"Miss Murong, I heard from Dean Qian a few days ago that outstanding students will have the opportunity to study abroad at the Yan Kingdom Academy after this major examination. However, the final list will be decided by Dean Qian and Minister Feng..."
Studying abroad in the Yan Kingdom was equivalent to studying abroad in modern times. Upon their return, their status and prestige would soar, much like having a golden sheen.
At such times, wealthy and influential parents would pull strings. Students like Yang Jingrui, who were academically excellent and had strong backgrounds, were sure to be selected...
Even students who were not good at their studies or had poor moral character could study abroad in the Yan Kingdom at their own expense, as long as they had enough money.
Upon hearing this, Murong Qing's face lit up with joy, "In that case, we still have a chance!~"
"Of course..." Yun Jinhe said with a hearty laugh. His bad mood, suppressed for several days, finally improved. "As long as I review diligently, I'm sure to get good grades. Then, Miss Murong can go to the Yan Kingdom with me as her companion!"
As the saying goes, ideals are often grand, but reality is harsh...
If a person's expectations for the future are too high, they often end up greatly disappointed.
Take Yun Jinhe's study abroad for example; this matter was far from as simple as he imagined.
In the future, he and Murong Qing would experience all sorts of setbacks and hardships, but that, of course, is a story for another time...
That night, outside the back gate of the Yihua Tower.
Er Longzi saw that the thugs were drowsy and slumped, with two of them even lying on straw mats and sleeping. He covered his face and, with a swift movement, darted into the courtyard...
In fact, with his cultivation, these thugs were no match for him. Er Longzi simply did not want to cause too much of a commotion.
Entering the Yihua Tower from the back door, he saw a narrow and cramped changing room. It was pitch black, and occasionally, he could smell a faint scent of blood...
Er Longzi narrowed his eyes, looked around, and snorted, "A perfectly good changing room has become an interrogation room. This brothel is more terrifying than an execution ground!~"
He saw various torture instruments and ropes hanging on the wall, presumably used to whip disobedient or runaway courtesans...
The front hall was brightly lit and bustling with noise. Sounds of laughter, whimpers, and coquettish cries drifted over, irritating Er Longzi.
If he wanted to find the girl who was tied up, it probably wouldn't be easy.
With this thought, Er Longzi quietly approached the staircase and, taking advantage of others not paying attention, ascended to the second floor...
As he passed a guest room, a strange cry suddenly came from within. Er Longzi paused, reached out, and knocked on the window paper. He saw a bloated, middle-aged man drooling as he tore at a girl's clothes.
"Heh heh, little beauty, I heard you're new. I spent a lot of money to book you today. You'd better serve me well..." The middle-aged man's smile was greasy, and his hands fumbled all over the girl.
The girl cried uncontrollably, trembling like a sieve. She pleaded, "Wuwuwu, Uncle, please be merciful and let me go. I'll repay you by being your ox and horse in the future, okay? Wuwuwu..."
"Who asked you to be an ox or a horse?" The middle-aged man's expression darkened, and he slapped the girl.
With a crisp 'crack,' the girl swayed and collapsed softly onto the ground. Her face was turned towards the door...
Er Longzi's pupils contracted. Wasn't this the girl he was looking for?
Under the lamplight, Er Longzi looked closely and found that the girl did not look like a Han Chinese, but rather resembled a barbarian.
She had a broad forehead, thick eyebrows, deep-set eyes, and a slight touch of high-altitude blush on her cheeks...
Had she been trafficked from the northern grasslands?
Just as the middle-aged man was taking off his long robe and preparing to drag the girl onto the bed, Er Longzi kicked the door open with a 'clang' and rushed in...
His speed was so great that he was a blur. Before the middle-aged man could react, Er Longzi knocked him unconscious with a 'bang' and then grabbed the girl's hand, "Come with me!~"
As he spoke, Er Longzi removed the black cloth from his face, revealing a handsome countenance.
The girl, her eyes blurry with tears and sobbing, vaguely remembered Er Longzi's appearance...
During the day, the girl had spoken to him in simple terms. She hadn't expected this man to actually come to her rescue.
"My, my ankle is sprained, I can't run!" the girl said, wiping away her tears.
Er Longzi raised an eyebrow, turned his back to the girl, and crouched down, "Get on, I'll carry you!~"
Alas, he had never carried his master, and now he was carrying a strange girl. Was his heart overflowing with kindness...
The girl didn't have time to think. She immediately climbed onto Er Longzi's back. Then, they pushed open the window and jumped down.
At the same time, in Halarin City, far to the north of the grasslands, a dignified and elegant woman sat in the main hall, staring coldly at the black-clothed man before her...
"Was that little slut dealt with?" the woman asked in a deep voice.
The black-clothed man nodded, "Queen Jila, as per your instructions, Princess Xia Qing has been sent to the Central Plains. It's estimated she's already been defiled and killed..."
Upon hearing this, the woman sneered, "Good. She dared to oppose this Queen. She deserves it!~"
She then stood up, touched her fingernail covers, "Were there any loose ends? You know, King Harin doted on Princess Xia Qing the most. If he finds out anything, none of us will have an easy time..."
King Harin was the supreme leader of the Suizhi people—Nasongde.
This man was also a formidable grassland warlord who instilled fear in the five kingdoms and even all of Eastern Europe. Even the powerful Yan Kingdom dared not confront Nasongde directly...
It was rumored that years ago, Nasongde, leading only twenty thousand heavy cavalry, had slaughtered hundreds of thousands of soldiers in Eastern Europe.
His reputation was known far and wide in the northern grasslands and even throughout the world...
Now, Queen Jila had sold Nasongde's youngest daughter to the Central Plains. Such a transgression could not be resolved by merely dying.
The black-clothed man twitched his lips, uncertainly, "There shouldn't... shouldn't be any loose ends!~"
Hearing this, Queen Jila gave him a sideways glance, "If you can't even handle this matter properly, I'll be the first to have you killed!~"
The black-clothed man: "..."
"You may withdraw. Keep a close watch on that girl's movements. If she's lucky enough to survive, send someone to finish her off quickly to avoid future trouble!~" Queen Jila ordered.
"Y-yes, I understand!" the black-clothed man replied, then turned and walked out of the hall.
Queen Jila narrowed her eyes, calmed herself, and then went to pay her respects to King Harin...