After a brief tidy-up, led by Xiao Yunlong, the group quickly drove off in their cars, heading towards the Southern Frontier Grand Camp under the cover of night.
However, they failed to notice that Tang Bowen was not in the car with them.
As the cars exited the boundaries of Longyan City, Xiao Yunlong's phone suddenly rang.
As soon as he answered, Tang Bowen said, "Your Excellency, just as you predicted, Longyan did not head east after leaving Longyan City but went all the way southwest."
"Where did he go?" Xiao Yunlong asked indifferently from the back seat.
"He entered the Baiyue Ridge territory. Judging by the situation, he's likely going to seek refuge with the Lord of Baiyue Ridge!"
Tang Bowen then added, "By the way, Your Excellency, do you still need me to continue tracking?"
"No need. It's enough to know he entered Baiyue Ridge. If you continue tracking, you'll easily be discovered. Withdraw!"
"Yes!" After speaking, both parties hung up the phone.
At this moment, Pan Chaofeng, who was driving, couldn't help but say, "So, Your Excellency, you deliberately let the Lord of Chuanlong Ridge go? You're following the trail!"
"Of course. Otherwise, he would truly believe he could escape my grasp. Only by doing this can we continue to uncover the bigger fish behind him!" Xiao Yunlong sneered faintly.
The biting wind of early winter was sharp, and the temperature dropped as they headed further into the southwestern mountains.
The Southern Frontier Grand Camp was located at the southwestern end of the Long Kingdom, bordering countries like Fantian and Guyue. Its geographical position was complex, and there had been numerous conflicts in history.
In fact, even today, these conflicts and struggles still existed, merely evolving into a different form of competition.
Of course, the situation within the Southern Frontier was also very complicated, with constant internal strife. The biggest problem was the conflict between the Southern Frontier King and the Five Great Ridge Lords. The Five Great Ridge Lords were actually a legacy issue; each ridge was independent and did not obey the orders of the Southern Frontier King.
Thinking of this, Xiao Yunlong couldn't help but rub his forehead, pondering where to start to resolve the current predicament of the Southern Frontier.
"Is Your Excellency worried about something?" Pan Chaofeng asked.
"Naturally, it's the internal problems of the Southern Frontier!" Xiao Yunlong said faintly.
Pan Chaofeng frowned and said, "I've mostly stayed in the Eastern Region and don't know much about the Southern Frontier. However, the problems in the Southern Frontier are basically historical legacies. As the saying goes, 'You must break before you can build'!"
Xiao Yunlong's eyes lit up at this, and he immediately nodded, "You're absolutely right, 'You must break before you can build.' I was overthinking the problem!"
Pan Chaofeng shook his head and said with a wry smile, "I'm just talking. It's much harder to actually do such things. However, I believe Your Excellency has the ability!"
Xiao Yunlong just smiled and didn't reply.
The two cars drove south. Midway at a highway service station, Tang Bowen's car finally caught up and they reunited.
After driving for more than three hours, they finally arrived at the Southern Frontier Grand Camp at eleven o'clock at night.
The entire Southern Frontier Grand Camp was situated on a plateau, covering a vast area. In the darkness, it looked like a scattering of stars. After years of development and establishment, it had indeed become a city.
However, it was generally divided into an outer city and an inner city. The outer city was inhabited by ordinary people, while the inner city was exclusively for those within the camp's organization.
As for the more sensitive areas in the deepest part, only high-ranking officials of the rank of Commander or above were qualified to enter. Some Level 5s required the personal authorization of the Five Great Commanders or the Southern Frontier King.
Fortunately, with Deputy Commander Xuanyuan Qingfeng leading the way, they were able to bypass the usual procedures and directly enter the inner city.
"Your Highness, King of the North, it is already very late, and the Southern Frontier King is not in good health. We will not be taking you to see him tonight. Please rest well."
Xuanyuan Qingfeng smiled and arranged for them in a highly-standard guesthouse.
Xiao Yunlong nodded, "By the way, where is Deputy Officer Zhou?"
This time, Xiao Yunlong did not intend to hide his identity. Therefore, according to etiquette, even if the Southern Frontier King was unwell, his deputy officer should have come out to greet them on behalf of the Southern King.
As for the Five Great Commanders of the Southern Frontier, Xiao Yunlong had already learned from Xuanyuan Qingfeng that they were essentially under the control of the Five Great Ridge Lords and did not obey the Southern Frontier King's commands. Therefore, it was naturally impossible for them to come out for a welcome.
Xuanyuan Qingfeng said, "Your Highness, King of the North, please forgive me. I only received the news not long ago. Deputy Officer Zhou is currently not in the Grand Camp; he is out on a mission."
"Out on a mission? Where did he go?" Xiao Yunlong asked.
"It is said that he went to the Spring Return Sect!"
Xuanyuan Qingfeng paused, then explained, "The Southern Frontier King has been in poor health for over a year. Various Western medicine experts have been consulted, but they have been unable to cure him. Therefore, Deputy Officer Zhou had to invite the divine physician from the Spring Return Sect."
Zhuge Wushuang couldn't help but ask, "I heard that the Southern Frontier King has been ill for almost over a year. Haven't they sought the divine physician from the Spring Return Sect before?"
Xuanyuan Qingfeng shook his head and said with a wry smile, "They did seek help before, but they couldn't find the cause."
"Then why are they going now?" Tu Fu, who was more impatient, couldn't help but ask.
Originally, Tu Fu and the others were arranged by Xiao Yunlong to secretly protect the Tang family in Chuan City. However, after resolving the threat of the Chuanlong Ridge Lord, they assigned others to take over. Tu Fu and his companion then came to the Southern Frontier Grand Camp together, as manpower would be needed.
"That's because Deputy Officer Zhou heard that the Spring Return Sect has an eight-hundred-year-old ginseng that has been passed down. He thought that ginseng might be useful for His Highness, the Southern Frontier King!" Xuanyuan Qingfeng said.
Upon hearing this, everyone chuckled, "It seems that Deputy Officer Zhou is quite concerned about the Southern Frontier King."
"Naturally. Everyone in the Southern Frontier Grand Camp knows that Deputy Officer Zhou is the Southern Frontier King's confidant, and he is very capable. In the past year, he has managed the entire Southern Frontier Grand Camp in an orderly fashion. He has even resisted the pressure from the Five Great Ridge Lords several times. Without Deputy Officer Zhou's support, the Southern Frontier King's situation would be even more difficult!"
Xuanyuan Qingfeng sighed and continued, "It is said that Deputy Officer Zhou has been targeted for assassination several times, likely sent by the Five Great Ridge Lords."
Xiao Yunlong chuckled, "In that case, when he returns, I really must meet him!"
"His attendant said that Deputy Officer Zhou should be back tomorrow. I will introduce you then," Xuanyuan Qingfeng said.
Xiao Yunlong nodded and said nothing more.
After a long journey, everyone washed up briefly and went to rest.
Now that the jade was gone, Xiao Yunlong could no longer continue cultivating. Even if he forced himself to cultivate, there would be almost no progress. He might as well lie down and rest.
The night passed without incident. The next morning, after breakfast, Xuanyuan Qingfeng rushed in and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, King of the North, Deputy Officer Zhou has returned. Furthermore, this time, the Sect Master of the Spring Return Sect has personally come and intends to diagnose the Southern Frontier King. Deputy Officer Zhou asked me to invite you over!"
"If that's the case, let's go!" Xiao Yunlong said, getting up. The group followed closely behind.
Led by Xuanyuan Qingfeng, Xiao Yunlong and the others soon entered the Southern Frontier King's palace and arrived at the backyard.
The backyard was surprisingly noisy, with sounds of arguing.
"I told you, Deputy Officer Zhou, we've already had the divine physician from the Spring Return Sect examine him. His Highness, the Southern Frontier King, is not ill at all. Isn't what you're doing redundant!"
A slightly overweight elder said with dissatisfaction.
"This time is different. This time, the Sect Master of the Spring Return Sect is personally taking action, and he has also brought that eight-hundred-year-old ginseng. I believe it can definitely cure His Highness!"
The speaker was a burly, robust middle-aged man with a square face. He wasn't particularly handsome but possessed an indescribable heroic aura. He was Zhou Yun, the deputy officer of the Southern Frontier King.
"I said it's useless. His Highness, the Southern King, is not ill. It's useless no matter who you find!" the overweight elder said.
"How do we know if it's useful if we don't try? Since the person has already been invited, let's just take a look. Perhaps it will be useful!" Deputy Officer Zhou tried his best to persuade.
"Fine, you're the deputy officer, so you have the final say. It's like trying to save a dying horse, anyway!" the overweight elder said with great dissatisfaction.
At this moment, Xuanyuan Qingfeng, who had walked to the door, whispered, "Your Highness, King of the North, the person who was speaking just now is Yue Bucheng, the Lord of Baiyue Ridge!"
Xiao Yunlong nodded slightly, then strode into the room.
The gazes of everyone in the room immediately turned towards them.