Firmament Sword

Cao Tianyi’s side responded quickly. A few hours after he left, the young Reconnoitre returned with more men.

There weren’t many of them—only five, including the young Reconnoitre.

The other four men all exuded a fierce aura. Their gazes were sharp and hostile as they stared at Xu Luo and Xu Jie, clearly displeased with the two of them, and even more so with their current assignment.

”Young Masters Xu, my General invites you,” the young Reconnoitre said to Xu Luo and Xu Jie, his expression calm.

”Very well. Lead the way,” Xu Luo said lightly.

”Are you Xu Ji’s son? Or Xu Zhongtian’s?” a man in his mid-thirties standing behind the Reconnoitre asked Xu Luo coldly.

”And who are you?” Xu Luo said, raising an eyebrow. ”Regardless of which General Xu you mean, a person of your station has no right to speak their names so casually. I imagine that even General Cao Tianyi himself would show my father and Uncle Xu Zhongtian the proper respect by addressing them as ’General Xu’.”

”So you’re Xu Ji’s son. Heh... Are you Xu Su?” the man said, looking at Xu Luo with cold arrogance and disdain.

”Are you looking for trouble?” Though Xu Luo had been physically frail since childhood, his courage was anything but. Seeing the man’s provocative expression, Xu Luo sneered inwardly. ’Trying to intimidate me?’

”So what if I am?” the man retorted with a smirk.

The young Reconnoitre, however, stood to the side without intervening. A hint of probing curiosity flickered in the depths of his eyes.

Xu Luo understood. ’This must be their deliberate attempt to put me and my second brother in our place.’

Then, Xu Luo smiled. And abruptly... he moved!

Like a bolt of lightning!

He vanished from his spot in an instant!

THUD!

A dull thud echoed immediately after.

Then, everyone saw the man who had just provoked him stumble back more than a dozen steps. His face first flushed a deep crimson, then he retched, spraying a mouthful of blood. The ruddy color immediately drained from his face, leaving it deathly pale.

”You...”

”How dare you attack?”

”You’ve gone too far!”

The other three men erupted in fury, their powerful auras flaring as they prepared to charge.

Xu Jie sneered. ”Does the Cao Army specialize in ganging up on people?”

As he spoke, he drew a long saber. The aura of a Tier Two Sword Master erupted from him as he stood beside Xu Luo, glaring coldly at their opponents.

He added, ”Nicely done, Third Brother!”

”Don’t fight! It’s a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding! Everyone, calm down!” the young Reconnoitre hurriedly stepped between them, holding both sides back. He then turned with a concerned look toward the man Xu Luo had sent flying with a single punch.

The man was panting heavily, leaning against a tree. After a long moment, he managed to quell the turmoil in his body. He waved a hand and said in a hoarse voice, ”Don’t. He held back.”

”What?” This time, even the young Reconnoitre was stunned.

Others might not know, but how could he not be aware of his own comrade’s strength? His cultivation had already reached the realm of a Tier Three Sword Master. Combined with his experience in the army, even an ordinary Tier Four or Tier Five Sword Master from the Jianghu wouldn’t necessarily be his match.

Yet now, a boy who looked to be only seventeen or eighteen had made him vomit blood with a single punch—and on top of that, he had apparently held back?

”How is that possible?” The other three also wore expressions of utter disbelief.

”Heh, Grand General Xu Ji’s son truly lives up to his reputation...” The injured man forced a smile, effectively letting the matter drop.

Xu Luo showed no trace of guilt on his face. He could tolerate insults directed at himself, but disrespect toward his father was something he would never endure.

Otherwise, if word of this got out, the one who would truly lose face would be his father!

Because the man was injured, the young Reconnoitre left one person behind to tend to him. Then, he and the other two men led Xu Luo and Xu Jie, speeding off toward the Grand Canyon.

That day, Xu Luo and Xu Jie did not get to meet the most powerful Grand General of the Cao Kingdom. Instead, they were shown to their quarters.

Although no one was openly watching them, their quarters were located in the very center of the Cao Army camp. Surrounded by Cao Army soldiers, they had no chance of escape even if they tried.

Dinner wasn’t lavish, but it was clear that their hosts had put some thought into it. A full spread of delicacies from the Endless Forest Sea was laid out. The one accompanying them was the same young Reconnoitre from earlier in the day.

After dinner, they returned to their quarters. Xu Jie spoke with some concern, ”Third Brother, I don’t think General Cao takes us very seriously. Look, they didn’t even send anyone of high status to accompany us.”

Xu Luo knew his second brother, who loved smithing and forging swords, wasn’t looking down on the young Reconnoitre, but rather felt they hadn’t been shown the respect they were due.

After all, they had come to meet General Cao invoking their fathers’ names. It was one thing for Cao Tianyi himself not to appear, but to send such a casual escort was, frankly, a slight on his part.

”Well, we’re already here. Perhaps... General Cao has other plans,” Xu Luo consoled Xu Jie, then added in a low voice, ”Have you noticed that the atmosphere in the Cao Army camp is strange?”

”Strange? You mean...” A sharp glint flashed in Xu Jie’s eyes. It was true that Second Brother Xu loved smithing and forging swords, but he wasn’t slow-witted in the slightest. He immediately understood what Xu Luo was implying.

Cao Tianyi... might actually be planning to rebel!

Xu Luo nodded. ”If our guess is right, then it makes sense that no one came to entertain us. Think about it, Second Brother. With the prospect of ultimate power and nobility right in front of them, who would have time for two young men like us?”

Xu Jie nodded as well. ”If that’s the case, then it seems we really did come at the right time.”