Chapter 32

said, "The empire also has rules: no one may obstruct a Thunder Eagle's movements without cause. Da

hei wants to find a friend here. I can't stop it."

"Hmph." Yi Yun gave two cold laughs and did not reply. Fields's status made him wary; he did not want to tear all pretense of cordiality away so soon. He wanted to see what trick Fields was going to pull.

"Grandpa." When Lin Hanxuan and Hal saw the Thunder Eagle land, they knew their grandfather had come too, and they came running over, shouting noisily.

"Lin Hanxuan, Hal, get on. I'll take you back to school." Fields told Lin Hanxuan and Hal to sit on Dahei's back. Shafu shifted her petite bottom a little, preparing to make room for Lin Hanxuan to climb up.

"Huh? Grandpa, I can't leave." Hearing that Fields wanted to take him back to school, Lin Hanxuan shook his head to show he could not.

"You don't need to be afraid." Fields blew at his beard and said, "I'll naturally go speak to Yi Tianxing."

"That's not it, Grandpa." Hal hurried to say, "Calling Boss here was His Majesty the Great One's idea."

Hal could not sort out what emperor, His Majesty, and Great One meant, so he simply mixed them together.

"What did you say? How does His Majesty know Lin Hanxuan?" Fields asked, somewhat unable to believe it.

Lin Hanxuan scratched his head and said, "I don't know either, but the message wooden slip said it very clearly. The clan head wants me to stay here with the garrison, and he especially emphasized that it was His Majesty's idea."

Hearing Lin Hanxuan and Hal directly state the reason, Yi Yun inwardly cried what a pity. He had originally hoped that the angrier Fields got, the better; ideally, he would be so angry that he would drag Lin Hanxuan away on the spot. Then Yi Yun could report back to the imperial capital that the Dead City's city lord had forcibly abducted a garrisoned soldier. Although His Majesty could not possibly truly behead Fields in public according to military law, letting the old man make a fool of himself once would also let the Yi Family spit out a breath of pent-up resentment.

Fields secretly thought, That was close. The Yi Family's people had shown no intention of explaining anything to him at all. They must still be brooding over the grudge from decades ago. Fortunately, he had not acted rashly. Since it was His Majesty's decree, he could only go to the imperial capital and make plans there.

Fields patted Lin Hanxuan's head and said, "All right, then. Lin Hanxuan, Hal, you two must take good care of yourselves. Grandpa will go to the imperial capital and ask His Majesty why he specifically assigned you to garrison here."

Mounting Dahei, Fields flew toward Saguli Academy. After settling Shafu in, Fields gave the little fox girl several magic tools and said, "Shafu, Grandpa has another important matter to handle. Take these things with you. If there are any you don't know how to use, find a chance to ask a teacher."

Shafu obediently accepted the tools and said, "Thank you, Grandpa Fields."

The military order Yi Tianxing had given stated clearly that Lin Hanxuan had to reach the temporary encampment before the moon rose, but in truth, because of the planets' relative positions, the moon would not be visible tonight. Lin Hanxuan lay bored in the tent. Since this was a military assignment, the Yi Family did not dare be negligent in the slightest; everything was handled according to the regulations of an imperial legion. The camp had a curfew, and no one could move around at will.

Just as Lin Hanxuan was drowsily about to fall asleep, with a whoosh, one corner of the tent was lifted, and Hal slipped inside.

Yi Junze, who shared the tent with Lin Hanxuan, alertly rolled over and sprang up. Only when he saw it was Hal did a smile appear on his face. "Hal, you really are bold. Violating military orders gets you punished with hard labor."

Hal twitched his nose and began producing bottle after bottle of fine wine from his bracelet as if performing magic. Then he handed one bottle each to Xiaodong and Yi Junze. Hal said, "Boss, if you can't sleep tonight, have a little drink. Hong'er took these wines out of Rainbow in the Rain and gave them to me."

Lin Hanxuan was feeling somewhat stifled inside. He picked up a wine bottle and was about to pour it into his mouth when Yi Junze stopped him.

"Lin Hanxuan, drinking alcohol is strictly forbidden in a garrison camp. You'd better think the consequences through." Yi Junze's expression was very serious.

Blocked by Yi Junze like this, Lin Hanxuan could not help hesitating. Hal, however, did not care in the slightest. With a series of glugs, he had already drained nearly half a bottle in the blink of an eye.

Yi Junze smiled faintly, pulled out the stopper, and poured the wine into his mouth.

Lin Hanxuan went blank for a moment, then started drinking too.

"Puhah, that hits the spot." Yi Junze wiped his mouth and laughed. "Hal really is a man of temperament. Cheers."

Holding a bottle of wine in each hand, Hal said, "If you're drinking, drink. Where did all this nonsense come from?" Then he started drinking with both hands, left and right in turn.

And so, the three of them vied with one another, you taking a mouthful, me downing a bottle, as they madly guzzled the fine wine while chatting in low voices.

"Junze." Lin Hanxuan asked, "Do you know why His Majesty specifically appointed me to come here? He shouldn't even know I exist, should he?"

"Brother, how would I know?" Yi Junze draped an arm over Lin Hanxuan's shoulder and said, "Haha, I haven't felt this carefree in ages! Hal, do you still have any wine over there?"

Hal flicked his right hand, and two large jars of strong liquor appeared before him. The wine Hong'er had given him was almost finished. Hearing Yi Junze ask for more, Hal took out his own treasured stash as well.

Yi Junze's eyes lit up, and he praised, "Brilliant." He slapped open the seal on the wine jar and started gulping it down straight away.

"Hey, Junze, don't drink anymore." Lin Hanxuan tried to stop him from drinking more. This strong liquor really could knock a person out, and if they were discovered tomorrow, that would be far from good.

Yi Junze slanted a glance at Lin Hanxuan, took another mouthful of wine, then suddenly wrapped an arm around Lin Hanxuan with the speed of lightning that left no time to cover one's ears, and mouth-to-mouth, poured the wine in his mouth into Lin Hanxuan's.

Lin Hanxuan was scared stupid on the spot, while Hal went pfft and sprayed out every drop of wine he had just drunk.