After dispelling the Sound-Muffling Array, Xu Yuan led the big ice block toward the North Court.
He had matters to discuss with Su Jinxuan.
Moreover, this was also a good opportunity to introduce Su Jinxuan and Ran Qingmo to each other.
However, before they had gone far, Zhou Chen and Si Ziyu, who had been sent flying earlier, belatedly returned to the estate.
Seeing Xu Yuan, the two immediately flew over.
Landing on the ground, Zhou Chen grinned and cupped his fists in salute. "Third Young Master, are you all right?"
Xu Yuan glanced at Zhou Chen and frowned slightly.
At this moment, this Grandmaster Zhou looked utterly battered—not only was he drenched in blood with a withered aura, but Xu Yuan could also faintly sense the Source Qi leaking from around his body.
He had taken such a beating that his qi was leaking.
"Your injuries..."
Zhou Chen shook his head, glanced sideways at Ran Qingmo, and said in a low voice, "Thank you for your concern, Third Young Master. Our injuries aren't a serious problem, heheh... Mr. Ran took the brunt of that Origin Realm expert's strike just now."
Xu Yuan looked at Ran Qingmo, his eyes showing a trace of concern.
Ran Qingmo shook her head, indicating she was unharmed.
Seeing this, Zhou Chen chuckled and said, "Mr. Ran is a peerless prodigy just like you, Third Young Master. How could ordinary folk like us compare to her?"
Xu Yuan was left speechless.
Clearing his throat, Xu Yuan casually tossed a half-bottle of pills to Zhou Chen, and another half-bottle of a lower grade to Si Ziyu. "You two worked hard this time. A small token of Changtian's appreciation."
Catching the pills, Zhou Chen's eyes lit up, and he immediately voiced his thanks.
After thanking him, he glanced sideways at Si Ziyu, who was posing as an aloof expert off to the side.
Si Ziyu rolled his eyes, but his expression showed he was somewhat swayed.
Both were Grandmasters, yet the difference in treatment between kissing up and not kissing up was so blatant.
Should he try kissing up too?
Taking in their expressions, Xu Yuan merely gave a soft chuckle and said, "Mr. Zhou, I may be traveling abroad in a while. Thank you for everything over these past days."
Zhou Chen froze upon hearing this, and while Si Ziyu was still hesitating, he was already bowing with cupped fists. "Ahem, Third Young Master will surely face hardships traveling the realm. Zhou is willing to drive your carriage and lead your horse."
Zhou Chen had nothing but disdain for his old friend's hesitation.
How much was face worth?
Even fine birds knew to choose good trees to roost in.
He had watched all the changes in the Third Young Master. Following him not only promised a future, but a lucrative one at that.
Not to mention the current situation was so tense. Leaving the Third Young Master to carry out other missions, who knew when a brave warrior might turn into a dead martyr?
Having spoken, Zhou Chen lowered his head and waited for Xu Yuan's reply.
Xu Yuan was somewhat surprised by Zhou Chen's reaction.
Pondering for a moment, he understood the considerations behind it.
Had this been before, with a Grandmaster speaking in such a tone, he certainly wouldn't have refused.
But right now, better not.
Having Zhou Chen along would make many things inconvenient.
And strength-wise, the big ice block was clearly quite a bit stronger than Grandmaster Zhou.
After a long silence, Zhou Chen tentatively lifted his gaze to glance at Xu Yuan. "Third Young Master..."
Xu Yuan didn't speak, only smiling as he looked at Ran Qingmo beside him.
Seeing this, Ran Qingmo also looked at Zhou Chen.
As that cool, serene gaze swept over him, Zhou Chen's eyelid twitched.
Fine, the Third Young Master no longer needed him.
Zhou Chen cleared his throat and changed his tune without blushing. "Ahem... however, Zhou's injuries this time are truly too severe. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, and I cannot protect you for the time being, Young Master. I hope you will forgive me."
Xu Yuan smiled and shook his head. "No matter. I appreciate Mr. Zhou's kind intentions."
Slipping the pills into his sleeve, Zhou Chen glanced at the path Xu Yuan had come from and asked softly, "Is Third Young Master heading to the North Court?"
Xu Yuan didn't hide it either, saying, "I plan to find Su Jinxuan and explain a few things to her before leaving."
Hearing this, Zhou Chen fell completely silent.
He looked at Xu Yuan, looked at Ran Qingmo, and then looked in the direction of the North Court. Finally, his expression turned rather odd.
Seeing Zhou Chen's expression, Xu Yuan didn't say anything more.
He understood what Grandmaster Zhou was thinking, but he didn't care much.
It was nothing more than thinking that having the two women meet was an act of terrible emotional intelligence.
He understood all of it.
Friends, not girlfriends.
If Su Jinxuan could return alive after working undercover, they would have to meet eventually; meeting sooner or later was the same.
Xu Yuan waved his hand, preparing to leave.
Just then, Ran Qingmo beside him spoke up softly, "She was taken away."
Xu Yuan turned back to look at her.
Ran Qingmo's cool, quiet eyes stared at him placidly.
Meeting his gaze for two seconds, Ran Qingmo's voice remained calm. "If you mean the woman in the pale greenish-white banner gown, she was rescued just now by that mysterious Origin Realm expert."
Xu Yuan frowned. "Rescued?"
Earlier, he had only managed to catch sight of the moment the Origin Realm expert struck; by the time Ying'er set him down from her arms, the mysterious Origin Realm expert had already vanished from the sky.
Ran Qingmo explained softly, "Mm. That Origin Realm expert originally wanted to rescue the remnant soul, but Xu Changge's qi had already locked onto him. He didn't have time to deal with me, so he went down and carried that woman away."
Hearing this, Xu Yuan fell silent, his gaze turning somewhat complicated.
Looking at him with downcast eyes, Ran Qingmo hesitated for a moment and asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Snapping back to his senses, Xu Yuan sighed with a wry laugh. "Nothing. Just feeling it's a bit of a pity."
He had thought Su Jinxuan would be sent undercover someday in the future only after receiving systematic training from Ying'er.
Instead, after only a few days of training, she had been forced into it prematurely.
Given that idiot woman's ability to handle pressure...
Thinking up to this point, Xu Yuan shook his head gently. "Since she's gone, so be it."
At this point, he could only hope that Miss Succubus wouldn't let his investment in her go to waste.
Looking on the bright side, though he hadn't stated it outright, he had already told Miss Succubus the location of the Great Joyous Union Yin-Yang Art.
Desperation brings out potential.
If she was clever and fortunate enough to obtain that demonic art that was a perfect match for the Bewitching Soul Fiend Physique...
Combining the man-eating path of the Great Joyous Union Yin-Yang Art with the silent, insidious bewitching soul seeds of the Bewitching Soul Fiend Physique, perhaps by their next meeting, Miss Succubus might even have become stronger than him.
Dramatic scenes like the Third Young Master falling into peril, only for a demonic temptress to swoop in just in time to save the day...
Of course, such things were merely wishful thinking.
For now, let's just hope she survives.
After parting with Zhou Chen and Si Ziyu, Xu Yuan led Ran Qingmo all the way back to his attic.
Nothing improper intended.
With Ran Qingmo's temperament, she would certainly want to cultivate. The training room over at Wuxuan Courtyard was destroyed, and currently, the only Spirit-Gathering Array engraved in the entire Xu Manor was in his attic.
After entering the room, Xu Yuan chatted and caught up with Ran Qingmo for a good while before leaving directly.
Before departing, he even placed a Source Crystal onto the Spirit-Gathering Array's eye for the big ice block to cultivate with.
Ran Qingmo took in the layout of his room.
Soon, her gaze locked onto the profound ice cold jade bed on one side of the room.
It was the one from the cave dwelling, and the two cold jade pillows on it were just as they had been back then.
Moving with lotus steps, she walked over to the jade bed and came to a halt.
Suddenly, Ran Qingmo wrinkled her dainty nose and sniffed. Staring at the jade bed with puzzled eyes for two seconds, she then silently turned around, sat on the floor, and began cultivating.
Chapter 88