Having accomplished her purpose in visiting the Imperial Academy, Jin Caiwei had no reason to linger, so she quickly took her leave of Chancellor Qi.
"Hold on, Little Tiger! Want to roll with me?" The Immortal Fairy half-squatted in front of Jin Caiwei, blocking her path with a beaming smile.
Jin Caiwei wore a tiger-shaped pendant, so there was nothing amiss about the Immortal Fairy calling her Little Tiger.
It was rare to run into someone from the ancient era. Even though the girl didn't remember her, the Immortal Fairy was still quite eager to spend more time around her.
Besides, founding a new dynasty would inevitably require people.
"Follow you?" Jin Caiwei looked Lu Yang up and down. If anyone else had dared speak to her like this, she would have torn them in two long ago.
Yet she felt an indescribable sense of familiarity toward Lu Yang, which stayed her hand.
"That's right, follow me," the Immortal Fairy said with a giggle, pointing at Emperor Xia, who was trailing behind as an attendant. "Look, someone's already willing to follow me."
Jin Caiwei pondered. Her purpose in coming to Great Xia was originally to investigate what kind of sect the Dao Seeking Sect truly was, so sticking with Lu Yang did align with her goal.
"Very well. I'll follow you for a while, then."
Inside the spiritual space, Lu Yang's eyelid twitched violently as he listened to their exchange. If it were up to him, he would never dare let a half-immortal follow him around.
"Who is this person following you?" Jin Caiwei asked, noticing the utterly inconspicuous Emperor Xia.
"His name is Xia Tian. He's a remarkable talent." The Immortal Fairy held Emperor Xia in high esteem.
Jin Caiwei had little interest in Emperor Xia and merely gave a curt "Oh."
The Immortal Fairy strolled ahead, while her two lackeys, Emperor Xia and Jin Caiwei, trailed behind.
Emperor Xia placed great value on Jin Caiwei's ancient knowledge. Quietly sidling up to her, he asked, "Miss Jin, do you have any interest in joining the Imperial Academy? With your talents, you could rise to the position of chancellor in no time."
Even Chancellor Qi had admitted that he was inferior to Jin Caiwei when it came to ancient history.
Jin Caiwei tilted her head up and shot Emperor Xia a look of utter disdain. She was short and had to look up at almost everyone, which was why she harbored a favorable impression of Lu Yang for being willing to half-squat while speaking to her.
"Lunatic."
"Hey, you little girl, you don't know kindness when you see it!" Emperor Xia was a figure of supreme standing; no one had ever dared speak to him like that.
However, he was not the petty sort. When this girl found herself in a crisis, he would step forward and reveal his true identity—then she would have plenty of time to regret this!
Jin Caiwei quickened her pace, taking large strides to catch up and walk beside Lu Yang. "Where did you learn all that ancient knowledge?"
Chancellor Qi might not understand the intricacies, but she knew just how mind-boggling the ancient knowledge Lu Yang possessed truly was. To know so many specific details was completely impossible to acquire purely from books.
The Immortal Fairy gave Jin Caiwei a profound look and transmitted her voice: *Why would I need to learn it? I knew it all along.*
Jin Caiwei frowned, finding Lu Yang increasingly unfathomable. "Who in the world are you?"
She suspected that Lu Yang was not the real Lu Yang, but had long since suffered a body seizure at the hands of some mighty ancient figure.
That would also explain why Lu Yang's talent was so terrifying.
The Immortal Fairy raised an index finger to her lips, her eyes dimming slightly as she whispered, "Shh, Little Tiger. The current you shouldn't know who I am yet."
Jin Caiwei's expression shifted slightly. Lu Yang identifying her race earlier truly hadn't been a coincidence!
The Immortal Fairy lowered her voice even further, speaking with an air of deep mystery: "This immortal has slumbered since ancient times and now seeks to overthrow the Great Xia Dynasty and establish a new one. Little Tiger, are you willing to lend me a hand?"
A chill ran down Jin Caiwei's spine. Lu Yang actually wanted to overthrow the Great Xia Dynasty? The Great Xia Dynasty was suspected of having an immortal backing it, yet he dared say such things—could he be an immortal as well?!
This was an enormous pitfall, and she had no desire to get involved. Once dragged in, she could forget about ever escaping!
This very likely involved a battle between immortals, something far beyond what she should ever touch!
"I am not willing!" Jin Caiwei firmly rejected the olive branch extended by the Immortal Fairy.
The Immortal Fairy chuckled twice, seemingly mocking Jin Caiwei's naive and ignorant reaction.
Jin Caiwei stared warily at Lu Yang, terrified he might strike. She no longer dared treat him as a mere Nascent Soul cultivator. "What are you trying to do?!"
"Rest assured, this immortal will not force you. Truth be told, there is history between you and me, though you've forgotten it all. I even held you in my arms once."
"Nonsense!" Jin Caiwei didn't believe the Immortal Fairy's words in the slightest. She had no recollection of ever being held by anyone—wait, it seemed she really had been held by someone once.
The Immortal Fairy gave a soft, wistful sigh. "Countless ages drift like rolling waves, washing away grains of sand and concealing who knows how much truth. Is your memory truly reliable?"
"Still, you need not be in a hurry to flee from me. Follow me, and this immortal shall unveil the truth for you."
Who knew what was running through Jin Caiwei's mind, but after hearing the Immortal Fairy's words, she genuinely didn't run away.
Inside the spiritual space, the Immortal Fairy excitedly shook Lu Yang's shoulders.
"How was it, how was it? Was my acting convincing? Did I fool her?!"
Lu Yang: "..."
*Fairy, you were actually doing so well just now. Could you please not let yourself go completely the moment you return to the spiritual space?*
Lu Yang snapped his sleeves and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty is a wise ruler for all eternity, holding all living beings in your heart. Every facet of life is within Your Majesty's grasp, so naturally, whatever you act as turns out lifelike!"
Hearing Lu Yang praise her like this, the Immortal Fairy beamed with joy. Then, as if recalling something, she began counting on her fingers.
"Little Tiger, Xia Tian... That's a bit short on manpower."
"Not enough for what?" Lu Yang asked.
"Not enough to stage a rebellion! Even though Little Tiger is a half-immortal and theoretically quite good in a fight, we're still a bit lacking if we want to rebel."
"It would be great if a few more helpers showed up."
Lu Yang didn't dare answer, terrified that the Immortal Fairy would count him among the rebels too.
Wait, whether she counted him or not seemed to make no difference—the body the fairy was using to rebel belonged to him!
As they conversed, the Immortal Fairy led Jin Caiwei and Emperor Xia through Luotian Forest, which was the shortest route back to the Meng Manor.
Towering trees reached toward the sky. The Meng Family had long since replanted the trees that were broken and felled during the previous battle, leaving no trace of the fierce clash that had once taken place here.
Suddenly, a cold voice drifted from not far away.
Emperor Xia narrowed his eyes and looked over. Two delicate, frail women were cornered by several cultivators who brandished magical treasures with hostile expressions.
The leading cultivator, clad in black robes, spoke in a sinister tone, channeling spiritual energy into his treasure as he said, "You two acquired quite the fine items at the auction house. Would you be willing to part with them? In return, we'll spare your lives!"
How could the two delicate women have ever seen such a scene? Terrified and at a loss, they trembled violently.
Neither of them was a cultivator from the Imperial City; they had merely heard that the city's auction had good things, so they came. Never did they expect that simply bidding on a finale treasure would attract such malice.
Emperor Xia's heart leaped with joy. Wasn't this the perfect opportunity for him to reveal his identity during an incognito tour?
Before he could make a move, however, he heard Lu Yang cheerfully wave toward the two cornered female cultivators: "Xiao Ling, Lianyi, what are you two doing here?"
Chapter 933