Ning Chen gave a small sigh.

Old General Chen glanced back at him and smiled. "Brat, I'm only grumbling. When you get old, you fret over everything... You want to go on living, but you don't want to live like a useless wreck."

Ning Chen smiled. "Old general, let's go back. The wind's strong at the edge. You'll catch something!"

"When have I ever been that fragile? Let me take a good long look at the Great Xuan's magnificent mountains and rivers. I may never see them again."

Ning Chen frowned. "Would you stop talking like that?"

Old General Chen roared with laughter.

"Brat, there are a few things I want to ask of you."

Ning Chen said at once, "Old general, just tell me."

Old General Chen said, "When I'm gone, my house goes to you, and my bit of savings too, all of it... When you're back in the capital, just go to my steward."

Old General Chen's whole family had died in loyal service. His sons had fallen on the battlefield, and now there was only him, a lonely old man.

So he was leaving all his savings to Ning Chen.

Old General Chen went on. "Brat, when I go, there's no need for a big funeral. Just bury me in the Chen family plot.

And another thing. What I worry about most is these old soldiers who served under me. After I'm gone, look after them for me. Every one of them is a man of iron bones."

Ning Chen frowned hard. "Old general, why are you saying all this out of nowhere?"

Old General Chen smiled. "Old men like to ramble... I know my own body better than anyone. I could go any day, so these things have to be said now, before there's no chance to say them.

And the most important thing of all. There's a new emperor on the throne now, and today isn't like the old days. The new emperor is in a hurry to establish his authority, so you'll have to change your ways. Don't provoke the dragon's wrath... Down…