Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1373 - 444: Ancient Zither in Hand, True Colors Revealed, the Landgrave’s Attention

The elder clad in black, positioned behind Cai Mengya, could no longer remain passive. He emerged from his spot and addressed Xia Hong, presenting what he intended as a courteous intervention.

Upon his conclusion, Cai Mengya displayed a hint of girlish bashfulness, as though a personal secret had been unintentionally disclosed.

"Your designation is... Bai Jiangyuan, a sworn retainer of the Cai Family. It was at the City Lord Mansion's banquet that night; if my memory serves, Lord Cai introduced you to me, did he not?"

The elder in black, identified as Bai Jiangyuan, promptly inclined his head and joined his hands in a gesture of respect. Xia Hong's initially placid tone had fostered misguided assumptions within him, prompting a subtle smile to grace his lips.

However, in the subsequent moment, Xia Hong's demeanor underwent a drastic shift, his voice hardening: "Who do you deem yourself to be? Daring to audaciously meddle in my marital arrangements? Given my might, my standing, and my recognized position within your Cai Qiu Feudal Town, is there anyone I cannot wed, or anyone who would refuse my proposal? You truly harbor a delusion of being worthy of marrying me!"

Xia Hong directed his final query specifically towards Cai Mengya.

Upon hearing these words, Cai Mengya's demure facade faltered. She lifted her gaze to meet Xia Hong's, her complexion instantly suffusing with crimson, overwhelmed by a profound sense of shame and fury. Veering her head away, she vehemently commanded Bai Jiangyuan beside her, "Slay him! Eliminate him for me! I desire his demise, his utter annihilation..."

Her true nature revealed, is this the extent of it?

Recalling his initial interactions and his feigned compliance with this woman's machinations, Xia Hong felt a wave of revulsion. He then turned his attention to Bai Jiangyuan, who was now advancing towards him, his expression a mixture of utter speechlessness.

This Cai Yunzhou places immense value on appearances!

"Prince Hong, when one is away from their homeland, a measure of restraint is expected. Bai is perhaps several years your senior; allow me to impart some wisdom today..."

"Silence!"

Xia Hong, his patience utterly spent on Bai Jiangyuan's platitudes, drew his sword without hesitation and unleashed a swift strike in his direction.

Whoosh......

The blade's trajectory was aimed directly at the elder's chest. Witnessing Xia Hong's audacious defiance, Bai Jiangyuan's countenance flickered with indignation. He drew the substantial saber from his hip and executed a powerful slash, its crimson edge meeting Xia Hong's sword with resounding force.

Among the esteemed retainers of the Cai Family, their numbers barely exceeded twenty across all of Cai Qiu. Bai Jiangyuan stood as one of their most formidable. The title of retainer was not a mere badge of honor; it was a concrete symbol of their inherent strength.

His martial power registered at seventeen Jun. In the entirety of Qinghua City, only the City Lord himself, Cai Yunzhou, surpassed his might. This foreign princely heir, a mere novice despite the City Lord's invitation, possessed no right to display such arrogance in his presence!

Bang......

Every calculation and presumption Bai Jiangyuan held evaporated the instant his saber clashed with Xia Hong's sword. Concurrently, his aged, weathered face froze in disbelief.

The blazing red saber slash, delivered with Bai Jiangyuan's full commitment, disintegrated like fragile parchment against Xia Hong's sword edge, vanishing within mere moments.

Following its disintegration, the residual force of the sword strike slammed violently into Bai Jiangyuan's chest, emitting a thunderous impact.

Bai Jiangyuan mustered all his strength to anchor his footing, preventing himself from being propelled backward. Nevertheless, the sword qi had lacerated the flesh of his chest, penetrating deep to assail his internal organs and even his bones.

"Puh..."

A gout of crimson blood erupted from his lips. Bai Jiangyuan's already pallid visage seemed to age further, etched with additional lines of decay. He looked up once more at Xia Hong before him, his expression mirroring the shock and terror witnessed moments prior on Lu Xinghai and Meng Zizhou, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, Lu Meng, still clutching their severed appendages, observed Bai Jiangyuan's swift defeat with a single sword strike. Their expressions contorted with even greater dread, daring not to utter a single sound.

"You presume to rely on your age before me? Are you truly qualified?"

Xia Hong's sharp retort struck like lightning, causing Bai Jiangyuan's trio, along with Cai Mengya, whose senses had now returned, to shudder profoundly.

Perceiving the raw fear etched onto their faces, Xia Hong's disdain intensified. He then glanced at Cai Mengya, shaking his head and emitting a laugh born of pure exasperation. "I address Lord Cai as 'Uncle' out of deference to his years, not his strength. Allowing you to refer to me as 'Brother Hong' is merely to spare Lord Cai some face; otherwise, with your meager strength of thirty-one Jun, you wouldn't even qualify to be my attendant..."

Xia Hong's arrogance reached its zenith. The contempt and haughtiness woven into his words, coupled with his imposing gaze that seemed to survey all beneath him, instilled a nascent sense of inadequacy in Cai Mengya, compelling her to slowly lower her head.

"Lacking strength, one should adopt humility and bow low. Provoking an unfathomable entity only invites your own ruin. The Ice Abyss is hardly wanting for feudal towns such as Cai Qiu. Were the Landgrave himself present, I would show due deference, but you, who are you to command such respect?"

With a frigid snort, Xia Hong's eyes inadvertently swept towards the west. Suddenly, they transformed into a brilliant beacon of light, streaking directly towards the southwest, the direction of Qinghua City.

A prolonged silence fell upon the four individuals, their faces etched with evident fear and shock stemming from Xia Hong’s pronouncements.

"City Lord!"

"City Lord..."

After more than ten breaths, a figure in white appeared discreetly to the left. This was Cai Yunzhou, the City Lord Xia Hong had just named. Bai Jiangyuan, Lu, and Meng immediately offered a respectful bow.

"Father..."

Cai Mengya, the last to notice his arrival, was the first to break down emotionally. With her father present, she found a source of support and cried out, collapsing into his embrace.

Observing his cherished daughter weeping profusely, Cai Yunzhou felt a pang of sadness. He gently patted her back and softly exhorted, "During last month’s banquet, I already informed you. Are there truly any fools among the influential clans and vassals? This Hong Yu might appear dull-witted, but he is incredibly sharp. He saw through your little schemes but chose not to speak. If someone like him could truly be manipulated by you, would his elders have permitted him to come here?"

"Father, the Lord Landgrave already stated that around the Moao River, there is scarcely any Great Qin Feudal Town. This Hong Yu is lying; that supposed Great Qin Feudal Town must be a fabrication of his..."

Cai Mengya turned her head, directing her gaze towards Xia Hong’s retreating form, her eyes glinting with a touch of hysterical animosity. She continued, "Father, did you hear what he just said? Hong Yu's arrogance is outrageous; he doesn't even show you respect. You must strike..."

"There was nothing incorrect in what he stated!"

Cai Yunzhou abruptly cut his daughter short with a deep, resonant voice.

Cai Mengya froze upon hearing this, and Bai Jiangyuan, Meng Zizhou, along with Lu Xinghai, also halted, their expressions bewildered. They looked at Cai Yunzhou, filled with confusion.

They were uncertain which of Xia Hong’s declarations Cai Yunzhou was referring to.

"He said respecting my age rather than my strength, and there was no issue with those words. The night we entered the city, it was I who was defeated..."

Bang!

Cai Yunzhou’s words instantly stirred a tempest in the hearts of Cai Mengya and the trio. Their pupils dilated; they stared at Cai Yunzhou, confirming he wasn't fabricating the truth, and their expressions trembled uncontrollably.

Although the outcome of the confrontation outside the city gates the previous month remained unknown to everyone.

Yet, within the entirety of Qinghua City, not a single soul would have dared to assume Cai Yunzhou had lost, nor would they likely have believed it was even a draw.

After all, this was Cai Yunzhou!

The Cai Qiu Sword Saint, one of the Moao River’s Four Vassals, ranked among the top fifty in Xianyang Level strength, was unexpectedly defeated by the obscure Hong Yu.

How could this possibly be?

Even Cai Yunzhou himself required considerable time to reconcile with the reality of his defeat. Taking a deep breath, he turned to his daughter and the trio of Bai Jiangyuan. He opened his mouth solemnly, "Although the Lord Landgrave personally confirmed last month that no feudal town named Great Qin exists around the Moao River, he also mentioned that the Ice Abyss is vast. Who truly knows the circumstances in other regions?"

"This Hong Yu is young, yet he possesses such terrifying strength. Who knows what his true background entails? As long as he does not cause disruption within Cai Qiu, we need not concern ourselves with him. Since it is but a journey, he will eventually depart. Simply keep a close watch on him and prevent any incidents."

After uttering these words, Cai Yunzhou paused, appearing as though he intended to say more. However, noticing the animosity flashing in his daughter’s eyes, the words remained unsaid.

"Should he dare to cause trouble and stir up adversity, I, as Landgrave, will personally deal with him. Just monitor his movements at all times!"

Recalling the words of the Lord Landgrave, Cai Yunzhou shook his head. He understood his youngest daughter’s temperament intimately; having been overly indulged since childhood, she was incapable of tolerating perceived injustices. If the Lord Landgrave's words were conveyed to her, it was likely that even more mischief would ensue afterward.