All Xie Xiaohuan had to do was hide his identity. Given the political climate between Great Yuan and the Turkic Kingdom at the time, the Court’s forces would never have been able to capture him.

Yet, it was at that very moment that Xie Xiaohuan handed over the Day and Night Breathing Technique to the Turkic Kingdom.

It was hard not to suspect that Xie Xiaohuan had done it for both protection and personal wealth and glory.

Guo Wei had said that when he went to the Turkic Kingdom to apprehend Xie Xiaohuan, Xie Xiaohuan was constantly hiding within a Turkic Prince’s Mansion.

From this, it wasn’t hard to imagine that Xie Xiaohuan had leaked the Day and Night Breathing Technique in order to pledge his allegiance to that Prince.

For his own selfish desires, he had nearly doomed the entire Guo Family.

At this thought, everyone couldn’t help but clench their fists, a suffocating rage building within them with no outlet.

After all, Xie Xiaohuan and Guo Xiaotian were sworn brothers. To help Xie Xiaohuan succeed in the imperial examinations, Guo Xiaotian had risked teaching him the Day and Night Breathing Technique. Yet, for the sake of wealth and glory, Xie Xiaohuan had betrayed that trust, disregarded whether Guo Xiaotian lived or died, and handed the technique over to a Turkic Prince.

A man like that deserved a public execution. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Master, I’ll go with you to find Xie Xiaohuan and get revenge for the Young Master!"

Chu Lingguang blurted out, unable to restrain himself.

"That damned animal! Master, my junior brother is right."

Hei Hu seethed with righteous indignation.

"You think I don’t want to kill him? But Jier Khan insisted on waiting until you emerged from the Trial Ground to invite us, even going so far as to use Xie Xiaohuan as bait. If we actually go..."

Guo Wei knew he would be walking into a lion’s den.

"Master, it’s only been three years since Great Yuan and the Turkic Kingdom established diplomatic relations. Mahmoud is insisting on gathering the three of us—master and disciples—for one reason only: to get revenge for Samba. I am confident that the young warriors of the Aika Tribe are no match for me."

Chu Lingguang knew Guo Wei wanted to go.

After such a great humiliation and with such a deep-seated hatred, Guo Wei couldn’t possibly turn a blind eye.

His master had traveled a great distance with Hei Hu to meet him and had even guided his training from afar. Going with him to the Aika Tribe to help him vent this long-held frustration was the least he could do.

What worried Chu Lingguang now was that Xie Xiaohuan was just a ruse. It was possible Guo Wei would be making this trip for nothing.

’And if Xie Xiaohuan really is at the Aika Tribe waiting for the three of them, does that mean they’re supposed to kill him on sight?’

If this journey still ended with Xie Xiaohuan getting away scot-free, even Chu Lingguang would feel an unbearable sense of injustice.

But Chu Lingguang didn’t want to overthink it right now.

’Guo Wei is getting old, and this resentment has been festering for years. I have to help him release it, no matter what. Even if Master loses control and kills Xie Xiaohuan on the spot—even if we’re besieged by the Aika Tribe’s experts because of it—I have to give him the confidence he needs. I have to let him know that no matter how dangerous it gets, his disciple will charge through it with him.’

Guo Wei took a long swig of strong liquor, sitting without an immediate reply. He understood Chu Lingguang’s determination, of course. ’Capturing Xie Xiaohuan is the only way my son can finally leave Wolf Valley Pass.’

’But on their turf, even if I see Xie Xiaohuan, I’ll probably have to swallow my anger... unless I go alone.’

’However, Jier Khan specifically requested that we go as master and disciples. If I go alone, Mahmoud will surely know beforehand, and I’ll never even get a glimpse of Xie Xiaohuan.’

"Master Guo, how about you let me go with you?"

Du Juan said suddenly.

"Master Guo, and me,"

Du Wushuang added quickly, as if he’d just had an idea.

Zhuoyi frowned for a moment before his eyes lit up as a thought struck him. "Master Guo, Juan is a member of the Royal Family and Relatives, and Wushuang holds an official post. If they accompany the three of you, it would be the equivalent of an official visit to the Turkic Kingdom on behalf of Great Yuan. Even if Mahmoud is plotting something, he wouldn’t dare act recklessly."

"Xie Xiaohuan committed treason for personal gain; he’s a fugitive wanted by the Court. If Master Guo captures him, you would be upholding justice on the Court’s behalf."

As he spoke, Pan Tonghui took out a Black Armor Token and handed it to Guo Wei. "Master Guo, with this token, you are acting under the authority of the Black Armored Army to eliminate the traitor, Xie Xiaohuan. If the people of the Aika Tribe dare to make things difficult for you, show them this token. I will report to my superiors and lead the Black Armored Army to the border to support you from there!"

"General Pan, I absolutely cannot accept this!"

Guo Wei was overwhelmed by the gesture.

With the Black Armor Order in hand, he would have the legitimate authority to capture, or even execute, Xie Xiaohuan. But the Court and the Turkic Kingdom had only just established diplomatic ties. This matter was a delicate one; if mishandled, it could ignite a war between the two nations and implicate Pan Tonghui as well.

For that reason, Guo Wei did not accept the Black Armor Order.

Pan Tonghui was about to say more when Zhuoyi cut in, "General Pan, if Master Guo were to use the Black Armor Order to apprehend Xie Xiaohuan within the Aika Tribe, it would be equivalent to the Black Armored Army invading Turkic territory. A single misstep could trigger a war between our nations. However, your method, General, has given me an idea."

Zhuoyi rose and paced a few steps. "General Pan was right," he said. "Xie Xiaohuan is a criminal wanted by the Court. As long as Master Guo has the proper status, he can apprehend Xie Xiaohuan and enact justice on the Court’s behalf. And that status... is a constable!"

"When Great Yuan and the Turkic Kingdom established relations, they signed several treaties and decrees. These explicitly forbid the military forces of either nation from crossing into the other’s territory at will.

The Black Armored Army falls under that military category.

But while Master Guo cannot enter as a member of the Black Armored Army, he *can* enter as a constable of Great Yuan. As long as you can produce the arrest warrant for Xie Xiaohuan, an enforcement decree from our Court, and written approval from the Turkic Kingdom, then even if you kill Xie Xiaohuan on the spot, it will be perfectly legitimate."