After a night of forced march, the Shrek group arrived near the Western Army Group camp of the Star Luo Empire.
As they descended from the sky, the huge commotion immediately drew the attention of the camp's sentries. In less than a minute, a group of warriors in Star Luo Empire standard armor approached them. Leading them was a stern-faced old man with three yellow, two purple, and two black spirit rings floating around him—he was actually a Spirit Saint.
Upon the Spirit Saint's appearance, Dai Yueheng immediately stepped forward to greet him. This Spirit Saint, also a Viscount of the Star Luo Empire, was actually a retainer of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, named Dureis.
"Young Master, why are you here?" Dureis was very surprised to find the Young Master of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion among the group. Looking at the others, who were mostly children under twenty, he vaguely guessed their identities.
"Old Du, these are my classmates from Shrek Academy. I've already communicated with my father. Is he here?" Dai Yueheng said with a smile.
"Yes! The Marshal is currently in the camp. He should be doing his morning exercises by now. I'll take you to see him right away," Dureis said.
"Alright!" Dai Yueheng said, "But we need to rest first."
After their rest, led by Dureis, they entered the Western Army Group camp. Zhu Ziyang looked at the sprawling camps of the Western Army Group, deep in thought. The Star Luo Empire's Western Army Group, also known as the White Tiger Legion, numbered as many as 500,000 troops, making it one of the top elite and powerful armies on the continent. But how long could such a traditionally strong army stand against the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool legions?
Before the Marshal's main tent, they met Duke White Tiger, Dai Hao.
Dai Hao was indeed a marshal seasoned in battle, exuding the unique iron-blooded aura of a soldier, his voice resonant and powerful. Even the Inner Courtyard Disciples of Shrek were impressed by his demeanor. However, Zhu Ziyang was surprised to find that at the moment Huo Yuhao saw Dai Hao, his aura uncharacteristically spiraled out of control. His downcast eyes were somewhat bloodshot. If Wang Dong hadn't quickly grabbed him, he might have erupted on the spot.
Tsk tsk, still just a child, Zhu Ziyang clicked his tongue inwardly, becoming even more convinced that Huo Yuhao was definitely a romantic entanglement left behind by Dai Hao.
"Welcome, Teacher Wang Yan, and all the talented students from Shrek Academy!" Dai Hao said with a smile, stepping forward, his voice like thunder.
"Greetings, Duke," Wang Yan, as the nominal leader of this trip, naturally had to respond to Dai Hao's greeting. He replied neither obsequiously nor arrogantly.
Although Dai Hao held the title of Duke, a rank on the continent second only to the emperors of the four empires, among Shrek Inner Courtyard Disciples, titles were far less convincing than strength. 'White robes disdain kings and nobles'—this was the prevalent mindset among Shrek Inner Courtyard Disciples.
Duke White Tiger shook hands with Wang Yan and said, "Everyone, please come into the marshal's tent for a chat. Allow me to fulfill my duties as host!"
Wang Yan shook his head and said, "Duke, there's no need to be so polite. We are here solely to execute a mission. You only need to have your subordinates provide us with information. You are busy with myriad affairs, and we shouldn't disturb you."
Hearing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Dai Hao's eyes, and he no longer stood on ceremony, saying directly, "In that case, Old Du, you are responsible for receiving our distinguished guests, and have Xu Yi handle the intelligence handover with the Shrek group!"
"Understood!" Dureis replied respectfully.
"Everyone, I wish you all the best and hope to see you again soon!" Dai Hao said, then turned and left.
The Shrek group, led by Dureis, arrived in another large tent.
"Old Du, why didn't father let you directly handle the intelligence handover with us? Why have someone else do it?" Dai Yueheng was very puzzled, asking a question that others also cared about. Wang Yan, Ma Xiaotao, and Zhu Ziyang all looked at Dureis. Zhu Ziyang always felt that this matter was not simple and contained hidden tricks!
"Actually," Dureis couldn't help but show a wry smile, saying, "The Marshal himself never intended to trouble the Shrek Academy group. This matter has been Xu Yi's responsibility from beginning to end. Requesting support from Shrek Academy was also his decision, so it's quite normal for the Marshal to have him handle the handover with you."
"This..." Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a moment.
"General Du, who exactly is this Xu Yi, that he can influence the decision of an army commander?" Zhu Ziyang inquired. Perhaps he was a bit too sensitive, but he always felt that Xu Yi's intentions were not simple.
The Western Army Group has 500,000 men. Couldn't they deal with a small group of bandits? What kind of bandits would necessitate requesting Shrek Academy's intervention? Or was eliminating bandits a pretense, with another objective in mind?
"This..." Dureis stammered a bit, and after a moment of hesitation, he said, "Xu Yi is our army group's quartermaster and intelligence officer, and also a member of the imperial family. The reason he insisted on having Shrek Academy handle this matter, I think, is because he's afraid of the military's internal affairs team discovering evidence of his illegal sales of military supplies!"
"What?!" Zhu Ziyang and the others immediately showed incredulous expressions, their gazes filled with doubt as they looked at Dureis, as if asking, 'You're not kidding, are you?'
"This matter is only known to the Marshal and a few of us trusted confidants," Dureis said with a wry smile. "The merchant convoy Xu Yi used to sell military supplies was robbed by those bandits. If we were to send the army to encircle and suppress them, the illegally sold military supplies would definitely be found in the bandits' possession."
"So, you're not using the army to encircle and suppress those bandits because you're not worried about the Sun Moon Empire's army?" Zhu Ziyang questioned.
"That's not entirely it," Dureis said. "The Marshal also sent two units to encircle and suppress the bandits, but without exception, they were all wiped out. Originally, the Marshal was preparing to deploy his personal guards to encircle those bandits, but Xu Yi stopped him. He strongly advised against it and then sent a request for support to your Shrek Academy.
The Marshal found this very strange and had us investigate, which is when we discovered Xu Yi had been illegally selling military supplies. Unfortunately, this Xu Yi is from the imperial family, and without sufficiently strong evidence, the Marshal couldn't prosecute him."
"So, we're being used as pawns by you?" Ma Xiaotao was furious, her pretty face flushed, her beautiful eyes filled with anger. If Zhu Zi hadn't held her back, she probably would have attacked Dureis.
"So, your purpose in telling us all this is to ask us to help you find evidence of Xu Yi's illegal sales of military supplies?" Zhu Ziyang said.
"..." Dureis was silent for a moment, a trace of shame flashing across his face, and he said, "No, I hope you can destroy any potential evidence!"
"Why?" Dai Yueheng's body trembled as he looked at Dureis in disbelief. He hadn't expected Dureis to say such a thing, so he didn't understand and anger flared on his face.
The others also showed puzzled expressions. Normally, shouldn't they find the evidence and then punish Xu Yi? Why was Dureis instead asking them to destroy the evidence?
Only Zhu Ziyang and Wang Yan showed thoughtful expressions. It seemed that this Duke White Tiger was not just a simple-minded warrior who only knew how to fight!
"Young Master, this is the Marshal's intention!" Dureis said helplessly, looking at the furious Dai Yueheng.
"This..." Dai Yueheng deflated upon hearing this. He wanted to ask more questions, but before he could speak, a person walked into the large tent.
The newcomer was Xu Yi, a man in his thirties, dressed in military uniform, with a square face. He looked very upright, making it hard to imagine that he was a corrupt official who illegally sold military supplies.
When Dureis saw Xu Yi enter, his face immediately darkened. He said to the Shrek group, "Everyone, allow Marquis Xu to handle the intelligence handover with you now!"
Before anyone could react, Dureis had already left.
Xu Yi watched Dureis's retreating figure, a smile playing on his lips. He turned to Zhu Ziyang and the others, a wide smile on his face, and said, "Welcome, everyone from Shrek Academy. My name is Xu Yi. I won't waste any time; I'll tell you the intelligence you need directly."
The Shrek group did not have a good impression of Xu Yi; after all, their first impression had been formed even before meeting him. Everything he was doing now seemed more like an impatient attempt to destroy evidence.
Zhu Ziyang scrutinized Xu Yi, activating his Ultimate Light's Vast Heart to probe Xu Yi's attitude towards them. However, to his surprise, Xu Yi's attitude towards them was actually full of malice!
Looking at the extremely dark 'heart of good and evil' before him, which even faintly emitted black gas, Zhu Ziyang's heart was filled with vigilance and doubt.
Logically, shouldn't Xu Yi be overjoyed by their arrival? After all, they were essentially coming to clean up his mess!
Could it be that this person, besides illegally selling military supplies, truly had another agenda?