Chapter 224 A Long Seeing-Off
Although Hua Qiyue had made the decision on the spot, Xuanji and the others also quietly packed their luggages. Needless to say, they would surely follow Hua Qiyue.
Although they were just friends, they had lived together for a year and was used to one another’s existence. Besides… being by her side had become a terrible habit. They could no longer change it.
“Sister Qiyue, I heard that the north region of Yuewu Kingdom is an important site for the Dark Sect. The Dark Sect’s so powerful that even the Emperor has to avoid them most of the time. Their men have committed all sorts of atrocities, and their powers are about the same level as the orthodox sects’. That’s why, after battling for so many years, neither side has the edge. Surely, someone will watch us when we are in Xuanyuan City.”
Ji Jing said rather worriedly. After all, all their cultivation levels were not especially high.
Ji Feng gave a light smile. “Jing’er, you don’t need to worry. Qiyue’s now at the medium level of Round Sun… I sense that she’ll hit the Great Completeness of Round Sun soon, in a few days. And I’m at the lower level of Moon Eclipse—not as powerful as Qiyue, but many times stronger than in the past. So we needn’t worry. We are an awesome team, one that the Dark Sect can’t deal with.”
Ji Jing gave a start. She recalled that Ji Feng had already reached the lower level of Moon Eclipse. In the past year, she had only risen by one level…
Besides, there was that mysterious Xuanji. They did not really need to worry about the dangers.
Why would Hua Qiyue not give up? She must have heard news about Tianci and would not stay forever. Her heart could not be set at rest.
Xuanji’s divination had foretold that Yun Shimo would not come looking for her in the next two years. If he did not come looking for them, it would be exponentially harder to locate them.
But Hua Qiyue still wanted to go out and roam.
“We’ve been here for over a year. It’s getting really boring. It’d be great to go out for a stroll,” Huangfu Xuan said quietly. He glanced at Hua Qiyue and his eyes had a complicated expression in them.
“Enough. Jing’er, go and pack up quickly!”
Ji Feng smiled. The company dispersed, all leaving hurriedly to pack their things.
After an hour, they had all packed up their luggages and bid farewell to the Ten Thousand Spirit Cave.
Hua Qiyue had stayed here for over a year. Looking back, although she was reluctant to go, that reluctance immediately collapsed the moment she thought about Tianci.
Ji Jing turned back her head, chuckling lightly. “I’m really relunctant to part. These poetic, lovely days… and the anima energy here’s 10 times that at the outside. I really wish to spend my whole life here.”
“One more year, and I’m sure you can’t wait to leave this place! After all, it’s only suitable for cultivating.” Hua Qiyue smiled and patted her small head.
The company stared at one another and smiled.
Hua Qiyue was right. Had Ji Jing stayed here for another year, she would be bored by all these dreary cultivation days.
After all, it was the five of them who had made the days pa.s.sable. Hua Qiyue understood it was the power of friendship. It allowed her to calm down, not turning her into a lunatic.
If it were not for them, Hua Qiyue would be unable to suppress her thoughts of Tianci. When she met with a bottleneck during cultivation, she would surely have driven herself mad.
If not, why did Bai Qianxue, who treated her as a friend, give her two Top-grade Magic Pellets? He was afraid she might met with a bottleneck and brood. If she thought too much, she would get so frustrated that she might end up crazy.
Once out in Spirit Heaven City, they saw a company of people standing in their front, led by Bai Qianxue. Some of them were from Bai’s Mansion and others were heroes of the martial arts fraternity, together with a few who admired Hua Qiyue.
“Your Highness, I know you’re leaving. I am here specially to see you off,” Bai Qianxue said with a smile, a complex expression in his eyes.
Hua Qiyue and the others walked over. As the men started to bid them farewell, they all felt a great sense of grat.i.tude.
“Thank you, City Master, for treating me so well… Your care and concern will never be forgotten!”
Hua Qiyue said to Bai Qianxue respectfully. Although Bai Qianxue did not look too old, he was extremely well respected in the city. Hua Qiyue was grateful for him risking his life to refine pills for her twice.
Bai Qianxue smiled slightly, his peerlessly handsome face resembling a snow lotus in bloom. All the people present—young, old, male and female—all felt their hearts tremble!
Bai Qianxue very rarely smiled. His expression before the public was usually very mild and reserved. But his smile was almost able to topple city walls, resembling an immortal’s.
“Qiyue, I hope we can meet again in the near future. Let’s go. I shall see you off.”
Bai Qianxue said. The company walked to outside the city. The valiant men of the martial arts world expressed their good impressions of Hua Qiyue and tried to rope her into the Blood Cleansing Alliance against the Dark Sect.
Hua Qiyue naturally agreed. The Left Custodian of the Alliance quickly and submissively tried to make her the Deputy Chief. But Hua Qiyue rejected the offer tactfully.
After all, her priority now was to locate Tianci, not deal with men of the Dark Sect. If they had run into them, she would take the opportunity and remove these cancerous tumors conveniently.
“Haha, the Princess’s so forthright, not a girl who hankers after vanity. A Deputy Alliance Chief is such a high position, yet you’ve remained unmoved. I am thoroughly impressed!” That valiant man laughed. Hua Qiyue pursed her lips. She was indeed uninterested in fame or wealth.
She was not short of money or fame. The thing she wanted most was Tianci.
She now only hoped to make herself more powerful—so powerful that no one in the world could oppose her and harm her and Tianci.
Fame and fortune are vain, transient things. She did not care for them.
“Of course Sister Qiyue’s indifferent to fame or fortune. If it weren’t for her adopted son, she won’t be running about everywhere! That d.a.m.ned Yun Shimo! He has taken her adopted son away!” Ji Jing cried out loudly. The company started to sigh in sympathy.
Everyone felt that Yun Shimo and Hua Qiyue had fought shoulder to shoulder and exterminated the Venerated Supreme Devil. Why had Yun Shimo taken away Tianci after this victory and reneged on his engagement vows?
If they were to sum it up in one sentence, it would be: You can know a man’s face, but not his heart.
Even if that person has given up his life for you, he may change. You would never know what he was thinking.
Quite unconsciously, they had left the city gate. Bai Qianxue was not yet ready to go. His entire person was refreshingly uncoventional, very much like Xuanji’s. Ji Feng was gentle and cultivated. These three men were especially striking amongst the crowd.
Along the way, more and more people joined in.
After all, everyone had heard that City Master Bai was seeing Hua Qiyue off. City Master Bai rarely appeared. Most people had never seen him before.
Five kilometers, 50 kilometers, 200…
They went on farther and farther, seeing her off. More and more people joined in.
Hua Qiyue, Bai Qianxue and the others had a enjoyable chat. Some valiant men of the martial arts world secretly admired Hua Qiyue as a good conversationalist. As a woman, she received even more respect and admiration.
500 kilometers away was a small city called Qingyu. Someone led two carriages out. The horses were the best steeds in Tianyuan Continent—Lightning Steeds.
Each of the two carriages was manned by a Qi Artist as driver. They got down the horses and walked respectfully to Bai Qianxue’s front. “Our respects to City Master. The carriages are ready. Could the eminent guests step in?”
Bai Qianxue’s face was wreathed in smiles. “No matter how far you see a person off, the journey will come to an end. Qiyue, take care!”
He no longer addressed her as Princess but Qiyue. Immediately, the two of them felt closer.
Hua Qiyue’s emotions in her heart were surging. She felt that Bai Qianxue was a mysterious man, but upright and kind. At least, he was not in the category of Hongyi or Sect Leader Hong.
Although they had met each other only twice, Bai Qianxue had refined two Top-grade Magic Pellets for her. What he felt for her far exceeded mere acquaintance.
“City Master, take care. May we meet again!” Hua Qiyue cupped her fists and bid farewell to all the valiant men around. She leaped up the carriage, her demeanor elegant and nimble.
Ji Feng and the others also went up their carriages. Hua Qiyue and Ji Jing were in one carriage, while Ji Feng, Xuanji and Huangfu Xuan occupied the other.
The drivers waited for everyone to sit well before whipping the horses and galloping away. The Lightning Steeds were as speedy as lightning. They disappeared from the crowd’s sight in a flash.
The autumn breeze was cool as the heroes bid them farewell. Although they felt it hard to part, they also knew that one day, Hua Qiyue would rock the world to its core with her fame and abilities!
Bai Qianxue stared pensively in the direction of the disappearing carriage, his white robe flowing in the wind, his silvery hair flapping. His whole person seemed like an immortal from heaven. But a loneliness, unseen by all, flashed across his eyes.
If… that woman turned back her ravishing eyes and looked, he would surely go after her. The sentiments of shallow water could still move the heart.
But she did not…
Bai Qianxue’s heart gave a sigh. He went back the same way he came.
——————————
At this very moment.
Yun Shimo was on the mountain peak, cultivating. He suddenly heard Madame Yun below crying out in shock, “Mo-er… Tianci… Tianci, what’s happened to you? Mo-er, come back quickly and see Tianci!”
Yun Shimo was shocked. He immediately retracted his concentration and raced down the mountain.
About a dozen seconds later, Yun Shimo dashed to the entrance of the cave at the foot of the mountain. He saw Tianci rolling on the gra.s.s, his mouth groaning. Although he tried to keep his groans low, but his face was contorted. He seemed to be in pain somewhere.
Princess Qianyang and Madame Yun were by his side. Madame Yun was so worried that she was weeping. Yun Xuan, on the other hand, was watching the scene quietly.
Right now, only Yun Shimo could help Tianci.
“Tianci, don’t be scared! Dad’s here!” As he said that, Yun Shimo immediately took out a vial from inside his robe linings. He uncorked its wooden stopper and quickly held Tianci’s head still.
“Open your mouth, quick! Be obedient, Tianci!” Yun Shimo said anxiously. Tianci opened his mouth, enduring the pain.
Yun Shimo shook out two drops of a purplish liquid. A fragrant scent overwhelmed the place. The two drops landed in Tianci’s mouth.
He felt a coolness spread quickly throughout his body. The pain in his abdomen instantly subsided and was soon completely gone.
Tianci panted, lying weakly on the gra.s.s. Yun Shimo carried him up and gently wiped away the cold sweat on Tianci’s forehead.
Princess Qianyang knitted her brows slightly, as if she were not used to such a scene. But she felt a sneaking joy in her heart. This cursed brat had finally experienced pain. Although she did not know how bad it was, Princess Qianyang’s heart felt an unutterable delight.
After all, she was from the same sect as Hongyi. How much better would her temperament be? Of course, excepting girls like Mo Yuning.
“Tianci, do you feel any pain now?” Yun Shimo asked worriedly, his eyes full of heartache.
Tianci shook his head, his heart full of terror. His abdomen had suddenly experienced an excruciating pain just now. He was afraid he might just die off suddenly, without seeing the mother he always missed.
Although in his memory, he seemed not to have seen Hua Qiyue before… yet he could still vaguely remember her facial features…
“I’m no longer in pain, Dad,” Tianci answered feebly.