Ling Yao carefully touched her belly and smiled obediently at Xiao Shan.
She had truly forgotten just now.
Such a little fool, still a child herself, yet always thinking of being a mother.
Xiao Shan pinched her rosy cheeks, looking at the simple plum blossom hairpin on her head, his throat catching. "The wind has turned cold, why are you out here? Let's go back."
"Waiting for you!"
Xiao Shan's heart warmed. He bent down and lifted her, his guards all shrinking their heads and covering their ears.
Ling Yao buried her face in his chest as he carried her into the room.
Yu Liu, seeing Xiao Shan's glance, followed them in.
"What did you talk about with my eldest imperial brother?" Ling Yao asked curiously as she was settled onto a soft chaise lounge.
"After I leave, I told him to protect you. Once things are stable on my end, I will clear your name. Until then, you will have to endure some hardship."
"Don't rush. I will wait for you here. Please don't let yourself get hurt."
Ling Yao was reluctant, but she knew he had to rush to the border city as soon as possible, to reforge his armor and avoid danger.
"Chi Gui!" Xiao Shan called out to Yu Liu, who stood with his head bowed. "I have notified the main forces of the Ghost King Sect to proceed to the capital. From now on, you will obey the Mistress and act under her full command of all ghost officials."
"Yes! Chi Gui obeys your command!"
Xiao Shan took out a dark, profound iron token. Intricate patterns formed a large character: 'Ling' (Command). Below it were two smaller characters: 'Wu Ji' (Limitless).
He placed it in Ling Yao's hand and explained carefully, "This is the highest token of the Ghost King Sect. If the owner is harmed, the killer will be relentlessly pursued by the entire Wu Ji of the Ghost King Sect. Keep it with you and protect yourself. If you truly fall into a perilous situation, reveal this token, and it will make your enemies hesitate out of fear."
Anyone with even a little understanding of the martial world knew this. The Ghost King Sect's reputation for brutality and ruthlessness remained. As long as they weren't tired of living, no one would dare to provoke them.
The token was dark and cold, exuding a chill, but her heart was filled with a warm current.
He had thought of everything, giving her a powerful backing, yet he disregarded his own safety, when he was the one who needed it most.
"A Shan, I think..."
"Don't worry. Your man has been fighting on the battlefield for so many years. Just the news of my resurrection will be enough to scare those cowards. As long as you are well, I can have no worries. Do you understand?"
Ling Yao nodded vigorously, her eyes welling up again.
"Chi Gui, you must never leave the Mistress. Her safety is paramount."
"Yes, Master!"
Ling Yao blinked and couldn't help but pout. "They're calling themselves ghosts, ghosts, ghosts. It sounds so unpleasant, especially for girls."
Chi Gui lowered his head.
Xiao Shan couldn't help but ponder. It was indeed a bit unpleasant. After taking over the Ghost King Sect, he had only purged some members; he hadn't bothered to change their titles and ranks, which had continued to this day. No one in the martial world knew that the Ghost King Sect had actually changed owners, from the master to all the ghosts.
"You are a Goddess. From now on, the entire Ghost King Sect will be your people. 'Shen Xian' (God and Immortal), 'Shen' comes first, 'Xian' second. How about changing it to the Immortal King Sect? Chi Xian?"
"Ah? Can it be changed?"
"Of course, it can. It's all yours now. You have the final say. Immortal King Sect, hmm, that's good. The name is bright and imposing. I'll have to change my attire too."
God and ghost were polar opposites. He absolutely refused to be a ghost anymore. God and Immortal, it sounded like a perfect pair!
"Chi Xian'er! You may withdraw!"
"Yes, Master, Mistress."
Ling Yao: "..."
She felt a bit like she was being humored. Was this truly the organization that made people tremble in the martial world?
The time spent between lovers was always brief. Xiao Shan had already delayed for a day and had to leave.
He held the person in his arms, tracing her features over and over again with reluctance.
He didn't know when they would meet again, but with things having reached this point, he could not retreat. The person he held dearest in his heart could not be bullied by anyone.
"A Shan, I haven't told you about my father yet."
"Eldest Imperial Brother has already told me. Yuan Bufei will arrange for people to investigate. Don't worry. Since nothing has happened for so long, it means they don't want the Emperor's life yet. We still have time."
"Mm."
Xiao Shan's words always managed to calm her. In her eyes, he was an omnipotent warrior, clearing the obstacles and thorns from her path.
In the backyard of the Eldest Imperial Prince's residence, filled with the flutter of orioles and butterflies.
The Eldest Imperial Prince waved away a concubine clinging to him and went straight into Qu Linglong's room.
The ostentatiously dressed concubine shot a displeased glare in that direction.
"She's just a pregnant woman, what's so special about her? Ugly and fat."
Qu Linglong felt a flicker of surprise at the sudden appearance of the Eldest Imperial Prince, whom she hadn't seen in a while. Although she showed nothing on her face, her slightly accelerated heartbeat reminded her that she still loved this man.
Su Mian looked at her with concern and retreated, feeling uneasy.
"Qu Linglong, you say you don't know a man named Xiao Shan?"
His charming tone and dangerous gaze made Qu Linglong sense immediate trouble.
Her heart began to sink, but she braced herself and said, "I don't know him."
"Heh, your former master, the Divine Martial General, you don't know him? That's excellent. How do you expect me to believe your sincerity?"
He knew! How did he know? Had Brother Xiao exposed himself?
Was it to save Xue Niang that he was exposed?
She thought of many things in an instant, looking at the man before her, whose appearance had changed so drastically, so far from the gentle and silent boy in her memory. His beautiful phoenix eyes were filled with wickedness, calculation, and coldness.
"Since you know, you should know that Xue Niang is his woman. You abducted the woman he cherishes like a treasure, and he will not let you go."
"Cherishes like a treasure?"
Indeed, he did.
Qu Linglong didn't understand the relationship between Xue Niang and the Eldest Imperial Prince. She only thought she was a noble lady from a prominent family, whom the Eldest Imperial Prince had known before. This time, after being discovered at the medical clinic, she had been directly abducted to the capital.
She didn't know where she had been placed.
"For Xue Niang's sake, I won't trouble you. Once you give birth, you can even go home to see your father."
Qu Linglong gave a wry smile. How could she still have the face to see her father? Her father no longer acknowledged her.
And the Eldest Imperial Prince's intention was clear: he wanted her to return and win over her father.
To be precise, all the women in the backyard were merely bonds for him to maintain relationships. He had no heart.
Perhaps, he was only different towards Xue Niang.
However—
"Eldest Imperial Prince, please do not harm Xue Niang. You cannot bear the wrath of the Divine Martial General."
"Heh! Take care of yourself!"
From beginning to end, the Eldest Imperial Prince didn't even glance at her belly, nor did he offer any solicitous greetings. As she watched him leave, she wondered what she was still expecting.
"Miss, he didn't do anything to you, did he?"
Su Mian came in, looking her up and down with concern.
Anyone knew that the Eldest Imperial Prince was not a good man, yet Miss foolishly went to him herself. When he was drunk, he took advantage of her, and now her father was so angry that he disowned her. In this chaotic backyard, the mistress and servant had suffered all sorts of bullying.
"Su Mian, you've suffered with me."
"What are you saying, Miss? Don't think about anything now. Once you give birth, perhaps your father will forgive you, and we can return to the manor."
She couldn't go back.
And she wouldn't go back.
Father had his position, and she wouldn't make things difficult for him.