A Move Short

(It's time to climb the ranks again. This is the last week for the Dragon Seal's new book ranking. Seeking fire support!)

Inside Huai'an.Nord's tent, Qi Bei was writing furiously.

Not long after, Qi Bei threw down his brush, folded and sealed the letter, and handed it to Huai'an. He said, "Big brother, I'm leaving in a hurry, but there's something I haven't had time to do. After I leave, please have someone quietly deliver this letter to Marquis Lanling. Don't let anyone know."

Marquis Lanling?

Huai'an was a little confused, but since Qi Bei didn't want to say more, he wouldn't ask. They were brothers, and he trusted him completely. Therefore, he agreed without a second word.

Half an hour later, Huo Lie and Tie Tou were ready. Vajra and Phantom, the siblings, also arrived beside Qi Bei.

"Father, Big Brother, take care." Qi Bei stepped forward and hugged Raymond.Nord and Huai'an.Nord. He then turned and got into a carriage. The two hundred and fifty Black Armored Army soldiers transformed into guards for a small merchant caravan and followed Qi Bei onto an unknown journey.

Qi Bei lifted the carriage curtain and leaned out to look back. He saw the huge Imperial Capital shrinking before his eyes, and a fiery passion surged in his heart.

"One day, I, Qi Bei, will return in a way that will make the world take notice," Qi Bei thought.

Perhaps one day history will record it like this: on a dark and deep night, a young man walked out of the Golden Leaf Imperial Capital and headed towards the vast world, thereafter swimming in the vast ocean and soaring through the nine heavens...

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At the first light of dawn, Golden Leaf First Avenue was very deserted.

At Marquis Lanling's mansion, the butler knocked on Marquis Lanling's door, holding a letter.

"What is it?" Marquis Lanling opened the door. He had just emerged from cultivation and was not overly angry.

"A letter for Your Lordship, delivered by someone wearing a cloak. They said it concerns your life and death." The butler tremblingly handed over the letter.

Marquis Lanling condensed his Battle Qi into his hand, took the letter, and waved for the butler to withdraw.

Upon opening the letter, Marquis Lanling's pupils contracted instantly, and his hands trembled. He almost dropped the letter.

"Bedroom puppet, underground secret chamber, Nan Wuya, Venerable Wutian, tonight at midnight, Lanhe Town, five hundred miles northwest of the Imperial Capital. No extensions, consequences at your own risk." The letter contained only two short lines, but they sent Marquis Lanling's soul flying. His heart leaped into his throat.

"Besides that mysterious expert who saved Nan Wuya and killed Venerable Wutian that day, no one else would know about this. What does he want with me?" Marquis Lanling took a few deep breaths to calm his pounding heart.

"If he's such a powerful expert, he could have killed me long ago. If he's looking for me, it's probably because I still have some value," Marquis Lanling thought. Instead of being alarmed, he was pleased. Venerable Wutian was dead, and the matter of Nan Wuya might come back to haunt him at any time. If he could latch onto another powerful figure, that would be ideal.

Marquis Lanling immediately changed his clothes, quietly left the mansion, and galloped towards Lanhe Town, five hundred miles away.

The sun rose from the horizon, and the Imperial Capital began to bustle.

At this moment, a team of imperial guards, escorting an official from the Imperial Palace's inner court, arrived at the Nord Family mansion to read Emperor Hanmos's decree.

"Patriarch Nord, His Majesty decrees that Qi Bei.Nord be promoted to a first-class Viscount, with his fiefdom changed to Kaiyang, Boqing, and Mingxin cities. He is to proceed to the Imperial Palace immediately to meet His Majesty." The inner court official respectfully said to Kodi.Nord. Facing the head of the foremost family in Golden Leaf, he dared not be presumptuous, even as a confidant of Emperor Hanmos.

"Alas, I didn't expect my fifth grandson to be so appreciated by His Majesty. If I had known, I would have made him stay," Kodi.Nord sighed.

"Ah? The Nord Family, where did Viscount Qi Bei go?" the inner court official asked in surprise.

"That boy is restless and couldn't wait to go to his fiefdom. So, as soon as the engagement ceremony ended, he left. I'm truly ashamed of His Majesty's kindness. I suppose he doesn't have the fortune for it," Kodi.Nord said with a look of regret.

"This... I will report this to His Majesty immediately. Farewell." The inner court official was greatly alarmed and left in a hurry.

Emperor Hanmos received the report from the inner court official and slammed the desk in front of him, scattering books and ink.

"What a cunning old fox," Emperor Hanmos gritted his teeth.

"Immediately investigate all merchant caravans and military units that left the Imperial Capital last night. If Qi Bei.Nord's whereabouts are found, intercept him immediately," Emperor Hanmos quickly recovered from his anger and calmly issued the order.

The Imperial Capital experienced turmoil overnight. Ordinary citizens were still excitedly discussing the topic of Qi Bei and Princess Mingyue's wedding, while above them, undercurrents were surging.

This confrontation between the Royal Family and the Nord Family had clearly lost a round, further sharpening the conflict between the two sides. What was originally hidden beneath the waves had now emerged as the tip of an iceberg.

In the Sleeping Moon Palace, Princess Mingyue sat with the Feng sisters.

"Brother Qi Bei left? How could it be so soon?" Feng Ruoyu asked with her mouth agape.

"I only found out just now," Princess Mingyue appeared very calm. Her expression showed no emotional fluctuations, as if she were talking about something completely unrelated to her.

Feng Ruoyun did not chime in. Being intelligent, she had already guessed the reason for the events.

"Sister Mingyue, you're his fiancée. Didn't he even say goodbye to you?" Feng Ruoyu asked indignantly. It was clear to everyone that she was not indignant on behalf of Princess Mingyue, but for herself. He had left without even saying goodbye to her, which was infuriating.

Goodbye? Did they need to say goodbye? Since they both understood, why bother with farewells.

However, even though she thought this, Princess Mingyue's heart felt a faint sense of melancholy.

The worlds of the two had only intersected for a moment before diverging in opposite directions. Would the faint curiosity that had been stirred in her heart fade with time?

Feng Ruoyu chattered on about Qi Bei's shortcomings, while Princess Mingyue and Feng Ruoyun fell into their own thoughts.

Just then, a palace maid ran over, her face filled with panic. She stammered, "Pr... Princess, Young Master Fentian has arrived."

Feng Ruoyun pulled Feng Ruoyu up and said, "Mingyue, we also need to depart for home. If you have time, you can come find me at the Golden Fortress."

"Of course. Be careful on your journey," Princess Mingyue nodded.

As the Feng sisters left the palace, they saw Fentian entering. A flicker of shock crossed both their beautiful eyes, and they understood why the palace maid looked so panicked.

It turned out that although Fentian had changed into a clean magic robe and was no longer in his disheveled state from yesterday, a bulging red scar from his neck to the corner of his left eye was so striking, like a centipede crawling on his face, making one's heart turn cold just by looking at it.

"Sister, our Feng family has spiritual medicine that can heal such external injuries. Let alone Tongtian Mountain, even without spiritual medicine, finding a priest from the Temple of the God of Light to cast a healing spell would suffice. The disciples of Tongtian Mountain and the priests of the Temple of the God of Light would give them that much face," Feng Ruoyu said softly.

"It's not that they can't, but that he doesn't want to," Feng Ruoyun recalled Fentian's sinister eyes from earlier and gently shook her head. It seemed his hatred for Qi Bei had been etched into his soul.