Chapter 329: Exotic
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Of course, most importantly, he wanted to stay out of danger!
Fang Zhengzhi was never fond of taking risks. Even though people said that breakthroughs were more likely on the brink of death...
He always thought that it was a death wish.
If you always walked along the river, your shoes were bound to get wet.
Fang Zhengzhi felt that the safest way was to stay away from danger. He wanted to spectate the battles and gain understanding that way.
Okay then...
Since he could not think of anything now, he would just start moving first. It would not help if he just sat in the restaurant. It was much more effective to walk 10,000 miles than to read 10,000 books.
This was the idea he was applying to this situation.
"Waiter, bill please!"
"Thank you!"
After he left the restaurant, Fang Zhengzhi found the camp of the general.
Solemn soldiers guarded the perimeter. As the general of the border, he had quite a number of men under him.
All of the soldiers wore gleaming armor.
"Who are you? How dare you trespass this camp?!" One of the guards raised his hand to intercept Fang Zhengzhi.
Fang Zhengzhi was in no mood to explain. He took out his official stamp and waved it in front of the guard.
"Greetings Sword Envoy!"
"Bring me to your general."
"Your honor, please wait a moment. Let me announce your arrival!"
"Mm." Fang Zhengzhi nodded. Even though a rank four official was not much to be proud of in the capital, he was one of the most high ranking personnel here.
Before long, the general in black armor walked out. He was in his forties, his eyes small. It looked like he had two threads for eyes.
"I am General Yu Tianfeng, may I know if you are Sword Envoy Fang?" Yu Tianfeng asked as he walked to Fang Zhengzhi.
"Yes." Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
"It is an honor. I have heard much about your exploits in the court. You are young and talented. I did not believe some of the stories I heard, but now I do. Congratulations on topping the theory examination. I wonder what Sword Envoy Fang needs from us?"
"I need to borrow soldiers."
"Borrow soldiers? Erm... based on what I know, Sword Envoy Fang is not in the military. Why do you need the soldiers?"
"I need 2000 to participate in the combat examinations."
"Haha, I have heard about you missing the combat examination. It is saddening for me as well. Normally, 2000 soldiers would not be a problem, but, you know... this is not a good time." Yu Tianfeng hesitated.
"Why?"
"All I can say is that the entire border is on heightened awareness. I do not have enough soldiers myself. If I lend you some and lose the position as a result... I will be executed!"
"I understand, goodbye." Fang Zhengzhi nodded and did not say any more.
"Where is Sword Envoy Fang going? Since you’ve already missed the combat examination, why don’t you rest here for a few days? I will host you."
"No thanks, I have to go back to the capital to get soldiers." Fang Zhengzhi waved him off and left.
"I see, then I will not delay your trip any longer!" Yu Tianfeng smirked as he looked at Fang Zhengzhi walk into the distance.
Go back to the capital?!
Even if you do, you may not be able to get soldiers!
"General, should we send people to follow him? Prevent him from going into the Southern Mountain Range?" One of his lieutenants whispered as he watched Fang Zhengzhi’s silhouette disappear.
"No need for that. Without soldiers, he would not be able to do anything in the Southern Mountain Range. Furthermore, he has incurred the wrath of the Emperor by missing the combat examination. By returning to the capital, he is finding trouble for himself. There is no way he will get any soldiers. He will not be able to participate this time!"
"Then... should we report this to King Duan?"
"Mm, send a message to King Duan. Tell him that Fang Zhengzhi tried to borrow soldiers from me but I did not give him anything. Then tell him that Fang Zhengzhi may return to the capital. Give King Duan time to prepare."
"Okay, I understand."
...
There was no way Fang Zhengzhi was going to go back to the capital to levy soldiers.
His lack of troops was his biggest disadvantage right now. This prevented him from participating in the combat examinations and protect his territory.
Wu Yuer had completely f*cked him over.
He had lost the initiative.
Since she was going to let him go anyways, why bother catching him? Crazy b*tch!
Fang Zhengzhi had no idea what Wu Yuer was thinking. Maybe she did not want him to participate in the combat examinations. However, her actions showed that she had expected this outcome.
She even prepared the map.
So what was the reason?
Hang on...
The map...
Fang Zhengzhi took out the map Wu Yuer had prepared for him. Even though it was quite badly constructed, the spots were all labelled clearly.
Yan Ya, Shi Zun, Thunderous Lion, Icy Monkey...
He could not go there right now.
After all, those four places were probably the most dangerous and complicated in the entire Southern Mountain Range.
There were 100,000 soldiers from the Great Xia Dynasty. There would also be troops from the Southern Mountain Range and possibly the demons.
He did not even have a single soldier under his command.
He would be sending himself to his death if he went to any of these four locations.
What about the Sagely Mountain City?
Fang Zhengzhi’s eyes brightened. The Sagely Mountain City was the capital of the Southern Mountain Region. If he went there, he would be able to immerse himself into the culture. That sounded like quite a good idea.
However, he did not really know the Southern Mountain Range well. To go straight to the Sagely Mountain Village would be overly ambitious.
He had to understand the area first.
He would understand it from the outskirts.
Of course, Fang Zhengzhi had decided that... if he couldn’t participate in the combat examinations... he would just forget about it!
He would just take this as an overseas holiday.
The stress in Fang Zhengzhi’s heart disappeared in an instant. Since he was going on a trip, he had to prepare for it. He did not leave the city instantly, choosing to shop for clothes at a nearby store.
"Do you have any ethnic clothes?"
Fang Zhengzhi asked as he entered the shop.
"Ethnic? You found the right place! We have ethnic and exotic clothes in abundance!" The shopkeeper’s eyes brightened when he heard this.
"Bring me two sets." Fang Zhengzhi replied generously.
"Okay, just wait a moment." The shopkeeper ran into the shop and carried out a pile of clothes.
"What is this?" Fang Zhengzhi had really thought he had come to the right place. However, he could not understand what he was seeing.
"They’re clothes!"
"Are these for men or for women?"
"I didn’t know you were into that. These are all for women, but, if you like males... ahem, I have some inside!"
"Scram!" Fang Zhengzhi raged.
Who is this?
He was so handsome, why would he be into that?
"Young Master, please do not get angry. If you do not like these mediocre products, I have some valuable ones inside. They are truly exotic. There are those for the avant garde, or the passionate. Furthermore..."
"I want what they wear in the Southern Mountain Range!"
"Ah? That’s quite difficult. The people in the Southern Mountain Range don’t wear clothes."
"Don’t wear clothes?" Fang Zhengzhi was shocked by this. Why wouldn’t they wear clothes? Did they walk around naked?
"Yes, they wear leather and use leaves to cover their privates. If you want that, I have a few leather pieces inside. However, you will have to get the leaves yourself."
"Give me two!"
"Okay, I will get you two superior leather clothing."
Fang Zhengzhi’s Heart Protection Mirror now contained two additional leather robes. One was with leopard prints, the other with white tiger prints.
It was rather domineering.
Fang Zhengzhi was pleased with this.
Then, Fang Zhengzhi began to turn. He had to prepare food and other necessities for the trek.
There were many people who would leave the gate to hunt in the Southern Mountain Range. As such, the things he needed were quite easy to find.
He had everything he needed.
Fang Zhengzhi did not waste anymore time.
He used the leather to mask his face, then barged through one of the gates.
As to why he barged...
The reason was simple. He did not have any permit to pass through nor the right to heart. It would be impossible for him to get out without revealing his identity. As such, he had to use violence.
After exiting the gates, he was chased for a distance before he finally managed to melt right into the woods.
He found a place to change his clothes. He placed his blue long sleeved shirt in his Heart Protection Mirror, donning the leopard prints in its place.
He recalled Shan Jia’s dressing back on Cang Ling Mountain. He found a few branches and made a hat.
Then, he ruffled his hair.
He thought that he was doing quite a good job of assimilating.
Mm...
Quite exotic indeed.
He wondered how the women here dressed. He looked at the vast green mountains in front of him. He wondered if he would see anything of interest.