C572 Protect

Yu Yuan was taken aback to discover that the formidable and icy General Lee Yuchan, a practitioner of Shadow Curse, was unexpectedly among them.

Adorned in a colorful dress with makeup applied, Lee Yuchan presented an unusual sight that clashed with her typically austere demeanor. She stood out awkwardly among the four women who were all smiles.

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

Now, her long dress trailed on the ground, her sleeves were loose, and her garment was embroidered with numerous flowers. This sight momentarily dumbfounded Yu Yuan, prompting a bizarre expression to cross his face.

Lee Yuchan, fidgeting with her sleeves and clearly uncomfortable, initially failed to notice him since Yu Yuan was at the very back of the crowd.

The first to emerge was a small levitating palanquin, followed by Qiao Xu and the five Dragon Attendants, with the rest of the Qiao family members trailing behind.

Yu Yuan, positioned at the rear of the procession and obscured by the crowd, wasn't particularly noticeable.

It wasn't until Lee Yuchan felt a gaze of astonishment fixed upon her that she purposefully peered through the throng and locked eyes with Yu Yuan. The female General of the Empire visibly shook, and her facial expression became rigid.

"Lee Yuchan!"

After a moment of bewilderment, Qiao Xu also gasped in surprise. Standing beside the floating palanquin, he asked in confusion, "What brings you to Godsblight Marsh? How come you're here?"

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

"That's her!"

The members of the Qiao family and the five Dragon Attendants from the Empire of Dawn were profoundly shaken.

While Lee Yuchan might not have been a household name in the Sundering Isles, with few recognizing her, her reputation was well-established on the Aetherius Continent, within both the Sunblessed Empire and the Empire of Dawn.

Indeed, she had once commanded the forces of the Silvermoon Empire, engaging in skirmishes with both the Sunblessed Empire and the Empire of Dawn.

Her military campaigns were primarily against the Crimson Sun Empire, where she was infamously known for her brutality. Painted by the Crimson Sun Empire as a heartless Blood Fiend who killed without remorse, her notoriety was widespread.

However, her encounters with the Empire of Dawn and the Sunblessed Empire had been limited to a few minor clashes, leaving her less recognized in those territories.

Despite the passage of time, Qiao Xu had indeed encountered her before, even clashing with her on occasion. His memory of her was somewhat hazy, but after a moment, it all came back to him. When she emerged from the crowd, Qiao Xu was astounded and promptly divulged her origins.

The revelation that she was a female general from the Silvermoon Empire sent ripples of shock through the other Qiao family members and the Dragon Attendant. Amidst the buzz of conversation, Qiao Xu had an epiphany and exclaimed, "What are the odds!"

He finished his thought and whirled around, pointing his smoke tube at Yu Yuan, who was at the back, and declared, "Lee Qi! Would you ever have imagined encountering the legendary general of the Lee family right here in the Godsblight Marsh?"

From within the hovering sedan, a delightful chuckle resonated. The girl inside seemed amused by the unfolding drama.

"Lee Qi..."

Lee Yuchan's eyebrows arched, her piercing gaze locking onto Yu Yuan. Yu Yuan cleared his throat, stepped forward, and with a respectful bow, said, "I am Lee Qi. You might not be familiar with..."

"I've heard of you," Lee Yuchan interjected, inhaling deeply to maintain her composure. "You're from the Lee family branch in Asvetaesi. What brings you to the Godsblight Marsh?"

Yu Yuan froze. He had braced himself for the empire's female general to call out his deception and reveal his true origins. To his surprise, not only did Lee Yuchan refrain from doing so, but she also seemed to be aiding his ruse. Suddenly at a loss for words, he struggled to find a way to continue the conversation.

Internally, Yu Yuan pondered whether her actions were a result of his assistance in healing her Lunar Spirit injuries back on Celestial Isle.

"Come with me," Lee Yuchan abruptly gestured, turning to address an elegant woman of mature years beside her. "Lee Qi is kin of the Lee family, caught up in the disaster that befell us and now seeking refuge in the Godsblight Marsh. There are reasons for this, as my sister and I understand."

The dignified woman, adorned with strands of pearls around her neck, smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. "Certainly. Since he is of the Lee family, it's only right you handle this."

After expressing her gratitude, Lee Yuchan's expression hardened as she commanded, "Well, aren't you coming?"

"Oh!"

Yu Yuan, clearly bewildered, quickly made his way toward her upon hearing her words.

"Hold on."

The Dragon Attendant who had previously sought to kill Yu Yuan in the dense forest 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 motionless after being halted. Instead, he turned his attention to the elegant woman, gesturing to himself as he introduced, "Dragon Lake, Faang Chun."

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

"Since he's merely a minor branch member of the Lee family, a trivial figure, may we deal with him?" Faang Chun bowed respectfully before looking up at the woman. "We apprehended him en route without suspicion, but he has heard much and come to know too many things."

The woman known as Tan Yuan appeared slightly hesitant.

She understood what was being implied; Faang Chun did not want Lee Qi to survive.

"The Lee family has few remaining members, and there are even fewer like Lee Qi," Lee Yuchan said with an icy expression, shooting Faang Chun a piercing look. "To my knowledge, the seventh-level Silverfrost Dragon from Dragon Lake has previously collaborated with the Thunder Sect and Winter's Bite in the Forgotten Ruins!"

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

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

"Young man, come here," Tan Yuan said, her decision made after hearing Lee Yuchan's comment. She ignored Faang Chun and addressed the person in the hovering sedan chair. "The Lee family has few left. Would you honor me by sparing this one?"

"Had you asked him to come to me first and pleaded, I would have agreed," the mysterious woman in the sedan chair said, her voice still sweet but her stance unwavering. "Now? It's out of the question!"

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 hearing the woman's response.

Finally, he turned back to Yu Yuan with a cold smirk. "Kid, it seems your luck isn't the best!"

Yu Yuan, unfazed, returned the smile warmly. "That remains to be seen."

"Miss Lee."

Tan Yuan considered the situation with great care, her gaze lingering on the suspended sedan chair before she turned to Lee Yuchan with a piece of advice. "Is it really worth stirring up such a fuss for a distant relative? How about we let them handle Lee Qi, since he's barely kin to you? As for your nephew, Lee Yu, we'll ensure he's well cared for and help him advance swiftly."

Lee Yuchan met her gaze from across the distance.

Yu Yuan stood among a group of formidable figures, composed and confident, seemingly oblivious to the fact that his life hung in the balance.

With a wide grin that showcased his dazzling white teeth, Yu Yuan said, "You needn't worry about me. You're the family's future. Just look after yourself and Lee Yu."

He reflected on the disaster at the Forgotten Ruins and understood that Lee Yuchan harbored resentment towards him. She shouldn't be so concerned about his welfare.

Chen Liangquan of the Songbird Empire had whisked away the Silvermoon Queen's Lunar Spirit from the mid-lake island, and Shen Feiqing had rescued Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu on Celestial Isle. These events made Yu Yuan aware of a secretive force at play, orchestrating some grand, hidden agenda.

Previously, Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu had been unaware.

But now, it seemed likely that Lee Yuchan had been swayed by Shen Feiqing. After being led to the Godsblight Marsh by her, he might have no choice but to switch allegiances in desperation.

"Shen Feiqing, the Silvermoon Queen, Du Jing, Chen Liangquan, and now Tan Yuan here—what are they planning? Who's pulling the strings behind them?" Yu Yuan pondered, his eyes returning to the floating sedan chair. "Has the Qiao family from the Empire of Dawn and Dragon Lake been dragged into this as well?"

"I'll speak with her!"

Lee Yuchan let out a cold snort and charged toward the sedan chair. "Unless I'm mistaken, we're old acquaintances! I once saved your life. Are you really going to disregard that?"

The formidable female general transformed into a streak of ghostly light, hurtling toward the sedan chair.

"No!"

Tan Yuan, Qiao Xu, and Faang Chun all reacted with alarm, calling out in unison to stop her.

"..."