met free Chapter 192 Overwhelming Aura
Chapter 192 Overwhelming Aura
Chapter 192 Overwhelming Aura
Lin Fei was traveling alone this time, without any entourage. In any case, the Northern Han Kingdom would certainly not neglect outward formalities. Once he crossed the river, they would naturally arrange attendants and guards for him.
Li Longqian, however, was different. He not only brought a large entourage, but also a young Taoist acolyte among his followers.
As far as Lin Fei knew, this young Taoist boy was a disciple of Changqing Temple. The Taoist priests of Changqing Temple had already chosen their side and were clearly supporting Li Longqian's succession.
It seems that Li Longqian, through what happened that day, realized that his cultivation level was simply insufficient. Furthermore, the arrogant aristocratic families of Northern Han wouldn't take his status as a prince of Southern Tang seriously. That's why he went to Changqing Temple to invite a master to accompany him, at least to preserve his dignity.
The young Taoist was only at the third level of cultivation and didn't seem particularly powerful. However, Lin Fei had witnessed the methods of the evil Taoist He Feng before, so he didn't dare to underestimate anyone from Changqing Temple and secretly became more cautious.
……
On this day, Lin Fei opened the cabin door, stepped out of his cabin, stretched, enjoying the river breeze—they had been away from the Southern Tang territory for some time. Because the fleet was huge and carried a lot of cargo, the ships were not moving fast, and they had not yet reached the Northern Han territory.
Lin Fei stretched and saw Northern Han soldiers standing guard on the deck, so he asked, "Where are we now?"
The soldier, without looking to the side, replied like a robot, "Your Highness, we will reach Zhanlong Ferry in half a day."
It must be said that the Northern Han Dynasty governed the country through military means, and its imperial power was far more centralized than that of the Southern Tang Dynasty. Furthermore, the strictness of its military discipline was unmatched by the Southern Tang.
Even as a lowly soldier on guard duty, he remained neither servile nor arrogant towards Lin Fei, a prince of the country, showing no sign of obsequious flattery.
"Zhanlong Ferry!" Lin Fei sighed. That was the place where his sworn brother Xiang Boyue was stationed. He wondered if his brother Xiang was still stationed there now.
However, given that the Heroes' Gathering is approaching, a master like Brother Xiang must be among those invited. He's probably already on his way to the capital of Northern Han.
Just as Lin Fei was sighing, a mocking laugh came from the deck of the opposite ship: "Your Majesty has quite the refined taste, enjoying the scenery here. What, are you getting restless now that we're about to reach Northern Han? That's right, who told Your Majesty to be so domineering and teach the Northern Han aristocratic families a lesson back then? Who knows how they'll deal with you once we're on their territory!"
Who else could have that irritating voice but his younger brother, Li Longqian?
Li Longqian was standing on the deck of the opposite ship, looking at Lin Fei with a mocking expression. Because Li Longqian had a large number of guards with him, the Northern Han delegation had arranged a separate ship for him.
Beside Li Longqian, the young Taoist boy from Changqing Temple, who looked like a porcelain doll, followed closely behind him.
As the saying goes, good shoes don't step in dog poop, and Lin Fei didn't want to waste any more words with this guy. He rolled his eyes and walked away on his own.
Li Longqian, having made a fool of himself, snorted coldly and walked away in another direction. The porcelain doll-like little Taoist boy remained like a shadow, following Li Longqian closely, never leaving his side.
……
Lin Fei returned to his cabin, closed his eyes, leaned against the strongman, and began to rest.
Half a day later, a soldier finally knocked on Lin Fei's cabin door: "Your Highness, we have arrived at Zhanlong Ferry!"
"Have we finally arrived?" Lin Fei opened his eyes, opened the hatch, and stepped out.
This wasn't Lin Fei's first time at Zhanlong Ferry. He had taken it on his return journey from Northern Han to Southern Tang. And there, through a chance encounter, he met his sworn brother, Xiang Boyue.
Now, although nothing has changed at Zhanlong Ferry, there is not even a single soldier to greet Xiang Boyue, let alone Xiang Boyue himself.
As Li Longqian disembarked from the ship surrounded by guards, he was furious upon seeing this scene: "Is this how the Northern Han Kingdom treats its guests? I, a prince, have traveled thousands of miles, and not a single person is there to greet me?"
Liu He, the head of the Northern Han delegation, was also embarrassed upon hearing this, and was slightly angry: "What on earth is that Xiang family brat doing? I informed him of the fleet's itinerary several days in advance, how come I haven't seen a single person?"
"Perhaps the garrison is too far away, and the people to greet us haven't arrived yet. Your Highness, please forgive us." Liu He uttered a lie that even he himself didn't believe, with his eyes wide open.
As soon as he finished speaking, the ground beneath his feet suddenly began to shake violently. Li Longqian was shocked and asked, "What happened?"
Lin Fei squinted and looked into the distance: "It's the army."
Just as Lin Fei finished speaking, an army of soldiers clad in full black armor appeared from the distant mountaintop. Leading the group was a cavalry unit of about a thousand men, whose horses were also covered in black armor, so thick that only their eyes were visible.
Following behind was an infantry force of about three thousand men, each wielding a gleaming silver spear, trailing behind the cavalry. The three thousand men moved with perfect unison, as if they were one person.
Moreover, these people were not ordinary people; they were all elites in the Body Tempering Realm. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, they channeled their true energy into their feet as they ran and walked, and every step they took caused the earth to shake.
Such a terrifying display and such a massive force were unprecedented, even for someone like Li Longqian, who grew up in the imperial palace, and even for Lin Fei, who had traveled extensively and seen much of the world.
The soldiers were imposing and exuded a bloody aura; no matter how you looked at them, they didn't seem like a welcoming party.
Li Longqian was so frightened that his face turned pale instantly. He questioned Liu He, "What's going on with your Northern Han Kingdom? Are you trying to start a war with my Southern Tang Kingdom?"
As he spoke, he ordered his attendants to step forward, while he himself hid in the crowd, as if this would ensure his safety.
"It's actually the Black Armor Army! Brother, you've really gone all out!" Lin Fei smiled when he saw this group of elite soldiers.
He had seen the Black Armor Army before, but there were only a handful of them. Now, however, the Black Armor Army that had appeared numbered in the thousands. The sheer scale of their army was unlike anything he had ever witnessed in his life.
The Black Armor Army is the elite force of the Xiang family of Xiaxiang. Near Zhanlongdu, only Xiang Boyue can command so many Black Armor Army soldiers.
"It seems that my elder brother is still at Zhanlongdu and hasn't gone to the capital of Northern Han!" Lin Fei felt a hint of joy in his heart.