Everyone was careful and on guard that night. Fortunately, the night passed uneventfully. At dawn, the group of them departed from Ding Lin Country and rushed toward Nan Xia Country as fast as they could.
Along the old rugged trails, a fleet of carriages rushed towards Nan Xia Country. This fleet consisted of Ling Chuxi, Ling Yichen, Baili Han, the envoy and the rest returning home after their great victory. The flag of Nan Xia Country was raised above each carriage and they all whipped in the wind as the carriages were pulled onwards. The brass bells on the horses emitted a crisp pleasant tinkling sound to the ears. However, the atmosphere within each of the carriages in the fleet was obviously a little depressing.
Even Li Shaoqiu the chatterbox kept his silence and did not talk. He trained his gaze to observe the outside of the carriage and was on alert at all times. Ding Lin Country had even dared to strike Shang Yuan Country for the sake of stabilizing their status as the sovereign state. How was it possible that they would just allow them to go back to Nan Xia Country peacefully?
Their hearts were hung up on hooks of fear and worry the entire journey. But what was shocking was that nothing actually happened.
Soon they could see the border checkpoint right up ahead. An army of soldiers rushed forward rapidly from it with their horses in free rein when they saw the flags of Nan Xia Country on the carriages from afar. With the reception fit for the triumphant return of a hero, the soldiers escorted the fleet of carriages past the border checkpoint and into their home country. The news of Ling Chuxi and the others winning the assessment competition in one swoop had already travelled back to the country. The soldiers guarding the borders had already been waiting for many days to welcome them home.
The soldiers flanked both sides of the carriages in neat formations and raised their weapons high. As they rode past the borders, each of the soldiers unleashed a majestic battle cry and erupted in cheers to express what was in their hearts in their own way to pay tribute to the heroes they were escorting back home.
Looking at the faces of the soldiers swept with wind and frost bearing expressions ranging from excitement to stoicism to emotional and tearing as she listened to their rough battle cries, even Ling Chuxi lamented alongside them. A sense of belonging surged in her heart.
Once they were past the border, they took a short break. Then the group of them continued their journey, heading towards the capital. After the soldiers had sent them off, they returned to their positions at the border checkpoints and resumed their guarding duties firmly.
Upon leaving the borders of Nan Xia Country well in the distance, only then did the suspenseful hearts of those travelling as part of this fleet finally return to normal.
“That crow’s beak. How fortunate that he isn’t spot on this time. Wait till we get back to the capital, I am going to eat a big and proper meal.” Once the looming threat had passed, Li Shaoqiu became lively again. Li Shaoqiu who was used to a life of luxury had tasted much bitterness for the past few days since he had to eat and sleep out in the windy open.
Ling Chuxi gave a noncommittal laugh. The uneasiness in her heart grew even stronger. It was definitely impossible for Ding Lin Country to just give up like that. The later they struck meant that the more dangerous it would be for them.
“Be rest assured. We are already on Nan Xia Country grounds and there are soldiers heavily guarding the border checkpoints back there. No matter how powerful Ding Lin Country is, they wouldn’t dare cross over to Nan Xia Country just to murder people like that, right?” Li Shaoqiu said as he looked at the serious expressions on the faces of Ling Chuxi and the rest.
Ling Chuxi smiled indifferently. The checkpoints were indeed heavily guarded by soldiers but that was merely a moat of difficulty for ordinary people to get past. Such security details were nothing but decorations for any expert in the realm of Great Fulfilment. But Ling Chuxi did not say anything further. Even if she did, it would only increase the worries of Li Shaoqiu and the others and would not change anything substantial. What was supposed to come would eventually come. And when it did, she would not be able to hide from it even if she tried. Why make everyone else worried and frightened now?
The thundering sound of horse hooves drifted over to them from ahead and soon enough a small troop approached them.
As the troop drew near, the fatigued-looking young man who was leading it dismounted his horse and walked over to them quickly to welcome them.
Ling Chuxi was shocked as she saw the tired young man before her eyes. Why was he here? It must have been a long journey for him to get here. It was none other than the First Prince!
“Your Highness, the First Prince!” greeted the envoy and the rest of the group as they immediately bowed down to him.
“Oh, there’s no need to be so courteous. There’s no need for all that. I specially came out here to welcome all of you and wash the dust off you,” said The First Prince boldly with a smile.
Seeing all the dust on the fatigued First Prince touched the hearts of the envoy and the rest until their faces were flushed red. His Highness, the First Prince who had the highest hope of inheriting the throne had actually come to personally welcome them. If it was not for Ling Chuxi, Ling Yichen and Baili Han getting the championship in one swoop, the rest of them would not have experienced such an honor in their lifetimes.