Animal friends were naturally Su Qingyi.
Su Qingyi had already found a courtyard, but her mother Su Qiang, as well as Bai Jin and Bai Li from the Western Region, had not arrived yet. She was naturally idle. After receiving Jiang Huai’s sound transmission, she happily skipped over.
Su Qingyi was wearing a white qipao that perfectly outlined her voluptuous figure. Beneath the qipao, she wore white silk stockings and stepped into a pair of light green high heels, making her appear even taller.
Upon seeing Ji Qingxuan beside Jiang Huai, the little fox first observed her carefully. Then, with her keen sense of smell, she quickly detected a faint scent of Jiang Huai on Ji Qingxuan. Looking at Ji Qingxuan’s gait, others might not have noticed anything, but Ji Qingxuan, having stayed in Jiang Huai’s courtyard for a long time, knew that when Wanwan or Fufu were severely bullied, their walking would have a slight, almost imperceptible stiffness. She immediately spoke up, “Oh my, oh my, Jiang Huai, who is this little lover you’ve secretly found again?”
Jiang Huai’s face darkened.
Even Ji Qingxuan beside him had a dark expression, but Su Qingyi had already skipped over to Ji Qingxuan and said softly, “Su Qingyi, the Grand Princess of the Western Region Fox Clan.”
Her tail wagged gently, which was considered a gesture of goodwill among the demon clan. Ji Qingxuan felt a little awkward but still replied, “Ji Qingxuan, Grand Princess of the Central Province.”
“Oh…” Su Qingyi had even picked up Jiang Huai’s verbal tic. “You’re Ji Qingxuan.”
“You know me?”
“I’ve heard Jiang Huai mention you a couple of times, but not much. This guy always skirts around the important stuff, so I don’t really believe him.” Su Qingyi shrugged her shoulders and then came to Jiang Huai’s side, taking his hand. “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s explore the Imperial City! Eat delicious food! Buy new clothes! And the Northern Region’s specialty fruit wine! Let’s buy dozens of jars to take back!”
“Are you paying?” Jiang Huai looked at her.
“Of course, you’re paying,” Su Qingyi stuck out her tongue at him. “Hmph, do you think sneakily comes for free? It costs a thousand each time!”
“Then I’ll sneak another five hundred thousand tonight.”
“No way.” Su Qingyi’s tail flicked Jiang Huai’s neck again. “Hmph, the little fox only sells to you when she’s in a good mood.”
Ji Qingxuan followed along. What was initially expected to be a casual stroll for two had now become a trio. Su Qingyi was a chatterbox, chattering incessantly in Jiang Huai’s ear. Jiang Huai and she bantered back and forth. The three of them rode their swords from Life Source Island to the Northern Region Imperial City. Although they were not Northern Region cultivators, they all wore the jade token given by the envoy on their waists.
Jiang Huai and Su Qingyi were fine, but quite a few Northern Region cultivators showed a flicker of hatred in their eyes when they saw Ji Qingxuan. After all, three Northern Region princes had ultimately died by Ji Qingxuan’s hand.
Ziyun Pavilion also had a branch in the Northern Region. The dresses and various spiritual items sold here were more suited to the habits of Northern Region cultivators. Jiang Huai, Su Qingyi, and Ji Qingxuan went there first. The little fox was a big spender and never spared money when buying things, especially with Jiang Huai, a fool, around. Jiang Huai didn’t mind, letting her buy whatever she wanted, as it was all small amounts.
Perhaps if the little fox spent too much, one day Jiang Huai might feel the urge to playfully tug her tail and bully her backside. The little fox would reluctantly agree. Thinking of this, Jiang Huai tapped his head again.
No, the succubus factor in his mind hadn’t been completely cleared yet.
Ji Qingxuan also quietly chose a few dresses and small accessories. Indeed, women mostly had no resistance to beautiful dresses and accessories. Jiang Huai had intended to help her pay, but Ji Qingxuan stubbornly paid for herself.
She didn’t want Jiang Huai’s small favors.
After buying the dresses and accessories, Su Qingyi started shaking Jiang Huai’s hand again, saying she was hungry and wanted to eat delicious food. Jiang Huai then led her to find restaurants. The cuisine of the Northern Region was particularly heavy in flavor, with lamb being especially delicious. Su Qingyi began to drool at the plates of beef and lamb in front of her, her fox ears twitching slightly.
Ji Qingxuan was Jiang Huai’s friend, so she was not an outsider. Therefore, the little fox did not show any signs of the cold aloofness of a Grand Princess. Her eating was not elegant, devouring the food as if she were a starving ghost reborn. Compared to her, Ji Qingxuan ate at a slower pace.
She even picked up a chopstick of food and brought it to Jiang Huai’s lips. However, her expression of contemptuous playfulness was more like feeding a puppy. Fortunately, Jiang Huai felt no shame and obediently took a bite, almost letting out a bark for her.
In front of those he was most familiar with, Jiang Huai became increasingly shameless, which was particularly similar to Su Qingyi.
Su Qingyi even wanted to have a few drinks, but Jiang Huai stopped her. If she got drunk and acted crazy again, it would affect their afternoon itinerary. Jiang Huai didn’t dislike her drinking; compared to her previous self-harming habits, she had already quit, which was a good thing.
The three walked out of the restaurant, preparing to wander around the Northern Region for a while longer. Jiang Huai suddenly sensed two spiritual energy fluctuations in the distance, and his Sound Transmission Spirit Jade also rang softly. He took it out and brought it to his ear. It was a sound transmission from Luo Yueguan.
“Come to the center of the Northern Region Imperial City. I’ve encountered trouble.”
***
When Jiang Huai arrived, Chu Xianning was holding the Suoxue Sword, the wind gently ruffling her hair. Her Daoist Robe was spotless, and her eyes were cold and sharp.
Luo Yueguan was beside her, her Spirit Sword hovering behind her, also looking ready to draw at any moment. Not far in front of the two, a woman in a black dress was looking at them with amusement.
The surrounding area was already crowded with Northern Region cultivators, forming a circle around the three in the center. Instantly, Jiang Huai used his cultivation to disperse the crowd and arrived in the center, standing beside Chu Xianning. He looked at Luo Yueguan and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Enemies meet, and their eyes burn with hatred,” Luo Yueguan replied calmly.
Earlier, she had been a bit nervous, but when Jiang Huai arrived, for some reason, the heavy stone in her heart seemed to lift. Although the young man only had Seventh Realm cultivation, he always made people feel so at ease.
“Enemies?”
“Hundreds of years ago, I dueled her at the Five Regions Grand Competition and she severed my arms. Your Master then came forward for me and engaged her in a life-and-death battle, crippling her arms and causing her to take decades to recover from her severe injuries.”
“She is the fourth princess of the Demon Clan of that generation in the Northern Region, Ji Ran. She is now considered a Prince.”
Jiang Huai immediately sensed the cultivation level of the female cultivator opposite him: Eighth Level of Mahayana.
Before he could speak, Ji Ran on the opposite side sneered and looked at Chu Xianning, saying calmly, “What, Chu Xianning? You haven’t set foot in the Northern Region for three hundred years, and now that we meet again, you don’t even have the courage to duel me?”
Chu Xianning remained silent.
“Three hundred years have passed, and I am now Eighth Level of Mahayana. Yet, you are still only at the Second Level? The proud and arrogant Chu Xianning who was willing to risk getting severely injured to defend your Eastern Region kin back then, now you practice your own Dao and have fallen to this state?”
Ji Ran’s amusement was unconcealed as she looked at Chu Xianning. “If you refuse to fight, that’s fine. As long as you kneel before me today and apologize for what happened back then, I will spare you. How about it?”
Chu Xianning calmly raised her eyes, her gaze serene.
She would not be provoked by Ji Ran’s few words. However, perhaps in the past, she would not have been afraid. The sword she cultivated was one that followed her heart; when she saw something she disliked, she would draw her sword. But now, she hesitated slightly, a thought quietly telling her that if she were injured in a duel, Jiang Huai would worry.
Luo Yueguan stepped forward, her sword landing in her hand, her eyes icy. “Do you really think the Eastern Region has no one?”
But Luo Yueguan’s step made Ji Ran laugh out loud. “With you? Did I not leave you with humiliation back then that you have now forgotten? Hundreds of years ago, Chu Xianning stood up for you, but you have never dared to come and look for me for a duel. Even though you are now Seventh Realm Mahayana, you still have a cowardly heart. What, are you going to stand up for Chu Xianning today?”
“When I tear your mouth apart, I hope you can still laugh like this.”
The moment Luo Yueguan spoke, the surrounding crowd instinctively scattered. After all, it was a battle between cultivators at the late Mahayana stage or above. A slight mistake could injure others. All the cultivators hid far away, yet none were willing to miss this confrontation.
But before Luo Yueguan could take another step, Jiang Huai gently gripped her wrist and said softly, “Go behind me.”
Luo Yueguan was startled and looked back at him.
“Be good.”
Jiang Huai winked at her, his expression not at all serious. Luo Yueguan understood and truly sheathed her Spirit Sword, coming to stand behind Jiang Huai. Now, it was Jiang Huai facing Ji Ran.
Ji Ran hesitated for a moment, looking at Jiang Huai in front of her, not understanding why he could make Luo Yueguan obediently retreat, nor why he, a Fourth Level Seventh Realm cultivator, had the courage to stand in front of her.
“Has the Demon Empress told you my name?” Jiang Huai looked at her face and said softly, “My name is Jiang Huai.”
“I haven’t heard of it,” Ji Ran sneered.
“Then I suggest you inform her old self first, tell her my name, and then decide whether to throw a tantrum here. This is not only for your own good but also for the entire Northern Region.”
Jiang Huai’s expression was as calm and serene as Chu Xianning’s.
“This is a personal grudge between me and Chu Xianning. There’s no need to inform Her Majesty. Who are you to Chu Xianning?”
“She is my Master,” Jiang Huai replied softly, and then asked with confusion, “Why is it always like this? I’m clearly earnestly advising you, but you refuse to listen.”
“What nonsense are you spouting? I don’t attack juniors. Get lost! Today is a personal matter between me and Chu Xianning.” Ji Ran shifted her gaze to Chu Xianning beside Jiang Huai and said calmly, “What, Chu Xianning, you’re also cowardly? Is your sword-wielding hand trembling? I’ve changed my mind. Chu Xianning, aren’t women of your Eastern Region the most concerned about reputation? As long as you are willing to say here today that you, Chu Xianning, are a whore who has been ridden by a thousand men and tasted by ten thousand, I will not bother with the past. How about it?”
Chu Xianning’s eyelashes didn’t even tremble, but at this moment, Jiang Huai beside her, his pupils were growing cold.
