"Stayed there?" Xuan Tian frowned again.
"Yes, General. Dr. Lin Qian stayed, while the other two doctors were still traveling back and forth."
But why? Did you find something, Doctor?
Silence fell. Only the wind breezed through the branches, birds chirping overhead. The flying carriage glided silently through the air. Jing Xue trotted alongside—seemingly relaxed—but his ears flicked like radar, constantly scanning for sound. His nose twitched, picking up scents. His sharp eyes darted about, alert to the slightest threat.
"Jing Xue, we're going to Nuanze," Xuan Tian said telepathically.
Jing Xue nodded, evidently pleased with the destination, and sped up. The carriage responded, gliding faster as if pulled by invisible threads.
"I've received a mission from Tianjun. This time, only the objective is clear—but everything else is not. No briefing. No information. Nothing. Only an order: 'Uproot Lingxu.'" Xuan Tian broke the silence.
"I can't help but feel there's more behind this."
Something about Lingxu bothers Tianjun.
"One, I need you to confirm that the kidnappers were from Lingxu Sect. Second, I want a complete map of the current power structure in the Human Realm's court."
"Yes, General."
"Dismissed."
At Xuan Tian's command, One slowly dissipated into mist and vanished.
-------------------------
"Kissed?!"
Shu Yue's voice rang out in shock. The small parchment note in her hand froze and shattered into a thousand glittering pieces. Her face turned pale, her hands trembling.
Her attendant, Xiao Hua, quickly caught her hand. "My Lady! Are you alright?"
Shu Yue turned wide, stunned eyes toward her. "He kissed her. A light brown-eyed doctor. Who is she? Xiao Hua, I never thought the General was that kind of man."
She sank back onto her seat, her voice barely steady. "Is she his true love? Am I standing in the way of his happiness? What am I supposed to do?"
"My Lady, please calm down. How could the General choose some light brown-eyed Celestial? You are a far better match for him. I am positive the General knows that too," Xiao Hua said gently, trying to calm her.
"But he's never kissed me," Shu Yue whispered, still overwhelmed by a sense of defeat—a feeling she had never experienced before. "Yet he kissed her."
"The General is still a man. A healthy one. He hasn't kissed you because he respects you. He's waiting until you are officially his wife. Tell me, what would you think of him if he kissed you before that?"
Shu Yue's cheeks flushed. "Even though I'd love it... I'd also be angry. We're not married yet. He can't kiss me."
"Exactly! My Lady, you've never been in a real relationship before, but you've learned about it. We maidens are not allowed to hug and kiss any man but our fathers. Even with our brothers, we can only hold hands and hug. Nothing more."
Shu Yue sighed. "I know... I just didn't expect him to kiss anyone. Let alone a light brown."
Xiao Hua smiled gently. "Like I said, My Lady. The General is a healthy man. Even if it's not the right thing to do, these rules are more flexible for men. Social expectations are not as strict. In fact, it's common for men to have multiple women, even after marriage."
Shu Yue listened to her attendant silently.
Then she sighed again. "I know. I just never thought the General would be like other men."
Xiao Hua chuckled. "My Lady, if he doesn't have any women, I'd be very surprised. No man has none."
Shu Yue regained her composure. "You're right. I am the General's fiancée—by Tianjun's decree. It's not unusual for men to have women. Even my late father had several."
She smiled gently at Xiao Hua. "Thank you, Xiao Hua. I forgot myself. That won't happen again."
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"… Kissed?" The word tasted like poison.
"Yes, Master."
"Xuan Tian, the Great General kissed a light brown woman?"
"Yes, Master."
Master's mouth curled in disgust. "Xuan Tian, it's disgusting!"
"Yes, Master."
"Is she the reason you haven't married Shu Yue yet, General? Because of a light brown woman?"
The man in black didn't answer. He knew his Master well. The question wasn't meant to be answered.
"You've disappointed me, General. I expected you to never fall that low."
He turned his gaze to the spy. "Has she told him about the other doctors?"
The man looked up. His face was unremarkable—so plain it was forgettable. But his eyes, one light brown and the other green, were both tainted with streaks of black, flickering with fear.
"This—this slave… doesn't know, Master," he stammered. "They boarded the General's floating carriage and vanished before this slave could overhear anything."
He didn't see it coming. Pain exploded in his chest. Ribs cracked. Blood burst from his mouth as the impact hurled him backward into a cluster of chairs and a table, splintering wood and silence alike.
"Incompetent fool! I gave you one task. One!" His voice thundered. "Tell me—why shouldn't I kill you now?"
The man didn't dare show his pain. He immediately dropped to his knees and slammed his forehead to the floor.
"Master! Please! Give this slave another chance! It was the wolf—its hearing is too sharp! It stopped this slave from getting closer! Please, Master!"
He kept begging, forehead striking the floor again and again until it bled.
He received another kick—this time to the face. He fell back, hands clutching his bloodied features, but he didn't dare cry out.
Master was shaking, barely restraining his rage. "That mutt! I should've killed it when I had the chance!"
"Go! Follow Xuan Tian! I want to know everything he's doing!"
The man bowed again, voice hoarse. "Yes, Master!"
With that, he vanished.
Master was holding a cup in his hand. Slowly, it began to melt—disintegrating as though dipped in acid.
"Xuan Tian," he muttered, voice low and dangerous. "You'd better not stray."
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The floating carriage and Jing Xue entered Nuanze Valley, where everything was green. Everywhere they turned, lush vegetation greeted them. Trees adorned with colorful flowers lined the path, while multicolored birds flew overhead, singing, chirping, or simply fluttering between branches. They welcomed the floating carriage.
The sound of waterfalls cascading in the distance blended with birdsong and rustling leaves. It was like a concert performed by nature. A paradise—peaceful, untouched, and warm.
Jing Xue crinkled his nose. He didn't particularly like Nuanze Valley. Too many strong scents—overwhelming for his sensitive nose.
Xuan Tian glanced at him and chuckled lightly. "You still don't like the smell? Many find it pleasant. And I thought you like Nuanze."
"I don't. It smells stale. And I do like Nuanze better than Zhenhua."
"You're talking nonsense again. How can it smell stale? It's fresh here."
"My sense of smell is a few hundred times stronger than yours, Master."
"I've told you many times—don't call me 'Master.' You're family."
Jing Xue glanced at Xuan Tian. He blinked slowly. If a wolf could wear a deadpan expression, Jing Xue was certainly wearing it.
"Family. So I'm supposed to call you 'Ge?'"
"If 'Ge' is too much for you, call my name or simply 'General.'"
"You're serious about this. Okay, don't regret it later, Ge."