Wind whipped and howled. The curtains and drapes all around stirred without any wind, with Nalan Chaoge at the center!
A month had passed.
Nalan Chaoge let out a heavy breath.
Over the past month, Nalan Chaoge had lived through a near-death experience. Every day, Guo'er would beat him half to death with the sixth-rank Living Dragon Tendon, then use the Marrow Cleansing Pill to neutralize the Poison Mark while tempering his tendons and bones.
The agony of that physical tearing, of being whipped until his skin split and flesh bloomed, was something no one could comprehend. Of course, Nalan Chaoge was also deeply puzzled: why did young lovers still find such somewhat perverted games so utterly delightful?
Fortunately, he had endured all of it.
Having consumed a hundred second-rank Marrow Cleansing Pills, he had finally tempered the bones of his right leg into a jade color. This was just barely passable for handling the power of the Eight Inner Gates.
Nalan Chaoge also believed that with a few hundred more, he could plate his entire body in a layer of green. Ahem, of course, it was probably best to leave his head un-greened.
Only, a thought suddenly occurred to Nalan Chaoge.
When Nalan Jie left, he said that Nalan Yanran would be returning soon. Yet after waiting for a whole month, Nalan Chaoge had not heard a single piece of news about her.
Only today did Nalan Chaoge realize that perhaps Nalan Yanran had not returned to the Marshal's Mansion at all, but had gone straight to cancel the engagement!
The Misty Cloud Sect was only a few kilometers away from the imperial capital. If Nalan Yanran wanted to come back, it would not even take an hour. Yet a whole month had already passed!
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed!
Nalan Chaoge halted his training. He had to reach the Xiao Family before Nalan Yanran, or at the very least accompany her there.
The engagement was bound to be broken off, but Nalan Chaoge had a few things he wanted to tell Xiao Yan!
The distance from the Jia Ma Holy City to Wutan City spanned almost the greater half of the empire. Such a vast territory required three days to traverse even with a Flying Dou Technique.
If he crossed the entire Jia Ma Empire relying merely on the strength of a Dou Zhe, he would undoubtedly be courting death.
Then, how had Nalan Yanran crossed the entire Jia Ma Empire relying solely on Ge Ye, who possessed the strength of a Da Dou Shi? That was absolute nonsense. In other words, when Nalan Yanran went to cancel the engagement, Yun Yun must have been accompanying her!
Heh heh, Yun Yun, was it?
Interesting!
Hastily crawling out of the wooden barrel, he called Guo'er to simply pack his belongings. Nalan Chaoge prepared to leave the Jia Ma Holy City immediately.
"Young Master, are you going out for experiential training?" Guo'er asked, helping Nalan Chaoge pack his belongings while her eyes brimmed with reluctant tears.
Infected by Guo'er's emotions, Nalan Chaoge pulled the maid who had followed him for several years into his arms. After more than a month of getting along, Nalan Chaoge had long since regarded this girl as one of his own.
He patted Guo'er firmly on the back.
"Wait for me. When I return, I'll make you the Young Mistress of the Nalan Family!"
Guo'er stiffened instantly.
Then, remembering something-or perhaps understanding Nalan Chaoge's words-she shook her head like a rattle-drum.
"No, no, no, Young Master. Guo'er will be more than content just being able to stay by the Young Master's side. The position of Young Mistress is not something Guo'er can hold, nor is it something the Young Master can decide alone!"
Nalan Chaoge froze.
That was right. As the young master of the Nalan Family, his marriage would surely be decided by Grandfather.
Just like Nalan Yanran.
"Rest assured, my marriage is still up to me to decide! Be a good girl and wait for me to return!" Nalan Chaoge said, planting a kiss on Guo'er's forehead.
Guo'er blushed deeply, too embarrassed to speak for a long time.
As a maid, being able to find such a destination could be considered a supreme blessing.
It is better to guard against a thief than to worry about one being targeted. Since he was leaving the Marshal's Mansion, some potential hidden troubles ultimately had to be resolved.
Was that Mu Tong really such a big shot?
Night fell.
Nalan Chaoge gently pushed open the door to Elder Mu's room.
Elder Mu was a friend of Grandfather Nalan Jie and could also be considered the guardian of the Nalan Family.
When Grandfather was away, Elder Mu would protect the safety of the Nalan Family. However, he would not meddle in any matters that occurred within the Nalan Family, only stepping forward when the family faced a threat.
This was also the reason why Elder Mu had not shown himself during the whole month Mu Tong had spent shouting abuse outside the Nalan Family.
"Have you decided to leave?"
Just as Nalan Chaoge stepped into the room, Elder Mu's voice drifted over.
The room was pitch black. Nalan Chaoge only heard the voice, but could not see Elder Mu himself.
"Mm!" Letting out a soft hum, Nalan Chaoge said nothing more.
"Go on. A man ought to go out and make his mark. I'll have the bodyguards who usually follow you tag along!"
"There's no need, Elder Mu. I want to go out and wander around on my own!" Nalan Chaoge hurriedly refused. He did not want more people to know about the secrets he carried. Furthermore, his destination this time was the Xiao Family in Wutan City.
"Having courage is a good thing, but strength is the crucial factor that determines whether you can survive. If no guards follow you, I will not agree to let you go out. When your grandfather returns, it's impossible for me to hand a corpse back to him!"
"Elder Mu, I... I accept your opinion!" Nalan Chaoge rolled his eyes and instantly understood Elder Mu's reasoning. He was currently only a Dou Zhe; if he went out for experiential training without guards accompanying him, he would undoubtedly die for sure.
Nalan Chaoge simply didn't want others to know his secrets, but he wasn't arrogant enough to think himself invincible under heaven.
"Hmph, four Da Dou Shi, plus the reputation of your Nalan Family, that should be enough to ensure your safety across this Jia Ma Continent!"
"Thank you for your concern, Elder Mu, but before I leave, I'd like to ask you for a favor!"
"Regarding that maid Guo'er?"
"Mm. Sorry for the trouble, Elder Mu!"
Elder Mu pondered for a moment, then immediately said, "Nalan Su is no fool!"
Nalan Chaoge wanted to say something more, but Elder Mu had already issued the order to dismiss him.
"Alright, you may leave!"
"Many thanks, Elder Mu!"
"Oh, right!"
Just as Nalan Chaoge reached the doorway,
Elder Mu's voice came from behind him.
"Take the trouble you brought upon yourself with you!"
A trace of a smile surfaced on Nalan Chaoge's lips. Mu Tong, was it?
It seemed this trip of his wouldn't be lonely after all.
Early the next morning, the heavy gates of the Marshal's Mansion of the Lionheart, which had been tightly shut for so long, finally opened.
Passersby immediately stopped in their tracks to watch and wait.
Over the past month, the conflict between the Mu Family and the Nalan Family had become known to everyone in the Jia Ma Holy City.
Today, the Nalan Family, which had consistently avoided showing themselves, suddenly opened their gates. Could it be that they were preparing for battle?
Mu Tong was considered the one with the lowest talent in the Mu Family, yet he was already a Two-star Dou Shi. Mu Tong's younger brother, Mu Tie, was rumored to be a Five-star Dou Ling.
Even if that brat Nalan Chaoge possessed extraordinary talent, after only a month, he would be doing well to reach a Two-Star Dou Zhe at best.
For the Nalan Family to open their gates for battle like this meant they would either suffer humiliation or meet their death.
Yet what caught everyone completely off guard was that as soon as the gates opened, a steady stream of Nalan Family disciples actually walked out from within.
And clustered right in their midst was the genius Nalan Chaoge, whose legend grew more divine with every retelling.
What was he...
Was he heading out for experiential training?
Going out for experiential training on the Dou Qi Continent was normal enough, but Nalan Chaoge hadn't even had his Coming-of-Age Ceremony yet, and he was already heading out?
Especially at a critical juncture like this with the Mu Family, wouldn't going out be tantamount to seeking death?
*
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