Nearing Home, the Heart Grows Timid

Qin Yi sat cross-legged on a handkerchief and headed towards Dragon Abyss City of the Da Qian Kingdom.

This was definitely not a case of picking up and running away, because in Qin Yi's mind, this mission would end soon. It was just a short business trip next door to help the Da Qian Emperor solve some "extraterrestrial power" problems. If he could handle it, he could handle it; if not, he would go home and get reinforcements. There was nothing that required him to deal with things away from home for years.

Just then, a book called "The Return of the Condor Heroes" exploded in the Immortal Palace like a bomb. Whether in Ju Yunxiu's heart or in the reputation of the entire Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace, it would take some time to settle down.

If you appeared in front of Ju Yunxiu at this moment, you would be dead for sure. Senior Sister is actually very sensitive; it would be a miracle if she didn't beat you to death at a time like this.

The same applies to the fellow disciples in the Immortal Palace. It will take some time for everyone to get used to the themes in this book, to stop taking it seriously, and for the interest to cool down. At that point, no one will interfere with any progress in the relationship with Ju Yunxiu. If there is any progress now, the message conveyed by this book will seem too abrupt.

Therefore, being sent as an envoy to the Great Qian became the perfect temporary solution, allowing everyone to cool down.

The Great Qian Dynasty...

Qin Yi stared blankly at the distant clouds and mist.

He was familiar with this country, as it was the suzerain state of Southern Li.

He has not relinquished his position as the "Nanli Kingdom Teacher," nor is he willing to erase this memory. As far as Daqian is concerned, it is perfectly acceptable to say that Qin Yi is the Imperial Preceptor of a vassal state.

Of course, Qin Yi's feelings for Southern Li do not mean that he has any feelings for Daqian. To him, Daqian means "I know this country and have a little connection with it," nothing more.

When I first left Southern Li, I planned to visit Dragon Abyss City, but I was very cautious at the time. I was going there to learn or seek the Dao.

But things are different now; it represents the powerful immortal sects looking down on secular regimes from a superior position.

Even an ordinary disciple of the Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace who goes to the Great Qian Dynasty is still considered an "Immortal," and would be treated with great respect by the Da Qian Emperor. Not to mention Qin Yi, who holds a position and responsibilities within the Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace —he is the Inspector...

Putting aside his identity, Qin Yi's strength has also undergone a complete transformation.

Leaving aside Martial Cultivation for the moment, even by the general evaluation system for cultivators, Qin Yi has already reached the mid-stage of the Qin Xin realm. It should be noted that a senior Old Daoist Nun from the Outer Sect of the Celestial Pivot Divine Palace, who cultivates within the Great Qian territory and is treated with utmost respect as an immortal, is only at the seventh or eighth level of the Immortal Realm. Minghe and Meng Qingying, as core disciples of a top-tier sect, are only at the eighth or ninth level of the Qin Xin realm.

Cultivators above the Cloud Ascension level are considered powerful figures in many small and medium-sized sects, and they rarely venture into the mortal world. Generally speaking, those in the later stages of the Qin Heart realm are already Summon Wind and Rain in the mortal world.

However, this does not mean that Qin Yi can solve everything by taking action.

There is a fundamental difference between Daqian Southern Li.

The Great Qian Dynasty has cultivators, and the authorities are aware that many "immortals" exist in the world, unlike Southern Li narrow-minded and ignorant.

Like that Old Daoist Nun, she opened cave abode in the mountains of the county, received some offerings, and helped the county resolve some Monstrous Fiends and unusual events. This is a good option for low-level cultivators to obtain cultivation resources.

Even a small prefecture has cultivators offering sacrifices, so naturally the imperial family would too. The envoy who came to the Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace for help this time was a cultivator offered sacrifices by the Great Qian Dynasty. He was able to fly over on a magical Law Artifact to deliver the message; otherwise, if someone had been sent on horseback to ask for help, it would have been too late.

In other words, while the high-end strength of the Great Qian might not be stronger Qin Yi's, the gap isn't significant. After all, they're at the level where they can fly on magical artifacts, and their total number of cultivators is considerable, making their overall strength quite formidable. The problems that are difficult for them, Qin Yi might not be able to handle either. If he truly clings to the superiority complex of a major sect, he might just capsize.

"Hey." Liusu jumped off the stick and sat cross-legged on the handkerchief, just like him, and said, "Don't you think the relationship between immortals and secular governments in this world is quite peculiar..."

Qin Yi asked curiously, "What strange thing are you analyzing now?"

"Times have changed, and I'm interested in everything in this world," Liusu said. "Curiosity and a thirst for knowledge are the ladders to progress. Why seek the Way? It stems from the pursuit of knowledge. Someone like you, who doesn't care about anything, would be used as a stepping stone for the protagonist in your novel sooner or later, and wouldn't survive more than three chapters."

"Those who are too curious usually don't survive more than two chapters," Qin Yi retorted, then chuckled to himself, "So you and I are actually a perfect match, aren't we?"

"You should stick with your Senior Sister," Liusu said disdainfully. "Did you plan to go back to Southern Li this time?"

Qin Yi pondered for a while, then muttered to himself, "After the matter of Daqian is resolved, of course I have to go back and take a look."

Liusu felt his tone was a bit strange. "Your tone... is it a bit like you're feeling apprehensive about returning home?"

"That's true to some extent. Of course I'd blush if I were to have affairs with other women."

Before Liusu could even laugh, Qin Yi continued, "Besides, I'm very afraid..."

"Hmm?" Liusu asked curiously, "What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid that if I see her, I'll find that we have nothing to talk about."

Liusu tilted her head.

Its knowledge of such matters was actually no more than Qin Yi's, and it found Qin Yi's "feeling of fear" quite interesting.

There's no more to talk about... which is actually quite possible.

They haven't seen each other, yet they miss each other. Their feelings remain, and they remember only the good in each other; that bond has never disappeared. But perhaps when they meet again, one will have been away from the world for a long time, the other preoccupied with national affairs. The greater the distance between them, the less they'll have to talk, and that bond might finally break.

It's a very peculiar state; most people wouldn't even think of this, yet Qin Yi actually did.

"I'm telling you, your expertise in matters of love between men and women has improved by leaps and bounds, much faster than your spiritual practice."

Qin Yi said helplessly, "Don't laugh at me, I'm conflicted."

Liusu patted him on the shoulder. "You need to have some confidence in yourself. So what if you don't have anything to talk about? Just think of it as starting from scratch to pick up girls. For our Grandpa Qin's current level, it's a piece of cake."

Qin Yi glared at it, annoyed.

Liusu looked at the clouds as if nothing was wrong.

Qin Yi said, "I think you've really become much more independent since you left Korea."

Liusu said leisurely, "If you were locked up in prison for tens of thousands of years, you might laugh like a fool the moment you get out. I'm already very calm."

"So, after this period of time, you'll go back to your old self?"

"What? Do you feel more comfortable with my old way of doing things?"

No, I think you're adorable right now.

"Tch, idiot." Liusu seemed unwilling to talk about herself and directly changed the subject. "Don't think that things in Daqian are simple and careless. You'll end up making a mess of things."

Qin Yi smiled and said, "No, because I've never considered myself a very strong 'immortal.' The Great Qian is a great country after all. If they find something troublesome, I might not find it easy either. Besides, I have enemies... My Senior Sister sent me out here, perhaps with some intention of giving me some experience."

Liusu Su hummed in agreement. "A balance of activity and stillness is indeed the kind of experience you need. Although Ju Yunxiu has a somewhat strange artistic temperament, she is ultimately a powerful being of the Huiyang realm. She is as clear-headed as a mirror and sees things very clearly. Even if she doesn't send you out, I think it's about time you went out to gain experience."

"What do you mean by a strange artistic flair? That's her way of cultivating herself, that's how it should be."

"You also have a strange artistic flair; is that part of your philosophy?"

"..."

Liusu laughed and said, "No matter what, you can enjoy the real treatment of Imperial Preceptor this time, and act like a tyrant. Just don't get seduced by some princess in the Great Qian Princess and lose track of time. Your Senior Sister will probably be furious. She should have known better than to send you, you ungrateful wretch."

Qin Yi retorted angrily, "Am I that kind of person?"

After a moment's thought, Liusu confirmed, "Yes."

Qin Yi was furious.

As they spoke, the Da Qian Kingdom came into view. Looking down from the sky, the outline of the capital city Dragon Abyss City, could already be seen on the horizon.

A tall tower can be vaguely seen, with a huge dragon-shaped phantom surrounding it, giving it an ethereal, otherworldly appearance.

That was the Hidden Dragon Temple of the Da Qian Kingdom. The messenger seeking help this time was from the Daoist Temple. It was also the first place Qin Yi had to visit— Ju Yunxiu hadn't properly received the messenger at all; to this day, Qin Yi didn't even know what had happened in the Great Qian Kingdom...