- • -

Chen Yi agressively pushed Shan Ling with a mad expression. Shan Ling scowled and replied,

Chen Yi yelled, speeding up her steps through the long paths of flowers near the imperial garden. Shan Ling catched up to her steps and they look like they're now racing to each other. Chen Yi gritted her teeth before infusing yellow spiritual qi in her palm and motioned it to strike Shan Ling's chest.

Shan Ling immediately twisted her body to dodge, also charged her spiritual qi in her palm and went to strike it in Chen Yi's direction. The two young maidens, while speeding up their walk, were fighting one on one with their slender palms. Chen Yi glanced at the end of the flowery pathway, meaning that they are close to the imperial garden. Before she was about to enter the little gateway to the imperial garden, two tall figures blocked her way and she was about to crash into them but the other figure grabbed his companion and quickly dodged, causing Chen Yi to lose her balance and fall, Shan Ling on top of her and also lost her balance from her halt.

The two ladies glanced at the two figure who dodged, it was Wu Qingge, his arms wrapped carefully on Liu Xiao's waist and smiling at him gently while Liu Xiao was looking at them with a shocked expression. How come they're all here!? The world is indeed small! Liu Xiao thought while looking at the messy crowd at the imperial palace.

Shan Ling abruptly stood, fixing her hair and her dress, glanced at Wu Qingge and smiled sweetly. Chen Yi shoved her face, stood with her usual cold and serious demeanor and ckeared her throat. Chen Yi said with poker face.

No one even ordered you to come here-Bai Lan's thoughts.

Liu Xiao's mouth was left open but he still replied, It's really an emergency right now because the annoying old geezers were persistently chasing Wu Qingge, so it's a relief with Chen Yi and Bai Lan here-Liu Xiao glanced at the tall slender woman dressed in a revealing blood red robe and her hair was tied in a messy ponytail.

Chen Yi blocked Shan Ling's mouth tightly and spoke, Chen Yi said and started to walk away from the imperial garden, holding Shan Ling who was struggling from her grip.

Liu Xiao was about to say something when Wu Qingge's hands seemed to move upward gently to his waist. He turned at him and saw that Wu Qingge was just staring at him and putting up his usual gentle smile. Wu Qingge gently smiled at him but Liu Xiao insisted, Wu Qingge hushed his mouth with his index finger and simply shook his head. Liu Xiao glanced at Bai Lan who was staring at him with his grumpy face and had no choice but to wave his hand and awkwardly smile before Wu Qingge dragged him away.

As they walk away step by step from the imperial garden, Liu Xiao couldn't help but ask, he asked in a low soft voice. Wu Qingge gently pulled him closer to him, their shoulders softly bumping and replied, Quiet? Isn't it better to fight those elders so you can gain experience? *sigh* Wu Qingge, what experience are you going to gain if you're with me all the time?

Wu Qingge walked as if he knew the way around the imperial palace. As they walk farther and farther, the whole place slowly turned quiet and there were barely people or servants showing up. They stopped in a peculiar small garden with a swing hanging on a thick and tall tree. Wu Qingge gently lead Liu Xiao to the swing and Liu Xiao sat on the swing with a clueless expression and Wu Qingge started pushing the swing gently, making it slightly sway forward and backward.

Liu Xiao felt drowsy like a baby swayed by her mother in a rocking chair. As soon as he get a grip of himself and turned wide awake, he asked Wu Qingge. there, i gave you a hint okay? Liu Xiao's thoughts are obviously seen while he asked.

In fact, Wu Qingge already know that someone was backing them even if Liu Xiao didn't say anything. He continued to push gently the swing and answered, Liu Xiao frowned at him and replied, he said in disbelief. Wu Qingge just smiled and didn't respond.

They continued asking random questions, making jokes and sometimes serious conversations while Liu Xiao was being swayed by the swing the whole time until he couldn't fight the drowsiness anymore and fell asleep. Wu Qingge, seeing him closed his eyes and falling into a deep sleep, smiled lightly and carried him, gently pressing his lips on Liu Xiao's forehead.

He slightly pushed Liu Xiao's body closer while he infused black purplish qi in his feet and leaped into the sky out of the imperial palace. He called out the Former Mount Hua Peak Master and in a few seconds, a floating black lotis approached him and suddenly talked, the elder shaped in black lotus complained.

Wu Qingge didn't respond and changed the topic. the Former Mount Hua Peak Master laughed and replied,

Wu Qingge said, softly caressing Liu Xiao's cheeks while he slightly snuggled to his bare chest. Wu Qingge put Liu Xiao's hair strands to the back of his ear and spoke,

the elder said. Wu Qingge replied in a low voice.

When they arrived in front of the inn, the elder shaped in black lotus went inside Wu Qingge's body. He held Liu Xiao's thighs and waist gently before going in. the female in the front door went to greet him but she paused at the sight of their situation. Wu Qingge simply nodded in return before going back to their usual room.

He gently put Liu Xiao in the bed and fixed his crumbled robe and messy hair before handing out his palm, five dark purple demon souls coming out.

The five black purple demon souls didn't talk but they clearly understood Wu Qingge's orders and swiftly leap outside the window like a black shadow quickly passing by unnoticed. Wu Qingge, still wearing his heavy black and red robe that Liu Qingge picked earlier, removed the second layer black robe and the robe loudly thud as he threw it to the ground, emphasizing how heavy it is to wear. He sighed heavily, feeling comfortable before speaking in a low voice.

In a blink of an eye, a black lotus flower came out and slowly turned into a figure of an elder, wearing his usual blood red robe and his colorless eyes. He sat on the bambol chair and Wu Qingge spoke, Wu Qingge said bluntly. the elder scoffed and continued,

Wu Qingge seemed to be listening earnestly so the Former Mount Hua Peak Master continued, The elder grinned while remembering the old times but he still continued,

As soon as the elder was finished explaining, Wu Qingge glanced at the sleeping Liu Xiao and sighed heavily. he muttered while playfully letting his demonic qi overflow fron his fingers, dancing and softly swaying in his fingertips. Wu Qingge asked again.

The elder thoughtly deeply with a hmmm before slowly answering,

As soon as Wu Qingge heard soon, he glanced the sleeping Liu Xiao with a sullen face, and later on, the five dark purple demon souls came back, leaping like a smooth quick shadow moving unnoticed.

one of the demon soul reported.

another one reported.

Wu Qingge swallowed the five demon souls back using his palms and grinned. It's about time to show off my cultivation and the worth of my training... Don't worry Gege, i'll protect you.

- • -