The early morning sun shines through the mist in the forest, casting mottled light and shadow on the official road.
Huangdou team has already set off for an hour.
Yu Feng lay on the roof of the car, closed his eyes, and let the morning breeze blow his hair.
Osler leaned on the edge of the car with his arms folded across his chest, as if he was taking a nap, but every time the sound of horse hooves approached, his eyelids would move slightly.
Shi Mo and Shi Mo were sitting at the very back of the carriage, each holding a wheat cake and chewing slowly.
Ye Lingling was leaning against the car window, and Chen Jieqi was sitting in the middle of the car with his eyes closed.
The mark between his eyebrows shone slightly, and the voice of Sheng Hui sounded in Soul Ring.
"You didn't sleep much last night."
"I'm thinking about something." Chen Jieqi didn't open his eyes.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Evil Soul Master." Chen Jieqi paused.
"Cangmang Mountain Range Those polluted villages, that 'adult' in the underground palace, and Temple of Light's Stone Gate."
Sheng Hui was silent for a moment.
"Do you know how many categories Evil Soul Master is divided into?"
Chen Jieqi opened his eyes but did not answer, waiting for it to continue.
"The first category is the descendants of ancient dark forces.
They have an organization and inheritance, and their goal is to revive the darkness.
Cangmang Mountain Range That underground palace is their stronghold.
That 'sir' should be the leader of this category."
"The second category is the madman who escaped from Slaughter City.
They have no organization, no goals, and are purely murderous. They are uncontrollable, but they can't accomplish anything big."
"The third category is Soul Master who were corrupted by power. They were once normal people, but they did whatever it took to become stronger.
Village of Light Those who use living people to cultivate filth are this type."
Chen Jieqi was silent for a moment. "Which category is the most dangerous?"
"The first category. They are patient, have goals, and are waiting for an opportunity.
For example, when you turn on Stone Gate."
Chen Jieqi did not answer the call.
He cast his gaze out the car window, where the outline of the distant mountain ridge was vaguely visible in the mist.
The voice of Dugu Yan came from the side.
"Are you awake?"
She opened her eyes,
Chen Jieqi nodded.
The convoy stopped by a stream.
Yu Feng was the first to jump out of the car and squatted by the stream holding water to wash his face.
Osler leaned against the tree and did not move.
Dugu Yan walked to Chen Jieqi and lowered his voice.
"Xue Qinghe Someone from over there sent a message and asked you to come."
Chen Jieqi glanced at her and without asking why, got up and walked up the stream.
After passing through a bush, the prince's carriage stopped on the roadside.
The attendants were all far away, and no one came close.
Xue Qinghe stood by the stream, with his back to him, the hem of his moon-white brocade robe hanging on the grass.
When she heard the footsteps, she didn't look back.
"I sensed movement from Grandpa's side last night." Her voice was very soft.
"The light ladder deep in the Worship Hall lit up for a moment, but soon went out."
Chen Jieqi stood next to her, a fist away from her.
"Are you ready to start it?"
"No." Xue Qinghe shook his head,
"He's waiting for me. But I haven't thought about it yet."
The stream flowed by their feet and was crystal clear, with the pebbles on the bottom glowing in the sunlight.
"Then you came to ask me, do you want to hear what I have to say?" Chen Jieqi looked at the stream.
Xue Qinghe was silent for a moment.
"I don't know. Maybe I just want to find someone to talk to."
She turned around, leaned against the carriage, and looked at the ridge in the distance.
"Grandpa said, Angel God chose me when I was nine years old.
He said that God waits for no one. He said that if I don't become a God, Qian Family's bloodline will be cut off in my generation."
Her voice was very calm, as calm as if she was talking about someone else.
"But he said, I can choose."
Chen Jieqi didn't say anything. He bent down, picked up a pebble from the stream, and floated it in the water.
"But do I really have a choice?"
She raised her head and looked at the sky,
Chen Jieqi looked at her.
The sun fell on her face, the moon-white brocade robe, the jade crown, and the prince's mask.
But what he saw were the tired eyes beneath the mask.
"Then have you chosen?" he asked.
Xue Qinghe was silent for a long time.
"Not yet."
She took out the piece of feather and placed it in the palm of her hand.
The burn marks on the edges are clearly visible in the sunlight.
"When you drive Stone Gate, I will come."
Chen Jieqi nodded. "That's enough."
The two were silent for a moment.
The shout of Yu Feng came from a distance, but it was hard to hear clearly through the woods.
Xue Qinghe put back the feathers and stood up straight.
"Go back, it's time to hit the road."
Chen Jieqi turned around and walked down the stream. After a few steps, he stopped and did not look back.
"Qian Renxue."
Xue Qinghe's fingers tightened slightly.
"Whether you choose or not, it's up to you. This is what I recognize."
He didn't wait for her answer and continued walking.
The figure disappeared into the woods.
Xue Qinghe stood there and looked in that direction for a long time.
She remembered Chen Jieqi saying, "That's enough, now you are not alone."
She clenched her feathers tightly, turned around, and got into the carriage.
The convoy continued on its way.
The sun rises from the east to the top of the head, and then slides from the top of the head to the west.
Chen Jieqi leaned against the car window and looked at the forest passing by outside the window.
Sheng Hui's voice sounded again:
"She hasn't chosen yet, are you urging her?"
"No." Chen Jieqi said, "She needs time."
"Aren't you afraid that she will choose... to be farther and farther away from you?"
Chen Jieqi was silent for a moment. "Afraid. But that's her way."
Sheng Hui said no more.
When the sun was setting in the west, the convoy passed through a hilly area.
Chen Jieqi suddenly opened his eyes, and the mark between his eyebrows shone slightly.
He looked to the southwest, where there was a very faint Soul Power fluctuation, which was the breath of the Spirit Hall darkness.
The direction of Tang Hao.
He was silent for a moment and looked back.
Dugu Yan noticed something strange about him and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Chen Jieqi said, "Keep walking."
Sheng Hui's voice suddenly sounded, "The people from the Spirit Hall are chasing Tang Hao."
"I know."
"You're not going to care? What about the rabbit?"
"I can't control it." Chen Jieqi paused.
"And, I believe he can protect her."
As night fell, the convoy set up camp in a valley sheltered from the wind.
Chen Jieqi was sitting by the fire, turning a branch in his hand, but it was not burned.
Dugu Bo came over and sat down next to him.
"Xue Qinghe is looking for you today?"
Chen Jieqi nodded.
Dugu Bo picked up a branch and stirred the fire, "She is really interested in you."
Chen Jieqi did not answer the call.
"Grandpa, how did you meet grandma back then?"
Dugu Bo was stunned for a moment. Then he smiled, that smile was very light.
"Why do you ask this suddenly?"
"Just wanted to know."
Dugu Bo was silent for a moment, looking at the fire, the firelight dancing in his eyes.
"She is an ordinary person. There is no Martial Soul, there is no Soul Power.
When I was young, I was hunted and she saved me."
He paused for a while, as if recalling something.
"I'm healed and want to leave.
She said, let's go.
I'll leave."
Chen Jieqi looked at him.
"I've been away for three days and I'm back again." Dugu Bo's voice was very low.
"I don't know why I came back. I just felt that I would regret it if I left."
He glanced at Chen Jieqi.
"You kid, you are soberer than grandpa back then. You know what you want."
Chen Jieqi said nothing.
Dugu Bo stood up and patted his clothes. "Go to bed early, we have to go on the road tomorrow."
He turned and left.
Chen Jieqi sat by the fire and looked at the flames.
Sheng Hui's voice sounded. "Your grandpa is right. You know what you want."
Chen Jieqi threw the branch in his hand into the fire, and sparks flew up.
"Protect those around you," he said.
The firelight shone on his face, and the mark between his eyebrows shone quietly.
At the same time, in another place, Tang San was sitting on the threshold, and Mysterious Heaven Skill was slowly flowing in the meridians.
His face was pale, and the tiger's mouth on his right hand was cracked again, and the blood scab had not yet dried up.
Xiao Wu was sitting by the window, with her back to him, her scorpion tail hanging down on her waist.
She has not spoken since she came in.
Tang Hao leaned against the wall with his eyes closed. He was breathing heavily and his chest was heaving.
Tang San opened his eyes and looked at the back of Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Wu."
She didn't answer.
"Do you believe me?"
Xiao Wu's body trembled slightly,
"Your father said, level sixty..."
She didn't finish speaking. But Tang San knew what she wanted to ask.
He was silent for a long time.
"I won't let anyone touch you."
Xiao Wu There is no looking back.
"Including yourself?" Her voice was very soft, as if she was talking to herself.
Tang San's hand paused and he did not answer.
In the distance, a very light sound came from the mountains and forests, not the wind, but footsteps.
Tang San's pupils shrank suddenly, he stood up, walked to the window, and looked into the depths of the night.
In the darkness, something is approaching.
He glanced back at Tang Hao. Tang Hao still had his eyes closed, but his fingers had already grasped Clear Sky Hammer's hammer handle.
"Coming." Tang Hao's voice was hoarse.
Tang San clenched his fists.
Xiao Wu stood up and walked to him.
"Third Brother."
Tang San didn't look at her. His eyes were locked in the night.
"I'm here."