Translator: AnubisTL
Upon entering the land, they were immediately met with a desolate mountain range, shrouded in miasma and teeming with venomous insects. Fortunately, the four of them had their cultivation to rely on, and after spending two full days, they safely passed through and arrived at a small town.
The customs and culture of this place were somewhat different from those of Great Chu. Gu Feng found a small tavern and, after inquiring with the waiter, learned that this area belonged to Great Wei.
After a simple meal, Gu Feng led the three of them swiftly eastward. At their pace, they would reach the border between Great Wei and Great Chu in less than three days, thus returning to Great Chu.
However, a piece of news that came to him unexpectedly made Gu Feng halt his steps.
The Third Prince had become a hostage in Great Wei.
Gu Feng held a favorable impression of this frail yet benevolent Third Prince. Whether it was his brave stand for Sunset Glow Sect that year or the lodging arrangements during the major examination in Tranquil Sky City, not to mention his close relationship with Chu Youhuan, Gu Feng found it impossible to ignore him from any perspective.
"Are you eager to return to Great Chu?" Gu Feng quietly asked Hua Wenyue as they exited a tavern in central Great Wei.
"Are you planning to rescue the Third Prince?" Hua Wenyue tilted her head and asked softly.
"Whether to rescue him depends on the situation. Since we are already in Great Wei, and the Third Prince Chu Xiu is not far from here, we should at least go take a look," Gu Feng said with a hint of emotion.
It had been five years since he left Great Chu, during which many events had transpired.
In the second year after his departure, a significant war broke out between Great Chu and Great Wei.
Fortunately, with the involvement of the sects, although Great Chu still could not prevail, it became exceedingly difficult for Great Wei to defeat Great Chu.
The war lasted a year, and both sides were unwilling to incur further casualties, leading them to sign a ceasefire agreement, with the Third Prince going to Great Wei as part of that agreement.
The specific details involved national matters, and the tavern waiter only knew bits and pieces.
"Two days won't make much difference," Hua Wenyue said lightly.
"Then let's take a few days to detour to Anqiu City and check on the Third Prince's situation!" Gu Feng decided.
Anqiu City was a town adjacent to the capital of Great Wei, where the Third Prince's residence was located.
Hua Wenyue had no objections, and the other two had no right to voice any.
Two days later, the four of them arrived at Anqiu City.
After a hearty meal, Gu Feng summoned the waiter, "Check, please!"
Seeing the waiter standing right in front of him, Hua Wenyue was taken aback, then glanced at Gu Feng and took out Spirit Stones to settle the bill.
"Don't look at me like that; you still owe me a lot of Spirit Stones! We'll settle the total later!" Gu Feng said lightly, picking up a toothpick.
At his words, Hua Wenyue's face darkened. She truly hadn't expected that after five years of life and death together, this rascal Gu Feng still remembered those old debts.
"Just give me a total. When we return to Great Chu, I'll pay you back immediately!" Hua Wenyue said irritably.
"The consumption of pills on the way to the East Sea Dragon Clan... and the Spirit Stones used to operate the Violet Starlight Sky-Piercing Disc on the return trip... Let's give you a discount and call it one billion Mid-Grade Spirit Stones," Gu Feng chuckled.
Now, one billion Mid-Grade Spirit Stones was not a significant amount for Gu Feng, but it could help him advance a small realm in the Sea Condensation Realm, which he couldn't afford to lose.
The night was dark, and four figures, clad in night gear, moved toward the Emerald Peak Estate where the Third Prince was located, taking advantage of the sparse moonlight.
Emerald Peak Estate was vast, with several patrols of Great Wei cultivators on the outskirts. Gu Feng slightly exerted his Soul Power and evaded their detection.
Once inside the estate, they swiftly moved to a brightly lit small lake.
Hiding behind a rockery by the lake, they searched for the Third Prince's figure.
Not seeing him, Gu Feng's gaze froze on a figure in a pavilion on the lake, rubbing his eyes in disbelief, his heart suddenly filled with joy.
"Is it her?"
Dressed in a black gown, her long black hair cascading like a waterfall, just a glimpse of her back allowed Gu Feng to recognize her identity.
A smile of delight appeared on his face as his thoughts drifted back to the night before he left Grand Harmony Academy.
"Next time you come back, I might consider telling you this secret..." Yan Yexue's calm voice echoed in Gu Feng's mind.
He already knew this secret; Yan Yexue had received some true teachings from Zhu Qingyan. However, that did not hinder the fluctuations in his heart at this moment.
"What's wrong? Have you seen an old flame?" Hua Wenyue's voice came softly from beside him.
"Yan Yexue, Yan Xixi's sister," Gu Feng replied without turning his head, a hint of disdain in his tone.
Just as he was contemplating whether to reveal himself, the figure of the Third Prince appeared, accompanied by a familiar cough.
"Cough cough—"
After years apart, perhaps due to becoming a hostage, the Third Prince's handsome face bore a hint of weariness.
He walked at a leisurely pace to the pavilion, sat down beside it, took out a fishing rod, and cast it into the water to begin fishing.
On the other side of the pavilion, Yan Yexue merely lifted her gaze slightly, then nodded, focusing on her alchemy.
The familiar face before Gu Feng stirred a mix of emotions within him; time had left no marks on her face, still as beautiful and aloof as ever.
Their manner of interaction was somewhat strange; they appeared familiar yet had no communication whatsoever.
A hint of hesitation appeared on Gu Feng's face as he lurked nearby, quietly observing the small lake, his gaze wandering, and his heart filled with melancholy.
Five years—neither long nor short—was enough to change many things.
Before leaving Grand Harmony Academy, Gu Feng was certain there was some ambiguity between them. Had he not gone missing for so long, following the normal course of development, their relationship might have progressed further.
Yet now, he was uncertain.
If only—
"Show yourself!" Hua Wenyue glanced at Gu Feng, noticing his hesitation, and softly urged.
"It's late at night; it would be rude to disturb them. Let's wait and see," Gu Feng said, feeling inexplicably irritable.
"While you're thinking about your old flame, your Chu Youhuan is still waiting for you!"
Initially intending to tease Gu Feng, Hua Wenyue fell silent after saying this, a sense of disappointment fluttering in her heart, leaving her disinterested.
The atmosphere grew awkward, and Long Xun'er and Shi San exchanged silent glances, unsure of what was happening.
"Miss Yan, you've had me as a guard for two years, and there are many rumors circulating..." The Third Prince's voice reached them, causing Gu Feng to shudder, his gaze sharpening.
"Just rumors; the Third Prince need not worry," Yan Yexue replied without raising her head, her tone indifferent.
"Hmm." The Third Prince responded softly, somewhat distracted as he continued to fish, a hint of hesitation appearing on his handsome face.
His gaze occasionally drifted toward the woman across from him. After a long pause, he took a deep breath, as if gathering courage, and said softly, "Miss Yan, if you don't mind, I, Chu Xiu, will immediately request a marriage proposal to the Yan family from my father..."
Upon hearing this, Gu Feng couldn't help but swallow hard, his feet shifting as a surge of impulse to leave washed over him.
"Have some backbone, will you? Leaving now would just be self-deception!" Hua Wenyue firmly grasped Gu Feng's arm, expressing her disdain.
"Who's leaving? My legs are just tired; is it wrong to shift a bit?" Gu Feng shot back, his eyes wide, trying to sound tough.
At his words, Yan Yexue in the pavilion tidied up the jars and bottles in front of her, stood up, and took a few steps outside the pavilion, her voice cold:
"Thank you for your kind intentions, Third Prince, but I already have someone I like. Please don't make such jokes in the future."
The Third Prince put down his fishing rod, shaking his head with a bitter smile: "I understand."
Exhaling a breath of frustration, he continued:
"But he has been missing for five years.
Back then, you searched for three years in the East Sea and found nothing. You should have realized then that he wouldn't return.
Half a year ago, your sister left, and that senior didn't mention Gu Feng either, which only confirms this fact, doesn't it?"
"Perhaps this sounds cruel and impolite, but I don't want to see you living in the memories of the past forever..."
"..."
The Third Prince's voice was low as he poured out his feelings, yet Yan Yexue remained unmoved, her expression tinged with sadness.
"Moreover, even if he were to return, how could you possibly be with him... he is Chu Youhuan's man!"
Perhaps growing a bit agitated, the Third Prince gradually lost his composure.
After saying this, both fell into silence.
After a long time, the Third Prince seemed to realize that some of his words were inappropriate, his face showing an apologetic expression: "I'm sorry; I got too emotional and didn't choose my words carefully."
After a long silence, Yan Yexue slightly raised her eyes and spoke softly: "Being your guard is solely because of Chu Youhuan; it has nothing to do with you.
I believe he will return—"
Pausing, she added softly, "Liking him is my own sentiment; the rest doesn't matter—"
With that, she turned and walked away.
At the small lake, in the pavilion, only the helpless Third Prince remained, shouting loudly:
"I want to know, is it because he appeared before me?"
"You have none of his cunning, none of his traps, and none of his shamelessness. I don't like you."
At her words, the Third Prince's face fell, completely breaking down.
Hiding behind the rockery, Hua Wenyue tilted her head, looking at the animated Gu Feng, somewhat intrigued: "Are you happy now?"
Her gaze swept over Gu Feng, and she couldn't understand why this rascal had so many women liking him.
Could it be that saying was true: if a man isn't bad, a woman won't love him?
"Not bad!" Gu Feng grinned in response.
"Eavesdropping on others is shameless behavior!" Hua Wenyue disliked Gu Feng's smug demeanor and pinched his arm hard as she spoke.
In a state of complete relaxation, the sudden sharp pain made Gu Feng involuntarily gasp.
Hiss—
The sound was faint but enough to reveal their presence.
Yan Yexue's gaze froze, and as she stopped, she leaped high, her figure transforming into a streak of light.
Like a ghost in the night, she dashed toward the rockery in the blink of an eye.
"Come out!"
With a light wave of her hand, a large cloud of black mist erupted, containing highly toxic Spiritual Power, shooting toward the rockery with a sizzling sound, visibly eroding the several-meter-high rockery.
Four figures emerged.
"Don't go too hard!"
This situation was awkward and somewhat lewd; Gu Feng thought it best not to reveal their identities and decided to visit again tomorrow.
"Leave them to me!"
Seeing the four black-robed figures turning to leave, Yan Yexue shouted, her right hand extending, the air around her corroding with a whirring sound, a terrifying aura rapidly spreading.
One of the black-robed figures suddenly halted, not looking back, and threw a punch at Yan Yexue.
Roar—
In an instant, a blurred dragon claw tore through the air, glinting coldly as it collided fiercely with Yan Yexue.
Boom—
The clash between the two unleashed shockwaves, exploding the small lake, sending large splashes of water boiling, and the pavilion in the lake turned to dust, with the Third Prince, still in the Essence Spirit Realm, becoming a drenched chicken.
"Third Prince, are you alright!"
More than ten guards in black armor, bearing the Great Chu emblem, pulled the Third Prince from the lake, surrounding him and vigilantly watching their surroundings.
"Don't mind me; go assist Miss Yan!" The Third Prince was weak, but his insight was sharp; even one of the black-robed figures could match Yan Yexue.
If all four attacked together, she would surely be at a disadvantage.
However—
The four black-robed figures did not linger; they exchanged a blow with Yan Yexue and then swiftly vanished into the vast night.
Yan Yexue stood in place, her brows tightly furrowed, the slight tingling in her palm stirring her emotions.
"Hmph, hiding like a rat!" Back at the tavern, Hua Wenyue grumbled unhappily!
"I wanted to leave long ago; you wouldn't let me.
Besides, you're jealous of me; otherwise, how would we have been exposed?" Gu Feng smirked, his face full of amusement.
"Get lost; I want to rest." Hua Wenyue glared at him, angrily pushing Gu Feng out the door.
"This is my room."
"Not anymore; it's mine now!"
Bang—
"This woman must have forgotten to take her medicine; her mania has flared up again."
Looking at the crack in the door, Gu Feng shook his head in disbelief.
(End of the Chapter)
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