Chapter 241: Fleeing Before Battle (Third Update)

Chu Liuyue: “...”

She increasingly felt that Rong Xiu seemed to have been prepared for a long time, merely waiting for her to agree.

“What if I hadn't come this time?” she asked.

Rong Xiu glanced at her.

“If you don't come this time, you will come next time, and the time after that.”

Chu Liuyue couldn't help but laugh.

“Prince Li is quite confident. What if I never agree? Wouldn't all those things be prepared in vain? Oh, that's not right, Prince Li could just find someone else—”

Rong Xiu’s tone was calm.

“It will only be you. If you never agree, I will simply burn them all.”

Since they were prepared for her from the very beginning, if she didn't want them, then they would have no reason to exist.

Of course, he had never actually thought about it that way.

Regarding her, he was determined to have her!

Chu Liuyue was stunned.

His expression was so indifferent, as if he were discussing something utterly ordinary, showing no sign that such words were whatsoever startling.

She paused, and finally asked, “Then when did you start preparing them?”

Could it be that Rong Xiu had truly liked her since their very first meeting?

Back when she was in rags, covered in blood and grime?

Rong Xiu narrowed his eyes.

“A long time ago.”

A long time ago?

How long was that?

Chu Liuyue wanted to ask more, but Rong Xiu had already pulled her into his arms and stepped onto the teleportation array.

Countless streaks of light instantly formed a barrier around the two of them!

Their vision went black, and they entered the void of the teleportation array!

The two soon returned to the forest.

It was only after they emerged from the lake that the barrier surrounding them finally dissipated.

Chu Liuyue looked back.

It was currently midday; the white mist swirling on the surface of the lake seemed to have thinned slightly, and the light from the teleportation array beneath it seemed to have hidden itself as well.

From the outside, it was impossible to detect anything unusual.

“There is a barrier outside this lake that ordinary people cannot approach, so they naturally won't discover this teleportation array,” Rong Xiu explained faintly from beside her, seemingly having guessed her thoughts.

Chu Liuyue nodded, then suddenly remembered something.

“So, you let me in on purpose back then?”

Rong Xiu gave a half-smile toward Xue Xue beside them.

Xue Xue raised its neck proudly.

*So what! So what!*

*It was intentional!*

*If it hadn't taken the initiative, who knows when Master would have been able to marry a wife!*

*Hmph!*

Tuanzi gave Xue Xue a disdainful look.

*As expected, Master is shameless, and the magical beast he raises is the same.*

Xue Xue bared its teeth at Tuanzi.

Tuanzi flicked its tail, turning its butt toward it.

Chu Liuyue chuckled.

For some reason, Tuanzi didn't seem afraid of Xue Xue; it even provoked it from time to time.

Logically speaking, Xue Xue was a high-level magical beast, and Tuanzi's level was much lower. There should have been a level suppression between them, and Tuanzi shouldn't have dared to act this way.

But remembering how Tuanzi had even ignored the commands of the Black-Winged Heaven-Swallowing Python, she let it go.

When she had the chance, she would have to study Tuanzi carefully.

“Right! The Qingjiao Assembly is today!”

Looking at the bright sunlight swaying through the trees, Chu Liuyue suddenly remembered there was a competition today.

“At this time, the competition must have already started.”

Rong Xiu smiled.

“You seem to care quite a lot about this Qingjiao Assembly.”

Chu Liuyue nodded candidly.

“The competition isn't important; what's important are the rewards!”

Although she had already secured the top spot for martial artists, since she had signed up, it was always better to get more things.

Seeing the brightness in Chu Liuyue's eyes, Rong Xiu began to reflect

*Was it because the things I gave her last time were too few?*

“Do you still want to participate in the Qingjiao Assembly competition?”

Chu Liuyue shrugged.

“I'm afraid if I go back now, I won't make it in time.”

Rong Xiu smiled faintly.

“If you want to participate, there is naturally still time.”

***

Yan Ge had been waiting anxiously for news of Chu Liuyue in the Treasure Pavilion.

Because he was worried about alerting the enemy, he hadn't gone out to search personally, but he had secretly dispatched many people.

However, as time passed bit by bit and midday approached, there was still no sign of her.

His heart hung in suspense, and he secretly thought that if he still couldn't find her by evening, he would have to use extreme measures no matter what.

Just as he was growing restless with waiting, he suddenly sensed something and took a palm-sized compass from his robe.

That compass was used by his Master to transmit messages; in all these years, his Master had used it fewer than three times.

He hadn't expected it to move now!

A purple jade needle on the compass wobbled a few times before finally pointing in a certain direction!

Without hesitation, Yan Ge rushed out!

***

Canaan Square.

The entire square was very quiet, and the arena was filled with participating Mystic Masters.

Because Mystic Master competitions required more concentration, everyone had consciously lowered their voices.

However, the atmosphere of the competition seemed increasingly tense.

*Bang!*

A faint sound rang out.

On the arena, three stars had lit up on the stone platform in front of a Mystic Master.

That meant he had already deciphered the first three Mystic Arrays!

“That is Sheng Yiming from Nanfeng Academy. He is only eighteen this year, yet he is already a Level 4 Mystic Master. He can be considered a standout among these students.”

“In this arena, there are probably no more than ten people whose strength exceeds a Level 4 Mystic Master, right? The final first place should be decided among these people...”

“Look! Xi Wanwan has also broken through three stages!”

“The Mystic Masters from Nanfeng Academy seem to be very powerful! Speaking of which, Elder Sun of Tianlu Academy is also a Mystic Master himself. Logically, the Mystic Masters he trained should also be outstanding. Why hasn't anyone from his academy broken the third stage yet?”

“That Si Ting seems to be his student, right? I heard he's quite capable too, but I wonder how he compares to the others...”

“Hey, isn't Chu Liuyue also a Mystic Master? She can even activate a Level 4 Black Crystal Mystic Array! Why haven't we seen her today?”

On the arena, Si Ting held a chess piece, hesitating to place it down.

He turned to glance at the empty seat beside him, frowning slightly.

Chu Liuyue had not arrived yet.

Given her personality, there was no reason for her not to attend after signing up. His Master seemed a bit anxious just now; he wondered if it was related to Chu Liuyue.

After a moment of contemplation, he suppressed the unease in his heart and placed the piece.

*Bang!*

The third stage was solved effortlessly!

“Look! Si Ting solved it too!”

“Is he also a Level 4 Mystic Master!?”

“But his current ranking is still quite low. It looks like first place will fall to Nanfeng Academy...”

The crowd discussed in low voices.

Situ Xingchen sat in his seat, appearing to watch the situation on the field, but his gaze drifted toward Tianlu Academy from time to time.

Chu Liuyue actually hadn't appeared all day...

Cheng Han noticed her gaze and naturally guessed what she was thinking. He let out a cold snort.

“Xingchen, there's no need to look! That Chu Liuyue must be afraid and has fled at the last minute!”