If anyone has a deep impression of Marquis Wu’an of Daqi’s divine might, besides the people of South Xia, it would be the people of Liang Country.

Back then, when he trampled through the land of several provinces in Da Xia, using two deities to battle against six deities, killing Beixiang Marquis Shang Yanhu in Saint Water, it happened right under the noses of the people of Liang Country!

If it wasn’t for the people of Qi heading south, how could they have occupied Jin’an Fu? Avoiding having their kingdom destroyed and their king captured by the people of Summer Country is already lucky enough.

No matter how they publicize it to the people below, a prince like Kang Wenhao of Liang Country knows the truth.

After traveling a considerable distance, Chu Yao couldn’t resist asking, "Master, why didn’t you want to meet that general earlier? His face looked terrible."

"I have a viewpoint I want to share with you. Whether right or wrong, you can judge yourself—privately among ourselves, as long as it doesn’t harm others, anything goes. But when out representing the nation, one must be mindful of their identity when speaking and acting."

Jiang Wang’s voice came out from the carriage: "If Huang Deyu personally came this time, I might meet him because he’s very old, and we can respect the elderly. As for the others, like this deputy general or that minor general, there’s no need to pay them any mind. If I were to meet any random person, wouldn’t that be a loss of decorum?"

Chu Yao nodded in confusion, "Master, I understand."

For Jiang Wang, whatever prohibition on bringing guards along, or allowing him to go to the Sword Pavilion alone, such regulations deliberately displayed by the people of Liang Country asserting their sovereignty, he complied with them but didn’t take them to heart.

Although Ruan Qin suggested his demeanor should be more fitting for a young man, more arrogant.

But what necessity is there to be arrogant towards the people of Liang Country? What necessity is there to be arrogant towards these petty officials guarding the pass? Slapping petty officials, forcefully breaking through checks, creating diplomatic conflicts; such time-wasting acts are utterly unnecessary. Surely he wouldn’t be so enraged as to unsheathe his sword and kill these ordered petty officials at the pass, right?

The dependence of the people of Liang Country is none other than the Sword Pavilion and the Blood River Sect.

He should be arrogant when he arrives at the Sword Pavilion.

By then, the people of Liang Country will naturally know how to behave.

As for the likes of Prince Kang Wenhao of Liang Country, they’re just footnotes on the journey.

His willingness to cooperate with Liang Country’s current governance over Jin’an Fu does not mean anyone is qualified to waste his time.

The Liang Country soldiers guarding Jin’an Fu are rare elites. The former Summer Country border military that joined Liang Country also boasts significant combat prowess. But the almost nine-year-old, dark and thin Chu Yao drove the carriage alone, traversing the main road, and along the way, these soldiers could only watch silently, not daring to act rashly.

For Chu Yao, this was a rare experience.

He knew his master was an extraordinary figure. He personally saw his might back in Woyao Town, with everyone from the pavilion master to the town master to the city lord behaving obediently like kittens. But he hadn’t expected his master’s awe-inspiring prowess to be recognized even abroad! It wasn’t until now that he could somewhat understand what "renowned worldwide, illustrious martial exploits" meant.

His grip on the reins became firmer, and he felt even prouder.

Along the long Official Way, the carriages rumbled on, Jiang Wang simply closed his eyes to rest, while Chu Yao talked to Bai Niu occasionally, not feeling lonely at all. Until a certain moment, when he suddenly raised his eyes, the towering mountains lay like a giant beast before him. Gazing afar, the shadows of the mountains stacked endlessly, with no end in sight.

Amidst the majestic mountains, there was a gorge resembling a path cut by a sword, filled with heavenly light. Amidst the continuous verdant darkness, it was a line of solitary white.

This was the Asking Sword Gorge.

Compared to the Broken Soul Gorge, it was not more treacherous. But with cliffs as sharp as blades, sword qi crisscrossed. Over the long years, numerous swordsmen passed through here, leaving their sharpness and regrets.

The young Bai Niu carriage advanced under the illusion of cutting through the sky at the Asking Sword Gorge.

The ox cart traveled a long way, yet the gorge seemed entirely devoid of people.

The gorge wind struck the cliff healed by sword marks, producing a fierce sound.

Gradually, Chu Yao felt uneasy, starting to feel tense. Several times, he wanted to crawl back into the carriage and sit with his master but ultimately braved through.

Fortunately, with Bai Niu’s tail gently swaying, he felt somewhat comforted.

After walking for some unknown period, just as the gorge wind subsided, a sword light suddenly came near, transforming into a green-clad woman, who stopped ahead on the path.

Green and red attire are not easy to wear beautifully. Not a true beauty, unable to subdue such vibrant colors.

But this woman before them had features like a painting, seemingly possessing all the tenderness of the Sword Pavilion’s mountains.

All the dangers, oddities, and abruptness seemed only to highlight this beauty.

Chu Yao held the reins, speechless, just staring at her.

Woyao Town’s sky was gray, and the people were also gray, with plenty of girls even darker than him.

When he entered Linzi and saw the maid sisters in the mansion, he thought they were like fairies. The maid sisters said there were some sisters in the mansion who danced, and those were the truly beautiful ones. He hadn’t seen them yet before his master took him to South Xia.

But even those sisters who danced wouldn’t possibly be more beautiful than the sister before him, right?

How many ways can a person’s features be arranged?

"My young friend." The woman who descended from the sword gaze was not bothered by the young boy’s stunned gaze, looking at this dark and thin little fellow, politely said, "I am Ning Shuangrong of the Sword Pavilion, could you please ask your Marquis to come out for a conversation."

This woman was truly beautiful!

Chu Yao repeated this thought in his heart once more.

But he firmly remembered his duty, shook his head vigorously, "No, no! My master is someone with status, how can he meet just anyone?"

"Ahem." The curtain at the back of the carriage raised, and his master coughed once, coming out: "This one, I can meet."