Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 920 - 572 Zhenxi Prefecture

Chapter 920: Chapter 572 Zhenxi Prefecture

In the end, Xu Yuan still decided to head to Burial Dragon Valley first.

The name "Burial Dragon Valley" with its clear implications is a unique term in Cangyuan Chronicles, officially known in the Dayan government as Qianji Gorge.

According to the map Xu Yuan got from the Black Scale Guards, it was a massive rift that almost divided the entire Xize State from the Southern Desert Metropolitan Mansion.

Stretching for thousands of miles, the subsidiary rifts spreading from the main rift sprawled across the region like a spider web.

Decades ago, this Qianji Gorge served as the natural frontier boundary between Dayan and the Dachao Royal Court, but after the diligent governance by those two from Di’an, the Zhenxi Army’s spears had crossed this natural chasm, setting up the Southern Desert Metropolitan Mansion in the fertile lands of the Great Desert’s south, incorporating this magnificent gorge entirely into the imperial map.

Departing from Kaiyuan Mansion in Da Ying Continent, Xu Yuan took Ran Qingmo and another lady, participating in some "low-level" side quests along the road, all while quickly proceeding westward.

This journey was long, yet it possessed quite an interesting flair.

The malice in playing the pig to eat the tiger.

It’s undeniable that the world is full of wonders.

In every town, because of Big Ice Lump tagging along, Xu Yuan couldn’t immerse in the local culture as he wanted, but indulging in the local cuisines was quite delightful.

This habit also made Xu Yuan realize that indeed there were people who would trouble him because of the beauty of Big Ice Lump and Xiao Bai.

In famous local restaurants, it was impossible for Ran Qingmo and Bai Muxi to eat with veils covering their faces.

Both of the ladies were stunning in appearance, and their true beauty revealed would easily attract some flies.

Most people had some sense, and would sheepishly leave after being rejected, but since Xu Yuan frequented the best taverns in the locale, it was common to encounter gatherings of privileged youths.

After several encounters, inevitably some fools controlled by their desires emerged, even some trying to drug the trio with an Eighth Grade Vein Tempering substance.

However, in those provincial capitals, the privileged youth usually had some discernment, and these incidents primarily occurred in smaller counties.

An analogy would be a shallow pond full of soft-shelled turtles, small temples, and strong demons.

But this doesn’t mean there were no idiots in the provincial and state capitals.

During their journey through Tianhua Continent’s Mingfeng County, killing a youth controlled by his desires led to a vendetta from his clan.

This truly gave Xu Yuan a taste of being the main character in a storyline.

Under Xu Yuan’s deliberate request for amusement, Big Ice Lump and Xiao Bai didn’t reveal their true strength initially; first, there were the privileged youth’s bodyguards, then the officials and elders, and finally even a Grandmaster from their clan was alarmed.

However, it was unfortunate that the venerable grandmaster, after much effort finally catching up to them, was swiftly taken care of by Big Ice Lump and Xiao Bai together, leaving no chance for Xu Yuan to intervene.

Aside from indulging in this mischief of playing the pig to eat the tiger, Xu Yuan also encountered some interesting folk.

Newly emerging sects in the area.

The establishment of law-imparting martial art schools was allowing Martial Apprentices to proliferate, and directives from Di’an drove many local government offices to consciously foster secular sects, absorbing these apprentices to handle local disturbances.

This directly fostered a rudimentary form of "Jianghu" among the grassroots secular circles.

On their journey westward, Xu Yuan and his company encountered many from this martial circle, but the elegant titles they gave themselves often made it hard for Xu Yuan to keep a straight face.

XX Fairy.

XX Blade.

XX Leg.

And even an XX Venerable.

Although the nickname is awkward, many of the people here are decent, at least the heroine known as "Fairy XX" is indeed outstanding in appearance. During casual chats with these martial artists, Xu Yuan learned not only some local anecdotes but even made some unexpected gains.

In Xize State, there’s a heroine recently known as Bai Muxi, who has gained fame for single-handedly annihilating a thousand-bandit stronghold in Qianji Gorge.

And this name, Bai Muxi, Xu Yuan seems to remember, is actually the alias that Little Dragon Girl used in the Dayan Empire.

Excited to learn that his former paper-wife was in the area, Xu Yuan was so thrilled that he sent a message about it to the Black Scale Guards that very night.

Reading thousands of books is less instructive than traveling thousands of miles. After a long journey of two months, Xu Yuan finally reached the capital of Xize State with Ran Qingmo.

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The administrative region of Xize State in the map of Dayan forms a long stripe, spanning merely thirty thousand miles east to west, but reaching over twenty thousand miles from north to south.

The southwest borders the Wanxing Mountain Range, while the northwest adjoins the Great Desert, a battle-hardened area of the Great Yan Border, where in unfortunate years it may face invasions from both the Great Desert and Ancient Abyss.

To cope with such situations, although the orders had not yet been issued, Xize State had effectively divided into northern and southern defense zones around the central strong point of Tianxing Pass.

The northern part is guarded by the Zhenxi Army against the Great Desert, while the southern part by the Great Yan Border Army in collaboration with the Xuanjia Army to guard against the Ancient Abyss.

The Myriad Manifestation Sect that Xu Yuan once visited is located at the extreme southern end of Xize State, it’s hard to imagine the huge disparity in scenery across the state.

The south is filled with bird songs, fragrant flowers, and deep forests, while the Northern Lands are covered in great desert sands where geese cease to fly.

The capital of Xize State is not a bustling, immense city located in the heart of Dayan or the gigantic fortress built between mountains like Northern Border City; it’s undeniably a pass city.

It is situated on a large protrusion on the western side of Qianji Gorge.

With towering cliffs on its north and south sides, and high city walls built along the terrain to the east and west,

The western city gate opens to one of the few narrow pathways that directly cross Qianji Gorge leading to the Western Desert.

However, this pathway has been reinforced and filled by generations of craftsmen, and now it has become several hundred yards wide, serving as the most vital supply route for the Southern Desert Metropolitan Mansion from Dayan.

Oh, right.

The name of the State Government is Zhenxi, and naturally, its origin is closely related to Xu Yuan’s good bosom buddy.

The Marquis of Zhenxi personally petitioned to have the state capital relocated here at this pass intersecting with the Great Desert, and the Emperor, to commend his bravery, named the city Zhenxi.

This place used to be the barracks of the Zhenxi Army.

The Marquis of Zhenxi is a traditional military man, always practicing the idea of famous generals guarding the national gates.

After the troops crossed Qianji Gorge, the base of the Zhenxi Army has shifted further west to the Southern Desert Metropolitan Mansion.

Now, Zhenxi Prefecture only houses two rotations of units from the frontline, guarding this vital lifeline for the Southern Desert Metropolitan Mansion.

Thus, Xu Yuan’s hope to meet his dear friend naturally fell through.

But upon reflection, there’s nothing to regret.

After all, other than catching up with his buddy, there wouldn’t be much else of interest.

Especially since this time, he came with his family.

And surely, he wouldn’t be able to experience the local culture and customs that Li Junwu mentioned in his letters.