Marquis of Northcloud's Manor.
Inside a small pavilion.
The two sat facing each other.
With a wave of Xiao Chengfeng's hand, a tea tray appeared, and he brewed two cups of spirit tea.
One cup settled steadily in front of Shan Hao. Xiao Chengfeng picked up the other and took a small sip, a hint of wistfulness appearing on his face.
"Being here really is very different from being in the Celestial Court."
"After all, Northcloud Prefecture is your home, God of War. Naturally, coming home feels different."
Shan Hao smiled.
Coming home—
Hearing those words, Xiao Chengfeng smiled knowingly as well.
Indeed.
Those words were very apt.
He was not Immortal Lord Haocang. Immortal Lord Haocang had fallen back in ancient times. He was merely the immortal lord's reincarnation, and in this life, his identity was Xiao Chengfeng of the Human Race.
The Xiao Family had existed in Northcloud Prefecture for thousands of years.
He himself had also served as the Marquis of Northcloud for many years.
Here in Northcloud Prefecture,
Xiao Chengfeng had emotional ties he could not sever.
Shan Hao put down his cup, his expression suddenly turning solemn. "Now that you have returned, God of War, His Majesty once said that if you were willing, Northcloud Prefecture would still belong to the Xiao Family, and you would still be the Marquis of Northcloud.
"Furthermore, if you resumed your position as the Marquis of Northcloud, you would not have to obey orders for deployment or imperial summons, and you would no longer be under the Imperial Court's jurisdiction."
No deployment orders.
No imperial summons.
No Imperial Court jurisdiction.
Shan Hao's words amounted to saying that Northcloud Prefecture would formally separate from Great Zhao and become a court of its own, in a sense.
It had to be