Chapter 565: Call Me Out

The room fell silent for a moment.

Everyone looked at Xue Tong.

Kang An strode up to him in a few steps, sparks flying in his eyes, his clenched fists trembling slightly: 'Who... is he?'

Xue Tong furrowed his brow.

Tuan Tuan rushed over and grabbed Kang An's sleeve: 'Xiao An'an, don't rush, let Master speak slowly!'

She turned around, pressed Xue Tong into the chair, and, hopping a little, brought him a cup of tea with both hands: 'Have some tea. Master, do you know him?'

Xue Tong took the tea, took a sip, and rubbed Tuan Tuan's head: 'My disciple is still the most obedient.'

He lifted his eyes to Kang An: 'Kid, this person isn't the one I saved.'

Kang An froze.

Xue Tong took another sip of tea, then spoke slowly: 'But he does indeed have some connection to him.'

He set down the teacup, pointing at the person in the portrait: 'Back then I accidentally rescued Wei Chi Ming; when his wounds were nearly healed, his subordinates came to take him back.'

'Among the three guards who came to fetch him then,' Xue Tong tapped the portrait, 'this kid was one of them.'

Xiao Ningyuan blinked: 'You mean, back then this person was a guard?'

Xue Tong nodded: 'Wei Chi Ming was just a half-grown lad back then; this kid was even younger than him.'

'When they came to fetch him, he was the one who ran about most happily before and after the horse.'

He stared at the portrait for two glances, then snorted coldly: 'His appearance hasn't changed much; you can recognize him at a glance.'

Kang An stood where he was, his chest rising and falling, motionless for a long while.

Tuan Tuan asked: 'Master, where did this person go afterwards?'

Xue Tong shook his head: 'How would I know?'

'Back then Wei Chi Ming left me a jade pendant and took his people away; not long after, I left the Western Regions and never saw them again.'

Kang An's clenched fists loosened then tightened, tightened then loosened.

Suddenly, he fell to his knees with a thump before Xue Tong.

'Yes, no, stop!'

He knocked his forehead heavily against the ground, once, then again.

'Take, me, go!'

Tuan Tuan felt unwilling, shaking Xue Tong's arm back and forth: 'Master! Don't be angry with Xiao An'an, okay? Xiao An'an just wants to avenge his parents too much.'

Xue Tong patted her hand, leaned over and grabbed Kang An's arm, lifting him up from the ground: 'Get up.'

Kang An raised his head; a red patch appeared on his forehead, his eyes full of tears.

Xue Tong looked at him and sighed: 'First go to my room, let me finish giving you the needle.'

He patted Kang An's shoulder: 'From now on, speak more smoothly, and you'll do right by your deceased parents.'

Kang An stared, then nodded firmly.

Xue Tong turned and walked out; Kang An lifted his foot to follow.

The door opened and closed; the room grew quiet, and Tuan Tuan let out a long breath.

Xiao Ningxun laughed as he lifted her up, kissing her little cheek: 'As long as we have Tuan Tuan, even the hardest people to get along with can learn to tolerate each other.'

Xiao Ningyuan walked over and flicked his sister's little nose: 'You really are a little clever sprite.'

Tuan Tuan grinned: 'Because they're all good people.'

She thought: 'Good people together should of course be happy.'

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance, both laughing: 'Our young lady really is capable!'

Because Xue Tong needed quiet for the acupuncture, everyone stayed a few days in Baishi Town before setting off for the Yutian Kingdom.

After less than five days of travel, they arrived at the capital of the Yutian Kingdom, West Mountain City.

This place was far more prosperous than any town they had seen along the way.

The streets were wide, with shops lining them.

Spice shops, silk satin stores, jewelers, ironware shops… one after another, dazzling the eyes.

On the street people came and went: there were turban‑wearing Hu merchants, camel‑leading travelers, and not a few Han people dressed in Zhongyuan clothing.

Xiao Ningyuan looked around and couldn't help exclaiming: 'This place is really lively, far more bustling than Kashgar in the Shule Kingdom.'

Lu Qi nodded: 'After all, it's the capital of a great country—indeed different.'

Tuan Tuan leaned against the carriage window, watching with relish.

Everyone found the biggest inn and settled in.

Xiao Ningxun called the shop assistant over: 'Let me ask you about someone.'

The shop assistant, though young, was quick‑handed and quick‑talked: 'Sir, you say, in this West Mountain City I may not know everyone, but I know all the notable people by name.'

Xiao Ningxun nodded: 'Wei Chi Ming—where does he live now?'

The shop assistant blinked.

He sized Xiao Ningxun up and down, his expression a little odd: 'You mean our Great King?'

They looked at each other, astonished and delighted.

Xue Tong clapped his hands and laughed: 'Good! This kid, he's got promise.'

Tuan Tuan tugged at his sleeve: 'Master, you're amazing! Just saving a random person turns out to be a Great King!'

Xue Tong smiled proudly.

Xiao Ningyuan asked: 'Do we go straight to the royal palace to see him?'

The shop assistant glanced at their clothes and chuckled: 'Sir, you want to see the Great King?'

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: 'Yes.'

"Do you have a king's order?"

"No."

The innkeeper spread his hands: "How could that be? The Great King isn't someone you can see just because you want to?"

Xue Tong snorted: "We are his old acquaintances, and we have the token he personally gave us back then."

The innkeeper glanced at him, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes.

Among those who came to West Mountain City to see the Great King, eight out of ten claim to be old acquaintances.

He laughed: "Then you all should go to the king's Palace gate tomorrow and ask whether they'll let you in."

Having said that, he turned around and went off to attend to something else.

Early the next morning, the group inquired along the way and arrived at the king's Palace.

The king's Palace of West Mountain City is built on a high slope north of the city, its grandeur magnificent.

Although the walls are also a dim yellow earth, they tower high; at the gate stand two rows of soldiers wielding spears, each standing upright, eyes fixed straight ahead.

Xiao Ningyuan glanced: "This display is not far off from the king's Palace of our fiery nation."

Tuan Tuan looked up: "So tall!"

Just as they reached the Palace gate, they were immediately stopped.

A soldier stepped forward, hand on his sword hilt: "Stop!"

Xiao Er stepped forward, clasped his fists: "Excuse me, we are old acquaintances from Zhongyuan, here to request an audience with the Great King."

The soldier sized him up a few times, sneered: "Want to see the Great King? Do you have a king's order?"

Xiao Er shook his head: "No, but we have the Great King's token."

Xue Tong lifted his head, took the Jade Pendant from his chest, and handed it to him: "This is the token the Great King personally gave; quickly take it in and show him."

The soldier took it, flipped it over twice, then tossed it into his chest: "Take it away, take it away! Who knows where you got this thing, trying to cheat me into letting you in?"

Xue Tong's face flushed bright red, and he glared at the soldier in fury.

The soldier, startled by his glare, said: "Old man, why are you glaring?"

Xue Tong, full of vigor, shouted: "You little rabbit brat!"

Startled, Tuan Tuan jumped a great height beside him, "Wow! Master's voice is so loud!"

Xue Tong placed his hands on his hips, and with a rapid barrage of shouts roared: "When I first met Wei Chi Ming, you didn't even know where…"

"Bring Wei Chi Ming to me!"