The Young Swordsman of Dalu

Wenfei and Li Wei took Shou Shangxing back to the Western Regions and headed straight for the royal court.

Yuchi Liang stopped them outside Na Bulu's tent.

"Wenfei! Are you courting death? Since you left, why did you come back?" Yuchi Liang said.

“Prince Yuchi, this is our last hope,” Wenfei said.

"Don't make things difficult for me," Yuchi Liang said.

“I understand! Since Your Highness cannot help us, please step aside. I, Wenfei, will bear all the consequences,” Wenfei said firmly.

"What a heroic young man!" Shou Shangxing said from the side.

"Who is he?" Yu Chi Liang asked.

“Uncle! He’s our friend! Please step aside!” Li Wei said.

“Yes! It’s not that your uncle doesn’t want to help you, but this time, the Khan of Nabulu is determined to attack your Great Lu Kingdom, and I have no choice!” Yuchi Liang said in frustration.

“Uncle! I know your difficulties, so please don’t worry about us,” Li Wei said.

“Silly child! You are my own niece, how could I not worry about you? If anything were to happen to you, how could I face your mother?” Yu Chi Liang said.

Watching them argue, Shou Shangxing walked to the side, found a place to lie down, crossed his legs, and said leisurely, "You guys keep arguing, I'm going to rest for a bit!"

"Prince Yuchi, has anything changed in the few days we've been gone?" Wenfei asked.

“Our four armies in the Western Regions have all assembled and are about to head south,” Yuchi Liang said.

"Prince Yuchi, please stop us. I want to go in and debate with Bulu Khan." Wen Fei said, pushing Yuchi Liang aside and walking straight into the royal court.

"Wenfei! Why are you back again?" Naburu Khan asked when he saw Wenfei.

"Didn't the Khan expect me to come back?" Wenfei said.

“I only heard that you went to the northern desert. I thought you would turn back to the Great Lu Kingdom,” said Nabru Khan.

"So, did the Khan panic when he saw me again?" Wenfei asked.

"I'm overjoyed to see you, why are you flustered?" said Nabru Khan.

"Because your plot has been exposed by me," Wen Fei said calmly.

“A conspiracy? How could that be?” Nabru retorted.

"You are the Khan of the Western Regions, yet you speak such nonsense. It's truly laughable," Wen Fei said disdainfully.

"Perhaps you've guessed it already. Yes, for so many years, attacking the Great Lu Kingdom has been my dream. Now that my dream is about to come true, I'm overjoyed! No one can stop me from fulfilling my dream!" The Khan of Nabulu stopped pretending.

“Have you forgotten the pain that cuts to your very bones? Have you forgotten how the old Khan Bachuo died so tragically?” Wenfei said.

"It is precisely because I have not forgotten that I am determined to avenge my father today!" Nabru said madly.

"You've been plotting this for a long time, haven't you? You've been biding your time all these years, and now you think you've become arrogant. But let me tell you, you can never be a match for my Great Lu Kingdom. We were able to defeat you when we first established our nation, and we can defeat you just as easily today!" Wen Fei said loudly.

"Today I, the Khan, will lay my cards on the table! Let's settle this on the battlefield!" said Nabru Khan.

"We'll fight to the end!" Wen Fei walked out of the royal court without looking back, with Li Wei following behind.

"Judging from your indignant expressions, you didn't succeed in persuading me, did you?" Shou Shangxing got up from the grass.

"Senior, we're about to return to the Great Lu Kingdom. What are your plans for the future?" Wen Fei asked.

"Just keep going in the Western Regions! Every day that passes is one less day we have left," Shou Shangxing said.

“Since you insist on not returning to the Great Lu Kingdom with us, senior, I will take my leave now. Take care!” Wen Fei said.

"Here, take this!" Li Wei gave some of his dry rations to Shou Shangxing and then took out some silver coins for him.

"Thank you, young lady! Go back and tell Li Chaoyang that I'm fine!" Shou Shangxing said.

“Yes! Follow me!” Yu Chi Liang said as he caught up.

Wen Fei and Li Wei followed Yu Chi Liang. Yu Chi Liang said, "Be very careful on your way back. I doubt that Bulu Khan will let you go back safely."

"Don't worry, Uncle! He can't do anything to us," Li Wei said.

“That’s true in peacetime, but now it’s wartime, and we can’t guarantee that those around Bulu Khan won’t cause you any trouble,” Yuchi Liang said.

“Prince Yuchi is right, we will be careful! Your Highness! Farewell!” Wenfei said, then turned and rode away.

"Goodbye, Uncle!" Li Wei bid farewell to Yu Chi Liang and went to catch up with Wen Fei.

Yuchi Liang watched their departing figures, his mind heavy with thoughts. He didn't know what Bulu Khan would do next, because he was not present at the royal court meeting and was clearly being neglected.

On his way back, Yuchi Liang saw Shou Shangxing lying in front of him, leisurely eating a pancake and humming a little tune, looking quite carefree.

Yu Chi Liang didn't want to talk to Shou Shangxing, so he walked past him.

“Yuchi Liang, don’t you recognize me?” Shou Shangxing said.

Yu Chi Liang stopped and turned to look at Shou Shangxing, scrutinizing him closely.

"It looks familiar."

“Just that you look familiar? You bastard!” Shou Shangxing said.

"I really can't remember!" Yu Chi Liang said.

"Look at you, you coward! I am Shou Shangxing!" Shou Shangxing stood up and walked to Yuchi Liang's side. "Take a good look, am I not Shou Shangxing?"

Yu Chi Liang looked at it carefully again, then burst into laughter, "It really is Shou Shangxing! You old codger, where have you been hiding all these years?"

“I’ve been in the northern desert all this time. If it weren’t for those two young men’s kind invitation, I wouldn’t have come back to this wretched place in your Western Regions,” Shou Shangxing said.

"Is the northern desert any good? It's a godforsaken place, yet you seem quite content staying there," Yuchi Liang mocked.

"You look worried," Shou Shangxing said.

"Can you still help me relieve my worries? You're not wine," Yu Chi Liang said.

"Just think of me as wine, here to soothe your sorrows!" Shou Shangxing said.

“You can’t help? We haven’t seen each other for years, Lao Shou! How about I treat you to a drink?” Yu Chi Liang said.

“Since I drank your wine, I have to help you. I, Shou Shangxing, never take advantage of others for no reason,” Shou Shangxing said.

"Have you ever taken advantage of others enough in your life? I know you too well," Yu Chi Liang laughed loudly.

"Stop talking! Talking too much will only make things worse." Shou Shangxing covered Yuchi Liang's mouth.

"Afraid I'll expose your secrets?" Yu Chi Liang laughed heartily.

“Who says otherwise? Let’s go have a drink first, and we can talk about the rest after we’ve had our drinks. So many years have passed, let me see if your alcohol tolerance is still up to par,” Shou Shangxing said.

"Alright! Let's have a match today! You will still be defeated by me, Yuchi Liang!" Yuchi Liang pulled Shou Shangxing towards his tent.

A pair of eyes stared at their departing figures, and a voice said, "These two seem so familiar."