CHAPTER 612: CHAPTER 612 DESPICABLE

"Since you’ve decided, then don’t regret it!"

"This path isn’t going to be an easy one!" Xia Tingfeng said, his thin lips barely moving, his gaze profound.

Yet Ye Tang was overjoyed, exclaiming, "Thank you, Big Brother!"

"From now on, I am at Big Brother’s disposal!"

Xia Tingfeng let out a long sigh. "Get up quickly! You’re injured. The Military Doctor has prescribed medicine for you; you should rest well!"

Ye Tang stood up and laughed. "Hah! What’s a small injury like this? Big Brother, you don’t need to worry!"

Xia Tingfeng glanced back at her but said nothing, then turned on his heel and strode out the door.

Monster and Rat were overjoyed upon hearing of Ye Tang’s arrival. They rushed over, eager to ask after her well-being.

"Brother Ye... How did you end up here?" Rat asked with a sly grin.

"I heard there was going to be a war here, so I came to enlist!"

"Enlist?!"

"Enlist!"

The two exclaimed almost in unison.

Seeing them dumbstruck, Ye Tang gave them a cool glance and stated calmly, "What...? Is enlisting not allowed?"

"Of course, it is! But, Brother Ye, you’re a woman!"

"Exactly! How can a woman enlist?"

Ye Tang stood up, turned in a circle, and said unhurriedly, "Who decreed that women can’t enlist?"

"Besides, since you all call me Brother Ye, I don’t consider myself a woman anymore..."

"It’s a tough world out there! As a young woman who doesn’t want to just marry anyone, I have to go to the battlefield and carve out a career for myself!"

"When I, Ye Tang, make my mark and rise to prominence, I will..."

At this point, she suddenly stopped.

"You will what?" Monster’s peach-blossom eyes were filled with curiosity.

Rat also craned his neck, staring intently at her. "Come on, tell us!"

Ye Tang’s sharp eyes shone brightly. "I will... keep a few pretty boys, and we’ll feast on the finest food and drink every day..."

"What do you think of that?!"

In an instant, both Monster and Rat felt as if lightning had struck them from a clear sky, a tornado raging past their ears. Their entire brains were BUZZING.

"Er..."

"Uhm..."

After a long moment, Rat managed a strained smile, stepped forward, and patted her shoulder. "Brother Ye, your ambitions are lofty; we... can hardly compare..."

Monster also snapped out of it, quickly chiming in with a forced smile, "Exactly, exactly..."

Ye Tang, feeling validated, narrowed her eyes proudly. "Naturally!"

From that day on, Xia Tingfeng had one more personal soldier by his side. The men of the Three Great Camps were not particularly familiar with Commander Xia. Besides, the Generals all had a few trusted aides accompanying them; it was a common sight, nothing strange. So, no one was suspicious.

From then on, Ye Tang completely concealed her female identity and became a trusted aide by Commander Xia’s side.

「...」

The night he escorted Ye Tang back, Xia Tingfeng had hardly slept at all. So, after returning from Ye Tang’s tent, he went to another tent to catch up on sleep.

「When evening came.」

He once again donned his black Night Clothes. This time, no one stopped him, and he reached General Fan’s tent almost effortlessly.

Just like the previous night, he thrust the tube of Bewitching Incense into the tent. A short while later, he heard someone inside fall to the ground. It all went so smoothly it was almost unbelievable.

After confirming there was no more movement inside, Xia Tingfeng rushed in at top speed. Dressed in black Night Clothes, his figure moved like a phantom as he began to search rapidly.

He had to get the Commander’s Seal quickly; he was going to strip that old fellow Fan You of his power.

With this thought, his movements became faster and faster.

But... he had turned almost the entire tent upside down. Forget the Commander’s Seal, there wasn’t even the faintest trace of it.

"Damn it!" Xia Tingfeng slammed his fist on an empty desk in extreme frustration.

Just then, there was sudden movement outside—the sound of a group of people’s footsteps. Xia Tingfeng’s hearing was exceptionally sharp; he knew instantly they were heading his way. He quickly moved aside, intending to find a hiding place.

However, at that very moment, a scorched smell began to waft from the four corners of the tent. Hearing the footsteps drawing closer outside and seeing the tent about to catch fire, Xia Tingfeng’s heart sank. Damn it, I’ve fallen into a trap!

What a clever scheme, lying in wait to catch an easy prey! Despicable!

There was no time to think. Xia Tingfeng used the dagger at hand to slash an opening in the tent and vaulted out.

However, just as he thought he had escaped, he suddenly looked up, only to find himself surrounded! Soldiers holding torches had completely encircled the tent, forming three rings deep, making it impenetrable.

"HAHAHA..."

"Commander Xia! I’ve heard so much about you!"

The corpulent Fan You emerged from the crowd of soldiers. The flickering firelight danced on his large, fleshy face, making him appear exceptionally ruddy and triumphant.

"Commander Xia!"

"Commander Xia, the Emperor’s man!"

"Your skills are truly impressive!"

"I hear... your five thousand soldiers are stationed fifty li outside Yanguan City! Fifty li is quite a distance from here, and there are barbarians from the grasslands guarding the perimeter. Yet you still managed to get in. Truly worthy of being one of the Emperor’s men!"

Xia Tingfeng scanned his surroundings, then straightened up, his eyes narrowed as he stared sharply at Fan You.

"It’s you!"

"You are General Fan?"

Fan You sneered coldly. "Indeed!"

"I wonder what business brings Commander Xia here this time?"

Xia Tingfeng didn’t bother with pleasantries and said directly, "Business is hardly the word. This General is merely here on the Emperor’s orders to protect Yanguan City!"

"Since we’ve met here, I must take this opportunity to ask General Fan in person: Why did you refuse to pass messages to my soldiers?"

"Could it be... that General Fan has other intentions?" Perhaps... colluding with the enemy and committing treason!

Hearing the insinuation in his words, Fan You immediately exploded in rage. "Shameless whelp! How dare you utter such wild accusations here, slandering this General!"

"Men, seize him!"

"Trying to sow discord between this General and the Emperor! Such insidious and deceitful villainy must not be allowed to succeed!"

As soon as his words fell, the group of torch-bearing soldiers closed in.

But Xia Tingfeng was no pushover. He sneered and took a step back. "The Emperor’s royal decree is here! This General would like to see who dares to make a move!"

With that, he pulled out the Emperor’s secret decree from his breast. The bright yellow silk, embroidered with a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, was exceptionally striking in the firelight!

The soldiers immediately halted, beginning to hesitate. After all, their ultimate allegiance was to the Emperor of the Great Chu Dynasty. If the Emperor had truly issued a royal decree, how could they dare to defy it?

Meanwhile, Fan You also panicked slightly upon seeing the royal decree.

How could the Emperor have issued a royal decree? Could it be that not only is the Emperor not helping me, but he also wants me secretly put to death? No! I won’t accept this! I absolutely will not allow this to happen! The contents of this royal decree must not be revealed!

And so... he bellowed, "You despicable scoundrel, daring to forge a royal decree! Men, arrest him!"