"I don't know," the white-haired elder shook his head. "Perhaps it's the Li family, with whom we just fell out."
"How did we fall out with the Li family?" Xue Nu asked, momentarily stunned.
"I'll explain when we get back. Let's go back first."
"But..." Xue Nu hesitated.
"What is it?" The white-haired elder noticed her peculiar expression and looked at her more closely. In an instant, he understood. "Could it be that my dear granddaughter has someone she's still attached to here?"
"Grandpa!" Xue Nu pouted. "Who would I be attached to? Don't tease me."
"Alright, alright," the white-haired elder chuckled. "Since there's no one, then come with me."
Xue Nu sighed softly and then ascended into the clouds with the white-haired elder.
In the royal palace of Caiyun Kingdom, Mo Qi slowly opened his eyes and found himself in a lavish room, filled with fragrance and nobility. He immediately realized he was in the Caiyun royal palace and nowhere else.
A sharp pain in his back then brought back the memory of his severe injuries. If he didn't treat them promptly, his body might rot, rendering him beyond help.
Mo Qi immediately took a healing pill, then sat cross-legged, circulating his spiritual energy in a full cycle. The spiritual energy slowly traversed his body, gradually igniting the vitality within. In a moment, his wounds were mostly healed. The rotten flesh on his back fell to the ground, emitting a foul odor.
Not wanting the stench to spoil the room's original fragrance, he activated his Flame Fire Divine Ability, burning the flesh on the ground to ashes and then blowing the ashes out the window.
It was then that he noticed a piece of paper on the pillow. Written on it was a single line. The note had been tucked under his head, pressed by it. As he sat up, he saw it clearly.
The note read: I've left. I know you can recover on your own, so I won't stay to guard you. I also know you like me, but I don't want to be a mere decoration. Even more, I don't want to see you get hurt repeatedly while risking your life to protect me. When you go to the Northern Territory, don't come looking for me. Until I become strong enough to protect myself, please give me some dignity...
Signed: Aunt Pei.
Mo Qi immediately smiled. He hadn't expected her to admit her "older" status. But why was she so reserved? After everything that had happened, they were still discussing whether he liked her! The note ended with an ellipsis, but it was easy to infer the meaning: she would be waiting for him once she became stronger.
He could refrain from seeking her out for now, but there was a problem. If they were assigned to the same sect in the Northern Territory in the future, would they pretend not to see each other?
After reading it, Mo Qi was about to tear the note, but then he reconsidered. What if, many years later, she refused to acknowledge him if he went to find her? So, he decided to keep it. It could serve as evidence in the future, or perhaps as a love letter. He carefully put the note away, feeling a surge of pride. He had now received two love letters; his masculine charm was clearly irresistible!
However, what happened next dampened his spirits.
As he approached the door, he heard voices from another room, seemingly mentioning him. He couldn't help but prick up his ears to listen.
He heard Zhen Gui's voice: "Princess, you should give up this idea. The imperial physicians have all told me that he won't be able to stand for the rest of his life. He's already a cripple. You, a princess of a kingdom, are you going to spend your life with a cripple?"
Then came Zhen Zhen's soft weeping.
Zhen Gui continued impatiently, "Don't just cry. Say something."
Zhen Zhen replied, "Let's... let's think of another way. There must be a way... Wuwuwu!"
Mo Qi felt a pang of displeasure. "Is it that difficult to say you won't abandon me?"
Zhen Gui went on, "We've exhausted all options, to no avail. The problem we face now is how to deal with him."
Zhen Zhen cried, "But it was I who asked him to come. If I hadn't, he wouldn't have ended up like this."
Zhen Gui said, "This is simple. We can give him wealth that will last him a lifetime, ensuring he lives comfortably for the rest of his days. Surely, that's a fair compensation, isn't it?"
Zhen Zhen continued to sob softly, "No, no..."
"Stop with the 'no, no.' Hurry and have someone carry him out of your palace. You are a princess of the kingdom, and having a man lying in your residence is already a grave offense. If word gets out, how can the King's reputation be preserved? How can the reputation of Caiyun Kingdom be preserved?" Zhen Gui said with a hint of accusation and complaint.
Listening to their conversation, Mo Qi felt his heart bleed. He couldn't help but open the door and say loudly, "There's no need to trouble yourselves to carry me out. I can leave on my own." Zhen Gui and Zhen Zhen stood facing each other. Zhen Gui faced the door, seemingly intending to enter, while Zhen Zhen stood with her back to Mo Qi, appearing to block him.
Zhen Gui appraised Mo Qi from head to toe, a look of fear appearing on his face. Mo Qi's complexion was ruddy, his spirit refreshed, and his eyes shone brightly. He looked nothing like someone who had been injured.
Upon hearing Mo Qi's voice, Zhen Zhen immediately turned around. The moment she saw Mo Qi, her face, besides surprise, was filled with genuine joy. "I knew you would be alright."
She almost lunged into Mo Qi's arms but suddenly realized it might be inappropriate. She merely grasped one of Mo Qi's arms.
Mo Qi chuckled, "Fortunately, I'm alright. Otherwise, it would have caused you trouble."
Zhen Zhen didn't grasp the underlying meaning, but Zhen Gui felt as if he had been struck at his core, his face turning ashen.
"Brother Mo, shall I take you to see Father King?" Zhen Zhen asked, gazing at Mo Qi with adoration. Tears still stained her cheeks, making her look pitiful. "Father King has been ill for a long time, and the imperial physicians are helpless. Perhaps you can help him."
Mo Qi hesitated for a moment and said, "I can only try my pills. I'm not capable of treating illnesses."
Facing the soul-searching question, Zhen Zhen did not say she would give up, nor did she pledge her loyalty.
Mo Qi initially harbored reservations, but he quickly came to terms with it. Firstly, their acquaintance was still shallow. If he truly became a cripple, what right did he have to demand unwavering devotion from her? Secondly, there was no need to dwell on what hadn't happened. Only when something truly occurred would the choices made be the final ones; otherwise, they would remain mere words. Thirdly, some things might never happen in a lifetime, so why burden himself with worries about them?
Zhen Zhen smiled sweetly, "Alright, I'll try."
Zhen Gui glanced at Mo Qi and then said to Zhen Zhen, "Princess, you know Father King dislikes cultivators."
Zhen Zhen ignored him, directly pulling Mo Qi along. When they reached Zhen Gui, she said, "Move aside," and pushed him away.
Then, she pulled Mo Qi and left.
Zhen Gui watched their retreating figures, grinding his teeth in anger.
A moment later, two figures flashed and landed before him. One was Zhao Huayun, and the other was a stranger, a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows, full lips, and a slightly crooked face, resembling a shoe.
"My good disciple, have you missed your master?" Zhao Huayun asked with a smile.
Zhen Gui glared at him with disgust. "How can you be so shameless? How dare you show your face here again?"
"Slap!" Zhao Huayun swung his palm, and Zhen Gui staggered, falling to the ground. Five finger marks appeared on his face, and two of his teeth were knocked out.
"You've gone too far! Once a master, always a master. How dare you speak to your master like that?" Zhao Huayun roared, his eyes blazing.
Zhen Gui had never endured such humiliation. He shouted, "Guards!"
No one came.
Zhao Huayun and the man with the shoe-like face burst into laughter. "Shout all you want. See if anyone responds to you!"
Zhen Gui was greatly alarmed and couldn't help but feel fear. "What... what do you want?"
"Nothing much. I've brought True Person Ziyang here. I want to spar with that brat again. And let me tell you, I'm still your master." Zhao Huayun said triumphantly.
"If you claim to be my master, then what have you taught me?" Zhen Gui asked indignantly, glaring at Zhao Huayun.
"I taught you the mental cultivation incantations. If you couldn't learn them, that's your own problem," Zhao Huayun replied.
"The mental cultivation incantations you taught me were completely wrong. They were the opposite of what he taught me. Yet, I succeeded in condensing my spirit by following his method," Zhen Gui retorted, not backing down.
"Alas," Zhao Huayun had already prepared his response. "He's using a method of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. While it seems you've succeeded in condensing your spirit now, if you continue to practice like this, your meridians will surely be shattered, and you'll fall into a demonic deviation."
Zhen Gui was indeed taken aback, completely flabbergasted.
However, he still struggled internally. "You're slandering him maliciously to regain my trust."
True Person Ziyang had been standing there for a long time and was already impatient. Upon hearing this, he said, "There's no point in talking further. Take us to him, and let him reveal his true form immediately."
Zhen Gui thought about it and felt he had no other choice.
But Zhen Zhen and the others were going to see the King. He couldn't bring them to the King.
"Let's wait for them here. They'll return," Zhen Gui said.
Mo Qi, pulled by Zhen Zhen, headed directly towards the King's sleeping chambers. They encountered no obstruction, and people knelt everywhere they passed.
Mo Qi was unaccustomed to being pulled like this, yet he was reluctant to let go of her, creating a conflict within him.
Upon reaching the entrance of the sleeping chambers, they were stopped by two guards who stated that no one was allowed in without permission.
Mo Qi simply fixed his gaze on them, causing their eyes to become vacant. They then fell silent.
Mo Qi, holding Zhen Zhen's hand, strode in with his head held high.
Zhen Zhen smiled and asked, "What sorcery did you use on them? I remember you couldn't do that last time."
"Soul鎮術 (Soul Suppression Technique)," Mo Qi replied. "I know many more."
"Then teach me when you have time," Zhen Zhen said, with a hint of coquetry.
"Alright, I'll teach you when I have time," Mo Qi said casually.
Just then, a palace servant emerged from behind a screen. Upon seeing them, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. He then knelt before Zhen Zhen and bowed, "Your humble servant greets the Princess!"
Zhen Zhen said, "Manager Wang, no need for formalities," and then pulled Mo Qi past the servant, heading behind the screen.
"Princess, please wait. Let this old servant announce your arrival first..." Manager Wang called out from behind, hurrying after them.
However, by then, Mo Qi and Zhen Zhen had already appeared before the King's sickbed.
"Father King, I've come to see you. And I've brought someone with me," Zhen Zhen said, unable to conceal her excitement.
Zhen Cang was sitting up in bed, leaning against the headboard. His face was weathered, his eye sockets were sunken, his eyes were vacant, and the dark circles around them were particularly pronounced.
He waved a hand towards Manager Wang, who bowed and withdrew.
"Zhen'er, you're back?" A chilling smile spread across Zhen Cang's emaciated face.
"And this is..." He then turned his dazed gaze towards Mo Qi.
"This is a friend of mine from the cultivation world. His name is Mo Qi," Zhen Zhen said.
The smile on Zhen Cang's face vanished instantly, replaced by displeasure. "Zhen'er, I've told you before not to bring people from the cultivation world back. If they have any ill intentions, what am I to do?"
Mo Qi felt a surge of annoyance. If I had ill intentions, they would only be directed at your daughter; I have no interest in you.
Zhen Zhen pouted. "Father King, don't be angry. I know you're very ill, so I brought him to treat you."
"Alas," Zhen Cang sighed. "You are the eighth group. Crown Prince Zhen Hao brought someone to see me once, Consort Qin brought someone once, Prime Minister Rong brought someone once... I know you all want to claim credit, to prove yourselves, to earn my admiration. However, you cannot use me as a test subject for your medicine!"
"Father King!" Zhen Zhen's voice rose sharply, her heart wounded. But she immediately caught herself and lowered her voice, continuing in a cooing tone, "Father King, I don't want to claim credit from you. Having him is enough for me now." Zhen Zhen pulled Mo Qi closer, leaning against him.
"You, you," Zhen Cang pointed at Zhen Zhen, his beard and hand trembling with anger. "Are you trying to find a consort from the cultivation world and usurp my throne?"