The Shiyue Peak disciples steering the boat exchanged speechless looks, unsure what to do. Their task had been to fetch the injured Zhao Layue from Chaoge City. Green Mountain was already in sight, and delaying the Sword Boat for several days had already violated their sect's orders, let alone going to the distant north.
Gu Qing looked at the disciples and said earnestly, "Go and get ready. You know neither my master nor my martial aunt has much of a temper to spare."
With a faint tremor, the clouds on either side of the Sword Boat stirred, unraveling into wisps that gradually fell behind.
Gu Qing returned to the bow, his gaze shifting from the parted clouds and mist to Zhao Layue's back, his eyes full of worry.
The Sword Boat was still moving slowly. Zhao Layue did not urge them on, and they only reached White City several days later.
Quiet in previous years, White City had now become much livelier, but also colder.
The dusk was deep, without a trace of warmth. Though it was midsummer, it felt like the depths of winter.
As the Green Mountain Sword Boat descended, magical vessels from several sects could faintly be seen in the distance.
Many courtyards stood scattered across the fields covered in lingering snow, clearly having appeared only in the past few days.
"At a time like this, they still haven't forgotten to make their accommodations comfortable. Truly the ways of immortals."
Gu Qing's expression was calm as he said this, revealing none of his sarcasm.
Zhao Layue seemed not to hear him, her gaze resting on the evening clouds around them.
Her cultivation realm was still low, but her Acquired Sword Body had extremely keen perception, allowing her to sense several immensely powerful presences above the clouds.
Presumably,