Everyone waited a while.
Xie Xuan'an finally arrived, surrounded by a group of trusted followers.
He galloped to the front of the ranks and glanced back over the troops assembled beneath the city walls, ready to march.
Seeing that every family's identification flags were in order, Xie Xuan'an wasted no more words and shouted, "Move out!"
The horns sounded.
Xie Xuan'an, Sun Bo'an, and his other trusted followers and elite troops advanced slowly at the head of the column, with each family's forces following in turn.
Chen Ye led his hundred-odd men at the rear. Watching the Xie Family's banners recede ahead of him, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
If he could keep enough distance from the Xie Family along the way, he would not have to worry about the jade token in Sun Bo'an's possession, provided Sun Bo'an stayed away.
The secret of his true yang physique could remain safe for now.
"Let's go." Chen Ye glanced back at the troops behind him and told Zhuang Chaoyang and the others, "We can take it slowly. There's no need to rush."
With that, Chen Ye squeezed his horse's flanks and led his men slowly after the others.
The great army began its march toward Nanhu Prefecture.
This attack on the Heavy Martial Pavilion was intended chiefly to catch it unprepared, so speed was of the essence.
Xie Xuan'an ordered everyone to travel light and reach Nanhu Prefecture as quickly as possible.
Yet this army of one or two thousand men was riddled with factions, each family nursing its own calculations.
Their differing speeds soon stretched the gaps between the contingents.
Chen Ye led his hundred-odd men at the very rear, following the tail of the Cui Family's main force at an unhurried pace and keeping his men in