Three more days passed in the blink of an eye. The entire Eastern Domain camp remained shrouded in the cold autumn rain, and the valley grew increasingly frigid after the onset of autumn.
For the past few days, Xiao Yunlong had barely left his residence, nor did he have any intention of leaving the Eastern Domain camp. After all, the matters he needed to attend to and the truths he wished to uncover still offered no clues, making it impossible for him to depart.
Xiao Yunlong remained in his backyard, in seclusion, practicing the Art of Three Thousand Divine Kingdoms. As his cultivation deepened, the difficulty of this technique increased, and his progress slowed.
Fortunately, this technique had now reached an introductory level. With his current martial arts cultivation, Xiao Yunlong could handle most situations, so he didn't need to worry excessively.
During this time, Xiao Yunlong had sent Jun Bufan to visit the King of the Eastern Domain twice, but the result was still a refusal to see him.
This made Xiao Yunlong even more perplexed. Logically, the Old Eastern King had a good relationship with the Old Northern King, and Xiao Yunlong had met this Old Eastern Uncle in the imperial capital back then. Now, the King knew he had arrived and had visited multiple times, yet he consistently avoided him.
This was utterly illogical and made Xiao Yunlong feel that something was amiss.
"Could it be that the Old Eastern King has truly changed?" Xiao Yunlong mused silently in his heart, finally shaking his head and emerging from his seclusion chamber.
During this period, Tang Bowen and Jun Bufan had also been diligently practicing the three ultimate skills of Shaoshi Mountain, Wudang Sect, and Longhu Mountain. Of course, given their martial arts talent, they had long since mastered these three martial arts and had successfully consolidated their cultivation to the level of a Grandmaster of Hua Jin.
As for breaking through to the Martial King realm of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, it was unlikely to be achieved in a short period, as it was no easy feat.
Xiao Yunlong emerged from the backyard and asked Zhuge Ya, who was walking towards him, "By the way, have there been any developments in the Eastern Domain camp these past three days?"
"Replying to Mr. Xiao, the entire camp has been very quiet these past three days, with no unusual movements," Zhuge Ya replied respectfully.
"What about those miscellaneous martial artists and the Fusang ronin warriors? Have they continued to linger in the camp these past few days?" Xiao Yunlong asked, sitting down in the pavilion in the front courtyard and leisurely brewing tea.
Zhuge Ya cupped his hands and said, "Since three days ago, there have been very few martial artists and Fusang ronin warriors visible in the Eastern Domain camp. Whether they are still remaining in the Eastern Domain camp is unknown, but overall, Mr. Xiao, your words have had a significant deterrent effect!"
Xiao Yunlong smiled noncommittally and did not inquire further.
In fact, everyone in the entire Eastern Domain camp was well aware that the reason for the presence of so many martial artists and Fusang ronin warriors, and even the vicious martial artists from Jike Island, was largely due to the involvement of the high-ranking officials of the Eastern Domain camp.
In other words, it must be someone with high authority and power within the Eastern Domain camp who was providing covert support. As for who this behind-the-scenes figure was, it was difficult to say at the moment, though the Old Eastern King and the Grand Commander were the most suspicious.
With this thought, Xiao Yunlong then asked, "By the way, I've been in the Eastern Domain camp for some time now. Besides the Third Commander Wu Shenyong and the Grand Commander you mentioned earlier, are there any other three commanders in the entire camp?"
Zhuge Ya furrowed his brows, appearing to be contemplating how to answer.
"No rush, sit down and have some tea first, then we can talk slowly!" Xiao Yunlong waved his hand.
Zhuge Ya then sat down and said, "The Eastern Domain camp has a total of five Grand Commanders. Besides the Grand Commander and the Third Commander Wu Shenyong that Mr. Xiao mentioned earlier, the remaining three are: the Second Grand Commander has retired and returned home. It is said that he resigned in anger and returned home because he could not compete with the Grand Commander."
Xiao Yunlong nodded and said, "From the current situation, the Old Eastern King is engrossed in alchemy and the pursuit of immortality, neglecting all affairs. The entire camp is fully managed by the Grand Commander. Naturally, the Second Grand Commander could not compete."
Zhuge Ya nodded and sighed, "In fact, back then, the Grand Commander and the Second Grand Commander were evenly matched. Of course, this was a situation deliberately created by the Old Eastern King from behind the scenes, allowing these two commanders to restrain and balance each other. However, after the Old Eastern King became obsessed with alchemy and the pursuit of immortality, this balance was disrupted. It was also around that time that miscellaneous martial artists and Fusang ronin warriors began to appear in the camp!"
"It was probably around that time that the Second Grand Commander, realizing he could no longer contend with the Grand Commander, resigned for self-preservation, right?" Xiao Yunlong asked.
"Precisely!" Zhuge Ya nodded.
Xiao Yunlong took a sip of tea and then asked, "What about the other two commanders?"
Zhuge Ya replied, "As for the other two, the Third Grand Commander is naturally more indifferent and prefers a life of leisure, often traveling. By the way, recently, it is said that the Third Grand Commander built a thatched hut by the lake in the valley and has been fishing there for over three months."
"What about the Fifth Grand Commander? What is his situation?" Xiao Yunlong asked.
"These two, the Fifth Grand Commander and the former Fifth Deputy Commander Murong Bai, are both confidantes of the Grand Commander. They have long been bought over by the Grand Commander. Of course, if they hadn't been bought over, Murong Bai probably wouldn't have been able to become the Fifth Deputy Commander!" Zhuge Ya sighed with helplessness.
Xiao Yunlong knitted his brows and said in a deep voice, "If that's the case, with the Second Grand Commander resigning and returning home, the Third Grand Commander choosing to live in seclusion in the mountains, and the Fifth Grand Commander being the Grand Commander's confidant, then as long as the Old Eastern King does not emerge, the entire Eastern Domain camp is under the Grand Commander's sole control."
"The current situation can indeed be described as such, and the Grand Commander's power is growing. Nearly half of the lower-ranking generals in the camp are already his men. If this continues, even if the Crown Prince of the Eastern Domain reappears, he may not be able to control the situation."
As Zhuge Ya said this, he slightly raised his head and glanced at Xiao Yunlong, perhaps wanting to see the reaction of the King of Zhenbei.
However, unfortunately, he saw nothing, as Xiao Yunlong's expression remained as usual throughout the entire process, neither indignant nor dejected.
In fact, after understanding this, Xiao Yunlong had a complete grasp of the situation. All the pointers in this matter were directed towards the Grand Commander, but he had not yet met the Old Eastern King, so he could not rashly draw conclusions.
"By the way, Mr. Xiao, the dozen or so junior commanders who were previously detained have been released by the Grand Commander. According to relevant personnel, the Grand Commander even took the opportunity to win them over, and many of these junior commanders publicly expressed their allegiance and became the Grand Commander's confidantes!" Zhuge Ya said.
Xiao Yunlong merely smiled faintly and said, "Let them be released. It's likely not a serious crime, and it was originally just a minor punishment!"
"Alright, if there's nothing else, Mr. Xiao, I'll take my leave. I have some affairs to attend to," Zhuge Ya said.
"Go ahead and attend to your business!" Xiao Yunlong waved his hand.
Zhuge Ya then got up to leave. However, just as he turned to walk away, a piercing cry suddenly came from outside.
"Help, Mr. Xiao, help us, please!" someone shouted wildly outside the courtyard in the dim evening light.
"That sounds like... Pan Chaofeng's voice. Has something happened to him?" Zhuge Ya exclaimed in surprise.
"It's his voice, let's go see!" Xiao Yunlong said, standing up.
Zhuge Wushuang and Tu Fu moved quickly, flashing out of the courtyard.
Outside the courtyard, Captain Pan Chaofeng was covered in blood, appearing to have suffered severe injuries. With three guards under his command, he staggered towards them in the twilight.
"Please, you two, save me!" Pan Chaofeng rushed forward and suddenly lost his balance, about to fall to the ground.
Zhuge Wushuang, with his quick eyes and hands, darted forward and supported him.
Behind Pan Chaofeng and his group, a small team was rapidly pursuing them.
"Pan Chaofeng, you mere captain, how dare you defy the orders from above! You have great courage! Stop immediately and surrender, or you will be killed without mercy!"
A burly man behind them shouted coldly, his voice like thunder.
In just a blink of an eye, the burly man, along with more than a dozen team members, rushed forward.
Zhuge Wushuang, supporting Pan Chaofeng, asked, "Who are they, and why are they chasing you?"
Pan Chaofeng, with a mouth full of blood, gritted his teeth and said, "This person is the Fifth Grand Commander of the Eastern Domain camp, Fan Xingchang. Because we cut off the heads of those Fusang ronin warriors a few days ago and hung them on the flagpole, Fan Xingchang believes we have committed a serious crime and wants to apprehend us and hand us over to the Fusang Consular Office in the Eastern Domain!"
"So it's because of this. Is this scoundrel trying to be a traitor, wanting to hand you over to the Consulate?" Tu Fu, with his fiery temper, gritted his teeth in anger.
Fifth Grand Commander Fan Xingchang rushed forward and pointed directly at Zhuge Wushuang, shouting, "These people are wanted criminals. You quickly release them, otherwise, you are harboring criminals, and don't blame me for apprehending you all as well!"
"You still want to apprehend us? You have great audacity! Do you know who we are? If you have the guts, try and make a move!" Tu Fu suddenly stepped forward.
"On the territory of our Eastern Domain camp, we will not tolerate your presumptuousness. I warn you one last time, release the people quickly!" Fan Xingchang roared.
Xiao Yunlong suddenly appeared at the gate and called out, "Zhuge Ya, help Pan Chaofeng and the others inside first, and apply medicine to stabilize their injuries!"
"Yes, Mr. Xiao!" Zhuge Ya, without a word, helped Pan Chaofeng inside.
He was just about to leave this place of trouble, after all, the person in front of him was Fifth Grand Commander Fan Xingchang. Although Fan Xingchang was not much, he had Grand Commander Wang Kezheng behind him. Any discerning person knew that the Grand Commander was the mastermind behind this matter!
"Stop! Did I say you could leave? I want to see who dares to take him away!" Fan Xingchang roared, and the dozen or so elite guards behind him lined up, ready for battle.
Zhuge Ya instinctively stopped, as he was merely a Commander, and furthermore, a direct Commander under Fifth Grand Commander, which put him in a difficult position.
"Pan Chaofeng, you go inside yourselves first. After going in, call the servants to get you some wound medicine!" Xiao Yunlong waved his hand. He also did not want to make Zhuge Ya too embarrassed.
In fact, Xiao Yunlong saw clearly in his heart that although Zhuge Ya was upright, righteous, and kind, he lacked sufficient courage and boldness. Such a person could be a mid-level general, but it would be difficult for him to shoulder the responsibility of a high-level leader.
On the other hand, Pan Chaofeng, although a bit young, had excellent ambition and courage. With proper cultivation, he would definitely be capable of great things in the future. Therefore, Xiao Yunlong was determined to protect Pan Chaofeng today.
"Thank you, thank you, Mr. Xiao. For this life-saving grace, I..."
Pan Chaofeng thanked him repeatedly, but at this moment, he could barely walk steadily. Seeing this, Tang Bowen stepped forward to help him inside.
"You scoundrels! You have the audacity to harbor criminals!" Fan Xingchang roared.
Xiao Yunlong stood on the steps with his hands behind his back, looking down at him, and said faintly, "You are Fan Xingchang, the Fifth Grand Commander of the Eastern Domain camp?"
"That's right, I am Fan Xingchang. Why are you harboring Pan Chaofeng and the others like this? What is your intention?" the Fifth Grand Commander gritted his teeth and asked.
"My intention is not something I need to explain to you, nor do you have the qualification!"
Xiao Yunlong snorted coldly and then said sternly, "What I can tell you is that I will protect Pan Chaofeng and the others today. If you have the guts, bring your men and try to charge in!"
"What, are you threatening me?" Fan Xingchang narrowed his eyes and said with a cold snort.
"Threaten me?" Xiao Yunlong smiled, raising the corners of his mouth and saying casually, "With you, you don't even have the qualification to make me threaten you! As the Fifth Grand Commander of the Eastern Domain camp, you must be well aware of my identity. The Fourth Grand Commander Wu Shenyong, I killed him when I said I would. If you don't believe me, bring your men and try to charge in!"
After saying this, Xiao Yunlong turned and walked inside. Stepping over the threshold, he directly issued an order: "Zhuge Wushuang, Tu Fu, listen to my command! If anyone dares to force their way in today, no matter who it is, kill them without mercy!"
"Yes, my Lord!" Zhuge Wushuang and Tu Fu cupped their hands and replied loudly. The two immediately stood guard at the main entrance like two guardian deities.
Fan Xingchang was filled with rage, his teeth gritting so hard they made a cracking sound. Looking at Xiao Yunlong's receding back, his angry eyes spewed fire.
"Damn it, too arrogant and presumptuous! Utterly lawless!" Fan Xingchang gritted his teeth and growled.
A confidant guard stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Commander, should we still charge in and apprehend them?"
"Charge in? How can you charge in?"
Fan Xingchang glared at him fiercely and said, "Didn't you just hear him say that he killed Fourth Commander Wu Shenyong when he said he would? If you think you've lived too long, then you try charging in yourself!"
After saying this, Fan Xingchang immediately turned and left. The confidant guard glanced at the main gate and quickly led his men away.
The departing Fan Xingchang did not return to his official residence but drove directly to the Grand Commander's office.
"Grand Commander, as per your instructions, I have successfully arranged for Pan Chaofeng and the others to seek refuge at the residence of that fellow named Xiao." As soon as he entered the study, Fan Xingchang immediately cupped his hands.
Zhang Quanche, standing to the side of the study, immediately flattered, "The Grand Commander indeed has foresight. He had already predicted that that scoundrel Xiao Yunlong would protect Pan Chaofeng and the others."
Grand Commander Wang Kezheng, seated in the armchair, showed no significant change in his expression. He snorted lightly and said, "What is so difficult to guess? Harboring and concealing criminals is no minor offense."
Fan Xingchang could not help but ask, "Then, Grand Commander, are you going to personally deal with that scoundrel named Xiao next?"
"No, no, my identity is not suitable for appearing in person at this time!"
Grand Commander Wang Kezheng waved his hand and grinned coldly, "Why should I kill someone myself? I only need to borrow a knife. You immediately go to the Fusang Consulate in Shanghai and tell the person in charge there that he can use any means necessary to eliminate that fellow named Xiao!"
"Yes, my Lord!" Fan Xingchang bowed his hands in a cupped gesture and then retreated.