528 Woman (1/2)

Zhang Ji and Shangguan Yun's big plan soon revealed itself.

It was not suitable for women to come along during the trip to Norland. Gu Shenwei chose Maid Lotus, Chu Nanping, Long Fanyun, and Shangguan Fei, along with 50 guards. Maid Lotus brought one-and-a-half New Moon Hall disciples.

The one disciple was Han Fen. Although she was talkative, she spared no effort delivering the Managing Master's orders. Most of the time, she hid like Maid Lotus and showed up only when it was necessary.

The half-disciple was Han Xuan. Actually, nobody had asked her to come along. However, she saw no danger in letting Miss Ming Zhen stay alone in the royal palace, so she sneaked out for this adventure. Thus, without any prior consent or permission, she quietly joined the Dragon King's procession on her horse. Many people had come to see them off, therefore no one paid much attention to her. The people thought she was merely sticking around because of her best friend, Han Fen.

At the Tongtian Pass, all of the well-wishers had returned, only she remained. Han Fen was touched, so she held Han Xuan's hand and tried to persuade her. ”Go back, we'll separate here. The next time you go on a trip, I'll accompany you farther than you have today.”

”Go back? To where? I'm going to Norland with you.”

Han Fen had a one-track mind, but she was a New Moon Hall disciple and following rules was in her blood. Han Xuan's recklessness really shocked her. ”But... but do the Dragon King and the Managing Master know?”

”Who knows? They're smart, they can probably guess.”

Han Fen decided to report it, so she fetched Maid Lotus. In front of the New Moon Hall Managing Master, Han Xuan appeared more justified in explaining her recklessness. ”No, I won't go back. Look at your team, they're all kids. I have to look after them. What if you push Han Fen into a fire and she doesn't fight back? I'm the one who will save her!”

Maid Lotus had ditched her company in a mineshaft. Han Fen soon forgot about it, but Han Xuan was constantly upset about it.

Han Fen was both touched and shocked to the bone by her best friend's kindness. Han Fen would not dream of being so disrespectful to the Managing Master.

More surprisingly, the Managing Master approved. ”You're a half-disciple of New Moon Hall. From now on, you obey my orders.”

”Normal orders, yes; into a fire, no.”

Maid Lotus did not take offense or give orders to her, but let Han Xuan wander on her own in the procession.

This half-disciple was more conspicuous than any other disciple. She failed to understand the rules or the necessity of concealing herself. She rode around on her horse and playfully plucked Han Fen from the team. Finally, if she was really bored, she would talk to whichever stranger, familiar or not, in the name of gathering intelligence.

Therefore, Han Xuan became out of tune with the messenger team. No one could see how this woman was necessary, but they never revealed an obvious surprise for the sake of the Dragon King.

However, it was the seemingly unwanted Han Xuan who discovered something strange in Golden Roc Fort's team.

Actually, Golden Roc Fort did not bother to hide. Golden Roc Fort and the Dragon Army had seemingly reached a truce, yet they were like cats and dogs. They even avoided each others' eyes to prevent any unnecessary speculation. Moreover, the two teams were separated by the Norland cavalry in between them. On the first day of the journey, Gu Shenwei did not obtain a single piece of information.

Nevertheless, Han Xuan was an exception. During her ”intelligence gathering”, she first inspected her team of more than 50 people, then a few hundred Norland guard cavalrymen, who always teased her with ”intelligence” that she could not quite understand. And Han Xuan had to cross through them to get into Golden Roc Fort's team.

Soon after, she was kicked out. Thus, she rode up to the Dragon King's side. ”No wonder you hate Golden Roc Fort, they're indeed lousy company.”

”Yes, they are.” Other people put up with Han Xuan for his sake, while the Dragon King himself had kept the strange woman because of Maid Lotus.

”Golden Roc Fort outnumbers us. There are 106 of them. But don't worry; I can take four or five of them at one time. You and Maid Lotus can take five or six respectively. The odds are in our favor.

”We have a truce.”

”For real?” Han Xuan asked out loud. ”I thought it was just a rumor. I've prepared all kinds of plots and schemes. And you just quit?”

It was only half a day since they left the Tongtian Pass and Gu Shenwei was beginning to think about ditching her. For example, he could tie her up and throw her into the grass in the middle of the night. Some passer-by would save her. And when she asked about it later, he would blame it on Golden Roc Fort.

”You can't mess around with everything.” However, it could only be in his imagination. Han Xuan had shown her face in the Dragon King's team. She probably could not make it to Xiaoyao Lake alive.

Han Xuan nodded seriously. ”I see.”

”You'd better... go hide with Han Fen.”

”Why?”

”There are many men in the procession and the Norland men are up to no good. Aren't you afraid?”