C572 Protect

Yu Yuan was taken aback to find the notoriously cold and ferocious General Lee Yuchan, a practitioner of the Martyr Spell, unexpectedly among the group.

Adorned in a colorful dress and makeup, Lee Yuchan's appearance was quite the departure from her typically icy demeanor. She stood out awkwardly among the four women who were all smiles.

Her usual attire had been form-fitting, designed for ease of movement in battle.

Now, her gown trailed on the ground, with loose sleeves and an abundance of embroidered flowers, prompting a moment of stunned disbelief from Yu Yuan, his expression turning peculiar.

Initially, Lee Yuchan, fidgeting with her sleeves and clearly uncomfortable, hadn't noticed him at the back of the crowd.

The first to emerge was a small floating sedan chair, followed by Qiao Xu, then the five Dragon Servitors, and finally the rest of the Qiao family members.

Yu Yuan, positioned at the rear, was obscured by the crowd and hardly noticeable.

It was only when Lee Yuchan felt an astonished gaze fixed upon her that she deliberately peered through the throng and spotted Yu Yuan. The female general's frame shook slightly, her face locking into a rigid expression.

"Lee Yuchan!"

Qiao Xu, snapping out of her bewilderment, gasped in surprise. Standing next to the floating sedan chair, she asked, puzzled, "What brings you to the Desolate Swamp? Why are you here?"

"Lee Yuchan! The brutal General from the Silvermoon Empire?"

"That's her!"

The revelation sent a jolt through the Qiao family's five Dragon Servitors.

In the Crack Archipelago, Lee Yuchan might not have been a household name, with few recognizing her.

Yet, across the Profound Sky Continent, in both the Divine Might Empire and the Kingdom of Driliwyr, Lee Yuchan's reputation was well-established!

She had once commanded the Silvermoon Empire's forces, engaging in skirmishes with both the Divine Might Empire and the Kingdom.

Her leadership was most noted for the conflicts with the Rainier Empire, where she was infamous for her cruelty, depicted by them as a ruthless demon who killed without a second thought.

With the Divine Might Empire and the Kingdom, the clashes had been minor, and those who had actually seen her were few.

Despite the passage of time, Qiao Xu had indeed seen her before, their paths even crossing in conflict. His memory of her was somewhat hazy, but as he watched her emerge among the crowd, recognition dawned on him, and he couldn't help but reveal her origins in his surprise.

The revelation that she was a female general from the Silvermoon Empire sent ripples of astonishment through the other Qiao family members and the Dragon Servitors.

Amidst the buzz of conversation, Qiao Xu had an epiphany and exclaimed, "What are the odds!" Without missing a beat, he spun around, pointed his dry pipe towards Yu Yuan at the back, and declared, "Lee Qi! Would you have ever imagined encountering the Lee family's legendary general here in the Desolate Swamp?"

From the hovering sedan chair came the mysterious woman's delightful laughter, a sound that suggested she was quite amused by the unfolding scene.

"Lee Qi..." Lee Yuchan's eyebrows arched like the blade of a knife, her piercing gaze locking onto Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan cleared his throat and stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "I am Lee Qi, though you might not have heard of me..."

"I have," Lee Yuchan interjected, drawing in a breath to steady herself. "You're from the Lee family's branch in Darkmoon City. What brings you to the Desolate Swamp?"

Yu Yuan was taken aback. He had braced himself for her to call out his deception and reveal his true background. Instead, Lee Yuchan not only refrained from doing so but actively maintained his cover. This unexpected turn left him at a loss for words, his prepared explanations suddenly unnecessary.

Internally, Yu Yuan pondered whether her actions were a result of his assistance in healing her Yin God injuries back on Babel Island.

"Come with me," Lee Yuchan abruptly instructed, gesturing to him before turning to address an older, regal-looking woman beside her. "Lee Qi is kin of the Lee family, caught up in the calamity that befell us and now seeking refuge in the Great Swamp. There are reasons for this, sister."

The woman, adorned with a string of pearls and exuding an air of sophistication, nodded in understanding and smiled. "Of course. Since he's one of your own, it's only right for you to make the arrangements."

After expressing his gratitude, Lee Yuchan's demeanor shifted as he sternly commanded, "Now, come here!"

"Oh!"

Yu Yuan, utterly bewildered, hastened toward her upon hearing her words.

"Hold on."

The Dragon Servitor who had sought to slay Yu Yuan reached out to stop him just as he was about to step away from the group.

The man didn't glance at Yu Yuan, who stood still, halted in his tracks.

Instead, he turned his attention to the dignified lady and, pointing to himself, introduced, "Hidden Dragon Lake, Faang Chun."

"Tan Yuan," the elegant woman replied with a smile.

"Since he's merely a minor branch member of the Lee family, an insignificant figure, may we take care of him?" Faang Chun bowed respectfully before looking up at the woman. "We apprehended him en route. There's no cause for suspicion. He's overheard much and knows too much."

Tan Yuan, the woman claiming that name, appeared to hesitate.

She understood Faang Chun's implication— he didn't want Lee Qi to survive.

"The Lee family has few survivors left, and ones like Lee Qi are rarer still," Lee Yuchan said with an icy stare directed at Faang Chun. "To my knowledge, the Seventh Level Silverfrost Dragon from Hidden Dragon Lake has previously collaborated with both the Thunder Sect and the Cold Yin Sect within the Absence Relic!"

Tan Yuan gave a slight nod. "Indeed, that happened."

"She does not speak for Hidden Dragon Lake!" Faang Chun interjected urgently.

"Come here, young man." Tan Yuan, swayed by Lee Yuchan's remark, dismissed Faang Chun and addressed the person in the hovering sedan. "The Lee family has scant few remaining. Might you grant me this courtesy?"

"Had you asked him to come to me first and pleaded your case, I might have consented," the enigmatic woman in the sedan responded, her voice still mellifluous but her stance unwavering. "Now? Unacceptable."

Tan Yuan's brow furrowed.

Faang Chun, who had initially reached out to stop Yu Yuan, was about to lower his hand but straightened it once more upon the sedan occupant's refusal.

He finally turned back to Yu Yuan with a cold smirk. "Tough luck, kid!"

Yu Yuan didn't take offense, responding with a radiant smile, "We'll see about that."

"Miss Lee."

After a moment of contemplation, Tan Yuan turned her gaze back to the floating sedan, then pivoted to address Lee Yuchan with a persuasive tone. "Is it worth the trouble for a mere side branch member? Consider this: since Lee Qi's blood ties to you are tenuous, why not let them handle it? As for your nephew, Lee Yu, we'll ensure he's well cared for and swiftly advances."

Lee Yuchan gazed across the void at Yu Yuan, who stood among a pack of ferocious leaders with a serene confidence, neither arrogant nor submissive. It was as if she was blissfully unaware of the desperate struggle for her life unfolding before her.

With a wide grin exposing her dazzling white teeth, Yu Yuan chuckled, "Don't worry about my fate. You are the beacon of hope for our clan. Just look after yourself and Lee Yu—that's all that matters."

Lee Yuchan couldn't help but think about the grudge she held against him since the incident at the Absence Relic. She shouldn't have been so concerned about his well-being.

Chen Liangquan from the Luan Bird Empire had whisked away the Silvermoon Queen's Yin God from the mid-lake island, while Shen Feiqing had rescued Lee Yuchan and her nephew Lee Yu from Babel Island, revealing the presence of a hidden force with inscrutable intentions.

Previously, Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu had been oblivious to these machinations.

But now, it seemed likely that Lee Yuchan had been swayed by Shen Feiqing. After being led into the Desolate Swamp, she might have had no choice but to seek refuge with her.

"Shen Feiqing, the Silvermoon Queen, Du Jing, Chen Liangquan, and this naive Tan Yuan before us—who's pulling their strings? What's their endgame?" Yu Yuan pondered as he eyed the hovering sedan chair. "Has the Qiao family from the Kingdom of Driliwyr and Hidden Dragon Lake been ensnared in this web as well?"

"I'll speak with her!"

With a cold huff, Lee Yuchan surged toward the floating sedan chair. "Unless I'm mistaken, we have a history! I once saved your life—do you not even owe me that much respect?"

Like a bolt of lightning, the formidable female general transformed into a beam of ghostly light, charging at the sedan chair.

"No!"

Tan Yuan, Qiao Xu, and Faang Chun's faces paled in unison, their voices merging in a chorus of dissent.

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