Young hero, stay put and don't be reckless.

Chapter 101 Xu Zhe

"Okay." This time, Shen San didn't ramble on. Instead, he took out a small wooden plaque from his pocket and handed it over.

"What is this?" Jiang Xun took it and looked at it over and over.

The wooden sign was very ordinary, about the size of a palm, with the character "影" (shadow) engraved on it.

"Once you get to Shuofeng City, take this to Yingqi," Shen San said. "He will help you."

"Shadow Seven?" Jiang Xun paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered Shadow Thirteen.

Are these all Shen Sanzang's shadows lurking in the dark?

It seems that this person has been making many preparations behind the scenes in order to restore his country.

Shen San walked to the door, then suddenly stopped and turned around.

"Jiang Xun".

"Um?"

Shen San paused for a moment, as if pondering how to say it.

"Regardless of whether you are Prince Jing's child or not," his voice was softer than before, "Shen Bufan raised you and taught you skills, hoping that you would live well. Neither of us can fail in this regard."

Jiang Xun paused for a moment, then smiled.

Something seemed to have loosened up in that smile.

"I understand," he said. "I will live well."

Shen San nodded, pushed open the door, and went out.

Jiang Xun sat alone in the room, looking down at the wooden plaque in his hand.

Sunlight streamed in through the window and fell on the wooden sign, making the strokes of the character "影" (shadow) clearly visible in the light.

He took a deep breath and tucked the wooden plaque into his pocket.

"Shuofeng City," he muttered to himself, "doesn't sound like a good place."

He stood up and stretched his limbs.

My body is still a little sore, but I feel much lighter and less heavy than before.

I pushed open the door and stepped out into the courtyard where the sunlight was just right.

Old Yu sat at the stone table drinking tea, while Yu Xiaoyi stood beside him with a book in his hand. When Jiang Xun came out, he glanced at him.

"Have you decided?" Lao Yu asked.

"Okay." Jiang Xun walked over and sat down opposite him. "Let's go to Shuofeng City."

Old Yu nodded, didn't ask any more questions, and simply took out a porcelain bottle from his pocket and pushed it in front of him.

"Take this. It's medicine for healing; you might need it."

Jiang Xun took it and put it in his pocket.

"Thank you, Lao Yu."

"No need to thank me." Old Yu waved his hand, picked up his teacup and took a sip. "You coming back alive is enough to thank me."

Jiang Xun smiled.

He vaguely felt that Lao Yu was also a member of the Dasheng Dynasty, but unlike Shen San, he didn't have as many schemes against him, nor did he have such a strong sense of purpose.

"Then I'm leaving."

"So fast?" Yu Xiaoyi couldn't help but ask, "You've only been here for a day."

"It's urgent, we can't afford to delay." Jiang Xun glanced at the sky. "Let's get going as soon as possible."

Yu Xiaoyi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but then swallowed it back.

He glanced at his grandfather, and Old Yu nodded slightly to him.

Yu Xiaoyi hesitated for a moment, then took out a small cloth bag from his pocket and stuffed it into Jiang Xun's hand.

"Here, have this to eat on the way."

Jiang Xun opened it and saw several sesame seed cakes, still warm.

He smiled, put the cloth bag away, and patted Yu Xiaoyi on the shoulder.

Thanks.

"No need, I can't finish it anyway." She was still stubborn, but her tone softened.

Jiang Xun turned and walked out, but after a few steps, he suddenly remembered something and turned back.

"Old Yu."

"Um?"

"Who exactly is Shen San?"

Old Yu paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup.

He was silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "Someone I can't let go of."

Jiang Xun was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding.

But he didn't ask any more questions and turned to leave the clinic.

He stood at the door, glanced at the bustling main street, took a deep breath, and stubbornly resisted the urge to go to the Gu residence.

Yesterday, Lao Yu said that the prefect had pinned the blame for the case on that "Robin Hood" thief.

It's him.

Jiang Xun was furious and almost jumped up.

If it weren't for Lao Yu stopping him, he really would have ignored the silver needles still sticking out of his body and gone to argue with the prefect.

"I'll settle this score with you sooner or later." He turned his gaze away and walked north.

…………

Tiebei Pass is located northeast of Yunzhou; it takes about five days to reach it on horseback.

Jiang Xun dawdled for a full eight days—not because he was lazy, but because he simply didn't know how to ride a horse.

The Iron Stele Pass is located at a narrow pass between two mountains. Its city walls are even higher than those of Jiangning Prefecture, and the blue bricks are thick and solid, but they are covered with patches.

New and old bricks are interlocked, like an old robe that has been worn for twenty years and is covered with patches.

A flagpole stood on the top of the wall, with a flag bearing the name "Da Yong" hanging from it. The flag fluttered loudly in the wind, and the corners of the flag were worn white.

Jiang Xun stood at the foot of the gate wall, looking up at the iron tablet embedded in the city gate, with only one thought in his mind.

This place is fucking desolate.

On the official road in front of the pass, a caravan of merchants was slowly making its way toward the city gate.

The hooves of mules and horses pounded on the dirt road, kicking up clouds of dust.

The merchants, wrapped in thick fur coats and with their necks hunched, looked like a completely different species from the merchants in the Central Plains who wore silk and waved fans.

Jiang Xun followed the crowd toward the city gate.

He was wearing a thick cloth coat he had bought in Yunzhou, with a sheepskin vest over it, and a felt hat on his head, wrapping himself up tightly—not because he was afraid of the cold, although he was indeed cold, but because he was afraid of being recognized.

We don't know if the Golden Feather Guards have caught up with us here yet, so it's always better to be careful.

A chilly wind blew through the city gate, making people shiver.

When Jiang Xun reached the city gate, two guards stopped him, looked him up and down several times, and carefully checked his travel permit before letting him pass.

"Go in."

"That's really strict," Jiang Xun thought to himself. Compared to the two indifferent guards at the gate of Yunzhou City, it was a completely different story.

He carefully put away his travel permit and entered the pass.

Although Tiebei Pass is called a "pass", it is more like a small town.

A main street runs from south to north, with shops on both sides—pawnshops, leather goods stores, blacksmith shops, and inns.

The storefronts were all small, and the signs were blown about by the wind, some of them simply consisting of bare poles.

There weren't many people on the street, but everyone coming and going seemed quite busy; no one was just strolling around.

Jiang Xun straightened his clothes and walked towards the north of the pass.

The town government office was located there, not far from the city gate.

But when he got to the door, he stopped.

This place was an open area, with barricades and deer antlers set up, and several squads of soldiers patrolling.

Good heavens, is this what the frontier looks like?

Jiang Xun was immediately stopped as soon as he got close.

"Halt! Who goes there?" A soldier, holding a spear, stared wide-eyed.

"Brother, my name is Jiang Xun. I have been ordered by the Duke of Wei to have an important matter to discuss with General Xu." Jiang Xun took out the document given to him by the Duke of Wei from his pocket and handed it over.

The soldier took it, glanced at it, his expression changed slightly, and his attitude immediately became more respectful.

"Wait a moment, I'll go inform them." He turned and went inside.

The other soldiers remained in place, still watching Jiang Xun, but with less hostility.

A moment later, the soldier ran out: "The general invites you in."

Jiang Xun followed him inside, passed through the screen wall, went around the arrow tower, and arrived at the door of a study.

"General, the men have arrived."

"Come in."

His voice was deep and slightly hoarse, as if it had been squeezed out from a crack in a rock, yet it possessed an undeniable composure.

Jiang Xun pushed open the door and went in.

The study was small and its furnishings were so simple they were almost shabby.

A desk, a chair, and a border map hanging on the wall, its edges all curled up.

Several documents lay spread out on the desk, and next to it sat an oil lamp, its flame flickering and casting swaying shadows on the wall.

A man was sitting behind the desk.

He was in his early thirties, with a thin face and rough, reddish skin from the wind. His features bore a resemblance to the Duke of Wei.

Especially those eyes—bright and deep, like water in a deep pool, bottomless yet reassuring.

The eldest son of the Duke of Wei, Xu Zhe.

The garrison commander of Tiebei Pass.

He was wearing a slightly worn dark-colored outfit, covered by a leather armor. The armor plates were worn shiny, and the edges were frayed, clearly indicating that he had worn it for many years.

A long sword hung at his waist, its scabbard engraved with simple patterns, unadorned yet exuding a sense of steadfast weight.