"Princess Ziyue, why are you leaving the city so late at night?"
When Murong Huiying snuck out late at night, the guard at the north gate of Youzhou had already let her pass. However, something unexpected happened. A general in his thirties, leading over a hundred cavalry, galloped to the north gate and addressed Murong Huiying.
"Murong Kang, what business is it of yours why I'm leaving?" Murong Huiying replied coldly after recognizing the person.
The newcomer was Murong Kang, the General of Fenwei of the Yan Kingdom, Deputy Commander of the Emperor's personal guard, and Zhonghou.
To this day, Murong Kang still harbored feelings for Murong Huiying. Even though he already had a family, his children could already ride horses, and he had committed unspeakable acts with his own sister…
Most men in this world are greedy, wanting to possess all the beauties in the world, provided their strength allows it. Otherwise, they might feign virtue.
"Heh heh…" Murong Kang did not seem angry at her words. He ignored the timid Murong Rui and walked directly in front of Murong Huiying, smiling, "As the commander of the imperial guard, my duty is to protect the capital. How can it be none of my concern?"
"You..." Murong Huiying was speechless for a moment, then her eyebrows shot up as she asked, "I am leaving the city under my father's command. Do you dare to stop me?"
"Oh? The command of the Left Worthy King? Is there a document? What requires you to leave the city so late at night? Princess Ziyue, may I ask you this?" Murong Kang asked with a cold smile.
Murong Huiying was unable to reply, her mind racing to devise a strategy.
"Alas, younger sister Ying…" Murong Kang sighed, using a familial address for Murong Huiying, "I know why you are leaving the city, and where you are going. Are you going to find him?"
Murong Kang was naturally aware of the relationship between Murong Huiying and Zhou Fugui, and it was not difficult for him to guess why she was fleeing in the middle of the night.
"So what if I am?" Murong Huiying's eyebrows rose again, and she looked at Murong Kang with disdain and pride, "Are you forbidding it? Or is there an imperial decree ordering me not to leave the city?"
How could Murong Huiying not know Murong Kang's hidden intentions? However, she was rather disgusted with him, feeling no romantic affection whatsoever. In Murong Huiying's heart, Murong Kang was not fit to carry Zhou Fugui's shoes.
"Alas, younger sister Ying, you misunderstand…" Murong Kang sighed again, "Not only will I not stop you today, but I have specifically come to see you off. Younger sister Ying, this journey to the northern frontier is thousands of miles, with countless checkpoints. Do you have a travel permit? Without it, you cannot reach the northern frontier."
Murong Kang spoke the truth.
Murong Kang certainly did not wish for Murong Huiying to leave, nor did he want her to fall into the embrace of that man. Furthermore, he was a Han Chinese.
Murong Kang and Zhou Fugui had had some interactions.
During the "Battle of Niuzhu" years ago, Zhou Fugui led his troops to cover the retreat, "protecting" Murong Wang and Murong Kang as they fled. At the time, Murong Kang was grateful to Zhou Fugui, but his gratitude was merely the praise of a master for a loyal servant risking his life to protect him.
When the master is in trouble, shouldn't the servant risk his life to save him? If he died, he would be a good servant.
Later, in the Yan Palace training grounds, Zhou Fugui killed the Great General of the Left Guard, Weipu Yijian, earning fame throughout the land. Although it did not directly involve Murong Kang, it provoked Murong Kang's jealousy. Of course, Murong Kang was not the only one in the entire Yan court who was jealous of Zhou Fugui.
Murong Kang's "naked body, herding sheep" to save Zhou Fugui was merely for his own benefit, and was done at the behest of his elder sister, Empress Murong Qing of the Yan Kingdom.
Afterward, an incident occurred that made Murong Kang somewhat resent Zhou Fugui: his elder sister, Empress Murong Qing of the Yan Kingdom, seemed to have had an affair with Zhou Fugui? It seemed that some things had happened between them… This was enough to make Zhou Fugui die eight times over.
Finally, how could the Xianbei nobility marry a lowly Han? Even looking at them for too long was a sin, whether it was the Xianbei nobles looking at the Han or the Han looking at the Xianbei nobility. This was the ingrained belief of Murong Kang and other Xianbei nobles. Therefore, if he could not have something, others should not have it either, let alone a lowly Han.
However, despite Murong Kang's countless reservations, at this moment, he wished Murong Huiying would leave as soon as possible, go as far as possible, and disappear without a trace. Ideally, it would enrage Emperor Murong Xi of Yan, which would be even better.
Murong Xi wished to form a marriage alliance with Murong Boli to consolidate their alliance. Naturally, Murong Qing and her brother had to find ways to disrupt it. Murong Huiying's late-night departure was perfect for this. If Murong Xi learned of this news…
Therefore, Murong Kang brought his troops here today not to stop Murong Huiying, but to drive her away. In doing so, Murong Kang put on an act of wishing Murong Huiying success in her endeavors, doing a favor in passing.
"Are you… really here to help me?" Murong Huiying asked Murong Kang, half-believing, half-doubting.
"Younger sister Ying…" Murong Kang handed a small bundle to Murong Huiying and smiled, "This is your travel permit and some gold and silver. Younger sister Ying, hurry and go. I wish you success in achieving your desires soon."
"Thank you, brother…" Murong Huiying thanked Murong Kang gratefully, as if the brave and considerate elder brother of yesteryear had returned.
Murong Kang waved his hand, and the heavy city gate was hoisted up. After the drawbridge was raised, Murong Huiying and her nine companions spurred their horses through the deep city gate passage, heading out of the city.
Murong Huiying's pretty figure turned back and waved to Murong Kang in thanks. Murong Kang raised his hand in response.
"Hmph, let's go," Murong Kang said with a cold snort to his subordinates after Murong Huiying and her group gradually disappeared into the darkness.
Hmph, sooner or later you will be my plaything, Murong Kang thought with another cold snort.
"Third Young Master…" Murong Kang suddenly circled his horse and returned to Murong Rui, saying, "There is a top courtesan at Chunyue Tower in the city. Would you like to go with me to take a look?"
"Top courtesan? This… perhaps not… Mother forbids me to linger in the city, so thank you, brother." Murong Rui replied hesitantly.
Murong Rui was only interested in antiques, calligraphy, and paintings, and was indifferent to women.
"I heard this woman is from the Central Plains and is quite knowledgeable about curiosities," Murong Kang said with a smile.
...
Xianmiao Mountain in the northern wilderness.
"Fish... fish... fish..."
"Where are the fish?"
"I clearly saw it, a big white fish, at least fifty pounds! Enough for me to eat for several meals..."
"I think you're delirious from hunger."
"Here they come, here they come, the fish are really coming, quick, quick, get ready!"
"Splash!"
"Ouch! You little Hongzi, I told you to spear fish, why did you spear me? You're taking revenge!"
"Brother Xu, you have fish on you!"
"Ah? You shrimp, I didn't eat you, but you ate me?"
...
Mountains need not be high to be famous; waters need not be deep to be mystical.
Xianmiao Mountain is an ice mountain. In winter, it is covered in snow, a vast expanse of white, adorned with silver. The ice peaks, large and small, are in myriad forms, some resembling graceful celestial maidens, others like old men with staffs, monkeys offering peaches, or reclusive hermits who have endured the vicissitudes of life. Looking into the distance, the peaks are capped with snow that has accumulated for a thousand years. The snow-capped peaks are like blooming snow lotuses. Such a magnificent sight, one cannot help but be amazed.
Legend has it that there are traces of immortals on the snowy peaks of Xianmiao Mountain, but no one knows the specifics. No one has ever seen an immortal, nor do they know if the immortal is male or female.
Mountains need not be high to be famous; waters need not be deep to be mystical. At this moment, Zhou Fugui and the rest of the White Tiger Battalion soldiers had no time to worry if there were immortals on Xianmiao Mountain. They only cared that the water need not be deep to be mystical, and specifically, that if there were fish, they wouldn't starve to death...
So a group of men, clad in animal skins, chiseled out several ice holes on the ice surface below Xianmiao Mountain to catch fish and fill their bellies.
Below Xianmiao Mountain, there is a river named "Tan Yin River." In winter, the river surface freezes, and the water flows quietly beneath the ice.
However, Zhou Fugui and his men were not skilled at catching fish. After toiling for a long time, they only managed to catch a few small fish, not even enough to fill their mouths. Not only that, but the brute Xu Mancang plunged headfirst into an ice hole and was even accidentally injured by a fish spear from Yang Xinhong...
"What are you arguing about? Quickly pull him out. Mancang, you oaf, can you shut up? Aren't you afraid of freezing to death in this ice hole?" Zhou Fugui, the commander of the White Tiger Battalion and a general of the Yan Kingdom, hastily ordered everyone to pull Xu Mancang out of the ice hole.
Zhou Fugui led more than five thousand soldiers of the White Tiger Battalion to break through to the northeast. After countless bloody battles, they finally reached the far north, Xianmiao Mountain, and took refuge in the deep mountains and old forest.
At this time, Zhou Fugui's forces were less than a thousand strong, having lost most of their numbers. Only a small portion of them had died or were wounded in battle; most had been scattered. In this world, once scattered, it is not easy to regroup. Some people could not endure the hardships of Xianmiao Mountain and went south to seek other opportunities, such as Agudamu and Abiyas siblings.
Agudamu and Abiyas siblings also went south with the purpose of finding their father. At the time of their departure, Zhou Fugui was extremely reluctant and repeatedly instructed them. At the time of their parting, there was much sighing and regret.
Abiyas offered herself to Zhou Fugui with the intention of becoming a couple, but Zhou Fugui did not do anything to her until their separation, which left both of them with some regret.
In this world, missing one person might mean forever.
The eight or nine hundred people around Zhou Fugui at this time consisted of Yan soldiers and beast tamers, as well as some slaves who followed him to the death. Although their numbers were small, they were strong and agile, each a seasoned warrior, which made the pursuing Xiongnu forces sigh in helplessness, unable to do anything to Zhou Fugui and his men in the short term.
However, these mere eight or nine hundred men, after arriving at Xianmiao Mountain, had a problem with food, especially the lack of an important daily necessity: salt.