Fortunately, though Eunuch Zhan's martial arts were formidable, he was not even a Grandmaster. To Meng Zhao, the greater pressure came from the Emperor behind him rather than from Eunuch Zhan himself, making him fairly easy to deal with.
Half a month later, Eunuch Zhan's party entered Lingwu City with gongs and drums sounding, traveling beneath the stars and moon in a display of great pomp, and took up residence in the City Lord's Mansion of the Beitang father and son.
That same day, after what was presumably only a cursory rest, Eunuch Zhan brought several attendants under Beitang He's guidance to Meng Family Manor to visit Meng Zhao.
When he first saw Eunuch Zhan, Meng Zhao was somewhat dumbfounded. If he had not known the man's identity, it would have been truly difficult to associate his appearance and bearing with that of a eunuch.
Eunuch Zhan had a square face, thick brows, tiger-like eyes, and a tall, powerfully built frame. At first glance, he looked every inch a great general who had fought across the battlefield. In particular, his chin bore a thick, pitch-black beard, practically overflowing with hormones.
Clearly, though, that beard had been pasted on afterward. After all, he was not Nameless Eunuch, capable of reversing yin and yang and reshaping creation; naturally, he could not defy his physiological state.
Perhaps he was trying to conceal his identity as a eunuch, or perhaps he bore some inner scar and deliberately used this method to reclaim a tiny shred of self-respect.
Setting all that aside, however, Eunuch Zhan carried not the slightest trace of effeminacy in his aura. Instead, he radiated vigorous masculinity.
It could only be said that eunuchs were a diverse group. Some were effeminate, while others, like Eunuch Zhan, possessed a masculine and domineering air.