Chapter 1031: Another level of respec (1/2)
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Long Feiye knew the Lustbite energy thoroughly, but he still didn’t understand what had happened. In the end, he could only pin the reason on Han Yunxi’s phoenix energy. That was an unexpected discovery that neither of them understood. Although it appeared after their dual cultivation began, it still affected them.
“Could the Phoenix energy be why?” Han Yunxi had thought of the same thing.
Lustbite energy and Nirvana Heart Hearts had no issues, so the suspicion fell on the last outlier. They had once rejoiced over discovering this strength in Medicine Requesting Cave, but now it wasn’t clear whether this was a blessing or a curse. Gu Beiyue and Gu Qishao all shared Long Feiye’s suspicions. They knew nothing about Phoenix energy and Pill Furnace Master had already offered all he knew. Their own recourse now was to ask the sword sect master. If this was the past, Long Feiye would be asking his master and sending subordinates to dig up intel. But he didn’t dare move lightly now.
Not many people knew he and Han Yunxi were dual cultivating at all. If someone made inquiries and leaked the information, it would do more harm than good.
“It’s fortunate that there wasn’t cultivation deviation!” Gu Qishao looked faintly towards Han Yunxi as he muttered to himself.
“We cannot grow lax. Your Highness, it’s best to tell this to Jianxin senior,” Gu Beiyue intoned.
Long Feiye wrote yet another letter to the sword sect master while clearly explaining their situation. This time, the reply came swiftly. Like Long Feiye, the sword sect master suspected that the “Phoenix energy” was the problem. He even instructed them to be prudent despite suffering no ill effects. They should make their way to Celestial Mountain as soon as the first snows melted. The three Honored Elders would personally take their pulse and try to find the cause.
Long Feiye had just finished saying his master’s intentions when an anxious voice rose up outside.
“Then what about Tiger’s Den? Are you guys still going to rescue them?”
Soon enough, the long-time-no-see Tang Li bustled into the room. He had not only grow thinner, but wan and sallow. The Tang Clan had a few batches of newly-forged weapons that needed to be sharpened and he was required to attend the sharpening ceremony as its clan head. After that was done, Lady Tang had forced him to stay home for a few more days. As soon as she heard Ning Jing was pregnant, Lady Tang’s heart had turned fully to Tang Li’s side. She wanted to come with him back to Three-Way Black Market and join the rescue team, but Tang Zijin managed to stop her. Meanwhile, Tang Li had dashed back as soon as he heard Long Feiye’s group was here early.
Now look, the first thing he heard was them going to Celestial Mountain.
“Even if it’s going to Celestial Mountain, it’ll wait until after we rescue them back!” Han Yunxi declared.
“Unacceptable!” Gu Beiyue was the first to object. Something like this couldn’t be delayed or rushed. “Princess, the punitive expedition to the north is a major undertaking. You cannot afford to treat it as a trifle!”
“We’ll save the people first, then go to Celestial Mountain. The punitive expedition can be handed over to the officers and men,” Gu Qishao stuck in impatiently. He didn’t understand worldly affairs nor did he care. He only knew that Poison lass would be in danger unless they figure out the problem with the dual cultivation and Phoenix energy. In his eyes, Poison lass’s safety came first.
“Exactly, exactly. Save the people first, that’s important!” Tang Li agreed with Gu Qishao for the first time. He too, knew nothing of worldly affairs nor cared. Ning Jing and the child’s safety were number one in his eyes!
He glanced at Long Feiye with a pleading look. “Big bro, it’s better to rescue the people first! Then make arrangements for the northern campaign. After the snow melts, you and sister-in-law will be able to go to the mountain. As long as you arrange things well for the campaign, nothing will go wrong!” His gaze never left Long Feiye’s as he finished, just like the days he used to plea with this big brother for favors when they were both children.
He knew that if the duo were deadset on personally leading the campaign, then the rescue mission would be delayed until after their return from Celestial Mountain. Once the Northern Li civil war developed into a stalemate, there’d be no difference between heading up north in the summer versus the spring. His big brother and sister-in-law could simply head off to Celestial Mountain first, then come back to save the captives.
“Big bro, Ning Jing’s close to giving birth!” Tang Li begged. “The original agreement was to go save them as soon as you guys came back!”
If not for Ning Jing’s letter forcing him to stay calm, he would have ran off to Tiger’s Den on his own by now. How could a husband allow his pregnant wife to remain in danger?
Long Feiye looked at his thin and pallid little brother[1] and didn’t say a word. This was an answer that required too much thought before any change in plans.
“Tang Clan Head, this is the first alliance between East and West Qin and the start of their icebreaker. His Highness and the princess must personally lead the campaign, or else there’ll be internal unrest before we ever reach Northern Li!” Gu Beiyue was all prudence.
He had outlined the biggest problem of the punitive expedition to the north. When the alliance was first proposed, the Di Clan had asked for certain rights. Once it was time to really work together, the Di Clan troops would definitely have more demands. The Baili Army weren’t easy to deal with either, much less those forces under the south central commander-in-chief’s office. All sides wanted power and would fight to pave their paths for the future.