The soldiers walked out of the dark and terrifying dense forest, passed through the dark and deep tunnel, and returned to the familiar and warm encampment. They could finally put down their guard and let out a long sigh of relief.
Everyone couldn't help but reveal a happy smile.
It was the same for Yang Xu.
Standing on the wide platform, Yang Xu looked down at the world that was still bright in the middle of the night. Even though it was not his first time at the west sea outpost, Yang Xu could not help but be amazed by the uncanny workmanship of nature.
It was too spectacular!
He still couldn't understand the special ores on the ceiling and why they could emit light and heat like the sun.
The most amazing thing was that these ores seemed to be able to sense the rotation of the sun and moon.
The heat and light emitted by the ore were the most intense during the day. Although it still emitted a faint light at night, it is evident that the light had become much weaker.
Yang Xu sighed and turned to Yun Xiao, "Start the fire immediately. Let the soldiers eat and drink. Have a good rest tonight."
They had crossed mountains and ravines all night long. Even with Yang Xu's strengthened body, he couldn't help but feel tired, let alone the others.
"Yes, your majesty." Yun Xiao replied respectfully and led the soldiers down the corridor in an orderly manner.
Everything in the Great Xu nation belonged to the king.
The subjects did not have personal property, or it could be said that their personal property came from the king's gift. Clothes, houses, and everything else came from the king's reward. Therefore, whether it was the army or the ordinary people, they all ate from a large pot.
The fifty of them formed a group and started a fire to start a meal.
Even the commanders were the same.
The only difference was that the commanders could enjoy better treatment and more abundant food.
At this moment, the soldiers were famished. Although they were both mentally and physically exhausted, they were still thrilled to hear that the fire had started. Who could refuse a sumptuous meal?
Everyone was talking and laughing, talking about what they had seen on the road and the interesting things that happened in their families as they walked towards the camp.
As the king, Yang Xu naturally didn't need to walk down the path.
Four azure bird clansmen carried a wooden palanquin and flew up.
The palanquin was similar to a sedan, but there was a slight difference. The palanquin had no roof and looked like a chair, similar to the difference between an open-top car and an ordinary car.
However, Yang Xu's chair was different. The wood used was very precious, strong, and durable. It also emitted a light incense that could soothe the mind. The chair was covered with soft animal skin from a fierce beast that could breathe fire. The animal skin of this kind of fierce beast was as soft as the clouds, and it felt like the skin of a young girl when touched. It was extremely good to touch.
The back of the chair and the armrest were exquisitely carved. There were some beautiful flowers, and the workmanship was particularly exquisite.
Yang Xu sat on the palanquin, and the four azure bird carried it and flew down.
The speed was not considered fast and it was very stable. Yang Xu could hardly feel any shaking. It was as if they were taking a scenic elevator down.
However, it was better than the scenic elevator, where one could feel the charm of nature. For example, the gentle mountain wind that blew in his face, or the gentle brush of a beautiful woman's hand.
When he arrived at the mountain's base, Qing Luan had been waiting for him for a long time.
She still had the appearance of a green phoenix and did not transform into a human.
The moment they met, Qing Luan began to criticize Yang Xu.
She clenched the handle of the sedan and glared at Yang Xu's handsome face. She didn't give him any chance to explain and scolded, "We still don't know how terrifying and strange the night in the wilderness is."
"It's a great taboo to march at night, and no one has broken this taboo for many years. As the king of the Great Xu country, the master of this country, and the leader that we serve, you don't know how to love yourself. I, I am very disappointed."
The Qing Luan was furious as if it wanted to use its sharp beak to teach Yang Xu a bloody lesson and let him understand how worrying his actions were.
Yang Xu knew he was wrong, so he didn't argue.
After all, the late-night march had made the Great Xu nation pay a painful price, which was why he had set this rule.
However, as the country's king, he would not easily recognize the wrong person.
He grabbed Qing Luan and rubbed her head. He changed the topic and teased, "What, are you worried about me?"
Qing Luan flew into a rage out of embarrassment, and it flapped its powerful wings to break free from Yang Xu's demonic claws. It was so embarrassing that its voice trembled, "Who would worry about you? Dream on, you're such a smug. I, I'm just worried about our soldiers. Yes, I'm just worried about them. There's also Zi Yue,"
At this moment, Qing Qiu Zi Yue had already jumped down from the platform. She removed the heavy equipment and climbed like an agile monkey up the cliff. She was just as fast as Yang Xu.
When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, Qing Qiu Zi Yue happened to hear Qing Luan's words.
She let out a joyful cheer and rushed over as fast as lightning. She hugged the Qing Luan, who had stopped two meters in front of Yang Xu. Qing Qiu Zi Yue buried Qing Luan's head, almost suffocating her. She said happily, "Qing Luan is the best. You know how to care for others. Of course nothing will happen to me."
Qing Qiu Zi Yue hugged Qing Luan happily, but her slender arms had a terrifying strength that almost strangled the phoenix to death.
Yang Xu looked at the two of them playing around and got off the palanquin with a smile.
"Take me to a bath and change my clothes. Prepare supper for me," he ordered as he stretched.
Although he couldn't wait to know who the outsiders were and why they could speak Chinese, he was still very curious.
However, after four years of hard work, Yang Xu was no longer the reckless young man he used to be.
He knew very well that no matter what he did, being impatient would not solve the problem. A calm mind and a body filled with energy would help him think and solve the problem.
He needed to rest for a while to relieve his fatigue and ensure that he was in good condition.
Yang Xu changed the topic and asked about the outsiders, "Where are the outsiders we caught today?"
Qing Luan broke free from Qing Qiu Zi Yue's embrace and clutched her fox ears tightly with her claws, causing Qing Qiu Zi Yue to cry out in pain as revenge. She replied, "They're locked up in a cave behind the encampment. They're being watched."
"Take them to shower and change, " Yang Xu said, "Bring them to see me later."
He paused for a moment, and a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes. He continued, "Prepare a new set of clothes for them and send over everything they have on them."
If he wanted to understand these outsiders, he didn't need to talk to them. He could find a lot of clues from the things on them.
Although he had never seen an outsider before, he could deduce a lot of information from their clothes and items.
Qing Yuan didn't understand why Yang Xu wanted their clothes and items, but she still agreed.
She let go of the howling Qing Qiu Zi Yue and spread her wings to fly toward the cave at the back of the encampment.
The cave's interior was a huge stone chamber, four meters high and five meters wide.
The surrounding walls were polished quite smoothly, but there were still traces of sharp claws on the smooth walls.
This was once the place where the west sea outpost used to imprison the ferals. The tamed ferals were locked up in a more spacious and bright breeding farm and had not been used for some time.
The entrance of the cave was a wooden fence.
Thick trees were tied together with vines and other things, and with the traditional mortises and tenons of the East, they formed a solid wooden door that could withstand the attack of ordinary fierce beasts. There was a palm-sized gap between the railings of the wooden door, which could be used for ventilation and also to see the outside scene from the cave.
The sudden lively atmosphere in the outpost and the noise outside naturally attracted the attention of Aphra and the others.
Aphra and the others stood behind the thick, solid wooden door, looking at the noisy outpost slightly worriedly.
After they arrived at the west sea outpost, they had not been mistreated. In fact, no one even paid them any attention. They were simply locked up in the stone room.
However, there was not a single human in sight, and even the surrounding environment was so strange that it was incomprehensible.
Aphra and the others were under tremendous psychological pressure, so how could they relax? It was already early in the morning, and they had been through a long and tiring journey during the day. They had not eaten anything, but they could not fall asleep now.
Just as they were wondering why the outpost had suddenly become so lively, the wooden door of the stone room was slowly opened by two soldiers.
"The king wants to see you!"
Qing Luan's arrogant and cold voice was like a sharp axe that chopped at their bodies, making their hearts tighten and particularly uneasy.
King!
The king of this foreign nation!