extremely beautiful coats. Especially when riding side by side, one was like the blue sky and green sea descended into the mortal world, truly pleasing to the eye and admirable.They were even slightly more spirited than Sir Jiang’s Flame Radiance.

Jiang Wang controlled his steed and turned to look at him. He saw the young general galloping at full speed, his body almost completely still. His bearing and demeanor clearly showed he was from a prestigious family. His expression was particularly proud, looking ahead with some “coldness,” yet his voice was quite weak.

“What are you looking at!” Zuo Guangshu suddenly barked fiercely.

Jiang Wang smiled: “You are a bit taller than I imagined.”

“…” Zuo Guangshu immediately put on his helmet and said in a dissatisfied tone: “I am already sixteen!”

“Hahaha…” Jiang Wang burst into laughter.

“What are you laughing at again!”

Jiang Wang naturally couldn't say that he had a very young sister whose catchphrase was, “I’m already six years old!” and “I’m already seven years old!”Only children liked to talk like that.

He just said: “Actually, after truly meeting you, I’ve always had a question I wanted to ask you.”

Zuo Guangshu raised his chin proudly: “What question?”

Jiang Wang said with a look of curiosity: “Why, even though you are already sixteen, does your voice still have a milky tone?”

The troop of cavalry following close behind was truly well-trained; not a single person burst into laughter.

Zuo Guangshu: …Zuo Guangshu decided to ride on in silence. At least for today, he wouldn’t speak to this unlucky person anymore.

“Hey.” Jiang Wang called out.“General Zuo!”“Zuo Guangshu!”“Little Guangshu?”

“Don’t add the word ‘little’!” Zuo Guangshu said through gritted teeth.

Jiang Wang nodded sincerely, then asked: “Is it not quite appropriate for us to gallop so freely within the borders? We are about to enter the city ahead. Do we need to slow down and let someone go report to the city guard? To avoid any misunderstanding.”

Sir Jiang was used to traveling far and wide and still abided by the rules. He wouldn’t act recklessly just because the Zuo family was a prominent family in Great Chu.This was, after all, a serious question.Zuo Guangshu also had the self-awareness of a host and couldn’t help but answer. So he raised his chin and said: “When my Zuo family travels, the local areas will naturally be prepared. Where is the need for extra words!”

Jiang Wang was momentarily speechless.The prestige of the Young Lord of Great Chu was indeed much higher than that of a certain Azure Sheep of Great Qi.The spectacle of this border city clearing its streets, everyone making way, and the army galloping unimpeded within the territory was something Jiang Wang would never dare to imagine in Qi.

The men and horses rode on without rest, passed through cities without stopping, and encountered passes without hindrance.In the early morning of the third day, their hooves had already entered Huaichang Prefecture.If Zuo Guangshu had not personally come to receive him, Jiang Wang would never have arrived so quickly on his own.It was not that he lacked such speed, but rather that within the Chu territory, he would not have such great freedom.

The Zuo family of Great Chu was a three-thousand-year-old aristocratic family, alongside the Qu, Dou, and Wu families, ranking among the oldest and most prominent families in the State of Chu, sharing its glory. Their foundation was deep, and their bloodline noble.Later rising prominent families like the Zhongli and Xiang families, although not necessarily inferior in strength, when traced back to the past, inevitably fell short by a few points.

Huaichang Prefecture, as the Zuo family's fiefdom, had been managed for thousands of years and was very prosperous.The Zuo family’s influence here was even more deeply rooted, embedded in every inch of soil.

Jiang Wang was naturally very interested in the childhood memories of the Zuo brothers, Zuo Guanglie and Zuo Guangshu.But he didn't even have time to rest his feet at the Zuo family mansion before Zuo Guangshu disbanded the cavalry and took him directly towards Luo Mountain...Starting work as soon as he arrived in Chu, it seemed time was indeed very tight.Zuo Guangshu, this kid, hadn't mentioned it in his previous letters.Otherwise, Jiang Wang would have arrived a day or two earlier... Never mind, he was having so much fun in the State of Yun, he probably wouldn’t have come early.

“It really is not a moment’s delay!” Walking through the lush green Luo Mountain, Jiang Wang let out a long sigh.Huge flagstones paved the mountain path, the fragrance of flowers wafted in the air, and the calls of birds rose and fell.If he disregarded the sense of urgency, he should be able to appreciate the beauty of this mountain.

Zuo Guangshu strode forward: “Because in order to adapt to the environment of the Mountain Sea Realm in advance, we may not even have an extra quarter of an hour.”

“So it seems you specially came to the border city to welcome me not to show your boundless admiration for me, but simply to save time?” Jiang Wang couldn’t help but ask.

“You just realized?” Zuo Guangshu rolled his eyes.

He had specifically brought a troop of elite cavalry to the border city to pick up Big Brother Jiang, of course, it was to give Big Brother Jiang some grandeur.But he would certainly not admit it.

“Hmm, that eye roll was very standard, very complete.” Jiang Wang commented, using this to offset his sigh about the child not being “sensible” enough.However, speaking of it, Zuo Guangshu’s eyes were truly big and bright. Unlike Chongxuan Sheng, who seemed to be sneaky every time he rolled his eyes, you wouldn't even notice it if you didn't look carefully.

“Think about something serious!” Zuo Guangshu said irritably.It was strange that the two of them were interacting in the real world for the first time, yet there was no awkwardness between them.It was as if they were meant to be this close.It was spring, and there was an exceptionally lively scent in the air.

This mountain was not famous to the world, purely because the Zuo family did not open it to outsiders.As a restricted area in Huaichang Prefecture, which could not be entered without the command of the Zuo family, Luo Mountain was naturally not a simple place.People of Chu often used whether a family had an independent “Yanfa Pavilion” as a standard for whether it was powerful.The Zuo family of Great Chu possessed three Yanfa Pavilions, the largest of which was located in Luo Mountain.This shows the importance of this mountain.

After walking for a while, Jiang Wang couldn't help but say sourly again: “If you go to my fief, I will definitely run to the border city to pick you up too. And it won't be because I'm in a hurry, it will simply be because I welcome you.”Of course, the proximity of Qingyang Town to the border city was something that didn't need to be said.The round trip took less than the time it takes to eat a meal.It was incomparable to them riding Zuo Guangshu’s divine steed and still taking several days…

Jiang Wang's way of speaking, copied from Xu Xianggan, a high disciple of Qingya Academy, clearly left Zuo Guangshu unsure how to deal with it.“Alright, alright, I get it.” He said sullenly: “Then I also treated you as a good friend, which is why I dispatched cavalry to give you a show of support!”

“Hey, these things need to be expressed. If you don’t say it, how can I know?” Jiang Wang beamed with joy: “Good friend, good elder brother, right?”

Zuo Guangshu quickened his pace and walked ahead, which could be considered his tacit agreement.

Jiang Wang followed with a smile: “Tell this elder brother about this Luo Mountain. It’s my first time here, I'm completely in the dark and bewildered. What kind of flowers, what kind of trees, what history, what powerful people have visited… you can tell me all about it.”

Jiang Wang was not actually a naturally outgoing person; on the contrary, in many situations, he was slightly “shy.” Only in front of Zuo Guangshu could he always find joy in teasing this young man.It was as if looking back through time, seeing his past self—a self walking towards another possibility.

Since Big Brother Jiang, who had traveled so far, was so eager for knowledge, Zuo Guangshu had no choice but to introduce things in a desultory manner, but he secretly quickened his pace.

The mountain path forked. Turning left through a flower garden, they also crossed a suspension bridge.After enduring the constant chatter for a long time, Zuo Guangshu finally breathed a sigh of relief: “We’re here!”

The suspension bridge behind them was already hidden in the mist.What they saw in front of them was a sealed mountain valley.The flagstone-paved mountain road extended from the suspension bridge all the way here, finally stopping in front of a huge stone gate.This was a very heavy stone gate. The texture on the gate was probably the natural appearance of the stone material, very rough. It had a sense of ancient dullness.There were no guards standing before the stone gate, but on the left and right sides, there were each a tower.

“Uncle Scar!” Zuo Guangshu called out.There were people in the towers.Definitely experts.Because before Zuo Guangshu called out, Jiang Wang had not felt any aura from the people in the towers.And at this moment, above the left tower, an aura emerged from nothingness, like a fierce beast waking up, immediately making Jiang Wang feel danger.

“The person you invited has arrived?” A man with a diagonal knife scar on his face looked down at Jiang Wang from the tower.It was just a casual glance, but Jiang Wang felt that the other party was looking for his vital points.His posture remained unchanged, but his muscles had quietly tensed, entering a state ready for battle at any moment.It was not because he was worried about any accidents happening on the Zuo family’s territory, but rather a fighting instinct.Having cultivated to his current realm, his body’s instincts no longer allowed him to relax in the face of danger.

“Yes!” Zuo Guangshu replied with confidence.The man called “Uncle Scar” didn’t say much, seemingly not having much interest in Jiang Wang either. He simply withdrew his gaze and casually pushed backward with one hand.The two huge stone gates slowly pushed open.