Tiran and the bird stared at each other for a while, then slowly turned to look at Mo Yi. "I say, what's the deal with this pigeon? Are you implying that your Highness Xiang Ling has abandoned it?"
"Zhu Li?"
Mo Yi seemed to recognize the bird. After calling out to it, the bird flapped its wings and flew over to Mo Yi's shoulder, letting out two crisp chirps.
"This is a beast tamed by His Highness, always by his side whether in battle or going anywhere. It never leaves His Highness unless commanded... Senior Sister, is His Highness truly absent?"
"I haven't seen His Highness," Zhi Lan also redirected her gaze from the window, affirming Tiran's guess.
"But the news from the garrison was that His Highness led the cavalry to battle the nomads a day ago. Upon hearing of our imminent arrival, he rushed back alone, and should have arrived at normal speed by now."
Mo Yi pinched his chin and furrowed his brows. He knew his Highness's capabilities well enough that the nomads should not pose a threat to him, so why hadn't he returned yet?
"Why not ask this bird then? Since it always follows your Highness, it should know," Tiran walked over to Mo Yi and tried to touch the two bright red feathers on Zhu Li's head that swayed as it turned its head. Zhu Li immediately dodged sensitively, letting out two threatening chirps and spreading its wings as if to intimidate.
"Your Highness Tiran... Zhu Li is just a bird..." Mo Yi couldn't help but laugh at the situation.
"Tsk, thought being the pet of a princess could make it special, my Aya can speak too."
Tiran was unfazed, boasting of his quicker reflexes than Zhu Li's. He deftly ran his index and middle fingers along Zhu Li's head, following the direction of its feathers, and then withdrew his hand with satisfaction, causing the bird to squawk in protest.
"Miss Aya would be heartbroken to hear that..." Mo Yi covered his face, suddenly remembering the communication talisman he had to contact His Highness, and quickly pulled it out.
Just like before at the Five Creeks Inn, the talisman automatically burned and condensed into glowing runes in the air, followed by a voice from the other end after a moment.
First came the howling wind and slight panting, then Xiang Ling's voice, slightly distorted due to rapid movement.
"I'm chasing someone; I've informed my soldiers about the Silver War Maiden. Wait for me until I return."
Before Mo Yi could ask anything, Xiang Ling had already spoken and swiftly ended the communication.
Mo Yi was accustomed to Xiang Ling's ways, but Tiran nearby might have found it somewhat offensive... Zhongzhou prided itself on etiquette, especially towards specially invited guests, and this situation was hard to swallow.
"Anyway, it seems like His Highness Ling is busy. Your Highness Tiran, perhaps you should settle here for now, considering we've also traveled a long distance..."
Seeing the two rows of stern-faced soldiers who had appeared outside the door at some point, Tiran suddenly felt a bit uneasy about his upcoming journey to the East Lands.
...
The desolate Gobi Desert in the northwest had a reputation for stones being blown away by the wind. Once the wind started, sandstorms would engulf everything. At this moment, amidst the sandstorm, two figures were engaging in a prolonged chase.
Speaking of the Holy Rank, what would ordinary people think of? Perhaps in the West, it would be a dazzlingly armored holy knight or a flashy mage wielding thunder in one hand and fire in the other. In the East, it might be a sword immortal standing on flying swords, controlling thousands of swords with a wave of the hand. In short, it all depended on each culture and cultivation system on how awe-inspiring it could be.
Ugh, those are all fake Holy Ranks.
A true Holy Rank, plain and even somewhat tattered clothes due to battles, movement style grounded and relatable like a long-distance runner...
No, Yuan felt unable to continue fabricating, why does he, as a Holy Rank himself, lack all the cool movement styles and powerful combat skills!
Not being able to fly is one thing, but this standard running posture really shatters the fantasy of skilled Holy Rank warriors. In a way, Yuan's Holy Rank is downright embarrassing, even though he can use some Magic items for flying and teleportation, he hasn't had the chance to use them in front of Xiang Ling. The most reliable way to escape is actually on foot.
"I say, Your Highness Xiang Ling, if you keep chasing me like this, we'll end up in the grasslands. Is it necessary? I just gave you an idea, that's all! I haven't done anything yet!"
Yuan runs ahead in the posture of a long-distance runner, shouting as if almost eating a mouthful of sand, truly feeling helpless.
About thirty meters behind him, Xiang Ling rides hastily with a long spear in hand, and that dark red mount is definitely no ordinary warhorse, its speed can even keep up with Yuan running at full speed.
In response to Yuan's shout, Xiang Ling once again hurls the long spear, displaying a ruthless and relentless manner.
As for how it evolved to this point, it traces back to the "deal" Yuan proposed to Xiang Ling.
Helping her with all his might to win the throne in exchange for a "small favor" in the capital city of Luo Cheng - at least it seemed like a small favor to Yuan, after all, he only needed the vitality and spiritual power brought by the deaths of a few thousand people, if an open conflict for the throne really erupted, it would be quite normal for so many people to die in Luo Cheng.
However, he never expected Xiang Ling to immediately turn hostile upon hearing this condition. Initially, Yuan tried to resist, but soon realized the fact that he couldn't defeat Xiang Ling.
Apart from the time and space rules that Holy Ranks usually use to suppress opponents below Holy Rank, Xiang Ling's unique rules are ridiculously powerful, making it impossible for Yuan, who is almost the weakest Holy Rank, to withstand.
If only he hadn't approached Xiang Ling with the mindset of just trying it out back then, he wouldn't have ended up with her chasing him down this way for hurting just one of her soldiers.
Seeing the long spear flying towards him, Yuan quickly took out a scroll from his pocket, tore it open, cast a Shield spell to block the attack, and then dodged. By now, they had reached the border between the desert and the grassland, the sand and wind dispersing, giving way to patches of grass on the ground.
Upon seeing the grassland ahead, Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, as if seeing a savior.
Crunch.
Stopping on the grass, Yuan pivoted on his left foot to make a cool turn, simultaneously drawing his sword to send out slashes of invisible blade qi towards Xiang Ling trying to halt her. However, his efforts were in vain, as Xiang Ling deflected the blade qi head-on, piercing through it with her long spear.
"Indeed, reputation is not just for show. It's true that I can't beat you... but Your Highness Xiang Ling, won't you consider cooperating?"
"If sacrificing a few thousand lives can bring me enough benefits, I wouldn't refuse, but I have no intention of sacrificing them for someone who popped out of nowhere seeking gains."
Xiang Ling raised her long spear, pointing it at Yuan.
"I did have a request, but isn't the throne what Your Highness has always wanted? Isn't that enough?" Yuan shrugged.
"Ridiculous! Did you come here thinking you were at least prepared, only to not even understand my intentions?" Xiang Ling sneered, "What I want is to make this country better, to prevent sacrificing tens of thousands of lives to fulfill someone's desires. Obtaining the throne is just a condition, not the goal."
"Is that so... I apologize for my narrow-mindedness," Yuan sincerely bowed, "It seems I need to find someone else to cooperate with. Your Highness, between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, who do you think has a better chance?"
"It's meaningless to discuss this with a dead person."
Xiang Ling gripped his long halberd with both hands, his figure momentarily blurred and then reappeared above Yuan's head, the halberd burning with crimson flames as it descended.
In battles between Holy Ranks, the laws of time and space were rarely used, as almost every Holy Rank could manipulate these laws. Even if one tried to change these laws, the opponent could easily revert them. However, Xiang Ling's speed at that moment was solely based on his physical abilities, leaving Yuan with no means of avoiding it.
But Yuan remained unfazed, seemingly ignoring the halberd coming down towards his head and sheathing his blade back into its scabbard.
"Hmm?!"
The halberd, originally about to strike his head, altered its trajectory in midair, veering upwards in a chaotic dance, deflecting several consecutive shining golden weapons.
In midair, the body was pushed back by the kinetic energy of the weapons and landed on the ground. Xiang Ling lifted his head to look at the shadow suspended before the sun, as well as the several portals that appeared around the shadow.
"Your Highness Xiang Ling, I didn't come all the way to the grasslands for leisure," Yuan blinked, snapped his fingers, and as the celestial spirit hovering in the sky descended, he seized it by its collar and swiftly departed, tapping its wings.
White wings, holy light, angels from the West?
Two... no, one and a half? There seemed to be more individuals at the level of Earth Immortals appearing.
Assessing the likelihood of a successful pursuit, Xiang Ling's expression became somewhat uncertain. It seemed imperative to resolve the border issues as soon as possible, as waiting any longer in Luo City may not be an option.
...
"Hey, can someone explain to me what's going on? I'm feeling a bit anxious," Tiran sat on a sofa, holding a novel but absentmindedly flipping through it, surveying the interior decor of the room with mixed emotions.
Her intuition told her that something was amiss.
The most obvious sign was the attitude of the people in Yanmen Pass towards her group. How should she put it... Tiran had actually mentally prepared herself before coming, considering that in her mind, the Western Chu Empire was the counterpart to the great dynasty of her previous life.
At least in this era, as the only country on the mainland, Western Chu's national strength was not to be underestimated compared to the Western countries, especially for a princess like her. Though she was formally invited and entrusted by the other party, Tiran was also prepared for the other side's sense of superiority towards her.
—In fact, based on her research on the diplomatic records between the East and West, Easterners often displayed a certain sense of superiority.
But now, whether it was the ordinary soldiers or some vice-commanders introduced by Moyi, the attitude towards her seemed to be respectful, which was somewhat strange.
Could it be that the reputation of the Silver War Maiden was so great?
...There was always a sense of foreboding.
