Chapter 204: Attack in the middle of the night

Arhat vanilla, it was a very strange kind of vanilla.  It had a Buddhist nature, but very few people in the Fragmented Cauldron World believed in Buddhism and the Buddha they believed in was different from the one from earth.  It was an unfamiliar Buddha to Lin Mu Yu, but the sect still believed in "putting down the blade and ascending as a Buddha".

"I've found some arhat vanilla in the Dragon Seeking Forest, it's around two days from here."  Qu Chu said with a nod, "So I'll go find the arhat vanilla. Lei Hong, you stay in the Ze Tian Palace for a few days and protect his highness, alright?"

Lei Hong nodded, "Alright.  What about the hibiscus duckweed plum flower?"

"There's no need to find the hibiscus duckweed plum flower."  Qu Chu revealed a faint smile and said, "I've seen this herb before."

"Oh, where was it?"

"The Cangnan Province, the governor Hu Tie Ning has it planted in his garden.  It is currently winter and the plum flowers are opening, so it is a good time to collect the hibiscus duckweed plum flower right now."  Qu Chu pondered this and said, "We need to move quickly and send someone to the Cangnan Province's Five Valley City to talk to Hu Tie Ning."

"Who should we send?"  Lei Hong asked.

Tang Xiao Xi volunteered, "Let me go?"

"No!"  Qu Chu decisively declined, "Princess Xi, you still aren't in the Heaven Realm and your strength is lacking.  On the other hand, the imperial capital is very far from the Cangnan Province, there are many bandits, mercenaries, and Swordsman Hall people active on the road.  If something happens to you, our entire plan will be over."

After saying this, Qu Chu looked at Lin Mu Yu and said, "Ah Yu, you have strength in the Heavenly King Realm and adding in the fact you are one of the Orchid Goose Four Heroes with the Golden Dragon Seal.  How about this, we'll have you go to the Cangnan Province instead of princess Xi. You only need a single plum flower, you just need to refine the medical essence."

Lin Mu Yu respectfully said, "Un, then I'll go."

Qin Yin blinked and hesitated to speak.

Lei Hong said with knit brows, "When Ah Yu was accused of a crime in Silver Fur City, Hu Tie Ning sent several thousand elites to chase Ah Yu.  Although nothing happened, there is already a hate between Hu Tie Ning and Ah Yu and Hu Tie Ning is Xiang Yu's uncle. I feel it isn't good for Ah Yu to go to the Cangnan Province, just a single Golden Dragon Seal is not enough."

"What else is needed?"  Lin Mu Yu asked.

"Ask for an imperial edict from his majesty.  As long as his majesty says something, I believe it won't be hard to get a plum flower."

"Un, alright!"

Qu Chu walked over and patted Lin Mu Yu's shoulder as he said, "Ah Yu, be careful on your way.  Take one hundred Imperial Guards from the Falcon's Nest with you. Helping princess Xi break through is one of the duties of the Falcon's Nest, you as a commander can't go to Cangnan Province alone."

Lin Mu Yu narrowed his eyes and said with a smile, "Would Hu Tie Ning really be that daring to try and kill me?"

"Everything has to be planned for."

Qu Chu slowly put down the scroll in his hand and said with a faint smile, "Hu Tie Ning has been the Cangnan Province governor for many years, he could be considered a marquis.  Although he comes to see his majesty each year, as the highest authority in a province, his heart is filled with pride, so you have to be on guard."

"Un, I understand.  I will consider everything."

"Good, prepare the military message.  If anything happen, immediately send it to report to us."

"Yes!"

The next morning, after a short rest, Lin Mu Yu set off from the Falcon's Nest with the emperor's decree.  Wei Chou, Xiahou Sang, and the others were very efficient, bringing out a twenty Imperial Guards and eighty elite imperial guards, all skilled cavalry soldiers.  Outside Orchid Goose City's north gate, there were flags waving in the distance. The king's flags had the word "Qin" on it, it was Qin Yin and Tang Xiao Xi here to send Lin Mu Yu off.

Coming forward on his horse, Lin Mu Yu dismounted and respectfully said with cupped hands, "Xiao Yin, Xiao Xi, you don't have to send me off on such a grand scale.  You'll let people know about this instead……"

The cold wind made Qin Yin's princess cloak fly up.  She came forward with a smile and said, "Xiao Xi had said this at first, but I think it's better for more people to know that you're heading to the Cangnan Province.  This will make Hu Tie Ning more respectful to you."

"Un, that does make sense."  Lin Mu Yu gave a nod.

"That's right, big brother Ah Yu, I have a present for you."

"Oh, what is it?"  Lin Mu Yu asked in a surprised voice.

Qin Yin revealed a faint smile and gestured to the maid behind her, "Bring it over."

"Yes, your highness!"

A maid came forward with a gold trimmed white wool blanket that looked very expensive.  Qin Yin reached out to hold the blanket in front of her and her beautiful eyes looked at Lin Mu Yu, not hiding any sentiment at all.  She said with a faint smile, "Here, this is a Snow Fox blanket, this golden yin flower on the side was personally embroidered by me…..Big brother Ah Yu is going to the Cangnan Province, so it'll be at least a three-five day journey.  It'll be cold at night, so you have to cover yourself with this blanket or else you might catch cold."

Lin Mu Yu couldn't help smiling as he said, "Xiao Yin is this careful….."

"Humph, what do you think?"  Xiao Yin looked like a little girl, pouting her lips as she said, "You have to take proper care of your body.  Although your body and spirit are stronger than that of normal people's, you are still made of flesh and blood.  If you don't take care of yourself, you'll be sick when you come back. You'll trouble me and Xiao Xi with having to take care of you."

"Of course not."  Lin Mu Yu's heart filled with warmth as he hugged the blanket and said with a smile, "Xiao Yin and Xiao Xi can be a.s.sured, I can take care of myself.  Look at how old I man, you're still twenty and I'm already twenty four. I'm this much older, if I can't take care of myself, my four years extra would have been wasted."

Qin Yin laughed, "Humph, no matter what, you're right!"

Tang Xiao Xi came forward and said, "Mu Mu, don't just say goodbye to Xiao Yin, also prepared something for you!"

"Oh, what is it?"

"Someone, bring it over."

"Yes!"

Several duke manor guards came forward, holding things wrapped in a white cloth.  There was a faint fragrance coming from it. Tang Xiao Xi opened one of the packages and said with a smile, "Here, fragrant beef, snow rabbit legs, and also some fruits for digestion.  You'll need these on the road."

Lin Mu Yu already didn't know what to say, these two girls were this careful that he almost began to cry in grat.i.tude.  So he immediately put the blanket onto his horse and gave the meat to Wei Chou and Xiahou Sang. He laughed as he said, "Thank you Xiao Xi, you are as careful as Xiao Yin."

Tang Xiao Xi said with a faint smile, "Anyway, come back soon, just follow the main roads.  You are Imperial Guards and you have this many people, those bandits and mercenaries won't have any ideas towards you."

"Un, I know.  Then I'm heading off!"

Lin Mu Yu mounted his horse and he looked over to the two beautiful girls.  His expression was serious as he suddenly placed his right hand to his chest and gave a slight dip of the head, giving a standard empire military salute.

His salute wasn't unexpected, but the calm and serious expression, as well as him giving the salute with his temple dress, it made him look more heroic.  In an instant, Qin Yin and Tang Xiao Xi's heart fell into chaos. Qin Yin looked up at him and said, "Come back quickly."

"Un, I'm leaving."

Lin Mu Yu turned back and shouted, "Set off!"

The horses neighed and the horse hooves became stronger as their group left Orchid Goose City in the blink of an eye.

When Lin Mu Yu's group disappeared from sight, Qin Yin suddenly gave a sigh as she felt lost from the bottom of her heart.  She reached her hand out for her Purple Yin Sword and she felt the fiery saint grade strength coming from it. Her heart couldn't help becoming warm as she said with a smile, "Xiao Xi, let's go back to the Ze Tian Palace?"

"Un."

Tang Xiao Xi looked into the distance, pursing her red lips.  She mounted her horse and followed Qin Yin.

Speeding across the main road, there were less and less people on the road after it became dusk.  Wei Chou came forward and asked, "Sir, there is a rest stop ten miles ahead, should we rest there tonight?"

"No need."

Lin Mu Yu tightly gripped his reins and said, "We'll keep going and stop to camp at the xuan hour."

[TL Note: 9-11 pm.]

"Yes!"

Time slowly pa.s.sed and the sky was filled with stars.  Not long after, the xuan hour came, but they were in a remote area.  Lin Mu Yu raised his hand and said, "We'll make camp in the nearby forest.  We'll set off immediately tomorrow at sunrise."

"Yes, commander!"

The group dismounted and the Spiritual Medicine Department prepared to make food.  Lin Mu Yu tied up his horse and after giving it some fodder, he raised his Dragon Spirit Sword to patrol.  Looking at the area, it was quite desolate without any humans, not even having a trace of any animal tracks.  It seemed like this night would be quite peaceful.

That's good, peace is better than something happening.

After eating their meal, Lin Mu Yu leaned inside the corner of a tent to rest with the Snow Fox fur blanket Qin Yin gave him.  Immediately his heart filled with a warm feeling. Qin Yin and Tang Xiao Xi were both caring girls, they were this good to him, what would be good for him to do?  Although Lin Mu Yu wasn't too sensitive to feelings, he was not a fool, he would have to make a choice eventually.

To the side, Xiahou Sang was happily sleeping, letting out a thunder like snore.

Without knowing how long pa.s.sed, Wei Chou suddenly walked in with a serious face.  He tapped Lin Mu Yu's shoulder and said, "Sir, wake up."

"Un?  Is it morning?"  Lin Mu Yu asked.

"No."  Wei Chou said in a low voice, "There is a group of people five miles away from us, there are around two hundred people.  They are heading directly towards us and they'll arrive in around an incense amount of time."

"Oh, did you see clearly who they were?"  Lin Mu Yu sat up.

"Swordsman Hall's people."

"Oh?"

Lin Mu Yu knit his brows and said, "The Swordsman Hall's people want to fight the empire's army again, did they eat a leopard's b.a.l.l.s?"

Wei Chou revealed a faint smile, "After his majesty gave the order to eliminate the Swordsman Hall in the Lingnan Province, the Swordsman Hall people have become more rampant.  They are even shouting rebellious slogans."

"What slogan?"

"This subordinate does not dare say……"

"Speak!"

"They are saying……that his majesty is a tyrant and an unwise ruler.  The royal army are just a bunch of loyal dogs, they shouldn't be allowed to exist."

"It's like this….."

Lin Mu Yu narrowed his eyes.  He naturally knew what kind of moral the Swordsman Hall people had, but since they were acting this rampantly, that meant they had someone backing them and this person was very good at plotting.  Sometimes someone like Zeng Yi Fan isn't that terrifying, rather it was people who hid in the back making plans that were the most terrifying!

"Sir, what should we do?"  Wei Chou asked.

Lin Mu Yu raised his sword and said, "Don't make noise and wake all out people.  Maintain the torches outside the camp while having everyone hide in the forest to the east.  When the Swordsman Hall people come, we'll catch them all in a net."

"Yes!"  Wei Chou's eyes revealed a look of excitement.