Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 522 - Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight: Guangyang Prefecture

Chapter 522: Chapter Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight: Guangyang Prefecture

The cold dew season, night, Guangyang Prefecture.

Affected by the southbound cold current, Guangyang Prefecture, built along the river, seemed somewhat bleak.

Light snow from the heavens stirred confusion, and the thick ice layer on the canal had severed the shipping routes, but the interruption of river transport instead made the beast-drawn carts along the official roads more numerous.

On the more than ten converging official roads, long lines formed outside the city.

The meeting of storms in Guangyang Prefecture, just by relying on the official news from the Imperial Court, those with a keen sense for opportunities could sniff out the business chances here.

If the lower-level traders were already thus, not to mention those with more well-informed sources.

Speculating merchants, sword-wielding rangers, mobilizing soldiers, disciples of Sects, and other various sorts of travelers were unending.

At a glance,

Under the sky shrouded in fine snow like white mist, the vast land swarmed with beast-drawn carts, and in the skies above, flocks of birds paid homage to Qing Feng, converging toward that massive city.

And amidst the city’s lights, there was a bustling ancient city nightscape.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, a lion-eagle beast took advantage of the night to stealthily enter the city among other flying creatures, without attracting anyone’s attention.

Meanwhile,

Inside a graceful pavilion built beside the water, a handsome young man with thin lips and peach-blossom eyes leaned against the railing, looking down at the bustling streets far away, holding a folding fan in his hand and murmuring with a light chuckle,

"This hub leading to the Three Prefectures of the Northern Border hasn’t seen such excitement in almost twenty years, but too much excitement isn’t good either. Even the prices at Zuixian Pavilion have gone up with it."

Behind the handsome young man stood a woman dressed in tight-fitting martial attire.

She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed over her chest, her black hair like clouds, skin snowy and lips red, only a deep scar on her swan-like neck slightly marred her beauty.

The two were none other than Luo Qingfeng, who had fled here, and the handsome gentleman from the Myriad Medicine Sect.

Luo Qingfeng stared at the man’s back:

"When can your Myriad Medicine Sect introduce me to the Sect Alliance Elder?"

The handsome young man’s lips curved in a smile as he turned his head, his eyes gleaming with a sinister amusement,

"Miss Qingfeng, don’t be in a hurry. When you disobeyed orders on the battlefield against the Barbarian Tribes, you became a criminal.

"Now that various parties are converging in Guangyang Prefecture, hiding you is already a great risk for me, much less introducing you to the Sect Alliance Elders; each one of them could be under surveillance."

Luo Qingfeng’s eyes narrowed slightly, her voice carrying a hint of sternness:

"Fu Qingye, this is already my ninth day arriving in Guangyang Prefecture."

Fu Qingye stroked his chin, the folding fan in his hand snapping shut with a ’clack’, and he replied leisurely with a smile,

"I’ve already told you, if there is something urgent, you can tell me and I will convey the message to the Sect Alliance Elders."

As he spoke,

The light snow caressed by the breeze, Fu Qingye slowly walked into the pavilion, pausing slightly as he passed the slanted doorframe, glancing at her and saying with a smile,

"I’m really curious, what exactly happened when you fought that decisive battle against the Barbarian Tribes at the foot of the ancient Xuan Mountain."

Luo Qingfeng smiled faintly:

"It seems your Myriad Medicine Sect is not interested in the reward after all?"

The Myriad Medicine Sect did business providing battlefield medical aid, with near constant warfare in the Northern Frontier over the last several decades making them old customers.

Old customers always get a discount, generally on a "pay upon delivery" basis, settling accounts every three years.

As her words fell,

The snow outside continued to fall, the streets remained lively, but the atmosphere within the pavilion suddenly turned tense.

After a brief exchange of looks,

A strange halo suddenly shimmered in Fu Qingye’s peach blossom eyes, followed by a grin, his eyes narrowing and his red lips and white teeth glinting with a dangerous light:

"Miss Luo, no one has dared to default on debts to our Myriad Medicine Sect yet. Do your Northern Border Sects wish to be the first?"

"......"

The two were very close, and amidst the cold wind blowing through the window, Luo Qingfeng could even smell the rouge on Fu Qingye’s body, or rather, the scent of medicinal herbs.

Yet, she did not yield, her cold voice pronounced heavily:

"Since you are not keen on having us default, then please expedite the arrangement of my meeting with the Sect Alliance Elder."

"Sigh..."

Fu Qingye reigned in his Cultivation Technique and chuckled as he shook his head lightly, "Everything needs a reason, right? Otherwise, it would not be easy for me to approach Elder Wan. If you don’t tell me the reason, I can’t possibly approach them."

"....."

Luo Qingfeng, detecting firmness in his words, paused for a moment, then said in a low voice:

"The Imperial Court is publicly issuing orders for the extermination of the Barbarian Tribes, but in fact, the Northern Border Army has already recruited a sizable number of Barbarian Wolf Cavalry."

"Oh?" Fu Qingye’s peach blossom eyes narrowed.

Luo Qingfeng spoke with gravity:

"Our Northern Frontier army never takes in Barbarian captives and keeps the information sealed. You should very well understand what this implies."

"It implies... the war will continue, and the Imperial Court needs the help of the Barbarian Tribes?"

Fu Qingye spoke teasingly: "Miss Luo, is this what you mean?"

"Yes, now the united forces of the Sects in the Three Prefectures of the Northern Border are decimated, nine out of ten gone, and with heavy snow sealing the mountains, roads are cut off, unable to support each other."

Luo Qingfeng spoke lightly, yet clenched her fists involuntarily: "And the military structure of the Imperial Court remains intact, so if at this time..."

"Be cautious with your words."

Fu Qingye interrupted Luo Qingfeng, his eyes also taking on a hint of solemnity: "Does anyone else know of this?"

"Jian Cheng as well..."

Luo Qingfeng shook her head slightly, turning her gaze through the window grill towards the north, a sigh flickering in her beautiful eyes: "But in order to help me fend off the pursuers, he confronted the three battalions of Black Scale Iron Riders with thousands of remnant soldiers, probably... already fallen in battle."

A flash of realization crossed Fu Qingye’s eyes as he murmured low:

"So, your so-called insubordination, was actually because you became privy to this forbidden information?"