117 Here and There, Whats the Difference? 3 (2/2)

In the gathering, the carriage drivers proceeded to stomp out the fire, leaving the embers smoldering underneath a warm bed of charred wood.

Night had unknowingly crept up from behind whilst they were enjoying dinner, and the horses required some rest and grazing.

Travelling continuously for several hours each day without pause, that level of exertion and fatigue was sufficient to topple even the empress' eight horses of superior breed.

If not for their sublime abilities, the eight horses would have long fallen to the ground with foam leaking from their mouths.

Traversing a distance of ninety to a hundred kilometers a day was not… exactly enjoyable or rewarding, be it horse or human.

Taking one last longing look towards the blackwood Imperial carriage, the Young Misses of Jiang'an proceeded to clamber into their respective carriages to rest for another night.

Just as the first maiden placed her foot onto the wooden steps leading into the depths of the carriage, a sharp whistle pierced through the gathering.

”Who!?”

Feng Yu Xin roared as a dazzling scarlet light exploded from her body, the atmosphere directly enveloping her body drastically increasing in temperature.

The empress quickly stood, her right hand grasping onto a sharp spear formed from scarlet flames.

Zhang Yuewen and Luo Xi fled towards An Fei's position, their countenances tinged with apprehension at the circle of flames emanating from Feng Yu Xin's body.

The belle had to pat out several sparks that threatened to latch onto the spring dress clinging to her body, causing her expression to turn glum.

”Halt! We don't mean any harm, may Fellow Practitioner please remain calm!”

The source of the whistle rushed into the gathering, revealing themselves to be a group of youths led by an elderly man with a thin, trailing beard.

The intruders wore an unadorned robe of clean, white linen, and supported a sheathed sword, a jian, on their back.

The elder did not possess a sword, but instead grasped an oaken staff in his right hand. Approaching the remnants of the bonfire, the elderly man's countenance bloomed into a happy smile upon noticing the empress' presence.

”Yu Xin!” he exclaimed with joy.

”I was on my way leading these few disciples to Great Yong to partake in the upcoming martial arts competition, it's truly heaven's blessing that I meet you here! Come, put that spear down, ah, don't tell me you're going to skewer your old friend upon first glance?”

”Tian Mu?”

Feng Yu Xin repeated with a dumbstruck countenance.

With a wave of her hand, the scarlet flames and the spear dissipated into strands of colored light, revealing a dense ring of scorch marks decorating the earth where the spear had singed the grass.

”What are you doing here?” the empress raised an eyebrow as she walked towards the elderly man with the long beard, offering a powerful hug.

”Shouldn't you be sitting in your lonely pavilion, fiddling your thumbs as you try to break through in your cultivation?”

”Hey! Don't slander me with such words in front of my disciples!”

The old man protested with an indignant tone, albeit his countenance remained beaming with joy.

”This old thing decided to take a breath of fresh air, and you, whom I have not seen for countless years, decide to slander my reputation the first time we meet!? Aiyo, my heart, ah!”

”Enough faking an illness, perhaps you might beget a real one soon,” the empress laughed, sweeping a scrutinizing glance over the plethora of disciples trailing behind the elderly man.

”However… you could have assigned an elder to escort some disciples to Jiang'an, or simply have them travel by themselves, garnering experience. Why did you have to come in person?”

”This…” Tian Mu stroked his beard with an awkward expression.

Gesturing towards the gaggle of Young Misses spectating from besides their carriages, the elderly man directed a questioning glance towards the empress.

Feng Yu Xin couldn't help but sigh.

”Alright then, come with me. We'll have a good chat over some wine as usual.”

The empress shrugged, striding towards the blackwood carriage that was detached from its customary eight horses.

Vividly remembering the promised compensation of mooncake, the young girl quickly followed the empress and elderly man to the imperial carriage.

”Ah…”

Watching their elder walk off towards the fringes of the gathering without leaving behind a single instruction, the youths dressed in the white robes looked at each other with confused expressions.

Ultimately, they began to construct a large camping establishment surrounding the smoldering embers of the dying bonfire, helpless expressions decorating their countenance as they separated into two large tents, one for male, the other for females.

Grand Elder, you're just going to leave your pitiful disciples like that to chat with some beautiful woman?

As the ancients said, men are easily bewitched by a beautiful countenance, ah!