Mountain Patrol Military Officer

Chen Yuan raised his hand and waved, drawing the Armored Soldier over to the plank road.

The Green Armored Military Officer was shocked to see Chen Yuan and Pei Yanhu, then quickly knelt on one knee, lowered his head with his hand resting on his saber, and reported:

"Greetings to the Nine Colonels, Commander, I was just about to ascend the mountain to report!"

"Chang Jinchun, the Left Chief Historian of the Royal Beiliang Mansion, entered the mountain under the cover of night, claiming to carry an important message from the King of Beiliang and seeks an audience with you!"

As he spoke, the officer lifted his head, extended a hand forward, revealing a piece of red Token in his hand.

"This is the Token!"

Chen Yuan's eyes flashed with a hint of golden light upon hearing the report.

A messenger sent by the King of Beiliang, rumored to have three thousand guests?

He waved his hand and drew the Token into his hand. The Token felt like a piece of warm jade, neither gold nor stone, with a character for "King" engraved on it, surrounded by carvings of a four-clawed red dragon, coiled and lifelike.

"Let him come up!"

"I am curious about what message the King of Beiliang has sent!"

Chen Yuan casually flicked the Token back.

The Green Armored Military Officer acknowledged and immediately descended the mountain.

"I've heard the Heavenly General speak of this Prince's ambitions, countless guests under him, a million strong army, residing within the Dragon and Tiger sanctum. Even the Overseers within Beiliang have been completely suppressed by him, stripped of their military power. You know, his guests have even encroached upon Shu territory; what's the purpose of this overlord sending someone here? Could it have something to do with the Patrol Angel incident?" Pei Yanhu frowned.

"Why can't we hear him out?" Chen Yuan stepped forward and disappeared into the mountain wind!

After half a cup of tea time, Chen Yuan saw the Left Chief Historian of the Royal Beiliang Mansion in the Heavenly Patrol Hall!

This Changshi is a unique position among the prince's subordinates, managing territorial affairs and issuing government orders. His status is not low, held in high esteem within Beiliang, as evidenced by his Half-step Dragon and Tiger cultivation.

"Chang Jinchun, the Left Chief Historian of the Royal Beiliang Mansion, pays respects to Chen Longhu!"

The Left Chief Historian of the Royal Beiliang Mansion saluted Chen Yuan at the top of the hall, his expression carrying the appropriate amount of respect.

He didn't address him as the Nine Colonels but directly used the esteemed title of Longhu!

As for Pei Yanhu sitting to the side, his treatment wasn't the same; the other only nodded in acknowledgment.

Chen Yuan gazed at the other, intrigued, without making things difficult.

"Grant him a seat!"

"Thank you, Chen Longhu!" Chang Jinchun expressed his thanks, methodically and gracefully, sitting to the side, his body turning towards Chen Yuan, "Forgive us for disturbing you at this late hour, General!"

"I've long heard of your prince's renown; what's the purpose of saying this? I've had some interactions with your Princely Heir and consider him an acquaintance." Chen Yuan leaned an elbow on the armrest, his body leaning slightly toward the person, the flickering fire casting half his face in shadow, showing an inexplicable smile.

"I've already learned from the Heir's attendants that your Heir lacks discretion, please don't blame him, General!"

With that, this person rose from their seat,

"My prince instructed me to apologize on behalf of the Heir; this represents my prince's goodwill!"

Speaking, Chang Jinchun patted his waist, and soon streams of light flew from a Jade Pendant at his side, landing in the middle of the hall.

A vast array of Treasure Boxes with shimmering prohibition Spirit Light appeared in sight.

"Pa-pa-pa"

With a wave of the hand from this Left Chief Historian of the Royal Beiliang Mansion, the boxes opened wide, immediately filling the entire hall with a radiant glow, treasures, and the scent of elixir wafting through.

Rare treasures and Divine Gold Elixirs were seen in abundance.

The essence qi and radiance indicated their remarkable quality, with dozens upon dozens of such treasures, lighting up the entire hall with a radiant glow.

Pei Yanhu beside him couldn't help but be moved upon seeing this!

He couldn't even recognize half of the treasures inside.

The King of Beiliang made such a lavish move!

Yet Chen Yuan merely glanced at them, and the boxes were quickly covered again.

His gaze fell on Chang Jinchun, whose face had momentarily stiffened, his tone indifferent,

"Take them back, though I have some enmity with your Heir, it's not to the extent that the King of Beiliang himself must send someone with such a generous gift!"

"Speak, what is the matter?"

Chen Yuan saw through it; this fellow had another agenda, and he couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush.

Chang Jinchun's expression changed repeatedly, then grew solemn, bowing deeply toward Chen Yuan, his tone serious,

"I ask the General to save our Princely Heir!"

"Hmm?"

Chen Yuan's eyes shifted with curiosity, his body leaned forward.

He originally thought that the ambitious King of Beiliang sent a Changshi because he had mobilized forces to kill the Patrol Angel, but the truth turned out to be entirely different from what he imagined.

"What happened to your Princely Heir?"

"The Princely Heir has disappeared on an Ancestor Mountain seven hundred li outside Jingguan City!" Chang Jinchun spoke gravely, then recounted the entire sequence of events.

Chen Yuan listened, his eyes gleaming with golden light.

That mountain again!

He recalled when the anomalies first appeared in Shu, reports came in that a mountain suddenly emerged seven hundred li outside Anping County. Later, as General Mountain underwent changes, some said the vanished Fire Phoenix was last seen there.

However, he had been entangled in various affairs, so this matter was gradually forgotten.

Now, with the Heir of Beiliang disappearing inside, it sparked interest.

"Over half a month ago, the Princely Heir, who had vanished for about a month, transmitted a message using the Divine Incense that can convey sound through incense. He said they were trapped inside a coffin on a cliff. After that, communication was cut off, and no further messages came. The experts sent by the Prince Mansion who entered the mountain also disappeared without a trace; that's why I...

As the other person continued talking, Chen Yuan suddenly had a sharp glint in his eyes, seizing upon a crucial piece of information, abruptly interrupting, "You mentioned messages from your Princely Heir? When exactly did they come?"

"Just over half a month ago, I believe it was on Wuxu Day!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan's mind raced with thoughts; on that day, he had been setting traps in the Demon Forbidden Land of the Ten Thousand Mountains, sending things back outside the mountain.

"You say your Princely Heir sent a message back, claiming to be trapped in a coffin on a cliff?" Chen Yuan's voice took on an odd tone.

"Yes, exactly!"

Upon receiving confirmation, Chen Yuan's thoughts suddenly erupted, and he leaned back in his chair, his face shrouded in darkness.

This information startled him slightly!

He recalled seeing a scene while transmitting out from that Demon Forbidden Land.

A Thunder Pool, a cliff, coffins densely packed, a hand opening a coffin...

Amazingly coincidental, yet bizarre, with locations tens of thousands of li apart!

"This mountain is treacherous, and the situation is unclear."

"I cannot lend a hand with this matter."

Chen Yuan directly refused indifferently.

Then, before the Changshi from the Royal Beiliang Mansion could speak, Chen Yuan issued an order to dismiss the guest.

"Someone, see the guest out!"

Immediately, Armored Soldiers entered.

Chang Jinchun's expression changed, "General, don't be hasty in refusing. Our Prince also said that if you were willing to help, he would submit a petition to the Court about the Patrol Angel matter, to strongly support you!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan's eyes darkened, wondering if this ambitious prince was sincerely helping by speaking on his behalf in court or actually trying to drag him down.

"No need. Please convey my thanks for your prince's kind intentions. See the guest out!"

Chang Jinchun wanted to persuade further, but at this moment, a pressure made his heart tremble, realizing he was too eager and could provoke this Dragon and Tiger figure, he refrained, yet maintained decorum, bowing to Chen Yuan.

"I acted rashly out of concern for the Princely Heir!"

"These gifts are from our Prince, naturally, there's no reason to take them back."

"I shall take my leave!"

Saying this, the person turned and left the hall, descending the mountain.

Once the person had left, Chen Yuan gazed at the Treasure Box inside the hall: "A clever man!"

A retreat to advance, leaving no trace!

Yet, even if Chen Yuan could actually help with this, he wouldn't.

At the very least, the stakes offered by the Royal Beiliang Mansion did not justify the risk of rescuing those he had no wish to save.

"Chen Yuan, you refused, so why did you earlier confirm the message from the Beiliang Heir? You seemed a bit interested?"

Under the lamplight, Pei Yanhu, seated to the side, asked curiously.

"This matter is a bit strange!"

"But currently, it's all conjecture!"

"More clues are needed!"

A deep glimmer flowed in Chen Yuan's eyes.

"You mean that mountain?" Pei Yanhu asked, intrigued, mired in confusion.

"Not certain yet."

"First, have that mountain sealed off; I need detailed intelligence on what has happened since its appearance, and also the origins of the Ancestor Mountain in Anping County."

"Someone, bring over Lu Ming and Gao Yu!"

......

The next day, as daylight brightened.

A large battalion of Soldier Armor set out from the Ninth Mountain, headed southwest, vanishing into the snow outside the city, en route to Anping County!