The bright sunlight spilled under the upturned eaves of the inn. Two women stood at the door, casting two graceful shadows on the ground.
Dongfang Liren was wearing a dignified and noble, form-fitting python dress. She was very tall, with a rather imposing figure. Looking from the side, her legs were extremely long. Her buttocks curved in a beautiful line from the plump part at the back of her waist, and above that was a three-dimensional dragon pattern outlined with silver threads. With her expressionless face, she exuded the oppressive aura of a cold queen.
True Person Xuanji stood half a step behind her. Compared with Dongfang Liren, her figure was more graceful. Her waist was as slender as a willow, and her bosom was delicate. The smooth white dress, like flowing water waves, set off her as spotless. However, the few petals embellished on the skirt and the vermilion wine gourd hanging around her waist made the overall look less formal, giving a sense that it was hard to distinguish between good and evil.
Under normal circumstances, True Person Xuanji would stand very casually. She might even cross her arms and lean against the door frame, sipping some wine.
But because the person she was about to meet was special, True Person Xuanji was now putting on the demeanor of an "Imperial Tutor". Her hands were folded around her waist, and her expression on her beautiful face was serious. Her eyes were "kind and harmonious", making her look like a respected "female teacher".
Ye Jingtang, with the Chilong Huan Shou Dao (a kind of sword) hanging from his waist, walked down the street. From a distance, seeing this "both bad at fighting but eager to try" master-disciple pair, he thought in his heart that the Big Clumsy One (referring to Dongfang Liren) still looked more imposing.
And although True Person Xuanji was maintaining a proper demeanor, due to her attire, she still gave off a bit of an otherworldly and enchanting air.
However, these critical remarks were definitely not something that could be said out loud.
Ye Jingtang came to the bottom of the steps, stood upright, and bowed his hands in salute:
"Your Highness."
"Chirp chirp..."
Niao Niao was still biting True Person Xuanji's skirt and shaking its head wildly. When it saw Ye Jingtang come over, it put on a pitiful look, probably hoping that Tangtang would help it beat up this heartless person.
"Dispense with the formalities." In front of her master, Dongfang Liren didn't dare to show too much intimacy with Ye Jingtang. She seriously raised her hand to introduce:
"This is True Person Xuanji, my teacher. She is a peerless master ranked sixth in the world. You can address her as Imperial Tutor or, like the people in the yamen, call her Fairy Lu. Master, this is Young Master Ye Jingtang."
True Person Xuanji, with a lofty and imposing manner, slightly nodded her head as a sign of greeting without showing much emotion.
After seeing True Person Xuanji's tendency to go overboard on many occasions, to be honest, Ye Jingtang found it difficult to regard the sister in front of him as a master. Moreover, a few days ago, True Person Xuanji had hugged and rubbed against him, which was after all a bit ambiguous. He felt very strange when they met again.
After taking a quick look at True Person Xuanji, Ye Jingtang raised his hand in a salute:
"I've met Fairy Lu. I've heard of your great name since I was a child. Now that I see you today, you are indeed extraordinary."
Dongfang Liren felt that Ye Jingtang's flattery was a bit perfunctory and said softly:
"Master only ranked among the top eight masters ten years ago. Have you heard of her great name since you were a child?"
Ye Jingtang blinked his eyes:
"I was eight years old ten years ago."
Eight years old?
Dongfang Liren's expression froze slightly. Although she knew Ye Jingtang's age, Ye Jingtang looked about the same age as her and had a mature temperament. She had always regarded him as a peer. Hearing Ye Jingtang say that he was just an eight-year-old kid ten years ago, she couldn't help but be a bit taken aback. After all, her sister had ascended the throne as the emperor ten years ago. Wasn't she treating him like a big horse pulling a small cart...
Due to her personality, True Person Xuanji didn't have as many strange thoughts as Dongfang Liren. She just smiled and said:
"Young Master Ye is truly young and promising."
"Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Fairy..."
Both Ye Jingtang and True Person Xuanji felt a bit awkward, so their conversation was very formal, basically just exchanging pleasantries, one sentence after another.
True Person Xuanji thought that chatting like this was a bit boring. After saying a few words, she lowered her head and looked at the little annoying bird that was still attacking her:
"I'll take it out for a walk. You two can talk."
"Chirp?"
Niao Niao moved aside a bit, indicating: Niao Niao is with unyielding integrity, and is by no means someone who fawns on others...
"Giggle~ Come on, I'll take you to eat something delicious."
Niao Niao was taken aback, raised its wings, bid farewell to the dragon pattern on Dongfang Liren's dress, and then waddled away in a splayed gait.
Ye Jingtang had long understood Niao Niao's temperament. After shaking his head and watching the person and the bird leave, he stepped onto the steps of the inn.
Seeing her master leave, Dongfang Liren secretly let out a sigh of relief, but her cold expression didn't soften. She accompanied Ye Jingtang into the hall, standing with her hands behind her back, silent.
Ye Jingtang originally wanted to ask about the situation in the mountains, but before he could speak, he noticed that the Clumsy One's expression wasn't happy, as if she was going to question him. He couldn't help but be puzzled:
"Your Highness?"
Dongfang Liren saw Ye Jingtang looking completely confused and frowned:
"Do you forget what you did last night?"
Ye Jingtang had first been intimate with Third Lady last night and then had some other activities. The impact was so great that he really forgot about the previous things. When the Clumsy One mentioned it, he remembered the matter of the "villain" and apologized:
"I was a bit muddle-headed yesterday. I hope Your Highness won't mind my offense."
Only then was Dongfang Liren satisfied: "It's good that you know your mistake. Considering that you were injured on official duty, I'll let go of what happened yesterday, but don't let it happen again."
After stating her position, Dongfang Liren looked back at the door and asked:
"Master is such a powerful person. Didn't you have any thoughts when you saw her?"
"Hmm... She feels very otherworldly, standing alone between heaven and earth, with the breeze like the pure snow on the orchid. As for her being powerful, I didn't see it. I guess I'd have to have a fight and exchange skills with her to experience it..."
"If there's a chance, I'll mention this to Master and give you an opportunity to learn from her."
Ye Jingtang was quite interested in the idea of having a bout with a master. He nodded slightly and then thought of something. He looked at the Clumsy One beside him:
"Has Your Highness learned the Overlord Spear and the Listening-to-the-Wind Palm?"
?
Dongfang Liren was like a student being checked on her homework by the teacher. Her expression froze slightly, and she subconsciously stood up a bit straighter:
"Of course I've learned them. It's just... I've been busy with official duties these days and haven't had much time for practicing martial arts..."
Ye Jingtang was skeptical: "Practicing martial arts is a major matter and can't be neglected. Your Highness, show me a spear stance."
"..."
Dongfang Liren looked around. Seeing that there was no one watching in the hall, she slid one foot forward and the other backward, held her hands loosely, and posed in a standard spear stance:
"How is it?"
Ye Jingtang circled around the seemingly proper Dongfang Liren and found - Was there any difference from the stance she took in the Mingyu Tower?
Dongfang Liren saw Ye Jingtang frowning. She took a light breath, and the dragon pattern on her dress puffed up a bit. She was a bit indignant:
"I practiced according to what you taught me. Is there still a problem?"
Ye Jingtang came behind her, held Dongfang Liren's arm, and lifted it up slightly. Then he hooked her ankle with his foot and slid it aside a bit. After making sure the posture was okay, he held her waist with both hands and swayed it back and forth.
Dong dong dong~
Dongfang Liren was shaken so much that her body trembled and swayed. She was a bit annoyed:
"You're shaking with so much force. How could I possibly stand still?"
"Your Highness has an unstable lower body. I just shook you a bit, and you lost your balance. If an opponent were to slash at you with a knife, you'd fall to the ground on the spot."
Ye Jingtang was very serious. He came in front, planted his feet firmly on the ground, held his hands loosely, and posed in the stance of the Collapsing Spear and Supporting Top:
"Your Highness, try shaking me."
Dongfang Liren took a look at Ye Jingtang, came behind him, held his waist with both hands, and shook it a few times.
As a result, although the flesh around Ye Jingtang's waist moved, the muscles and bones inside were like an iron-cast frame, firmly supporting his body. When she tried to shake his waist hard, the hanging sleeves of his robe didn't even stir a bit.
"How is it?"
"..."
Dongfang Liren felt the gap between them. After thinking for a while, she put her hand on Ye Jingtang's waist side. Using the method of the Listening-to-the-Wind Palm, she felt the details of the muscle exertion, and slowly slid her hand onto his abdominal muscles...
?
Ye Jingtang's essence was still strong and he hadn't finished being taken care of yet. Being held around the waist and having his belly touched by the Clumsy One, with the soft dragon pattern on her dress also pressing against his back, his breathing immediately became disordered.
Dongfang Liren saw that the immovable posture of Ye Jingtang showed a flaw, and her eyes immediately showed a look of pride:
"Is that all?"
Ye Jingtang was a bit helpless:
"This is different..."
"What's so different? When a man attacks you with a knife, you can stand firm like a mountain; but when a woman seduces you first and then attacks, you can't even stand still?"
Rarely was Dongfang Liren able to catch a flaw in Ye Jingtang. She put on the posture of a strict teacher and patted Ye Jingtang on the shoulder:
"Stand properly!"
Ye Jingtang knew that he indeed had a problem. After thinking about it, he tried to suppress his emotions and calm his mind.
But Dongfang Liren had no intention of letting Ye Jingtang off. She pressed her hand on his abdominal muscles, leaned over to his shoulder, and blew gently on Ye Jingtang's neck:
"Huff~"
?!
Half of Ye Jingtang's body went numb. He turned his head:
"Your Highness, what are you doing?"
Dongfang Liren put on a serious look:
"I'm testing you. What else could I be doing? Don't you even have this much self-control? Stand properly!"
Ye Jingtang wasn't a stone. Being blatantly seduced by the Clumsy One, how could he remain calm?
However, Ye Jingtang also thought that what the Clumsy One said made sense. If he couldn't even withstand this small test, what would happen if he met a malicious female martial artist in the future? He might lose his moral principles on the spot. After thinking about it, he didn't refute and forced himself to calm down, allowing the Clumsy One to tease him.
Dongfang Liren's talent for martial arts was indeed not as good as Ye Jingtang's, but when it came to using profound martial arts techniques in a different way, she could be said to be a genius.
Seeing that Ye Jingtang was still trying to resist, Dongfang Liren used the Listening-to-the-Wind Palm to sense the changes in his blood qi. With just the right touches, in a few moves, she made Ye Jingtang's breathing unsteady and his blood qi surge chaotically, gradually turning him into a big villain again.
Fortunately, this scene of a superior molesting a subordinate didn't last long. There were rapid footsteps outside the door.
Tap tap tap...
Dongfang Liren's eyes changed slightly. She quickly withdrew her hand and stood up straight, putting on a serious look as if she was asking about official business.
Ye Jingtang felt relieved and turned around. He saw a chief constable of the imperial guards quickly walk to the door and bow his hands in salute:
"Your Highness, news just came from the mountains. King Wu has hidden in a cave. His personal guards are relying on the natural barriers to hold their ground. They can't escape even if they had wings. Does Your Highness want to wait for the troops from Zezhou to bring the person back, or..."
Dongfang Liren frowned. Hearing this news, she wasn't very happy. After all, she had been waiting for Ye Jingtang all morning. If they set off now, by the time they got there, King Wu would have already been caught. Wouldn't she have come all the way from Jianyang for nothing?
Ye Jingtang understood Dongfang Liren's little thoughts. Knowing that he had delayed the Clumsy One's time to take credit, he tried to make up for it:
"How about I lead the elite constables of the imperial guards and send Your Highness there now? It's more than thirty li of mountain road. It won't take long to get there. Maybe I can even subdue the White Death Deity myself, saving the soldiers from launching a fierce attack and reducing unnecessary casualties."
Dongfang Liren thought this was a good idea and immediately got ready to go:
"Let's go."
...
——
At the same time, by the river in the town.
The midday sun was quite strong. True Person Xuanji walked slowly along the shaded area of the riverbank, twirling the wine gourd on her fingertip and admiring the beautiful scenery of the clear water and green mountains by the river.
On the adjacent wall, the full Niao Niao hopped along, chirping continuously: "Chirp chirp chirp~" It seemed to be saying - Considering that you're sensible, Niao Niao forgives you...
True Person Xuanji naturally couldn't understand Niao Niao's mumbling. After walking along the riverbank for a while, the path was blocked by a wall, making it inconvenient to walk. True Person Xuanji was about to turn back.
But before she turned around, True Person Xuanji's ears twitched slightly, and she heard two faint voices talking in the distance:
"Such a seductive undergarment. I didn't even have the nerve to buy it, but you actually prepared two sets..."
"Do you think I wanted to buy it? Madam Wang recommended it for a long time. I couldn't bear to reject her, so I just patronized her business..."
"When we get back, help me get a few sets. Yours are too small. I can't wear them..."
"How much bigger are you than me that you can't wear them?!"
...
Although the voices were very faint and came from the second floor of a small inn in the distance, with True Person Xuanji's hearing ability, she could still hear them clearly. She felt that one of the cold voices seemed familiar.
But just as she was about to listen carefully, a voice came from far behind:
"Fairy Lu!"
True Person Xuanji turned around and saw more than ten figures leaping onto the rooftops in the central area of the town and speeding towards the town gate. In the front was Ye Jingtang in a black outfit, and Liren was following beside him.
Seeing her, Ye Jingtang suddenly accelerated. In the blink of an eye, he had already crossed half a street and called out from afar:
"There's a situation in the mountains. Let's hurry over there."
True Person Xuanji saw that they were about to leave and looked back at the small inn not far away, as if she wanted to go over and take a look.
Ye Jingtang saw True Person Xuanji's suspicion. He flew over and landed in front of her, smiling:
"Inside are my friends. They treated your injuries last time. Let's set off first. If we're any slower, Your Highness won't be able to catch up."
Friends...
When True Person Xuanji fainted last time, she did vaguely hear women's voices. She suddenly understood. Presumably, the sense of familiarity came from this. She didn't ask any more questions and went with Ye Jingtang to Dongfang Liren's position. On the way, she asked:
"Do you always bring two female attendants with you when you go on official business?"
Ye Jingtang found it hard to explain, so he blinked his eyes:
"Is there a problem?"
"..."
True Person Xuanji thought there was no problem, except that it didn't match Ye Jingtang's image of "not being swayed by beauty"...
——
The two thousand troops that came from Baisu Town were all light cavalry from Zezhou.
Since they were going to enter the mountains to search and capture the enemy, the horses couldn't go in. All the war horses were left in the camp outside the mountains, guarded by more than a hundred soldiers. The camp was only more than ten li away from the riverside town where Prince Jing was located.
At noon, dozens of soldiers were walking around in the camp where more than two thousand war horses were stabled, feeding them water and forage.
A sturdy military officer came out of the tent and quickly walked onto the official road. He called out from afar:
"Greetings, Uncle Master. Why did you suddenly come to Wuzhou?"
Outside the camp, Xuanyuan Hongzhi, wearing a bamboo hat, stood in the shade by the official road. Seeing the military officer come out, he said:
"Wuzhou hasn't been peaceful recently, so I came to take a