Chapter 417: Please show some respect

Zhuang Ren was terrified of death.

Because he was so afraid of dying, he put all his efforts into being servile and shameless.

He could kneel to the Human Clan, so naturally he could kneel to Jiang Ke’er.

“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me. Whatever you say, I’ll do it! I’ll follow all your orders!”

Jiang Ke’er had originally thought that at worst he was just ugly on the outside, that maybe he was swallowing his pride to protect his people, merely going about it the wrong way with a good heart at the core.

But the facts proved that all the excuses she had imagined for him were unnecessary.

He was simply a coward who craved power and status, with absolutely no sense of responsibility.

If she weren’t afraid that his underlings would cause chaos and endanger the Dragon Clan, Jiang Ke’er would have already cut him down.

Flipping her hand, she produced a purple dan medicine. Using the tip of her sword, she pried open the Demon Lord’s mouth and tossed the pill inside.

“Only I can cure this poison. Behave obediently, and I’ll give you the antidote when we leave.”

The dan didn’t allow Zhuang Ren to spit it out—as soon as it entered his mouth, it dissolved and was absorbed.

Zhuang Ren coughed painfully twice, then knelt on the ground in terror. “I’ll do whatever you want! Whatever you want!”

Zhuang Ren had thought today he would rid himself of a long-standing thorn in his side.

Even if Qiao Xiaoxian was strong, as long as he threatened her clansmen and subordinates, and with the help of the foreign reinforcements from the Great Sima Nation, Qiao Xiaoxian would surely be killed on the spot!

Even if she had ten Grade 8 artifacts protecting her, she would still die without a doubt!

But who would have thought that the person confronting him today wasn’t Qiao Xiaoxian at all, but that small, soft-looking follower of hers.

Unlike Qiao Xiaoxian, who was restrained, this follower acted without any scruples—every cut drew blood, every word struck deep!

And she was really, really strong!

Zhuang Ren wanted to cry but had no tears. He had actually believed that the legends about Jiang Ke’er were all exaggerated, since he had never seen her with his own eyes.

Many lies, repeated over and over, even he himself began to believe them.

And even if she was strong, this level of strength was simply absurd! It completely caught him off guard!

“Let’s go.”

Having dealt with Zhuang Ren, Jiang Ke’er calmly returned to Qiao Xiaoxian’s side.

As she did, she took a small step back again, letting Qiao Xiaoxian walk in front, appearing to defer to her every move.

“General Qiao really found a very virtuous fiancée…”

“I’m so happy for General Qiao…”

Listening to the murmurs around her, Jiang Ke’er forced a gentle smile.

But secretly, she transmitted a message to Qiao Xiaoxian: ‘To expand the power of the Eastern Divine Demon Clan Uprising Army, I’ll give you some face for now. Don’t get any ideas!’

Qiao Xiaoxian felt a warmth in her heart.

Although she couldn’t see through Jiang Ke’er’s true thoughts…

‘Anyway, feeling warm is what matters!’

“Welcome back, General Qiao!”

As a brave soldier shouted at the top of his lungs, putting all his strength into the cry, the entire world was filled with the same voice, unified in perfect harmony.

“Welcome back, General Qiao! Lady Qiao!”

The soldiers flanking both sides parted to make way, kneeling before Qiao Xiaoxian in the manner of subordinates.

Their silver armor glistened in the evening glow, taking on a gentle, maiden-like warmth.

Qiao Xiaoxian’s body trembled slightly as she held back the tears glistening in her eyes.

Zhuang Ren ground his teeth in frustration—these soldiers had never shown such enthusiasm even when bowing to him! He was the sovereign! Why?!

Snowflakes drifted down gently.

In Beiju Luzhou, it snowed nine or ten months out of the year.

If not for the overall harsh environment of the region, it might have been a dream honeymoon destination for lovers.

Jiang Ke’er rubbed her hands together, breathing warm air into her palms.

She was a desert fox, and on top of that, the cultivation method she practiced was of yin-cold nature, so she couldn’t handle the chill of Beiju Luzhou very well.

Suddenly, warmth spread across the back of her hand.

“Come here. You don’t have to walk behind.”

Qiao Xiaoxian gently took Jiang Ke’er’s hand, interlacing their fingers.

The familiar warmth flowing from the other quickly dispelled the cold, making Jiang Ke’er feel as if she were soaking comfortably in a bathtub full of warm water.

“You see, I can’t do without you, and you can’t do without me,” Qiao Xiaoxian said softly.

“Bullshit! I wouldn’t freeze to death! But am I supposed to not feel cold when I’m wearing a little skirt in this icy wasteland?” Jiang Ke’er shot back angrily.

“Then why are you holding so tight…”

“I hate you, but I have no grudge against the warmth… Move closer!”

Qiao Xiaoxian couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

She had an overwhelming urge to pull Jiang Ke’er into her arms, and if it weren’t somewhat inappropriate at the moment, she would have done it immediately.

Instead, she could only hold Jiang Ke’er’s hand tightly, walking with her proudly across the border of the Northern Beijia Demon Kingdom.

Cheering crowds escorted them toward the east, toward the place where everything began.

“I’m never coming to this stupid place again!” Jiang Ke’er pouted in displeasure.

It was so cold that Qiao Xiaoxian kept finding legitimate excuses to take advantage of her—too unfair!

“~”

Qiao Xiaoxian said nothing, but the expression on her face seemed to emit a happy wavy line.

The Northern Beijia Demon Kingdom wasn’t large.

To put it in perspective, it was about the size of four Great Sima Nation city-states put together.

The Dragon Clan territory lay to the east, in a deep valley surrounded by mountains.

“Why in a valley?” Jiang Ke’er asked curiously. “Don’t dragons love to fly?”

“Flying in the sky makes it easy to get shot down,” Qiao Xiaoxian replied.

In this era where everyone prided themselves on hunting dragons, the best dragons could do was minimize their presence.

Anyone could fly—the sky was no longer their domain.

“Don’t they feel suffocated?”

“What do you think?” Qiao Xiaoxian countered.

Jiang Ke’er thought seriously for a moment. Hmm… it probably was pretty suffocating.

“The clan is quite xenophobic. Later, it’s best if you act intimate with me.”

“I think you’re tricking me.” Jiang Ke’er’s face showed suspicion.

“I’m not lying, really.”

“Dare you look me in the eye and say that again?”

“I’m not lying, really.” Qiao Xiaoxian lowered herself honestly to look at Jiang Ke’er.

“Something’s off! You’re up to something!”

“This time I’m really not lying…”

“Ah-ha! So you admit it! Besides this time, you’ve been lying to me all along, haven’t you?”

“…”

“Silence means consent!”

Qiao Xiaoxian was both annoyed and amused.

“Alright, we’re almost there. Stop messing around.”

“When did I mess around?”

“Shh—” Qiao Xiaoxian made a serious silencing gesture.

Jiang Ke’er quickly shut her mouth, a perfect fifteen-degree smile curling at the corners.

Dead silence—

Qiao Xiaoxian seemed to enjoy this quiet moment together.

After a while, Jiang Ke’er realized she had been tricked—they were still far from the Dragon Clan territory.

“Aaah, I’m going to kill you!”

“Assassination?”

“…Pending.”

“Alright, alright, we really are almost there this time.”

Qiao Xiaoxian lifted her chin slightly, looking toward a narrow valley path between the mountains ahead.

Jiang Ke’er suddenly felt a bit nervous.

‘No, nervous for what?! It’s not like I’m meeting the parents!’

Jiang Ke’er straightened her collar.

“Let me make this clear: my identity is an envoy of the Eastern Divine Demon Clan Uprising Army. I came with you this time only to handle official business. Don’t waste my time with any of that messy stuff! General Qiao, please show some restraint!”

“You just said you were my fiancée.”

“Not anymore! I’ve called off the engagement!”

“Oh?!” Qiao Xiaoxian’s eyes lit up.

Could this be the popular “calling off the engagement” trope from current novels?