The moment their lips met, Xu Yuan felt her awkwardness.
Gradually, however, the blood-red light swirling in his pupils was replaced by a luminous pink.
In an instant, blossoms showered through the quiet chamber as petals swirled all around.
Intoxicating and dreamlike, that seemingly eternal kiss threatened to drain a person's very soul.
When the kiss finally ended, Su Jinxuan pulled away panting. She drew his roving hands out from beneath her loose, plain robes and, face flushing red, looked at the dazed man sitting on the bed. She spat playfully, "Fool, is that all you've got?"
With that, she fell silent for a brief moment, then leaned in quickly to plant a soft peck on his cheek.
Straightening up, she smoothed her lapels in slight fluster, her bright, luminous eyes curving into a gentle smile that vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Her stunning, alluring face shifted through countless emotions before she bit her lower lip and let out a sigh.
In the end, she departed alone, vanishing into the pitch-black, snowy night.
A few breaths later, the blood-red flame in Xu Yuan's pupils finally burned away the last trace of glowing pink, and clarity returned to his eyes.
Looking around the empty room, Xu Yuan silently lowered his gaze to his own palm.
It seemed as if her soft warmth still lingered there.
After a long while, Xu Yuan flopped onto the large bed, sprawled out like a corpse with arms and legs spread, and stared up at the bed hangings with a heavy sigh.
As it turned out, he really had overestimated himself.
Just now, he had distinctly felt the Bewitching Soul Fiend Physique's assault on his mind, striking straight at the sentiments of his heart.
It was an exceedingly strange sensation.
The Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art he circulated constantly clashed and tangled with that bizarre erosion, but unfortunately, his cultivation was too weak, lacking staying power.
Like a surging tide, that uncanny invasive feeling overwhelmed his Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art anyway. Even channeling the Meishen Dao Charm failed to resist it.
Direct physical contact—even just a single kiss—and the innate charm of that little succubus's body caused his mind to crash completely.
If they went any deeper, he hardly dared to imagine.
Even if Su Jinxuan didn't pull any sinister tricks to manipulate his emotions, in that brain-dead state, he would probably be reduced to letting the fairy do all the work on full autopilot.
Whether it would feel good or not, he couldn't say without trying, but how could a real man languish under someone else forever!
In the quiet air, Xu Yuan slowly raised a hand and clenched it into a tight fist.
*Power!*
Having made up his mind, he rolled over and jumped out of bed, carefully retrieving a few items from his Sumeru ring: a censer, several scented sachets, and a dose of Refreshing Powder.
As a meticulous man, he knew full well that cultivation could wait a little, but cleaning the room was of the utmost urgency.
After all, if that princess came back and caught a whiff of something...
The night passed without incident. The following morning:
The blizzard that had raged all night finally ceased, though it was merely a temporary lull.
Snowclouds still hung across the expanse of the sky like indelible ink.
Perhaps due to the lull in the storm, the barbarians outside the city finally halted their offensive at dawn after a night of probing attacks. Yet the streets were far from quiet.
In accordance with his agreement with Li Qingyan, Xu Yuan had to reach the South City military camp before the hour of the Snake.
Thus, Xu Yuan set out early in a carriage driven by Zhou Chen, leaving the government office and heading down the street toward the southern part of the city.
At first, he could still spot a few commoners out purchasing supplies, but after traveling for two quarters of an hour and entering South City, only soldiers of various colors remained.
Dispatch riders rode demonic beasts, hurtling down the thoroughfares, while squads of soldiers marched with tense discipline, their boots crunching into the snow with an aura of grim severity. Looking up, one could clearly see a faint blue film shrouding midair over Beifeng City like a canopy of clear water.
Yet in this canopy gaped an abrupt hole—damage to the formation caused by the gate being blown open.
South Beifeng was under full military control, but thanks to the government office insignia hanging from the carriage, Xu Yuan's journey was largely unimpeded.
The southern wall, towering like a mountain range, drew closer and closer, breathtaking as a wall at the edge of the world.
As they drew near the southern wall, the carriage finally slowed.
Ahead lay a temporary checkpoint.
Xu Yuan drew aside the carriage curtain to peer outside.
Across the broad beast-track stood giant iron chevaux-de-frise over ten feet tall. About a hundred soldiers clad in standard Yulin Guard armor were inspecting passing carriages, and numerous beast-drawn carts transporting military materiel were stopped here for inspection as well.
"Mister Zhou, what is this...?"
Up front, Zhou Chen replied without hesitation, "Young Master, another four or five li and we'll be right at the southern wall. Without a tiger tally and transfer orders, not even military units are allowed through."
As they spoke, a young man wearing the armor of a Yulin Guard lieutenant walked up to the carriage, his tone neither obsequious nor arrogant: "Please present your token."
Lounging carelessly on the driver's seat, Zhou Chen chuckled and handed over a token.
The young lieutenant probed the token briefly with his intent-soul. A few breaths later, he said, "The token is genuine. We will take custody of the carriage. Please step down."
Zhou Chen glanced back toward the compartment and said with an easy laugh, "Brother, it's a personal guard's token. We're on the same side. The one inside—"
The young lieutenant frowned, his voice growing firmer. "Please cooperate. No non-military carriages are permitted beyond this point."
Zhou Chen's brow twitched. He exhaled a breath and said with a smile, "Brother, my young master and your—"
"All right, don't make things difficult for him."
At that moment, a voice sounded from within the carriage.
Xu Yuan cut off Zhou Chen's attempts to drive them through, remarking with a smile, "He's just doing his duty. It isn't easy for him either."
As he spoke, Xu Yuan opened the carriage door and stepped down.
Due to the snowfall, the beast-track was rather slushy and muddied with ice, his boots crunching against the frozen grime.
When the young lieutenant saw Xu Yuan wearing the armor of a Yulin personal guard, he instantly grew wary, one hand dropping to the hilt of his saber at his waist. "Wait."
"Hmm?"
Xu Yuan uttered a soft murmur of confusion, looking back. "What is it? Didn't you already inspect the token?"
The young lieutenant narrowed his eyes. "Who are you? Her Highness the Princess has no personal guards."
As he spoke, the military array arts within his body quietly surged into motion.
Sensing the shift, the soldiers lounging and chatting near the checkpoint reacted in unison. Almost instantly, a hundred-man military array began to take shape, snapping into combat readiness.
The reflexes of Great Yan's elites were far beyond ordinary men.
Seeing this, Zhou Chen frowned, his aura expanding. The pressure of a third-rank Grandmaster forced the young officer back a step. Zhou Chen said with a genial smile, "Brother—"
"Mister Zhou."
Xu Yuan called Zhou Chen to a halt, feeling a touch helpless.
Hearing him, Zhou Chen immediately reined in his aura and cupped his hands. "Third Young Master, your orders?"
"Don't go looking for trouble," Xu Yuan instructed mildly.
"..." Zhou Chen's gaze turned somewhat peculiar.
Xu Yuan waved a hand, not bothering to explain.
He understood what Zhou Chen was trying to do. Zhou Chen's impression of him was likely still stuck back in Jingjiang Prefecture: a young master with some capability, but a playboy who would kill his guard Xue Yong over a single misspoken word.
Based on that past template, under circumstances like this, Xu Yuan would likely kick up a massive fuss.
Under Zhou Chen's uneasy gaze, Xu Yuan glanced down at the Yulin personal guard armor he wore, understanding everything.
Li Qingyan had mentioned that she never used personal guards, let alone one at the fifth-rank Soul Condensation realm.
Surveying the surrounding soldiers, who had formed a complete array, Xu Yuan helplessly fished out another token and tossed it to the man.
"I understand the reason for your suspicion, so I won't make things difficult for you either."
The young lieutenant caught it with a furrowed brow, glanced at it, and his pupils contracted slightly.
Chancellor's Manor, Third Young Master.
As soldiers under her command, they all knew more or less about Her Highness choosing a prince consort.
The dreams of countless admirers had shattered across the floor.
Some had even drunkenly declared they would beat that princess's prince consort to a pulp.
And now, that very man stood directly before him.
Clad in fine robes and commanding fine horses, remarkably handsome, gentle in manner, with a Grandmaster serving as his coachman—the immense chasm between them weighed on the young officer until he could hardly catch his breath.
Clenching his fists, the young lieutenant took a deep breath, suppressing the bitter reluctance in his heart. He bowed deeply, offering the token back with both hands. "Third Young Master, this Li was offensive just now. I beg for your forbearance."
Xu Yuan smiled faintly, casting a glance at his carriage. "Can the carriage pass?"
The young lieutenant gritted his teeth. "I can only arrange a military carriage for the young master."
The military carriage rattled past the checkpoint. It was far less comfortable than the carriage from earlier, bumping and shaking the whole way.
After a while, Zhou Chen, who was driving up front, asked tentatively, "Young Master... that kid back there, you're just letting him off like that?"
A familiar question.
Back when Xue Yong was killed, Zhou Chen had asked something similar.
This time, however, Xu Yuan merely chuckled lukewarmly. "He was only doing his duty and didn't deliberately give us a hard time. Why wouldn't I let him off?"
Hearing this, Zhou Chen realized the person inside had changed, and smiled awkwardly. "Perhaps the young master didn't notice, but when that man lowered his head, there was great disrespect in his eyes..."
"Disrespect?"
Xu Yuan arched a brow. "What kind of disrespect?"
"Killing intent," Zhou Chen uttered.
"He wanted to kill me?"
Xu Yuan was mildly surprised, but soon understood. "Jealousy, wasn't it?"
Shaking his head dismissively, Xu Yuan added, "A lieutenant of fifteen or sixteen... if he distinguishes himself on this campaign, he might even be promoted again. Early success always makes the young rash and prone to daydreaming about the impossible."
Zhou Chen fell silent for a moment before replying in a low voice, "Zhou was somewhat rash just now. I hope the Third Young Master will not hold it against me."
Xu Yuan chuckled softly, offering no further reply.
Silence settled inside the carriage. Zhou Chen's heart gave a thump, his scheming mind growing somewhat uneasy...
As it turned out, the Feather Forest Guards did not look kindly upon this princess's personal guard who had popped up out of nowhere.
Upon arriving at the military camp:
From common soldiers all the way up to colonels, though they carried out their duties properly, nearly everyone wore cold expressions toward Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan did not mind in the least, saying with a laugh, "Li Qingyan truly disciplines her troops well."
"Disciplines her troops well?" Zhou Chen snapped back from his unease.
Smiling, Xu Yuan looked around at the soldiers. "All these men treat Li Qingyan like an idol or deity. When someone like me—who has supposedly defiled their deity—walks into their camp and nobody steps forward to pick a fight, doesn't that count as good discipline?"
Zhou Chen fell silent for a moment before bringing up what he had witnessed in the past: "Her Highness Wuyuan has always held immense prestige in the military. The commanders under her are fiercely loyal to a man, and even border armies elsewhere admire her deeply."
Xu Yuan smiled meaningfully. "A general who regularly wins battles naturally commands admiration. With prestige this high, no wonder those imperial princes are all eager to win this princess's support."
"..."
Zhou Chen dared not respond to that.
The two spoke no further as they went deeper into the encampment, arriving at a massive command tent in the innermost part of the camp.
Two Body Integration experts stood guard outside the tent, barring Zhou Chen directly.
Meanwhile, Xu Yuan, clad in his personal guard armor, vanished inside the tent under Zhou Chen's yearning gaze.
The interior was vast and open, laid out much like a deliberation hall.
Looking around, Xu Yuan's gaze locked immediately onto the woman sitting behind a desk, rubbing the space between her brows.
She still wore that red dragon-inlaid armor with gold trim, though now it was spattered with dark barbarian blood.
"Last night, you actually took to the field to fight in person?"
Watching the woman, Xu Yuan walked toward her. "Was the military situation really that dire?"
With the empowerment of a military array, an army's commander was terrifyingly strong—so much so that even Saints had to avoid their edge. Normally, however, a commander sat at the center of the army, sustaining the array and condensing phantom halberds. They would only take to the field in person when left with no other choice.
Li Qingyan did not immediately answer his question. She lowered her hand, looked up at Xu Yuan, and her nose twitched slightly.
"Why does it seem there's the scent of another woman on you?"
Xu Yuan froze internally, but was quick on his feet and laughed. "I went to a brothel; of course there would be the scent of women on me."
Li Qingyan gave him a deep, searching look, but did not seem inclined to pursue the matter. She said softly, "Last night, the Barbarian King personally manifested their totem to storm the city, so this palace had no choice but to take the field."
Xu Yuan was slightly taken aback, a peculiar look in his eyes. "Wasn't last night merely a probing attack by the barbarians? Why did the Barbarian Heterodox King intervene personally?"
A trace of weariness showed between Li Qingyan's brows. She said in a low voice, "Last night was indeed a probing siege by the barbarians outside the city, but that Barbarian Heterodox King is a madman. In all the times this palace has clashed with him, he has almost always charged at the very forefront."
Xu Yuan walked over and sat down across from her, speaking as he did: "In that case, the Barbarian Heterodox King is indeed a madman. Then again, anyone who wasn't mad wouldn't have pulled off a move like circling around to the south of Beifeng City."
Li Qingyan gave a soft hum and asked, "The sect warehouses in the city were blown up last night. Was that your doing?"
Xu Yuan was not surprised by the question and shook his head. "No. While we did intend to make a move, we hadn't had the chance to act yet. It was likely done by those sects from the south."
Li Qingyan's eyes narrowed, her heroic brows furrowing slightly as if in deep thought.
Seeing this, Xu Yuan asked softly, "Shouldn't this be a good thing? Without any stockpiles left, the sects will probably have to fight to the death."
Hearing his words, a faint smile appeared between Li Qingyan's brows. "Indeed. Since I stepped down from the city wall, those colonels and commanders have come looking for this palace many times."
"Did you see them?"
"I did."
"What did they say?"
"Trading grain and fodder for their flying demonic beasts."
Li Qingyan slowly stood up and glanced in the direction of East City. "Now that the blizzard has paused, this palace needs to prepare a few surprises for that Barbarian Heterodox King."
Chapter 243