Chapter 68: The Wuguan

Chapter 68: The Wuguan

Inside a carriage traveling on the official road.

Dai Yao finished his cultivation, took a deep breath, and was handed a bottle of water.

"You must be thirsty," Zhu Zhuqing said coldly, though her words warmed Dai Yao's heart.

"Thank you," Dai Yao replied, taking a sip of water. He opened the front door of the carriage and asked the coachman, "How much longer until we reach Wuguan?"

Wuguan was a border checkpoint of the Star Luo Empire. It wasn't the closest, nor the farthest, but it was a critical location.

Seven other carriages, each taking different routes, provided cover for his own carriage. The route Dai Yao chose was not conspicuous, and as long as the other carriages did their part, he would be able to leave safely.

They had been traveling for ten full days and nights since leaving the Imperial City, without stopping. Every time they reached a city, with the assistance of the Spirit Hall, they would switch out the horses and drivers.

At this pace, they were already traveling faster than a Soul Master at the Soul Saint level would when pushing themselves to their limits.

The coachman, who had been changed in the previous city, was exhausted and replied, "We're almost there! Just one more day and night, and we'll reach Wuguan!"

"But I can barely go on, so I'll need to switch drivers at the next city!" the coachman added with a weary grin.

"Thank you for your hard work," Dai Yao said.

"Don't mention it. The Spirit Hall's pay is generous—one Gold Soul Coin! After I finish this job, I won't have to worry about a thing for months!" The coachman chuckled.

"One Gold Soul Coin!" Dai Yao thought it was a bit funny. For Soul Masters, one Gold Soul Coin was only enough for a few meals, but for a commoner, it was several months of living expenses.

Back inside the carriage, the materials used to construct it were special. It could lock in sound and soul power, ensuring that nothing would leak outside.

Looking out at the passing scenery, Dai Yao felt both excited and anxious. Naturally, when heading into a new environment, one would feel a sense of unease.

Once they arrived in the Heaven Dou Empire, he would meet the characters from the original story.

Huo Wu, Ning Rongrong, and the Heavenly Water Academy girls—just thinking about them made Dai Yao's heart flutter.

"What are you thinking about?" Zhu Zhuqing, who had been watching Dai Yao's expression, frowned.

Although she didn't know what Dai Yao was thinking, she was certain it wasn't anything good. His expression reminded her of the way lecherous men looked at her.

"You're still thinking about other people when I'm right here," Zhu Zhuqing said, slightly annoyed.

Dai Yao immediately straightened up and said, "It's nothing. I was just thinking about Feng Wutong."

Zhu Zhuqing didn't call him out on it. She remembered the line in the letter and asked, "Is what you wrote about helping Wutong solve the side effects of her martial soul true?"

"Of course it's true!" Dai Yao replied with certainty.

His solution was the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.

In the original story, Ma Hongjun used the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower to not only solve his evil fire problem but also lost weight and became more handsome.

Since both had fire-element bird-type martial souls, the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower would also work for her.

"Even the Academy couldn't solve the side effects of a civilian Soul Master's mutated martial soul. How are you going to solve it? Don't let Wutong be disappointed," Zhu Zhuqing said with concern.

"Don't worry, I have a trick up my sleeve!" Dai Yao smiled mysteriously.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a dark soul bone. The cold aura emanating from it caused pain in his chest—this was Zhu Tao's soul bone.

"This is a soul bone, and it's quite suitable for you. I'm leaving it to you to deal with," Dai Yao said to Zhu Zhuqing.

"Soul bone?!" Zhu Zhuqing gasped, her eyes widening.

Any Soul Master would know how precious a soul bone was. Even if it wasn't suitable for them, they would keep it and treasure it.

But Dai Yao had casually handed her such a rare item.

Even married couples wouldn't be so generous.

"Thank you." Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip and slowly said the two words, which, though simple, carried immense weight.

Although they were not yet married, their emotional investment in each other had already started. Since they met, she had been doing simple things for Dai Yao, like delivering a lunch box or folding blankets.

But what had Dai Yao done for her? Not only had he forgiven her for trying to kill him, but he had also given her this precious soul bone. During her duel with Zhu Zhuqing, if Dai Yao hadn't arrived in time, she might have already been dead.

The emotional investment between them was not balanced, and this sense of guilt weighed heavily on Zhu Zhuqing.

"Don't be silly, what are you thinking?" Dai Yao noticed her mood and comforted her, "This soul bone wasn't suitable for me in the first place. I go for a more brute-force approach, and when I held it, it emitted a cold aura that gave off a chilling feeling. Your martial soul, Dark Ruler, is perfect for it."

"Moreover, the most important thing is that this soul bone is only a few thousand years old. I'm not interested in it!" Dai Yao said arrogantly.

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but laugh, "Soul bones are so precious, and you don't even want one that's a few thousand years old. How many years would a soul bone need to be for it to catch your eye?"

"At least a hundred thousand years!" Dai Yao said casually, making up an answer.

"Such nonsense," Zhu Zhuqing laughed, covering her mouth.

But in the original story, most of Tang San's soul bones were over a hundred thousand years old, and the Deep Sea Demon Whale's torso bone even reached a million years.

Given such a strong background, Dai Yao's claim wasn't entirely absurd.

Dai Yao's playful banter eased the tense atmosphere inside the carriage. After traveling day and night for ten days, even a Soul Master's body would feel fatigued.

Although Dai Yao did his best to alleviate the atmosphere, the shadow over both of their hearts wouldn't lift until they were out of the Star Luo Empire.

Time passed quickly.

Before long, they arrived at Wuguan.

The Wuguan gate stood about twenty feet tall. As they got closer, they looked up and saw that the sky above was blocked out by the walls.

The thick, dark-colored walls were worn with the passage of time, stained with the blood of countless soldiers from the Heaven Dou Empire. The outer walls, once washed by blood, had taken on a distinct reddish hue.

Although the gate wasn't particularly grand, there was a palpable aura of death that seemed to linger in the air.

At this moment, the main gate was open, and soldiers in chainmail were carefully inspecting the people and carriages passing through.

These soldiers were battle-hardened, and the killing intent they exuded was so thick that no one could act arrogantly in front of them.

As the carriage door was opened, the soldiers glanced inside. Seeing nothing more than two common-looking children, they waved them through without hesitation.

"Let's go," the new coachman urged. He cracked his whip and called out, and the wheels of the carriage began to roll.

Passing through the gate, the once dark surroundings gradually brightened, as did their hearts, which were filled with the longing for freedom.

"Finally out of the Star Luo Empire!" Dai Yao sighed in his heart, pulling Zhu Zhuqing into an embrace and giving her a passionate kiss.

Zhu Zhuqing's face immediately turned bright red.

But just as they hadn't gone far, the sky above the Star Luo Empire suddenly lit up.

(End of Chapter)

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