Hong Xiu rushed over immediately, but Liang Xiao did not fall from his horse. He was as steady as a mountain!
Bai Ye Fei Ying's front hooves landed, and it finally quieted down.
Liang Xiao burst into laughter, "Hey, hey, hey, I was just playing with it."
Everyone: ...
Looking at Liang Xiao, who was laughing heartily on the horse, Jian Qin Wan couldn't help but glare at him again, "Getting carried away, humph..."
Such a scare, making people worry for nothing!
Hong Xiu marveled, "Marquis of An Guo has excellent horsemanship, I am deeply impressed!"
Only then did Liang Xiao dismount and continue to soothe Bai Ye Fei Ying.
Bai Ye Fei Ying also nuzzled Liang Xiao's shoulder, though it was clearly not as intimately familiar with Hong Xiu.
"It seems I need to stay here for a few days to get properly acquainted with it," Liang Xiao said, then walked towards Hong Xiu and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Master, for the gift of the horse!"
Hong Xiu quickly waved his hands, "Marquis of An Guo is too kind! This is an opportunity left by the King of Dong Hai. This humble monk was merely fortunate enough to be its keeper."
Even so, Hong Xiu's gaze never left Bai Ye Fei Ying, and he was filled with emotion.
"Senior Brother, I'll watch over Fei Ying here. Please trouble yourself to fetch the horse armor."
Everyone looked at Hong Ren. Hong Ren merely smiled and nodded, then walked back to Bodhi Temple.
Two martial monks followed Hong Ren, pushing a cart of white-painted horse armor.
After the martial monks left, Hong Xiu pushed the cart to Liang Xiao. He picked up the armor parts and fitted them onto Bai Ye Fei Ying piece by piece. Bai Ye Fei Ying remained quiet throughout.
Clad in white armor from head to toe, Bai Ye Fei Ying looked majestic!
Hong Xiu laughed, "Fortunately, Fei Ying's build is similar to its ancestor, Bai Long Ying. A set of exquisite armor for Bai Long Ying was also left in Bodhi Temple."
Liang Xiao stepped forward, touched the armor, and nodded in satisfaction.
The material of this armor was excellent, likely a highly resilient and hard alloy.
"Bai Ye Fei Ying, it has found its master and its time!" Hong Ren exclaimed.
Jian Qin Wan and Yue Lian nodded in agreement, watching Liang Xiao and Bai Ye Fei Ying.
In a daze, they seemed to see Liang Xiao riding Bai Ye Fei Ying, holding the Sky Dragon Breaking City Halberd.
White horse, silver spear, white horse, silver halberd!
Coupled with Liang Xiao's already tall stature, he was a perfect match for Bai Long Ying, appearing as if a god of war had descended!
Hong Xiu clasped his hands together and bowed to Liang Xiao, saying solemnly, "Marquis of An Guo, Fei Ying will now accompany you on the battlefield. However, this humble monk has a humble request."
"Please speak freely! If Master requests something, I will do my utmost!" Liang Xiao, in a great mood, replied without hesitation.
Hong Xiu smiled gently, "Fei Ying has a fierce temperament, and most people would likely not dare to serve it. It's even more impossible for the Marquis of An Guo to be with it at all times. This humble monk intends to leave Bodhi Temple and become the Marquis of An Guo's groom, to feed and care for Fei Ying."
Everyone was shocked and discolored.
Liang Xiao sighed, "Master is an enlightened monk. How can I bear to let you be my groom and wade into the mortal world again..."
Hong Xiu laughed heartily and said, "Bodhi is originally not a tree, and the bright mirror is not a stand! Marquis of An Guo, this humble monk has finally attained enlightenment. As long as the mind is clear, Buddhist Dharma is everywhere in this world, and one can cultivate anywhere. This way, not only can it prevent Fei Ying from becoming violent and injuring people, but it can also repay the Marquis of An Guo for his guidance."
The grace of guidance!
Jian Qin Wan and Yue Lian's eyes blazed.
Gifting weapons, gifting divine steeds, and now even a master from Bodhi Temple wanted to follow Liang Xiao and be his groom?
This was utterly unbelievable!
Hong Ren sighed, "My junior brother was once a general of the Great Gan Kingdom, with astonishing strength. Even at over sixty years old, his charisma has not diminished. Since Junior Brother has this intention, then go, Marquis of An Guo..."
Hong Xiu smiled, "To personally witness the Marquis of An Guo pacify the realm would be the greatest honor!"
Liang Xiao understood and bowed to the two eminent monks again, "Thank you, two masters!"
After a casual chat with Liang Xiao, Hong Xiu, Hong Xiu requested to stay at the temple for a few days to further familiarize himself with Bai Ye Fei Ying, lest they grow distant again.
Hong Xiu stayed to look after Bai Ye Fei Ying, while Liang Xiao and the others returned to the main hall of Bodhi Temple.
Upon learning that Liang Xiao had successfully obtained the treasure within Bodhi Temple, Chen Shaoling and the others were overjoyed. Yet, with remarkable tacit understanding, they did not inquire about what treasure Liang Xiao had acquired.
They were chivalrous warriors, and their purpose was simple: to protect their Shiniang's most precious junior sister, and their Shiniang's most valued Marquis of An Guo!
In the hearts of these senior brothers and sisters, Liang Xiao was undoubtedly the dragon-among-men son-in-law of Mu Xueqin, and an official of the court. It was already fortunate that he did not look down upon their martial fraternity due to his status!
The next day, outside Bodhi Temple, Li Long, the captain of the Feathered Forest Army, warmly welcomed Hong Ren.
Hong Ren bowed and said, "My lords, after the Marquis of An Guo returns, this old monk will send someone to notify His Majesty. Henceforth, you may return to the capital to report."
Everyone was surprised and delighted, thanking him profusely.
The Feathered Forest Army was originally a unit responsible for guarding the capital. Only this Bodhi Temple was special, and the court had specifically dispatched a unit of the Feathered Forest Army to garrison this place.
A day later, Liang Xiao had also familiarized himself with the operational mechanisms of the Sky Dragon Breaking City Halberd, ensuring he could switch between spear and halberd forms at the fastest speed for combat.
With Bai Ye Fei Ying, Liang Xiao no longer worried about the burden.
Let alone three to four hundred jin, with Bai Ye Fei Ying's physique, even carrying five to six hundred jin for extended combat would be no problem!
That evening, Liang Xiao received news from the Feathered Forest Army outside that there was news from the northern border of Yan Province.
Liang Xiao immediately met the messenger and had the messenger take out and present the letter.
Upon confirming Zhuo Wulüe's seal, Liang Xiao immediately took the letter and read it, a frown appearing on his face.
The troops accompanying the marriage delegation from Guziguo had been ambushed by a squad of barbaric cavalry, and the northern border army camp was requested for aid. Lü Changhe was leading two thousand White Robed Soldiers to meet them outside the city!
Liang Xiao reminded the messenger, "This is likely a ploy by the barbarians. Please be sure to remind Advisor Zhuo to be ready to march out of the city at any time to reinforce General Lü, and simultaneously dispatch scouts to patrol outside the city to monitor the movements of the barbarian cavalry at all times!"
After the messenger left, Liang Xiao's brow furrowed deeply.
He was not a member of the northern border army camp and could only follow the developments; he could not intervene in the northern border army camp's decisions in his capacity as Marquis of An Guo.
But he always had a bad premonition.
This was likely a trap set by the barbarians, perhaps even specifically for the White Robed Soldiers!
Liang Xiao returned to his residence and saw Yue Lian and Jian Qin Wan chatting. He didn't have the heart to disturb them, so he quietly returned to his room and gazed at the Sky Dragon Breaking City Halberd standing by the wall, his heart surging with emotion.
"White Robed Soldiers, your Heavenly General will return!"
Recalling the past, seven thousand White Robed Soldiers had swept across the barbarous lands with him, their might reaching the heavens. How magnificent!
He had been worthy of his country and people, but towards the White Robed Soldiers, he felt deeply guilty.
In that battle, Liang Xiao himself had almost met his end on the battlefield, and out of seven thousand White Robed Soldiers, only seven hundred had survived.
The rest had died heroically, their loyal souls buried in foreign soil!
"I can only hope everything goes smoothly," Liang Xiao murmured to himself, sighing.
To the west of Yan Province, Lü Changhe, leading two thousand White Robed Soldiers, finally found the marriage delegation from Guziguo in the ruins of Yinma Town, guided by the Guziguo envoy.
Only one carriage remained, and the hundred or so Guziguo guards were all wounded!
The Guziguo envoy trembled and asked, "Where is the Princess?!"
"Elder Wallis, I am safe, but of the thousand warriors, only a hundred remain. All of this is due to my father's rashness..." A woman's cry came from the carriage.
Wallis said tearfully, "It's good that the Princess is unharmed. We will protect you with our lives!"
Lü Changhe also breathed a sigh of relief, "From now on, we White Robed Soldiers will escort you. Upon returning to Yan Province, we will certainly entertain you well!"
Just then, the distant neighing of horses could be faintly heard.
"General! A unit of barbarian cavalry is approaching!"