Pan Yucheng meant to take the things on the table with him, but Qiu Qiyi stopped him.

"You're going back to pack and you'll be coming back here anyway. Why carry these things back and forth?"

Ning Chen nodded. "Old Pan, Prince Who Holds the Realm is right... Hurry there and hurry back!"

Pan Yucheng nodded and was about to leave when Qiu Qiyi said, "You two, go along and help."

Ning Chen smiled. "Excellent. There are a few heavy things we could use help carrying."

Pan Yucheng left with the two men Qiu Qiyi had assigned.

"Come, Ning Chen, let's drink!"

Ning Chen waved a hand. "I drank too much last night and I still haven't shaken it off... On top of that, we have to be on the road again shortly, and I'm afraid I'd only foul things up. So I won't drink!"

Qiu Qiyi smiled a little and did not press him.

Ning Chen looked Qiu Qiyi over. This son of a bitch was very careful... though that was only to be expected.

"Aren't you afraid of being found out, showing yourself in Lingzhou in broad daylight like this?"

Qiu Qiyi said with contempt, "I know the way the Great Xuan's officials do things far too well. Every one of them is good for nothing. Catch me... Dream on!"

"And you aren't afraid the Inspectorate will find you?"

"The Inspectorate does have some ability, but its main strength is far off in the capital. Even if the Inspectorate's covert agents in Lingzhou found me, I would be long gone before men from the capital could get here."

Ning Chen held up a thumb. "Impressive!"

Qiu Qiyi said, "You're not bad yourself... In strategy you may not be my equal, but in handling troops in the field you and I are evenly matched. There are only two men in the whole Great Xuan I think anything of."

"One is Old General Chen — a pity he's finished."

"The other is you!"

The corner of Ning Chen's mouth twitched. "I'm honored by your regard!"

Qiu Qiyi said, "A pity…