Inside the room in the West Courtyard.
As Ji Xuanyuan heard the report, she grew more confused the more she thought about it.
After all, Chu Yuan had effectively betrayed the Chu Clan during the incident at the mines a few days ago.
Even without concrete evidence, the Chu Clan’s collateral branch already viewed Chu Yuan as a turncoat.
If she truly wanted to drain Chu Yuan dry, it should have been something for the Great Elder of Chu to celebrate.
Why, then, was he in such a rush to take Chu Yuan back after learning the situation?
Could it be… that the Fox Venerable has come???
No!
It should be…
Upon deeper reflection, a figure gradually emerged in Ji Xuanyuan’s mind, and she thought:
Could it be that Young Master Yunlan is trying to stir up trouble again?
But what is his goal?
Could it be me?
Ji Xuanyuan suddenly recalled how the fake young master had drooled over her in her past life.
Now that she has been reborn, the two have met ahead of schedule.
Chu Yunlan has likely fallen for her at first sight.
Especially as a former rival, she knew all too well that he practiced the [Jealousy Dao].
It was no surprise that he would do something like this now that Chu Yuan was staying so close to her.
However, Ji Xuanyuan had no intention of letting go of a treasure that could accelerate the growth of her cultivation.
In particular, she was currently immersed in the flow state of rapid cultivation advancement.
Spiritual power surged through her meridians, and her fortune circulated throughout her body, allowing her to touch the threshold of the 4th level [Equilibrium].
Even if the sky were to fall, Ji Xuanyuan would not want to be bothered at this moment.
She glanced at the weak-breathing Chu Yuan beneath her, closed her eyes again, and replied via sound transmission:
[I know. Just come up with some excuse to brush them off.]
Her tone carried the displeasure of being interrupted.
Seeing this, the head of the guards dared not ask further:
[Yes! Your Highness!]
After she finished speaking, she turned to the butler and said:
“Her Highness said she knows and to just use some excuse to brush it off! Just say that Young Master Yuan is having such a good time here that he doesn’t want to leave for now?”
Huh?
Having such a good time that he forgot his home?
The butler was stunned:
“Just… just that?”
The guard captain nodded:
“Just that. Go!”
The butler trotted back to the living room and relayed the words to the Gu Family Matron.
The Gu Family Matron looked troubled, but she still braced herself and smiled at Chu Zhenshan:
“Great Elder of Chu, Young Master Yuan is having a wonderful time with the Crown Prince, to the point where he doesn’t want to leave, so he doesn’t wish to come out just yet. Could we leave it for tonight? Tomorrow, I will surely have him return to the Chu Clan to let everyone know he is safe.”
Receiving this answer, Chu Zhenshan’s mouth twitched violently:
What?
Having such a good time he forgot his home?
Are you certain???
Su Xuanxuan, who was hidden behind the scenes, was so angry she slapped her fair thigh, causing ripples to appear on her alabaster skin as if reflecting her turbulent inner state:
That vixen!
She is treating my Yuan’er like a cauldron, draining him to the point of death! And she says he’s having such a good time?
How! Extremely! Shameless!!!!
The Fox Venerable immediately sent a sound transmission to Chu Zhenshan:
[You must bring the Holy Son back to me today! At! Any! Cost!]
Chu Zhenshan’s heart shook violently, and he had no choice but to slam the table to express his stance to the Gu family members:
“This is outrageous! Your Gu family has harmed a descendant of my Chu Clan and now offers such an absurd reason; do you take me for a fool?”
Of course, he also knew that making things difficult for the Gu Family Matron would serve no purpose.
Therefore, Chu Zhenshan deliberately released his spiritual power, causing the entire West Courtyard of the Gu Manor to shake.
Even though there were protective formations inside and outside the room, Ji Xuanyuan could not help but sense the fluctuations.
Even Chu Yuan noticed something was wrong:
“What happened?”
Ji Xuanyuan sighed:
“Your Great Elder has come to take you back!”
As she said this, she found it curious:
“Just what is your status, kid, that you could get the Great Elder of Chu to come here himself to demand you back?”
Hearing this, a glimmer appeared in the depths of Chu Yuan’s ink-black eyes:
Good grief!
I haven’t even called for help yet, and the Great Elder is already anxious?
This is great! As long as he keeps applying pressure, I can go home.
That “dog kennel” over there is still better than being drained dry here every day.
Chu Yuan wanted to expose his status as the Holy Son right now to make her hesitant.
But upon further thought, he decided he still couldn’t reveal it.
After all, the Soul Covenant between them clearly stated:
Chu must assist the other party in their affairs to the best of his ability.
This woman was so shrewd that if she found out his true identity, she might use it to blackmail him and drain the resources of the Sacred Realm.
Truly! She is too evil!
How could there be such a wicked woman in this world!
Chu Yuan inexplicably thought of the Senior Sister he was forced to grovel before in his previous life, whose actions were just the same.
These two women are birds of a feather!!!
No matter what, I cannot let her know my identity.
Since the Great Elder is my secret guardian here in Xuanji City, having him come to save me is actually the best-case scenario.
Yes! The best strategy is to act like I “don’t know my own status as the Holy Son” and wait for my protector to save me.
Thinking this to himself, Chu Yuan helplessly shrugged:
“I don’t know why the Great Elder is like this either; maybe he discovered I have some other value?”
He would never let this wicked woman extract any more resources from him.
On the other hand, Ji Xuanyuan felt even more convinced that this was a scheme by Chu Yunlan, so she didn’t look into it further.
Stepping down from the couch, she tidied her lapels:
“Very well! Young Master Yuan, you know how to behave when we go out to meet them in a moment, right?”
Chu Yuan reluctantly cupped his hands:
“Of course!”
At the same time, in the living room of the Gu Manor.
The Gu Family Matron’s expression turned ugly.
With the Great Elder of Chu making such a scene, she was the one caught in the middle.
She certainly couldn’t afford to offend the Crown Prince;
The Chu Clan, although a collateral branch of the Sacred Domain, was still backed by the [Taixu Sacred Domain] outside the Immortal Dynasty.
Such a force was capable of reaching the heavens.
Even with the Medicine King Valley as a background, the Gu family couldn’t necessarily rely on them for help until her daughter became the Saintess.
It could be said that the Gu Family Matron could not afford to offend either of these two major powers.
Helpless, she was about to send someone to ask the Crown Prince about the situation again when she heard footsteps outside.
Ji Xuanyuan walked in wearing an outer robe, her expression cold and aloof.
Behind her were the weak-looking Chu Yuan and a group of guards.
“Your Highness!!!”
Seeing this, the members of the Gu family knelt down to pay their respects.
Chu Zhenshan also breathed a sigh of relief and had to cup his hands in salute:
“Your Highness.”
Ji Xuanyuan waved her hand:
“Rise!”
After she finished speaking, she walked to the main seat and sat down:
“Great Elder of Chu, why have you visited so late at night?”
Even though her cultivation was far below that of Chu Zhenshan, who was at the peak of the [Essence Accumulation] realm—
The imperial fortune surrounding her gave her a natural aura that made even high-level cultivators feel a chill down their spines.
Chu Zhenshan was secretly amazed:
It has only been a few days, so how has the Crown Prince’s aura grown so strong?
Could it have to do with the “evil art” she practiced by draining the Holy Son?
But why can’t I feel even a shred of Demonic Qi?
Never mind! The priority is to get the Holy Son back first!
Calming himself, Chu Zhenshan cupped his hands and said:
“Your Highness, my Chu Yuan has been with you for a few days now. Tonight, the soul lamp in our clan’s ancestral hall suddenly dimmed significantly, which has made me feel uneasy!”
As he spoke, he looked at the weak youth, his murky eyes flashing with a look of distress:
“Look at him now; he has only been by your side for a few days, yet his physical body has become so fragile. I fear he is no longer fit to serve as a guide! If Your Highness does not mind, I can arrange for someone else…”
Before the Great Elder could finish speaking, Ji Xuanyuan spoke firmly:
“I mind!”
She said righteously:
My Junior Brother is already here with me; there is no way I am letting him be taken away!!!