Xing Yan had not seen Lingyi for a long time, and he rather missed her. Hearing Long Ling say that she was visiting the South Sea, he pondered briefly, then agreed.
When Qiong Rong heard that Xing Yan was going to the South Sea, she naturally wanted to follow. But the South Sea envoy, whose hair and beard were snow-white, smiled and shook his head at the little sister's request. His lord had specifically invited Xing Yan alone this time; he dared not decide whether anyone else could come.
Hearing this, Xing Yan gently comforted Qiong Rong. Since he was traveling far from home, someone needed to guard their dwelling. He would leave her and Xueyi to look after it, and in any case, he would return before long.
At his instruction, Qiong Rong obediently returned to the stone house and helped Sister Xueyi pack his few belongings. In truth, leaving them behind suited Xing Yan's wishes. After taking Qiong Rong and Xueyi to watch the military review in the South Sea last time, he had felt some regret upon witnessing that vast, heroic spectacle. Blades had no eyes; with lightning halberds and luminous spears flying everywhere, it would be disastrous if either girl were accidentally wounded.
To cut the idle talk short, once he had changed into a presentable robe, Xing Yan told Xueyi to report his departure at Flying Cloud Summit later. Then mist rose beneath his feet, and he soared into the air on a streak of cloudlight alongside Long Ling.
When they reached the clouds high overhead, Xing Yan saw a radiant cloud carriage with a feathered canopy waiting among distant snow-white cloud banks. Its cloud-shaped fittings and painted shafts were adorned with golden patterns and brilliant colors, making it exceptionally splendid. Two strange beasts were