Chapter 20

This was the first time in Xiao Yu's life she had left the wilderness and the first time she had come into contact with the civilized lands of this world.

She was a bit disappointed.

First of all, Hengsha Pass was not as majestic and spectacular as she had expected.

The city walls were only a little over three zhang high, and they were dilapidated and old, with the surface plaster falling off and cracks in the wall structure.

Let alone a world of gods and demons like "Journey to the West," even compared to the majestic passes of the materialist world of her past life, it was far inferior.

Furthermore, the scale of Hengsha Pass was not large enough.

After following Guan Huchen into the pass and standing on the street, one could see the city wall and gate at the other end at a glance.

The buildings inside the pass were old and broken, and the passersby were sparse.

If it weren't for the fact that Hengsha Pass had such an excellent geographical advantage, with a steep mountain range stretching for a thousand li on both the east and west sides, standing between the northern wilderness and the southern fertile lands, this place would just be an ordinary border town.

Finally, the soldiers guarding the pass were very unprofessional.

They weren't executing strict guard duties at all, gathering in groups of three or five to bask in the sun and chat nonsense.

And this was just after experiencing the Rebellion of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms!

It wasn't until the black-armored knights arrived outside the city gate and shouted at those above that a city gate official panicked and called the soldiers to open the gate.

They didn't even check the Iron Cavalry Battalion's pass token or Guan Huchen's personal identity waist plaque.

"Master, you've finally returned! The northern wilderness is bitter, cold, and dangerous; these past half a month, you've really worked too hard."

Before Guan Huchen had even left the saddle, a wealthy-looking middle-aged man who looked like a steward trotted over, knelt beside the Red Smoke Steed, and asked after Guan Huchen's well-being in every possible way.

"Old Zhong, is the Marquis of Lieyang in the pass?" Huchen asked while reining in his horse.

Guan Zhong took a step closer and whispered, "Two days after you left the pass with the Iron Cavalry Battalion, the new ruler of the Giant Elephant Kingdom was tragically assassinated; it seems to be related to the remnants of the Lu Kingdom..."

His voice was even lower, almost bringing his mouth to Guan Huchen's saddle—the steed was majestic, and his height could only reach the saddle.

"Although the Alliance of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms has been destroyed, no country is peaceful.

Whose house doesn't have a loyal servant?

Those feudal princes and royal families who have stood for a thousand years have even deeper foundations.

It's easy to eradicate forces on the surface, but it's hard for outsiders to figure out the hidden trump cards, except for the heads of their own families.

This humble servant received a wax-sealed letter from the Eldest Master; it was news the Eldest Master heard from the Shu Royal Palace. That group of damned rebels has reorganized the 'Thirty-Six Kingdoms Anti-Qin Blood-Killing Alliance.'

The 'Blood-Killing Alliance' no longer invades our Great Shu, but it's even more dangerous, specializing in assassinations and sneak attacks, targeting the new rulers and new royal families supported by Great Qin in various countries.

Especially the nobles who have come over from Great Qin.

That's why the Marquis of Lieyang soon left Hengsha Pass again, rushing to the northwest to quell the riots and stabilize the new dynasty of the Giant Elephant Kingdom."

"... In just half a month, the Marquis of Lieyang slaughtered another 150,000 in Elephant City—wait, who are you?"

Speaking of the Marquis of Lieyang once again incarnating as a "Human Butcher," Guan Zhong's expression was strange, his voice lowered even further, and his head leaned closer to Guan Huchen's waist, as if he wanted to speak while pressed against his armor, and then his gaze collided with a pair of bright, sparkling almond eyes.

Xiao Yu poked her little head out from Guan Huchen's cloak.

It startled Guan Zhong so much that he took two steps back.

"Uncle Zhong, my name is 'Guan Yu.' Thanks to the mercy of my foster father, I have now left the wilderness and returned to civilization. Hey, you can just call me Xiao Yu."

"Guan Yu—"

—What a fierce name! And "foster father," the Master's foster daughter? Why?!

Guan Zhong's fat body trembled slightly, and his inner confusion grew greater.

However, he was, after all, the most experienced and sharp-witted steward of the Guan Mansion, and Huchen's personal attendant, possessing great sophistication and experience; being startled by this surprise from Xiao Yu didn't delay his proper business.

"In about three to five days, the Marquis of Lieyang will return to our Western Shu again, but he won't pass through Hengsha Pass.

The Marquis will go directly to Feixian Ferry, cross the ferry to return to 'Luodu,' or go to Tianmen Town's Shahe Pass."

Huchen asked suspiciously, "In just half a month, the Marquis of Lieyang solved those Thirty-Six Kingdoms... now where are there still Thirty-Six Kingdoms?"

At the very least, he could be certain that the "Sand Dune Kingdom" was completely finished.

The Sand Barbarians had no ability or opportunity to organize any "Anti-Qin Blood-Killing Alliance."

The so-called "Thirty-Six Kingdoms Blood-Killing" was likely just like "claiming an army of 800,000," all inflated to save face.

"The rebels of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms certainly won't be solved so easily. In the half month you were gone, the Marquis of Lieyang has been dealing with the affairs of the Giant Elephant Kingdom alone. He killed many people, but the effect..."

This was on the side of the main street, and discussing the well-known "major events of the Western countries" with his own master was no problem, but if he dared to "slander" the Marquis of Lieyang, his master would take a "Snake Flame Whip" to him.

"Cough, cough, Master, you don't know, but the Central Kingdom has sent ministers to cross the Liusha River again, and they will soon arrive in our Great Shu.

The Marquis of Lieyang's return to the Shu Kingdom this time might also include a trip to Tianmen Town, specifically to welcome the newly arrived nobles from the Central Kingdom," Guan Zhong said.

"Who are the newly arrived nobles, and what is their status that they require the Marquis of Lieyang to welcome them personally?" Huchen asked in surprise.

Guan Zhong shook his head and said, "This humble servant doesn't know, and the lords in Luodu don't know either.

The Eldest Master also sent a letter specifically urging the Master to follow the Marquis closely after returning from the Western Sand Barbarians and never leave his side again.

If you can hear any news related to the great nobles from the Marquis, the Eldest Master can make preparations to welcome them in advance."

"This general has already been incorporated into the Marquis's personal army, and in the future, I will follow the Marquis back to Great Qin; of course, I will travel with the Marquis," Guan Huchen said.

If he hadn't heard the news from Guan Zhong that the Marquis of Lieyang would return to Feixian Ferry in a few days, he would have gone alone on horseback directly to the Giant Elephant Kingdom to find the Marquis's main force after finishing the mission of "expedition against the Western Sand Barbarians."

A moment later, in the West Garden of the Hengsha Pass Prefectural Mansion.

"Danzi, Sister Xiao Yu is about to part ways with you soon."

Xiao Yu pressed down on Danzi's shoulders and instructed him solemnly, "Perhaps in the next few days, I will come to see you again, but in the future, we will most likely have different destinations."

After Guan Huchen went to the Prefectural Mansion to report the mission, the expedition mission of the Iron Cavalry Battalion was basically completed.

Danzi, as the "captured barbarian prince," remained at the Prefectural Mansion to await subsequent arrangements.

Xiao Yu had also just followed Guan Huchen to see "Prefect Zhang."

Guan Huchen explained to the Prefect that he had received permission from the Central Kingdom Envoy (the Daoist boy Qingsong) to adopt Xiao Yu as his foster daughter.

Her status as the "Guan family's foster daughter" was now officially recognized.

Although Guan Huchen clasped his fists and bowed to the Prefect, calling him "this humble general," his attitude wasn't very respectful, and Prefect Zhang not only didn't mind, but was even a bit ingratiating toward Old Guan.

Clearly, Prefect Zhang was not the true person in charge of the "expedition against the Sand Barbarians" mission.

Danzi's future fate would most likely be decided by "Central Kingdom nobles" like the Daoist boy Qingsong or the Marquis of Lieyang.

"We have finally left the sand dunes, Danzi, do you understand?"

"Auntie Yu, I don't understand." Danzi honestly revealed a blank, silly look.

Xiao Yu felt a bit weary; Danzi was still too young, only two and a half years old.

If he were already an adult, with a mature mind... uh, if he really grew up to be an adult, "Auntie Yu" wouldn't bother with him anymore.

Once people grow up, they have to rely on themselves.

Even if he were the child of an old friend, Xiao Yu would only offer a few pointers and let him struggle according to fate, with life and death determined by heaven.

It was only because the child was too young, and out of consideration for the friendship with his grandfather, his mother, and herself, that she gave him a little pity.

"I will teach you a few sentences; you must remember them firmly." Xiao Yu stared into Danzi's eyes, as if she wanted to transform her next words into a mental imprint, deeply etched into Danzi's mind.

"Heaven bless Great Qin to prosper for all eternity, His Majesty the Emperor live for ten thousand years..."

"I don't understand," Danzi said blankly.

"Be loyal to Great Qin, long live the Emperor. It's very short; did you remember it?"

"Be loyal to Great Qin, long live the Emperor." Danzi nodded reluctantly.

Xiao Yu also taught him a few auspicious phrases, similar to the Great Qin Sinicized versions of "God bless you" and "You are very very gorgeous."

"When facing nobles, it's best to keep your mouth shut, don't say anything, just listen carefully and work diligently.

If you must speak and don't know what to say, roll 'Be loyal to Great Qin, long live the Emperor' in your stomach a few times first.

No matter when, always remember 'loyalty'; be loyal to Great Qin, be sincere to the nobles of Great Qin."

Seeing that Danzi's face was still half-blank and half-afraid, Xiao Yu was truly helpless.

"You must be obedient, listen to the words of the Great Qin nobles, and always be loyal to the Great Qin Emperor."

She broke it down and crumbled it up, chattering on for a long time.

Basically, she made Danzi understand the four words "honestly be obedient."

However, she still made Danzi firmly remember the words he couldn't understand and couldn't comprehend, like "Heaven bless Great Qin, the Emperor live for ten thousand years."

He didn't understand them now, but when he grew up, he would naturally be able to understand them slowly.

The fear was that he wouldn't have time to grow up...

Xiao Yu didn't expect Danzi to sleep on brushwood and taste gall, lurking and enduring to sharpen his claws and teeth.

She hoped Danzi would forget the sand dunes—which was probably impossible; he could forget, but others would always remind him of his Sand Barbarian identity—she hoped Danzi would fully immerse himself in the identity of a loyal servant of Great Qin, immerse himself wholeheartedly, and not harbor any improper thoughts.

People must be useful to be utilized; having utility value is the only value for survival in the eyes of others.

To be useful to the Great Qin nobles, one must have talents that others do not.

Danzi was young, and Xiao Yu really didn't see any peerless talent in him that would make him stand out like an awl in a bag.

Actually, being too dazzling isn't good either; the tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind.

In Xiao Yu's view, the most "high-quality" talent for a noble is loyalty.

No matter how loyal you are, others won't envy you, but will secretly mock you for being stupid; and in the eyes of the nobles who can decide your fate, no matter how loyal you are, even if you are loyal to the point of stupidity, it is not a shortcoming, but a huge advantage.

Of course, she was letting Danzi exchange loyalty for survival, not using loyalty as her own belief.

Now that she had finally come into contact with the flower-filled world outside, she had quite the spirit of testing her sword against the world with "Great Father-Destroyer," so how could she be a loyal servant?

She would, however, dress herself up as the world's most loyal and filial daughter.

Loyalty was both the "universal method of survival" she prepared for Danzi and an advertisement for herself.

Xiao Yu had the realization: no matter when, no matter how quietly she spoke, her conversation with Danzi would be heard and recorded by others.

Yue Fei's mother tattooed "Utmost Loyalty to the Country" on Yue Fei's back; the world did not know the mother, but all respected the mother's loyalty and righteousness; Auntie Yu carved "loyalty" into the heart of her nephew Danzi; if the world knew Auntie Yu, they would surely praise Auntie Yu's loyalty and righteousness.

And sure enough, just as Xiao Yu finished her earnest teachings to Danzi, she crossed the stone-carved screen wall and saw the Daoist boy Qingsong standing by the outer gate with his hands behind his back, smiling.

Xiao Yu gave herself a mental thumbs-up, her face filled with surprise and joy, and she bowed respectfully, "Guan Laozu, Xiao Yu is truly happy to see you again!"

"You are not bad, very clever. Among the princes and grandsons who will follow this humble Daoist back to Great Qin this time, your nephew can probably live the longest," the Daoist boy Qingsong laughed.

Only then did Xiao Yu notice that in the long corridor behind the Daoist boy Qingsong, there were over thirty other young children standing there.

Some were dressed in luxurious clothing, while others were dressed as "barbarians" just like Danzi.

There were also ordinary children in hemp clothes and blue cloth.

Their ages also varied; the young ones were four or five, seven or eight, and the older ones were even older than Xiao Yu, looking sixteen or seventeen.

"Guan Laozu, Danzi is honest but too stupid. If he is clumsy and makes any mistakes, you must teach him a harsh lesson!"

Xiao Yu bowed again and then took the initiative to take her leave.

Guan Huchen was still waiting for her outside.

The Iron Cavalry Battalion would remain at the Prefectural Mansion to rest and reorganize, but the Guan Mansion had its own firm and residence in Hengsha Pass, and living in their own mansion would certainly be more comfortable and at ease.

"Foster father, I saw Guan Laozu Qingsong..."

Xiao Yu trotted behind the Red Smoke Steed.

After leaving the Prefectural Mansion, Guan Huchen no longer let her ride with him.