Golden Radiance leisurely flew through the sky above Si Province, its four hooves treading on golden thunder.
From early morning until the afternoon, Lin Changqing and Su Wanqing rode the Qilin around several commanderies near the Capital City.
Su Wanqing had grown up in the Capital City and knew Si Province like the back of her hand.
Whenever they passed a scenic spot or historic site, she would excitedly tell Lin Changqing all about it.
"Saint Venerable, look! That mountain is called Phoenix Fall Mountain. Legend has it that a phoenix once roosted there in ancient times!"
"That lake over there is Crescent Moon Lake. The spirit ore at the bottom glows, turning the whole lake blue at night. It's so beautiful!"
"And that tower is called the Demon Suppressing Tower. The Demon Suppressing Division built it three hundred years ago. They say it has many demons sealed beneath it!"
Lin Changqing sat behind her, listening as she chattered away.
Every now and then, he nodded or asked a question.
Whenever Su Wanqing heard him respond, her smile grew a little sweeter.
On the Qilin's back.
The distance between them had gradually narrowed again.
In the afternoon, they stopped to rest on a hillside covered in wildflowers.
Golden Radiance sprawled on the grass, basking in the sun as its tail swayed lazily from side to side.
Su Wanqing sat on a large stone and took two boxes of pastries from her Storage Ring.
"I had the Imperial Kitchen make these osmanthus cakes especially for you, Saint Venerable. Give them a try!"
Lin Changqing took one and bit into it. It was soft, sticky, and sweet—quite delicious.
They sat on the hillside like that, eating pastries and chatting.
A gentle breeze carried the faint scent of flowers.
They stayed until the sun sank in the west and the clouds on the horizon turned orange-red.
Only then did Su Wanqing reluctantly get to her feet.
"The Flower Deity Festival is about to begin. We should head back."
Lin Changqing nodded, swung onto Golden Radiance, then pulled Su Wanqing up behind him.
Golden Radiance raised its head and let out a clear cry, then flew toward the Capital City on four hooves of golden thunder.
As dusk approached.
The streets and alleys of the Capital City were already lined with flower lanterns.
Red, yellow, purple, blue—lanterns of every kind adorned the whole city, making it look like a fairyland.
Flower stalls filled both sides of the streets. Peonies, tree peonies, roses, azaleas, and all kinds of blossoms vied for attention.
The air was thick with the fragrance of flowers.
The people donned new clothes and took to the streets, supporting the elderly and carrying the young.
Children clutched little flower lanterns and darted through the crowds.
The entire Capital City was immersed in the festive cheer.
There were especially large crowds this year.
News had spread several days earlier.
At this year's Flower Deity Festival, Princess Yunshu would leave the palace on behalf of the imperial family to celebrate with the people.
And the newly ennobled Prince Wu'an, Lin Changqing, would be joining her!
To see with their own eyes the Prince Wu'an who had slain a Demon Saint with one sword stroke and subdued a Pureblood Qilin—what an honor!
Every inn in the Capital City had been fully booked three days ago. People from nearby provinces had also flocked to the city just to claim a good spot.
Just then.
A golden light suddenly shone across the horizon.
A Qilin covered in golden scales descended from the clouds, its four hooves treading golden thunder.
Two people sat on its back.
The young woman in front wore a pale pink palace dress. Her beauty could topple kingdoms, and she wore a delighted smile.
The young man behind her had black robes and black hair, a Green Peak Sword at his waist, and a calm expression.
Riding together, they looked from afar like a pair of celestial companions who had stepped out of a painting.
"It's Prince Wu'an and Princess Yunshu!"
Someone in the crowd cried out.
The people along the entire street dropped to their knees in unison.
"Greetings, Prince Wu'an! Greetings, Princess Yunshu!"
Their voices surged like waves and echoed above the street.
Several passing nobles hurriedly bowed as well, their manners utterly respectful.
Lin Changqing patted Golden Radiance on the neck, and the Qilin slowly descended into the middle of the street.
The surrounding people knelt in droves. No one dared look up at them directly.
"Rise."
Lin Changqing dismounted, then quite naturally reached out, wrapped an arm around Su Wanqing's waist, and lifted her down from the Qilin's back.
His movements were gentle and fluid.
The instant his arm went around her waist, Su Wanqing's cheeks flushed all the way to her neck.
Her heart pounded like a drum, and even the tips of her ears turned red, but inside, she was bubbling with sweetness.
The Saint Venerable had just put his arm around her waist! In front of everyone!
Did this mean the Saint Venerable felt something for her...
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Although the people around them didn't dare look directly, quite a few secretly glanced up and saw what had happened.
A few elderly ladies exchanged knowing looks, smiles spreading across their faces.
Once Su Wanqing had steadied herself, she took a deep breath to suppress her fluster.
She looked up at Lin Changqing, her voice still tinged with shyness.
"Saint Venerable, the Flower Deity Festival is about to begin. I should return to the palace and get ready. I'll be hosting the Flower Deity Lantern Festival in the Imperial Garden later."
Lin Changqing was just about to reply.
Suddenly, the system's notification rang in his mind.
["Ding! Random quest triggered: Foil the conspiracy plotted by the Holy Demon God Sect and the demons during the Flower Deity Festival, thwart the Blood Sacrifice plan, and prevent a Demon Saint's avatar from descending (0/1)."] ["Quest rewards: Four Symbols Holy Guards—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, four Early Martial Saint Stage experts."] ["Four Symbols Holy Guards: Four Early Martial Saint Stage experts, each corresponding to one of the Four Symbols' powers. Azure Dragon commands wood, White Tiger commands metal, Vermilion Bird commands fire, and Black Tortoise commands water. The four are of one mind and can form the Four Symbols Killing Array, giving them the combat strength of the Late Martial Saint Stage. Their souls are bound to the host, and they are absolutely loyal. Their cultivation will automatically rise as the host's strength increases. If the host falls, the Four Symbols will perish as well."]
Lin Changqing's pupils contracted slightly.
He wasn't shocked because the quest was dangerous. He was shocked because... there was more?
Last night, he had personally wiped out the Holy Demon God Sect's branch in the Capital City, slain the Red Python Martial Saint, and killed every one of its followers.
He had even blown their lair to ruins.
Yet less than a day had passed, and those people still refused to give up?
They still planned to make trouble during the Flower Deity Festival?
But then he considered it. The timing they'd chosen was indeed clever.
The Flower Deity Festival was the liveliest event of the year in the Capital City. It drew the biggest crowds, and the scene was the most chaotic.
An attack at a gathering like this would be impossible to guard against.
And with him attending this year, even more people had come than usual.
If the enemy struck now, the casualties and panic would be catastrophic!
But what concerned Lin Changqing even more... was the quest reward—the Four Symbols Holy Guards.
Four Early Martial Saint Stage personal guards!
Not ordinary Martial Saints, but Martial Saints who commanded the powers of the Four Symbols!
The four were of one mind and could form the Four Symbols Killing Array, giving them the combat strength of the Late Martial Saint Stage.
Although he had already reached the Ninth-Rank Martial Saint Peak, he did lack a few capable subordinates who could handle things on their own.
With the Four Symbols Holy Guards, he wouldn't have to do everything himself in the future.
It looked like tonight's battle was unavoidable!
Not for the system's reward, but because he was in the Capital City. If these demons wanted to stir up trouble during the Flower Deity Festival, they were slapping him in the face.
They were asking for death!
Su Wanqing noticed the change in Lin Changqing's expression. The blush hadn't faded from her cheeks, but concern had crept into her eyes.
"Saint Venerable, what's wrong?"
She asked softly, her voice full of concern.
Lin Changqing glanced at the growing crowd around them but said nothing.
He raised a hand and slashed the empty air before him.
Space split open and swallowed him, Su Wanqing, and Golden Radiance.
In an instant, the scene around them changed.
The street, the people, the flower lanterns—all vanished, replaced by the familiar sights of the rear courtyard of Prince Wu'an Mansion.
Su Wanqing jumped at the sudden Spatial Shift, but quickly understood what had happened.
The Saint Venerable had used Spatial Shift to bring her back to the mansion.
That meant what he was about to tell her was very important—too important to discuss on the street.
Lin Changqing turned around, his expression a little more serious than usual.
"Wanqing, I sensed an unusual presence just now."
His voice was low, his tone certain.
"Although the Holy Demon God Sect's branch in the Capital City has been uprooted, they may have another plan. Something could happen during the Flower Deity Festival."
Su Wanqing's expression changed slightly.
"What?!"
Her voice was full of disbelief.
"B-but didn't we just wipe out their branch last night? The Red Python Martial Saint is dead, and all the followers have been cleared out. How could someone have infiltrated the city again so quickly?"
She paused, then asked,
"Saint Venerable, where did you get this information?"
Lin Changqing kept a straight face, his tone still calm.
"Instinct."
He looked utterly serious as he said those two words.
He couldn't exactly tell her the system had told him, could he?
"My senses don't lie."
Su Wanqing froze for a moment, then nodded firmly.
"I believe you!"
Her eyes sparkled, her voice filled with complete trust.
"Chief Xiao said the Demon Cult's hideout was outside the city, but you said it was inside, and you were right. Now you say something will happen at the Flower Deity Festival tonight, so it must be true!"
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