Chapter 413: A Lowly Name

After leaving the ancestral hall, Zheng Fan opened the umbrella again.

The Marquis of Jingnan walked ahead.

Zheng Fan stayed half a step behind him.

But he did not deliberately leave half his shoulder exposed to the rain.

The umbrella was large enough.

It was army equipment, after all.

Who in the military would prepare some tiny floral parasol meant for women?

Truthfully—

Zheng Fan still felt the Marquis was being too impatient.

More importantly—

Count Zheng did not believe himself to be some blessed general.

Whatever good fortune he possessed had always come from strength.

As for the traditional sort of luck people spoke of the kind where Heaven seemed to favor you—

Zheng Fan had never felt much of that at all.

Every time he charged on a battlefield, he seemed guaranteed to attract stray arrows.

If A'Ming were not beside him and the Demon Child were not inside him he would have been turned into a hedgehog long ago.

He simply could not compare with those absurd protagonists who could stand in the middle of a battlefield, cradle a brother or woman in their arms, exchange a long farewell speech, and somehow remain completely untouched.

Precisely because Zheng Fan understood himself clearly his thinking had changed.

Back when he possessed no foundation, he naturally had to throw his life into danger and gamble for opportunities.

Now he had an estate.

A force of his own.

His strength had begun accumulating.

So, naturally, he wanted to advance steadily.

Give me three more years.

Let the Snow Sea Pass army expand another round.

Coordinate with the other armies.

Wouldn't simply rolling straight over the enemy be more comfortable?

But this was merely another case of where you sat determining what you thought.

A longer delay might be excellent for Snow Sea Pass.

Yet when viewed from the current struggle among the three states it might truly become a case of one side growing stronger as the other weakened.

Most importantly—

Zheng Fan knew something else.

It was not only the Emperor of Yan who had begun losing patience.

In truth, the Marquis of Jingnan had begun losing patience too.

Tian Wujing did not continue wandering elsewhere.

There was not much worth seeing in Fengxin City anyway.

When they returned to the entrance of the residence—

Zheng Fan saw Seventh Uncle standing there.

The moment Tian Wujing appeared, Seventh Uncle immediately dropped to his knees and bowed sincerely.

"Marquis, I beg you to treat my Young Mistress."

After settling the Commandery Princess, Seventh Uncle had waited and waited.

Yet the Marquis of Jingnan never appeared.

When he sent people to ask around, he learned Li Fusheng had already led troops out of the city.

Left with no choice—

Seventh Uncle had personally come to wait outside the Marquis Residence.

Tian Wujing said nothing.

He simply continued forward, intending to enter.

Standing behind him, Zheng Fan immediately revealed an anxious expression.

"Marquis, the Commandery Princess...

"Marquis, the Commandery Princess..."

Tian Wujing still gave no reaction.

Seventh Uncle shifted forward on his knees and blocked the Marquis's path into the residence.

Tian Wujing raised one foot.

It looked almost like a step.

Almost like a kick.

*Bang!*

Seventh Uncle was sent tumbling backward.

He immediately climbed up again.

His left hand instinctively moved toward the sword at his waist.

*Shing! Shing! Shing!*

Every armored Jingnan Army guard at the gate drew his saber and pointed it at Seventh Uncle.

They did not care whether this old man belonged to the Marquis of Zhenbei Residence.

They only knew one thing.

Anyone who dared reach for a sword before their Marquis deserved to die.

Seventh Uncle did not draw.

Instead, he lowered his forehead to the ground again.

"Marquis.

"I beg you.

"Please examine my Young Mistress."

Tian Wujing remained unmoved.

He walked into the residence.

Zheng Fan anxiously looked at Tian Wujing's retreating back.

Then looked at Seventh Uncle with an expression filled with concern.

Finally he turned around.

Wearing the helpless face of a man with no other choice he followed Tian Wujing inside.

Once they entered the residence, Zheng Fan immediately asked:

"Marquis.

"Was he about to draw his sword just now?"

When it was time to apply eye drops apply them.

No need to be polite.

"His aptitude is poor.

"So he took another path.

"He spent his entire life practicing only that one sword strike.

"He cannot kill me.

"But he can kill you."

"Uh..."

"Isn't Yu Huaping staying with you?"

"Uh, yes.

"He is.

"But..."

"Still hasn't recovered?"

"He can get out of bed and walk now.

"He can do a few things too."

Hearing this—

Tian Wujing nodded faintly.

"Does he still look extremely weak?"

"Yes."

Tian Wujing said nothing more.

He led Zheng Fan deeper inside and entered a study.

It was called a study but there were no books on the shelves.

Instead, an enormous map hung across one wall.

"There are mountains and rivers between Jin and Chu.

"The route is not as rugged as the old path from Shengle into the snowfields—but it is still difficult.

"The Tianduan Mountains are filled with tamed and wild savages.

"They do not pose much of a threat.

"But Chu has built many fortified posts there."

The savages in the Tianduan Mountains were fundamentally scattered.

At most, three or four tribes might occasionally join forces and make some noise.

Chu was different.

Chu was a proper state.

When you tried to cross even if one of those tiny forts housed only a dozen soldiers the instant they discovered you and lit beacon smoke, your position would be exposed.

By the time you finally dragged yourself across the mountains and emerged on the other side a Chu army might already be waiting.

"It's difficult to get through," Zheng Fan said.

"That is exactly why I'm sending you."

Tian Wujing turned around.

He picked up a teapot while continuing:

"People always say the Northern and Southern Marquises of Great Yan forcibly opened Jin and destroyed half the country in one campaign.

"But at that time, Li Liangting and I commanded the elites of the Zhenbei and Jingnan Armies.

"The scholars of Qian love flattering one another.

"They build platforms for each other.

"So one man becomes a celebrated scholar.

"Another becomes a great literary master.

"Even Yu Huaping over at your place—didn't people flatter a Swordsmith of Chu into existence around him as well?"

"Marquis, you mean..."

"It's actually all the same.

"In the army, you also need to accumulate as much merit as possible.

"The rough soldiers in the camps believe in one thing only—whoever they follow must be able to win battles.

"You did well during the battle at Snow Sea Pass.

"But it still isn't enough."

Count Zheng badly wanted to say:

*I'm not planning to rebel tomorrow.*

*What do you mean, enough or not enough?*

"The first lunar month is still some time away.

"There is no need to rush immediately.

"You can return and prepare properly."

"Yes, Marquis."

"You've been traveling back and forth.

"It's been hard on you."

"Marquis speaks too seriously."

"Enough.

"I won't keep you.

"Leave through the rear gate.

"What happened to Qian'er will not be blamed on you.

"Once Li Fusheng returns, I will make the necessary arrangements."

"Yes, Marquis."

Zheng Fan stepped backward twice.

Before turning to leave he looked up at Tian Wujing again.

"Marquis.

"Please take better care of yourself.

"I brought quite a few things to eat and drink this time.

"I was worried the food here might be too plain.

"They should add a little flavor.

"Also—there's something else."

Zheng Fan reached inside his clothes and took out a small cloth bundle.

He opened it.

Inside was a tiny bellyband.

Zheng Fan placed the little garment on the tea table.

Tian Wujing's gaze fell upon it.

And did not move away.

Zheng Fan smiled.

"He's grown.

"This one's too small now.

"Can't fit anymore."

Tian Wujing nodded.

He reached out.

Picked up the bellyband.

And his fingertips could not help stroking the fabric.

"Marquis, I'll take my leave.

"After some time, I'll bring a detachment of troops back."

The Marquis of Jingnan nodded faintly.

He said nothing.

Zheng Fan bowed and withdrew.

Afraid of running into Seventh Uncle, he did not leave through the front gate.

Instead, he went out the rear.

By now, evening was approaching.

But Zheng Fan had just received a new mission.

He did not dare delay at all.

After leaving the city, he found his troops and rejoined them.

Inside a tent a campfire burned beneath a pot of soup.

Everyone sat around it.

Zheng Fan repeated what had happened.

Then said:

"That's the situation.

"Counting the time needed to return and then travel back again, we probably have about a month to prepare."

Siniang said:

"We should still ask A'Cheng about something like this, shouldn't we?"

Xue San answered:

"We should ask him.

"But Master can't personally lead troops through enemy territory while nobody stays home to watch the house.

"Besides, it's only a force of one thousand cavalry.

"A'Cheng wouldn't have much room to display what he's good at anyway.

"In my opinion, we might as well let that stinking zombie keep guarding home.

"Master can rest assured.

"Once we get back, this subordinate will first pull out my own people and scout the route in advance.

"By the first lunar month, when the rivers are completely frozen, Master will be able to cross much more calmly."

A'Ming drank a mouthful of blood.

"The Marquis of Jingnan is treating us like a lottery ticket now?

"Always hoping to scratch out the grand prize?"

Xue San laughed.

"This is the Marquis of Jingnan cultivating Master.

"The meaning is obvious enough.

"We should think it through and decide who comes along.

"Siniang has to come."

Xue San paid close attention to maintaining the correct political attitude.

"That stinking zombie guards the house.

"I'll go.

"A'Ming will definitely go too.

"The Demon Child should have recovered by then.

"For Master's safety, he obviously comes as well."

"What about the Blind Man?" A'Ming asked.

"We need to leave one civil and one military man at home," Xue San said.

If Siniang went along then someone capable of managing and arranging affairs had to remain behind.

Even if the Blind Man still had not advanced compared with needlework, Blind Man Bei would simply have to accept the grievance.

Zheng Fan raised a hand.

Looking slightly puzzled he said:

"Why does it feel like no matter how we count—something's missing?"

...

"Cough...

"Cough..."

The Sword Maid lay on a bed.

Her expression was exhausted.

Even her coughing lacked strength.

Fan Li stood beside her and looked down.

The physician had just left.

He had prescribed medicine.

Fan Li had already asked the inn waiter to decoct it.

But whether the medicine would actually help—

Fan Li did not expect much.

Because Fan Li knew the Sword Maid had not caught an ordinary chill.

Normally, illness from wind and cold invaded from the outside.

This time the Sword Maid's problem had erupted from within.

For some unknown reason, something had gone wrong with her Natural Sword Embryo constitution.

The qi inside her body had begun falling into disorder.

Originally, Fan Li and the Sword Maid had left Yanjing ahead of the Commandery Princess.

But because the Sword Maid became ill, they had been delayed for nearly a month.

Even now they had only just reached Yingdu.

The Sword Maid opened her eyes with difficulty.

She looked at Fan Li.

Then asked weakly:

"Big guy...

"Am I about to die?"

The illness had come violently.

It was hardly surprising that a young girl would begin thinking wildly.

Fan Li nodded.

"Looks like it."

"It's all my fault.

"I delayed your proper business."

"Yeah."

A wave of depression rose in the Sword Maid's chest.

She pursed her lips weakly.

Then asked:

"Big guy...

"After I die, how are you planning to bury me?"

"Trim you into a human stick.

"Easier to carry."

"..."

The Sword Maid.

"You rest first.

"Hold on a little longer.

"In a while, I'll go around the city again.

"See if I can stuff a swordsman into a sack and carry him back to look at you.

"I still think your problem should have something to do with swords."

As he spoke—

Fan Li stood.

He looked outside.

Night had already fallen.

Then he slung the sack he had prepared in advance over his shoulder and got ready to leave.

The Sword Maid spoke weakly behind him:

"What if I leave while you're gone too?"

Her voice was very soft.

But Fan Li had already reached the doorway and still heard it.

He immediately shook his head.

"Know why we gave you that name?"

"I feel like... if you don't explain that name...

"I might be able to hang on a little longer..."

Fan Li ignored her protest.

"Because—a lowly name is easier to keep alive."

[End of Chapter 413]