Supreme Dragon Seal

With Qi Bei’s strength, these palace guards were simply not worth considering. They couldn’t even capture his shadow before losing sight of their target, leaving the guards looking at each other in confusion.

Soon, someone went to seek instructions from the peak authority.

Jiang Yihen, the deputy commander of the guards on duty, arrived and immediately ordered his trusted guards to conduct a search.

The palace maids in the Women’s Palace heard that an uninvited guest had intruded, causing their faces to pale as they hastily lifted their skirts and ran out. In the process, they were taken advantage of by the searching guards.

Jiang Yihen’s trusted guards searched the Women’s Palace with great enthusiasm. However, anyone who entered would easily notice that these palace guards, who were paid by the emperor, made a lot of noise but acted lazily.

Have you ever seen people conducting a search only along the paths and courtyards of a palace? These guards didn’t even enter the rooms. They were not there to search but to make a mess.

Qi Bei quickly found the cellar, but apart from the pool of blood on the ground, there was no one there.

“You slipped away pretty fast, Han Mo, oh Han Mo. You thought it would be so easy to cripple this young master? Dream on… Huh, there’s also a trace of dark aura. You cunning old man, it seems you have quite a connection with the dark faction,” Qi Bei squinted his eyes. If he could find substantial evidence, he would make the Golden Leaf Empire change their name overnight.

Qi Bei leisurely walked out of the palace, while the guards searching for him treated him as if he were invisible, allowing him to leave ostentatiously.

“Not bad, Little Jiang, you have potential,” Qi Bei passed by Jiang Yihen, and his voice sounded in his ears.

Jiang Yihen remained composed, but he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This matter was over without any problems.

Jiang Yihen was one of the people controlled by the dark saint mage Wutian in the past, but Wutian hadn’t had the chance to integrate them into his dark forces before dying. Therefore, Jiang Yihen was now a person without roots. Currently, he was in the midst of disciples from the Temple and Holy Land in the capital of the Golden Leaf Empire. His heart trembled every day.

A few days ago, Marquis of Lanling contacted him and the other dozen or so people who were once controlled by the Saint Mage Wutian. They have all now turned to support Qi Bei.

Qi Bei didn’t go to the martial arts arena anymore, but he unconsciously found himself at a familiar place. The Dreaming Moon Palace was the residence of Princess Ming Yue, and he had visited it many times before.

Thinking of Ming Yue, Qi Bei shook his head slightly and turned around, intending to leave.

“Since you’re here, why not come in and sit for a while?” Suddenly, Ming Yue’s cold voice sounded.

“Alright, since you’ve extended such a generous invitation, I’ll graciously accept,” Qi Bei smiled and turned around, entering the Dreaming Moon Palace.

Ming Yue sat alone on her favorite swing, gently swaying back and forth. The ground was covered in a layer of golden fallen leaves, which fluttered in the air as the swing moved. The scene was truly enchanting, captivating him with its sheer beauty.

Qi Bei’s gaze momentarily dazzled, and in that instant, he felt a stirring in his heart.

The current Ming Yue had shed her lofty exterior. After three years as a disciple of Heavenly Mountain Peak, she had become more composed. Although her temperament still gave people a sense of unapproachability, it was no longer the uncomfortable arrogance of before, but rather an ethereal feeling.

During the swing’s forward motion, Ming Yue soared into the air. Like a fairy descending from the heavens, she stood before him.

“Ming Yue, you’ve become beautiful,” Qi Bei looked at her exquisite face and spoke.

“And you’ve become ugly,” Ming Yue smiled faintly.

Seeing her smile, Qi Bei was momentarily stunned. It seemed like the first time he had seen her smile, and it was the first time she spoke to him in such a friendly tone.

“Join me for a drink,” Ming Yue said as she noticed Qi Bei’s absent-mindedness, her beautiful eyes shimmering.

The two sat in the pavilion of the garden, with several dishes and a pot of fine wine, casually chatting. Before this, they had never been so intimate. Of course, except for that time in the Dragon Phoenix Valley when Qi Bei had arrogantly assumed it was a dream. But that was only physical intimacy, not the emotional closeness they now shared.

“I have always pushed you away, had no feelings for you in the past, and the distance between us was vast,” Ming Yue said softly after emptying her cup of wine.

Qi Bei remained silent, knowing that she had more to say.

“But when I met you in the Savage Wasteland, your strength surprised me, and your… interaction with the Eighteenth Elder…”

Qi Bei suddenly choked, as he had always thought that his affair with Yao Rao had gone unnoticed. How did she know about it?

“Don’t be surprised. A woman’s intuition can be astonishing, especially when it comes to someone she cares about. I saw the exchange of gazes between you and the Eighteenth Elder, a kind of understanding and affection that cannot be disguised,” Ming Yue said, holding an empty cup and speaking softly with her head lowered.

Qi Bei smiled. Since he had been exposed, he had nothing to fear anyway.

“All of a sudden, I felt that you are my intended husband. We made a sacred vow in the Temple of Goddess of Life. Although I have been avoiding this matter, I have never denied your identity as my intended husband. This identity has unknowingly penetrated deep into my bones. So much so that when I sensed the affection between you and the Eighteenth Elder, I felt a sense of jealousy, as if something that originally belonged to me was being taken away by someone else,” Ming Yue suddenly raised her head, her eyes shimmering with tears.

Qi Bei was stunned by her words. The dramatic shift in the princess’ feelings towards him, was she confessing? He reached out and held her small hand.

Ming Yue’s hand trembled, but she did not struggle.

“Qi Bei, let’s work together to resolve the conflict between the royal family and the noble families led by your Nord family,” Ming Yue said.

The smile on Qi Bei’s lips faded, and he slowly released her hand, “Ming Yue, this is an unsolvable situation. Are you asking your father to abdicate or for the Nord family to disband?”

“Must it be this way, no matter what?” Ming Yue asked.

“The situation has become too complicated. It’s not like Emperor Han Mo or my grandfather can control all the major secular forces. And at this time, even some previously secluded forces have become involved. Only heaven knows where it will lead,” Qi Bei said in a low voice.

“The five Holy Lands have joined forces only to deal with the dark forces. Since some noble families or royal clans have members who have fallen into darkness, they won’t want to harm everyone in one fell swoop,” Ming Yue said.

“That’s not necessarily true…” Qi Bei sighed and reached out. He lightly brushed his hand over Ming Yue’s hair that hung by her shoulder and said, “Hopefully, one day, we won’t find ourselves on opposite sides.”

After saying that, Qi Bei got up and left the Dreaming Moon Palace.

“Will that happen?” Ming Yue murmured to herself, watching his figure disappear.

….