Heavenly Star

“When Sister Meng returns home, she will be happy. Brother, how about Xiang Xiang? I want to play with Xiang Xiang.”

Ye Wuchen used his thoughts to wake the tiny fox. A white light floated out from his body, curled up with its very long tail dragging like a lump of snow, it dropped onto Ning Xue’s hand while she was in Ye Wuchen’s arms. Ning Xue was so delighted that she hugged it tight, fascinated as she breathed in the fragrance in its body while gently stroking it.

In the roadside bushes, a creature more than one meter in height and a pointed long mouth like a red fox ran out to block their way and seemed poised to attack. Along their journey, they had encountered quite a lot of enchanted beasts that blocked their way, but all of them were eliminated by Tong Xin like she was slicing of tofu. Ye Wuchen swept his eyes around to discovered that it was a third level fire-spitting fox. He did not let Tong Xin dispose of it because he wanted to observe the dragon fox’s power. He pointed at the fire-spitting fox and commanded, “Xiang Xiang, make it vanish, let it know who is the strongest fox around here.”

Receiving the master’s command, Xiang Xiang jumped from Ning Xue’s arms and dragged its long tail as it ran towards the fire-spitting fox. As if mesmerized by Xiang Xiang’s physical appearance which seemed to be very similar, the fire-splitting fox did not dodge, so they crashed into each other...

Then, something shocking happened…

Being bumped on the head, the fire-spitting fox reared back, but Xiang Xiang bounced off from the recoil and fell with four legs facing the sky. With great difficulty, it got up, turned around, and broke into a run. The fire-spitting fox was angered because of the collision and opened its mouth to spit out a fist sized fireball at Xiang Xiang. Sensing the danger, Xiang Xiang ran away in a great rush and evaded with much hardship. It had rolled on the ground and was now covered in mud. It got up again and scampered off wildly towards Ning Xue’s arms in an instant. It curled up and did not wish to expose its head again.

The fire-spitting fox ran after Xiang Xiang and threw itself towards Ye Wuchen, so Tong Xing moved. She kicked a small rock and it mercilessly flew towards the fire-spitting fox and it pierced through its body. It stumbled and fell to the ground, breathless.

Ye Wuchen clutched at Xiang Xiang’s, tail lifting it up and observed its entire body. Was this truly the tiny fox that had beaten Tong Xin before?

Being lifted up, the tiny fox scrabbled its limbs as it struggled to break free. Ning Xue immediately held its body up, feeling sorry for it, she said, “Brother, don’t grab its tail, you’re hurting it.”

Ye Wuchen looked doubtfully at the tiny fox once again, then let go of it. The entire body of the tiny fox illuminated with a white light as it transformed into a tiny girl. Leaning firmly against Ning Xue, its eyes gleamed with tears as it looked at Ye Wuchen.

“Brother, are you wondering why Xiang Xiang is not that powerful anymore?” Ning Xue saw him in thought and asked.

Ye Wuchen nodded, he had not felt any fluctuation in Xiang Xiang’s power. He had originally thought that it might have been because Xiang Xiang was too powerful, so his power was unable to detect it, though that did not seem to be the case.

“Its power has been depleted, right?” Ye Wuchen said. Back then, its power had fell and just as suddenly, it dramatically increased to more than ten times. That seemed to be a method of overdrawing from its potential power.

“En, That’s right. Xiang Xiang said that in order to defeat Sister Tong Xin that day, she had released all of her energy. With nothing left, if she didn’t recognize brother as her master, she would have died.” Ning Xue replied on behalf of Little Xiang Xiang. The tiny girl in her hand nodded. With a clear and loud squeak, the two eyes flickered in fear that master would tease her again.

Dragon Fox: Level one enchanted beast.

This was the information that Ye Wuchen got when he used his “Spiritual Eyes.” He became speechless.

Slowly holding up the tiny girl, Ye Wuchen smiled and said, “It was your master’s fault, don’t be angry anymore, Xiang Xiang.”

“Squeak, squeak…”

“......”

-------------------------I’m the separator line --------------------------------

A Hidden Territory, Northern Empire Clan.

“My Meng-er. You have finally returned. I worried so much about you these past few days.” After permitting Yan Zhimeng to approach Ye Wuchen, Yan Ximing had left Tian Long City soon after to return to the Northern Empire Clan. But Yan Zhimeng’s return was much later than what he had expected.

Yan Zhimeng had already been quite accustomed to the way Yan Ximing intimately called her before, but this time, her heart gave off an uncomfortable feeling. She used her usual cold tone which he was already familiar with, and said, “Ye Wuchen wasn’t that easy to handle, so I’ve taken more time.”

At mentioning Ye Wuchen’s name, in her heart, many emotions churned; there was sadness, pain, wondering, and also indistinct helplessness.

Yan Ximing nodded his head, “Indeed, based on what he had done in the Tian Long City, he is a person who thinks deeply. Indeed, he shouldn’t be that easy to handle. And I let you go there all alone, do you know why?”

Yan Zhimeng coldly shook her head.

Yan Ximing faintly smiled and spoke in a gentle voice, “For so many years, you have been unwilling to see any outsiders. My father and I understood. In little more than a month, you will be my wife and the lady of the young master of Northern Empire Clan. At that time, you have to face a lot of things, you cannot always limit your capability-”

“I understand.” Yan Zhimeng interrupted his words, “that’s why I agreed to it.”

“Judging by your attitude, you must have succeeded.” Yan Ximing smiled and said, “Although Ye Wuchen is scheming, he is still young and somehow frivolous when it comes to handling matters, so he must not have been that hard to handle. And based on the rumor he was a romantic, with your charm, you could easily daze him with your beauty. Meng-er, if we get the Southern Empire Sword, you will have made a great contribution to our Northern Empire Clan. When the time comes, who would still be unconvinced by that you are fit to be the wife of the young master.”

“Although I’ve succeeded, the outcome will disappoint you.” Yan Zhimeng’s voice was cold and somehow helpless.

“Oh?” Yan Ximing’s brows wrinkled tightly.

“He didn’t actually know the whereabouts of the Southern Empire Sword. His teacher, Chu Cangming, had apparently seen the form of the Southern Empire Sword in the Southern Empire’s genealogical records, and painted it for him. He used that to make a painting of the Southern Empire Sword to strike a deal with the Southern Empire Clan.” Yan Zhimeng said.

Yan Ximing stood up from his chair. Bowing his head, he paced to and fro a few steps.

“What was the deal between him and the Southern Empire Clan?” Yan Ximing asked with knitted brows.

Yan Zhimeng was about to answer, but she immediately thought of his family’s safety and her heart went stiff. She shook her head. “When I learned that all of it were just lies, I was very disappointed and didn’t ask further.”

“Then did you kill him?” Yan Ximing’s brows knitted together even tighter. He did not doubt Yan Zhimeng’s words. He had experienced the effects of the magical voice for so many years now, how could he not believe them? But then, the idea of using the Southern Empire Sword to take control of the Southern Empire Clan was now useless. After all the scheming, it had actually been a ridiculous lie. For the majestic Southern Empire Clan to be tricked like this, if it was not for Yan Zhimeng, his Nothern Empire Clan would have also fallen into the trap.

Yan Zhimeng’s eyes showed faint sorrow. She shook her head and said, “No.”

Yan Ximing laughed, “I knew that when you’ve achieved your goal you would not kill him. Although your heart has the hate, still you are kind. Not just for humans even, you still aren’t willing to hurt weak and tiny creatures. Oh? Meng-er, your face doesn’t look good, are you not feeling well?”

Swiftly changing her expression and shifting her gaze, Yan Zhimeng coldly said, “I wasn’t used to living outside, my body has been uncomfortable and I’m also very tired.”

Yan Ximing immediately said, “Then you must quickly rest. I made you to go to a very a faraway place, you must have suffered great hardship.”

Yan Zhimeng made a sound of agreement, then turned around and left.

Yan Ximing stood in front of the window, brows wrinkled in deep thought. He knew Yan Zhimeng very well, but she barely made any contact with outsiders, so he absolutely would not doubt her. Else he would have discovered so many anomalies in her expression. Although Yan Zhimeng kept herself calm, she still was not an expert in concealing emotions.

Ten Days Later, Tian Long City.

“Honorable ruler of Tian Long, we, the Gale Nation, have already completely withdrawn our troops ten days ago. At the same time, we have signed the agreement for the marriage between Princess Yao Feng and our Highness, the Crown Prince so that our two nations may have a peace treaty lasting five years. Our Gale Nation has shown our utmost sincerity. It is already five days past the twenty day period, but we still have not taken Princess Yao Feng home with us, we kindly request the honorable ruler to show his good faith.” A fine young man wearing a light armor, half kneeled before Long Yin had humbly remarked.

One after another, urgents reports had been made which confirmed that what Feng Ling had promised was all true. Marrying Ye Shuiyao to Feng Ling became the only one method to save Tian Long Nation from its crisis. After Feng Ling had returned, the restless troops of the Gale Nation had completely retreated in less than ten days. They even took the initiative to send the written five year peace treaty over which contained the condition to marry Ye Shuiyao to Feng Ling. On the treaty, the royal seal of the Gale Nation was already affixed, so it was absolutely authentic.

Long Yin’s doubt had vanished and he now started to puzzle over the actual method that Feng Ling had used to make Feng Lie willing to take back his troops. When the twenty day limit had passed, the Gale Nation had sent a procession to welcome the bride. Leading the procession was, surprisingly, the illustrious general, Shaker of the East, Yue Handong. Situated in the Gale Nation’s east was Tian Long Nation. His name being Handong, the implication was very obvious. He originally led the vanguard for the supposed war against the Tian Long Nation, so the cancellation of this war made him very disappointed.

[note: the general’s nickname and his name are not the same characters but both are composed of “shake” and “east”]

But this journey to welcome the bride did not go smoothly. They had been staying in the Tian Long City for five days now, but they still had not been able to bring Ye Shuiyao with them. The resistance was not because of the Emperor, but the Ye Family. Before they arrived, Feng Ling had reminded them time and again that they should be very respectful towards Ye Family, that they ought not to offend them. Aside from that, Feng Ling had also commanded them to bring an extremely luxurious gifts and a letter. He knew that this would not be a simple marriage, it was not because of the beauty, but because the crown prince had seriously fallen in love. He was indeed more respectful towards the Ye Family than towards Long Yin, so he could only cooperate with the repeated delays.

Long Yin said, “General Yue, please don't be mad. This was the agreement established between me and Crown Prince Feng, the delay is unintentional. But for the Ye Family, once Princess Yao Feng left her home, she would not return and from then, she might never have the chance to see them anymore. I’ve heard that you also have a daughter, I think General Yue might be able to understand what they are feeling right now. I care, so I couldn't afford to force them. Since it was General Yue’s first time here in Tian Long City, why don’t you forget your responsibility and enjoy yourself for a few days to give the Ye Family some more time?”

Yue Hangong firmly said, “I evidently know the pain of being separated from one’s family, so I have already tried my best to be lenient. But five days is already my bottom line, else I might disappoint the crown prince. I would like to request Your Majesty to hand out a royal decree to urge the Ye Family.”

Long Yin thought for a bit. He definitely knew that if they continued to delay, the Gale Nation would be dissatisfied. Five…was indeed very lenient already. Without a choice, he said, “Alright, I will not give General Yue a hard time, I’ll do as you wish.”