《The Cold King and His Spoilt Wife: His Genius Consort Is Breathtaking》 Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Tomb Copsed

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Run!¡± With a shout, everyone in the tomb ran out in panic. Ashes had already begun to fall from the top of the tomb. The entire tomb was shaking. Xia Muqing stood at the innermost corner as she looked at the mural she had just found. She was confident that if she had more time to study it, she would definitely be able to break through that era. But now, the entire tomb was about to copse. She could only flee with the others. They were about to run out of the exit. No one noticed that thick white smoke was emitting from a small hole. Xia Muqing, who was far behind, suddenly felt that she couldn¡¯t move or speak. She remained in her position as she watched her teammates make their escape. ¡°Muqing!¡± Someone standing outside realized that Xia Muqing was still standing at the entrance and he shouted for her. When he reached out to pull her, the entire tomb copsed. Everyone watched as the tomb fell and buried Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing could clearly feel her body being pressed under the rocks. But strangely, she didn¡¯t feel any pain. Xia Muqing looked at her body as if she was a bystander. With a sh of light, Xia Muqing lost consciousness. When Xia Muqing opened her eyes again, she looked up at the curtains above her. Was she saved? But why wasn¡¯t she at the hospital? Xia Muqing tried to move. Although her body felt a little heavy, at least she could move now. She turned to look around the room. What kind of filming location was this? Why did it look so ancient? Xia Muqing struggled to sit up with much effort. She looked down at the ancient costume she was wearing and was stunned. She had been working in the archeology field for years, and because of her job, her hands had never been that soft. Xia Muqing felt her body and a thought came to her mind. Could she have transmigrated? She saw a bronze mirror in the room. Xia Muqing moved towards it and was shocked when she saw the face in the mirror. Her face was so colorful that it looked like a palette. But were the people of this era all like this? Suddenly, she felt a surge of heating from her body. Xia Muqing hurriedly held onto the table beside her to prevent herself from falling. She thought that the owner of this body was too weak because she was having difficulty moving just now. It turned out that she was drugged. There was a sudden noise outside the door. Someone wanted toe in. He definitely wasn¡¯t a good person under such circumstances. Xia Muqing, who had yet to figure out what was going on, decided to escape. She went to the bed and pushed it, but she failed to push it. She endured the difort and hid behind the cab. At that moment, the door was pushed open. Judging from the footsteps, it sounded like a man. The man entered the room and noticed that the person on the bed had disappeared. He started to search the room in a panic. As he passed the cab, their eyes met. The air went still. Xia Muqing and the man were shocked by each other¡¯s ugliness. Taking advantage of the man¡¯s shock, Xia Muqing picked up the rod she had just found and she struck his head. Bang! Xia Muqing threw away the rod in her hand. She then nced at the man who was lying on the ground. What an eyesore. Xia Muqing started to wonder if the aesthetic standards in this world were weird. Another wave of heat struck her. Xia Muqing was already sweating profusely and her face was flushed. ¡°Ugh.¡± Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t help but groan softly. Swallowing hard, she managed to steady herself. What kind of drug was this? It was too potent. It was still rather dangerous here, and Xia Muqing didn¡¯t dare to stay for long. She stumbled out of the room. Since there weren¡¯t anyone around, Xia Muqing randomly ran off in a direction. When she reached a forest, she couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She stopped to catch her breath. She felt that she would be willing to sleep with that ugly man now. This feeling was too torturous. Cold sweat kept dripping down her forehead. Actually, she was just imagining if that man were to appear before her right now. She would probably still use that rod. She really couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. Xia Muqing forced herself to take two more steps before she suddenly tripped and fell. As shey sprawled on the ground, she saw a pair of cold eyes. Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Xia Muqing¡¯s Memories

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Completely ignoring the threat in his eyes, Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes lit up. This was a man! And he was a good-looking man. Most importantly, this man seemed to be injured and he couldn¡¯t move. Heaven was really helping her! Looking at Ye Qingxuan, Xia Muqing felt that she had confidence in the aesthetic standards of this world again. She gave the man a bright smile. But at this moment, Xia Muqing had no idea that the colors on her face had been smudged by her perspiration. This smile was not as bright as she had imagined, and she looked neither human nor ghost. Xia Muqing slowly approached Ye Qingxuan. Ye Qingxuan¡¯s gaze turned cold when he realized the woman¡¯s intention. ¡°If you daree any closer, I¡¯ll chop you to pieces.¡± Xia Muqing shot him a friendly smile. ¡°Mister, it¡¯s an emergency.¡± He groaned again. Xia Muqing felt like she was about to melt. Ignoring the man¡¯s protests, she reached out to strip him of his clothes. Ye Qingxuan couldn¡¯t move and his eyes were filled with murderous intent. ¡°Woman, just you wait!¡± Xia Muqing answered subconsciously, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about waiting in the future.¡± She would wait until she regained consciousness. She rubbed her aching head and straightened her body. She felt the man¡¯s chest and she regained consciousness. ncing at the unconscious man, Xia Muqing quietly moved away from him. That man had fainted from anger. After rearranging her clothes, Xia Muqing helped the man on the ground to cover his body before she left. Xia Muqing looked up at the wall in front of her. She jumped up. ¡°Ouch.¡± Xia Muqing, who was sitting on top of the wall, looked at the wounds on her hands. She then felt the weakness in her body that resulted from just a simple jump. She felt a wave of sadness. This physique was way too weak. Surveying the courtyard below, Xia Muqing inhaled before she jumped down. Walking along the street, Xia Muqing took out a ck money bag from her sleeve. The unicorn pattern on it appeared simple and domineering. The bag was something she had just taken from that man. No matter which world she was in, it was impossible to survive without money. She opened the thick money bag. Looking at the shiny silver inside, Xia Muqing grinned. Even if one had never eaten pork, one would have seen a pig run. In ancient times, silver was absolutely necessary. She took out a mask from her other sleeve. Naturally, it belonged to that man. After all, the identity of her current body was unknown, so it was better to be safe. It would be terrible if she met any enemies. Fortunately, many people in this era had the habit of wearing masks. Xia Muqing¡¯s dressing was not out of ce. She raised her head and saw Dragon Gate Inn. This name gave Xia Muqing a sense of familiarity. She walked in. A waiter came up to wee her. ¡°Do you want a meal or a room?¡± Xia Muqing recalled the scenes from the television series she had watched, and she couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°One premium room.¡± The waiter repeated in a mellow voice, ¡°All right, one premium room!¡± Xia Muqing followed the waiter to the room. She asked the waiter to bring some signature dishes over. Xia Muqing heaved a sigh of relief. First she was drugged, then she ran away and stole from another man. Fatigue surged within her. She fell asleep on the table. In her sleep, Xia Muqing suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head. She frowned with difort but she couldn¡¯t wake up. After the pain passed, some memories that didn¡¯t belong to her flooded Xia Muqing¡¯s mind. After a while, Xia Muqing reacted. Those were the memories of this body. Xia Muqing watched the little girl¡¯s memories like a bystander. She lost her mother as soon as she was born. Her father eagerly made his concubine his legal wife. The little Xia Muqing was left in the backyard and the only reason she didn¡¯t die was because of the nanny. All these years, she was bullied by everyone. Even the nanny was implicated and was beaten up. She ended up crippled. When the little girl grew older, she had be a well-known useless bum in the country. Chapter 3

Chapter 3: I Will Definitely Avenge You

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Just by looking at her, Xia Muqing felt that this girl was too pitiful. She watched as the little girl got beaten up. Xia Muqing stepped forward and wanted to help her, but she walked right past them. Unable to change these facts, Xia Muqing could only watch helplessly. The little girl was used to being bullied and beaten every day. She just curled up and refused to budge as she protected the bowl of rice beneath her. It was not easy for her to steal it. Xia Muqing looked at the injured little girl, who was feeding her nanny. Her eyes gradually turned red. Until the nanny passed away. The little girl, who didn¡¯t cry no matter how much she was beaten up, burst into tears for the first time. Xia Muqing wanted to hug her, but she couldn¡¯t. After reviewing this girl¡¯s short life, Xia Muqing then realized that this body was only 13 years old. ¡°Sister, thank you.¡± Xia Muqing looked in the direction of the voice. A familiar shadow was smiling gently at her. It was the girl from earlier. ¡°Why are you thanking me?¡± Xia Muqing felt that she was the one who took the girl¡¯s life. ¡°Sister, I was the one who gave up. Thank you for living in my ce. You must be better than me.¡± The shadow shook her head and spoke slowly. After experiencing so much hardship, her eyes were still clean and bright. She was really grateful to Xia Muqing. The nanny¡¯s greatest wish was for her to live well. But she was useless. She could never live well. No matter how hard she tried, everyone still hated her. Xia Muqing looked at her, her eyes slightly red. Seeing the girl¡¯s life, she knew what she meant. Seeing that the girl¡¯s shadow was about to disappear, Xia Muqing said to her, ¡°You¡¯re very good. You¡¯ll definitely be happy and blessed in your next life.¡± A yearning look appeared in the girl¡¯s eyes. What was happiness? It had to be something very good. Seeing the heartache in Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes, the girl smiled sweetly, revealing two small dimples. Xia Muqing only woke up when the girl disappeared from her sight. She was immersed in the girl¡¯s gaze at thest moment. Xia Muqing was furious with the Xia family. She would avenge the girl. Knock, knock, knock. There was a knock on the door and Xia Muqing kept her emotions in check. She put on her mask again before getting up to open the door. It seemed like she made the right decision to wear a mask. After all, this body was now a well-known piece of trash in the entire country. In the end, it was the waiter who brought the food over. It was only then that Xia Muqing realized that it felt like a lifetime had passed. Only a short period of time had passed in reality. She washed her face with the hot water sent by the waiter. Xia Muqing then soaked herself in the hot water, and all the fatigue in her body seemed to disappear. She washed the paint off her face. Xia Muqing studied the face that belonged to the girl in the bronze mirror. Because the little girl was pretty, her face had been concealed by her jealous half-sister with paint. Every time she did that, her sister would praise her. The innocent little girl painted her face every day. Xia Muqing touched her face. The girl in her dream looked a little blurry. However, looking at her face now, this face was simr to hers in the previous life. They had the same name and simr looks. Was this a coincidence or something else? Since she can¡¯t figure it out, she decided not to dwell on it. Xia Muqingy on the bed as she contemted her next step. She couldn¡¯t return to the Xia family now. She found a ce in her memories; the Sunset Mountains. Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes lit up and she decided to go there. She urgently needed to pick up the skills from her previous life. After deciding on her next destination, Xia Muqing took a good nap. After checking out the second day, she asked the waiter for directions to the Sunset Mountains. The waiter was shocked. ¡°Miss, are you sure about going to the Sunset Mountains?¡± Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Sunset Mountains

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I can¡¯t go to the Sunset Mountains?¡± Xia Muqing knew why the waiter was so surprised and she smiled yfully. He sized Xia Muqing up and said, ¡°You¡¯d better go with your family to the Sunset Mountains.¡± Although she was wearing a scary mask, the waiter could tell that she was a girl who had no self-defense skills. For the past two days, because of Xia Muqing¡¯s generosity, the waiter misunderstood that she was a rich youngdy who snuck out to y. Xia Muqing smiled quickly and ignored the waiter¡¯s advice. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just tell me the directions.¡± Seeing how persistent Xia Muqing was, the waiter stopped persuading her. ¡°It¡¯s too far for you to walk to the Sunset Mountains. Follow this path all the way to the end. You can rent a carriage there. You can get a coachman to bring you there.¡± Xia Muqing epted the waiter¡¯s suggestion and walked towards the carriage. She sessfully found a carriage and set off towards the Sunset Mountains. The longer they traveled, the fewer people there were. The sky had already darkened, but they still hadn¡¯t reached their destination. Fortunately, she had listened to the waiter¡¯s opinion. Otherwise, she would have taken years to reach the mountains. She lifted the curtains to look at the surrounding scenery. The surroundings were already deserted by this time. ¡°Miss, we¡¯re almost there. Your courage toe to the Sunset Mountains alone ismendable.¡± The coachmanughed heartily, his tone full of admiration for Xia Muqing. It turned out that Xia Muqing had never traveled far before, and she only knew that the Sunset Mountains was a very dangerous ce. As for the specific reason? She had no idea. ¡°Master, please tell me more about the Sunset Mountains.¡± The coachman was puzzled. This person was clueless about the Sunset Mountains? And yet, she still dared toe here? ¡°Sunset Mountains is famous for being a dangerous ce. Although there are countless resources there, opportunities and dangers coexist too. No one has ever entered the depths of the mountain range.¡± The coachman sighed and he reminded Xia Muqing. Never lose your mind over some benefits and risk losing your life in the end. Xia Muqing smiled faintly. She was aiming for the resources in the mountains. They passed by a long path that could only amodate one carriage. Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. It was worlds apart from the outside world. There were people everywhere. People were walking around and there were many setting up stalls on both sides of the pavement. They were selling their gains they had gotten from the Sunset Mountains. Most of them were mercenaries. ¡°Miss, I can only send you here. 300 meters ahead is the entrance to the Sunset Mountains.¡± The coachman stopped the carriage and pointed at the road ahead for Xia Muqing. She got off the carriage and paid him. ¡°Miss, there¡¯s the mercenary alliance here. If you have to go, you can hire a mercenary group to protect you. Isn¡¯t it safer than entering the mountains alone?¡± The coachman stopped Xia Muqing, who was about to leave, and advised her kindly again. Xia Muqing nodded and strode forward. The man shook his head and boarded the carriage. Xia Muqing followed the crowd and walked along the streets. She could glimpse the entrance of the Sunset Mountains at a nce. She was in a good mood. Both the waiter and the coachman were good people. The people here were not too bad. The next second, Xia Muqing was pped in the face by her thoughts. ¡°It seems as if anyone can enter the Sunset Mountains now.¡± A mocking female voice sounded. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t realize that she was talking about her. Until someone blocked her way. Xia Muqing was speechless as she looked at the woman, who had her nose high up in the air. Wasn¡¯t walking like this tiring? ¡°You dare to ignore my words? Do you know¡­¡± ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± Xia Muqing interjected swiftly. Huangfu You choked. She looked at Xia Muqing in confusion and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Xia Muqing¡¯s First Disy of Her Skills

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing¡¯s expression changed and she red at the person in front of her. ¡°How dare you block my way without knowing who I am!¡± Her tone was imposing and domineering. Xia Muqing¡¯s current appearance reminded Huangfu You of someone. She shuddered in fear at the thought. She began to treat Xia Muqing very cautiously. ¡°You¡¯re wearing a mask. How would I know?¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t expect her to be so gullible. She retracted her aura and marched past her without a second nce. Huangfu You stood rooted to the spot, staring at Xia Muqing¡¯s back as she tried to guess her identity. She suddenly remembered that she was the most favored princess in the country. Except Father, Mother, and that man, who else did she need to be afraid of? Huangfu You, who had reacted to the situation, was even more displeased. With Huangfu You¡¯s unruly personality and her embarrassment from being intimidated, she immediately gave chase angrily. She stopped Xia Muqing. ¡°Stop right there. Do you know who I¡­ I am? How dare you speak to me like that?¡± Xia Muqing looked at the guards ahead helplessly. She turned around and studied Huangfu You, who was standing with her hands on her waist. She didn¡¯t expect her to be a princess. She thought about the country¡¯s princesses. With such arrogance, she was probably the most favored youngest princess, Huangfu You. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t expose Huangfu You¡¯s identity. She replied casually, ¡°Who you are has nothing to do with me. Are you very free?¡± Huangfu You was indignant. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°One is nosy because of boredom,¡± Xia Muqing exined kindly. Huangfu You was about to explode from anger. She wanted to enter the mountain range alone, but her father insisted on sending so many people to follow her. When she noticed Xia Muqing entering the mountain alone, she couldn¡¯t help but blurt out. Unexpectedly, Xia Muqing had ignored her and evenmented that she was nosy. ¡°Do you know that if you offend me, I can forbid you from entering the mountain range?¡± This was the first time Huangfu You had been treated in such a manner. She raised her head and spoke harshly. Xia Muqing smiled helplessly and pointed at the railings in front of them. ¡°But I¡¯ve already entered.¡± This scene attracted groups of onlookers. Several people couldn¡¯t help butugh in response. Those who weren¡¯tughing, had amusement glinting in their eyes. Huangfu You¡¯s face turned red. She red at the people around her and scolded, ¡°What are you allughing at? Do you believe that I will send all of you to jail?¡± As soon as she said this, the guards around Huangfu You acted ordingly and drew their swords. Those who could survive in the Sunset Mountains for a long time weren¡¯t cowards. They didn¡¯t take Huangfu You¡¯s threat seriously. But the arrogance in her words and the guards around her, showed that she was not an ordinary person. They guessed that she was connected to the royal family. Fearful of the power behind her, none of them made a retort despite being angry. Huangfu You smirked smugly. She turned her gaze back to Xia Muqing, with her eyes filled with ferocity. ¡°Arrest her. I want to teach her a lesson.¡± This time, Xia Muqing¡¯s expression changed. She had originally wanted to tease this little princess, but now, she was no longer in the mood to do so. ¡°You¡¯re not cute at all right now.¡± After Xia Muqing finished speaking, she swung her leg at the guards who had gathered around her. The guards hadn¡¯t expected her to be skilled in martial arts, and they were taken aback. Taking advantage of the chaos, Xia Muqing found an opening and quickly knocked down a guard swiftly before escaping. Panting, Xia Muqing hid behind a big tree. Just a few moves had drained her. This body was really weak. Even though Xia Muqing already knew that, she couldn¡¯t help butin. Huangfu You watched as Xia Muqing disappeared in the blink of an eye. Furious, she whipped the guards who were sprawled on the ground. ¡°What are all of you doing? You can¡¯t even deal with a woman. How could you protect me?¡± Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Sunset Mountains Became a Camping Ground

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Looking at the livid and exasperated Huangfu You, everyone nodded their heads in agreement. Initially, she looked like a cute little girl whose looks would soften one¡¯s heart at a nce. However, her overbearing attitude had ruined her cute appearance. The onlookers didn¡¯t expect a frail-looking girl like Xia Muqing to have such skills. Although the guards had underestimated the enemy, she wasn¡¯t weak either. Everyone understood why she had dared to enter the Sunset Mountains alone. The captain of the guards approached Huangfu You to apologize. ¡°Miss, we¡¯ve underestimated the enemy.¡± p! Huangfu You hit the guard captain¡¯s face with her whip again. A bloody mark instantly appeared on the guard captain¡¯s face, but he didn¡¯t dare to wipe his face. He stood rigid and unmoving. ¡°Trash.¡± Huangfu You cursed and marched towards the mountain range. The captain of the guards quickly followed, and the rest of the guards also leaped to their feet quickly. Everyone was fully focused. If the precious young mistress was injured, they would lose their heads. Realizing how hot-tempered Huangfu You was, the onlookers quickly retreated, afraid that they would be the unlucky victims. This time, Huangfu You was even more incensed. Was she a virus? They were all avoiding her. Huangfu You stopped in her tracks and red at the person next to her. She stormed and entered the mountain range angrily. The guards behind her also stopped and walked,pletely matching Huangfu You¡¯s footsteps. Xia Muqing rested for a while before walking deeper into the depths. The mountains were dangerous as all kinds of wild beasts roamed around. ording to legend, a mythical beast existed in the mountain range. It would devour any human and animal that entered its territory. All these years, no one who had ventured to explore had survived. There were no exceptions. As long as one was highly skilled, the beasts that roamed the mountains¡¯ weren¡¯t the main problem. However, the swamps and miasma everywhere were the most lethal killers which took the most lives. She carefully avoided a swamp. Xia Muqing, who had umted years of experience, could easily deal with swamps. After all, the surroundings of the cemetery, including the tomb, were more dangerous than this ce. A wild boar suddenly appeared in front of her. Although it was slightly bigger than a normal wild boar, Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes lit up. The hunger in her eyes surpassed the boar¡¯s. If the wild boar could read human thoughts, it would have fled by now. However, it clearly did not. The wild boar was charging straight at her. Xia Muqing swallowed her saliva. At the same time she dodged it, she was analyzing the tastiest part of the wild boar¡¯s body. The boar failed to touch the human who jumped around like a monkey. The boar growled angrily. It rushed towards Xia Muqing even more forcefully. It was obvious that the enraged wild boar was extremely quick. Xia Muqing felt a gust of wind blowing against her face. Just as the wild boar reached her, Xia Muqing leaped up and clung onto a tree branch. The boar hit its head against the tree. Xia Muqing had nned this just now. Her body was too weak now. If she fought the boar physically, it would be easy for both sides to suffer losses. The boar copsed to the ground. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t give it any time to react. She jumped down, took out a dagger and stabbed the wild boar in the heart. With another stab, Xia Muqing looked at the dead wild boar and smiled in satisfaction. She patted the boar¡¯s head. The boar must have known that she was hungry, and that was why it appeared. Xia Muqing spotted a water source a distance away, before she nced at the size of the wild boar. Not to mention the distance, even moving a little would be a tedious task for her. With a dagger, she skillfully dissected the wild boar. She carried a piece of meat that weighed about five pounds towards the river. She washed the meat thoroughly by the river. She cut the meat into smaller chunks and then arranged them on the leaves she had found. After Xia Muqing was done, she stowed away the dagger. She collected some stuff to set up a simple grill. She pped her hands at her sess. Xia Muqing took out other items from her bag. There were salt, pepper, chili noodles, a small bowl and even a pot. That was too much. If anyone saw this sight, they would think that this wasn¡¯t the Sunset Mountains but a camping ground for young masters and mistresses. Chapter 7

Chapter 7: A Greedy Little Fox

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing had specially bought these items before she entered the mountains. While cooking the meat, she nced at the mushroom and pork soup in the pot. Xia Muqing leanedfortably against a tall tree behind her. She had lived in the mountains with her master since she was young. Now, entering the mountains felt as if she was back home. Xia Muqing was a little sorrowful. After she died, would her master cry? The corner of her lips twitched helplessly when she recalled how the old man loved to cry. He looked like a refined and unworldly man, yet he spoke and acted like a gangster. If she didn¡¯t agree to his request, he would cry his eyes out. With Master¡¯s personality, he should be fine. Xia Muqing stopped letting her imagination run wild. The meat had already been cooked. She picked up a piece and bit into it. She ended up biting nothing. Xia Muqing looked at the meat skewer in her hand. She raised her eyebrows and scanned her surroundings. She didn¡¯t find anything. She quietly picked up another stick, and just when she was about to take a bite, the same thing happened again. But this unknown creature was too fast. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t catch a glimpse of it. She picked up another stick but that creature ate it once more. It was as if it was showing off. The unknown creature even swept away all the roasted meat on the grill. She looked at the row of bare sticks. This time, Xia Muqing could see clearly that it was a palm-sized ck shadow. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t chase after it. The little thing was extremely quick and she knew she could never catch it. She took out more meat and speared the pieces on the sticks. She acted as though she wasn¡¯t in a hurry as she slowly roasted the meat. Noticing how easily bullied Xia Muqing was, the little beast hiding in the distance studied her with a hint of contempt. Xia Muqing waited until the meat was roasted before picking up a piece to eat. That shadow appeared again. However, the little thing didn¡¯t leave this time after snatching the meat. Instead, ity on the ground and spat out the food in its mouth. It stuck out its tongue and looked like it was in pain. Xia Muqing looked at the ck lump on the ground. Its palm-sized body was round and it was covered in soft ck fur. Except for its ws and eyes, it was entirely ck. She poked its meaty little butt with a stick. The poke reminded the little thing of the culprit who caused it so much pain. It turned around and red at Xia Muqing while making sounds. Although she couldn¡¯t understand the sounds, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess that it was cursing at her. Xia Muqingughed and said, ¡°You dare to scold me after stealing my roasted meat?¡± Squeak squeak squeak¡ª The little one wasn¡¯t afraid that Xia Muqing would take revenge at all. It raised its head and looked up at Xia Muqing scornfully. It seemed to be saying, ¡°It¡¯s your blessing that I¡¯m eating your roast meat.¡± She was amused by what she had imagined in her head. Xia Muqing had always liked furry things. Now that the angry little beast seemed even rounder, Xia Muqing had the urge to go and rub it. It would be quite sad if it died for no reason. A tinge of pity shed across Xia Muqing¡¯s heart. Squeak squeak squeak¡ª The little beast gestured and pointed at the stick in Xia Muqing¡¯s hand as it pretended to vomit. Strangely, Xia Muqing understood what it meant. It was probably asking why this thing tasted so bad. Xia Muqing threw the fruit she had just crushed towards it. ¡°Here it is.¡± This was what she had found in the forest previously. It was a type of medicinal herb that had a tough outer shell that wasparable to a lingzhi. But it was smelly. It had a hard shell and didn¡¯t have much taste. Once it was opened, the smell was guaranteed to keep one alert. The fruit was so smelly that the name was directly named after the smell. Just now, Xia Muqing had to hold her breath before she could spread it on the meat. The little beast was surprised that Xia Muqing could understand its meaning. It took a step forward and sniffed carefully. It smelled the same smell as the one it had just eaten. Its two little paws covered its nose as it retreated, looking at the small fruit on the ground in horror. Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Kidnapping the Ignorant Little Beast

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Not only that, it even turned around and buried the fruit with its hind legs. After that, the little beast put down its paws that were covering its nose. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Xia Muqing was amused by the little beast¡¯s reaction and was also surprised by its human behavior. She had never encountered such an animal before. In her previous life, Xia Muqing had always wanted to raise a small animal. But she couldn¡¯t because of her job. Looking at this little beast now, Xia Muqing suddenly had a thought. ¡°Do you want to eat roasted meat, puppy?¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s seductive voice sounded. However, she didn¡¯t expect the little beast to protest. Squeak squeak. These two sounds fully expressed its anger. Xia Muqing was stunned. It¡¯s reaction was so drastic. Did it have an owner? That would be tricky. If it really had a master, she would have to bear with the pain and give it up. ¡°This is for you.¡± Xia Muqing dismissed that thought. Seeing how cute it was, she offered it a piece of roasted meat. The little beast studied the roasted meat warily. There was desire in its eyes, but it took a step back. Xia Muqing immediately understood what it was thinking. She retracted the roasted meat and took a bite in front of the little beast before offering it again. Before the meat reached its mouth this time, the roasted meat on the stick was gone. The little beast gazed at Xia Muqing in confusion. It didn¡¯t know why Xia Muqing would give it meat to eat after ying a trick on it earlier on. ¡°If you don¡¯t ask before you take something, that¡¯s stealing. I offered the meat to you just now.¡± Xia Muqing could tell that the little beast was puzzled and exined calmly. Squeak. The little beast responded. She didn¡¯t know if it understood her. It sat on the ground gracefully and licked its paws gently. Its gaze was fixated on the meat on the grill. When it couldn¡¯t endure any longer, it quietly ced a paw on the roasted meat. p! Squeak. Xia Muqing used a stick to tap on the little beast¡¯s paws, causing it to cry out in dissatisfaction. ¡°Have you forgotten what I just said?¡± Squeak. The little beast lowered its head, looking like it was admitting its mistake. In the next moment, it did the same thing again. It dashed and ced its paws on the grill and froze after taking a bite. When it returned to its original spot, it started vomiting. This one smelled worse than the first one. It vomited until its eyes were red and its entire body copsed onto the ground. It didn¡¯t forget to bury the meat that it had just spat out. Xia Muqing nodded in approval as she chewed the roasted meat. This was a hygienic puppy. Xia Muqing firmly believed that this little beast was a puppy. The main reason was because it looked like a Pomeranian. Both had round faces. The little beast looked at Xia Muqing sadly. How did this human know which stick it would steal? Watching Xia Muqing eat the roasted meat, the little beast felt that this human was too evil! ¡°Little dog, where¡¯s your master?¡± Squeak squeak squeak¡ª The weak little beast suddenly regained its strength. It growled at Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing was puzzled. Recalling what she had just said, she repeated tentatively, ¡°Puppy?¡± Squeak squeak¡ª This time, it made longer sounds. Its eyes were filled with humiliation and indignation. Xia Muqing understood now. So this little fellow wasn¡¯t angry because it had a master, instead it was angry because she had called it a puppy. That meant she had a chance. Xia Muqing was delighted. Putting on her best attitude, she offered a piece of roasted meat to the little beast. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry anymore. I¡¯ll offer you some roasted meat as an apology, okay?¡± Without waiting for it to suspect anything, Xia Muqing took a bite of the roasted meat. The little beast grunted and lowered its head to finish the roasted meat. It continued to use Xia Muqing angrily by making sounds. Xia Muqing was speechless. ¡°What sort of animal are you?¡± Xia Muqing looked around but she still couldn¡¯t figure it out. Chapter 9

Chapter 9: You¡¯re Actually a Fox

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The little beast mocked Xia Muqing for being ignorant. It propped itself up and wanted to show off its imposing figure to Xia Muqing. She actually thought that it was a puppy. Hmph! An ignorant human. Xia Muqing took a closer look at the animal. It really behaved like a puppy asking for food. She couldn¡¯t help but hand over a piece of barbecued meat to the little beast, who was putting in effort to perform. Its body, which was moving, stiffened. Understanding Xia Muqing¡¯s intentions, it was instantly enraged. Just as it was about to re up, it caught a whiff of the roasted meat. It decided to vent its anger after eating. It swiftly finished the roasted meat presented before it. When it finished and looked up, it made a series of angry squeaks. The change in its mood was extremely smooth. Even after taking the food, it didn¡¯t feel ashamed. ¡°I really can¡¯t tell.¡± Facing the little beast¡¯s anger, Xia Muqing shrugged innocently. Her ignorance left the little beast helpless. The human and the beast stared at each other. Xia Muqing had a suggestion. ¡°Why don¡¯t I guess? If I guess correctly, you¡¯ll nod?¡± The little beast nodded and epted Xia Muqing¡¯s suggestion. This time, Xia Muqing was even more astounded. This little beast was no longer simply smart. Clearly, it could understand humannguage. Xia Muqing had a vague feeling that this little beast came from an extraordinary background. Then, the human and beast began to talk. If anyone witnessed this scene, they would think that Xia Muqing was crazy. ¡°Kitty?¡± Squeak squeak squeak¡ª ¡°Rabbit?¡± Squeak squeak squeak¡ª ¡°Mouse?¡± Squeak squeak¡ª The little beast had be even more furious. Xia Muqing had no choice. This was all she knew about small animals with long fur. An animal struck her and Xia Muqing asked in disbelief, ¡°A monkey?¡± The little beast could no longer be bothered with Xia Muqing. Its apparent disdain made Xia Muqing despise herself too. She then tried her best to recall Xia Muqing¡¯s earlier memories seriously. The animals in this world were basically the same as her world. Except for theirrger sizes, they all looked the same. She watched as the little beast licked its fur, Xia Muqing had an idea. She suddenly thought of an animal that she had subconsciously ignored. ¡°Are you a fox?¡± As Xia Muqing had experienced the little beast¡¯s contempt many times, she was hesitant when she spoke. The little beast nodded. It gave Xia Muqing a look that conveyed that she had finally understood. The corners of Xia Muqing¡¯s mouth twitched. This little fellow was chubby and round all over. It didn¡¯t look like a fox at all. It was understandable that she couldn¡¯t tell. Knowing the little beast¡¯s identity, Xia Muqing watched its every move. It indeed had the elegance and arrogance of a fox. But should a fox be this size and shape? Did it get fat from eating too much? It was very likely that this fellow was a glutton. The little best licked the fur on its paws elegantly and looked at Xia Muqing with disdain. This ignorant human. It was the king of the snow fox n. It was really not Xia Muqing¡¯s fault. No one would be able to recognize its identity here. The snow fox was a national treasure in this world. It was a mascot that was worshiped by various countries. Thousands of years ago, there was even a rumor that the Snow Fox King ruled the world. However, ever since it appeared once thousands of years ago, no one had seen the Snow Fox King again. Today, the Snow Fox King had be a legendary existence. Snow foxes had always been known for their snow-white fur. The more pure and white a snow fox was, the more popr it would be. No one would have thought that the Snow Fox King was actually covered in ck fur. Xia Muqing scooped a bowl of mushroom and pork soup. She drank the soup while observing the little beast¡¯s reaction. She was thinking about how she could kidnap it. Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Sessfully Taken the Bait

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The little beast stared at Xia Muqing. If it was minutes ago, it would have snatched the meat. However, it was afraid of Xia Muqing¡¯s despicable methods. It had no wish to eat that smelly thing again. A human who carried such an evil thing on her was definitely not a good person. Xia Muqing, who was thinking about abducting people¡­ Uh, abducting a beast, had no idea that she was already a representation of evilness. ¡°Do you want to eat it?¡± The little beast nced at Xia Muqing and struggled internally. In the blink of an eye, the little beast scurried to Xia Muqing. It extended both chubby little paws and ced them on Xia Muqing¡¯s hand. Only then did Xia Muqing notice that its ws were actually pink. She was attracted by how adorable the little beast was, and she stopped herself from extending her hand. She took out a leaf and fashioned a small bowl for the little beast. She scooped some soup and ced it in front of it. Slurp. The little beast took a sip impatiently. Then, its tiny eyes lit up. The food cooked by this human was so delicious. After it had finished the soup, it pushed the bowl to Xia Muqing. Seeing that she didn¡¯t move, it even touched her arm. This time, Xia Muqing didn¡¯t scoop more soup for the little beast. Instead, she tried to tempt it. ¡°Do you want to have roasted meat and meat soup every day?¡± The little beast nodded excitedly. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you follow me and acknowledge me as your master?¡± Squeak squeak. Anger appeared in the little beast¡¯s eyes. A mere human wanted to be its master! Xia Muqing¡¯s gentle expression vanished and she confiscated the small bowl made of leaves. ¡°Since you don¡¯t want to follow me, don¡¯t eat my food.¡± The little beast looked at Xia Muqing in disbelief. With a jerk of its body, it rushed towards the pot. ¡°You still want to taste the fruit?¡± The little beast stopped in mid-air for a second beforending on the ground. Squeak squeak squeak¡ª The little beast bared its teeth at Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing remained unmoved and continued drinking the soup. After a while, the little beast was already lying on the ground. Since it couldn¡¯t drink it, it sniffed to catch a whiff of the soup. It was really pitiful. Xia Muqing was also worried that this fellow would run away in a fit of anger. Its speed was too swift for Xia Muqing. She scooped another bowl of soup for the little beast and ced it in front of it. The little beast stared at Xia Muqing. Its eyes were conveying a message, ¡®I won¡¯t acknowledge you as my master.¡¯ ¡°Drink it. I won¡¯t force you.¡± The little beast lowered its head and drank the soup. Xia Muqing said leisurely, ¡°I want to keep a pet, because I usually cook too much food. I can¡¯t finish it all by myself, so a lot of food is wasted. Let me think about what I have. Have you eaten grilled fish before? The fish with fat and fresh flesh is roasted on the fire. It¡¯s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I always add condiments and then when I take a bite, it¡¯s fragrant and yummy.¡± Xia Muqing nced at the little beast who was listening intently and smiled. ¡°There¡¯s also red bean cake. It¡¯s soft and sticky. With the red bean filling flowing out, it¡¯s still warm in the mouth. It¡¯s a pity that I didn¡¯t finish all ten of themst time and threw four of them away.¡± Xia Muqing said it was a pity, and the little beast¡¯s face was full of pity too. It wished it could go back and eat them on behalf of Xia Muqing. ¡°And spring cakes, cakes, fried tofu, and chicken¡­¡± Xia Muqing counted with her fingers. The little beast¡¯s eyes followed her closely. It didn¡¯t know what Xia Muqing was talking about but it definitely sounded delicious. After Xia Muqing finished speaking, she turned around to peer at it. The little beast¡¯s lips were glistening. With a satisfied smile, she raised the request again. ¡°Do you want to help me eat them all?¡± The little beast nodded subconsciously and took a step back warily after it realized its reaction. This human was too tempting. It would not fall for it. In order not to fall for it again, the little beast looked longingly at the soup in the pot. It disappeared in a sh. Chapter 11

Chapter 11: I¡¯m the Master

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Before Xia Muqing could ask the little beast to stay, it disappeared. There was a sh of disappointment in her eyes. Did her strategy fail? She really liked the little beast. Xia Muqing packed her things and put them back into her bag. Just as she was about to leave, she heard a sound. Squeak. She whirled around in surprise and saw the little beast moving towards her gracefully. On the surface, it looked like a noble little beast. But in its heart, it was apologizing repeatedly to its ancestors. Just imagine what kind of legends its ancestors were. Even the ruler of a country had to treat them with respect. But it yielded to a human for food. How embarrassing. Squeak squeak squeak¡ª The little beast gestured at Xia Muqing with a stiff expression. Xia Muqing understood. It meant that it was willing to follow her, but it wanted to be the master. This was the little beast¡¯s final disy of stubbornness. This was a matter of who would wield control. Xia Muqing naturally pretended not to understand. She picked up the little beast and did what it wanted to do the most. She rubbed its body as soon as she carried it. The little beast immediately struggled and protested to express its unwillingness. Xia Muqing smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be your master from now on. You¡¯re very excited, aren¡¯t you?¡± Squeak squeak squeak¡ª Xia Muqing was still grinning. ¡°I know, you¡¯re very excited.¡± After a while, the little beast slumped weakly on Xia Muqing¡¯s hand. Just as it was about to escape, Xia Muqing¡¯s words made it stop. ¡°Shall I cook grilled fish for you tomorrow?¡± The little beast paused. It felt that it should finish the grilled fish before leaving. Xia Muqingughed and pinched the greedy little beast. ¡°Let me give you a name.¡± The little beast¡¯s interest was piqued when Xia Muqing said that. Both its parents had names, but only it didn¡¯t. ¡°Little pig?¡± Xia Muqing pondered for a while as she touched the little beast¡¯s round belly. Squeak squeak squeak¡ª ¡°All right, I¡¯m just kidding. I¡¯ll call you Gungun, okay?¡± Afterforting the unhappy little beast, Xia Muqing said the name she really had in mind. It blinked and looked at Xia Muqing. Its silence meant that it had agreed. ¡°Gungun, Gungun.¡± Xia Muqing was delighted and called it a few times. Gungun was also tickled by Xia Muqing¡¯s fingers. It consciously turned its body around so that Xia Muqing could scratch its entire body. Gungun had yet to discover the changes in its behavior. Xia Muqing noticed it first. She carried her bag and ced Gungun on her shoulder. It curled into a small ball andy on Xia Muqing¡¯s shoulder like a fur ball. From afar, it looked like Xia Muqing¡¯s essory. Feeling the warmth on her shoulders, Xia Muqing suddenly felt like a mother. Indeed, she had to shoulder the heavy responsibility of feeding Gungun in the future. The human and beast had been walking in the forest for several days. During these few days of feeding, Xia Muqing hadpletely won Gungun¡¯s heart. Every day, Gungun wanted to leave the next day. The next day turned into the next day and there were endless tomorrows. Squeak squeak squeak¡ª Gungun shifted and slid off Xia Muqing¡¯s shoulder,nding in her arms. It pointed its chubby paw in the direction ahead. This was also what Xia Muqing had discovered over the past two days. Gungun had a keen intuition for locating heavenly treasures. Xia Muqing looked in the direction Gungun pointed. There was indeed a bright red lotus on the ground. Delighted, Xia Muqing quickly walked over. She squatted down and observed the lotus carefully. The meat lotus was a medicinal herb that resembled the lotus flower. It was much thicker than an ordinary lotus. Before it matured, the lotus was a faint pink. After it matured, it would turn red. She looked at the blood-red lotus in front of her. One look and she could tell it was over a hundred years old. The ripening period of the meat lotus was very short. The chances of encountering a hundred-year meat lotus was about the same as encountering a thousand-year ginseng. Just as she was about to pluck it, she heard the sound of wind rushing past her. Xia Muqing, who was prepared, dodged aside. She surveyed the green snake protecting the lotus. Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t surprised. Such a medicinal herb was considered a heavenly treasure.. It was impossible that there was no guardian to protect it. Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Talking About Cooperation with a Beast

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing had no wish to steal the green snake¡¯s lotus. She grew up on a mountain and she had many animal friends. She knew that the green snake must have taken meticulous care of this meat lotus every day, and that¡¯s why it had grown so well. She was aware that the green snake couldn¡¯t understand her. Under the steady gaze of the green snake, Xia Muqing expressed her intentions to Gungun. She wanted Gungun to speak to the green snake. Gungun jumped out of Xia Muqing¡¯s arms. It raised its neck proudly and approached the green snake. Gungun¡¯s status in the animal world gave it the right to be arrogant. The green snake looked warily at the fox who was with the human, who wanted to steal its lotus. The special scent detection between animals allowed the green snake to know that this ck fellow in front of it was a fox. ¡°Squeak squeak¡ªMy master wants to exchange this meat lotus with you. Quickly hand it over.¡± Gungun conveyed Xia Muqing¡¯s intention to the green snake. However, its tone was different from hers. As a king, it was impossible for Gungun to discuss with a mere snake. The green snake looked distrustful. ¡°Ssssssss¡ªI don¡¯t want anything.¡± Gungun red at it. This little snake had actually dared to reject it. Gungun was already very sullen and upset that it had be a human pet. Now, this lowly snake actually dared to reject it. Gungun¡¯s temper exploded instantly. Xia Muqing waited quietly. In order not to rouse the green snake¡¯s wariness, she didn¡¯t get too close. The fox and snake seemed to be behaving amicably, when Gungun charged at the green snake, which was a hundred timesrger than itself. To Gungun, the snake was considered small. In reality, the snake was more than ten meters long and its waist was as thick as a water bucket. Xia Muqing had no idea why the two beasts would sh, but she was a little worried if Gungun could handle the green snake. The green snake had sensed long ago that this fox was dangerous. If not, it would have swallowed that human long ago. Now that it saw Gungun charging at it, it was fully focused. Xia Muqing also walked over. However, before she could reach them, everything happened in an instant. The green snake was already lying on the ground. Its heavy body kicked up a cloud of dust which slowly dispersed. Xia Muqing watched as Gungun sat arrogantly on the green snake¡¯s head as it licked its paws. Licking its paws was something Gungun would only do in afortable situation. Xia Muqing thought quietly with a darkened expression. So Gungun feltfortable sitting on a snake¡¯s head? She was nevertheless rather shocked by Gungun¡¯s strength. This was the first time it had disyed other abilities besides speed. What was even more shocking was, of course, the green snake under Gungun¡¯s body. The snake was already on guard, thinking that there would be a vicious battle. In the end, it didn¡¯t even see the fox¡¯s movements clearly before the battle ended. Seeing that the green snake was getting more depressed, Xia Muqing quickly got Gungun to move away. Gungun slid down the green snake¡¯s nose. She had used its head as a slide. It walked to Xia Muqing and climbed onto her shoulder. Xia Muqing was speechless again. The green snake seemed to be shrouded in a cloud of darkness. It seemed to be a ruler in its territory. Today, it was humiliated by a human and a beast. It took a look at the lotus that had been carefully nurtured for a century. Its mood turned even more grim. Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t bear to see it like this. She always felt some pity for little animals. Although the snake wasn¡¯t small, it was still an animal. ¡°Green Snake, I just want to make a deal with you. I don¡¯t want to make things difficult for you. If you need anything, just say it. If not, we¡¯ll leave.¡± Xia Muqing patted Gungun¡¯s body. Gungun didn¡¯t move and trantedzily for Xia Muqing. Squeak squeak squeak¡ª The green snake moved its head and stared at Xia Muqing with its fist-sized eyes. It was testing the authenticity of her words. Ssss¡ª When Gungun heard that, it was enraged again. It immediately wanted to give it another beating. Chapter 13

Chapter 13: The Deal Was Rejected

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing stopped the impulsive Gungun. Needless to say, with Gungun like this, the green snake would definitely refuse. Since the snake was unwilling, Xia Muqing turned around and left. The green snake gazed at Xia Muqing in disbelief. Its huge eyes were filled with doubt. It had seen all kinds of humans. But they all had one thing inmon: cunning and greed. All of them wished that they could take everything in the mountains for themselves. This was the first time that the green snake had met such a human. It was a little confused. However, it was fine as long as the lotus was intact. This lotus was for its wife. Its wife was attacked in childbirth a hundred years ago and its body was injured. Their children ended up dead. Its wife had never left the cave in all these years. The green snake was waiting for this lotus to mature and then, it would use it to heal his wife¡¯s body. It moved its injured body bit by bit and wrapped the lotus under its body. It looked in the direction that Xia Muqing left and was relieved to see that she didn¡¯t return. Just as it was feeling relieved, it heard a ferocious howl. The green snake instantly reared its head. A ck wolf slowly approached with greed gleaming in its eyes. The green snake knew that the ck wolf was after its lotus. The ck wolf was the culprit who had hurt its wife and killed their children. The wolf had been harassing it for the past century just to steal the lotus. In consideration of its wife, the green snake couldn¡¯t fight the wolf heads on. If it died, its wife wouldn¡¯t survive either. It had been hiding and avoiding the wolf, but the lotus couldn¡¯t be moved. One could imagine how hard the green snake had been living for the past hundred years. The ck wolf approached the green snake quietly. It had seen what had just happened. It had failed to steal the meat lotus for a hundred years. The ck wolf knew that its chance had arrived. The green snake was indeed stronger than it at its peak, but the heavily injured green snake was no match for it now. The green snake watched ck Wolf¡¯s movements intently. It was ready to fight to its death. However¡­ The green snake nced at the meat lotus that was about to ripen. Even if it died, it had to think of a way to send it to its wife. The ck wolf howled as it charged towards the green snake. The green snake used its tail to protect the lotus while its head quickly dodged the ck wolf¡¯s attack. After failing several times, the ck wolf gradually lost its patience. When it caught a glimpse of the lotus that the green snake had been protecting, the ck wolf had a n. It suddenly changed its attack tactic and targeted the lotus. This time, the green snake could no longer dodge. It could only block the ck wolf¡¯s attack. Blood appeared at the corner of the green snake¡¯s mouth after the first attack. Its body couldn¡¯t withstand such a fierce attack. After the first attack, the ck wolf attacked the green snake relentlessly. Every time the green snake could only take the attacks head-on. One of its eyes had already caved in from the impact of the ck snake¡¯s attacks. Its entire face was covered with blood and it looked extremely terrifying. After each attack, the ck wolf had thought that the green snake had met its limit. However, it managed to survive each time. This made the ck wolf even more furious. With a growl, it bit the snake even harder. It bit off a piece of flesh from the green snake¡¯s neck. The green snake had already lost consciousness, and its willpower to save its wife was the only thing that kept it from letting go. It stared at ck Wolf with blurry vision. Gradually, even the ck wolf¡¯s figure disappeared. It could only passively endure the attacks of the ck wolf. ¡°Gungun, go!¡± A voice suddenly sounded. The green snake struggled to look towards the source of the voice, but it couldn¡¯t see anything. It could only feel the ck wolf had suddenly stopped its attacks. Xia Muqing wanted to tell the green snake that this lotus was going to bear fruit in two days. If it didn¡¯t pluck it before the fruit appeared, the lotus would lose its medicinal properties. She wasn¡¯t sure if the green snake knew, so she specially came back to tell it. Who knew that she would witness this scene the moment she returned. She immediately instructed Gungun to help subdue the ck wolf. Xia Muqing rushed to the green snake and checked its injuries. Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Saving the Green Snake

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The more Xia Muqing scrutinized the snake, the heavier her heart felt. The green snake¡¯s vision hadpletely disappeared, but it could still feel the movements around it. This time, it didn¡¯t reject Xia Muqing¡¯s approach. The main reason was that it couldn¡¯t reject her even if it wanted to. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Let me check your wounds.¡± Xia Muqingforted the green snake. If the green snake struggled because of her touch, its injuries would be even more serious. She had no idea if the green snake had understood her, but it stopped moving. Xia Muqing carefully checked the snake¡¯s wounds. She heaved a sigh of relief. Ssss¡ª The green snake suddenly hissed, sounding somewhat anxious. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t understand what it was trying to say, and she thought that she was hurting it, so she lowered her hand. The green snake hissed even more urgently. ¡°Squeak squeak squeak¡ª¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t understand. After getting rid of the ck wolf, Gungun approached the green snake. Hearing Gungun¡¯s sounds, the green snake rxed a little. Ssss¡ª ¡°Squeak squeak squeak¡ª¡± The two beasts¡¯ exchange of sounds confused Xia Muqing. What was going on? Gungun finished talking to the green snake. With satisfaction, it turned to look at Xia Muqing. It used its little head to point at the lotus and signaled Xia Muqing to take the lotus. Xia Muqing looked at the green snake and whispered to Gungun, ¡°Although we need the lotus, we can¡¯t take advantage of the snake right now.¡± Squeak squeak squeak¡ª Gungun squeaked angrily and gestured at the green snake. Xia Muqing understood now. It had gotten the snake¡¯s consent. Clearing her throat guiltily, she went to pluck the lotus. Looking at the meat lotus in her hand, she was in a dilemma. How should she deal with it? Gungun split the lotus into two and led Xia Muqing in a direction. The green snakey on the ground, as blood flowed out from the corner of its mouth. Xia Muqing knew that Gungun must have reached an agreement with the green snake. However, she couldn¡¯t leave the green snake in this state right now. After putting down her backpack, Xia Muqing ignored Gungun and took out some medicinal herbs. These were all collected by her and Gungun the past few days. The main reason she came to the Sunset Mountains was that all kinds of medicinal herbs could be found here. All she could use now was her medical skills and her poison knowledge. There was no veterinarian in this world. Furthermore, the green snake was wounded badly. In everyone¡¯s eyes, death was inevitable. Gungun scrutinized Xia Muqing¡¯s actions. The chemistry they had developed over the past few days, allowed it to immediately understand her intentions. It silently retreated aside and didn¡¯t disturb Xia Muqing. ¡°Ssss¡ª¡± The green snake had no idea what Xia Muqing was trying to do, and it hissed weakly. It was urging Xia Muqing to deliver the meat lotus to its wife. It was the deal between Gungun and the green snake. The lotus flower was split into two. Half would be given to its wife and the other half was Xia Muqing¡¯s reward. Squeak squeak squeak¡ª Gungun exined to Xia Muqing. The green snake didn¡¯t want to dy the delivery of medicine to its wife. It knew its own injuries. It wouldn¡¯t survive. Xia Muqing ignored the green snake¡¯s objection and forcefully flipped it over. She had checked the green snake just now. The most serious injuries on its body were the bite wounds on the head and neck. She first applied some medicine to the wound on its neck to stop the bleeding. After Xia Muqing stopped the bleeding, she began to clean the wound on the snake¡¯s head. The green snake¡¯s entire eye had caved in, and now both its eyes were covered with ayer of clotted blood. If she didn¡¯t remove the blood clots, the green snake would lose its sight. In this dangerous mountain range, the green snake would literally be waiting for its death if it had gone blind. Xia Muqing knew the severity of the problem and she first held its enormous head in ce. She asked Gungun to bring the silver needles from her backpack. This time, Gungun didn¡¯t protest and handed the silver needles to Xia Muqing. Seeing that Gungun didn¡¯t take the opportunity to ask for some food, Xia Muqing felt that it was a little strange. Gungun felt a little guilty. After all, if it had not injured the green snake severely, it wouldn¡¯t have lost the fight to the ck wolf. Besides, the green snake was protecting the lotus for its wife. Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Green Snake¡¯s Gratitude

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Before this, Gungun would never have felt any kind of guilt. It knew thew of the jungle too well. However, after interacting with Xia Muqing for a few days, Gungun started to be more empathetic. There was some pity that it had never felt before. Xia Muqing learned her medical knowledge from her master in her previous life. Back then, she had clearly learned about medical skills, but ultimately she became most knowledgeable about poisons. And the old man was furious with her. Xia Muqing had deliberately tried to infuriate her master. Her medical skills were naturally top-notch too. Xia Muqing poked a few needles around the green snake¡¯s eyes. She wanted to use her energy to force the blood clots out. But when she tried doing that, she realized that after she had changed her body, she could no longer channel her energy. She had no choice but to squeeze the blood clots out bit by bit. It took a lot of effort for her to remove all the blood clots. Xia Muqing was sweating profusely as she panted. She made up her mind to train her body so that she could recover her internal energy as soon as possible. She patted the head of the green snake whose eyes were still closed, and looked as if it was determined to die. The green snake moved a little as it opened its eyes under Xia Muqing¡¯s persistent patting on its head. The darkness around itsrge eyes had disappeared, leaving only the wounds. The green snake realized that it could see. Ssss¡ª The green snake hissed excitedly. Gungun rushed over and circled the green snake a few times in surprise. When it realized that the green snake had regained its sight, it gestured at Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing smiled. ¡°It¡¯s just a minor surgery. You don¡¯t have to be so excited.¡± When the green snake heard Xia Muqing¡¯s voice, it knew that she had saved its life although it couldn¡¯t understand her. It nodded its heavy head at Xia Muqing to express its gratitude. Xia Muqing shed a smile. The green snake remembered its wife andmunicated with Gungun before slithering forward. Gungun also brought Xia Muqing along. The green snake felt that Xia Muqing¡¯s medical skills were brilliant. Perhaps she might be able to help its wife. To the green snake, Xia Muqing was like a deity. They journeyed all the way to a hidden spot behind some rocks. The green snake carefully observed its surroundings. After finding no suspicious people or beasts, it opened a hole underground. Most of the animals lived in caves. For the sake of its wife, the green snake had always lived underground. And because of its carefulness, its heavily injured wife had survived for a hundred years. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t know what the green snake was doing and followed it curiously. Gungunid on Xia Muqing¡¯s shoulder. The cave¡¯s entrance was very narrow, and it could barely amodate the snake¡¯s body. Xia Muqing entered easily. After entering the cave, the space inside was huge. The entire cave was empty. One could only see a stone bed with a white snake coiled on it. The white snake was slightly smaller than the green snake. Hearing sounds, the white snake gently raised its head. The green snake quickly slithered over and hugged the white snake. After a long while, the green snake finally remembered Xia Muqing and Gungun. Ssss¡ª The green snake introduced Xia Muqing to the white snake. The white snake looked at Xia Muqing curiously. After living in the cave for a century, the white snake had a pure heart and it didn¡¯t have any hostility towards a stranger like Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing smiled gently at it. The snakes reminded Xia Muqing of her good friends, the White Tiger couple in her previous life. They were also a loving couple. Xia Muqing could tell at a nce that the white snake¡¯s body was riddled with holes and it was extremely weak. To be able to stay alive for a hundred years was already a miracle. The green snake took out the lotus and split it into two halves. After giving half to Xia Muqing, it gave the other half to the white snake. ¡°Wait, the white snake can¡¯t eat the lotus in this way.¡± Squeak squeak squeak¡ª Xia Muqing said it in a hurry.. Gungun didn¡¯t need any instructions and swiftly tranted for Xia Muqing. Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Saving the White Snake

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing finally understood. The green snake cared so much about this lotus because it wanted to save its wife. The lotus had the effect of connecting and healing meridians. The white snake¡¯s meridians had been severed. If that was the case, the lotus could indeed be used to treat it. However, when it was pregnant, its had lost too much blood and energy. There was no way its body could process the medicinal properties of the lotus. On the contrary, it would cause a rpse of its old injuries if it wasn¡¯t nourished properly. The green snake stopped moving and looked at Xia Muqing in doubt. Xia Muqing heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that the green snake had listened to her. ¡°I know that your wife¡¯s meridians are ruptured, but her body is already severely weak. She can¡¯t eat the meat lotus which has very strong medicinal properties. It will backfire.¡± Xia Muqing spoke tactfully. When Gungun tranted, it was simple and crude. ¡°Your wife is too weak to eat the meat lotus. She will die.¡± The green snake was even more puzzled. It has no concept of rpses or a weak body. For a long time, beasts had a keen understanding of medicinal herbs. They knew what was fatal to them. It was like a natural ability. But it didn¡¯t know when one should eat a medicinal herb. The number of beasts that died from eating herbs was countless. For beasts with minor illnesses that weren¡¯t life-threatening, they would be willing to try any kind of medicinal herb as long as it wasn¡¯t fatal. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t know how to exin it to the green snake. The green snake was a little anxious. It had waited so long for the lotus to ripen, but now, it couldn¡¯t let the white snake eat it. Because of its trust in Xia Muqing, the green snake chose to wait patiently. Xia Muqing took a step forward and carefully examined the body of the white snake. The green snake took a step back and did not stop her. The white snakey down obediently so that Xia Muqing could put her hands on it. With the white snake¡¯s cooperation, Xia Muqing easily came to a conclusion. She took out a small pot and herbs from her bag. She asked Gungun to get firewood and water. Gungun was very familiar with this chore. After all, it would offer to help every time they roasted meat. Gungun sat on the head of the green snake. With a wave of its paw, itmanded the green snake to find a water source. Soon, the two beasts returned. The green snake pushed the water and firewood to Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing brewed a bowl of medicine for the white snake. The white snake obeyed her obediently. After drinking the medicine, it felt that the rampaging aura within its body had lessened. The white snake was conversing with the green snake excitedly. All these years, it had endured the pain of having its meridians ruptured and its essential energy within its body in disarray. For the sake of the green snake, it had endured. The green snake was also very agitated. It had witnessed the pain of the white snake, but there was nothing it could do. ¡°The white snake needs to be taken care of for a period of time. Every day, it will need to drink a bowl of medicinal soup. It will no longer be able to eat the lotus. After the body has recovered, it can be healed with white ginseng.¡± With Gungun¡¯s trantion, Xia Muqing¡¯s words were urately conveyed to the green snake. Hiss. The green snake thanked Xia Muqing earnestly and gratefully. Without needing Gungun to trante, Xia Muqing already understood what the green snake meant. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here for a while, but I don¡¯t have any white ginseng with me. I have to look for it. The white snake¡¯s illness has dragged on for quite some time, and it will require at least a hundred year old white ginseng.¡± The green snake was even more grateful. Itid itself on the ground and used its head to gently touch the back of Xia Muqing¡¯s hand. The white snake followed suit. This was the highest level of etiquette among the snake species. Xia Muqing had originally nned to stay in the mountains for a period of time. If they ventured deeper, her safety wasn¡¯t guaranteed. The borders of the Sunset Mountains had been exploited by many and there weren¡¯t many resources left. This area was in the middle of the mountain range, and very few people could enter here. Having fewer people meant more resources. In the following period of time, a strange scene appeared in the Sunset Mountains. A human ran in front, followed by arge group of beasts. There were all sorts of animals like monkeys, elephants, mountain deer, eagles, snakes¡­ In short, there were animals flying in the sky and beasts running on the ground. Chapter 17

Chapter 17: New Doctor in the Mountains

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Predators and preys had incrediblye together peacefully. The scene was spectacr. Fortunately, there was no one there. Those who didn¡¯t know better would think that they had witnessed a miracle. During this period of time, with the rmendation of the green snake, she had healed many animals who suffered from injuries or illnesses. Unexpectedly, her reputation grew, and all the animals in the mountain range came to her. This was the first time Xia Muqing found out that animals were so gossipy. However, they didn¡¯te empty-handed either. They would always bring some of their treasure for Xia Muqing. Even if the animals had been cured or healed, they would always send Xia Muqing some gifts to express their gratitude. It seemed that beasts knew more about gratitude than humans. This was also the reason why Xia Muqing was willing to interact with beasts. Xia Muqing¡¯s essential energy had already reached the fifth level after this period of cultivation. It was the peak she had attained in her previous life. The essential energy she was cultivating consisted of nine levels. In Xia Muqing¡¯s previous life, when she reached the fifth level, she hardly had any opponents. She didn¡¯t expect that she would be able to return to what she had attained in her previous life so quickly. Firstly, she had gone through and fullyprehended every level of the cultivation process. Secondly, this world was very suitable for practicing essential energy. Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t help but think about the ninth level that her master had always talked about in her previous life. Perhaps it could really be achieved in this world. These days, Xia Muqing had been looking for animals to be her training partner. At the beginning, she was no match for the animals and suffered losses. It had only taken Xia Muqing two months to defeat every beast in the middle range of the mountains. Xia Muqing took a break after finishing the day¡¯s journey. She turned to look at the animals that followed behind her, and she felt helpless. They had assumed that the reason why Xia Muqing had improved so quickly was because of the daily morning jog. So everyone followed her every day. No matter how she exined, they wouldn¡¯t listen. Xia Muqing simply let them be and as they didn¡¯t disturb her. After her jog, she sat on a mat made of licorice that had beenid out previously. She then began to channel and cultivate her essential energy. At the start of the meditation, all the animals sat on the ground and copied Xia Muqing¡¯s posture. And everyone really did a decent job. But Xia Muqing kept changing her posture. And it looked like yoga. At this moment, the animals with four limbs started to mimic proudly. The other animals without limbs hung their heads in disappointment. This happened every day. After Xia Muqing finished cultivating, she opened her eyes to see the animals in weird poses. With twinkling eyes, she stared at the animals in front of her and asked, ¡°Who will be my sparring partner today?¡± Although they couldn¡¯t understand Xia Muqing¡¯s words, they could read the expression in her eyes. It was mainly because every beast had been abused too much during this period of time. It wasn¡¯t because Xia Muqing was too ruthless, but because she could urately guess every one of her opponent¡¯s attacks. This feeling was too stifling. Over time, no animal wanted to be Xia Muqing¡¯s sparring partner. They all lowered their heads and ran away, afraid that Xia Muqing would spot them. In the blink of an eye, the animals around her disappeared without a trace. Xia Muqing could only silently turn to Gungun, who sat on her shoulder. Gungun, who was taking a nap, sensed danger. It was startled awake and looked around warily. There was no danger. Just as it was feeling puzzled, it met Xia Muqing¡¯s gaze. Gungun scrambled to jump off her shoulder, and was about to run the moment it touched the ground. Xia Muqing grabbed it. The current Xia Muqing could already match its lightning speed. Squeak squeak squeak¡ª Gungun kept struggling. It would rather die than be Xia Muqing¡¯s sparring partner. ¡°Didn¡¯t you enjoy being my sparring partner?¡± Xia Muqing asked. Squeak squeak squeak¡ª Initially, it was willing as Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t defeat it. It openly bullied Xia Muqing, and after that it had delicious food to eat. This made Gungun excited for a long time. Now that both of their situations had been switched, it naturally had no wish to continue. A smile shed across Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes. She was only scaring it because it was sleeping so soundly. Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Depths of Sunset Mountains

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios It would no longer help to advance her level if she continued topete with beasts from this section of the mountain range. She rubbed its little head and put it down. ¡°Shall I cook grilled fish for you?¡± Seeing that Xia Muqing didn¡¯t mention anything about sparring, Gungun rxed. Its eyes lit up when it heard the mention of grilled fish, and it immediately went to the river to catch some fish. It was very familiar with this job! Xia Muqing chuckled at Gungun, who hade alive at the mention of food. Even after such a long time, it wasn¡¯t tired of eating her food. Xia Muqing trailed after the fox. The moment she reached the river, she felt as though the sky had darkened. Looking up, it wasn¡¯t the sky, but there was a giant eagle blocking the sunlight. As the giant eagle pped its wings, gusts of wind rushed towards Xia Muqing. Gungun was blown away by the wind. Xia Muqing rushed to Gungun and grabbed its small body. She had just pulled Gungun into her arms, when the giant eagle flew down and grabbed her with its ws, lifting her into the air. Xia Muqing peered at the ground as they flew further and further away. She hugged Gungun tightly. If they were to fall, Gungun¡¯s little body would be smashed into pieces. The giant eagle flew a long distance with Xia Muqing and Gungun, and took them away from the middle section of the mountain range. Xia Muqing thought about it. This giant eagle didn¡¯t belong to the middle mountain range. She looked towards the depths of the mountains. Xia Muqing had a thought. It seemed that this giant eagle was from the depths of the mountains. She had no inkling why the giant eagle hade to the middle section to capture her. However, it didn¡¯t attack her on the spot, which meant that its intention was not to hurt her. After figuring it out, Xia Muqing rxed and stayed under the giant eagle¡¯s ws. She admired the scenery of the entire Sunset Mountains as she soared high in the sky. Xia Muqing was probably the first person to ever admire the scenery of the Sunset Mountains from this height. Only now did she have a better understanding of the vastness of the Sunset Mountains. The terrain of the entire Sunset Mountains was imprinted in Xia Muqing¡¯s mind. The giant eagle was very swift, and it would take a month for a human to reach the depths of the mountains. It arrived in about two hours. When the giant eagle wasnding, it charged straight down. Xia Muqing felt ufortable. The huge airflow caused her face to be dented along with the wind. Xia Muqing subconsciously hugged Gungun tighter so that it wouldn¡¯t be affected by the airflow. Gungun hid in Xia Muqing¡¯s arms and nced at her deformed face. However, it wasn¡¯t affected by the airflow at all. Normally, Gungun would definitely mock Xia Muqing for being ugly. But now, it was inexplicably angry. Xia Muqing was its master and no one else could bully her. Once itnded, Gungun struggled out of Xia Muqing¡¯s arms and attacked the giant eagle. Gungun, who was invincible in the world with its extraordinary speed, was sent flying by the giant eagle¡¯s wings. Xia Muqing caught it in time. She stopped it from charging forward. Xia Muqing could clearly see that the giant eagle didn¡¯t use much strength. Otherwise, Gungun wouldn¡¯t be fine and active right now. She had a better understanding of the strength of the beasts living in the depths of the mountain range. They were definitely not something she could deal with now. The giant eagle looked at Xia Muqing calmly with no malice in its eyes. After signaling Xia Muqing to follow, the giant eagle brought them to the back of the mountain. A smaller ck eagle flew over quickly. The giant eagle extended its wings to catch its precious son. Unexpectedly, the ck eaglepletely ignored the giant eagle and rushed into Xia Muqing¡¯s arms. It loved beauties the most! Xia Muqing was knocked back a few steps by the ck eagle. Even Gungun was knocked out of Xia Muqing¡¯s arms by the ck eagle and fell to the ground. Xia Muqing finally managed to stabilize herself. The corners of her mouth twitched speechlessly as she gazed at the ck eagle rubbing against her chest. The ck eagle was smaller than the giant eagle. But it was still bigger than Xia Muqing. It may have seemed as though Xia Muqing was hugging it. But in fact, she was being swallowed by the ck eagle¡¯s embrace. Squeak squeak squeak¡ª Gungun, who was stunned by the fall, reacted. It stood up straight and pointed at the ck eagle while squeaking loudly.. When it noticed that it had snatched away its master, its entire body trembled with fury. Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Fox and Eagle Competing for Affection

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The ck eagle remained unmoved and enjoyed having Xia Muqing close. Gungun¡¯s temper exploded as it wed at the ck eagle¡¯s face. If it can¡¯t defeat its father, surely it can deal with the son. Several ck feathers slowly floated in the air. The ck eagle¡¯s face had a bald patch, and blood could be seen on its skin. A cry rang through the air. It jolted the giant eagle, who was still feeling sad about being ignored. When it saw its son injured, it was enraged. It red angrily at the culprit, Gungun, who was licking its paws. It was about to attack Gungun with its wings. Xia Muqing quickly shielded Gungun. The ck eagle then hurriedly stood in front of Xia Muqing. The giant eagle could only stop in midair. However, the pping of its wings still caused the man and the two beasts to lose their bnce. The giant eagle looked at the ck eagle in disbelief. The ck eagle cried again, refusing to allow the giant eagle to hurt Xia Muqing. The giant eagle turned around. Although its face was covered in feathers, one could still tell that it was angry from its pose. Fortunately, the giant eagle remembered something important and used its wings to push Xia Muqing towards a cave. Gungun bared its teeth and wanted to bite its wings. It was stopped by Xia Muqing. It was safer not to anger the other party. After entering the cave, Xia Muqing understood why the giant eagle had brought her here. There was a female eagle in the cave giving birth. It was obviously having difficulty and in pain. She just didn¡¯t know how this eagle had known that she had medical skills. But in this situation, Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t leave it in the lurch. She couldn¡¯t care about anything else and stepped forward to help the female eagle. The female eagle, who had used up all its strength, had closed its eyes. Suddenly, it felt an unfamiliar aura. With a warning cry, it opened its eyes and studied Xia Muqing warily. Upon realizing that it was a human, the eagle¡¯s eyes became even fiercer. If not for the fact that its body didn¡¯t allow it to move, Xia Muqing had no doubt that the eagle would have attacked her. The giant eagle cried out and exined to the female eagle about Xia Muqing¡¯s identity. The female eagle¡¯s expression rxed slightly. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t step forward and waited for the two eagles to finish their conversation. Seeing that the animosity in the female eagle¡¯s eyes had diminished, Xia Muqing continued her actions. She first observed the female eagle. The mother eagle had already run out of energy after trying to give birth for such a long period of time. If it didn¡¯t give birth soon, it would be in trouble. Xia Muqing took out a few silver needles and inserted them into the female eagle¡¯s heart. This stab was extremely powerful. The female eagle shrieked in pain and lost consciousness. Xia Muqing, who wanted to continue, was pped away by the giant eagle. The giant eagle wrapped its wings around the female eagle¡¯s body. After confirming that it wasn¡¯t breathing, it red at Xia Muqing angrily. The harmless look on its face hadpletely disappeared. The overbearing aura from the giant eagle caused Xia Muqing to be nervous. Just as she was about to exin himself, the giant eagle attacked her. The giant eagle didn¡¯t give Xia Muqing a chance to speak. Seeing that she was about to be attacked, she had no choice but to brace herself and face it head-on. In the cave, the giant eagle couldn¡¯t use its full strength, so Xia Muqing was able to withstand the first attack. In this exchange, Xia Muqing¡¯s fighting spirit was ignited. The sound of a man and a giant eagle fighting spread. The ck eagle and Gungun, who were waiting outside, turned their heads at the same time. Just as they lifted the curtains at the entrance of the cave, they saw two shadows rushing out. Outside, Xia Muqing and the giant eagle were fighting so hard that no one could stop them. The space outside was huge. The giant eagle flew into the air and spread its wings. It used all its strength to rush towards Xia Muqing. The pressure on Xia Muqing increased exponentially. However, she didn¡¯t want to concede defeat, and so she went forward. Xia Muqing was hit and she fell to the ground. She spat out a mouthful of blood after receiving three blows from the giant eagle. Shey on the ground and covered her chest as she coughed. She felt as though she was about to cough her lungs out. This was the most serious injury she had suffered since she came to this world. The giant eagle in the sky swooped down again with a ferocious glint in its eyes.. It wanted to end the life of this murderer who killed its wife. Chapter 20

Chapter 20: It Didn¡¯t Die

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing watched helplessly as the giant eagle was about to attack her. A tiny figure suddenly appeared in front of her. Gungun increased its speed till the limit. The fur on its body moved without wind, and its body was emitting faint light. Squeak. Its voice pierced through heaven and earth, and everyone present was suppressed by Gun Gun¡¯s pressure. The giant eagle¡¯s attack was already about to hit them. Just when they thought that everything was over, Gungun caught it! Xia Muqing heaved a sigh of relief. The situation earlier on was too fast for her to react. Bang! With another bang, the giant eagle that was blocked by Gungun fell to the ground. Xia Muqing was shocked by Gungun¡¯s power. Perhaps Gungun had been hiding its true strength all this time? With a cry, the ck eagle reacted and rushed to the giant eagle. Gungunnded from the sky. It didn¡¯t seem as agile as before. Xia Muqing could tell at one nce that Gungun had fallen down. She quickly reached out and pulled Gungun into her arms. Squeak. It was so soft that Xia Muqing almost couldn¡¯t hear it. Gungun nced at Xia Muqing and fainted after that. Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes reddened instantly. ¡°Gungun?¡± She called out a few times but there was no response. Xia Muqing finally felt a surge of anger. No matter how aggressive the giant eagle was previously, Xia Muqing didn¡¯t get angry. She knew that it was because the giant eagle had misunderstood. However, as she looked at the soft body in her arms, her heart ached painfully. Gungun had ended up like this because she was useless. Xia Muqing, who had previously only cultivated her essential energy for self-defense purposes, suddenly had a greater desire for power. Only when she became strong could she protect the people around her. She studied the giant eagle and the ck eagle coldly. This was the first time she had ever looked at an animal like this. The ck eagle cried out. It looked at its father and then at Xia Muqing, not knowing what to do. Xia Muqing had no intention to exin herself, and she walked into the cave. The giant eagle couldn¡¯t move and could only watch from outside. It kept calling out to warn Xia Muqing. But Xia Muqing kept walking towards the female eagle. The giant eagle was even more anxious and asked the ck eagle to stop Xia Muqing. The ck eagle went to Xia Muqing hesitantly. It didn¡¯t believe its father who said that she would hurt its mother. It was the one who told its father about Xia Muqing¡¯s medical skills. It had snuck to the middle range of the mountains and saw Xia Muqing. It had seen her treat animals, watched as she ran with the animals, and had also seen her smile. The ck eagle didn¡¯t know how to describe it, but it felt very beautiful and warm. The ck eagle followed closely behind Xia Muqing and didn¡¯t stop her. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t mind and reached out to remove the needles from the female eagle¡¯s chest. The father and son watched as the female eagle, which was already dead, suddenly rose. With a cry, itid an egg. Xia Muqing ignored them. She carried Gungun and strode out. The two eagles, who were too surprised for words, only realized that Xia Muqing had walked away when she had almost left the mountain. In a sh, two eagles stood in a row and stopped Xia Muqing. The ck eagle was still staring at Xia Muqing with sparkling eyes. Previously, its father had told it not to reveal itself to the beasts living in the middle range. That was why it didn¡¯t look for Xia Muqing. But it really liked her. The giant eagle bowed its head as it looked at Xia Muqing apologetically. It had misunderstood her. Looking at Gungun in Xia Muqing¡¯s arms, the giant eagle felt some pain in its body. But this was its fault. Xia Muqing stared coldly at the two eagles in front of her. The smile on her face had disappeared. The ck eagle came over sadly and wanted to rub its head against the back of Xia Muqing¡¯s hand. However, Xia Muqing avoided it. The giant eagle suddenly let out a cry to the ck eagle and flew away. Xia Muqing wanted to leave but was stopped by the ck eagle. To begin with, it didn¡¯t want Xia Muqing to leave. Furthermore, it had instructions from its father. It even tried its best to make Xia Muqing stay. Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Beast Soul Pearl

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing¡¯s path was blocked by the ck eagle and she couldn¡¯t move. Before long, the giant eagle returned. There was a box hanging from the giant eagle¡¯s mouth. Approaching Xia Muqing, the giant eagle spat out the box and handed it to her. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t understand what the eagle meant and didn¡¯t reach out to take the box. The ck eagle made a high pitched sound again. Xia Muqing had no choice but to ept the box. However, the giant eagle didn¡¯t allow them to leave and gestured for her to open the box. When Xia Muqing opened the box, she saw a ck pearl lying inside. The asional swirl of blood inside the pearl made one feel its ferocity. Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t help but be attracted by the pearl. She took it out of the box with her hand. Just as she picked it up to observe it, she felt a suction force. The pearl prated Xia Muqing¡¯s forehead and entered her body. Xia Muqing could even feel the pearl moving down from her forehead to her stomach. However, there was still a faint burning sensation between her eyebrows. Xia Muqing raised her hand but she didn¡¯t feel anything. She red at the giant eagle in front of her angrily. ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°I apologize for what happened earlier on.¡± The giant eagle bowed slightly to Xia Muqing to express its apology before continuing, ¡°What I¡¯ve just given you was the Green Cloud Eagle n¡¯s most precious Beast Soul Pearl.¡± Xia Muqing was puzzled. ¡°What is the Beast Soul Pearl? Why did it enter my body?¡± After asking, Xia Muqing felt that her eyebrows were getting hotter and hotter. ¡°The Beast Soul Pearl is a pearl and core that was formed after the death of the ancient beasts in the n, who have reached the final realm. It contains all of the previous owners¡¯ power. The person who obtains the Beast Soul Pearl can use its power after training.¡± After the giant eagle¡¯s exnation, Xia Muqing understood. However, that didn¡¯t mean that she had epted its apology. She had no idea if Gungun was still alive. Seeing Xia Muqing¡¯s expression, the giant eagle felt even more guilty. ¡°This fox is still a cub. It forcefully used powers beyond its own body¡¯s limits and it fainted from overexertion.¡± At the mention of Gungun, Xia Muqing¡¯s expression tightened. ¡°Then how do I save it?¡± ¡°The Beast Soul Pearl can nourish its body. As for how long it takes, that will depend on its fate.¡± Pain was written all over Xia Muqing¡¯s face. She had initially wanted to return the Beast Soul Pearl, but now, she had no choice but to keep it. A question suddenly urred to her. How did she understand the giant eagle? Could it be¡­ ¡°I can understand beastnguage because of the Beast Soul Pearl?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Can I leave now?¡± The giant eagle nodded. It had no reason to stop Xia Muqing. ¡°Let me send you, Sister.¡± Just as the giant eagle was about to bring Xia Muqing back, it was blocked by the ck eagle. Xia Muqing heard a young man¡¯s clear voice. She looked at the ck eagle. She didn¡¯t expect this raven ck fellow to have such a clear voice. It didn¡¯t matter who apanied her. Xia Muqing nodded at the ck eagle. The ck eagle cried out in excitement. It charged into the air and circled the sky. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t understand why it was so excited. The ck eagle didn¡¯t grab Xia Muqing with its ws. Instead, itid on the ground and gestured for Xia Muqing to sit on its back. The giant eagle watched as the ck eagle became a speck gradually in the sky. It felt a little mncholic. It knew that the ck eagle would never return. It didn¡¯t stop its son because the child had grown up. And it was time for him to walk its own path. It couldn¡¯t protect its child forever. Most importantly, Xia Muqing¡¯s attitude towards the fox allowed the giant eagle to know that she would be a good master. Chapter 22

Chapter 22: The Shameless ck Eagle

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios She was different from those humans who treated beasts like ves. The eagle sighed, not knowing how to exin to its wife that their son had been abducted by a human. The giant eagle was thinking about that fox again. It was impossible to tell what species it was, but judging from the kind of power it possessed, it shouldn¡¯t be an ordinary beast. After all, it was definitely extraordinary for a fox cub to be able to block its full-power strike. To be able to be the master of that fox, thatss Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t someone ordinary either. With that in mind, the giant eagle felt much better after having its son snatched away. If its son followed them, it might have greater opportunities. Xia Muqing sat on the ck eagle and admired the view of the Sunset Mountains once again. This time, she took a closer look. The ck eagle flew slower and lower. As Xia Muqing sat on its back, she had a clearer view of the entirendscape. She patted the back of the ck eagle to make it fly lower. The blurry mountain streams became clear in an instant. Xia Muqing was delighted and gestured for the ck eagle to stop. The ck eagle obediently bent and swooped down towards the valley. The environment here was exactly where the white ginseng could be found. Xia Muqing had been thinking about healing the white snake. But after such a long time, she and the green snake still couldn¡¯t find any white ginseng. Not to mention a hundred years old ginseng, she hadn¡¯t even spotted a ten year old one. She carefully searched around the puddles in the valley. The ck eagle mimicked Xia Muqing and lowered its head closer as well. Its serious expression made Xia Muqingugh. It was the first time she smiled at the ck eagle after Gungun got injured. ¡°Do you know what I¡¯m looking for?¡± The ck eagle shook its head, but Xia Muqing¡¯s smile made it happy. ¡°Sister, you look pretty when you smile.¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s heart softened at the ck eagle¡¯s innocence. She stroked its head and decided not to be upset with it. That incident wasn¡¯t its fault. After a while, Xia Muqing really found the ginseng. She looked at the five hundred-year-old white ginseng in surprise. Xia Muqing plucked it carefully and ced it in her bag. She asked the ck eagle to bring them back. They soared up into the sky again. The constant stroking of its head had kept the ck eagle excited. Its speed had increased slightly. Xia Muqing was also infected by its happiness. Once theynded, Xia Muqing rushed to the green snake¡¯s cave to look for it. She didn¡¯t see a single animal along the way, which made her feel odd. As soon as she arrived at the entrance of the cave, she realized that the door was wide open. She immediately realized that something was wrong. With the snake¡¯s cautiousness, it was impossible for it to be so careless. Xia Muqing entered the cave but didn¡¯t find any traces of a fight. The white snake and the green snake were both gone. Puzzled, she slowly walked out of the cave. She saw a Sika deer standing at the entrance of the cave. Xia Muqing was delighted and was about to ask about the whereabouts of the green snake. When the deer saw Xia Muqing, it widened its eyes in shock and ran away. Xia Muqing was also stunned by its reaction. Although she usually liked to find beasts to spar with when she was free, she had only sought ferocious beasts and had never harmed any deer. Did it have to be so afraid of her? Xia Muqing asked the ck eagle to chase after the deer. With the ck eagle¡¯s speed, it soon caught up with the deer. The deer fled desperately as though it didn¡¯t see the ck eagle and Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing could sense the deer¡¯s urgency and decided not to disturb it. She instructed the ck eagle to slowly follow behind. The Sika deer ran to a spot and stopped. Looking around the empty woods, it stomped its feet anxiously. ¡°What happened to you?¡± Xia Muqing asked. The deer looked at Xia Muqing in shock. It didn¡¯t know why it could understand humannguage. Xia Muqing asked again. As the matter was urgent, the deer couldn¡¯t care less and rattled off anxiously, ¡°The rhinoceros saw a giant eagle taking you into the depths of the mountain range and informed the green snake. The green snake gathered everyone to save you, but they couldn¡¯t cross the Netherworld River at all.¡± Xia Muqing knew why the deer was so anxious. Without wasting any more time, she made the ck eagle fly towards the Netherworld River. Chapter 23

Chapter 23: The Beasts Took Risks to Save Xia Muqing

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The Netherworld River was the intersection between the middle and the depths of the Sunset Mountains. It also highlighted the gap in strength and power. Regardless of whether they were flying or walking beasts, as long as they wanted to enter the depths of the mountains, they had to pass through the Netherworld River. The green snake led the beasts to the Netherworld River. The beasts gazed at the river and were in a dilemma. ¡°Brother Green Snake, even if we survive, we will be severely injured. How do we even save Flower?¡± A huge brown bear grunted roughly. They didn¡¯t know what Xia Muqing¡¯s name was, and Gungun didn¡¯t mention either. Flower was the name they gave Xia Muqing. The green snake was also in a dilemma. However, it had to save Xia Muqing. After contemting, there was only one way. ¡°We¡¯ll send out a team of beasts to stand in the river first. The other team will rush across the river quickly. The beasts in the river will retreat first. There¡¯s no need for the first team to participate in the rescue mission.¡± This n was too cruel, making many beasts hesitate. The rhinoceros stepped forward and yelled, ¡°Flower is my benefactor. She cured my internal injury. Otherwise, I would have died long ago. I will risk my life to save Flower.¡± When the rhinoceros arrived, Xia Muqing was already captured and brought up high in the sky. The rhinoceros felt very guilty for not saving her. With the rhinoceros speaking up, the beasts who had received Xia Muqing¡¯s favor, all stood up to express their determination. Beasts had to repay the kindness of others. The green snake nodded. Seeing that none of the beasts had retreated, it was rather touched. If not for Xia Muqing, these different species of beasts would never be so united. Since it was decided, the green snake split the beasts into two teams ording to their strengths. The green snake was the first to test the waters of the Netherworld River. It had just put down its tail when it heard a ¡°whoosh¡± sound. The skin at the tip of its tail hadpletely melted. The pain made it frown. It reminded them, ¡°When you go into the river, you have to use all your energy to protect your body. Don¡¯t think about getting lucky.¡± The other beasts nodded solemnly. The terrifying legend of the Netherworld River had been passed down from generation to generation. The beasts that were preparing to enter the river lined up in a row. Many of them were already pale with fright. But they didn¡¯t retreat. The first to go was the rhinoceros that had just spoken. It didn¡¯t have muchbat power, but it had thick skin and was familiar with rivers. Therefore, it was chosen to be the first to enter the river. This meant that it had to move from one end of the river to the other. The rhinoceros took a step forward and acted as though it was facing death. Looking at the surface of the river, it was green like the bottomless mouth of a ferocious beast. It closed his eyes and entered the river. ¡°Stop!¡± Xia Muqing shouted as she sat on the ck eagle. But it was toote. The rhinoceros had jumped into the water. With a scream, the rhinoceros was grabbed by the ck eagle¡¯s ws and thrown to the ground. The rhinoceros closed its eyes and cried out in pain. The beasts around it, including Xia Muqing, gazed at it silently. The rhinoceros suddenly stopped howling. Why did it not feel pain? Quietly opening its eyes, it caught a glimpse of the ck eagle in the sky. It shouted, ¡°That¡¯s it! That¡¯s the one who captured Flower!¡± The ck eagle looked a little like its father. The rhinoceros had clearly mistaken him. Then, the rhinoceros spotted Xia Muqing sitting on the back of the ck eagle unharmed. It blinked. It wasn¡¯t seeing things. It was taken aback. What was happening? The corner of Xia Muqing¡¯s mouth twitched. Did the rhinoceros just called her Flower? Gungun had never told her about this, and she gritted her teeth. Suddenly, she remembered that Gungun had not woken up. Xia Muqing paused for a moment and decided to let it slide. She shall forgive it this time. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Xia Muqing spoke to the rhinoceros. Of course, she also spoke to all the beasts. ¡°Flower, I just jumped into the Netherworld River. Quick, save me. I¡¯m going to die.¡± The rhinoceros suddenly cried out. Chapter 24

Chapter 24: The Naughty ck Eagle

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing was speechless. Did the rhinoceros not realize that it didn¡¯t jump into the Netherworld River? ¡°Does your body hurt?¡± Xia Muqing asked helplessly. It wanted to answer that it was hurting, but it didn¡¯t. Recalling that it had actually spoken to Xia Muqing just now, it suddenly screamed again. ¡°Flower, I¡¯m in pain! I¡¯m hallucinating from the pain. I actually understood what you said.¡± The other beasts weren¡¯t as paranoid as the rhinoceros and they looked at Xia Muqing in confusion. ¡°I ate a Beast Soul Pearl, so I can talk to all of you now.¡± All the beasts looked at Xia Muqing with envy. The Beast Soul Pearl! That was the most precious treasure of all beasts! Xia Muqing then exined to the beasts what happened when she went deep into the mountains. After everything was exined, Xia Muqing thanked the beasts solemnly. All the beasts scratched their heads in embarrassment. Xia Muqing was even more touched by their honest behavior. They were really a group of beasts with hearts. ¡°So I didn¡¯t jump into the Netherworld River!¡± The rhinoceros¡¯s realization ruined the atmosphere again. All the beasts and Xia Muqing burst outughing at the rhinoceros. It knew it had made a fool of itself, and in the end, itughed along with them too. All sorts ofughter resounded through the forest. Although their voices were different, what was simr was the happiness that they emitted from within. All the beasts etched this moment in their hearts. When they be old, they would tell their grandchildren about it. It was a pity that their descendants wouldn¡¯t have the chance to meet this human girl. On the way back, Xia Muqing informed the green snake about her finding the white ginseng. The green snake was overjoyed. It slithered excitedly in one direction. Xia Muqing trailed behind slowly. After walking a long distance, the green snake finally remembered to update Xia Muqing. The white snake¡¯s body had be much better after this period of recuperation. The green snake was preparing to move out of the underground cave. After all, beasts were still used to living on the ground. In the past, it had no choice. But now, it didn¡¯t want to let the white snake suffer anymore. It had nned to move after some time. But when something happened to Xia Muqing, the green snake was prepared to sacrifice its life to save her. So it brought the white snake to the new home that it had prepared. Xia Muqing was even more touched. While they were talking, they saw the white snake waiting at the entrance of a cave. Although the green snake didn¡¯t exin in detail, the white snake could still sense something. Seeing that the green snake hadn¡¯t returned, it had waited anxiously. Spotting the green snake and Xia Muqing from afar, the white snake¡¯s eyes lit up and it charged towards the green snake. Xia Muqing quickly stepped aside. Indeed, she was right. The white snake immediately took her position and intertwined with the green snake. Xia Muqing reached out a hand to cover the ck eagle¡¯s eyes. She guessed that the ck eagle was probably still a minor amongst the eagle tribe. After she ced her hand on the ck eagle¡¯s eyes, she realized that its eyes were too big. Her hand wasn¡¯t enough. Xia Muqing quietly added her other hand. This time, she covered its eyes tightly. This was the first time the ck eagle had seen such a scene. Just as it was engrossed, its vision suddenly turned ck and it couldn¡¯t see anything. It couldn¡¯t help but twist its neck and struggle. But it didn¡¯t seed and it didn¡¯t dare to struggle too hard. It wouldn¡¯t be good if it hurt Xia Muqing. It could only lower its head gloomily. When it lowered its head, it glimpsed a waterhole on the ground that perfectly reflected the image of the green and white snake entangled together. Xia Muqing hadn¡¯t expected nor was she prepared for that. The ck eagle looked quietly under Xia Muqing¡¯s watch. By the time Xia Muqing realized, the green snake had already let go of the white snake. Xia Muqing could only re at the naughty ck eagle. The white snake hid behind the green snake in embarrassment. The joy of surviving a cmity made it forget that there was someone around. Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Xia Muqing¡¯s Departure

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing could tell that the white snake was feeling ufortable. So she reminded the green snake of their purpose here. The green snake was so excited to tell the white snake that they had found the white ginseng. The white snake was also delighted. Once it recovered, it could help the green snake. For the past hundred years, it had been a burden to the green snake. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t waste any more time talking. She went to the green snake¡¯s new cave and started brewing the medicine. This was the white snake¡¯sst time taking medicine. After drinking the medicine and taking the white ginseng, it would have recoveredpletely. Tears welled up in the green snake¡¯s eyes. Its wish for the past hundred years had finallye true today. Its gaze turned towards Xia Muqing and it slowly turned solemn. It would remember her kindness for the rest of its life. After doing this final thing, Xia Muqing felt relieved. It was time for her to leave the Sunset Mountains. She couldn¡¯t find the white ginseng all this time, and so she couldn¡¯t feel at ease. Now that Xia Muqing had settled the matter on her mind, she expressed her intention to leave. All the beasts knew that Xia Muqing wouldn¡¯t stay in the Sunset Mountains forever. Although they were reluctant to part with her, they were prepared to escort her out of the mountain range after failing to persuade her to stay. Xia Muqing was so startled that she rejected them. It was all right as there was no one here. But arge group of beasts following her would result in panic. Xia Muqing packed her bag and was about to leave when she noticed something unusual. Thinking that the beasts were shadowing her secretly, she turned around. Xia Muqing raised her brows. It was the ck eagle. ¡°You haven¡¯t gone back home?¡± The ck eagle chuckled as it had no idea how it should tell Xia Muqing. Seeing that a long time had passed, the ck eagle still couldn¡¯t think of any idea that Xia Muqing could ept. Thus, it could only speak its true thoughts. ¡°I want to follow you.¡± Xia Muqing was stunned. She didn¡¯t expect it to have such an idea. ¡°I¡¯m going back to the human society. It¡¯s not appropriate for you to follow me.¡± The moment Xia Muqing finished speaking, the ck eagle hurriedly said, ¡°I can acknowledge you as my master.¡± The ck eagle was very serious when it said that. It wanted Xia Muqing to know that it was serious. However, when Xia Muqing thought of its parents who lived deep in the mountains, she knew that they wouldn¡¯t agree to have their child acknowledging a human as its master. After all, all beasts despised humans. ¡°Sister, if you don¡¯t let me follow you, I¡¯ll follow you secretly. You can¡¯t stop me.¡± Xia Muqing coughed. She really couldn¡¯t stop the ck eagle. With the ck eagle¡¯s temperament, it might cause trouble. It might as well stay by her side, and she could keep an eye on it. ¡°Fine, but you have to listen to me or I¡¯ll leave you alone.¡± Xia Muqing agreed but she still had to remind and warn the ck eagle. The ck eagle promised repeatedly that it would be obedient. The human and the beast began their journey. Oh, and an unconscious fox. Xia Muqing found an empty spot and took out the medicinal herbs she had collected over the past two months. They were all grounded into powder. Xia Muqing surveyed the bottles of medicine in front of her, and she smiled in satisfaction. This was a gift that she had specially prepared for the Xia family. The ck eagle looked at these small bottles in confusion. When Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t paying attention, it secretly opened a bottle and took a sniff. It had also been won over by Xia Muqing¡¯s culinary skills over the past few days. It watched as she roasted, grilled and steamed. It thought that these bottles would contain something delicious. The moment the ck eagle opened the bottle, it smelled it eagerly. The powder that came out of the bottle made the ck eagle sneeze uncontrobly. Some of the powder spilled out onto the ck eagle¡¯s nose. The ck eagle didn¡¯t react, and Xia Muqing got anxious. ¡°ck eagle, why did you touch this powder?¡± Chapter 26

Chapter 26: The Princess in Trouble

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios She sshed a bowl of water at the ck eagle¡¯s nose. But it was already toote. The powder had taken effect and the ck eagle was rubbing its nose with its wings. It was too ticklish. Xia Muqing felt a little helpless. She took out a stalk of shiny green grass from her bag and crushed it before putting it on the ck eagle¡¯s nose. That was the itching powder she made when she was bored. Unexpectedly, it was used on the ck eagle. ¡°Sister, I¡¯m itching.¡± The ck eagle whined aggrievedly, and its eyes had turned red. Xia Muqing red at the ck eagle. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you still dare to be so curious.¡± The ck eagle surveyed the various bottles on the ground. It was no longer as curious as before and took a step back in fear. Xia Muqing was relieved to see that the ck eagle had learned its lesson. Fortunately, it was the itching powder this time. If it were any other lethal poison, the consequences would be terrible. After putting away all the bottles, Xia Muqing led the ck eagle out of the mountains. Just as she reached the periphery, she saw a group of people running over in a panic. Xia Muqing noticed that it was someone familiar. Wasn¡¯t that the unruly princess she met when she was about to enter the mountains? Huangfu You was originally dressed in luxurious clothing, but now she looked disheveled and dirty. If Xia Muqing hadn¡¯t taken a closer look, she wouldn¡¯t have recognized her. Huangfu You rushed in Xia Muqing¡¯s direction with a fright written all over her face. A few guards followed her. This was the first time the ck eagle had seen so many people and it approached them curiously. Huangfu You, who was fleeing for her life, turned around and saw an erged eagle head. ¡°Ah!¡± Huangfu You screamed and copsed on the ground. When the guards following her recognized that it was an Azure Cloud Eagle, they were also shocked and drew their swords to protect Huangfu You. The ck eagle, who was taken aback by Huangfu You, also let out a sharp cry. Huangfu You and the others became even more nervous, and the atmosphere gradually became solemn. p! They saw the ck eagle being pped on its head. Huangfu You and the others were stunned. Who was so bold? Xia Muqing walked out from behind the ck eagle. Without the ck eagle¡¯s huge body to cover her, Huangfu You could finally see Xia Muqing¡¯s face clearly. She pointed at her and stammered, ¡°You, you, you are¡­¡± Because she was too nervous, she couldn¡¯tplete her sentence. Xia Muqing smiled and apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my pet has frightened you guys.¡± After saying that, she turned around and chided the ck eagle. ¡°Why are you screaming? You scared them.¡± The ck eagle replied with grievance. ¡°When that woman shouted just now, my wings were touched by their swords.¡± As it spoke, it even spread its wings for Xia Muqing to see its wound. The corners of Xia Muqing¡¯s mouth twitched. She was speechless when she saw that the ck eagle didn¡¯t even have a scratch on its wings. These days, she had alsopletely understood the ck eagle¡¯s personality. It may look mighty and domineering, but in reality, it was just a delicate little princess who couldn¡¯t be touched. It would make a huge fuss over a minor wound. Xia Muqing often thought that the ck eagle¡¯s parents agreed to let it go with her, because they were tired of it. Huangfu You and the others couldn¡¯t understand the exchange between Xia Muqing and the ck eagle. They could only see the ck eagle screeching a few times before pping its wings. The reason why the Azure Cloud Eagles were so famous was because of their powerful wings. The humans immediately gathered together nervously, and tried their best to minimize their presence. When Xia Muqing noticed them, she apologized even more apologetically. Another pnded on the ck eagle¡¯s head, forcing it to move further away. The ck eagle rubbed its head and walked away, feeling bored and wronged. Huangfu You and the others were dumbfounded when they saw how obedient the ck eagle was. What did Xia Muqing just say? That eagle was her pet! The Azure Cloud Eagle was her pet! This time, the way they looked at Xia Muqing changed. Chapter 27

Chapter 27: The Azure Cloud Eagle Was Her Pet

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Having pets was a trend in the imperial court. The more ferocious a pet was, the more pride the master would have. But was it really okay to have the Azure Cloud Eagle as a pet? The Azure Cloud Eagle was a ferocious beast! Other than the Lord of War, they had never heard of anyone who had beasts as pets. ¡°Is the Azure Cloud Eagle really your pet?¡± Huangfu You asked softly. She poked her head out from behind a guard and gazed at Xia Muqing. She looked much more adorable than her unreasonable personality before. Xia Muqing¡¯s expression softened and she nodded. ¡°Sister, how did you do it?¡± Huangfu You stared at Xia Muqing with admiration. Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t used to Huangfu You¡¯s change in attitude. ¡°I just bumped into it on my journey and epted it as my pet.¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s words sounded extremely perfunctory. However, Huangfu You¡¯s face was flushed with excitement, and her eyes sparkled. It was as if she was the one who had subdued the Azure Cloud Eagle. Huangfu You suddenly took a step forward. She gripped Xia Muqing¡¯s hand and praised her excitedly, ¡°Sister, you¡¯re really awesome!¡± Xia Muqing was a little confused. She pulled her hand away with some force and stepped back a little. Huangfu You was acting oddly. She cleared her throat and exined, ¡°I¡¯m just happy for you, Sister. This time, I left the pce¡­ Uh, I went out to subdue a pet. But I didn¡¯t even spot a single rabbit.¡± Huangfu You¡¯s expression gradually became downcast. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with this princess. Although she was calling her affectionately now, the unruly behavior of the princess in her memories was still imprinted in her mind. Who knew when she would turn into that unreasonable princess again. ¡°Sister, can you sell this ck eagle to me?¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s expression immediately fell. She pulled the ck eagle who was still standing foolishly beside her, and she marched off. A trace of disappointment shed across Huangfu You¡¯s eyes, but she didn¡¯t resort to force. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to, but since Xia Muqing was able to be the master of the Azure Cloud Eagle, she wouldn¡¯t be an ordinary person. All of their skillsbined would probably not be enough to defeat that Azure Cloud Eagle. They saw that Xia Muqing was walking in the direction they came from. Huangfu You shouted at Xia Muqing, ¡°Sister, you can¡¯t go there! There¡¯s a beast tide there.¡± Xia Muqing stopped in her tracks and turned to walk towards Huangfu You. ¡°What do you mean by a beast tide?¡± Huangfu Youhui recalled the scene earlier and her face turned pale. ¡°We just escaped from that ce. There¡¯s arge group of beasts gathered there, and they all seem to be from the middle section of the mountain range. I was prepared to report that, but for some reason, they didn¡¯t move.¡± Xia Muqing knew what was going on the moment she heard that. She asked Huangfu You about the exact location and headed there. Huangfu You¡¯s guards looked at Xia Muqing¡¯s as if they were looking at a fool. Only Huangfu You¡¯s eyes shed with a hint of contemtion. After all, she had grown up at the Imperial Pce. So naturally, she wouldn¡¯t be as naive and ignorant as she appeared to be. Huangfu You beckoned for the guards to follow Xia Muqing discreetly. Xia Muqing spotted the green snake and the rest when she arrived. The green snake and the other beasts lowered their heads, as they were afraid to meet Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes. Xia Muqing sighed but she didn¡¯t lecture them. ¡°All right, since all of you are here, this is considered sending me to the periphery. All of you can go back.¡± The green snake raised its head and said to Xia Muqing, ¡°We¡¯re going back now. If you need any help in the future, feel free toe to the mountains to look for us.¡± After sending off the teary-eyed beasts, Xia Muqing felt a little sad. However, she had to return to human society eventually. Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Huangfu You Currying Favor

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Huangfu You saw everything. Xia Muqing¡¯s ability tomunicate with beasts shocked her. The meaning behind her words made her heart surge with waves of shock. These beasts were actually here to send Xia Muqing off. And now, she was determined to befriend Xia Muqing. Although their first meeting didn¡¯t go too well, Huangfu You felt that as long as she put aside her pride, she would definitely be able to gain Xia Muqing¡¯s favor. Huangfu You used her eyes to warn the guards behind her that none of them should speak of this matter. The frightened guards nodded repeatedly and looked at Xia Muqing in fear. Thinking about how they had even tried to attack Xia Muqing previously, they trembled even more. They would never expect Xia Muqing to subdue all the beasts with her medical skills when martial arts were prized in the country. They only guessed that Xia Muqing was a hidden expert who didn¡¯t reveal herself. ¡°Come out.¡± Xia Muqing had long discovered Huangfu You¡¯s whereabouts. Huangfu You smiled brightly and jumped out from behind the tree. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about Sister.¡± Xia Muqing turned around and left, ignoring Huangfu You. Huangfu You didn¡¯t mind and followed her obediently. She kept chatting with her. Xia Muqing replied asionally. A thought struck Huangfu You and she asked about Xia Muqing¡¯s identity. ¡°Where do you live, Sister?¡± It was within Xia Muqing¡¯s expectations that Huangfu You hadn¡¯t recognized her. Although everyone knew that Xia Muqing was a useless bum, she had never shown her face to anyone. Every time she went out, her face would be filled with colors. Xia Muqing was getting annoyed by Huangfu You¡¯s chatter. With an impish smile, she spat out a few words, ¡°Xia Muqing from the Xia family.¡± After saying that, she ignored Huangfu You¡¯s reaction and walked forward. Seeing that Huangfu You didn¡¯t follow her, Xia Muqing quickened her pace. Finally she had gotten rid of that annoying girl. Huangfu You and the guards behind her stood in the middle of the path. A gust of wind blew past, but no one moved at all, as if they were petrified. ¡°Who did she say she was?¡± Huangfu You asked expressionlessly. ¡°Xia Muqing from the Xia family,¡± a guard replied nkly. ¡°Is there another Xia family in the country?¡± Huangfu You was still unwilling to give up. ¡°No.¡± This answer made Huangfu You realize that the girl was really that useless Xia Muqing. ¡°Haha¡ª¡± Huangfu You let out a nervousugh before bursting intoughter. ¡°Hahaha¡ª¡± Herughter was so loud that the birds on the trees flew away. Huangfu You ced her hands on her waist, looking re-energized. The Xia family was always making things difficult for her father because of their power. The Xia family had been hunting geese all day. This time, they were going to be pecked by geese. The entire country knew what kind of life Xia Muqing led with the Xia family. It was fine if Xia Muqing was really a piece of trash. After all, the strong preyed on the weak. But now, it was still uncertain who was stronger. Suddenly, Huangfu You¡¯s expression changed. She had to hurry back and tell her father about the situation. It wouldn¡¯t be good if the Xia Family resorted to tricks to get Xia Muqing back on their side. The royal family had to strike first. Huangfu You, who snapped out of her own thoughts, realized that Xia Muqing had disappeared. She immediately yelped, ¡°Where¡¯s Xia Muqing?¡± ¡°She has already left,¡± replied the guard. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you tell me!¡± After saying that, Huangfu You scurried after her. She had to build a good rtionship with Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing had just walked out of Sunset Mountains. The streets were as bustling as before. Now she had the time to see what was happening on the streets. Chapter 29

Chapter 29: The Sensation Caused by the ck Eagle

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios However, unlike before, when Xia Muqing appeared this time, everyone took a step back. Then, they approached her curiously to have a clearer view. Xia Muqing nced at the ck eagle behind her and sighed. She knew that she would be in trouble if she brought this fellow along with her. ¡°Sister, why didn¡¯t you wait for me? Where are you going to stay? If you have nowhere to go, you cane with me.¡± When she heard Huangfu You¡¯s voice again, Xia Muqing lost all interest in strolling around. Seeing that it was alreadyte, she walked towards an inn. Huangfu You stomped her feet before following her. ¡°One premium room.¡± Before Xia Muqing attracted too much attention, she quickly got the waiter to arrange a room for her. Before the shock in the waiter¡¯s eyes vanished, they went upstairs. Xia Muqing heaved a sigh of relief after entering the room. The ck eagle was looking at the furnishings in the room curiously. This was its first time in human territory, so it naturally found everything interesting. Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t grumble because of the child-like behavior of the ck eagle. Sending it back was out of the question. She could only think of a way to hide it. She can¡¯t bring it back to the Xia family. Huangfu You watched as Xia Muqing went upstairs and she followed her. She then went into the room next door. The guards behind her would settle the rest. Xia Muqing spent the night peacefully. The news of a woman subduing an Azure cloud Eagle as a pet, had already spread throughout the entire Sunset Mountains. Xia Muqing went downstairs for breakfast and noticed that the inn was packed. She finally found an empty seat and sat down as she peered at the crowd at the entrance. No matter how good the inn¡¯s business was, it wouldn¡¯t be crowded like this. She was consciously listening to the people around her. ¡°Eh, I wonder if this is true.¡± A person who was dressed like a schrmented. ¡°It should be true. After all, so many people imed that they witnessed it. It¡¯s impossible for them to mistake such a huge Azure Cloud Eagle,¡± hispanion quipped. A burly man beside them had clearly overheard their conversation. He added heartily, ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. I saw it yesterday.¡± Everyone turned to look at him. Most of them had heard rumors and came here to join in the fun. The burly man grinned smugly. He stood up in the middle of the crowd and said, ¡°Last night, I was walking on the streets to buy some herbs. Do you know what happened?¡± The moment the burly man opened his mouth, he sounded like a storyteller. Everyone¡¯s curiosity was piqued. Seeing that the burly man was still rattling on, everyone got impatient and urged the burly man to get to the story. The burly man was very satisfied with this oue. He posed with his massive body, picked up the chopsticks, and threw them onto the table. p! ¡°I saw an Azure Cloud Eagle suddenly appear. This type of ferocious beast usually moves in the depths of the mountain range. The moment it appeared, it shocked the people on the streets. Just as everyone was preparing to defend themselves, guess what happened?¡± Seeing that everyone was about to throw chopsticks at him, the huge man didn¡¯t dare to drag for too long and quickly said, ¡°A woman appeared behind the Azure Cloud Eagle. That Azure Cloud Eagle is really obedient. It obediently followed behind that woman. That Azure Cloud Eagle must be that mysterious woman¡¯s pet.¡± m! The burly man ended hismentary. ¡°Who is that mysterious woman?¡± the schr asked. The burly man answered matter-of-factly, ¡°I already said it was a mysterious woman. How would I know who she is?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the hall of the inn was filled with sighs. Everyone threw their chopsticks at him. Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Escaping Amidst the Chaos

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios He didn¡¯t know the entire story, yet he was still talking so enthusiastically, about everything everyone else knew. Xia Muqing lowered her head and hurried upstairs amidst the chaos. She hadn¡¯t expected the ck eagle to cause such a hugemotion. It seemed like she couldn¡¯t leave through the main entrance. When Xia Muqing stood up, the people in the inn who saw her yesterday, frowned. Why was this woman so familiar? ¡°I remember her! She is the master of the Azure Cloud Eagle.¡± As soon as someone eximed, everyone looked at Xia Muqing, who was heading upstairs. Xia Muqing paused before she quickened her pace. Everyone was stunned for a moment before following her. They didn¡¯t dare to do anything to Xia Muqing. After all, a person who subdued the Green Cloud Eagle as her pet must be extraordinary. Many amongst the crowd were sent by aristocratic families. Firstly, their mission was to gather information. Secondly, they hoped to recruit this mysterious expert. Xia Muqing returned to her room and closed the door. She opened the window and took a look. There was a back door. But it would be too conspicuous to leave with the ck eagle using the back door. Thinking of a solution, Xia Muqing quickly instructed the ck eagle to fly into the air through the window. She asked the eagle to fly as high as it could, so that no one could see it. The ck eagle was capable of that. It immediately soared into the sky. Seeing that the ck eagle had disappeared, Xia Muqing was about to jump out of the window when she saw a group of people blocking the back door. It seemed that these people could also think of what Xia Muqing had thought of. Xia Muqing quickly closed the window. She took out the mask from her bag and changed into the set of clothes that she had stolen from the man. She opened the window again and entered the room next door. ¡°Ah!¡± Huangfu You, who was bathing, saw the person who barged in. Before she could see clearly, she sshed a handful of water at the intruder. Xia Muqing¡¯s clothes were drenched. She didn¡¯t expect that the person staying in this room was actually Huangfu You. Seeing that she still wanted to yell, Xia Muqing covered her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s me, Xia Muqing.¡± She stated her identity swiftly. Only then did Huangfu You rxed. She opened her eyes and stared as she saw the familiar mask before her. Xia Muqing had also relinquished her grip on her. Knock, knock, knock. ¡°What is it, Princess?¡± The guard¡¯s voice came from the door, and Huangfu You quickly responded. She looked down at her body that was submerged in the water. She realized that her body had been seen by someone. She immediately blushed and covered her chest with her hands. Xia Muqing was speechless. Weren¡¯t they all women? They were the same. She turned around and told Huangfu You to quickly get dressed. Huangfu You dressed quickly as she looked at howposed Xia Muqing was when the guards addressed her. ¡°You knew all along?¡± Xia Muqing turned around and looked at Huangfu You. ¡°What?¡± Huangfu You bit her lip, her face still a little red. ¡°I¡¯m a princess.¡± Xia Muqing nodded. ¡°As a citizen, how could I not recognize the princess of my own country?¡± Huangfu You lowered her head in embarrassment. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to hide it from you. Father doesn¡¯t allow me to reveal my identity outside of the pce.¡± Xia Muqing only raised an eyebrow at Huangfu You¡¯s confession and she remained mum. She walked to the door and opened it, only to see that there were still many people gathered outside. No one dared to knock on the door or leave. Everyone simply waited outside. Closing the door, Xia Muqing looked at her clothes. Her clothes were already wet. She definitely couldn¡¯t go out now. ¡°Sister, do you want to wear my clothes?¡± Huangfu You could tell that Xia Muqing was in a dilemma. She took out a set of less luxurious clothes and handed it to Xia Muqing. After interacting with Xia Muqing twice, Huangfu You knew that with Xia Muqing¡¯s personality, she would definitely not be willing to wear any luxurious clothes. The set of clothes that were considered ordinary to Huangfu You, was already ostentatious in Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes. Chapter 31

Chapter 31: A Violent Transformation of Clothes

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing surveyed the clothes in front of her. The cor was adorned with pearls the size of a fingernail, and the front was embroidered with sparkling gold thread. There were two yellow gemstones the size of pigeon eggs on the sleeves. The whole outfit revealed that she was loaded with money and was begging for robbers to rob her. But with the current situation, Xia Muqing could only ept the clothes. ¡°I¡¯ll borrow it for a while. I¡¯ll return the same one to youter.¡± Huangfu You wanted to say that there was no need to return it. However, she was left confused by Xia Muqing¡¯s words. Why wouldn¡¯t she return this to her? Why would she return the same one to her? In the next second, Huangfu You understood. Xia Muqing swiftly removed the pearls on the cor and the gemstones on the sleeves. She took off her wet clothes and changed into Huangfu You¡¯s clothes. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll see you around.¡± With that, Xia Muqing opened the door and strode out. The people outside the door heard the sound of the door opening and looked over. Xia Muqing¡¯s strides were confident. The ck scary mask on her face made everyone pay attention. After all, it didn¡¯t match her clothes. However, there were quite a number of rich youngdies who pretended to be ordinary people these days. They misunderstood that Xia Muqing was one of them too. After seeing that there was no Azure Cloud Eagle behind her, they stopped paying attention to her. Xia Muqing left before everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°Shall we follow her, Princess?¡± Hearing Huangfu You¡¯s order, the captain of the guards entered the room and asked. ¡°There is no hurry.¡± Huangfu You wasn¡¯t eager to chase after her this time. Huangfu You¡¯s shyness towards Xia Muqing hadpletely disappeared. Her expression waspletely different from the unruly, willful, and arrogant image she had portrayed in the outside world. Thinking about Xia Muqing¡¯sst words, she smiled. Xia Muqing was a smart person. She could understand her intention with one look. She had epted the royal family¡¯s invitation. Huangfu You tidied up her things slowly while the captain stood behind her. His respectful attitude towards her seemed as though he was serving an emperor and not a princess. After Xia Muqing walked out of the inn, she rented a carriage and headed to the capital. The ck eagle followed Xia Muqing high up in the sky. Naturally, no one could catch a glimpse of the eagle flying at such a height. But an eagle could see the people on the ground clearly. It followed Xia Muqing¡¯s carriage all the way. It stared at her intently, afraid that it would lose her. Xia Muqing was a little worried about whether the ck eagle would be able to keep up with her, and not about its speed or eyes. She was worried that the ck eagle would be curious to check out what it saw on the road. Every time Xia Muqing stopped the carriage to rest, she would walk far away to find an empty space to wait. The ck eagle understood what Xia Muqing meant. It flew down to meet Xia Muqing and to eat something. Just like that, they traveled all the way to the capital. Xia Muqing alighted from the carriage a distance away from the entrance and paid the driver. She waited for the ck eagle in the open space, but it never came. Xia Muqing had a bad feeling. After waiting for a long time, the ck eagle didn¡¯t appear. Instead, a group of people came. This group of people should have traveled from a long distance to the capital. As they walked, they discussed what they had just seen. ¡°That Azure Cloud Eagle is really fierce. It¡¯s expected of the murderer.¡± ¡°Yeah, so many people failed to catch it.¡± ¡°Why is it here? Is it here to eat Liu Ji Restaurant¡¯s roasted chicken? Hahaha.¡± Thinking that it was absurd, the person who spokeughed out loud. ¡°Forget it, what does it have to do with us? The Azure Cloud Eagle is not something people like us can dream of.¡± They chatted andughed as they walked past Xia Muqing. Chapter 32

Chapter 32: ck Eagle is Punished for Its Mistake

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing was speechless. Roasted chicken? That ck eagle was really something. However, she was still relieved to hear that it wasn¡¯t caught. Just as she was wondering if she should go look for it, the ck eagle returned. The ck eagle acted as if it was lost and looked at Xia Muqing innocently. Xia Muqing smiled gently but she didn¡¯t expose the ck eagle. Seeing that there was still a piece of roasted chicken meat hanging from the ck eagle¡¯s mouth, she asked softly, ¡°Is the roasted chicken good?¡± Entranced by Xia Muqing¡¯s gentle voice, the ck eagle blurted out in a trance. ¡°It¡¯s delicious, but not as good as the grilled fish that you made.¡± After saying that, the ck eagle immediately covered its face with its wings. Its guilty expression made Xia Muqing snort. Hearing her snort, the ck eagle almost curled into a ball. No matter how much it tried to hide, it couldn¡¯t hide its huge body. ¡°Since you¡¯re disobedient, don¡¯t follow me. Go back to the mountains.¡± After Xia Muqing finished speaking, she really ignored the ck eagle. She marched towards the entrance of the capital alone. The ck eagle chased after her and swiftly hid when it spotted people. It spun around anxiously, afraid of attracting attention but not daring to make a sound. If it caused amotion again, Xia Muqing would definitely not want it anymore. The ck eagle¡¯s eyes lit up when it recalled Xia Muqing¡¯s method of hiding it from humans. It soared into the sky and watched Xia Muqing enter the capital before chasing after her. Xia Muqing followed the direction in her memory and strode to the entrance of the Xia household. After all, the Xia family was an influential family, and it was said that thest emperor had personally gifted the Xia family¡¯s signboard that hung over their entrance. Relying on past achievements of fighting battles for the emperor, the family had remained as the number one aristocratic family. The two stone lions at the door looked more majestic and domineering than other houses. The two guards were slightly different. Their arrogant expressions made people feel annoyed. As usual, the guards chased away a group of people who came to the Xia family to pull strings. The people waved their sleeves and turned back arrogantly. Xia Muqing walked towards the entrance and was about to enter when she was stopped. The guards looked at Xia Muqing in disdain. Did this girl think that she could enter the Xia family with a mask on? Xia Muqing took off her mask and revealed her face without any makeup. The two guards were stunned. ¡°You don¡¯t even recognize me?¡± The guards still recognized Xia Muqing¡¯s face. After all, she didn¡¯t wear paint all the time at home. But facing Xia Muqing, their attitude became even more arrogant. Looking at Xia Muqing¡¯s exquisite little face, a hint of lust shed across their eyes. They felt that Xia Muqing had be even prettier after disappearing for two months. They heard rumors that this youngdy had eloped with a man. Could she have been abandoned by him? The two of them nced at each other and saw disgust in each other¡¯s eyes. One of the guards chuckled. ¡°Miss, the Xia family doesn¡¯t allow outsiders to enter. We can¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°Are you sure I¡¯m an outsider?¡± Xia Mu asked coldly. The guard wasn¡¯t intimidated at all. Instead, he felt that Xia Muqing was even more interesting. ¡°Miss, if you want to enter the Xia family, it¡¯s not impossible. Just make usfortable.¡± Both of them burst outughing. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t get angry and just smiled. Her smile was so charming that the two of them couldn¡¯t find their bearings. ¡°Sure.¡± When Xia Muqing agreed, lust shed across their eyes. Xia Muqing felt disgusted. m! m! Xia Muqing made them fall to the ground. ¡°Ah!¡± The two guards let out blood-curdling screams and fell to the ground, clutching their lower bodies in pain. ¡°You, you, you¡ª¡± The pain rendered the guards speechless. They could only point at Xia Muqing and tremble in anger. People at the entrance streamed in to report to their master after witnessing this unforeseen incident. Chapter 33

Chapter 33: I¡¯m Back

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing didn¡¯t stop them. She smiled coldly and entered the Xia residence. She didn¡¯t believe that the two guards would be so bold without instructions from their masters. No matter what, she was still the legitimate daughter of the Xia family. Xia Muqing had just reached the courtyard when she was blocked by people who rushed out. From the looks of it, everyone was here. At the front stood Old Master Xia and Madam Ruan. Ever since her mother, the mistress of the Xia n had passed away, Ruan Yu had been promoted from a concubine to a madam. However, because of the country¡¯s unwritten rules, a concubine couldn¡¯t be promoted to the position of mistress before the children left behind by the previous mistress were married. Therefore, after so many years, Ruan Yu could only be addressed as Madam Ruan. This was also the reason why she hated Xia Muqing to the core. Beside them were Xia Churan and Xia Chuxing, who were from the same mother. Xia Churan could only be recognized as the eldest daughter of the Xia family¡¯s concubine because of her mother¡¯s status, despite being the eldest daughter. She was Xia Muqing¡¯s sister and the eldest daughter of the Xia Family¡¯s concubine. The eldest daughter of the Xia family was Xia Muqing. Xia Churan had always acted as if she didn¡¯t care about statuses or titles, and pretended to be a good sister. But Xia Muqing could detect the jealousy and hatred gleaming in Xia Churan¡¯s eyes. Having paint on Xia Muqing¡¯s face all year round was her idea. Xia Chuxing was the third daughter of the Xia family. A group of servants followed behind them. When Old Master Xia saw that Xia Muqing had returned, he didn¡¯t care where his daughter had been for the past two months or if she was doing well. He immediately started berating her. ¡°You unfilial daughter. You¡¯ve been fooling around with men for so many days and you still have the cheek toe back! You¡¯ve disgraced the Xia family!¡± She had disgraced the Xia family? ¡°Haha¡ª¡± Xia Mu sneered coldly. In the girl¡¯s memory, this was what her father had said to her the most when she was young. ¡°Father, you always say that I¡¯ve disgraced the Xia family. Since the Xia family¡¯s reputation is already gone, what have I done?¡± Old Master Xia was startled by Xia Muqing¡¯s attitude, and he became even angrier. This rebellious girl still dared to speak to him in such a tone. She was really rebellious. ¡°You have no shame in fooling around with men. You haven¡¯t returned home for two months and you¡¯re still so arrogant. I must teach you a lesson today.¡± Master Xia was so angry that his whole body was shaking. He only managed to stabilize himself after Xia Churan helped him up. ¡°Father, don¡¯t be angry. You¡¯ll hurt your health. Since our sister came back, it means that she knows her mistake. I apologize on her behalf.¡± Xia Churan rubbed Old Master Xia¡¯s chest and immediately convicted Xia Muqing. ¡°Churan is still the most sensible one.¡± Old Master Xia feltforted by Xia Churan¡¯s concern. He held her hand and sighed emotionally. He turned to look at Xia Muqing again. The gentle expression on his face turned sharp and he snorted. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see that rebellious girl. She only makes me angry.¡± Xia Muqing was no longer the youngdy she used to be. She wasn¡¯t affected by Old Master Xia¡¯s different attitude towards her. She wanted tough at the father-daughter pair¡¯s affectionate performance. ¡°Father, aren¡¯t you going to ask where I have been for the past two months?¡± Old Master Xia red at Xia Muqing angrily. ¡°I don¡¯t want to know where you and that wild man were.¡± It was rare to see a father so anxious tobel his daughter as a slut. ¡°Sister, I¡¯m embarrassed to hear such things, yet you still have the cheek to say it.¡± Xia Chuxing wrinkled her delicate nose in disdain, as she surveyed her with contempt. ¡°Chuxing, even if Muqing did something bad, you can¡¯t say that.¡± Xia Churan reprimanded Xia Chuxing and turned to look at Xia Muqing with concern. Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Why Should I Deny It?

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Muqing, it doesn¡¯t matter if you did something wrong. Just apologize to Father properly. We¡¯re a family and we will forgive you.¡± Old Master Xia kept a straight face as he waited for Xia Muqing to admit her mistake. Then, he would use the family methods to teach her a lesson. This was their usual tactic. Xia Muqing chuckled lightly. ¡°What did I do wrong?¡± ¡°You¡ªChuran, don¡¯t even talk to this rebellious girl. She just doesn¡¯t change, just like her mother.¡± Old Master Xia was infuriated by Xia Muqing¡¯s attitude. Xia Muqing¡¯s expression changed and she stared at Old Master Xia coldly. Although Xia Churan was shocked by Xia Muqing¡¯s attitude, it was a good idea for Xia Muqing to infuriate Old Master Xia. She continued, ¡°Muqing, you don¡¯t have to deny it. We didn¡¯t tell anyone about you. Only our family members know about it. Don¡¯t worry about your reputation.¡± Xia Churan gritted her teeth in anger at the thought of it. If this matter got out, Xia Muqing¡¯s reputation would bepletely ruined. And then, her mother might be able to be the real mistress of the Xia family, instead of being an unofficial one now. She was also being implicated. However, Old Master Xia didn¡¯t agree, and Madam Ruan also felt that it wasn¡¯t a good idea. She was afraid that it would affect both Churan and Chuxing¡¯s marriages. If they couldn¡¯t spread the news beyond the Xia residence, they shall spread the news within the household. Now, everyone in the Xia residence knew about the matter and everyone despised their young mistress, Xia Muqing. For the first time, Xia Muqing scrutinized Xia Churan. Xia Churan sensed that Xia Muqing had changed. ¡°Half-sister, what have I done that calls for a need for me to repent?¡± Xia Churan¡¯s face twisted when she heard her calling her Half-sister. In order to please Xia Churan in the past, Xia Muqing had been addressing her as Sister. Fortunately, Xia Churan had strong control over her emotions and she immediately regained her usual gentle expression. Acting as if she was tolerating an insensible younger sister, she replied, ¡°Sister, you still want to deny it? We already know about this. Father also knows about it.¡± Xia Churan used Old Master Xia¡¯s name to intimidate Xia Muqing. Even if she had changed, so what? Xia Muqing was just being a little bold. She didn¡¯t believe that she wasn¡¯t afraid of Old Master Xia. If it was in the past, Xia Muqing indeed wouldn¡¯t dare to. But now, she was smiling. ¡°I was transported out of the Xia residence and I woke up in a strange ce that day. There must be evidence. Before I came back, no one knew what happened to me? How did these rumorse about? It must be the culprit.¡± Xia Muqing stared straight at Xia Churan as she spoke. With Madam Ruan¡¯s personality, she probably only wanted her to die. So if she had the opportunity, she would definitely eliminate her immediately. Xia Chuxing had no brains at all. So that left only Xia Churan. Xia Churan was feeling intimidated by Xia Muqing¡¯s gaze. Her intuition told her that she was in danger. Realizing that Xia Muqing had gotten even more beautiful, jealousy and hatred shed across her eyes. She was indeed the one who nned everything. She had always wanted to ruin Xia Muqing¡¯s reputation because she was afraid that her face would be exposed to the public. She understood the charm of her face better than anyone else. Noticing the suspicion in Old Master Xia¡¯s eyes, Xia Churan was worried that Xia Muqing really had evidence. So she didn¡¯t dare to provoke her anymore. She coaxed Old Master Xia and was about to speak as she nced at Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing ignored and walked past her to return to her own courtyard. ¡°Hmph! She¡¯s just a useless bum! What¡¯s there to be proud of!¡± Xia Chuxing burst in disdain. Chapter 35

Chapter 35: This Small Courtyard Is Rare

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Because only the two of them were left in the courtyard, Xia Churan didn¡¯t refute. She contemted the reasons for Xia Muqing¡¯s change. That day when she arrived with her men, they discovered the ugly man who had fainted on the ground. Xia Muqing had disappeared without a trace. They knew that their n had failed and they returned to the Xia family to wait for Xia Muqing. However, she didn¡¯t return. Xia Churan wondered if she had died outside. Unexpectedly, she came back by herself today. As for whether Xia Muqing had any evidence, Xia Churan decided to investigate her to find out more. What had caused a person who was always submissive, to be so strong? Xia Muqing returned to her tiny courtyard. To call it a courtyard was an exaggeration. She scrutinized the thatched hut with no fence around it. The corners of Xia Muqing¡¯s mouth twitched. It must have taken a lot of effort to find such a lousy house in the Xia residence. The thatched hut was ipatible with the surrounding high-walled courtyards. It was like two different worlds. Xia Muqing cleared the weeds that had reached her waist before she strode to the hut. She pushed the door with one finger, mainly because she was afraid that the door would copse if she used too much force. Despite using one finger, the wooden door still shook. The moment the door was pushed open, a cloud of dust rushed towards Xia Muqing¡¯s face. She quickly dodged and looked up at the sky. She felt that it wasn¡¯t easy for this hut to ¡®survive¡¯ for so many years. After waiting for a while, she walked in after the dust had settled. Although she had watched the scene inside ¡®Xia Muqing¡¯s memories¡¯ before, it was still more impactful to see it in person. The wind was blowing through the roof of the small house, and the windows were broken. There was only a stool and a bed inside. The stool was missing a leg. Fortunately, the bed was still fine. Just as she thought of that, she had no idea if the bed was going against her. Creak. The bed copsed! Xia Muqing could no longer express her feelings and nodded with a smile. The next second, she walked out of the hut decisively. It was impossible for anyone to live in such a ce. She would never live here. After walking out of the hut, she surveyed her surroundings before leaping up to the roof in a sh. She chose a courtyard nearby that she liked and moved in. Xia Muqing walked around on the roofs and no one in the Xia family noticed her. However, someone spotted her marching into the small courtyard with a bag on her back. He immediately ran to the main residence to report. To everyone, Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t a member of the family at all. She wasn¡¯t even qualified to be their guest. Since Xia Muqing had the guts to walk in so brazenly, she naturally wasn¡¯t afraid of themining. Since she was back, she would not let the Xia family have an easy time. Xia Muqing tidied up the room and prepared to rest. She looked at everything before her with satisfaction. The plywood bed was covered with silk brocade bedding and embroidered with summer lotus flowers in gold thread. The decoration was a stark contrast to the thatched hut earlier. A guest room was so luxurious. The Xia family was really rich. It was even more detestable that ¡®Xia Muqing¡¯ had to live in a thatched hut since she was young. She was not going to let the Xia family have their way. She would live well if she had the means. She rolled around on the bedfortably. She had been living in the mountains for the past two months. It felt good to roll around on a bed. She closed her eyes and was about to sleep when she heard amotion outside. This made Xia Muqing frown. She was very unhappy that her rest had been interrupted. Before she could open the door, the people outside rushed in. Chapter 36

Chapter 36: The Thatched Hut Copsed

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Chuxing looked at Xia Muqing lying on the bed and frowned. She said sternly, ¡°Why are you sleeping here?¡± She thought of something and smiled smugly. ¡°Even if your hut copsed, you don¡¯t have the right to stay here.¡± It seemed that the copse of her bed had something to do with this person. The servant behind Xia Chuxing nodded and bowed. ¡°I saw her entering the room but I couldn¡¯t stop her, so I rushed to find you.¡± He wanted to report to Old Master Xia when he met Xia Chuxing right outside. Xia Chuxing looked up and waited for Xia Muqing¡¯s exnation. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t get up. She turned around andy on the bed, her upper body leaning against the headboard. Coupled with the moonlight pouring from the window, she looked like an alluring immortal, so beautiful that she didn¡¯t look like a mortal. The male servants behind Xia Chuxing were all salivating. Xia Chuxing was even angrier. She pointed at Xia Muqing and yelled, ¡°Xia Muqing, you vixen! How dare you seduce my servants?¡± Xia Muqing smiled. ¡°Vixen? Are youplimenting that I¡¯m pretty?¡± Her voice made one¡¯s body go limp. Xia Chuxing was furious. She looked at Xia Muqing¡¯s face with jealousy and hatred. Why didn¡¯t she scratch her face thest time? ¡°All of you, throw her out.¡± After thinking for a while, she added harshly, ¡°It¡¯s understandable if my sister knocked into something during the process. After all, she refused to cooperate, so we had to resort to violence.¡± Xia Chuxing¡¯s tone was full of malice. She was already wondering if she should take this opportunity to ruin her face. She had wanted to do that since she was young. The servants, who couldn¡¯t wait any longer, rubbed their hands. They wondered how they could take advantage of the situationter. Xia Muqing remained in bed without fear. Xia Chuxing was shocked by her reaction. Xia Muqing mocked Xia Chuxing quietly in her heart for being cowardly on the inside even though she had be stronger on the surface. She didn¡¯t care about Xia Churan. Xia Muqing smiled as she watched them getting closer to her. She merely felt that it was a pity that she couldn¡¯t stay in this room anymore. With a few thuds, all the servantsy motionless on the floor. Xia Chuxing was stunned. She assumed that the servants were unwilling to fight Xia Muqing because she was a girl. Hence, they had deliberately lost to her. She walked up angrily and kicked them a few times. ¡°Get up, stop pretending, you¡ª¡± Xia Chuxing stopped talking and she fell to the floor. Xia Muqing looked at the people lying on the floor and pondered. She got off the bed, took out a small bottle from her backpack, and sprinkled some powder on the floor. After that, Xia Muqing walked out. Carrying her bag, she leaped up to the roof and prepared to find another room to live in. This time, she darted a little further. As the saying went, if you stood high, you can see further away. Xia Muqing stood on the roof of the highest courtyard in the Xia family. Xia Muqing, who wasn¡¯t familiar with the Xia residence, immediately saw a garden located in the south. She darted over to take a closer look. Indeed, what she saw was real. The back of the courtyard was connected to the back mountain and there was a small river. The more Xia Muqing looked at it, the more satisfied she was. Especially when she looked at the fish and prawns in the river and the wild beasts in the mountain behind. These would be her food. Moreover, the back mountain was such a huge ce. The ck eagle could also stay there without attracting any attention. The ck eagle didn¡¯t leave and continued to follow her. Xia Muqing knew about that. She knew she had to teach the ck eagle a lesson. Otherwise, who knew what trouble it would cause in the future. After finding a satisfactory ce, Xia Muqing leaped down swiftly. After entering the courtyard to take a look at the surroundings, she became more satisfied. The most important point was that the courtyard was still empty. Otherwise, if someone were still staying here, it would be troublesome to chase him away. When she entered the main residence, she could feel that it wasn¡¯t on the same level as the guest room just now. Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Satisfied With the Little Courtyard

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios That thatched hut couldn¡¯t bepared at all. Why wasn¡¯t anyone staying in such a splendid residence? Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows but she didn¡¯t dwell too much on that. It had nothing to do with her. As soon as shey down, she heard sounds outside the window. The unidentified sounds were from an unknown source. Hearing themotion, Xia Muqing suddenly understood and stood up. She walked to the window and opened it forcefully. She saw the ck eagle outside the window in a daze. Clearly, it had been shocked by the sudden opening of the window. During this period of time together, Xia Muqing could incredibly identify the expressions on the ck eagle¡¯s ck feathery face. ¡°You don¡¯t reckon I can¡¯t hear such a loud noise, do you?¡± The ck eagle who knew that it had made a mistake again, lowered its head in disappointment. Xia Muqing sighed again. ¡°Do you know your mistake now?¡± The ck eagle hurriedly nodded its head. It used so much force that it even knocked against the window with a loud bang. Xia Muqing held its head and rubbed it. ¡°All right, does it hurt? Why did you hit it?¡± The ck eagle chuckled. ¡°Sister, I won¡¯t do that again.¡± Xia Muqing epted the ck eagle¡¯s apology but she didn¡¯t borate. Pointing at the back of the mountain behind the garden, she said, ¡°You¡¯ll stay at the back of the mountain for the next few days. As long as no one sees you, you can do anything you want. You¡¯ll hide whenever you see anyone, okay?¡± The ck eagle nodded obediently. Xia Muqing thought for a moment and added, ¡°Don¡¯t look for me during the day if there is nothing important. You cane at night.¡± The ck eagle looked at Xia Muqing in a daze, thinking that she looked even more beautiful under the moonlight. ¡°Sister, you¡¯re so pretty.¡± The ck eagle¡¯s infatuated look made Xia Muqing feel helpless. She pped its head and asked again. ¡°Did you hear what I just said?¡± The ck eagle covered its head and replied, ¡°I understood, Sister.¡± Xia Muqing then let it go. The ck eagle didn¡¯t fly. It used its legs to walk to the back of the mountain and jumped as it moved. Xia Muqing gazed at the figure who jumped high and low in the distance. It resembled Donald Duck. If its father, the giant eagle, witnessed its silly actions, it would probably want a second child. Hold on. It seemed to already have a second child. That thought made Xia Muqingugh out loud. The ck eagle¡¯s joy had also infected Xia Muqing. She decided to cook some delicious food for it tomorrow. The reason why it made a mistake this time was probably because it didn¡¯t eat well during the journey. What a glutton. Speaking of gluttony, Xia Muqing thought of Gungun. It seemed like the beasts around her were all gluttons. It was the same in her previous life. She had developed revolutionary friendships with many animals through food. Xia Muqing refused to admit that she was a glutton herself as well. This time, no one came to disturb her. Xia Muqing had a good sleep. The next morning, a loud scream woke up the entire Xia family. Xia Chuxing stared at the servants lying on the floor, their clothes disheveled. She lowered her head and realized that she was lying on the floor with her clothes disheveled as well. Feeling the soreness and difort in her body, Xia Chuxing knew what had happened to her even without experience. At that moment, she felt dizzy. She had no idea what to do. The door suddenly swung open. Xia Chuxing looked up and felt even more dizzy. Old Master Xia, Madam Ruan, Xia Churan, and the family servants stood at the door. Xia Chuxing couldn¡¯t ept her situation and fainted. The stunned crowd finally reacted. Xia Churan immediately chased all the servants out. However, it was already toote to undo everything. Everyone had witnessed the scene just now. The servants didn¡¯t mention a word, but they discussed among themselves. It was rumored that Miss Xia Muqing was promiscuous, but she only had one man. Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Framed

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Miss Xia Chuxing had instead acted out a scene of a woman being with ten men. There might be more than ten men. Anyway, from the looks of it, there were plenty of people. The servants all shook their heads, feeling embarrassed just thinking about it. It was truly obscene and disgraceful. Old Master Xia was so livid that he wanted to beat Xia Chuxing to death, but he was stopped by Madam Ruan who was crying. Madam Ruan quickly signaled Xia Churan with her eyes, asking her to take Old Master Xia away. Xia Churan doted on her younger sister a lot and nodded at Madam Ruan. However, when she led Old Master Xia out, Xia Churan looked back at the scene in the room and thought that it was a little bizarre. That scene seemed to be what she had prepared for Xia Muqing. Why did it happen to Xia Chuxing this time? Could this be rted to Xia Muqing? She thought about how this had happened the moment Xia Muqing came back today. Although Xia Churan felt that Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t possibly be that capable, she had always been vignt, and her wariness towards Xia Muqing had reached its peak. She could only wait for Xia Chuxing to wake up to find out what had happened. The fury on Old Master Xia¡¯s face was still terrifying. He hadn¡¯t expected the usually obedient and sensible Xia Chuxing to do something like this. Just like Xia Muqing, the shameless wretch. Old Master Xia, who cared the most about his reputation, would never have thought that there was more to this matter. Or perhaps he simply didn¡¯t want to care about what happened. He only knew that Xia Chuxing had lost her virginity and wouldn¡¯t be able to marry a high-ranking official to benefit him in the future. Xia Churan obviously knew what Old Master Xia was thinking. She listened to him and didn¡¯t mention her suspicion. Old Master Xia stared intently at Xia Churan. This was the first time Xia Churan felt such an intense gaze from Old Master Xia. ¡°Churan, don¡¯t disappoint me again.¡± With that, Old Master Xia flicked his sleeves and strode forward. Xia Churan stayed where she was and didn¡¯t take Old Master Xia¡¯s words to heart. She had the same wish as Old Master Xia. She wanted to marry a powerful high-ranking official. She wasn¡¯t sad that Old Master Xia was using her. They used each other and benefited each other. She turned around and went to look for Madam Ruan. Xia Chuxing had already been moved back to her own courtyard. Madam Ruan was raging at the servants in the courtyard. Seeing Xia Churan enter, she quickly went up to her. ¡°What did your father say?¡± Xia Churan shook her head and didn¡¯t mention that Old Master Xia had given up on Xia Chuxing. Madam Ruan was already furious enough. It was better not to bother her now. Even if Xia Churan didn¡¯t mention it, how could Madam Ruan, who had been married to Old Master Xia for more than thirty years, not know his temper? Thinking of Xia Chuxing¡¯s fate in the future, she couldn¡¯t help but tremble. Xia Churan quickly helped her to a chair. ¡°Why would Chuxing do such a thing? Someone must have framed her.¡± Since Madam Ruan was able to let Old Master Xia dote on her for decades, she naturally had her capability. ¡°Xia Muqing?¡± Madam Ruan lowered her head and pondered for a while. Suddenly, she raised her head. She could see more clearly than Xia Churan. It must be Xia Muqing¡¯s revenge. She had underestimated her all these years. Indeed, how weak could that woman¡¯s daughter be? ¡°Is Xia Muqing really that capable?¡± Xia Churan had also suspected her, but she didn¡¯t want to believe that she was that capable. To be able to frame Xia Chuxing to this extent right under their noses. Madam Ruan patted Xia Churan¡¯s hand and gritted her teeth when she thought of Xia Muqing¡¯s mother. ¡°Come to think of it, after all these years, we¡¯ve all been fooled by that wretched girl. That¡¯s true. How could that woman¡¯s child be so weak?¡± Xia Churan wanted to ask more about Xia Muqing¡¯s mother, as she was still young at that time, and she didn¡¯t know much about what had happened. Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Golden Scaled Fish Worth Ten Thousand Gold

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios However, seeing that Madam Ruan remained tight-lipped, she didn¡¯t insist. The servants in the room were taken away by Old Master Xia. He naturally killed them all. And so, other than waiting for Xia Chuxing to wake up, they had no other way of knowing what happened. Xia Chuxing was in a state ofa-like sleep. She struggled and cried in her sleep, feeling very agitated. Xia Chuxing¡¯s behavior made Madam Ruan and Xia Churan¡¯s hearts ache. Old Master Xia returned to the study and was evidently still in a rage. Analyzing Xia Chuxing¡¯s incident once again, he also knew that there was something fishy about this matter. Thinking of Xia Muqing who had just returned, Old Master Xia summoned his personal guard and instructed him to investigate what Xia Muqing had been up to. At this moment, Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t paying attention to the Xia family¡¯s situation. After exacting revenge on Xia Chuxing, she forgot all about her. Right now, she was instructing the ck eagle to catch chickens in the mountain. As for her, she had prepared a huge spear to catch fish in the river. The fish in the river were all precious species, and it was obvious that they had been well taken care of by people. The fish weren¡¯t afraid of humans at all and Xia Muqing managed to catch a fish with every aim. The fish had probably never thought that their fate would be to be eaten eventually. After preparing the ingredients, Xia Muqing started to grill. She skillfully set up the grill. The ck eagle stayed with Xia Muqing, watching the chicken and fish on the grill and Xia Muqing. Its eyes were overflowing with emotions. It made Xia Muqing¡¯s hair stand. She asked warily, ¡°You want to eat me too?¡± The ck eagle answered seriously, ¡°Sister, I think you¡¯re a feast for the eyes.¡± Xia Muqing felt a little helpless. Where did the ck eagle learn this from? Without waiting for Xia Muqing to ask, the ck eagle chuckled shyly. ¡°Am I very smart? I learned this phrase from the people who came to the back mountain to fight.¡± ¡°Fight?¡± Xia Muqing asked curiously. After the ck eagle¡¯s exnation, Xia Muqing fell silent. ¡°I was certain I didn¡¯t let them discover me. I¡¯ve been secretly observing them.¡± The ck eagle promised repeatedly. It felt even more wrong to hide in the dark and peek. Looking at the innocent ck eagle, Xia Muqing felt that it was better not to taint it. ¡°Yes, you did very well, but if you see a man and a woman hugging¡­ fighting each other again in the future¡­ don¡¯t peek anymore.¡± Xia Muqing thought about it and decided to advise the ck eagle subtly. The ck eagle didn¡¯t quite understand, but it still nodded. Coincidentally, the meat was fully cooked at the same time. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t bring up the topic anymore. The human and beast started on the feast. Someone suddenly barged into the courtyard, and the person walking right in front was the angry Old Master Xia. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t stop chewing. She could guess the reasons why Old Master Xia was here, but she didn¡¯t know exactly why. ¡°Unfilial girl, you¡ª¡± Old Master Xia started to chide her. Before he could finish speaking, he saw the fish in Xia Muqing¡¯s mouth and his eyes almost popped out. ¡°That is a Golden Scaled Fish. One is worth ten thousand gold. You, you, you¡­¡± When he saw that Xia Muqing had five skewered fish on the grill, his heart ached and he clenched his chest. The ck eagle had hidden itself before they came, so Old Master Xia didn¡¯t see it at all. He knew that one woman wouldn¡¯t be able to eat so much. When he realized what was going on, he was even angrier. She can¡¯t eat a single one of them. ¡°How dare you stay in the Xia family¡¯s ancestral garden? Do you want to be the ancestor of the Xia family? Get out now!¡± Xia Muqing smiled casually. She didn¡¯t care about Old Master Xia¡¯s rage at all. ¡°So this is my ancestor¡¯s garden. It¡¯s quitefortable here, so I¡¯ll stay here for now.¡± Xia Muqing even turned around to survey the surroundings, looking very satisfied. ¡°Hmph! Go and throw this rebellious girl out!¡± Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Old Master Xia¡¯s Shock

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Old Master Xia regained hisposure and looked at Xia Muqing as if he was looking at a dead person. But this daughter was still useful. Looking at Xia Muqing¡¯s extraordinarily beautiful face, Old Master Xia was deep in thought. This face must not be ruined. The servants beside Old Master Xia went forward to grab Xia Muqing. Before they could even get close, they had already copsed to the ground. It was unknown if they were still alive. When Old Master Xia saw this scene, he didn¡¯t go forward to check it out like the foolish Xia Chuxing. Instead, he took a step back. He stared at Xia Muqing in shock. He never knew that she had such skills. Old Master Xia waved his hand to test her. A few men in ck appeared out of nowhere. They were Old Master Xia¡¯s secret guards. Xia Muqing looked at the guards in front of her and a hint of interest shed across her eyes. This time, she didn¡¯t use the powder as she was prepared to fight. Seeing that Xia Muqing was ready to fight, Old Master Xia frowned. Was this daughter really capable or just bluffing? He sent the secret guards a signal. As long as they didn¡¯t hurt her face, there was no need for them to be cautious. The secret guards who received hismand rushed forward. When they came to Xia Muqing, only one of them made a move. The rest of them were still waiting on the spot. This was their pride. Dealing with a woman wouldn¡¯t require all of them to attack together. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t say a word about their contempt. This was her first timepeting with a human, and she wanted to see how skilled she was in this world. A person who was chosen by the Xia family as a secret guard, should be quite skilled. The guard who was fighting Xia Muqing felt a chill down his spine. The first attack had already reached Xia Muqing. The guard, who had prepared to finish her off with one deadly attack, looked extremely rxed. That move was enough to let Xia Muqing know that this secret guard was no match for her. After knowing the result, Xia Muqing lost interest. She casually blocked the guard¡¯s fist and with a twist of her body, she dislocated his arm. He had gone through all kinds of torture and training before he became a secret guard. Hence, he didn¡¯t cry out in pain. He just couldn¡¯t ept this oue. He stared nkly at Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing chuckled. ¡°Young Master, you¡¯ll lose your head if you¡¯re in a daze during thepetition.¡± With that said, she kicked him. Before the guard could react, Xia Muqing kicked him towards the other guards. No one had expected this oue. ¡°All of you,e at me together.¡± Xia Muqing beckoned to the guards. Without Old Master Xia¡¯s instructions, the secret guards could only attack together. This time, they didn¡¯t have any intention of underestimating her. They all used their full strength and skills. This fight made Xia Muqing a little excited. After defeating all the guards, she shouted excitedly, ¡°Again!¡± The bodyguards covered their wounds and stared at Xia Muqing speechlessly. She was treating them as her sparring partners! ¡°Stop.¡± Old Master Xia¡¯s voice suddenly sounded. The guards instantly stopped feeling the pain from their wounds and quickly disappeared before Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing retracted her fighting spirit in disappointment. It felt good to finally fight. She looked at Old Master Xia and waited for him to continue. No matter what he said, she would never move out. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to greet your father?¡± The anger on Old Master Xia¡¯s face disappeared, and he looked kind and amiable. Even when he was lecturing Xia Muqing, he looked pained. Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows. What was Old Master Xia up to? ¡°I remember you told me not to call you, Father.¡± Of the three daughters, only Xia Muqing was forbidden to call him Father.. This was also the pain in ¡®Xia Muqing¡±s heart. Chapter 41 - Prince Yus Concubine

Chapter 41: Prince Yu¡¯s Concubine

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Old Master Xia¡¯s expression darkened and he looked at her with malice in his eyes. Xia Muqing sat back down and continued cooking the grilled fish. Old Master Xia took two steps forward when he remembered what happened to the guards earlier on. He froze on the spot. He flicked his sleeves and left. Once he left, the ck eagle scurried out from the darkness and stood guard beside the grill, staring at the fish on it. Xia Muqing tapped and chided it with a chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re useless.¡± While they were having fun, Old Master Xia wasn¡¯t in a good mood. He marched towards Ruan Yu¡¯s courtyard. When Ruan Yu heard that the old master had arrived, she was so surprised that she instructed a maid to help her to doll herself up. Scrutinizing her reflection in the mirror, she frowned and asked, ¡°Xiaotao, I think there are more wrinkles around my eyes recently.¡± The servant, Xiaotao, didn¡¯t stop moving her hands. She said with a smile, ¡°No, Madam you¡¯re still charming. I¡¯m envious of your skin. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have attracted Old Master toe here every day.¡± Ruan Yu chided, ¡°You really are bold.¡± However, there was satisfaction in her eyes. Thus Xiaotao wasn¡¯t afraid. She grinned as she styled her mistress¡¯ hair. Touching her hair gently, Ruan Yu said with a smile, ¡°Your skills are still the best.¡± Saying so, she took out a silver hairpin and handed it to her. ¡°This is for you.¡± Xiaotao was naturally grateful. Hearing sounds at the door, Ruan Yu held the hem of her dress and hastily strode to the door. Seeing that Old Master Xia had entered, Ruan Yu rose and approached him. Before she could say a word, she was pped across the face. The way she approached him was as if she was asking for a beating. Ruan Yu fell to the ground in a panic, looking confused. The servants in the room didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. Only then did Old Master Xia feel that he had vented his anger. Ruan Yu snapped back to reality and said with an embarrassed expression, ¡°Master, I don¡¯t know what I have done wrong to deserve this treatment.¡± Old Master Xia wasn¡¯t guilty as he replied coldly, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault as a mother that Chuxing has be so shameless. The Xia family can¡¯t tolerate such a shameless daughter.¡± Gritting her teeth, Ruan Yu could only swallow her anger and stand up. She covered the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief and sobbed. ¡°Old Master, you know that Chuxing has always been obedient and sensible. This incident is definitely not her intention.¡± Old Master Xia frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ruan Yu inched closer to him. Knowing his temperament, she reached out and gently stroked his chest. Seeing that he didn¡¯t reject her, she knew that he had softened. She said meaningfully, ¡°The Xia family has always been fine, but ever since Xia Muqing came back, so much has happened. I think¡­¡± Old Master Xia asked, ¡°You suspect that Xia Muqing did it?¡± Ruan Yu waved her hands pretentiously and answered, ¡°I don¡¯t dare to.¡± Old Master Xia was deep in thought. He sighed and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with that girl. I can¡¯t do anything to her as well.¡± She didn¡¯t care if she was scolded, and no one could beat her up now. It was really a headache. Ruan Yu finally understood why he was so angry. It turned out that he had lost to Xia Muqing and he was using her as a punching bag. She silently cursed Old Master Xia for being useless while bearing a grudge against Xia Muqing. However, she smiled coquettishly and probed, ¡°I heard that Prince Yu wants to take in a concubine recently. This is a good opportunity to curry favor with Prince Yu.¡± Old Master Xia paused and he was tempted by the idea. She hesitated. ¡°Although Prince Yu is a prince, he¡¯s already more than fifty years old. More than ten of his wives have died in session. I¡¯m afraid thatss won¡¯t agree either.¡± Ruan Yu continued, ¡°Thatss should contribute to the family. If she marries Prince Yu, it will be considered that our family is connected to the emperor¡¯s family.. It¡¯s her honor.¡± Chapter 42 - The Matchmakers Arrival

Chapter 42: The Matchmaker¡¯s Arrival

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Old Master Xia thought about Xia Muqing¡¯s face that resembled her mother¡¯s. She had one of the most beautiful faces in the entire city. Should he really offer her to Prince Yu? To him, his daughters were just bargaining chips waiting to fetch a high price. Ruan Yu expounded, ¡°Thest time I interacted with a nanny at Prince Yu¡¯s residence, she said that as long as the woman can satisfy Prince Yu, there will be an opening for a first-rank minister¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, Old Master Xia had already understood her. A burning desire shed across his eyes. He had been serving as a second-rank minister for many years. He had long wanted to move up the ranks, but he had never had the opportunity. If this transaction were to seed, it would be worth it. With a smile, he put his arm around Ruan Yu¡¯s waist and said, ¡°You¡¯re the most thoughtful.¡± Ruan Yu returned with a smile. The two of them cuddled for a while. After Old Master Xia left, Ruan Yu stopped smiling. The residual pain on her face twisted her expression. Beside her, Xiaotao stumbled back in fear. The madam had always appeared gentle and kind. Only the people around her knew how ruthless she was. Ruan Yu looked at her and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the silver hairpin from earlier?¡± Xiao Tao trembled as she handed it to her. Ruan Yu took it and stabbed it into Xiaotao¡¯s body. A wail immediately sounded in the room. Xia Muqing had no idea that she was being schemed against at that moment. After having their fill, she urged the ck eagle to return to the back of the mountain. She leaped onto the roof andy on itfortably, staring up at the moon as she thought about her other life. She had no idea how sad her teacher and seniors would be after she died. The next day, the Xia residence was bustling with noise as a joyous-looking woman entered. Themotion startled even Xia Muqing, who was in her courtyard. She found it odd and quietly left the room, avoiding everyone. She then made her way to the most bustling ce. The hall. Old Master Xia sat at the head of the table, while Ruan Yu sat on the right. A middle-aged woman sat on the other side. The woman had a huge smile on her face, and there was a ck mole at the corner of her mouth. She smiled brightly as she said, ¡°Old Master Xia is really brilliant. I guarantee that as long as your daughter enters Prince Yu¡¯s estate, she will be eating delicacies every day. She will enjoy wealth and status in the prince¡¯s estate. Prince Yu is also very doting. There are many good days ahead.¡± The matchmaker really knew how to twist the facts. Xia Muqingy on the roof and took in the entire situation inside. She had some impression of Prince Yu as well. He was an old man who had killed more than ten wives in a row. All his wives had died extremely tragic deaths. He really knew how to ¡®dote¡¯ on people. His love hurt like hell and death. However, the couple put on a show with the matchmaker and pretended to be clueless. With a grateful expression, Ruan Yu said, ¡°His daughter is blessed.¡± When the matchmaker heard her reply, her smile deepened. ¡°I wonder if you¡¯re preparing to marry your daughter? Is it the eldest or the second daughter?¡± Ruan Yu¡¯s smile didn¡¯t change. ¡°It¡¯s the third daughter, Xia Muqing.¡± Her words shocked the matchmaker and even Xia Muqing was stunned. Just now, Xia Muqing had thought that Ruan Yu was really vicious. She wouldn¡¯t even spare her own daughter. It turned out that she was the one who had been implicated. The matchmaker hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that won¡¯t do. Our Prince Yu likes beauties.¡± She gave them a signal secretly. Everyone knew that the third daughter of the Xia family was ugly and yet, they still dared to send her to Prince Yu? Did the Xia family really want to die? Ruan Yu smiled and said, ¡°You are unaware, but our Muqing is very beautiful now. Prince Yu will definitely be satisfied.¡± The matchmaker was a little startled. ¡°I have to take a look, or I¡¯ll be worried.¡± If she really sent an ugly girl to Prince Yu, she wouldn¡¯t be able to keep her life. Chapter 43 - An Ugly Woman Descends From Heaven

Chapter 43: An Ugly Woman Descends From Heaven

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Old Master Xia, who had been silent all this time, suddenly interjected, ¡°Thene with us to take a look.¡± The three of them stood up and strode towards Xia Muqing¡¯s courtyard. Hearing that, Xia Muqing quickly returned to the courtyard. With an impish smile, she recalled the makeup that had shocked her in the beginning. She then painted herself with something that she couldn¡¯t even bear to look at herself. She had just finished painting when the three of them arrived. Old Master Xia was still feeling fearful. He didn¡¯t dare to barge in this time and only ordered a servant to enter. After the servant entered, he ran out in a hurry with panic written all over his face. His face looked as white as if there was a ghost chasing after him. The few of them didn¡¯t understand why, but they understood when they saw Xia Muqing walking out. The matchmaker covered her chest and looked as if she was shocked. She pointed at Xia Muqing and asked, ¡°Is that your definition of pretty?¡± After saying that, her expression darkened and she stormed off. Old Master Xia growled angrily, ¡°What are you doing!¡± Ruan Yu also gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Muqing, you¡¯re not behaving like a youngdy.¡± Xia Muqing grinned. Her face, which looked like a ghost, was even more disgusting. She asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t this the makeup you¡¯ve been asking me to put on every day?¡± Ruan Yu couldn¡¯t utter a retort. The two of them stormed off angrily. She had ruined everything today. Xia Muqing slowly removed her makeup. Before removing her makeup, she nced at her reflection in the water and closed her eyes. She was really too ugly! After staying with the Xia family for a few days, Xia Muqing went out as she was feeling bored. This time, she didn¡¯t wear a mask. Anyway, Xia Muqing had paint and makeup on her face previously, so no one could recognize her original appearance. She passed by a teahouse and overheard a storyteller telling a story. She then walked in. Little did she expect that someone had caught a good look at her. Sitting in the restaurant opposite was an old man with a feminine appearance. His lustful narrow eyes were fixated on the spot Xia Muqing had just stood. He asked, ¡°Which family is that beauty from?¡± The servant had also seen the beautiful face that disappeared in a sh. He frowned and pondered for a while. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen this person in the capital city.¡± That man¡¯s expression didn¡¯t reveal any emotions. ¡°Do you know what to do?¡± The servant nodded. He had done this sort of thing too often. He knew what his master meant without needing to exin. After Xia Muqing listened for a while, she left after paying the bill. She passed by a noticeboard and stopped. On it was a notice that King Zhennan had offered a fortune to seek medical help. King Zhennan was the warrior god of the country. He was supposed to be deeply loved and respected by his countrymen for protecting his country. But because of his cruel personality, he was loved and hated by everyone and known as the King of Hell. After Xia Muqing took another nce, she stopped paying attention to it. She returned to the Xia residence. When she reached the entrance, she felt that something was amiss and so, she turned around. When she didn¡¯t see anyone around, she walked in. When the people at the entrance saw her, they all called her Third Young Mistress. The man who followed Xia Muqing watched as she entered the Xia residence. After knowing that she was the third daughter, he slipped away. At Prince Yu¡¯s residence. A servant bowed his head and reported to Prince Yu, ¡°She is the third daughter of the Xia family.¡± The Xia family? King Yu was deep in thought. They didn¡¯t pay much attention to the third daughter of the Xia family, who was reportedly an ugly girl. The servant noticed his expression and went to make arrangements. The exclusive imperial matchmaker from Prince Yu¡¯s residence was summoned to the residence. That¡¯s right, the matchmaker was exclusive. Because he had married too many women, he decided to hire a permanent matchmaker. For such a major client, the matchmaker was naturally always avable. That servant became much more arrogant towards the matchmaker. ¡°Prince Yu has taken a liking to the young mistress of the Xia family.¡± The matchmaker was shocked. Last time, the Xia family had caused such a hugemotion and she was still angry. She didn¡¯t expect Prince Yu to be thinking about their daughter. She immediately asked, ¡°May I know which young mistress does he fancy?¡± The servant answered, ¡°The third young mistress of the Xia family.¡± Chapter 44 - Prince Yus Unique and Intense Taste

Chapter 44: Prince Yu¡¯s Unique and Intense Taste

The matchmaker¡¯s expression stiffened in disbelief. She wanted to say something, but the servant had already left. The corners of her mouth twitched when she recalled how unforgettable the third daughter of the Xia family was, despite their brief meeting. Did Prince Yu have such a unique and intense taste? She sighed. Anyway, it was the prince¡¯s wish. Anyway, thedy was someone whom Prince Yu had his eyes on. Since it didn¡¯t concern her, the matchmaker headed to the Xia family. When she arrived at the Xia residence, she announced with a smile, ¡°Congrattions, both of you! Good news for you.¡± Old Master Xia and Ruan Yu stared at her in puzzlement, not understanding what had happened. The matchmaker smiled brightly. ¡°I¡¯ve already settled the matter of you wanting to marry your daughter to Prince Yu.¡± She didn¡¯t mention about the previous time she had a falling out with them, and simply stated the oue. Old Master Xia frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t you¡ª¡± ¡°Eh, what happenedst time? Old Master Xia, this is a rare opportunity. As long as Third Young Mistress enters Prince Yu¡¯s residence, will you still need to fret about the benefits thate along?¡± The few of them smiled slyly. And so, the matter was decided. The matchmaker settled the matter and quickly returned to Prince Yu¡¯s residence. Prince Yu smiled in satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯re still as efficient as before. This is expected of the number one matchmaker in the capital.¡± The matchmaker smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s all because of your fame. When I said that it was you, they immediately agreed.¡± Prince Yu¡¯s smile grew wider. He waved his hand and got someone to deliver the reward. Greed shed across the matchmaker¡¯s eyes as she thanked him profusely before she left the residence. Once she left, the smile on King Yu¡¯s face disappeared. Then, a strange expression appeared on his face. He quickly walked to the back of the cab in the study and pushed it open. There was a secret door behind it. As he proceeded inside, his expression grew more excited. And in the end, he began to tremble. The room behind the secret door was filled with all sorts of weird tools. There were traces of blood on them, and it made one tremble with fear. A hint of fire shed across King Yu¡¯s eyes. He touched these torture devices as if he was touching a treasure. In the Xia residence, Old Master Xia was feeling ted and so, he stayed in Ruan Yu¡¯s room for lunch. The family of four enjoyed themselves. Old Master Xia didn¡¯t feel any anger or hatred when he saw Xia Chuxing. Although he remained indifferent, he still allowed her to sit. Xia Chuxing sat down looking aggrieved, and she didn¡¯t dare to utter a sound. Xia Churan eased the tension and asked with a smile, ¡°Father, is there anything you¡¯re happy about?¡± Old Master Xia was still very satisfied with her. He nodded with a smile and said, ¡°Your third sister is going to marry and enter Prince Yu¡¯s residence. In the future, our Xia family will officially be connected to the royal family.¡± Xia Chuxing eximed, ¡°Xia Muqing is going to marry Prince Yu?!¡± Old Master Xia gave an aloof grunt. At this moment, Xia Chuxing didn¡¯t mind his aloofness at all and was immersed in joy and satisfaction. Xia Muqing¡­ to think that she would have such a day. The smile on Xia Churan¡¯s face gradually grew wider, and she exchanged a nce with Ruan Yu. She quickly tried to cheer Old Master Xia up. After Xia Chuxing came out of Ruan Yu¡¯s courtyard, she rushed to Xia Muqing¡¯s courtyard excitedly. When she arrived at the dpidated courtyard, she remembered that Xia Muqing didn¡¯t live here anymore. She turned around and walked towards the little courtyard in the depths of the Xia residence. As soon as she entered, jealousy shed across her eyes. This was the best courtyard in the Xia family, yet Xia Muqing was staying here. However, when she thought of her miserable life in the future, the injustice in her heart subsided. Xia Muqing studied the strange smile on Xia Chuxing¡¯s face and she felt nervous. She asked, ¡°What do you want?¡± Xia Chuxing, who snapped back to reality, was startled to see Xia Muqing standing so close to her. Then she looked at her face again. There was no longer jealousy as she said with contempt. ¡°Sister, your face is really beautiful!¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t speak and waited for her to continue. Indeed, she added, ¡°Even Prince Yu is attracted to you.¡± Xia Muqing frowned. Didn¡¯t that matchmaker of Prince Yu¡¯s, already left because of her fright? Chapter 45 - Engagement

Chapter 45: Engagement

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing asked, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Xia Chuxing¡¯s eyes were filled with malice. She said, ¡°You¡¯re about to be married to Prince Yu. You should wait quietly during this period of time.¡± She even burst outughing. Xia Muqing raised her hand slightly and threw something into her mouth. Xia Chuxing felt as if her neck was being pinched. She suddenly stoppedughing and kept digging her throat. Unable to vomit out anything, she hissed angrily, ¡°What did you feed me?¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s expression suddenly turned odd and she said mysteriously, ¡°It¡¯s a type of poisonous insect. It will devour your internal organs every day, starting from your liver and finally your heart. After eating the internal organs, you will be an empty shell. It will hatch eggs in your body and slowly, more worms wille out from your eyes, mouth, and nose¡­¡± She dragged her words deliberately, creating an eerie atmosphere. Xia Chuxing screamed in horror and tried her best to vomit, but it was useless. Looking at the terrifying expression on Xia Muqing¡¯s face, she stumbled and fled. She even tripped halfway and fell into a puddle of mud. Without even daring to turn around, she got up and fled. Xia Muqing put away the night pearl in her hand. The light on her face disappeared and her expression returned to normal. She sneered softly in disdain. How dare she provoke her with herck of guts? However, when she thought of Prince Yu, she realized that the matter was really troublesome. No matter how arrogant she was, she knew her limits. It was impossible for her to challenge a prince alone, unless¡­ The ck eagle pped its wings and approached her with a few chickens in its mouth. Xia Muqing scolded it. ¡°All you know is to eat. Do you know that I¡¯m in trouble?¡± ¡°You still have the mood to eat at a time like this?¡± ¡°You still want to eat roasted chicken? It¡¯s so troublesome. Would I still be in the mood to roast meat for you?¡± The ck eagle looked at Xia Muqing in confusion as it nced at the roasted chicken on the grill. Xia Muqing said with a straight expression, ¡°I only have the energy to think of a solution after I¡¯m full. I¡¯m different from you.¡± After Xia Muqing had her fill, she really thought of a solution. Her eyes narrowed and she grinned. If not for her good-looking face, that expression of hers would be really lewd. Xia Muqing patted the ck eagle¡¯s head and said, ¡°If I don¡¯te back tonight, go look for me.¡± The ck eagle nodded. Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t worried that it wouldn¡¯t be able to find her. Beasts had their own method of locating humans. After giving instructions, she tidied up the courtyard and prepared to escape. Clearly, the Xia family had also thought of this, and the number of guards patrolling the entrance had increased noticeably. Xia Muqing curled her lips in disdain. They just don¡¯t learn their lesson. How could these losers stop her? Old Master Xia was also aware, but he was only doing that to console himself. They had already secretly poisoned Xia Muqing¡¯s food. The poison would drain her of all energy. When the time came, they would send her directly to Prince Yu¡¯s residence. Who knew that Xia Muqing didn¡¯t give them the opportunity to do so. She rushed with purpose to the signboard on the street. That¡¯s right, her intention was to take the notice and enter King Zhennan¡¯s residence. She had never thought of fleeing. After all, she had promised to avenge this body, and she naturally wouldn¡¯t go back on her word. King Zhennan¡¯s residence was not only a means to escape from the prince, but also an opportunity to overthrow the Xia family in the future. What she had to do now was to turn King Zhennan into a weapon in her hands. Xia Muqing stood in front of the signboard and reached out swiftly. The notice from King Zhennan¡¯s residence was in her hand. Her action was arrogant and domineering. Gasps sounded from the surroundings. Xia Muqing looked at the crowd in confusion. Even if she looked very confident, the reaction shouldn¡¯t be that overwhelming. The people all looked at her as if she was a fool. The notice had been put up for a long time, but no one had dared to take it. It was because King Zhennan had promised to give the physician who cured his illness ten thousand taels of gold.. If he couldn¡¯t, then he shall die. Chapter 46 - Ripping the Notice on the Street

Chapter 46: Ripping the Notice on the Street

¡°Little girl, you can¡¯t take this notice.¡± An olddy looked at her with pity. A fine youngdy was going to lose her life for no reason. Xia Muqing noticed that their expressions were surprisingly consistent and her interest was piqued. She asked, ¡°Has no one ever removed this notice?¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions had already turned to pity. From their voices, Xia Muqing finally understood the perverse terms of King Zhennan¡¯s residence. She felt that he was worthy of being the famous God of War. However, she wasn¡¯t worried at all. Before long, a group of soldiers arrived with murderous intent. One could tell that they had been to the battlefield before. The leader looked at Xia Muqing and frowned, but he didn¡¯t say a word. He asked formally, ¡°Are you the person who took the notice?¡± Xia Muqing nodded. That man gestured for her to enter. At King Zhennan¡¯s manor. It could be a gut feeling, but the stone lions at the entrance of King Zhennan¡¯s residence carried a murderous aura. They entered the residence. Xia Muqing was brought to a hall. The decor was simple and luxurious, revealing the distinguished status of the master. After waiting for a while, a man in a wheelchair was pushed in. Even if he could no longer walk, he still carried an imposing aura. The moment he entered, the entire atmosphere froze. All the soldiers took a step back and bowed. Their actions were uniformed. This was the respect that was carved into their bones they had for the man. Xia Muqing looked up and her expression stiffened when she saw the familiar mask. Wasn¡¯t he the man whom she had stolen from when she first came to this world? She was still wearing paint and makeup at that time, so he shouldn¡¯t recognize her now. With that in mind, she felt relieved. Ye Qingxuan looked at Xia Muqing and suddenly sneered coldly. It was as if a hunter had finally discovered a prey that had escaped. An aloof voice sounded. ¡°Are you the physician who wants to treat me?¡± He emphasized the word ¡®physician¡¯. Xia Muqing felt that something wasn¡¯t right. She smiled and said, ¡°Yes, but I still need to prepare some items.¡± Ye Qingxuan nced askew at her and asked, ¡°What do you need?¡± Xia Muqing quickly rattled off a list of items. After she finished, she didn¡¯t even know what she had said. Ye Qingxuan nodded along and instructed his men to prepare. His eyes were filled with a glint that looked as though a cat was chasing a mouse. Of course, Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t really preparing to treat him. This man had evidently recognized her at first nce. She took advantage of the fact that the surrounding soldiers had been transferred away and she slowly retreated. She had just reached the door. Ye Qingxuan opened his eyes slowly and drawled, ¡°Where are you going, Physician Xia?¡± Xia Muqing quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯ll go get my medical box. I think I left it at home.¡± She let out augh and ran out quickly. She had just praised herself when she was surrounded by soldiers, before she even reached the entrance of the residence. She cursed silently at the number of soldiers in the manor. The sound of a wheelchair rolling was heard and Xia Muqing didn¡¯t dare to turn around. Ye Qingxuan smiled and said, ¡°Physician Xia, just tell me what you need. Why do you have to trouble yourself?¡± The more polite he was, the more uneasy Xia Muqing felt. Swallowing hard, she could only nod her head in resignation. Before long, the men had gathered the items that Xia Muqing had requested. ¡°Come here.¡± Ye Qingxuan¡¯smand made Xia Muqing feel as if she was sending herself to death. Swallowing hard, she said, ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± He raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°Physician Xia, aren¡¯t you going to treat me? But how do you treat me if you don¡¯te to me?¡± He added, ¡°Or do you want to say something else to me, Miss Xia?¡± Xia Muqing quickly said, ¡°Let¡¯s start the treatment.¡± Knowing that she absolutely couldn¡¯t bring up that matter, she marched to Ye Qingxuan with a stiff expression and took his pulse. Ye Qingxuan snorted softly and didn¡¯t reject her. However, the coldness in his eyes made Xia Muqing subconsciously tense up. Chapter 47 - Removal of Poison Using Acupuncture

Chapter 47: Removal of Poison Using Acupuncture

After checking his pulse, she frowned and said, ¡°The poison in your body has been suppressed for too long. It can¡¯t be controlled anymore. If this continues, your legs will be crippled forever.¡± It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. Ye Qingxuan had been poisoned for many years. All the toxins were suppressed in his legs, which resulted in him being crippled. But now, the toxins could no longer be suppressed. They were showing signs of spreading in his body. Ye Qingxuan wasn¡¯t surprised. He had known about this long ago. Looking at the items on the table, she asked, ¡°Physician Xia, I wonder what your n is to use these items to treat my illness?¡± Xia Muqing looked at the variety of strange items which included a chopping knife. She was speechless. When she was rattling off the names of these items just now, she only wanted to escape and didn¡¯t care about what she had said. She coughed lightly and said, ¡°These things will be used in the future. I just need to do acupuncture for your treatment now.¡± It was obvious that she was lying, but Ye Qingxuan didn¡¯t expose her. At this moment, Xia Muqing had already regained herposure. She was too flustered earlier on. Now, she understood that she had her greatest weapon. She had the ability to cure Ye Qingxuan, so he wouldn¡¯t kill her because of that. He might even be able to help her. She became even moreposed at the thought of it. She said, ¡°Your Highness, please move into the room. Acupuncture requires a quiet space.¡± With that said, she gestured at the soldiers around her. Ye Qingxuan acted as if he was fully cooperating with her. When only the two of them were left in the room, he said calmly, ¡°Miss Xia, shouldn¡¯t you exin something else to me?¡± With that, he grabbed Xia Muqing¡¯s arm and pulled her forcefully. Before Xia Muqing could react, she was already kneeling on the ground and her neck was grabbed by him. With this move, she knew that this man was unfathomable. Even if he was in a wheelchair, she was no match for him. He didn¡¯t exert much force and only used enough force to prevent Xia Muqing from escaping. Xia Muqing smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°It was an emergency at that time. I was also framed.¡± Clearly, she didn¡¯t get his approval. Because his hand had started to squeeze her neck. Xia Muqing quickly added, ¡°On the ount that I will be able to cure you, shall we forget about our feud?¡± Ye Qingxuan snorted and let go of her before sitting up again. Xia Muqing heaved a sigh of relief. She touched her neck and said carefully, ¡°Your Highness, I need to pull up your pants before I can do the acupuncture.¡± Seeing that he didn¡¯t object, Xia Muqing finally began. Only after seeing his calves did she realize that she had underestimated the severity of the toxins in his body. His entire calves had turned ckish-purple. Purple blood could be seen flowing through the bulging veins. Even his bones showed signs of being corroded by the poison. She nced at him in surprise. Patients in this situation would suffer intense pain every second. The mistake she had made during her diagnosis just now, wasrgely misled by his calm appearance. Clearing her mind, she reached out and touched the muscles of Ye Qingxuan¡¯s calves. After being immersed in the toxins for a long time, his legs felt soft as if there were no muscles or bones. After taking out the silver needles, she warned him, ¡°It will hurt a little when I insert the needles. Bear with it.¡± Ye Qingxuan closed his eyes and remained silent. Xia Muqing took a deep breath and began to insert the needles. As the number of silver needles increased, Ye Qingxuan¡¯s face turned pale andrge drops of perspiration kept dripping down his forehead. However, he didn¡¯t utter a sound. Xia Muqing started to admire him. The muscles and bones of both his legs had been damaged to this extent, and the usual pain he endured was enough to kill an adult. The pain after the injection had been maximized, and it was at least five times worse than the usual pain. Chapter 48 - Xia Muqing is Different

Chapter 48: Xia Muqing is Different

Xia Muqing quickly took out a ginseng from the items that the soldiers had prepared. The knife amongst the items came in handy, as she sliced the ginseng and put them into Ye Qingxuan¡¯s mouth. He pressed his lips tightly and refused to open them. Xia Muqing could only shout in his ear, ¡°Open your mouth or you¡¯ll die from the pain.¡± This was all she could do. People who were in extreme pain would weaken their five senses to numb themselves. After saying that, Ye Qingxuan finally relented. After sessfully putting the ginseng slices inside his mouth, Xia Muqing heaved a sigh of relief. She sat beside him and waited for the acupuncture to end. This was the first time Xia Muqing had seen such a potent poison. She carefully observed the changes in his legs. The blood that was congealing on the ck and purple legs flowed faster and faster. Purple blood had covered and spread across both of his legs. After a long time, one could faintly see red blood flowing. Xia Muqing was relieved. This meant that her treatment was working. His poison was not incurable. As the proportion of red blood increased, the purple blood had already been forced to his ankles. Because of the blood beingpressed together, the color became darker, and it went from purple to ck. Xia Muqing quickly removed the silver needles. Before the blood flowed back, she slit his ankles. Purple blood flowed out continuously, and the color of his calves returned to its normal color. Ye Qingxuan was in a semi-conscious state. Sensing danger, he grabbed Xia Muqing¡¯s hand. She couldn¡¯t pull herself out of his arms, and she could only lean towards his ear and yell again, ¡°Let go of me quickly. I¡¯m Xia Muqing. I¡¯m treating you right now.¡± Ye Qingxuan swallowed but he didn¡¯t let go of her. Xia Muqing could only continue to yell. Ye Qingxuan was tortured by the pain until his head became dizzy. He couldn¡¯t feel anything. Suddenly, a voice sounded in his ear. It was a familiar voice with an anxious tone. Instinctively, he let go. Xia Muqing struggled free and quickly pressed a few acupuncture points on his legs. The bleeding gradually stopped after the wound was opened. She wrapped the wounds quickly and waited for Ye Qingxuan to wake up. He woke up earlier than Xia Muqing had expected. Ye Qingxuan had just opened his eyes and he wasn¡¯t even confused. He nced at Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing quickly said, ¡°You¡¯re awake. Try moving your legs.¡± Ye Qingxuan moved slightly and a hint of surprise shed across his eyes. He looked at his legs, which had regained their color. Xia Muqing was really something. She was very different from the weak fragile girl in the information he had received. A glint shed across his lowered eyes. Xia Muqing asked nervously, ¡°Can you move around a little?¡± Ye Qingxuan shook his head and said, ¡°The pain is already much lighter.¡± It had been a long time since he felt rxed after being tormented by pain all year round. Xia Muqing nodded and said, ¡°I only helped you to detoxify a little of the poison just now. Your legs are still very far away fromplete detoxification. Your legs will still return to their original state tomorrow. You need acupuncture every day for a month.¡± An ordinary person would have gone crazy from the pain, much less suffer for a month. Ye Qingxuan only nodded calmly. A sly glint shed across Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes. ¡°So I need to stay in your residence for the time being.¡± Ye Qingxuan didn¡¯t mind her motive and grunted coldly in agreement. This time, Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t afraid at all. She snorted and added swiftly, ¡°I have another pet who will stay with me too.¡± Ye Qingxuan looked straight at her and sneered. Xia Muqing shrunk her neck and mumbled aggrievedly, ¡°I am moving to your manor to help you to detoxify the poison. Without me, my pet has no one to feed it. It won¡¯t survive without someone to feed it.¡± Ye Qingxuan massaged his eyebrows and interrupted her chatter. ¡°Prince Yu.¡± Chapter 49 - The Black Eagle Wreaked Havoc in the Kings Manor

Chapter 49: The ck Eagle Wreaked Havoc in the King¡¯s Manor

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios So he knew. Xia Muqingughed obsequiously and said, ¡°If I marry Prince Yu, how will I be able to cure you?¡± Ye Qingxuan was much more satisfied with her fawning. He nodded in agreement. Xia Muqing widened her eyes in surprise and smiled brightly. Her smile blinded Ye Qingxuan, and before he reacted, Xia Muqing wiped off her smile. At night, the ck eagle who was sneaking around the Xia residence didn¡¯t see Xia Muqing return. So it followed her scent. It raised its head to the sky and screeched. It spread its wings and flew in the direction of King Zhennan¡¯s residence. As soon as it left, screams could be heard in the Xia residence. All the women¡¯s closets had been rummaged through, and some private underclothes were exposed. Everyone gathered together to investigate and to find the pervert who was so bold enough tomit such crimes in broad daylight. The culprit, who was the ck eagle,nded on the roof of the king¡¯s residence. It craned its neck and peered down. Since it couldn¡¯t find Xia Muqing, it searched the rooms one by one. It skillfully lifted the roof tiles and looked down. Since it couldn¡¯t spot her, it went to the next one. After checking a few rooms, it saw a cloud of fog rising the next time it opened a tile. The steam kept rising. The ck eagle was a little curious. After it slowly got used to the hot steam, it saw a woman sitting in a bathtub. It couldn¡¯t see the woman¡¯s face clearly because of the angle, but the woman¡¯s bare shoulders and her gentle eyes could be glimpsed. She was sshing herself with water. A drop of saliva slowly flowed out of the ck eagle¡¯s slightly opened mouth. Saliva flowed down in a straight line. It dangled in the air. The ck eagle had also noticed this and wanted to wipe off its saliva with its wings. However, the salivanded on the woman¡¯s head. The woman sensed that something was amiss. She looked up and saw a pair of bronze eyes. A shriek rang from the room. It had alerted the patrolling soldiers outside, but they didn¡¯t dare to enter and stood at the door. The woman quickly put on her clothes and shouted, ¡°There¡¯s someone on the roof.¡± The soldiers looked up. The ck eagle, who was also shocked by the shriek just now, rolled down from the roof. Itnded in the middle of the soldiers. With its thick skin, it was naturally fine. It rolled around and got up. When it realized that there were so many people in the courtyard, it knew that something had gone wrong. It still remembered that Xia Muqing had abandoned it because it met humans previously. An idea struck it, and it shielded its eyes with its wings. That way, it wouldn¡¯t be able to see any humans. The soldiers raised their spears and aimed at it. Seeing its strange behavior, they all froze in ce. After a while, the head of the soldiers poked it with his spear tentatively. The ck eagle hissed and pped its wings. The soldiers took a step back and misunderstood that it had gone mad. A huge battle was about to begin. Themotion was too loud and Xia Muqing could hear it. When she overheard the soldiers mentioning that there was a huge ck eagle, she knew that something was wrong and hurriedly followed them. The courtyard was already in chaos. The ck eagle ran around the courtyard, kicking up dust wherever it went. When Ye Qingxuan arrived, he saw the soldiers in a mess andmanded coldly, ¡°All of you, retreat.¡± Everyone instantly retracted their weapons and retreated in an orderly fashion, forming a circle. Seeing that no one was poking it, the ck eagle stopped as well. Xia Muqing had also rushed to the scene. The ck eagle cried out in grievance and scrambled to Xia Muqing. Ye Qingxuan also looked over and waited for Xia Muqing to exin. Xia Muqing was about to speak when she saw a woman rushing out. She ran to Ye Qingxuan and cried, ¡°Your Highness, that eagle peeped at me while I was bathing!¡± The air went still for a moment. Xia Muqing¡¯s face darkened.. She suddenly didn¡¯t want to acknowledge this lustful eagle. Chapter 50 - The Black Eagle Wreaked Havoc in the Kings Manor (Part 2)

Chapter 50: The ck Eagle Wreaked Havoc in the King¡¯s Manor (Part 2)

The ck eagle let out a long cry. Only Xia Muqing understood what it meant. ¡°I¡¯m here to look for you. Since I couldn¡¯t find you, I can only look for you one room at a time.¡± Its tone was filled with grievance. Xia Muqingughed dryly and exined, ¡°This is the pet I told you about. It¡¯s here to look for me.¡± Ye Qingxuan was a little surprised. He didn¡¯t expect this woman to have such a pet. Then, heughed mockingly and answered ambiguously, ¡°It¡¯s really like the kind of pet a master like you will have.¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s expression darkened and she red at the ck eagle. She returned to the room and lectured the ck eagle. If it did this kind of thing again, she wouldn¡¯t go and get it. The ck eagle cried out in grievance. The residence of King Zhennan was muchrger than the Xia family. Xia Muqing chose a room with a courtyard. This way, the ck eagle wouldn¡¯t have to hide anymore. Ye Qingxuan returned to his room and shouted into the air. A ck shadow suddenly appeared beside him and knelt down. Ye Qingxuan said with a grim expression, ¡°Go and investigate what Xia Muqing has been up to recently. You must collect detailed information.¡± The ck shadow nodded and disappeared again. The ck eagle was an Azure Cloud Eagle. Others might not recognize it, but he wouldn¡¯t make a mistake about it. The Azure Cloud Eagles only lived in the depths of the Sunset Mountains and they lived in groups. How did Xia Muqing manage to make an Azure Cloud Eagle acknowledge her as its master? This woman was not simple. Ye Qingxuan seemed to be indulging her on the surface, but in reality, he was testing her to see if she could be of use to him. Xia Muqing had her own ulterior motive as well. The human and eagle officially moved into King Zhennan¡¯s manor. The next day, the Xia family discovered that Xia Muqing had disappeared, and they began to search the entire province. The next day, Xia Muqing performed acupuncture on Ye Qingxuan as usual. After his first experience, he only frowned this time. After the acupuncture, she touched Ye Qingxuan¡¯s gradually hardening calves muscles. The moment she touched them, Ye Qingxuan, who had just woken up, grabbed her wrist. Xia Muqing said, ¡°I¡¯m just checking on the treatment. Do you have to be so cautious of me?¡± Ye Qingxuan let go of her and snorted. ¡°Someone has a criminal record.¡± Xia Muqing was furious and retorted angrily, ¡°I had a reason back then. I would have done the same if it was another person. Can a grown man not be so petty?¡± Ye Qingxuan clearly turned cold. Although his face was pale, it couldn¡¯t hide the domineering aura emitting from his body. Xia Muqing pursed her lips and didn¡¯t say a word. However, an idea was forming. She rolled her eyes and said, ¡°You have to take medicine to stabilize your illness starting from today. I¡¯ll give you a prescriptionter.¡± Ye Qingxuan nodded. A cunning glint sparkled in Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes. She swiftly wrote a prescription and got the servants to prepare it. At this time, Ye Qingxuan had already recovered his strength. He pushed the wheelchair to the table and slowly poured himself a cup of tea. In less than fifteen minutes, the servants brought the medicine that had been prepared. Xia Muqing sat down calmly, but her eyes were fixated on Ye Qingxuan. Ye Qingxuan didn¡¯t suspect a thing and drank the medicine. He spat out the moment the medicine entered his mouth. His expression was a little twisted, which was a rare sight. A grin shed across Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes and she couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth and cough softly. Ye Qingxuan looked at her with malice in his eyes. If he still had no idea that Xia Muqing was doing this on purpose, he would be a fool. He ced the bowl of medicine on the table forcefully and said coldly, ¡°Change the prescription.¡± Xia Muqing eximed with an exaggerated expression, ¡°How can that do? Your Highness, good medicine is bitter. This is the best medicine for your illness.¡± She added, ¡°Could it be that the mighty King Zhennan is actually afraid of taking medicine?¡± Ye Qingxuan looked at her coldly, but Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t afraid at all and responded with a smile. Chapter 51 - Chinese Goldthread Added 51 Chinese Goldthread Added She said, "Your Highness, you should drink the medicine as told." Ye Qingxuan sneered. "Why don''t you drink it with me, Physician Xia?" Xia Muqing''s expression stiffened. There was so much Chinese Goldthread added in the medicine that she couldn''t even take a sip. She said, "I''m not sick, why would I drink medicine?" Ye Qingxuan said calmly, "Of course I need a person to test the poison in the food that I eat." Seeing the seriousness in his eyes, Xia Muqing abruptly changed her tone. "Although good medicine is bitter, as a physician, I still have to listen to the patient''s suggestion. I''ll change the prescription again, haha." She chuckled dryly before getting his approval in the form of a grunt. Xia Muqing gritted her teeth silently. However, she had already taken her revenge just now. She remainedposed and quickly wrote a new prescription. After staying in the manor for a few days, Xia Muqing felt that it was boring. So she informed the housekeeper and left the manor. Ye Qingxuan didn''t forbid her, so she managed to head out. The housekeeper even handed her a bag of silver, iming that it was arranged by King Zhennan. Xia Muqing weighed the silver in her hand and raised her eyebrows in satisfaction. What was Ye Qingxuan up to? She looked ttered and overjoyed. This scene was also reported to Ye Qingxuan. Ye Qingxuan smiled mysteriously. He didn''t believe that the woman would be easily bought by a bag of silver. Xia Muqing left the manor and rushed to the most famous teahouse in the capital. Indeed, she didn''te out today for no reason. She had been missing for so many days, and the Xia family should have made their move too. After walking for a while, she realized that someone was following her. She stopped in her tracks and a secondter, walked forward as if nothing had happened. Needless to guess, it was definitely someone from King Zhennan''s manor. Ye Qingxuan might look approachable and easy-going, but that was only because she was useful to him now. Once she lost her value, her ending would definitely not be good. She knew that well and so, she was even more anxious to destroy the Xia family. Xia Muqing walked into Xuanming Teahouse and saw a bustling crowd the moment she entered. There was no empty seat at all. A waiter came up to wee her and asked, "Miss, are you going to the main hall or the tea room on the second floor?" Xia Muqing: "The tea room on the second floor." The waiter ced the white cloth on his shoulder and shouted, "Sure! One in the tea room on the second floor!" With him leading the way, Xia Muqing sat down beside the window. She beckoned to the waiter who was about to leave and asked, "Has anything major happened in the capital recently?" After saying that, she took out an ingot of silver and ced it on the table. The waiter took the silver and touched it with his hand. The smile on his face deepened, and his mouth was about to split open. She said, "Miss, you''re asking the right person. I don''t im to know every single thing that happened in the capital, but I know most of it." Xia Muqing waited for the waiter to continue. He didn''t keep her in suspense. After praising himself for a while, he continued, "Recently, the most important thing that happened in the capital city is that the daughter of a minister outside the city has eloped with someone. And the son of the Cao family was killed." The waiter noticed that she wasn''t interested and so he continued. "And the marriage between the daughter of the Xia family and Prince Yu¡­" Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows. The waiter paused before continuing, "I don''t know what went wrong with Prince Yu, but he fancies the third daughter of the Xia family. She is famous for being ugly in the capital citya€|" Xia Muqing raised her hand to stop him from continuing. "Did the Xia family agree?" A look of disdain shed across the waiter''s eyes. "In the beginning, the Xia family was the one who initiated the marriage. Everyone in the city knows that marrying their daughter to Prince Yu is equivalent to sending their daughter to death. The Xia family is really willing to sacrifice their daughter to be rted to the royal family." Chapter 52 - Arranged Marriage With Prince Yu

Chapter 52: Arranged Marriage With Prince Yu

Xia Muqing¡¯s expression was cold. Everyone in the capital knew about that, yet they still went ahead. If the person in this body today wasn¡¯t her and was still the same girl, what would happen to her? Perhaps she would never have made it till this day. She picked up the teacup and took a sip, signaling the waiter to continue. The waiter continued, ¡°However, everyone in the capital has been talking about how the third daughter of the Xia family ran away. The Xia family is looking for her everywhere.¡± He thought for a moment and added, ¡°Prince Yu and the Xia family are about to hold the wedding. I wonder if they can find her before that happens.¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s expression remained unchanged as she gestured for the waiter to leave. Her attention had drifted to the people discussing downstairs. From where she was sitting, she could hear the conversations downstairs. She came here today to gather information about the capital city. After all, the ces where news traveled freely and swiftly would definitely be teahouses and restaurants. A voice downstairs caught her attention. ¡°There¡¯s news of the birth of a spirit treasure in the Sunset Mountains again?¡± That man looked like a young schr. When he mentioned spirit treasure, the zing greed in the eyes ruined his noble temperament. He was asking a man who was dressed in a set of ck martial arts clothing. The man¡¯s expression was aloof and his eyes were filled with arrogance. He merely nodded at his question. The young schr¡¯s voice attracted the attention of the people around them. Many people asked, ¡°Young Master, what is the spirit treasure you were talking about?¡± The young schr looked at everyone and said, ¡°Everyone knows about the countless heavenly treasures in the Sunset Mountains. This spirit treasure is a rare treasure that only appears once in a century. The spirit treasure that appeared this time is the legendary Soul Returning Pearl.¡± Soul Returning Pearl¡­ Xia Muqing chanted the name in her heart, wondering what it was. Someone had already asked on her behalf, ¡°Young Master, what is the Soul Returning Pearl?¡± The young man expounded, ¡°As the name implies, it¡¯s used to repair the soul. ording to legend, it possesses the effect of resurrecting the dead and reviving flesh and bones. However, the birth of such a precious treasure is at the middle and depths of the mountain. Ordinary people won¡¯t have a chance¡­¡± There was a hint of smugness in his tone. However, the Soul Returning Pearl remained in Xia Muqing¡¯s mind. Thinking of Gungun who was still in aa, she had to take a look at the Soul Returning Pearl. After showing off his knowledge, the young man wanted to say something, but the man in ck interrupted him. ¡°Have some tea.¡± A cup of tea was flung over andnded steadily in front of the young man. The teacup was filled and it didn¡¯t spill a single drop at all. It was obvious how skilled this person was. The young man nced at him unhappily, but he still sat down obediently. Everyone stopped asking questions. The young man quickly stood up to leave. Xia Muqing also stood up and was about to follow that man to extract more information from him. Just as she reached the entrance, she bumped into Xia Chuxing. When Xia Chuxing saw her, she was first furious and then surprised. She shouted, ¡°Xia Muqing, you¡¯re actually hiding here? Let¡¯s go back to the Xia residence with me!¡± With that, she reached out to pull her. Xia Muqing pped her hand away and took a step back to put some distance between them. ¡°What if I don¡¯t go back?¡± Xia Chuxing¡¯s expression became livid. ¡°Do you know that we¡¯ve been looking for you and we almost went crazy? If you don¡¯t go to Prince Yu¡¯s residence at the right time, you¡¯ll ruin the entire Xia family. Do you know that?¡± Xia Muqing thought she had heard a huge joke and she couldn¡¯t help butugh. Then, her expression turned cold. ¡°All of you deserve it.¡± ¡°Do you know who is the one who wants to destroy the Xia family the most?¡± Confusion appeared in Xia Chuxing¡¯s eyes. Xia Muqing suddenly approached and whispered into her ear, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± The hatred in her tone made Xia Chuxing stumble a step back. She muttered, ¡°You¡¯re the daughter of the Xia family, so you should help us.¡± Xia Muqing drawled, ¡°Then you can marry Prince Yu.¡± Fear shed across Xia Chuxing¡¯s eyes and she shook her head subconsciously. Chapter 53 - Human-shaped Fortune Cat

Chapter 53: Human-shaped Fortune Cat

Xia Muqing sneered and was about to walk around Xia Chuxing. When Xia Chuxing finally reacted, embarrassment shed across her eyes. She wanted to pull Xia Muqing again as she raised her voice. ¡°No, you have to go back with me today.¡± Xia Muqing waved her hand, and white powdernded on Xia Chuxing¡¯s body. Xia Chuxing¡¯s hand was raised high in mid-air and she couldn¡¯t move. Her pose looked as though she was a waiter beckoning customers. Xia Muqing beckoned for a waiter and said, ¡°This is the second young mistress of the Xia family, Xia Chuxing. She wants to recruit business for your teahouse. Ignore her.¡± She then said to the servants behind Xia Chuxing, ¡°All of you had better not touch her within six hours. Otherwise, she will die from bleeding all over her body. Don¡¯t me me for not warning you.¡± The servants were shocked by her words and quickly took a step back to maintain a safe distance from Xia Chuxing. Xia Chuxing could only move her eyes as she stared intently at Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing smiled at her and waved goodbye in high spirits. When she went out, the two men had disappeared. Xia Muqing had no choice but to return to the King Zhennan¡¯s residence in disappointment. As soon as she returned to the residence, she was summoned by Ye Qingxuan¡¯s men. It was time for the acupuncture treatment. Walking to his bedroom, she heard a delicate cry. The voice was a little familiar. Thinking back carefully, it was the voice of the woman who was bathing in the room that the ck eagle had seen that day. She stood awkwardly on the spot, wondering if she should enter. The guards at the doorpletely ignored her awkwardness and opened the door, gesturing for her to enter. Since they were all so open, Xia Muqing walked in without a change in expression. Before entering, she was worried if she would see any passionate scenes. After entering, she realized that she had misunderstood. Ye Qingxuan sat in a wheelchair, holding a teacup in his hand. No one knew what he was thinking. The beauty sat on a stool beside him and¡­ was counting the tea leaves for him. She had cried out because her hand had been poked by the tea leaves. A strange glint shed across Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes when she saw that. A beauty who was as beautiful as a flower, was right in front of him, and he actually made her count the tea leaves. Could there be something wrong with Ye Qingxuan? Could the poison have worsened the other parts of his body? Ye Qingxuan didn¡¯t understand the meaning behind her gaze, but he knew that it wasn¡¯t anything good. Who knew what this woman was up to again. He raised his hand to signal the woman to leave. The woman bowed unwillingly and walked past Xia Muqing, deliberately bumping into her. Xia Muqing naturally wouldn¡¯t let her have her way. She moved her body slightly and the woman fell to the ground. The woman red at Xia Muqing angrily and turned to Ye Qingxuan. She whined, ¡°Your Highness! Why is this sister so unruly?¡± She had assumed that Xia Muqing was a woman who wanted to marry into the royal residence. Ye Qingxuan had no intention of interfering and surveyed Xia Muqing with interest. Xia Muqing licked her lips and asked in confusion, ¡°Who¡¯s your sister?¡± At this moment, the woman had already been helped up by the servants. She nced at Xia Muqing gracefully and said, ¡°If you enter the king¡¯s manor in the future, you¡¯ll be ranked behind me. If you¡¯re not a sister, what are you?¡± Xia Muqing looked at Ye Qingxuan and conveyed a message with her eyes.?¡®Take care of your own woman.¡¯ Ye Qingxuan shrugged his shoulders, expressing his helplessness. Xia Muqing snorted coldly. ¡°I¡¯ll leave Your Highness to youdies. I don¡¯t have the fortune to enjoy it. I can¡¯t shoulder the responsibility if I identally knocked into such a precious gem.¡± Ye Qingxuan¡¯s expression darkened. The woman was a little stunned. She didn¡¯t believe that Xia Muqing would dare to speak like that. Xia Muqing¡¯s evilness was piqued. She reached out and hooked the woman¡¯s chin. She moved her red lips and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The woman was a little confused and replied, ¡°Tian Meng.¡± Chapter 54 - The Woman in the Kings Manor

Chapter 54: The Woman in the King¡¯s Manor

Xia Muqing moved closer to her and smiled evilly. She spoke in a flirtatious manner. ¡°What a lovely name. Just like you, your name is sweet. I¡¯ll have sweet dreams tonight.¡± Her words made Tian Meng blush and her heart raced. Her face was flushed. Xia Muqing felt that she was much more adorable this way, and the smile in her eyes became more sincere. She said, ¡°All right, go out. I¡¯ll look for you again.¡± Tian Meng didn¡¯t even look at Ye Qingxuan who was behind her. She bowed obediently and left. Ye Qingxuan stared intently at Xia Muqing and sneered. ¡°Physician Xia, you¡¯re so charming. You even seduced my concubine.¡± Xia Muqing grinned and replied, ¡°No, I¡¯m not. There is merely aparison.¡± Ye Qingxuan¡¯s expression turned even uglier. Xia Muqing was delighted that he wasn¡¯t feeling good. She took a few steps closer to him and said, ¡°Let¡¯s start the acupuncture.¡± Once Xia Muqing began working, her expression became serious. After a few injections, Ye Qingxuan had already gotten used to the pain. He gazed at Xia Muqing, who was inches away from him, with a deep expression. Xia Muqing pretended not to notice his gaze and focused on her treatment. She knew that Ye Qingxuan must be secretly investigating her changes. But if she didn¡¯t have a different skill, with Ye Qingxuan¡¯s personality, the day after he was cured would probably be the day she died. Therefore, she had to find a second bargaining chip that Ye Qingxuan had to keep her alive before the toxins in his body were cleared. After the acupuncture waspleted, Xia Muqing picked up the knife again and slit his ankles. By now, his ankles were already in a terrible state. His ankles were slit every day, and the injuries would heal and the cycle continued. However, Ye Qingxuan remained silent. Xia Muqing was also very wary of his temperament. After that, she reminded him to take his medicine on time and she stood up to leave as usual. Ye Qingxuan grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. Xia Muqing was caught off-guard and moreover, she couldn¡¯t fight his strength. So she sat on hisp. She wasn¡¯t in a hurry to get up, because she knew that if he didn¡¯t relinquish his grip, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to break free. She asked calmly, ¡°What do you want?¡± Ye Qingxuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why don¡¯t you behave like a woman at all? Don¡¯t you feel embarrassed?¡± Xia Muqing quipped calmly, ¡°Did you forget that the first time we met?¡± Ye Qingxuan¡¯s expression turned cold and furious as he let go of her. If not for the fact that Xia Muqing was too angry, she would never have mentioned it. She had fervently hoped that he would forget about it. Xia Muqing stood up and massaged her slightly red wrist. She continued fearlessly, ¡°Don¡¯t use this ruse on me. I prefer money or jewelry to you, because you¡¯re not my type.¡± With that, she strode off. Ye Qingxuan, who was left behind, didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, he was mulling over what she meant by ¡®not her type¡¯. Xia Muqing had just returned to her room when she was dazzled by the boxes of rewards that followed closely behind her. A group of soldiers carried a box each, with a total of threerge boxes neatly ced in the courtyard. Xia Muqing opened a box to see a chest of gold, silver and jewelry. Her expression shifted slightly. That fellow was really¡­ determined to bribe her. This also meant that her recent actions had paid off. She epted them without hesitation. The ck eagle had been fooling around for the entire day. When it saw Xia Muqing, it pounced on her. Xia Muqing quickly dodged it. If it really pounced on her, she would probably fall to the ground. The ck eagle stood aside looking sorrowful, as it looked at Xia Muqing pitifully. Xia Muqing waved her hand helplessly and touched the feathers on its head. The ck eagle made a soft screening sound from herfortable touch. Xia Muqing paused as she really wanted to ask. Was it really an eagle or the Azure Cloud Eagle? It¡¯s not a cat. Afterforting the ck eagle, she said, ¡°ck eagle, take a trip back to the Sunset Mountains.¡± Chapter 55 - Soul Returning Pearl

Chapter 55: Soul Returning Pearl

The ck eagle thought that Xia Muqing didn¡¯t want it anymore, and it clung to her arm nervously. Xia Muqing also knew that it was afraid. After all, in order to restrain its behavior, she had never stopped talking about abandoning it. She rubbed it guiltily and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t abandon you. I just want you to do me a favor. Go to the mountains and investigate the news of the Soul Returning Pearl¡¯s birth.¡± Only then did the ck eagle nod with relief. It spread its wings and soared into the sky. Xia Muqing entered the room and nced at the little fox wrapped in the cotton cloth. It was still so small and its eyes were tightly shut. She stroked its head with concern in her eyes. She wondered if it was dangerous for it to continue sleeping like this. She became even more anxious about the news of the Soul Returning Pearl. Sighing, she walked out of the room and saw Tian Meng marching into the courtyard with her servants. Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows but she didn¡¯t leave her room. She leaned against the door and shouted, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Tian Meng the beauty? Why are you here to look for me?¡± Tian Meng blushed at her unruly behavior. She red at her angrily and snapped, ¡°Why did His Highnessvish you with so many rewards?¡± She studied the three huge boxes on the ground with jealousy zing in her eyes. Xia Muqing chuckled and asked, ¡°How did you know?¡± Tian Meng was stunned and replied honestly, ¡°Lady Tie told me.¡± Xia Muqing asked, ¡°Who is Lady Tie?¡± Tian Meng replied, ¡°She¡¯s His Highness¡¯ concubine.¡± After a round of questioning, Tian Meng frowned and said, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me about other stuff. Are you interested in His Highness?¡± Xia Muqing walked straight to a box, picked up a hairpin inside and asked, ¡°Do you like it?¡± Tian Meng took it that she was showing off. She turned her face and said arrogantly, ¡°I¡¯m the eldest daughter of the Tian family. What have I not seen before?¡± Xia Muqing inserted the hairpin into her hair and praised, ¡°Very pretty.¡± Tian Meng¡¯s face turned crimson. Seeing that the admiration in Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes was sincere, she was even more helpless. She stammered, ¡°His Highness is mine. Don¡¯t even think about snatching him from me.¡± With that said, she fled with the servants. Xia Muqing looked at the departing figure and chuckled gently. What a cute girl. Looking at the boxes on the ground, Xia Muqing beckoned for the soldiers guarding the courtyard and instructed them. The soldiers who had just witnessed everything had a strange expression on their faces. They looked at the boxes on the ground, then at Xia Muqing as she returned to her room. They then carried the boxes away as instructed. With everyone in the entire King¡¯s residence eyeing them, they arrived at Tian Meng¡¯s room. They put down the boxes on the ground. When they saw Tian Meng walking out, one of them announced, ¡°These are the jewels that Physician Xia has gifted to Concubine Tian Meng. Physician Xia wants me to pass a message to you.¡± His expression changed while his good-looking face flushed red, and he seemed to be unable to speak. Tian Meng looked at the soldier curiously, which made the soldier even more nervous. Swallowing his saliva, he said, ¡°Physician Xia said that Miss Tian Meng is the most adorable girl she has ever met. Beautiful jewels should be matched with beauties.¡± With that, he looked at the shyness appearing on Tian Meng¡¯s face. The soldier had a strange feeling that their king had been cuckolded. And he was cuckolded by a woman. The most important thing was that the jewels were given by their king. The soldiers marched off weakly. The news quickly spread throughout the entire manor. Especially the promation, which was passed on from one to another. Those who didn¡¯t know the details would think that Physician Xia was a man. Everyone was waiting for their king¡¯s response. But there was dead silence on his side. Tian Meng looked at the boxes in the courtyard. She was embarrassed and angry, but at the same time she was also a little overjoyed. It wasn¡¯t because she had any feelings for Xia Muqing, but because this was the first time she had been praised by a woman. With a snort, she pretended to be arrogant. ¡°It¡¯s such an eyesore. Put the boxes in the storeroom.¡± The servants around her were all from the Tian family, and they naturally knew her temper. Chapter 56 - Snatching His Highness Woman

Chapter 56: Snatching His Highness¡¯ Woman

If their young mistress really didn¡¯t like it, with her temper, she would simply throw it away. Why would she keep it in the storeroom? Tian Meng contemted for a while and stopped the servants. She instructed, ¡°Forget it. Send them to my room. I want to see if that woman has ced anything inside that she shouldn¡¯t have.¡± The servants suppressed theirughter and turned to send the boxes to her room. Closing the door, Tian Meng opened the jewelry box alone. The Tian family was the number one royal merchant in the country. As the eldest daughter, she had seen everything. However, when she saw these jewels, a hint of joy shed across her eyes. Xia Muqing ignored themotion she caused and returned to her room to rest. Recently, it had been very taxing on her to treat Ye Qingxuan every day. Over on the other side, Xia Chuxing stood at Xuanming Teahouse for a full six hours before she was carried back by the servants. It was too embarrassing for a young mistress to be lifted into a carriage. She had no idea if Xia Muqing had nned it, but as soon as she arrived at the Xia residence, she regained control of her limbs. Her entire body felt like it had been crushed. She couldn¡¯t stand straight at all and was helped back to the room by the servants. Today¡¯s incident had already spread throughout the capital, and Old Master Xia naturally knew about it. When Xia Chuxing returned, Old Master Xia came to find her. Old Master Xia didn¡¯t ask about her and instead chided her angrily. ¡°You¡¯ve really totally disgraced the Xia family. You did such a shameless thing previously and you made a fool of yourself at the teahouse today. How do you expect me to show my face?¡± One just had to think about it to know how badly he would be mocked at the morning court assembly tomorrow, especially by his arch-enemies. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He red at Xia Chuxing as if he wanted to devour her. Xia Chuxing leaned back in fear and quickly said, ¡°No, it¡ªit was that Xia Muqing who set me up. She drugged me and that¡¯s why I did such a thing.¡± As if she had found a straw to clutch at, Xia Chuxing exaggerated what had happened after she met Xia Muqing today. Old Master Xia didn¡¯t look as angry as before. He frowned and asked, ¡°You saw Xia Muqing at Xuanming Teahouse today?¡± Xia Chuxing nodded quickly. Old Master Xia came and left in a hurry. Xia Chuxing heaved a sigh of relief but she was even more furious with Xia Muqing. At night, Xia Muqing sneezed a few times after washing up. She rubbed the tip of her nose, which was still itchy. She wondered who hated her so much that they had cursed her for a long time. Early the next morning, an unexpected guest arrived at King Zhennan¡¯s manor. Ye Qingxuan had just returned to his residence after the morning court assembly when he was informed that Xia Jingtian was requesting an audience with him. He nodded and asked someone to let him in. Xia Jingtian had rushed over after the morning court assembly and had yet to change out of his clothes. When he saw Ye Qingxuan, he bowed with cupped hands but his attitude was a little sloppy. If the God of War lost the function of his legs, it would be equivalent to an eagle with broken wings or a ferocious tiger without ws. Ye Qingxuan could naturally tell and asked quietly, ¡°Why are you here, Lord Xia?¡± Xia Jingtian replied, ¡°I heard that my naughty third daughter has been staying in the King¡¯s residence this period. I¡¯ve specially made this trip to bring her back.¡± Ye Qingxuan sent a signal to the men behind him to get Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t surprised to hear that it was Xia Jingtian. After meeting Xia Chuxing yesterday, it would be surprising if she didn¡¯t tell Xia Jingtian about this. She just didn¡¯t expect it to happen so quickly. Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t in a hurry. She slowly tidied up before leaving the courtyard. Xia Jingtian sat uneasily in the chair. Ye Qingxuan drank his tea calmly, having no intention of serving his guest. That was what Xia Muqing saw when she arrived. When Xia Jingtian saw her, his expression clearly rxed. He said with a darkened expression, ¡°This stubborn child, I merely lectured you and you ran here. Come back with me now.¡± Chapter 57 - The Xia Familys Visit

Chapter 57: The Xia Family¡¯s Visit

Xia Muqing smiled and said, ¡°What if I don¡¯t?¡± Xia Jingtian nced at Ye Qingxuan and said, ¡°How can an unmarried woman like you live in the residence of the King Zhennan?¡± Xia Muqing walked to Ye Qingxuan and leaned against him affectionately. ¡°But I¡¯m already His Highness¡¯ woman.¡± Xia Jingtian¡¯s face fell as he surveyed the two of them grimly. Ye Qingxuan didn¡¯t brush her off and even pulled her into his arms. Xia Muqing stiffened before she rxed again and leaned into him as if she had no bones in her body. Xia Jingtian had no choice but to pressure Ye Qingxuan. He said, ¡°King Zhennan, my third daughter has been specifically chosen by Prince Yu.¡± Xia Muqing sighed. The Xia family was really courting death. She felt a pain in her waist when she thought of that. She red at Ye Qingxuan discreetly. She wasn¡¯t the one who said that. Ye Qingxuan nced at the woman calmly in his arms and quipped, ¡°Is that so? Then get Prince Yue and get her himself.¡± He had been keeping a low profile recently. It seemed that many people were getting restless. He narrowed his eyes and his bloodthirsty aura swept towards Xia Jingtian. Xia Jingtian¡¯s face turned pale and his legs trembled unconsciously. Trembling and stammering inaudibly, he forced himself to bow and leave. After he left, Xia Muqing sprang up and walked away from Ye Qingxuan. Ye Qingxuan mocked her softly, ¡°Physician Xia, you really threw me away after using me.¡± Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t embarrassed at all. Her eyes darted around and she took the opportunity to say, ¡°Xia Jingtian doesn¡¯t respect you at all. Shall I teach the Xia family a lesson on your behalf?¡± Ye Qingxuan actually found her fawning amusing. This was the first time he had seen someone who made bullying sound so refined. Without replying to that, he brought up another matter. ¡°I heard that you used my jewelry to please my woman?¡± Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows and grinned. ¡°Since you¡¯ve given it to me, it¡¯s mine. I used my belongings to help you settle your concubine problem. You should praise me instead.¡± ¡°Ha¡ª¡± Heughed because of how shameless she was. Ye Qingxuan closed his eyes and ignored her. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t leave. After a while, she said nervously, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take what I said about the Xia family as consent.¡± Ye Qingxuan¡¯s eyelids twitched, but he remained mum. Xia Muqing quickly added, ¡°I shall take it that you¡¯ve agreed silently. Lend me your power for a while. I¡¯ll get going.¡± She didn¡¯t give him a chance to retort and quickly fled after saying that. Ye Qingxuan opened his eyes and was deep in thought. He finally knew why Xia Muqing had stayed with him. A person with needs, had weaknesses. Only those with weaknesses would be easy to control. Xia Jingtian returned to the Xia residence with an unusually gloomy expression. The servants walked around to avoid him, afraid that he would vent his anger on them. There was one person who did the opposite. Looking at Xia Jingtian, who was walking hastily, Ruan Yu was fully focused on appeasing him. She finally managed to coax him. Xia Jingtian recounted what had happened today angrily. Ruan Yu pondered briefly before saying with a frown, ¡°It¡¯s time to meet with Prince Yu.¡± Prince Yu didn¡¯t n on holding a wedding. Although he was getting a wife, he was actually using a pnquin to bring her into the residence. It was the same treatment for a concubine. Xia Jingtian frowned in frustration. They could no longer regret their decision. Xia Jingtian replied grimly, ¡°If there¡¯s no other way out, send Chuxing over to him. After all, Prince Yu doesn¡¯t care which woman he takes.¡± Startled, Ruan Yu wanted to dissuade him, but was interrupted by a voice at the door. The two of them walked out to take a look. It was Xia Chuxing, who happened to be here. The lunch box she had thrown on the floor because she was in a panic. She looked at Ruan Yu in disbelief. Under such circumstances, Ruan Yu couldn¡¯t refute Xia Jingtian¡¯s request right in front of her, and could only signal to her with her eyes. Chapter 58 - I Wont Marry Him Even If I Die

Chapter 58: I Won¡¯t Marry Him Even If I Die

However, Xia Chuxing had already lost her mind at this point of time. Her mind was filled with Xia Jingtian¡¯s words and Ruan Yu¡¯s indifference. With grievance brimming in her eyes, she wailed, ¡°Father, Mother! Why are you doing this to me!¡± Just as Ruan Yu was about to persuade her, Xia Jingtian interrupted, ¡°Think about what you¡¯ve done recently. How dare you still have the cheek to ask me!¡± Xia Chuxing opened her mouth but couldn¡¯t utter a word. She only said, ¡°Even if I die, I won¡¯t marry Prince Yu!¡± His two daughters had disobeyed Xia Jingtian in one day. He drawled with an icy expression, ¡°Even if you¡¯re to die, I want you to die after you marry Prince Yu.¡± Xia Chuxing shouted loudly, ¡°Father, do you treat me as your daughter? To you, am I only an object that can be exchanged for benefits?¡± Xia Jingtian¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change and he said coldly, ¡°As the daughter of the Xia family, you should be prepared to sacrifice for the family.¡± Xia Jingtian had repeated everything that she had said to Xia Muqing previously. How ironic. Fearing that Xia Chuxing would say something horrible, Ruan Yu quicklymanded her servants to take her away. Someone covered her mouth and dragged her back to her room. Ruan Yu gently rubbed Xia Jingtian¡¯s chest and said, ¡°That child just didn¡¯t think things through¡­¡± Xia Jingtian pped her hand away and hissed, ¡°If anything happens to Xia Chuxing, you don¡¯t have to stay in the Xia family anymore.¡± With that said, he flicked his sleeves and stormed off. Ruan Yu stood in ce, looking at his determined back in disbelief. All these years, she had fought hard and she thought that she had won this man¡¯s heart. In the end, she had nothing. That man only loved himself. Xia Jingtian returned to his study and opened a secretpartment. A secret door slowly appeared behind the bookshelf. He stepped into the dark room. The expression on his face slowly changed, and he looked sorrowful and nostalgic. His strange and twisted expression hung on his face. He stayed there for the entire night. No matter how chaotic the situation in Xia family was right now, Xia Muqing was clueless. She wasn¡¯t bothered either. She was currently thinking about how she should teach the Xia family a lesson. She couldn¡¯t go overboard with this lesson. Otherwise, Ye Qingxuan wouldn¡¯t back her up. She also couldn¡¯t go too easy on them. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be able to vent her anger. That would require careful consideration. Xia Muqing, who was staying at the King¡¯s residence, suddenly received Xia Chuxing¡¯s invitation. She said that she had something important to discuss with her. Xia Muqing sneered and threw it aside. She would be a fool to attend a dangerous trap. Xia Chuxing didn¡¯t expect Xia Muqing not to turn up. She had waited bitterly for an entire day at Yn Inn, but Xia Muqing never appeared. She gnashed her teeth in hatred. A few days ago, Ruan Yu had sought her secretly and analyzed everything with her, but she hadn¡¯t listened to her. There was only one thing she heard. It was to invite Xia Muqing out and let her and Prince Yu consummate their marriage. That way, her marriage to Prince Yu would be set in stone. They had even decided to let Prince Yu take Xia Muqing away. Looking at the letter in her hand, Xia Chuxing was a little relieved. Fortunately, she listened to her mother and waited to send the letter to Prince Yu only when Xia Muqing arrived. Otherwise, she would definitely be in trouble if she didn¡¯t. After returning to the Xia residence, sheined to Ruan Yu angrily. Ruan Yu also didn¡¯t want her daughter to fall into his clutches. She pondered for a while and said, ¡°I have a way to lure Xia Muqing out.¡± Xia Chuxing asked in surprise, ¡°What is that?¡± With a cunning smile, Ruan Yu whispered something into her ear. Xia Chuxing¡¯s expression lit up, and she quickly picked up a pen to write another letter. That night, Xia Muqing received a second letter. The contents had the same intention of asking her out, but the letter had an additional sentence. ¡®If youe, I¡¯ll give you what you want most from your mother.¡¯ Chapter 59 - Dangerous Invitation

Chapter 59: Dangerous Invitation

Xia Muqing frowned and pondered. Finally, she found an image in one of her memories. Two slightly older girls snatched something from a little girl. The little girl was crying miserably, but no one around her helped or intervened. The intensity of her emotions conveyed to Xia Muqing and allowed her to know that this thing was very important to the girl. In that case¡­ On the day that the two of them had agreed to meet, Xia Chuxing sat confidently in a room in the Yn Inn. She was sure that Xia Muqing would definitely turn up. Time passed slowly. There was no sight of her, and Xia Chuxing¡¯s confidence started to waver. She kept ordering people to take a look around the streets. Two hours had passed since their appointment. Xia Muqing hadn¡¯t arrived. Xia Chuxing¡¯s expression had already turned ugly. She felt a little weak. If this couldn¡¯t lure her out, she really had no other way. If she were to be married to King Yu, no¡­ that was impossible. She would never marry him. Just as she was panicking, a servant brought her good news. ¡°Second Young Mistress, Third Young Mistress is already heading here.¡± Surprise shed across Xia Chuxing¡¯s eyes, and she hastily straightened her posture before reciting what Ruan Yu had taught her. She waited for a long time but still, no one came. Xia Chuxing snapped angrily, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that she was here?¡± The servant replied awkwardly, ¡°Third Young Mistress went to the jewelry shop again.¡± Xia Chuxing¡¯s expression stiffened and she stared at the servant in disbelief. The servants kept reporting where Xia Muqing had gone. She went to all the shops along the way, but she didn¡¯t buy anything. Xia Chuxing had already turned numb. She propped herself up with her arms and waited for her toe. In reality, she really wanted to rush over and drag her here. But she couldn¡¯t and didn¡¯t dare to. She finally learned her lesson after suffering losses the previous times. Just as she thought that Xia Muqing wouldn¡¯te, she finally arrived. Xia Muqing acted as if she didn¡¯t notice anything wrong. She sat on a chair and asked, ¡°Second Sister, why are you looking for me?¡± Xia Chuxing couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Third Sister, you¡¯re really early.¡± Unexpectedly, Xia Muqing agreed shamelessly. ¡°The main reason is that it¡¯s getting dark soon. It¡¯s too dangerous for a weak woman like me to go home toote.¡± Xia Chuxing almost spat out a mouthful of blood. She suppressed her anger and said, ¡°Third Sister, the reason I wanted to meet you today is to apologize to you. I was insensible in the past and I came to apologize to you.¡± Xia Muqing replied in surprise, ¡°You finally realized your mistake!¡± Xia Chuxing¡¯s expression stiffened. How could anyone say that? She was still furious and she didn¡¯t expect Xia Muqing to be even more ruthless. ¡°Then tell me, what did you do wrong?¡± Xia Muqing then leaned back on her chair and looked as if she was all ears. Xia Chuxing smiled stiffly and said, ¡°Let¡¯s have a drink first. It can be considered as both of us letting go of our grudges with a smile.¡± Xia Muqing blocked her hand that was offering the wine and said, ¡°How can you drink before you¡¯ve even made yourself clear?¡± Xia Chuxing could only force herself to say. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have snatched your dress when I was young.¡± Xia Muqing nodded and looked at her encouragingly, gesturing for her to continue. Xia Chuxing could only continue, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have hit you. I shouldn¡¯t have made you put on paint and makeup because of my jealousy¡­¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Her mouth was dry from talking and she couldn¡¯t help but take a sip of the wine. Looking at Xia Muqing, who still looked rxed. Feeling increasingly indignant, she said, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Xia Muqing quipped in surprise, ¡°Finally you¡¯re done talking. If you didn¡¯t mention all of these, I wouldn¡¯t have realized that you had done so many bad things.¡± So she had said all that for nothing. Xia Chuxing, who felt suffocated, picked up the cup and drank the wine again. Chapter 60 - Shooting Herself in the Foot

Chapter 60: Shooting Herself in the Foot

Xia Muqing¡¯s gazended on the cup she had picked up, and her smile widened. She said, ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t take it to heart anymore.¡± Xia Chuxing was delighted and quickly offered the other cup. ¡°Let¡¯s drink this wine then. Everything will all be in the past.¡± Xia Muqing stopped her again. Xia Chuxing asked unhappily, ¡°What again this time?¡± Xia Muqing said innocently, ¡°Did you forget why you asked me out this time?¡± Xia Chuxing was a little puzzled. Xia Muqing could only remind her, ¡°My mother¡¯s belonging.¡± Xia Chuxing then took out a jade pendant and handed it to her. Fortunately, she had really brought this out. After Xia Muqing received it, she smiled mysteriously and said, ¡°Thank you for your hospitality today.¡± With that, she got up. Xia Chuxing grabbed her and wanted to stop her from leaving. But she suddenly felt dizzy. She couldn¡¯t even see Xia Muqing clearly. Shaking her head, she felt that something was wrong. Xia Muqing approached her and said, ¡°Enjoy what you¡¯ve prepared for me. I¡¯ve already swapped the cup of wine.¡± Xia Chuxing, who was already in a daze, didn¡¯t quite understand what she meant. She felt weak and she slowly copsed on the table. Xia Muqing watched coldly as she left from the window. Standing on the roof, she snorted at the servants standing guard on the street. Xia Chuxing didn¡¯t expect this either. She was initially afraid that she didn¡¯t want anyone to ruin her n, so she ordered everyone to leave. In the end, she ended up harming herself. At Prince Yu¡¯s residence. Prince Yu looked at the letter in his hand. The name on it was Xia Muqing. She had initiated a meeting with him. Regardless of whether there was a trap or not, Prince Yu went to meet her. Of course, the secret guards around him were enough to ensure his safety. He followed the address in the letter and arrived at the Yn Inn. After entering, he saw the closed door and rubbed his hands with a lewd expression on his face. That fleeting glimpse of herst time had made his heart itch for the past few days. He regretted the dy in making her his. He didn¡¯t expect the third daughter of the Xia family to be so proactive. He opened the door cautiously with his men and saw the sight inside. There was only a woman lying on the table. With a wave of his hand, he got someone to guard the door and entered alone. With a lewd chuckle, he gently flipped the person on the table and said, ¡°Beauty, I¡¯m here.¡± After turning her body over, he realized that something was wrong. This was not the third young mistress he had met back then. However, Xia Chuxing was also quite pretty. Without any hesitation, Prince Yu decided on her. He didn¡¯t even bother to think about why she was unconscious in the room. Even if he knew, he wouldn¡¯t care. It was a waste not to take something that was offered to him. After a night of pleasure, the only thing that displeased Prince Yu was that this woman had been used and was no longer a virgin. In his anger, he tormented Xia Chuxing for a prolonged period, causing her to wake up slowly in the afternoon. A familiar difort spread throughout her body, and she instantly knew what had happened. Memories of the night before she fainted slowly resurfaced. She whirled around in horror and saw Prince Yu¡¯s wrinkled face. A shrill scream escaped from her. Prince Yu pped her impatiently and hissed angrily, ¡°It¡¯s not your first time. Why are you pretending to be innocent?¡± Xia Chuxing bit her lip and didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. Her teary eyes were quite pitiful. Prince Yu chuckled and caressed her face. Xia Chuxing turned her head away in disgust. Thispletely enraged King Yu, and he pped her again. Xia Chuxing¡¯s face swelled up. She was afraid of being hit and didn¡¯t dare to dodge. Only then did Prince Yu smile. ¡°It¡¯s good that you finally know how to be obedient.¡± One morning was enough for Prince Yu to know her identity. Knowing that there were threedies in the Xia family and that all of them were rather pretty, his mind raced wildly. Chapter 61 - Suffering the Consequences of Ones Actions

Chapter 61: Suffering the Consequences of One¡¯s Actions

However, he also knew that with the Xia family¡¯s power in the imperial court, it was impossible for him to monopolize the three daughters. However, since the second daughter offered herself to him, it had nothing to do with him. Prince Yu stood up and left, without any consideration for Xia Chuxing. After Prince Yu departed, Xia Chuxing couldn¡¯t help but sob silently. She had a bad feeling. After returning to the Xia residence, she didn¡¯t dare to tell Ruan Yu the truth. She only said that Xia Muqing had escaped. Ruan Yu was a bit disappointed, but she stillforted Xia Chuxing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll think of some other way.¡± Xia Chuxing nodded quickly. Ruan Yu only assumed that she was disappointed, and didn¡¯t think about anything else. Unexpectedly, because of her hiding the truth, the situation couldn¡¯t be resolved in the future. Xia Muqing returned to King Zhennan¡¯s manor and gazed at the jade pendant in her hand. It was round and shiny, and it felt warm to the touch. Her mother wasn¡¯t from a rich family, and on the contrary, she came from an ordinary family. It was obvious that she wouldn¡¯t possess a jade of this quality. So how did this piece of jadee about? Xia Muqing, who was gazing nkly at the jade in her hand, didn¡¯t notice Ye Qingxuan, who was getting closer. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± His sudden voice caused Xia Muqing to lose her grip on the jade and it fell to the ground and split into two. Neither of them had expected this oue. Ye Qingxuan picked up the two halves of the jade and handed them to her. He raised his eyebrow and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you grab it firmly?¡± Xia Muqing snatched it from him and looked at him angrily. He still had the cheek to ask? If he hadn¡¯t scared her, would she have lost her grip? Ye Qingxuan was taken aback. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to apologize no matter what, and so he said awkwardly in the end. ¡°I¡¯llpensate you.¡± Xia Muqing immediately snapped, ¡°This is the only thing my mother left for me. How are you going topensate me!¡± Ye Qingxuan frowned and turned to push the wheelchair away. Xia Muqing pursed her lips and looked at the jade pendant in her hand, feeling a little awkward. That was the most precious thing to ¡°her¡±. She had ruined it. Sigh! Just as Xia Muqing sighed, she realized that something was amiss. She picked up the jade pendant and observed it carefully. There was something wrong with the broken jade. It seemed as if it had been broken previously, and was pieced back together with some special material. She took a pail of water and soaked the jade pendant inside. Under the reflection of the water, she could clearly tell that the edge of the jade pendant was different from the original color. She tried to press the crack at the edge, and she managed to tear off a soft transparent substance. Before this, it was impossible to tell that this substance was wrapped around the jade pendant. It was enough to reveal how sessful the deception was. She slowly tore off the transparent substance. A brand new jade pendant appeared before her eyes. The jade pendants were broken into two. After tearing off the material outside, they became two jade pendants of the same size. The two jade pendants were a pair and could bebined perfectly. When it wasbined, the jade pendant that was originally half the size of a palm, had now be average-sized. When she looked at the two jade pendants separately, one presented a dragon and the other had a phoenix. After putting them together, it turned into an iprehensible picture. In short, this jade pendant was filled with mystery. It seemed like the mother of this girl wasn¡¯t an ordinary person. Xia Muqing was curious. ¡­ It was time for the Xia family and Prince Yu to meet. Prince Yu couldn¡¯t wait and sent someone to rush them. Xia Jingtian was determined to send Xia Chuxing. Xia Chuxing had been crying in the room, and Ruan Yu had been trying her best to think of a solution. Prince Yu¡¯s men had already arrived at the Xia residence. Even the matchmaker fromst time was waiting for the Xia family to hand her over. Xia Chuxing cried and shouted that she wouldn¡¯t marry him. Her voice made Ruan Yu and Xia Churan¡¯s hearts ache. Ruan Yu was in the front hall trying to stall for time when Xia Churan came to her room. When Xia Chuxing saw her, she hurriedly held her hand and said, ¡°Sister, I don¡¯t want to marry. I don¡¯t want to marry Prince Yu. Help me!¡± Chapter 62 - Marrying Prince Yu

Chapter 62: Marrying Prince Yu

Xia Churan was also in a dilemma. Her father had made up his mind. Seeing her sister¡¯s hesitation, Xia Chuxing felt hatred but she still begged her, ¡°Sister, you¡¯ve been smart since you were young. Help me. I really can¡¯t marry him.¡± Xia Churan could only say, ¡°Prince Yu¡¯s men are already here. Mother is stalling for time. Let¡¯s wait a little longer.¡± Xia Chuxing¡¯s expression fell and she lowered her head, refusing to speak. Xia Jingtian didn¡¯t dare to reject Prince Yu. In the end, Xia Chuxing was stuffed into a small carriage and sent to Prince Yu¡¯s residence. The Xia family waited nervously for the entire night but they didn¡¯t receive any news from Prince Yu. No news was good news at this time. The next day, the Xia family, who had felt relieved, received a message from Prince Yu asking them to bring back the imposter. Xia Jingtian¡¯s face was livid as he paced back and forth in the study. Prince Yu had really gone too far. He didn¡¯t say anything on the night itself, and Xia Chuxing had already stayed in his residence for the entire night before she was being returned. Wasn¡¯t he taking advantage of the Xia family? Prince Yu had clearly stated that he wanted Xia Muqing. The Xia family had sent an imposter who wasn¡¯t a virgin to fool him. They didn¡¯t care about their family¡¯s reputation at all. The matchmaker came to them again. Beside her was a stretcher with a woman lying on it. She was covered with a white cloth. Tears streamed down Ruan Yu¡¯s face as soon as she saw this. Trembling, she lifted the white cloth and revealed Xia Chuxing¡¯s pale face. Ruan Yu hugged her and burst into tears. Xia Jingtian¡¯s eyes lit up when he noticed the small marks scattered all over on her bare skin. An idea struck him. She said, ¡°If Prince Yu doesn¡¯t like my second daughter, he can tell me. Why did he ruin one of my daughters and still hoped to have another?¡± The matchmaker wasn¡¯t flustered at all. There was even a hint of disdain on her face as she said, ¡°Old Master Xia, that¡¯s not right. This second daughter of your family had already arranged a private meeting with our Prince Yu previously, and she wasn¡¯t a virgin at that time. This time, she eagerly stole Third Young Mistress¡¯ ce. Doesn¡¯t this show that she has designs on our Prince Yu since long ago.¡± Xia Jingtian wanted to shout, ¡°Bullshit!¡± but he held himself back. His daughter had fancied Prince Yu, how could she say that? However, what was the private meeting between Xia Chuxing and Prince Yu? Recalling that day, Ruan Yu¡¯s face turned pale. Noticing Ruan Yu¡¯s expression, Xia Jingtian knew that it was true. He closed his eyes andpletely gave up on his daughter. Seeing that Ruan Yu was still crying, he immediately kicked her and yelled, ¡°What are you crying for? Lock her in the firewood room.¡± After a series of ghastly wails, Xia Chuxing was carried away. Prince Yu¡¯s men watched quietly without a word. Their eyes were filled with anticipation for a good show. Xia Jingtian said, ¡°If you want her, go to King Zhennan¡¯s residence. Xia Muqing already belongs to him.¡± Not only did this marriage not benefit him, but it also caused him trouble. Just the thought of it made Xia Jingtian¡¯s heart ache. Hearing King Zhennan¡¯s name, the few of them had a grim expression on their faces. They decided to return and report the situation first. After all, one had to be cautious when it came to that man. The Xia family suddenly fell silent. Everyone held their breaths and acted cautiously. At King Zhennan¡¯s manor. The secret guards assigned to the Xia family reported everything that had happened today to Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows, feeling gleeful. Someone reported that people from Prince Yu¡¯s residence hade to investigate the situation. Xia Muqing brought some servants with her as she took a stroll around the manor. The people from Prince Yu¡¯s residence left when they saw her. The corners of Ye Qingxuan¡¯s mouth twitched when he saw Xia Muqing taking everything for granted despite borrowing the power of his name. However, to his surprise, he didn¡¯t feel annoyed. In fact, he even remained nonchnt. Xia Muqing was also testing Ye Qingxuan¡¯s limits step by step. Looking at Ye Qingxuan sitting in the courtyard, she shed a huge smile and rushed over. Chapter 63 - Ye Qingxuan is Tempted

Chapter 63: Ye Qingxuan is Tempted

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqingplimented him. ¡°Your Highness, you¡¯re still as handsome and outstanding as before. You¡¯re loved by everyone and flowers are blooming around¡ª¡± Ye Qingxuan squeezed her cheeks, forcing her to pout and rendering her speechless. Amusement shed across Ye Qingxuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°That happy?¡± Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t speak, but her pair of twinkling eyes exined everything. Ye Qingxuan let go of her with a disgusted expression and said, ¡°So ugly.¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s smile vanished and she shouted angrily, ¡°Ye Qingxuan!¡± Ye Qingxuan turned around in his wheelchair and grinned. Once he turned around, the anger on Xia Muqing¡¯s face vanished. Her expression turned calm. It wasn¡¯t that she hadn¡¯t noticed Ye Qingxuan¡¯s changestely, but she didn¡¯t need love. Furthermore, in the feudal era, polygamy wasmonly practiced. Xia Muqing returned to her courtyard. Just as she arrived, Ye Qingxuan sent over several boxes of gold, silver, and jewelry. It seemed as if he wanted to quell her anger. Xia Muqing looked at the boxes in the courtyard with aplicated expression. She subconsciously rubbed the dragon and phoenix jade pendant in her hand. Feeling a little bored, Xia Muqing walked out of the courtyard and strolled around the garden. She had just found a quiet ce to rest when she heard amotioning from afar. A sharp female voice sounded. ¡°Don¡¯t you look when you walk?¡± Another female voice which sounded very familiar replied arrogantly, ¡°You knocked into me.¡± That voice belonged to¡­ Tian Meng. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t want to be a busybody, so she remained silent. The first woman spoke again, ¡°Ha! Miss Tian, His Highness didn¡¯t even give you a status, yet you insist on staying in the residence. Do you have any sense of shame!¡± Tian Meng¡¯s voice visibly became softer. ¡°What has it got to do with you?¡± The woman replied smugly, ¡°I¡¯m the only woman His Highness has. Of course it concerns me.¡± Tian Meng quipped ¡°You won¡¯t be very soon. Don¡¯t you know how much His Highness liked Physician Xia recently? It¡¯s a matter of time before he takes her in.¡± The innocent Xia Muqing, who was implicated, looked a little embarrassed. Where did these rumorse from? Tian Meng rattled on about how well His Highness has treated Xia Muqing. The other woman was livid. She yelled angrily, ¡°That¡¯s impossible! His Highness was merely confused for a moment. He loves me the most.¡± With that, she stormed off. Xia Muqing could still hear the woman screaming that she was looking for her. She silently retreated further. However, when she looked up, she saw Tian Meng¡¯s curious eyes. Xia Muqing was startled and her expression stiffened. She recalled what Tian Meng had just said and she felt angry again. Thatss had really gotten her into trouble. Tian Meng asked, ¡°Sister, what are you doing here?¡± A few days ago, Tian Meng said that she was the younger sister. Today, she had changed her mind. Xia Muqing asked helplessly, ¡°Where did you hear that from?¡± Tian Meng knew that she had overheard their conversation. She stuck out her tongue and said cutely, ¡°I could see it for myself. I was just trying to intimidate her. Sister, you have no idea how annoying Lady Tie is.¡± Hearing thisss talk about how arrogant and domineering someone else was, Xia Muqing had an odd feeling. Wasn¡¯t she talking about herself? The two of them really sounded alike. Did Ye Qingxuan like this type ofdy? With that in mind, Xia Muqing heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed that she had misunderstood. No matter how she pondered about it, she didn¡¯t seem to be one of them. After figuring it out, Xia Muqing returned to her courtyard. As soon as she entered, she saw Lady Tie sitting arrogantly in her courtyard. She sat in a stone pavilion in the courtyard.. Two maids were fanning her, another maid was holding a fruit tter and the other was feeding her fruits. Chapter 64 - Another Beloved Concubine

Chapter 64: Another Beloved Concubine

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios She indeed looked like a spoiled concubine. Xia Muqing took a step forward and asked politely, ¡°Miss, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Lady Tie raised her head and her phoenix eyes darted to Xia Muqing. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Xia Muqing was speechless. She was the first to make her stand clear. ¡°If you¡¯re here because of rumors, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not interested in your king.¡± Lady Tie widened her eyes and looked at Xia Muqing hesitantly, as if she was testing the authenticity of her words. Xia Muqing graciously allowed her to scrutinize her. Lady Tie finally smiled and said, ¡°At least you¡¯re smart.¡± Only then did Xia Muqing realize that she had a pair of beautiful dimples when she smiled. Xia Muqing felt an urge and wanted to touch them. Lady Tie had already quickly retracted her smile. Xia Muqing felt a little regretful. Thinking of the jewelry Ye Qingxuan had just given her, she waved her hand and gave her a box of jewelry. Lady Tie stared nkly at her, not knowing what to do. She mumbled a thank you softly. Xia Muqing only found her adorable and couldn¡¯t help but pinch her cheek. Lady Tie acted like an innocent girl who had been teased. She covered her face and said, ¡°You, what are you doing!¡± After shouting, she rushed off and didn¡¯t even wait for her maids. The servants exchanged nces with one another. Finally, they bowed to Xia Muqing and ran after her. Xia Muqingughed out in amusement. She felt that Ye Qingxuan had a good taste in picking women. These two girls were quite cute. She strode to Ye Qingxuan¡¯s room. After applying the needles as usual, she said, ¡°Your Highness, this is thest acupuncture treatment. Next, you can slowly try walking and restoring your calf muscles. However, the poison in your body has not beenpletely purged. You still need a medicinal herb, the Heaven Mountain Snow Lotus.¡± Ye Qingxuan wanted to give instructions but was stopped by Xia Muqing. She said, ¡°The Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus is rather special. It needs to be taken immediately after plucking it to achieve the effect of detoxification.¡± What she meant was for Ye Qingxuan to retrieve the snow lotus himself. Ye Qingxuan arched his eyebrow and nodded. Xia Muqing nodded in satisfaction at the sight of such an obedient patient. She continued, ¡°There¡¯s no hurry. The poison has already been extracted and transferred to your skin. It won¡¯t damage your internal organs. You should practice walking slowly first. After your legs have recovered, you can go and get the snow lotus.¡± Ye Qingxuan nodded. Xia Muqing returned to the courtyard and saw that the ck eagle who had just returned. The ck eagle reported to her excitedly about what it had gathered. It was true that a spirit treasure would be unearthed in the mountain range, but the exact details were unknown. The location was in the depths of the Sunset Mountains, so no matter what it was, it would be an extraordinary treasure. Xia Muqing nodded. As long as there was a chance, she had to try. Every time a spirit treasure was about to appear in the mountain range, a natural barrier would appear in the periphery of the mountain range. Once the time was up, the barrier would be opened and everyone could enter. At that time, it would all depend on their skills. Now that the barrier had appeared, no one knew when it would open. Xia Muqing thought that since the treatment with Ye Qingxuan had beenpleted, she could set off now that the Xia family was the only thing left. She sent a few secret guards from the King¡¯s residence to investigate the situation between Prince Yu and the Xia family. When Prince Yu found out that Xia Muqing had really been taken in by Ye Qingxuan, although he felt that it was a pity, he didn¡¯t dare to snatch her from a tiger. He had no choice but to look for the Xia family again. Prince Yu insisted that the Xia family had topensate him with a girl. Xia Jingtian still treasured Xia Churan very much, and so he rejected him firmly. It was obvious that he couldn¡¯t benefit from Prince Yu anymore. He couldn¡¯t give his only precious daughter to him. Xia Churan had to admit that she was relieved to hear that. Chapter 65 - Choosing One of Them

Chapter 65: Choosing One of Them

Of course, Xia Chuxing¡¯s expression turned solemn when she heard the news. Seeing how determined the Xia family was, Prince Yu relented. The matchmaker came to them and said, ¡°Old Master Xia, Prince Yu has already shown his greatest sincerity. If you really can¡¯t bear to part with your eldest daughter, send your second daughter over then.¡± The matchmaker¡¯s attitude had already turned much more scornful. This time, Prince Yu didn¡¯t want a wife. Xia Jingtian agreed without hesitation. The matchmaker continued, ¡°But a woman who lost her chastity before marriage, won¡¯t be epted and brought in as Prince Yu¡¯s legal wife. We can only ept her as a concubine.¡± Xia Jingtian immediately yelled angrily, ¡°You all are going too far.¡± Prince Yu¡¯s housekeeper interjected unhappily, ¡°You were the one who breached the contract first. We didn¡¯t pursue you to take responsibility. That is already very generous of Prince Yu. Do you think a used woman like her should be a princess consort?¡± Being mocked by a mere housekeeper was also a huge humiliation. He was even more annoyed with Xia Chuxing, who had disgraced him. The housekeeper continued, ¡°Either Prince Yu takes in the second young mistress as a concubine, or you shall marry the first young mistress to our Prince Yu.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll pick her up in three days.¡± With that, they left. Xia Churan happened to overhear the conversation and she looked a little dazed. Unknowingly, she arrived at Xia Chuxing¡¯s room. Xia Chuxing still couldn¡¯t get off the bed, and her face was pale. The marks on her body when she first came back were shocking. Xia Churan clenched her fists and met Xia Chuxing¡¯s eyes. Her expression stiffened. She walked in slowly and asked, ¡°Sister, are you okay?¡± Xia Chuxing was a little dazed. When she saw her sister, she felt a surge of hatred. Her gaze made Xia Churan stumble back. Xia Chuxing hissed bitterly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you save me? It¡¯s all your fault that I ended up like this. I hate you, I hate all of you!¡± Xia Churan stepped forward and hugged as she cried with her. Xia Churan said amidst sobs, ¡°Sister, I don¡¯t have a choice. Prince Yu is too powerful. We can¡¯t defeat him. It¡¯s all because of Xia Muqing. If she hadn¡¯t run away from the wedding, you won¡¯t need to rece her, I would have taken the punishment in your ce. But Prince Yu specifically said that you had an affair with him previously, so I couldn¡¯t do anything.¡± These words touched Xia Chuxing and she turned her attention to Xia Muqing. Xia Churan knew her sister too well. Her eyes shed and she said, ¡°Prince Yu is still putting pressure on us. If we have Prince Yu¡¯s power, we wouldn¡¯t have to be afraid of that sl*t Xia Muqing.¡± She inched closer to her ear and whispered in an alluring tone, ¡°When that timees, won¡¯t we be the ones calling the shots? Xia Muqing will have to do whatever we say.¡± A strange glint appeared in Xia Chuxing¡¯s eyes. Seeing this, Xia Churan didn¡¯t continue talking. She just hugged her and sobbed slowly. Until Xia Chuxing said, ¡°Yeah, why can¡¯t I have the power and influence of Prince Yu?¡± After achieving her goal, Xia Churan retreated from her room. There were tears on her face, but there was no sadness in her eyes. She stood outside the courtyard and looked inside. She said quietly, ¡°Sister, I will avenge you.¡± In the afternoon, Xia Chuxing took the initiative to find Ruan Yu and said that she was willing to marry Prince Yu for the Xia family. Ruan Yu went nk briefly before bursting into tears. She replied, ¡°Prince Yu said that he can only ept you as a concubine.¡± Xia Chuxing¡¯s expression stiffened, and humiliation surged within her. However, she remembered her purpose and so she endured it, nodding in agreement. That was beyond Ruan Yu¡¯s expectations. Looking at her daughter¡¯s frail little face, her heart ached for her. She rubbed her daughter¡¯s face and said, ¡°You¡¯ve really be sensible. Prince Yu has really gone too far this time. They insisted on taking you in as a concubine. Otherwise, he would marry your sister instead. He has really gone overboard.¡± Unlike Ruan Yu¡¯s anger, Xia Chuxing was stunned. She grabbed her mother¡¯s shoulders tightly and whispered, ¡°What did you just say? Prince Yu said that he wants to Sister?¡± Chapter 66 - The Sisters Fallout

Chapter 66: The Sisters¡¯ Fallout

Ruan Yu was clueless about what had happened, and nodded as she endured the pain in her shoulders. Coincidentally, Xia Churan strode in. She looked sorrowful, as if she was truly a sister who was worried about her sibling. The moment Xia Chuxing noticed her, she picked up a teacup beside her and threw it at her. Xia Churan didn¡¯t expect that, and she was hit in the forehead. Ruan Yu immediately shrieked, and the scene immediately turned chaotic. Xia Churan pressed the wound on her head and stared at Xia Chuxing in confusion. Xia Chuxing sneered. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you want to suffer on my behalf? It¡¯s such a good opportunity. In that case, Sister, go ahead.¡± Xia Churan immediately understood. She knew the truth. She panicked but quickly calmed down. ¡°Sister, Father won¡¯t agree.¡± Xia Chuxing felt like vomiting when she saw how pretentious she was. Xia Chuxing stared at them with hatred in her eyes. She let out a coldugh and threw everything she could. She screamed, ¡°Get out! All of you!¡± Ruan Yu was also thrown out. She looked at Xia Churan with red eyes and asked, ¡°What did you tell your sister?¡± Xia Churan said sadly, ¡°I just didn¡¯t want her to be upset. Father won¡¯t agree to my marriage. If she finds out that Father chose me out of the two of us, she will be even more upset.¡± Hearing these words, Ruan Yu¡¯s expression flickered, and she burst into tears as she hugged her. Xia Churan, who had her face away from Ruan Yu, didn¡¯t show any agony on her face. Once the three days were up, Xia Chuxing was sent into the bridal carriage again. This time, she didn¡¯t cry or make a fuss. She even had a smile on her face that made one¡¯s hair stand. This farce finally came to an end. Xia Muqing received the news andmented coldly, ¡°This is just the beginning.¡± Then she found Ye Qingxuan and said, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± Ye Qingxuan looked at her with a darkened expression. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Xia Muqing smiled and said, ¡°This doesn¡¯t concern you, Your Highness. I¡¯m just your physician and I¡¯m only treating your illness.¡± These words made his expression sink. Xia Muqing felt a little uneasy, but she had to make things clear. Ye Qingxuan suddenly smiled and said, ¡°Indeed, I¡¯ve crossed the line just now.¡± His attitude and reaction left Xia Muqing even more uneasy. She pondered about it carefully and she shouldn¡¯t have said anything wrong. She had originally nned to leave the next day. That night, Xia Muqing sat on the back of the ck eagle and secretly left. She had no idea that a figure in a wheelchair was watching her. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t bring much with her. Returning to the Sunset Mountains was equivalent to returning home. She only brought Gungun and a few clothes along with her before setting off. Flying in the sky at night really felt different. The stars in the night sky seemed to be right next to her. The ck eagle cried out softly and increased its speed. Xia Muqing had to wrap her arms around its neck to stabilize herself. With Xia Muqing closer, the ck eagle became even more excited and flew faster and faster. Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She urged it to slow down before it slowed down. Despite the ck eagle¡¯s speed, it took them three days to reach the Sunset Mountains. When they reached the vicinity, Xia Muqing asked the ck eagle to return first. She would look for him after she entered the mountains. The ck eagle touched Xia Muqing¡¯s forehead gently before flying away. However, when they parted ways, things would have changed drastically. Xia Muqing walked slowly along the main path. Before long, more and more people appeared. It was a narrow path. After walking through it, one¡¯s vision suddenly became clearer. There were people walking along the main street, and stalls were ced on both sides. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t have anything she wanted to buy. She made a beeline towards an inn she had stayed in previously. She stopped in her tracks when she passed by a stall. The jade pendant in her arms suddenly vibrated. She didn¡¯t know if it was an illusion. She reached into her bag and touched the jade. There was no movement. Chapter 67 - The Odd Stall Owner

Chapter 67: The Odd Stall Owner

She then nced at the stall beside her. There were several strange items on it. She scanned the items casually and her gazended on a small gray pearl. The pearl was the size of a soybean and its color resembled dust. It was not eye-catching at all. However, the aura on it was familiar, and very simr to the jade pendant. It was a very mysterious feeling. She just had a feeling that they should be from the same lineage. Xia Muqing took a step forward and under the stall owner¡¯s sharp gaze, she unconsciously skipped the pearl. She could clearly see a glint in the stall owner¡¯s eyes. Xia Muqing picked up another item as if nothing had happened. It was a palm-sized stone b that was covered in rust. She asked, ¡°How much is this?¡± The stall owner was wearing a huge hat that covered half of his face. However, from the lower part of his face that was revealed, he appeared to be a young man. He said, ¡°This is an extraordinary treasure. It¡¯s passed down from generation to generation in our family¡­ I think it¡¯s fate that I met you. I¡¯ll sell it to you for a thousand gold taels.¡± He acted like a businessman and rattled on. Xia Muqing automatically ignored him and only heard his final offer. She put down the item in her hand and straightened her body to leave. The young man hurriedly shouted, ¡°Miss, if you think the price isn¡¯t appropriate, you can bargain. Don¡¯t go.¡± Xia Muqing stopped in her tracks and said, ¡°You have gone way too overboard. How do I even bargain?¡± The stall owner replied casually, ¡°Try it. What if I agree?¡± A teasing glint sparkled in Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes. ¡°Then I¡¯ll pay¡­ one tael.¡± The stall owner, who was waiting for her offer, was so shocked that he even dropped his straw hat. Only then did Xia Muqing see his face clearly. He was indeed a young man. He looked very delicate and his skin was so soft that he looked like a rich young master. One¡­ tael! Tian Qi widened his eyes in shock and stared at Xia Muqing. There was someone more shameless than him in this world. Xia Muqing also looked at him calmly. Tian Qi grinned and said, ¡°Deal.¡± It was Xia Muqing¡¯s turn to be shocked. He was really selling his stuff for one tael despite his original asking offer of a thousand taels? With a twitch of her lips, she reached out and picked up the gray pearl she really wanted. ¡°How much is this?¡± Tian Qi¡¯s eyes shed and he said, ¡°This doesn¡¯t require money. It is a gift to you. After all, you¡¯ve given me a tael.¡± He had emphasized the words ¡®one tael¡¯, so it was obvious that he cared a lot. Xia Muqing epted his offer quickly and handed the money to him. The young man didn¡¯t take her money. Instead, he looked at her and said, ¡°We will meet again.¡± With that said, he disappeared with a sh. Puzzled, Xia Muqing ced the pearl and the stone b in her bag. She continued walking towards the inn. She booked a premium room and ordered some food and drinks. After Xia Muqing had eaten her fill, shey on the bed and took out the jade pendant and the pearl she had bought today. She kept trying, but both items didn¡¯t seem to have any connection. It was as if everything that had happened today was an illusion. Since she couldn¡¯t figure it out, Xia Muqing simply ced the jade pendant and pearl in a box and left them aside. She wanted to have a good sleep. She came to the dining hall for breakfast. Unsurprisingly, everyone was talking about the spirit treasure that had appeared in the mountains and was about to be born. The mystic realm barrier this time appeared on the east side of the Sunset Mountains. It was a little far from this location. That was why Xia Muqing was able to book a room at the inn yesterday. The inns near the barrier had long been overcrowded. Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t in the mood to join the crowd and she ate her breakfast peacefully. After breakfast, she headed towards the east side of the mountains. She had never been to the east thest time she was here. Only after she arrived did she realize that this entrance was evenrger than the one in the west. However, not many people usually chose to enter from the entrance, and it appeared a little deste. However, because of the appearance of the mystic realm barrier, there were countless people gathered here. Chapter 68 - Mystic Realm Barrier

Chapter 68: Mystic Realm Barrier

It was only after Xia Muqing entered, that she could see the entirety of the barrier. The entire barrier was transparent and there were ripples across the surface. It resembled a cicada¡¯s wings, but everyone couldn¡¯t see what was happening inside the barrier. It was said that when the barrier opened, a halo would appear. One could be transported to the mystic realm by standing in the halo. The teleportation spot was very likely to be next to a ferocious beast. This proved how dangerous it was. But when opportunities arise, people were willing to take risks regardless of the danger. Xia Muqing first circled the barrier. This barrier covered the entire east side of the Sunset Mountains, except for one area. She stopped walking, her gazending on a small hill. She was very focused and didn¡¯t notice that a group of people was staring at her in an unfriendly manner. A burly man walked over. He had bulging muscles and he stared at Xia Muqing angrily. ¡°Hey, what are you looking at!¡± Xia Muqing snapped back to reality. It turned out that there was already a group of people camping at the foot of the mountain. It seemed to be a mercenary group. She didn¡¯t want to cause trouble, so she replied politely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just think that this hill is a little special.¡± Seeing her demure behavior, the burly man snorted and ignored her. ¡°We¡¯ve already upied this area. Go find another ce.¡± It wasn¡¯t their fault for being so vignt. In order to enter the mystic realm as soon as possible, everyone had already engaged in many battles to get their hands on the territory before Xia Muqing arrived. All of them were feeling paranoid. Before Xia Muqing could leave, another group of people walked over and said, ¡°Hu Da, give up your territory. My master has his eyes on it.¡± The man looked like a viin and he spoke arrogantly with a group of mercenaries behind him. The burly man just now, who was also known as Tiger, had a sullen expression. However, he didn¡¯t chase away the man like how he treated Xia Muqing. It was obvious that he was still afraid of that man. Hu Da said with a stiff expression, ¡°Wang San, we took this territory first, and besides this, there¡¯s no other ce. Where do you want us to go?¡± Wang San¡¯s attitude was even more arrogant. Heughed loudly with the people behind him, and said, ¡°So what? If you don¡¯t have a territory, then don¡¯t participate. With your Tiger Mercenary Group¡¯s current weak strength, even if you enter the secret realm, you¡¯ll only be sending yourselves to death. It¡¯s better if you obediently join our Sword Wolf Mercenary Group.¡± Hu Da was enraged and was about to say something when he was interrupted by an impatient voice. ¡°Is it not resolved?¡± A middle-aged man in silk satin and a gold crown walked over. He had a goatee and a fan in his hand. He thought he looked confident and suave as he waved his fan. This person didn¡¯t look like he was here to explore. Instead, he looked as though he was here for an outing. Hu Da looked at that person with hatred. He was the one who injured his brothers and broke his brother¡¯s leg. A mercenary who injured his leg could only wait for death in the future. Wang San changed his arrogant attitude from before, nodding and bowing as he ttered this man, ¡°Old Master Xiao, these people from the Tiger Mercenary Group really don¡¯t know how to appreciate favors. I already said that you wanted this territory, yet they still resisted.¡± Old Master Xiao kicked Wang San and hissed, ¡°You useless thing. If you can¡¯t even handle this matter, what use do I have for you?¡± Wang San scrambled to his feet with a grunt, and the smile on his face was even more ttering. Hu Da looked at the spineless Wang San with contempt, and his gaze enraged him. Wang San immediately straightened his back and pointed at Hu Da. ¡°Did you see that? Old Master Xiao is already here. Bring your people and scram now.¡± Hu Da looked a little conflicted, but Old Master Xiao was a rich man in the Sunset Mountains. They couldn¡¯t afford to offend him. Chapter 69 - The Arrogant Xiao Family

Chapter 69: The Arrogant Xiao Family

Old Master Xiao¡¯s gazended on Xia Muqing, and his eyes lit up. What a fresh and refined beauty. He immediately pointed at her and said, ¡°Hurry up and leave. Leave her behind.¡± Hu Da hurriedly stood in front of Xia Muqing and said, ¡°Old Master Xiao, this girl isn¡¯t a member of our group. She¡¯s just passing by. We¡¯ll leave right now and won¡¯t disturb you.¡± As he spoke, he signaled to Xia Muqing with his eyes, urging her to leave quickly. Old Master Xiao spoke again. ¡°Stop right there. Who asked her to leave? No matter who she is, She is mine once I set my eyes on her.¡± Wang San seized the opportunity to pander to him. ¡°That¡¯s right! It¡¯s her blessing that Old Master Xiao took a fancy to her.¡± Old Master Xiao raised his head smugly, feeling proud of himself. Hu Da was in a dilemma. He wanted to say something, but he was surrounded. At this moment, the members of the Tiger Mercenary Group had gathered around him. Most of his people were injured. The most serious one even had a twisted leg. Hu Da red at them. ¡°Why did you alle here? Go back.¡± The members of the mercenary group were all brave and yelled, ¡°We will live and die with Boss.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. How can we let Boss shoulder the responsibility alone?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve long detested these bunch of turtles. We¡¯ll fight them today.¡± Upon hearing these words, the eyes of the burly man turned red. He clenched the sword in his hand and said, ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll fight it out today.¡± When Old Master Xiao heard that, he was furious. ¡°You mercenaries are lowly. A group of lowly people actually dare to challenge me!¡± These words didn¡¯t only infuriate Hu Da and his men, it also enraged the other mercenary groups around them. Even the mercenaries behind Old Master Xiao had weird expressions. However, they were afraid of Old Master Xiao¡¯s influence and endured silently. Old Master Xiao didn¡¯t care about the onlookers at all. Just as he had said, the hatred of a colony of ants was nothing. Hu Da and the rest surrounded Xia Muqing and protected her. He even took the time to turn around and say, ¡°Lass, I¡¯ve implicated you today. You can go first. It¡¯s best that you don¡¯te back.¡± They might not be able to return alive today. This girl had been chosen by Old Master Xiao. Without them, she would definitely not have an easy time. Xia Muqing pushed them aside and walked out of the circle. Hu Da looked at her in confusion and shouted anxiously, ¡°Lass, leave quickly.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t retreat. Instead, she took a few steps forward and looked at Old Master Xiao. ¡°You want me to stay?¡± Old Master Xiao waved the fan in his hand and stared at her with lust. ¡°I¡¯ve taken a fancy to you. As long as you follow me, you can do whatever you want in the Sunset Mountains.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Xia Muqing smiled slowly. Her smile made Old Master Xiao salivate as he approached her. ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. There isn¡¯t a person in the Sunset Mountains who doesn¡¯t know who I am, Old Master Xiao?¡± Hu Da¡¯s eyes were filled with disappointment. He didn¡¯t expect Xia Muqing to be such a person. Their protection offered to her just now was a joke. Wang San also mocked, ¡°This youngdy is a smart person, unlike some people who don¡¯t understand the circumstances.¡± Hu Da¡¯s expression turned even uglier. Old Master Xiao had already strode to Xia Muqing and was about to touch her hand. Xia Muqing retracted her smile and said, ¡°Yeah, you really don¡¯t know your ce.¡± Then, under the dissatisfied gazes of Hu Da and the others, she kicked Old Master Xiao¡¯s in his groin and sent him flying. Old Master Xiao, who was obsessed with beauties, was a useless andzy bum. He spat out a mouthful of blood andy sprawled on the ground. No one expected this to happen. The surroundings went silent for a few seconds. The first to recover from the shock was Wang San. He screamed and quickly got his men to help Old Master Xiao up. Chapter 70 - Tiger Mercenary Group

Chapter 70: Tiger Mercenary Group

Old Master Xiao had fainted, and they could only bring him to seek treatment. They didn¡¯t have the time to deal with anything now. If anything happened to Old Master Xiao, they would be finished. The Xiao family wouldn¡¯t let them off. The people around Xia Muqing looked at her with reverence, especially the mercenaries. They unconsciously pressed their legs together as they felt a chill down their spine. The members of the Tiger Mercenary Group looked at each other. In the end, it was Hu Da who spoke. ¡°Lass, you¡¯ve provoked Old Master Xiao. You should hurry and escape. When they realize that, they will find trouble with you.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t panic and simply asked, ¡°Is Old Master Xiao very powerful?¡± Hu Da sighed and said, ¡°Lass, this should be your first time in the Sunset Mountains.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t retort as she listened to him exin about the distribution of power in the Sunset Mountains. The periphery of the Sunset Mountains had always been ruled by fists. It had always been managed by the three aristocratic families: the Lin family, the Wang family, and the Xiao family. Initially, they were on par with each other in terms of power. However, the Xiao family had somehow obtained a way to control beasts, and so the entire family had ruled the Sunset Mountains. The Lin and Wang families had been persecuted by them, and only empty shells were left. They bullied men and women here, and bullied others. And they were afraid of the ferocious beasts they possessed, and no one dared to interfere. Or simply said, anyone who dared to interfere had been killed by ferocious beasts. And so, they became even more arrogant. Old Master Xiao was actually not the head of the Xiao family, but an idle young master. He was addressed as Old Master because of his age. Xia Muqing nodded in understanding. She was a little curious about the beast-taming technique he was talking about. Seeing that Xia Muqing still didn¡¯t move, Hu Da asked anxiously, ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you fleeing?¡± Xia Muqing had a good impression of them. Her gazended on the young man with a broken leg. He looked to be twelve or thirteen years old. He had red lips and white teeth and didn¡¯t look like a mercenary at all. Despite being threatened, he still dragged his injured leg and stood up without any hesitation. He didn¡¯t hide behind his brothers and chose to stand with them as protectors. Seeing that he didn¡¯t even try to put his leg in a cast, Xia Muqing said, ¡°If you don¡¯t treat your leg, you¡¯ll really end up crippled.¡± These words made everyone look a little sad. Only the young man raised a bright smile and said, ¡°My leg is hopeless. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s cured or not.¡± Pain shed across Hu Da and the others¡¯ eyes. Hu Da sighed and patted the young man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. If you didn¡¯t help me block that attack, you wouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± Another burly man¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. The young man shook his head. ¡°Brother, you have always been the one protecting me. I want to protect you too.¡± ¡°Who said that your injuries can¡¯t be healed?¡± Xia Muqing asked calmly. A hint of loneliness shed across the young man¡¯s eyes, but no one could see it. He said calmly, ¡°Brother brought me to the most famous physician to take a look. They said that there¡¯s no hope.¡± Xia Muqing looked at him gently and said, ¡°I can treat your leg.¡± A trace of hope rose in the youth¡¯s eyes, but it was quickly extinguished. He felt that it was impossible. Hu Da asked anxiously, ¡°Lass, can you really treat him?¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes were filled with sincerity and confidence. Unlike the young man, who had negative thoughts, as long as it was possible, Hu Da would try. The young man also knew that Hu Da was doing this because of his guilt. Each time, Hu Da would listen to him and cooperate enthusiastically. But after being disappointed so many times, he no longer had any hopes. Hu Da immediately invited Xia Muqing to their mercenary group. Only one person was left to guard the entrance of the mystic realm. During the conversation along the way, Xia Muqing learned that Hu Da and the young man were really biological brothers. However, their looks were too different. Chapter 71 - Saving Jiang Yifan

Chapter 71: Saving Jiang Yifan

Even their names were too different. Hu Da¡¯s original name was Jiang Hu, and he was the leader of the Tiger Mercenary Group and everyone called him Hu Da. The young man was called Jiang Yifan. When asked about this, Hu Da smiled honestly and said, ¡°I resemble my father and Yifan looked like my mother.¡± Xia Muqing smiled. Their rtionship was really good. After returning to the territory of the Tiger Mercenary Group, it was unexpectedly luxurious. It wasn¡¯t extravagant, but rather it had a refined and gracious style. A huge courtyard with a small bridge and flowing water. It looked very elegant. Hu Da exined, ¡°Our Tiger Mercenary Group was also a first-rate mercenary group in the Sunset Mountains back then. It¡¯s a pity that we were targeted by that group of thieves from the Xiao family. I reckon that before long, this residence will be stolen¡­¡± He sounded proud and helpless at the same time. Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes were also filled with pain. This residence was where he had grown up. Hu Da wiped his face and said, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that. Miss Xia, please.¡± He invited Xia Muqing into the residence respectfully. In the living room, Xia Muqing noticed the anxiety in Hu Da¡¯s eyes. She didn¡¯t waste any more time talking and said, ¡°Let¡¯s find a room. I¡¯ll check the injury first.¡± Hu Da grunted and hastily brought them to Jiang Yifan¡¯s room. Jiang Yifan chased Hu Da out with the excuse that he needed silence, leaving only Xia Muqing and him in the room. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t say anything and simply rolled up his pants. Shocking wounds were revealed. It consisted of a swollen knee, a twisted calf, and a bone poking slightly out. The injuries were far more serious than she had imagined. Jiang Yifan quipped, ¡°Sister Xia, my injuries are a little scary. It doesn¡¯t matter if it can¡¯t be cured. My brother is just too worried about me.¡± Xia Muqing touched his swollen knee which was filled with pus and blood. She frowned and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you squeeze the pus out?¡± Even if those physicians couldn¡¯t cure him, they shouldn¡¯t leave these wounds untended. Jiang Yifan nced at Jiang Hu, who was waiting outside, and said calmly, ¡°My leg could have healed, but those people are afraid of the Xiao family¡¯s power. Why could they be willing to treat me? Only a silly fool like my brother has believed in them saying that my injuries can¡¯t be treated. He brought me to seek different physicians.¡± He knew very well what was going on. He didn¡¯t say a word because he didn¡¯t want to add to his brother¡¯s guilt. Xia Muqing was stunned. This young man was really so considerate and kind that her heart ached for him. She hit the young man¡¯s head and gazed at the confusion in his round eyes. Only then did she feel that he looked like a teenager. ¡°Why is a child like you so pessimistic? Who says I can¡¯t cure you? With me around, your leg can¡¯t be ruined even if you want to.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll definitely give you a pair of healthy legs.¡± When her voice entered Jiang Yifan¡¯s ears, he felt like he was in a trance. The mes in his heart, which had long since been extinguished, suddenly began to burn again. Could there really be hope for him? At this moment, all the calmness and indifference shattered as the indignation buried deep in his heart surged. Initially, he was also in pain and anger. However, for the sake of his family, he pretended not to care. After a long time, he stopped caring. Only now did he realize that he was wrong; he had actually never given up.. Xia Muqing stroked his hair and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, leave it to me.¡± Jiang Yifan nodded solemnly. He didn¡¯t just entrust his legs to her, but his life as well. If he couldn¡¯t get his legs to heal this time, he probably wouldn¡¯t survive. Xia Muqing took out a dagger and used fire to burn and disinfect it. She said, ¡°I need to expel the pus and blood from your muscles. It¡¯s a little painful. Bear with it.¡± With that, she used the dagger to slice the young man¡¯s entire knee. He frowned for a moment, but he still endured the pain in his leg. Chapter 72 - Successful Surgery

Chapter 72: Sessful Surgery

After his knees were shed open, the blood umted inside instantly flowed out. The yellowish coagted blood and pus looked horrifying. Xia Muqing repeated the movement of extracting the pus with a solemn expression. The pus had already corroded the bones and muscles around his knees. The treatment of his injury had been dyed for too long. After cleaning up the pus and blood, Xia Muqing looked up at the young man¡¯s pale face and said, ¡°I¡¯m about to begin.¡± At first, Jiang Yifan didn¡¯t understand. But after she cut off the rotten flesh, he couldn¡¯t help but groan, and cold sweat instantly covered his face. He quickly took the nket from the bed and bit it to prevent himself from making a sound. He didn¡¯t want the people at the door to hear him. The longer the surgery dragged on, the more painful it would be. Xia Muqing could only force herself to increase the speed of her movements, urately removing the rotten muscles. Jiang Hu, who was at the door, was already crying. He clenched his fists tightly. He had witnessed his brother¡¯s pain all along, and he hoped that this time, it would really work. After about four hours, Xia Muqing finally stopped. The young man¡¯s legs had already been wrapped up properly. After the blood clots were discharged, his calves seemed to be half its size. Xia Muqing smiled and said, ¡°Done.¡± Jiang Yifan smiled weakly and fainted. Xia Muqing caught him swiftly. Because the anesthetic couldn¡¯t be applied during this surgery, she had warned the young man not to faint during the surgery. Otherwise, the surgery would end. It was already very impressive that he had endured until now. She ced the young man on the bed. When Xia Muqing walked out, she saw Jiang Hu with reddened eyes, standing at the door like a statue. He looked over nervously and asked, ¡°How is Yifan?¡± His voice actually trembled a little. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t keep them in suspense and nodded. ¡°He¡¯s fine now. The treatment was very sessful this time. His legs are healed.¡± When Jiang Hu heard that, he walked out. Xia Muqing was shocked. What happened? After chasing after her, she saw Jiang Hu hugging and crying outside the courtyard. He had juste out because he didn¡¯t want to disturb the young man inside. Of the two brothers, one wanted the nket so that her brother wouldn¡¯t worry, and the other hid away to cry so that her brother wouldn¡¯t hear. Seriously¡­ Xia Muqing also felt a little jealous. She had never experienced such feelings. After Jiang Hu vented his emotions, he wiped his face and said in embarrassment, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve embarrassed myself.¡± Without waiting for Xia Muqing to speak, he continued, ¡°Yifan¡¯s leg was injured by the Xiao family when they came to look for me. I went around looking for doctors behind his back. I know that those people deliberately said that his legs couldn¡¯t be cured, but I can¡¯t give up. No one in the Sunset Mountains can cure it, so I brought him out to be treated, but¡­¡± His voice became choked with emotion. ¡°But the Xiao family actually surrounded the exit and refused to let us out. As his elder brother, I¡¯m useless. I can only watch as his legs deteriorate day by day. His greatest wish was to travel the world, but I ruined it all.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering if he wouldn¡¯t be injured if Iy at the feet of the Xiao family like a dog.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t speak and listened quietly to Hu Da¡¯s incoherent chatter. After saying that, Hu Da felt much better. She didn¡¯t know if it was because he had vented all the pain in his heart or because he knew that his younger brother was saved. A man and a woman approached from afar. They were walking quickly and there was obvious panic on their faces. Jiang Hu stepped forward and shouted, ¡°Father, Mother.¡± Only then did Xia Muqing observe them carefully. The two of them didn¡¯t match at all. The woman had long hair that reached her waist. She had a gentle appearance and her thin figure emphasized her fragility. Chapter 73 - The Incompatible Jiang Couple

Chapter 73: The Ipatible Jiang Couple

The man was a burly and fierce-looking man. He had a beard that covered half of his face, and he possessed the aura of a bandit. No wonder the appearance of the two brothers had such a huge contrast. Jiang Hu introduced the two of them to Xia Muqing. The woman was called Liu Yan and the man was called Jiang Bo. They were both mercenaries. Xia Muqing was shocked. She had assumed that Liu Yan was a rich youngdy. She had already visualized a story of a rich youngdy being snatched by a bandit. Jiang Hu said to the couple, ¡°Father, Mother, this is Miss Xia Muqing. I invited her to take a look at Yifan¡¯s legs.¡± Liu Yan¡¯s expression was gentle. Hearing this, she only paused and said, ¡°Sorry to trouble you, Miss Xia.¡± At this moment, they could still maintain theirposure. Jiang Hu¡¯s next words made them freeze instantly. ¡°Yifan¡¯s legs can be saved.¡± ¡°What?¡± Both of their voices sounded at the same time. Liu Yan and Jiang Bo¡¯s expressions became agitated at the same time. Jiang Bo frowned and said, ¡°Jiang Hu, you can¡¯t joke about your brother.¡± Jiang Hu then exined what had just happened. The two of them epted the surprise. Liu Yan immediately gripped Xia Muqing¡¯s hand and thanked her repeatedly. Jiang Bo added, ¡°Our family will never forget Miss Xia¡¯s kindness. If you need our help in the future, we will definitely help.¡± Xia Muqing smiled and waved her hand. Liu Yan suddenly pped Jiang Hu on the head and said heartily, ¡°Since Yifan¡¯s injuries are healed, I¡¯ll attack the Xiao family now. I am going to blow those old thieves¡¯ heads off.¡± She rolled up her sleeves and was about to rush off with her clenched fists. She didn¡¯t look as fragile and gentle as before. Jiang Bo quickly hugged her. If she were to go, it was uncertain if she would be able to return. Those ferocious beasts from the Xiao family were not to be trifled with. He locked her in her arms andforted her gently. The corners of Xia Muqing¡¯s mouth twitched. This scene had really transformed her original stereotypes. A wild beastforted a violent and delicate beauty with a soft and gentle voice. Jiang Hu acted as if he was used to it and brought Xia Muqing away. He said as he walked, ¡°Don¡¯t mind them. They¡¯ve always been like this. They¡¯ll be fine in a while.¡± The two of them stopped outside Jiang Yifan¡¯s room. There was a stone pavilion here, and Jiang Hu brought her to take a seat. He said apologetically, ¡°We didn¡¯t treat you well enough, but I want to wait for Yifan to wake up.¡± Xia Muqing nodded in understanding. After a while, the couple appeared again, and their expressions had returned to normal. The two of them were joined by the couple as they waited. They looked at the door with worry and anticipation. Seeing that it was about time, Xia Muqing opened the door and entered. Three people followed her cautiously. Coincidentally, the young man on the bed opened his eyes. He looked at the ceiling in confusion and disappointment. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Xia Muqing asked as she approached. Hearing her voice, the young man turned around in disbelief. So everything that had just happened wasn¡¯t a dream. It was real. He moved her legs. Although it hurt a little, the stuffy feeling was gone. He said excitedly, ¡°I feel much better.¡± Xia Muqing smiled and nodded. ¡°Your legs will still hurt a little, but it¡¯s no longer a big deal. You just have to change your dressing on time and wait for your wounds to heal.¡± Jiang Yifan looked at her gratefully, his eyes filled with light that hadn¡¯t been there before. This scene was imprinted in his heart forever. Their conversation made the three people next to them weep silently. Jiang Yifan obediently called out to them. Liu Yan took a step forward and grabbed his hand. With affection in her eyes, she said, ¡°My good child, you¡¯ve suffered.¡± Jiang Bo poked his head out from beside his wife and added, ¡°Rest and recuperate for the next few days. Let your elder brother do everything. Let him carry you wherever you want to go. Your elder brother has plenty of energy.¡± Chapter 74 - The Strange Mystic Realm

Chapter 74: The Strange Mystic Realm

If any other brother were to hear these words, he would definitely think that his parents were biased. However, Jiang Hu didn¡¯t mind at all and rubbed his head as he nodded. Xia Muqing stayed with the Jiang family for the night. After helping Jiang Yifan to change his dressing the next day, Xia Muqing and Jiang Hu went to the barrier of the mystic realm again. They noticed that there were already fewer people. There were no signs to indicate that the mystic realm barrier was opening. Seeing that it wasn¡¯t opening, they couldn¡¯t keep watching all day long. Every family had left a few people to guard the territory they had upied. They would report to their masters if there was anymotion. Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes darted around before she went to the hill again. This was the only gap that wasn¡¯tpletely blocked by the barrier. This time, Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t stopped. Jiang Hu personally invited her to his camp. Xia Muqing circled the hill but didn¡¯t find anything unusual. She still felt that it was odd, but she could only put it aside for the time being. Several days passed in a row, but the barrier to the mystic realm remained closed. This made everyone begin to panic. In the past, the mystic realm had neversted more than seven days. Half a month had passed this time, but the barrier still showed no signs of opening. Over the past few days, Jiang Yifan¡¯s leg injuries had mostly healed. He had been worried that he wouldn¡¯t be able to enter the secret realm this time, but he hadn¡¯t expected that even after his injuries had healed, the secret realm hadn¡¯t opened. Jiang Hu no longer sent people to guard the entrance of the mystic realm. He wanted to enter the mystic realm only to help Jiang Yifan find medicine that could cure his legs. The current situation of their Tiger Mercenary Group wasn¡¯t suitable for them to enter a dangerous ce like the secret realm. When Xia Muqing returned from the mystic realm barrier again, she saw arge group of people gathered at the entrance of the Jiang residence. Walking in, she saw a group of ferocious beasts gathered at the entrance of the Jiang residence. There were beasts running on the ground and others flying in the sky. The leader was someone familiar. She had met the Sword Wolf Mercenary Group¡¯s Wang San and Master Xiao previously. The members of the Tiger Mercenary Group surrounded the four members of the Jiang family as they stood at the entrance. Both sides were in a stalemate. Wang San shouted, ¡°If you all are sensible, quickly vacate this residence. Our Xiao family has taken a liking to it.¡± Jiang Bo¡¯s expression was ferocious. ¡°Don¡¯t you even think about it!¡± The malice in his eyes made Wang San take a step back. It wasn¡¯t his fault. When he was young, he was the leader of the mercenaries in this area. Even if his father were around, his father wouldn¡¯t dare to be impudent in front of him. Master Xiao kicked Wang San and chided, ¡°Useless thing.¡± Pointing at Jiang Hu, he said to the man behind him, ¡°Brother, it¡¯s him. A few days ago, he brought a woman and she kicked me unconscious. She even imed that she wasn¡¯t afraid of the Xiao family.¡± Xiao Chenglin nced at his useless brother with contempt. It was really embarrassing for a Xiao family member to be kicked unconscious by a woman. Although he didn¡¯t want to bother with him, an outsider bullying his brother was equivalent to pping the Xiao family¡¯s face. Moreover, as he surveyed the residence of the Tiger Mercenary Group, a hint of greed shed across his eyes. He had been eyeing this residence for a long time. He said with a straight face, ¡°I¡¯m interested in your residence. I¡¯ll give you two hours to move out with as many possessions as you can.¡± There was arrogance and generosity on his face, as if it was their greatest honor that he had taken a fancy to the Jiang family¡¯s residence. Jiang Hu immediately yelled, ¡°In your dreams!¡± This made Xiao Chenglin¡¯s expression suddenly fall. He frowned when he saw Jiang Yifan¡¯s perfectly fine legs, standing beside him. Which ignorant fool dared to treat the person he injured? He sneered and hissed, ¡°In that case, don¡¯t me me for being impolite.¡± He ced a finger to his mouth and whistled a loud and clear sound. The ferocious beasts who were originally sitting on the ground seemed to have been agitated by something. Their eyes gradually turned red and they howled in the direction of the Jiang family. The onlookers couldn¡¯t help but take a step back in shock from the imposing aura. Chapter 75 - The Xiao Family Came to Provoke

Chapter 75: The Xiao Family Came to Provoke

Xiao Chenglin said smugly, ¡°Today is the day you bury yourself.¡± Jiang Bo¡¯s eyes were cold and heavy. Without turning his head, he quickly said, ¡°Jiang Hu, take your mother and brother into the secret tunnel. Brothers of the Tiger Mercenary Group, follow them too.¡± Liu Yan grabbed his hand and said, ¡°No, I¡¯m not leaving! If you want to die, I¡¯ll die with you.¡± The members of the Tiger Mercenary Group also said in unison, ¡°We won¡¯t leave. We want to live and die with you, our leader.¡± Jiang Bo was silent for a moment and said, ¡°This is what I, Jiang Bo, owe you all. I will definitely repay all of you in my next life.¡± A young man with a ruffian-like appearanceughed and said, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve been with you since I was young. Isn¡¯t it just death? What¡¯s there to be afraid of? I¡¯ll still follow you in my next life.¡± Despite facing such a trap, the members of the Tiger Mercenary Group burst intoughter. This scene made Xiao Chenglin even more livid. ¡°Since you all want to die so badly, I¡¯ll send you all on your way.¡± Another whistle that was even clearer than before sounded, and the ferocious beasts rushed towards the members of the Tiger Mercenary Group. Jiang Bo and the others didn¡¯t give up. Instead, they chose to fight to the death. The unwillingness to admit defeat was engraved in their bones. This scene also touched the onlookers. Most of them had received help from Jiang Bo¡¯s family before, but facing the Xiao family, they didn¡¯t even have the courage to step forward. Jiang Bo and the others were prepared to die. In the next second, the ferocious beasts that had reached them suddenly froze. No one had expected this to happen. Xiao Chenglin¡¯s expression had turned so ugly that he whistled a few times. The fiery glints in the ferocious beasts¡¯ eyes flickered, but they didn¡¯t move. Jiang Bo and his men took a step back carefully, watching the ferocious beasts warily. Xiao Chenglin didn¡¯t expect his family¡¯s beast-taming skills to fail. He immediately kicked a tiger who was near his feet and shouted angrily, ¡°Go! What are you waiting for? Go!¡± However, no matter what he did, the beasts remained frozen. His actions hadpletely enraged Xia Muqing, who stood in the crowd. She slowly walked forward and said, ¡°These ferocious beasts are also living creatures. Aren¡¯t you afraid of the consequences of doing this to them?¡± Ever since the Xiao family had obtained the Beast Taming Skill, they had started to worship these ferocious beasts. Later on, when they realized that the beasts couldn¡¯t disobey orders, they became unbridled and simply scolded or hit them as they pleased. To them, even the king of the mountains was as inferior as a dog. Xiao Chenglin didn¡¯t find anything wrong. He looked at Xia Muqing and frowned. ¡°Who are you?¡± Master Xiao pointed at her and said, ¡°Brother, it¡¯s her! She was the one who kicked me thest time!¡± Xiao Chenglin¡¯s expression changed as he gazed at her pretty face. ¡°If you follow me back to the Xiao residence, I¡¯ll let you off, okay?¡± Xia Muqing sneered coldly. The Xiao family was truly of the same blood. Giving the Jiang family behind her a reassuring look, Xia Muqing answered, ¡°Sure, but I won¡¯t follow you back. I¡¯ll follow them.¡± Xia Muqing pointed at the ferocious beasts around them. Xiao Chenglin was confused. In the next second, his eyes were filled with fear. Xia Muqing gently patted the head of the tiger beside her. It actually bowed to her like how a human would do, before it turned to face Xiao Chenglin and the rest. All the beasts immediately turned around, their eyes filled with hatred and fury. Xiao Chenglin kept shouting, ¡°Are you all rebelling? Go back!¡± He retreated with cold sweat dripping down his face. Xia Mu cleared her voice coldly, ¡°You didn¡¯t expect to end up like this one day, did you? You asked for it.¡± With that, the ferocious beasts let out heaven-shaking roars, and their auras were even fiercer than before. They charged towards the Xiao family. Xiao Chenglin and his men fled in panic, screaming as they ran back to the Xiao residence to get help. Chapter 76 - The Rampaging Beasts Counterattacked

Chapter 76: The Rampaging Beasts Counterattacked

The ferocious beasts weren¡¯t in a hurry. They followed behind like cats after mice, whose target was the Xiao family. The members of the Tiger Mercenary Group were shocked by this unforeseen event and regained theirposure. They looked at Xia Muqing with admiration. Xia Muqing blinked gently and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see what would happen to the Xiao family?¡± They nodded vigorously. Of course they wanted to, even in their dreams. Xia Muqing led them towards the Xiao residence. She raised her head and stuck out her chest, as if she was venting all her grievances for the past few days. Many people witnessed Xiao Chenglin fleeing desperately for his life, as he was being chased by a ferocious beast. They were all astonished. In the past, this sight would always happen to other people. This was the first time a member of the Xiao family was being hunted and chased. After asking around, they knew that the Xiao family was in trouble so, everyone trailed after them. This also caused the crowd behind Xia Muqing to swell considerably. This also showed how poor the rtionships the Xiao family had with the others. It wasn¡¯t unfair for them to end up like this. When they arrived at the Xiao residence, the patriarch of the Xiao family stood at the door with an ancient whistle in his hand. The sound of a bronze gong being struck sounded. The beasts began to struggle again, their bodies twitching uncontrobly with fear in their eyes. Xiao Chenglin snorted arrogantly. ¡°Hmph! These beasts actually dare to bite their master? Grandpa, I¡¯m going to slice all of them into pieces.¡± The ferocity in his tone made one tremble in fear. Those who hade to watch themotion immediately retreated with fear in their eyes. The Xiao family members scanned the people present and their eyes darted on Xia Muqing. ¡°You¡¯re the one who broke our family¡¯s Beast Taming Technique?¡± Xia Muqing raised her head and answered, ¡°Yes.¡± Old Master Xiao asked solemnly, ¡°How did you do that?¡± They only had the first half of the Beast Taming Technique. They had searched for many years for the second half but to no avail. Perhaps it was in this young girl¡¯s hands. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t know how they could control the ferocious beasts. She had only used the beast soul pearl in her body to help these beasts escape the Xiao family¡¯s control. Her gazended on the whistle in Old Master Xiao¡¯s hand, and her eyes darkened. ¡°I naturally did what the Xiao family did.¡± Old Master Xiao didn¡¯t doubt her im. ¡°You have the second half of the Beast Taming Technique?¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes shed but she didn¡¯t deny it. Old Master Xiao suddenly changed his tone and smiled kindly. ¡°You¡¯re connected to the Xiao family by fate. The Beast Taming Technique is split into the first and second half. As long as you hand over the second half, I¡¯ll give you the first half. How does that sound?¡± Xia Muqing pretended to mull over his suggestion before she asked, ¡°What if you lie to me?¡± Old Master Xiao¡¯s smile became even more benevolent. ¡°We¡¯ll be allies from now on. We¡¯ll share the resources in the Sunset Mountains. You can join our Xiao family. How about I treat you as an esteemed elder guest?¡± Xia Muqing rubbed her chin and seemed to be deep in thought. Jiang Yifan frowned. ¡°Sister, their words can¡¯t be trusted.¡± Old Master Xiao nced at her. ¡°Miss, if you¡¯re so capable, why do you have to be with low-ranking mercenaries? You¡¯ll only ruin your reputation.¡± Everyone felt humiliated. Xia Muqing suddenlyughed and said, ¡°What you said makes sense. I can consider it, but I want to take these ferocious beasts with me.¡± Knowing that these ferocious beasts wouldn¡¯t have a good ending, Xia Muqing took the opportunity to make a request. Old Master Xiao agreed readily. With the Beast Taming Technique, they could have as many ferocious beasts as they wanted. Xia Muqing patted the ferocious beasts on the ground and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the mountains.¡± The ferocious beasts looked back at the Xiao residence, their eyes filled with hatred and unwillingness. Sensing their thoughts, Xia Muqing said gently, ¡°I¡¯ll let you have your wish.¡± They thanked her again before leaving. Xia Muqing¡¯s words were mysterious and ambiguous. The Xiao family members didn¡¯t understand, and Old Master Xiao only advised, ¡°Miss, it would be wise if you don¡¯t be too soft-hearted towards these beasts.¡± Chapter 77 - The Mystic Realm Barrier Opened

Chapter 77: The Mystic Realm Barrier Opened

Xia Muqing chuckled. ¡°The Xiao family is indeed very good at this.¡± She was implying that the Xiao family was ruthless and callous. Old Master Xiao¡¯s face darkened. Seeing that the ferocious beasts had disappeared, Xia Muqing smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s all for now. I¡¯lle back to talk to you someday.¡± She returned to the Jiang family and was prepared to leave with them. Old Master Xiao suddenly had his men surround them. ¡°Miss, I think it¡¯s better if you stay here. I¡¯ll treat you well.¡± Was he preparing to take her by force? Xia Muqing sneered and was about to say something when a glow suddenly appeared in the eastern sky. That was¡­ the barrier of the mystic realm opening. No one cared about anything else as they all scurried towards the east. The Xiao family was no exception. Only the members of the Tiger Mercenary Group remained where they were. They weren¡¯t prepared to enter the secret realm anyway. Xia Muqing said to them, ¡°You guys can go back. I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± Jiang Yifan pulled her back and asked, ¡°Sister, are you going to the secret realm?¡± Xia Muqing nodded. He added, ¡°I want to go with you, Sister.¡± These words made the Jiang family lose theirposure. Seeing that he insisted, they wanted to go together. Jiang Yifan shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t have to follow me. Sister can protect me, right?¡± He smiled at Xia Muqing with a hint of cunningness. Feeling his fingers in her palm, Xia Muqing nodded and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll bring him back safely.¡± Only then did the Jiang couple agree with relief, as they watched them leave. Xia Muqing asked, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± The reason why she had agreed earlier was because the youth had written a few words on her palm: Soul Returning Pearl. That was why Xia Muqing was here. Jiang Yifan chuckled. ¡°Sister, you have the smell of a nightmare beast on you, but you didn¡¯t bring it with you to the mountains. That nightmare beast must be in the middle of its evolution and is unconscious, right?¡± Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows and nodded. The smile on his face widened. ¡°The Soul Returning Pearl is something that can help a nightmare beast. Sister must have heard the rumors and came here. I know where the Soul Returning Pearl is.¡± Xia Muqing was shocked and asked, ¡°Where is it?¡± The youth smiled mysteriously and didn¡¯t speak. He pulled and led Xia Muqing to a ce. Xia Muqing took a look around the area. Wasn¡¯t that the hill she thought was strange? Jiang Yifan smiled. ¡°I got my brother to protect this ce. Back when the secret realm barrier first appeared, I saw light here, and I discovered this.¡± Saying so, he reached into the hill and took out a piece of wood. It was covered in mud and looked filthy. He replied shyly, ¡°I was afraid that it would be discovered, so I stuffed it in.¡± After slowly opening it, a small box appeared in front of her eyes. Xia Muqing took it and opened it. There was a stalk of white grass inside. ¡°This is the Soul Returning Pearl?¡± Jiang Yifan nodded. ¡°People assumed that the Soul Returning Pearl is a pearl. In reality, it is a medicinal ingredient.¡± Seeing that he was certain, Xia Muqing asked, ¡°How did you know?¡± With arrogance in his eyes, he said, ¡°Sister, let¡¯s not talk about other things. From astronomy to geography, I know everything.¡± Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t help butugh at his smug look. She rubbed his head and asked, ¡°Then why did you want to enter the mystic realm?¡± His expression suddenly became a little lonely. ¡°My mother was originally the number one expert in the mountain range. But because she gave birth to me, she fell ill. Otherwise, our Tiger Mercenary Group wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this. Only the blood fur can heal her body. The blood fur can only be found in the secret realm.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t expect Liu Yan to really be an expert. She held the Soul Returning Pearl in her hand and said, ¡°I¡¯ll ept the Soul Returning Pearl. As a reward, I¡¯ll bring you to find the blood fur.¡± Chapter 78 - rching for the Blood Fur

Chapter 78: Searching for the Blood Fur

It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. Even if there weren¡¯t any in the mystic realm, there would definitely be some in the Sunset Mountains. Jiang Yifan nodded, his eyes bright. At this moment, everyone had already entered the mystic realm. The two of them quickly entered the halo. They held their hands tightly to prevent themselves from being separated from each other during the teleportation process. With a sh of light, the two of them disappeared. When she opened her eyes again, she was already in the depths of the Sunset Mountains. There were trees that were more than 20 meters tall everywhere, much taller than the trees that surrounded the mountains. She turned around and realized that Jiang Yifan had disappeared. Xia Muqing frowned. This was bad. That boy, Jiang Yifan, had nobat skills. Just as she was about to think of a way to find him, a weak voice sounded. ¡°Sister, I¡¯m here.¡± Xia Muqing looked around. She even looked into the bushes but she still couldn¡¯t find any traces of him. The voice sounded again. ¡°Sister, I¡¯m on top.¡± Xia Muqing looked up and saw him hanging on a tree branch. She couldn¡¯t help butugh. Jiang Yifan didn¡¯t look too happy. He helplessly said, ¡°Sister, can you put me down first?¡± Xia Muqing suppressed herughter and leaped up to save her. ¡°How did you get up there?¡± Jiang Yifan was also very depressed. ¡°When I opened my eyes, I was already hanging on a tree.¡± Without mentioning that again, the two of them quickly surveyed their surroundings. With Jiang Yifan, a walking encyclopedia with her, it really saved her a lot of effort. Basically, the next second after she spotted something, he would be able to give it a name, effect, and purpose. Xia Muqing was getting more surprised. So what he said was true. The two of them quickly found a cave nearby and prepared to settle down here today. Xia Muqing carried Gungun out from her bag carefully. Fortunately, its body was rtively light. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to carry it. Jiang Yifan came over and asked curiously, ¡°Is that the nightmare beast?¡± Xia Muqing asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you know everything? Have you never seen a nightmare beast before?¡± Jiang Yifan quipped, ¡°Nightmare beasts have always been very mysterious. Every one of them takes on a different form, so very few people know what they look like. In addition, their numbers are far too few, and it¡¯s been nearly a hundred years since theyst appeared.¡± Xia Muqing nodded and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is either. I guess it doesn¡¯t know either.¡± Jiang Yifan nodded in understanding. ¡°That¡¯s right. Nightmare beasts have always lived alone. Even if they have children, they will leave them behind. A cub doesn¡¯t know its identity before it matures. When it matures, it will ept its family inheritance.¡± Xia Muqing fed Gungun the Soul Returning Pearl. Gungun¡¯s throat moved, but its small body remained the same. Xia Muqing frowned. Jiang Yifan observed it and said, ¡°This nightmare beast is in the midst of receiving its inheritance now, but it hasn¡¯t reached adulthood.¡± Jiang Yifan thought that it was strange, but Xia Muqing knew the reason. It must have something to do with the attack it had blocked for her previously. However, she didn¡¯t want to borate, and her heart swelled with even more pity for it. Jiang Yifan was puzzled for a moment, but then he stopped thinking about it. He carefully thought about which route he should take tomorrow to find the blood fur. The next day when they woke up, Xia Muqing nced at Gungun as usual before putting it back onto her bag. Jiang Yifan took out apass and continuously tested it. He pointed thepass in the southwest direction, and his eyes lit up. ¡°Sister, let¡¯s go this way.¡± Xia Muqing had no objections and followed him. Their goal was clear: the blood fur. Jiang Yifan exined, ¡°The blood fur is rare because its living environment¡¯s conditions are very harsh. It needs to grow in hot magma, but its surroundings have to be covered in ice before it matures.¡± These two extreme environments had caused the blood fur to bebeled as a legendary item. Chapter 79 - The Mysterious Man

Chapter 79: The Mysterious Man

Jiang Yifan led the way. Along the way, he touched the soil, asionally picking it up to sniff. Xia Muqing trailed behind slowly as if she was taking a vacation. Jiang Yifan suddenly took two steps forward in excitement and pushed the grass aside. It was a natural hot spring. Xia Muqing also took a few curious nces at the hot spring. It was very strange. Although there was a circle of ice bubbles around it, the temperature in the middle was indeed hot. She reached out to touch it. The temperature was quite high. Jiang Yifan eximed in surprise, ¡°It¡¯s around here! The fur must be around here.¡± ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this the Second Young Master of the Tiger Mercenary Group? The Jiang family is finally willing to let you out this time? Don¡¯t they usually protect you like a little chick? Hahaha!¡± A provoking voice sounded. Xia Muqing and Jiang Yifan turned around to see that it was Wang San. He was apanied by members of the Sword Wolf Mercenary Group. When Wang San saw Xia Muqing, his eyes lit up. ¡°Beauty, it¡¯s useless for you to follow this piece of trash. Why don¡¯t you follow me? I¡¯ll protect you well.¡± He was lustful but he didn¡¯t have the guts to be lustful. He knew that the Xiao family wanted her as well, and he had no part in it. But it was good to be able to see her. A pair of lecherous eyes scanned Xia Muqing from head to toe. Her expression turned cold. She touched a leaf and threw it out casually. Wang San suddenly cried out in pain, covering his eyes as he cried out, ¡°Who is it? Who did it? If you have the guts, step forward! Let¡¯s see if I don¡¯t beat you to death!¡± Xia Muqing was also stunned. She looked around. She had clearly aimed at his left eye just now. Why were both of his eyes wounded? After a while, Wang San recovered. The two of them didn¡¯t realize who the other person was. Wang San said viciously, ¡°Xia Muqing, the Xiao family has their eyes on you. You better be obedient or you¡¯ll be asking for trouble.¡± He was thinking about how much benefit he would gain by giving her to the Xiao family. Before he could figure it out, something ck shot from afar and urately shot into his mouth. Wang San retched twice. After vomiting, he finally saw what it was. It was a rat. The rat wasn¡¯t dead. It wriggled its tail and rolled on the ground. Wang San felt his stomach churn. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore and yelled, ¡°Who is it? Who is it? Come out!¡± Xia Muqing saw it clearly this time. She turned to look at the huge tree in the bushes behind her. Although she still didn¡¯t see anything, she was sure that the rat had shot out from that ce. This person seemed to be a friend and not an enemy, so Xia Muqing didn¡¯t pay attention to him. Wan San howled a few times. Seeing that there was no reaction, he stood rooted to the spot with a darkened expression and vented his anger on Xia Muqing and Jiang Yifan. He said to her men, ¡°Go! Keep the woman alive. Kill the man.¡± Xia Muqing looked at the mercenaries in front of her coldly. Jiang Yifan frowned and took a step forward. He had just moved when he was pushed by Xia Muqing. The Sword Wolf Mercenary Group members had already stepped in front of them. She pressed down on Jiang Yifan¡¯s shoulders, jumped, and kicked them away. Just like a pyramid, the few of them piled up and blocked the rest of the people. Wang San smirked. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be a martial arts practitioner.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t waste any more time talking to him and quickly left the rest of the men lying on the ground. Now that only Wang San was left standing, he finally started to panic and retreated continuously. Xia Muqing approached him step by step and finally smiled at him. Wang San was mesmerized by her smile. In the next second, he felt a sharp pain on his face. Xia Muqing kicked him in the face, causing him to lose a few teeth. The pain from his jawbone was so jarring that Wang San couldn¡¯t even speak. His entire right cheek was swelling at a visible rate. Chapter 80 - Searching for the Blood Fur

Chapter 80: Searching for the Blood Fur

Xia Muqing said, ¡°Don¡¯t talk if you don¡¯t know how to talk.¡± Wang San covered his face and didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. However, the hatred in his eyes didn¡¯t diminish at all. Jiang Yifan suddenly cried out, ¡°The blood fur is here!¡± Xia Muqing turned around. At this moment, Wang San ignored the Sword Wolf Mercenary Group members who were lying on the ground and fled. Xia Muqing ignored him and walked to Jiang Yifan. As she approached, she felt a wave of heating at her. But at the same time, she felt a little cold. She asked curiously, ¡°Why is this ce so strange?¡± Jiang Yifan knew what she wanted to ask, and he smiled. ¡°The exterior is ayer of ice, but the inside isva. That¡¯s why there is such a phenomenon.¡± Xia Muqing nodded in understanding. It was obvious that this ce was a cave, but the entrance was blocked by a huge rock. She just didn¡¯t know if it was man-made or natural. Xia Muqing tried to push it with her hand. The stone didn¡¯t look heavy, but no matter how much force she used, it didn¡¯t budge at all. Jiang Yifan frowned and guessed, ¡°This rock should be frozen by the outeryer of ice. I doubt brute force will work. Let¡¯s use our brains.¡± Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows. ¡°So there¡¯s something you don¡¯t know.¡± Because Jiang Yifan had found the blood fur, he was in an excellent mood. He rubbed his head and said, ¡°There are very few records of blood fur. I was only half-guessing after I read the scarce information.¡± The two of them fell into deep thought. The nemesis of ice was definitely something with high temperatures. Something with a high temperature here¡­ The two of them nced at each other and said at the same time, ¡°The hot spring.¡± Since they had thought of a solution, they began. Xia Muqing leaped up and plucked some huge leaves from the top of the trees. After unfolding the leaves, they were half the height of a human. Jiang Yifan skillfully folded these leaves into small bowls to collect the hot spring water. The two of them busied themselves for two hours before finally melting part of the rock at the entrance of the cave. Xia Muqing tried to push the rock and Jiang Yifan stopped collecting more water. She suddenly exerted more force and the rock was pushed away. This was indeed a cave. It was dark inside, but a wave of heat rushed at them. Their faces turned red instantly. The faint sound of water flowing inside led them to know that the magma was in this cave. Just as she was about to enter, a voice sounded again. ¡°Thank you for your generous help on behalf of the Xiao family. We¡¯ll ept this blood fur.¡± Xiao Chenglin and his men walked out from the shadows. A group of ferocious beasts followed behind them, and they were all gigantic. They had arrived a long time ago. When they noticed that the both of them were thinking of a way to open the cave, they didn¡¯t reveal themselves. When Xia Muqing saw Wang San behind them, she knew that he had called for reinforcement. Xiao Chenglin looked at the opened cave and greed shed across his eyes. Coincidentally, he had heard of blood fur before. It was a priceless treasure. He didn¡¯t care about Xia Muqing and herpanion. As for the heavily injured Wang San, he felt that he was too useless. He couldn¡¯t even deal with a woman. He had evidently forgotten about the time when he was being chased by the ferocious beasts. Xiao Chenglin said arrogantly, ¡°Move aside. From now on, this is the Xiao family¡¯s territory.¡± His exact words had already resulted in the loss of many people¡¯s belongings. Therefore, the Xiao family automatically stepped forward and surrounded the area, as if they were taking over the territory. Xia Muqing asked, ¡°Who said we are giving it to you?¡± When Xiao Chenglin saw Xia Muqing¡¯s expression, he recalled how embarrassed he had been in front of everyone. He hissed angrily, ¡°Since you don¡¯t want to leave, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a strange tune sounded from his mouth. The ferocious beasts lying on the ground seemed to be guided towards the two of them. Chapter 81 - The Xiao Family is Looking for Trouble

Chapter 81: The Xiao Family is Looking for Trouble

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing shielded Jiang Yifan behind her before she stared right into the ferocious beasts¡¯ eyes. The ferocious beasts stopped in their tracks, their eyes flickering with struggle. Xiao Chenglin didn¡¯t panic. He took out a white flute that he had prepared. Everyone had seen this flute before in Old Master Xiao¡¯s possession. As soon as the flute was yed, the eyes of the ferocious beasts sparkled with a red light. They opened their mouths and growled at the two of them. Xia Muqing could only retreat with Jiang Yifan. There were too many ferocious beasts and she was unwilling to hurt them, so she was at a disadvantage. A figure swiftly shed past the two of them, followed by the sound of heavy objectsnding on the ground. The ferocious beasts that were the closest to Xia Muqing were all sent flying. Only the beast closest to Jiang Yifan was unharmed. Fortunately, Xia Muqing pulled him in time and he wasn¡¯t injured. Xiao Chenglin¡¯s expression darkened. He raised his head and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s hiding?¡± Naturally, no one responded. The surroundings were silent. His expression was somewhat ugly. He continued blowing the flute and said, ¡°No matter whoes today, you¡¯re all dead.¡± After being tricked a few times, Xiao Chenglin hadpletely lost his patience. Initially, he wanted to spare Xia Muqing¡¯s because of her beauty. But now, it seemed like there wasn¡¯t a need. Xiao Chenglin had just finished speaking when there was a series of earth-shaking sounds behind him. The moment they turned around, their expressions became filled with terror. Arge group of ferocious beasts charged in their direction, and the scene was like a beast tide. Wang San shouted in a daze, ¡°Beast tide, beast tide!¡± They wanted to flee, but in the blink of an eye, the ferocious beasts appeared in front of them. However, they didn¡¯t hurt them and instead stepped over them. Jiang Yifan looked fearful and nervous as he pulled Xia Muqing to escape. Xia Muqing smiled instead and said, ¡°Long time no see.¡± Then, under Jiang Yifan¡¯s stunned gaze, these beasts sat obediently in front of Xia Muqing and raised their right ws in response. Putting their rtionship aside, just the way these beasts sat like a human made them look awkward. A snake had actually used its tail to mimic the shape of two legs as it sat on the ground. Needless to say, the vicious birds tried their best to straighten their bodies. Xia Muqing smiled and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be afraid. These are my friends.¡± Jiang Yifan was dumbfounded. A figure hiding in the dark almost fell from the tree, causing the leaves to tremble. Xia Muqing¡¯s gaze swept across the figure casually. That person¡¯s body stiffened and quickly changed to another hiding spot. The members of the Xiao family were still being sat on by the ferocious beasts as they struggled to crawl out from the cracks. Xiao Chenglin¡¯s mboyant clothes were covered in weeds and mud. He had never suffered such humiliation, but he was unwilling to admit defeat. He couldn¡¯t defeat them, so he had to swallow his anger. Xia Muqing spoke to the beasts and walked towards the entrance with Jiang Yifan. Jiang Yifan nervously jumped over the ferocious beasts on the ground. He would probably never forget this experience. After the two entered the cave, the beasts dispersed. Xiao Chenglin stared angrily at the entrance of the cave. Wang San whispered with fear, ¡°Master Xiao, why don¡¯t we retreat?¡± Xiao Chenglin spat angrily and said, ¡°No, we¡¯ll wait here.¡± After Xia Muqing entered, she felt waves of rolling sounds beneath her feet. Was the magma beneath her feet? Jiang Yifan also sensed it. He stomped on the rocks beneath his feet, causing the vibrations. Now, they were certain that the magma was under their feet. The two of them became much more careful. It would be terrible if they fell. The closer they got to the cave, the faster the temperature rose. When they walked in again, they saw a little fire. There was a hole the size of a water tank on the ground, and one could see the surging magma inside. Chapter 82 - Obtaining the Blood Fur

Chapter 82: Obtaining the Blood Fur

Around the entrance of the cave was a red nt that resembled coral. Jiang Yifan was delighted. ¡°That is the blood fur!¡± The blood fur was still a distance away from them, and there was magma between them. It was a problem to get their hands on it. Xia Muqing spotted a vine nearby and her eyes lit up. ¡°I have an idea. Let¡¯s use that.¡± Jiang Yifan frowned. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous.¡± If they weren¡¯t careful, they would fall into the magma. Xia Muqing tugged hard at the vine in her hand. She felt that it was strong enough, so she swung herself out with it. Jiang Yifan was shocked, but he could only watch nervously. Xia Muqing swung the vine above the blood fur and reached out to gently touch it. She was initially worried that it would be hot, but she didn¡¯t expect the blood fur to be warm. She used her strength to push against the wall before she quickly plucked the blood fur. Just as she was about to return with the blood fur, a ck shadow suddenly appeared and rushed towards the blood fur in her hand. Xia Muqing instinctively extended her leg and kicked the man. He was kicked into the mouth of the magma and it sshed and burned half of his face. Xiao Chenglin wailed in agony as hey on the ground. Xia Muqing mocked him as it served him right. But because of the impact just now, she couldn¡¯t return to the surface. Just as she was about to move again, the vine hanging from her hand suddenly fell and cracked. For a moment, she didn¡¯t dare to move, afraid that if she did, the vine wouldpletely break. The vine kept making cracking sounds. Xia Muqing quickly scanned her surroundings, hoping to find a ce where she can put her legs against. There were smooth stone walls everywhere, and there wasn¡¯t even a spot where one could step on. Xiao Chenglin covered his face and ran out of the cave amidst the chaos. At this moment, the two of them had no time to care about him. After a while, before they could think of a solution, the vine above her head suddenly dropped a few more inches. The remaining vine was only connected by the veryst bit. The next second, the vine broke. Xia Muqing leaped up with all her might, wanting to grab hold of another vine. However, she was still a distance away. Her fingers grazed the vines before she descended. Amidst Jiang Yifan¡¯s scream of horror, a figure rushed in quickly and grabbed Xia Muqing¡¯s body. He tapped his feet on the surface of theva and he returned to the ground unharmed with Xia Muqing in his arms. The moment theynded, the person disappeared. Xia Muqing could only see a hint of a golden mask with embroidered edges. She didn¡¯t see anything else. Jiang Yifan heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Sister, thank goodness you¡¯re fine.¡± Otherwise, he would really be a sinner. Xia Muqing stroked his head to assure him that she was fine. Jiang Yifan became excited again. ¡°That person¡¯s internal energy is too strong. He must have used his internal energy to wrap his entire body and that was why he could move freely in the magma.¡± Xia Muqing nodded in understanding. He asked again, ¡°Sister, do you know that person from earlier? He seemed to be following us all the time. He has already saved us several times.¡± Xia Muqing shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Let¡¯s go.¡± The two of them walked out of the cave with the blood fur. Xiao Chenglin appeared again and blocked the entrance of the cave. Half of his face was corroded by the magma, and he looked extremely terrifying. His sinister voice sounded, ¡°Hand over the blood fur.¡± Xia Muqing raised her leg and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you ever learn your lesson?¡± He subconsciously took a step back, but there was no sign of anger on his face. He mocked them. ¡°You¡¯ve all fallen into my trap. I¡¯ve already ced poison in the cave. As long as the flood fur is touched with poison, it will be useless. None of you will get what I can¡¯t get, haha!¡± Xia Muqing kicked him away and he crashed into a huge tree. He spat out a mouthful of blood and it was unknown if he was dead or alive. Only now did Jiang Yifan notice that some white powder had fallen from the top of the cave. The spots where the blood fur had touched the white powder had slowly turned ck and rough. Chapter 83 - Rock Spirit Powder

Chapter 83: Rock Spirit Powder

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios He pinched and sniffed the powder before putting some into his mouth. Xia Muqing quickly stopped him. ¡°This is poison. You¡¯re crazy.¡± Jiang Yifan¡¯s expression was ugly. ¡°This is Rock Spirit Powder. It can turn medicinal ingredients into rocks. The more precious a medicinal ingredient is, the more severe the effects would be.¡± Xia Muqing also frowned. ¡°Then what do we do? Let¡¯s find another one?¡± Looking at the blood fur that had turned into charcoal, it was obvious that it couldn¡¯t be used. Jiang Yifan shook his head. ¡°There will only be one piece of blood fur in a region. There definitely won¡¯t be a second one.¡± Xia Muqing asked again, ¡°Is there any way to save this one?¡± Jiang Yifan thought of something and hesitated. In the end, he shook his head. A Rainbow Phoenix suddenlynded on Xia Muqing¡¯s head and chirped non-stop. Xia Muqing recognized her. She was the little princess of the Phoenix n. She asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± The Rainbow Phoenix chirped. ¡°I came to y with you.¡± Xia Muqing carried her in her arms and said, ¡°Go and y with your friends. I still have something to do.¡± A Rainbow Phoenix who had not been reborn through blood had no means of protecting itself. She was no stronger than a small eagle. The phoenix pecked her hand unhappily and said, ¡°I finally managed to sneak out to look for you, but you actually want me to go back.¡± Xia Muqing was even more surprised. ¡°You came out alone?¡± She raised her head proudly. Xia Muqing felt that it was absurd and was about to lecture it when the phoenix quickly changed the topic. ¡°What is this ck thing?¡± Xia Muqing could only give a simple exnation and instruct it to hurry back and not disturb her. The phoenix acted as if it had been underestimated and angrily said, ¡°I have a way to restore this thing.¡± Xia Muqing was shocked and quickly asked, ¡°What way?¡± The Rainbow Phoenix raised its head smugly. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? The divine fire of our Phoenix n can cleanse all living things in the world. A mere poison is nothing difficult.¡± Xia Muqing quickly asked Jiang Yifan, ¡°Yifan, can the divine fire of the phoenix n cleanse this blood fur?¡± Jiang Yifan knew that Xia Muqing couldmunicate with beasts, and he wasn¡¯t surprised. Hearing this question, it nodded and shook its head. ¡°Indeed, but the Phoenix n¡¯s tracks are hidden. We can¡¯t find them. Even if we find them, they won¡¯t lend us their divine fire.¡± Xia Muqing pointed at the Rainbow Phoenix in her hand. ¡°This is a phoenix.¡± Jiang Yifan widened his eyes. This colorful little chick was actually a phoenix? His incredulous gaze infuriated the phoenix and it spat out a mouthful of fire. Jiang Yifan had been a bit nervous, but the moment the fire appeared, it was extinguished by the air. Not even a wisp of smoke remained. The atmosphere was a little awkward. The phoenixy in Xia Muqing¡¯s hand and covered its head with her hand. It was too embarrassed to face anyone. Amusement danced in Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes. She touched its little body and said, ¡°Little phoenix hasn¡¯t grown up yet. You will be very powerful when you grow up.¡± When the phoenix heard that, it perked up and stood up straight. A smile also shed across Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes. Xia Muqing added, ¡°I have some ties with this child¡¯s parents. They should be willing to lend us their divine fire.¡± Jiang Yifan was even more shocked. She actually knew the Phoenix n? She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Sister, are you a human or a beast?¡± Xia Muqing poked his forehead and said, ¡°Of course I¡¯m a human.¡± This was the middle section of the Sunset Mountains. The Phoenix n lived in the depths, and they immediately set off for the depths. Coincidentally, Xia Muqing also wanted to go deep into the mountains to see what the ck eagle was up to. It actually didn¡¯t look for her. Did it go crazy ying at home? Knowing that the ck eagle loved to y, she didn¡¯t take it to heart. Chapter 84 - The Second Half of the Beast Taming Technique

Chapter 84: The Second Half of the Beast Taming Technique

During their journey, Jiang Yifan would always find some treasure from inconspicuous ces that would charm the rainbow phoenix. It stayed by his side the entire time, and it would go wherever he said. Its elders would probably be furious if they were here. Even the most overbearing princess of the Phoenix n had times when it was so obedient. If Jiang Yifan found any spirit fruit, he would feed it to the phoenix. If he found any heavenly treasure, he would hand it to Xia Muqing. Over time, Xia Muqing¡¯s bag became heavier and bigger, and the little phoenix grew fatter and rounder. After being nourished by all kinds of spirit fruit, she had grown much bigger. The two humans and a beast reached a cave and prepared to rest. After entering, they saw someone sitting in the cave. Jiang Yifan stepped forward and politely asked if they could stay for the night. That person had his back facing them and he didn¡¯t make a sound. Xia Muqing looked at the Daoist robes he was wearing and frowned. People from this era wouldn¡¯t wear such clothes. She turned around and was stunned when she saw the person¡¯s face. Jiang Yifan also turned around. The phoenix in his hand squeaked in fright, and he quickly calmed it. It was a skeleton, and his Daoist robes were intact. Therefore, from the back, it looked no different from a living person. There was a book in the skeleton¡¯s hand. Xia Muqing flipped it over and saw the title: Beast Taming Technique (Second Part). So this was the second half of the Beast Taming Technique that the Xiao family had been coveting. Perhaps the Xiao family had found the first half of the Beast Taming Technique in the mystic realm. Xia Muqing picked it up and Jiang Yifan eximed, ¡°Be careful!¡± The skeleton suddenly leaped up and extended a pair of ws towards Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing quickly rolled and dodged. She picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at the skeleton, shattering its arm. However, he still attacked Xia Muqing. Jiang Yifan picked up a tree branch and knocked the skeleton¡¯s legs, causing them to break a little. However, this also attracted the skeleton¡¯s attention. It turned and attacked Jiang Yifan. Jiang Yifan threw the phoenix into a safe ce. Just as the skeleton was about to touch Jiang Yifan, it froze. Xia Muqing grabbed the back of its neck and with a jerk, his head fell to the ground. The head happened to fall beside the phoenix, and it flew back to Jiang Yifan in fright. Furious that he had just thrown it away, it pecked his head a few times. Jiang Yifan tolerated its tantrums patiently, hugging andforting the little phoenix. Xia Muqing looked at the two halves of the skeletons on the ground and felt a little uneasy. She suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else to rest.¡± They naturally had no objections. Just as they were about to walk out of the cave, Xia Muqing instinctively pulled Jiang Yifan away and they rolled on the ground. The headless skeleton flew over their heads. If Xia Muqing hadn¡¯t reacted in time just now, their heads would have been severed right now. Xia Muqing quickly prepared herself forbat before she fought the corpse. However, the skull on the other end of the cave also flew over and opened its mouth at Jiang Yifan. Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t split herself up and could shift the fight closer to him. Although the skull couldn¡¯t die, it was nevertheless quite easy to deal with. Jiang Yifan could block it with a tree branch for a while. The little phoenix was unhappy. This thing had frightened her just now. It immediately took a deep breath and spat out. Just as they thought that it was useless, an extremely hot me spewed out towards the skeleton. The skeleton was instantly burnt to ashes. Jiang Yifan paused. The hair on his forehead had beenpletely burned away. Xia Muqing quickly took a look and said, ¡°Phoenix, well done. Have another try!¡± She straightened and took another deep breath, more forcefully than she had used earlier. Pfft! Chapter 85 - The Strange Skeleton

Chapter 85: The Strange Skeleton

This time, the me was extinguished before it could exit its mouth. Xia Muqing continued her actions in silence. The little phoenix tried again, but the result was the same. A strange scene appeared in the cave. Xia Muqing was trying her best to fight the skeleton. And the skeleton would split into several parts and all would still be moving. The phoenix tried its best to catch its breath to try again, but it failed to conjure a me. Jiang Yifanforted the disappointed phoenix. The little phoenix refused to admit defeat and tried again. This time, it really seeded. However, the position of the mes was wrong, and they hit the dried grass at the side. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t harbor any hope. She speechlessly led the skeleton parts towards the mes. The skeleton had already been smashed up until its limbs were severed. Xia Muqing threw them into the fire one by one. Finally, it was quiet. However, the cave was burning. The two of them and the phoenix quickly ran out of the cave. The entire cave was charred ck and the raging fire was still spreading. Xia Muqing looked at the trees around her and frowned. The phoenix sucked with its mouth, and the mes were sucked back into its body. Xia Muqing said, ¡°You really know how to recycle.¡± The phoenix didn¡¯t understand what it meant and cocked its head adorably. Seeing that they couldn¡¯t stay in this dark cave anymore, the few of them could only find another cave to rest. Xia Muqing took out the Beast Taming Technique and the more she read, the angrier she became. After reading it, she closed it with a m, her face filled with anger. Jiang Yifan asked, ¡°Sister, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xia Muqing casually threw the book to him and said, ¡°This thing is used to satisfy one¡¯s own selfish desires. It cruelly cuts off the emotions of beasts and turns them into puppets that can only obey humans. It¡¯s really cruel.¡± The Xiao family had yet to turn the ferocious beast into this state, probably because they didn¡¯t have the second half. After Jiang Yifan finished reading the book, he frowned. When he flipped to thest page, something fell to the ground. The two of them looked over. It was red and it looked like a card. Xia Muqing picked it up. There were some holes on it, like¡­ a flute. She quickly took back the Beast Taming Technique and flipped to the page she had just seen. There was an introduction written on it. The red and white flute were a pair of weapons that could tame beasts. The white flute¡¯s sound could make a wild beast listen to its master. When the flute was yed, the wild beast would convulse and be in so much pain that it would wish for death. The red flute¡¯s sound could increase a wild beast¡¯s attack power. Note: The two flutes can¡¯t be used at the same time, or the wild beast will lose control and escape. Reading this, Xia Muqing found a way to deal with the Xiao family. After carefully putting away the red flute, thee both of them and the phoenix rested. The next day, Xia Muqing suggested that they traveled faster so that they could leave the mystic realm earlier. They naturally had no objections. The two of them led the little phoenix straight into the depths of the Sunset Mountains. On the way to the Phoenix n, they would pass by the ck eagle¡¯s residence. Xia Muqing decided to visit the ck eagle first. It took them three days to reach the depths. The moment she entered, she felt that this ce was different from the middle section just now. The ferocious beasts that could be seen everywhere all looked malicious. However, they were different from the animals in the middle range. They preferred to live alone. Xia Muqing and the others had just entered a forest when they saw a cheetah slowly walking towards them. It approached them gracefully, but its eyes were fixated on them. Jiang Yifan absolutely believed that if they dared to bolt, this cheetah would chase them as fast as it could. Xia Muqing took two steps forward. As soon as she moved, the cheetah pounced on her. It was swift and fierce and almost instantly pressed Xia Muqing under its body. Jiang Yifan was about to help when he heard Xia Muqing¡¯s voice. ¡°All right, stop fooling around. Don¡¯t lick me. It¡¯s very ticklish.¡± He stopped again, his expression already indifferent. Chapter 86 - Something Happened to the Black Eagle

Chapter 86: Something Happened to the ck Eagle

Why was Xia Muqing so popr with the beasts? The little phoenix chattered in his ear. ¡°Because she smells very good.¡± Unfortunately, Jiang Yifan didn¡¯t understand beastnguage, and he only heard chatter. ¡°Are you hungry again?¡± With that, he took out a red spirit fruit and handed it to her. The little phoenix was very angry and spat out a mouthful of air. Then, it took the spirit fruit and took a huge bite. Jiang Yifan was a little confused. He turned around and saw that the cheetah was still lying on Xia Muqing¡¯s body, staring at him. Unable to withstand the intensity of his gaze, he took a step back. But the cheetah took a step forward. The two of them were in a deadlock. Jiang Yifan noticed that the cheetah was looking at the fruit in the phoenix¡¯s mouth. He was enlightened. He took out a spirit fruit and threw it over. The cheetah indeed opened its mouth to catch it. However, the spirit fruit was too small for it. It finished the fruit and continued to stare at him. Jiang Yifan had no choice but to take out another one. However, he was stopped by the little phoenix. The little phoenix pped its wings and flew to the cheetah¡¯s head, pecking its head ruthlessly. The cheetah didn¡¯t dare to retaliate as it had smelled the phoenix scent from its body. It could only shake its head repeatedly, trying to throw the phoenix off. The little phoenix¡¯s body swayed in the air with its movements. ¡°Cheetah, stop,¡± Xia Muqing said. Jiang Yifan suppressed his fear and hurriedly took the phoenix away from his head. The phoenix was restless in his hand, and it spread its wings as if it was ready to fight to the death. Jiang Yifan guessed what she wanted and quickly coaxed, ¡°I won¡¯t give it any more spirit fruits.¡± As expected, the phoenix fell silent. The corners of Xia Muqing¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°You¡¯re really embarrassing all the phoenixes.¡± Xia Muqing snorted softly when she said that. The phoenix, who had always been sensible, lowered its head and stopped fooling around. The cheetah came over aggrievedly and soughtfort from Xia Muqing. It thought of something and howled again. Xia Muqing¡¯s expression changed and she asked, ¡°What happened to the ck eagle and the rest?¡± The cheetah said, ¡°A woman appeared at their cave previously, and I haven¡¯t seen them since.¡± He knew that the ck eagle had a close bond with Xia Muqing, and so he paid attention to it. Xia Muqing frowned and signaled Jiang Yifan with her eyes. She then quickly rushed towards the cliff where the ck eagle lived. The cheetah followed her and said, ¡°Come, I¡¯ll bring you there.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and sat on its back. She waved at Jiang Yifan before she left. The cheetah began to elerate. They were truly worthy of being called swift beasts. In an instant, Jiang Yifan could only see their shadows. He also knew that there was a change in the situation. Without dy, he relied on the little phoenix¡¯s instructions and rushed towards the mountain cliff. Xia Muqing was the first to reach the cliff. Nothing seemed to have changed here, but when she entered the cave they lived in, everything in the cave had fallen to the ground in a mess. Just as the cheetah had said, the entire eagle family had disappeared. The cheetah suddenly growled softly, ¡°We didn¡¯t hear any sounds at all in the mountain.¡± One could tell from a nce at this scene that there had been an intense fight. They were only puzzled. Despite the strength of the Azure Cloud Eagle n, they were actually taken away silently. Was that person really that strong? Xia Muqing was very worried, but the only clue was the woman the cheetah had mentioned. Xia Muqing asked, ¡°Did you see that woman¡¯s face clearly?¡± The cheetah scratched its head. After thinking for a long time, it said in distress, ¡°I think I saw her clearly, but don¡¯t humans all look the same?¡± Xia Muqing paused before asking, ¡°Then did you see any special ornaments or clothes on her?¡± Chapter 87 - Shaman Tribe This time, the cheetah answered quickly, ¡°That woman is wearing a tall hat with many white rocks swaying around it. She makes sounds whenever she moves.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t think of anything from its description. Realizing that she couldn¡¯t understand its meaning, the cheetah spun around in a panic and carved a pit in the ground. Xia Muqing spotted a silver essory. She picked it up and shook it. It was a small bell. The cheetah hurriedly said, ¡°That¡¯s it. That woman has many of these on her.¡± A look of realization shed across Xia Muqing¡¯s face as she came to a realization. It seemed like it belonged to a tribe. In this world, the people who dressed like that were the shamans. Xia Muqing¡¯s expression turned even more solemn. If it was really the doing of the shamans, what were they trying to do? The shamans were very mysterious. They were skilled in witchcraft, medical skills, and poison. They were always elusive and every time they appeared, they would definitely cause a bloodbath that was feared by everyone. She wasn¡¯t in a hurry to look for them. She slowly scrutinized the cave. Perhaps she could find some other clues. There weren¡¯t many things in the cave to begin with, and after a quick search, the items on the ground were restored to their original state. Other than the traces of a fight on the stone walls of the cave, there was nothing else. But she didn¡¯t find anything. At this time, Jiang Yifan and the phoenix had also arrived. They were also shocked to see this cave in this state. Since she couldn¡¯t find any more clues, Xia Muqing had no choice but to give up. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Phoenix n first. If we want to find the ck eagle and the rest, I¡¯m afraid we have to find that mysterious shaman.¡± Jiang Yifan pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°The Shaman Tribe lives on the ind of Soro. They stay aloof from the world and usually they won¡¯t appear unless¡ª¡±¡± Xia Muqing pressed on, ¡°Unless what?¡± Jiang Yifan shook his head. a€?There are very few records about the shamans. In the ancient era, a powerful expert was able to discover the secret of the Shaman Tribe. They worship the Magus God their entire life. Only when the Magus God gives any instructions or prophecies, only then will their n appear.¡± Xia Muqing frowned. There was no God in this world. So who was the Magus God? She had no choice but to put it aside for the time being. The cheetah had already left. Just as Xia Muqing and Xia Muqing were about to leave, a cloud of fog rose and shrouded the two of them and the bird. The surrounding space shackled them, and Jiang Yifan fell to the ground. Even the phoenix had closed its eyes and fainted. Xia Muqing wanted to go to them, but she was feeling dizzy and she couldn¡¯t even stand properly. Atst, she caught a glimpse of a ck shadow suddenly charging in. When she opened her eyes again, the scenery in front of her had changed. She was stepping on a field of green grass, and a few children were ying in the distance. She carefully touched the grass and trees around her. Everything was real. Xia Muqing looked down and saw that there were no changes to her body. She only clenched her fists. She actually didn¡¯t have any internal energy left, and she was still very weak. The children in the distance hooted loudly. Xia Muqing approached them and saw that the children had surrounded a little boy. They were scolding him. They kept throwing rocks at the little boy as they cursed. ¡°Kill this bastard! Kill him!¡± Xia Muqing frowned and stepped forward. ¡°What are you all doing?¡± When the children saw her, they immediately dispersed. Xia Muqing heaved a sigh of relief. Although she had shouted arrogantly just now, she might not be able to defeat these children now. The little boy buried his head in his arms and squatted on the ground, motionless. Xia Muqing said softly, ¡°All right, it¡¯s all right. You don¡¯t have to be afraid.¡± The boy slowly raised his head. Chapter 88 - Illusionary Mirror

Chapter 88: Illusionary Mirror

His face made her gasp. He was too adorable. The boy had a pair ofrge and round eyes, long eyshes, a sharp nose, and small red lips. He looked especially exquisite. It was a pity that he was too thin, and there was no flesh on his face. The boy¡¯s eyes were a little dull. After a long time, they finally shone. ¡°Thank you, Sister.¡± Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t help but reach out to touch his face. ¡°Why did they hit you?¡± The boy shuddered and lowered his eyes in disappointment. ¡°Father is dead. My mother doesn¡¯t want me anymore. They all say that I¡¯m a bastard. Sister, I¡¯m not a monster.¡± He was afraid that Xia Muqing would ignore him because of this, so he exined nervously. Xia Muqing opened her mouth and asked, ¡°Why did you say that you¡¯re not a monster?¡± The boy continued, ¡°They said that b*stards will be monsters when they grow up.¡± Xia Muqing suddenly felt a lump in her throat. She held his hand and said, ¡°Come, I¡¯ll bring you home.¡± Fear shed across the boy¡¯s downcast eyes, but he still held her hand. He didn¡¯t want to leave this source of warmth. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t notice that she had followed the boy to a vige. She was already panting heavily by the time she reached this ce, and she tried to catch her breath. The boy stopped and asked, ¡°Sister, are you very tired?¡± Xia Muqing paused awkwardly and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s continue.¡± She keptining in her heart. What kind of ce was this? Why did she have to pant with every other step she took? Despite saying that, the boy still slowed down subtly. This touched Xia Muqing. He was such a considerate and cute child, how could those people bear to hurt him? Everything here was no different from an ordinary mountain vige. On the way, when they asionally met some vigers, they would quickly avoid the boy when they saw him, as if he was a dirty thing. The boy was used to it, but now, he felt ashamed and could only tighten his grip. Xia Muqing could feel his uneasiness and she clenched his fist tightly. The boy lived in a dpidated hut with leaks everywhere. No, to be exact, it resembled a fence. It was like a ce for livestock. Xia Muqing felt even more pity for him. She couldn¡¯t imagine how this child had survived here alone. This emotion turned into anger when she saw the people inside. The boy called out timidly, ¡°Mother.¡± Xia Muqing frowned and looked over. A woman dressed in luxurious clothes sat in the courtyard. Any hairpin on her head could allow this child to live a much morefortable life. The woman seemed to despise everything here, including her son. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said, ¡°Pack up and follow me.¡± The boy¡¯s eyes were filled with disbelief and surprise. ¡°Mother, are you here to bring me home?¡± The woman put down the handkerchief in her hand and finally smiled. ¡°Yes, but I don¡¯t think you have anything to pack. Juste with me.¡± Her disdainful gaze was obvious. The boy approached her, but she avoided him and instructed, ¡°Xiaotao, bring him along. Let¡¯s go.¡± The servant behind the woman also had a sh of impatience. She barely responded and said, ¡°Yes, Aunt.¡± The boy didn¡¯t notice any of this as he was too happy. However, Xia Muqing felt that this woman didn¡¯t really want to take the boy away. The woman looked as if she had just seen her. She frowned and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± The boy answered first, ¡°Mother, this sister saved me today.¡± The woman nodded with a shrug and left. However, Xia Muqing could clearly see a hint of disgust sh across the woman¡¯s eyes when the boy called her Mother. Chapter 89 - Found the Exit

Chapter 89: Found the Exit

She stopped the boy and was about to say something, but the boy interjected with shining eyes. ¡°Sister, I have a mother. I¡¯m not a b*stard anymore.¡± The anticipation in his eyes stooped Xia Muqing from breaking his beautiful dream. She wanted to say something but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to do so now. The boy followed them happily. Xia Muqing stayed in the courtyard alone and sighed. She stopped thinking about him and began to observe everything around her, trying to figure out a way to get out. At night, she finally discovered a strange thing. The periphery of the vige seemed to be wrapped in a thin membrane. Nothing could be seen when she was inside, but once she tried to leave the vige, she would be blocked by something invisible. After three days of investigation, she finally found a breakthrough. There was a well on the west side of the vige, and there would be ripples from time to time. She had observed the well for three days. These ripples were connected to the surrounding barriers, and she felt that this should be the exit. She threw a stone into the well and without making a sound, the stone disappeared. She picked up another bigger rock. Normally, she could easily pick up a rock with one hand. Now, she hugged it with both hands and used all her strength to move it to the well. When she reached the well, she was already sweating profusely. She cursed again and was desperate to leave. After throwing the rock in, it disappeared as expected. It seemed like she was right. If she wanted to leave, she just had to jump. Just as she was about to close her eyes and jump, she opened them again. She stared at the well for a long moment, then sighed and pulled her feet back. She was still worried about that boy. How was he now? Since she couldn¡¯t forget him, she decided to take a look. Xia Muqing asked the vigers about the woman¡¯s identity. She was a famous person. She was married to the boy¡¯s father previously. After he died, she quickly curried favor with the master of a rich family in the vige and became his concubine. After Xia Muqing heard that, she rushed to Old Master Wang¡¯s house. It was easy to find. All she had to do was head to the most luxurious residence in the vige. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t barge in. The main reason was that she couldn¡¯t do it with her current skills. So she could only resort to the old method. She climbed over the wall. Fortunately, the houses in the vige weren¡¯t too tall. Xia Muqing used a tree to slowly climb onto the wall. She was already panting from exhaustion. She sat on the wall and wiped the sweat off her face. She despised this wretched ce again. She had never been in such a sorry state. Crash! She sat on the ground. Her fall attracted some people. A few servants walked over. Xia Muqing quickly rolled and hid in nearby bushes before avoiding them. Just then, a stray cat jumped off the wall. ¡°So it¡¯s a cat. Xiaohong, you¡¯re making a huge fuss.¡± The person called Xiaohong said, ¡°Sister Yun, there have been too many things happening recently. I¡¯m a little worried. That child has fled countless many times. Every time he is captured, he is beaten up badly. He looks extremely pitiful.¡± However, Xiaoyun was ultimately still the older one. She warned, ¡°No matter how much you pity him, you can¡¯t be soft-hearted. If he escapes again, we¡¯re finished.¡± After saying that, she sighed and said, ¡°Who asked him to have such a mother?¡± With that, she left, leaving Xiaohong alone by the field. She came to gather firewood. Xia Muqing could hear them clearly. Her intuition told her that the child they were talking about was that boy. When Xiaoyun approached, she quickly subdued her from behind and covered her mouth when she was about to scream. She then pulled her behind the bushes. She lowered her voice and said, ¡°Don¡¯t move. I just want to ask you a few questions. If you cooperate, I¡¯ll let you off. Otherwise, you don¡¯t have to live.¡± Chapter 90 - Saving People

Chapter 90: Saving People

Xiaohong had never been in a situation like this before, and her eyes immediately reddened with fright as she nodded repeatedly. Xia Muqing moved her hand to her neck and used a little more force as a warning. She let go of Xiaohong when she began to struggle. Xiaohong panted heavily. The suffocating feeling just now made her even more anxious. Xia Muqing asked, ¡°Was the child you mentioned brought back by a concubine two days ago?¡± Only now did Xiaohong realize that Xia Muqing had overheard their conversation, and she nodded in fear. Xia Muqing¡¯s expression turned cold and she asked, ¡°Why did that child run?¡± Xiaohong stammered, ¡°Madam Liu wanted to offer that child to our master, but that child wasn¡¯t willing.¡± Xia Muqing frowned and subconsciously tightened her grip. Frightened, Xiaohong hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯m not lying. I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± Xia Muqing asked again, ¡°What do you mean by offering him to your master?¡± However, Xiaohong felt a little ufortable this time. Under her threat, she said shyly, ¡°Our master likes both men and women, especially children.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t expect that to be the reason. What followed was zing fury. She knew that the woman had ill intentions towards the boy, but she didn¡¯t expect her to have such disgusting intentions. Even a vicious tiger wouldn¡¯t eat its cubs. Suppressing her anger, she asked, ¡°Where is that child?¡± ¡°The second room on the left.¡± After Xiaohong finished speaking, Xia Muqing used a knife to press against the back of her neck. After Xia Muqing ced her on the ground, she finally dared to breathe. If Xiaohong had dared to turn around to take a look just now, she would have realized that Xia Muqing¡¯s face was already covered in cold sweat. Xiaohong had fainted mainly from fright. Xia Muqing rested for a while before walking out of the bushes. She observed the situation in the residence and slowly walked along the wall. Just as she arrived at the second room, a group of people approached from afar. Xia Muqing was shocked and looked around to see that there was no ce to hide. As the people approached, a small window suddenly opened, revealing a small face. ¡°Sister,e in quickly.¡± Xia Muqing quickly snuck into the window at the same time there was a knock on the door. She couldn¡¯t care less about anything else right now and she quickly hid under the bed. The boy sat on the bed, his feet blocking her from view. There was a symbolic knock on the door and the person entered. The person was the woman she had met back then. After entering, she scanned the room and her gaze fell when she saw the opened window. She stepped forward and raised her hand, wanting to p the boy. However, she thought of something and lowered her hand. She then whipped the boy forcefully with a whip and hissed with hatred, ¡°If you dare to run again, I¡¯ll break your legs. Anyway, Old Master only likes your face.¡± Xia Muqing clenched her fists tightly under the bed. The boy didn¡¯t make a sound despite being hit. He lowered his head and didn¡¯t speak. The womanshed him a few more times before her anger subsided. ¡°Wash yourself clean tonight. Someone wille and get you.¡± Seeing that the boy still didn¡¯t react, she snorted. ¡°You¡¯re really like your father. How unlucky.¡± With that, she instructed her men to lock the windows before leaving. The boy immediately looked down at Xia Muqing who was under the bed. ¡°Sister, are you okay?¡± Xia Muqing climbed out and looked at the various old injuries on his body, as well as the red marks that had just appeared. She said, ¡°I will take you away.¡± The boy shook his head and said, ¡°Sister, leave by yourself. I¡¯ll implicate you if you bring me along.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t know if this vige was a hallucination or reality, but the little boy in front of her gave her a feeling that he was a real person. Xia Muqing ignored the boy¡¯s constant urging. The woman seemed to be very afraid that the boy would escape, and she added two guards to guard the door. Chapter 91 - Even a Ferocious Tiger Wouldnt Eat Its Cubs

Chapter 91: Even a Ferocious Tiger Wouldn¡¯t Eat Its Cubs

There was only one door and one window in the room. The window was locked and the door was blocked. Hence, they were doomed. Xia Muqing whispered into the boy¡¯s ear and he nodded hesitantly. She promised him, ¡°I will definitely bring you out of here.¡± The boy nodded earnestly. The sky gradually darkened, and there were many sounds at the door. Xia Muqing hid behind the cab and got the boy to hide under the bed. The door was pushed open and the woman walked in. She waspletely flustered and shouted when there was no one inside. ¡°Where is he? Where did he go?¡± The guards repeatedly swore that no one had left the room today. It was a mess outside, and everyone started to search the residence. Xia Muqing took the opportunity to signal to the boy. The two of them sessfully escaped the room, but it was still not easy to get out. They could only find a ce to hide. There was a pile of straw fit to be a good hiding ce. Xia Muqing led him there and they ran quickly. They were very close to the wall. Once the guards were gone, they could escape immediately. The woman searched around the entire house but she didn¡¯t find him. Suddenly, she returned and said, ¡°We¡¯ve fallen into a trap.¡± The entire residence was bustling with noise. A man with a huge belly walked out and asked, ¡°What are you all doing?¡± The woman stiffened and smiled ingratiatingly. ¡°Master, why are you out? We¡¯ll be there in a while.¡± Old Master Wang rubbed his belly and grinned lewdly. ¡°I can¡¯t wait anymore. Just hand him to me.¡± The woman¡¯s expression was a little ugly, and the people around her lowered their heads and kept mum. Such a scene enlightened Old Master Wang instantly. He said angrily, ¡°That child ran away again?¡± He grabbed the woman¡¯s hair and dragged her to the middle of the courtyard. ¡°Did I warn you that if he escapes again, I¡¯ll break your legs?¡± The woman¡¯s elegance and arrogance disappeared instantly. She was dragged along the ground and her face was covered in dust. She cried, ¡°Master, I will find him. Please give me another chance.¡± Old Master Wang sneered and looked around. He shouted, ¡°Beat her!¡± Several servants approached with sticks in their hands. The woman screamed and fumbled, but she was surrounded by them. The sticksnded on the woman, who cried out in pain. Old Master Wang suddenly waved his hands to stop them. He personally picked up a stick and went to her. ¡°I¡¯ll break your legs myself.¡± He raised the stick high in the air. The boy, who was in Xia Muqing¡¯s arms, suddenly rushed out and shielded the woman. The stick hit his back. Old Master Wangughed in disgust and said, ¡°I finally forced you toe out.¡± He had known all along that he hadn¡¯t escaped, and that was why he had put on a show. The boy spat out a mouthful of blood, but he still subconsciously propped himself up so that he wouldn¡¯t touch the woman¡¯s wounds. The woman looked at the child who had shielded her. Aplicated expression shed across her eyes, but it disappeared in the end. She smiled and said daintily, ¡°Master, I found him for you.¡± Old Master Wang put down the stick in his hand and extended his hand to the boy. Xia Muqing took the opportunity to bolt out quickly. She pulled the boy and was about to run, but she was stopped when she was about to leave. She hugged the boy and panted non-stop. When Old Master Wang saw Xia Muqing¡¯s face, his furious expression vanished. He said lustfully, ¡°Lass, why didn¡¯t you greet me when you came to my residence as a guest? I¡¯ll treat you well.¡± With joy, his interest in the injured boy diminished. ¡°Guards, lock them up. I¡¯m marrying my eighteenth concubine tomorrow.¡± The two of them were locked up together. Xia Muqing looked at the boy lying on the bed. She walked over and asked, ¡°How do you feel?¡± Chapter 92 - Escaping the Illusion

Chapter 92: Escaping the Illusion

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The boy¡¯s cracked, injured lips curled up slightly as he asked, ¡°Why did she do that?¡± He had met other parents who were very good to their children, but why did she have to treat him like this? Xia Muqing didn¡¯t know how to answer and could only say, ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault. Not all parents in this world are qualified.¡± The boy¡¯s eyes flickered before turning silent. ¡°Sister, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve implicated you.¡± Xia Muqing shook her head. The next day when someone came to deliver food, Xia Muqing knocked them unconscious. She was so tired that her hands were shaking. She asked the boy, ¡°Can you climb over the wall?¡± Xia Muqing had shown him the wall beside the pile of straw and he nodded. Xia Muqing changed into the servant¡¯s clothes, opened the door and walked out. She shouted, ¡°Quick, catch them! They escaped and ran in that direction.¡± She randomly pointed in a direction, and sure enough, everyone fell for it and ran in that direction. She took the opportunity to open the door and tell the boy to meet her outside the residence. The boy nodded solemnly. Xia Muqing lowered her head and walked towards the door. She bumped into Old Master Wang coincidentally, with the boy¡¯s mother. She could only stand and bow. Old Master Wang looked at Xia Muqing¡¯s beautiful figure and lust welled up in his heart. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I realize that there was such a pretty girl among the servants? Raise your head and let me take a look.¡± The woman beside him suddenly said, ¡°Old Master, you promised to apany me today. Why are you still looking at other women? I won¡¯t ept it.¡± Old Master Wang was seduced by her coquettish tone and he coaxed her gently. The two of them walked away. Xia Muqing heaved a sigh of relief and strode out quickly. She rushed to the huge tree outside the residence and met up with the boy. Since there was nowhere to go, Xia Muqing decided to bring him to the well in the west. They hadn¡¯t gone far when they heard sounds of pursuit. It seemed that Old Master Wang¡¯s men had already discovered that they had fled. The two of them kept changing their hiding spots. Just as they were about to reach the well in the west, they were surrounded by a group of people. Old Master Wang walked out from behind and smiled coldly, ¡°Eternal Stone Vige is my territory. Where do you want to escape to?¡± His lustful gazended on Xia Muqing as he said, ¡°You¡¯d better be obedient ande back with me to be my eighteenth concubine.¡± Xia Muqing replied coldly, ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± She held the boy¡¯s hand and analyzed the situation as she thought of ways to escape. Old Master Wang lost his patience. He got someone to grab them and said, ¡°Since both of you can¡¯t wait, I¡¯ll pamper both of you tonight.¡± Xia Muqing retreated slowly with the boy. If they were caught this time, it would be difficult for them to escape. The boy blocked her way and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go back with you. Let my sister go.¡± Old Master Wang chuckled. ¡°I want the two of you.¡± The boy¡¯s face turned pale and he picked up a tree branch from the ground to protect Xia Muqing. He refused to budge. The sound of chickens screeching and dogs barking suddenly entered Xia Muqing¡¯s ears. Her eyes lit up and she tried to say, ¡°Little chickens and dogs, help me stop them.¡± Her words made everyone freeze. Was this good-looking woman an idiot? The next second, they were even more dumbfounded. A group of chickens and dogs pounced on their faces, scaring them until they retreated. Xia Muqing ran towards the well with the boy. The boy tripped and fell,nding heavily on the ground. Xia Muqing quickly turned around and hugged him. She asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± The boy shook his head. The two of them continued running, but the expression of the boy behind them had changed silently. When the two of them were still a distance away from the well, Old Master Wang had also gotten rid of the animals.. When he rushed over, he looked livid. Chapter 93 - The Next Illusion

Chapter 93: The Next Illusion

With a sword in his hand, he hissed, ¡°Since both of you want to escape so desperately, I¡¯ll send you to your death.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t have any strength left. She propped herself up and said, ¡°Run quickly and jump down into the well.¡± The boy didn¡¯t answer and simply carried her on his back as he ran forward. However, he was too weak and his speed was too slow. The boy gritted his teeth and led her to the well. Old Master Wang was already behind them. The sword in his hand stabbed right at them. The boy flipped over in the nick of time and the sword stabbed into his heart. Xia Muqing quickly caught him. The boy nced at her onest time and smiled the way he had when they first met. After everything they had been through, his eyes were still as clear as water. Xia Muqing could only watch helplessly as he reached out and pushed her down the well. Another wave of dizziness struck her. When she opened her eyes again, she was in a different ce. She quickly searched for a way back. She wanted to know what happened to the boy. However, she found nothing. The scene here was very familiar. Xia Muqing recalled carefully. This was¡­ the ce before she transmigrated to this world. This cave was where she had transmigrated. Walking along the long passage, she saw a person lying under a rock. A man was wearing a gold-embroidered mask on his face. She recognized him as the man who had been following her since she entered the Sunset Mountains. ¡°Hey, wake up.¡± Xia Muqing walked to him and patted him gently when she saw that he wasn¡¯t injured. The man frowned slightly before opening his eyes. His eyes glinted when he saw Xia Muqing, and he seemed to have yet to recover from their previous meeting. Xia Muqing felt that his gaze was a little odd. ¡°Who are you? Why are you following me?¡± The man¡¯s voice was hoarse. ¡°Jin Chao.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything else and his expression was aloof. Xia Muqing guessed that it should be his name. Although she felt that it was a little fishy, she didn¡¯t insist on it since he had saved her a few times. She said, ¡°Let¡¯s leave this ce first.¡± If this was really the ce she had transmigrated to previously, it wasn¡¯t appropriate to leave an ancient person here either. She could only bring him along. The two of them walked towards the entrance of the cave, but like in the vige, there was an invisible barrier blocking them from getting out. Xia Muqing was a little disappointed. She thought she could meet her teachers and seniors. Left with no choice, they could only walk back. They circled the cave once but couldn¡¯t find any ce to go. Xia Muqing frowned. Thest time she was in the vige, she could find a well to exit from. It had to be the same here. She stared nkly at the stone wall subconsciously. The stone wall in front of her seemed to be¡­ moving? She opened her eyes and took a closer look. She realized that although the movement was slow, these murals were indeed moving. As she approached, the murals on the stone walls changed faster and faster. Jin Chao had also noticed these murals. The two of them stared at these murals. Perhaps this was the key to getting out of the cave. The originally iplete and blurry images on the stone wall became clear, as if it had just been carved. It could be seen that it was a story of a man and a woman. These two people¡¯s dressing were very strange, and they were definitely not dressed from any of these two eras. The woman was a youngdy from a rich family, and the man was a general. They knew each other and fell in love. The man went out to war, but the king had forced himself on her against her will. Shemitted suicide after she was humiliated. When the man returned triumphantly, he saw the corpse of his wife hanging on the city wall disyed to the public for humiliation and evidence of her theft. Everyone told him that it was the truth, but the man didn¡¯t believe them. After he found out the truth, he killed the king to avenge his wife. In the end, he disappeared with her corpse and never appeared again. Chapter 94 The Strange Murals Chapter 94 The Strange Murals In the end, the country was swallowed by the sea and no one survived. The story stopped there. The murals on the stone walls slowly disappeared, and finally, they turned into a smooth color. The two of them didn''t return to their senses for a long time, as if they were still immersed in the story. Jin Chao subconsciously touched his chest. The story seemed to be affecting his emotions. This feeling made him frown uncontrobly. Feeling a jerk under her feet, Xia Muqing sensed that something had changed. She turned to look at her surroundings. Clearly, Jin Chao hadn''t noticed anything. Xia Muqing shook her head to indicate that she was fine as Jin Chao looked at her curiously. The two of them still couldn''t get out. Xia Muqing spotted the only rock in the cave and tried to move it. She tried her best but she still couldn''t make it budge at all. This was rather embarrassing. She looked at her hands in disbelief. Her internal energy had returned. Why was she still like this? Jin Chao extended his hand and pushed the rock away. Xia Muqing was even more in disbelief. She stared at her own hands as she flipped through it. Jin Chao coughed softly and said, "You''re moving it the wrong way." There was a trace of amusement in his voice. Xia Muqing lowered her head to take a look. There was a step under the stone blocking it. No wonder she couldn''t push it no matter how hard she tried. She pretended to be nonchnt and squatted down to check if there were any clues on the ground. However, she still didn''t find anything. She sat on the ground dejectedly and looked around the cave to see if there was anything suspicious. Jin Chao followed her and sat on the ground. Xia Muqing suddenly patted his shoulder and quipped, "I think I know how to get out." Jin Chao turned to look at her and she said, "The murals in the cave suddenly disappeared. Is the key to the exit rted to the mural? Can''t we just engrave on the wall?" Naturally, there were no objections from Jin Chao. The two of them picked up the small rocks and started to recall the mural just now. Xia Muqing first drew out a rough outline ording to the image in her memory, but she couldn''t remember anything after that. Jin Chao added a little more, but it was still very different from aplete mural. Xia Muqing closed her eyes and seriously focused on her memory. Suddenly, something struck her and the details about that man became extremely clear in her mind. It was as if she had seen him with her own eyes. She didn''t stop moving her hands, and drawings appeared one after another. Jin Chao however, was the opposite. He was very familiar with that woman''s details. With their cooperation, aplete mural waspleted on the stone wall. Xia Muqing took a few steps away and was shocked when she saw the murals. It was almost identical to what she had seen before she transmigrated. The cave trembled again. They nced at each other and walked to the entrance. This time, they seeded in getting out. The moment they came out, they were greeted with the sight of the Sunset Mountains again. Xia Muqing was stunned and finally understood why she had sensed something was amiss. She turned around to look at the stone cave that remained. This stone cave actually existed in two different spaces. She couldn''t help but wonder if her transmigration was really a coincidence. Jin Chao asked, "What''s wrong?" Xia Muqing shook her head and nced at him with an odd expression. "I don''t care what you have in mind. Farewell for now and don''t follow me anymore." He didn''t say a word, and Xia Muqing took it that he had agreed. She walked straight ahead. The sound of footsteps behind her made her stop. She looked at the man following her. "Why are you following me?" Jin Chao looked up at her and said, "I have nowhere to go." Soa€| he was preparing to cling onto her? Xia Muqing suddenly approached him and pressed him against the tree behind her. "Do I know you?" Jin Chao didn''t resist. As she inched closer, his throat subconsciously moved. "Perhaps." Xia Muqing guessed that his name was fake. She stared into his eyes and pondered. Who was this man? Chapter 95 - The Mysterious Man

Chapter 95: The Mysterious Man

There was really a sense of familiarity in his eyes. Was he¡­ Ye Qingxuan? She instantly abandoned that thought. Ye Qingxuan couldn¡¯t move his legs at all now. How could he be here? However, she still reached out to attack his knees. With a sh in his eyes, Jin Chao deliberately didn¡¯t dodge. The moment Xia Muqing¡¯s hand touched his knees, she retracted her strength and touched his knees. There were no signs of injury. Letting go of him, Xia Muqing said, ¡°If you want to follow me, go ahead. But it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t have any bad intentions. Otherwise, I won¡¯t let you off.¡± This warning with a hint of threat made Jin Chao chuckle. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± The affection in his words was obvious. Xia Muqing frowned and moved away from him. He didn¡¯t get angry and followed behind her patiently. Ahead of them was a small river. As soon as they got closer, they spotted Jiang Yifan and the little phoenix lying on the ground. Half of Jiang Yifan¡¯s body was submerged in water. Just a wave would be enough to wash him away. The phoenix was lying near his head. Xia Muqing quickly rescued him and patted him to wake him up. The moment Jiang Yifan woke up, he nced anxiously to the side. Seeing the little phoenix, he quickly held it in his arms to protect it. Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows in surprise. After waking up, the little phoenix anxiously spun around. Only when it realized that the person hugging it was Jiang Yifan, did it calm down. Xia Muqing was even more surprised and asked, ¡°What happened to you guys?¡± Jiang Yifan and the little phoenix nced at each other before quickly turning their heads away. Their shy expressions made Xia Muqing even more curious and she kept pressing them. The two of them kept their mouths shut, unwilling to speak. Xia Muqing suddenly felt movements in her bag. She quickly opened it and a small head popped out. Gungun¡¯s furry ears twitched before they slowly became longer and sharper. A hint of red appeared at the tip of its ears and the shape of its face changed. It was no longer round but had a small chin and a red totem appeared on its forehead. It jumped out forcefully, but its body didn¡¯t change. It nced around swiftly and yelped in surprise before leaping onto Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing was also overjoyed. ¡°Gungun, you¡¯re finally awake!¡± Gungun exhaled a cloud of smoke and boasted to her, ¡°Haha! I¡¯ve evolved!¡± Jiang Yifan understood. ¡°It seems like the reason we entered the illusion realm was because of it.¡± Gungun replied in embarrassment, ¡°I just evolved and so I didn¡¯t control my energy properly. That was why I lured all of you into the dream.¡± Xia Muqing asked in surprise, ¡°Yifan, can you understand Gungun?¡± Jiang Yifan was speechless. ¡°Sister, didn¡¯t you hear that he spoke humannguage? Beasts with potential can understand and speak humannguage after cultivating to a certain level.¡± Xia Muqing nodded and asked curiously, ¡°Can they cultivate and turn into humans?¡± Jiang Yifan suddenly looked at the phoenix in his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of a beast taking human form.¡± Xia Muqing watched their interaction and asked, ¡°Gungun, can you see what we have experienced in the dream?¡± Gungun nodded. It knew what she wanted to ask and immediately said, ¡°They were a couple in the dream world.¡± Jiang Yifan and the little phoenix stiffened. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t expect this answer. Looking at the little phoenix and Jiang Yifan, the romance between a human and a beast wasn¡¯t easy. She didn¡¯t say anything and asked, ¡°What about my dream? Was the little boy I saw at the first dream bell real? What happened to him in the end?¡± Gungun was a little confused by this series of questions. It had finally recalled everything and was about to answer, but it was interrupted by Jin Chao. ¡°Why did you guys go to the Azure Cloud Eagle¡¯s territory previously?¡± Chapter 96 - The Phoenix Clans Miraculous Disappearance

Chapter 96: The Phoenix n¡¯s Miraculous Disappearance

Xia Muqing was instantly diverted from the topic. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Phoenix n first.¡± Gungun nced at this man strangely. It shouldn¡¯t be important that this man was that little boy. After contemting for a while, it decided not to say anything. The three of them set off again. The phoenixes lived in the depths of the Sunset Mountains, in the Parasol Tree Forest. The phoenixes were born together with the parasol trees. Approaching the territory of the Phoenix n, the phoenix was a little anxious. It flew to Xia Muqing and whispered, ¡°Flower, if my parents beat me upter, you have to help me stop them.¡± Xia Muqing nodded her head and said, ¡°Do you remember to be afraid now? Why didn¡¯t you think of the consequences when you left back then?¡± The little phoenix¡¯s dejected look softened her heart and she nodded in agreement. After entering the Parasol Tree Forest, she realized that something was wrong. Why wasn¡¯t a phoenix guarding the entrance? The Phoenix n was a rare group of beasts that lived in the depths of the Sunset Mountains. Moreover, they were strict about ranks, and such a situation had never urred. The little phoenix also felt that something was wrong. Unease seeped in its blood. It pped its wings and flew away from Xia Muqing and the rest, heading deeper into the forest. Xia Muqing and the rest looked at each other and quickened their pace. After walking for a distance, she heard a sharp cry. Jiang Yifan panicked. ¡°That¡¯s the sound of the phoenix.¡± They elerated again and arrived at the ce where the phoenix lived. Now, the ce was covered in ruins. The entire ground was scorched ck by fire. Even the surrounding parasol trees weren¡¯t spared. There were burn marks on the tree trunks. The person who was the most shocked was Xia Muqing. She had been to this ce before. The phoenixes prided on beauty very much. They always decorated their homes beautifully. It was impossible for their homes to be like this under normal circumstances. The phoenixes here had all disappeared, and the situation was very simr to the ck eagle¡¯s family. The little phoenix was next to an adult fire phoenix. The fire phoenix¡¯s body was riddled with wounds, and most of its feathers had fallen off. Its bare skin was a ghastly sight. It screeched quickly when it spotted Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing walked over and checked the fire phoenix¡¯s body. After checking it, she heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t toote.¡± The little phoenix nodded with tears in its eyes. Xia Muqing quickly tended to the fire phoenix¡¯s wounds. After bandaging it, she found a clean spot and the few of them carried it over. At night, the fire phoenix slowly woke up. When it noticed the surroundings, its eyes shed with sorrow. Xia Muqing was the first to notice that it had woken up. ¡°Radiant Sun, what happened to the phoenix n?¡± Radiant Sun nced at Xia Muqing and understood what had happened. It nodded gratefully at her. Then, with a furious expression, it shouted, ¡°It¡¯s all because of the despicable shamans! They stole our divine fire and used it to deal with us. Humans are indeed the most cunning and devious!¡± These words directly attacked everyone present. They rubbed their noses in embarrassment. Only now did Radiant Sun react. It exined dryly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t include all of you. I don¡¯t mean all of you.¡± It then started cursing and swearing at the shamans. It was really hard to imagine how a phoenix could understand the essence of human curses. When the fire phoenix heard the little phoenix¡¯s voice, surprise shed across its eyes. ¡°Little princess, I¡¯m so d that you¡¯re fine.¡± This time, it had snuck out and unknowingly, saved its own life. Xia Muqing continued to ask, ¡°Do you know why the shamans abducted all of you?¡± Radiant Sun nodded and replied, ¡°I heard from that woman that they have gone on a rampage, kidnapping birds with potential in order to revive their God. After I was severely injured, I was lucky to fall into a cave and escape cmity. After I crawled out, they had already disappeared.¡± Chapter 97 - Radiant Sun the Survivor

Chapter 97: Radiant Sun the Survivor

The little phoenix asked with teary eyes, ¡°Uncle Radiant Sun, where are my parents?¡± Radiant Sun rubbed its head affectionately and said, ¡°They should be fine. From what that woman said, they need us alive.¡± Xia Muqing nodded. She just needed time to save them. When Radiant Sun heard that they were preparing to look for the shamans, it quickly followed them. The group of them quickly left the Sunset Mountains and returned to the Jiang family. Jiang Yifan quickly checked the books he had read about the shamans. He first had to find out where exactly was the Ind of Soro they were at. When the Jiang couple heard of this matter, they offered their help. The two phoenixes stayed in the backyard of the Jiang residence. By this time, the secret realm of the Sunset Mountains had closed and everyone had returned. The first thing Xiao Chenglin did after his return was to tell the Xiao family about Xia Muqing in the mystic realm as well as how they had found the blood fur. When the Xiao family came to look for Xia Muqing, she was changing the dressing for Radiant Sun. Although its injuries weren¡¯t life-threatening, a slight mistake could lead to futureplications. Hearing themotion at the entrance, Xia Muqing came out to take a look. She smiled and said, ¡°So it¡¯s an old friend.¡± Xiao Chenglin¡¯s face ached when he saw her. He touched the scars on his face and snapped ruthlessly, ¡°I will definitely take revenge for what happened that day.¡± Xia Muqing patted her chest and said, ¡°I¡¯m so scared. I wonder how you¡¯re going to seek revenge?¡± Xiao Chenglin waved his hand and a few people in Daoist robes quickly appeared. They held a huge and threw it at Xia Muqing. Jin Chao swiftly stood beside her and was about to move when she stopped him. Xia Muqing looked at the huge above her, and a hint of curiosity shed across her eyes. The moment itnded above her, she used the knife in her hand to scratch it, but nothing happened. Xiao Chenglin looked at the two people shrouded in the andughed loudly. ¡°This is the Xiao family¡¯s most precious treasure, the Immortal Binding Net. It¡¯s imprable. Just give up.¡± Xia Muqing signaled to the Jiang family with her eyes and obediently followed Xiao Chenglin back to the Xiao residence. Jin Chao naturally stayed close to her. When they arrived at the Xiao residence, Old Master Xiao said with a smile, ¡°Miss Xia, we meet again.¡± Xia Muqingughed as well. ¡°Is this how the Xiao family treat their esteemed guests?¡± Old Master Xiao¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°As long as Miss Xia hands over the second half of the Beast Taming Technique, I¡¯ll naturally let you go.¡± Xia Muqing hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°What if you don¡¯t keep your word after I give it to you?¡± Old Master Xiao replied, ¡°Of course not. The Xiao family is very trustworthy.¡± Xia Muqing suddenlyughed harshly and said, ¡°You guys are really shameless to say something like that.¡± Knowing that he had been fooled, Old Master Xiao was furious. ¡°Don¡¯t force me to do something you won¡¯t like.¡± He immediately sneered. Xiao Chenglin was very alert and instructed his men to bring out the ferocious beasts in the backyard. He looked at Xia Muqing with malice and said, ¡°This is what you deserve.¡± Xia Muqing noticed that these beasts were all injured and it was obvious that the injuries were caused by humans. Her expression darkened and she shot Jin Chao a look. Jin Chao raised his hands quietly. The invincible Immortal Binding Net that Xiao Chenglin had used earlier was instantly torn into two by his hands. The Xiao family members were shocked, and Xiao Chenglin eximed, ¡°How is that possible?¡± Xia Muqing sneered and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know if this can contain immortals, but it can¡¯t contain us.¡± She had pretended to follow him back to the Xiao family for these beasts. Old Master Xiao said solemnly, ¡°It¡¯s better for young people to be humble. I¡¯ll teach you a lesson today.¡± Xia Muqing sneered and replied, ¡°I think you should save that advice for yourself.¡± Chapter 98 - The Xiao Familys Doom Chapter 98: The Xiao Family¡¯s Doom Old Master Xiao took out the white flute and with a strange sound, all the beasts in the courtyard stood up. All of their eyes were filled with a thirst for blood. The beasts advanced towards Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows. This formation was muchrger than before. It seemed that they didn¡¯t use their full strengthst time. She just wasn¡¯t sure if they were still holding back. Just as she was about to take out the red flute, she was shrouded by a shadow. It turned out that Jin Chao was standing in front of her. Xia Muqing was a little surprised. What was this man trying to do? She patted his back and said, ¡°I have a way to deal with them.¡± Jin Chao nodded and replied, ¡°Okay.¡± He remained in front of Xia Muqing and didn¡¯t budge at all. Seeing that he really had no intention of moving, Xia Muqing felt that it was a little weird. But the situation was urgent, and she could only blow the red flute quickly because the ferocious beasts were already close. The red flute¡¯s sounds were gentler. As soon as the red flute was yed, the beasts stopped moving and froze in ce. When Old Master Xiao heard the sounds, he was even more certain that the second half of the Beast Taming Technique was in Xia Muqing¡¯s hands. Greed had swallowed his rationality and he kept ying the white flute eagerly. The ferocious beasts began to spasm, and their muscles visibly trembled. They fell to the ground and howled in pain. Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t see clearly what was going on. Jin Chao had shielded herpletely, but when she heard their growls, she still felt that something was wrong. The book had written that the sounds of the red and white flute would cause the beasts to escape their control when both flutes were yed at the same time. Something was wrong now. She quickly poked her head out to assess the situation. Some of the weaker beasts were already bleeding from their faces. Xia Muqing quickly stopped ying the red flute. At this moment, only Old Master Xiao¡¯s white flute¡¯s sounds were heard. The beasts were no longer in pain, but their ferocity was ignited again and they charged at the two of them. Jin Chao protected Xia Muqing very well and he attracted the attention of the ferocious beasts alone. None of the beasts caused her any harm. Xia Muqing¡¯s brain whirred quickly as she thought of a solution. At this rate, not to mention saving the ferocious beasts, even they would perish here. Old Master Xiao had gone crazy. He looked very different from before. Heughed out loud and said, ¡°Xia Muqing, as long as you hand over the second half of the Beast Taming Technique, I¡¯ll let all of you off. Otherwise, all of you will be buried here!¡± Xia Muqing felt that something was amiss. Why did he look like he had be deranged? Could it be that he had privately changed the Beast Taming Technique or cultivated the wrong skill? She sat down and closed her eyes to listen to the sound of the flute. The strange sounds became sybles in her mind, and then they slowly fused together with the second half of the Beast Taming Technique she had read earlier. After repeatedparisons, she finally realized what was wrong. The tune that Old Master Xiao was ying was the second half of the Beast Taming Technique that he had yed backward. If he had yed it wrongly, this piece would have beena€| Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes were still closed. She picked up the red flute and ced it in her mouth. It was the same tune as the one Old Master Xiao was ying, but the sound was more melodious. In thetter half of the piece, it was apletely different tune. Old Master Xiao suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. He seemed to have realized something too. His eyes were wide open, but because he had expended too much effort, he couldn¡¯t catch his breath and died with his eyes wide open. The redness in the eyes of the ferocious beasts slowly vanished, and the wounds on their bodies actually healed. They had recovered to their best condition, and in fact, they were faster and stronger. Xia Muqing stopped ying the flute and looked at the ferocious beasts in front of her. ¡°You¡¯re all free.¡± The ferocious beasts howled in unison and tried to attack the Xiao family furiously. The Xiao family members fled in panic as waves of screams sounded. Chapter 99 - Setting Sail

Chapter 99: Setting Sail

Xia Muqing didn¡¯t stop them. That was their retribution. Jin Chao picked up the white flute from the ground. There was a round pearl on the white flute that matched the groove on the red flute in Xia Muqing¡¯s hand. Xia Muqing said, ¡°It¡¯s not surprising that they¡¯re a pair.¡± Upon hearing this, Jin Chao quietly ced the white flute back into his pocket. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t say a word when she saw him. The two of them had just returned to the Jiang family when they saw Jiang Yifan rushing out with a smile. He had been buried in the study for the past few days and had no idea what had happened. When he saw Xia Muqing, he said excitedly, ¡°I¡¯ve found it! I¡¯ve found the location of the Ind of Soro.¡± Xia Muqing was delighted and said, ¡°Quick, let me take a look.¡± Jiang Yifan¡¯s voice attracted the others. Even Radiant Sun and the little phoenix flew over from the backyard. When everyone was here, he coughed softly and unfolded the white paper in his hand. He pointed at a red cross and said, ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± Everyone looked at the few crooked ck lines that were drawn. They couldn¡¯t understand at all. Seeing that they couldn¡¯t understand, Jiang Yifan said anxiously, ¡°Look, this is the mouth of the mountain range and the sea. We can enter the sea from here. After passing three inds, we can see Soro Ind. This is the shortest route.¡± After his exnation, Xia Muqing could only see that it seemed to resemble a sea. However¡­ she still couldn¡¯t understand the map. She frowned and said, ¡°Yifan, can you draw it more clearly? We won¡¯t be able to understand it.¡± Jiang Yifan scratched his head. ¡°This is the best I can do.¡± He added, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Anyway, I¡¯m with you guys. If you don¡¯t understand, I can guide you.¡± Xia Muqing turned pensive. It was too dangerous this time and she had never thought of asking him toe along. Liu Yan knocked him on the head and said, ¡°I know how well you can draw. I think you did it on purpose.¡± Jiang Yifan stiffened before smiling. Liu Yan sighed and said to Xia Muqing, ¡°Miss Xia, I¡¯ll leave my second son to you.¡± Father Jiang reached out and hugged Liu Yan. His eyes were filled with relief. They weren¡¯t old-fashioned parents, and they had never thought of imprisoning their child under their wings forever. Their children could do whatever they wanted to do, and they should learn to bear the consequences of their actions. Xia Muqing nodded solemnly. They quickly packed their bags and left. Liu Yan couldn¡¯t help but cry out, ¡°Yifan.¡± Jiang Yifan turned to look at her. Liu Yan swallowed the words in her mouth and said, ¡°Take care. I will wait for you to return.¡± Jiang Yifan also felt his eyes watering, and he quickly nodded. He didn¡¯t even say a word before turning his head, afraid of making a choked sound. They didn¡¯t know when they would see each other again. They quickly arrived at the mouth of the mountain and sea. This ce was a huge harbor. He bought a fishing boat from the nearby fishermen and finally chose one that was satisfactory. They worked together to sail the ship to the sea. The fisherman who helped advised, ¡°It¡¯s not safe for you to go out to the sea now. The tides areing.¡± Jiang Yifan had previously studied more about the situation of the sea. There would be waves from time to time, and even if they waited for the tide to pass, they would still encounter them at some point. Therefore, after thanking the fishermen, they were still determined to set sail. Seeing their determination, the fishermen didn¡¯t advise them anymore. They prepared the boat and left. None of them knew how to sail a boat, and only Jiang Yifan had some theoretical knowledge. So the final mission was left to him. He was quite excited. They boarded the boat and set off. Chapter 100 - Escaping the Shark

Chapter 100: Escaping the Shark

Not long after setting sail, they encountered waves. Fortunately, Jiang Yifan had managed to turn the boat in time, allowing them to narrowly escape. Before they could even sigh in relief, the little phoenix suddenly cried out. Radiant Sun was the first to look over. ¡°Our boat has a leak.¡± It turned out that they had managed to dodge the storm, but after forcefully changing directions, the boat couldn¡¯t take the impact and resulted in a crack. If this continued, any small wave would capsize their boat. Xia Muqing said in a low voice, ¡°Let¡¯s continue.¡± Jiang Yifan could only continue steering the boat. The others found some items to cover the crack in the boat. At the very least, there was no longer any water seeping in. Fortunately, the sea was calm at this time. After sailing for a while, they saw the first ind. Jiang Yifan said, ¡°Look, the first ind is right ahead. We just have to pass through three inds to reach the Ind of Soro.¡± Just as he finished speaking, a wave attacked them again. The little phoenix was so frightened that it flew around on the boat and was grabbed by Radiant Sun. Xia Muqing and Radiant Sun exchanged nces before the boat was swallowed by the waves. Other than Radiant Sun and the little phoenix who could fly, the three of them fell into the sea. Fortunately, they could swim and could float for a period of time. Jin Chao quickly grabbed Xia Muqing¡¯s arm and Jiang Yifan was grabbed by the Radiant Sun. They had discussed this before. If they encountered any danger, they were to save Jiang Yifan first. Xia Muqing and Xia Muqing quickly swam towards them. The little phoenix looked behind them in horror and shouted, ¡°Flower!¡± Before Xia Muqing could turn around, the two of them were sent flying by an evenrger wave. When the surface of the sea calmed down, they were already gone. The little phoenix flew towards the direction they disappeared, but its wings were wet and it almost fell into the sea. Fortunately, the Radiant Sun hurriedly flew over and caught it. Radiant Sun brought the human and bird back to the nearest ind. This n was also what they had discussed previously. If they were to lose each other, they would gather at a nearby ind. The fierce waves swept Xia Muqing and Jin Chao away. But even so, Jin Chao didn¡¯t let go of her hand. Finally, the waves calmed down. Jin Chao asked anxiously, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Xia Muqing looked at the blood floating in the sea around her and she quickly raised her hand. The arm that Jin Chao had held on to was already bright red. Her injury was caused by the waves earlier on. She felt a little conflicted. What did she want to say? It wasn¡¯t a very appropriate situation. Jin Chao didn¡¯t take her injury seriously. He looked around and said, ¡°We¡¯re already very far away from that ind. This should be the second ind.¡± The waves happened to bring them to the second ind. Xia Muqing nodded. The two of them could only swim towards the ind. However, trouble never came alone. A shark had targeted them. The ten-meter-long shark approached slowly. Only when it raised its head and opened its mouth to charge at the two of them, did they realize its existence. Xia Muqing quickly extended her leg and kicked the shark¡¯s head. The two of them avoided the cmity but in the water, humans didn¡¯t have the advantage. They could only swim towards the ind with all their might. The food that was about to reach the shark¡¯s mouth had escaped. The shark became frustrated and rushed over at a faster speed. Xia Muqing and Jin Chao also increased their speed. They were about to reach the ind. Once they got ashore, the shark would no longer be a threat. However, the suction force behind them made them despair. The water around them was sucked towards the shark¡¯s mouth, and the small fishes and prawns around them were also swallowed by it. The shark wasn¡¯t satisfied. It wanted the two humans. No matter how hard the two of them tried, the distance between them and the shark shrank. Soon, they were almost at its mouth. The shark opened its mouth again greedily, revealing long pointed teeth. Chapter 101 - Island

Chapter 101: Ind

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Jin Chao quickly took out a short sword from his waist and used it to pry the shark¡¯s mouth open to give Xia Muqing a chance to escape. ¡°Go quickly!¡± Jin Chao said, letting go of her hand. Xia Muqing turned around and gazed at him with an unreadable expression. She shook her head and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± After she finished speaking, she swam around the shark. Because the shark couldn¡¯t eat its prey, it became angry. Its huge tail swung around and waves sshed in all directions. The shark had thick skin and flesh and they had no chance of winning. Xia Muqing quickly touched the pouch at her waist. She didn¡¯t lose it despite the huge struggle earlier. Xia Muqing took out the items from her pouch and sneered. ¡°Move back a little, Jin Chao.¡± Seeing how confident she was, Jin Chao retreated a little. She threw the thing into the shark¡¯s mouth and shouted, ¡°Swim!¡± Jin Chao threw away the arrow he had used to restrain the shark and swam away swiftly. The shark that had escaped his control still had the short sword in its mouth as it made a beeline towards them. Xia Muqing and Jin Chao didn¡¯t turn back to look at the shark chasing after them and used all their strength to swim as fast as they could. They could only fight till theirst breath. Fortunately, heaven was still on their side. Just as the shark caught up with them, it suddenly stopped moving. With a series of explosions, arge amount of blood and cracks began to appear on the shark¡¯s body. Xia Muqing and Jinchao had already swam to the edge of the ind. The two of themy on the beach and panted heavily. They had narrowly escaped death just now. A small figure swam over amidst the waves in the distance. Although it was shaking from the impact of the waves, it was still determined to swim towards the ind. Xia Muqing only noticed it when she heard its squeaks. ¡°Gungun!¡± she eximed in surprise. She asked Radiant Sun to bring Gungun and the others away first. She didn¡¯t expect Gungun to follow her. She quickly got up and lifted Gungun up from the waves. She really had no idea how it managed to survive. Gungun¡¯s fur was soaked, and there were wounds on its skin that had been caused by the waves. It looked very pitiful. Gungun hugged Xia Muqing¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Master, how could you abandon me?¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment. She looked at Gungun and then at Jin Chao beside her. She smiled gently. It felt good to have them with her. The two humans and a beast set foot on the path to explore the ind. They needed to find tools on the ind to help them to go out to the sea. Then they had to think of a way to contact Radiant Sun and the rest. Xia Muqing surveyed the terrain and quickly found a water source. It was different from seawater, as they needed fresh water. Looking at Xia Muqing, who seemed to act ratherfortably on the ind, Jin Chao asked, ¡°Have you lived on an ind before?¡± Xia Muqing shook her head. ¡°I have lived in the forest since I was young.¡± Jin Chao¡¯s eyes glinted as he stared at her back as she started a fire. ¡°Stop.¡± Xia Muqing found a pile of hay and lit it with the sun¡¯s rays. This action attracted Gungun¡¯s shrieks. Jin Chaomented, ¡°You are quite knowledgeable.¡± Xia Muqing looked at him with an odd expression, feeling that there was something odd about his words. Jin Chao smiled shyly and said, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone starting a fire using this method.¡± Xia Muqing then dispelled her doubts. ¡°I read it in a book. Let¡¯s dry our clothes first.¡± Jin Chao took off his coat before he walked to the other side like a gentleman and offered her space. Gungunyfortably beside the fire and stretchedzily. At night, Jin Chao went to the beach to catch fish.. The two humans and the beast spent the day on the ind. Chapter 102 - The Strange Grass

Chapter 102: The Strange Grass

In the morning, after Xia Muqing woke up, she saw that Jin Chao had already started a fire. There was a pot made of stone on the fire and fish soup was stewing in it. The fragrance of the fish soup quickly attracted Gungun. Without opening its eyes, it walked towards the fire instinctively. Xia Muqing quickly stopped it so that it didn¡¯t fall into the fire. ¡°Be careful,¡± she said, prodding at Gungun¡¯s head. Looking at their interactions today, Jin Chao smiled and said, ¡°You all woke up at the right time. The fish soup is ready.¡± After Xia Muqing thanked him, she took the bowl and chopsticks that were also made of stone. After breakfast, they walked into the depths of the ind to check if there were any tools that could be used. The ind wasn¡¯t huge. Yesterday, they had already searched the periphery and there was nothing that could be used. Today, they could only try their luck in the depths. The two of them scoured the ind, but they didn¡¯t find anything useful. The sky suddenly became a little gray, and it looked like it was about to rain. Seeing a cave nearby, Jin Chao led them there. As soon as they entered, thunder sounded and rain began to fall. Xia Muqing looked at the sky in a daze in distress. ¡°What should we do? Even if we can make a boat, it wouldn¡¯t withstand the impact of the waves.¡± Jin Chao was wiping the short sword that was made of stone. His original short sword had been destroyed when he fought the shark. Hearing Xia Muqing¡¯s words, he said, ¡°We have to act as soon as possible.¡± Xia Muqing also knew that the ck eagle¡¯s family and the phoenix n were still waiting for them to rescue them. Gungun was rolling around in the cave and ying by itself. Suddenly, it was pulled by something and it screamed. Xia Muqing walked to the entrance of the cave and saw Gungun stuck to the grass on the ground. She tried to pull Gungun but failed. She reached out and touched the grass. It was sticky, but the grass in the cave was dry. Could this particr grass be sticky when it came into contact with water? The grass clung tightly to Gungun¡¯s fur and it couldn¡¯t be pulled apart. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t dare to use too much force. Jin Chao walked directly towards them. With a slice of his knife, he cut off Gungun¡¯s fur that was stuck to the grass. After Gungun was saved, it quickly fled the area with the grass. The grass was covered in ayer of white fur, and Gungun¡¯s back had turned bald. Although Xia Muqing shouldn¡¯t, she couldn¡¯t helpughing. Looking at the grass on the ground, she suddenly had an inspiration. This grass would be sticky when it came into contact with water. Furthermore, it was only effective on fur and it didn¡¯t be adhesive to human skin. If they used this type of grass and fur to build a boat, the adhesion should be enough to withstand the waves in the sea. She shared her idea with Jin Chao and he agreed too. They needed arge amount of this particr grass. That wasn¡¯t a problem as there were plenty in the cave. They also needed fur. Where could they find fur? The two of them shifted their gaze to Gungun. Gungun instantly exploded and tried its best to hide itself. Xia Muqing chuckled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if I cut away all the fur on you, it won¡¯t be enough.¡± She added, ¡°We passed by a small forest today. There are many dandelions there.¡± Jin Chao instantly understood what she meant and nodded. Xia Muqing nced at the rain outside and felt a lot better. She hoped that the dandelions could withstand the impact of the rain. The next day, they journeyed to the dandelions early in the morning. They were growing under a giant stone. The rain yesterday had little effect on them. The two of them collected a basket of dandelions and returned to the cave. They plucked some grass and added water to test the effect. These grass could stick to the dandelions. Chapter 103 - Reunited

Chapter 103: Reunited

Xia Muqingmented happily, ¡°We can just spread these dandelions and grass on the boat.¡± They had already created a boat yesterday. It was made of wooden nks and it couldn¡¯t withstand the impact of the waves at all. A small wave was still all right. Now that it had the support of these grass, it should be durable. Soon, a small green boat was ready. After testing the boat on the surface of the sea and it worked well, Jin Chao summoned Xia Muqing to join him. Gungun stayed in Xia Muqing¡¯s arms, afraid that it would touch the grass on the boat. They headed towards the third ind. She had discussed with Radiant Sun previously that if they were separated, they would gather at the third ind. Radiant Sun and the others could fly across the sea. Furthermore, with Jiang Yifan around, Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t too worried. This time, it was much less dangerous. They survived several waves safely. Hourster, they reached the third ind, and a shadow flew towards them. The man in the sky spotted Xia Muqing and the rest and quickly swooped down. When they lowered themselves, Xia Muqing could clearly see that it was Radiant Sun and the others. Radiant Sun and the little phoenix flew in the sky while Jiang Yifan sat on Radiant Sun¡¯s back. The moment theynded, the phoenix rushed into Xia Muqing¡¯s arms and whined. Radiant Sun replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you guys to be faster than us.¡± When they didn¡¯t see Xia Muqing and Jin Chao on the first ind, they knew that they must have been swept by the waves to somewhere else. So they rushed to the third ind. Jiang Yifan also smiled. ¡°Sister.¡± Xia Muqing nodded. Seeing that they seemed to be in high spirits, she decided to set off immediately. There were too many of them this time, and it was obviously impossible for Radiant Sun to fly them there. Hence, they had to rely on the boat for the journey. The phoenix was curious and wanted to board the boat, but Jiang Yifan pulled it into his arms. ¡°This is the Sun Grass. The rain will turn it into a sticky substance on the surface. The feathers on your body can¡¯t touch it.¡± After that, he turned to Xia Muqing and said, ¡°It¡¯s not easy to find that.¡± Xia Muqing grinned and said, ¡°It¡¯s all Gungun¡¯s credit.¡± Gunguny motionless in her arms, but everyone could see the bald patch on its back. The little phoenix curled into Jiang Yifan¡¯s arms in fear. Fortunately, it hadn¡¯t acted rashly just now. A smile shed across Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes. He lowered his head to look at the little phoenix with tenderness and adoration in his eyes. The few of them set off for the Ind of Soro. The Ind of Soro was behind this ind. After circling around, they saw a huge ck rock. The phoenix immediately cried out, ¡°This is the smell of my father¡¯s mes.¡± Radiant Sun also nodded. ¡°These are the tracks left behind by the leader.¡± Xia Muqing touched the rock with her hand and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s still hot. It seems like they were here not long ago. I wonder if they were captured or they escaped.¡± They nced at each other and quickened their pace. They followed the direction of rock and before long, they saw an ind floating on the surface of the sea. Other than being much bigger, this ind looked the same as the three inds previously. However, Xia Muqing and the rest could sense a danger emitting from this ind. The few of them approached cautiously. To their surprise, nothing happened. There was no one patrolling the entire ind, and they entered the ind easily. The ind was covered with ck and red cloth. The cloth was tied to rocks, wrapped around trees, and buried in the soil. They were everywhere. Jiang Yifan whispered, ¡°Everyone, be careful. These strips of cloth are the messenger birds of the shamans.¡± The phoenix looked at the cloth curiously. Were these birds? Chapter 104 - Shaman Tribe

Chapter 104: Shaman Tribe

She wanted to touch it, but Jiang Yifan held her. ¡°Don¡¯t touch it. This is a kind of sorcery. If anyone touches the cloth, the cloth will turn into a little bird to report.¡± Xia Muqing nodded in understanding. No wonder no one was guarding this ce. So these things were here. The few of them moved increasingly cautiously, careful not to touch the cloth. A tall city gate appeared in front of them. It was about five meters tall. The entire wall was made of various huge rocks. This project was indeed not something that could be easilypleted. Was the power of the shamans really that strong? Xia Muqing led the crowd and carefully hid behind a huge tree outside the city wall. They could vaguely see the people moving around inside. There was only one entrance outside the city wall. There were two women dressed in strange clothes guarding the entrance. They were checking the people who came and went. The strangest thing was that the people entering and exiting were all women. Xia Muqing was feeling puzzled when an excited cry sounded. ¡°Look, it¡¯s a man!¡± Her voice made all the women standing at the city gate look over. A man was tied to an open carriage, and a woman followed behind. There were many silver essories hanging on their bodies, and these essories were very simr to the ones she had found at the ck eagle¡¯s home. Xia Muqing looked at Radiant Sun. Radiant Sun was also staring at that woman and it said angrily, ¡°It¡¯s her. She was the one who attacked the phoenix n and took my friends away that day.¡± With that, it was about to rush and settle the score with that woman. Xia Muqing quickly pulled it back. In this situation, charging forward was equivalent to courting death. Theirmotion attracted the attention of the people at the city gate, and they all looked in their direction. Xia Muqing led the way and hid in the forest so that they wouldn¡¯t see her. Before they could heave a sigh of relief, the woman pulling the carriage approached. The footsteps approached. If she walked another hundred meters, she would be able to spot them. Xia Muqing and the rest stood nervously on the spot, not daring to move. Feiyin slowly approached the forest, and her essories made a tinkling sound as she walked. She pushed aside the tree branch in front of her, revealing the hem of Xia Muqing¡¯s clothes. ¡°That man ran away!¡± The sound made Feiyin look back. The man who was tied up earlier had broken free and escaped. Feiyin swiftly chased after the man and missed the opportunity to spot Xia Muqing and the rest. Xia Muqing heaved a sigh of relief. While everyone was chasing after that man, they snuck into the city quietly. As soon as they entered, they saw a huge signboard that read ¡°Goddess n¡±. Jiang Yifan eximed, ¡°So the Goddess n belonged to the shamans?¡± He added worriedly, ¡°Oh no, let¡¯s hide.¡± The few of them quickly found a hidden cave on the street and hid there. Through the gap in the cave, they saw that the woman who had gone to chase the man had returned. The man who had escaped, was tied up and thrown to the ground again. Feiyin stepped on his back and said, ¡°If you dare to run again, I¡¯ll chop off your legs.¡± The man¡¯s expression was stoic. He showed no signs of fear facing such a threat and continued to struggle. He looked up and happened to meet Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes in the cave not far away. Both of them were stunned. ¡°Pce Mistress, this man is quite good-looking.¡± ¡°Yeah, I haven¡¯t seen such a man in a long time.¡± The women kept using their eyes to size up the man, as if they were yearning to strip him of his clothes with their eyes. The whip in Feiyin¡¯s hand hit the ground heavily. ¡°Don¡¯t you all dare to covet him. He¡¯s mine.¡± The women present revealed looks of pity. Chapter 105 - The Whereabouts of the Phoenix Clan

Chapter 105: The Whereabouts of the Phoenix n

Feiyin kicked the man¡¯s thigh and yelled, ¡°Get up and follow me.¡± The man stood up silently and nced at Xia Muqing again, but he didn¡¯t betray them. After the two of them had left, the woman at the entrance of the city was still talking about that man. Her words were extremely explicit. Xia Muqing let go of the wooden board in her hand and the entire underground cave was closed. Jiang Yifan said, ¡°The Goddess n is more famous than the Shamans. There are also more historical records. The Goddess n is a n that only has women. They steal men to produce children.¡± Xia Muqing asked, ¡°What happened to those men after the children were born?¡± Jiang Yifan was silent for a moment before pointing to a corner. ¡°There.¡± Xia Muqing and the rest looked around. The cave was dark and only a few broken gaps revealed little light. But with this little light, they could still see clearly. There were arms and legs hanging on the wall and something that resembled human skin. Were these all real? In an instant, they felt a chill running down their spines. Perhaps because of psychological reasons, they smelled a whiff of something rotten. The feathers on the little phoenix wings were shuddering. It buried its head in Jiang Yifan¡¯s chest and refused to raise its head. Unexpectedly, Radiant Sun, who looked the strongest among them, was the first to scream. Although Xia Muqing had covered its mouth in time, its scream still attracted the attention of the goddesses on the ground. ¡°It¡¯s a phoenix¡¯s voice. Did those old fellows escape again?¡± They discussed among themselves for a while before running straight to the prison where the Phoenixes were kept. Fortunately, because Radiant Sun had made a sound out of fright just now, they had identally discovered the ce where the phoenixes were being held. As the only female in the team, Xia Muqing signaled them with her eyes and left. She found a set of Goddess n clothes in the backyard of a household and changed into it. Then, she swaggered into the crowd and followed them to the prison. The people from the Goddess n were all good-looking. Xia Muqing was originally very pretty, so she didn¡¯t look out of ce when she joined them. She attracted more attention from the onlookers. Just when Xia Muqing thought that she had been exposed, a woman approached her and asked, ¡°Are you from Hundred Flowers n?¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t know what she was talking about and simply nodded. The woman looked at her with envy. ¡°The Hundred Flowers n is the only ce with men in our Goddess n. If it weren¡¯t for myck of beauty, I would want to enter too.¡± Xia Muqing sized her up. She didn¡¯t look too bad either. She looked especially cute with her dimples. As they spoke, they arrived at a ce that was surrounded by rocks. It was very quiet inside. Flying Bird, who had heard the news, rushed over and opened the cell to take a look. The members of the phoenix n were all fine inside. Her expression darkened. ¡°These beasts are all fine here. Why are you making a fuss?¡± Her expression was one of impatience and rage. She must have been in the midst of something and was interrupted. Xia Muqing thought of the man that was taken away and she raised her eyebrows slightly. No one dared to speak under her furious gaze, and they all lowered their heads. It seemed like this woman¡¯s status in the goddess n was quite high. Flying Bird nced at them fleetingly and stopped at Xia Muqing. Her body stiffened and she lowered her head. However, she left after taking a look. Xia Muqing heaved a sigh of relief. She looked at the prison where the phoenixes were kept, and wondered how she could save them. ¡°Come with me.¡± Xia Muqing was deep in thought when she noticed that everyone was staring at her. She looked up and saw that the person who had just spoken was Flying Bird. She was pointing at her. Chapter 106 - Meeting the Black Eagle

Chapter 106: Meeting the ck Eagle

Xia Muqing asked in confusion, ¡°Are you calling me?¡± Flying Bird nodded andmanded arrogantly, ¡°Follow me.¡± Xia Muqing had no idea how she had recognized her or if something else had happened, but now, she could only follow her. The others waiting for Xia Muqing in the cave were a little worried, when they saw that she didn¡¯t return. Jiang Yifan opened the hole and looked outside. There were still women walking around. They were men, and once they left the cave, they would be too conspicuous. So they could only wait. When the sky darkened and Xia Muqing still didn¡¯t return, Jiang Yifan and Jin Chao nced at each other and decided to go out to take a look. ¡­ Xia Muqing followed Flying Bird to a pce. The sign on the entrance of the pce said, ¡°Hundred Flowers Gathering¡±. After entering, the pce was split into several sections. A sign was hung outside each area. So this was the Hundred Flowers n. Flying Bird asked arrogantly, ¡°Which n are you from?¡± She had brought Xia Muqing back because she had mistakenly assumed that she was a member of the Hundred Flowers n. Xia Muqing nced at the signboards hanging around the pce and casually said, ¡°I¡¯m from the Orchid n.¡± Flying Bird¡¯s expression changed and she snapped, ¡°Nonsense. I¡¯m the leader of the Orchid n. But I don¡¯t recognize you.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t expect her to be so unlucky and she didn¡¯t know what to say. Flying Bird asked curiously, ¡°Are you one of the new ones who just joined the sect?¡± Xia Muqing nodded. Flying Bird was even more puzzled. She had never heard of anyone who joined when she was an adult. It asked curiously, ¡°As long as you¡¯re above 13 years old, you can participate in the Hundred Flowers selections. Why did you join sote despite your beauty?¡± Xia Muqing had already calmed down. ¡°I didn¡¯t participate in the selections previously. This is my first time.¡± Flying Bird was even more puzzled, but she didn¡¯t say a word. She walked forward and said, ¡°Since you¡¯re from the Orchid n, that¡¯s easy. I need your help with something.¡± She brought Xia Muqing to a room and opened the secret door behind a bookshelf. A long passageway was formed and a deafening sound came from inside. The sound was somewhat familiar. Xia Muqing¡¯s heart skipped a beat. It was the ck eagle¡¯s voice. Despite feeling anxious, she didn¡¯t show it on her face at all. Herposure made Flying Bird even more satisfied. ¡°Go in.¡± With that, she took the lead and entered. Xia Muqing followed closely behind. Entering the dark room, Flying Bird lit a candle. Only then did Xia Muqing see everything clearly. Her eyes instantly turned red and fury filled her chest. The beast imprisoned here was the ck eagle. Its wings had been prated by two iron nails that were as thick as an arm and it was nailed to the wall. Its neck was tightly bound by a chain. All the feathers on its neck had fallen off, and its bare flesh was riddled with wounds. Flying Bird pointed at the ck eagle coldly and said, ¡°This beast is too disobedient. I¡¯ll leave it to you to guard it in the future. Your mission is to make it tell us where the other Azure Cloud Eagles are.¡± Xia Muqing used all her willpower to suppress the anger in her heart. She asked in a hushed whisper, ¡°Why me?¡± Flying Bird didn¡¯t detect the strangeness in her voice. ¡°This beast lusts after beauties. Back then, I tricked him out using a beauty. I didn¡¯t expect it to be so useless now. I think you¡¯re not bad-looking, so I¡¯ll let you try.¡± ¡°However, this beast is very important to the Goddess n. If you identally let him go, I¡¯ll skin you alive.¡± Flying Bird suddenly approached her. Xia Muqing pretended to be frightened and nodded repeatedly. Only then did she touch Xia Muqing¡¯s face in satisfaction. ¡°If you seed, I naturally won¡¯t treat you badly. You can pick any man in the backyard.¡± Xia Muqing asked in surprise, ¡°Really? I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Flying Bird smiled and walked out of the dark room. After she left, Xia Muqing retracted her expression and approached the ck eagle carefully. Chapter 107 - Seriously Injured

Chapter 107: Seriously Injured

The ck eagle¡¯s huge body was nailed to the wall by two steel nails. The blood that flowed out of its wounds had dyed its entire body red. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t dare to touch it and she whispered into its ear, ¡°ck eagle, ck eagle.¡± The ck eagle didn¡¯t react at all, and it lowered its head with its eyes closed. Xia Muqing gave up and checked its wounds instead. She took out a silver needle and inserted it into his body to stop the bleeding. She couldn¡¯t make any drastic move yet. If Flying Bird came to check on her, she would be exposed. Xia Muqing had to control her treatment well. She couldn¡¯t let anyone notice her during the process. As the silver needles entered its body, the ck eagle was stimted and it moved slightly. Xia Muqing was delighted and shouted again, ¡°ck eagle?¡± The ck eagle wanted to p its wings, but its wings were fixed and it couldn¡¯t move at all. Its efforts only caused the blood that had just stopped to flow again. Xia Muqing quickly said, ¡°Stop moving.¡± However, the ck eagle didn¡¯t listen to her. It continued to struggle and make low sounds with anger and helplessness. Xia Muqing frowned. What was going on? She reached out tofort him. The ck eagle struggled even more and looked in her direction. Seeing that the ck eagle had opened its eyes, Xia Muqing clenched her fists tightly. She wished she could fight those people right now. The Azure Cloud Eagles had always been known for their eyesight and speed. These people had actually ruined its eyes! The ck eagle¡¯s eyes were empty, and its eyeballs had been dug out by someone. Xia Muqing held back her tears and gently touched its eyes. The ck eagle seemed to have recalled a bad experience and shook its head even more violently. Xia Muqing quicklyforted him. After a while, she realized that something was wrong. Its ears had also been pierced by a metal object. Xia Muqing suppressed her rage. Seeing that the ck eagle¡¯s constant struggle had worsened its injuries, she could only use silver needles to seal its consciousness. The silver needles entered its neck and the ck eagle fainted. As expected, Flying Bird was worried and came back to take a look. When she saw that the ck eagle still hadn¡¯t woken up, she frowned and asked, ¡°Has this beast never woken up?¡± Xia Muqing nodded and said, ¡°Yes.¡± Flying Bird¡¯s frown deepened. She circled the ck eagle twice and whipped it. The ck eagle shook but it didn¡¯t wake up. Xia Muqing guessed her meaning and said, ¡°Pce Mistress, this Azure Cloud Eagle looks like it¡¯s about to die. If it¡¯s still useful, let¡¯s treat it first.¡± Her words made Flying Bird look at her instantly. Xia Muqing was a little nervous. She was feeling fine but she was worried that the ck eagle would be harmed if she was exposed. However, she remainedposed as she looked at the eagle. Flying Bird suddenly asked, ¡°You know medicine?¡± Xia Muqing quickly nodded and said, ¡°A little.¡± Flying bird scrutinized Xia Muqing. After a while, she smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯ll leave this beast to you then.¡± She waved her hand, and a few strong women entered the secret room. They untied the ck eagle and carried it out together. Xia Muqing and Flying Bird followed them. Fei Niao gazed at Xia Muqing¡¯s back and said, ¡°Go and investigate her.¡± A figure suddenly appeared and left after nodding. The Goddess n didn¡¯t have a physician. Where did this womane from? Xia Muqing followed the women in front of her into a room and they threw the ck eagle onto the ground. ¡°I need gauze and water,¡± Xia Muqing said calmly. The women nced at each other and walked out together, leaving one guard at the door. The others went to get what she needed. Xia Muqing knew that she had attracted the attention of Flying Bird, but that wasn¡¯t important anymore. What she had to do was to bring the ck eagle out of the dark room. Chapter 108 - Saving the Black Eagle

Chapter 108: Saving the ck Eagle

As long as they left the secret room, she had a hundred ways to escape. When they brought everything over, there were threerge buckets of water and rolls of gauze. The ck eagle was really too massive. Xia Muqing quickly washed the ck eagle¡¯s wounds. After being pierced by the steel nails for a long time, its wounds had started to be infected. After treating its external injuries, all that was left were the more serious eyes and ears injuries. She took out a dagger and disinfected it before removing the iron nails on its ears. She then quickly sealed its acupoints to stop the bleeding. At this moment, the ck eagle had already be bald in many areas. The feathers on its body had been shaved off. In addition to the gauze covering its body, it looked extremely pitiful. While Xia Muqing was saving the ck eagle as fast as she could, Jin Chao and the others had already begun to look for her. Fortunately, Gungun could smell Xia Muqing¡¯s scent to determine her location. The few of them darted around and it wasn¡¯t easy for them to reach the entrance of the Hundred Flowers Garden. Seeing the women standing guard at the door, they didn¡¯t barge in. Instead, they observed and waited for the timing for them to change shifts before they snuck in. After entering, they saw a row of houses. There was a sign hanging at each door with different names. ¡°The Hundred Flowers Garden is the core headquarters of the Goddess n. It is split into different factions. These houses are the territory of each of their ns,¡± Jiang Yifan exined calmly. ¡°But I don¡¯t know where Sister is.¡± As they spoke, a group of people strode towards them. Jin Chao quickly pushed Jiang Yifan and the two of them quickly hid. ¡°Xiaomeng,ter give this to¡­¡± It was Flying Bird. As she spoke, she couldn¡¯t remember Xia Muqing¡¯s name. She then realized that she knew very little about that unfamiliar woman. ¡°Give it to that woman just now.¡± After contemting for a while, she instructed her vaguely. The woman named Xiaomeng was one of the women who had just carried the ck eagle. She epted the bottle from Flying Bird and nodded. ¡°Yes, Pce Mistress.¡± Jin Chao and Jiang Yifan nced at each other. For some reason, they sensed that the woman they were talking about was Xia Muqing. They could only try their luck now. After Flying Bird left, they finally caught up with Xiaomeng. They followed her to a room which meant that they couldn¡¯t advance any further. There was a guard at the door. Xiaomeng walked in and handed the bottle to Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing had just said that she needed medicine for external injuries. They announced that Hundred Flowers n had a magical medicine that could heal wounds. Xia Muqing was curious and asked them to get it. Taking the bottle from Xiaomeng, Xia Muqing ced it under her nose and took a sniff. This medicine¡­ Xiaomeng reminded her, ¡°You might not know since you¡¯re new here. You just have to pour it on the wounds.¡± Xia Muqing smiled and agreed. She pretended to pour the medicine on the ck eagle. After she approached it, she paused and asked, ¡°Can you bring me some hot water? It needs to be washed againter. There¡¯s only cold water here.¡± Xiaomeng nodded and left. Xia Muqing poured out a little of the medicine from the bottle, but instead of pouring it on the ck eagle, she aimed it at the ground. It was a yellow liquid that resembled oil. There were also ck impurities inside. What was it? However, this was definitely not medicine for external injuries. Xia Muqing was studying the bottle when a small thing fell from the roof. After realizing what it was, she quickly caught it. ¡°Gungun, how did you get in?¡± Gungun rolled over and changed its positionfortably in her arms. ¡°Master, Jiang Yifan and Jin Chao led us in. They attracted the attention of the people at the door just now, so we took the opportunity to enter.¡± Chapter 109 - Dream

Chapter 109: Dream

¡°All of you?¡± Xia Muqing had just asked when she saw a little bird peeking out from its thick fur. The little phoenix obediently greeted her. It turned around and spotted the ck eagle on the ground. She was so shocked that the feathers on her body rose. This was¡­ an Azure Cloud Eagle? She didn¡¯t expect the arrogant and domineering Azure Cloud Eagle to end up in such a pitiful state. And so, she became even more worried about her fellow phoenixes. Xia Muqing stroked its head and said reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the whereabouts of the Phoenix n is already known. They tortured the ck eagle because they wanted to know the whereabouts of the Azure Cloud Eagle n. With the Phoenix n here, they probably won¡¯t make things difficult for them.¡± Only then did the little phoenix calm down and stop panicking. Gungun nced at the ck eagle on the ground and felt a little ufortable. Although it didn¡¯t interact much with the ck eagle, it treated it as apanion. Xia Muqing looked at Gungun and had an idea. The door suddenly swung open, and Gungun and the little phoenix quickly hid. After Flying Bird pushed the door open and entered, she quickly scanned the room. Xia Muqing asked, ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Seeing that there was no one in the room, Flying Bird smiled and said, ¡°Nothing important. It¡¯s just that someone reported that an intruder has broken in. I was worried that you would be in danger.¡± Xia Muqing shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve been here all this time, and I didn¡¯t see anyone enter.¡± Hearing her say this, Flying Bird immediately retreated. But she locked the door and instructed the people behind her, ¡°Increase the number of people guarding her. I want to see how many people have barged into the Goddess n.¡± Xia Muqing looked at the closed door. Her top priority now was to bring the ck eagle out. She beckoned Gungun over and instructed it. Jin Chao and Jiang Yifan were captured after Flying Bird did a thorough search. Since they had already been found, Flying Bird stopped pretending and ordered people to tie Xia Muqing up. Xia Muqing kept resisting, but in the end, she was still subdued by them. Flying Bird entered the room and casually kicked the ck eagle on the ground. ¡°Who are you?¡± Xia Muqing turned around and refused to talk to her. Flying Bird didn¡¯t fly into a rage. She ced her foot on the ck eagle¡¯s chest and stomped hard on it. The ck eagle immediately woke up and groaned in pain. Xia Muqing blurted anxiously, ¡°Leave it alone!¡± Flying Birdughed loudly and said, ¡°Looks like you¡¯re prepared to be obedient? Why are you guys here?¡± She didn¡¯t believe that these people were here to save those beasts. No one would be foolish enough to risk their lives for beasts. Jin Chao and Jiang Yifan were also brought to this room. They were covered in wounds and it was obvious they had just been beaten up. Xia Muqing stood at a corner as she watched Flying Bird interrogating the air. The whip in her handshed the air repeatedly, making her a bizarre sight. And the tortured Jin Chao and Jiang Yifan were standing behind her. That was what she instructed Gungun to do just now, causing these people to fall into a dream. The three of them nced at each other and quickly made their way to the ce where the phoenix n was imprisoned. The ck eagle was too seriously wounded, and they could only hand it over to the Radiant Sun to protect it. Jin Chao went with Xia Muqing to save the phoenix n, while Radiant Sun and Jiang Yifan stayed in the underground cer to guard the ck eagle. Gungun and the little phoenix followed Xia Muqing. When they returned to the ce where the phoenixes were detained, Xia Muqing sent a signal to Jin Chao with her eyes. She walked forward and said, ¡°I¡¯m here on the orders of the Orchid n pce mistress to interrogate these phoenixes.¡± The people here had witnessed Flying Bird taking Xia Muqing away personally. They naturally didn¡¯t doubt her words and nodded before letting her in. Chapter 110 - Saving the Phoenix Clan

Chapter 110: Saving the Phoenix n

The moment Xia Muqing walked past them, she quickly inserted the silver needles into the back of their necks and they copsed to the ground. Jin Choa rushed forward and dragged the unconscious women into a dark corner. Then, they entered the prison. The phoenixes were locked in a huge cage. The originally huge birds were squeezed together pitifully. When they saw Xia Muqing, their eyes were filled with disbelief. Xia Muqing quickly exined, ¡°I¡¯m here to save you all. Be quiet, I¡¯ll bring all of you out.¡± Jin Chao was already thinking of ways to break the lock of the cage. After the little phoenix¡¯s exnation, the phoenixes looked at Xia Muqing gratefully. The leader of the Phoenix n added, ¡°Flower, the Phoenix n owes you a huge favor.¡± Xia Muqing shook her head. ¡°We¡¯re friends, aren¡¯t we?¡± These words touched the hearts of the phoenixes so much that their eyes welled up with tears. If not for the fact that this ce wasn¡¯t suitable for them to speak loudly, they would have flown into the air and started singing. Xia Muqing counted them. Fortunately, they were all here and didn¡¯t suffer any injuries like the ck eagle. Thinking of how the ck eagle had lost its eyes, Xia Muqing¡¯s heart sank. Jin Chao unlocked the cage swiftly. Xia Muqing looked at the huge phoenixes. Moving them was a major problem. The leader of the phoenixes suggested, ¡°Flower, there is a secret path that allows us to leave the ind. I managed to escape thest time, but I was captured againter on.¡± It sighed with pity. Xia Muqing recalled the charred ck rocks they saw before entering the ind. Her eyes lit up and she nodded. ¡°Where¡¯s the hidden path?¡± It pointed at a hole the size of a dog behind the prison and said, ¡°Through this hole, you can see a cave. We can escape through the hole.¡± Xia Muqing looked at the entrance and asked, ¡°How did you discover it?¡± The leader looked a little embarrassed and skipped the topic. ¡°Let¡¯s leave quickly.¡± The members of the Phoenix n couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly. Xia Muqing said, ¡°You guys go out first. I still have to go back to the Azure Cloud Eagle and the others.¡± The leader pondered thoughtfully. ¡°They were taken away by those women a few days ago.¡± Xia Muqing asked in surprise, ¡°You¡¯ve seen them before?¡± It nodded and replied, ¡°They were captured together with us, but they were suddenly taken away a few days ago. They said that they were going to activate some formation. It seems like they¡¯re going to wake up someone.¡± Xia Muqing continued, ¡°Magus God.¡± It quickly nodded and said, ¡°Yes, that Witch God.¡± Xia Muqing frowned and pondered. She said, ¡°You guys can leave first. I¡¯ll save them.¡± The leader knew that they wouldn¡¯t be of much help here and that they would only be a burden. Hence, it nodded and agreed to the n. Initially, the little phoenix didn¡¯t want to leave. However, Xia Muqing forced it to leave first. It then left with its father unwillingly. Since Jin Chao couldn¡¯t understand the phoenixes, he could only look at Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing exined the current situation briefly and Jin Chao nodded. ¡°Only the whereabouts of the Azure Cloud Eagle couple remains a mystery.¡± Xia Muqing nodded and said in distress, ¡°The ck eagle can¡¯t provide any answers now.¡± He nced at her, and subconsciously reached out to soothe her tightly furrowed eyebrows. Both of them were stunned by his actions. Xia Muqing retreated backward, finally relieving the awkwardness. She didn¡¯t dare to look into his eyes today. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Looking at her slightly red earlobes, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile. Coincidentally, Xia Muqing noticed him. She red at him and hissed, ¡°What are youughing at? Is this the time tough? Let¡¯s go.¡± Jin Chao agreed good-naturedly and trailed behind her slowly with his hands behind his back. Chapter 111 - Saving the Azure Cloud Eagle Couple

Chapter 111: Saving the Azure Cloud Eagle Couple

Xia Muqing and Jin Chao returned to the underground cer again. When Radiant Sun saw that they had returned, it excitedly said, ¡°You guys have finally returned. That Azure Cloud Eagle has just woken up.¡± Xia Muqing looked at the ck eagle who was tied up and had a piece of cloth in its mouth. She frowned at the sight. Radiant Sun rubbed its head in embarrassment. ¡°I had no choice. It started to struggle as soon as it woke up. I was afraid that its cry would attract the people of the Goddess n. So I could only do that.¡± Xia Muqing had no intention to me it. She nodded and stroked the back of the ck eagle¡¯s neck to remind it to stay quiet. This was amon action between them. The ck eagle, which was struggling, suddenly fell silent. It couldn¡¯t see and could only sense the person beside it. It tilted its head and carefully rubbed against Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing was delighted. Had it recognized her? The ck eagle¡¯s ears weren¡¯t as severely injured as its eyes. After treatment, it could already hear sounds. The ck eagle wanted to say something frantically, but its mouth was stuffed and it couldn¡¯t make a sound. Xia Muqing whispered in its ear, ¡°ck eagle, I will save your parents. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll let go of you first. Don¡¯t make a sound.¡± After the ck eagle nodded, Xia Muqing then worked together with Jin Chao to put it down properly. Xia Muqing asked again, ¡°ck eagle, do you know where your parents are?¡± The ck eagle replied softly, ¡°They are in a very dark cave, but I don¡¯t know where it is. When they brought us there, we were all blindfolded. My parents are in danger now.¡± Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t disappointed. She had some clues atst. Jin Chao suddenly interjected, ¡°I think I know where it is.¡± Everyone looked at him in surprise. After arranging for Radiant Sun and Jiang Yifan to continue guarding the ck eagle, he led Xia Muqing out of the underground cer. The two of them arrived at the entrance of a cave. The entrance was tiny and was only half the height of a human. The cave had appeared in an empty space. There was nothing around them, not even a tree. The cave that suddenly appeared was a very strange sight indeed. It was as if a small mountain had appeared out of nowhere in an open space, and another cave entrance had appeared on the mountain. Xia Muqing asked curiously, ¡°How did you find this ce?¡± This ce was quite hidden. Jin Chao replied, ¡°When we were on our way to find you, I saw the people of the Goddess n performing a ritual here. This ce should be very important to them. It might be where the Magus God is.¡± Since they had captured the ck eagle and the phoenixes to revive the Magus God, then if they wanted to find the whereabouts of the ck eagle¡¯s parents, the fastest way was to locate the Magus God. Xia Muqing studied the hole and found a loop. With a gentle pull, the door opened. The entrance wasn¡¯t locked. The situation was getting weirder, but Xia Muqing and Jin Chao had no choice. No matter what was below, they had to go down and take a look. After entering the cave, they carefully closed the door again. The cave wasn¡¯t dark. There were many torches ced on the stone walls on both sides, illuminating the entire cave. The decorations in the cave were extremely simple. They saw a coffin with simple patterns on it. It looked like something ancient. Xia Muqing approached cautiously but was stopped by Jin Chao. He pulled her behind him and chose to walk ahead by himself. Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t used to his protection, but she still felt a surge of warmth within her. The two of them approached the coffin. The coffin was bound tightly by several long chains, as if it was worried that something woulde out. Jin Chao tried pulling the chains on the coffin. The chains seemed to have rusted, but they were still very strong. It was impossible to break them with human strength. Chapter 112 - The Strange Coffin

Chapter 112: The Strange Coffin

The sound of flowing water attracted Xia Muqing¡¯s attention. She tugged Jin Chao and gestured for him to look towards the wall. The sound of flowing water came from there. Jin Chao walked closer to take a look, Xia Muqing had already kicked the stone wall. He couldn¡¯t help but rub his nose and cough. Xia Muqing pretended not to notice. The stone wall was thinner than she had imagined. Arger space appeared behind it, indicating that she was right. There was something behind. She walked in and suddenly, a dagger attacked her face. She quickly leaned back and dodged it. Before she could straighten her body, more daggers shot at her. Jin Chao pulled her behind his back and protected her by using a dagger as a weapon. He waved the dagger in his hand swiftly, forming a protective shield. The tips of these daggers were covered with ayer of shiny green light. It was obvious that they were smeared with lethal poison. After a while, the daggers still couldn¡¯t hurt them. Just as how the daggers had appeared without any warning, they disappeared again in the blink of an eye. Without the flying daggers, they could finally see the situation in the secret room clearly. There was a small waterfall here, and under the waterfall was a pool. The sound of water earlier came from there. However, this waterfall wasn¡¯t flowing with water, but blood. The thick smell of blood had spread. Xia Muqing suppressed the urge to puke and quickly walked towards the pool. There were two ck figures lying beside the pool. They were the ck eagle¡¯s parents. At this moment, they were in a very bad state. The two Azure Cloud Eagles had fallen into aa. There was a long tube from their bodies connected to the pool, and their blood seeped into the blood pool. It was obvious that the blood in the pool hadn¡¯t been formed in a day or two. These people from the Goddess n had harmed countless lives. Xia Muqing wanted to undo the tubes on their bodies when a stone hit her wrist. She ignored the pain and retracted the dagger she had hidden earlier on in her clothes, and flicked it towards the ce where the stone had flown out. With a groan, Xia Muqing turned around. A man darted past quickly. Although it was only for an instant, Xia Muqing could still see his face clearly. He had an ordinary face but his eyes were very beautiful. It made one feel that such a pair of beautiful eyes shouldn¡¯t be on this ordinary face. That man had fled after being poisoned by the dagger. When she was fighting against the daggers earlier on, she didn¡¯t lower her vignce. She had been observing the situation in the secret room. Be it the sudden appearance of the daggers or its sudden disappearance, it meant that there was someone in the secret room and she had been vignt. ncing at the red mark on her wrists caused by the stone, she continued their actions and quickly removed the tubes from the Azure Cloud Eagle¡¯s parents. Just as she was thinking of ways to bring them out, they woke up. Xia Muqing was delighted and asked, ¡°Can you both still move?¡± The Azure Cloud Eagles didn¡¯t expect that Xia Muqing would be here to save them. They tried to stand up. Although they were weak, they could still walk. The mother Azure Cloud Eagle was worried about her child and asked anxiously, ¡°Where¡¯s my son?¡± Xia Muqing reassured her. ¡°The ck eagle has been rescued.¡± However, she didn¡¯t tell them about the ck eagle¡¯s current situation. If she told them now, they would only be consumed with worries. This time, the Azure Cloud Eagle couple waspletely relieved. Jin Chao suddenly said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t leave.¡± They heard footsteps outside. Xia Muqing and Jin Chao protected the eagles behind them at the same time. The eagles supported each other with their wings and tried their best not to burden them. Chapter 113 - A Narrow Escape

Chapter 113: A Narrow Escape

She initially thought that it would be that man. Unexpectedly, it was Flying Bird. When she noticed the man inside, her eyes lit up. After all, men were especially rare here. Although he was wearing a mask today, his imposing robust figure was still very tempting. The women behind Flying Bird were already staring at him with zing eyes. Jin Chao frowned and was very unhappy with their expressions. Flying Bird turned to Xia Muqing and asked angrily, ¡°What trick did you use just now? Why did you intrude on the territory of the Goddess n?¡± Xia Muqing quickly scanned her troops and tried to calcte her probability of winning. Hearing her question, she smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a small illusion trick. Aren¡¯t you Shamans the most skilled in sorcery? Can¡¯t you see through a small illusion?¡± Now, she could only stall for time. When Flying Bird heard that, her expression became even more furious. ¡°We despise such despicable methods for our sorcery.¡± Xia Muqing snorted withughter. After saying that, Flying Bird felt ufortable as well. Their spells were indeed despised by everyone, but it wasn¡¯t their ce to gossip. ¡°Go and capture them. Kill the woman and I¡¯ll reward the man to you.¡± Flying Bird took a step back and gave the space to the people behind her. The women¡¯s eyes lit up as they surrounded Xia Muqing. If there were only Xia Muqing and Jin Chao here, escaping wouldn¡¯t be a problem. However, there was still the Azure Cloud Eagle couple. The Azure Cloud Eagle couple couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Flower, leave first. Just help us take care of our son.¡± Xia Muqing ignored them and retreated slowly with them. When she saw the pool behind her, her eyes lit up. She picked up a stone and ced it above the pool. ¡°Take another step closer and I¡¯ll throw it down.¡± Flying Bird¡¯s expression stiffened. She wanted to step forward to stop her, but she pretended not to care and said, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± But Xia Muqing noticed the change in her expression just now. The glint in her eyes shed and she said, ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ll throw it then.¡± The stone in her hand was covered with a thickyer of silt. This secret room was filled with silt, but only the surroundings of the pool were clean. Even the walls of the pool were spotless. It was obvious that someone had cleaned it every day to maintain this level of cleanliness. As Xia Muqing moved, the sludge on the stone in her hand fell bit by bit. Just when the sludge was about to enter the pond, Flying Bird quickly attacked and hit the sludge urately with the whip. However, after the bit of sludge exploded, it still fell into the pond. Flying Bird¡¯s expression turned panicked. She red at Xia Muqing and hissed threateningly, ¡°You sl*t. If the great Magus God is affected by you, I¡¯ll skin you alive.¡± Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t intimidated by her at all. She grinned brightly and said, ¡°I see. Then let us go. Otherwise, I can¡¯t guarantee that my hands won¡¯t tremble.¡± As expected, Flying Bird didn¡¯t dare to infuriate her anymore. She coldly made her nswomen retreat and said, ¡°I allow both of you to leave, but these two Azure Cloud Eagles must stay.¡± Xia Muqing moved her hand closer to the water and said, ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± Flying Bird could only agree and she made way for them. Xia Muqing stayed where she was and signaled to Jin Chao with her eyes. After Jin Chao left with the Azure Cloud Eagle couple, Flying Bird glowered at Xia Muqing with hatred. She was contemting about how she should deal with this bold sl*tter. After they left, Xia Muqing waved her hand and said, ¡°I¡¯m very worried when you look at me like that.¡± Flying Bird replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t stop you.¡± Although she said that, she was indeed waiting for Xia Muqing to leave the pool and capture her immediately. As for the man and the Azure Cloud Eagles who had just left, as long as they didn¡¯t leave the territory of the Goddess n, they wouldn¡¯t be able to escape from her. Chapter 114 - Escaping Pursuit

Chapter 114: Escaping Pursuit

Xia Muqing smiled cunningly and suddenly screamed. The stone in her hand seemed to have fallen identally into the water. Flying Bird¡¯s expression became one of panic visible to everyone, and the women behind her also had looks of horror. Everyone rushed to the surroundings of the pool to fish it out in a bid to remedy the situation. Xia Muqing had already taken the opportunity to dash out of the secret room. She gathered with everyone outside to look for Radiant Sun and the others. Flying Bird had already used her fastest speed, but she and the women could only watch helplessly as the stone sank into the blood pool. The blood in the pool had turned turbid and had a tinge of ckish-red. She screamed in rage, ¡°B*tch, I will kill you!¡± She quickly arranged for the entire Goddess n to be sealed and that no one was allowed to leave. She was bent on capturing them. Her people quickly went to execute the instructions. Flying Bird ambled to the outside of the secret room alone and looked at the chained coffin with infatuation in her eyes. She touched the coffin affectionately as if she was stroking a lover and muttered, ¡°Master, I can¡¯t wait anymore. I want to resurrect you now.¡± Once the blood in the pool became dirty, it would contaminate everything. However, she didn¡¯t have the patience to wait for the next opportunity. The Goddess n had nned for a hundred years to resurrect the Magus God. If she waited any longer, she wouldn¡¯t be able to wait until that day. After escaping, Xia Muqing and Jin Chao hurried to the underground cer, and they realized that it had been opened. Jiang Yifan and Radiant Sun were no longer inside. Just as they were feeling puzzled, Jiang Yifan poked his head out and beckoned to them. She advanced towards Jiang Yifan and realized that he was wearing a female outfit. Xia Muqing and the rest looked at him speechlessly. Only the Azure Cloud Eagle couple had never seen him before and thought that he was a little girl. The Azure Cloud Eagle¡¯s mother evenmented, ¡°This little girl is quite pretty.¡± Only Xia Muqing could understand it and she couldn¡¯t help butugh. Jiang Yifan felt as though she wasughing at him for wearing female clothes. He tugged at his clothes, but he didn¡¯t look embarrassed at all. He exined, ¡°Someone just found the underground cer, so I had to bring them out. I changed into female clothes to hide my identity.¡± Xia Muqing nodded and asked, ¡°What about Radiant Sun and the ck eagle?¡± How could the two of them, a phoenix and an Azure Cloud Eagle, hide? Jiang Yifan replied, ¡°I brought them to another underground cave to hide there. I came to find you guys by myself. Now that the entire Goddess Lady n has been sealed, that underground cave won¡¯t be safe for long. They¡¯ve sealed the city gates.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t find it strange. ¡°I know of a way to leave this ce. Let¡¯s take advantage of the chaoster.¡± Before she could finish speaking, footsteps sounded from afar. The few of them quickly hid in a family¡¯s courtyard. It was a backyard with plenty of clothes. Jiang Yifan¡¯s gaze shifted to Jin Chao. Jin Chao said coldly, ¡°Impossible.¡± Jiang Yifan advised, ¡°Brother, it¡¯s a special situation today. You should endure it.¡± Xia Muqing lowered her head and chuckled. ¡°Yeah, after all, men are still too conspicuous here.¡± She nced at the masked man¡¯s face and wondered what he looked like. Rejection was written all over Jin Chao¡¯s face. Xia Muqing could only step forward to help him out of the dilemma. ¡°Forget it. We¡¯ll just be careful. After all, the Azure Cloud Eagles and the rest are the biggest problem.¡± The Azure Cloud Eagle couple rubbed their heads in embarrassment. Their bodies were too massive, and they could only hide themselves by lying on the ground in this small courtyard. The footsteps outside gradually faded, but someone from this family had walked in. Through the window, one could see this family moving around in the room. They were about to reach the backyard. Chapter 115 - Escaping From the Goddess Clan

Chapter 115: Escaping From the Goddess n

The door to the front of the courtyard was opened, and a woman walked in. She slowly put away the clothes in the courtyard, and the silver jewelry hanging from her waist made a tinkling sound as she moved. Xia Muqing and the rest were pressed tightly against the wall. It was a small blind spot. The woman couldn¡¯t see them from the courtyard, but if she turned around, she would spot them. The woman put away all her clothes and turned to walk back into the house. Xia Muqing and the others took the opportunity to quickly change their hiding spot and avoided the woman¡¯s vision once again. After the woman left the backyard, a horn suddenly red outside. The woman quickly threw her clothes down and scrambled towards the sound of the horn with an ecstatic expression. Xia Muqing and the rest couldn¡¯t figure it out, but it was a good opportunity. The few of them quickly ran towards the ce where the Phoenix n was imprisoned. Along the way, everyone from the Goddess n could be seen running towards the direction of the sound of the horn. Everyone looked ecstatic. Xia Muqing led the Azure Cloud Eagle couple to the destination first. Jin Chao and Jiang Yifan rushed over with Radiant Sun and the ck eagle. The Azure Cloud Eagle couple, who had been overjoyed to unite with their son, turned furious when they saw the ck eagle¡¯s miserable state, especially its eyes. They immediately wanted to fight the Goddess n members. Xia Muqing advised, ¡°For now we can only make our escape. Otherwise, we will only be sending ourselves to our deaths.¡± The ck eagle alsoforted its parents before the group quickly left through the passageway the Phoenix n leader had told them about. After leaving that ce, Xia Muqing looked at the ind in the distance. She was very concerned about the strange behavior of the Goddess n earlier on. She had a feeling that something bad was happening. And that Magus God¡­ What was that? Jin Chao stepped forward and held her hand. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not toote for us to worryter.¡± Xia Muqing tried to retract her hand but she didn¡¯t manage to. ncing at the people behind who were waiting to watch a good show, her face heated up. ¡°Be careful. Let go of me quickly.¡± Jin Chao didn¡¯t want to push her too hard, so he let go. They didn¡¯t get too far before spotting a group of phoenixes resting on an ind in the distance. They actually hadn¡¯t left. The little phoenix circling the sky spotted them and swooped down in surprise. Xia Muqing caught its little body and poked its nose with a grin. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you guys left?¡± The leader of the phoenix n also flew to them and said, ¡°We¡¯re worried, so we waited for you here.¡± On their journey back, the Azure Cloud Eagle couple carried the ck eagle on their backs while Xia Muqing and the others sat on the phoenixes. This time, their journey back was much faster. Two dayster, theynded in the depths of the Sunset Mountains, where the phoenix n¡¯s residence was. The phoenixes looked at their ruined home and became a little sorrowful. Especially their parasol trees, which had practically apanied them since they were young. Now, they were burnt to ashes. Xia Muqing patted the little phoenix in her palm and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. As long as we¡¯re all here, we can rebuild our home.¡± The leader also stepped forward to encourage them. ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯ll nt the trees again. One day, the parasol trees will return to us.¡± Jiang Yifan added, ¡°As long as the roots of these parasol trees aren¡¯t damaged, they can be reborn.¡± The phoenixes were all surprised to hear this. As thepanion of the parasol trees, they had never heard of such a thing. Jiang Yifan said, ¡°Ordinary parasol trees naturally can¡¯t, but these trees have absorbed your me energy all year round. You have the ability to undergo nirvana and be reborn, so they naturally can do the same.¡± The phoenixes cheered. Jiang Yifan began to teach the phoenixes how to resurrect the parasol trees. Xia Muqing led the Azure Cloud Eagles to an empty spot and continued to treat the ck eagle¡¯s eyes. Chapter 116 - Trouble in the Jiang family

Chapter 116: Trouble in the Jiang family

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The ck eagle¡¯s eyes had been dug out and there was no way it could regain its sight. The Azure Cloud Eagle couple were rather depressed. The ck eagle¡¯s mother had already cried many times. In the end, its father recalled a legend regarding their n. ¡°The Azure Cloud Eagle n is famed for our speed and superb vision. ording to legend, in the ancient era, the Azure Cloud Eagle n grew a second pair of eyes in its body. However, that is only a legend. We don¡¯t know the authenticity of this legend.¡± That was only a legend, but right now, they needed hope, even if the chances were slim. When Xia Muqing heard the legend, her hand that was checking the ck eagle paused for a moment. In order to prevent an infection, she took out a clean piece of gauze and ced it around its eyes. It was about time for them to leave the Sunset Mountains. After a discussion, the ck eagle still followed Xia Muqing. The Azure Cloud Eagle couple went back home unwillingly. As for the little phoenix, it insisted on following them. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t want it to interact with humans, but Jiang Yifan suddenly quipped, ¡°Let it follow us. Otherwise, it will definitely follow us secretly.¡± Xia Muqing could only nod in agreement after some contemtion. The little phoenix cried out in joy and flew to afortable spot on Jiang Yifan¡¯s head. The group left the Sunset Mountains and went to the periphery of the mountain range. Jiang Yifan expressed that he wanted to go home and take a look. So the group headed to the Jiang residence. Arriving at the Jiang residence, Jiang Yifan knocked on the door with a wide smile. After all, this was the first time he had left home for so long. Strangely, there was no response. Jiang Yifan felt that something was wrong and kicked the door open. The entire house looked the same as when they had left, but silence filled the entire space. Xia Muqing also frowned and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go in and take a look.¡± The few of them quickly scanned the entire house but they didn¡¯t see anyone. The entire Jiang family didn¡¯t seem to have been attacked or killed. It was as though they had gone out to y. Jiang Yifan rushed out. ¡°Sister, our library was ransacked.¡± The few of them went to the Jiang family¡¯s library. Xia Muqing had lived in the Jiang family for some time previously, but she had no idea that the Jiang family had such a huge library. They had an imposing five-story high library. After entering, she realized that the bookshelves inside had been flipped over and the books on the first level were scattered on the ground. From the second level to the fifth level, all the books had disappeared. Jiang Yifan exined, ¡°This library has existed since I was young. My parents only allowed me to enter and read, but they have never allowed my brother to enter. Everything I know and understand was what I have read in the ancient books here.¡± Xia Muqing nodded in understanding. No wonder Jiang Yifan was knowledgeable despite the fact that he had never stepped out of the family house before. Jiang Yifan anxiously said, ¡°Something must have happened to my parents and brother.¡± Xia Muqing frowned as she looked at the messy bookshelves in the library. This was the only ce in the Jiang family that had been ransacked. It seemed that the people who took the Jiang family away wanted something from the library. Xia Muqing asked, ¡°Do you know why anyone would want anything with this library?¡± Jiang Yifan suddenly thought of something and rushed to the fifth level. He searched the wall and found a ce to press the button. Xia Muqing and the others caught up with him and happened to see him opening a small hiddenpartment. A squarish secretpartment appeared on the wall.. Jiang Yifan took out a palm-sized wooden box and opened it to see a ck pearl. Chapter 117 - The Strange Patterns

Chapter 117: The Strange Patterns

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The moment Xia Muqing saw the pearl, something in the small pouch in her arms suddenly moved. She looked at it again. This pearl was identical to the one that the strange young man had sold to her at the periphery of the Sunset Mountains. Xia Muqing asked, ¡°Yifan, what is this?¡± Seeing that the pearl was intact, Jiang Yifan sighed in relief and exined, ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is, but ever since I was young, my parents have always cherished it.¡± Xia Muqing felt that there must be someone behind all these incidents. She took out another pearl and showed it to him. ¡°Look, I have one too.¡± Jiang Yifan was shocked and quicklypared the two pearls. They were truly identical. The moment the two pearls were ced together, there were some changes. As they watched, some patterns appeared on these two pearls. These patterns looked like the shape of a flower, but no one had even seen such flowers. Jin Chao, who had been silent all this time, looked at the patterns on the pearls and his eyes narrowed slightly. Xia Muqing noticed him and suddenly asked, ¡°Do you know what this is, Jin Chao?¡± Jin Chao shook his head and replied, ¡°I have no idea.¡± Xia Muqing arched her eyebrows slightly. She sensed that he should know something, but he was unwilling to say, so she didn¡¯t probe further. Jiang Yifan handed both pearls to Xia Muqing and said, ¡°Sister, this pearl is for you. Keep it well.¡± Xia Muqing yearned to find out what it was, so she didn¡¯t decline and stowed it away in her bag. There was something else in the bag. It was a rusty stone b she had bought with the pearl previously. The group of them searched around and could only conclude that the mastermind who had caused the Jiang family to go missing, was here for the library. They were clueless about everything else. Xia Muqing and Jiang Yifan walked around and realized that the members of the Tiger Mercenary Group had no idea where the Jiang family had gone. No one had even heard any sounds. They only knew that on the third day after Jiang Yifan and the others set off, no one had seen the Jiang family again. Everyone assumed that they had left with them together. After walking around and finding nothing, Jiang Yifan grabbed his hair, looking pained. Xia Muqingforted him. ¡°From the current situation, they should have been taken away by someone. Their lives aren¡¯t in danger.¡± Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes werepletely red. ¡°But I don¡¯t have any clues! I can¡¯t find them! If those people¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t dare to say the worst oue. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t know how to persuade him, and she could only search for other clues at the Jiang residence. This time, she really found a clue. Xia Muqing found a blood-stained hairpin in the garden. The hairpin was Liu Yan¡¯s favorite and she put it in her hair every day. She followed the blood on the hairpin to the innermost part of the garden. Because the ground was ck, and because the blood had turned ckish red after so many days, it was impossible to discover this ce without careful observation. They had walked around the garden a few times previously but didn¡¯t find anything. Xia Muqing went to the wall next to the garden alone. The traces of blood had stopped here. There was a huge pool of blood on the ground. The soil on the ground looked like it had been dug before. She had a bad feeling. She reached out and lifted the soil on the upper level, revealing the corpses buried under the soil. Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes widened. This was¡­ After she carefully dug up the soil, the three corpses buried were revealed. The corpses of the Jiang couple and Jiang Dayong were ced neatly inside. Just now, she hadforted Jiang Yifan that his family weren¡¯t in danger, but now, their corpses were lying here silently. Chapter 118 - The Three Corpses

Chapter 118: The Three Corpses

When Xia Muqing returned to the main hall, she didn¡¯t know how to break the news to him, and so, she brought him to the garden. Jiang Yifan followed her out of the house. When he saw the three corpses on the ground, he trembled badly and stumbled over to them. ¡°Father¡­ Mother¡­ Brother¡­¡± He didn¡¯t dare to touch their corpses. He only barely caressed their faces as he wailed. Jiang Yifan stayed by the corpses, refusing to eat or drink. He watched over them in a daze. The little phoenix carefully moved closer andnded beside him. It called him softly, but there was no response. She flew back gloomily. Itnded beside Xia Muqing and gestured for her to think of a solution. Xia Muqing sighed and went to Jiang Yifan. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know who killed them? Don¡¯t you want to avenge them?¡± These two questions finally made him move. His voice was already hoarse, but he still whispered firmly, ¡°I want revenge. No matter who it is, I will definitely make them pay.¡± With that, he stood up immediately, as if he had really recovered from his grief. He bought three coffins to give them a glorious burial. Standing in front of the tombstones, it was as if he had grown up all of a sudden. He no longer had the cheeky smile from before, and his face was heavy with hatred. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t want to see him like this either, but he needed a motivation to live, even if it was hatred. After the Jiang family was buried, Xia Muqing asked for his opinion before setting off for the capital together. The little phoenix only dared to rest on Jiang Yifan¡¯s head after three days of travel. Jiang Yifan had truly frightened her for the past few days. He had be much more solemn and quiet, but he hadn¡¯t changed his behavior towards them at all. It was like he had walked out of a shadow. Approaching the capital, Xia Muqing looked around and suddenly asked Jin Chao, ¡°How long are you going to stay with us?¡± He replied calmly, ¡°I¡¯ll leave tonight.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t think too much about it when she asked him. But when she really got the answer, she was stunned. She felt a surge of emotions that she couldn¡¯t identify. She opened her mouth to say something, but in the end, she only said one word. ¡°Okay.¡± At night, Jin Chao suddenly announced, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± Xia Muqing bit her lips and remained silent. Jiang Yifan tactfully led Gungun, the little phoenix and the ck eagle away, giving them time alone. Jin Chao chuckled and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You can¡¯t bear to leave me?¡± Xia Muqing replied casually, ¡°It¡¯s up to you. We¡¯re not close anyway.¡± Jin Chao suddenly lowered his head and stopped Xia Muqing from talking. Xia Muqing blinked and looked at the face inches away from her. She couldn¡¯t react in time. The corners of Jin Chao¡¯s lips curled slightly. When his lips were about to leave Xia Muqing¡¯s lips, she wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. This time, it was his turn to be taken aback. Then, both of them took the initiative to deepen the kiss. The two of them didn¡¯t want to be outdone by each other and both wanted to take the lead. It was a passionate and intense kiss. After ending the kiss, Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. You¡¯re mine now.¡± Jin Chao smiled and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯m a heinous viin?¡± Xia Muqing quipped casually, ¡°I¡¯m not a good person either.¡± This answer made him burst outughing. He wrapped Xia Muqing in his embrace and said, ¡°Be good and wait for me to return.¡± With that, he left a kiss on her forehead and departed. Xia Muqing kicked the stones on the ground gloomily. It was too cold of him to leave just like that. Jiang Yifan calcted the time and returned with the three little beasts. When he saw that Xia Muqing was alone, he teased, ¡°Were you left abandoned?¡± Chapter 119 - Returning to the Capital

Chapter 119: Returning to the Capital

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing looked up and replied, ¡°Since he¡¯s mine, I¡¯ll let him y for a few days.¡± Jiang Yifan admired her forthrightness. He felt that Xia Muqing was really the most carefree girl he had ever met. By this time, they were already very close to the capital and they arrived at the city gates at noon the next day. Xia Muqing rented a carriage and entered with the ck eagle, Gungun, and the little phoenix. Jiang Yifan acted as the coachman. The security at the city gates wasn¡¯t very strict, so it was easy for them to sneak in. A gust of wind blew past. Xia Muqing could vaguely see the figure of a man through the curtains. He seemed a little familiar, but she couldn¡¯t remember where she had seen him before. She peered through the curtains again. The man who had gone a distance ahead suddenly turned around. He was a very handsome man, especially with his beautiful eyes. The man nced at Xia Muqing and smiled at her politely. Xia Muqing was embarrassed to keep staring at him and could only smile in response. She lowered the curtains and quickly forgot about him. They couldn¡¯t stay in an inn with the ck eagle and the beasts. So Jiang Yifan rented a small courtyard in the city. As soon as they had settled down, a group of people surrounded them. Xia Muqing went out and realized that it was the Xia family. Xia Jingtian, her father, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in a long time, stood in front. She had just returned to the capital when the person who had been guarding the city gate informed the Xia family. That was why he had immediately brought his men to look for her. Xia Muqing leaned against the wall and askedzily, ¡°I wonder why Old Master Xia is here?¡± Xia Jingtian¡¯s expression darkened, as he despised her behavior. ¡°How can a rich youngdy be so rude? Stand properly when you¡¯re talking.¡± Xia Muqing sneered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but no one taught me when I was young.¡± Xia Jingtian¡¯s expression darkened. He remembered the purpose of his visit and his expression softened. ¡°I know that I¡¯ve neglected you previously, so when I heard that you¡¯re back, I rushed over to see you. You¡¯re the daughter of the Xia family. How can you stay in such a ce?¡± He surveyed the courtyard with obvious contempt. His words surprised Xia Muqing. What was he up to? She said, ¡°No matter how dpidated this ce is, it¡¯s still a hundred times better than my courtyard in the Xia family.¡± Xia Jingtian¡¯s expression darkened but he smiled again. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the garden that you like previously. Didn¡¯t you like it a lot?¡± This made Xia Muqing even more surprised. What was Xia Jingtian up to? Xia Jingtian added, ¡°Come back with me. After all, the Xia family is your home.¡± Xia Muqing was curious and nodded in agreement. Jiang Yifan was a little worried. Xia Muqing signaled him with her eyes and left with Xia Jingtian. She followed Xia Jingtian because firstly, she wanted to know what he was up to. Secondly, the lesson she had taught the Xia familyst time wasn¡¯t enough. Back then, she had promised to avenge the original owner of her body. Because of various reasons, she had wasted some time. It was time to make the Xia family pay for what they had done. Back in the Xia residence, Xia Muqing saw Ruan Yu and Xia Churan waiting at the door as soon as she entered. As for Xia Chuxing, she had already married and entered the Prince¡¯s residence. She just didn¡¯t know how she was doing. Xia Jingtian seemed to be really happy that she had returned. He smiled and said, ¡°Muqing, I have prepared a huge table of food for you. It¡¯s all your favorite food. You must be hungry aftering back. Come, let¡¯s go eat.¡± Ruan Yu and Xia Churan also had friendly smiles on their faces, as if nothing had happened between them before. Xia Muqing thought that it was odd, but she found it even more interesting.. She followed them into the Xia residence with a fake smile on her face. Chapter 120 - The Xia Familys Abnormal Behavior

Chapter 120: The Xia Family¡¯s Abnormal Behavior

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When she walked past Xia Churan, she smiled and said, ¡°Sister, you seem to have be prettier.¡± Xia Churan smiled and said, ¡°Sister, you¡¯re the one with extraordinary beauty. Otherwise, King Zhennan wouldn¡¯t have taken a fancy to you.¡± There was a hint of jealousy in her words. Xia Muqing was stunned. King Zhennan, Ye Qingxuan? She had almost forgotten about him, and she wondered how his legs were doing. Xia Jingtian, who was walking in front, suddenly shouted, ¡°Churan.¡± Xia Churan¡¯s smile deepened and she said, ¡°Father, Sister will find out eventually. Moreover, this is such wonderful news. I should congratte my third sister in advance.¡± Xia Muqing was a little puzzled and asked, ¡°What has Ye Qingxuan got to do with me?¡± Hearing her call him King Zhennan, everyone reacted differently. Ruan Yu and Xia Chuxing were furious and jealous, while Xia Jingtian was filled with excitement. Heughed out loud. ¡°Muqing, no matter how much King Zhennan dotes on you, you have to know your limits. You can¡¯t be arrogant because of his favor.¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes darkened. It seemed that their change in attitude was rted to Ye Qingxuan. What did that fellow do? During the meal, Xia Jingtian appeared overly excited, and his face was flushed. Under Xia Muqing¡¯s careful persuasion, she learned the whole story. It turned out that the news of Ye Qingxuan¡¯s recovery had spread. The return of the war god naturally became a major news in the capital. The emperor had the intention to bestow a marriage to him, but he insisted on marrying Xia Muqing. Instantly, Xia Muqing was pushed to the cusp of the news. Xia Muqing clenched her chopsticks tightly. Ye Qingxuan was really shameless. Furious, she ignored Xia Jingtian and left. Ruan Yu seized the opportunity to say, ¡°Master, look at her attitude. Even if she marries King Zhennan, she might not necessarily be of any help to the Xia family.¡± The smile on Xia Jingtian¡¯s face retracted. ¡°So what? Once she enters the King¡¯s manor, she will have to rely on the Xia family¡¯s power as her backing. If she wants to gain a foothold, she has to be tied to the Xia Family.¡± With these words, he looked at Ruan Yu and Xia Churan and said, ¡°Don¡¯t provoke her for the time being. You two have indeed gone overboard previously. It¡¯s understandable that that child is angry.¡± Ruan Yu curled her lips in disdain. Back then, if he hadn¡¯t ignored Xia Muqing initially, they wouldn¡¯t have gone overboard. Now, everything became their fault. Xia Jingtian sipped his wine happily. Recently, because of King Zhennan, he had been enjoying his time at court. Those who hadn¡¯t taken a liking to him before, had alle to curry favor with him. They hoped that he could put in a good word for them with King Zhennan. After all, when King Zhennan had been injured, there had been many who had struck him when he was down. Xia Muqing returned to the willow garden. This ce looked the same as before she left. But back then, she chose this courtyard because it was connected to a mountain behind which the ck eagle could stay. Now, she suddenly understood. As soon as she stepped in, a row of maidservants entered. They were all holding tes with brand new bed essories, clothes, and essories. After Xia Muqing had given her approval, they swiftly changed the decoration in the room. This sort of treatment had never happened before. It seemed that Xia Jingtian really wanted to be in the good books of King Zhennan. At the thought of Ye Qingxuan, Xia Muqing got angry. She didn¡¯t believe that Ye Qingxuan really liked her. He must have used her as a shield. After the servants had left, she blew out the candles in the room and pretended to rest. She then left the Xia residence through the window. She made her way to the residence and easily climbed up the roof. She found Ye Qingxuan¡¯s room and opened a tile on the roof.. She peered inside but there was no one inside. Chapter 121 - Visiting the King鈥檚 Residence at Night

Chapter 121: Visiting the King¡¯s Residence at Night

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing leaped off from the roof and entered the room through the window. She thought no one was there, but as soon as she entered, she heard a ssh. There was a screen separating the two of them, and the sound of water sshing came from behind it. Was Ye Qingxuan bathing? Xia Muqing felt a little awkward. She stood rooted to the spot, wondering if she should retreat. Ye Qingxuan heard someone entering and said, ¡°Xiaodezi, bring me a cloth.¡± Xia Muqing, who was about to turn around and leave, stopped in her tracks. She could only take a cloth that was hanging outside and brought it to him. Ye Qingxuan didn¡¯t find anything amiss and naturally reached out to take the cloth from her. However, Xia Muqing was startled by him. She didn¡¯t know if it was her imagination, but she had a feeling that Ye Qingxuan had touched her hand when he took the cloth from her. She didn¡¯t dare to linger any longer. Just as she was about to leave, Ye Qingxuan spoke again. ¡°Xiaodezi, add some hot water for mer.¡± Xia Muqing stole a nce at Ye Qingxuan in the bathtub, and tried her best to control her eyes from darting around. Ye Qingxuan was sitting in the bathtub with his arms on the edge. He raised his head and closed his eyes to rest. Xia Muqing calcted the chances of her escaping if she were to leave now. Under Ye Qingxuan¡¯s urging, she braced herself and entered. She found a wooden bucket with hot water and scooped some hot water for him. She was relieved to see that he didn¡¯t open his eyes. Ye Qingxuanmanded, ¡°Continue. Why are you sozy today?¡± Xia Muqing could only continue with her actions. Seeing that he didn¡¯t stop urging her, she had a wicked idea. She kept pouring hot water into the water to see how long he could withstand the temperature. Seeing that the hot water in the wooden bucket was about to be empty, Ye Qingxuan continued to sit in the bathtub without a change in expression. Xia Muqing was a little surprised. She reached out to touch the surface of the water. The heat of the water made her hiss softly. Damn it! She quickly covered her mouth. They were so close. He must have heard her sounds just now. Ye Qingxuan saidzily, ¡°Xiaodezi, massage my shoulders.¡± Did he not hear her? Xia Muqing carefully approached him and ced her hands on his shoulders before gently massaging him. Ye Qingxuan looked like he was enjoying himself. He adjusted his posture and instructed, ¡°Use more strength.¡± Xia Muqing cursed silently as she used all her strength to massage him. Ye Qingxuan frowned and said, ¡°Be gentle. What happened today? You are not being careful.¡± Xia Muqing really wanted to p him on the head, but she was afraid that he would realize that she wasn¡¯t his servant, so she reduced her strength. Until her hands became sore, Ye Qingxuan still looked as if he was enjoying himself. Just as she waspletely tired, he spoke again. ¡°Xiaodezi, dry my hair.¡± She could only stop and wipe his hair with the cloth again. However, she had a vague feeling that something was amiss. She surveyed her surroundings, wondering where she could escape. Just as she was feeling distracted, Ye Qingxuan suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into the bathtub. Xia Muqingnded with a loud ssh and she quickly wiped the water off her face. She saw Ye Qingxuan grinning at her. She had obviously realized it was her. Xia Muqing stopped pretending and red at him. ¡°You did it on purpose!¡± Ye Qingxuan drawledzily, ¡°Who else besides you, have the guts to peek at me bathing in the middle of the night?¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s expression didn¡¯t look too good. When she noticed the distance between them, her expression turned more solemn. She immediately wanted to jump out of the tub. However, Ye Qingxuan reached out and pulled her into his arms. The back of Xia Muqing¡¯s clothes were soaked and Ye Qingxuan was bare-chested. When the two of them were in this position, their skin was practically touching each other.. Chapter 122 - A Handsome Man Out of the Bath

Chapter 122: A Handsome Man Out of the Bath

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing struggled a few times but failed to break free. She said angrily, ¡°Your Highness, please have some self-respect. Men and women shouldn¡¯t touch each other.¡± Ye Qingxuan chuckled and said, ¡°Who barged into my room sote at night? You¡¯re the one who has ulterior motives towards me, right?¡± ¡°I shall fulfill your wish.¡± As Ye Qingxuan spoke, he bent and approached her slowly. Xia Muqing leaned back and dodged as she quickly exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t! I came to talk to you.¡± Ye Qingxuan didn¡¯t listen to her at all. Just as their lips were about to touch, there was a sound and Xia Muqing was left alone in the bathtub. By the time she reacted and looked up, she saw that Ye Qingxuan had already put on a set of clothes. He was only wearing a shirt that was loosely tied at his waist with a belt. Most of his chest was exposed. His set had diminished the ferocious aura he possessed, and he looked extraordinarily devilish and seductive. Ye Qingxuan nced at Xia Muqing in the bathtub and raised an eyebrow. ¡°You still want to continue?¡± Seeing how eager he was, Xia Muqing quickly shook her head and rejected him. She wanted to stand up but just as she did so, she noticed his burning gaze. She lowered her head and quickly covered her chest before sitting back down. Her clothes were drenched, and even her inner garments could be seen. Seeing that the man¡¯s gaze was on her, she snapped angrily, ¡°Turn around!¡± Ye Qingxuan replied without any qualms, ¡°You must have known that I asked the emperor for an imperial edict to marry you. What is wrong with seeing my princess consort?¡± Xia Muqing was surprised by his shamelessness. Was this man still the mighty and decisive King Zhennan? ¡°Even with the imperial edict, we haven¡¯t gotten married.¡± Ye Qingxuan chuckled and answered, ¡°So, are you reminding me to marry you as soon as possible?¡± Seeing that she couldn¡¯t outtalk him, Xia Muqing ignored him. She saw the white curtains on the shelf next to the tub and pulled them towards her, wrapping them around her the moment she came out of the water. As the water droplets scattered, Xia Muqing¡¯s disheveled hair spread. She was only wrapped in a white cloth, but it didn¡¯t affect her beauty at all. Ye Qingxuan was dumbstruck for a moment. Then, he quipped, ¡°Since you¡¯re looking for me, let¡¯s talk about it.¡± He walked out of the room and gestured for Xia Muqing to sit opposite him. After Xia Muqing was sure that she had wrapped herself tightly, she walked over. She came to look for him to get something. But just now, she had lied and said that she was looking for him. Now, she could only continue lying. She didn¡¯t speak, and Ye Qingxuan didn¡¯t rush her. He poured two cups of tea leisurely and ced them in front of her. ¡°Why do you want to ask the emperor for permission to marry me?¡± Xia Muqing asked. ¡°What do you think?¡± Ye Qingxuan smiled and didn¡¯t answer. ¡°You¡¯re using me as a shield?¡± She had already thought of all the reasons, and she felt that this was the most usible. Ye Qingxuan had always been highly skilled and the emperor was afraid of him. Previously, he was injured and so, the emperor didn¡¯t do anything to him. Now that he had recovered, the emperor couldn¡¯t wait to find a woman to control him. Ye Qingxuan took a sip of his tea. His lowered eyes made it impossible for Xia Muqing to read his mind. After a long while, he slowly drawled, ¡°Since you think so, then so be it.¡± Xia Muqing frowned. What did he mean? ¡°You should call off the engagement. I won¡¯t marry you.¡± That was her purpose here today. Ye Qingxuan said, ¡°I¡¯m King Zhennan. Do you know how many women want to marry me?¡± Xia Muqing sneered. ¡°Then please look for the women who want to marry you. I don¡¯t want to marry you.¡± As Xia Muqing spoke, she looked at his waist. There was an extremely poor-quality jade pendant hanging there. When she took a closer look, she could even see a missing corner of the jade pendant. It didn¡¯t match his status.. Chapter 123 - The Strange Patterns

Chapter 123: The Strange Patterns

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios This jade pendant was what she hade here to look for. Previously, when she saw the pearl that belonged to the Jiang family and the one that the strange youth had given her, the two pearls formed a pattern together. She felt that it was a little familiar. Later on, she remembered that she had seen it before with Ye Qingxuan. Ye Qingxuan noticed her gaze and nced at the jade pendant. He smiled and asked, ¡°Do you think this jade pendant isn¡¯tpatible with my status?¡± Xia Muqing had the intention to test him, so she naturally went along with his question. ¡°I¡¯m indeed curious why you have such a jade pendant with you, Your Highness. You didn¡¯t even take it off when you were bathing.¡± Ye Qingxuan said meaningfully, ¡°Not usually. Today, I was afraid that someone would steal it.¡± Xia Muqing was shocked. How did he know that she wanted this? Dozens of thoughts waded through her mind when she suddenly saw another guest in the room. Its billowing white fur was dyed ck by the dust. Gungun stumbled towards Xia Muqing and squeaked. Ye Qingxuan looked at the ball of fur on the ground and sneered. ¡°The kind of pet indeed takes after its owner. You¡¯ve raised a mighty nightmare beast to be as stupid as a pig.¡± Gungun naturally understood the mockery in his words. It immediately bared its teeth and wanted to bite him, but Xia Muqing swiftly stopped it. She had seen the sh of silver light in Ye Qingxuan¡¯s hand just now. Gungun came to look for her because someone had snuck into her room. Xia Muqing knew that she wouldn¡¯t be able to get her hands on the jade pendant today, so she decided to leave. She carried Gungun to the window. Ye Qingxuan suddenly asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you willing to marry me?¡± Xia Muqing turned around to look at him. She wanted him to give up, so she said, ¡°I already have someone I like. I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll coerce me, Your Highness.¡± With that, she leaped out of the window and left. Ye Qingxuan murmured after a long while, ¡°I want to coerce you.¡± Xia Muqing returned to the courtyard and treaded in carefully. She didn¡¯t find anything unusual and guessed that the person had already left. Gungun jumped out of her arms and ran to the incense sticks, screeching twice. Xia Muqing followed it and asked, ¡°You¡¯re saying that the person who entered touched this thing?¡± Gungun nodded. Xia Muqing opened the lid of the joss stick. It was filled with burnt ashes and there was nothing unusual. She reached out and gently stirred the ashes. Fine silver threads appeared on the surface. At a nce, they looked like silver threads left behind by burning joss sticks. However, Xia Muqing had never used any joss sticks. She took out a strand of silver thread to check. The silver on the thread was wrapped around the thread. After peeling it, the true colors of the silver threads were exposed. She looked at the ck thread in her hand. It was a type of medicinal herb. It wasn¡¯t poisonous and it didn¡¯t have any harmful effects on the human body. However, this person had gone through a lot of trouble to put this thing into her room. There must be a purpose. As for who did this, it was easy to guess. It was either Xia Churan or Ruan Yu. Xia Muqing collected all the silver threads in the incense burner and scurried out of the room. She went to Xia Churan¡¯s room and realized that she wasn¡¯t there. She went to Ruan Yu¡¯s room and saw the lights from afar. She leaped to the roof, lifted a tile, and looked down. Inside the room were Ruan Yu and Xia Churan indeed. That was why Xia Churan wasn¡¯t in her room. ¡°Mother, is this safe?¡± Xia Churan asked. With confidence on her face, Ruan Yu said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The people I sent over just now have returned to report that the thing has been ced inside. That little sl*t isn¡¯t in the room. I don¡¯t know where she went to fool around.¡± Xia Churan was still a little worried. ¡°What if King Zhennan Wang insists on helping her, and investigates this matter thoroughly?¡± Ruan Yu said proudly, ¡°That¡¯s my trick. It doesn¡¯t matter as that thing isn¡¯t harmful. Even if he finds out, it doesn¡¯t matter..¡± Chapter 124 - Conspiracy

Chapter 124: Conspiracy

Xia Churan finally rxed and smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s see how arrogant that sl*t can be after tomorrow.¡± Ruan Yu burst intoughter and said, ¡°But she has her pride. Shouldn¡¯t she throw herself into theke after what happened?¡± The two of them imagined Xia Muqing¡¯s pitiful oue andughed out loud. Xia Muqing stood on the roof and processed their conversation. She shook the bag in her hand and an idea struck her. The next day, before the sky lit up, a group of servants came to wake Xia Muqing up. Xia Muqing looked at them unhappily and asked, ¡°What are you all doing?¡± Before the servants could answer, a loud voice came from outside the door. ¡°Muqing, King Zhennan wants toe to the Xia residence today. So I came to prepare you in advance.¡± Xia Muqing was startled. So Ye Qingxuan wasing. He didn¡¯t tell herst night. She had originally wanted to chase Ruan Yu out, but after seeing how she was dressed gorgeously, she changed her mind. She obediently dressed herself with the help of the maids. She didn¡¯t know what Ruan Yu was thinking. Even if she wanted Xia Churan to enter the king¡¯s residence in her ce, shouldn¡¯t her daughter be dressed morously? Yet, she was dressed like this. Did she want Ye Qingxuan to fancy her instead? Ruan Yu initially intended to stay for a while to put up an act before she left. Normally, it would take only a few minutes to finish dressing. However, after dragging it out for two hours, the maids had only just finishedbing her hair. Xia Muqing was getting impatient. She asked, ¡°When is King Zhennan arriving?¡± Her intention was to remind them to hurry up, but unexpectedly the maid replied, ¡°First Young Mistress, King Zhennan will only be here in six hours.¡± Xia Muqing was shocked. Six hours? So why did they wake her up so early? ¡°All of you can leave. I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Seeing that they were about to retort, Xia Muqing added sternly, ¡°No one is allowed to enter and disturb me.¡± The maids retreated. Xia Muqing pulled her freshlybed hair aside and hugged the nket to sleep. Ruan Yu came to her room once again. She knew about the situation but she didn¡¯t say a word. In any case, she had already done what she was supposed to do. Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t cooperative and if she appeared in front of King Zhennan looking disheveled, it wouldn¡¯t be her fault. In fact, Ruan Yu hoped that the king would me her for this. Seconds and minutes passed. The maids became more anxious as they looked at the silent room. There was only an hour left until the arrival of King Zhennan. A maid knocked on the door under everyone¡¯s expectant gaze, but there was no response. The young girl swallowed her saliva and summoned her courage to knock on the door again. This time, she knocked a little louder. If she didn¡¯t get a response this time, she probably wouldn¡¯t have the courage to knock on the door again. Fortunately after a while, the person inside spoke. ¡°Come in.¡± Xia Muqing calcted that it was about time as she slowly opened her eyes. The servants heaved a sigh of relief and rushed in with her clothes, essories and makeup. Everyone was busy except for the main character, Xia Muqing, who was still sitting on the bed as she put on her shoeszily. The maids couldn¡¯t take it anymore. They snatched the shoes and said, ¡°First Young Mistress, let us help you wear your shoes.¡± Xia Muqingughed and said, ¡°Why are you all so anxious? Isn¡¯t there one more hour?¡± The maids answered in unison, ¡°It¡¯s less than an hour.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t want to make things difficult for them, so she could only y along. Seeing that their eyes had turned red from anxiety, she felt a little guilty. She took theb from their hands and easilybed her own hair. Then, she picked out a white jade hairpin from the jewelery tray and gently inserted it into the top of her head. Chapter 125 - The Arrival of King Zhennan

Chapter 125: The Arrival of King Zhennan

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios A simple yet beautiful hairstyle waspleted. The maids behind her heaved a sigh of relief and quickly prepared the makeup tools. Looking at the white-looking powder in their hands, Xia Muqing was shocked and horrified. ¡°You want to smear this on my face?¡± The maids didn¡¯t find anything wrong and replied, ¡°First Young Mistress, this is the most popr powder in the country.¡± Xia Muqing shook her head repeatedly and rejected them. She picked out an eyebrow pencil and rouge from among their various makeup tools and prepared to put on her own makeup. ¡°First Young Mistress, you can¡¯t do that. Let us do your makeup.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t listen to them. Nonsense! She didn¡¯t dare to put that kind of thing on her face. Moreover, how could white powder be pretty when ced on a face? She drew a few simple strokes on the center of the eyebrows and adjusted its shape. Then, she brushed her eyebrows and pressed her lips with rouge. The rouge that was the rage in this era were all bright red in color. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t dare to apply too much and just used a little bit. The servants didn¡¯t agree with her initially, but after the makeup was done, they were stunned. The country was influenced by foreign exotess and thedies loved heavy makeup. It was rare to see such light makeup. However, this kind of makeup seemed to be more suitable fordies with oriental beauty. After all, their facial features weren¡¯t as distinct as that of the foreigners. Xia Muqing nced at the mirror and nodded in satisfaction. She chose a light purple dress in her wardrobe that swirled around her. This time, the servants didn¡¯t stop her. It seemed that the young mistress was better than all of them. When Xia Muqing was ready, Xia Jingtian, Ruan Yu, and Xia Churan were already sitting in the main hall, waiting for King Zhennan. Seeing that Xia Muqing didn¡¯t appear after a long time, Xia Jingtian asked with a darkened expression, ¡°Did you inform thatss that King Zhennan ising?¡± With an aggrieved expression, Ruan Yu said, ¡°Master, I went to Muqing¡¯s room early in the morning, but she insisted on not getting up. I had no choice.¡± Xia Jingtian¡¯s expression turned ugly. ¡°Then can¡¯t you think of another way? How useless.¡± Ruan Yu¡¯s expression flickered with anger and hatred. What could she do? Besides, that girl was already a grown up. Did she really need to keep an eye on her? However, she would never dare to tell Xia Jingtian that. At this moment, the servants informed them that King Zhennan had arrived. Xia Jingtian smiled and weed them as he instructed the servants to rush Xia Muqing. At this moment, Xia Muqing had already left her room and bumped into Ye Qingxuan on the way. Ye Qingxuan¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw Xia Muqing. He praised her, ¡°Qing¡¯er is getting prettier by the day.¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s expression remained stoic. On the other hand, Xia Jingtian and the others who stood beside him, had odd expressions when they heard his praise. Xia Jingtian yed along smoothly, ¡°Your Highness, you¡¯re reallypatible with my daughter.¡± Ye Qingxuan walked to Xia Muqing and said, ¡°Qing¡¯er and I are naturally a match made in heaven.¡± His actions and words were so intimate that Ruan Yu and her daughter almost broke their teeth. They looked at each other and remembered their n for the day. They then calmed down. Xia Muqing distanced herself from Ye Qingxuan casually. ¡°King Zhennan, you¡¯re so busy and you still have time to visit us. Is there something important?¡± What she meant was that he shouldn¡¯t visit for no reason. Xia Jingtian immediately reprimanded her. ¡°Muqing, what are you saying?¡± ¡°King Zhennan, don¡¯t mind her. This girl has been spoiled by me. She has been talking about you and waiting for you to arrive.¡± He carefully tried to please Ye Qingxuan. Ye Qingxuan wasn¡¯t angry. It would be weird if this girl was nice to him. Hearing Xia Jingtian¡¯s words, he raised her eyebrows and said, ¡°Is that so? I had no idea that Qing¡¯er misses me so much.¡± Chapter 126 - Fighting Both Openly and in Secret

Chapter 126: Fighting Both Openly and in Secret

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing snorted and remained silent. In the end, Xia Jingtian eased the awkwardness and brought them to the hall to eat. Ye Qingxuan naturally sat at the head of the table. Xia Jingtian sat on his left with Xia Muqing on his right. Ruan Yu sat beside Xia Jingtian, and Xia Churan sat beside Ruan Yu. All of them ate their meal upied by different thoughts in mind, and Ruan Yu and Xia Churan nced at each other with ill intentions in their eyes. Xia Churan stood up and said, ¡°Father, I specially prepared snow swallow soup to wee King Zhennan today.¡± Although the snow swallow soup sounded as if it was just a bowl of soup, it took long hours of careful preparation. Seeing how bashful she was, Xia Jingtian knew what she was up to. He pondered for a moment and decided to observe the situation. After all, if Xia Churan managed to seduce King Zhennan, she would be much easier to control than Xia Muqing. He said, ¡°Then hurry and serve it to His Highness.¡± Xia Churan didn¡¯t move. Instead, she said to Xia Muqing, ¡°Sister, you won¡¯t me me, right? This morning, you knew that King Zhennan wasing to our residence as a guest, but you refused to get up. You even lost your temper and scolded the servants who went to wake you up. I was worried that King Zhennan would me you, so I took the initiative and cooked the snow swallow soup to apologize on your behalf.¡± After Xia Churan finished speaking, she lowered her head and looked timidly at Ye Qingxuan. Xia Muqing understood now. So she was waiting for her. Backstabbing her was her real motive. Xia Muqing secretly pinched Ye Qingxuan. This man only knew how to cause trouble for her. Ye Qingxuan had originally acted as if nothing had happened. But when he felt the pain in his leg, he gritted his teeth and endured it. He quickly grabbed Xia Muqing¡¯s roving hand. The smoothness of her hand made him feel that it was worth it to be pinched. Xia Muqing tried to retract her hand but she failed. She red at Ye Qingxuan, but he ignored her. Xia Churan was still waiting for Ye Qingxuan to reply, but the two of them started fooling around in private. No one paid attention to her. As time passed, Xia Churan¡¯s expression became stiffer and stiffer. Finally, Xia Muqing drawledzily, ¡°In that case, bring it here. I believe King Zhennan will like it very much.¡± She deliberately directed thest sentence to Ye Qingxuan. She tried to pull her hand away again. Ye Qingxuan chuckled and gripped her hand that was struggling. ¡°Of course I¡¯ll listen to Qing¡¯er.¡± Their attitude infuriated Xia Churan. Did they think she was a servant? With a stiff expression, she brought the snow swallow soup over. Unwilling to give up, she went to Ye Qingxuan. When she ced the soup on the table, she deliberately touched him gently. Ye Qingxuan avoided her with a cold expression. Because he avoided her, Xia Churan stumbled and looked at Ye Qingxuan with grievance. Ye Qingxuan moved closer to Xia Muqing again and asked, ¡°What¡¯s that scent? It¡¯s so smelly.¡± Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t help butugh. Xia Churan stood up straight with an ugly expression and said stiffly, ¡°It¡¯s the scent of roses.¡± This was the scent she had specially put on for Ye Qingxuan today. The scent was concocted with the most expensive roses. She usually couldn¡¯t bear to use it, but he actually said that she smelled bad. Ye Qingxuan said expressionlessly, ¡°Qing¡¯er, you can¡¯t smell like her in the future.¡± Xia Muqing chuckled once again. She didn¡¯t expect Ye Qingxuan to be so good at upsetting people. After he finished speaking, Xia Churan was too embarrassed to stay any longer. Xia Churan wanted to leave, but when she remembered the n they had prepared for Xia Muqing today, she forced herself to stay and returned to her seat. Chapter 127 - Admiring the Lotuses

Chapter 127: Admiring the Lotuses

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Jingtian finally understood. Ye Qingxuan wasn¡¯t interested in Xia Churan at all, so he naturally didn¡¯t waste any more time on her. He picked up a piece of rabbit meat for Xia Muqing and said, ¡°Qing¡¯er, this is your favorite dish. I specially asked the kitchen staff to prepare it today. Quick, taste it.¡± The way he called Xia Muqing made her feel ufortable. Looking at the rabbit meat in the bowl, she suddenly smiled and said, ¡°You must have remembered wrongly. I never eat rabbit meat.¡± Before she transmigrated, the original owner of this body didn¡¯t eat rabbit meat either. Xia Muqingughed in amusement. Xia Jingtian looked a little embarrassed and smiled. ¡°It looks like I¡¯m getting too old to remember what Qing¡¯er likes to eat. Haha¡ª¡± He chuckled dryly. No one responded to him, and the atmosphere became even more awkward. Ye Qingxuan suddenly said, ¡°Is Qing¡¯er a name you can call as well?¡± Xia Jingtian stiffened again. However, the more Ye Qingxuan cared about Xia Muqing, the happier he was. He immediately said, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I forgot that this is the nickname between Your Higness and my daughter.¡± Ruan Yu, who had been silent all this time, suddenly cut across, ¡°Master, the lotuses in our residence are blooming very well. After dinner today, why don¡¯t you invite His Highness to take a look?¡± Xia Jingtian asked, ¡°What do you think, Your Highness?¡± Ye Qingxuan nced at Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing thought about it. It seemed that this was their n. She immediately said, ¡°Your Highness, if you have nothing on, you can stay and take a look.¡± Ye Qingxuan smiled and said, ¡°Since Qing¡¯er has spoken, I will naturally make time.¡± Xia Muqing looked into his affectionate eyes and frowned. This man was really good at pretending. If she didn¡¯t know better, she would think that he really liked her. After they finished their meal, they went to the back garden of the Xia residence. There was a pond filled with lotuses. It was indeed very beautiful in this season. The lotuses in the pond were white and pink. The few of them sat in a small pavilion not far from the pond. They drank tea as they admired the beautiful scenery in front of them. Xia Muqing stared at the lotuses in a daze. Suddenly, she seemed to understand what they were trying to do. The lotuses and the silver threads she had found in the room yesterday weren¡¯t poisonous, but when put together, it would produce a toxin. She picked up her cup of tea and nced at Ruan Yu and Xia Churan, who were sitting across from her. Both of them had already started to blush. Ruan Yu and Xia Churan indeed felt a little warm now, but they only assumed that Xia Muqing was about to suffer a cmity, so naturally they were excited. Ruan Yu suddenly suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you two sisters go on a boat and have fun?¡± She looked at Xia Muqing and Xia Churan. Seeing how eager Xia Churan was, Xia Muqing naturally yed along. ¡°Why don¡¯t Aunt Ruan join us as well?¡± Ruan Yu went nk for a moment before saying, ¡°Young people can still hang out together. I¡¯ll pass.¡± Xia Muqing pulled Ruan Yu without any exnation and said, ¡°Aunt isn¡¯t old. Let¡¯s go together.¡± This was the first time Xia Muqing had touched Ruan Yu so intimately. Xia Jingtian also said, ¡°Ruan Yu, go with them.¡± Ruan Yu could only follow Xia Muqing¡¯s footsteps. The main reason was that Xia Muqing¡¯s grip was too strong for her to break free. After the three of them boarded the boat, Xia Muqing finally let go of her. She took out a handkerchief and slowly wiped her hands, carefully wiping her palm where she had just touched Ruan Yu. Ruan Yu¡¯s expression turned a little ugly. She had no idea what Xia Muqing was up to. But she had a bad feeling. The little boat quickly sailed into the pond. The lotuses looked very beautiful from a distance, and at a closer distance, it was even more delicate and alluring.. Its beauty was iparable. Chapter 128 - Their Scheme Was Discovered

Chapter 128: Their Scheme Was Discovered

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing was in a good mood as she stroked the lotuses with a pleasant smile on her face. Ruan Yu and Xia Churan, who had been paying attention to her, felt their hearts skip a beat. Howe she wasn¡¯t poisoned? Soon after, the two of them realized that something was wrong with them. Their faces had turned red and their breathing had quickened. Xia Muqing looked at them and asked, ¡°Are you all wondering why I didn¡¯t have any reaction?¡± Ruan Yu¡¯s eyes turned sharp. ¡°What did you do?¡± Xia Muqing chuckled. ¡°It was clearly the both of you who did something to me. Why are you asking me?¡± Ruan Yu immediately understood what she meant and said, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go back.¡± The boatman who had been rowing the entire time hadn¡¯t heard their conversation. Only when Ruan Yu shouted loudly did he hastily turn the boat around and sail towards the edge. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t stop them. She continued to admire the lotuses floating on the water. During this trip, she was probably the only one who had truly appreciated the lotuses in the entire pond. ¡®Their strange behavior had also attracted the attention of Xia Jingtian and Ye Qingxuan. Ye Qingxuan instantly knew that Xia Muqing must have done something again and waited calmly for the show. As soon as the boat stopped at the edge, Ruan Yu and Xia Churan rushed to exit the boat. However, they lost their bnce and stumbled into the water. Once they entered the cold water, the heat in their bodies became much better. Xia Jingtian hurriedly shouted, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you all saving them?¡± Xia Muqing was still sitting in the boat. She nced at Ruan Yu and Xia Churan struggling in the water and sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you think this is the end.¡± Her voice made them feel that it was even more piercing than the cold water in the pond, and it made them shiver. As they struggled, they saw Xia Muqing¡¯s face clearly. It was as if they saw a devil. They finally understood that Xia Muqing was no longer the girl whom they could bully easily. Jealousy and hatred shed across Xia Churan¡¯s eyes. She suddenly reached out and grabbed Xia Muqing¡¯s ankle, wanting to drag her down with her. Before Xia Muqing could kick her hand away, she was pulled into a strong embrace. Ye Qingxuan¡­ His embrace made her lose focus. She looked up and could only see a smooth and determined chin. This embrace was very familiar. Xia Muqing suddenly reached out to cover the upper half of Ye Qingxuan¡¯s face. Before she could see his features clearly, her hand was pped away by Ye Qingxuan. He said, ¡°What are you doing? Do you want to fall into the water with me, or do you want to take a bath with me again?¡± These words reminded Xia Muqing of her bad experience yesterday at the king¡¯s residence in Zhennan. She rolled her eyes at him impatiently, and her suspicions were instantly thrown to the back of her mind. How could she possibly have anything to do with a jerk like Ye Qingxuan? She had almost mistaken Ye Qingxuan for Jin Chao. She shook her head and forgot about that dangerous thought. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡± While she was letting her imagination run wild, Ye Qingxuan had alreadynded on the ground with her. Seeing that she looked dazed, he asked worriedly. His voice¡­ Xia Muqing looked at him in confusion again. Ye Qingxuan¡¯s eyes shed and asked, ¡°Is there something wrong with your head? I don¡¯t want to marry a foolish wife.¡± Xia Muqing was furious again and she snapped coldly, ¡°I¡¯m indeed crazy.¡± That was for him and for herself. At this time, Ruan Yu and Xia Churan had already been saved. The two of them were lying on the ground drenched. The servants didn¡¯t dare to look at them. After pulling them out of the water, they ced them on the ground and turned around to take a few steps back. The toxins in Ruan Yu and Xia Churan¡¯s bodies weren¡¯t severe as Xia Muqing had split it into two portions.. After being immersed in the cold water, the toxins were basically gone. Chapter 129 - Falling into the Water

Chapter 129: Falling into the Water

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios However, the both of them really didn¡¯t look good with their bodies drenched. So many people in the courtyard had seen their naked bodies, and Xia Jingtian¡¯s face darkened. The servants quickly brought clean clothes for them to wear. The two of them red angrily in Xia Muqing¡¯s direction, but they didn¡¯t have the dignity to stay any longer. They wanted to disappear right away. Xia Churan spotted Ye Qingxuan and a thought struck her. She suddenly walked to him and bowed. ¡°Your Highness, everything happened too suddenly today. Please allow me to take my leave.¡± Ye Qingxuan was puzzled but he still nodded casually. The moment Xia Churan turned around, she suddenly slipped and fell towards Ye Qingxuan. Her clothes slipped off her body as she was drenched. Her pink undergarment was visible. Ye Qingxuan moved agilely and didn¡¯t forget to pull Xia Muqing along with him. After the two of them moved away, Xia Churan fell to the ground. She cried out in pain as her face was scratched by the stones on the ground. She touched the wounds on her face and she screamed in panic. At this moment, she didn¡¯t look as graceful as before. She was baring her teeth and looking like a lunatic. Ruan Yu had already left. At this time, no one cared about her. In the end, Xia Jingtian couldn¡¯t bear to watch any longer and yelled for a servant to escort her away. Xia Jingtian couldn¡¯t stay any longer after embarrassing himself so much in front of Ye Qingxuan today. He hurriedly excused himself. ¡°Muqing, entertain His Highness well. I still have something to do, so I¡¯ll leave first.¡± After he left, Xia Muqing said, ¡°Your Highness, you didn¡¯te to the Xia residence just for a meal, right?¡± This was also what she couldn¡¯t figure out. Why was Ye Qingxuan here today? Ye Qingxuan chuckled and slowly bent towards Xia Muqing. Xia Muqing retreated. She felt that Ye Qingxuan was a little dangerous right now. She took a step back and Ye Qingxuan mimicked her. Coincidentally, there was a tree behind her, and she had nowhere to retreat to. She could only press her hands on his chest and she hissed angrily, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°You.¡± Ye Qingxuan had trapped her between him and the giant tree. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t realize what he meant initially. When she understood, her face heated up. Why was this wretched man so shameless? She used all her strength to attack Ye Qingxuan¡¯s neck with her hand. It was obvious how furious she was. Ye Qingxuan tilted his head slightly and extended a hand to easily block her attack. After that, he sighed and said, ¡°What were you thinking about? Let me finish.¡± ¡°I just wanted to say that I want you to go to the snow mountain with me to look for the snow lotus.¡± Xia Muqing was stunned. Firstly, she was surprised that he could withstand her attack so easily with his strength. Secondly, she finally remembered that there was still residual poison in Ye Qingxuan¡¯s body that she had yet to detoxify. He needed the snow lotus to remove the poison. ¡°Is that why you said you wanted to marry me?¡± Ye Qingxuan smiled. ¡°Of course not. I do like you.¡± Xia Muqing sneered. She didn¡¯t believe him and assumed that he had approached her because of the snow lotus. She heaved a sigh of relief because she knew his intention. Ye Qingxuan approached her again. When he lowered his head, the two of them almost touched each other¡¯s faces. Their breaths intertwined and the atmosphere became ambiguous. Xia Muqing was about to speak when she felt a weight on her neck. Ye Qingxuan had already left her and said, ¡°I noticed that you liked this thest time, so I¡¯ll give it to you. Remember, this is for you. Do not take it off or lose it.¡± With that, he left the residence and left quickly, as if he hade to the Xia residence today to deliver this jade pendant to her. Chapter 130 - Token

Chapter 130: Token

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing was puzzled. She looked down at the jade pendant hanging on her chest. There was still a trace of warmth on it. Ye Qingxuan had just taken it off his body. That thought made her face heat up. She tried her best topose her emotions before carefully observing this jade pendant. After all, the few times she had seen this jade pendant, she had always looked at it from afar. Now that she looked at it closely, she was even more certain that this jade pendant was connected to the strange pearls. The patterns on it were almost identical, but she still had topare them. With that in mind, Xia Muqing quickly returned to the courtyard. She wanted to take out the pearl from her bag, but she couldn¡¯t find it. She searched the entire bag but there was no pearl. Xia Muqing frowned. Did she lose it? That was impossible. She had never taken it out of this courtyard. Could it be the man in ck who barged in yesterday? Xia Muqing called Gungun who was ying, and asked, ¡°Gungun, did the man who came in yesterday touch this bag?¡± Gungun tilted its head in thought and replied, ¡°No, Master.¡± Xia Muqing was even more puzzled. Where did the pearl go? She asked Gungun to look for it together. The woman and the beast searched the entire room, but there was no sight of the pearl. Gungun couldn¡¯t find it in any of the corners as well. After the search, Gungun had already be covered in dust. Xia Muqing looked at the spiderwebs hanging from its head and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Gungun wanted to remove the stuff on its head with its ws, but as its ws were short, it couldn¡¯t reach it. Itsical behavior made Xia Muqingugh until she clenched her tummy. Gungun turned around angrily with its back facing her. Xia Muqing knew that she had gone overboard. She picked it up and said, ¡°All right, it¡¯s been hard on you today. I¡¯ll cook your favorite roasted meatter, okay?¡± Gungun shifted, but it still insisted on turning its back to her. Xia Muqing continued, ¡°And two grilled fish?¡± ¡°Your favorite silver fish. I heard that there¡¯s another batch of the fish in the pond in the backyard. They¡¯re all fat and huge. One look and I can tell they¡¯re delicious.¡± Although Gungun didn¡¯t turn around, Xia Muqing could already hear it sucking its saliva. She smiled knowingly and said, ¡°Let me help you shower. After that, we¡¯ll go and grill the fish.¡± This time, Gungun threw itself into her arms. The dirt on its body smeared across her chest. This time, both of them were equally dirty. After Gungun had done its evil deed, the corners of its mouth curled into an evil smile. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t get angry. She smiled and shook her head before bringing it to take a bath. After getting the servants to bring a bucket of hot water, Xia Muqing took out a basin and poured some warm water into it. She carefully tested the temperature of the water before putting Gungun inside. Gungun was a Nightmare Beast and they had one characteristic: they didn¡¯t like water. Therefore, as soon as it entered the water, it started sshing around. Water sshed everywhere, and even the bed was sshed with water droplets. Xia Muqing had no choice but to casually grab a piece of cotton cloth and covered Gungun to prevent it from sshing water everywhere. Xia Muqing casually pulled something and it fell into the basin along with the cotton cloth. nk. The sound was very loud. Gungun was hit. Its two little paws searched the water before it took out a ck b. This was the rusty b she had bought from a young man when she bought the pearl previously. The moment the b touched the water, its color slowly changed. The darkness on the metal retreated bit by bit, revealing its true appearance. Xia Muqing and Gungun watched its transformation intently. Ever since she bought this rusty b, she had never paid attention to it. It seemed that this thing came from a special background.. She remembered that she had bought this b in order to mask her desire to buy the pearl. Chapter 131 - The Lost Black Pearls

Chapter 131: The Lost ck Pearls

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The ckish color on the metal gradually faded, revealing its original green color. Its shape had also changed. As the pattern leaked out, Xia Muqing could tell that this metal was a token. In the middle of the token was a huge ¡®M¡¯. The surrounding patterns were a little familiar, but she couldn¡¯t remember where she had seen it before. Xia Muqing flipped it over and found the two missing pearls on the back of the token. They were ced on the top and bottom of the token. She tried to hook the pearl with her finger but to no avail. The two pearls seemed to be embedded in it, and they fit perfectly. Seeing these two pearls, she remembered where she had seen the patterns on the token before. Wasn¡¯t it a bigger version of the patterns on these pearls? She took out the jade pendant hanging from her neck and ced it beside the token. At first nce, the pattern was the same, but after careful observation, there were still some differences. The pattern on the token was more domineering, but the pattern on the jade pendant had thinner strokes, just like the difference between a man and a woman. Xia Muqing was engrossed with the object in her hand, and she forgot about Gungun who was still in the water. Gungun touched its stomach and then the water in the basin, which had turned cold, and it cried out. Only then did Xia Muqing snap back to reality. Looking at Gungun¡¯s pitiful expression, she suddenly said guiltily, ¡°I¡¯ll wipe you immediately.¡± She quickly took a handkerchief and wrapped Gungun, who had already been washed clean. She temporarily put the token aside and wanted to take off the jade pendant around her neck. Thinking of what Ye Qingxuan had told her previously, she subconsciously put down her hand and allowed the heavy jade pendant to hang around her neck. Xia Muqing brought Gungun to the courtyard. The grill was still there, and it looked exactly the same as before they left. The Xia family probably hadn¡¯t touched the courtyard either. Or rather, they couldn¡¯t do anything even if they wanted to. Xia Muqing looked around the courtyard. There were many small holes in the seemingly ordinary ground. As soon as someone approached, they would spray out poisonous arrows and poisons. She had specially left this mechanism behind before she left. Gungun darted towards the pond quickly, and its two front paws darted around in the water. Xia Muqing had already sat behind the grill and started a fire. Gungun would settle the ingredients. She was only in charge of the grill, and their tasks were very clear. Before long, Gungun ran over with a long silk carp. It cleverly tied the fish with a piece of rope and then bit the end of the rope with its mouth, easily bringing the fish to the grill. When Xia Muqing was cleaning the fish, she suddenly thought of the ck eagle. It also liked to eat grilled fish. Or rather, it liked everything that was roasted. Although she initially thought that it was always causing trouble, she still wasn¡¯t used to being separated from it so suddenly. Gungun patted her hand. ¡°Master, look there.¡± Xia Muqing looked in the direction it was pointing. The ck eagle with ck gauze covering its eyes was on Jiang Yifan¡¯s back. Jiang Yifan struggled to climb up the wall. He sat on the wall and waved at Xia Muqing with a grin. His face was obviously dirty, but his smile was bright. Xia Muqing snorted and said, ¡°You guys came at the right time.¡± She helped to carry the ck eagle. Without the burden on his back, it was much easier for Jiang Yifan to jump off the wall alone. When the ck eagle caught a whiff of the grilled fish, it let out a happy cry and ran towards the grill. It was too familiar with this ce and Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t worried that something would happen to it. When Gungun saw the ck eagle charging at it, it immediately moved away. However, it didn¡¯t manage to dodge.. Its freshly washed body was dyed ck by the dust that flew up when the ck eagle had rushed towards it. Chapter 132 - I Will Help You

Chapter 132: I Will Help You

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Gungun squeaked angrily and leaped onto the ck eagle, rubbing all the dust on its body. The two of them soon started ying happily. Xia Muqing also smiled at the sight of them. With Gungun¡¯s speed, it was impossible that it couldn¡¯t dodge the ck eagle. She knew that it was doing it on purpose, and it was looking for an excuse to fool around with the ck eagle. She was relieved to see that the ck eagle was as silly as before and didn¡¯t suffer from any pain due to its blindness. The little phoenix flew out of Jiang Yifan¡¯s arms and greeted Xia Muqing. ¡°Flower!¡± Xia Muqing was also in a daze when she heard this nickname. Back when she first came to this world, she spent all her time in the Sunset Mountains and she had met so many friends. It had been almost a year. She couldn¡¯t help but feel sad. Jiang Yifan replied, ¡°They wanted to look for you, so I brought them here. They won¡¯t disturb you, right?¡± Back when Xia Muqing left with the Xia family, she said that she had something to do. Xia Muqing shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I was just about to have a feast with Gungun. You guys came at the right time.¡± This sentence also exined what she had said earlier. Jiang Yifan smiled. ¡°You guys are really close.¡± He knew that Xia Muqing could understand what the beasts were saying. He looked at the little phoenix ying with the water in the pond and felt a little envious. Xia Muqing followed his gaze and patted his shoulder. ¡°If you really like it, go after it.¡± Jiang Yifan was stunned before he smiled bitterly. ¡°There¡¯s too much difference between us.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t have the notion that different races couldn¡¯t love each other. She quipped straightforwardly, ¡°So what? Identity, race, age, doesn¡¯t matter, as long as you don¡¯t think it¡¯s a problem.¡± Jiang Yifan was startled. These words enlightened him. The little phoenix chattered beside the pool. Although Jiang Yifan didn¡¯t understand what it was saying, after interacting with her for so long, they had developed a tacit understanding. Jiang Yifan said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this in the future. I¡¯ll go first.¡± The phoenix was calling for him. Xia Muqing looked at his back and her heart felt heavy. Ever since Jiang Yifan¡¯s parents had been killed, he only behaved and looked a little like the young man he used to be, whenever he was with the little phoenix. Under the urging of the ck eagle and Gungun, Xia Muqing started roasting the fish and meat. After a delicious meal, they sat on chairs, too full to move. Jiang Yifan admired at the moon in the sky and asked, ¡°Did Brother Jin Chao contact you?¡± At the mention of Jin Chao, Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t help but recall how she had mistaken Ye Qingxuan for him many times today. She chuckled and shook her head. ¡°I wonder where he is now.¡± Jiang Yifan asked curiously, ¡°Then aren¡¯t you anxious?¡± Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows and said, ¡°Why should I be anxious? He¡¯s a man after all. Let him do what he wants. It¡¯s not my style to be suspicious of everything that he does.¡± Jiang Yifan was stunned. This was the first time he had heard such valiant words. Even his mother hadn¡¯t been so carefree. Xia Muqing rubbed his head and said, ¡°Most things in this world don¡¯t go our way. We can only do our best.¡± Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes reddened. Ever since he had found his parents and brother¡¯s corpses, he had never cried again. He said with a hint of hoarseness, ¡°I want revenge, but I don¡¯t even know who my enemy is.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t give him any reason not to take revenge. Instead, she said, ¡°Yes, we should take revenge. But before that, we have to improve our abilities first. When our enemies appear, we have to deal them a fatal blow.¡± Jiang Yifan turned to look at Xia Muqing. The moonlight shone on her face, but what was even brighter were the stars in her eyes.. It seemed that she had always been so dazzling ever since he met her. Chapter 133 - The Annihilation of the Jiang Family

Chapter 133: The Annihtion of the Jiang Family

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios He nodded solemnly and replied, ¡°Sister, I understand.¡± Xia Muqing smiled and patted him. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry too much. Our enemies will appear when they should. We will help you.¡± Jiang Yifan looked at Xia Muqing, Gungun, the ck eagle, and the little phoenix who were gathered around him. He felt a surge of warmth and said, ¡°Thank you all.¡± Xia Muqing asked them to stay at the Xia residence. No one woulde to this courtyard anyway. At night, Xia Muqing checked the ck eagle¡¯s eyes again. They were still empty and the scars around its eyes looked terrifying. Her heart ached and she felt guilty. ¡°ck eagle, I¡¯ve let you down.¡± ¡°Master, can I sleep on the bed?¡± The ck eagle didn¡¯t feel sad. As long as it had food and water, it would feel very happy. It took the opportunity to make an excessive request. Xia Muqing patted its head. Its request made all her sadness disappear. ¡°I¡¯ve arranged a room for you and Gungun next door. You can choose to sleep on the ground or on the bed. Of course, if you want to sleep on the tree outside, I¡¯m fine with it too.¡± The ck eagle cried out in joy and was about to rush to the room next door when Gungun grabbed its leg. That big fool. It couldn¡¯t see the way and yet it was still charging around. Wasn¡¯t it afraid of knocking its head into something? After sending off the two little fellows, Xia Muqing finally had the time to ponder things over. She studied the jade pendant and token on the table. Recently, things seemed to have been nned. First, she obtained a pearl and a piece of b from the Sunset Mountains. And then she obtained another pearl from Jiang Yifan. When the two pearls met, a pattern appeared and they merged with the piece of b. She then received a token and realized that the pattern on Ye Qingxuan¡¯s jade pendant was the same as this token. Now, this piece of jade was also handed to her by Ye Qingxuan. All of this seemed to be a coincidence, but it wasn¡¯t a coincidence if there were too many of them. This could be nned by someone. Xia Muqing¡¯s heart skipped a beat. What was the mastermind trying to do? Just as she was pondering, Jiang Yifan walked in with a bowl of soup. ¡°Sister, we all ate too much spicy food today. Have some warm soup.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the bowl in his hand fell to the ground. There was something wrong with his expression, as if he had seen something terrifying. His face was pale and cold sweat kept dripping down his forehead. He quickly walked to the table by the window and stared straight at the jade pendant on the table. Xia Muqing asked, ¡°What happened to you?¡± Jiang Yifan turned to look at her, his eyes filled with disbelief and hatred. Before Xia Muqing could figure out what was going on, she saw his body falling and she quickly stepped forward to catch him. Jiang Yifan looked like a frail youth, but he wasn¡¯t light either. Xia Muqing was knocked back a few steps before she could stabilize his body properly. She ced his body on the bed with much difficulty. Even though he was unconscious, he was still sweating profusely. His lips were clenched tightly, and before long, he was bleeding. Xia Muqing could only find a handkerchief and ce it in his mouth to prevent him from biting himself. Looking at his pained expression, and then at the jade pendant on the table, Xia Muqing felt that he should know this jade pendant. However, this jade pendant belonged to Ye Qingxuan. Could there be a rtionship between the two of them? This increasingly messy rtionship annoyed Xia Muqing, but she could only wait for Jiang Yifan to wake up to find out the answer. She gave up the room to Jiang Yifan. After he seemed to stabilize, she went to the other room. After she left, Jiang Yifan opened his eyes.. He got off the bed and stared nkly at the empty table. Chapter 134 - The Owner of the Jade Pendant

Chapter 134: The Owner of the Jade Pendant

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios His eyes were filled with hatred as he recalled some childhood memories. The Jiang family used to be wealthy, but one night, a group of men in ck suddenly barged into his home. At that time, he was only three years old. He was hidden under his bed by his mother. Outside, there were shes of light and shadows. He could only recall how the thick smell of blood had almost suffocated him. He hid under the bed and saw a jade pendant falling to the ground. It was picked up by a man in ck. Back then, he was almost discovered. It was not until daybreak that his parents brought him and his brother away. However, none of the hundred people in the Jiang family survived. He was still young. After the terrifying encounter, those memories were sealed in his mind. Only when he saw this jade pendant today did he recall them. The jade pendant was the exact one he had seen years ago. What was the rtionship between those people and Xia Muqing? When he thought about how his family was killed this time, it was also after Xia Muqing appeared. He didn¡¯t want to suspect Xia Muqing, but he had no leads now. The only lead he had was Xia Muqing. The next day, when Xia Muqing came to check on Jiang Yifan, she saw him sitting by the bed, staring nkly at the window. Xia Muqing asked, ¡°When did you wake up?¡± Jiang Yifan replied, ¡°I just woke up.¡± Actually, he had been awake for the entire night. Xia Muqing touched the jade pendant around her neck and asked, ¡°Are you looking for this?¡± She had just noticed that Jiang Yifan¡¯s gaze had never left her neck. Jiang Yifan casually asked, ¡°This¡­ jade pendant, does it belong to you?¡± Xia Muqing shook her head. ¡°No, someone gave it to me.¡± Jiang Yifan wasn¡¯t very surprised. ording to the time of that massacre, this jade pendant couldn¡¯t have belonged to Xia Muqing. After all, when he was three, Xia Muqing should have been six or seven years old. He asked, ¡°Who gave it to you?¡± Xia Muqing put away the jade pendant and sat beside him. ¡°Tell me first, why do you recognize this jade pendant?¡± Jiang Yifan replied, ¡°I met a dead person when I was young. He had this jade pendant on him, and it was the same.¡± Xia Muqing frowned. It was that simple? But judging from his situation yesterday, it seemed like something huge had happened. ¡°King Zhennan gave me this jade pendant.¡± Jiang Yifan was stunned. ¡°When did he give it to you?¡± Xia Muqing shrugged and said, ¡°Yesterday.¡± Jiang Yifan lowered his head and stopped talking. King Zhennan¡­ He had heard of his name before. Everyone in the country had heard of Ye Qingxuan¡¯s name. It was also very likely that the person who killed their entire family was King Zhennan. After all, Ye Qingxuan had entered the battlefield at the age of ten and made outstanding military achievements. His methods were known to be bloody and he was well known for being ruthless. Furthermore his style was exactly the same as those men in ck. While Jiang Yifan was contemting, Xia Muqing didn¡¯t disturb him. Jiang Yifan replied, ¡°Sister, my enemy might be King Zhennan.¡± Xia Muqing was shocked. Although she had a hunch, she was still a little surprised. She asked, ¡°But why?¡± Jiang Yifan shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s better not to conclude with just a jade pendant.¡± No matter what the reason was, Xia Muqing felt that Ye Qingxuan wasn¡¯t someone like that. Jiang Yifan nodded. ¡°I know. I¡¯ll investigate thoroughly.¡± Xia Muqing had originallye to look for Jiang Yifan to have breakfast. Seeing that he had woken up, she said, ¡°Then pack up. Let¡¯s have breakfast.¡± Jiang Yifan nodded obediently. Xia Muqing was the first to leave the room, leaving Jiang Yifan alone to clean up. Once she left, Jiang Yifan¡¯s expression turned gloomy. But in the blink of an eye, he returned to his original state.. He was smiling, as if nothing had changed, but at the same time, everything had changed. Chapter 135 - Rumors in the Xia residence

Chapter 135: Rumors in the Xia residence

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As Xia Muqing ate her breakfast quietly, the entire Xia residence was in an uproar. The night before, a rumor had spread in the city. When King Zhennan was visiting the Xia family, the young mistress of the Xia family, Xia Churan, identally fell into the water and he had seen her body. Everyone wasughing at Xia Churan, but they were also envious of her luck. They naturally felt that after this incident, King Zhennan would definitely marry Xia Churan. In this way, the two young mistresses in the Xia family would enter the king¡¯s residence at the same time. This was the first time such a thing had happened in the country. When Xia Churan heard the news, she scurried to Xia Jingtian and cried, ¡°Father, news of me falling into the water and being seen by King Zhennan has spread. I¡¯m too ashamed to live.¡± Ruan Yu also held a handkerchief and gently rubbed the corner of her eyes as she sobbed, ¡°My poor daughter.¡± Xia Jingtian initially assumed that they were the ones responsible for the incident. After all, Xia Churan¡¯s motive for being closer to Ye Qingxuan yesterday was very obvious. But now that he saw how sad the two of them were, he couldn¡¯t be entirely sure. Seeing that Xia Jingtian didn¡¯t react, Xia Churan made up her mind and said, ¡°Father, after this incident, I don¡¯t have the dignity to live anymore. I might as well bang my head against the wall.¡± With that, she moved to knock her head into a pir nearby. Seizing the opportunity, Ruan Yu quickly hugged her and cried, ¡°Master, can you watch Churan die?¡± This sight made Xia Jingtian a little annoyed. He rubbed his eyebrows and said, ¡°All right, leave this to me.¡± He had his own selfish motives too. From the looks of it now, Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t too obedient. If she married into the king¡¯s residence, he might not be able to use her. If he used this opportunity to recruit Xia Churan into the king¡¯s residence, the rtionship between the Xia residence and the king would bepletely solidified. Ruan Yu shot Xia Churan a nce, and she stopped sobbing. She lowered her head and kneeled on the ground, hiding the smile on her face. After Xia Jingtian pondered about it carefully, his expression became much better. He said, ¡°All right, both of you can go back first. This might not be a bad thing.¡± Hearing that, they knew that they had achieved their goal, and they immediately nodded and left. After contemting, Xia Jingtian went to Xia Muqing¡¯s courtyard. Xia Muqing was changing the ck eagle¡¯s dressing when she saw the little phoenix flying in. ¡°Flower, your bad father is here.¡± Ever since Xia Jingtian took Xia Muqing away thest time, it had been addressing Xia Jingtian as her bad father. Xia Muqing paused her hand and said, ¡°All right, I understand.¡± Seeing that she was applying medicine for the ck eagle, the little phoenix¡¯s eyes darted around before flying out again. Xia Muqing¡¯s actions quickened. After she was done and left the room, she realized that Xia Jingtian had yet to enter. What was going on? Puzzled, she walked out. She had just turned around a corner when she heard amotion outside. ¡°You little beast! Get lost! Get lost!¡± ¡°Ahhhh, you damned bird. Let¡¯s see if I can¡¯t get someone to roast you today.¡± ¡°All of you, go! Grab it!¡± When Xia Muqing walked out, she saw Xia Jingtian leading the servants in a circle around the little phoenix. The little phoenix kept dodging and didn¡¯t forget to grab some rocks to throw at their heads. Xia Jingtian¡¯s face had already been riddled with bruises. He was furious and hadpletely forgotten his purpose here. He was determined to capture that annoying little bird. ¡°Phoenix,e here.¡± Xia Muqing quickly called out. Her voice was filled with worry but she didn¡¯t chide her. Only then did Xia Jingtian regain some of hisposure. ¡°Did you raise that beast?¡± Chapter 136 - Extortion

Chapter 136: Extortion

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing frowned and asked, ¡°Who are you calling a beast?¡± Xia Jingtian glowered at her. ¡°That beast is ying a trick on me. Hand her to me.¡± Xia Muqing hugged the phoenix and asked, ¡°What are you here for?¡± Recalling his intention, Xia Jingtian unwillingly shifted his gaze away from the phoenix and tidied his clothes. He then spoke with the authority of a father, ¡°You don¡¯t know how to invite your father properly?¡± Xia Muqing nodded and said, ¡°Follow me.¡± Her reaction made Xia Jingtian even angrier. He was the master of the Xia residence. Why did he need Xia Muqing¡¯s consent to enter a courtyard? No one in the entire Xia residence had dared to treat him like this. This strengthened his resolve to marry Xia Churan to the king as well. Xia Muqing sat on the main seat and skipped all formalities. Xia Jingtian, who was about to walk over, stopped in his tracks and turned stiffly. He was angry but he didn¡¯t reveal. He looked troubled as he said, ¡°Muqing, after what happened yesterday, Churan really can¡¯t face anyone.¡± He waited for Xia Muqing to ask, but after a long time, she still didn¡¯t answer. The atmosphere was a little awkward. Xia Muqing noticed that his expression was terrible and asked, ¡°What happened to her?¡± Only then did Xia Jingtian continue, ¡°It was because she identally fell into the water yesterday and King Zhennan saw her¡­¡± At this point, he paused for a moment and looked at the expressionless Xia Muqing. He continued, ¡°So she felt ashamed to live. She wanted to die and she flung herself against a pir.¡± He deliberately made it sound more serious as he waited for Xia Muqing¡¯s reaction. Xia Muqing was very polite this time and immediately asked, ¡°Is she dead?¡± Xia Jingtian didn¡¯t expect her to say such a thing. He was stunned and didn¡¯t know how to answer. Xia Muqing continued, ¡°If she died, will the Xia residence have to prepare for a funeral? This is a huge matter. Did you inform Concubine Ruan?¡± Seeing that she sounded as if Xia Churan had really died, Xia Jingtian quickly interjected, ¡°She¡¯s not dead yet.¡± Xia Muqing asked with a look of pity, ¡°Then why did youe to find me?¡± The corners of Xia Jingtian¡¯s mouth twitched. Was she really hoping that Xia Churan was dead? He didn¡¯t dare to give her a chance to speak again. Without beating around the bush, he stated his purpose. ¡°Since King Zhennan has already seen Churan¡¯s body, I want you and Churan to marry him together. But don¡¯t worry, you will still be the legitimate wife of King Zhennan. After Churan enters the king¡¯s residence, she¡¯ll just be a consort. She won¡¯t threaten your position.¡± He paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°Moreover, you two are sisters. King Zhennan will definitely take concubines. You two will be able to help each other.¡± Xia Muqing waited until he was done before saying, ¡°What¡¯s the use of telling me this? You should look for King Zhennan.¡± Xia Jingtian had an odd expression on his face. How would he dare to look for King Zhennan? He replied, ¡°I came to ask you to tell King Zhennan about this.¡± Xia Muqing looked at him in shock. ¡°You want me to go? Is it really eptable for an unmarrieddy like me to be a matchmaker and knock on my future husband¡¯s door?¡± Xia Jingtian also felt that it wasn¡¯t appropriate. But he couldn¡¯t look for King Zhennan either. Xia Muqing was the most suitable person for this. ¡°I also feel that this matter is a little inappropriate, but¡­¡± ¡°In that case, please leave,¡± Xia Muqing interrupted him and said. Xia Jingtian saw that she was obviously sending him off, and he could only flick his sleeves and leave. ¡­ At this moment, everyone in the city had heard about the rumors. Even everyone in King Zhennan¡¯s residence had heard of this matter. Chapter 137 - Rumors Circulating

Chapter 137: Rumors Circting

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Ye Qingxuan¡¯s secret guard informed him about the rumors. After hearing that, his expression remained stoic. After he ced the cup on the table, he said, ¡°Got it.¡± The secret guard bowed slightly and said, ¡°Then do you need me to send people to suppress the rumors?¡± Ye Qingxuan seemed to have thought of something and chuckled softly. ¡°There isn¡¯t a need. Someone will naturally take care of it.¡± The guard didn¡¯t know what he meant and didn¡¯t probe further after hearing his instructions. He nodded before he retreated. In an instant, he disappeared from the room. ¡­ The next day after the morning court assembly, Xia Jingtian mustered his courage and stopped Ye Qingxuan, who was about to leave. ¡°King Zhennan.¡± Ye Qingxuan stopped in his tracks and smiled. ¡°Lord Xia, what advice do you have for me?¡± Xia Jingtian bowed even more deeply and spoke in fear, ¡°How would I dare to advise you, Your Highness. I just¡­ I have something to discuss with you.¡± Their behavior attracted the attention of all the officials present. They had also heard about the rumors circting the city and wanted to know what happened next. Xia Jingtian nced at the minister beside him, before he gestured for Ye Qingxuan to speak in private. Ye Qingxuan surveyed his surroundings and said, ¡°Lord Xia, if you have anything to say, just say it. Do we have anything shameful to discuss?¡± Xia Jingtian couldn¡¯t figure out what he meant and could only brace himself. ¡°Your Highness, it¡¯s about my daughter.¡± He was certain that Ye Qingxuan had heard of the rumors. Since the matter had blown up, someone would definitely inform him even if he didn¡¯t know. Ye Qingxuan ignored his hint and asked worriedly, ¡°What happened to Qing¡¯er?¡± From his expression, Xia Jingtian didn¡¯t doubt that he was lying. He really had no idea? He replied, ¡°It¡¯s not Muqing. It¡¯s Churan, my concubine¡¯s daughter, Xia Churan.¡± Ye Qingxuan pretended to be ignorant. ¡°What has she got to do with me?¡± With that, he left. The onlookers had a clearer view of the rumors. It was obvious that Xia Jingtian wanted to cozy up to King Zhennan, who simply wasn¡¯t bothered. Xia Jingtian couldn¡¯t proim loudly in front of everyone that His Highness had seen his daughter¡¯s body. He could only return to the Xia residence under everyone¡¯s mocking gazes. He had just returned to the Xia residence when Xia Churan and Ruan Yu approached him. He had told them yesterday that he would discuss with King Zhennan after the court assembly today. Therefore, Xia Churan and Ruan Yu had been waiting at the entrance of the manor for a long time. Xia Churan was about to ask what King Zhennan had said, but Ruan Yu noticed that Xia Jingtian didn¡¯t look too good. So she secretly tugged at Xia Churan to get her to stay silent for the time being. Xia Jingtian¡¯s expression darkened when he saw them. ¡°What are you all doing here? Is everyone too free?¡± After venting his anger, he felt a little better. He flicked his sleeves and strode towards the study. Xia Churan pulled Ruan Yu anxiously and asked, ¡°Mother, what happened to Father?¡± Ruan Yu didn¡¯t know either, so she shook his head and said, ¡°Go back to your room first. I¡¯ll go check on him.¡± Xia Churan had no choice but to nod and return to her room. Ruan Yu went to the kitchen to get some pastries before walking to the study. She went to the study and knocked on the door gently. She entered after receiving a response. ¡°Old Master, I¡¯ve brought some pastries for you. You woke up early this morning for court and didn¡¯t eat much. You must be hungry.¡± She was very smart and didn¡¯t ask about King Zhennan. Instead, she expressed her concern. She ced the pastries on the table and walked behind Xia Jingtian to gently massage his shoulders. With his wife¡¯s gentle tone and concern, Xia Jingtian¡¯s expression finally turned better. He gently ced his hand on her hand that was massaging her shoulders. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to lose my temper at both of you earlier.. Exin to Churanter.¡± Chapter 138 - Sudden Invitation

Chapter 138: Sudden Invitation

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Ruan Yu smiled. ¡°You still don¡¯t know that child, Churan. She¡¯s not angry with you at all. She just told me that she had toe and see you. She was worried that something had happened to you.¡± Xia Jingtian nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Churan has always been a good child, unlike Xia Muqing. She only knows how to infuriate me. If she had promised me yesterday, I wouldn¡¯t have suffered today.¡± Hearing him mention Xia Muqing, Ruan Yu¡¯s eyes shed and she had an idea. She asked, ¡°Is it because King Zhennan doesn¡¯t want to admit it?¡± Xia Jingtian snorted. ¡°He didn¡¯t mention anything at all. He embarrassed me in front of the other ministers today.¡± Ruan Yu didn¡¯t frown. After learning what had happened, sheforted him again before she left. After she left, she made her way to Xia Churan¡¯s room. When she entered, she dismissed all the servants, leaving only Xia Churan. She said to her, ¡°Your father failed today. King Zhennan doesn¡¯t want to acknowledge this matter. We have to do it ourselves.¡± Xia Churan nodded, her eyes filled with determination. They looked at each other and smiled. They weren¡¯t worried at all. They hadn¡¯t ced all their bets on Xia Jingtian previously, and they had already expected him to fail. They had prepared a backup n. Since King Zhennan crefused, they would use Xia Muqing. At this moment, Xia Muqing was training the ck eagle in the courtyard. She had no idea that the mother and daughter had evil designs on her again. ¡°ck eagle,e here,¡± Xia Muqing shouted. The ck eagle standing a distance away, was still covered with a ck cloth. It stood in the middle of the courtyard while Xia Muqing ran around the courtyard. Her purpose was to train the ck eagle to quickly identify directions despite its blindness. Hearing its master¡¯s voice, the ck eagle quickly turned its head. In the time that its eyes couldn¡¯t see, its sense of hearing had changed and it became even more sensitive. Soon, it located Xia Muqing and rushed over to her happily. Xia Muqing quickly stepped forward and stopped it. ¡°Run slowly next time. If I didn¡¯t stop you, you would have hit the wall by now.¡± The ck eagle rubbed its head against Xia Muqing without a hint of fear. Xia Muqing sighed and didn¡¯t lecture it anymore. After all, they had just started training. She should take her time. A servant suddenly came to report, ¡°First Young Mistress, Prince Yu¡¯s princess consort sent an invitation.¡± Xia Muqing was stunned. Prince Yu¡¯s consort? Xia Chuxing? She opened the invitation and sure enough, it was signed by Xia Chuxing. There was a simple sentence written on it. Tomorrow at Shining Fortune Restaurant, I have an important matter to discuss. Worried that Xia Muqing wouldn¡¯te, she even added a line at the bottom: You¡¯ll definitely be interested in this. Xia Muqing looked at the invitation in her hand and was puzzled. What was Xia Chuxing trying to do? Since she was interested, she decided to go take a look. After all, she must have some skill or hidden trick, since she was able to stay alive for so long after marrying Prince Yu. The next afternoon, Xia Muqing went out after making preparations. Just as she left the Xia residence, someone reported to Xia Churan and Ruan Yu. ¡°She is meeting Chuxing today. Our opportunity awaits,¡± Ruan Yu said. The two of them looked at each other and smiled, their eyes filled with ruthlessness and determination. Xia Muqing left the Xia residence but she didn¡¯t head to Shining Fortune Restaurant. Instead, she stopped at a pawnshop at the corner of West Street. She walked in and took out the jade pendant on her neck to the shopkeeper. She asked, ¡°Shopkeeper, what is this jade pendant?¡± The pawnshop staff took the jade and shook his head. ¡°Miss, this jade is worthless.. It¡¯s useless.¡± Chapter 139 - Meeting the Young Man Again

Chapter 139: Meeting the Young Man Again

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing nodded. She had onlye to try her luck. The answer she had gotten was what she had guessed. This jade pendant was indeed an ordinary one. Could the jade pendant that Jiang Yifan had seen when he was young, be a simr one? Or could there be more than one piece of this jade in the first ce? Xia Muqing was stowing away her jade pendant when an old master walked over. The old master was an ancient man over a hundred years old. He walked with trembling steps as he shouted, ¡°Miss, please hold on.¡± Xia Muqing turned around and asked, ¡°Old Master, what¡¯s the matter?¡± The old master pointed at the jade pendant in her hand and asked, ¡°Can you show me the jade pendant?¡± Xia Muqing naturally nodded. Seeing that it was inconvenient for him to move, she took the initiative and handed the jade to him. The old master¡¯s hand trembled as he picked up the jade pendant. His eyes were turbid and his eyelids were drooping, covering almost half of his eyes. Xia Muqing suspected that he couldn¡¯t see clearly. When the old master scrutinized the jade pendant, his expression was a little subdued and solemn. He looked around the shop. He flipped it around in his hand like it was a treasure. This scene also attracted the attention of the shopkeeper. He asked, ¡°Master, what kind of treasure is this?¡± He had just taken a look at it. That pendant was clearly not a good piece of jade. It could even possibly be carved from stone. The old master nced at him and said, ¡°You¡¯re still too young.¡± Xia Muqing wanted tough when she heard that. Although the shopkeeper was indeed youngpared to the old man, he was after all a middle-aged man. That sounded ridiculous. The shopkeeper respected the old master very much. He bowed and said, ¡°Please enlighten me, Master.¡± The old master held the jade pendant and didn¡¯t answer his question. Instead, he looked at Xia Muqing and asked, ¡°Miss, where did you get this jade pendant from?¡± Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows and asked, ¡°Can¡¯t this jade pendant be mine?¡± The old master sized her up and smiled. ¡°This jade pendant can¡¯t be yours.¡± Xia Muqing was a little puzzled and wanted to probe, but the old master stopped her. He returned the jade pendant to Xia Muqing and said, ¡°No matter how you obtained this jade pendant, it¡¯s better to manage it properly. Otherwise, you might be in peril.¡± Xia Muqing was shocked and asked, ¡°Will a second piece appear in this world?¡± The old masterughed and said, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. There¡¯s only one piece of such jade.¡± Xia Muqing frowned and wanted to press on, but the old master had already made an excuse that he was tired and returned to the backyard. Xia Muqing wanted to chase after him but was stopped by the shopkeeper. ¡°Miss, please leave. If my master doesn¡¯t want to say anything, he definitely won¡¯t.¡± Xia Muqing held the jade pendant and walked out of the pawnshop. She looked at the jade pendant in her hand and thought to herself. This jade wasn¡¯t really an ordinary one. If there¡¯s only one piece in the world, that means that the jade pendant that Jiang Yifan saw when he was young was this exact piece. Then was the destruction of the Jiang family rted to Ye Qingxuan? She had been thinking about something as she walked and didn¡¯t notice the person outside. She bumped into a little beggar. The jade pendant in her hand flew out as well. She widened her eyes and quickly reached out to catch the jade. If it fell to the ground, it would shatter. She moved quickly, but the other person was faster than her. The little beggar moved swiftly and grabbed the jade. Xia Muqing heaved a sigh of relief and said, ¡°Thank you. Please return the jade to me.¡± The little beggar smiled and said, ¡°There is something wrong with what you said. I was almost knocked into by you and I helped you to save the jade pendant. Is thank you enough?¡± Only then did Xia Muqing take a closer look at the little beggar. He was a young man and he was obviously a beggar, but the aura he gave off was unlike that of a beggar. She asked, ¡°What do you want?¡± Chapter 140 - Treat Me to a Meal

Chapter 140: Treat Me to a Meal

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The little beggar revealed his white teeth and smiled. ¡°Sister, how about treating me to a meal? I haven¡¯t eaten in several days.¡± Xia Muqing threw a pouch over to him. The little beggar caught it and pinched it. There was quite a lot of silver in the pouch. Xia Muqing said, ¡°There¡¯s at least 30 taels in this pouch. Take it as a thank-you gift.¡± The little beggar wasn¡¯t so easily dismissed. He ran away with the jade pendant and said, ¡°Sister, I¡¯ll wait for you at the Celebration Inn. I¡¯ll return the jade pendant to you when youe.¡± Xia Muqing frowned and could only follow them. The Celebration Inn happened to be opposite the Shining Fortune Restaurant. Xia Muqing nced at the second floor of the restaurant. That was the ce Xia Chuxing had invited her to. It was already time, and she was probably already there. She thought for a moment, and in the end, she turned around to enter the Celebration Inn. As soon as she entered, she saw the little beggar taking out the silver from her pouch and throwing it to the waiter, ¡°Arrange a premium private room for me.¡± After saying that, he even generously offered a tael of silver to the waiter and said, ¡°This is your reward.¡± Xia Muqing walked in with a darkened expression. The little beggar stood on the second floor and waved at her. ¡°Sister, here.¡± Xia Muqing could only follow him. After entering the private room, the little beggar ordered a huge pile of the inn¡¯s signature dishes. He then looked at Xia Muqing and asked, ¡°Sister, what do you want to eat?¡± The corner of Xia Muqing¡¯s mouth twitched. He had already ordered almost all the dishes in this restaurant. Was the food only for him? The little beggar could tell that she was surprised. He rubbed her head and smiled. ¡°I just have a huge appetite.¡± Xia Muqing was speechless. ¡°I¡¯ve already treated you to a meal and you¡¯ve taken the money. Now, can you return the jade to me?¡± The little beggar smiled again. ¡°Sister, you really can¡¯t recognize me?¡± Xia Muqing frowned and took a closer look. Actually, she also felt that the young man looked a little familiar just now, but she couldn¡¯t recall where she had seen him before. The little beggar seemed to have realized that she really didn¡¯t remember him, and so, he didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°That iron b and the green pearl should have merged by now.¡± Although she didn¡¯t know what the green pearl was, she immediately understood what he meant and remembered who he was. This beggar was the young man who set up a stall outside the Sunset Mountains. She had met him before entering the mystic realm. Back then, she had bought the b and ck pearl from his stall. She asked, ¡°What are those things?¡± The young man pointed at the stool opposite him and said, ¡°Sister, do you have time to sit and have a good chat with me now?¡± Xia Muqing sat down and looked at him, waiting for him to exin. Coincidentally, a waiter brought the food over. Before long, the table was filled with food. Xia Muqing felt a little dizzy as she looked at the food in front of her. The young man picked up his chopsticks impatiently and quickly ate. The way he ate made Xia Muqing believe that he was really starving. He wolfed down the food and had no time to talk. Xia Muqing tried to wait patiently but she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°How long have you been hungry?¡± The young man muttered, ¡°Five days.¡± The corner of Xia Muqing¡¯s mouth twitched. Looking at his frail body, was he really that poor to starve for five days? However, she remembered that the first time they met, this young man had given her the stuff without any payment. If he did business like that, he would indeed be too poor to afford a meal. Xia Muqing watched as the young man finished the table of food all by himself. ¡°Will you really not be sick after eating so much?¡± she asked curiously. The young man swallowed thest mouthful of food and burped. He leaned back in his chair with his hand stroking his bulging stomach. ¡°I¡¯m just taking precautions. I¡¯ll eat all the food to sustain me for the next few days. That way, I can survive for a few more days.¡± Xia Muqing was speechless.. ¡°The money I gave you is enough for you to eat several meals.¡± Chapter 141 - The Origin of the Jade Pendant

Chapter 141: The Origin of the Jade Pendant

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The young man shook his head and acted as if he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°You don¡¯t know. One should go hungry and be full with the next meal. That¡¯s the real martial world.¡± He sighed. Xia Muqing ignored him and said, ¡°You should tell me why you¡¯re looking for me now.¡± She had just understood that this young man had deliberately bumped into her and brought her here. He had only one intention and he had something to tell her. A hint of admiration shed across the young man¡¯s eyes. ¡°I came to tell you that it¡¯s better not to reveal this jade pendant to others easily.¡± Xia Muqing frowned and asked, ¡°Do you know the origin of this jade pendant?¡± The young man arched his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± Xia Muqing shook her head and asked, ¡°What is that strange token that you sold to me?¡± The young man said in surprise, ¡°You gathered all these objects without knowing anything. As expected of the Holy Lady¡¯s child.¡± Holy Lady? Xia Muqing pondered. Was this Holy Lady her mother? The young man didn¡¯t beat around the bush and said, ¡°Let me introduce myself. I am You Lanchen, the high priest of the Jin Country. You¡¯re the daughter of the Holy Lady. Twenty years ago, the Holy Lady left Jin Country and married a man and she gave birth to you.¡± Xia Muqing tried her best to digest this information and asked, ¡°The Jin Country?¡± You Lanchen nodded and replied, ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re a citizen of Jin Country. The pattern you saw on the token was the inheritance totem of the Jin Country. The token is your mother¡¯s identity token. The Holy Lady is passed down from generation to generation. You¡¯re the new Holy Lady of the Jin Country.¡± Xia Muqing frowned and said, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in being the Holy Lady of the Jin Country.¡± You Lanchen didn¡¯t change his expression. He even smiled and said, ¡°You will ept it.¡± He sounded certain. Xia Muqing asked again, ¡°Then what does this jade pendant have to do with the token?¡± You Lanchen¡¯s expression became odd. ¡°This is the symbol of the Holy Lady¡¯s marriage partner.¡± He paused for a moment and continued, ¡°This jade pendant was supposed to belong to the royal family of the Jin Country. However, when the Holy Lady left, she took this jade pendant with her. Since then, this jade pendant has disappeared. I only realized that this jade pendant was in your possession after I saw it.¡± Xia Muqing cleared her throat but there were still many doubts. If the jade belonged to the Jin Country and was taken away by her mother, how did it end up in Ye Qingxuan¡¯s hands? After knowing the truth, Xia Muqing took the jade pendant from You Lanchen and was about to leave. You Lanchen didn¡¯t stop her. ¡°I wee you to make a trip to Jin Country. Your mother¡¯s belongings are there.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t reply and walked out of the inn and proceeded to Shining Fortune Restaurant. Upstairs in Shining Fortune Restaurant, Xia Chuxing looked out of the window impatiently, but she wasn¡¯t worried if Xia Muqing didn¡¯t turn up. Xia Muqing went to the second floor and was led by a waiter to Xia Chuxing¡¯s room. She walked in and saw Xia Chuxing fiddling with a teacup in her hand. She raised her eyebrows in surprise. The reckless and brainless Xia Chuxing from the past had changed drastically. The arrogance and slyness in her eyes that could be easily deciphered with a nce had disappeared. What reced them were profoundness andposure. Xia Muqing smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯ve really changed so much.¡± Xia Chuxing didn¡¯t look at her with hatred anymore. Instead, she smiled calmly and said, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to all of you.¡± Xia Muqing was more curious about how she had survived in Prince Yu¡¯s residence. After all, the reason why a person could change so drastically in such a short period of time was rather intriguing. Xia Muqing asked bluntly, ¡°Why did you look for me this time?¡± Xia Chuxing put down the teacup in her hand and said, ¡°I want to work with you.¡± Chapter 142 - Working Together Chapter 142: Working Together Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing asked, ¡°How can we work together?¡± Xia Chuxing smirked and said, ¡°We have amon enemy.¡± Without waiting for her to speak, she continued, ¡°The mother and daughter of the Xia family want to bring you down, and I can work with you.¡± Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t fooled by her offer and quipped, ¡°We seem to be enemies too.¡± Xia Chuxing didn¡¯t deny and admitted, ¡°Yes, I do hate you, but I hate that mother and daughter more than you do. We¡¯re already enemies to begin with. I admit that I wasn¡¯t capable enough and I fell for your schemes. But what about that mother and daughter? I¡¯m their family. How could they treat me like this!¡± The more she spoke, the more agitated she became. At this moment, she resembled that Xia Chuxing from back then. Xia Muqing smiled and said, ¡°You came to look for me just to tell me this? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary. They aren¡¯t qualified to deal with me.¡± With that, she left. After she left, Xia Chuxing¡¯s expression changed. She was no longer angry and instead, she looked calm. A young maid walked in and asked, ¡°Princess Consort, Xia Muqing is not easy to deal with.¡± Xia Chuxing smirked wryly, ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s wait to see both sides suffer losses. When the timees, it¡¯ll be our turn to strike.¡± The young maid handed over the letter in her hand and said, ¡°Princess Consort, this is a letter from your mother.¡± Xia Chuxing opened it and smiled mockingly. ¡°That woman still hasn¡¯t forgotten to use me.¡± Her eyes darted around and she said, ¡°Go and hand this to Xia Muqing. Say that it¡¯s a token of my sincerity.¡± The girl took the letter from her and nodded before walking out. Before Xia Muqing could walk out of Shining Fortune Restaurant, she bumped into Xia Churan. As the main character in the rumors, she attracted everyone¡¯s attention the moment she appeared. ¡°Sister,¡± she shouted. No one noticed Xia Muqing initially. But after she shouted, everyone looked at her. With both parties involved in the rumors present, the number of onlookers increased. Xia Muqing nodded and wanted to leave. Xia Churan grabbed her and cried, ¡°I have no intention of snatching King Zhennan away from you.¡± Her confession jolted the crowd who were initially disappointed that Xia Muqing was preparing to leave. It seemed that the two daughters of the Xia family weren¡¯t on good terms. They wondered who King Zhennan would like more? Xia Muqing frowned and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xia Churan didn¡¯t answer her. Instead, she cried, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to steal His Highness from youa€| He did such a thing¡­ I really don¡¯t have the dignity to live anymore.¡± Her usation was vague, and the confused crowd began to wonder what King Zhennan had done. Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t in a hurry to leave now. She crossed her arms and watched her performance. Xia Chuxing, who was standing on the second floor, also looked at Xia Churan, who was crying in the crowd. She was aware that her sister was a good actress. However, she didn¡¯t expect her sister to use this tactic on her. Hence, what she had just told Xia Muqing was true. Compared to her hatred towards Xia Muqing, she hated the mother-daughter pair even more. Xia Churan continued, ¡°Sister, don¡¯t be angry. I don¡¯t dare to steal His Highness from you.¡± She kept repeating this sentence, making everyone feel that Xia Muqing didn¡¯t want her to marry King Zhennan. Everyone assumed that Xia Muqing had done something. Xia Muqingughed. ¡°If you want to marry King Zhennan, you should look for Ye Qingxuan. Why are you looking for me?¡± Hearing her call King Zhennan¡¯s name, jealousy and hatred shed across Xia Churan¡¯s eyes. When she looked up, her face was delicate and teary. ¡°Sister, wasn¡¯t it your wish that King Zhennan wouldn¡¯t dare to see me?¡± Today, she wanted to make use of the public opinion to force Xia Muqing to bring her into the King¡¯s royal residence. Since she couldn¡¯t meet King Zhennan, she would use Xia Muqing.. This was the second n she and Ruan Yu hade up with. Chapter 143 - My Man

Chapter 143: My Man

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios One of the onlookers shouted angrily, ¡°King Zhennan has already done that to Miss Churan. Shouldn¡¯t he be held responsible? Or is Miss Muqing just a jealous woman?¡± That would be a serious usation. Xia Muqing looked around and didn¡¯t find the person who had just spoken. It seemed that that person was hired by Xia Churan. Xia Churan lowered her head, and a hint of smugness shed across her eyes. She didn¡¯t believe that Xia Muqing would acknowledge her as a jealous wife. If she didn¡¯t want to be known as a jealous wife, she would have to help her to marry into the royal residence. Xia Muqing asked, ¡°Then let me ask you something. What did King Zhennan do to you?¡± Xia Churan blushed and remained bashful. Her reaction made it seem as if King Zhennan had really done something. Xia Muqing was enlightened. ¡°You mean thest time you fell into the water?¡± ¡°Then you really have no reason to live anymore. After all, there were so many guards and servants back then. If I were to follow your logic, wouldn¡¯t they all have to marry you?¡± Xia Churan didn¡¯t expect her to say that and froze. Her words also made the crowd around them calm down. Yes, there were so many people at that time, yet Xia Churan only targeted King Zhennan. Her motive was obvious. It was obvious that it was after King Zhennan. Xia Churan had nothing to say. But seeing that everyone agreed with Xia Muqing, she could only resort to crying. Her eyes were red and she could cry whenever she wanted to. Her pitiful expression made the people around her pity her. Someonemented, ¡°It¡¯s unbearable for any youngdy to experience that. Since King Zhennan was present, why don¡¯t we let King Zhennan marry Miss Churan? Isn¡¯t that a win-win situation? I believe Miss Muqing wouldn¡¯t mind.¡± Surely King Zhennan would be willing to have such a beauty. That was what all the men present thought. However, because Xia Muqing, the future princess consort, was present, they didn¡¯t say it out loud. Meanwhile, the women present were jealous that Xia Muqing could gain the admiration of King Zhennan and they were desperate to see her make a fool of herself. Xia Muqingughed and said, ¡°I¡¯m just curious, so what if I mind?¡± Her words shocked everyone. Did she admit that she was jealous? Xia Muqing directly pointed out Xia Churan¡¯s true intention and said, ¡°You assumed that for the sake of my reputation, I would take the initiative to offer to bring you along to the King¡¯s residence? Why? Your wonderful father went to look for Ye Qingxuan but he didn¡¯t seed, so you directed all your effort towards me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, he is my man. Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± With that, she left. Xia Muqing¡¯s words were extremely bold. No one had ever dared to say something like that in public. However, no one thought that she was absurd. Instead, they felt that she was right. Xia Churan felt the sharpness of everyone¡¯s gazes and didn¡¯t dare to stay any longer. She rushed back to the residence to discuss with Ruan Yu. Xia Muqing walked out of Shining Fortune Restaurant and saw a familiar figure. She immediately gave chase. A man in a long white robe stood at the end of the street. Xia Muqing smiled and patted him from behind. She called, ¡°Jin Chao.¡± The man turned around and her eyes widened. ¡°Why is it you?¡± Ye Qingxuan was puzzled and asked, ¡°Who is Jin Chao?¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t expect to have recognized the wrong person. However, Ye Qingxuan¡¯s back indeed resembled Jin Chao. Could it be because she missed Jin Chao too much? Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t help but reflect on herself. It was a little embarrassing to mistake a man for another man on so many asions. Seeing that Ye Qingxuan was still waiting for her to reply, the smile on Xia Muqing¡¯s face disappeared. ¡°Nothing, I just recognized the wrong person.¡± Ye Qingxuan frowned and asked, ¡°Who do you think I was? You¡¯re all smiles towards that fellow and you¡¯re so cold towards me?¡± Chapter 144 - The Little Boy

Chapter 144: The Little Boy

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing forced a smile and said, ¡°Who says so? I¡¯m smiling right now.¡± Ye Qingxuanmented bluntly, ¡°Your smile is so ugly.¡± Xia Muqing froze. Just as she was about to retort, he pulled her away. She asked, ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Ye Qingxuan smiled. ¡°I heard you just now.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t realize what he was talking about. Ye Qingxuan had no choice but to add, ¡°You said that I¡¯m your man.¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s face unconsciously heated up. She exined, ¡°I just can¡¯t stand Xia Churan¡¯s behavior, so I said that on purpose. But you still have to ask the emperor to annul our engagement.¡± Ye Qingxuan stopped her in her tracks at that moment and said, ¡°You just announced to everyone that I¡¯m your man. If you want me to break off the engagement now, wouldn¡¯t I be at a disadvantage? Who would be willing to marry me in the future? After all, I have a jealous wife stopping everyone.¡± His voice was filled with amusement. Xia Muqing was a little stunned. ¡°Is the mighty King Zhennan still worried that no one will marry you? Isn¡¯t Xia Churan quite willing?¡± Ye Qingxuan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Don¡¯tpare me to that kind of woman.¡± He spoke clearly with disdain towards Xia Churan. With that, he didn¡¯t bring up the topic anymore and pushed open the door to a small courtyard. Only then did Xia Muqing realize that they had arrived at a small courtyard. She was too engrossed in their conversation to notice how they had arrived. After entering the courtyard, the first thing she saw was an overwhelmingyer of pink everywhere. When she took a closer look, she saw a peach blossom forest. Ye Qingxuan replied, ¡°I prepared this ce for you.¡± Xia Muqing was a little puzzled, but she felt that this ce looked a little familiar. She walked forward and saw an ancient well in a corner. That made her widen her eyes. Why was that well here? Xia Muqing turned around to look at him. He was standing not far away. The well and that man had both appeared after she fell into Gungun¡¯s dreand in the mountains. Could that little boy be¡­ Ye Qingxuan whispered gently, ¡°Sister, don¡¯t you remember me?¡± She immediately understood why Ye Qingxuan had addressed her Sister. It turned out that the boy she had met in that small mountain vige really existed. Back then, the boy had been stabbed to death in order to save her, and that incident was something she couldn¡¯t forget for a long time. Now, he was standing in front of her again, but he had be the powerful and influential King Zhennan. Xia Muqing asked, ¡°How could you be that boy?¡± She had asked Gungun before. Gungun had clearly told her that everything that had happened in the illusion was fake or someone¡¯s memories. Ye Qingxuan replied, ¡°I also had a dream. When I was young, I didn¡¯t meet a girl who could save me. Initially, I couldn¡¯t be sure if this dream was real or not. But when I saw you, I was certain that it was real.¡± Xia Muqing was stunned. How much hardship must he have gone through when he was young? Thinking about that, she couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for him. She didn¡¯t have any feelings for Ye Qingxuan, but once she realized that he was the little boy from back then, Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t treat him coldly anymore. Ye Qingxuan chuckled and didn¡¯t exin. Back then, he had killed everyone in the vige and that family. However, there was no need for him to tell her that. It felt good to be cared for for the first time. After returning to the Xia residence, Xia Muqing¡¯s expression was still a littleplicated. She hugged Gungun and asked, ¡°Gungun, why did I enter Ye Qingxuan¡¯s childhood through your dream?¡± Gungun shook its head. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. To enter my dream, the person with the memories must also enter.¡± Xia Muqing was stunned. The person¡¯s memories meant that Ye Qingxuan had to be present at that time.. But only Jin Chao was with her. Chapter 145 - Jin Chaos Identity

Chapter 145: Jin Chao¡¯s Identity

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing suddenly stood up, and Gungun fell out of her arms. Gungun looked at her in confusion. Xia Muqing gritted her teeth and hissed, ¡°Ye Qingxuan is Jin Chao.¡± No wonder she had mistaken Ye Qingxuan for Jin Chao so many times. These two men were originally the same person. If not for Gungun, she wouldn¡¯t know how long she would have been kept in the dark. Initially, she felt that Jin Chao¡¯s eyes were a little familiar. Now that she mulled over it, when they first met, she felt that his eyes resembled Ye Qingxuan¡¯s. However, because Ye Qingxuan couldn¡¯t possibly stand on his feet at that time, she dismissed that thought. It seemed that a few months ago, Ye Qingxuan had found some unknown method to allow him to move his legs freely. This time, Ye Qingxuan¡¯s attitude towards her exined everything. The more Xia Muqing thought about it, the angrier she was. She wanted to confront him, but she stopped herself. There was amotion outside the door. She frowned and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The person who walked in was Jiang Yifan. On his shoulder was the little phoenix. ¡°Your aunt came to look for you.¡± Xia Muqing nodded and said, ¡°All right, I got it.¡± Jiang Yifan hesitated before asking, ¡°Why is she here?¡± Xia Muqing knew that he was worried about her. She rubbed his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can handle her.¡± When she arrived outside, she found that Ruan Yu was already waiting for her. Xia Muqing asked, ¡°Aunt Ruan, why are you here?¡± Ruan Yu¡¯s expression darkened. Everyone in the Xia household addressed her as Madam, only this little sl*t called her Aunt. She retracted her vicious thoughts and smiled. ¡°I came to look for you because of Churan. She, she¡ª¡± The smile on her face vanished as she stopped mid-sentence. She became slightly distressed. ¡°She wants to take her life. She said that she is too ashamed to continue staying alive, so I came to look for you.¡± Xia Muqing was even more puzzled. ¡°Then why did youe to find me? She didn¡¯t die because of me.¡± Ruan Yu¡¯s expression froze. She noticed the obvious confusion on her face. That little sl*t knew how to pretend. If she hadn¡¯t said those words in public, Churan would have entered the King¡¯s residence long ago. She med everything on Xia Muqing, but she had never thought that they were be the ones who had schemed against her first. Ruan Yu added, ¡°Originally I didn¡¯t want to trouble you. But if Churan died because of you, and this matter gets out, it would affect you as well. After all, outsiders who don¡¯t know the truth might think that you forced Churan to take her life.¡± Her words carried a tant threat. Xia Muqing didn¡¯t fall for it and sneered. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble Aunt to exin it to me. After all, the cause of this incident was because of the both of you, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Ruan Yu was taken aback. Did this little b*tch know something? Xia Muqing was about to send the guest off when something struck her. Her eyes darted around and she suddenly said, ¡°It¡¯s not entirely impossible for me to help.¡± Ruan Yu hadn¡¯t expected her to suddenly change her mind. She assumed that she was afraid and worried about the rumors. Only then did she feel relieved. As she had said just now, how could anyone not care about their reputation? Ruan Yu, who thought that she had something she could use against Xia Muqing, became unyielding and said, ¡°You have to bring Churan into the King¡¯s residence.¡± Xia Muqing nodded and replied, ¡°Of course.¡± Her prompt response made Ruan Yu a little nervous. Was she ying a trick? Facing her questioning gaze, Xia Muqing said innocently, ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you wanted me to do?¡± Without waiting for Ruan Yu to answer, she had nned everything. ¡°I¡¯ll invite King Zhennan here tomorrow, and we can discuss our marriage.¡± Ruan Yu was still in a trance after leaving the courtyard.. Xia Muqing¡¯s seemingly agreeable attitude made her panic. Chapter 146 - Cooperation

Chapter 146: Cooperation

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Ruan Yu returned to her room after she left Xia Muqing¡¯s courtyard. Xia Churan, who had been waiting for a long time, saw her and rushed out to wee her. She asked anxiously, ¡°Mother, what did she say?¡± Ruan Yu patted her hand, signaling her to enter the room first. Xia Churan looked at the servants around her. She knew that she was being a little anxious, but the rumors in the city were very unfavorable to her now. Her reputation had been damaged, and she could only ce all her hopes on King Zhennan. After Ruan Yu entered the room, she dismissed all the servants and said, ¡°Xia Muqing agreed to let you enter the King¡¯s residence¡ª¡± Xia Churan pressed on anxiously, ¡°Why would she agree? Did she demand something?¡± Ruan Yu shook her head. ¡°The problem is that she didn¡¯t state any conditions. She even offered to invite King Zhennan to our house tomorrow to discuss it with him.¡± Xia Churan¡¯s eyes widened as well. What was going on? Ruan Yu added, ¡°At first, I thought she was worried that her reputation would suffer. But after contemtion, I didn¡¯t think that was the reason.¡± Xia Churan said casually, ¡°No matter what the reason is, as long as she allows me to enter King Zhennan¡¯s royal residence, I¡¯m confident that I can gain his favor.¡± Thinking of that, Ruan Yu also smirked. The two of them seemed to be plotting something. At this moment, a servant came to report that Xia Muqing had sent an invitation to King Zhennan. She had invited him to the Xia residence to discuss some matters tomorrow. Ruan Yu hadn¡¯t expected her to act so quickly, and she seemed even more eager than them. That puzzled her. Xia Churan didn¡¯t dwell too much on it. She started preparing for tomorrow¡¯s outfit in excitement. Coincidentally, she had just bought a beautiful zed flowery dress previously. She could wear that tomorrow. ¡­ After Xia Muqing arranged everything, she slowly brewed a pot of tea for herself. When she saw Jiang Yifan entering the room, she waved at him. ¡°You came at the right time. Come and taste the new tea I just bought.¡± Jiang Yifan put Gungun and the phoenix on the ground to y by themselves before saying, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that King Zhennan would fall for Xia Churan?¡± Xia Muqing said casually, ¡°If they really be a couple, I¡¯ll give them my blessings.¡± He was just a man. If his heart wasn¡¯t with her, she wouldn¡¯t want him anymore. Jiang Yifan didn¡¯t know that Ye Qingxuan was Jin Chao. He simply thought that Xia Muqing wanted to annul the engagement. He said worriedly, ¡°I¡¯m worried that if Xia Churan is really married to King Zhennan, it¡¯ll be even more difficult for you to deal with them.¡± Xia Muqing shook her head and said, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Ye Qingxuan is¡ª¡± Before she could finish speaking, she realized that the feud between Jiang Yifan and Ye Qingxuan had yet to be resolved. She paused and didn¡¯t continue. Jiang Yifan asked, ¡°What do you want to say, Sister? What happened to Ye Qingxuan?¡± Xia Muqing shook her head to indicate that it was nothing. She lowered her head and took a sip of tea. When she lowered her head, she couldn¡¯t see the expression in Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes. Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes darkened and he instantly knew that Xia Muqing was hiding something from him. Xia Muqing asked again, ¡°Do you still remember what happened when you saw the jade?¡± Ever since Xia Muqing knew that Ye Qingxuan was Jin Chao, she felt that there was something amiss with that massacre years ago. She felt that Jin Chao didn¡¯t seem to be that ruthless. There must be a misunderstanding. Jiang Yifan replied, ¡°Perhaps I was too young at that time and I didn¡¯t see everything clearly. I don¡¯t know what exactly happened.¡± Xia Muqing immediately agreed. ¡°Yes, we still have to investigate thoroughly.¡± Jiang Yifan didn¡¯t refute, but no one had any idea what he really thought. He asked, ¡°Sister, do you want to marry King Zhennan?¡± Xia Muqing was stunned. ¡°I don¡¯t know either.. Let¡¯s talk about it in the future.¡± Chapter 147 - Seeking the Truth

Chapter 147: Seeking the Truth

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Jiang Yifan looked at her with aplicated expression. Xia Muqing¡¯s attitude towards Ye Qingxuan had changed. Did something happen when he wasn¡¯t around? He didn¡¯t want to be enemies with Xia Muqing, but he had to avenge the Jiang family. The teacup in his hand cracked with his grip. He rubbed it twice and said, ¡°Sister, I think this cup is quite pretty. Can you give it to me?¡± Xia Muqing naturally nodded in agreement. It was merely a cup. Jiang Yifan bade her farewell and crushed the cup in his hand the moment he stepped out of the room. The broken pieces of the cup cut his palm, and blood dripped and fell to the ground. When the little phoenix saw him, it cried out in panic and pped its wings frantically. It wanted to look for Xia Muqing to treat his wound. Jiang Yifan immediately used his other hand to stop it. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s go back.¡± The phoenix felt that he seemed a little different. It was a little afraid and didn¡¯t dare to move. It only shrunk back into his palm. Noticing that the phoenix was trembling, Jiang Yifan smiled. ¡°I¡¯m really fine. I¡¯ll just bandage it myselfter.¡± Seeing that he was behaving as usual, the little phoenix pped its wings andnded on its shoulder out of habit. Jiang Yifan listened to the chatter of the phoenix, but he didn¡¯t feel any joy. His heart was filled with hatred. The lives of his father, mother, brother, and the hundred people from the Jiang n ten years ago shed across his eyes. Ye Qingxuan¡­ He mumbled the name, wishing he could kill him now. But he couldn¡¯t. He was too weak. He had to think of aprehensive n before he could act. The fastest way was to use Xia Muqing, but he didn¡¯t want to use her. Even if it took him more time and effort, he didn¡¯t want to lose his sister. Xia Muqing was the person closest to him in this world. ¡­ Ye Qingxuan was a little surprised to receive Xia Muqing¡¯s invitation. He didn¡¯t expect her to invite him. The next day, he arrived at the Xia residence early. Since Xia Jingtian wasn¡¯t around, Ruan Yu came to wee him. Ruan Yu led him into the main hall and kept talking about Xia Churan. Ye Qingxuan grew impatient and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Qing¡¯er?¡± With a smile, Ruan Yu said, ¡°I already called for her. That child probably hasn¡¯t woken up yet.¡± She had deliberately said something bad about Xia Muqing. Ye Qingxuan continued to wait. However, Xia Muqing didn¡¯t appear. Instead, Xia Churan did. Xia Churan walked in to take a look at Ye Qingxuan, and admiration shed across her eyes. It was rumored that King Zhennan was a ferocious man. If not for the few times they had met, she wouldn¡¯t have believed that he was so handsome. And this man would be hers soon. Xia Churan bowed and said, ¡°Wee, King Zhennan.¡± When Ye Qingxuan saw her, he frowned and said without asking her to stand up, ¡°I think I¡¯ll wait for Qing¡¯er in her courtyard.¡± Xia Churan bit her lip, feeling very indignant. In what way was she inferior to Xia Muqing? She stood up and said, ¡°Sister asked me to apany Your Highness.¡± Ye Qingxuan frowned even more and asked, ¡°She asked you toe?¡± Xia Churan nodded and asked in a panic, ¡°Didn¡¯t¡­ she tell you?¡± Ye Qingxuan had no idea what Xia Muqing was up to and was about to look for her. Coincidentally, Xia Muqing walked in from afar. ¡°Sorry to have kept you waiting.¡± When Ye Qingxuan saw Xia Muqing again, his expression clearly changed. He smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re the first person who invited me and made me wait.¡± Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows. ¡°Is Your Highness ming me?¡± ¡°Of course not. Why would I me you?¡± Chapter 148 - You Want to Find a Concubine For Me?

Chapter 148: You Want to Find a Concubine For Me?

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The intimate interaction between the two made Xia Churan and Ruan Yu¡¯s expressions turn a little ugly. Thest time King Zhennan came to the Xia residence, Xia Muqing was still as cold as before. Why did she act differently this time? They could tell that something had changed, and so could Ye Qingxuan. He asked, ¡°Qing¡¯er, you seem very different today?¡± Xia Muqing retracted the smile on her face and sat down on the left seat. ¡°Naturally, it¡¯s because something good happened.¡± Ye Qingxuan asked curiously, ¡°What is it?¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she looked at Xia Churan and praised, ¡°Sister, your dress is very pretty today. You must have put in a lot of effort to wee King Zhennan.¡± Xia Churan didn¡¯t expect her to change the topic. She smiled shyly and looked in Ye Qingxuan¡¯s direction. Ye Qingxuan frowned and ignored Xia Churan¡¯s gaze. He waited to see what Xia Muqing had to say. Xia Muqing continued, ¡°Your Highness, you¡¯re quite lucky to have a beauty like Sister Churan who¡¯s in love with you.¡± Ye Qingxuan¡¯s expression darkened when he heard that. He had already realized what Xia Muqing wanted to do. As expected, she continued, ¡°Previously, King Zhennan, you came to the Xia residence, and you identally saw my sister falling into the water. Could it be that heaven is matchmaking for both of you?¡± Xia Churan was a little embarrassed and angry when she heard her mention this matter, but in order to marry King Zhennan, she didn¡¯t refute. Ye Qingxuan replied coldly, ¡°I think you¡¯re the one who¡¯s trying to set us up. My consort hasn¡¯t even married me and she is already trying to find a concubine for me?¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t panic at all. ¡°You knew everything? But if the two of us marry you at the same time, wouldn¡¯t you be enjoying the bliss of having two women?¡± Ye Qingxuan replied coldly, ¡°Nonsense! My tolerance has a limit.¡± This was the first time he was furious at Xia Muqing. Not to be outdone, Xia Muqing red back and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask me to settle this matter?¡± Ye Qingxuan suddenly regretted not settling the matter when Xia Jingtian came to look for him. He wanted to see how Xia Muqing would react, and in the end, he ended up setting himself up. Ruan Yu shot Xia Churan a look. Xia Churan strode forward and knelt on the ground. She hugged Ye Qingxuan¡¯s leg and cried, ¡°Your Highness, I really love you. Now that everyone in the city knows that you¡¯ve seen my body, I can¡¯t do anything else. If you don¡¯t marry me, I really can¡¯t live anymore.¡± Ye Qingxuan nced at Xia Muqing before he kicked Xia Churan away. He said coldly, ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m a fool? Since you want to get married so badly, I¡¯ll call all the guards presentst time and let you get married to all of them, okay?¡± Xia Churan panicked under his sinister gaze. Seeing that he really wanted to do that, she immediately trembled and leaned against Ruan Yu, not daring to speak anymore. Ye Qingxuan snorted coldly and said, ¡°Bring back the guards fromst time¡­¡± Before he could finish, Ruan Yu interjected, ¡°Your Highness, you can¡¯t! You can¡¯t do this!¡± Ye Qingxuan then looked at Xia Churan, who was lying on the ground, and asked, ¡°Do you still dare toe near me in the future?¡± Xia Churan was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t speak. She shook her head repeatedly. She was really afraid. She could tell how terrifying he was. Ye Qingxuan looked at Xia Muqing, who was enjoying the show. His eyes darkened. He really wanted to punish her, but he couldn¡¯t bear to. In the end, he only sighed and said, ¡°Are you satisfied?¡± Xia Muqing looked at him innocently and said, ¡°What has this got to do with me?¡± ¡°Since you can settle this matter yourself, don¡¯t push the me to others. I¡¯ll take my leave now, Your Highness¡± With that, she left the main hall. Ye Qingxuan smiled bitterly.. She was indeed a girl who wouldn¡¯t let anyone take advantage of her. Chapter 149 - Jiang Yifans Transformation

Chapter 149: Jiang Yifan¡¯s Transformation

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When Xia Muqing was walking past the garden, she was pulled into it forcefully. As a result, she knocked into a tree. It happened so suddenly that she was facing the tree when she came to her senses. The person was behind her. She asked in a panic, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Are you talking about me?¡± When Xia Muqing heard this voice, she asked angrily, ¡°Ye Qingxuan, what exactly are you trying to do?¡± Ye Qingxuan turned her over and trapped her between the tree and his arms. They were a little too intimate. Xia Muqing would probably be able to kiss him if she looked up. This made her shift ufortably and she said, ¡°Let go of me quickly.¡± Ye Qingxuan started to settle scores with her. ¡°You called me here today to give me to Xia Churan?¡± Xia Muqing said with a stoic expression, ¡°Xia Churan caused me trouble because of you. Shouldn¡¯t you be the one to resolve this matter?¡± Ye Qingxuan¡¯s expression was still ugly as he replied angrily, ¡°You¡¯re really¡­ What do you want me to do with you?¡± In the end, he could only sigh. Xia Muqing sneered and said, ¡°Yeah, a woman like me is too stupid. I was fooled by you the moment I wasn¡¯t paying attention.¡± Ye Qingxuan¡¯s body stiffened as he immediately understood what she meant. ¡°You know everything?¡± Xia Muqing asked, ¡°What should I know? That you¡¯re Jin Chao?¡± Ye Qingxuanughed bitterly, ¡°How did you find out?¡± Xia Muqing shoved him away and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to care about that. I¡¯m very angry anyway.¡± Ye Qingxuan was no longer furious and he replied with a bitter expression, ¡°I have my reasons too.¡± Xia Muqing immediately exposed him. ¡°I think you¡¯re just fooling around with me.¡± Jiang Yifan overheard their conversation. He had initially wanted to greet Xia Muqing when he saw her, but he hid when he saw Ye Qingxuan chasing after her. He didn¡¯t expect to hear such a conversation. Ye Qingxuan was Jin Chao! So that was the reason why Xia Muqing¡¯s attitude towards Ye Qingxuan had changed. He treated Jin Chao as his elder brother. Unexpectedly, his enemy had always been by his side. Back then, when he was grieving for his parents and elder brother, was he very proud of himself? It must have felt very good to watch someone else suffer. Hatred filled his eyes and he clenched his fists tightly. Yesterday, Xia Muqing had said that she wanted to investigate the matter thoroughly. Now, it seemed like she was on Ye Qingxuan¡¯s side. It turned out that the two people he trusted the most had betrayed him. His thoughts became more and more extreme, and he couldn¡¯t control the darkness in his heart. The phoenix followed his scent and found him. Others couldn¡¯t understand what the phoenix was saying, but Xia Muqing could. Was Jiang Yifan here? She looked around. Jiang Yifan walked out from behind the bushes with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re all here? I thought I was the only one here.¡± Ye Qingxuan asked warily, ¡°We were talking so loudly just now, didn¡¯t you hear us?¡± Jiang Yifan smiled. ¡°I identally fell asleep just now. I have always been a very heavy sleeper. If it weren¡¯t for the little phoenix¡¯s sudden cry in my ear, I wouldn¡¯t have woken up.¡± Xia Muqing was relieved to see that he didn¡¯t have any hatred for Ye Qingxuan. It seemed that he had listened to her yesterday. Ye Qingxuan frowned and was about to ask more when Xia Muqing pushed him. ¡°Leave now.¡± This was the first time Ye Qingxuan had been chased out by someone with such a disdainful tone and his face darkened. However, because it was Xia Muqing, he could only endure it. He tapped her forehead gently and said, ¡°Wait until I deal with you in the future.¡± Xia Muqing was also speechless. Jin Chao was a cold and aloof man.. How did his character change after he became Ye Qingxuan? If it wasn¡¯t for the conclusive evidence, she really wouldn¡¯t believe that they were the same person. Chapter 150 - The Men in Black Who Intruded the Xia residence at Night

Chapter 150: The Men in ck Who Intruded the Xia residence at Night

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Jiang Yifan saw their interaction and his eyes glinted. ¡°Sister, when did you be so close to him?¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t know how to exin it to him, and she merely muttered a hazy exnation. However, this also caused the darkness in Jiang Yifan¡¯s heart to grow. Looking at Xia Muqing, he thought to himself,?¡®Sister, you were the one who wronged me first. Don¡¯t me me for being ruthless.¡¯ The first person to sense that something was wrong with Jiang Yifan, was the little phoenix. It flew around him uneasily. It didn¡¯t like Jiang Yifan like this. Xia Muqing noticed that it was behaving oddly and waved at it. ¡°Little phoenix,e here.¡± The little phoenix flew to Xia Muqing happily and chattered away. Jiang Yifan¡¯s expression became even colder. It was as if the little phoenix had also betrayed him. Frustration surged within him, and he suddenly shouted, ¡°Little phoenix,e here!¡± Xia Muqing and the little phoenix were shocked by his shout. Both of them turned around. The little phoenix didn¡¯t dare to go to him and it leaned closer to Xia Muqing. This small action infuriated Jiang Yifan even more. He rearranged up his expression and gently said, ¡°Little phoenix, be good. Come here. We¡¯re going back.¡± The little phoenix still didn¡¯t want to go to him. Xia Muqing said, ¡°It¡¯s still early today. Why don¡¯t you let it y in my room?¡± The phoenix immediately cried out in joy. It had not yed with Xia Muqing for a long time. However, Jiang Yifan refused. ¡°I need your help with something, so we have to go back.¡± Xia Muqing didn¡¯t think too much of it and assumed that he really had something important to do. She nodded and said, ¡°All right, you guys can go back.¡± Jiang Yifan asked, ¡°Little phoenix, don¡¯t you want to help me?¡± The little phoenix was a little unhappy, but it also wanted to help Jiang Yifan. After ncing at Xia Muqing and Jiang Yifan, it finally chose Jiang Yifan. Jiang Yifan¡¯s expression finally softened. He nodded at Xia Muqing and left. Xia Muqing looked at him and felt that something was amiss. A servant walked over and interrupted her thoughts. The servant bowed and said, ¡°First Young Mistress, this is a letter from Princess Consort Yu.¡± Xia Muqing nodded and epted it. She then returned to the courtyard with the letter and forgot about what had just happened. She returned to her room and opened the envelope. Written inside were all sorts of insults to vent Xia Chuxing¡¯s anger and dissatisfaction with her. She raised her eyebrows slightly. Xia Chuxing, whom she met thest time, probably wouldn¡¯t do such a thing. Could it be that she had acted differently because of some expert¡¯s guidancest time? She had regained her personality in just two days? Xia Muqing wasn¡¯t angry. She had never cared about Xia Chuxing at all. Her fingers subconsciously rubbed the surface of the envelope and she casually threw the letter aside. Just as she threw it out, she felt that something was wrong and she picked it up again. She rubbed against a corner of the letter twice, tearing open ayer of paper from the letter. Another letter was beneath it. From the name on the letter, it seemed to be a letter Ruan Yu had written to Xia Chuxing. The letter was about a type of worm that had attracted her attention. The Gu worm was a type of witchcraft. After escaping from the Shamans thest time, she had been worried that something would happen to the Shamans again. Indeed, she had discovered their tracks now, especially after witnessing the unusual behavior of the Goddess n. She wondered if they had seeded in resurrecting the Magus God. Xia Muqing became a little more serious and studied the letter carefully. ording to the letter, Ruan Yu had a type of poisonous worm, the Love Gu Worm. If it were used on a human, he would fall in love with the first person he saw and be unable to free himself. Ruan Yu asked Xia Chuxing to invite King Zhennan to the banquet that Prince Yu had prepared. He wanted Xia Chuxing to nt a parasite in Prince Yu¡¯s residence, which would clear the suspicion of the Xia family. Ruan Yu hadn¡¯t taken any precautions against Xia Chuxing. She had assumed that since she was her daughter, she would share her ns with her. However, she had no idea that her daughter had long since bore a grudge against her. Xia Muqing burnt the letter after reading it. She frowned with a heavy heart. It wasn¡¯t because she was worried about Ruan Yu and her daughter, but because she was worried about where Ruan Yu had obtained this Gu worm and if it had anything to do with the shamans. She was still worried about the Shamans when other trouble had arrived. Thousands of miles away, the Jin Country had sent a group of people here. They had snuck into the city quietly tonight and their purpose was clear. They wanted to enter the Xia residence. Taking advantage of the darkness, a few ck shadows quickly jumped into the Xia residence. Their movements were strange, and no one noticed them. Xia Muqing was about to blow the candles out. She walked to the table where the candles were ced. Before she could do anything, the candles were extinguished by the wind. Xia Muqing instantly knew that someone had barged in. She tensed up and surveyed her surroundings. Without the candlelight, the surroundings fell into darkness. However, Xia Muqing had lived in the forest since she was young and had long mastered the ability to see at night. A hole was opened in the window and a bamboo tube was extended in. Then, there was a cloud of white smoke. Xia Muqing stopped breathing and quietly moved to the bed, pretending to be unconscious. Squinting her eyes, she caught sight of a few men in ck barging into the room. She pretended to be unconscious and shey on the bed without moving. These men in ck were highly skilled in martial arts. They leaped in through the window without making a sound. The men in ck seemed to be looking for something as they searched the room, especially the dressing table. After searching all the jewelry boxes, they went to the bed and looked at Xia Muqing. One of them raised a dagger to stab Xia Muqing, who was lying on the bed. Chapter 151 - The Mysterious Men

Chapter 151: The Mysterious Men

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing flipped her body and the dagger stabbed the bed. The men in ck didn¡¯t expect her to still be conscious. They nced at each other before they attacked her simultaneously. Before Xia Muqing could react, the ck eagle and Gungun rushed forward when they heard themotion. The men in ck scrambled to deal with the eagle. After exchanging blows, the men who were obviously no match for the eagle, retreated swiftly. ¡°All right, stop chasing them.¡± Xia Muqing stopped the ck eagle and Gungun, who still wanted to give chase. The ck eagle and Gungun acted obediently. Gungun chattered angrily, ¡°What are all of you? How dare you hurt my master?¡± The ck eagle nodded in agreement. Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t stop pondering. She frowned and went to the dressing table. The men in ck had made a beeline towards it the moment they entered. What did they want? With a thought, she took out the jade pendant. The jade pendant was the closest thing to a piece of jewelry. Were they here for this? Could they be Ye Qingxuan¡¯s men? The next second, she dismissed that thought. If it were him, he wouldn¡¯t have given this jade to her. There was still a lingering fragrance in the air. It was the white smoke left behind by those men in ck. This smell was somewhat familiar. Where had she smelled it before? Just as she was about to recall, the ck eagle sneezed and she lost her train of thought. She turned around and looked at the ck eagle speechlessly. The ck eagle covered its face with its wings in embarrassment, revealing only a pair of empty eyes that stared in her direction. Xia Muqing sighed, took out a pill, and threw it into its mouth. She said, ¡°It¡¯s getting coldtely, so don¡¯t go into the water to y.¡± The ck eagle nodded obediently. Without any further thoughts, Xia Muqing made the ck eagle and Gungun leave. She went to the courtyard alone and rubbed the jade pendant in her palm. There was something strange about this jade pendant and the token. Ye Qingxuan, Jiang Yifan, You Lanchen, the Holy Lady, and the men in ck tonight shed across her mind. She felt that things were getting moreplicated. After the men in ck left the Xia residence, they entered an inn. In the room, a man had his back facing these men. After hearing them report that they didn¡¯t obtain anything, the man chuckled softly. It was clearly a very gentleugh, but these men in ck instantly stiffened and fell straight to the ground without a sound. The man put down the teacup in his hand and sighed. ¡°Trash doesn¡¯t deserve to live.¡± He slowly turned around. If Xia Muqing were around, she would be able to recognize that this was the man she had seen in the Shaman Tribe. ¡­ The next day, a deafening sound was heard. Xia Muqing rushed to the source of the sound. It was where Jiang Yifan lived. When she arrived, she saw Jiang Yifan carrying the little phoenix out of the room. The room behind him had already been blown to smithereens. ¡°Are you demolishing the ce?¡± Xia Muqing asked speechlessly. Jiang Yifan¡¯s ash-covered face reddened in embarrassment. ¡°Sorry, Sister. I just wanted to refine some explosives. I didn¡¯t expect them to be so powerful.¡± Xia Muqing thought that he looked a little funny. She arranged another room for him and didn¡¯t take it to heart. The others in the Xia residence also heard themotion. Xia Jingtian sent a servant to check on the situation. Ever since Xia Muqing had treated him coldly the previous time, his enthusiasm towards her had diminished. If not for the fact that he still remembered that she would be marrying King Zhennan, he would have chased her out long ago. Xia Muqing had been rather free recently and she had nothing to do at home. So she yed with Gungun and the others. On the other hand, Jiang Yifan went out early every day and returnedte at night. She hadn¡¯t seen him in a few days. She happened to see Jiang Yifan rushing back to the Xia residence that morning. Before she could greet him, he went out again. Xia Muqing was a little curious and followed him when he went out. Jiang Yifan held a bag in his hand as he walked along the streets with a cold expression. This was the first time Xia Muqing saw him so solemn. She couldn¡¯t help but worry if he was in trouble. Jiang Yifan entered an inn. Xia Muqing was about to follow him when You Lanchen suddenly appeared and blocked her way. She frowned and said, ¡°Move. I don¡¯t have time to be entangled with you.¡± There was a sh in You Lanchen¡¯s eyes as he said, ¡°I came to look for you today because I have something for you. It was left behind by your mother. Are you sure you don¡¯t want it?¡± Xia Muqing stopped in her tracks. She wasn¡¯t the real Xia Muqing and she wasn¡¯t interested in her mother either. But¡­ she was interested in the Holy Lady of the Jin Country. Perhaps it could solve the recent mystery. Seeing that she had taken the bait, You Lanchen smiled and nced at a window in the inn. He thought to himself, ¡®I¡¯ve helped someone a lot.. I hope he won¡¯t disappoint me.¡¯ Chapter 152 - Mothers Letter

Chapter 152: Mother¡¯s Letter

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios You Lanchen brought Xia Muqing to a dpidated temple. There were spiderwebs everywhere and dirty dried grass was ced on the ground. It was obvious that someone had been there. The corners of Xia Muqing¡¯s mouth twitched as she asked, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve been staying here?¡± You Lanchen didn¡¯t look embarrassed at all. He nodded casually and he looked like a man who didn¡¯t care about such stuff. Xia Muqing¡¯s shocksted for a moment before she asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the thing you wanted to give me?¡± Yon Chen put on a sad expression and said, ¡°I thought you should at least be concerned about me and offer me a better ce to stay.¡± Xia Muqing ignored him and rolled her eyes as she extended her hand, signaling him to hurry. You Lanchen¡¯s expression vanished as he took out a small wooden box and handed it to her. ¡°This box was left behind by your mother, but I couldn¡¯t open it no matter how many times I tried. So you have to think of a solution yourself.¡± Xia Muqing returned to the inn with the wooden box. However, she didn¡¯t see Jiang Yifan after she entered. He had probably gone back already. At this moment, she didn¡¯t expect that her negligence now would cause her immense regret in the future. She returned to the Xia residence, but Jiang Yifan was nowhere in sight. She felt that it was odd, but she decided to wait until he returned before asking. She returned to her room and took out the box that You Lanchen had given her. The entire box was made of a piece of wood with no gaps at all. Although it was a box, the lid couldn¡¯t be seen. There were many tiny traces on the box, as if it had been shed with a knife. There were also traces of ck ash at the corners, as if the box had been burnt. This should be the methods that You Lanchen had tried before. However, the box that had been subjected to fire and shes remained intact, with only a few traces on the surface. Xia Muqing had no choice but to y with it subconsciously. She frowned when she felt a tinge of pain. It turned out that the edge of the box was too sharp and it cut her finger. A droplet of blood dripped onto the box and it slowly opened. As a crack appeared, she realized that there was a gap on the box. It was too smooth, and it looked like a pattern on the box, making it unnoticeable. After opening the box, there was a letter inside. She took the letter out, and the letter was written with the words ¡°My Child¡¯s Letter.¡± There were three pieces of paper. Every word inside revealed the reluctance to part and guilt a mother felt for her daughter. ¡®Qing¡¯er, by the time you read this letter, you should have already grown up. It¡¯s a pity that I can¡¯t see you with my own eyes. But my daughter must be the most beautiful. I¡¯m not a good mother. I gave birth to you but I couldn¡¯t raise you. I left you alone to survive in this world. I am sorry. I was originally the Holy Lady of the Jin Country, and I only left the country because of your father. However, he is actually a member of the Shaman tribe. He approached me in order to obtain the sacred treasure- the lotus jade pendant. I was too stupid to believe him. Before I left, I poisoned him. He shouldn¡¯t be able to escape from the Shaman tribe for the time being. After I fled from him, I realized that I was pregnant. I came to this country to marry Xia Jingtian. I wanted to give you a home. This is thest thing I can do for you. Qing¡¯er, remember what I am about to say. Don¡¯t trust anyone. No matter if she is a witch or a citizen of the Jin Country. You must never be the Holy Lady of the Jin Kingdom. Remember this! Remember my words!¡¯ After Xia Muqing finished reading the entire letter, her doubts were slightly resolved. However, she didn¡¯t expect that she wasn¡¯t Xia Jingtian¡¯s daughter, but the daughter of a certain man in the Shaman tribe. As for the lotus jade pendant, it seemed to be the one Ye Qingxuan had given her. In other words, this jade pendant originally belonged to the witches. In that case, Jiang Yifan¡¯s true enemy was a witch. She just didn¡¯t know why the witches would attack the Jiang family. Xia Muqing, who had wanted to tell Jiang Yifan about this, didn¡¯t see him for the entire day. Instead, she received an invitation from the pce. The empress wanted to hold a banquet in the pce and specially sent an invitation to her. Xia Muqing was a little surprised. She had never interacted with anyone from the royal family before. Why would she receive a sudden invitation this time? Could it be because of Ye Qingxuan? After thinking about it, she couldn¡¯t think of a better reason. She asked Gungun to keep an eye on the ck eagle and the little phoenix at home. She packed up and prepared to set off. When she arrived outside the pce, she realized that there were quite a number of people at the banquet. The entrance of the pce was filled with carriages and sedans. No one was allowed to drive or sit in a carriage inside the royal pce. As soon as she alighted, a young maid came to wee her and led her into the royal pce and towards one of the halls. On the way, they bumped into many richdies. They were dressed gorgeously and were a little confused when they saw Xia Muqing.. After being introduced by the people around them, they knew that she was the daughter of the Xia family and they couldn¡¯t help but take a few more nces at her. Chapter 153 - Banquet

Chapter 153: Banquet

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios After all, a woman who was going to marry King Zhennan would be in the limelight. Xia Muqing ignored the onlookers. She only wanted the banquet to end as soon as possible. She still remembered about Jiang Yifan¡¯s revenge. If not for the fact that she couldn¡¯t refuse the royal family¡¯s order, she really wouldn¡¯t want toe to such a boring banquet. She stood in a corner and surveyed her surroundings in boredom. She turned and saw a familiar figure¡­ Before she could figure it out, she had already followed him. The person in front didn¡¯t walk quickly, but he disappeared in the blink of an eye. Xia Muqing stopped in her tracks and realized that she had already reached the depths of the garden. She was surrounded by unfamiliar scenery and the person ahead had disappeared. Just as she was at a loss, she heard a clear voice. ¡°Miss Xia, are you looking for me?¡± She turned around and saw the man she had lost earlier. The man¡¯s face stunned her. He was the man she had met in the Shaman Tribe. He was very handsome and gave off a refined aura. The fine wrinkles at the corner of his eyes revealed that he wasn¡¯t a young man anymore. He looked at Xia Muqing with a gentle expression, but she could still feel a hint of coldness and malice from his eyes. That malice was targeted at her. Xia Muqing was puzzled. They should have only met once and they didn¡¯t interact much. Was it because of the incident involving the witches? ¡°You¡¯re a shaman,¡± she concluded. The man wasn¡¯t surprised. He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Didn¡¯t your mother tell you who I was?¡± What did this have to do with her mother? She pondered for a while and carefully observed the man opposite her. A strange thought urred to her. Could it be that the man her mother had mentioned in the letter who had deceived her feelings was him? Didn¡¯t that mean that he was her biological father?! The thought made her eyes widen. Mu Si allowed her to size him up. His eyes remained gentle on the surface while they swirled with malice beneath. Xia Muqing was stunned for a moment before she retracted her gaze. No matter the oue, she had no intention of acknowledging him. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave first.¡± With that, Xia Muqing randomly chose a direction and left. Mu Si didn¡¯t stop her. Instead, he watched as she walked away with a hint of calction and hatred in his eyes. As Xia Muqing was walking further and further away, a young servant appeared which delighted her. After the servant learned that she was lost, she brought her back to the banquet. At this moment, the banquet had already begun. A group of women were sitting together, sipping tea and admiring the flowers. Opposite them were the young masters in the country. She wanted to find a ce to sit but Ye Qingxuan, who had appeared out of nowhere, walked to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. ¡°You¡¯re already my future princess consort, where do you n to sit?¡± Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t break free and could only re at him. ¡°Where I sit has nothing to do with you.¡± Ye Qingxuan¡¯s face turned ashen and he lowered his voice, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know those seats are for unmarried women to sit and wait for potential marriage partners.¡± Xia Muqing was shocked and looked to the other side. Indeed, some of the marrieddies were sitting beside their husbands. She really had no idea about this and didn¡¯t protest when Ye Qingxuan took her away. She didn¡¯t want to sit next to Ye Qingxuan, but she definitely didn¡¯t want to be meeting any new men. Ye Qingxuan¡¯s expression softened when he saw that she was obedient. However, Xia Muqing didn¡¯t expect him to bring her to the highest seat on the left. Above them were the seats of the emperor and empress. In an instant, the two of them received everyone¡¯s attention. Xia Muqing red at the innocent-looking Ye Qingxuan and whispered harshly in his ear, ¡°I haven¡¯t settled scores with you.¡± Ye Qingxuan paused for a moment before putting on a fawning smile. ¡°Aren¡¯t I making amends right now?¡± Xia Mu snorted coldly and nced at him without answering. Since she had already been noticed, she sat down gracefully and picked up a grape from the table to eat. Hmmm¡­ it tasted pretty good. Feeling guilty, Ye Qingxuan realized that she liked the grapes and quickly fed another to her carefully. He had a fawning smile on his face. If he really made her angry, what should he do if his wife ran away? Xia Muqing ate the grapes obediently. Everyone could tell that King Zhennan had really fallen for the Xia family¡¯s daughter. It seemed like they had to reconsider their rtionship with the Xia family. Xia Jingtian, who was originally sitting at a random seat, was instantly surrounded by the crowd. Everyone held sses and tried to pander to him. Xia Jingtian smiled smugly and forgot about Xia Muqing¡¯s disrespect for the past few days. He was very satisfied with his daughter. ¡°The emperor has arrived.. The empress has arrived.¡± Chapter 154 - Conspiracy

Chapter 154: Conspiracy

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The eunuch¡¯s announcement sounded. Everyone fell silent and knelt down to wee the emperor. Only Ye Qingxuan remained seated on his chair. Xia Muqing followed suit and remained seated as well. Without this privilege, what was the use of having this man? Sensing Xia Muqing¡¯s gaze, Ye Qingxuan instantly straightened his chest and behaved as if he was very reliable as her man. Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at his childish behavior. When she saw the man standing beside the emperor, the smile on her face disappeared. Why was he with the emperor? Mu Si smiled at her as if he didn¡¯t notice her surprise and wariness. The emperor nced at Ye Qingxuan and Xia Muqing, who were the only ones seated. His eyes darkened slightly before he put on a bright smile and walked to the seat in the middle. Only then did everyone dare to stand up. They all showered the emperor with politepliments. He felt very good being ttered by them, and the smile on his face deepened. After Mu Si received instructions, he raised his hand to signal for everyone to be quiet. After the hall went silent, the emperor announced, ¡°I¡¯ll introduce someone to all of you today. This person is a great talent. I want to confer him the title of Prime Minister.¡± Xia Muqing nced at Mu Si instantly, who stood behind the emperor. She didn¡¯t notice Jiang Yifan, who was present too. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.¡± A familiar voice sounded. Xia Muqing suddenly turned around and when she saw Jiang Yifan standing below, the shock in her eyes intensified. Jiang Yifan noticed her expression and smiled at her, signaling her to wait. Xia Muqing could only nod. Ye Qingxuan also frowned. What was the emperor up to? Amidst everyone¡¯s confusion, Jiang Yifan became the new prime minister. After epting his title, he went to the table next to Xia Muqing and sat down. Xia Muqing wanted to ask what was going on, but there were too many people around. Mu Si looked at the two of them sitting together, and his eyes shed with a smirk and ambition. In the middle of the banquet hall, dancers were dancing non-stop. The people at the table were drinking and chatting. Xia Muqing found an opportunity to ask softly, ¡°Yifan, what¡¯s going on?¡± Jiang Yifan smiled. ¡°Sister, it¡¯s hard to exin now. I¡¯ll tell you when I get back.¡± Xia Muqing nodded and returned to her seat. Jiang Yifan looked at her who looked verypatible with Ye Qingxuan. A hint of darkness shed across his eyes as he clenched the ss in his hand tightly. His heart struggled quietly. With a cough, he looked at Mu Si, who was standing behind the emperor. He pursed his lips tightly and exhaled. He picked up the ss on the table and stood up. He walked towards Xia Muqing and said, ¡°Sister, let me toast you.¡± His palms were sweating nervously, but his smile was his usual one. Xia Muqing stood up and smiled. ¡°We¡¯re already old friends. Why are you still being so formal?¡± Despite saying that, she still raised her ss. She had long since treated Jiang Yifan as her own brother. Ye Qingxuan frowned and gripped her hand, sensing that something was amiss. Xia Muqing pped his hand away unhappily and picked up the ss before finishing her wine in one gulp. Ye Qingxuan kept staring at the two of them and only rxed when he didn¡¯t find anything suspicious. Jiang Yifan finally rxed. He nced at Ye Qingxuan and almost couldn¡¯t suppress the hatred in his eyes. After suppressing it, he smiled and said, ¡°I also want to drink with my Brother-inw.¡± Xia Muqing blushed and chided, ¡°What brother-inw? Don¡¯t call him that.¡± Ye Qingxuan looked at Jiang Yifan with approval. Thisd was indeed a smart one. He picked up his ss and gestured for him to finish the wine. Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes tracked a Gu worm crawling into the ss and then swallowed by Ye Qingxuan. A trace of satisfaction from getting revenge shed across his eyes. He returned to his seat and lowered his head. No one could see the twisted expression on his face. He hated Ye Qingxuan. Ye Qingxuan was the one who killed his parents and brother. Furthermore, ten years ago, the Jiang family was annihted. Regardless of whether it was him who did it or not, it was definitely rted to him. He had finally taken revenge. Halfway through the feast, a hystericalugh could be heard. Everyone looked up and realized that the emperor sitting at the head of the table was being held hostage by a sword. ¡°You, what are you going to do? Let me go quickly, or I¡¯ll end your life.¡± The emperor, who had regained hisposure, threatened him in a panic. However, his threat didn¡¯t work at all. Mu Si had a smirk on his face that was filled with madness and arrogance. He looked down at the officials and sneered. ¡°Your emperor is in my hands. Who do you think should die? You or him? Choose one.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, arge group of men in ck suddenly appeared around him.. They were all holding bows and arrows, and they pointed them at everyone at the banquet. Chapter 155 - Poisoning

Chapter 155: Poisoning

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The ministers huddled together in fear, and no one dared to make a sound. Mu Si patted the emperor¡¯s face and said, ¡°Your men don¡¯t seem to want to save you. In that case, go and die.¡± Amidst the screams of the crowd, the emperor¡¯s neck was slit. He died with remaining grievance as he stared at Mu Si, who had promised to eliminate Ye Qingxuan for him. Never would the emperor have thought that he would be the first to die. Mu Si hissed softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely keep my promise. I¡¯ll get him to apany youter, hahaha¡ª¡± All the officials in the royal court had gathered at this banquet. Wouldn¡¯t all of them be taken down by this scoundrel? Everyone looked at Ye Qingxuan, who was still drinking. They had ced their hope on the God of War. Ye Qingxuan seemed too engrossed with his drink to notice the situation at the banquet. Hisposure made Mu Si think highly of him. He scanned the people underground and asked loudly, ¡°I wonder who Xia Jingtian is¡­ Lord Xia?¡± Xia Jingtian trembled and wanted to retreat, but he was pushed out by everyone. He was so frightened that his legs went limp and he fell to the ground. Cold sweat kept dripping down his face as he begged for mercy. A hint of disdain shed across Mu Si¡¯s eyes. He looked at Xia Muqing and said, ¡°Is such a coward worth you betraying me?¡± Xia Muqing was puzzled. Was there something wrong with this person? But she guessed that the person he was questioning wasn¡¯t her, but someone else. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess who that person was. It should be her mother. Mu Si picked up a bow and shot it at Xia Jingtian¡¯s chest. The arrow struck Xia Jingtian¡¯s chest, and fell to the ground with terror on his face. He couldn¡¯t understand why he would die in the blink of an eye when he was still imagining the good days he would have, after his daughter married King Zhennan. He died with grievances in his eyes. Mu Si didn¡¯t even spare him a nce. He looked at Xia Muqing with disgust and said, ¡°You,e out.¡± Ye Qingxuan finally put down the wine ss in his hand and looked up at Mu Si. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you want to do, but you can¡¯t touch her.¡± Mu Siughed arrogantly. ¡°Lad, look carefully. Even your life is in my hands now. Do you still want to protect others?¡± Something struck him, and his expression darkened. ¡°Since you want to die, you can do that first. Let me see how great your love is.¡± He pointed his bow and arrow at Ye Qingxuan. Xia Muqing frowned and wanted to get up, but she was stopped by Ye Qingxuan. He waved his hand gently and a group of men rushed into the pce. The situation at the banquet instantly changed. A hint of surprise shed across Mu Si¡¯s eyes. ¡°When did you know?¡± If he didn¡¯t know about his n in advance, why would he ce so many people in the pce? Ye Qingxuan shook his head and replied, ¡°You don¡¯t have to know that. It¡¯s not toote for you to leave now.¡± Mu Si smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve already been poisoned by my Gu worm. You¡¯re bound to lose this battle.¡± Ye Qingxuan¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change at all, but Xia Muqing¡¯s expression suddenly changed. She quickly asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Mu Si seemed very satisfied with this sight. He looked at Jiang Yifan, who had his head lowered, and said, ¡°Yifan, hurry up and exin.¡± Xia Muqing looked at Jiang Yifan. The smile on his face had disappeared. He avoided Xia Muqing¡¯s gaze and replied with hatred, ¡°I am the one. There was poison in the wine earlier on.¡± Xia Muqing looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Because you believe that Ye Qingxuan killed your family?¡± Anger shed across Jiang Yifan¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s not that I believe so, but it¡¯s the truth! Do you still want to protect him? I knew you were on his side from the start.¡± Xia Muqing looked at Mu Si, who was grinning smugly. ¡°This is your scheme, right? You were the one who annihted the Jiang family. That jade pendant was originally from my mother.¡± Mu Si¡¯s eyes shed with admiration. ¡°So you knew everything. In that case, it¡¯s not wrong to send you to your death.¡± Jiang Yifan was confused by their words. A thought that he didn¡¯t dare to think about shed across his mind. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Although Xia Muqing couldn¡¯t bear to see him like this, she couldn¡¯t forgive him for hurting Ye Qingxuan. She replied coldly, ¡°He was the one who killed the Jiang family.¡± Jiang Yifan¡¯s face turned pale. If that was true, then what had he done? He had helped his enemy hurt his friend. ¡°That¡¯s right. I did it.¡± After Mu Si said that, thest trace of hope in his heart disappeared. He roared and rushed forward, wanting to kill this man.. However, how could he be a match for him, as he didn¡¯t know any martial arts? Before he could reach Mu Si, a sword had pierced through his abdomen. Chapter 156 - Gu Worm

Chapter 156: Gu Worm

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios He spat out a mouthful of blood and red at him. Knowing that he had no way of exacting revenge, he grinned and said quietly, ¡°You won¡¯t seed.¡± Mu Si pulled out his sword forcefully and he fell to the ground. It happened too quickly for Xia Muqing to do anything. By the time she reacted, Jiang Yifan had already fallen to the ground. She quickly ran over and hugged his body with pain in her eyes. Although she was bitterly disappointed, it was still her fault. If she had noticed that something was wrong with him earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have taken the wrong path. Jiang Yifan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Sister, I¡¯m sorry. Don¡¯t be sad. I¡¯m going to find my father and mother. Live well. He wanted me to poison you, but I didn¡¯t listen to him. It¡¯s just¡­¡± He turned around and nced at Ye Qingxuan. He said guiltily, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jin Chao. ¡± ¡°Yifan, Yifan¡­¡± So he knew that Ye Qingxuan was Jin Chao. No wonder he would be like this. Mu Si looked at Xia Muqing, who was in grief and he mocked, ¡°Why are you crying? It¡¯ll be your turnter.¡± With a wave of his hand, the entire banquet hall started to be chaotic. His men stood together with Ye Qingxuan¡¯s men. Mu Si wasn¡¯t bothered with Ye Qingxuan, who was poisoned, and he walked towards Xia Muqing. He said, ¡°Don¡¯t me me. Back then, your mother betrayed me and married that useless bum. She gave birth to a vile spawn like you. When she gave birth to you, she should have known that such a day woulde. Since your mother is already dead, I¡¯ll let you apologize on her behalf.¡± Xia Muqing looked at the man and sneered. ¡°Do you really think I don¡¯t know anything? You were the one who deceived my mother first. You wanted to obtain the most precious treasure of the Jin country and you deceived a woman¡¯s feelings. I despise your methods.¡± Mu Si¡¯s expression darkened and his eyes turned red. He hissed angrily, ¡°I can exin what happened back then. Why did she leave without a word and immediately married someone else? She clearly wanted to betray me for a long time.¡± ¡°If my mother wanted to betray you, she wouldn¡¯t have betrayed the Jin country for you. No matter what difficulties you have, it is your fault for hurting a woman who loves you as much as her life.¡± Mu Si growled angrily. Xia Muqing¡¯s existence was evidence that woman had betrayed him. She had actually married another man and even had a child with him. Jealousy and anger flooded his heart, and he aimed his sword at her chest. Before the sword in his hand reached Xia Muqing, it froze. Ye Qingxuan extended two fingers and pinched the tip of the sword, preventing it from moving at all. What shocked Mu Si even more was that Ye Qingxuan could still move. ¡°Impossible, how can you still move after being poisoned by my Gu worm? Were¡­ you not poisoned at all?¡± Thinking of this possibility, he snorted coldly and retracted his sword to fight Ye Qingxuan. After a while, he was certain that Ye Qingxuan wasn¡¯t poisoned. Otherwise, why would he be fine? Xia Muqing heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that Ye Qingxuan was in a normal state. She carried Jiang Yifan and walked towards the side. She had already protected his heart meridians in time, but whether he survived or not depended on his fate. After putting his body in a safe ce, Xia Muqing returned to the battlefield. The ministers at the banquet fled, and only a few people remained. The rest were Mu Si and Ye Qingxuan¡¯s men. She took a look at the battle between Ye Qingxuan and Mu Si. She heaved a sigh of relief after seeing that he could handle the situation. She then helped the soldiers of king Zhennan to defeat Mu Si¡¯s men. Seeing the oue, Mu Si roared and attacked even more ferociously. Ye Qingxuan responded ordingly, but the pain in his body caused his face to turn pale and the sword in his hand trembled slightly. Mu Si, who didn¡¯t miss his pain, had a look of realization and said, ¡°Lad, you were poisoned by my Gu worm, right? You actually managed to suppress the Gu worm I refined and fight me. You¡¯re not bad.¡± Admiration shed across his eyes, but his actions became more aggressive. Ye Qingxuan didn¡¯t say a word as he quickened his actions. The violent reaction in his body was causing him to break down. With a sharp gaze, he didn¡¯t dodge the sword and instead rushed forward. The sword instantly pierced through his shoulder and the sword in his hand sessfully pierced through Mu Si¡¯s chest. Mu Si didn¡¯t expect him to hit him like that. In his carelessness, he really seeded. The pain from his chest agitated his nerves, but he acted as if nothing had happened from the fatal wound that was fatal to an ordinary person. No blood flowed out from the wound. Heughed and walked past Ye Qingxuan to Xia Muqing.. He reached out and squeezed her neck. ¡°You didn¡¯t expect that, right? I don¡¯t have a heart at all¡­¡± Chapter 157 - Becoming the Holy Lady

Chapter 157: Bing the Holy Lady

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°It¡¯s a lie that you don¡¯t have a heart. It¡¯s because your heart is on the right, am I right?¡± Xia Muqing inserted her dagger into the right side of his chest and said. Although this was rare, it wasn¡¯t unheard of. Mu Si¡¯s body stiffened. He looked down at the dagger in his chest and silently harnessed his strength to push Xia Muqing away. She was caught by Ye Qingxuan. Mu Si¡¯s eyes were filled with hatred as he said, ¡°Your mother ruined my ns back then. Now, you, a b*stard, havee to ruin my ns too. One day, I will kill you with my own hands.¡± With that, he covered the wound in his chest and ran away with his men. He wanted to return to the holy spring. He would be saved once he returned. Xia Muqing watched as he left. She had just heaved a sigh of relief when she was shocked by Ye Qingxuan, who had suddenly copsed. ¡°Ye Qingxuan!¡± She only realized the terrible state his body was in, after feeling his pulse. She had no idea how he had forced himself to fight Mu Si for so long. Ye Qingxuanid in her arms and kept vomiting blood. Xia Muqing had no choice but to protect his heart meridians to stop the bleeding. However, the situation didn¡¯t improve. Instead, it became worse. Could it be the Gu worm? ¡°That¡¯s right, he was poisoned by a Gu worm.¡± You Lanchen appeared suddenly, or rather, he had been secretly watching them. He could tell what Xia Muqing was thinking and answered. Xia Muqing looked up at him and asked, ¡°Do you have a way to treat the poison?¡± You Lanchen shook his head and said, ¡°I can;t. He will definitely die after being poisoned for an hour. It is already a miracle that he canst for so long.¡± Xia Muqing was even more panic-stricken. She wanted to find Mu Si. Since the Gu worm was his, he must have a way. You Lanchen, who could read her thoughts again, said slowly, ¡°Firstly, by the time you find Mu Si, he will be dead. Secondly, even if you find Mu Si, do you think he will tell you?¡± Xia Muqing red at him and said, ¡°Since you don¡¯t want to help, stop making fun of me.¡± You Lanchen pouted in grievance. ¡°I¡¯m truly here to help you.¡± Seeing that she was about to panic, he quickly said, ¡°Although I can¡¯t save him, you can.¡± Xia Muqing frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yon City¡¯s alluring voice sounded, ¡°Isn¡¯t the lotus jade pendant in your hand? It can kill all the Gu worms. As long as you be the Holy Lady of the Jin Country, you can use its power. How about that? Are you satisfied with this method?¡± Xia Muqing recalled the advice her mother had given her in the letter, asking her not to be the Holy Lady of the Jin Country. However, when she saw Ye Qingxuan vomiting blood again, she closed her eyes and replied, ¡°Okay.¡± You Lanchen was delighted and immediately quipped, ¡°Give me the jade pendant.¡± She had been carrying this jade pendant with her all this time. She took it off and handed it to You Lanchen. Under his instructions, she bit her index finger and dripped a droplet of blood on the jade pendant. The jade pendant appeared even more translucent after being nourished by the blood. There were traces of red silk inside and it was very bizarre. You Lanchen gazed at the jade pendant with a fanatical expression before cing the jade pendant in Ye Qingxuan¡¯s mouth. In less than 15 minutes, Ye Qingxuan¡¯s body recovered. Xia Muqing raised her eyebrows at the sight of it. Was this thing really that magical? Yon City replied, ¡°This is only a temporary suppression. As long as you remain the Holy Lady of the Jin Country, nothing will happen to him. Once you have second thoughts, the Gu worm in his body will be activated and he will die instantly.¡± After threatening her, he stared intently at Xia Muqing¡¯s expression. Xia Muqing¡¯s expression remained impassive. ¡°You don¡¯t have to test me. Since I¡¯ve promised you, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Despite saying that, she was still guessing if his words were true. Seeing how sincere she was, You Lanchen heaved a sigh of relief. With a smile, he said, ¡°Then let¡¯s set off, Holy Lady.¡± Xia Muqing was a little curious about his identity. Who was he? But no matter how she asked, You Lanchen would always tell her that she would find out when she arrived in Jin country. Xia Muqing could only keep her curiosity to herself. After handing Ye Qingxuan to his men and leaving him a letter, she followed You Lanchen back to the Jin Country. They traveled for ten days before arriving at Jin Country. After entering the city gates, Xia Muqing realized that this ce was very different. All the women were covered in a white cloth and their bodies were tightly wrapped, leaving only their eyes exposed. This strange sight attracted Xia Muqing¡¯s attention. You Lanchen exined, ¡°The people of the Jin Country aren¡¯t as open-minded as the other countries. The women here are not allowed to reveal themselves. But you don¡¯t have to care about these. If you¡¯re really not used to it, I can change this rule for you.¡± Xia Muqing nodded and stopped paying attention to it. Chapter 158 - The Emperor of the Jin Country

Chapter 158: The Emperor of the Jin Country

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Your Majesty, wee back.¡± A man who dressed like a minister bowed respectfully to You Lanchen. You Lanchen nodded coldly and turned to check Xia Muqing¡¯s reaction. He wanted to see her shocked expression, but she didn¡¯t react at all. He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Weren¡¯t you very curious about my identity? Why aren¡¯t you surprised?¡± Xia Muqing had guessed long ago that his status wouldn¡¯t be a lowly one. Earlier on, when he casually offered to change the rules, she was even more convinced that he was of a high status. At the very least, he would be a prince. Although she didn¡¯t expect him to be the emperor of the country, she wasn¡¯t that surprised. Xia Muqing looked at him mockingly and asked, ¡°Where do I stay?¡± The interest in You Lanchen¡¯s eyes deepened as he smiled and said, ¡°Of course the royal pce.¡± The minister looked at Xia Muqing in surprise. Who was this woman? She actually made the emperor so happy? When Xia Muqing arrived at the pce, it was simr to the imperial pce in her country. She lost interest after taking a few nces at it. You Lanchen sent someone to lead her to her bedchamber before he proceeded to the royal study. There were many ministers already gathered there. The emperor had left the pce for such a long time without any news, and they were almost going crazy with anxiety. Finally, he was back, and everyone was waiting to meet him. The originally noisy study instantly regained its silence after You Lanchen entered. Everyone lowered their heads and didn¡¯t dare to speak. You Lanchen¡¯s face was filled with coldness. It waspletely different from the cheeky smile he had when he was with Xia Muqing. Or rather, this was the real him. He sat behind his desk and asked in a deep voice, ¡°Why are all of you so anxious to see me?¡± The ministers pushed and nudged each other. It was an official, Lord Lin, who went forward. After he bowed, he said, ¡°Your Majesty, you have traveled for too long this time, and all of us are a little worried.¡± ¡°If you have time, you should work hard and think of how to handle matters. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have to find the Holy Lady personally.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, the woman you just brought back is the Holy Lady?¡± Lord Lin couldn¡¯t care less about the emperor¡¯s anger and asked excitedly. Thinking of this, You Lanchen smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, the Holy Lady of the Jin Country has finally returned. That matter can begin.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± All the ministers nodded in agreement and retreated. Their faces were filled with excitement and amusement, making them look extremely bizarre. ¡­ Xia Muqing received excellent hospitality in Jin Country. No matter what unreasonable request she made, they would agree to it. Not only did You Lanchen indulge her, even the ministers didn¡¯t have anyints about her and were very respectful to her. Clearly, she didn¡¯t have any power in the country as the Holydy, so their behavior was rather odd. Moreover, she noticed that although the ministers fawned over her in every way, they looked at her oddly. They didn¡¯t look like they were respectful nor friendly, but they acted as if they were looking at their food. Yes, food. It was as if they were nning something. Xia Muqing was worried about Ye Qingxuan¡¯s situation but she didn¡¯t dare to leave the country without second thoughts. She could only think of a way to figure out what was going on. As her investigation went on, three years had passed in a sh. Before she knew it, she had been in Jin Country for three years. Xia Muqing walked out of her bedchamber. Over the past three years, she had understood more. It was rumored that none of the Holy Ladies in the country had survived past the age of 20. Every time a Holy Lady reached the age of 20, every one of them would suffer from various inexplicable illnesses and then die. Except for her mother who fled when she was 18 years old and died in an ident away from Jin Country, none of the dead Holy Ladies died with her corpse intact. This was the first strange thing. The second thing was that the Jin Country didn¡¯t have any history of previous emperors. It was as if the only emperor that existed was You Lanchen. But that was impossible. The Jin Country had existed for more than three centuries. You Lanchen looked like a teenager. These two suspicious points invaded Xia Muqing¡¯s thoughts. Recently, she felt that the atmosphere in the pce was getting more and more suspicious. Or rather, it had always been suspicious. Now, they had stopped trying to conceal it. The ministers were looking at her without reservation now. It was bizarre. Even You Lanchen would asionally look at her with greed. Thinking about it, she would be 20 years old in a few days. ¡°Muqing, what is on your mind?¡± You Lanchen¡¯s voice sounded from behind her. Xia Muqing retracted her gaze and said, ¡°I¡¯m thinking that this building isn¡¯t high enough.¡± The pce she was staying in was built a few years ago. She wanted to test how much they could tolerate her, so she asked them to build a twenty-story pce. It was a difficult project in this era, but they still agreed readily. The corners of You Lanchen¡¯s mouth twitched. When they first built this building, they almost emptied half of their national treasury.. She was still dissatisfied? However, she wouldn¡¯t be able to live long. Chapter 159 - The Strange Ministers

Chapter 159: The Strange Ministers

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Thinking of this, You Lanchen looked at her as if she was a pig that was finally going to be killed for its meat. His eyes were filled with greed and desire. Xia Muqing frowned. The expression on his face appeared again, along with that disgusting gaze. She suddenly grinned and said, ¡°I want to go out and y.¡± You Lanchen¡¯s eyes shed. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a few days. When you¡¯re 20 years old, I¡¯ll prepare a huge banquet for you.¡± ¡°But I want to go out of the city for my birthday.¡± ¡°Stay here for the next few days. I¡¯ll bring you out to have fun after these few days.¡± With that, he left. This was the first time he had rejected her request. It seemed like they were going to take action on her birthday in a few days. Xia Muqing could clearly feel that the guards had doubled recently. The exnation given by You Lanchen was that many criminals had appeared in Jin Country recently and it wasn¡¯t safe. Hence, these people were here to protect her. Xia Muqing sat on a high seat as she looked at the soldiers patrolling below her. It seemed that the protection was fake but the guards were guarding her instead. Several days passed by in a sh. Today was her 20th birthday. The entire pce had been bustling with activity since dawn, as if everyone was really preparing arge-scale birthday banquet for her. In the afternoon, all the ministers gathered in the pce, their faces filled with joy and excitement. It seemed as though it was their birthday instead, and no one cared about Xia Muqing, who was celebrating her birthday. They only asked her to stay in the bedchamber. As long as she didn¡¯t leave, she could do anything she wanted. They only went to her at night. They had suffered so much in the past three years. Today, they could finally get what they wanted. All the ministers who had been tricked by her, looked at her joyfully. The fake respect in their eyes was gone, and it was reced with contempt and mockery. They mocked this stupid woman for thinking that the Holy Lady had a high status. In reality, she was just a pet they kept. ¡°How dare you look at me like that? Someone, drag them away.¡± Xia Muqing¡¯s eyes shed and she pretended to yell arrogantly. However, the guards around her didn¡¯t listen to her like before. Instead, they remained standing coldly. The ministers looked at her mockingly. A minister with a beard couldn¡¯t help butment, ¡°You really think of yourself as something special. Tonight, you will be our offering.¡± ¡°Third Brother, shut up.¡± You Lanchen walked over and interrupted him coldly. He clearly looked like a young man, but he called someone who could be his father, Third Brother. It was so bizarre. Xia Muqing still registered a keyword. Offering? It seemed like they really needed to use her to achieve something. You Lanchen continued to maintain his fake smile and said, ¡°Muqing, I¡¯ve already prepared a birthday banquet for you. Let¡¯s go.¡± Xia Muqing pretended to be clueless and followed him towards the banquet. All the ministers followed behind them, and the scene was spectacr. Once she entered the courtyard, she was pushed onto a tform. There was a lot of firewood under the tform, and two men with torches stood beside them. At this moment, You Lanchen finally stopped smiling. His eyes were zing as he said, ¡°Holy Lady, my dear Holy Lady, transfer your lifespan to us. Haha!¡± Lifespan and offering. These two phrases were connected together and Xia Muqing understood everything. It turned out that the reason why they had raised the Holy Ladies for generations was because they wanted to steal their lifespans from them. Looking at the people standing underground, it seemed that countless Holy Ladies had died at their hands. No wonder there was no record of the previous emperors in the Jin Kingdom. They were probably old monsters who had used this sorcery to survive until now. Xia Muqing understood everything and felt a little disgusted. You Lanchen was still rambling about some kind of spell. The guards beside her threw a torch onto the firewood. The raging fire ignited and instantly submerged Xia Muqing. You Lanchen and the ministers stared intently at the mes on the stage, as the greed in their eyes intensified. As time passed, Xia Muqing didn¡¯t cry out in pain. This made them realize that something was wrong. They went up to the tform and realized that the person who was standing on the tform had disappeared. You Lanchen¡¯s expression darkened and he roared, ¡°Find her!¡± It had been three years. They had been preparing for three years. He definitely couldn¡¯t ept his ns being ruined at thest moment. Everyone searched anxiously and there was amotion. A clear voice traveled from the sky. ¡°Are you looking for me again?¡± Everyone looked up. A giant eagle spread its wings and stopped in midair. The sound traveled from the giant eagle. You Lanchen narrowed his eyes and looked at the faint shadow on the back of the ck eagle. ¡°Muqing, we were just kidding.. Come down quickly.¡± Chapter 160End - Coronation Ceremony

Chapter 160: Coronation Ceremony

Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xia Muqing chuckled. Did they really think she was a fool? ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll joke with all of you too.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, a group of phoenixes suddenly appeared in the air above the royal pce. mes spewed out of their mouths. Amongst the phoenixes was the little phoenix who tried its best to burn the ce down. Its eyes were filled with fury. If anyone dared to bully Xia Muqing, she would take it as if they were bullying the phoenixes. The people of the Jin Country were shocked by such a hugemotion. They looked at the pce wrapped in mes and assumed that God was punishing them. They fell to their knees in fear. You Lanchen and the rest didn¡¯t expect that there would be a day when they would be burnt. They had killed so many Holy Ladies and innocent girls. Today, it was their turn to suffer retribution. A ball of fire identally burned You Lanchen¡¯s face. With a scream, the smooth skin on his body slowly peeled off, turning into dry and wrinkled skin covered with age spots. His bright eyes also became murky in an instant. This was his true appearance, an old monster who had lived for countless years. The surrounding ministers reacted the same way. They regained their original looks and the entire pce was engulfed in a sea of fire. Seeing that there was nothing else for her to do, Xia Muqing asked the ck eagle to bring her out of the pce. When she arrived at the city gates, she saw a group of soldiers guarding the entrance. The leader was Ye Qingxuan, whom she had not seen for three years. Xia Muqing smiled at him. After the ck eagle lowered its body, she leaped off lightly and ran into his arms. A year ago, she had already contacted them, all for the sake of capturing all of them today. A man stood afar with a swarm of insects behind him. Mu Si looked at Xia Muqing¡¯s face and his eyes were filled with nostalgia. If he hadn¡¯t done that back then, would she still be by his side? He would have a daughter who would call him Father. He turned around sadly and took onest look at Ye Qingxuan. He muttered quietly, ¡°Lad, if you dare to bully my daughter, I will release the Gu worms to bite you to death.¡± Xia Muqing seemed to have sensed something and nced in his direction. Ye Qingxuan asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to see him?¡± Back then, You Lanchen was right. If she left Jin country, the poison in Ye Qingxuan¡¯s body would instantly take his life. However, he didn¡¯t expect Mu Si to be her biological father. ¡°He knows?¡± Although it was a question, Xia Muqing was very certain. Ye Qingxuan nodded. Xia Muqing looked at the man and said, ¡°Forget it. I don¡¯t understand the grudges of the previous generation and I don¡¯t want anything to do with it.¡± The two of them were talking quietly when You Lanchen, who was covered in mes, rushed out from behind and charged straight at Xia Muqing. ¡°Be careful!¡± Someone eximed. Ye Qingxuan hugged her and turned around, wanting to shield her from the mes. The other figure who rushed out struck the burning man even more swiftly. He fell to the ground and the phoenix mes instantly ignited him. ¡°Jiang Yifan!¡± ¡°Chirp, chirp, chirp!¡± Xia Muqing kicked You Lanchen away. After realizing who it was, she screamed. With the mes swallowing him, Jiang Yifan said weakly, ¡°Sister, I¡¯m sorry. Ye Qingxuan. I don¡¯t owe you anymore.¡± The little phoenix had also rushed over. Looking at Jiang Yifan who was on fire, it shrieked in terror. She could only create fire, and she had no way of extinguishing it. Jiang Yifan fell to the ground. The little phoenix braced itself and charged into the circle of fire. Its feathers naturally blocked out mes, but it was too small. It could only protect a small part of his body. Moreover, as time passed, even a phoenix would be burned. With another sharp cry, a huge phoenix threw both of them onto its back and soared into the sky with them, flying towards the distant sea. Only the water there could extinguish the phoenix¡¯s fire. Xia Muqing wanted to chase after them, but they couldn¡¯t catch up with the phoenix at all. Ye Qingxuan pulled her into his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he will be fine.¡± The two of them returned to their country. Jin country waspletely destroyed and the people sent by Ye Qingxuan took over the reins. The country had already recognized Ye Qingxuan as their new emperor over the past three years. After knowing that Jiang Yifan was fine, Xia Muqing epted Ye Qingxuan¡¯s proposal. Ye Qingxuan was so happy that he announced his wedding and pasted notices all over the capital city, letting everyone know that he had an empress. ¡­ The new emperor and the empress¡¯s coronation were held on the same day. The country weed an unprecedented sight. All kinds of ferocious beasts that could only be seen in the depths of the forest gathered to congratte the new empress, Xia Muqing. At the coronation ceremony, the new emperor made a high-profile announcement that he would abolish the rest of the pces and get rid of the harem. He would only dote on the empress alone. Furthermore, for the rest of his life, he had really kept his vow. He only doted on one person and only loved her. From then on, the two of them became a legend that spread far and wide. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!