Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Yan Liqiang’s return this time didn’t really stir up anything. In the officialdom, Lei Sitong and the rest had known the reason behind Yan Liqiang ‘falling into Qi deviation’. As soon as Wei Wuji was apprehended, everyone felt Yan Liqiang had almost ‘fully recovered’. Therefore, it was nothing surprising. Besides, major incidents were taking place inside the Imperial Capital as well as on the Gulang Plains. Hence, Yan Liqiang’s return was considered a minor event given the current situation.

Needless to say, Yan Liqiang’s return suggested otherwise to some of the old sly foxes. Reason being that this was Yan Liqiang’s second time using ‘sickness’ as an excuse to avert a calamity. The first time was when he was still in the Imperial Capital. He used the same excuse to escape from the dangerous blindfold contest Lin Qingtian arranged. This time, he used the same tactics to avert Anxi General Wei Wuji. To those sly foxes, Yan Liqiang’s wasn’t weak for running away twice, but cunning and experienced. They were impressed that a young man was capable of such acts. Due to this, they had higher opinions of Yan Liqiang!

It had only been a few months since Wei Wuji had come to the northwestern region. He hadn’t even familiarized himself with the places here or assembled his troops. Yet, he was already plotting something against Yan Liqiang. In the end, he was taken down before he even had the chance to meet Yan Liqiang. With his fall, the situation of the imperial court immediately changed. Sure enough, Yan Liqiang returned again!

The happiest people were of course those close to Yan Liqiang like Yan Dechang, the archery academy, the Lu Clan, or the manufacturing bureau. Many were relieved as they rejoiced for Yan Liqiang’s return. Thanks to people like Lei Sitong and Wang Jian Bei during the past few months, the manufacturing bureau, Yan Fortress, and the archery academy were pretty much safe from Wei Wuji’s disturbance. Yan Liqiang’s return set everyone’s mind at ease.

…

It was the 29th day of the sixth lunar month, in the afternoon at the Yan Fortress’ entrance.

Five hundred students from the archery academy lined the street. The streets and alleys of Yan Fortress had been thoroughly cleaned. Yan Liqiang was wearing new clothes as he stood at the entrance, looking into the distance as though he was expecting something. Shen Teng, Shi Dafeng, and Qian Su stood beside him too, looking into the distance with excitement.

Soon after that, a steed came galloping at lightning speed and stopped when it was about ten meters away from Yan Liqiang. The guard from the Yan Residence dismounted and swiftly moved to Yan Liqiang’s side. He then reported with a bow, “My lord, the Northwestern Transport Office is approaching Xiangshui Bridge. They are only fifteen li away from Yan Fortress!”

Yan Liqiang nodded, rubbed his hands together eagerly, then cast a glance at Shi Dafeng and Shen Teng. “There’s no need for us to wait here. Let’s go and meet them!”

Shi Dafeng chuckled. “Alright!”

Shen Teng nodded in agreement too.

“Let’s go then…!” Yan Liqiang laughed and had someone bring him Snowstorm Cloud. He squeezed the abdomen of his steed, then set out with Shen Teng and a group of guards.

A distance of more than ten li might be quite far for people to walk on two legs. However, it was a distance that could be covered in merely a few minutes by a four-legged rhinodrake steed.

Yan Liqiang and his group had only ridden for about ten li when they spotted the fluttering flag up ahead as expected. A several hundred strong cavalry was escorting a few dozen huge carriages in their direction, forming a line like a long snake.

The soldier riding in front of the cavalry was holding up the Northwestern Transportation Office’s flag. On the back of the flag was the symbol of the Northwestern Transport Commissioner. Inside the symbol was a golden ‘Liang’ sewn against a red background. The golden word glittered under the sunlight.

“Brother Liang…!” Yan Liqiang shouted from afar. Snowstorm Cloud mustered the strength in its hooves, then galloped toward the Northwestern Transportation Office’s cavalry like a flying arrow.

“HAHAHA…!” A burst of hearty laughter was heard among the cavalry before a maroon-colored rhinodrake steed emerged from the traveling cavalry and galloped toward Yan Liqiang.

When the two steeds met in the middle of the road, both of them dismounted at the same time. They strode toward each other, then gripped each other’s arms tightly. After taking a good look at each other, they laughed heartily.

The man was none other than Liang Yijie. Compared to a few years ago, Liang Yijie also seemed to have changed a lot.

He looked more dignified. The mustache above his lips made him look a lot more mature now. Yet, the biggest change about him was undoubtedly the crimson official robes that he wore now. That was the symbol of a Transport Commissioner’s prestige, which was equivalent to that of a provincial governor. With all these changes, Liang Yijie instantly gained more power and influence.

Sun Bingchen brought Liang Yijie with him to Yue Province. Over the past few years, Liang Yijie continued making countless remarkable contributions while serving Sun Bingchen, especially in ridding the White Lotus Society from various places in Yue Province. With Sun Bingchen’s guidance, he enjoyed a meteoric rise and promotion in just half a year. By the end of last year, he was already the Military Governor of Yue Province and served Sun Bingchen as his right-hand man.

Sun Bingchen was conscripted into the Grand Secretariat by the Emperor over the incident in the Imperial Capital. Naturally, Liang Yijie followed Sun Bingchen there and was also given an important position. Just recently, he served as the imperial envoy and carried the imperial edict secretly to the northwestern region with his troops to take down Wei Wuji and Jiang Tianhua. With another meritorious contribution, he was then naturally appointed as the new Northwestern Transport Commissioner by the imperial court to replace Jiang Tianhua.

Upon taking up his new position as the Northwestern Transport Commissioner, Liang Yijie immediately got rid of Jiang Tianhua’s former subordinates in the Transportation Office. With the authority of his new position in hands, he immediately traveled to Pingxi Prefecture in Gan Province to meet Yan Liqiang.

The relationship between both of them was cemented in blood as they were true comrades and brothers. It was understandable that they would be emotional to finally meet each other again after so many years.

Liang Yijie took a good look at Yan Liqiang from his head to toe. “Liqiang, you seem to have changed a lot since we last met a few years ago! The moment I arrived in the northwestern region, I heard about your reputation as the best archer in this region. I can’t even tell your current cultivation now. I have a feeling that I cannot even match up to you now…”

“Haha, you must be joking again, Brother Liang! How can I possibly even match you?!” Yan Liqiang laughed heartily. He took a good look at Liang Yijie too.

“No matter how much I have changed, my changes can’t be greater than yours, Brother Liang! It’s only been a few years but you’re now a Northwestern Transport Commissioner! Not only that, but I also heard you became a father last year too! Congratulations!”

“Ah, so you found out about that!” Liang Yijie raised his eyebrows.

Yan Liqiang winked at him. “Of course I did. In any case, I am half a matchmaker for you and Sister Feng Ting! So of course I’d know about things like this!”