Watching Zhang Tian and the other person gradually depart, Su Nan's heart pounded.
He could no longer fathom Zhang Tian's strength, and who was the woman beside him? He had never seen her before.
"It seems the rise of the Nine Sects is unstoppable," Su Nan muttered, his resolve hardening.
Since he couldn't defeat them and didn't want to die, his only option was to assist wholeheartedly. Perhaps he could also get a piece of the pie.
Walking down the street, Zhang Tian took out his car keys. He hadn't come to the group on foot; he had driven.
"What is this?" Looking at the red SUV before her, the Queen of Jingjue's voice held a trace of curiosity.
"This is a mode of transportation. Come in," Zhang Tian said, gently opening the car door. He then took the driver's seat.
The Queen of Jingjue glanced at the car, then at Zhang Tian, and finally settled into the passenger seat. Seeing her cautious demeanor, Zhang Tian found it amusing; her wariness was rather endearing.
In the passenger seat, though the Queen of Jingjue didn't look around much or fidget, Zhang Tian knew she was definitely assessing her surroundings.
He started the engine and lightly pressed the accelerator, the car slowly moving forward. Zhang Tian had bought this car in Germany, a country with strong mechanized industries and advanced automobiles. It had cost him a considerable sum.
Listening to the roar of the engine, the Queen of Jingjue felt an immense force pushing her back into the seat.
"A strange thing."
Looking at the ever-changing scenery outside, the Queen of Jingjue's interest in this world grew.
"A fine thing," she commented.
"Just a tool for getting around. There will surely be better things in the future," Zhang Tian said softly. The Queen of Jingjue didn't reply, her mind likely occupied with her own thoughts.
Soon, the car entered the city. Zhang Tian didn't have a specific destination in mind, only that they should go where it was most bustling.
"Let's go to the streets and take a look, so you can understand this era better," Zhang Tian suggested. The Queen of Jingjue merely nodded slightly.
Zhang Tian accelerated. They soon arrived at Xingwang Street, the most prosperous street in Beili. In Beili, the commercial market, not the antique market, was the most vibrant. It was here that the trendy culture left behind by foreigners had accumulated. In Modu, it was even more fantastical; one might not even realize they were in Xia Kingdom, feeling as though they had stepped into a foreign land.
They passed by towering buildings and some old, retro courtyards. On a small street, vendors sold candied hawthorns, clay figurines, roasted chickens, and roast ducks, catering to every need. Many adults and young people strolled about, a smile on each face. Zhang Tian also saw children accompanied by adults.
In this era, just after the country's founding, the mainland was still quite chaotic. Children rarely ventured out alone, and if they did, they were always with an adult.
"Lively, isn't it?" Zhang Tian chuckled.
"Mm."
"A good place." The Queen of Jingjue nodded slightly.
Zhang Tian parked the car by the roadside and helped the Queen of Jingjue out.
"Let's go. I'll do what I promised. I'll accompany you around and explain things about this era."
As Zhang Tian spoke, the Queen of Jingjue stepped out of the car. Her attire was ordinary, so she didn't attract much attention initially. However, true beauty could not be hidden forever. Despite the bandages she wore, her delicate features and transcendent aura set her apart from the ordinary street scene. She tilted her head slightly, her footsteps producing crisp sounds. A faint aura of royalty enveloped her. Under this subtle aura, many people shopping on the street couldn't help but look towards Zhang Tian.
*Hmph, isn't that Young Master Zhang? Haven't seen him for months.*
*Months? It’s been over a year.*
*Who’s the woman next to him? Her aura is so strong. She must be the daughter of some influential family, right?*
*Such an authentic presence. She must be a lady from a prominent family.*
*Let's keep our distance. Young Master Zhang's family is said to have allied with other families in the capital, their influence growing rapidly. We can't afford to offend them.*
*Everyone, stop looking and get back to what you were doing.*
A group of people whispered amongst themselves. At this moment, a young man called out. The murmuring crowd quickly turned away, no longer daring to look at Zhang Tian. Although Zhang Tian was rumored to have a good temper and treat people well, even a rabbit would bite when cornered. And they were just ordinary people.
"Are those people afraid of you?" The Queen of Jingjue looked at Zhang Tian with surprise. In her eyes, Zhang Tian wasn't exactly a good person, but he wasn't bad either. If he were wicked, he would have driven her away long ago. It was precisely because Zhang Tian wasn't malicious that the Queen of Jingjue hadn't done anything drastic upon regaining her strength.
"They merely fear my influence," Zhang Tian replied, waving his hand. "Alright, let's take a look around. Tell me if you want anything." He couldn't be bothered with these people. They were like scattered leaves when the tree falls, nothing worth conversing with.
The Queen of Jingjue nodded and walked ahead, her steps firm and powerful. Her aura even overshadowed Zhang Tian's.
"This woman, truly a queen for hundreds of years. Her presence rivals anyone's," Zhang Tian mused inwardly, watching her retreating figure. As the Queen of Jingjue passed, ordinary people quickly made way. This reminded the Queen of Jingjue of her past.
"How many people are in this city?" the Queen of Jingjue's voice reached Zhang Tian as he followed her listlessly. Zhang Tian thought for a moment. Beili City hadn't expanded yet, so it probably had only a few million residents.
"Probably a few million," Zhang Tian replied after some thought. In the future, Beili City would expand due to investment and attract more residents, reaching tens of millions at its peak.
"Do you know? My kingdom, Jingjue, had at most a few hundred thousand people. They had to kneel before me." The Queen of Jingjue spoke. Cold sweat broke out on Zhang Tian's forehead. Would this woman say something chuunibyou-like? To his relief, the Queen of Jingjue didn't say anything further and continued walking slowly down the street. She seemed to be enjoying the scene. She extended her hand, as if to grasp the surrounding crowd. Zhang Tian watched with trepidation. He really shouldn't have promised things so casually.
"Let's go over there." The Queen of Jingjue seemed to have spotted something and quickened her pace. The clatter of her shoes echoed on the street. Even the shouts of vendors and the laughter of children quieted down.
"What is she going to do?" Zhang Tian wondered, hurrying to catch up. He hadn't even started explaining the historical context yet, and she was acting as if she'd had an energy drink.
"Does the Queen have another side to her?" Cold yet fiery? Curious, Zhang Tian followed closely.
When he saw the Queen of Jingjue entering a high-end clothing store, Zhang Tian touched his cheek. Had the South Cloud-style clothes he chose not been suitable?