Kang Luo stared coldly down at Ning Chen.

Ning Chen, for his part, was smiling brilliantly.

"Ning Chen, I admire your nerve — coming up to the city alone. Aren't you afraid I'll have you shot full of arrows?"

Ning Chen laughed. "We're both civilized men. Don't start in on beating and killing... It's been a long time since we parted in the capital of the Great Xuan last year. Don't tell me you haven't missed me?"

Kang Luo said, low, "In the capital of the Great Xuan, Marquis Ning made a deep impression on me. I won't hide it from you. I've thought about you day and night."

Ning Chen said teasingly, "It was only a million taels of silver I cheated you out of, wasn't it? And then I borrowed the excuse of a performance and took the chance to beat you like a lunatic... A little thing like that — you don't have to keep it in your heart, do you? You make it sound as if I took your virginity."

Kang Luo's face went iron gray.

Ning Chen turned the talk. "Let me ask you something. How did you manage to get into Gaotian City without bloodying a blade?"

Kang Luo sneered. "Is there anything Marquis Ning can't figure out?"

Ning Chen laughed. "Let me guess. You had a man among Gaotian City's officers, and he opened the gate and let you in."

Kang Luo smiled and said nothing.

Ning Chen stared for a second. "Did I guess right or wrong?"

"Right!"

Ning Chen gave him a thumbs-up.

Kang Luo said, "A pity the trick didn't work in the Great Xuan."

"That's because the Great Xuan has me."

Kang Luo let out a cold snort.

Ning Chen said teasingly, "How did it feel to be wrapped like a dumpling?"

Kang Luo's face grew colder and colder.

"Fourth Prince, you've lost your Jianxuan Pass, your archer battalion and your baggage train have lost more than half of their men dead and wounded, and the rest are all prisoners. Still not thinking of surrendering?"

"If Nanyue is willing…