Chapter 58: Cunning

Ever since Zhang Qian began following Long Chen, she was never apart from him; they ate, drank, slept, and bathed together, with not a moment of freedom. Of course, as a form of revenge, Long Chen would either climb on top of her at night or wander across her body in his sleep, searching for “files.” At first, Zhang Qian was quite annoyed and voiced her complaints, but eventually she grew used to it. In fact, on nights when Long Chen didn't sleepwalk, Zhang Qian would even request that he use two fingers to “search for files.”

Long Chen had just pretended to dislike Li Xiannan, finally managing to send Zhang Qian away and gain a rare moment alone. Leaving the Marshal’s Mansion, he quickly sought out Wu Jian.

“Uncle Wu,” Long Chen greeted as he entered a small room, closing the door behind him.

“Young General, it’s become so difficult to even have a word with you these days,” Wu Jian said helplessly.

Long Chen shook his head. “There’s nothing to be done. Zhang Qian sticks to me like a shadow—meals, sleep, even bathing, we’re always together.”

Wu Jian gave a lewd smile. “The Young General has fallen into a sea of flowers, surrounded from princesses to palace maids, ha ha...”

“Too bad for me, though. I’ve truly been ruined and am now a eunuch. Envious of you, Young General.” Wu Jian had suffered an injury to his vital parts during the battle at White Wolf Mountain and had become a eunuch.

Long Chen laughed. “One or two is manageable, but a whole group is exhausting.”

Wu Jian felt Long Chen was showing off, especially since he’d heard rumors that even the Empress had been attended by Long Chen—an impressive feat indeed.

“Enough about that. Uncle Wu, did you find anything my father left behind?”

Long Chen remembered that Long Ye once hid an iron box beneath the Marshal’s Mansion, containing the secret training manual of the Long family’s unique martial arts.

Wu Jian shook his head. “No. The explosion back then was too fierce—even if the iron box wasn’t melted, it’s impossible to know where it ended up buried.”

Long Chen wasn’t disappointed; he’d already guessed it was a slim chance and had only asked Wu Jian to search in hopes of luck.

“What’s the situation you’ve learned?” Long Chen inquired, referring to the state of Quarry City.

“Quarry City doesn’t just house the three Shangguan men; there’s also a hidden master whose identity is unknown.”

“In terms of troops, the numbers are solid—four hundred thousand.”

Wu Jian had old acquaintances in Quarry City, close ones, and had gleaned some information from them.

“Linjiang City was lost under Shangguan Xiu’s watch, so Shangguan Wei must reclaim it.”

“The only one with a close relationship to Shangguan Wei and high cultivation is that particular individual.”

Long Chen was well-acquainted with the Shangguan family’s affairs, for the Long and Shangguan families had been rivals in court.

Wu Jian nodded. “I suspect him as well, but I’m not certain.”

Long Chen said, “There’s no natural barrier between Linjiang and Quarry City. If there’s to be battle, it will be a frontal assault—no chance for ambush.”

Wu Jian responded, “If, during the generals’ duel, a mid-stage Martial Emperor suddenly appears, the situation will instantly turn.”

Long Chen was silent for a moment, then said, “We’ll need to come up with a solution.”

In the hot springs, Emperor Luoxi and her companions hung their clothes on the screen and gradually slipped into the water to frolic. The late autumn chill made the warmth of the water inviting; the girls’ youthful hearts soared, and laughter rang out.

After a while, Emperor Luoxi grew bored and remarked, “It feels like soaking isn’t the same without Little Dragon. Something’s missing.”

Qingyue chimed in, “I think so too. Whenever Little Dragon is here, he’s always darting around, and his massages are so comfortable.”

Li Xiannan laughed. “Princess, I told you—I’ll arrange the city’s defense, and you and Lord Long can enjoy the hot spring together.”

Emperor Luoxi leaned against the edge. “Go fetch Little Dragon.”

Li Xiannan was about to rise, but Emperor Luoxi instructed a nearby guard to go instead.

The guard promptly left the hot spring; outside, she found no sign of Long Chen. Asking the sentries, she learned that Long Chen and Wu Jian had gone to pay respects to the Long family.

She hurried to the family’s burial site, where Long Chen and Wu Jian were burning incense and candles. Knowing the depth of Long Chen’s connection to the Long family, she observed from a distance, not daring to interrupt until the rites were complete.

Then she stepped forward. “Lord Long, the princess invites you to join her in the hot spring.”

This guard was a tall, athletic woman—plain in appearance, but with a strong, well-toned physique.

“Very well.” Long Chen bowed again to the tomb, then followed the guard to the hot spring.

Inside, a host of female soldiers clad in thin gauze stood guard on either side. Steam swirled about; the dampened gauze clung to their bodies, becoming translucent and revealing. Each stood upright, with taut stomachs and proud chests, their long legs and firm skin, hair draped over shoulders—a parade of beauties.

Long Chen walked through, eyes lingering at chest height, feasting on the blossoming peach flowers all around.

Entering the spring, he heard Emperor Luoxi and the others jesting. Qingyue splashed hot water and played with Zhang Qian.

Qingyue scooped a ladle of water and poured it over Zhang Qian’s head. Zhang Qian hugged Qingyue, snatched the ladle, and poured water back over her.

Their playful tussle drew peals of laughter from Emperor Luoxi.

Qingyue had a fine figure, not small by any means, but compared to Zhang Qian, the difference was as stark as AK.

Yet regardless of their size, Long Chen, seeing two peerless beauties playfully embracing for the first time, couldn’t help but salivate at the sight of their fair, tender bodies.

Once he held real power over Eastern Zhou, he vowed to take these two women riding across the vast lands, galloping for tens of thousands of miles—the harder the ride, the better!

“Little Dragon, what are you daydreaming about? Come here!” Emperor Luoxi stood up in the spring, water streaming down her neck, her wet skin more alluring than ever.

She shook out her hair, lay back on the platform, and beckoned, “Come!”

Indeed, Emperor Luoxi was the finest of them all.

Long Chen handed his clothes to a maid, slipped into the hot spring, and went over to sculpt Emperor Luoxi’s body.

...

Fifty miles away, inside Quarry City.

Shangguan Wei sat in the main hall, with Shangguan Xiu on his left, Shangguan Mu on his right, and the family’s retainers gathered below.

One among them wore not armor, but the eunuch’s robes from the Southern Liang palace—this was Yu Fuguo, the military overseer.

Yu Fuguo had been sent by Li Chengdao, tasked with supervising Shangguan Wei and the Tianwei Regiment.

“How goes the intelligence gathering?” Shangguan Wei asked.

Shangguan Xiu replied, “Eastern Zhou has dispatched Princess Luoxi, bringing only a hundred people into the city. Linjiang City now has only two hundred thousand troops; we have an absolute advantage.”

Shangguan Wei pressed, “Did they bring any special weaponry?”

Shangguan Xiu shook his head. “No, just the hundred or so people.”

Shangguan Wei’s eagle-like brows rose, his eyes glinting with cunning. “That doesn’t add up. Why would they not reinforce their troops or bring weapons when we’re mobilizing our entire army?”

Eastern Zhou had a unique advantage: their weapons manufacturing technology surpassed that of Southern Liang and Western Xia.

Eastern Zhou had a department dedicated to research and development of military equipment, called the Celestial Mechanism Pavilion.

The Empress, believing Eastern Zhou’s troop numbers insufficient, had focused on weapon development.

Every major battle could see new weapons emerge, so Shangguan Wei specifically asked about any new armaments.

Last time, the sled warships were a new innovation.

Thus, Shangguan Wei wanted to know if any new weapons had been brought.

Shangguan Mu said, “Father, Linjiang City is well-fortified. If their intention is only to defend, there’s no need to reinforce.”

A crafty smile appeared on Shangguan Wei’s face. “Good. If that’s truly their plan, all the better.”

“Send out more scouts to confirm whether they’ve secretly increased their numbers or smuggled in any weapons.”

Shangguan Xiu glanced at a sinister-looking captain below, responsible for the Shangguan family’s intelligence—his name was Feng He.

Feng He immediately rose and went to investigate.

At that moment, Overseer Yu Fuguo shrilled, “General Shangguan, have you forgotten something?”