Chapter 277: How Dare You Use This Word? (Third Update)

It was a young girl.

She looked to be no more than fourteen or fifteen, with a slender frame, yet she stood perfectly upright.

She possessed a face that could be described as breathtakingly beautiful; though she still carried a hint of youthful innocence, it was not difficult to imagine how dazzling she would be when her brilliance fully blossomed.

However, this was not what Mu Qinghe cared about.

He simply felt that the expression between the girl's brows seemed... somewhat familiar.

Like that person...

Mu Qinghe's heart suddenly quickened, and a strange surge of emotion welled up from the depths of his heart.

Their gazes crossed for an instant, and the girl seemed startled, hurriedly lowering her head.

The faint expectation in Mu Qinghe's heart suddenly dissipated quietly.

Such a timid and fearful manner was worlds apart from her; how could he have thought this girl was somewhat similar to her?

In this world, no woman could be compared to her.

At this thought, the turbulence in Mu Qinghe's heart gradually settled, and his expression grew even colder.

Emperor Jiawen was standing right beside Mu Qinghe. Seeing him stand still, he felt curious and couldn't help but look over as well.

When he realized that Mu Qinghe was actually looking at Chu Liuyue, he froze for a moment, then suddenly understood.

—Chu Liuyue's beauty was peerless; even when she was just standing there quietly, she could easily attract everyone's gaze.

This face was enough to make countless men lose their composure.

Could it be that Mu Qinghe had taken a fancy to Chu Liuyue?

Emperor Jiawen's expression became somewhat subtle.

"Vice General Mu?"

Mu Qinghe narrowed his eyes, the scar over his left eye twitching, making him look even more ferocious.

"You, come forward."

These words, however, were directed at Chu Liuyue.

The field fell silent for a moment.

All eyes immediately converged upon Chu Liuyue!

The hand inside Chu Liuyue's sleeve tightened and then relaxed, and she proceeded to walk forward.

She walked very slowly, her head lowered, appearing somewhat nervous.

When she reached three paces in front of Mu Qinghe, she stopped.

Chu Liuyue kept her eyes cast down, able to see only the pair of black-bottomed snow deer skin boots Mu Qinghe was wearing.

The snow deer was a Rank 6 magical beast. Although not a high-level magical beast, because they usually only appeared in extremely cold regions and were difficult to breed, they were extremely rare.

Boots made from their fur could automatically adjust to the external temperature, making them incredibly comfortable.

More importantly, they possessed extremely strong defensive capabilities.

There was a period in the past when such snow deer skin boots were very popular among the nobility of the Tianling Empire.

But ever since she had encountered an accident while traveling and was saved by a snow deer, she had specifically issued an order forbidding the indiscriminate killing of snow deer.

After that, such things never appeared in the Tianling Empire again.

As for herself, she had taken that snow deer back to raise.

That snow deer had a gentle temperament, and Mu Qinghe liked it very much, so whenever she was busy, she would let Mu Qinghe take care of it.

Chu Liuyue's gaze shifted slightly, only to see what appeared to be a shallow scratch on the edge of the boot.

Suddenly, her eyes widened!

That wasn't a scratch!

That was a scar that would only exist after a wound caused by a blade had pierced through and healed!

Back then, that snow deer had sustained many injuries to save her.

And that mark...

A terrifying thought flashed through Chu Liuyue's mind!

Snow deer were intelligent and gentle, and their most precious feature was their snow-white fur.

Whether used for boots or anything else, most people would demand the most perfect pelt possible.

As a Vice General of the Black Cavalry, Mu Qinghe certainly wouldn't settle for something with such a flaw.

Unless—

Chu Liuyue felt as if her heart were being gripped tightly by a hand! The pain made her almost unable to stand!

"Look up," Mu Qinghe commanded.

Chu Liuyue had never heard him speak to her in such a voice—lofty and bone-chillingly cold!

The previous Mu Qinghe had a silent and frigid personality.

Sometimes, he wouldn't say a single word all day.

But when facing her, he would shed that mask of coldness, and his voice would be clear and gentle.

She still remembered that when he smiled, there was a shallow dimple on his left cheek.

Chu Liuyue slowly raised her head.

Only now could she earnestly and carefully look at this all-too-familiar face!

More than a year had passed, and Mu Qinghe's appearance had not changed much from before.

However, the aura surrounding him had become even colder and more difficult to approach.

If he had only been outwardly indifferent before, then now, Chu Liuyue was almost certain that his temperament and methods were undoubtedly more decisive and ruthless than before!

This person seemed very familiar, yet also very strange.

"Chu Liuyue of Tianlu Academy greets Vice General Mu."

Chu Liuyue merely cast a glance before quickly withdrawing her gaze and bowing at the knees.

Mu Qinghe looked at the girl before him.

Up close, she was indeed a rare beauty, but there was indeed no resemblance to that person's countenance.

Although her voice was calm and gentle, her body was actually trembling slightly.

Likely from fear.

Mu Qinghe's brow furrowed sharply.

That moment just now must have been an illusion!

A trace of disgust welled up in his heart. He said nothing more and turned to leave.

Emperor Jiawen looked at Chu Liuyue with a face full of bewilderment.

What on earth just happened?

He thought Mu Qinghe had taken a fancy to Chu Liuyue, but looking at Mu Qinghe's expression just now, there wasn't a hint of affection; instead... it seemed like there was even a bit of disgust?

But Chu Liuyue hadn't seemed to do anything from start to finish? How did she offend this great deity?

Seeing that Mu Qinghe had already left, he didn't care about anything else and hurriedly followed.

But after walking only a few steps, Mu Qinghe suddenly stopped and turned back to look at Chu Liuyue.

Sensing something, Chu Liuyue raised her eyes to look.

"Your 'Yue'... which 'Yue' is it?"

Mu Qinghe asked coldly.

Chu Liuyue's heart skipped a beat.

She tried her best to calm herself down.

"The 'Yue' of the Divine Pearl."

Legend has it that the Azure Abyss possesses divinity, descending a divine pearl to the world called "Yue."

Mu Qinghe's heart jolted.

"What?"

Chu Liuyue smiled slightly

"It also carries the meaning of brilliant radiance."

A scene from many years ago suddenly surfaced in Mu Qinghe's mind.

At that time, a girl had once smiled and explained it to him.

"Do you know which 'Yue' belongs to this Palace?"

Back then, he had only just arrived by her side for a short time; he was so frightened he didn't know what to do and could only shake his head.

"The Imperial Princess is noble; how would Qinghe dare to discuss your name?"

She then, with a beaming smile, told him to extend his hand, and her slender, soft fingertips lightly wrote her name in his palm.

She was peerlessly noble, yet she did not disdain his coarse and ugly hands in the slightest

"Yue is the 'Yue' of the Divine Pearl. Imperial Father said it also means brilliant radiance."

At that time, he thought that she was indeed more brilliant and dazzling than the midday sun.

"...I heard you haven't studied before. From today onwards, shall this Palace teach you how to write?"

Therefore, the first character he learned was *Yue*.

The images in his mind gradually dissipated.

Mu Qinghe looked at the girl before him once more.

He let out a cold sneer.

"How are you worthy of using this character?"