"But my master has none of the things you’re talking about," Hei Hu pointed out.

"It won’t be difficult to make Master Guo a constable, as long as he doesn’t feel it’s beneath him. As for Xie Xiaohuan’s arrest warrant, the execution order, and even the official endorsement from the Turkic Kingdom, Mr. Du can arrange it all for Master Guo. It will just take some time," Zhuoyi said.

"As long as I can avenge my son and see Xie Xiaohuan brought to justice, I can endure any indignity. It’s just that..."

Guo Wei knew it wasn’t that simple. If a conflict were to break out, they would need someone from Great Yuan to intervene so that he and his two disciples could get out safely.

"Rest assured, Master Guo. I will travel to the Aika Tribe in my capacity as an Envoy. You just need to buy me enough time," Zhuoyi vowed.

"Master, I think Zhuo’s plan will work."

Chu Lingguang now understood the gist of it.

Zhuoyi would provide Guo Wei with an arrest warrant and an execution order, and even obtain the official endorsement from the Turkic Kingdom.

But preparing all this would take time.

And more importantly, the documents had to be delivered to Guo Wei at the critical moment.

If the situation deteriorated, Zhuoyi would use his status as an Envoy to pressure the Aika Tribe, compelling Mahmoud to back down.

"Words cannot express my gratitude."

Guo Wei cupped his fists toward Zhuoyi and his two companions.

"You’re too kind, Master Guo. If you succeed in apprehending Xie Xiaohuan, it will bring glory to Mr. Du as well."

Zhuoyi was well aware that Guo Wei would be shouldering most of the risk. But if he succeeded, it would be a major accomplishment, and the credit would go to the Du Family.

"I will do my best."

Guo Wei also understood the stakes. He didn’t care for fame or fortune; he only cared that apprehending Xie Xiaohuan would allow him to get Guo Xiaotian out of Wolf Valley Pass sooner.

He had been diligently training Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu, hoping to help them succeed, all so he could receive an official title from the Court, become a Grandmaster, and go to Wolf Valley Pass to secure his son’s release.

’But he knew Guo Xiaotian’s crime was too severe. The Court had already shown great leniency by merely sentencing him to twenty years of military exile. Even if I became a Grandmaster, it might not be enough to get Guo Xiaotian released.’

’But if I could apprehend Xie Xiaohuan, see him brought to justice, and then later become a Grandmaster, Guo Xiaotian would surely be able to leave Wolf Valley Pass.’

’So, the risk was worth taking.’

"Lin Guang, Hei Hu."

"Yes, Master!"

"Are you willing to accompany me to the Aika Tribe?" Guo Wei asked.

"We are, Master!"

Neither Chu Lingguang nor Hei Hu hesitated.

"Good. Once we’re in the Aika Tribe, you must obey my orders, no matter what happens," Guo Wei reminded them.

"Yes, Master!"

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu nodded.

"Everyone, farewell!"

Guo Wei cupped his fists in farewell to Pan Tonghui, Du Juan, and the others.

"Master Guo, we agreed to go together," Du Juan reminded him.

"You should stay and help Lord Zhuo. If all goes well, we’ll see each other in the Aika Tribe!"

Guo Wei knew Zhuoyi needed help.

His original reason for wanting Du Juan and Du Wushuang to come was to guard against Mahmoud playing dirty. However, with diplomatic ties established between the two kingdoms, both Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu held official ranks. Chu Lingguang, in particular, had defeated Samba, and thanks to the Turkic Kingdom’s propaganda, he was practically a junior envoy himself.

Mahmoud’s invitation was primarily to redeem himself from his prior defeat, not to kill them, so Guo Wei wasn’t too concerned about their safety.

He just had to restrain himself from acting rashly when he saw Xie Xiaohuan and wait for the arrest warrant, execution order, and other documents to arrive.

"Juan, Master Guo is right. The arrest warrant, the execution order, and the endorsement from the Turkic Kingdom... we need to pursue all of these at once. I can’t handle it all by myself in time," Zhuoyi added.

"Alright then. We’ll split up."

Du Juan understood the priorities and didn’t insist.

"Let me handle the paperwork with the Turkic Kingdom!" Pan Tonghui offered, wanting to do his part for Guo Wei.

"That’s exactly what I was thinking. There’s no time to waste. Let’s split up now and rendezvous at the Great Yuan Border tomorrow morning."

Zhuoyi was delighted.

This was the Northern Territory.

Mr. Du was in the distant Imperial City, so the arrest warrant and execution order had to be drawn up by local officials here. Pan Tonghui’s help would significantly speed things up.

"Alright!"

"Until then!"

And so, the group parted ways, all working together in concert with Guo Wei.

"HYAH!"

The master and his two disciples charged out of town.

"Little Red, let’s go get Xie Xiaohuan!" Chu Lingguang said to the Little Red Horse he was riding.

Guo Wei and Hei Hu had brought his Little Red Horse along with their own mounts. Now, astride Little Red, Chu Lingguang galloped toward the Turkic Kingdom. The path ahead was perilous, but man and horse charged forward, resolute and undeterred.

"HYAH!"

The three of them galloped out of town.

Jier Khan and his entourage saw the trio approaching from a distance. They were just about to call out a greeting when they saw Chu Lingguang and the others fly past, galloping straight toward the Turkic border.

He immediately led his men in pursuit of them.

Thirty li north of the town lay the territory of the Aika Tribe.

The Aika Tribe’s main settlement, however, was still nearly a hundred li from the border. The master and his disciples followed a river upstream, the path flanked by endless maple trees that stretched all the way to the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Riding Little Red, Chu Lingguang glanced back toward the Great Yuan Border.

The Northern Territory of Great Yuan was protected by the natural barrier of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, but it also shared a border with the Turkic Kingdom across the Thousand-Mile Plain. The small river they followed now snaked its way through that very plain.

The maple trees stretching toward the Hundred Thousand Mountains looked like the transformed souls of soldiers who had fought and died on this land, their battles waged upon the Thousand-Mile Plain.

Silent, yet imposing and profound.