Northern Frontier Triumph Chapter 120: A New Home (Part One)

The attention of everyone in the room was drawn by these words. At that moment, a man and a woman entered from outside. The man wore a traditional Taoist robe, while the woman was dressed in a soft red gown, her demeanor graceful and courteous. They were none other than Qin Shuyu and Ren Xingtian.

Upon seeing Qin Shuyu, Beitang Mo’s expression changed dramatically.

“Are you Miss Qin?” he asked.

Qin Shuyu smiled faintly. “Long time no see, General Beitang.” She glanced around and noticed several familiar faces.

“Uncle Donghong, Sister Yue’er, Brother Xi, greetings from Shuyu.”

Her arrival instantly stirred excitement among the people of Zhenbei Pass. One by one, they stepped forward to greet her warmly.

“Miss Qin, why didn’t you inform us before coming to Zhenbei Pass? We could have come to welcome you,” Donghong said with a smile.

“It’s been a long time, Sister Qin. You’re even more beautiful than before,” Nan Yue’er said as she embraced Qin Shuyu.

“We’re all getting old. What’s the point of talking about beauty?” Qin Shuyu replied, then turned to the excited but speechless Xi Yun. “Brother Xi, how have you been all these years?”

“I’m well, just overwhelmed with emotion. I never thought I’d see you again. Shuyu, I took your advice back then and married Yun Yun. Our children have grown up,” he said.

Qin Shuyu smiled gently. “It’s a pity I couldn’t attend your wedding.”

“No worries. Just seeing you again is enough.”

Beitang Mo, though surprised, didn’t forget the matter at hand. “Miss Qin, what brings you here? And was it you who said those words earlier?”

Qin Shuyu glanced at Beitang Mo and slowly walked to Li Qiutong’s side. “Let me introduce everyone—this is my son, Li Qiutong. I came here with him.”

“What? Miss Qin has a son surnamed Li? Could he be the child of you and the Medicine Sage?” Nan Yue’er boldly guessed, causing the others’ faces to pale in shock.

But Qin Shuyu shook her head, explaining apologetically, “No, Qiutong is my adopted son.”

Hearing this, the crowd, for some reason, felt a sense of disappointment.

“However, Qiutong is indeed the Medicine Sage’s grandson.”

Just as everyone sighed in relief, they were stunned again.

“The Medicine Sage’s grandson? So that means the Medicine Sage is still alive?” Donghong asked in disbelief.

“No, Grandpa has passed away, but he died peacefully, not killed by anyone.”

“So you truly are the Medicine Sage’s grandson,” Beitang Mo said, surprised but accepting the fact.

“Sigh, child, you should have said earlier that you’re the Medicine Sage’s grandson. There would have been no need for all this fuss. Zhenbei Pass is your home; whenever you come and whatever you wish to do, no one here will oppose it,” Donghong added.

Seeing this sudden change, Li Qiutong was a little confused. “Um, what’s going on here?”

The eldest, Donghong, shook his head helplessly and stepped forward to explain, “You know your grandfather—the Medicine Sage—he saved all of Zhenbei Pass back then. He is a god in the hearts of our people. Since you are his grandson, whatever you want to do, we will unconditionally support you. No one will oppose it.”

“Grandpa was truly remarkable,” Li Qiutong murmured, still surprised that Li Baicao had never told him he had left a city for him.

Beitang Mo had calmed down by now. After carefully recalling his earlier impulsive words, he realized his rashness. “General Li, I spoke out of turn just now. The Medicine Sage saved Zhenbei Pass; no one has contributed more than him. Since you are his grandson, I feel confident entrusting Zhenbei Pass to you.” He glanced at the cold-faced Biluo and sighed, “Uncle Dong was right—I’m not suited to lead Zhenbei Pass. From today on, I hand over the position of Grand General of Zhenbei to you. After all these years of toil, I am retiring.”

With that, he approached Biluo. “Daughter, I spoke harshly earlier. I apologize for neglecting you these past years. I will make it up to you in the time left.”

Biluo replied coldly, “I don’t need your compensation, because I have found someone who will care for me for life.”

Beitang Mo looked bewildered. “What do you mean?”

Biluo patted Deng Zhanxuan’s shoulder. “Beitang Mo, I’m going to marry this man soon. I hope you will bless us.”

“Marriage?” The atmosphere in the council chamber reached a peak.

“Biluo, getting married so soon?” Deng Zhanxuan was also caught off guard by her straightforward declaration.

“You already proposed before. Are you having second thoughts now?”

Deng Zhanxuan stumbled over his words, “N-no, I’m just afraid... afraid...”

Biluo suddenly wrapped her arms around Deng Zhanxuan’s neck and kissed him. Overwhelmed by the unexpected sensation, Deng Zhanxuan stood frozen.

Breaking apart, Biluo gazed at him tenderly. “That’s enough. I, Beitang Biluo, will marry no one but you, you big fool.”

Though Beitang Mo felt a twinge of jealousy at his daughter’s boldness, he accepted it with a resigned sigh—daughters must marry.

Li Qiutong and the others were quite surprised. “Third brother, this is too sudden! How did it come to marriage so quickly?”

Ren Xingtian wore a calm expression. “I told you both were a perfect match.”

Amid the joyful crowd, the scene gradually came to a close.

That evening, after a hearty meal, Li Qiutong was discussing troop arrangements with the others.

“I heard General Li’s army is divided into four battalions, correct?” Donghong inquired.

“Yes, currently four battalions, each with a bit over four thousand soldiers.”

“That’s perfect. How about stationing each battalion in one of the four outer cities? Northern and Southern Cities have existing barracks that can house over ten thousand troops. As for Western City, some time ago, that Zhang Xiu fellow built a vacation retreat on the forest’s edge. The houses there are nice, single courtyards, enough to accommodate five or six thousand. The Eastern City recently completed a miners’ residential area, which could house several thousand. If you don’t mind, General, it would be suitable.”

“Uncle Hong, don’t worry. As long as there’s housing, I won’t complain. But if we live there, where will the miners stay?”

Donghong chuckled. “General, you’re considerate. Previously, because Qin’s demand for cold iron surged, we had to deploy more manpower and build those houses. Now that we’ve completely severed ties with Qin, mining can return to normal levels, so fewer workers are needed.”

After Donghong’s explanation, Li Qiutong felt reassured.

“Good. Xingtian, you handle this,” Li Qiutong instructed.

“Alright, but once the Lin family’s supplies arrive, we’ll need to revise the plans. After settling down, we must expand the army quickly. Also, for other affairs in Zhenbei Pass, I need to discuss with Master Dong,” Ren Xingtian said, turning to Donghong.

Having lived long, Donghong immediately understood Ren Xingtian’s meaning. “We’re old now. For these matters, Mr. Ren can arrange as he sees fit. As long as the people of Zhenbei Pass have no objections, that’s fine.” His words fully entrusted authority.

Ren Xingtian’s intent was clear: to strengthen Zhenbei Pass, he needed full control. Donghong understood and agreed without hesitation.

Li Qiutong hadn’t expected this. “Then I’ll leave it to you, Uncle Hong. I’m entrusting everything to Xingtian; if you have any matters, just speak to him.”

Turning to Deng Zhanxuan, Li Qiutong smiled. “Third brother, when do you plan to marry Biluo?”

Deng Zhanxuan awkwardly scratched his head. “When Second Brother returns. Also, there’s something I need to tell everyone. Since I recently broke through to Martial Dao Master, I must enter hibernation soon. I won’t be of much help for a while.”

“Hibernation? What’s that?”

“It’s a trait of the Black Tortoise Martial Yuan. When the Martial Yuan reaches initial condensation, it helps me reconstruct and elevate it. Simply put, my strength will greatly increase during this period. After hibernation, I should reach the Saint Warrior realm.”

“That impressive? Then Third Brother, rest assured. Zhenbei Pass is under your big brother’s protection.”

Deng Zhanxuan smiled. “Thank you all.”

After some more conversation, night fell, and the group prepared to rest.

“General Li, are you heading back now?” the head of the Xi family called out.

“Yes, I’m planning to go to Western City.”

“How can General Li live in the barracks? Zhang Xiu built a mansion here earlier but never got to enjoy it. Why not live there? It suits your status.”

“A mansion? That must be quite spacious.”

“Of course, even larger than the Zhenbei Mansion.”

“Alright then, let’s go take a look,” Li Qiutong decided.

“Follow me. I’ll lead the way.”

As night approached, the bustling street was dim except for faint lights from houses along the way.

Walking and chatting, Li Qiutong suddenly remembered something. “Master Xi, do you know where my mother went? After the meeting, she disappeared. I asked Uncle Hong; he said she went to your home.”

“That’s right. General Li, don’t worry. Shuyu went to catch up with my wife. They were close sisters of the Nan family back then.”

“Alright, she didn’t mention this to me. I’ll go with you to bring her back. It’s late; I’ll take her to that mansion for the night.”

Xi Yun suddenly smiled. “General Li, you needn’t worry. Shuyu should be settling at Baicao Hall now. That little cabin was the Medicine Sage’s frequent residence.”

“What? Then am I staying alone?”

“Not at all. There are over ten servants Zhang Xiu hired. Look, we’re here,” Xi Yun pointed to the grand gate ahead.

“This gate is huge,” was Li Qiutong’s first impression.

“Come, I’ll take you inside.” Xi Yun produced a key and unlocked the gate.

Once inside, Li Qiutong’s eyes widened. What does a mansion mean? As a countryside lad, he’d probably never seen such a splendid home.

From the entrance, fragrant flowers filled the air, springs tinkled, and vibrant colors and life abounded. Behind the shady trees, winding paths intertwined. Further in stood the mansion’s buildings, crafted from precious wood with intricate eaves and elaborate designs. Even Li Qiutong could tell the value was immense.

“Master Xi, you’re back,” a maid opened the door and greeted respectfully.