“Sixth Princess?”
Xuanmo tilted her head slightly, studying Shangguan Yunzhu sitting at the bow of the boat.
“Let’s go back. No need to trouble yourself for me.”
Shangguan Yunzhu said to her in an extremely cold tone.
“Your Highness!” The general clad in dark armor, his aura deep and vast like an abyss, hovered ten zhang outside the boat.
Upon hearing the words, his tiger-like eyes reddened slightly as he bowed and cupped his fists, his voice resonant like a great bell.
“I have come at the order of the lord of the country! The enemy nation has been restless lately, border fires flare anew, and the lord worries day and night about Your Highness’s safety, unable to rest! If I return now… I truly, truly could not report back properly!”
His words were earnest, carrying the straightforwardness of a soldier and a trace of barely concealed anxiety.
Hearing this, Shangguan Yunzhu felt a hint of helplessness rise in her heart.
Beside her, Qingfeng spoke to persuade, “The journey to Bei Juluzhou is long and fraught with dangers. Strong winds already stir in this territory, and ahead roam great demons.”
“Having a Houtian Realm expert like General Qiong to protect us gives us added security. Though Xuanmo Shigu’s divine abilities are vast, even she must rest sometimes. It’s better to share the watch.”
Lu Qiancha suddenly spoke, his voice calm and steady yet carrying a penetrating edge: “Qingfeng Senior Brother, have you known this general before? I didn’t hear him introduce himself just now.”
“Mm, yes.” Qingfeng glanced at Lu Qiancha with a smile and said, “I and Yun Zhu Junior Sister grew up together and entered Tianyuan Sect at the same time.
“This general’s name is Qiong Gong, one of Yun Zhu’s father’s most trusted commanders, usually never leaving the side of His Majesty. That he can leave his imperial duties to come all this way… it seems the situation truly is grave.”
So the cold iceberg woman and the warm-hearted man were childhood friends?
Hmph, this flavor just keeps getting better.
Putting aside these scattered thoughts, Lu Qiancha bowed slightly to Qingfeng and said, “I spoke out of turn.”
“Senior Brother Qiancha, you are too modest.”
Qingfeng smiled in return, “This journey is unpredictable. The more cautious Senior Brother is, the more thorough we are.”
“Sixth Princess, Your Highness!”
General Qiong furrowed his thick brows, his anxious gaze once again landing on Shangguan Yunzhu, containing a silent urging.
Shangguan Yunzhu looked toward Xuanmo resting at the bow, her eyes showing a hint of request.
“No trouble at all.”
Xuanmo’s voice was somewhat lazy, “Since he’s your guard, let him come along. A Houtian Realm nobody like that won’t stir up any trouble in Xuanmo’s eyes.”
“Thank you, Xianchang.”
Qiong Gong cupped his fists in relief, bowed deeply, and then reined in his imposing aura, turning into a steady dark light as he floated to the stern of the boat by the rail.
He stood firm like a pine tree, staring straight ahead, as if truly becoming a silent guardian statue.
“Tsk tsk, these mortals, no matter how far they cultivate, deep down they love these emperor and general dramas, life-or-death struggles. Fighting and scheming, for thousands of years never a new trick.”
Canxin sighed, then asked Lu Qiancha, “Xiaoqiancha, what do you think?”
“As long as it doesn’t affect me.”
Lu Qiancha shook his head and said this simply.
He glanced out of the corner of his eye at Qingfeng and Qiong Gong, feeling a bit helpless inside.
Originally, she knew that few would dare to travel to Bei Juluzhou to train, and now with a Xianchang protecting them, whether or not they could get the medicine was uncertain, but at least their safety was guaranteed.
But she hadn’t expected this kind of situation to arise halfway…
If this man suddenly turned hostile… even Canxin wouldn’t be able to save her.
Thinking this, Lu Qiancha silently took a few steps aside, then circled to the very front of the small boat and bowed, asking, “Xuanmo Shigu, may I sit behind you?”
Xuanmo heard this and laughed wryly, “What, you’re already at the peak Nascent Soul stage, almost stepping into Houtian, and still shy? Fine, come sit here then, I’ve got enough space.”
“Senior Brother Lu, please sit here.”
Shangguan Yunzhu stood up on her own, smiling apologetically at Lu Qiancha and stepping back two paces.
“Thank you.”
Lu Qiancha nodded, completely unfazed by the two sharp gazes from behind.
Those looks obviously came from Baiyan and Zhuangyang, clearly displeased with Lu Qiancha’s exclusiveness, feeling it tarnished the dignity of Tianyuan Sect.
Lu Qiancha naturally chose to ignore them.
“Heh, I used to think you were a brave, reckless hero when you dared to snatch the Wolf King’s King Blood Essence from the hornet’s nest of Yin Soul Sect.”
Canxin’s voice brimmed with teasing and pride, as if she’d discovered a new world. “Now it seems the title ‘Xiaoqiancha’ really is a stroke of genius.”
Lu Qiancha’s eye twitched uncontrollably.
She simply closed her eyes and focused on her breathing.
Only the faint flush on one earlobe betrayed that she was not as calm as she appeared.
***
Half a day passed without a word.
The sun dipped westward as dusk fell, stars scattered across the sky.
Sitting on this ten-plus meter-long small boat, surrounded by ethereal divine light, Lu Qiancha took out a Returning Essence Pill from his storage pouch, placing it under his tongue to slowly digest.
Her mind calculated how long the pills she carried would last.
“What are you thinking about?”
A large hand waved before Lu Qiancha’s eyes.
She turned her head to see Xuanmo sitting beside her, watching her.
“Nothing much, just thinking about the journey ahead.”
Lu Qiancha shook his head and spoke softly.
Xuanmo looked up at the sky and casually asked, “Qiancha, your master… she’s almost an immortal now, right?”
“Mm, the tribulation should come within a year or two.”
Lu Qiancha set down the Jade Token, eyes fixed on Xuanmo Shigu.
Xuanmo was one of the very few who had been to Tianquanfeng in the past sixty years since Lu Qiancha joined.
“Sigh.”
Xuanmo sighed, deliberately adopting a worldly wise tone, turning her back to Lu Qiancha and saying, “Back then we got along well, but unfortunately your master’s soul was damaged in an accident… and still can’t be fully restored.”
“Qiancha, don’t look down on your master just because she’s not immortal yet. Her understanding of all the Daoist arts of Tianyuan Sect is not inferior to any thousand-year immortal.”