Xiahou Jiuxiao

Wang Xuangan had lost interest—half genuinely, half for show. Seeing this, the others could only disperse.

Zhao Jingxuan's eyes flickered, but he said nothing. He merely nodded and returned to his tent.

A moment later, Duan Xinghe and their fourth brother, Jiang Tiancheng, entered the tent.

The moment he stepped inside, Duan Xinghe began cursing. "That brat dared to act so arrogant! Who does he think he is? So what if he's from the Radiance Cult? I've even killed princes of the imperial court!"

"Enough. He's a guest our eldest brother brought here. If we make things too ugly, we'll be denying him respect as alliance leader."

Zhao Jingxuan spoke calmly, then abruptly changed tack. "Actually, Chen Yuan making such a scene is a good thing."

"Why do you say that?" Duan Xinghe had not caught on.

He was somewhat rash by nature and rarely cared to think things through.

Beside him, their fourth brother Jiang Tiancheng suddenly smiled. "It is a good thing."

Jiang Tiancheng was in his forties, tall and thin, with a long, twisted face and slightly protruding eyes that made him look like a ghost.

He had started out as a bandit and was also known as the Ghost-Faced Judge.

"Stop keeping me in suspense. What do you mean?"

Zhao Jingxuan glanced at Jiang Tiancheng, signaling for him to explain.

Jiang Tiancheng smiled. "Second brother put you and me in command of the left and right armies. But as you know, though our armies have the most men, most of them are a ragtag mob.

"Only fifth brother's central army is somewhat stronger. The true elites, though, are in the Vanguard Battalion under that brat Luo Lie. Every soldier there is a veteran of a hundred battles.

"But that brat is utterly loyal to our eldest