Chapter 907: Stroll in the Snow

Chapter 907: A Walk in the Snow

In the early morning, the warm sunlight illuminated the earth. The fierce wind and snow that had raged all night finally ceased with the arrival of a new day. On the vast expanse of land, figures moved continuously, mostly soldiers clad in armor, escorting a carriage at the center.

Inside the carriage, Liu Ruyan continued to pluck the strings of her zither, the music elegant and resounding across the desolate landscape. It brought a sense of ease and joy to the many soldiers, who had come to receive a noble guest, expecting boredom, but found the princess's personal performance to be a delightful treat.

"Is that your daughter with that xian zi?"

"We haven't even shared a bed, so where would a daughter come from?"

Ye Chen gazed out the window, lost in other thoughts, and answered Liu Ruyan's question casually, leaving her expression awkwardly embarrassed.

To cover the awkwardness, Liu Ruyan turned to the little girl who was busily munching on a ling guo."Little one, what's your name?"

"I'm Xiao Ruoxi."The little girl lifted her small head, her voice childish and adorable, beaming with a bright smile as her clear, sparkling eyes curved into crescent moons.

"What about your mother?"

"Big brother says my mother went to a very faraway place."The little girl spoke with pure innocence and childlike ignorance, still smiling radiantly. "Big brother also says he'll take me to find her."

"Is that so?"Liu Ruyan smiled, then glanced at Ye Chen. The little girl was naive to the ways of the world, but Liu Ruyan understood the implication all too well.

"Just as you think."Ye Chen took a deep breath and gently stroked Xiao Ruoxi's little head.

Some memories surfaced gradually with the sound of Liu Ruyan's zither, much like this little girl—as her name suggested, Xiao Ruoxi, who had lost her mother and was a pitiful child.

Along the way, Ye Chen had used his xiu shi abilities more than once to examine Xiao Ruoxi. He was certain she was a mortal, but unsure if she was the Xiao Ruoxi he sought. In the mysterious workings of fate, whether one was a mortal or a xiu shi, what was meant to be would be, and it could not be changed.

"That said, can I take a break?"As Ye Chen pondered, Liu Ruyan cleared her throat. "My hand hurts."

"It's time for a break."Ye Chen also cleared his throat. Ever since they met in the dilapidated temple the night before, Liu Ruyan had been playing nonstop. She was just a mortal, and playing all night was bound to exhaust her.

He had considered flying with Liu Ruyan to the Nan Zhao Guo imperial palace, where she could continue playing to keep him clear-headed. However, she had refused his suggestion. Flying so high and fast, if something went wrong and he slipped back into his dazed state, who knew if he could even fly? He was the Huang Gu Sheng Ti, with a domineering physical body that could withstand falls, but Liu Ruyan was different—she was a mortal, and a fall like that would be disastrous.

Of course, Liu Ruyan had her own selfish reasons. If they flew, they would reach the Nan Zhao Guo palace in a moment, and she didn't want to arrive so quickly. This way was much better; she could be alone with her beloved in the carriage and enjoy the snowy scenery—it was so romantic.

Although she didn't know why her zither music could restore his clarity, that didn't matter. What mattered was that she could accompany him all the way.

Soon, the zither music stopped. As it faded, the clarity in Ye Chen's eyes dissipated, and his expression turned dull, reverting to his muddled state.

"Where is this? Who are you?"Fortunately, this wasn't an act—Ye Chen seemed like a different person, his voice hoarse and his gaze bewildered as he looked at Liu Ruyan opposite him.

"This is Nan Zhao Guo. I'm your wife."Liu Ruyan smiled charmingly.

"Nan Zhao Guo... Wife..."Ye Chen murmured.

"See, this is our child."Liu Ruyan pointed to Xiao Ruoxi, who was still focused on her ling guo. The little girl instinctively looked up, her small head filled with question marks.

"Child..."The dull Ye Chen turned his head subconsciously and looked at Xiao Ruoxi beside him.

"She’s very well-behaved."Liu Ruyan smiled tenderly and leaned her cheek on Ye Chen's shoulder, murmuring softly, "If you want, I can give you a whole bunch of children."

The convoy moved forward slowly, creating a unique sight in the world of pristine snow. At some point, the carriage curtain was lifted, and Liu Ruyan led Ye Chen and the little girl out.

The convoy continued ahead while they strolled. The dull Ye Chen gazed blankly at the surrounding world, one hand held by Liu Ruyan and the other by Xiao Ruoxi, leaving a trail of footprints in the snow under the warm sunlight.

"Who exactly is that guy?"The guards followed behind, each leading their warhorses, with many scratching their heads repeatedly.

"From what I can tell, the princess has probably taken a liking to that young man."Someone stroked his chin.

"And that little girl— she’s probably the princess's child."

"You know, she does look a bit like her."

"Let me do a quick calculation— when we get back, that young man is going to become our Nan Zhao Guo's consort."Someone said it with a meaningful tone.

"Watch out!"Just as they spoke, a guard suddenly shouted and pulled one of them aside sharply.

Whoosh!As soon as the person was pulled away, a long arrow flew past him and embedded itself in the carriage.

At the sight, over a dozen guards drew their swords instantly, forming a protective circle around Liu Ruyan, Ye Chen, and the others. Each one narrowed their eyes, scanning the surroundings with grim expressions.

Soon, the sound of galloping hooves echoed, shaking the snow from the ground and sending it flying everywhere. From all directions, dark masses of figures closed in on them— over a thousand in number.

"Mommy, I'm scared."Xiao Ruoxi was terrified and hid behind Liu Ruyan, even calling her "mommy."

"Don't be afraid."Liu Ruyan was startled for a moment, then patted the little girl's head and held her close. Even as the founding princess of high status, she was still a woman with maternal warmth.

"Princess, their equipment is so advanced— they don't seem like ordinary bandits!"A guard spoke thoughtfully.

"People from Tu Nu Guo."Liu Ruyan said calmly, as if she had seen through their origins at a glance.

"Tu Nu Guo..."The guards' faces grew even more somber, as if realizing something. "For such a large force to appear in Nan Zhao Guo's territory, it seems they came prepared!"

"So what?"Liu Ruyan's words remained calm. Even facing enemies dozens of times their number, she showed no fear, because Ye Chen was there. Not to mention a thousand foes—if millions came, they still wouldn't be enough for him to sweep away alone.

However, her words made the guards' hearts skip a beat. The enemy had over a thousand people and could overwhelm them in an instant—who knew where their princess's confidence came from?

As they spoke, they were completely surrounded. Soon, a warhorse approached at a steady pace, carrying a burly man with a broad back and a waist like a bear's. He wielded a massive saber, his eyes full of fierce malice, looking more like a ruthless bandit than a general.

"Princess Liu Ruyan, come with us."The man's voice was rough, his bloodshot eyes gleaming with lewd intent.

"Is Tu Nu Guo trying to incite war?"Liu Ruyan looked at him coldly.

"Don't put it that way."The man sneered mockingly. "Our ruler has long admired the princess and has sent me to invite you for a meeting."

"Your country is just trying to use me to threaten my father the emperor. General of Tu Nu Guo, there's no need to sugarcoat it."Liu Ruyan's tone was flat and indifferent.

"Since the princess sees through it, please come with us. We need to report back, otherwise..."Before the man could finish, he found himself lifted off his horse, floating in the air.

This scene stunned not only the Tu Nu Guo soldiers but also Liu Ruyan's guards. Kidnapping someone with magic tricks?

But they quickly understood—it wasn't a trick; someone had grabbed him from the air. And who else could it be but the dull-eyed Ye Chen?

Who? Who is it?The man roared in terror. He couldn't see anything, but he felt a massive hand gripping him, rendering him immobile no matter how he struggled, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

In the next moment, he was flung through the air, tracing a graceful arc across the sky.

Whoa!

Everyone looked up, their eyes following his trajectory.

Boom!

It wasn't until over ten seconds later that a faint rumbling sound reached them, coming from a mountain peak far away, over eight hundred zhang distant.

Gulp!

Witnessing this astonishing sight, Liu Ruyan's guards collectively swallowed hard. "Telekinesis... I never imagined that dazed young man was some kind of martial arts master."

"What martial arts master? He's a xiu shi."An older guard took a sharp breath. "No ordinary mortal has inner strength that powerful."

"A xiu shi?"The crowd was shocked, their gazes toward Ye Chen changing completely.

"Ghosts!"As for the Tu Nu Guo soldiers, once they reacted, they howled louder than one another and fled faster than the next. The thousand-strong force vanished in an instant.

"Let's go."Liu Ruyan smiled charmingly and took Ye Chen's hand, stepping back onto the snowy ground.

This time, the guards following behind were all on edge, not daring to make a sound. Now they understood why their princess had fallen for Ye Chen—he wasn't some muddled beggar, but an immortal being who could soar through the nine heavens. What a world of difference!

"This act is spot on."In the grand hall of Tian Xuan Men, Fu Ya stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"It's all about strength."Dong Huang Tai Xin, lounging on a chair and flipping through an ancient book, replied casually, "In the world of xiu shi, he's like a king. Let alone in the mortal realm."

"That's true."Fu Ya tugged at his beard and glanced at Dong Huang Tai Xin tentatively. "Is that little girl's zither tune really that extraordinary?"

"It's the Jiu You Xian Qu Awakening Chapter— not just any ordinary tune."

"No wonder."Fu Ya rubbed his chin. "It looks like that young man has met his benefactor. If he teaches this immortal tune to more people, it might actually cure his true-fantasy delusion."

"It's not that simple."Dong Huang Tai Xin continued flipping through the book. "Not everyone can play it effectively. The tune is one thing, but the key is emotion. Only deep emotion can awaken through the music. Ye Chen fell into the cycle of truth and illusion because of emotion, so only emotion can help him escape that sea of suffering. It's a destined fate, full of twists and turns, and the existing cycle of cause and effect."