Chapter 563: The Inn's Distinguished Guest |
"There's no need. Let's return early; there are many matters to attend to."
Li Xiangrou refused without a second thought, then waved her hand. "Commander Li, let's depart."
"Yes!"
Commander Li nodded, then raised his horsewhip. "Move out!"
"As you command!"
......
At his command, the procession set off once more.
They headed in the direction leading out of the city.
Ning Qi, sitting in the carriage, took the opportunity to glance back.
"It seems they still think you fell for their trap."
Ning Qi turned back and couldn't help but smile as he spoke.
"Let them think whatever they want. Once I return this time, I will sweep all these people away together."
After experiencing yet another betrayal, Li Xiangrou had become hard-hearted.
She had lost all patience with these people.
"Good. That's the first step to becoming a true powerhouse."
Hearing her words, Ning Qi couldn't help but encourage her. "I believe you can do it."
"Ning Qi, I still need your support for this."
"Otherwise, there are several experts in the Imperial Capital I am no match for."
"Moreover, the relationships between them are intricately complex."
Li Xiangrou turned to Ning Qi, her expression serious.
"Don't worry. I won't leave until I've helped you resolve the issues here."
"Before that, I will not depart."
Ning Qi gave a slight nod.
As they chatted, they unknowingly left the city.
They arrived at the final road leading back to the Imperial Capital.
"Your Highness, if we follow this road and cross this mountain range, we will reach our Imperial Capital!"
At this moment, Commander Li rode over, a smile on his face.
After such a long and arduous journey, they could finally see hope.
"It's a pity that many of our guards will not see this day."
Li Xiangrou glanced back.
That was the road they had come from; likewise, many guards had been left behind forever on that road behind them.
Her words caused the few guards around them to show expressions of sorrow.
These people were also their friends and brothers, who would never be able to return.
"But fortunately, we have all returned. Next, we will walk the final leg of the journey for them and complete their mission."
Li Xiangrou sighed again, then said earnestly, "From now on, I will live well and make myself stronger."
"So that such things will never happen again. In that way, their deaths will not have been in vain."
"Your Highness speaks rightly!"
"Only by becoming strong ourselves will no one dare to bully us again!"
Commander Li nodded, his expression grave. "However, for these last two days of travel, we don't know what arrangements they might make."
"Well, that's up to them."
"As for that, even if we tried to guess, we couldn't figure it out."
Ning Qi, driving the carriage, chimed in, "But it doesn't matter. We'll just meet soldiers with soldiers, and water with earth!"
"Right!"
Li Xiangrou agreed, looking ahead. "If they want to make a move, then let them come at us."
"I am no longer the weak person I used to be!"
"Brothers, pick up the pace!"
"Let's get back sooner!"
Commander Li called out loudly.
"Yes!"
".....
They quickly received responses from the group, and the speed of the convoy increased once more.
Seeing everyone looking excited, Ning Qi couldn't help but think of the True Martial Spirit Realm.
Thinking about it carefully, he had been away for quite some time.
"Master, are you thinking of going back?"
Seeing his expression, the Pill Spirit couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, we've been away for quite a while. Once we finish handling matters here, we'll go back!"
"Let's see how our True Martial Spirit Realm is doing now!"
Ning Qi nodded, his gaze turning toward the void.
If not for being tied down by matters here, with just a single leap, he could leave this place far behind,
soaring across the Realm Sea, returning to the True Martial Spirit Realm.
"Ning Qi, what kind of place is your True Martial Spirit Realm?"
Li Xiangrou could now see the Pill Spirit clearly.
By this point, the Pill Spirit no longer needed to hide itself.
Their conversation had caught her attention, so she asked curiously.
"It's different from your place here. My True Martial Spirit Realm was forged through my own efforts."
"It's a fusion of three realms. Compared to your place, our overall strength is a bit weaker."
"Our cultivation environment isn't great either; the spiritual energy isn't as abundant as it is here!"
Ning Qi thought for a moment and said with a smile, "However, I've already found a way to solve the problem, though it requires paying some price."
"Then, why don't you all just come here? Wouldn't that save a lot of trouble?"
Hearing him say this, Li Xiangrou couldn't help but suggest.
"That's not necessary. Coming here would involve encountering many complex and intertwined powers."
"It's better to stay in the True Martial Spirit Realm and make ourselves strong."
Ning Qi shook his head, then continued, "It's the same principle as you needing to return to the Imperial Capital. No matter how strong you become outside, it's ultimately useless."
"Only by making your own foundation stable and solid is the true way."
"Otherwise, wouldn't that just be taking shortcuts?"
His words were logical and well-reasoned, making Li Xiangrou nod repeatedly.
"Right, what you say is correct!"
She looked at Ning Qi and continued, "This time when I return, I will solidify our foundation and eliminate future troubles for good."
"Good! I will lend you a hand."
Ning Qi nodded, smiling. "Next, we just need to finish this last leg of the journey and return to see your specific situation."
"It might be very chaotic."
Li Xiangrou looked at Ning Qi and couldn't help but sigh. "When I left, the situation was already very chaotic."
"Oh? How did you leave back then, and go to such a faraway place?"
Her words instead piqued Ning Qi's curiosity, and he looked at her, asking.
"Well... that's a long story."
Li Xiangrou sighed softly, then continued, "Actually, I'm not entirely a citizen of the Yue Kingdom. My mother was from elsewhere."
"I went out this time to pay respects to her. The main reason was also being ostracized by my elder sister in the Yue Kingdom."
"I originally thought that after leaving, I would completely sever ties with them."
"But then I suddenly received news of my Imperial Father's serious illness, so I had no choice but to return."
"Oh? So that's how it is!"
After hearing her explanation, Ning Qi immediately understood the situation.
"Master, I feel her return this time is probably not so simple."
"Originally, after she left, wasn't everything fine?"
"There must be some problem here!"
After listening to her story, the Pill Spirit couldn't help but analyze and say, "When something abnormal happens, there must be a demon behind it!"
"Right, what you say is correct!"
Before Ning Qi could say anything, Li Xiangrou spoke first.
"So it seems you already know what kind of trouble you might encounter?"
Ning Qi looked at her and asked further.
"I know."
Li Xiangrou forced a smile. "But I still have to face it, don't I?"
"That's right."
Ning Qi nodded, his expression turning grave. "Next, we'll just have to see what they plan to do."
"Yes."
Li Xiangrou nodded, also looking ahead.
Their convoy sped along, quickly leaving the city far behind and arriving deep within the mountain range.
Here, the mountains were clear and the waters beautiful, with Immortal Herbs and Exotic Flowers everywhere.
The sight made one feel refreshed and at ease.
"This place is really nice; it's a great place for cultivation!"
The Pill Spirit, perched on Ning Qi's shoulder, hopped about and said, "And I can also sense there are some very spiritual medicines here."
"Yes, there are indeed many spiritual medicines here, but this area is not open for private use."
"We have the Yue Kingdom's Guard Team patrolling here year-round."
Li Xiangrou looked at the Pill Spirit and added, "If you want to use them, you'll be arrested. This is a unique spiritual mountain belonging to our Yue Kingdom."
"Oh? You can just monopolize it like that?"
The Pill Spirit was immediately displeased.
"This is inevitable. If they want their own people to become strong, they need to employ some methods."
Ning Qi, however, understood. "Otherwise, if anyone could come here to pick them, soon everyone who knew would come."
"Furthermore, their Imperial Capital is ahead. If they don't set up proper defenses, it would be very troublesome."
"Ning Qi, you're right again. That's exactly how it is."
"In the past, we also didn't manage it properly, and these problems occurred."
"Later, my Imperial Father issued the order and stationed people here."
"If not for that, there wouldn't be so many spiritual medicines protected!"
After listening to Ning Qi's words, Li Xiangrou continued, "Moreover, there were also some malicious people who infiltrated the Imperial Capital."
"These are lessons learned with blood. It's not that we want to occupy this place; in reality, even if we did occupy it, we couldn't possibly exhaust its resources."
"So that's how it is."
The Pill Spirit immediately felt it had oversimplified things.
After listening to both of them, it nodded deeply in agreement.
"Your Highness, there's a relay station ahead. Let's rest there for the night. We can reach the Imperial Capital tomorrow afternoon!"
It was at this moment that Commander Li rode over.
He respectfully reported to Li Xiangrou.
"Oh? That fast?"
Li Xiangrou was also somewhat surprised.
Or perhaps, the closer she got to the end, the more her mood became... complicated.
After all, what she had to face upon returning were the people she least wanted to face.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Commander Li nodded, pointing ahead. "Once we pass this mountain pass, we'll be there soon."
"If I remember correctly, once we exit from here, it's the plains, right?"
Li Xiangrou looked ahead, a trace of reminiscence in her expression.
"Your Highness, that's correct."
Commander Li also responded, "The plains stretch as far as the eye can see. When crossing them, there are villages and small towns of the common people everywhere."
"At the far end is our Imperial Capital!"
"Good, then let's continue on our way!"
Li Xiangrou seemed to have made some kind of preparation. After agreeing, she had Commander Li lead the way again.
"Yes."
Commander Li acknowledged, then immediately rode off.
The procession began to move forward again.
The mountain road gradually disappeared behind them.
After a day's journey, they had gradually left this mountain range.
Once their convoy exited the mountains, they arrived at the mouth of the gorge.
Looking ahead, it was indeed as they had said—a stretch of plains lay before them.
Though some peaks and hills could still occasionally be seen.
Even so, looking out, it was largely flat and open.
Many villages and small towns could also be seen.
"Your Highness, the relay station is just ahead. Shall we proceed?"
Commander Li rode back once more, respectfully reporting to Li Xiangrou.
"Good, let's go!"
Li Xiangrou stopped overthinking and directly gave the order.
"Yes!"
Commander Li respectfully accepted the order, then commanded the guards, "We are going to rest at the relay station."
"Yes!"
"As you command!"
The guards responded one after another, then continued on their way.
After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, they finally arrived at the entrance of the relay station.
The traffic on the road here had gradually increased.
Even the relay station was quite lively, filled with traveling merchants.
The gorge behind them connected in all directions.
It led to various regions, not just the single path they had just emerged from.
"The roads here can lead to all parts of the Yue Kingdom, so there are many people coming and going."
Commander Li explained to Ning Qi, "That's why the roads here are very wide and flat."
"Those who pass through here are all heading to the Imperial Capital."
"Mmm."
"It seems your Yue Kingdom has quite a population!"
Ning Qi nodded, looking at the endless stream of people coming and going here.
Clearly, they were all heading to the Imperial Capital.
"Yes!"
"But most of them are commoners."
Li Xiangrou also agreed. "This is the foundation of our Yue Kingdom."
"Your Highness, we have arrived!"
At this moment, a guard came over to report.
The convoy gradually came to a stop.
"Good, let's go!"
After Li Xiangrou agreed, she followed and got off the carriage.
This was the first time she had left the carriage after the day's journey.
Ning Qi glanced left and right, then also got off the carriage.
He then followed them toward the entrance of the relay station.
The relay station also had many people coming and going. Once they reached the entrance, there were still some travelers inside the inn.
"We have already made arrangements. Miss, please go upstairs."
A guard came over to usher them upstairs.
"Good!"
Li Xiangrou didn't hesitate either. After agreeing directly, she followed upstairs.
Ning Qi followed closely behind.
Together, they went upstairs.
After going upstairs, they arrived at a private room.
There was also a dining table, clearly already set with food, waiting for them to dine.
After Ning Qi and Li Xiangrou sat down, a shop assistant soon came to serve the dishes.
Once all the food was served, the guards left two people responsible for guarding the door.
The others all went downstairs to eat.
"Commander Li's arrangements are really thoughtful."
Ning Qi smiled, looking at the delicious food on the table.
All were delicacies rich in spiritual energy, clearly specially ordered.
"Yes, he has always been very cautious and arranges things well."
Li Xiangrou nodded and began to pick up a piece of green vegetable.
Ning Qi didn't stand on ceremony either, joining in and eating heartily.
The two of them thus savored the inn's delicacies.
The guards at the door had also been replaced by a new shift.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a guard suddenly arrived at the door.
"Your Highness."
He stepped forward and respectfully greeted.
"What is it?"
Li Xiangrou looked at the guard and asked curiously.
"The Duke requests an audience."
The guard said respectfully.