“Your Majesty, do you not trust me?” Mo Su spoke with difficulty.
Yun Qingxue suddenly smiled, her grin wicked yet sweet. “I’ve suffered too many losses in this Yunhuang Illusionary Realm. I dare not easily trust anything here!”
Upon hearing this, Mo Su slowly raised one hand.
Instinctively, Yun Qingxue sidestepped to avoid the raised hand, extending her left hand to swiftly pin Mo Su’s other arm behind her back.
Mo Su spun halfway around, now facing away from Yun Qingxue.
“This place is fraught with danger. It’s only natural for Your Majesty to be cautious.”
Mo Su showed no displeasure at Yun Qingxue’s reactions. Instead, she wore an expression of relief.
On the hand she had slowly raised, a miniature violet-red peony bloomed into view.
The peony seemed enveloped in a sacred glow, its petals lustrous.
The flower appeared out of thin air in Mo Su’s palm, hovering mid-air before drifting slowly toward Yun Qingxue.
“What is this?” Yun Qingxue had an inkling but still asked warily.
“This is the token of loyalty from our peony clan to the Flower King!” Though restrained by Yun Qingxue, Mo Su’s voice remained reverent.
Her words confirmed Yun Qingxue’s suspicion. She reached out, and the peony flew into her palm, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Yun Qingxue released Mo Su and apologized, “I’m truly sorry for earlier. Your sudden appearance forced me to be cautious.”
Mo Su adjusted her robes and smiled warmly. “As the saying goes, ‘Trust none without caution.’ Your Majesty’s actions were entirely justified.”
Yun Qingxue grinned straightforwardly. “With this token, can I take you all out of the Yunhuang Illusionary Realm?”
“Of course,” Mo Su nodded. “Your Majesty can summon us to your side at any time with this token.”
Yun Qingxue nodded. “Good. I’ll call upon you when needed. For now, I have urgent matters to attend to and must take my leave.”
Though meeting her legendary royal subordinates was joyous, Yun Qingxue hadn’t forgotten that if she failed to find the entrance before the deadline set by her master, she’d be stuck here temporarily.
She had come to the Yunhuang Illusionary Realm with Daise, Liuli, and A-Dai, reaping many rewards but also facing numerous dangers.
Moreover, her body had developed anomalies hindering her cultivation progress. She needed to return to Luoyun Mountain for her master’s diagnosis.
With just over a month left, she wasn’t sure if she could locate the shifting entrance.
As for Mo Su and the others, now that she had the token, she could summon them anytime. There was no rush to communicate further.
Yun Qingxue turned to leave briskly.
“Your Majesty!” Mo Su called out urgently. “You’re in such a hurry—is there something pressing? Can we assist?”
Yun Qingxue paused, then turned back to Mo Su and her companions, deciding to test her luck. “Do you know where the cave inhabited by the Black Pythons is?”
Mo Su frowned, concern evident. “Master, the Black Pythons are vicious. Why seek them—”
“I’m not looking for them, just their dwelling. Do you know its location?” Yun Qingxue clarified.
“We have some knowledge,” Mo Su nodded.
Yun Qingxue’s eyes lit up. She had asked on a whim but unexpectedly found someone who knew.
“Where is it?” she pressed eagerly.
Mo Su smiled. “Your Majesty may not yet fully understand the Yunhuang Illusionary Realm.
Here, every mountain and river is alive. While cardinal directions remain constant, the scenery shifts unpredictably.”
“I know,” Yun Qingxue nodded. “I remember the mountain with the Black Python lair was nearby when we arrived. Yet after ten days of searching, we’ve found only endless plains!”
“That’s due to the natural shifting of the landscape,” Mo Su agreed.
“Then do you know where the mountain has moved?” Yun Qingxue asked urgently.
Mo Su nodded. “Though the mountain has relocated, the changes in this realm aren’t entirely random. Our clan, seeking a way out, has studied these patterns.
However… we’ll need time to calculate its current position. Please grant us a brief delay.”
“Of course,” Yun Qingxue agreed readily. Having a guide was far better than wandering aimlessly.
“Then, Your Majesty and your companions, please accompany me to our village to rest while we deduce the location.”
“Very well,” Yun Qingxue agreed.
Mo Su led the way respectfully. After a few steps into the flower field, the scenery transformed abruptly. The endless peony fields gave way to a village with crisscrossing paths and elegant wooden houses, the air lightly fragrant.
As Yun Qingxue entered, crowds of men and women appeared along the paths—each dignified, their beauty nearly flawless.
“Welcome, Flower King Bi Xi!” they greeted Yun Qingxue with deep reverence.
“Rise,” Yun Qingxue smiled warmly.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” The crowd stood, their faces alight with barely contained joy.
A thousand years…
Since arriving here, they had sought escape in vain, believing themselves trapped forever in the Yunhuang Illusionary Realm.
Yet now, after a millennium, their king had come.
The young ruler of yore had blossomed into such grace!
She was the noble Flower King of their lineage!
She had arrived!
She would lead them to reclaim all they had lost!
Under the fervent gazes of the peony clan, Yun Qingxue followed Mo Su to the central wooden house.
“Your Majesty, this way.” Mo Su opened the door personally, ushering them into the hall.
Once seated, Mo Su instructed the elders who had accompanied her to calculate the shifting patterns based on Yun Qingxue’s last sighting of the Black Python lair.
As the elders withdrew to work, Mo Su asked, “Your Majesty, why seek the Black Python lair? Have those vile snakes offended you?”
Yun Qingxue chuckled. “It’s all in the past.”
Having annihilated the Black Pythons, any grievances were settled.
“Your Majesty! We are your royal guard. For a thousand years, we failed to protect you—a grave dereliction of duty!
Now reunited, we will tolerate no insult to you!” Mo Su declared solemnly.
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