Chapter 278: Envoys from the Northern Borderline (IV)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Jiang Pengji had already foreseen Nansheng’s defeat, but she did not expect that their request for military aid had only just reached Dongqing. Unfortunately, they happened to run into the group of the three tribes of the Northern Borderline who were there for the marriage between the two countries. Dongqing would be deep in trouble then.
Although there were conflicts between Dongqing and Nansheng, the two countries were part of Xia. The three tribes of the Northern Borderline and the four factions of Nanman were considered people of different clans.
Generally speaking, Dongqing and Nansheng were two sons who shared the same father. Even if they were separated, their bones were connected. However, the three tribes of the Northern Borderline and the four factions of Nanman were enemies who coveted the other’s property. In order to defend the ancestral property, the two countries definitely had to put aside their grudges temporarily and join hands.
If the cavalries of the four factions of Nanman really defeated Nansheng, Dongqing would face the danger of being attacked by the three tribes of the Northern Borderline and the four factions of Nanman. The country would then be destroyed. Therefore, Dongqing had no choice but to provide Nansheng with the military aid they requested because the two were interdependent!
However, if they borrowed their military force, it would inevitably affect the armed forces of the Dongqing’s border defense. That would also have an impact on the armed forces used to resist the soldiers of the Northern Borderline.
The three tribes of the Northern Borderline had been at war with Dongqing for many years and had mostly won, as Dongqing was still trying to emphasize literature and restrict military force. It was foreseeable that Dongqing’s armed forces, which were used to resist the soldiers of the Northern Borderline, would become weak after providing military aid to Nansheng. It was no wonder that the envoys of the Northern Borderline were so fearless!
Liu She sighed heavily and said, “The three tribes of the Northern Borderline have been coveting Dongqing for a long time. I only hope that the officials can be wise and not invite disaster by letting invaders in. The marriage is not an efficacious solution forever… However, it seems that it’s a bit too late now…”
Feng Ren looked at his son with pity and his heart ached when he saw his son’s pale face. Hearing Liu She’s sigh, he sneered coldly and scorned at the man who was sitting on the throne.
Although he knew that he could not fight for any justice by going to the palace, Feng Ren wanted to let the emperor know that the Feng family was not vulnerable!
After cupping his hands together apologetically at Liu She, Feng Ren left with his son whose wounds had been treated. He had an icy look on his face.
After experiencing such a thing, many people had lost their desire to bathe in the hot spring.
Someone abruptly tapped on Jiang Pengji’s shoulders.
“I didn’t know that you had such amazing martial art skills! It makes people feel super good. I don’t like those b*stards, either, but I can’t go and punch them like you did. They say that the warriors of the Northern Borderline are fearless. Judging from the situation now, it seems that they’re not as fearless as you are.”
She suppressed the urge to bring him under. She turned her head, unperturbed. It turned out to be the young man who had cottoned up to her previously.
Since he said the word ‘b*stards,’ Jiang Pengji warned him with a poker face, “I don’t like people patting my shoulders from behind. If you’re a stranger, you may have already lost your arm.”
Startled, he retracted his hand as if he was shocked and said curiously, “You’re young, but you’re pretty nasty.” As he was speaking, a group of people returned to Room Tianzi No. 1 in the Rose Garden.
In another corridor, Jiang Pengji discovered that there was a tall, skinny, white figure standing underneath the verandah. With long, black hair draping over his shoulders, the man faintly revealed his pale and tightly-pursed lips.
He heard the footsteps and turned around. He scanned his surroundings with his indifferent gaze and locked eyes with Jiang Pengji.
Jiang Pengji fought with someone, so her clothes were inevitably stained with huge blotches of blood. If she did not look relaxed, people who did not know what happened would think that the blood was hers. However, Wei Ci knew that anyone could suffer, but not her. The blood could only belong to someone else.
Thinking about this, Wei Ci quietly looked away and asked the young man who was familiar with Jiang Pengji, “Shaoyin, what happened?”
“A group of cowards who claimed to be the envoys of the Northern Borderline looked for trouble. Xiaosi from the Feng Residence came to ask Lanting for help. I went with them because I was curious. I didn’t expect the people from the Northern Borderline to be so arrogant… They bullied the people of Dongqing. They’re truly detestable.” There was some resentment in the young man’s voice, but then he immediately continued, laughing. “Zixiao, let me tell you. Master has really received a good student. He fights very well.”
“Xiaosi from the Feng Residence?” Wei Ci frowned and glanced at Jiang Pengji, who looked usual.
Wei Ci knew all along that she could fight. If she was given a gun, she could easily kill her enemies more than a dozen times, let alone the warriors from the Northern Borderline. She could take the head of the commander in chief as easily as picking something from her own pocket, which made people tremble with fear.
It was just that… He sighed a little. Sure enough, it was different. He seldom saw her reveal any other facial expressions apart from looking indifferent.
If that is normal, she…
Thinking about this, Wei Ci forcibly suppressed his inner thoughts and hid his mind. He had to be on high alert when facing this woman, or else he would be exposed in front of her if he was careless. He had already experienced that and he didn’t want to again.
Jiang Pengji explained, “Feng Jin is my close friend. He was teased and bullied, so I naturally had to show up and help make an impression. Moreover, the cowards from the Northern Borderline were indeed irritating, so I gave them a light punishment. Otherwise, there was no place to vent my anger.”
She was not joking. Hitting her close friend was like giving her a blow. Of course, she had to seek justice.
“You did not just give them a light punishment. You scared them out of their wits. You should deal with aggressive foreigners like the people from the Northern Borderline with a high hand. If you talk to them about the sense of propriety, justice, honesty, honor, and trust, they’ll only think that you’re scared of them…” Shao Yin placed his hands on Jiang Pengji’s shoulders and said in a friendly manner as if he had gone through it too. “I’ll protect you when you come to Langye Academy in the future.”
Wei Ci quietly glanced at Lu Zheng’s hands and the light in his eyes slowly faded.
“I’ve said it before. Don’t pat my shoulders from behind…” Jiang Pengji repeated.
“I’m Lu Zheng. Master has given me the courtesy name of Shao Yin. See, we know each other now. We can’t be considered strangers anymore, right?”
Jiang Pengji rolled her eyes and said, “Whatever. Don’t be mad at me when I amputate your arm next time.” After that, Jiang Pengji’s jolted her shoulders in a clever way and slipped out of his hands like an eel.
Lu Zheng realized that the shoulders under his palms became super soft. She had already escaped from his hands when he was about to grab them again. Stunned, he could only stare at his hands. Looking at Jiang Pengji’s back, he sighed. “He’s really skillful.”
Wei Ci looked at him coldly while narrowing his eyes and said, “Martial artists will be on a high alert towards their surroundings after reaching a certain realm. If something strange tries to get close to them, it’s very easy for them to grab the other party unconsciously… Shao Yin, learn your lesson.”
Startled, Lu Zheng then suddenly realized that Wei Ci said that he was slow-witted.
“Why are you reading the shady novels from the marketplace?” That remark seemed to be the standard of an ace in martial arts and it was given to chivalrous conduct in the marketplace novels.
“If you don’t believe it, try to get close to him when he’s having a nap. However, if your arm is amputated, I’m not responsible for it.” Wei Ci knew that it was not a rumor spread by marketplace novels. That was actually true.
“Hey! Wei Zixiao, you never have good intentions. I won’t be fooled.” Lu Zheng was about to vent his anger, but Wei Ci had already turned around and left, leaving him nowhere to vent his anger.