The flying boat left the Southern Border, heading north.
For the past two days, Ye Zi'e had been cultivating alone in her room, not disturbing Chen Mo and Li Yuan's private ti. It was only when the flying boat hovered over Golden Sun State that she stepped onto the deck.
The people of Sky Scale Guard had long gathered there, listening to Chen Mo's instructions for the next arrangents.
"The report for the recent journey south has been written. You all head back to the Capital to report for duty. I have so personal matters to attend to," Chen Mo said. "The control of this Cloud Mist Magic Boat will temporarily be in the hands of Households Commander Li; the remaining Spiritual Marrow is sufficient for the journey."
"Yes."
"Understood."
The crowd responded repeatedly.
Li Yuan, her eyes full of reluctance, softly said, "Sir, return early once you've completed your tasks; I... we will wait for you in the Capital."
"Alright, understood." Chen Mo replied with a smile, noticing Ye Zi'e standing in the back of the crowd, nodding towards her. Ye Zi'e curved her lips in response, slightly nodding back.
The two said nothing, needing no words.
This journey had added a tacit understanding between them, like a resonance.
"I'm leaving."
Chen Mo turned and stepped forward, his figure vanishing into the sea of clouds.
Watching his silhouette completely disappear, Song Xuan and the others gradually dispersed, leaving only Li Yuan and Ye Zi'e remaining.
The flying boat continued its racing towards the Central State; Li Yuan leaned against the railing, gazing at the State City below, becoming more distant, sighing softly.
"Alas..."
Though Chen Mo said he'd return soon, her past experiences suggested it wouldn't be that simple; it would probably be quite a long ti before seeing him again.
Ye Zi'e stepped beside Li Yuan, asking, "Households Commander Li, what is Mr. Chen up to? Why does it feel a bit mysterious?"
"Nothing, just going to et his fiancée," Li Yuan said indifferently.
"Fiancée?"
Ye Zi'e paused, recalling the uproar caused by the "withdrawal" incident in the Capital.
The Chen Family and Shen Family had agreed on a marriage contract years ago, but Chen Mo tore it up in public to pursue an oiran from the Imperial Music Bureau.
It seed the two families were on the brink of a feud, but soon after, the oiran vanished, and the Chen and Shen Families reconciled, as if nothing had happened.
"I rember that Miss Shen also holds another identity: a direct disciple of Martial Saint Mountain."
"No wonder Mr. Chen doesn't want us to follow; going to such a place in our 'court's hound' capacity is indeed inappropriate."
Ye Zi'e shook her head, then asked casually, "By the way, are you familiar with Miss Shen? What kind of person is she?"
"Had a few dealings, but can't say familiar."
Li Yuan thought for a mont and said, "In terms of appearance, she's exceptionally beautiful, kind-hearted, sotis seems a bit daft, often reacting half a beat slower, yet sotis appears as if she can see through people..."
"Most importantly, she really has a big appetite, especially loves pig trotters; ten or eight would barely whet her appetite..."
So it's a sweet but silly glutton?
Ye Zi'e subtly noted it in her mind.
Li Yuan glanced at her, puzzled, saying, "Why suddenly ask about this?"
"Nothing, just idle chat," Ye Zi'e swiftly raised her hand to dismiss it.
Li Yuan didn't think much of it, instead inquiring, "By the way, how is your cultivation progress; how long before you break through to Grandmaster?"
"Uh..." Ye Zi'e hesitated montarily, vaguely replied, "It's hard to say; you know how difficult it is to cross this threshold, not sothing one can achieve overnight—maybe six months, perhaps a year, I can't be certain..."
"So long?"
Li Yuan furrowed her brows, seriously saying, "Don't forget, we agreed from the start, your dealings with Mr. Chen are purely transactional, not involving emotions—once you successfully assimilate, you must sever any ties with him."
"Of course, I rember, rest assured, I will definitely keep my word."
Though Ye Zi'e promised ardently, her expression seed a bit unnatural.
Once, Grandmaster was her utmost aspiration, dreaming of assimilation, but now there's a slight transformation within.
"If only this day could co a bit later..."
...
...
Whoosh——
Chen Mo wrapped in lightning, traversing through the clouds.
In his hand lay a bronze compass, emitting beams that ford a towering mountain silhouette in the sky, beneath it detailed cartography—on the eastern side a red dot flashed incessantly.
It was what Shen Zhixia had handed him before leaving the Capital.
Martial Saint Mountain sits amid the Cangyan Mountain Range, where Golden Sun State and Qing Province intersect. Its entrance conceals within an Illusion Array, strangers unable to enter, or else the threshold would have long worn down by seekers of immortality and the Dao.
Only through the compass can one pinpoint the exact location, serving as the token for entry.
Chen Mo followed the compass's guidance, skimming over State City without pause, directly into the depths of Qingyan Mountain Range.
The populace below thinly scattered, relentless peaks adorned with lush greenery, faint roars of beasts, chirping of birds, and insect song echoed—a contrast to the desolate Southern Border, here thriving vibrancy prevails.
Only when the red dot and mountain silhouette overlapped did Chen Mo halt, descending gently.
Before him lay a low hill, shrouded in white mist, seemingly unremarkable, without any signs of housing a Sect.
Until he injected True Yuan into the compass, activating the array——
Dong——
Amid resonant bell chis and drum sounds, the fog parted like a curtain, the hill suddenly rising, revealing its spectacular grandeur!
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