"Elder Wei, I think you're being a bit too pessimistic."
Seeing Wei Cangyun sighing repeatedly, Nalan Mingyue spoke again, "This is just like when you told me about the Land of Misfortune, and I didn't believe you!"
"I didn't believe in legends before, so why don't you believe in them now?"
"Heh heh."
Wei Cangyun chuckled, surprised to be lectured by Nalan Mingyue.
"You're right, legends aren't necessarily all false, but finding a Golden Scale isn't that simple."
"In fact, over the years, I've sent several groups of people from the Northern Frontier War Department, all without success."
Wei Cangyun's tone was filled with helplessness.
Ye Kunlun recalled the time his master brought him back to Kunlun Void.
His senior master had said he was a Golden Scale, destined for greater things!
At this moment, responding to Wei Cangyun's words, Ye Kunlun felt as if the man was talking about him.
However, Ye Kunlun didn't truly consider himself a so-called Golden Scale.
Ancient Golden Dragon bloodline?
Was that even possible? He was just an ordinary person, he hadn't even seen a dragon, so where would a Golden Dragon bloodline come from?
But there was one thing Ye Kunlun was confident about: he wouldn't be plagued by misfortune by entering the barbarian territory.
Ye Kunlun attributed this to the Myriad Ancient Starry Sky Art.
"Elder Wei, is it possible to visit the barbarians under the banner of Huaxia?" Ye Kunlun proposed an idea.
Wei Cangyun was stunned, not expecting Ye Kunlun to want to openly visit the barbarians.
After thinking about it, he replied, "It's possible, but it depends on whether the barbarians agree."
"As long as it's possible, that's fine," Ye Kunlun smiled.
In his eyes, the barbarians were also pitiable. If normal communication were possible, Ye Kunlun wouldn't mind resolving their issues.
If the barbarians refused to communicate, Ye Kunlun would have to resort to his own forceful methods.
"What's that smell? It's so fragrant?"
A strong aroma of roasted meat wafted over, and Wei Cangyun couldn't help but twitch his nose.
"It's the barbarian divine beast, the giant python!" Nalan Mingyue quickly explained to Wei Cangyun, "This morning, Ye... King Shanhe killed the barbarian divine beast, the giant python."
Nalan Mingyue, remembering Ye Kunlun's identity, uncomfortably changed her wording.
"What?"
Wei Cangyun thought he had misheard, his eyes widening, "You killed one of the four barbarian divine beasts, the giant python?"
"Uh, yes, I did!" Ye Kunlun gave a sheepish smile, "That beast was just too arrogant!"
"Fine," Wei Cangyun forced a bitter smile. "The four divine beasts hold immense significance for the barbarians; they are one of their totems. Now that you've killed their divine beast, it's unlikely the barbarians will communicate with us normally."
"It seems we're in for a fierce battle!"
Wei Cangyun's tone carried a hint of worry.
"I suspect the barbarian harassment this morning was orchestrated by someone," Ye Kunlun narrowed his eyes, voicing his thoughts.
In Wei Cangyun's aged eyes, two sharp glints flashed as he gazed at Ye Kunlun, "You think it's someone from the Northern Frontier War Department?"
Ye Kunlun smiled faintly, not answering directly. "Major General Nalan told me that although you are the commander, the situation in the Northern Frontier War Department is rather complicated. Moreover... there's a King stationed here!"
Ye Kunlun's words made Wei Cangyun's eyelids twitch. He was almost pointing at his nose and saying this matter was related to the King of the Northern Frontier.
"Of course, this is just my guess," Ye Kunlun smiled. "Sometimes, when you guess, you have to guess big!"
Ye Kunlun wasn't speaking without basis.
The person with the mole near their eye was connected to the Wu clan, and that person had met the King of the Northern Frontier.
Coupled with the current complex situation, it was highly probable that the King of the Northern Frontier and the barbarians had some unspeakable secret.
"Do you think everyone dares to disrespect the King like you do?"
Wei Cangyun shook his head helplessly. "I heard you crippled King Heishan; truly courageous."
"However, as far as I know, the King of the Northern Frontier has only been an idle prince in the Northern Frontier these past few years; he should..."
"Are you sure, Elder?" Ye Kunlun raised an eyebrow, looking deeply at Wei Cangyun.
Ye Kunlun's question made Wei Cangyun uncertain.
Although the King of the Northern Frontier had been in the Northern Frontier War Department over the years, he hadn't interfered with its affairs.
Therefore, in Wei Cangyun's eyes, the King of the Northern Frontier was merely an idle prince.
"After Cheng Fei was severely injured by King Shanhe, he went to the King of the Northern Frontier's residence."
Seeing Wei Cangyun's hesitation, Nalan Mingyue added at the opportune moment.
"This doesn't prove anything. After all, the King of the Northern Frontier needs subordinates to handle some matters."
Wei Cangyun still didn't believe that the barbarian border harassment was the work of the King of the Northern Frontier; he couldn't fathom the King's motive.
Ye Kunlun didn't offer further explanations.
Whether Wei Cangyun believed him or not didn't change his assessment of the King of the Northern Frontier.
Ye Kunlun didn't waste any more breath on the King of the Northern Frontier and decided to take his leave.
"I have understood the matters concerning the barbarians and the Land of Misfortune, so I won't disturb you further."
Ye Kunlun prepared to return to Kanda Town, having made his plan to explore the temple after nightfall.
"King Shanhe, please stay at the Northern Frontier War Department," Wei Cangyun said, inviting him to stay.
Before Ye Kunlun could reply, Wei Cangyun quickly instructed Nalan Mingyue, "Mingyue, tidy up the room next to yours; let King Shanhe stay there."
"Ah?" Nalan Mingyue was a little stunned, not expecting Wei Cangyun to have Ye Kunlun stay next door.
Wouldn't that mean seeing each other constantly?
"No need, I have two friends in Kanda Town."
Ye Kunlun shrugged and directly refused, "If there's any other help needed, I'll come directly."
Ye Kunlun rejected Wei Cangyun's invitation.
Nalan Mingyue's lips curved slightly. After regaining her composure, she found herself wanting Ye Kunlun to stay.
"Very well, if you don't wish to stay here, that's fine too," Wei Cangyun said with a smile as he stood up. "Since you killed the giant python, you wouldn't mind staying for lunch, would you?"
Ye Kunlun didn't refuse.
After lunch, Ye Kunlun left the Northern Frontier War Department and returned to Kanda Town.
Sasha and Yan Shuo were nowhere to be found, their whereabouts unknown.
Ye Kunlun strolled casually through the town. It was the first time in two days he was properly exploring it.
As he walked, Ye Kunlun stopped in front of a Buddhist hall and then entered.
There was no one inside the hall, and in the very center stood a Buddha statue over five meters tall.
Ye Kunlun's eyes showed a hint of surprise, as this Buddha statue was a foreign one.
The statue wore a celestial crown, its face was as black as ink, and a smear of cinnabar on its forehead formed a stark contrast with the black. Its eyes were lowered, as if looking down with compassion on all sentient beings.
The statue's left hand pointed to the sky, and its right hand pointed to the earth, as if declaring to the world that it was supreme above and below.
Ye Kunlun also noticed that the statue had a large nose and a sunken bridge, further confirming it was a foreign Buddha.
"Who are you?"
Suddenly, a voice came from behind him, carrying a hint of coldness.