Chapter 57: The Saintess

Yang Zhan turned his head and said, "Let's go, stop pondering over this. You are no match for me, and that includes your men who just arrived!"

With that, Yang Zhan glanced around the surroundings.

Qin Yin took a deep breath. "I was just joking with you earlier."

"A joke? I wasn't joking with you."

Qin Yin gritted his teeth and said, "What on earth do you want? Just name it!"

Yang Zhan flashed a smile. "Simple. Tell your Emperor of the Fenglin Kingdom to order the Divine Wind Army to withdraw immediately. If my Great Xia soldiers remain safe, the Princess and the others will be safe as well. Furthermore, there is only one condition for releasing the Princess: return the Hedong region to my Great Xia!"

Qin Yin's voice instantly turned cold. "That's impossible!"

Yang Zhan looked at Qin Yin. "Then how about using the Saintess of the Phoenix God Cult as an exchange?"

Qin Yin's eyes flickered. "What Saintess of the Phoenix God Cult?"

"Chen Lin'er!"

Qin Yin's breathing grew somewhat rapid.

Yang Zhan spoke once more, "That Hedong region originally belonged to Great Xia. It was only because the barbaric nation's army invaded and we were unable to attend to the Fenglin Kingdom at the time that the Hedong region was snatched away. But that does not mean Great Xia does not want it back. Moreover, you don't have much time left. It's already snowing here in Tiandu City, and the barbaric nation has turned into a snowy expanse. Their usual creed is: rather die fighting than starve to death!"

At this moment, Qin Yin's breathing grew even more hurried, causing the light veil over his face to flutter and reveal his handsome features.

Yang Zhan smiled. "Right now, the barbaric nation wouldn't dare to easily offend Great Xia, so they can only look elsewhere to make up for their shortages. If the Fenglin Kingdom's army fails to retreat by then, your losses won't be small!"

Qin Yin swallowed hard. "How do you know Chen Lin'er is the Saintess of our Phoenix God Cult?"

"Because a mere princess is not enough to make the Fenglin Kingdom so anxious and panicked. Besides, Chen Lin'er's eyes are pretty—they have a gleam in them!"

Saying this, Yang Zhan added with a look of full appreciation, "Especially when she looks at me!"

Qin Yin took a deep breath. "I cannot make the decision on this!"

"Take your time. If your Fenglin Kingdom's emperor cannot make the decision, then consult the Phoenix God Cult, and let me know when you have news. However, you'd better withdraw the Divine Wind Army immediately; otherwise, the barbaric nation's scythe will truly cut into your flesh. By the time their army breaches our Great Xia borders and drives straight in, you should know the consequences!"

Having said that, Yang Zhan patted Qin Yin on the shoulder. "Time is pressing, you must act quickly. Otherwise, if my Great Xia soldiers suffer casualties, the Emperor's wrath will drive him to do anything!"

With those words, Yang Zhan walked away.

Right at that moment, Qin Yin, whose breathing had seemed hurried just a moment ago, gradually calmed down.

Even his eyes grew as still as water.

Shortly after, a figure appeared by Qin Yin's side.

Qin Yin turned his head to take a look, his gaze slightly cold. "Ninth Young Master, you're a bit late."

"I saw someone lurking just now, so I didn't come over."

"Ninth Young Master is certainly straightforward!"

The man addressed as the Ninth Young Master had a somewhat pale complexion and the delicate, pampered appearance of a pampered young master from a wealthy family.

The Ninth Young Master looked at Qin Yin. "Does he know?"

"He knows!"

"It's good that he knows. I will put in a good word for your merits!"

"I didn't tell him; he guessed it himself."

The Ninth Young Master was slightly stunned. "How could he have guessed it?"

Qin Yin said, "He said the Saintess's eyes have a gleam in them, especially when she looks at him. I don't quite understand that."

The Ninth Young Master frowned. "That means he saw the Saintess's golden pupils."

At this, a look of doubt and surprise appeared on the Ninth Young Master's face. "I just don't know if he happened to see them by accident or if the Saintess intentionally revealed them."

Qin Yin also frowned slightly. "What difference does that make?"

"If he saw them by accident, it doesn't matter much. But if the Saintess did it on purpose... tell me, why would she intentionally reveal them when she's already captured?"

Qin Yin's gaze flashed. "If it's the latter, the Saintess has probably already sensed something!"

The Ninth Young Master let out a turbid breath and looked at Qin Yin. "So, let's prepare for both scenarios!"

"Alright!"

The Ninth Young Master turned and left.

Qin Yin departed shortly after, along with the hidden experts of the Profound Night Bureau.

However, a small red bird suddenly flew out from the rooftop and soared into the distance.

...

Chen Lin'er and the other two had already been moved back.

Sanzi looked at the hundred troops dispatched from the Imperial Guard Bureau standing outside the door.

Sanzi grinned and said, "For three years, we've never been this well-off."

"You said it, but the old days were still better. Following Second Master—what an aura that was!"

Old Wu sighed with deep emotion.

At that moment, Old Si raised his battle saber and shouted in a high-pitched, hoarse voice!

"Thousands of mountains desolate, fierce and wild, snow covers the sword's light;"

Upon hearing this, Sanzi, Old Wu, and Old Liu could not help but draw their own battle sabers, pointing them toward the sky as they shouted along.

"Magnificent! All of you and I, through life and death we go side by side!"

"We shall pull the carved bow like a full moon, look northwest, and shoot... the barbarian king!"

The hundred imperial guards all felt their blood surge, as if they were already standing in the northern frontier, facing the mighty army of the barbarian nation.

Yet they felt no fear at all, their fighting spirit soaring.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

Four muffled thuds rang out.

"Who hit me?!"

Sanzi and the other three turned their heads all at once to see Yang Zhan wearing a stern expression.

"Damn it, what are you yelling nonsense for out here? The four of you, get in here right now!"

In an instant, those four hot-blooded, heroic lads turned into quails, shrinking their necks and quietly following him inside.

At that moment, Qin Feng, who commanded the hundred men, looked sharp-eyed and called out, "Squad leader!"

"Here!"

Two men stepped out from the formation.

Qin Feng instructed, "You two, lead a team each to guard the Heavenly Prison. Each team takes a six-hour shift, keeping twenty-five men on duty and twenty-five men on standby at all times. Change of guard at noon. Zhang Zheng, your team takes the first shift!"

"Understood, Battalion Commander!"

The two squad leaders immediately led their respective men to split up.

Zhang Zheng led twenty-five men to deploy defenses at the front and back of the Heavenly Prison, while the remaining twenty-five men stood by on standby.

Luo Yong led fifty men to pitch camp right on the spot at one side of the Heavenly Prison.

The area around the Heavenly Prison was naturally spacious, with plenty of room.

At this moment, Qin Feng stood at the entrance of the Heavenly Prison, waiting at any time for Yang Zhan's summons.

Meanwhile, inside, Yang Zhan was glaring at the four fellows.

"It's one thing for you to eat and drink under my banner, but you even went to the Yuhong Brothel and borrowed money in my name?"

Hearing this, all four fellows lowered their heads.

"Lift your heads up! What are you afraid of? Dared to do it, but don't dare to own up?"

Promptly, the four lifted their heads, and Sanzi directly pulled out some scattered silver coins, handing them over to Yang Zhan.

Seeing this, Old Si, Old Wu, and Old Liu also took out whatever money they had on them.

Yang Zhan took one look and rolled his eyes at the four fellows.

"Did I ask you to pay me back? I'm saying, if you don't have money, you should have told me. Instead, you ran off to borrow money from that woman Qiu Yun just to go to the Yuhong Brothel—have you no shame? Where is your dignity?"

Sanzi smiled bitterly and said, "We couldn't find anyone else to borrow from, and Qiu Yun has such a good relationship with Second Master."

"You're still talking back, damn it!"

Sanzi instantly clamped his mouth shut!

Right after that, Yang Zhan pulled out a box and snapped it open.

"Divide this among the four of you!"

Seeing the stacks of silver notes inside Yang Zhan's box, the four of them were somewhat stunned.

"Second Master, you're this wealthy?"

"Wealthy my ass! Someone just sent this over."

"Who?"

"The one who's looking after those three prisoners. Split it up!"

"What about you, Second Master?"

"Do I need to spend money to eat?"

Old Liu grinned and said, "That's true, Second Master doesn't even have to pay when he visits the Yuhong Brothel!"

Yang Zhan immediately raised his foot to kick him. Old Liu reacted swiftly, instantly grabbed the box, and bolted straight into the backyard.

Sanzi and the other two hurriedly chased after him.