Seeing a Snow Eagle swoop down from the sky, Yuchi Chong's soldiers feared he might be in danger and rushed toward him. Yuchi Chong shouted for them to stop. Gazing at the magnificent Snow Eagle before him, he inwardly marveled. Hu Xiaotian's meteoric rise in such a short time was no accident; even his followers included extraordinary talents like this. Then he thought of his adopted daughter, Huo Shengnan. Shengnan had always set her sights high. Back when she served in Great Yong's army, she had countless admirers, yet not one had caught her eye. Her willingness to follow Hu Xiaotian now spoke volumes about his personal charisma.
Xia Changming approached Yuchi Chong and cupped his fists. "I am Xia Changming. My respects, Marshal Yuchi!" Quite apart from Hu Xiaotian's and Huo Shengnan's ties to Yuchi Chong, the marshal's reputation reached far and wide. Xia Changming privately admired his heroic achievements in defending the Northern Frontier against Black Hu invasions, and thus treated him with considerable respect.
Seeing Hu Xiaotian's subordinate treat him with such deference warmed Yuchi Chong's heart and further improved his opinion of Hu Xiaotian. He smiled. "No need for such ceremony, Young Master Xia."
Xia Changming discreetly gave Hu Xiaotian a meaningful look, clearly having something important to report. Hu Xiaotian said, "The commander-in-chief is one of us. Whatever it is, speak freely."
Hearing this, Yuchi Chong could not help smiling bitterly to himself. If those words reached someone with an agenda, they would surely saddle him with a charge of colluding with a foreign enemy.
Xia Changming said, "My lord, I followed Shangguan Yunchong and discovered where he's staying."
Hu Xiaotian nodded. "Good!" He turned to Yuchi Chong and cupped his fists. "Take care, Father-in-law. The Yong Capital is still several days' journey from here.