Chapter 537 - 460: Kuaidong Reappears

"Bai, I'm just saying, forget this beggar's chicken. I should head back."

Big Beard was exasperated.

But watching Bai Yuan prepare the roasted chicken was a truly curious sight.

The thing was... the aroma wafting from the chicken was simply too enticing.

A dozen different spices were stuffed into the chicken's belly, which was then wrapped in lotus leaves, coated in clay, and slow-roasted over low embers for six hours.

How could it possibly not smell amazing?

Bai Yuan chuckled. "Elder, you've only tasted half of my new recipes. There's no rush. Nothing's happening in the Northern Plains anyway. It won't hurt to hang around for a few more days."

Big Beard rolled his eyes.

'A few days?'

He had already been in Ling Province for a full month.

During that time, Bai Yuan had been cooking him a different, elaborate meal every single day. At first, Big Beard had planned to taste all of Bai Yuan's new creations and then leave Xuan Yang for the Northern Plains.

But to his astonishment...

...it was as if Bai had memorized every recipe in the world. For a whole month, he hadn't repeated a single dish.

The crucial part was that every single dish was a masterpiece of color, aroma, and taste.

How could an old gourmand like him possibly resist?

So, he had no choice but to stay on, one day at a time, right up until now.

"Whatever."

Big Beard gazed at the roasted chicken as Bai Yuan tore open the lotus leaves, revealing the bird's tempting, golden-brown skin.

He suddenly felt that a place like the Northern Plains wasn't worth returning to anyway.

Bai Yuan grinned and presented the roasted chicken to Big Beard. "Elder, it's ready. Go on, give it a taste."

Big Beard didn't stand on ceremony. He grabbed a chicken leg and took a huge bite.

Just one bite.

And his eyes immediately lit up.

In no time, the entire roasted chicken had found its way into his stomach.

"So satisfying."

Big Beard picked his teeth with a thin sliver of wood carved from bamboo, then turned and went back to his room to sleep.

Just then, Xiao Qiaoniang walked over.

"Has Elder Huyan gone to sleep again?"

"Yeah."

Bai Yuan nodded.

Right now, his Bai Mansion was home to two Mingxin Grandmasters—himself and Old Dong—as well as Big Beard, a Divine Communication Grandmaster.

Its security was comparable to that of a Grand Sect Leader Hall.

You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone in the world who'd dare to cause trouble here.

He gazed at Xiao Qiaoniang's swelling belly and sighed softly. "Sister Qiao, in a few days, I have to lead troops to the border of the Northern Plains. I'm sorry to leave you to handle things here."

Sister Qiao shook her head.

She was no ignorant, sheltered wife.

Besides being the Commander's Wife, she was also a Sensing Martial Artist.

This temporary separation was for the sake of long-term peace.

The Demon Sect had already clashed with Shuofang several times, and the situation was grim.

As the de facto King of the North, Bai Yuan naturally had to nip this crisis in the bud.

Otherwise, by the time their child was born, the Demon Sect would have likely grown too powerful to stop.

And then, it would be too late for anything.

「Three days later.」

When Bai Yuan stepped outside, several armored figures were already waiting for him.

Yang Fangyu's spirits were high. "Ah Yuan, let's get going."

He'd been going stir-crazy these past few days, especially after hearing about Bai Yuan's heroic feats in Ximo.

As the Prefect of Lingzhou, he had been stationed in Shuofang, helping Bai Yuan manage internal affairs.

He did a great deal.

And he was very proficient.

But one mustn't forget that he was once a General of the Northern Garrison Army, charging across battlefields. Being stuck with the duties of a Civil Servant had left him feeling utterly stifled.

Fortunately, most of his duties had now been handed over to Lu Yu.

This had eased his burden considerably.

The moment he heard that war was breaking out again, he was the first to approach Bai Yuan, asking to go with him.

After a moment of consideration, Bai Yuan agreed.

Huanglong Prefecture was now brimming with talent; they no longer needed Yang Fangyu to manage every little thing by himself.

"Move out."

Bai Yuan said calmly.

...

「Xiangzhou.」

This was the site of the most intense battles between Xuan Yang and the Demon Sect, and also where the Northern Garrison Army was garrisoned.

Its strategic importance was beyond question.

Not all Martial Artists could fly.

Xiangzhou's terrain was perilous, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack.

But beyond Xiangzhou lay a vast plain, from which cavalry could strike deep into the heart of the Central Plains in just three days.

Thus, this had always been the most fiercely contested area between Xuan Yang and the Northern Plains.

The foot of the Great Wall, once deserted, was now bustling with activity.

The sounds of drilling soldiers were incessant.

Row after row of ink-black tents had been pitched.

A large banner, bearing the two words "Northern Garrison," fluttered high in the wind.

That's right—the Northern Garrison Army had returned.

CLIP-CLOP, CLIP-CLOP.

The urgent sound of hoofbeats echoed from the Official Road in the distance.

Bai Yuan, leading Yang Fangyu and a few others, finally reached the front lines.

"Lord Bai."

Seeing it was Bai Yuan, the soldiers of the Northern Garrison Army immediately let them pass.

Without pausing, Bai Yuan rode straight to the main tent, dismounted in one smooth motion, and swept aside the flap to stride inside.

"Old Patriarch, Elder Sang. Thank you for your hard work."

He nodded toward the two men seated at the head of the tent.

This time, Old Dong had not accompanied the Northern Garrison Army to the field.

Instead, two Mingxin Grandmasters from the Demon Hunters had taken command of the Northern Garrison Army.

The Old Patriarch was more than happy with this arrangement.

The Northern Garrison Army was Bai Yuan's most trusted, core force. Entrusting its command to them was a clear sign that he considered the Demon Hunters his own people.

He also understood that even though Bai Yuan was the patriarch of the Demon Hunters...

...they couldn't just sit back and reap rewards without putting in the work. Nothing in this world was that easy.

That was why the Old Patriarch had personally requested to come to Xiangzhou.

The other Northern Garrison Army generals were visibly stirred by Bai Yuan's arrival.

In their eyes, Bai Yuan was practically the second Grand General of the Northern Garrison Army.

The first, of course, could only be Dong Wanjun.

Bai Yuan held up a hand. "Report. What's the current situation?"

The Old Patriarch spoke after a moment of thought. "A month ago, we brought the army to Xiangzhou. At first, those Demon Sect whelps kept quiet, and nothing much happened. Then, from time to time, an individual Demon would attack and hunt down our scouts."