"You didn’t stay idle either. These five years you’ve been away from the Divine Might Army, your senses have become more acute." Long Xiao’s eyes shined brightly as he stared at Chen Shijie. "I had just arrived outside your residence, and you had already sensed me."
The two exchanged a glance and laughed heartily.
They both realized that in the years they were apart, neither had slacked off. Just one eye contact was enough to confirm that they were still the like-minded brothers they used to be!
"Come, let’s talk inside."
The two walked into the main hall side by side.
At this moment, Zhao Xing, who had just finished meditating, also came to the hall entrance. Although he hadn’t heard Long Xiao’s voice, he did hear Chen Shijie’s.
"Mr. Chen, has something happened?"
"No, a guest has arrived. You’re just in time. Come in, I’ll introduce you."
Once inside, Zhao Xing saw Long Xiao beside Chen Shijie and his face showed a hint of surprise.
"Hm?" Long Xiao keenly noticed the change in Zhao Xing’s expression. "Do you seem to recognize me?"
Of course, I recognize him. Divine Firmament Marquis Long Xiao... I even worked under him. But in which year was he conferred Marquis? Wasn’t it during the Jingxin Period? It seemed like it was during the Da Zhi Period?
"I don’t know you. I just feel that your demeanor is overwhelming, like a sharp sword. I’m in awe of your presence." Zhao Xing bowed and quickly composed himself.
Long Xiao nodded and turned to Chen Shijie. "Is this the kid you mentioned? He seems quite ordinary."
Chen Shijie said calmly, "He is still young and has not seen someone as powerful in the Sword Dao as you. If he were to train in the military for a dozen years, you might end up relying on him."
"Oh? Relying on you, the Military Minister of Agriculture Officer, is one thing, but you say I might rely on him?" Long Xiao scrutinized Zhao Xing once more. Initially, he thought Zhao Xing was intimidated by his own presence and seemed ordinary, but after Chen Shijie’s words, he took a closer look and found Zhao Xing’s temperament to be extraordinary.
"Zhao Xing, let me introduce you. This is Yihui Captain Long Xiao of the Divine Might Army, and also my good brother."
"Greetings, General." Zhao Xing bowed. Yihui Captain was a secondary seventh-rank position, meaning Long Xiao was at least a seventh-rank strongman, possibly even higher.
"No need to be so formal, I haven’t resumed my official military position yet. I am only of loose rank." Long Xiao waved his hand.
"Please have a seat," said Chen Shijie.
Zhao Xing bowed and took his seat.
Although he appeared calm on the surface, he was quite astonished inside.
Because the current Yihui Captain Long Xiao and the Divine Firmament Marquis were vastly different.
The current Long Xiao was still somewhat extroverted and cheerful, but the Divine Firmament Marquis was steadfast, reserved, and even somewhat melancholic.
In his past life, Zhao Xing had never heard of Chen Shijie, but now it seemed that Chen Shijie was indeed part of the Divine Might Army.
Long Xiao had reached the rank of Marquis, but Old Chen didn’t even leave his name. Did he die prematurely along the way?
"So, Long Xiao was also part of the Divine Might Army, and his current superior was the Marquis of Divine Might?"
"The Marquis of Divine Might is gone, Old Chen is gone too. This legion seemed to have been wiped out in..." Zhao Xing tried to recall, but he couldn’t remember at the moment. After all, by the time he was undertaking missions, the Divine Might Army no longer existed.
"You haven’t mentioned how you managed to get here so quickly from Xier County. From the day you received the letter, even if you took the military’s Dragon Head Tower Ship, you wouldn’t have been able to arrive this fast." Chen Shijie’s words suddenly reminded Zhao Xing. ’Peaceful Barbarian Six Counties,’ ’Xier County’ brought back some memories for him.
But he wasn’t quite sure, so he decided to listen more.
Long Xiao laughed. "I didn’t take the Dragon Head Tower Ship. I borrowed the path from the Li Fire Taoist School, first arriving at Dayuan Prefecture, then to Nanyang County."
"How about it? Brother, was I considerate enough? Borrowing the Fire Element Dao, after we return, I’ll have to travel eighty thousand li to repay the favor I owe to that Master Li Fire."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xing instinctively used his Five Elements Observation and took a look at Long Xiao. He saw that there was a faint but extremely high-quality Fire Element Power enveloping his body.
If his level were higher, he might even see that this Fire Element Power could form a divine statue’s pattern.
Watching naturally didn’t escape Long Xiao’s senses. Curiously, he asked, "Kid, did you understand?"
"I understood," Zhao Xing bowed and said. "The general mentioned borrowing the Fire Element Dao, which means using the Li Fire Altar of the Li Fire Taoist School. Through an extraordinary Fire Escape Array, you instantly traveled from Xier County, thousands of miles away, to the Li Fire Branch in Dayuan Prefecture."
"Correct." Long Xiao nodded slightly. "Do you know why I need to travel eighty thousand li to return?"
Zhao Xing continued, "Since it’s borrowing, you have to repay it. The Master Li Fire worshipped by the Li Fire Taoist School was a person from ancient times. He feared that his disciples couldn’t guard the Li Fire Altar, so he cast a grand spell and made a vow to the heavens and earth."
"Whoever uses the Li Fire Altar, after the journey, must, without using any mana and relying purely on their physical body alone, travel twice the distance they borrowed the Fire Path from."
"The general borrowed it for a round trip, which is about forty thousand li. Therefore, after using the path, he must travel eighty thousand li to repay the Path of Master Li Fire."
"Not bad, you have some knowledge." Long Xiao was a bit surprised. A mere Minister of Agriculture Officer could know about the matters of Great Zhou’s seventy-two Taoist Schools, which was enough to show his extensive reading. In this regard, he at least met the requirements of the Military Minister of Agriculture Officer.
Knowing the world and worldly matters meant they could quickly adapt to any place they arrived.
And the Military Minister of Agriculture Officer’s quick adaptation to a new environment meant that the army he was in could quickly adapt and gain a foothold.
"I’ve always told you not to underestimate him." Chen Shijie smiled. "Youth doesn’t mean lack of knowledge."
"Hahaha, indeed." Long Xiao laughed heartily. "However, this kid is too rigid, why keep calling me general? I already said, I haven’t resumed my old position. Just call me Brother Long."
Zhao Xing didn’t know what to say. It was purely seeing Long Xiao that had triggered certain habits.
Then Long Xiao pointed at Chen Shijie. "And call him, Chen Laoer."
Seeing Zhao Xing’s somewhat stunned look, Chen Shijie coldly laughed. "Trying to take advantage of me? Once we return to the army, I’ll make sure you experience some hunger pangs!"
"Hahaha, I was wrong, I was wrong. I admit it." Long Xiao laughed, trying to brush it off. "Brother Chen, Big Brother Chen, you’re the greatest, let’s talk about the main issue."
"Now that I’ve arrived twenty days earlier than planned, and I guarantee no one knows, can we help you capture the Xuantian Sect base in this area?"