"Are we just going to let that brat leave?"
Bu Er looked at Yang Qing. "With him looking like that, that fellow Wu will know what happened the moment he sees him. He'll go to even greater lengths to deal with you, young master. What will we do then?"
Yang Qing shook his head slightly at Bu Er's words. "Not necessarily. Wu Tianyong was never a fool. He'll understand why I did this."
"Let's hope so. But in my view, if this man really does have ties to the north, you'll probably have more uninvited visitors coming your way."
"Will I? If guests come, we'll entertain them. Surely our great Western Chu needn't fear a few guests who arrive uninvited?" Yang Qing smiled faintly.
"In that case, we can simply wait with easy minds."
As Jiang Zhizhou spoke, he motioned for Yang Qing to move closer to the stove. "Cold, aren't you? There's already a fire banked in this stove. Sit closer."
Bu Er also turned to fetch Yang Qing a hot-water warmer and tucked it into his arms.
"This year's weather really does chill a man to the very core," Yang Qing said slowly, raising his eyes to the dark, heavy sky.
"I wonder how things are at Yan Pass..." Jiang Zhizhou also turned his gaze toward the sky.
"Suotu is overseeing Yan Pass. Nothing should happen there for the time being. Right now, we need to deal with the trouble here in Yan Prefecture City."
Yang Qing paused, then continued, "The great battle with Northern Liang is imminent. If we don't settle matters in Yan Prefecture City, we'll be fighting bloody battles at the front while our own backyard goes up in flames."
"We cannot afford to be hemmed in on both sides."
At this, Yang Qing turned