The assassins surrounding them had all closed in.
However, Ye Luan had been protecting them, leading to a stalemate.
Xie Beihan watched the spectacle from the sacrificial altar, an umbrella held over him by someone behind him.
He looked at the two figures covered in blood and raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Is this what they call love?"
He let out a cold laugh, "How boring." His gaze then shifted to Ye Luan, and he spoke, "Bring her here."
Chi Yan chuckled lightly, "She's fiercely protecting those two. What if I injure her?"
Xie Beihan's expression turned sharp, "Do you need me to teach you?"
"Your Majesty, this monk will go."
At this moment, Xu Qing stepped forward voluntarily to offer his services.
Xie Beihan remained silent, his face grim.
Seeing this, Xu Qing said no more, clutching his prayer beads, and slowly descended from the altar.
"Your Majesty."
Xuan Qing's voice came from behind him.
Xie Beihan turned his head, a slight smirk touching his lips, "They've arrived?"
"They are still searching all around, but news has come that they seem to have bypassed Blood Valley Mountain via the Qu Nan River."
To find such a hidden location, they indeed possessed some skill.
"Continue the investigation. Find out how many people they've brought."
Xuan Qing replied respectfully, "Yes."
After speaking, Xie Beihan looked at Chi Yan beside him.
Chi Yan understood his intent and sneered, "Don't worry, I won't let him leave alive."
Behind the forbidden zone lay the Qu Nan River. Following the path past a forest of strangely colored trees, one could infiltrate the Holy Tower.
Xiao Chi Zhan was leading the army of Da Liang to attack this way.
He had bypassed Blood Valley Mountain, and the vast army had traversed the extremely narrow and shallow gorge, quickly approaching the sacred land of Nan Jiang.
This was the entrance to the forbidden zone that they had discovered after searching all over Nan Jiang with geomancers, a place known to very few.
It was said that there were no poisons or curses here. Once inside the Dragon Tower, they would be at the rear of the forbidden zone, allowing them to surround the entire sacred land.
Wei Qingge, dressed in a spirited riding outfit, stood at the edge of the boat. She leaned over the gunwale, peering at the green river water, a hint of surprise in her eyes as they widened.
"Such strange water."
As they ventured further in, the sky grew increasingly gloomy, and a cold wind whistled.
Li Qiong Yu walked towards her, holding a cloak, and draped it over her shoulders.
"Come back, you'll fall in."
He pulled her body back.
Wei Qingge kicked him with dissatisfaction, "None of your business!"
"Your leg is healed, and you're restless again, aren't you?"
His expression turned cold, and his usually smiling peach blossom eyes were filled with indifference.
Wei Qingge pursed her lips. Seeing him like this, she felt a prickle of unease. She awkwardly withdrew her leg and jumped down from the bow of the boat.
Seeing her obediently sit down and drink tea, Li Qiong Yu walked towards Xiao Chi Zhan.
"A scout has sent word that he entered the Holy Tower alone. I fear he's in grave danger."
Xiao Chi Zhan rested his hands on the gunwale, his expression grim.
"Are the蠱 masters that Liu Rong Ruo found reliable?"
"Don't worry, they are all Chi You's people, and they are obedient." Li Qiong Yu's eyes flashed with a smile, "That scoundrel is truly cunning, to have managed to fool the Nan Jiang Saintess."
Xiao Chi Zhan had no interest in his jesting. His gaze, tinged with a reddish hue, was fixed on the increasingly sinister surroundings, his expression darkening further.
Li Qiong Yu saw no need to engage him further. Ever since Ye Luan had left with Xie Beihan, this fellow had been behaving strangely, not having a single good mood day.
He ambled over and sat on a chair to drink his tea.
Wei Qingge saw him approaching and looked at him with her bright, clear eyes, both lively and sly.
"I've heard that it never snows in Nan Jiang, and flowers bloom everywhere. After we rescue them, let's go sightseeing and have some fun in Nan Jiang."
Li Qiong Yu raised an eyebrow, "All you think about is fun."
Wei Qingge: "----" kanshu5.xs
If no one else were there to talk to, she wouldn't bother with this liar.
"What's wrong with having fun? If you don't want to, I'll go by myself."
Li Qiong Yu snorted and handed her a cup of tea, "Drink something to warm yourself up."
"Why do you get to drink wine, and I drink tea? I want to drink wine too; drinking wine warms the body."
As she spoke, she snatched the wine jar from beside Li Qiong Yu.
"You little brat, are you looking for a beating?"
Wei Qingge was most annoyed by his attitude and held onto the wine tightly.
"I want to drink, and you can't stop me."
Li Qiong Yu said, "If you dare to drink it, I'll throw you off this boat."
"Come on, let's see who throws whom off."
Xiao Chi Zhan, standing at the bow, frowned in annoyance upon hearing their argument start up again. He turned and walked towards the back.
Neither of them noticed him; they were too engrossed in their squabble.
Wei Qingge was no match for him. He snatched away her whip, lifted her, and walked towards the bow.
She struggled furiously in anger, kicking her legs and scratching his legs desperately, pinching his flesh.
Li Qiong Yu hissed a few times.
"If you move again, I'll let go."
Wei Qingge was held upside down, her face flushing red.
She yelled in anger, "Beast, bastard, damned liar, you big liar, put me down!"
"Since you've already called me a bastard, why shouldn't I live up to the name?"
Li Qiong Yu smirked, lifted her by the waist, and placed her on the gunwale, sitting down.
"Ah---"
Wei Qingge shrieked and quickly steadied herself. She glanced back at the surging river and felt a throbbing in her head from anger.
"Put me down."
Below them was the bottomless river water. If she fell in, she would drown.
She couldn't swim.
As she yelled, she kicked him forcefully with her feet.
Li Qiong Yu stepped onto the platform, encircling her legs with his hands, and looked down at her.
"If you keep thrashing about like this, you'll really fall."
Wei Qingge gnashed her teeth in frustration, staring at him with her wide, almond-shaped eyes.
Li Qiong Yu found her appearance adorable and reached out to pinch her cheek.
Wei Qingge slapped his hand away and said sternly, "Don't get handsy."
"Haven't I touched you enough?" Li Qiong Yu raised an eyebrow, "Qingge, we've already consummated our marriage."
With a crisp crack, the slap landed on his mouth.
Li Qiong Yu hissed and gripped her waist.
"Who taught you to hit people at the drop of a hat?"
Wei Qingge retorted defiantly.
"You deserve it for talking nonsense."
Li Qiong Yu chuckled, holding her waist with one hand and lifting her chin with the other. His gaze fell upon her rosy lips, and his expression darkened slightly.
Wei Qingge, being somewhat unrefined, didn't notice the change in his gaze. She irritably tried to pull his hand away.
"Don't touch me, let go."
She struggled fiercely, and Li Qiong Yu let out an impatient scoff, grasping her waist and placing her towards the back.
Half her body instantly dangled in the air. The cold wind whipped past, her dark hair flying over the river, and she could even feel the dampness of the water.
Wei Qingge was startled by his actions and quickly grabbed him, roaring.
"Are you crazy? Let me go back!"
Li Qiong Yu raised an eyebrow, "Kiss me, and I'll pull you back."
"You're insane, go kiss a ghost!"
"What's wrong with a kiss? We've kissed so many times already."
Wei Qingge looked at his shameless face, her eyes turning away in annoyance. This was his true face – a lecherous scoundrel with the courage of a wolf.
Seeing that she remained unmoved, Li Qiong Yu loosened his grip slightly.
Wei Qingge instantly felt her body almost plummet down.