Tang Yuehua

The resting caravan suddenly found an extra person in their midst, naturally alarming everyone.

The soul masters pursuing Huangfu Ji had originally intended to wipe out the caravan along with him.

Just as they were about to make their move, two enormous pitch-black hammers flew out from the caravan and smashed straight into the ground.

Two massive craters were blasted into the earth, dirt spraying everywhere. The masked soul masters who had been about to attack were instantly frightened stiff.

The leader of the masked soul masters was startled when he saw the hammers in the pits.

"Clear Sky Hammers!"

As a soul master, he naturally knew of the Clear Sky Hammer, the number one weapon spirit in the world. How many in the soul master world could possibly not know of it?

Even Spirit Hall feared the Clear Sky Sect, the number one sect in the world, to some extent.

If even Spirit Hall feared them, let alone a few people like them.

"We can't kill Huangfu Ji."

Staring unwillingly at the caravan, the masked soul master had never expected to encounter people from the Clear Sky Sect here.

"Retreat."

With the order given, the masked soul masters left.

Huangfu Ji let out a breath of relief, though he was also astonished.

"Even heaven is helping me."

He had never expected a roadside caravan to belong to the Clear Sky Sect.

The Clear Sky Sect had not yet gone into seclusion, so it was perfectly normal for them to have businesses outside. Every major sect and clan had more or less some holdings. Take the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, for example—everyone on the continent knew how wealthy they were, rich enough to rival a nation.

At this moment, two sturdy, short-haired middle-aged men in gray clothes walked over.

"Who are you?"

To be hunted by several soul masters, the youth before them was clearly no harmless person.

After taking a glance at them, Huangfu Ji could tell that the two were from the Clear Sky Sect.

He cupped his hands in greeting.

"I am Huangfu Ji. I encountered an ambush on the road and had no choice but to flee to your caravan for refuge. My apologies."

"And thank you all for saving me."

"Huangfu?" One of the middle-aged men wore a puzzled expression. None of the powerful soul master clans on the continent bore the surname Huangfu.

At that moment, a girl's voice, crisp as silver bells, came from within a carriage.

"Are you Huangfu Ji, Grand Duke of Qingyang Duchy?"

Looking toward the carriage, Huangfu Ji nodded.

"That's right."

The two Clear Sky Sect soul masters exchanged glances. Both saw the surprise in the other's eyes. They truly could not connect the disheveled youth before them with the Grand Duke of Qingyang Duchy.

The carriage door opened, and an extraordinarily beautiful girl in a long blue dress stepped out.

She had blue hair, delicate features, and an exceptional bearing.

Huangfu Ji froze when he saw her. It was not because he was captivated by her beauty, but because he was somewhat stunned.

He silently marveled at how small the world was. Here, he had actually met Tang Yuehua, Tang San's future aunt.

There was no need to look at anything else; her aura and appearance alone made her identity easy to guess.

Walking up to Huangfu Ji, the girl gave a slight bow.

"Tang Yuehua of the Clear Sky Sect greets Grand Duke Qingyang."

Huangfu Ji returned the gesture.

"Miss Yuehua, there is no need for such formality."

"Though I am a grand duke, I am merely a puppet."

"As you can see, I get surrounded and attacked just from leaving home."

The fact that Huangfu Ji, Grand Duke Qingyang, was a puppet was no secret on the continent. Tang Yuehua naturally knew this, but she did not look down on him because of it.

As the daughter of the Clear Sky Sect's sect master, she was unlike the other disciples. Her mind was especially meticulous, and she had gradually begun taking over some of the Clear Sky Sect's external affairs.

Though the Clear Sky Sect was powerful, it was poor at socializing and often offended others. As a result, such matters had to be handled by her.

Since they had encountered Grand Duke Qingyang and saved him, it was only natural to build a relationship with him. Being on good terms with him was better than offending him.

Faced with Huangfu Ji's self-deprecating joke, Tang Yuehua merely covered her mouth and smiled.

"Your Grace certainly knows how to joke. With your talent, you will naturally reclaim the authority that belongs to you in the future."

She then asked, "Are you heading to Heaven Dou City, Your Grace?"

Huangfu Ji nodded. "That's right. I am heading to Heaven Dou City to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Tang Yuehua smiled and nodded, then extended an invitation.

"If Your Grace does not mind, why not travel with us from here on?"

She had heard of Huangfu Ji's talent as well—a Mutated Martial Soul and Innate Full Soul Power. Such a genius would inevitably become a powerful Titled Douluo in the future. Forming a good relationship now would mean one more friend for the Clear Sky Sect down the line.

"I would be delighted." After learning that these people belonged to the Clear Sky Sect, Huangfu Ji had wanted to travel with them, but he had feared that Tang Yuehua might refuse. Now that she had invited him personally, how could he possibly decline?

After all, he did not know whether he would face another ambush ahead. With people from the Clear Sky Sect around, he would be much safer.

Tang Yuehua had someone bring over a horse, along with some medicine for external injuries and a set of dry clothes.

After changing, Huangfu Ji left with the caravan.

Inside the carriage, Tang Yuehua held a book in her hands. After reading for a while, she set it down and opened the window.

"Grand Duke, why are you going to study at the Royal Academy?"

Logically speaking, someone of Huangfu Ji's status should not have been going to the Royal Academy, so she was rather curious.

Huangfu Ji said, "I did not feel at ease in the Duchy, so I thought I would study at the Royal Academy. At the very least, I would have much more freedom there than in the Duchy."

"Besides, leaving the Duchy would also let me temporarily escape Yuan Hao's surveillance."

He did not tell Tang Yuehua the real reason. They had only just met, after all. But he had not lied either.

Tang Yuehua nodded in understanding. Leaving the Duchy truly would be much better. And with Huangfu Ji's talent, it would not take many years before he returned. By then, Yuan Hao would no longer be his match.

Along the way, the two chatted and laughed. It was rare for Tang Yuehua to have someone her own age by her side, so she was naturally happy to talk a little longer. Aside from her two older brothers, there was no one else in the sect for her to play with.

Her two brothers were focused on cultivation and could not spend much time accompanying her, so she had been alone for a long time.

Through their conversations, Huangfu Ji also discovered that although Tang Yuehua was dignified and elegant, she was actually a lively and cheerful young girl at heart.

That afternoon, the caravan arrived at Baihe City, famed for its blooming white lotus flowers.

After arriving at the inn and booking their rooms, Huangfu Ji had no interest in admiring the city's scenery. Instead, he began cultivating in his room.

Knock, knock, knock~

A knock sounded just as Huangfu Ji finished cultivating.

He walked to the door and opened it. Tang Yuehua stood outside, dignified and elegant.

"Miss Yuehua, is something the matter?"

Tang Yuehua smiled and shook her head. "Nothing in particular. I only came to ask whether you needed anything, Grand Duke."

Huangfu Ji shook his head. "I do not need anything. Besides, this is an inn. If I need something, I can find a waiter."

"Also, Miss Yuehua, please do not call me Grand Duke anymore. Just call me by my name. If that feels inconvenient, you can call me Huangfu."

"Then I'll call you Huangfu. And please do not call me Miss Yuehua either. It feels too distant. We can be considered friends now, so just call me Yuehua." Tang Yuehua's voice was exceedingly pleasant, like the song of an oriole.

"Alright." Huangfu Ji nodded with a soft laugh.

"Then Yuehua will be leaving first." After giving a small bow, Tang Yuehua departed.

Watching Tang Yuehua's retreating figure, Huangfu Ji could not help but think of Liu Erlong.