Chapter 233 You're Too Weak
Zhao Ziyuan pulled Zhao Youchen along on horseback out of the city, and they ended up in a mountain forest on the outskirts of the city.
Zhao Youchen was helpless.
Apart from royal and imperial lands, the surrounding suburbs of Nanhua are mostly estates belonging to aristocratic families. Some are well-developed, while others are simply neglected and remain largely undeveloped.
However, there are also unclaimed lands and forests.
Zhao Ziyuan led Zhao Youchen to tie their horses at the entrance of the woods before heading deeper into the forest.
Zhao Youchen asked in surprise, "You brought people from Feng County and settled them in this desolate wilderness?"
Zhao Ziyuan is completely innocent.
"Am I that kind of person? I'd like to share the good life with them, but it depends on whether they're willing."
Just then, a leaf suddenly flew by on the wind and passed right through them.
Zhao Ziyuan remained calm and didn't move at all.
"Watch out!" Zhao Youchen thought he was in danger and was so startled that he drew his sword. As he pushed Zhao Ziyuan aside, he saw out of the corner of his eye that the tip of a leaf was embedded in a tree behind him.
Zhao Ziyuan seemed unfazed, and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "This is my nephew. He has come here with an important matter that requires your assistance, senior."
Zhao Youchen...
Damn, no wonder his uncle couldn't get the orders across. His uncle would be laughing all the way to the bank if he had even half the skill of this guy!
Nobody paid him any attention.
Zhao Ziyuan touched her nose, "It really is..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Youchen saw a hand wrapped in black cloth reach towards his waist.
As Zhao Youchen retreated, he continued to fight his opponent, while quickly placing his other hand on his waist.
Is this guy's eye for talent?
When the man failed to land a blow, he quickly retreated and stood in front of them.
To be honest, Zhao Youchen didn't see anything. He only saw a person completely wrapped in black cloth, but wearing a white mask on his face. He didn't speak, so it was impossible to tell his age or appearance.
Zhao Ziyuan sensed something, but he pretended not to know and asked again, "Since you have shown yourself, senior, have you agreed?"
Zhao Youchen looked at him warily, his hand still on his waist.
The man nodded.
Zhao Youchen was surprised.
That simple?
Zhao Ziyuan nudged his arm: "Tell me what's wrong, I'll go check on the horses."
Zhao Youchen was unsure whether he should speak up or not.
This person tries to steal his things as soon as he makes a move, and he is highly skilled in martial arts and unruly. Even his uncle can't control him. He doesn't dare to trust such a person.
Thinking of this, Zhao Youchen wanted to leave.
But the other party seemed to know what he was thinking, and suddenly pulled out a palm-sized jade pendant from somewhere.
Zhao Youchen, with his sharp eyes, took the jade token and was secretly surprised.
The jade plaque is made of the same material as his lion head jade. The plaque is somewhat thick, but the middle is concave. The carving is not exquisite, but it is simple and grand.
etc.
This recessed part...
If he's not mistaken...
Zhao Youchen glanced at the man in black, thought for a moment, and then took out the lion-head jade he always carried with him and even looked at carefully while sleeping.
When the two pieces of jade are put together, one side of his lion-head jade can be perfectly embedded into the jade plaque!
He boldly guessed that there should be another jade pendant like this!
The man in black had already knelt on one knee and performed the oldest military salute in the Great Xiao Dynasty.
Zhao Youchen looked at the jade in his hand, then at the man in black opposite him, his feelings a bit complicated.
There was excitement, but along with it came some worry, doubt, and other emotions.
The man in black remained silent, kneeling on one knee. His gaze, hidden beneath his mask, was fixed on the jade in his hand.
Zhao Youchen was now perfectly clear that he absolutely had to go to Feng County. And the sooner the better.
"What's your name?" Zhao Youchen asked, looking at him.
The man in black ran his hand across the ground, and the words "Number Twenty-Two" appeared on the ground.
Zhao Youchen...
"Will you obey me?"
The man in black nodded, then shook his head, and pointed to the jade in his hand.
Zhao Youchen understood; this jade was truly valuable, and he now wished he could swallow it whole.
"If I hold this jade, will you obey me?"
The man in black nodded.
Okay then, great things don't concern themselves with trifles!
However, he was still somewhat uneasy.
"I want to see your face."
Without saying a word, the man in black reached out and took off his mask.
An ordinary face, perhaps due to years of lack of sunlight, appeared much paler than average. Most striking were his eyes; his small eyes were remarkably focused!
"Then I have something I need you to do..." Zhao Youchen put away his lion-head jade and handed the jade pendant back.
After he finished explaining things, he asked, "You can't leave Tianyin Temple, but I need to know the whereabouts of the people in the temple at all times. Can you do that?"
The man in black nodded readily.
"Then, thank you for your trouble."
Zhao Youchen felt he had nothing more to say, so he prepared to leave.
As he turned around, dust rose from his feet, and a line of small words appeared on the ground in front of him: You are too weak. You will die if you go to Feng County.
Zhao Youchen turned around abruptly, but there was nothing behind him; there was no trace of the man in black.
When Zhao Ziyuan saw Zhao Youchen come out, she noticed that his expression was indescribable.
Zhao Ziyuan chimed in, "Are you done talking?"
Zhao Youchen's face darkened. "Where did you find such a person?"
"He came to us himself."
"Then you dare to casually carry it around with you!"
Zhao Ziyuan awkwardly scratched his head. He couldn't very well say that the other person had come up to him and shown off their skills, leaving him amazed and his admiration for their talent boundless.
“You know I’ve hidden some people in Phoenix Perch Gorge for His Majesty,” he said softly. “This person was found after His Majesty left Phoenix Perch Gorge. He went straight there and seems to know quite a few old acquaintances. Before I brought him here, I had him train soldiers there. I took a look at him, and he’s a talented person, very capable.”
Zhao Youchen was speechless. "Then why didn't you recommend him to His Majesty?"
Zhao Ziyuan rolled her eyes at him. "Do you think I'm stupid? Why would someone suddenly appear out of nowhere to train my troops? He wanted to come to Nanhua, so I brought him along. I just wanted to see what he was up to. Besides, ever since the Grand Tutor mentioned that he intended to send you to Feng County, I've suspected that he's probably here for you."
Zhao Ziyuan sighed. To be honest, over the years, quite a few promising young men had come to him to join the army, and these promising young men were more or less related to this man, which made him suspicious.
His ideas are very straightforward.
His Majesty is young, and still relies on the Grand Tutor more in both court and public affairs.
The fact that His Majesty is now seeking help from his nephew instead of the Grand Tutor suggests that, in his opinion, the matter isn't particularly significant. If it were truly a major issue, instructing Zhao Youchen in such a hasty manner would be somewhat rash.
He would use this opportunity to introduce the two of them to each other, and he would always be able to figure out exactly what kind of person the man in black was.
If it were to their advantage, he would naturally recommend him to His Majesty. If not, he would expose his true colors sooner so they could deal with him earlier.
But to be honest, this guy's skills... it seems like he can't handle him either... hahaha.
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