Chapter 455: Retiring And Growing Old (1/2)

According to the law of the Tang Empire, a general who returned to Chang'an from battle had to enter through the Eastern City gates. That was why the Feat Posthouse located dozen of miles away from the Eastern Gates became a very important location. Since the beginning of the Tang Empire, many brave warriors had pa.s.sed through the posthouse after returning victoriously from their battles. The stables in the posthouse and the tall straight trees by the road bore witness to such history.

Xia Hou stared out at the majestic city in the west in silence. According to the rules of the imperial court, he and his subordinates were to spend the night at the Feat Posthouse and enter the city tomorrow at dawn, heading straight to the palace to meet His Majesty.

Chang'an City looked extremely majestic in the twilight. The black and green city walls reflected the light of the setting sun, s.h.i.+ning purple and copper, looking impregnable and extraordinarily magnificent.

As one of the four generals in the Tang Empire who were revered by the ma.s.ses, Xia Hou had served in the military for many years. He had forged a strong connection with Chang'an. However, not many knew that he did not spend much time in Chang'an even though his General's Mansion was in the northern city and he often returned to the capital to work.

Over the past decades, he had spent most of his time leading the cavalry and guarding the bitterly cold northern territories. He had conquered lands for the empire and inspired awe over the cavalry of the Yan Kingdom and Left King's Palace.

He had finally left the biting cold of the northern territories. Tens and thousands of his cavalry were left at the Northeast Border Military camp in Tuyang City. The imperial court had already sent General Shu forth to take charge, and there shouldn't be any issues.

Only a couple of soldiers who were close to him had come with him. The imperial court had allowed him to take more soldiers with him to Chang'an, but he was very careful the night before he retired and did not make any moves that would arouse the suspicions of officials.

In order to give the imperial court a peace of mind, Xia Hou's two sons were still in Chang'an and had voluntarily imprisoned themselves in the General's Mansion. Meanwhile, his wife, relatives, and some loyal servants had moved to his hometown several months earlier. They had planted in the fields and retrieved pickles from the cellar, preparing for his return.

Of course, that wasn't truly his hometown. Xia Hou was from the Cold Region in the far north. It was one of the largest Desolate Man settlement. With the Desolate Man moving southwards, he could no longer return to that hometown. Perhaps he had been unable to return to that place since he turned his back on the Enlightenment Doctrine.

”Gu Xi is dead, so is Lin Ling. Many of those who followed me back then have died...”

The sky grew darker as the sun set. The purple and bronze wall of Chang'an was bathed in blood red. Xia Hou looked at that place with narrowed eyes as he thought of how those he trusted had died to pay the price and couldn't help but feel sad.

In spring, the news of Huang Xing and Yu Shuizhu's death reached the Military camp in Chang'an. The news did not sadden him. He only grew vigilant.

Sorrow and vigilance were not emotions powerhouses should have. Xia Hou suppressed these emotions forcefully and began to grow weary. He started coughing.

The Tang military was a place that revered powerhouses. An ordinary general would be unwilling to cough before his subordinates as it would show that he was weak. But Xia Hou did not care because he knew how powerful he was in the eyes of his subordinates. Not to say, he knew that he was powerful.

Just like the Defender-general of the State, Xu s.h.i.+, who was still the most important person in the Tang military even though he had coughed for decades. No one could replace him as he was well-respected by others and was trusted by the Emperor.

Xia Hou coughed again freely and unrestrainedly. Perhaps it was because he did not care anymore since he would be stripped of his armor after entering Chang'an tomorrow.

The captain standing outside the inn looked at the general's strong and large stature. He listened to the coughing and worried flashed on his face. The general was still powerful to him, but he had witnessed the fights between the general and the powerhouse from the Devil's Doctrine in the Wilderness and was thus worried.

It was at this moment when the ground outside the walls of the inn began to tremble. Neither the respectful servant in the inn nor Xia Hou's soldiers noticed it.

Xia Hou might be a powerhouse in the peak state of Martial Arts and was the strongest and most frightening man on earth, but he wasn't a G.o.d. His cough couldn't make the earth shake.

He quietly watched Chang'an City as the sun set, and then, turned to enter the inn.

Someone was waiting for him in the room.

It was a tall large man who was at least half a head taller than Xia Hou. He looked respectful and stood tall and straight like an indestructible mountain.

The man wore a cloth s.h.i.+rt. His armor could be seen beneath the thin cloth, and the aura from the Talisman inscription exuded from beneath the cloth.

Xia Hou was evidently shorter than the hulking man, but it felt as if he was bulkier and stronger than him. He did not have to raise his head to look up at the man.

”If someone saw that Luo Kedi, the commander of the West-Hill Divine Palace's divine army had appeared at the closest inn to Chang'an city, they would definitely think that this is a challenge against the Tang Empire.”

He looked at the man coldly and said, ”I know that you are a prideful person, but do you really think that the Tang Imperial Center Administration doesn't have any aces? There are at least ten people who could kill you with ease in the Chang'an City behind us. You are seeking death by appearing before me now.”

Luo Kedi said, ”Since I dared to come, I am of course unafraid of death. To me, General Xia Hou's return to Chang'an feels more like you're seeking death. Do you think you can come out of there alive?”

Xia Hou's expression did not change. He said placidly, ”Your position within the Divine Hall could garner respect from small countries like South Jin, Song and Yue Kingdom. However, outside of Chang'an and to me, you are but just a dog raised by the hierarch. What right do you have to speak to me with that tone?”

A flash of anger glinted in Luo Kedi's eyes which he forcibly repressed. He said with a cold laugh, ”I admit that I am the Hierarch Lord's dog. But you are just a lion reared by Haotian. You still intend to return to Chang'an even though you have lost your spirit. Do you really want to make your enemies happy?”

Xia Hou bellowed, ”This is an agreement between the Academy and myself. Who would dare to interfere with it? Not even your master could!”

”The Divine Hall would love to see General Xia Hou enjoying his peaceful golden years. However, are you really willing to do so?”