Bai Mu dragged Leng Jin Yu away from the repository and finally met up with his father around the corner. "Where to now?"
Qiang Yan motioned to a small path between two buildings leading away from the Court of Justice. "Let's go that way. There aren't too many buildings in that direction and it's closer to the edge of the capital. We should take the shortest route possible to leave. The more people see us, the more people will wonder and ask questions. It wouldn't be good if my brother-in-law heard about this."
Bai Mu nodded and the two of them dragged Leng Jin Yu out of the capital together. They only heaved a sigh of relief though when they left the Nine Heavens altogether and reached the mortal realm. Now, it was unlikely for anybody of the immortal races to see them and the time was also flowing differently, allowing them more time to settle things.
The two of them put Leng Jin Yu down on the ground and exchanged a glance. Well, that was done and they weren't in a hurry anymore. They still had to wake him up though.
Qiang Yan grimaced and then shook his shoulder again. "Leng Jin Yu. Leng Jin Yu! Wake up already! I don't want to get in trouble with that husband of yours. Leng Jin Yu!"
The person in question furrowed his brows and his eyes opened but his gaze wasn't focused.
Qiang Yan's heart jumped into his throat and he gulped. Don't tell him something had gone wrong? Never mind that he really didn't want to have to go and tell something like that to Jinde, he also didn't want anything to happen to Leng Jin Yu!
From the moment they met, he had had a good impression of this person. Leng Jin Yu had also helped him with Bai Mu's matter, essentially allowing him to meet up with his son again. And, well, considering what he had said before, there was now even the added layer of his connection with Qiu Ling. For all he knew, Qiu Ling should have been very young when his father died. Finding his reincarnation and then having to hear that something happened to him would be hard for him to accept now that they had finally gotten the chance to reunite. At the very least, he was sure that he would feel that way if this was about him and Bai Mu.
Qiang Yan gritted his teeth and raised his hand, waving it in front of Leng Jin Yu's eyes. "Leng Jin Yu, tell me that you're alright. You haven't injured your soul, have you? Well, other than you yourself cutting it, I mean."
Leng Jin Yu blinked his eyes and then pushed himself off the ground, sitting up and putting a hand against his forehead. No, he very likely hadn't injured his soul. At the very least, he didn't feel that he had. But his head still hurt. That had more to do with what he had seen though.
That scene … Who could explain it to him? He really wanted to drag his past self out and question him about this. How was he supposed to meet with Jinde now? He couldn't not tell him about it. But then again, there was nothing to say either.
Who had Chun Yin met back then? Why had that led to him not going back to Jinde's side even though he had obviously wanted to do that in the beginning? For a man as proud as Chun Yin had been, what kind of person would be able to dissuade him from seeing Jinde?
And who would have any reason to do so? After all, they had officially married considering the customs of the dragon realm. Who would separate a married couple? And why didn't Jinde know? Shouldn't Chun Yin have told him? If there was a reason, then why should he keep it to himself? None of this made any sense!
"Leng Jin Yu!" Qiang Yan reached out to shake him again.
Leng Jin Yu sighed and lowered his hand, shaking his head. "I'm alright. I just …" He shook his head again and then fought himself back to his feet. "Never mind. What exactly happened? I think I lost consciousness when cutting my soul."
Qiang Yan and Bai Mu both heaved a sigh of relief and got up as well. "Well, that's right. Bai Mu and I decided to bring you to the mortal realm first so not much time has passed yet. I'd suggest you return to your husband now or, well, maybe first finish setting up the array."
Leng Jin Yu nodded. "What about you then? Didn't you want to wait for the pill to be refined?"
Qiang Yan shrugged his shoulders with a smile. "Originally, yes. But Bai Mu reminded me just how much time that will take and while we're here, not much will pass in the Nine Heavens. It's not a problem to come and help you out a bit. It might also be helpful if you have the two of us here. We can set up the array together and if anything else happens, you'll have some more support."
Leng Jin Yu nodded. "Thank you. I guess we should leave then. Jinde has gone to the Liu He Alliance but he'll return to the Yun Zou Sect soon. Who knows if he is already on his way there are maybe has even arrived? We shouldn't lose any time."
Thus the three men set off in the direction of the Yun Zou Sect.
As for the place in question, things had already descended into chaos there. It wasn't Jinde's return that had caused this. No, instead, it was still the arrival of the other first-tier and some of the second-tier sects that was troubling the Yun Zou Sect. Well, along with the additional problem that apparently, one of their best disciples had just gone missing without the Sect Master knowing. Just when had this happened? And where was Ma Zhi Wu now?
Yuchi Bing Xia was sure that something had to be wrong. Otherwise, that boy would have contacted his Master or the Grand Elder's disciple long ago. Since he hadn't, he must've run into some trouble. And if it was enough trouble to keep him from contacting them for several years, then that might mean that this promising seedling had long died with none being the wiser.