The Young Swordsman of Dalu

Wen Tao entered the room and saw Shangguan Chenxing lying on the bed. When Shangguan Chenxing saw Wen Tao, he struggled to get up from the bed, but Wen Tao quickly stepped forward and said, "Brother Shangguan, please lie down and talk."

"Thank you very much, Your Highness," Shangguan Chenxing said weakly.

“Brother Shangguan, you have suffered so much on this northern border all these years. His Majesty asked me to tell you that he misses you very much,” Wen Tao said.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty," Shangguan Chenxing said.

"His Majesty already knew of the misfortune that befell Brother Shangguan. He sent me to the border to inspect the border on behalf of the Emperor, and that was for your sake," Wen Tao said.

“Your Majesty’s kindness to my family will be forever remembered,” Shangguan Chenxing said.

Shangguan Xingyun found the conversation between her father and the prince strange, and she vaguely guessed her father's identity.

"Father, have we been guarding this border for so many years? Was it His Majesty who appointed us?" Shangguan Xingyun asked.

"Yun'er, I'm sorry. For your safety all these years, I've kept you away from your parents at such a young age. But as His Majesty's subject, I, Shangguan Chenxing, have no choice but to put aside my feelings for my children and serve my country with utmost loyalty," Shangguan Chenxing said with remorse.

“Father, don’t say that. I’m all grown up now. I understand,” Shangguan Xingyun said.

"Back then, the late emperor had already sensed that Prince Zhou harbored rebellious intentions. Prince Zhou had frequent private dealings with the Northern Dynasty, which had always wanted to invade our borders. So the late emperor used this as an excuse to exile our Shangguan family to the northern frontier in order to gather evidence of Prince Zhou's rebellion," Shangguan Chenxing said.

Wenjie and Liang Feiyan felt deep respect for Shangguan Chenxing's family. For decades, they had endured all kinds of hardships for the Great Lu Kingdom in this remote frontier, living in constant fear and suffering torture. They were the great heroes who protected the Great Lu Kingdom and role models for their younger generation.

"Brother Shangguan and his family have suffered greatly, but now things are better. I've arrived, and your hard times are over. The best doctors in our Great Lu Kingdom are here. You should stay here and recuperate. Once you're healed, I'll take you back to the capital. Feiyan, you must do your best to cure Brother Shangguan's injuries," Wen Tao said.

“Your Highness, this is what I should do,” Liang Feiyan said.

"Thank you, Your Highness, but I'm afraid it won't be so easy for us to leave Beijiang City," Shangguan Chenxing said worriedly.

“Are you afraid of Yao Yuan? I, Wen Tao, am not afraid of him at all!” Wen Tao said.

“Your Highness, the troops here are all under Yao Yuan’s command,” Shangguan Chenxing said.

"Brother Shangguan, just focus on healing your injuries and don't worry about anything else. Leave it to me," Wen Tao said.

“Your Highness, Yao Yuan is a confidant of Prince Zhou. He was sent here by His Majesty at the Prince’s personal request,” Duan Lixing said.

"Is Prince Zhou more powerful than the Emperor?" Wen Tao asked.

"It's terrible, everyone! Yao Yuan has arrived with his men!" Sang Ziqi said urgently as he pushed open the door.

“Good timing. I want Yao Yuan to know that this Northern Frontier City is still part of the territory of my Great Lu Kingdom,” Wen Tao said.

Wen Tao and the others arrived at the courtyard, where Yao Yuan was leading his men in.

"Your Highness, you're new here, why don't you invite me to meet your old friends?" Yao Yuan said sarcastically.

"General Yao, you're so impressive! Is this how you usually travel around Beijiang City?" Wen Tao said.

"I've heard that there are wanted criminals who have escaped from prison in this courtyard, and I've also heard that Your Highness is in this courtyard. For Your Highness's safety, I have no choice but to take action myself," Yao Yuan said slyly.

"I wonder who General Yao is referring to as a wanted criminal?" Wen Tao asked.

"Your Highness, may I allow my men to search the room?" Yao Yuan said.

"No need to search anymore, I'm coming out." Shangguan Chenxing was helped out of the room by his son, Shangguan Mulei.

"Your Highness, he is a criminal who has been colluding with foreign enemies. I must arrest him." Yao Yuan said, ordering his men to arrest Shangguan Chenxing and his family.

"What if I don't allow it? What will you do then?" Wen Tao asked.

“Your Highness, this is the border, far from the emperor’s reach. If I do anything I shouldn’t, I can still keep it from His Majesty,” Yao Yuan said.

"You're threatening me, Yao Yuan. Has your brain gotten rusty from staying in this Northern Frontier City? Do you often have unrealistic dreams that make you laugh yourself awake?" Wen Tao said sarcastically.

"If Your Highness doesn't believe me, then I'm issuing an order: none of you in this courtyard will leave alive." Yao Yuan's eyes were red.

"Father, you and Senior Shangguan should leave quickly. I'll stay here and hold them off," Wenjie said as he walked to Wentao's side.

"Silly boy, your father doesn't need your protection. Don't worry, everything is going according to plan," Wen Tao said confidently.

"Your Highness, we'll protect you and get away quickly!" Duan Lixing said.

"Lord Duan, show us your great skills!" Yao Yuan said smugly.

"Scoundrel! May you die a horrible death!" Duan Lixing said through gritted teeth.

"Ready!" Yao Yuan gave the order, and a line of archers emerged from the walls and rooftops.

Wenjie, the Shangguan siblings, Duan Lixing, Sang Ziqi, Liang Feiyan, and Caihong, a group of young people, surrounded and protected Wentao and Shangguan Chenxing. Wentao was filled with emotion and said to Shangguan Chenxing, "Brother Shangguan, the children have all grown up."

"Your Highness, don't worry about me. You can't abandon this Northern Frontier City. Go back to the capital and tell His Majesty that my family, Shangguan Chenxing, has given our lives for the country," Shangguan Chenxing said sadly.

"Brother Shangguan, do you think I can get away with this? Since that's the case, I'll teach that brat Yao Yuan a lesson that he's not the only one who calls the shots in the Northern Frontier! Old Duan, give the signal!" Wen Tao shouted.

Duan Lixing reached into his pocket and pulled out a signal arrow, lit it, and launched it. Yao Yuan was inwardly panicked, but he couldn't show it. He said, "Your Highness, please don't play any tricks. The emperor is far away, and even if he wanted to save you, it would be too late!"

"Yao Yuan, don't be so arrogant. I'll make sure you die a horrible death later," Wen Tao shouted.

"I am the king of this Northern Frontier City! I want to see who comes to your rescue! Brothers! Your time to prove yourselves has come!" Yao Yuan said arrogantly.

Wenjie glanced at Shangguan Xingyun on his left. Her expression was resolute, and she seemed prepared to die together with him. Wenjie then looked at Liang Feiyan on his right. Liang Feiyan also looked at him with a firm gaze. "Young Master Wen, don't worry about me. Just charge out. We'll take whoever is safe and tell His Majesty what's going on here. Let's avenge us."

“Let’s rush out together!” Wenjie said.

"Ready! Fire!" Yao Yuan gave the order, and a hail of arrows shot towards the people in the courtyard.

The group quickly blocked the arrows, then glanced at each other to see if anyone was injured.

Just as the archers were about to fire their second arrow, they heard the sound of horses' hooves outside. Then, the archers on the walls and rooftops were all hit by arrows and fell to the ground dead. When Yao Yuan saw this, he panicked.

"What happened?" he asked in a panic.

His men were also completely bewildered, not knowing where things had gone wrong.

Li Hong led his men in and rushed in, followed by Liu Chuang, the marshal of the Northwest Camp.

"Is Prince Wen not late?" Liu Chuang asked.

"Liu Shuai has arrived just in time!" Wen Tao was overjoyed.

Yao Yuan was stunned and muttered, "What's going on?"

"General Liu, quickly imprison this scourge of the country and send him back to the capital to await His Majesty's judgment!" Wen Tao said domineeringly.

Liu Chuang ordered his men to remove Yao Yuan's armor and take him away.

Wen Tao looked at Shangguan Chenxing and said, "Brother Shangguan, once you've recovered from your injuries, we'll go to the capital to see the Emperor."

Shangguan Chenxing bowed and thanked him.