Chapter 479: Chapter 396: We Welcome Prince Zhenbei

Qiu Wen didn’t answer. Her face still wore that same polite, distant smile as she continued, "Besides the residences of the various Generals, Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion also houses some of the Northern Wilderness Army’s clandestine organizations. Master, you have served in the army for many years and fought on the battlefield for a long time. I’m sure you understand."

Qiu Wen continued walking forward.

A short while later, Qiu Wen led Xiao Mo to a courtyard.

"Please stay here for now, Master. In the coming days, I will bring some items for your review. If you have no other needs, I will take my leave," Qiu Wen said with a small smile.

"Why do you call me Master?" Xiao Mo asked.

"Because the Master is the Master."

With that, Qiu Wen said no more. She gave a slight bow and turned to leave.

「The next day.」

Qiu Wen brought over enough documents to nearly fill half the courtyard.

These documents were all about the various organizations of the Northern Wilderness.

Among them were files on the Forging Division, responsible for crafting armor and weapons.

In the documents about the Forging Division, the names of the master blacksmiths and the Mo Family disciples were all recorded. The personality of each master and the potential of each apprentice were noted in crystal clear detail.

The scrolls from the Armory detailed the number of weapons and sets of armor, the types and grades of Magical Treasures, and even the Talisman Papers and Array Flags used for slaughter, all without a single omission.

The records from the stables gave incredibly detailed information on the age, number, and quality of the Snow-Trampling Horses.

There were even files on the Northern Wilderness’s intelligence and assassination agency—the Desolate Tower. The names, portraits, aliases, Realms, and even the life stories of every assassin were laid out before Xiao Mo.

And the true name of the Desolate Tower’s master was Qiu Wen.

The portrait of Qiu Wen was identical to the woman standing before Xiao Mo.

"Is my portrait to your liking, Master?" Even as Xiao Mo’s gaze scrutinized her, Qiu Wen simply offered a soft smile.

"You’re more beautiful in person." Xiao Mo put away the portrait.

Qiu Wen was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Master. I am very happy. The Prince has ordered that for the next three days, you must commit these Northern Wilderness documents to memory. After three days, I will come to collect them."

"I understand," Xiao Mo said with a nod.

"I won’t disturb you any longer, Master. If you need anything, you can call for me at any time."

Qiu Wen gave a slight bow and withdrew once more.

Sure enough, once three days had passed, Qiu Wen came to the courtyard and collected all the documents.

「Two more days passed.」

Early that morning, while Xiao Mo was meditating with his eyes closed in the courtyard, there was a knock on the gate.

Xiao Mo opened his eyes, walked over, and opened the gate.

Xiao Shi was standing before him.

"Father." Xiao Mo bowed with his hands clasped.

"Mm," Xiao Shi nodded and said, "Everything is more or less ready. Let’s go. You can come with me now."

"Yes."

Xiao Mo didn’t ask where they were going. He knew he would find out soon enough.

The father and son walked through the streets of Desolate City, heading out of the city as if on a leisurely stroll.

However, both were using a Technique. Though they appeared to be walking slowly, each step actually covered a distance of ten zhang.

"Have you finished reading all those documents about the Northern Wilderness that Qiu Wen sent you?" Xiao Shi asked Xiao Mo.

"I have." Xiao Mo nodded.

"And what did you think after reading them?"

"They were somewhat unexpected."

The documents had indeed been somewhat unexpected for Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo knew the Northern Wilderness was highly autonomous, but he hadn’t expected it to be so independent that it possessed nearly all the functions of a nation.

Furthermore, the Northern Wilderness had actually always been guarding against a move from the Qin Kingdom.

For example, the life stories and preferences of Qin Kingdom officials were all recorded in detail by the Desolate Tower.

In fact, a third of the officials in the Qin Kingdom’s Imperial Court had connections, to varying degrees, with the Northern Wilderness.

One could say that if the Northern Wilderness wanted to become independent, all it would take was a single declaration.

Xiao Shi chuckled, knowing what Xiao Mo meant by "unexpected":

"After our ancestor and the first emperor conquered the lands together, the original plan was for each to take a territory and establish their own country, but our ancestor refused.

In the end, the first emperor took charge of internal affairs, while our ancestor was responsible for expanding the borders.

It has taken five generations, including yours, to build the Qin Kingdom into the strong and vast empire it is today."

Xiao Shi glanced at Xiao Mo and continued:

"Back then, when Qin Shengtian told you that you could take his place, he wasn’t lying. He truly meant it.

Shengtian and I have known each other since we were children.

He knows that I would never lead the Northern Wilderness to break away and form its own country, no matter what.

And I know that Shengtian’s heart holds only the Qin Kingdom, only the foundation laid by our ancestors.

That’s why, in his heart, he would rather hand the Qin Kingdom over to my Xiao Family than see it fall into decline and have its thousand-year foundation be ruined in an instant."

"Xiao Mo, although we haven’t spent much time together as father and son, I know you are not the type of person who values power and influence. This is both good and bad," Xiao Shi said earnestly.

"I don’t know what path you will choose to walk from here. But even if one day you decide to lead the Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry to march on the Qin Kingdom’s Imperial City, I, your father, will not say a word. It is all your choice. Every lord of the Northern Wilderness should have the right to make their own choices."

Hearing Xiao Shi’s words, Xiao Mo’s brow furrowed slightly.

At this moment, Xiao Mo was beginning to suspect why his father had brought him to the Northern Wilderness.

"Xiao Mo, the reason I brought you back this time is because I don’t have much time left."

Xiao Shi crushed a Jade Pendant that was hanging from his waist.

In that instant, Xiao Mo could sense his father’s extremely weak Life Fire.

Xiao Shi’s Life Fire couldn’t even compare to a candle flickering in the wind; it was just a tiny spark.

In fact, if he weren’t holding on by a single thread of breath, that tiny spark might have already been extinguished.

"After Bai Qi died, I led the army to break through the encirclement. If Zhang Kui hadn’t given his life to protect me, I would have died.

But even though I managed to survive, my injuries were too severe. I don’t have many days left.

In the end, I used this Heaven-Sustaining Jade to hold on to my last breath so I could handle my final affairs.

Now, I’ve almost used up this Heaven-Sustaining Jade as well.

Fortunately, by rushing things, I had just enough time."

As Xiao Shi’s words faded, he waved his hand, instantly teleporting himself and Xiao Mo to Snowflake Pass, a hundred li outside of Desolate City.

The father and son walked up onto the walls of Snowflake Pass.

Xiao Mo looked down.

A total of 400,000 Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry and 1,200,000 Northern Wilderness Infantry were arrayed on the plains below.

And at the head of the army formation stood the Generals of the Northern Wilderness.

"Is the entire army present?"

Xiao Shi took a step forward and addressed the entire army.

"Reporting to Prince Zhenbei!" Below the wall, Fang Weiming stepped forward and shouted, "The Northern Wilderness’s 57 Generals, 402,321 Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry, and 1,205,000 Northern Wilderness Infantry! All are present!"

"Very good." Xiao Shi nodded, then turned and said to Xiao Mo with a smile, "What are you doing standing over there? Come here."

Xiao Mo walked forward and stood beside Xiao Shi.

"From this day forward, Xiao Mo, you are Prince Zhenbei, the Lord of the Northern Wilderness! The Three States of Northern Wilderness, our eighty million people, and our one million six hundred thousand soldiers—I entrust them all to you!"

Xiao Shi looked directly into Xiao Mo’s eyes and asked with utmost seriousness.

"Xiao Mo, are you willing to swear upon your Dao Heart that from this day on, you will treat the people of the Northern Wilderness as your own children, and that you will spend your entire life protecting the Northern Wilderness, never failing it?"

Xiao Mo gave a deep, formal bow, his voice carrying across the entire army: "I, Xiao Mo, am willing!"

"Good!"

Xiao Shi nodded, turned, and looked out at the army.

"Northern Wilderness Army, don your masks!"

As Xiao Shi’s voice fell, the one million six hundred thousand soldiers of the Northern Wilderness Army produced a unified clamor of colliding armor.

They took out their Asura Masks and placed them over their faces.

The entire army stood in solemn silence, gazing up at the city wall.

Xiao Shi clapped Xiao Mo on the shoulder. "Once, at the foot of Yanmen Pass, you had the Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry don Asura Masks and crush the enemy, shaking the world with your fame. Today, four hundred thousand Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry and one million two hundred thousand Northern Wilderness Infantry all wear the face of the Asura, ready to march into battle with you!"

With that, Xiao Shi shouted to the entire army: "Hail the Prince Zhenbei!"

"We hail the Prince Zhenbei!"

"We hail the Prince Zhenbei!"

"We hail the Prince Zhenbei!"

The shouts of the one million six hundred thousand strong Northern Wilderness Army shook the heavens, pierced the sky, and echoed for a thousand li.

Amidst the shouts of the entire army, Xiao Shi gazed into the distance, his hand resting on the city wall. A smile on his face, he slowly closed his eyes.

’Prince Zhenbei... the Northern Wilderness is yours now...’

A gust of wind blew across the top of the wall, and the final spark of the old general’s Life Fire was finally extinguished.

Yet he remained standing atop the wall like a statue, forever keeping watch over the Northern Wilderness.

Xiao Mo took a step back, straightened his attire, and gave a deep bow.

The army’s shouts ceased. Like a tide, they all clasped their hands and bowed deeply.

"We bid farewell to the Prince Zhenbei!"

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