C280 Towards

To the cultivators of the Silvermoon Empire, any strong figure from the Crimson Sun Empire was considered a formidable foe.

As such, nearly all the esteemed cultivators of the Crimson Sun Empire, including those aboard the ships, possessed a profound understanding of their adversaries.

Qin Yun, once the Sect Master of the Midnightshields, was a prominent figure within the Crimson Sun Empire, and they were well aware of him.

"We should observe the battle at Dragon Lake from a distance; let's not rush in too close," Lee Yuangui advised as he gazed into the distance, pondering for a few seconds before instructing, "For the time being, you all should remain here."

With a flourish of his sleeve, he soared toward the dense forest, as if riding on clouds.

Aboard the Nimbuswing, a diverse group of empire dignitaries of varying ages and ranks were still watching the battle between the Silverfrost Dragon and the commander of the Blackfang Legion.

Others, already intrigued by Yu Yuan, leaned out to get a better view from above.

Yu Yuan, concealed within the forest, suddenly sensed a myriad of remnant souls and consciousnesses descending like a gentle rain.

The remnant souls emanating from the Nimbuswing varied; some burned with the intensity of flames, others were warm and soft, and still others carried a chilling coldness, each distinct due to the different spells they practiced.

Yet, he realized that their concealment might have been compromised.

Upon spotting Lee Yuangui, Yu Yuan resigned himself to being discovered and stood openly in a clearing. Before Lee Yuangui could gracefully land, Yu Yuan greeted him with a respectful bow, saying, "Young Yu Yuan here, honored to encounter the esteemed general in this place."

He harbored no ill will toward the old general who had feigned sleep at the entrance of the forbidden area, though he wasn't particularly fond of him either.

Given that the general shared the Lee surname, Yu Yuan believed that, considering his connections with Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu, Lee Yuangui would not treat him unfairly.

After all, he was from the Yu family of Asvetaesi, a citizen of the empire.

With these thoughts, Lee Yuangui made his swift approach.

He first acknowledged Yu Yuan with a nod, then his gaze briefly passed over Ning Ji, Wei Feng, and Bai Shenshen, finally settling on Qin Yun. "Mr. Qin, what brings you here?" he inquired with surprise.

The fact that Qin Yun had been forced to flee the Crimson Sun Empire due to internal strife and opposition from the Midnightshields was no longer a secret among the elite of both nations.

Lee Yuangui was puzzled as to why Qin Yun was once again in the company of Yu Yuan.

"This..."

Qin Yun looked embarrassed. He knew that if he claimed to have recognized Yu Yuan's extraordinary nature and decided to pledge loyalty to him in advance, even he doubted Lee Yuangui would believe such a story.

So, Qin Yun switched his approach.

"I couldn't stay in the Crimson Sun Empire any longer, so I thought I'd roam the North for a bit. As you know, when people from the Silvermoon Empire and the Sunblessed Empire fall out with their own nations, they often choose to lay low in the North for a while," he said with a sheepish grin. "Yu Yuan and I go way back to our days in the Moonfall Sanctuary. We happened to run into each other, so I decided to stop by for a visit."

Lee Yuangui looked skeptical. Furrowing his brow, he suddenly asked, "Yu Yuan, Mr. Qin hasn't mistreated you, has he?"

Before descending, Lee Yuangui had some suspicions.

He had been informed by Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu that Yu Yuan, due to a resonance with a great formation in the Moonfall Sanctuary, had once used the Dawn Arrow to coerce Qin Yun.

Even after Qin Yun's departure, the mark of the Dawn Arrow on Yu Yuan seemed to remain.

Lee Yuangui wrongly assumed that Qin Yun, out of various reasons and suspicions from the Sunfire Emperor, had blamed Yu Yuan. Unable to remain in the Crimson Sun Empire, he thought Qin Yun sought refuge in the North and was now confronting Yu Yuan for revenge.

"Mr. Qin has been quite amicable towards me," Yu Yuan stated.

"And who might this be?" Lee Yuangui inquired, turning his attention to Bai Shenshen.

"I am Bai Shenshen, a herbalist from the Sacred Hands," she promptly introduced herself. "I was tasked by my sect to gather some medicinal herbs in the North and just happened to encounter Yu Yuan and the others."

"A member of the Sacred Hands, I see." Lee Yuangui nodded, his demeanor softening, clearly holding the Sacred Hands in high regard.

His gaze then shifted to Wei Feng, whose wrists were still bound, and he asked once more, "And who is she?"

Wei Feng's gaze was icy, and she chose to remain silent.

Yu Yuan felt somewhat troubled, pondering how to explain Wei Feng's presence to Lee Yuangui. He wondered if revealing her association with the Blackfang Legion would immediately endanger her.

The Blackfang Legion had been lurking around Asvetaesi, launching an attack on Zhan Tianxiang. Given the time that had passed, it was inevitable that word would spread.

Lee Yuangui, a senior member of the Lee family, had made his presence known here, suggesting he was aware of the situation.

"She's from the Blackfang Legion of the Sunblessed Empire. Her name is Wei Feng."

Out of nowhere, Bai Shenshen of the Sacred Hands pinpointed Wei Feng's identity.

Yu Yuan's expression turned grim as he gave Bai Shenshen a cold stare.

"There's nothing to conceal," Bai Shenshen stated with composure. "Given the old general's insight, it wouldn't take long to discern her affiliation with the Blackfang Legion."

"Wei Feng!"

Lee Yuangui was startled, his gaze shifting as he recognized the name.

He then turned his attention to Ning Ji.

"This is Ning Ji, a counselor of the Yu family," Yu Yuan clarified.

Lee Yuangui nodded and commanded, "Come with me to the Nimbuswing!"

Before anyone could protest, he swept his sleeve, and a flurry of spiritual energy enveloped Yu Yuan, Bai Shenshen, Wei Feng, and Ning Ji.

In an instant, the group ascended into the sky, making their way toward the Nimbuswing.

Lee Yuangui remained on the ground. Once Yu Yuan and the others were airborne, he addressed Qin Yun with a serious tone, "Mr. Qin, we have no interest in the dispute between you and the Crimson Sun Empire. Whatever conflict you've had with Yu Yuan in the Moonfall Sanctuary, I hope you can let it go."

"Yu Yuan is a citizen of the Silvermoon Empire and has deep ties to my Lee family."

"I urge you to act wisely. Do not harbor thoughts of vengeance. It would be best to lay low in the north."

With those words, he too ascended on the breeze.

Qin Yun, aware of the misunderstanding, could only offer a rueful smile, choosing not to correct him.

He planned to wait until Lee Yuangui had departed before heading to Asvetaesi to conceal his identity and settle in Thylethlume.

"Why?"

Within the cloud that resembled a bundle of cotton, Yu Yuan's expression was dark as he glared at Bai Shenshen from the Sacred Hands.

"She's from the Blackfang Legion, has harmed our people from Silvermoon Empire, and nearly took my life," Bai Shenshen replied, her eyes wide with astonishment as she looked back at him. "I'm not privy to whatever you've discussed in secret, but it's becoming clear to me that your animosity towards her is diminishing."

When Yuan Lianyao was present, Yu Yuan treated Wei Feng with extreme contempt.

Yet, for reasons unknown, after several conversations, Bai Shenshen had already removed the gag from Wei Feng's mouth.

Moreover, Yu Yuan's restrictions on Wei Feng loosened considerably thereafter.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Yu Yuan never disclosed his reasons to her.

She, on the other hand, narrowly escaped death at the hands of Wei Feng and the Blackfang Legion...

The Blackfang Legion had a notorious reputation across the Aetherius Continent and within the Sunblessed Empire. Bai Shenshen naturally disliked them. Upon noticing Yu Yuan's sudden change of attitude, she suspected that Wei Feng had cast a spell over him.

Thus, she revealed Wei Feng's true identity.

"Without me, you would be dead," Yu Yuan said coldly, looking at the presumptuous Bai Shenshen. "Wei Feng was captured by me, and how I handle or interrogate him is my business! I don't appreciate others meddling in my affairs!"

Bai Shenshen huffed, "Even your father never dared to speak to me that way."

Yu Yuan couldn't be bothered to engage with her any further.

"Huff! Huff! Huff!"

In no time, the four of them were drawn by Lee Yuangui's power and swiftly transported onto the Nimbuswing.

"It's crowded here. Move to that corner!"

A burly man with a full beard, clad in a hauberk, barked at their arrival and gave them a casual shove.

Yu Yuan and his companions, on the verge of landing, were jostled into a small corner of the Nimbuswing by the force of his push.

"Van Yan, what's the meaning of this?"

...