Lu Chen nodded and said no more.
He turned and entered the rear tent. When he emerged a moment later, he had changed into a fitted black outfit, the Golden Dragon Token at his waist and the Azure Dragon Halberd—tempered by Dragon Vein Soul Essence—strapped across his back.
Though the halberd spirit was dim, the weapon itself remained razor-sharp, still a top-tier spirit treasure.
"I'll set out now," he said. "If there is urgent military intelligence, use the Hidden Dragon Token to send word."
Mo Qianqiu clasped his fists. "Take care, Duke."
Lu Chen strode out of the command tent and made a summoning gesture. The Vermilion Bird Boat flew out of his Sumeru Ring in a streak of crimson light, expanding in the wind until, in the blink of an eye, it became a red flying boat three zhang long, hovering in midair.
He sprang onto its prow and poured true essence into it. A streaming ribbon of fire several zhang long trailed from the Vermilion Bird Boat's stern as it shot into the sky, vanishing into the clouds to the southeast in an instant.
Mo Qianqiu stood outside the tent, watching that receding blaze in silence for a long while.
Behind him, Lei Ba had come over at some point. In his deep, muffled voice, he asked, "Director Mo, where is the Duke going?"
Mo Qianqiu shot him a glance. "Don't ask what you shouldn't." After a pause, he added, "Have those suspicious people I told you to watch made any moves?"
Lei Ba shook his head. "No. Those fellows have been obedient as can be these past few days, training in camp every day without even letting out a fart."
"The more obedient they are, the more wary we must be," Mo Qianqiu said. "Before a storm