Imperial Relative!

Over the next two days, under Lu Xuening's guidance, Chen Fan gradually familiarized himself with the personnel structure of the Dragon Abyss Prefecture Brocade Guard Thousand Household Office. The people of the Thousand Household Office also learned of Chen Fan, the newly appointed Vice Chiliarch.

The Hundred Household Officers and Chief Squad Leaders in charge of the various logistics departments all came to pay their respects. They knew that they would have to serve under this young Vice Chiliarch until they retired and returned home.

There was no helping it—Chen Fan was simply too young.

However, Chen Fan told them to carry on as usual. Unless there was something important, they could just attend to their own work.

As a result, they each presented him with silver, then departed with satisfied smiles.

Chen Fan was dumbfounded. So this was what "carry on as usual" meant!

It seemed his predecessor, Vice Chiliarch Zhao Mu, had skimmed quite a bit of grease.

As the saying went, where the water was too clear, no fish could live; where a man was too exacting, no followers would remain. Chen Fan naturally accepted the silver offered by his subordinates with a smile.

He also warned them to make money reasonably and not damage the interests of the Thousand Household Office. Whoever caused trouble, he would certainly not spare.

With that, his position was firmly established!

Early on the third day.

Chen Fan brought a hundred of Zuo Qianqiu's personal guards and waited early at Dragon Abyss Prefecture's southern gate for the noble person's arrival.

Every one of Zuo Qianqiu's personal guards was a martial artist at the third threshold of the Divine Treasury Realm. The leading guard was even a genuine Hundred Household Officer.

If the two frontline Vice Chiliarchs of the Dragon Abyss Prefecture Brocade Guard Thousand Household Office were Zuo Qianqiu's right and left arms, then the two Hundred Household Officers commanding two hundred personal guards were the most trusted of his trusted confidants.

The Hundred Household Officer accompanying Chen Fan in escorting the noble person was named Yang Xiao. He was a middle-aged man with a ring beard, a square face, and resolute features. His strength had already reached the fifth level of the Divine Aperture Realm. Judging by realm alone, he was even stronger than Chen Fan, the Vice Chiliarch.

Originally, Zuo Qianqiu had intended for Yang Xiao to lead the team, with Chen Fan accompanying him. One reason was to demonstrate the Thousand Household Office's regard for the noble person; the other was to conveniently send Chen Fan onward to the Myriad Household Garrison in Cloud Prefecture.

"This subordinate, Yang Xiao, greets Vice Chiliarch Chen!"

Seeing Chen Fan arrive in a Flying Fish Robe, an official black iron Embroidered Spring Blade at his waist, mounted on a tall horse, Yang Xiao immediately stepped forward to greet him respectfully.

He did not put on airs just because he was stronger than Chen Fan and had greater seniority.

In truth, none who could become the commander of a Thousand Household's personal army was a fool. If some Hundred Household Officer from a regular unit had led the team today, he might truly have given Chen Fan a show of force.

But as one of Zuo Qianqiu's two personal guard commanders, Yang Xiao held an important post. All the more reason for him to mind his words and conduct himself quietly.

"Hundred Household Officer Yang is an elder and a senior. There is no need for such formality. Just call me Chen Fan."

Chen Fan replied with a smile.

"The distinctions of rank and status cannot be discarded!"

Yang Xiao replied with a smile uglier than a grimace.

"I have only just arrived and do not understand the rules. Hundred Household Officer Yang is seasoned and steady, so I will leave the matter of protecting the noble person entirely to you. If anything goes wrong, I will bear the responsibility. If you have need of me, Hundred Household Officer Yang, just speak."

Chen Fan said.

"Thank you for your trust, Vice Chiliarch. This subordinate will certainly devote his utmost effort."

Hearing this, Yang Xiao could not help developing a better impression of Chen Fan. His personal guards felt the same.

They had seen plenty of superiors who washed their hands of everything. They had also seen superiors willing to delegate authority to their subordinates. But a superior willing to take responsibility himself—this was truly their first time seeing one.

They felt that although this newly arrived Vice Chiliarch of the Thousand Household Office was young, he had a strong sense of responsibility and was willing to shoulder burdens.

"The noble person has arrived!"

A voice rang out. Chen Fan and Yang Xiao both turned toward the southern gate at once, only to see an incomparably luxurious carriage racing toward them, drawn by three demon beasts.

It could no longer be called a carriage. It was practically a luxurious little moving castle. The three demon beasts resembled horses, yet each had a crimson horn and a body covered in black scales. They were far larger than ordinary horses.

"Blackscale Steeds, mounts worth ten thousand gold that cannot be bought. Great Zhou's demon tamers have already domesticated this species, but their yearly numbers are extremely low. Their value is comparable to the Thousand Household Lord's golden eagle."

Yang Xiao's heart jolted when he saw the three demon horses.

As expected of an Imperial Relative, a member of the imperial clan. This display was truly extravagant.

Yet aside from the officials seeing them off, there were not many accompanying guards around the carriage. However, the old man driving it was no ordinary person. The three Blackscale Steeds were utterly obedient beneath his hands.

As for the Imperial Relative seated within the carriage, Chen Fan and the others naturally had no chance to see her.

"Brocade Guard Vice Chiliarch Chen Fan!"

"Brocade Guard Hundred Household Officer Yang Xiao!"

"We pay respects to the noble person!"

Chen Fan and Yang Xiao stepped forward, clasped their fists, and bowed as they spoke in deep voices.

Great Zhou had been founded through martial strength. As early as the era of the founding ancestor, it had been declared that martial artists should possess proud bones—how could they kneel at every turn? Thus, from that day onward, the basic etiquette of Great Zhou's martial artists had been a bow. Unless the occasion was of utmost importance, martial artists did not kneel easily.

"Thank you for the effort of escorting me along the way, my two Brocade Guard lords. Return to your positions for now."

A clear voice came from inside the carriage, instantly startling Chen Fan and Yang Xiao.

They had not expected that the noble person inside the carriage was actually a woman.

A member of the imperial clan capable of casually summoning an imperial decree and ordering the Brocade Guard along the route to personally protect her had to be, at the very least, a princess of a commandery—perhaps even a princess?

"You two will guard the rear. The Commandery Princess's accompanying guards will clear the way ahead. Sorry for the trouble, you two."

At that moment, the old man driving the carriage spoke to Chen Fan and Yang Xiao.

"Yes!"

The two answered respectfully.

Indeed, she was a Commandery Princess!

The imperial clan of the Great Zhou Dynasty had branches and leaves flourishing everywhere, and there were many Commandery Princesses. He simply did not know which Commandery Princess this one was.

But a Commandery Princess who could command the Brocade Guard's protection ought to be one greatly favored.

As for this old man in a conical hat, dressed as a coachman, if Chen Fan's guess was correct, he should be the Commandery Princess's guardian. At the very least, he had to be a Divine Aperture Realm martial artist. Neither Chen Fan nor Yang Xiao could see through his depths, so his strength should surpass both of theirs.

"This assignment may not be easy."

After carefully observing the situation, Chen Fan's expression darkened.

Though the Commandery Princess's accompanying guards were separated from them by the towering carriage, one group before and one behind, when the Brocade Guard and those guards passed each other in formation, Chen Fan saw that nearly every one of the Commandery Princess's guards was injured. Though the wounds were light, those seriously wounded and those who had died had likely either been left along the road or remained in Dragon Abyss Prefecture to recuperate.

Furthermore, although the Commandery Princess's carriage was lavish, the moving-castle-like carriage bore several arrow marks. Though they had been repaired, traces could still be seen upon close inspection.

"Could it be that Zuo Qianqiu already knew this assignment would be difficult, which was why he sent me?"

"Probably not. Judging from this, the itinerary should have been arranged long ago. I was merely a last-minute addition. Perhaps even he had not expected that someone would dare strike at an Imperial Relative within the borders of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

Chen Fan thought to himself.

Not only had Zuo Qianqiu failed to anticipate it, Chen Fan himself had never imagined it before coming here. The Great Zhou Dynasty had stood for ten thousand years, its national fortune vast and surging, its dynasty enduring without end. Though demons and devils prowled on all sides, the Martial Emperor had reigned for five hundred years and was still in the prime of his life.

Moreover, during the Martial Emperor's reign, the Great Zhou Dynasty had grown ever stronger. He had established the Brocade Guard to monitor Aristocratic Clans and sects, slaughter demons, monsters, ghosts, and fiends within Great Zhou's territory, protect the peace of every region, and crush the Aristocratic Clans and sects until they could barely breathe.

This was an unprecedented golden age, not a chaotic age!

Yet under such circumstances, someone wanted to intercept and kill an Imperial Relative. Were they tired of living?

Unless the person seeking to kill this Commandery Princess was also... an Imperial Relative!