"Up ahead lies the border of Maijing Prefecture. Nanchen Prefectural Lord, I won't see you off any farther!"
"Be careful!"
Zhou You's party had traveled from Putuo Prefecture to the capital, encountering no small number of twists and turns along the way. There had been attacks and obstructions from unidentified forces, as well as covert aid from noble families. Some had even escorted them through their own territory and replenished their supplies.
The speaker was a high-ranking member of a local noble family. Their territory bordered Maijing Prefecture, and they knew the prefectural governor belonged to an opposing faction, so they offered this warning.
The allies of the Eighteen Primordial Noble Families were spread across all Fifty Provinces. At a single call, a hundred answered, actively responding to this campaign to depose the Sealed Lord. This man was one such ally.
Zhou You cupped his hands toward him in thanks and watched him depart.
Once they crossed the border, they would enter Maijing Prefecture's territory.
Zhou You had long received word through the Heart Demon Ring that the Governor of Maijing Prefecture harbored ill intentions toward his party. He had sent his most trusted legitimate son to obstruct them, perhaps even assassinate them.
With the Eighteen Primordial Noble Families involved, the other side had acted with exceptional caution, even intending to pin the blame on the Zhou Clan Eastern Sect.
Yet the mantis stalked the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it. After Wu Linbei learned of this, he devised a plan to ambush and kill the Governor of Maijing Prefecture's legitimate son, then wipe out the governor's forces. The proposal had been passed at the Ring World Assembly.
Zhou You sniffed the tense air borne on the wind and thought, *Before I even reach the capital, I'll have to