Ning Chen made a round of the army camp, then took a turn outside the city.

The locust plague was well under control now.

The White Mountain River would soon reach Xuanwu City too.

Most important of all, they had signed up thirty thousand recruits.

Everything was moving in the right direction.

Toward evening, Ning Chen went back to the Ning residence.

As he came into the main hall, he looked up at Xie Siyu, who was striking cool poses up on the roof.

"Brother Xie, come down and talk!"

Xie Siyu flipped over and flew down off the roof, landing with easy, dashing grace.

Ning Chen rolled his eyes and asked with a grin, "Brother Xie, even Gu Yichun's married now. Aren't you jealous?"

Xie Siyu was as cool as ever. "No!"

"You don't want to find a woman to keep you company?"

"No. Women only slow down my draw."

Ning Chen's mouth twitched. "You know, I think Heye, the one who waits on the Ninth Princess, would be a pretty good match for you. What do you think?"

"I don't think so!"

Ning Chen was left utterly speechless.

Sigh... All this matchmaking was wearing his heart to pieces.

"Brother Xie, you can't stay single forever... As the old saying goes, of the three unfilial acts, having no heir is the worst."

Xie Siyu said coolly, "I've never heard that old saying."

Ning Chen: "..."

With a helpless sigh, he pulled the Unborn Sword Art out of his robe.

"Brother Xie, this book of higher martial arts is yours!"

Xie Siyu's eyes lit up in a flash. He took the Unborn Sword Art as if he'd been handed a priceless treasure.

Ning Chen shook his head, turned, and walked into the main hall.

With a whoosh, Xie Siyu leaped back onto the roof.

Ning Chen looked up at the loose dirt drifting down from the roof, utterly resigned.

Far away in the Great Xuan, Prince Wu was feeling just as resigned.

He no longer had to lead an army against the Gaoli Kingdom. Instead, he had received a new…