"..."
Chen Xiao was speechless, yet again.
"Whatever you want, call me whatever you like. As long as you're happy!"
Chen Xiao gave up on arguing with the little fox about names and asked instead, "I'm planning to go to the Northern Territory. Do you want to come with me?"
Xiao Hei said with utmost seriousness, "Wherever Father goes, Xiao Hei will go!"
Damn it, you're relying on me now, aren't you!
Before deciding to go to the Northern Territory, Chen Xiao called Xiao Tiance.
After all, the Northern Territory was a military stronghold. Venturing there rashly might cause some unnecessary misunderstandings.
The first time Chen Xiao called, there was no answer.
On the second call, Xiao Tiance finally answered, out of breath.
"What's up, Chen Xiao? I'm in the middle of a battle!"
Xiao Tiance said, panting heavily.
"Uh... should I wait until you're done?"
Chen Xiao thought to himself that his call was incredibly inconvenient.
"No need. Just tell me what you need. The demonic beasts on the other side are increasing, and I don't know how much longer we can hold out."
Xiao Tiance's tone carried a hint of helplessness. The situation was becoming more dire, and he wasn't sure how much longer the Tiance Army could endure.
"I'm planning to go to the Northern Territory."
As soon as Chen Xiao finished these words, before he could even explain the reason, Xiao Tiance excitedly exclaimed, "That's great! I'll arrange for Liu Yu to pick you up. Alright, that's all for now. We'll talk more when you get here!"
With that, Xiao Tiance hung up the phone.
Less than a minute later, an unfamiliar number rang.
Upon answering, Chen Xiao realized it was Liu Yu. He had to admit, Xiao Tiance's efficiency was truly remarkable!
"Mr. Chen, where are you? General Xiao has instructed me to pick you up!"
Liu Yu's voice came from the other end of the line.
Seemingly excited by the news of Chen Xiao's arrival, her voice carried a tremor of anticipation.
"Where are you? I'll come find you."
Chen Xiao said directly.
He didn't want to waste time traveling, so it was best for him to go to Liu Yu.
"I'm at the Tiance Camp headquarters. Are you already in the Northern Territory?"
Liu Yu asked.
"No, I'm in Jiangcheng."
Chen Xiao replied casually, then added, "Come and pick me up at the main gate of the Tiance Camp."
After speaking, Chen Xiao hung up.
On the other end, Liu Yu looked bewildered.
From Jiangcheng to the Northern Territory, even by plane, it would take several hours. What did Mr. Chen mean by asking her to pick him up at the main camp gate now?
Never mind, she'd go to the main camp gate to see. If he wasn't there in half an hour, she'd call and ask for an update!
Having made up her mind, Liu Yu got up from her office and headed towards the main camp gate.
With Xiao Tiance's fall from power, all his old subordinates had been reassigned.
Liu Yu, who used to be out in the field year-round, was now a desk clerk who sat in an office every day, with almost nothing to do.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiao took out his Judge's Brush and looked at Xiao Hei with a puzzled expression.
Xiao Hei was also sizing up Chen Xiao, looking bewildered, unsure what Chen Xiao was thinking.
Chen Xiao was wondering if this Judge's Brush could transport people... Well, he'd try it first.
He pulled Xiao Hei closer and wrote on the ground with the Judge's Brush: "Xiao Hei and I are outside the Tiance Camp in the Northern Territory!"
Immediately, Xiao Hei felt a swirl of light.
A moment later, he heard the whistling of the north wind, surrounded by ice and snow, and before him stood a heavily fortified fortress.
Xiao Hei was stunned. This, this was... the Northern Territory?
What kind of magic was Father using? It was too powerful!
Before he could express his awe, a stern shout and the sound of a rifle bolt being cocked echoed nearby!
"Who's there? Hands up!"
At the fortress gate stood four guards armed with live ammunition. Seeing two strangers suddenly appear outside the Tiance Camp, they immediately became alert.
These two had appeared most strangely, as if they had materialized out of thin air.
Moreover, in this icy and snowy terrain, they were wearing only thin clothes, giving off an odd aura.
Chen Xiao inwardly cursed his carelessness.
A military stronghold was not a place for such trivial matters!
He should have written his message a kilometer away from the Tiance Camp gate.
But carelessness was carelessness. Chen Xiao smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "Please don't be nervous, gentlemen. We are friends of Xiao Tiance, and we've already informed him of our arrival."
"Xiao Tiance?"
One of the guards sneered, "Our Tiance Army is not Xiao Zhan's private army! Does he even deserve the name Tiance?"
Chen Xiao was slightly taken aback. Had Xiao Tiance fallen so far out of favor that even a mere gate guard dared to disrespect him?
However, Chen Xiao quickly realized he had been too quick to judge.
In a place like the Tiance Army, the guards at the gate were not as insignificant as in other establishments.
The new commander must have replaced them with his own men.
"Then tell me, who does deserve the name Tiance?"
Chen Xiao's mind raced as he asked softly.
"Naturally, it's Song Anbang, Song Tiance!"
The guard said proudly, his nostrils flared.
Song Anbang?!
Chen Xiao remembered the name. Li Ziqing had mentioned it to him a long time ago.
Song Anbang was a scion of the Song family, one of the five great families in the imperial city, and the elder brother of Song Anran.
Furthermore, according to Li Ziqing, Song Anbang was a significant figure, even someone who could contend with Xiao Tiance.
However, after losing to Xiao Tiance, he had become dejected and eventually became a monk at Mount Wutai.
But now, it seemed Li Ziqing's information was clearly mistaken.
Not only had Song Anbang not become a monk at Mount Wutai, but he had also made a comeback.
And this time, he had even defeated Xiao Tiance!
"Heh, well said, Song Tiance!"
Chen Xiao's smile turned cold. "According to your previous statement, this Tiance Army is now Song Anran's private army, isn't it?"
The guard realized he had spoken too much. However, instead of admitting his mistake, he became enraged and pointed his gun directly at Chen Xiao.
"You insolent brat, are you trying to trick me? I don't care who you are, but leave this place immediately. If you dare to take another step closer, you'll be shot on sight!"
Chen Xiao's expression turned grim. If the other party were a true soldier, he would have shown respect.
But if he were merely a lackey brought by Song Anbang, acting so arrogantly, Chen Xiao would not tolerate it.
"I'll ask you one question: are you a soldier of the Tiance Army, or a soldier of the Song family!"
Chen Xiao questioned sternly. The guard's gun posed no threat to him.
"Kid, what right do you have to speak to me like that? Who do you think you are?"
The guard suddenly felt immense pressure from Chen Xiao's gaze, his hands trembling slightly on the gun.
"I have no need to change my name or hide my surname. I am Chen Xiao."
Chen Xiao snorted coldly and said proudly.