After all, no one wanted to escalate the situation. After a minor reprimand, Fan Xian waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to retreat. The Imperial Guards began to restore order at the entrance. Commander Wei spat on the ground a couple of times, thinking the Chang'an Marquis's family was acting strangely. If they wanted a duel, fine, but why send that notorious layabout from the capital to launch a sneak attack? This wasn't the unified Northern Wei Dynasty anymore. These Qing emissaries were not to be trifled with.

Just then, a wiry man walked past the commotion. Seeing the scene, he frowned. He stomped his feet on the ground, kicking up two puffs of dust, and charged into the fray. He threw punches and kicks with clean, efficient movements, leaving no room for hesitation. In the blink of an eye, he had launched seven or eight attacks, targeting the still-combative officials from the Overwatch Council.

The man's punches were simple, but quick and deadly. He managed to keep the Overwatch Council officials at bay, forcing them to retreat. Several of those who were following Fan Xian's orders to withdraw were kicked in the leg, staggering and nearly falling.

Fan Xian tilted his head slightly, wondering where this military expert had come from. He couldn't immediately discern the man's martial arts level, but he exuded the aura of iron-clad battlefield prowess, forcing his own subordinates to retreat.

After rescuing the Chang'an Marquis's family, the man stood tall, his eyes narrowed. He seemed surprised that his fierce attacks hadn't brought down a single opponent. He immediately identified Fan Xian on the stone steps as the leader, frowning as he said, "What a powerful Southern Qing delegation! Even those casually sent out are experts above the sixth rank!"

Fan Xian glanced at him and said calmly, "When traveling to a foreign country, the most important thing is to uphold the dignity of one's nation. As a military man, surely you understand that principle?"

The man looked at the groaning men on the ground and frowned. "These are just servants. Even if the child was rude, do you have to establish your authority on this child and his servants?"

Fan Xian narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "So, in your opinion, I should simply turn the other cheek and accept the insult?"

The man paused, seemingly remembering something, and his expression darkened slightly. Commander Wei, however, recognized the man and stepped forward with respect, saluting, "General Tan, what brings you here?"

The military man, surnamed Tan, didn't immediately recognize the Imperial Guard Commander. Wei quickly added, "This humble officer is Wei Wuji."

This General Tan, named Tan Wu, was a capable subordinate of Northern Territory General Shang Shanhu. He had always been stationed in the snowy north, defending against the barbarians. Last year, he was transferred back to the capital with General Shang Shanhu, but remained unemployed, only occasionally reporting for duty at the Ministry of War. Although his colleagues in the capital's army respected Shang Shanhu's fierce loyalty and courage, he was still a bit out of place. Today, he happened to pass by and stumbled upon the farce at the Southern Qing delegation's entrance.

...

...

Tan Wu glanced at Commander Wei and said helplessly, "How can we allow these Southern men to run rampant in our Shangjing?"

Wei Wuji smiled wryly. "The palace has issued strict orders to protect the safety of the delegation. This is a matter of national importance, and this humble officer dares not neglect it."

Tan Wu thought about the Qi's repeated defeats and the fact that he and Marshal Hu had no opportunity to fight south. He felt a surge of frustration in his chest. Looking at the injured men on the ground, he felt even more contempt and anger. He suddenly raised his head, cupped his fist in salute to Fan Xian on the stone steps, and said, "May I ask if you are the Southern Qi's Chief Envoy, Lord Fan Xian?"

Fan Xian returned the salute. "I am."

Tan Wu's face turned solemn, and he said sternly, "Tan Wu of Northern Qi, requests instruction from Lord Fan." After saying that, he gently placed his saber on the ground.

Fan Xian shook his head, knowing that the other man was not using his official title, signaling that he was preparing to fight according to the rules of a civilian duel. He said softly, "Lord Tan, before you, I have already collected two sacks full of daggers. Even if we were to duel, you might have to postpone it for a few days."

Tan Wu frowned. "There's no time like the present. Please grant me instruction, Lord Fan."

Fan Xian shook his head again.

Tan Wu said angrily, "I know that Lord Fan is not only talented in poetry but also highly skilled in martial arts. Last year, you single-handedly killed Cheng Jushu, a master from our country. Are you looking down on me?"

Fan Xian glanced at him, knowing that the soldier's blood was up. He smiled and said, "Although the delegation is led by me, and we may seem like a troublemaking bunch, I have always respected brave men on the battlefield. Knowing that you have been fighting barbarians in the northern snow for years, I am full of admiration. Why must we settle things with our fists?"

Tan Wu was a straightforward man. Hearing the gentle meaning in Fan Xian's words, his expression softened slightly, but he still kept his hands cupped in the air.

Fan Xian sighed and shook his head, saying softly to Gao Da behind him, "Stop when you've made your point."

Gao Da slowly placed his long saber on the ground, walked down the stone steps, and steadily extended his right hand towards the famously brave general of Northern Qi, gesturing for him to begin.

Tan Wu narrowed his eyes, sensing a dangerous aura from the guard. He knew that the other man was indeed an expert. For the Southern Qi delegation to send him out to fight was not an insult. So, he took a deep breath, crossed his palms, and attacked Gao Da.

As the palm shadows moved, a muffled groan was heard. The force of the impact stirred up a cloud of dust. When the dust settled, Gao Da had taken a palm strike to his right chest, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his lips. But Gao Da's cold, fierce right hand was already gripping Tan Wu's throat! The calluses hardened from years of wielding a blade scraped against the skin of Tan Wu's throat, sending a chill through the Northern Qi general, who had never known fear.

Gao Da slowly took a step back and lowered his right hand.

Tan Wu stared at the unknown expert, shocked. A random member of the delegation could leave him with no ability to retaliate! In that instant, when he struck the other man's chest, he hadn't even seen how the other man's hand had reached him. He knew that if the other man hadn't held back, his throat bones would have been crushed!

Tan Wu also understood that in a real fight, this expert swordsman would never give him any opportunity to get close. He bowed deeply to Gao Da and then saluted Fan Xian, acknowledging his defeat before leaving the delegation's entrance without looking back.

It was only one exchange, but it was still breathtaking.

...

...

The carriage traveled along Shangjing's streets towards the Ministry of Rites, with Imperial Guard soldiers providing tight security around the carriage, no longer giving anyone the chance to approach the Southern Qing delegation. Fan Xian sat in the carriage, his eyes slightly closed, and said to Gao Da beside him, "Why did you take that palm strike?"

Gao Da coughed twice and explained, "He is a soldier, so I wanted to be more direct. Also, I didn't want to reveal my full strength." He glanced at Fan Xian and said quietly, "Besides, it seemed like you wanted to befriend him, so I thought I should do him a favor."

Although the Tiger Guards were the Emperor's secret personal guards, they had been cultivated by Count Sinan, Fan Jian, for years. So, Fan Xian treated these seven Tiger Guards who had accompanied him north like his household servants, Teng Zijing, with a mix of affection and strictness. He glared coldly at Gao Da and scolded, "I don't even know how many arms that Tan Wu has. Befriend him? There are plenty of oddballs and talented people in the world. Even if Tan Wu had some rare military bravery, which he doesn't, and he was a rare talent, am I supposed to befriend them all? Would that keep me busy for the rest of my life? Would that stop me from eating? Would that stop me from having fun?"

Gao Da was stunned, thinking that befriending talented people was something every scion of a prominent family liked to do. Was he wrong? But even if that was the case, how did it relate to eating and having fun?

Fan Xian rummaged around in his robes for a long time before finally pulling out a pill and tossing it to Gao Da, telling him to swallow it.

Wang Qinian chimed in jokingly, "Is it dried tangerine peel again?"

Fan Xian said irritably, "This is medicine for injuries."

Gao Da took it, still somewhat confused, and said, "Weren't we supposed to stop when we made our point?"

Fan Xian smiled and scolded, "Which of your fingers touched Tan Wu?"

Gao Da fell silent.

"I wonder who was behind the Young Master of Chang'an Marquis creating trouble," Wang Qinian's thoughts were mainly on the earlier scene. "Logically speaking, since the Northern Qi Emperor is willing to fulfill the agreement and admires you, Director Fan, and sent the Imperial Guards to ensure the delegation's safety, that should be enough to send a clear message to everyone in Shangjing. For someone to still cause trouble, something is amiss."

"Don't forget that even the details of the agreement between the two countries seem to have been leaked," Fan Xian said, gently tapping on the carriage window frame. Outside were Northern Qi soldiers, so the three in the carriage spoke in hushed voices. "It seems that Northern Qi is even more of a mess than our South. That young Emperor doesn't seem to have a firm grip on power."

"As long as it doesn't affect our mission this time."

He had been busy today, entering the palace in the morning, then chatting with that young Emperor, walking along with Haitang, and then being scolded at the delegation's entrance. On his first day in Northern Qi, he was incredibly busy, not even eating a meal, his stomach only filled with the cup of tea that the Northern Qi Emperor had given him.

It was fine if he didn't think about it, but once he did, his stomach started to rumble. Fan Xian chuckled self-deprecatingly, thinking that he really was a workaholic. The reason he had made himself so tired today was because Fan Xian had decided to quickly extract Yan Bingyun from Northern Qi's heavily guarded, cold prison. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to fully enjoy the delicacies and pleasures outside.