Simply Trading 141 The Journey North 1

Li Changhai, however, was more than mildly upset to discover that his maternal grandmother had made such an arrangement for him. And that she had even picked out the present that he was to present to his father for his birthday.

The Second Ducal Prince did not give in to his emotions in front of his grandmother, of course. But he did confront Qin Feng about it, when they were both out of her presence, and stepping back towards the former's tent.

"What happened back there? What did you tell my grandmother? Why is it that I have to give this ... this weapon to my father? Can you tell me that?"

Qin Feng smiled as he looked at Li Changhai's frown. It was a lot easier to deal with the Second Ducal Prince, he thought, than to manage his grandmother. So he simply pulled Li Changhai inside the tent, before he sat down on the rough bunk himself, yielding the lone chair in the same to the Prince.

The Second Ducal Prince was clearly a little perturbed by the instructions that he had received from his grandmother. But Qin Feng was rather certain that Li Changhai's bad mood did not include him. Otherwise, why would the Prince follow him into his tent, or ask him those questions like he did?

From the way that he was speaking to Qin Feng, it would appear he was more trusting of the younger man that expected. Then again, Qin Feng did throw himself against someone who was obviously out to kill him. So it was not too surprising that Li Changhai was treating him as a bosom friend.

"I think ... You are unaware of the provenance of this particular weapon then? As I recall, your maternal grandmother did not mention its name to you earlier, did she?"

The Second Ducal Prince frowned as he shook his head. "This is a named weapon? Then it would make a fitting gift to my father, I suppose. But ... grandmother didn't tell me anything else. You were there, remember? All she did was to instruct me to gift it to my father as his birthday present.

"And to bring you along when I do that."

Qin Feng gave out a soft chuckle, as he nodded back at the Second Ducal Prince. "Yes, I remember that. Well, I can only presume that she wants me to tell you the reason for her instructions. And perhaps, to let you know more about how that weapon came into her hands."

"Oh? You know about that?"

Qin Feng laughed in what he considered to be a humble manner. But he could not help but feel pleased at having a chance to show off a little. After all, he was only telling the truth, wasn't he? And holding to his promises?

"That weapon is something that I got ... from one of my fights against someone who was ... agitating the Barbarians during one of my earlier missions. As you can guess, it belongs to ... someone who is clearly not a Barbarian, but was working for them. Or rather, instigating them against your uncle.

"So your grandmother believes that you should hand that over to your father as a gift. Which should be enough to prompt him to drag you aside, and ask you about ... how you got your hands on such a thing.

"That is where you introduce me."

Li Changhai was shocked at the beginning of Qin Feng's so-called explanation. Had the young man in front of him actually managed to learn more about this Barbarian assault than what he had learned from his uncle's generals? And he could not help but scowl, as he wondered about his grandmother's motivations.

"Then this is just a ... ploy? To get him to summon you? So that you can share your observations with him?"

Qin Feng shook his head at the Second Ducal Prince. It didn't really seem fair, when he said it like that. Besides, he had to rely on Li Changhai, didn't he? All the way to Yanyun City?

"I don't think that the Duke of the Westlands would be very much appreciative of such methods, given what I have heard. But this Green Shadow Sabre is significant to his enemies, so he is likely to recognize it. Your grandmother hopes that he will ask ... certain questions, once he lays eyes on it.

"Besides, it would be a rather outstanding present, don't you think? To hand him something that had once belonged to one of his enemies, to celebrate his birthday?"

Li Changhai looked a bit more relaxed as soon as he heard that. And looked down at the unsheathed sabre in his hands at once. A smile rose to his lips as he silently thanks his grandmother for her consideration. "Then this ... Who was the one who wielded this saber? I mean, who did you seize it from?"

"Have you heard of a man called Mu Yang?"

"Green Shadow Blade Mu Yang? This is really the Green Shadow Sabre?"

Li Changhai's voice went up in pitch as he half-screamed those two questions at Qin Feng. Who merely smiled as he pretended to look as though it was nothing significant. Of course, he was already cursing his own idiocy in his heart. Had he known that the weapon was so famous ...

But what was done was done, and there was no way of taking it back now. So he could only carry on, as though it had all been part of his plan. Hopefully, this trip to the Westlands, to Yanyun City, would give him an opportunity to turn a greater profit!

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Chapter end

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