Preparations for Departure

When Leng Yaozhu's slender figure reappeared at the training room entrance, the secretary who had remained silent all this time was still waiting quietly where she stood.

Cold white light spilled from the corridor ceiling, stretching their shadows into long, interlaced shapes.

As Leng Yaozhu approached, the secretary hurried forward and pulled open the training room's heavy metal door for her.

"Come in with me."

Leng Yaozhu's voice was quiet, but it carried an authority that brooked no argument.

"From today on, your job is to take good care of these two children."

"You've seen for yourself just how astonishing Li Qingyue's talent is."

"Stay by his side and give him enough time to grow. Once he becomes truly powerful, things won't turn out badly for you."

As she spoke, Leng Yaozhu cast a faint glance at the woman beside her.

The woman, Leng Xiaoyue, came from a branch of the Leng Family and had quietly served at Leng Yaozhu's side for more than ten years.

Leng Yaozhu did, in fact, trust her.

That trust came from the understanding they had built over years together, as well as Leng Xiaoyue's consistently cautious and dutiful conduct.

It was also why Leng Yaozhu had ultimately decided not to silence her.

But trust was only trust.

If someone who knew so much remained at her side, sooner or later another party might secretly buy her off.

It would be better to have her leave with Li Qingyue and go straight to Eastsea City.

That way, she could continue to be useful while being removed from the innermost circle of secrets.

As she listened, Leng Xiaoyue's face went slightly pale.

But when she met Leng Yaozhu's cold, commanding gaze, she fell silent for a moment.

In the end, she lowered her head obediently.

She did not dare argue with Leng Yaozhu.

Leng Yaozhu had chosen her neither out of softheartedness nor for any other reason.

It was because she had no family left except a younger brother.

The two lonely siblings had only each other in this world.

But Leng Yaozhu had long since placed her brother under her personal control.

On the surface, he had always lived a stable life.

In truth, Leng Yaozhu held his life firmly in her hands.

As long as Leng Xiaoyue behaved, her brother would live well.

If she did not, his life could be forfeit.

Leng Xiaoyue understood that all too clearly.

So she could only follow Leng Yaozhu into the training room in silence.

Inside the combat training room, Li Qingyue was idly pinching Na'er's little cheeks.

The girl's cheeks were unbelievably smooth.

One moment he pinched Na'er's cheek; the next, he raised a hand and pinched his own.

Comparing the two, he found that Na'er's cheeks really were extraordinarily soft and smooth.

Yet compared with his own, they still seemed to be missing something.

The discovery left Li Qingyue rather speechless.

His own skin was so smooth it almost seemed as though a pinch would squeeze water from it.

If he did not know exactly what terrifying power lay within him,

any ordinary person who glanced his way would probably mistake him for a little girl too weak to truss a chicken.

"This is ridiculous."

"I'm a man, but I look far too much like a girl."

Li Qingyue grumbled under his breath as he ran his fingers through his long, pale-gold hair.

Though pale, its gold was remarkably clear and luminous.

Not a single strand of dark hair could be seen among it.

It was plainly the color he had been born with.

Add his deep, jet-black eyes and overly delicate face, then dress him in foreign clothes, and the result was almost too much to imagine.

The thought sent a shiver through Li Qingyue himself, raising fine goose bumps along his arms.

Hearing Leng Yaozhu's footsteps approach, Li Qingyue quickly stood.

Holding Na'er's hand, he looked toward Leng Yaozhu.

Na'er seemed instinctively afraid of Leng Yaozhu and shrank a little farther behind Li Qingyue.

Sensing her unease, Li Qingyue gently squeezed her soft palm and gave her a reassuring look.

Leng Yaozhu walked up to them. She had never liked wasting words,

and she had no intention of wasting time now.

"The Mecha that will take you to Eastsea City is ready."

"Once you arrive, new identification documents will be made for you."

"Your name will still be Li Qingyue."

"As for Na'er, from now on, she'll be called Li Na'er."

As Leng Yaozhu spoke, she turned her gaze to Na'er. She was not asking for the girl's opinion.

Na'er herself had no objection.

She merely nodded, a little bewildered.

Then she quietly retreated farther behind Li Qingyue.

Leng Yaozhu paid no attention to Na'er's small movement.

She simply raised a hand and pointed to the assistant beside her. "This is Leng Xiaoyue. From now on, she'll be your assistant."

"You could say she'll be your guardian in name, responsible for your daily needs."

"But you don't have to follow her arrangements."

"You only need to act according to your own wishes."

"I'll deposit money into your account on time every month."

"As for cultivation resources, I'll send someone else to find a way to get them to you."

When Leng Yaozhu finished, she looked directly at all three of them, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Clearly, she had arranged everything she could before setting out for Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.

After hearing her out, Li Qingyue nodded lightly.

In truth, he was helpless about the fact that his Martial Soul could stir a phenomenon in the heavens and earth.

But now that matters had reached this point, there was nothing more to say.

Everything had already begun.

That phenomenon had already appeared before everyone.

And once it had appeared at the Leng Family's home, Li Qingyue had been branded as one of theirs.

Even if he wanted to play both sides someday and throw in his lot with another faction, that was no longer realistic.

So for now, he could only follow Leng Yaozhu down this road to the end.

After giving those brief instructions, Leng Yaozhu told the three of them to wait where they were.

She herself still had to put her final contingency plans in place.

At the same time, she would mobilize the full strength of the Leng Family to stop Qiangu Dongfeng at all costs.

When Leng Yaozhu turned to leave, there was not a trace of hesitation in her steps.

Her cool, resolute figure was reflected in the training room's mirror-smooth floor, casting a long, dark shadow.

Li Qingyue watched her go and remained silent for a moment.

Na'er stayed pressed close to his side, as though only being near him could give her a little peace.

Leng Xiaoyue stood quietly where she was, head bowed, like an exquisite doll with no life in it.

For a while, the training room was so quiet that only their breathing could be heard.

Li Qingyue drew a deep breath and pushed his tangled thoughts aside for the moment.

He knew that from the instant he left this place, an uncertain and dangerous road awaited him.

But he also knew he had no way back.