"How is it? What's that brat Ming Zhitian's strength like?" Elder Hei asked.
"He's utterly defenseless. If it weren't for the young lady arriving just in time, I would have killed him with a single move," the other replied.
Piaoyan Zunhuang was also present. He raised his gaze slightly. "Who exactly is Xingchen's friend?"
Elder Hei noticed something amiss. "Bai Zhi, what's wrong with your lower body?"
Bai Zhi gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and said with indignation, "I beg the Zunhuang to uphold justice for your subordinate. That brat Ming Zhitian has crippled me, and I vow to flay his skin, dismember his bones, eat his flesh, and drink his blood to appease my hatred!"
Elder Bai couldn't help but chuckle. "So that's why your voice sounds so strange. I see."
Piaoyan Zunhuang said, "Didn't you have that brat under control? How did he manage to cripple you?"
Bai Zhi lamented, "It's all my fault for being careless. He caught me off guard. This young man has no martial ethics, alas..."
Piaoyan Zunhuang waved his hand. "I understand. I have my own plans. You may all go."
The three responded in unison, "Yes!"
After the three left, Empress Xingchen, who had overheard them, emerged. "Husband, are you secretly sending people to harm my friend Ming Zhitian?"
Piaoyan Zunhuang glanced at her, smiled slightly, and waved his hand. "Chen'er, come here."
Empress Xingchen walked slowly towards him. With a gentle pull, her beautiful, long legs landed on his lap as she sat down.
Piaoyan Zunhuang embraced her, sniffed her scent, and kissed her. "It was merely a test, nothing more."
Empress Xingchen asked, "Was he injured?"
Piaoyan Zunhuang replied, "No."
Empress Xingchen sighed in relief. "That's good."
Piaoyan Zunhuang asked doubtfully, "Chen'er, I've never heard you mention having a friend at the level of Fengshen Realm before."
Empress Xingchen faltered slightly, desperately trying to conceal something. "Uh... he's just a casual friend. He came from far away to visit me. The son of an old acquaintance I haven't seen in a long time. Husband, please don't overthink it."
The more she said that, the more suspicious Piaoyan Zunhuang became. "Just a casual friend?"
"Of course." Empress Xingchen said resolutely, "Chen'er begs you, please don't send anyone after him anymore. As you said yourself, he's just at the Fengshen Realm. Must it be known that the dignified Zunhuang would bully a mere Fengshen Realm cultivator?"
Piaoyan Zunhuang nodded. "Of course not."
But in his heart, he thought, "That's assuming you haven't betrayed me."
Empress Xingchen was about to get up, but Piaoyan Zunhuang stopped her. "By the way, you were out all night last night. Where did you go?"
Empress Xingchen replied, "With friends."
Piaoyan Zunhuang showed some anger. "Him again?"
Empress Xingchen, whose heart was racing, said, "I was just showing him around the Ten Desolations. Is my husband jealous?"
Piaoyan Zunhuang was amused. "How could I be? Heh. Alright, let's not talk about him. Let's attend to pressing matters first."
"What?" Empress Xingchen asked.
Piaoyan Zunhuang gently picked her up. "Chen'er was out all night. I missed you dearly. Let's make up for lost time."
"Uh..."
Empress Xingchen shyly lowered her head. Piaoyan Zunhuang carried her into the room...
...
On the banks of the Yellow River, Piaoling'er was scolding Ai Liaoran and his three senior brothers. "I say, you guys are really unfair! You just hid like cowards when it mattered most. I look down on you! Hmph, I'm not talking to you anymore."
Ai Liaoran explained, "No, our dear junior sister, he's at the tenth level of the Awakening Realm. It's not that we're unfair, it's just suicidal!"
The other three quickly chimed in, "Yes, exactly."
Piaoling'er gritted her teeth. "I don't care! From now on, I'm *not* talking to you!"
"This..."
Piaoling'er walked over to Ming Zhitian. "Let's go."
She then said to the four, "You are not allowed to follow!"
"..."
Ming Zhitian quickly followed her. "I haven't even thanked you yet. Thank you for saving me."
Piaoling'er replied, "You're welcome. Besides, I didn't do much. How did you offend such a powerful cultivator?"
Ming Zhitian shook his head. "I don't know. But why did that person leave as soon as he saw you?"