The corner of Ning Chen's mouth twitched in a cold smile. "You're somebody after all, I'll give you that. This prince will keep you alive for now.

Tantai Qingyue was right. When this prince keeps you people alive, it isn't out of a soft heart. It's because this prince needs laborers—a great many laborers.

Rebuilding Xiguan City is going to be on your backs... That's what you're worth alive!"

Ning Chen waved a hand. His voice was low. "Yuan Long, take him away!"

"Yes!"

"It's getting late. Everyone get some rest. First thing tomorrow, we leave for Xiguan City."

The night passed quietly.

Early the next morning, Prince Wu set out for Bianzhou with ten thousand men and the wounded.

Apart from the Ning'an Army, Ning Chen had brought fifty thousand troops on this campaign.

The Ning'an Army hadn't arrived in time to back them up in yesterday's battle, so the Great Xuan's own soldiers had paid heavily too—more than ten thousand dead and wounded.

Now Prince Wu had taken ten thousand, plus the wounded... Even counting the Ning'an Army, Ning Chen had only some forty thousand men left to march on Xiguan City.

But that was enough. With the Ning'an Army there, the Xiliang prisoners wouldn't dare step out of line.

Ning Chen led the army straight for Xiguan City, with more than sixty thousand Xiliang prisoners under guard.

At a forced march, Xiguan City lay more than ten days away.

But with the snow lying deep and the going hard, it would probably take about half a month.

Ten-odd days slipped by, and Xiguan City wasn't far off.

That day, while the army was resting, Xiao Yanxi brought Ning Chen something to eat.

Ning Chen asked between bites, as if it were nothing, "Little Xixi, any news on that master above the ranks altogether who dresses like somebody in his family just died?"

Xiao Yanxi shook her head. "Nothing yet... Don't worry. The moment there's news, I'll tell you!"

Ning Chen said, "There are only a handful of masters above the ranks altogether in the whole world. He…