Dragon Tamer

Leaving through the gates of the Droplet Imperial City, they bypassed a stretch of Clearwater Hills and followed a trade route heading west.

The Miao Mountain Sword Sect had a total of only five members: a swordswoman wearing a broad-brimmed hat, who was slightly older, with a black veil falling from the edge of her hat, obscuring her face.

The other four girls were dressed the same, but with varying accessories.

Although they did not wear the veils all the time, they clearly preferred not to reveal their faces to strangers in unfamiliar places.

In the country where the Miao Mountain Sword Sect was based, a woman’s visage was considered mysterious and sacred. Zhu Minglang had been there and noticed that in the city-states and capitals, probably more than half of the women would wear veils as commonly as earrings or jewelry, retaining a sense of hazy beauty.

Traveling with them, in addition to the several members of Zhu Minglang’s team, were Master Wu Feng from the Yaoshan Sword Sect, the Big Disciple Yun Zhonghe, and the female Sword Master Shao Ying.

Shao Ying and Fang Niannian were close in age and soon started chatting away like two little magpies, adding a lively atmosphere to the journey.

Nan Yuso and Nan Lingsha both had the habit of wearing facial veils. Coupled with the other swordswomen doing the same, the others did not immediately realize that they were the Twin Flower Sisters since they did not dress or adorn themselves like other twins, aiming for symmetrical and identical looks.

The vegetation was lush with a touch of autumn yellow, but in fact, the further west they went, the more comfortable the climate became. On the other side of the Miao Mountain Female Country was the Neon Sea, where the days seemed to stretch longer.

Outside the Western Imperial City, on the spacious main road, there were streams of merchants, travelers, farmers, and soldiers moving back and forth. A man wearing a Kylin robe stood with an evil aura on the necessary path leading to the western Prairie.

“Commander Hao, what brings you here? Are you waiting for some Mr. Hou?” A soldier approached with a smile and asked.

“You’ve arrived right on time, help me inquire about where the people from the Miao Mountain Sword Sect and the Yaoshan Sword Sect left the city from,” said Commander Hao, his face full of anger.

“Them? Early this morning I saw the swordswomen leave through the northern gate of the Imperial City; they’ve been gone quite a while. Commander, did you just return from the battlefield?” said a patrol guard from the city.

“If they’re heading west, why go through the north gate!”

“I am not sure about that, Commander, are you trying to intercept them?”

“That brat from the Zhu Sect killed my nephew. Do you think I can let him off?!” Commander Hao roared in fury.

The Emperor had already given orders not to pursue the matter with Zhao Chen.

But what about Hao Shaocong?

This has nothing to do with the feud of the Princely Heir of Zhao Yin Ge.

Today is precisely the day of Hao Shaocong’s burial. To wait for Commander Hao to return, the Hao family deliberately kept Hao Shaocong in the hall of mourning for an extended time.

All to wait for Zhu Minglang to leave the Imperial City and then seize him to kowtow at Hao Shaocong’s tomb!

They dared not kill Zhu Minglang.

But to humiliate Zhu Minglang, to make him kowtow a hundred times, that was something Commander Hao dared to do.

If he refused to comply, Commander Hao was more than ready to rough him up, break a few of his bones, and not let the young man from the Zhu Sect have a moment of peace!

Inside the Imperial City, Commander Hao dared not act.

Hao Yong had also gone to great lengths to find out about Zhu Minglang’s whereabouts from some servants who served the Miao Mountain Sword Sect.

He waited here specifically to regain his family’s honor.

The results had everyone waiting until almost noon, yet not a single person appeared.

This infuriated Commander Hao to the point of fuming with rage!

Did that kid just escape?

Did someone tip them off in advance, allowing them to avoid us?

The prairie was immensely vast; they had traveled for an entire day and still could not see its end.

Having no choice, they settled in a city for the night, planning to continue their journey at dawn.

“Coming out of the north gate, we took a bit of a detour. Under normal circumstances, we should be able to reach Yuanbian City. There is a long stretch there suitable for flying, where we can hire a Dragon Shepherd,” Master Wu Feng said.

“Right, why did we come out of the north gate, anyway? You haven’t told us the reason yet,” Wen Mengru asked, puzzled.

Zhu Minglang honestly didn’t know the reason; he was just following Li Xinghua’s instructions.

However, no one paid much attention to this matter. It was not until they had entered the city and checked into an inn that Zhu Minglang remembered to ask Li Xinghua about it.

Li Xinghua indicated she wasn’t aware of what might happen, but simply warned Zhu Minglang that exiting through that city gate could lead to trouble.

While Zhu Minglang was still puzzled, inside the inn, a man dressed in the attire of a Sword Casting Shop rushed in, frantically searching for something.

The man’s clothing bore the emblem of Zhu Sect’s foreign court, which Zhu Minglang recognized at a glance, so he called him over.

“Mr. Zhu, I am the manager of the foreign court’s shop in this city. Your uncle sent me to remind you that Commander Hao from the Hao family, named Hao Xingsheng, is trying to intercept you. They sent people to guard the western city gate this morning and plan to have you apologize at the gravesite on the day of Hao Shaocong’s burial,” the manager of the Sword Casting Shop said.

Zhu Minglang looked surprisedly at Miss Xinghua, who was enjoying a sweet soup beside him.

“Alright, I understand.”

“Please be extra cautious on your journey, Mr. Zhu. That Commander Hao is quite capable and influential. Once you leave the Imperial City, they will do everything in their power to trouble you, especially while you and your team are still within the Imperial City’s territory. If there’s any emergency, you can inform our branches in the various cities, and we will immediately summon experts to assist you,” the manager said.

“Thank you for your concern, but I am currently traveling with elders from the Miao Mountain Sword Sect and Yaoshan Sword Sect. With them present, nothing will happen to me. Please tell my uncle not to worry about me,” Zhu Minglang responded.

“Mr. Zhu, this is a distribution map of our Zhu Sect in various cities, countries, and fortresses across the Supreme Court Courtyard Continent. If you need anything, you can go there,” the manager earnestly said, handing Zhu Minglang a scroll.

Zhu Heavenly Officer was a rough and tumble man who, once his own departed the Imperial City, would act as if he no longer had a son, hardly ever inquiring about him.

Zhu Yushan and Bai Xin were different; there were times they genuinely seemed like Zhu Minglang’s real parents, taking incredibly meticulous care of him.

This map, undoubtedly prepared by Zhu Yushan and Bai Xin, likely was made after they heard that Zhu Minglang would be traveling far and had long since instructed the foreign courts to notify all branches of the Zhu Sect, asking them to keep an eye on his whereabouts and ensure he wouldn’t suffer any indignities in unfamiliar places.

“Okay, you can go back. I won’t have any problems here,” Zhu Minglang said.

“Yes,” the manager replied with a bow, then left the inn.

After the manager left, Zhu Minglang glanced at Miss Xinghua…

“Did you foresee this happening?” Zhu Minglang asked.