Wang Yu named the new cultivation method derived by the tortoise shell the Ice and Fire Dual Heavens.
True to its name, it was an apt description!
Leaving Baolun Monastery behind, the group headed straight for Yumen Pass, arriving at the base of its walls within a few days.
This was the western gateway to the Central Plains. Beyond Yumen Pass lay the gravelly steppes and desert oases belonging to the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions. Even if it could not be called ten thousand li of absolute desolation, it was nonetheless sparsely populated, with barely a soul in sight.
Truth be told, things inside Yumen Pass were not much different.
This world-renowned western gateway of the Central Plains was defended by a mere five hundred garrison soldiers. Even factoring in the outlying garrison encampments, the force numbered no more than three thousand men.
Yet that was enough. Yumen Pass existed primarily to provide early warning, delay incoming forces, hold the ground, and cover rear retreats.
Not to mention that the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions were vast and barren, possessing no ability whatsoever to invade the Central Plains. And even if the northern desert Qiang attempted a flanking assault, there was ample strategic depth and formidable mountain passes behind Yumen Pass, more than sufficient to trap and starve them within the long, narrow corridor of Anxi Circuit.
The thunder of hooves jolted the soldiers keeping watch atop the walls. Looking up, they saw dust billowing from the east as a mounted troop of several hundred galloped forward, escorting several carriages without slackening their pace in the least.
"That's no merchant caravan! Those are cavalry!"
"Outriders from the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor entered the city this morning. This must be the prince's retinue."
"I see the banners—it's the character 'Zhao,' no mistake!"
"Inform the garrison commander! The Prince of Zhenxi has arrived in person!"
A short while later, the commander of Yumen Pass met with Wang Yu. He guided the Iron Eagle Cavalry into the encampment within the pass to dine and personally hosted Wang Yu at his official residence. In return, Wang Yu presented him with a refined steel spear, which the commander fondled with boundless delight.
"Your Highness is truly a pillar of the realm, a model for us all!" the commander offered up effusive flattery.
In exchange, Wang Yu gleaned a great deal of intelligence from him.
"The Kingdom of Loulan is among the closest of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions to the Central Plains, lying only about five hundred li southwest of Yumen Pass."
"On the road to Loulan, there are two relatively large settlements: Feisha Town and Huanglong Market. Neither belongs to the Central Plains nor to Loulan, and each is watched over by resident experts."
"The Western Regions horse bandits all hole up in the surrounding oases. Those oases are small, making it difficult to establish lasting markets, but hiding a troop of a hundred riders is trivial. Horse bandits reside almost permanently in the two largest ones, yet no one dares exterminate them."
"Our scouts regularly patrol the Western Regions, visiting both Feisha Town and Huanglong Market. Half a month ago, they spotted Han Dingyuan in Feisha Town. Accompanying him was a breathtaking woman, very likely White Flower Fairy."
"Cloud-Piercing Arrow Han Dingyuan and White Flower Fairy Shi Yinyu?"
Among the Five Great Bandits of Mount Qi, Poison Hand Veda Wei Honggang had been an outcast disciple of the Great Vajra Monastery, while the other four bandits had origins just as distinct.
Han Dingyuan had originally been a frontier general who fled into Mount Qi to become a bandit after raping and murdering his commanding officer's wife and daughter. Shi Yinyu hailed from the Xingxiu Sea. Cruel and ruthless by nature, she excelled in raising venomous serpents and delighted most in keeping handsome male concubines, using them to test her poisons once she grew bored of them. Later, she laid hands on the son of an Esoteric Tantric master from the Snowy Domain, forcing her to flee north, where she eventually joined Mount Qi as well.
"In other words, the Mount Qi bandits entered the Western Regions at least half a month ago."
"Precisely."
"Has the Kingdom of Loulan made any moves?"
"Your Highness has sharp eyes. According to merchants who recently passed through the gates, the Kingdom of Loulan has sent out scouts to search the surrounding areas for reasons unknown. They have even reportedly dispatched men into an ancient city abandoned two centuries ago, seemingly searching for someone—or something."
The commander of Yumen Pass knew nothing of the Loulan treasure.
Wang Yu asked, "Have any Jianghu figures or military-style companies passed through the gate recently?"
Song Chengyue and Song Qingchuan were too minor a target, and the two of them could not possibly excavate the Loulan treasure alone. If the Shuntian Army sent men to rendezvous with the siblings and recover the hoard, they would need at least a hundred men, wouldn't they?
"As for martial artists, the numbers are about the same as usual. As for armies, there have certainly been none," the commander replied, shaking his head.
Li Yunxiu's brow twitched slightly. "What about escort caravans?"
The commander's face lit up in realization. "Indeed, several escort caravans have left the pass recently. Supposedly, merchants purchased precious perfumes and glazed glassware inside the pass to transport and sell in kingdoms like Kangju, Wusun, and Dayuan."
Hearing that, not only Li Yunxiu but even Qianqian covered her mouth with a light chuckle.
If it had been anything else, it might have been plausible. But perfumes and glazed glassware were novel specialties exclusive to the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor. The newly established Trade Bureau of the prince's manor was solely responsible for distributing them to the Central Plains, Jiangnan, the Western Regions, and Mobei. How could ordinary independent merchants have secured such large quantities of goods to peddle in the Western Regions?
"Which escort agencies?" Li Yunxiu asked.
Unable to answer offhand, the commander summoned the gate guards to question them. He learned there were three such escort caravans in total, bearing flags emblazoned with a winged tiger, an iron shield, and a golden-edged red flame.
"Every caravan held official travel permits upon leaving the pass, identifying them as Flying Tiger Escort Agency, Ping'an Escort Agency, and Tiancheng Escort Agency. All of them hail from Henan Circuit."
At this, the commander scratched his head in bewilderment. "Why were they all agencies from Henan Circuit? Hexi Circuit has plenty of escort agencies of its own. Could they all be merchants from Henan Circuit?"
Wang Yu and Li Yunxiu exchanged a glance. The Shuntian Army had risen to power precisely in Henan Circuit, making identities tied to Henan agencies the most natural cover. It was entirely possible that their official travel permits were genuine.
Li Yunxiu pondered for a moment. "Do you remember the escort caravan we ran into when we left Longshan Prefecture?"
Wang Yu nodded. "Embroidered with a golden-edged red flame... To think we actually brushed shoulders with the Shuntian Army back then."
***
After resting for a night at Yumen Pass, the party set out once more.
As the old verse went, *"Why need the Qiang flute complain of the willow trees? The spring wind crosses not Yumen Pass."* Beyond the pass, there were only summer and winter, devoid of spring and autumn. Though it was already golden autumn, the sun beyond the pass still beat down fiercely, giving the distinct impression that summer had yet to end.
"Yet once dusk falls and the northwest wind begins to blow, it's cold enough to freeze a man to death!"
The prince's retinue consisted entirely of cavalry. Even with Wang Yu's carriage and several supply wagons in tow, their pace remained remarkably swift.
Upon entering the great desert, an ordinary merchant or escort caravan could manage only fifty li a day. Wang Yu's group, however, could cover one hundred and fifty li in a single day—and that was while sparing their horses' stamina and accommodating the wagons.
Thus, by the first night, they arrived at Feisha Town, the settlement closest to Yumen Pass. By the second night, they had reached Huanglong Market, which sat near the borders of the Kingdom of Loulan.
Huanglong Market owed its name to a grayish-yellow cliff face to the north that resembled a soaring dragon. Beneath the cliff ran an underground river that broke the surface for a short stretch, forming a lake and a modest oasis.
The thunderous approach of a large cavalry troop immediately alarmed the inhabitants of Huanglong Market. Many assumed it was a raid by horse bandits. Guards across the market drew their bows and bared their blades, throwing the settlement into an uproar.
"Who goes there! State your names!"
"Have Chang Feng come out to answer!"
Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, three hundred Iron Eagle Cavalry sat atop their towering mounts, clad in black armor from head to toe. Their banners snapped crisply in the wind, and the tips of their long spears gleamed with cold light. Standing silently outside Huanglong Market, their overwhelming presence exerted suffocating pressure on the guards, who were accustomed only to skirmishing with horse bandits and ragtag Western Regions levies.
A moment later, a tall, middle-aged man in red silk robes arrived at the market entrance. He clasped his hands and called out, "I am Chang Feng. May I ask which dignitary from the Central Plains honors us with your presence? Forgive me for failing to welcome you properly from afar!"
The Iron Eagle Cavalry parted to clear a path. Two horses steadily drew forth an opulent carriage. Despite two days of wind and dust, the gauzy drapes on the carriage remained immaculate, as though freshly washed with clear water.
The next instant, two elderly men appeared like specters before Chang Feng, extending an inviting gesture. "Our prince requests your presence!"
*Experts!* Chang Feng's eyelids twitched.
Masters of this caliber might not be uncommon in the Central Plains, but they were exceptionally rare in the Western Regions. Yet in this faction, they were merely employed as messengers?
Wait, did they say "prince"?
There were very few princes in the Central Plains imperial court. Particularly in the northwest, the only man who could bear that title was the Great Jin's Prince of Zhenxi, lord of the three northwestern prefectures and master of fifty thousand troops!
Glancing at the three hundred black-armored riders standing in grim silence, Chang Feng understood at once.
Aside from the Prince of Zhenxi's Iron Eagle Cavalry, which had swept across the northwest, what cavalry troop could possess such sheer presence?
Chang Feng promptly adjusted his robes and trotted toward the carriage. Bowing deeply from the waist, he saluted reverently. "Chang Feng of Huanglong Market pays his respects to the Prince of Zhenxi!"
A youthful voice drifted from within the carriage. "Clear out the posthouse, prepare wine and food, and free up some space for my cavalry. Will there be any problem?"
"None at all!" Chang Feng replied without hesitation. "The posthouse is crude. If Your Highness does not object, please grace my humble residence with your stay. The market has an encampment designated for passing merchants, which will easily accommodate your cavalry."
"Good. Lead the way."
"At once!"
A short while later, Wang Yu entered Chang Feng's manor in Huanglong Market.
It had to be said that even in this windblown northwestern frontier, the Chang residence boasted exceptional beauty. Pavilions, terraces, and intricately carved beams adorned the grounds. Though not exceedingly vast, it was designed with exquisite refinement, carrying the unmistakable elegance of Jiangnan.
In the manor's rear courtyard, a clear pool had been excavated, where water bubbled forth continuously, sending up gentle wisps of steam.
"A subterranean hot spring runs beneath this land. It happened to be discovered by my men, so I built this estate over it. Your Highness must be weary from the journey—would you care to soak in the hot spring tonight?"
Chang Feng had naturally noticed Li Yunxiu and Qianqian, prompting his suggestion to Wang Yu.
Wang Yu shook his head. "A quick wash will suffice. We must continue our journey tomorrow."
A flicker of surprise crossed Chang Feng's eyes. He then led the guests into the manor's main hall and presented local delicacies. Alongside northwestern dishes, there were even several Central Plains offerings.
Chang Feng ushered Wang Yu into the seat of honor, with Li Yunxiu and Qianqian accompanying him at his sides. Ma Bojun sat in the upper seat, while Chang Feng took the host's lower seat to keep them company.
When Wang Yu inquired further about recent events, he discovered that the three escort caravans that had exited Yumen Pass had never once set foot in Huanglong Market!
***
"What do you make of this?"
After dinner, Wang Yu summoned Ma Bojun, Li Yunxiu, and Qianqian to confer.
"It means they didn't take this trade route." Li Yunxiu narrowed her eyes, spreading out the map obtained from the commander of Yumen Pass. "They chose a different path."
"Heading straight for Loulan?" Ma Bojun asked.
Li Yunxiu nodded, looking at the black dots scattered across the map. "Much like those horse bandits, they are probably lying low in one of the oases near Loulan."
Chapter 55