Holding the Dark Phoenix Jade Pendant, Zhang Youren passed unhindered all the way to the camp gates.
After months of humiliation in Yue Territory, even his oldest acquaintances would not have recognized him.
When he left, his face had been old, but his body had been strong and sturdy. Now he returned thin and wasted, looking utterly decrepit.
Before, only his face had borne the marks of hardship. Now even his bearing had grown weathered.
Just as he had in Yue Territory, Zhang Youren tightly clutched the Dark Phoenix Jade Pendant King Zhou had bestowed upon him in his twig-thin hand. He had long since wiped the blood from its gold edging. This pendant had sustained him throughout everything. Whether crawling through holes or eating insects, even under endless beatings and abuse, he had never let it come to harm...
The soldiers guarding the camp did not recognize Zhang Youren, but they recognized the Dark Phoenix Jade Pendant clenched in his hand, and all were moved.
They actually knew that Zhang Youren had been detained and humiliated while serving as an envoy. Reports had arrived earlier, and everyone in the army knew about it. With nothing to do all day but gorge themselves on food and drink, some had even begun worrying about Zhang Youren thousands of miles away.
They had never expected Zhang Youren to escape successfully. Judging by his appearance, he had probably accomplished his mission.
The soldiers guarding the camp were filled with reverence. First Shen Gongbao, now Zhang Youren-Shang envoys never bent their principles. That gold-edged Dark Phoenix Jade Pendant bore the righteous vitality of Great Shang's ministers!
"My lord, His Majesty is in the camp."
Yet the defending general's expression was rather strange.
"Good, get past him-ah! Penalty! Penalty! Penalty!"
"It's in! No, Fang Bi