Zhou Yan’s questions came one after another, and Yun Liu simply closed his eyes and stopped talking.
This Curious Baby sure could chatter, really taking herself as a companion who had weathered hardships together.
The young man couldn’t be bothered to respond, so the girl just talked to herself, clearly wanting to team up with Qin Xing to hunt demons again—another little fan of Senior Sister.
Zhou Yan’s mind was filled with thoughts of the Canglang Gorge adventure.
She felt Yun Liu’s name was familiar when she heard it, but for a moment, she couldn’t recall the big figure in East Pole Province who was all the rage lately.
Watching Junior Sister Zhou chat happily with the white-clothed youth, Zhuang Heng felt a bit sour and muttered quietly to himself.
“What’s going on? Do they know each other?”
Bai Yu watched from the side, his smile meaningful.
“Don’t underestimate them. That red-clothed girl—her fire spirit is powerful and rare in this world. She’s also a new disciple of Sunset Peak. She should be the Young Miss of the Xiao Family who refused my Radiant Light Sect.”
“Huh? She’s the one who got laughed at before even marrying in—”
Zhuang Heng glanced back, then immediately shut his mouth, his interest piqued.
“That’s right. With Xiao Xinran here, the mysterious young man’s identity isn’t hard to guess.”
“Who is it?”
Bai Yu’s eyelid twitched.
What a pig brain—still hasn’t figured it out.
“Steward of the Realm of Mountains and Seas, East Pole Pavilion Master, and former Chief of Celestial Phenomena Peak—Yun Liu.”
“It’s him!”
Zhuang Heng’s heartbeat sped up.
The name of the Heavenly Dao Alchemy Master was like thunder in his ears.
No wonder Senior Brother Bai was so polite, and Junior Sister Zhou was eager to chat.
He was a Third-Grade Heavenly Dao Alchemy Master!
Bai Yu glanced at Jing Tan’er.
His casual inquiry earlier wasn’t just on a whim—his mind was more active than the others.
He had some doubts but wasn’t sure.
After all, Her Highness held a noble status.
Since she didn’t want to reveal it, it was fine.
A chance encounter was also fate.
For so many years, Divine Splendor Cloud Estate had been lacking in talent and was never considered a strong rival by Radiant Light Sect.
But this year seemed to be an exception.
Even with the painful loss of Yun Liu, the names of Xiao Xinran and Ji Shiyu still spread through Shanhai Pavilion to the ears of Radiant Light Sect disciples, stunning and dazzling.
No one knew where Vice Sect Master Xun found two Absolute Talent Celestials. If they cultivated under the Sect Leader, in a hundred years, they could become two Supreme Lords of Spell Cultivation.
***
The next morning, Yun Liu sat on a boulder, gazing out at Guangming Ye.
Xiao Xinran stood behind him, hugging her sword, always maintaining a five-step distance.
Zhou Yan emerged from the cave, warmly bringing two bowls of hot soup.
Before she could get close, the red-clothed girl blocked her.
“Step back. Young Master doesn’t like noisy people.”
Xiao Xinran’s eyes were cold, her tone like that of a Pavilion Master’s spokesperson.
“M-me? Noisy? Whatever! This is a spiritual meal Senior Brother Bai specifically asked me to deliver! What kind of attitude is this?”
Zhou Yan stomped her foot.
This master-servant pair was equally aloof.
If not for wanting to see Sister Qin, she wouldn’t bother with the Shenhua disciples.
Bai Yu watched, smiling.
“Mr. Yun doesn’t like to be disturbed. We don’t have to force it. Let’s focus on our journey.”
“Mr. Yun?”
Zhou Yan looked up, her expression puzzled.
Yun Liu said he wasn’t a Shenhua disciple.
Could he be a Yunhai venerated one?
These days, not just anyone qualified to be called ‘sir’ by Senior Brother Bai…
At this moment, the white-robed youth, unfathomable in the eyes of the Ming Guang Gate people, stood with his hands behind his back, his thumb rubbing the ‘Cloud’ Seal Ring.
Ever since the incident on the treasure ship, he had a sense of unease, like being watched by a venomous snake.
His back often went cold, but when he looked, it was always just the unremarkable Little Princess.
He didn’t know where this feeling came from.
After reuniting with Jing Tan’er, his suspicions grew, but repeated tests yielded nothing.
Was it just learning about the existence of a substitute from Jing Rui’s words that made him so jumpy?
Yun Liu let out a helpless laugh, soon realizing the problem.
He had become too reliant on the 100% full-collection strategy acquired after soul fusion—even somewhat blindly superstitious.
When things exceeded his understanding, he felt at a loss.
[Sorrow of a Fallen Nation] had deeper secrets.
It couldn’t be resolved just by controlling Jing Rui.
It proved that the Encyclopedia of Piaomiao Realm wasn’t all-powerful either.
Perhaps there were more hidden ‘easter eggs’ in this world that weren’t recorded in the guide.
“Very good. Things are getting interesting.”
***
Leaving the sect territory of Guangming Ye, White Stone Tower Mountain gradually faded behind them.
Bai Yu relaxed, summoning a magic artifact.
A Golden Dew Treasure Bottle flew into the sky, swelling a hundredfold in size and becoming a vessel for everyone to ride.
“Pardon me. Honored guests from Shenhua, please board first.”
Nini and Lu’er looked on with admiration.
They had long heard of Bai Yu’s reputation in Radiant Light Sect.
With water and wind spirit roots, he could summon storms with a wave.
His spell power was formidable.
Yun Liu’s group didn’t stand on ceremony, settling at the rear of the treasure bottle, content to enjoy the protection of Radiant Light Sect and looking forward to reuniting with Qin Xing.
Bai Yu’s cultivation had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, and his divine sense was also strong.
Among spell cultivators, his soul strength was second only to alchemists in the cultivation world.
The speed of a second-grade magic artifact was extremely fast and stable.
It soared toward the northern plains, the small arrays inscribed on its body complex and intricate—enough to resist even attacks from Golden Core Cultivators.
Yun Liu closed his eyes to rest.
During the journey, Zhuang Heng approached with a bowed back, as if admitting guilt.
Seeing he meant no harm, Xiao Xinran raised her sword and let him pass.
The young archer had come to apologize, his attitude respectful, no longer daring to offend.
Yun Liu nodded in return, showing he didn’t mind.
This kid was clearly from a military background, cultivating through archery and imbuing arrows with spell-breaking spiritual power.
It was a unique perspective.
Zhuang Heng even offered a few bags of Ming Stone Sachets to the girls as compensation for his earlier offense.
His sincerity was clear.
Jing Tan’er and the others accepted the pleasing gifts, their expressions softening.
They were no longer as hostile as at first.
Zhuang Heng retreated to Bai Yu’s side, relieved only after completing his senior brother’s instructions.
He knew he wasn’t clever enough to smooth things over on his own.
Now, Yun-sensei’s actual strength didn’t matter so much.
Compared to swordsmanship or heavenly spirit root talent, his alchemical achievements were the real draw.
In Zhuang Heng’s eyes, he was even more alluring than all the beautiful girls around him combined!
***
“It seems they’ve already figured out who you are.”
Jing Tan’er spread her hands helplessly but looked proud.
The man she fancied was, of course, no ordinary person.
“Let them. There’s nothing to hide.”
The treasure bottle was incredibly fast.
With spell cultivators riding the wind, Bai Yu’s strength meant they didn’t need to stop along the way.
Before dawn, they would reach the northern corner of the dynasty’s domain, Zhusheng Yudu.
“Soon, we’ll send you back to the royal palace. Besides Nini and Lu’er, do you have any other trusted aides in Yudu?”
“Uh…”
Jing Tan’er hesitated, unsure what counted as ‘trusted.’
With the Feather Order in hand, weren’t all the minister and officials her subordinates?
“I thought so.”
Yun Liu pondered for a moment, then decided to accompany Her Highness.
“For safety, I’ll go into the palace with you.”
“Eh?”
Xiao Xinran and the others exclaimed in unison, their expressions varied.
Even as East Pole Pavilion Master, the King of Zhu’s court wasn’t a place you could just walk into.
But Jing Tan’er lowered her head shyly, covering her face.
“Idiot! Idiot, idiot, idiot! What’s the rush? We’re already here—do you think I’d abandon you? At least let me pave the way and let Father officially announce it, to give him time to prepare mentally!”
I’m already yours.
I won’t run away!
“Huh?”