It was noon. Sunlight broke through the clouds and shone upon the earth, lending the air a hint of warmth. With the snow about to melt, this rare spell of fine weather had dispelled much of the chill from the air and quietly hastened the melting snow.
When the flying boat carrying Huang Baimei and Leng Manxue landed once more at the air harbor in Dragon Emperor City, the ground was wet everywhere, bearing the marks of melted snow. The remaining snow in the harbor had been cleared into piles and heaped in flowerbeds and on lawns, where they were slowly shrinking away. The moment the two stepped off the flying boat, before they could even take a proper look at the changes in the harbor, a Divine General was already waiting beneath the vessel to receive them.
The Divine General awaiting them was none other than Chang Qianxun, the Earth Divine General who had escorted Zhang Tie back to the Dragon Emperor Pavilion when Zhang Tie had first returned to Dragon Emperor City. Chang Qianxun was now glowing with health and brimming with vigor, clad from head to toe in a brand-new Divine General uniform. Six silver dragon patterns had quietly appeared on his cuffs—when Zhang Tie had first met him not long ago, there had only been five.
"Are you Huang Baimei and Leng Manxue?" The instant he saw the two disembark, Chang Qianxun stepped forward and asked.
Huang Baimei gave Chang Qianxun a glance and nodded. "We are. And you are...?"
"I am the captain of His Majesty's guard. Knowing that the two of you would arrive today, His Majesty specially instructed me to receive you. This way, please..." Chang Qianxun said, making an inviting gesture. Huang Baimei and Leng Manxue exchanged a look without speaking, then