novelapdf Chapter 263 Bai Xiang: In the end, we were destined to be apart.
Chapter 263 Bai Xiang: In the end, we were destined to be apart.
"To France?"
Bai Xiang was taken aback, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. "Why must I go myself? You can investigate on your own."
The female guard cleared her throat and said seriously:
"My lord, Fazhou City is located in the southwest Kun position, which is the belly of heaven and earth, and the Ziwei Earth Fire is hidden beneath it."
If you can harness the energy of this earth vein, you can better nourish your phoenix body and star core, and slow down the rate at which your star position deviates.
After all, Your Majesty's condition is quite dire, and the time to hold onto the star position is truly running out. We must stall for as long as possible, even if it's just for one more day.
Bai Xiang fell silent.
Seeing this, the female guard continued:
"Secondly, Your Majesty's last unauthorized appearance in Yancheng alarmed the Daqing court."
The Imperial Guards are currently conducting a secret search of Huzhou City. If they discover even the slightest clue and trace it back to you, you'll be in big trouble. Tanzhou City is far from the emperor's reach, so it's actually safer.
The third point is…”
The female guard continued,
"Now I am 80% certain that Jiang Chaoxi's cave is hidden in Yunzhou."
My lord, think about it. That great demon Jiang Chaoxi was a person destined to be blessed with the [Emperor Star]. And you, my lord, are blessed with the [Harem Star], the most powerful of all stars.
The emperor and empress are bound by a causal connection based on the laws of nature.
If you were to personally travel to Fazhou City, you might be able to leverage this causal connection to find the entrance to the cave and obtain the Pisces Jade Pendant faster than others.
The female guard said a lot.
From geomancy and feng shui to concealment and security, from the karma of the past dynasty to the great cause of restoring the country.
They considered everything for their master in every aspect.
But deep in the female guard's heart, there was actually a selfish motive that she couldn't bring to the surface.
That is.
We must get our master away from that man named "Jiang Mu" as soon as possible!
Their mistress was none other than the dignified princess of the Mirror Kingdom, the Empress of Ten Thousand Stars.
They bear the supreme mission of revitalizing the nation's destiny.
How could a goddess of such noble status and pure virtue coexist with a spoiled brat?
And he stayed there for almost a year.
What's going on here?
In a normal couple, they would have had a child within a year.
Although the female guard believed that her master was of noble character and had little interest in matters between men and women.
But what if something unexpected happens?
After all, that young man surnamed Jiang, although he acted somewhat eccentrically, was indeed a handsome man who attracted many women.
It's very attractive to women.
Who can guarantee that, after years of living together day and night, their master won't be bewitched by his sweet words?
To create a relationship that develops over time?
So take this opportunity to quickly take your master away.
Go as far as you can.
Completely sever all contact between them.
She refused to believe that the man surnamed Jiang could catch her all the way to Fazhou City!
"To the French city..."
After listening to the guard's analysis, Bai Xiang looked bewildered.
Reason told her that the guard was absolutely right, and going to Yunzhou was the safest and most advantageous option at present.
But once you go to the city of Fazhou, it means...
It's time to completely break up with that annoying guy, Jiang Mu.
It wasn't that she was particularly reluctant to part with that jerk who always seemed to annoy her. It was just that she felt a void in her heart, and she wasn't used to it. "Master..."
Seeing that Bai Xiang remained silent, the female guard couldn't help but tentatively ask, "You wouldn't really be reluctant to leave that playboy, would you?" "How dare you!"
Her secret thoughts were laid bare, and Bai Xiang's pretty face suddenly turned icy, her tone as cold as frost.
"What nonsense are you spouting? As the princess of the Mirror Kingdom, I bear the burden of national and familial hatred. How could I let a mere mortal, a lecherous man, be distracted by romantic feelings and lose my resolve?"
I'm just... just a little unwilling!
After all, we stayed there for so long, but came back empty-handed without gaining anything, so we were just unhappy.
It turned out to be the case.
The female guard breathed a sigh of relief and softly comforted her:
"My lord, please calm down. The opportunities and destiny in this world are all about 'fate,' and cannot be forced. Perhaps some destinies are meant to blossom and bear fruit in a different place."
Moreover, although we did not find the jade pendant in Huzhou City, it does not mean that we have gained nothing.
"Look, didn't we unexpectedly find General Huo this time? This shows that Heaven is still looking out for our Mirror Kingdom." "We were able to find Uncle Huo, all thanks to that guy Jiang Mu..."
Bai Xiang muttered something to herself.
She raised her hand and rubbed her temples, feeling incredibly agitated, as if a tangled mess was stuck in her chest, something she couldn't spit out or swallow.
After a long silence, she finally said in a muffled voice:
"I understand. I'll consider it."
Still considering?
Upon hearing this, the female guard was so anxious she almost jumped up.
If this continues, who knows, one day the master might impulsively give birth to the child.
Her eyes suddenly reddened, her voice choked with emotion, tinged with sorrow:
"My lord, you bear the last bloodline of the Mirror Kingdom's royal family, and are blessed with great fortune. Your subordinate firmly believes that you will find the Pisces Jade Pendant and successfully restore the kingdom."
The Queen and His Majesty, in their spirits in heaven, will also protect you.
They surely yearn day and night for their master to restore the glory of the Mirror Kingdom and give its countless people a home…
Upon hearing this, Bai Xiang's body trembled.
yes……
Yes, I carry the legacy of the entire Mirror Kingdom on my shoulders.
Bearing the hopes of countless departed souls.
Now, for the sake of a man, she hesitates, looks back and forth, and is almost forgetting why she is living in the first place.
Cypress, oh Cypress, are you really going to continue down this path of depravity?
Do you deserve the royal blood flowing in your veins?
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
The cold wind, carrying the earthy smell, was inhaled into her lungs through her trachea, forcefully extinguishing the ripples and distracting thoughts in the woman's heart.
When I opened my eyes again,
The confusion in her eyes disappeared, leaving only the aloofness and solitude of an empress's destiny.
"Okay, stop crying."
Bai Xiang said calmly, "I promise you, we'll go to Yunzhou City."
However, she regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth.
But as a princess of a nation, once the words were spoken, they were like spilled water that could not be taken back.
If she were to go back on her word now, it would only make her seem guilty and confirm her reluctance to let go of that man.
But………
Is he really gone like that?
Why don't we try going back and asking Jiang Mu if he'd be willing to go to Yunzhou City with me to develop our business?
But she immediately dismissed the idea.
Although that guy is usually unserious, he can be quite stubborn about certain things.
Bi Jinghuzhou City is his hometown.
His roots.
I've heard him say before that he refused when the headquarters and other prefectures tried to recruit him for higher positions.
Therefore, he definitely won't go to the city of Fazhou.
Frustration and inner conflict surged within Bai Xiang like a tide, leaving her momentarily distraught.
The female guard was overjoyed to hear that her master had finally agreed, and hurriedly said, "Your master is wise. There's no time to lose. Let's set off for Fazhou City immediately."
"Now?"
Bai Xiang snapped out of her daze, coughed lightly, and her eyes darted away slightly.
"I still have some personal belongings left in Huzhou City that I didn't bring with me. You should go to Tanzhou City first and make all the necessary arrangements. I will return to Huzhou to retrieve my belongings and then join you in a few days."
"Then why don't you let your subordinates fetch it for you? You are of noble birth, why bother going back and forth?"
The female guard immediately volunteered, fearing that things might get complicated if she delayed.
"No need."
Bai Xiang glanced at her indifferently, and seeing the other woman's worried expression, she couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing, yet also a little pathetic.
"What? Are you afraid I'll run away?"
"Go and take care of your business. In three to five days at most, I will finish my personal matters and then come to Fazhou City to find you."
Seeing her master's resolute tone, the female guard dared not disobey further and could only helplessly clasp her hands in obedience.
"Yes. Then I will go to Tanzhou City to find a place for my master to stay."
Having said that, he left.
We finally managed to persuade our master to leave that hellhole.
The female guard was secretly delighted.
Watching the guards' figures disappear into the distance at the edge of the dense forest, Bai Xiang stood alone in place, motionless for a long time.
As dusk settled, the wind in the woods carried a hint of coolness.
The wind ruffled the dark hair at her temples.
A sliver of dark red afterglow appeared on the distant horizon, like a wound that was slowly healing.
"Jiang Mu, oh Jiang Mu..."
The woman's ethereal murmurs faded gently into the forest on the breeze, carrying with them endless melancholy.
"It seems that our connection... comes to an end."
After bidding farewell to the enchanting Qiu Yuexin, Jiang Mu and Ling Ye officially embarked on their journey back to Huzhou City.
The two used their movement techniques to quickly leave the Fallen Soul Swamp.
Jiang Mu considered that the journey was long and it wouldn't be feasible to travel on foot alone, so he made a detour to a nearby Demon Slayer Station to get a demon horse for transportation.
"Master Jiang, we've been waiting for you!"
As soon as I stepped into the gate of the post station, an elderly man, over fifty years old and dressed in the official robes of the Demon Slayer Bureau, quickly came to greet me.
He smiled broadly and bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.
"Who are you·……"
Jiang Mu frowned slightly as she sized up the other person.
The old man took out a gold-rimmed token from his sleeve, presented it with both hands, and introduced himself:
"My name is Yang Sanchang, and I am under the direct command of the General Headquarters. I am here on the orders of the General Headquarters to await the arrival of Hall Master Jiang."
"Oh? A special envoy from the commander-in-chief."
Jiang Mu's lips curled into a playful smile as she lazily asked,
"What, is the Commander-in-Chief planning to send you here to interrogate me and hold me accountable?"
Yang Sanchang waved his hands repeatedly:
"No, no, Master Jiang, you've misunderstood."
I have come here specifically to deliver information about "Shen Hufei" to you, Master Jiang. I have no other intentions whatsoever!
Shen Hufei?
Upon hearing this name, Jiang Mu's heart stirred slightly.
Previously in Yancheng, because of his meritorious service in protecting the city, the commander-in-chief specially promised to give him a great opportunity.
Information on the star position of a seventh-realm "Hall of Venerables".
This star position is the Yangmen star position under the Kangjinlong constellation of the Eastern Azure Dragon, and its current holder is named Shen Hufei.
He is the leader of a gang called the Black Shark Gang in the martial arts world.
At the time, Ran Qingshan confidently declared that once he returned from the trial in the Fallen Soul Swamp, as long as he successfully broke through to the sixth realm, the commander-in-chief would immediately arrange for people to assist him in seizing this high-level star position.
Thinking of this, Jiang Mu's mockery deepened, and she looked at Yang Sanchang with a half-smile:
"Special Envoy Yang, my memory isn't that bad."
Didn't you say before that Souji had completely given up on me? Why is he now helping me seize this opportunity?
Faced with Jiang Mu's teasing, Yang Sanchang awkwardly rubbed his hands together and said with a forced smile:
"Please calm down, Master Jiang. Actually... it was all a serious misjudgment by the Princess. The officials of the General Headquarters have always thought highly of you, Master Jiang."
This time, it was also Quan Shanhai, the commander of the Inner Guard, who promptly sent a message back to the capital and explained the situation to the General Headquarters.
The adults then realized that the Princess had caused such a ridiculous blunder, almost jeopardizing Master Jiang's promising future. She even prevented you from entering the secret realm through proper channels… The Chief Commander felt deeply ashamed about this.”
Jiang Mu let out a cold laugh in his heart.
Misunderstand?
They really know how to shift the blame cleanly.
Jiang Mu said calmly:
"Special Envoy Yang, Lord Quan won't inform you so quickly."
I guess it was because that princess went back and complained that I stole her resources in the secret realm.
You originally came here to capture me.
But then I ran into Lord Quan halfway there, and upon learning that I had broken through to the sixth realm, he changed his attitude at the last minute... right?
Yang Sanchang chuckled dryly:
"After the princess returned to the capital, she did indeed complain a few times."
However, the generals' idea is that opportunities are inherently unclaimed, and only the capable will possess them.
Since Hall Master Jiang was able to seize it through his own skill, that is Hall Master Jiang's good fortune. Even if you hadn't seized it, the Commander-in-Chief would never have made you return it after you got back.”
Ling Ye, who was standing to the side, listened to these words, and a complex and emotional look flashed in his eyes.
value.
The imperial court only values the word "value".
If Xiao Jiang hadn't demonstrated the strength to break through to the sixth realm, then what this special envoy Yang was offering wouldn't be an opportunity or intelligence.
It's probably going to be an arrest warrant.
Jiang Mu, too lazy to listen to any more of this empty official jargon, waved his hand to interrupt Yang Sanchang and asked directly:
"Alright, enough with the pleasantries. Your commander-in-chief must already know about Zhou Yuanzhi's murder by the Mist Demon, right?"
Yang Sanchang nodded hurriedly, his expression becoming more solemn:
"Lord Quan has already explained this matter in detail in his confidential letter. The Chief Commander is deeply angered and saddened by this, and has already dispatched a special team to the Fallen Soul Swamp to investigate the aftermath. Hall Master Jiang need not worry."
Jiang Mu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems that Quan Shanhai is quite reliable; at least he is willing to get things done and keeps his word.
Yang Sanchang took out a sealed scroll and an exquisite wooden box from his bosom and respectfully presented them to Jiang Mu with both hands:
"Master Jiang, here is the detailed information about Shen Hufei. Also, this box contains a special auxiliary treasure that the Chief Commander has prepared for you. Previously, the adults bestowed upon you a [Crimson Jade Egg]. This time, to make up for the injustice caused by the Princess's misjudgment, the Chief Commander has specially approved an even better treasure."
This item can greatly increase your chances of attaining the Seventh Realm Star Rank.
Jiang Mu took the wooden box and opened it casually.
Inside, several high-quality talismans were neatly stacked, their light subtly shimmering.
Next to it was a bottle of pills emitting a rich medicinal fragrance. The bottle was carved from warm jade, and it was clear at a glance that it was very valuable.
At the very bottom of these treasures lay a palm-sized ingot of gold.
"Gold?"
Jiang Mu was stunned for a moment. This thing can be called a treasure?
Curious, he picked up the gold, only to find it extremely light and smooth to the touch, almost like a feather.
Beneath the gold ingot was a jade slip, inscribed with a description of the item.
This item is called Immortal Spirit Gold.
It can greatly enhance the sensitivity of a cultivator's divine sense to the starry sea.
Wearing this item allows one's divine sense to act like a lighthouse in a starry sea, enabling one to more clearly and quickly identify and lock onto target star positions.
They are more likely to gain the natural favor of higher-level star position laws.
It is specifically designed for obtaining star-level certification at the "Supreme Star Follower" level in the seventh realm.
"So it was a super signal amplifier."
Jiang Mu understood.
He silently released a wisp of demonic energy, attempting to erode and transform the celestial gold.
However, as soon as the demonic energy touched the surface of the gold ingot, it was repelled by a gentle spiritual force.
It cannot penetrate even a fraction.
Keep in mind that his demonic energy was a domineering force capable of forcibly blackening even the Nine Apertures Divine Root, yet he suffered a setback with this tiny gold ingot. He's no ordinary person.
Jiang Mu carefully put away the gold, then opened the dossier.
I don’t know, I’m scared.
This was different from the rough resume Ran Qingshan had shown him last time.
This top-secret dossier from the General Headquarters is extremely detailed.
Each of Shen Hufei's supernatural abilities and spells was marked with detailed weaknesses and methods to counter them.
His every fighting habit was analyzed in meticulous detail.
It even details when he is easily distracted, in what terrain his combat effectiveness is reduced, and how to use psychological tactics to disrupt his mind.
Looking at the file, which resembled a "walkthrough," Jiang Mu felt a cold sweat break out on his back.
"No wonder even a woman like Zhou Yuanzhi, who isn't very bright, was able to gather enough Star Cores to reach the threshold of the Ninth Realm..."
Jiang Mu silently complained to himself.
"With the imperial court's 24/7 big data-driven precision push notifications, plus tailor-made kill strategies and magical artifacts, anyone who isn't a complete idiot can be fed to a high level."
It's no exaggeration to say that even if it weren't Jiang Mu, this overpowered genius, standing here today, but any ordinary sixth-realm Great Perfection prodigy, as long as they obtained this information and combined it with the resources provided by the imperial court, they could achieve the same result.
I'm at least 70-80% confident that I can kill Shen Hufei, a seventh-realm cultivator, even though we're at a higher level.
The chasm between the sixth and seventh realms, which was like an insurmountable barrier, was thus bridged.
"Hall Master Jiang."
Seeing that Jiang Mu had finished reading the case file, Yang Sanchang took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to him with both hands.
"This is Shen Hufei's exact whereabouts for the past few days. He happens to be in Xiyun Town, about twenty miles away. I hope Hall Master Jiang can find it useful." Jiang Mu didn't take the letter, but instead stared at Yang Sanchang with a half-smile, a chill in his eyes:
"Special Envoy Yang, I have a question."
Could this guy named Shen Hufei be some kind of "Gu" that your imperial court has been keeping in the martial arts world?
Once he's fattened up, we'll strip him clean and use him as provisions for those of us in the imperial court.
Then tell me, one day in the future...
Am I also going to become someone else's "poison"?
Yang Sanchang quickly chuckled dryly to try and smooth things over:
"Master Jiang is joking. How could that be? In the cultivation of the Great Dao, life and death are determined by Heaven. How could we mortals possess such heaven-reaching and earth-shattering means to arbitrarily control the fate of others?"
The commander-in-chief is merely following the natural order and offering you some insignificant guidance.
Yang Sanchang quickly changed the subject.
"If Hall Master Jiang needs manpower, I will immediately go to the nearby prefectures to mobilize the Demon-Slaying Guards."
"No need, I can handle it myself."
Jiang Mu refused outright.
"Alright, then I won't bother you any longer. If you need anything, Hall Master Jiang can contact me anytime via teleportation."
Yang San bowed slightly and left the post station.