Chapter 371: Who Dares Call Himself a Prodigy?

Annan Town, Regional Commander's Mansion.

Xue Gui slightly narrowed his eyes and spoke slowly:

"His Majesty has ordered the envoy mission to Wu Country; this time, the envoy is Minister Wang of the Ministry of Rites."

The subordinate generals and miscellaneous-ranked commanders all wore different expressions.

Military campaigns require a just cause.

Yu Country wishes to punish Eastern Wu; it cannot bypass the Wu royal house—diplomacy is inevitable, or else it would be an unjust war.

It would harm the nation's fortune.

Though it may seem unimportant, it is in fact crucial.

Countless imperial dynasties have proven this at the cost of their destruction.

Diplomatic affairs have always been handled by the Ministry of Rites, but usually only an official from the Bureau of Guest Affairs or the Court of Imperial Entertainments is sent; this time, Minister Wang leads the mission personally.

This shows the Emperor's great importance placed on Eastern Wu.

Fu Tao's eyes flashed with sharp intent.

An envoy mission is a major matter, especially to Wu Country—it must be reported directly to the Emperor.

Minister Wang's mission will certainly require guards.

These guards will most likely be drawn from Annan Town.

To participate in this mission would be a great achievement.

It is an excellent opportunity to earn glory.

All are achievements, but only those presented before the Emperor truly advance one's career.

Xue Gui: "This is a major matter. Provincial Military Commander Zhou has ordered us to fully assist Minister Wang's mission and ensure no mishaps occur."

"Understood."

The subordinate generals and miscellaneous-ranked commanders all nodded in unison.

Li Rui observed all of this.

Each harbored secret motives.

Most were already scheming how to curry favor with Minister Wang.

The group dispersed.

Li Rui, Nie Siming, and Yuan Xiong left the Regional Commander's Mansion together.

"Young brothers, no ideas?"

Li Rui smiled at the two.

Nie Siming shook his head: "My brother and I don't need achievements—we'll just follow Father Yi's orders."

Li Rui nodded: "That's reasonable."

Nie Siming asked in return: "Brother Li, aren't you going to try?"

Li Rui merely gave a light laugh.

Unlike Nie Siming and the other.

Though all three could be considered part of Marquis Yuan's faction, the distinction was great.

Nie Siming and Yuan Xiong are Marquis Yuan's adopted sons—they share fortune and misfortune; advancement depends entirely on Marquis Yuan alone.

Everyone else is useless; achievements mean nothing.

But Li Rui is different.

He was once a retainer; now, having been granted the title of Viscount, he is completely severed from the Marquis's household.

At most, he maintains good relations with the Marquis's household.

To advance, one must not only have a powerful patron but also solid achievements.

His military record when he enlisted was strong.

But as a deputy commander, his foundation is too weak.

Otherwise, even if someone wanted to promote him, they'd have no justification, would they?

"We'll see."

Back at the mansion.

He happened to see Tie Kuang relaxing under a tree with Liu Tiezhu.

"Senior."

Li Rui stepped forward and bowed.

Tie Kuang rolled his eyes—he was thoroughly annoyed whenever he saw Li Rui.

Ever since that day.

He had never again gained the upper hand in sparring.

Li Rui's strength kept growing; if he still didn't realize Li Rui had broken through to his own level, he'd be a fool.

"Don't call me Senior anymore. We martial men judge by realm—call me Brother, I'll call you Brother."

Tie Kuang said casually.

Li Rui was stunned, blinking his eyes.

Tie Kuang was nearly a hundred years older than him; calling him Senior was mild—calling him Ancestor would be acceptable.

Now he wanted to be called Brother?

"Brother Tie."

Li Rui tentatively called out.

Tie Kuang pointed to a nearby reclining chair: "Brother, sit."

Li Rui chuckled.

He sat down without hesitation.

Tie Kuang seemed in good spirits: "Thanks to you, these past days I've felt my bottleneck loosen—I'll break through soon, then we'll spar again."

Li Rui exclaimed in delight: "Senior, you're about to break through?"

"Mm."

Tie Kuang nodded.

Though he hadn't won nor mastered Great Unyielding Body.

Yet time and again in sparring, he'd gained insight.

Combined with forging two Immortal Weapons, his mind had cleared, granting him the chance to break through.

"Congratulations, Brother Tie."

Li Rui called him "Brother" smoothly, without a hint of awkwardness.

Tie Kuang glanced at Li Rui:

"You've been planning this, haven't you? Otherwise, why does it come so easily?"

"Brother Tie must be mistaken."

Tie Kuang laughed bitterly: "If you ever reach Second Rank and kill Blood Shadow, I'll call you Grandpa."

"Breaking through isn't even meaningful. This grudge probably won't be settled."

Tie Kuang spoke slowly.

Yet Li Rui could see: Tie Kuang's desire for revenge had never faded.

When he learned of the Purple Gold Palace affair, he had specifically sought out Li Rui to ask many questions about Blood Shadow Ancestor.

Upon hearing that even Liu Qing had failed to kill Blood Shadow Ancestor, he locked himself in the blacksmith shed for days.

Li Rui: "If little brother ever becomes a Land Immortal, I'll be sure to cut down that old bastard."

Tie Kuang glanced at Li Rui: "Don't count on it."

Even if he favored Li Rui, he didn't believe Li Rui would surely become a Second Rank master.

Second Rank—top hundred in the entire realm's martial rankings.

Which prodigy dares swear they'll make it in?

The world is unpredictable; the path of martial cultivation is fraught with peril—one may easily fall into the abyss.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

!

One day.

On the streets of Qinghe, a lavish carriage moved slowly; passersby all stepped aside.

For the guards escorting the carriage were the Black Armor Troops of Annan Town.

Some curious onlookers followed all the way to Annan Town's encampment before leaving.

The carriage finally stopped before the Regional Commander's Mansion.

A middle-aged man in Confucian robes stepped down.

At the other end.

In Li's mansion courtyard.

Nie Siming, Yuan Xiong, and Li Rui sat beneath a pavilion.

Seeing the large crater in the training ground nearby, they knew a fierce battle had just taken place.

Both had acknowledged Li Rui's combat prowess.

This was no small matter.

The two of them are Yuan Dingting's adopted sons, among the very top of the Qi Refining cultivators; for Li Rui, a Qi Refining cultivator at the Heart-Testing stage, to earn their approval speaks volumes of his combat strength.

Nie Siming laughed heartily:

"Brother Li, don't think you can dodge this time—Minister Wang specifically requested you join."

He had a good relationship with Minister Wang.

So before Minister Wang arrived in Qinghe County, he had already received word and knew the list of those accompanying the mission to Annan Town.

All three men in the courtyard were inside.

Li Rui fell silent.

He knew well that Fu Tao had worked tirelessly for this.

Yet the spot fell to him.

Although he had long known he would be named to the envoy's list.

Because He Qianian had already informed him.

While being promoted to Assistant Regional Commander, he had also been promoted elsewhere.

From Mountain Seeker to Dingshan Envoy.

Yang Bing wanted him to join the envoy to secretly investigate the exiled immortals within Wu Country, so he had already made arrangements back in the capital.

Of course, to outsiders,

it seemed Li Rui had won Minister Wang's favor during his time in the capital.

Yuan Xiong: "This mission to Wu Country may be even more important to them than to us; nothing should go wrong."

Li Rui nodded:

"I've heard the Fourth Prince's Consort holds great prestige in Wu Country; with her involvement, success should not be difficult."

As the three chatted casually,

a gateboy rushed in, panting: "Master, General Xue has arrived."

Hearing this,

Li Rui immediately rose; Nie Siming and Yuan Xiong followed close behind, hurrying to the gate.

There stood Xue Gui at the entrance.

Beside him stood another man—Minister Wang of the Ministry of Rites.

"General Xue, Minister Wang."

Li Rui promptly ushered the two into the mansion.

Minister Wang, seeing Nie Siming and Yuan Xiong also present, laughed: "I've come at the perfect time—since both Lord Nie and General Yuan are here, we can discuss matters directly, saving you the trouble of traveling."

The group entered the main hall.

Xue Gui then said: "For this mission to Wu Country, the three of you will lead thirty elite troops; Master Liu will follow secretly."

"Remember, do not bring shame upon Yu Country's prestige."

"Yes!"

The three of them replied in unison.

As Nie Siming had just said,

Minister Wang chuckled: "General Xue exaggerates—Wu Country is a great power; they won't neglect proper etiquette. You three needn't be anxious."

An envoy mission concerns the imperial court's honor.

Especially since it is I, as Minister of Rites, personally leading it—I've already consulted with Wu Country's imperial court.

Once we enter Wu Country's territory, Wu Country's own powerful cultivators will guard us.

Nothing will go wrong.

As for safety on the journey, he wasn't truly concerned.

What he truly feared was what would happen after arriving at Wu Country's imperial court.

Though this mission was initiated by Wu Country's Third Princess, now the Fourth Prince's Consort,

according to what he knew,

Wu Country's court was far from united; many military officers strongly opposed Yu Country's involvement.

If negotiations failed, he, as envoy, would surely be branded by the Emperor as incompetent—and his official career would be over.

Far from as easy as others assumed.

Minister Wang smiled warmly at Li Rui:

"Lord Li, I've heard you have strong connections in Wu Country?"

(End of Chapter)