Reunion

In a secluded spot outside the Pine Forest, Wu Han, dressed in leather armor with his head still shaved bald, sat on the ground guarding a campfire.

He was thinner than before, but looked even more lean and fierce.

Beside him sat a jug of wine and a Pine Sheep that was nearly roasted to perfection.

Seeing Lu Yuan and the others arrive, he patted the spot next to him and said, "I caught a Pine Sheep while waiting for you two; it's just about ready to serve as a treat."

"I knew you were stingy—you only catch wild game to treat us when we actually show up." Zhou He didn't stand on ceremony; he hopped off his horse and crowded around.

After carelessly tearing off a leg of lamb and handing it to Lu Yuan, he cut off a piece of meat for himself and began to chew.

After a moment of silence, he asked, "Brother, how has life been out here?"

The question made Wu Han's eyes redden slightly. "It's alright. I've had nothing to do lately, so I took over a mountain stronghold. I've got forty or fifty riders under me now."

"Good man! Ever since you killed that son of a bitch Sun the Third, you've really opened up your potential," Zhou He said, punching Wu Han on the shoulder.

Knowing he had found a place to settle down, Lu Yuan felt a weight lift off his chest.

"What are your plans for the future?"

"What other plans could there be? Since I've already turned to banditry, if I don't want to be bullied, I have to become the biggest bandit of them all. I've decided to slowly round up all the horse bandits in the vicinity."

"Then I'll figure out the next step," Wu Han declared with heroic spirit.

Lu Yuan nodded. "That's a good idea. I support it."

With that, he raised the wine jug and took a deep swig.

Zhou He chimed in, "You've become quite famous in Ice Plain City. Sun Gan has been so angry he's been vomiting blood for days, and because Sun the First couldn't catch you, he took quite a few slaps from his old man. Everyone mentions your name, Wu Han, with a thumbs-up now."

"I'd rather go back to the way things were." Wu Han lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly.

"Thump! Thump!"

Lu Yuan patted his shoulder without saying a word.

"Are you heading out this time to clash with the Northern Barbarian elite cavalry?" Wu Han sniffled, looked up, and proactively changed the subject.

"Yes." Lu Yuan nodded.

"I'll go with you," Wu Han said, chewing the meat in his mouth.

"No need. Focus on developing your troop. Once you've grown strong enough, I'll come to you if I need help," Lu Yuan said with a chuckle.

"What do you mean 'help'? What's mine is yours," Wu Han said, waving his hand dismissively.

Lu Yuan didn't respond, instead pulling two bottles of Black Jade Bone-Tempering Pill from his robes.

He had already reached perfection and couldn't use this many pills himself.

It was difficult for Wu Han to acquire such things out here, so they were perfect for him.

"Take these and cultivate well. The Northern Frontier is bitterly cold, but it's the best place to temper a fierce man. If you can grow, perhaps one day you'll be able to negotiate with the imperial court," Lu Yuan said with a smile.

Wu Han didn't stand on ceremony. He took the pills and shook his head. "From now on, aside from you two, I will never risk my life for anyone else."

"Hey, don't drag me into this. I'm just here to drift through life. I'm tagging along with Lord Lu to scrape together some military merit—let's all just follow his lead from now on," Zhou He said, looking up with a solemn expression.

At that moment, the three of them had subtly formed a bond with Lu Yuan at the core.

They were still in their growth phase, waiting for the day they would fully mature—the day they would be strong enough to bind a dragon.

Lu Yuan tilted his head back and took a long drink of wine. "We're off. Send word if anything happens. Stay alive."

He stood up, brushed the dirt off his clothes, and turned to walk toward his troop.

Zhou He followed behind, clutching a leg of lamb.

Wu Han stood where he was, watching the two of them until they and their troop had departed, then turned and mounted his horse.

He rode off in the opposite direction.

"Rustle!"

As he rode, a series of fierce-looking figures on horseback emerged from the Pine Forest, following his lead.

They all kept their heads low, none daring to speak.

Meanwhile, Lu Yuan and his men had begun their journey to track down the Northern Barbarian elite cavalry.

Old Huang led the way.

Zhou He brought up the rear with the supplies, giving Lu Yuan's force the budding shape of a complete army.

Elsewhere, Zhang Zhe was also searching the vast wilderness for the elite of the Manyan Tribe.

His lips were cracked, and his armor plates clattered with a "clatter-clatter" sound as he swayed in the saddle.

He had been out of the city for three days. The discomfort of moving from Yun Province to the Northern Frontier, combined with the transition from a life of luxury to eating dust on horseback, had caused him to reach his breaking point.

"Bang!"

The piece of dried meat he had taken two bites of was slammed fiercely onto the ground.

"When the hell are we going to run into those Northern Barbarians? I can't stand this for another second," he growled in a venting rage.

Beside him, Bai Hong shook his head, urged his horse forward, and said, "Even if you can't stand it, you must endure. This mission is crucial—triple the military merit, plus the favor of the Helian Clan.

As long as we succeed, your path in the military will be smooth. We must finish before the other two clans, otherwise, this trip to the Northern Frontier will have been for nothing."

His voice carried a sense of gravity.

And a hint of reprimand.

It finally brought Zhang Zhe back to his senses: "I was impulsive just now."

Only then did Bai Hong's expression soften: "You understand the stakes, so I won't say much more. In short, this time, we must succeed.

The Helian Military Gate and the Zhou Family Military Gate are both in the Northern Frontier, and there is already friction between them. This is no longer just a competition for promotion; it vaguely involves a rivalry between the two families as well.

If you win, you will have boundless glory. If you lose, I fear you will be sent straight back to Yun Province to remain a Centurion, and future promotions will be as difficult as ascending to heaven."

Bai Hong's reminder thoroughly sobered Zhang Zhe.

"Teacher, rest assured, I will not let you down."

"Heh, as long as you pull yourself together, that's all that matters. Among all the juniors of the Zhang Clan, you are the one I value most. I know what's on your mind—you haven't been able to stop worrying about A-Yuan these days, have you?

If this matter is handled well, I will give you a month to go find him and resolve the trouble once and for all."

Bai Hong said softly.

Zhang Zhe's eyes lit up: "Thank you for your favoritism, Teacher."

"What favoritism? You are the only disciple I have now," Bai Hong said indifferently.

Just then, a cavalryman charged straight toward them. As soon as he drew near, he shouted, "My lords, ten miles ahead, we have discovered tracks of Northern Barbarian cavalry movement."

Hearing the scout's report, Zhang Zhe's eyes brightened. He flicked his horse whip and said, "Notify the troops! We move to intercept. Let's finish off these Northern Barbarians quickly so we can go back and drink."

With that, he spurred his warhorse and charged forward.

Bai Hong also roused his spirits and followed closely behind.

Not far away, a troop was traveling through the wilderness, but if anyone were to get close and observe carefully, they would realize this was not the elite cavalry of the Manyan Tribe.

It was actually a full unit of Iron Sparrowhawks, and the man leading them was none other than the Centurion of the Northern Barbarian Iron Sparrowhawks who had been beaten away by Lu Yuan previously.

After fleeing back, he had nearly been beheaded. Forced to sell off his family assets and pull every string he had, he finally secured this chance to redeem himself and exact his revenge.

Therefore, he cherished it dearly.

Just moments ago, he had received a report that a troop from Yellow Sand Fortress City was heading in his direction.

The anger he had been harboring instantly poured out like a floodgate opening.

He roared at the men behind him: "Everyone, prepare for battle!"