Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 267 - 267 0224 Have You Made a Mistake_2

Chapter 267: Chapter 0224: Have You Made a Mistake?_2 Chapter 267: Chapter 0224: Have You Made a Mistake?_2 Qi Tian was not overly familiar with the situation on the border, but Luo Xia and a few others were well-informed. Generally speaking, both Tongguan Guard Station and Tongguan Left Guard Station were on the frontline. However, Tongguan Guard Station was akin to a command headquarters set up on the border by the court. With towering walls and ample resources, whether in terms of the personnel stationed or reserves of supplies, none of the other guard stations on the border could compare.

In contrast, Tongguan Left Guard Station was akin to an unloved stepchild. It lay at the very forefront of the frontline, the place where the troops made direct contact with the Chi Di people. Every year, when the Chi Di people moved south, they targeted Tongguan Left Guard Station. Sometimes these were feint attacks; at others, they were real. Because of this, Tongguan Left Guard Station had to arm and prepare for war every year. However, this did nothing to change the fact that Tongguan Left Guard Station was frequently the Chi Di people’s first target of attack.

Those who stayed at Tongguan Guard Station each year might not necessarily see combat. However, those who stayed at Tongguan Left Guard Station were bound to face a bitter struggle.

When Vice-Minister of Taichang Temple, Wang Xin departed, he said that he would draft Qi Tian to go to Tongguan Left Guard Station. Upon receiving this draft order, Qi Tian was not surprised. However, his companions had varying reactions.

Pan Yulin did not need to be mentioned. He had signed a Servant Pact with Qi Tian and did not even have the right to voice an opinion.

Zhang Lei had actively requested to join Qi Tian’s team and was indifferent to Qi Tian’s conscription to Tongguan Left Guard Station. The two remaining members were Zhang Guangyao and Jiang Pan.

Jiang Pan’s attitude was similar to Zhang Lei’s. He did not dwell on the fact that they were heading to Tongguan Left Guard Station. On the other hand, Zhang Guangyao had difficulty accepting this reality. He had been to Tongguan Left Guard Station before and was fully aware of its hellish conditions. The last time he went, he had been lucky to come back alive. Now, of their team, except for Jiang Pan who had reached the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, the others were only at the onset. Five members of their party had a low level of cultivation; naturally, they couldn’t be described as “strong”. This meant sending such a team to Tongguan Left Guard Station was essentially delivering provisions to the enemy.

Upon noticing Zhang Guangyao’s anxiety, Qi Tian said, “I will restate this, our decision to form a squadron to go to Tongguan Left Guard Station relies solely on everyone’s willingness. If you find that you have something else to do and want to leave, I won’t stop you. But, if you want to leave when it’s time to set out, or disappear after we’ve arrived at Tongguan Left Guard Station, I won’t tolerate it.”

Hastily, Pan Yulin said, “Master, whatever you ask of me, I will do. I won’t leave the team.”

Zhang Lei declared, “I won’t leave. Not just to Tongguan Left Guard Station, even if we are heading into the Chi Di’s base, I have no objection.”

Jiang Pan laughed, “I’ve always wanted to meet those Chi Di but never had the chance. Now’s the perfect opportunity.”

All eyes turned to Zhang Guangyao. Under their scrutiny, he began to falter. His heart was torn, trying to decide whether to stay or go.

At this moment, Luo Xia addressed him, “Zhang Guangyao, fortune favors the brave. No one will stop you if you want to quit. But if you miss this opportunity, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to team up with Qi Tian again. Don’t you want to earn spirit stones?”

Zhang Guangyao’s small hope that had just emerged was crushed by Luo Xia’s words. He remembered hard days from the past and can only say, “Everyone, stop trying to convince me. I never planned to leave. I was just lost in thought, not planning to stroll out.”

Luo Xia did not expose Zhang Guangyao’s lie. Instead, he laughed, “It’s good that you’re not leaving. Qi Tian, there’s nothing else for me here. I’ll excuse myself. You guys continue your discussion.”

Everyone quickly stood to see Luo Xia out.

As soon as Luo Xia departed, Qi Tian went to close the door. However, Luo Xia suddenly returned, followed by an old acquaintance of Qi Tian’s, the Guard Commander Cui Liguo from King Zhangbei Manor.

“Qi Tian, Commander Cui said he has something to talk to you about.”

Qi Tian looked over. Cui Liguo quickly bowed. He now knew that Qi Tian had become a strong cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage. As an Eighth Level of Qi Cultivation and the guard commander of the King Zhangbei Manor, he didn’t dare to overstep his bounds and promptly bowed to Qi Tian first.

Qi Tian nodded, saying, “Commander Cui, what brings you here?”

Cui Liguo hurriedly said: “Master Qi, the Princess invites you to the mansion for a discussion, saying that there’s a very important matter she would like to discuss with you.”

“What matter?” Qi Tian casually asked. He didn’t expect Cui Liguo to answer this question, but Cui Liguo candidly responded: “The Princess asked me to tell you, that she has already received the royal court’s conscription order. The Princess wants to invite you to the mansion, to discuss how to travel together.”

Qi Tian nodded, saying: “Alright, I understand. Zhang, would you please preside over this meeting? I am going to King Zhangbei’s Manor briefly, and I will be back soon.”

Zhang Lei agreed. At this point, Luo Xia said: “Qi Tian, you should not go to King Zhangbei’s Manor alone. Let Pan Yulin accompany you. In case of any problems, he can assist you.”

Pan Yulin was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. He is, after all, a distinguished practitioner of the third level of Foundation Establishment. Now, he had fallen to the extent of just being a backup.

Qi Tian didn’t reject Luo Xia’s goodwill. The last time he went to the King Zhangbei Manor, he encountered quite a few problems. This time, he didn’t want to repeat the previous ordeal. Taking Pan Yulin along would be a good choice. If there happened to be anything he didn’t want to do, he could just let Pan Yulin handle it.

Qi Tian, Luo Xia, Cui Liguo, and others returned to the King Zhangbei Manor together.

This time, Cui Liguo didn’t bring Qi Tian to Zhao Qian’s tower, but instead led Qi Tian to the grand hall of the King Zhangbei Manor, where King Zhangbei, Zhao Donghao, received his guests, and those guests had to be quite distinguished ones.

Upon entering the grand hall, Qi Tian noticed that it was quite populated. King Zhangbei, Zhao Donghao, was seated on his throne, with the Princess Consort seated to his left. Further down, sitting was the Crown Prince of the King Zhangbei Manor, the fraternal elder brother of Zhao Qian, Zhao Putian. Opposite Zhao Putian, Zhao Qian was seated.

As soon as Cui Liguo entered, he immediately knelt down and said, “Your Highness, I have brought Qi Tian to you.”

Zhao Donghao waved dismissively at Cui Liguo. He then looked Qi Tian up and down before saying with a smile, “Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed how fast you advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage, let alone how strong you’ve become. I certainly didn’t expect you to have already been conscripted by the royal court.”

While a conscription from the royal court is a tough assignment, it’s also a form of recognition for the conscripted. If your strength is too weak, the royal court won’t conscript you. What the court needs are people who can kill Chi Di tribesmen on the frontier, not to send people to deliver heads.

Qi Tian saluted Zhao Donghao and said, “Your Highness, you flatter me.”

King Zhangbei, Zhao Donghao, nodded and then pointed at Zhao Qian, saying, “Little Qian also received the royal court’s conscription order, so you can conveniently travel together for this mission.”

Qi Tian asked Zhao Qian, “Princess, where have you been conscripted to?”

Zhao Qian replied: “Tongguan Guard Station. The conscription order mandates that I must reach Tongguan Guard Station within a month. Qi Tian, where have you been conscripted to? When do you plan to leave? We can travel together.”

Qi Tian shook his head outright. Zhao Qian’s countenance shifted slightly, she asked: “You are unwilling, is it because you think my cultivation level and strength will drag you down?”

Qi Tian bitterly smiled and shook his head, saying: “Princess, please don’t misunderstand. The problem is, our conscriptions aren’t the same at all. I received a similar conscription, but it stipulates that within half a month, I must reach Tongguan Left Guard Station. How can we possibly travel together under these circumstances?”

“What?” Zhao Qian and Zhao Donghao, this father and daughter pair, looked at Qi Tian with disbelief, asking: “Qi Tian, did you perhaps make a mistake? How could you possibly be conscripted to Tongguan Left Guard Station?”