The scholar was overjoyed upon hearing this.
This understanding, considerate, delicate, and beautiful young man was truly too, too wonderful!
But, she couldn't find him even with a lantern usually, so why did she meet him the moment she stepped out today?
Could it be… that this young man was her fated person?
Thus, she said with a gentle expression:
"Naturally."
After speaking, she squatted down and said, turning back:
"Young master, please get on…"
…
One shichen later.
"Young… young master, is… is this your home?"
At this moment, the scholar was covered in sweat, her back soaked through, and she looked as if she had been fished out of water.
This young master was heavier than she had imagined…
Even though she thought this, she didn't want the other party to suspect her of being "weak," so she hadn't said anything all the way, her legs trembling, she held firm and walked to their destination.
"Mm… please trouble Miss to send me in…"
The scholar suddenly felt a surge of strength.
She had finally waited for it.
Spring!
…
Royal City.
The Examination Courtyard.
Mission Hall.
"What!? All the students sent to Shizhou Yecheng were annihilated? This mission had two students in the Object Control Realm and three in the Subtle Realm!"
The instructor assigning the mission was shocked.
Based on the assessment, the extraterrestrial object in Shizhou Yecheng should be at the Object Control Realm. They had sent two students in the Object Control Realm, so how could this happen…
"What exactly happened?"
The instructor asked the intelligence officer with a solemn expression.
"Instructor, the extraterrestrial demon in Shizhou is a Face-Stealing Demon. We underestimated its strength. According to the last message transmitted at the cost of life by one of the Object Control Realm seniors, that Face-Stealing Demon has at least the strength of the Material Control Realm."
The instructor sat down. After calming herself, she revealed a helpless expression.
That's right, they did have an intelligence system.
But the extraterrestrial demons came from beyond the heavens, and they had gradually compiled some information about them through continuous probing.
Even this information was based on the sacrifice of many intelligence officers.
Even so, it was normal for this information to occasionally be inaccurate.
Therefore, besides lamenting, the instructor also felt a sense of helplessness for the students' bad luck.
At this moment, another instructor beside her suddenly said:
"I remember there were two missions involving the Face-Stealing Demon…"
This instructor reminded her.
She suddenly looked up, picked up the record book beside her, and quickly flipped through it.
None.
Not this one.
Nor this one.
After a hundred pages, she finally found the file.
It was recorded:
Face-Stealing Demon, Object Control Realm mission, Wudingzhou Recheng.
Mission takers:
Nian Jiaojiao, Object Control Realm.
Luo Jiao, Subtle Realm.
…
After reading it, the instructor felt a chill run down her spine.
These were even weaker than the students who took the mission in Shizhou. Wasn't this just rushing to offer a delicious head?
Seeing her in a daze, the instructor beside her took the booklet from her hand.
"What does it say?"
The instructor who took the booklet also froze after seeing it, then immediately said:
"Quick, quickly find students in the Material Control Realm. They've only been gone a few days, and by carriage speed, they should have just reached Wudingzhou."
The instructor, who had been in a daze, instantly snapped back to attention.
Right, she had forgotten to consider the journey!
It should still be in time!
Thus, the two hurriedly began to issue emergency missions.
However, no one in the Examination Courtyard expected that Nian Jiaojiao and her group had already arrived in Wudingzhou, and were about to confront the Face-Stealing Demon.
…
Wudingzhou.
With the clues interrupted, Nian Jiaojiao and the others began to wander aimlessly within the city according to their previous team assignments.
They hoped they might encounter some "good luck."
Nian Jiaojiao walked down the street with Nan Qing and Xuan Yi.
Nian Jiaojiao looked at the tightly shuttered shops around her and sighed,
"If the shops remain closed any longer, I'm afraid everyone's livelihood will be unsustainable. The Face-Stealing Demon hasn't even had a chance to kill anyone, and they'll starve to death themselves."
Nan Qing and Xuan Yi remained silent.
After walking past a street, Nan Qing suddenly said:
"Wife-lord, how many poems can you write on your fan?"
Her husbands at home had never cared about such things, and this was the first time Nian Jiaojiao had been asked this question.
She gently nudged Nan Qing with her elbow and said,
"What? Do you want to worship your wife-lord? Alright, I'll give you this opportunity."
Nan Qing squinted at people, with a clear hint of mockery.
Nian Jiaojiao didn't mind either.
She took out her peach wood fan from her embrace and said,
"Look, my fan can hold seven lines of poetry. Because of the limited space, each line of poetry on it has a different function.
Currently, I've filled five lines on it, and there are still two spaces left!"
Nan Qing took the peach wood fan from Nian Jiaojiao and said,
"The first line is for repelling enemies."
"The second line is for escaping."
"The third line is for injuring enemies."
"The fourth line is for killing enemies."
"And the fifth line is for concealment."
"Heh, quite comprehensive."
Nian Jiaojiao smiled with satisfaction:
"Of course! Space is limited, so we save where we can!"
Nan Qing pointed to the next blank spot and said,
"There's still one very important thing missing."
"What?"
Nian Jiaojiao was confused, she felt she had thought of it quite comprehensively in advance.
Nan Qing parted her thin lips and said,
"Pursuing the enemy."
…
The three walked for less than a quarter of an hour and happened to pass by the government office, so they sought out the prefect and borrowed his study.
Study.
Nian Jiaojiao picked up the brush and ink, with a slight look of struggle on her face.
What kind of poetry should she use to track the Face-Stealing Demon?
After thinking for a moment, she finally picked up her brush and wrote:
"The road ahead is long and arduous, I will ascend and descend to seek the answer."