Chapter 372: Flowers Bloom Inside the Wall, Their Scent Wafts Outside

'Indeed, they have other intentions.'

Li Rui's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

Wang Vice Minister is a third-rank official; arranging this mission should be straightforward—why consult a fourth-rank officer like me?

Clearly, he's interested in his connections in Wu Country.

Li Rui said: "I merely made some friends in Wu Country during my time as Trade Inspector. If Lord Wang needs it, I can arrange a connection."

'Excellent!'

Wang Vice Minister clapped and laughed heartily.

He hadn't expected Li Rui to agree so readily.

It spared him a great deal of persuasion.

'Lord Li understands the greater good—I will surely report this to His Majesty.'

Li Rui was straightforward, so he wouldn't be stingy either.

He immediately made the promise.

In fact, when he left the capital, Yang Bing had approached him, urging him to include Li Rui in the delegation—he'd been doubtful then.

Though he held a decent impression of Li Rui, the man was only newly entered the Primordial Realm—how could he compare to Nie Siming and Yuan Xiong, both already renowned Primordial masters?

Bringing him along would be useless.

But after inquiring, he discovered that although Li Rui's realm was low, he knew Wu Country intimately.

That was why he'd decided to have Li Rui act as a liaison.

Xue Gui's face also broke into a smile.

If his deputy contributed to this mission, it would be his own achievement.

Naturally, he was pleased.

Not to mention Li Rui was practically one of his own men—if he gained merit here, with Xue Gui's recommendation and behind-the-scenes maneuvering, he might even rise further.

If Li Rui was promoted, he'd still be Xue Gui's man—and that would benefit Xue Gui greatly.

'As long as I can assist Lord Wang, that's enough.'

Xue Gui said.

Wang Vice Minister: 'Lord Xue, your troops are full of talent—how could Great Yu ever worry about border stability?'

The two exchanged glances.

Then they both burst into laughter and stepped outside.

Wang Vice Minister prepared for seven days.

Then they departed from Qinghe County.

The entourage totaled over thirty people: seven or eight officials from the Ministry of Rites, the rest were guards sent by Annan Garrison.

Including Wang Vice Minister and his personal guards, the delegation had five Primordial masters—already a lavish escort.

As for why they didn't bring more, or openly deploy top third-rank masters...

First,

this was a diplomatic mission, not a military campaign.

Bringing too many would only anger Wu Country's court ministers further.

As for Earth Immortals—that was unthinkable.

Each Earth Immortal could summon celestial power with a mere gesture, far beyond ordinary warriors—too great a threat.

No nation would permit another's Earth Immortals to freely enter and exit its territory.

Yu Country was the same; Wu Country was no different.

Under forced march conditions,

they entered Wu Country in just over a day.

Crossing rivers, passing through forests.

After three days of arduous travel, the delegation's convoy finally reached Yanwu Mountain.

Gazing at the steep gorge ahead, and the raging river below,

every member of the delegation swallowed hard.

Especially the Hanlin officials from the capital—who'd never seen such a scene.

'Lord Wang, we must cross here.'

Li Rui pointed to the iron-chain bridge suspended between the two cliffs.

'Don't worry, Lord—this bridge is sturdy. Wu Country built it specifically for mutual trade.'

He once heard Xia Xiaotang say a Wu Country proverb:

'Hukou isn't a pass; Wu Country has Yanwu Mountain.'

Wu Country's border with Yu Country was Hukou, but what truly barred mighty Yu to the north—besides Wu's formidable military—was Yanwu Mountain.

It was Changnian shrouded in miasma, guarded by natural barriers.

Before this iron-chain bridge existed,

Yu smugglers went to great lengths to cross the river.

If an enemy attacked, all they had to do was cut the bridge—both sides would be stuck, and invaders would be halted north of Yanwu Mountain.

The first cart rolled onto the bridge.

The iron wheels groaned against the uneven wooden planks, seeming ready to collapse into the river below.

Li Rui rode his horse, casually strolling across the bridge.

He occasionally observed his surroundings.

Suddenly he spoke:

'Someone's there!'

Nie Siming, Yuan Xiong, even Wang Vice Minister inside his carriage, all pulled back the curtains and leaned out to look.

On the far side of the bridge, a cavalry unit stood silently.

Nie Siming faintly frowned, then called out loudly:

'Friends across the way—what is your identity?'

The cavalry commander replied: 'We are the Black Witch Guard, here by the Great Witch's command to escort you to the Wu Court.'

Hearing 'Black Witch Guard',

Nie Siming's expression changed.

He had once fought alongside Yuan Dingting in Wu Country for years—he knew Wu Country well.

Especially this infamous Black Witch Guard.

'North has Embroidered Uniform Guard; south has Black Witch Guard.'

The Black Witch Guard was Wu Country's imperial intelligence agency, akin to Yu's Embroidered Uniform Guard—expert in assassination.

During Wu's civil unrest, they had severed countless heads of Eastern Wu elites.

'Thank you for your trouble.'

Wang Vice Minister's face brightened upon hearing they were Wu's Black Witch Guard.

Soon after,

the convoy crossed the iron-chain bridge and reached the far shore.

Earlier, distance and mist had obscured details—but now, up close, they saw each Black Witch Guard rode a six-foot-tall, jet-black beast: a Shadow Panther.

All wore armor, radiating formidable aura.

Wang Vice Minister and the other Yu officials were secretly startled.

Wu Country and Yu Country had severed ties for a long time.

!

Even though trade had reopened in recent years and exchanges increased,

that was only in the southern border regions—for those in the capital, Wu Country was just a name.

Primitive. Savage. Raw meat and blood.

But now that they were in Wu Country, they realized it was nothing like that.

The Black Witch Guard before them—equipped as finely as Yu's Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Li Rui said nothing.

He merely observed the men before him.

He had visited Beiwu City several times and thought he knew Wu Country well—but this was his first time seeing the Black Witch Guard.

Yet from their eyes, he sensed a faint, lingering hostility.

Of course.

Which empire with ten-thousand-year heritage would welcome a foreign army into its land?

Even if they came to help, it was humiliation.

Hostility was natural.

At that moment,

the only unarmored middle-aged man among the Black Witch Guard stepped forward.

'You've traveled far—your journey has been arduous.'

'The Wu Court is still a thousand miles away—carriages are too slow. I've arranged for Mountain-Load Oxen.'

As they spoke,

a bovine beast, massive as a hill, with two enormous feet growing from its head, appeared before them.

Seeing this beast,

a young official from the Honglu Temple drew in a sharp breath.

In an instant, the stereotype was firmly reinstated.

The enormous Tashan Ox carried three carriages, moving with swift strides, yet the people atop the carriages seemed as if walking on flat ground, utterly unmoved by the motion.

It was astonishing.

Li Rui and the soldiers from Annan Town continued riding on horseback behind.

The commander of the Black Witch Guard smiled as he approached: "By the way, I haven't introduced myself yet—I'm Qin Huo, Regional Commander of the Black Witch Guard."

Yuan Xiong, who had remained silent all along, suddenly spoke:

"You're Qin Huo?"

Qin Huo smiled faintly: "It's an honor that the adopted son of Marquis Yuan has heard my name."

Seeing his identity exposed,

Yuan Xiong felt no surprise; a flicker of wariness even passed through his eyes.

Scorpion Poison, Qin Huo.

That name was infamous—not merely because Qin Huo himself was a third-rank powerhouse, but because he was ruthless: the King of Espionage and the King of Assassination in the Witch Nation. Though he never struck personally, too many powerful figures of the Witch Nation had died under his orders.

In the Witch Nation, the name Qin Huo could silence crying infants.

Good news: this journey to the Witch Court will go smoothly.

Bad news: Yuan Xiong feared he might not be killed by Eastern Witch assassins on the way—but by Qin Huo himself.

Qin Huo?

Li Rui's pupils contracted sharply upon hearing the name.

He knew Qin Huo well.

Both Dao Mo and Xia Xiaotang held this man in extremely high regard.

But with one condition.

Do not become his enemy.

As Li Rui pondered, Qin Huo drew even closer, grinning: "Commander Li, I've long heard of your name."

Li Rui raised an eyebrow.

"Commander Qin, I've long heard of yours."

Hearing Li Rui's reply, Qin Huo's smile widened:

"Perhaps you think I'm merely flattering you."

"Wrong."

"Commander Li, you are truly famous in the Witch Court—very famous. Many there wish to meet you."

Nie Siming and Yuan Xiong both glanced at Li Rui with strange expressions.

Qin Huo's words sounded increasingly odd.

A Yu Kingdom official enjoying such popularity in the Witch Court was hard not to suspect of hidden motives.

Both were secretly startled.

Who was Qin Huo?

To hold Li Rui in such high regard?

Even surpassing his reputation in the Yu Kingdom.

'Could this be flowers blooming inside the wall, admired outside?'

(End of Chapter)