The trusted aide could only chuckle and cover up his embarrassnt.
The "farce" on the veranda was like a theatrical performance. So soldiers below were jeering, so were laughing uproariously, and just as the trusted aide silenced one side, another would start up again, leaving the soldiers of Yulin County bewildered, clearly not expecting such a scene in a military camp.
On the ground outside the veranda, a heap of soldiers had rolled together, lying there and refusing to get up, demanding an explanation from their leader.
The soldiers were also beginning to stand up, it seed that Wei Pang had long been an eyesore.
Just then, the urgent sound of hoofbeats suddenly filled the air. The soldier who looked back first promptly shut his mouth and obediently sat down.
"What’s going on here! What is this!" The Deputy General, Marquis of Zhenbei’s most capable aide, arrived with a chill in his gaze that swept over the scene, imdiately silencing everyone. On the veranda above, the soldiers now stood awkwardly in place, while those lying on the ground neither got up nor dared to lift their heads.
"Tie them up and wait for the Marquis’s judgent—" As soon as the Deputy General spoke, Wei Pang, although cursing loudly, no longer resisted. Several soldiers quickly stepped forward and tied him up, and they left the veranda without a sound.
"The rest of you, back to your units—" The Deputy General shouted again, and those who had been rolling, sitting, or lying on the veranda promptly forgot their pain and quickly prepared to fall in, but the Deputy General imdiately changed his command.
"There’s no need to fall in. Follow along and explain yourselves to the Marquis. This is simply a disgrace." The Deputy General spoke, and those soldiers, taken aback, followed with so trepidation. The trusted aide wanted to say sothing but didn’t dare to speak.
With the troublemakers now gone, the front of the formation imdiately returned to silence.
Ku Zhen looked toward the rear of the formation and still did not see the Marquis of Zhenbei’s figure. But he was not in a hurry, as it had already grown completely dark, and he felt even more confident, just waiting for the Marquis to co.
As soon as the escorted soldiers left the sight of Yulin County’s troops at the front of the line, they imdiately beca serious, quickening their pace. Not waiting for those leading the way, they rushed toward the back of the troops, Wei Pang’s expression was equally stern and resolute.
In the rear, the Marquis of Zhenbei was waiting for them. Wei Pang imdiately bowed in respect, and the Marquis waved his hand, urging them to report the crucial matters.
"Marquis, we’ve found sothing. I don’t know if it could be..." Wei Pang said, giving a look to the soldier behind him. The soldier stepped forward imdiately, the sa one who had previously been lying on the ground outside the veranda, crying out fiercely.
By now, the soldier had dropped his prior deanor and carefully extracted sothing wrapped in black cloth from his sleeve.
At a glance, the black cloth was no ordinary material. It was covered with runes, and from within it, a strange bone was dragged out. Clearly, this soldier had found sothing and unwittingly sent out a signal, prompting the Deputy General to arrive. All this had been planned in advance.
As the soldier unfolded the black cloth, two trusted aides imdiately protected the Marquis of Zhenbei, stepping aside only after ensuring there was no danger. The Marquis patted one of them on the shoulder.
"Bring the man over," said the Marquis of Zhenbei. A trusted aide swiftly departed, and it wasn’t long before a soldier from the Southeastern Army was carried over without the slightest delay.
The soldier from the Southeastern Army glanced at the item and imdiately nodded his head, panic-stricken.
"Marquis, this is the thing. My Southeastern Army, tens of thousands of troops, died because of it..." As he spoke, the soldier’s eyes reddened and he choked up, unable to continue speaking.
The Marquis of Zhenbei nodded, his expression one of righteous anger.
"Brother, you have saved so many of our North Border Army brothers. Our North Border Army and the Southeastern Army have always been one family. This vengeance..." The Marquis took a look in the direction of the veranda, his expression indignantly furious, voice equally choked up.
"Marquis, now we can take action," the trusted aide said urgently, an outraged look in his eyes.
With a lift of his hand, the Marquis of Zhenbei shook his head.
"No, I have to see what other unspeakable secrets are behind this," the Marquis of Zhenbei said. He whispered a few words to several trusted aides, who imdiately left upon his command.
Just when "Ku Zhen" felt that the Marquis had been away for too long, the sound of horse hooves arose, and the figure of the Marquis appeared within Ku Zhen’s field of vision. Ku Zhen finally breathed a sigh of relief and approached respectfully.
"Marquis, it’s getting late. After so tea, we should head into the city early," Ku Zhen said with a look of deep respect and eyes filled with devout loyalty, which bore no hint of suspicion. Had the Marquis of Zhenbei not been forewarned of the issues with the corridor, the man before him was indeed an expert in disguises.
"Good, good, Lord Ku, please—" The Marquis of Zhenbei did not decline and, while speaking, dismounted and led his n straight into the corridor.
They already knew that the device would not work if even one piece was missing, and since his n had thoroughly investigated and found no traces of Spells, it indicated that their previous actions had been successful.
Ku Zhen glanced at the sky, which had completely darkened. Even though it was still early, the nights in the North fell faster. Now was the ti to act, and, without drawing attention, he moved to follow the Marquis, giving his own n a aningful look.
A few soldiers silently poured the tea.
The Marquis of Zhenbei picked up the cup but did not hurry to drink. Instead, he gazed at the dark silhouette of Yulin County in the distance and suddenly sighed.
"Having stayed in the Northern Border for nearly half a year, coming here truly feels like a return to civilization," he reflected.
"What the Marquis said is true," a soldier agreed, eyeing the cup of tea that the Marquis hadn’t consud.
The Marquis of Zhenbei, realizing this, took a sip and sighed again.
"This Yulin County snow tea is indeed excellent," he remarked.
"Thank you for the praise, my lord. Allow to pour you another cup," the soldier responded quickly, pouring another cup.
Ku Zhen didn’t move, but his expression gradually beca puzzled. Why was nothing happening? The tea had been drunk and the timing was right, so why did nothing occur?
What went wrong? "Ku Zhen" was sowhat baffled and was now too preoccupied to care if he appeared suspicious, as he felt the need to step outside the corridor.
"Lord Ku, where are you going? Looking for sothing?" The Marquis of Zhenbei called out, but did not move. Ku Zhen was heading towards the sa spot where they had earlier unearthed the device.
Ku Zhen had no choice but to turn around.
"The Marquis misunderstands. I just saw a flash over there, a greenish glint. I feared it might be a wolf or so other wild animal, so I wanted to check it out," Ku Zhen explained, intending to walk forward.
"Ha ha, those of you who have never fought in wars are cowards. With so many of us here, there’s nothing to fear. Not to ntion wolves, even tigers wouldn’t dare to co out," the Marquis of Zhenbei imdiately replied.
Ku Zhen could only laugh along in agreent and nod his head quickly.
"Marquis, why don’t I send soone to check whether the Governor Lord’s escort has arrived yet?" Ku Zhen proposed, unable to delay any longer. If they couldn’t resolve it here, the chance of finding another like this would be slim. Even if sothing had gone wrong, they needed a powerful Mage to fix it as soon as possible.
"Go ahead," the Marquis of Zhenbei agreed readily.
A soldier imdiately rode off, and with a glance from the Marquis of Zhenbei, several other soldiers swiftly followed in secret.
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