Chapter 31: Disguise

"How dare you! Standing before you is our Eagle-Shooting Hero, the great Master Jin Fangyan. Show some respect!"

The sun was slanting toward the west.

Facing the Xiongnu scouts who had come to question them, it was Song Xian—disguised as a Xiongnu personal guard—who spoke up on behalf of Jin Fangyan.

He had heard Cheng Lian heap endless praise upon Su Yao over drinks earlier and had been skeptical. However, after hearing the recent tales of this officer single-handedly breaking an enemy camp, his curiosity had been piqued. Could such a ruthless man truly exist?

When Zhang Yang permitted Su Yao to recruit an elite suicide squad for the mission to retake Huanglu Fortress, Song Xian had volunteered.

But that was impossible! Song Xian wasn't that reckless; he would much rather be lying low in the fortress with Lu Fengxian than joining any suicide squad. He was only here because his fellow countryman, Hou Cheng, had dragged him along.

What rotten luck to be saddled with a fellow who loved courting death. It was truly exhausting.

Song Xian groaned inwardly, though his face wore a scowl as if everyone owed him money. His sudden outburst, however, actually intimidated the scouting soldiers.

"The Eagle-Shooting Master, Jin?"

The scout from the Huyan Jun tribe hesitated, then hurriedly offered a salute.

The steppe people held heroes in the highest regard, and an Eagle-Shooting Master was a man among ten thousand—a figure so significant that even the Chanyu had to show him respect. In the days of the great wars between the Han and the Xiongnu, three dismounted Eagle-Shooting Masters could easily slaughter nearly a hundred elite Han soldiers. Their formidable strength and heroism were legendary.

But as for this Master Jin Fangyan...

The scout had heard rumors that he was at odds with the Chiliarch Tataruo. Yesterday, fleeing soldiers had brought back all sorts of strange tales: some said he had died a hero, others that the Chiliarch had imprisoned him, and still others claimed he had defected to the Han. The rumors were endless.

Not daring to act on his own authority, the scout asked Su Yao and his companions to wait while they went to seek the Chiliarch’s decision.

Before long, Huyan Jun arrived on horseback. Long before he reached them, his laughter echoed ahead.

"Master Jin! It is truly a joy to see you safe and sound."

Safe and sound? Jin Fangyan gave a bitter smile. As Huyan Jun drew closer, the feeling of being watched intensified.

Jin Fangyan sighed, pulled himself together, and after exchanging brief, polite greetings, he cut straight to the point.

"We have urgent military intelligence that must be reported to the Myriarch immediately. I ask that you facilitate our passage and clear the road so we may proceed without delay."

Huyan Jun blinked. He glanced behind Jin Fangyan, nodded to his men, and spoke slowly.

"The slaves are slow; it will take some time to clear the path. Why don't you gentlemen dismount and rest for a moment?"

Jin Fangyan hesitated, but unable to resist Huyan Jun's insistence, he dismounted and signaled for Song Xian to have the others do the same.

"That's it! It has been such a long time since we last met."

Huyan Jun reached out, grabbed Jin Fangyan’s hands, and pulled him aside, away from the others, acting as if they were old friends.

"Master Jin, why don't you tell me what happened? Your retreating soldiers brought such chaotic news yesterday that my own camp was quite shaken. What on earth..."

As they walked further away, their voices lowered until they were mere murmurs.

"This is going to be trouble!" Song Xian frowned and whispered to the side.

"The man named Jin has been dragged off. Will he betray us?" Hou Cheng glanced at the nearby Xiongnu scouts, then at Jin Fangyan and the Chiliarch, who were walking with arms draped over each other's shoulders. His brow was furrowed deep.

"Stay calm. Do not panic." Su Yao closed his eyes, his expression indifferent.

"The Squadron Leader has such confidence in this Xiongnu?" Cheng Lian asked, surprised.

"Him?"

Su Yao opened his eyes. Under the shade of the trees, Jin Fangyan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his posture rigid, his fists clenched tight.

This Xiongnu Eagle-Shooting Master claimed loyalty to the Chanyu and to the Han, but Su Yao wasn't entirely certain of his flexible loyalties.

His confidence came from only one thing: "My confidence is in us."

"Come to think of it, Lady Hong'er's art of cosmetic disguise is truly ingenious."

???

What was this guy talking about?

It was true that Su Yao’s face had likely become a nightmare for the Xiongnu. To prevent being recognized by any stragglers from Tataruo’s tribe, he had specifically asked Hong'er to apply makeup on him.

It had to be said, the "battle-damage" paint job was quite imposing. With his Xiongnu attire and a fierce-looking scar, he was certain that as long as he didn't blurt out Han Chinese in the middle of a crowd, no one would recognize him.

But his confidence certainly didn't come from a bit of face paint.

"Whether this Eagle-Shooting Master betrays us or remains loyal, the mission will be completed regardless." Su Yao tugged at the bowstring on his back and smiled. "At worst, we'll just have to slaughter another chiliarchy."

It was just an infiltration mission, after all. As everyone knew, killing all the enemies was the most perfect form of infiltration.

"Hah, the Squadron Leader is bold."

Cheng Lian nearly bowed in salute. He was halfway through when Hou Cheng grabbed his arm to stop him, narrowly avoiding arousing the enemy's suspicion.

Seeing the two of them—one bragging and one fawning—Song Xian rolled his eyes. Ignoring them, he focused his attention on the Xiongnu’s movements.

The Xiongnu on the road ahead had received orders and were fanning out on horseback. The commoners, tethered together by ropes, were forced by the lash of whips to push their carts, struggling to clear the path.

"Brother, aren't you tired of thinking so much all day?" Hou Cheng elbowed Song Xian.

Song Xian grimaced. Everything seemed normal. Could he really be overthinking it?

"Wait? No. Pay attention, they are looking this way."

Under the tree, Huyan Jun’s grip on Jin Fangyan’s arm tightened.

"Master Jin, are you still going to insist on this?"

"Chiliarch, I truly do not know what you expect me to say."

Jin Fangyan groaned inwardly; he knew things wouldn't go this smoothly.

This Huyan Jun was a notorious schemer and a troublemaker in their Left Wing. He preferred the company of merchants over warriors and didn't act like a bold man of the steppe at all. He usually only followed the Xietu King's orders if they benefited him; otherwise, he would find every excuse to shirk them.

Having an honest man like himself act in front of this slippery fox was bound to end in disaster.

Sure enough, while Huyan Jun’s face remained full of forced warmth, his voice turned as chilling as a specter.

"I gave you a chance, but you wasted it. Very well. Do you really take me, Huyan Jun, for a fool? Bringing a bunch of Han soldiers here to bluff me—what exactly are you trying to do?"

Facing Huyan Jun’s unveiled hostility, Jin Fangyan’s heart hammered against his ribs, but he gritted his teeth and refused to admit it.

"What Han soldiers? These are the remnants of my unit. Tataruo ignored my counsel and imprisoned me, which is why he suffered such a crushing defeat. Does General Huyan wish to repeat his mistakes?"

"Remnants?"

Huyan Jun tilted his head, a cold, mocking smile on his face. "Then let me ask you, who is that scar-faced man? What is his name, and which tribe is he from?"

Jin Fangyan was struck dumb.