Upon hearing Xie Lingyun’s words, the young master across from him paused, then grinned: "That great tomb is the cure for all stubbornness! If it weren’t for my deep friendship with your father, I would never persuade you."
Hearing the young master’s words, Xie Lingyun was curious. After pondering for a moment, he ultimately did not move and continued to leisurely sip his mutton soup: "After today, the Great Victory Nation will be bustling, extremely bustling!"
"Some people are likely to explode in rage." The young master said, "Zhang Chen has roused quite a lot of hatred. After today, the world’s powerful will wish to crush him to dust."
In the desolate mountains, Zhong Xiang led his army to quietly sit there, his eyes fixed on the movements below, still recalling Zhang Chen’s words: "Zhang Chen argued a few words with my uncle and actually made him faint with anger? With that kid’s provoking skills, it seems like making him faint isn’t the real issue."
Suddenly, Zhong Xiang began to worry about his uncle, sitting there with a mix of apprehensions, not knowing what he was thinking.
Suddenly, a noise came from afar, as the experts of the Inspection and Supervision Department pursued from the mountain below, each gasping for breath like old dogs: "That kid Zhang Chen fled here, quickly hand over Zhang Chen."
The leader of the Inspection and Supervision Department clearly hadn’t seen Zhang Chen rushing over, yet insisted that Zhang Chen had charged into the midst of them.
Evidently, Zhong Xiang and Xie Lingyun had communicated in advance.
"Hmph, this is my camp, how could I allow you to charge in at will?" Zhong Xiang coldly snorted upon hearing and faced off with the leader.
As they spoke, both sides tactfully kept their distance, merely engaging in a war of words in front of the camp.
It didn’t take long before the experts of the Prince Pingbian’s Mansion and Confucian Sect also rushed over.
"Where is Zhang Chen? Where did Zhang Chen go?" Zhang Xiaohua shouted aloud.
The leader from the Inspection and Supervision Department promptly took over: "Your Highness, the criminal Zhang Chen fled into the opposite camp, jumped into a cave within the camp. When I tried to search, I was stopped by this man, and I didn’t dare to act rashly. I seek your decision, Prince."
Zhang Xiaohua, upon hearing, scanned the opposite camp, seeing the hundreds of elite samurai, realizing the other side’s extraordinary background. He then walked forward and questioned: "I am the Crown Prince of the Prince Pingbian’s Mansion. Who is in charge of this camp? Please come forward and meet with me."
"Greetings, Crown Prince. I am Zhong Xiang, the commander of this camp!" Zhong Xiang stepped forward with cupped hands in salute toward Zhang Xiaohua.
"So it’s Southern Qilin in person, my apologies for the oversight!" Zhang Xiaohua was inwardly startled upon hearing. He had long heard of Southern Qilin’s fame and never expected it to be this heroic young man before him.
"I have been chasing Zhang Chen, who is a wanted criminal. I didn’t expect that criminal would flee into your camp. May I ask you to hand over Zhang Chen, and I’ll be extremely grateful." Zhang Xiaohua, not a foolish fop, was very courteous to Zhong Xiang.
Zhong Xiang looked at the scarred face on the opposite, even missing an ear of Zhang Xiaohua, and couldn’t help being taken aback. He thought to himself, "That Zhang Chen really is ruthless. To think such a valiant young man like Zhang Xiaohua was harmed to this extent, with no scruples or hesitation at all."
Recalling that rascal brazenly jabbing at his rear end, Zhang Xiaohua’s mindset became somewhat irritable, inwardly muttering: "Indeed, that guy is just a worthless troublemaker who knows nothing about the depths of influential families."
Zhang Xiaohua spoke politely, and Zhong Xiang responded in kind: "Your Highness speaks with golden words, and in principle, I should give you face without conditions. But as it stands, I’m currently handling something here, and there are some secrets in the camp that cannot be disturbed. How about I finish my business and then personally hand over that lad to make amends to you?"
Zhang Xiaohua was taken aback: "Handling business? Could it be the rumors in the city are true, and you really found the entrance to the great tomb?"
Rumors were swirling down the mountain, and Zhang Xiaohua had heard of them. Initially, he paid no heed, for if someone had truly found the entrance to the great tomb, it would have long been concealed—who would leak out the information?
But at this moment, observing Zhong Xiang’s expression, the camp arrangements nearby, and the volcanic rock melting on the ground, he thought it was quite possible.
"Rumors? What rumors? Where is the entrance to any great tomb? I’m simply establishing a temporary camp here to tackle some affairs, that’s all. Your Highness, you’re quite the joker." Zhong Xiang feigned a change in complexion, then quickly returned to normal, playing ignorant.
Zhong Xiang’s expression couldn’t fool Zhang Xiaohua, whose mind was racing with thoughts, face becoming serious, inwardly muttering: "This great tomb appeared in my Northern Land on the territory of the Prince Pingbian’s Mansion. Both emotionally and rationally, it should be my Prince Pingbian’s Mansion’s property and must not be allowed for outsiders to exploit."
However, seeing Zhong Xiang’s unwillingness to yield, Zhang Xiaohua found it a thorny problem, as dealing with the Zhong Family behind Zhong Xiang was not easy either.
"That criminal stole something extremely important. It’s of great concern to the Prince Pingbian’s Mansion. I ask Zhong, as a senior, to give face to the Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, and we’ll surely repay you in the future." Zhang Xiaohua bluntly brought out the name of the Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, pressing the weight on Zhong Xiang.
Yet Zhong Xiang remained firm: "In principle, with the Crown Prince making a personal request, I should give you face no matter what, but today’s circumstances are special, and I truly can’t step aside. I ask you to wait a few more days, and by then, I’ll assist you in capturing that thief, how about that?"