C30 The Male's Intuition Is Accurate

The advantages of experiencing time at tenfold speed extend well beyond the obvious. With the time disparity, Lee Yu could complete a full round of card punches in the Otherworld in less than a Blue Star day, if he kept at it.

He hadn't anticipated such good fortune with the sign-ins; all three items were incredibly useful.

Now, Lee Yu eagerly anticipated his visit to the Great Imperial Capital. Adapting quickly to his surroundings at the Qing's, he knew he had to familiarize himself with the place. One Great Imperial Capital was the current seat of the Ming Imperial Family, while the other was the heart of the former Qin Empire—both were referred to by the same name.

Yet, both were currently out of reach, particularly the Ming Imperial Family's location, which the Qing's would certainly not allow him to visit.

Qing Zixuan was steadfastly by Qing Anqi's side, and Lee Yu found the scene quite entertaining. For some reason, it felt like watching his own child charm someone, and he couldn't help but enjoy Qing Anqi's discomfort.

"Come on, I'll help you refine your Lady's Buddha Sword technique," Qing Anqi said, tugging at Lee Yu's sleeve.

"Ah, no..." Lee Yu began to decline, but catching Qing Anqi's suggestive glance, he quickly changed his tune. "Actually, that would be great. I really appreciate your help!"

"Lee Yu, we should hurry," Qing Anqi said, delighted, and made to leave quickly, but Qing Zixuan blocked her path.

"Who are you?" Qing Zixuan asked coldly, his gaze locked on Lee Yu, surprised to find someone in the clan bold enough to intervene.

"Kid, just call me big brother," Lee Yu replied, raising an eyebrow. This child was two-faced, showing a completely different demeanor with Qing Anqi than with him, and his words carried an undercurrent of threat.

Are all kids this precocious nowadays? Lee Yu mused, recalling the well-behaved children from the morning's class.

If only Lee Yu knew about last year's incident, where Qing Zixuan had someone thrown into a lake for interrupting his conversation with Qing Anqi, he would have found the boy even more dangerous.

"Young Master Zixuan, that's enough," Cui interjected, stepping in front of Qing Zixuan. Once she was sure he wouldn't make another move, she turned and hurried after the departing Lee Yu.

Qing Zixuan stood his ground. He might not have known Cui personally, but he recognized the emblem on her attire—a mark of the Qing's clandestine operatives.

Clearly, Cui wasn't an assassin but a bodyguard, a role that was rare and indicated she was protecting someone of significant importance.

"Lee Yu... he's not one of our clan," Qing Zixuan murmured before striding away without pause.

...

"Thank goodness you were here, or I wouldn't have made it out today," Qing Anqi said, her nose crinkling in relief.

In the past, when she was exasperated, she had sought out others to act as her buffers. Yet, those she enlisted invariably met with mishaps, leaving them battered and bruised. Qing Anqi was no fool; she learned to minimize contact whenever possible.

It wasn't always possible to avoid him, though. On several occasions, she found herself entangled for far too long. If it hadn't been for Lee Yu's status as a 'seed,' Qing Anqi would have had to reluctantly accept the situation.

"You owe me big time," Lee Yu said with a grin. "Everything okay with your classes? Can you make up for them later?"

"Yes," Qing Anqi replied, a thought striking her. "Oh, and you need to watch your back these days."

"What's he going to do, retaliate?" Lee Yu scoffed.

Cui, seated nearby, chimed in gently, "Young Master, you're safe within the clan's territory."

Hearing this, Qing Anqi's worries subsided. It was only with Cui's presence that she had the courage to bring Lee Yu along.

On the return trip, the trio mounted an exotic beast—a stout serpent about four meters in length, its body sheathed in snow-white scales, with just enough room for three.

Riding the serpent was Lee Yu's idea, inspired by the legendary Xu Xian. He was curious to experience what riding a snake would be like.

Unfortunately, as soon as the white serpent began to move, Lee Yu's romantic notions were quickly dispelled. "This is more like riding a Gaboon viper."

The serpent's movement was not the sinuous 'S' shape he had imagined but a direct forward motion. Lee Yu could even feel the undulating strength beneath the serpent's belly.

...

The one perk was the serpent's open-air seating, allowing Lee Yu to take in the surrounding landscape to his heart's content.

The Qing clan's territory was vast, yet it never felt crowded. There were numerous spots designated for relaxation and recreation, making it resemble less of a family estate and more of a city inhabited solely by members of the Qing family.

The necessity for a vehicle just to get around was telling.

"Was this lake here when we arrived?" Lee Yu inquired with curiosity.

Cui responded, "Indeed, this route is a bit of a detour, taking us past several more scenic spots along the way."

"A detour..." Lee Yu felt a sudden unease, reminiscent of a plot twist in a TV drama.

The white snake moved with incredible speed, about to complete the journey in an instant. It seemed Lee Yu's intuition was off the mark, and he breathed a sigh of relief. But as the white snake slithered onto an arch bridge, an unexpected event occurred.

The bridge began to tremble violently, then split down the middle amidst a cloud of dust, as several dark figures emerged.

"Who's there!" Cui called out, her hand poised at the edge, ready to release the safety rope.

In that moment, the white snake's head was engulfed in smoke, its eyes flaring red as it went into a frenzy and plunged into the lake through the bridge's fissure.

"Young Master! County Princess!"

Cui, in a last-ditch effort, released the safety rope and landed on the fractured edge of the bridge. After briefly halting Cui, the shadowy figures also dove into the water, vanishing from sight.

The incident unfolded rapidly; before they knew it, Lee Yu and Qing Anqi were submerged in the lake with the white snake. Cui remained on the bridge momentarily until a contingent of armored soldiers arrived in haste.

"Sir," the squad leader said, recognizing the token in Cui's hand, and commanded, "Spread out and conduct a search."

"There's no need," Cui replied, stowing the token, "Just have someone come and repair the bridge."

"Understood."

Meanwhile, Qing Yi stood before Qing Heng, meticulously recounting the events that transpired on the bridge.

"How can one appreciate the merits of the Qing clan without a bit of adventure?" Qing Heng remarked with a smile, "Ensure there are no further errors. Anqi is here as well; we must avoid any mishaps."

...

The depths of the lake were unfathomable, and the white snake dove swiftly. In mere moments, it had disappeared into the murky waters, leaving only darkness above.

The instant Lee Yu plunged into the lake, he channeled his spiritual energy to keep water from flooding his lungs. Holding his breath, he glanced back to find Cui missing from her seat, while Qing Anqi's face was etched with terror.

"Damn it," Lee Yu cursed under his breath as he swiftly unbuckled his safety belt and made his way to Qing Anqi. He was about to release her from her own restraints when she clutched his arm in a vice-like grip, her panic hindering his efforts. To make matters worse, he caught sight of several dark figures closing in rapidly from the periphery of his vision.

Lee Yu was faced with a dire choice: abandon the rescue of Qing Anqi and distance himself from the white snake at top speed. Given that the black-clad assailants seemed primarily interested in Qing Anqi, there was a good chance they would disregard him if he left her behind. But this wasn't a society governed by law—every decision was a roll of the dice with life at stake.

With a heavy sigh, Lee Yu steeled himself and reached for Qing Anqi's hand, determined to not let go.