Imperial Scion!

Over the next two days, with Lu Xuenning showing him around, Chen Fan gradually familiarized himself with the personnel structure of the Longyuan Prefecture Jinyiwei Commander's Office. The people there also learned of the newly appointed Deputy Commander Chen.

The Baihu and Zongqi Officers in charge of the various logistics departments came to pay their respects one after another. They knew they would be working under this young Deputy Commander until they retired and returned to their hometowns.

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

Still, Chen Fan told them to carry on as usual. Unless something important came up, they could just focus on their own work.

As it turned out, they presented him with various sums of silver, then departed with satisfied smiles.

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

It seemed his predecessor, Deputy Commander Zhao Mu, had skimmed no small amount off the top.

As the saying went, water too clear held no fish, and a man too discerning had no followers. Chen Fan naturally accepted the silver his subordinates offered.

He also warned them to line their own pockets within reason and not to harm the Commander's Office. If anyone caused trouble, he would show them no mercy.

With that, his new post was finally settled!

Early on the morning of the third day,

Chen Fan led a hundred of Zuo Qianqiu's personal guards to the southern gate of Longyuan Prefecture, where they waited for the noble guest to arrive.

Every one of Zuo Qianqiu's personal guards was a Martial Artist at the third pass of the Spirit Concealment Realm. Their leader was a bona fide Baihu.

If the Longyuan Prefecture Jinyiwei Commander's Office's two frontline Deputy Commanders were Zuo Qianqiu's right and left arms, then the two Baihu who commanded his two hundred personal guards were his most trusted confidants.

The Baihu accompanying Chen Fan to escort the noble guest was named Yang Xiao. He was a middle-aged man with a ring of beard, a square face, and a resolute expression. His strength had already reached the fifth heaven of the Spirit Aperture Realm, so by cultivation level alone, he outranked Deputy Commander Chen.

Zuo Qianqiu had originally intended for Yang Xiao to lead the team and for Chen Fan to accompany him. One reason was to show how much the Commander's Office valued the noble guest; the other was to have Chen Fan travel to the Yun Prefecture Myriad Household Office along the way.

"Your subordinate Yang Xiao pays his respects to Deputy Commander Chen!"

Seeing Chen Fan approach on a tall horse, dressed in a Flying Fish Robe with a standard-issue black iron Embroidered Spring Blade at his waist, Yang Xiao immediately went up to greet him respectfully.

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

In fact, no one who could serve as a commander's personal guard captain was a fool. If a Baihu leading a larger unit had come today, he might well have tried to put Chen Fan in his place.

But as one of Zuo Qianqiu's two personal guard captains, Yang Xiao held an important post. He had to be especially careful with his words and actions, and keep a low profile.

"Baihu Yang, you're my elder and my senior. There's no need to be so formal. Just call me Chen Fan."

Chen Fan replied with a smile.

"The distinction between superior and subordinate must not be forsaken!"

Yang Xiao answered with a smile more painful than a grimace.

"I've only just arrived and don't know the ropes yet. Baihu Yang, you're experienced and steady, so I'll leave the noble guest's escort entirely in your hands. If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility. If you need me for anything, just say the word."

Chen Fan said.

"Thank you for your trust, Deputy Commander. Your subordinate will do everything in his power."

Yang Xiao felt a little more favorably toward Chen Fan after hearing that. His personal guards felt the same way.

They had seen plenty of hands-off bosses, and plenty who willingly delegated authority to their subordinates. But they had never seen a superior volunteer to take responsibility before.

They felt that the Commander's Office's new Deputy Commander might be young, but he was dependable and responsible.

"The noble guest has arrived!"

A voice rang out. Chen Fan and Yang Xiao both looked toward the southern gate at once. A fantastically luxurious carriage was racing toward them, pulled by three demonic beasts.

It could hardly be called a carriage. It was practically a luxurious Moving Castle. The three demonic beasts looked like horses, but each had a scarlet horn and was covered from head to hoof in black scales. They were incomparably larger than ordinary horses.

"Black Scale Horses—priceless steeds worth ten thousand gold. The Great Zhou beast tamers have managed to domesticate this kind of demonic beast, but very few are bred each year. They're worth as much as Commander Zuo's Golden Eagle."

Yang Xiao's heart jolted at the sight of the three demonic horses.

As expected of an Imperial Scion, a member of the royal family. What a grand procession.

Apart from the officials who had come to see the noble guest off, there weren't many guards accompanying the carriage. But the old man driving it was no ordinary man. The three Black Scale Horses behaved perfectly under his hand.

As for the Imperial Scion seated inside the carriage, Chen Fan and the others naturally had no chance to meet her.

"Jinyiwei Deputy Commander Chen Fan!"

"Jinyiwei Baihu Yang Xiao!"

"We pay our respects to the noble guest!"

Chen Fan and Yang Xiao went forward, clasped their fists, bowed, and spoke in solemn voices.

Great Zhou had founded its dynasty through martial power. As far back as the founding emperor's reign, it had been decreed that Martial Artists should have pride and backbone—how could they kneel at the drop of a hat? Since then, bowing had been the basic etiquette among Martial Artists in Great Zhou. Unless the occasion was especially important, they rarely knelt.

"Thank you both, Jinyiwei officers, for your hard work escorting me along the way. You may take your places now."

A clear voice came from inside the carriage, leaving Chen Fan and Yang Xiao stunned.

They had not expected the noble guest inside the carriage to be a woman.

A member of the royal family who could summon an imperial decree at will and command the Jinyiwei along her route to personally escort her had to be at least a County Princess. Perhaps even a princess?

"You two will guard the rear. The County Princess's escort will take the lead. I'll be counting on you."

The old man driving the carriage turned to Chen Fan and Yang Xiao and spoke.

"Yes!"

The two answered respectfully.

So she really was a County Princess!

The Great Zhou Dynasty's imperial family had many branches, and there were plenty of County Princesses. Chen Fan simply didn't know which one she was.

Still, a County Princess who warranted a Jinyiwei escort must be well favored.

As for the old man in a conical hat, dressed like a coachman, Chen Fan's guess was that he was the County Princess's Dao Protector. He had to be at least a Martial Artist in the Spirit Aperture Realm. Chen Fan and Yang Xiao couldn't see through him, so he was likely stronger than both of them.

"This job might not be easy."

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

The County Princess's escort traveled ahead of them, separated by the tall carriage. But as the Jinyiwei rode past the escort in formation, Chen Fan saw that nearly all of the County Princess's guards were injured. Their injuries were light, but those who were gravely wounded or dead had probably been left on the road or in Longyuan Prefecture to recover.

Not only that, but though the County Princess's carriage was lavish, there were several arrow marks on the Moving Castle. They had been repaired, but a close look still revealed traces of damage.

Had Zuo Qianqiu known from the start that this job would be difficult, and that was why he sent me?

Probably not. Judging by the situation, the itinerary must have been arranged long ago. I was just added to the team at the last minute. Perhaps even he hadn't expected anyone to dare attack an Imperial Scion on Great Zhou territory.

Chen Fan thought to himself.

Not only could Zuo Qianqiu not have expected it; before coming here, Chen Fan himself would never have imagined it. The Great Zhou Dynasty had stood for ten thousand years, its national fortune vast and its reign enduring. Though Demonic Creatures swarmed all around it, Emperor Wu had ruled for five hundred years and was still in the prime of his life.

Moreover, Great Zhou had grown ever more powerful during Emperor Wu's reign. He had established the Jinyiwei to keep the noble clans and sects under surveillance, slay the Demonic Creatures within Great Zhou's borders, and protect the peace. He had kept the noble clans and sects under such pressure that they could barely breathe.

This was a flourishing age without precedent, not a time of chaos!

And yet, someone was trying to assassinate an Imperial Scion. Were they tired of living?

Unless the person trying to kill this County Princess was also... an Imperial Scion!