Chapter 199   Yun Shimo, Missing

Even though he was weak, he would surely wait for her to wake up, or take her away?

So how come she did not see his figure? Hua Qiyue’s heart was full of uneasiness. She was just about to search when a group of people crawled up from a near distance. They were Ji Feng and the others.

They were also seriously injured during the battle. They were now relying on Yun Shimo’s pills to slowly recover their spiritual energy and heal themselves.

“Qiyue... Are you alright?”

“Sister Qiyue... ”

Ji Feng and the others walked toward her joyously. After they awoke, they only saw piles of maimed bodies. After taking the pills, while they were still recovering their spiritual energy, Hua Qiyue had slain the Left and Right Custodians.

Ji Feng, Ji Jing, Ouyang Youche, Huangfu Xuan and the others rushed over. “What... has happened to them?”

Huangfu Xuan asked, baffled. He had long thought the two custodians as nuisances. He did not expect Hua Qiyue to slay them in one move.

“They wanted to kill me, but unfortunately, could not. But... They’ve released a signal flare. It might be quite disadvantageous to us.” Hua Qiyue said this after musing for a while, realizing that these two Custodians were the Emperor’s men.

“You mean... The Emperor is taking this chance to kill you... or us?” Zhen Ruyi’s face sank. “Who are we fighting the Gnawing Devils Sect for? All our disciples are either injured or dead. How dare that stupid Emperor... ”

“The Emperor’s target may be only me.” Hua Qiyue was not certain.

“Why you?” Everyone was utterly surprised. She was such a powerful female Qi Artist. Shouldn’t the Emperor draw her over rather than kill her?

Hua Qiyue recounted what just happened to the company. They all started to snicker.

Yun Yang was extremely calm. Although his face was pale, he was still very confident. “Princess, don’t worry. We will return to our sects and broadcast that the Emperor has reneged on his word. He’s killing meritorious officials. Soon, the whole world will know that he’s shameless!”

“Yes, Sect Leader Yun’s idea is great! I agree too. We cannot let the Emperor have an easy life!”

Zhen Ruyi answered, smiling. Her sect had gained the support of many commoners. Once she disseminated the news, the Emperor would really find it hard-going.

The remaining Sect Leaders all voiced their support. After all, Hua Qiyue and Yun Shimo really ought to take the most credit. Yet the Changlong Emperor was trying to kill Hua Qiyue. It was indeed very infuriating.

Orthodox sects held integrity as their chief credo. Hua Qiyue felt extremely grateful having earned everyone’s support.

“Hey, where’s Brother Yun?”

Only now did Ji Feng and the others realize Yun Shimo was missing.

Hua Qiyue’s face was extremely pale. “I don’t know either. When I woke up, I couldn’t find him.... Could Uncle Yun have taken him away? Or maybe something’s up in his family. He might have returned to the capital first.”

Although Hua Qiyue said this, she still felt a sense of unease in her heart.

“Let’s rush back to the capital to see if it’s true,” Ji Feng said hurriedly.

“Qiyue... Qiyue... come and help untie me!” Huangfu Xuan’s voice rang out from the forest. Everyone stared at one another, waiting for Hua Qiyue to make her decision.

Hua Qiyue strode toward the forest. Although the Changlong Emperor was despicable, Huangfu Shenglin had always treated her with a true heart.

Despite this being so, Huangfu Xuan, Ouyang Youche and the others still felt quite worried. They also walked with her to the forest.

In the forest, Huangfu Shenglin was trapped in a formation. A golden lash had bound him tightly around his body.

“I didn’t expect the Left and Right Custodians to be so bold. They dared to even bind the Crown Prince!” Huangfu Xuan’s face was black. After all, Huangfu Shenglin was still the Crown Prince. Those two custodians were simply too presumptuous.

However, everyone understood that it was all thanks to the Emperor. Otherwise, they would never have dared.

After breaking the formation, Hua Qiyue untied Huangfu Shenglin. Huangfu Shenglin stared tensely at Hua Qiyue, a look of shame flushing his face.

“I’m sorry... It was all due to me. Those two custodians were audacious curs! They even tried to kill you... ”

Huangfu Shenglin was full of rage. “My Royal Father has lost his conscience. How could he... have believed in that divination master’s words?”

Hua Qiyue gave a start. She did not expect Huangfu Shenglin to know this.

“Don’t worry, Qiyue. Accompany me back to the capital. Even if my father tries something on you again, you’ll be fine with me around!” Huangfu Shenglin gnashed his teeth.

Everyone stared at one another, a look of hesitancy in their eyes. Quite evidently, they felt that they could not trust Huangfu Shenglin.

Yet Hua Qiyue nodded. “Let’s go back. After all, we’ve been away for so many days.”

The company glanced at one another silently. Just as well, since Hua Qiyue needed to return to see to her matter. After all, she could not abandon her kin at Hua’s Mansion.

And running away was not Hua Qiyue’s style.

“Princess Jinghua, I, Yun Yang, am honored to have fought by your side. I hope that in the future, you will regard me as a friend... ” Yun Yang said politely. He was not trying to cozy up to Hua Qiyue, but genuinely in awe of her.

“You’re too kind, Sect Leader Yun. To be acquainted with friends like you is my honor too!” Hua Qiyue smiled. The tiredness on her face had slowly ebbed away.

Everyone started to laugh. Although the battle was fierce and gruesome, they had still won. It was beyond all their expectations.

The Sect Leaders all sat down and rested on the spot, waiting to recover their physical strength before resuming their journeys. Hua Qiyue bid them farewell, one by one. She gave them many Ginsengs with Nine Souls she had brought along with her.

Everyone was extremely happy. Although tears brimmed in their eyes—since so many of their disciples had died—the fact that they were alive meant that heaven was not blind.

The company only started to depart two hours later. Hua Qiyue got into the carriage. Only now did the tiredness on her face show.

Ji Jing had not recovered as quickly. She was lying on the couch weakly. Hua Qiyue sat with her back against the carriage, silently closing her eyes.

“Lass, there may be some very bad news coming up. You must be mentally prepared.” The hare had suddenly appeared from nowhere, addressing Hua Qiyue while sitting opposite her.

Gazing at the hare’s solemn eyes, Hua Qiyue was quietly shocked. “Do you mean... Yun Shimo?”

“Yes... ”

“What happened to him? Is he very badly injured? Or... abducted by the 10 demon corpses?” Hua Qiyue was so terrified that her face turned pale.

The hare shook its head. “No... Yun Shimo won’t die, but he may not be in the capital. He’s leaving for a faraway place.”

Hua Qiyue’s entire body shook. If that was true, it meant that Yun Shimo had left the capital... and her?

“Why?” Hua Qiyue felt a dejection and anger in her heart. Why didn’t Yun Shimo speak to her before he departed? He must be badly injured—was that the reason why he was leaving?

The hare was exceptionally calm. “Lass, this is all I can tell you. Yun Shimo didn’t leave because of physical reasons. He is not that poorly. He left because of some special reason... ”

Hua Qiyue’s face flushed crimson, rage burning in her eyes.

“Sister Qiyue, perhaps Prince Nan has his reasons. Don’t get so upset... ” Ji Jing quickly comforted Hua Qiyue.

Hua Qiyue did not understand. If not because of physical reasons, why had he left?

“When... will he be back?” Hua Qiyue asked in a hoarse voice.

Although she had recovered much of her spiritual energy, she was still feeling poorly.

The hare’s eyes started to shine and shift. It hesitated, was about to speak again, then stopped.

“Sir, please tell me straight. I can accept whatever you tell me.”

Hua Qiyue whispered.

“He... may be leaving together with Princess Qianyang,” the hare said. Hua Qiyue was instantly dumbfounded.

It was like a bolt of lightning!

What did it mean?

Yun Shimo was leaving with that woman?

Hua Qiyue’s heart was full of fury. She took in a deep breath. She would not allow herself to grieve over a man again.

“You must be mentally prepared... Yun Shimo asked me to take good care of you. He might not return. But then, he might. He’s... ” The little hare stared at Hua Qiyue sympathetically. It had seen her ashen face and knew that she was feeling awful inside.

“Hahaha... ” Hua Qiyue started to snicker coldly. Its words were only meant to console her? The little hare had pitied her—that was why it had said that.

But then, he might be back—in other words, it was highly likely that he would not be back.

“So he has eloped with Princess Qianyang. Is he afraid that I will settle scores with him?” Hua Qiyue snickered coldly. But tears were welling out from the bottom of her eyes.

After all, she had chosen to believe in him unconditionally, and to fight by his side. How much trust would that take?

She also believed that Yun Shimo had his reasons. He had to be together with Princess Qianyang. Yet, ought he leave her in that treacherous place, where dangers lurked everywhere? While her fate was still indeterminate, he had left leisurely with Princess Qianyang!

Hua Qiyue felt a scorching sensation surge up her body, and she threw out a mouthful of blood.

“Sister Qiyue!”

“Qiyue, are you alright?” Ji Feng and the others heard the astonished gasps of Ji Jing. They all leaped up the carriage and pulled back the curtain.

Hua Qiyue coldly wiped away the bloodstain on her lips. “I’m alright... I’m fine!” Hua Qiyue’s calm tone made Ouyang Youche and Ji Feng stare at each other, baffled.

But seeing her pale complexion, everyone thought better of disturbing her. They left her to rest well in the carriage.

Hua Qiyue took a Resuscitation Pill. She had taken lots of pills today. Although she was feeling quite disturbed, she must do her best to return her anima and physical energies to their normal level.

The carriage raced to the capital. Hua Qiyue leaned, diagonally slouched against the carriage, napping soundly with her eyes closed for a while. After about two hours, she woke up again.

The journey back to the capital would take two to three days. Hua Qiyue would take this opportunity to fully recover her strength.

She suddenly remembered something. Yes, the green jade gourd!

She half-consciously stretched out her hand and touched her waist where the gourd used to hang. Empty!

Hua Qiyue had a great shock. After the great battle, she was too exhausted to enter the Mysterious World to see Tianpi. After all, she had mobilized the forbidden secret art. She would get a good scolding from Tianpi inside.

As a result, she had not paid attention to the green jade gourd. Now, unexpectedly after one full day, she had discovered it gone!

“Little hare!” Hua Qiyue was so terrified that her face turned pale. After all, Tianpi was her Master. And his Dragon Crystals were almost all depleted. That meant...

The mystery was—who had stolen her green jade gourd?

“What’s wrong?”

The little hare had appeared. It asked Hua Qiyue calmly, looking at her anxious face.

“Where’s my green jade gourd? Did you see it? If I lost it on the battleground, I need to go back and find it.”

Hua Qiyue was so anxious that she was breaking out in cold sweat. Only now did she realize the degree of importance Tianpi had in her heart. He was also very important.

The hare’s eyes started to sparkle.