Hua Qingmu lay still on the ground, his legs splayed open like a capital ‘Da’, his body resembling the character ‘大’.
Ling Yao stared, dumbfounded. “He’s not dead, is he?”
Xiao Shan covered her eyes with his large hand. “He won’t die. Come, let’s go back.”
His cold gaze swept over Meng Jiu and Chi Yun as he turned, with Ling Yao in his arms. The chilling aura made Meng Jiu and Chi Yun shiver. They glanced at Hua Qingmu and, wisely, did not follow.
“Brother Jiu, our identities are now above board, wouldn’t you say?”
“Indeed. I never imagined the sect leader, so young, would have such a powerful background,” Meng Jiu sighed.
When they first pledged allegiance to the sect leader, it was solely out of gratitude for saving their lives. They had initially thought the sect leader fancied their strength and wanted them, a couple, to assist her. When she dispatched them here, the sect leader merely mentioned them being favored by the court. Later, they learned she was a princess. Today, they were utterly shocked to realize she was the divine maiden who averted disaster for the Jing Kingdom.
With such a sect leader, she certainly didn’t lack manpower. Sending them here was truly the fortune they had prayed for, just as she had said. This was also a path into the light, no longer needing to hide as they had in the past. As for certain matters…
He looked at his wife, who had followed him for so many years. Her once tender face was no longer as fresh and delicate. He felt he had failed her.
“Then, we can have a child now.”
Precisely. Chi Yun’s face lit up with joy.
“Esteemed couple, could you perhaps help this princess up before we discuss having children?”
A faint voice drifted from the side.
Chi Yun exclaimed, “She’s really not dead?”
Meng Jiu scoffed, “Don’t bother. Neither man nor woman, truly repulsive.”
Xiao Shan brought Ling Yao back to the small courtyard where they were temporarily staying. He examined her from head to toe.
“Hmm, so fresh and moist, like a rose kissed by dew.”
“What are you looking at?”
After being married for so long, her heart still raced under his intense gaze.
Xiao Shan extended his index finger, and under her slightly nervous, bright, watery eyes, he hooked out the red string from her neck. The white jade had turned red.
“Explain?”
“What’s there to explain? I just wanted it to be like yours, so I fed it some blood.” Ling Yao tucked the jade back inside her clothes.
Xiao Shan sneered. “Fed it my blood?”
“What, is that not allowed? Do I need to cut my finger?” Ling Yao knew he had smelled the jade pendant last night. It lacked the scent of clear fragrance, and with his intelligence, how could she hide it from him?
“Did Yu Liu not tell you that I instructed her that it could only be taken out when you were in danger, and that you were to know this?”
“…I was in danger! I suddenly felt very cold that day, so she brought out the blood.”
“Brought it out? So, you used a lot?” Ling Yao glared at him, finding Xiao Shan increasingly shrewd.
“I’m going to attack Qirong tonight. Are you sure you won’t explain clearly? I’m afraid if I have something on my mind, I’ll be distracted…”
Ling Yao’s expression changed. She covered his mouth, her eyes fierce. “You’re not allowed to talk nonsense.”
“You just saved someone, felt cold, and used it, and you’re cursing yourself for this!” She was angry, turning away, her shoulders shaking.
Xiao Shan sighed, turned her back, and indeed, she was crying. Such a delicate creature. She only knew how to act pampered in front of him. In front of others, she became the omnipotent goddess. Saved someone? She saved many people! Did he know nothing since coming to the southwest? He just didn’t know how cold she was then, or how dangerous it was.
“Alright, don’t cry. It was me speaking carelessly. I won’t ask anymore, just promise me you won’t hurt yourself again.”
“I won’t, I wouldn’t dare again.”
“Then, are you ready for the attack on Qirong tonight? Is there anything you need me to do?” Ling Yao asked with worried, red eyes.
“You rest well tonight. Her puppet army only appears during the day. When they appear tomorrow, you can observe them carefully.”
“Yes, then you must be careful.” Ling Yao leaned against his chest. Thinking of his questioning words yesterday, she feared he truly had something on his mind and began to explain. “Did you hear some rumors? Commander Song and I have nothing going on. They just wanted to have portraits drawn to send over, and the artist drew a mess of things. I don’t know who maliciously spread rumors.”
And about A Ye’s matter. She couldn’t explain it.
“In any case, my heart belongs only to you. You know, I can’t even sleep without you. Once the Qirong matter is resolved, if there are no other wars, my imperial brother can handle the rest himself. Then we can ignore these troublesome affairs and live a free life.”
“And our children, how beautiful they’ll be. You can teach Bei Yue to hunt, and I’ll teach Bei Shang to write, and we’ll have a good meal waiting for you when you return.”
She chattered on and on. Xiao Shan said nothing, merely listening to her description of the scene, finding it incredibly beautiful. He couldn’t bear to interrupt. Seeing her rub her waist again, as if tired, he finally chuckled softly, picked her up, and placed her on the bed.
“Overestimating yourself, do you dare to provoke me again?” Ling Yao shrunk her head.
“Rest well, I’m going to the military camp now.” Xiao Shan kissed her cheek, turned decisively, and left the room. As the commander-in-chief, he couldn’t indulge in sentimentality at this moment.
Ling Yao remained in a daze for a while, then leaned against the headboard and mentally summoned the Snow Wolf King.
“Divine Maiden.” A clear, pleasant young voice echoed in her mind.
“Xiao Yu, those puppets are poisonous, flesh and blood. I fear even the wolf army cannot withstand them.” Ordinary fire couldn’t burn them, and her unique flames couldn’t kill thousands. She needed to think of another method.
“Divine Maiden, rest assured. The poison has no effect on animals.”
Huh? Such strange poison?
“Divine Maiden only needs to find the person controlling the puppets and eliminate them. The puppet people will dissipate on their own.” It was all from its grandfather’s stories. Its grandfather had died more than ten years ago, living a full five hundred years because he absorbed the divine maiden’s spiritual energy. He had spoken much about the divine maiden during his life and instructed it to seek the divine maiden’s help in cultivation if it ever sensed her presence, so that it too could live for five hundred years. Among those stories was this matter of the puppet people.
Ling Yao understood. This wasn’t poison at all, but a curse! This made things much easier. She would find that demonic woman tomorrow. Knowing the solution, Ling Yao relaxed somewhat and fell asleep unconsciously. She was awakened by Qu Linglong’s return.
Qu Linglong carried a pile of colorful clothes and piled them on the bed. “Come, Ling Yao, let’s try on these clothes from the Southwest tribes too.”