Tiger Crouching in the Northern Frontier

News that Duke of Zhenguo Chen Qing "needed to reorganize the Northern Frontier and would delay his return to the capital," coupled with the aftershocks of the Northern Mang Royal Court's destruction, was like a massive boulder cast into a placid lake, stirring even greater waves in the Imperial Capital, Yujing.

"Arrogant! Arrogant to the extreme!"

"Commanding troops and acting as though no ruler existed! This is a sign of treason!"

"Your Majesty, Chen Qing is a beast with a wolf's heart and dog's lungs; his wild ambitions have already been laid bare! A decree must be issued at once to strip him of military command, arrest him, and bring him to the capital for judgment!"

Within the Golden Throne Hall, memorials impeaching Chen Qing piled atop the emperor's desk like snowflakes. The veiled wariness of the past had now transformed into naked attacks and panic. Chen Qing's refusal to immediately return to the capital had completely struck a nerve in the court.

The emperor, seated upon the dragon throne, wore such a dark expression that water seemed ready to drip from his face. His fingers clenched the armrest tightly, his knuckles whitening. Chen Qing's merits were too great, and the Northern Frontier's situation too complicated. If he rashly issued an order to seize power, and drove that baleful tiger into rebellion, the consequences would be unthinkable. Yet if he let matters continue and allowed Chen Qing to grow ever stronger in the Northern Frontier, that would be an equally grave threat.

"Enough!" The emperor suddenly slammed his palm against the dragon throne, his voice icy as it cut off the dispute below. "Lord Chen has rendered great service and endured much hardship. The Northern Frontier has only just been settled, and its affairs are numerous and complicated. Delaying his return to the capital is understandable. Convey my decree: bestow upon the Duke of Zhenguo an enhanced ceremonial guard and permit him to act as circumstances demand in pacifying the Northern Frontier. Furthermore, order the Ministry of War and Ministry of Revenue to fully ensure the provision of grain, fodder, and supplies to the Northern Frontier army. There must be no mistakes!"

This decree, which appeared conciliatory but was in truth an attempt to placate and win him over, left the officials in the hall with differing thoughts. Some secretly sighed at His Majesty's shrewd methods, while others grew even more worried.

Meanwhile, in the Northern Frontier, Town North City.

Chen Qing seemed utterly unaware of the storm in the Imperial Capital—or rather, he simply did not care. He devoted all his energy to integrating the Northern Frontier and improving his own strength.

Using the former Northern Expeditionary Army as its core, he absorbed and selected large numbers of surrendered Northern Mang soldiers, eliminating the old and weak while retaining the fierce and valiant. A "Town North Army," larger in scale, more mixed in composition, yet also more savage, rapidly took shape, its numbers once swelling to two hundred thousand! The status of trusted generals such as Old Niu and Sun Quezi rose with the tide, and each took command of significant military power.

At the same time, Chen Qing promulgated the Town North Decree, abolished the old Northern Mang system, and, upon the foundation of Great Yan law and in consideration of the Northern Frontier's actual conditions, established a rough but efficient system of rule centered on military administration while taking civilian livelihoods into account. He made use of certain Northern Mang nobles willing to submit, as well as tribal leaders who knew which way the wind blew, using barbarians to govern barbarians and swiftly stabilizing the vast grasslands.

Town North City also began expanding at an astonishing pace. Its walls rose high, fortresses stood everywhere, and it had clearly become the Northern Frontier's new political, military, and economic center. Merchant caravans from Great Yan's interior and the Western Regions began cautiously entering this land where the flames of war had only recently been extinguished, bringing all manner of goods and news.

Chen Qing's commandery residence had now expanded into the imposing Duke of Zhenguo's Manor. Deep within the estate, inside a secret chamber.

Chen Qing sat cross-legged, the black fragment floating before him. After several months of uninterrupted refinement, the fragment had shrunk by a full circle and become even more crystalline. More of the ancient Killing Intent and information contained within had also been absorbed by Chen Qing.

His cultivation had already broken through to the late Aperture Opening Realm! The Fierce Tiger Dharma Aspect had become even more solid, standing a hundred zhang tall. With every gesture, the power of heaven and earth it drew upon grew increasingly terrifying. The eight-zhang Fierce Tiger Domain showed faint signs of expanding toward ten zhang, while the three true intents of slaughter, annihilation, and devouring within the domain fused even more perfectly.

More importantly, his understanding of the Black Tiger Legacy had reached an entirely new height. It was not merely boxing or saber arts, but a supreme legacy pointing directly at the origin of the Great Dao, involving laws of space, destruction, devouring, and more! So-called "Shattering Void" was not simply breaking through the barriers of space. It was using one's own power to open a "void domain" belonging solely to oneself—an inner heaven and earth!

This fragment was one of the cornerstones for constructing that "inner heaven and earth"!

"I still need more fragments..." Chen Qing opened his eyes. Feeling the surging power within his body and his faint perception of the void, his gaze pierced through the secret chamber toward a more distant heaven and earth. He had a premonition that the other fragments were scattered throughout every corner of this world, perhaps even... within ancient sects and sacred lands, or in even more dangerous forbidden regions.

"Duke." Sun Quezi's deep voice came from outside the secret chamber. "Someone has come from the Imperial Capital again. This time, it is the deputy commander of the Shadow Guard, bearing His Majesty's secret decree."

The Shadow Guard? The emperor's personal covert intelligence agency?

A cold glint flashed through Chen Qing's eyes. It seemed the one in Yujing was growing increasingly unable to sit still.

He rose, straightened his robes, and slowly walked out of the secret chamber.

Within the Duke's Manor discussion hall, a middle-aged man dressed in ordinary blue robes stood quietly. His face was unremarkable, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's. His aura was restrained, yet he was unmistakably an expert of the early Aperture Opening Realm. He was the Shadow Guard's deputy commander, Ying Shisan.

"Ying Shisan pays his respects to the Duke of Zhenguo." Upon seeing Chen Qing, Ying Shisan bowed slightly. His manners were impeccable, but the scrutiny in his eyes was undisguised.

"Commander Ying need not stand on ceremony." Chen Qing sat in the seat of honor, his tone calm. "What decree has His Majesty issued this time?"

Ying Shisan took out a sealed scroll and presented it with both hands. "His Majesty's secret decree. The Duke is requested to read it personally."

Chen Qing accepted the scroll. A wisp of Killing Intent swept over his fingertips, and the seal silently dissolved. He unrolled it and read it. Its contents were nothing more than another urging for him to return to the capital. The language was more earnest than before, yet it also carried a faint, barely discernible air of an ultimatum. At the same time, the secret decree vaguely mentioned that the court had obtained certain "evidence," implying that Chen Qing had connections to "remnants of the previous dynasty."

"Remnants of the previous dynasty?" Chen Qing sneered inwardly. This was most likely a rumor spread by Han Wenyuan or the forces behind him, intending to use the court's hand to deal with him.

He casually set the secret decree aside and looked at Ying Shisan. "I understand His Majesty's intentions. The Northern Frontier's situation is complicated and cannot be settled in a single day. Once all matters are properly arranged, I will naturally return to the capital and plead guilty before His Majesty."

Ying Shisan's brows furrowed slightly. "Duke, His Majesty eagerly awaits your return, and everyone in court and beyond looks forward to seeing you, the meritorious minister who holds up the heavens and safeguards the throne. If this delay continues too long, rumors may arise, damaging the Duke's good name."

"Rumors?" The corners of Chen Qing's lips curved into an ambiguous smile. "Why should I care about others wagging their tongues? Commander Ying has traveled far and worked hard. You may stay in Town North City for a few more days and enjoy the Northern Frontier scenery. Then you can return and report this place's 'actual circumstances' to His Majesty in detail."

He deliberately emphasized the words "actual circumstances."

Ying Shisan's gaze flickered. He heard the firmness and warning in Chen Qing's words. He knew that this mission would likely be difficult to complete. This Duke of Zhenguo had already grown full wings; he was no longer someone the court could easily move with a single imperial edict.

"In that case, this subordinate shall take his leave." Ying Shisan said no more. After bowing, he withdrew from the discussion hall.

Watching his departing figure, Chen Qing's gaze gradually turned cold.

Yujing's patience was likely running out.

What came next would probably no longer be secret decrees urging him onward, but true thunderous measures.

However, he now crouched like a tiger in the Northern Frontier, his soldiers strong and horses stout. His own cultivation had reached the late Aperture Opening Realm, and he had begun to glimpse the secret of Shattering Void. Why would he be afraid?

"Send orders to our people in the south," Chen Qing instructed Sun Quezi, who had silently appeared beside him. "Keep a close watch on Yujing's movements, especially those of the Ministry of War and my 'father-in-law,' Marquis Zhenbei."

"Yes." Sun Quezi accepted the order, hesitated briefly, then added, "Duke, should we make preparations in advance? For example, strengthen the defenses of the border passes, or... contact some potential allies?"

Chen Qing shook his head, his gaze sharp as a blade. "No need. Meet ten thousand changes with the unchanging. I would like to see whether this Great Yan realm can truly accommodate a 'baleful tiger' like me!"

He rose to his feet, and an invisible aura of dominance spread from his body.

"Tell the soldiers to intensify their training. This Northern Frontier is our foundation. Anyone who wants to reach a hand in here must first ask whether the blades in our hands agree!"

"Yes!"

Feeling Chen Qing's resolute will, Sun Quezi's heart settled. He bowed and withdrew.

Chen Qing walked alone outside the hall, gazing at the Town North Army soldiers training diligently on the parade ground, at the sprawling camps in the distance, and at the city that had begun to take shape.

The Northern Frontier was already entirely within his grasp.

Next, he would use this Northern Frontier as a chessboard and have a proper game with the player in the Imperial Capital.

And his goal had never been merely to hold one corner in peace.

The Black Tiger Fragments scattered across the land, and the supreme realm of Shattering Void, were his true pursuits.

The shifting winds and clouds of this world were nothing more than stepping stones for him to ascend to the absolute peak.