Chapter 9 (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Your Highness, I am here on the Country Lord’s orders. If I go back like that, it will be hard for me to explain it to him!

“Recently, the enemy countries have been making trouble for us. Our Country Lord is worried that they might a.s.sa.s.sinate you. Your Highness, please allow me to accompany you on this expedition. Once you get back to the Immortal Du Sect, I will go back.”

Youqin Xuanya frowned slightly. There was a hint of frustration on her normally emotionless face.

Yuan Qing spoke up to persuade her. “Junior Sister Xuanya, we are going to the North Continent. That’s a dangerous place. With General Yuwen with us, there would be more people to look out for you.”

Li Changshou suddenly said matter-of-factly, “Junior Brother Yuan Qing, did you know this general beforehand? I didn’t hear the general report his name earlier.”

“En, that’s right.” Yuan Qing glanced at Li Changshou and smiled. “Junior Sister Xuanya and I grew up together. We also joined the Immortal Du Sect together.

“This general’s name is Yuwen Ling. He is Xuanya’s father’s most trusted general. Normally, he is in charge of guarding Xuanya’s father himself. The fact that he was sent here personally shows that the situation is quite arduous.”

‘So the facially-paralyzed woman and the big, warm man were childhood friends…’

Li Changshou cupped his hands and said, “I spoke too much.”

Yuwen Ling frowned and shouted, “Sixth Princess, Your Highness!”

Youqin Xuanya turned to look at Jiu Jiu, who was slumped by the wine gourd’s mouth. There was a pleading look on her face.

“Don’t get in our way, don’t get in our way,” Immortal Jiu Jiu lazily said as she waved her hands by the side of the gourd, “Since he is your guard, he can come with us. A burly man who has just ascended to immortality would not be able to cause much trouble in our midst, anyway.

“Hey, Hunk, sit at the back of the gourd.

“Don’t make a sound afterward. It’s not appropriate for me to allow you to come with us. The good thing is that the sect’s rules do not prohibit our disciples’ guards from following us on expeditions.”

Yuwen Ling cupped his hands and said, “Thank you, Immortal Elder.”

Once he finished speaking, the burly man with his huge axe floated to the gourd’s back. Jiu Jiu pointed, and a gap appeared in the immortal glow around the huge gourd.

While watching the situation, Li Changshou took two steps to the side expressionlessly. Then, from the side, he walked towards the front of the gourd and cupped his hands, asking, “Aunt-Master Jiu, can your disciple sit behind you?”

Jiu Jiu did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Why? You’re already more than 100 years old, are you afraid of death?

“Come and sit. Your Master said you have a very cautious personality. He was right about you.”

“Senior Brother Li, please sit here.” Youqin Xuanya stood up willingly. She smiled at Li Changshou apologetically and moved back two steps.

“Thank you,” Li Changshou replied, nodding. He did not care about the two sharp glares behind him. Instead, he sat down where Youqin Xuanya was seated earlier.

The two glares were again coming from Liu Yan’er and w.a.n.g Ji. It was obvious that they were offended by Li Changshou’s ‘rudeness’. They must have thought that he was not behaving as gracefully as disciples from the Immortal Du Sect were expected to.

Naturally, Li Changshou chose not to mind them.

Immortal Jiu Jiu continued to steer her wind gourd across the sky, towards the north. As if to mock Li Changshou, Liu Yan’er, and w.a.n.g Ji started a conversation with Yuwen Ling on purpose.

However, Yuwen Ling—this burly man—was quite taciturn. The conversation between the three of them was extremely awkward, and they quickly ran out of things to talk about.

Yuan Qing seemed to have had it. He took the initiative to join the conversation. Only then did the mood lighten up, and the conversation flow became smooth.

Li Changshou did not even bother turning around. He kept his right hand firmly around his sleeve and released a wisp of spiritual awareness to keep an eye on his surroundings.

Before he had decided to go to the North Continent on his own, Li Changshou had pondered about it deeply. He had taken the time to speak to a few attendants in the Bai Fan Hall, who he was close to, until he understood the situation. He had found out that the immortal, who would be guarding the disciples on their trip this time, would be the same one who was in charge of this trip the past few times—Immortal Jiu Jiu.

Although Jiu Jiu had been training for less than 1,000 years, her skills could not be underestimated. She also had a set of awesome mystical abilities, and a few pieces of Dharma treasures, which had been given to her by the Sect Master. It was said that her cultivation level was approaching the Heaven Immortal Realm.

After ascending to immortality, cultivators normally went through the following realms in order: Essence Immortal, Perfected Immortal, Heaven Immortal, Golden Immortal, Zenith Heaven, and Boundless Chaos. This was known as the Heaven Immortal Dao.

The most important thing was that Jiu Jiu was among the few people who were acquainted with his Master.

Initially, Li Changshou had thought that few people would head to the North Continent to train. With this immortal’s protection, he would be much safer than if he had gone there on his own.

However, he did not expect that he would encounter such a situation along the way.

Li Changshou stole a glance at Yuan Qing and Yuwen Ling and quietly began to ponder. He closed his eyes slowly. He was in no mood to cultivate. Instead, he remained vigilant to activate his Wind Escape.

It was a good thing that he was seated closer to Aunt-Master Jiu. He felt safer.

‘Er?’

“Hehehe… I’ll just have a little sip. We’re still a long way from our destination. Nothing could go wrong, nothing could go wrong…”

Immortal Jiu, who was still seated at the mouth of the gourd, smiled strangely. She hugged her wine gourd filled with wine and sipped at it stealthily. Her face flushed even redder as she licked her lips, savoring the taste of the wine.

Li Changshou was rendered speechless.

Indeed, he should find a reason to leave the team and advance on his own.

His Master was his priority.

…