Madam Zhu thought of the prophecy. She knew the sect leader had concealed the truth. She was his wife; how could she not know her husband had torn off the latter part?
Just as Zhao Yangzi learned of his wedding, his second brother, Zhao Xiangzi, had already received the news and was rushing to the sect, accompanied by Zhu Xianxian, who insisted on coming along. Therefore, Zhao Yangzi, the person concerned, was the last to know about his impending marriage.
After Zhao Xiangzi dealt with the snow beasts surrounding him for the fifth time, he flew onto the airship suspended in the sky. The snow beasts could not attack at this altitude, but maintaining this altitude for flight caused wear and tear on the airship. Thus, they sometimes had to descend. This gave the snow beasts an opportunity. The rest of the group had assembled, and they set off.
Zhu Xianxian watched Zhao Xiangzi with sparkling eyes the entire time,
"Cousin, you're so amazing!"
Zhao Xiangzi merely glanced at her and said nothing.
Zhu Xianxian forced a smile. She couldn't let Li Qihong see her true feelings and deliberately moved a little closer. She said,
"Cousin, I'm going back to my room."
Zhao Xiangzi nodded.
Li Qihong, who witnessed this scene, assumed they were having an intimate conversation. She looked at Zhu Xianxian, who was close to Zhao Xiangzi, with jealousy. She watched Zhu Xianxian inquire about the second young master's well-being, and the second young master respond to her kindly... but he turned a cold shoulder to her. Why should she be able to get close to the second young master? In terms of background and appearance, how was she inferior to Zhu Xianxian?
Seeing the second young master's dashing and heroic demeanor as he slew demonic beasts, and that he had saved her, she was convinced that this Zhu girl had spoken ill of her to the second young master... The more Li Qihong thought about it, the angrier she became!
It was only through her father's plea to their grand-uncle that she had the opportunity to attend Young Master Yang's wedding. If not for this Zhu Xianxian, would the second young master have noticed her... She couldn't help but fantasize about the glory of marrying Zhao Xiangzi. She was sure she could trample those she disliked underfoot.
"Second Young Master, should we set off as soon as possible or resupply at the next city?" Elder Li Tianmu approached Zhao Xiangzi, who was standing at the bow of the ship, to inquire.
"Are there any injured people on the ship?" If no one was injured, they would set off directly and not linger in the next city. The supplies on the airship were sufficient.
"Reporting to the young master, there are none. We still have enough medicinal pills for healing!" Elder Li replied respectfully.
Throughout the journey, he no longer dared to underestimate the usually unassuming second young master. He could not discern the second young master's cultivation level anymore. The second young master seemed to have reached a state of naturalness. His single sword stroke that slew hundreds of snow beasts had left everyone stunned. It turned out the second young master was so powerful. He was either in seclusion or studying formations at the sect, and no one knew his swordsmanship was so profound.
"Young Master, we are approaching the Misty Forest ahead. Should we go around it or through it?" a guard responsible for vigilance reported.
"Young Master, it is recommended to go around. This Misty Forest is perpetually shrouded in mist and is very peculiar; it is easy to get lost," Elder Li said with some concern.
"How long will it take to reach the next town if we go around?" Zhao Xiangzi rarely traveled with the sect's cargo airships and was not very familiar with the route. He looked at the towering trees in the Misty Forest, some exceeding a thousand meters in height. The airship barely flew above the treetops.
"It will take about two days. If we pass through the Misty Forest, it will only take one day," the guard replied. Elder Li remained silent. He had left the sect to guard Pearl City for decades and was not familiar with this route.
Seeing the second young master hesitate, the guard quickly reminded him,
"Young Master, the Misty Forest becomes extremely dangerous in winter, with many snow beasts gathering there. The demonic beasts inside dare not provoke these snow beasts. If it were at another time, it would not be a concern!"
"Then we will go around!" Zhao Xiangzi decided without hesitation.
"Yes!" The guard immediately gave the order.
In the cabin, Li Qihong was talking to Zhu Xianxian,
"Sister Zhu, look how good the second young master is to you. Did he give you all these?" Li Qihong pointed to the pink pearl ornaments in Zhu Xianxian's jewelry box, her heart filled with intense jealousy, her smile somewhat distorted.
Zhu Xianxian looked at Li Qihong's jealous face and smiled disdainfully. She had thought Li Qihong was decent, but she didn't expect her to shamelessly get close to her cousin during this time under the guise of repaying a favor.
"Of course, these were all bought specifically for me by my cousin. My cousin dotes on me the most."
Actually, it wasn't true; she had privately added them when he was buying congratulatory gifts. Ever since the incident where she had tried to cause trouble for Fairy Ye was exposed, her cousin had been cool towards her. This time, she had followed him shamelessly.
But Li Qihong knew none of this. She felt a surge of malice rush to her head, wishing she could smash Zhu Xianxian's smug smile.
The airship flew along the edge of the Misty Forest. The wind and rain grew stronger. Even though the airship had formations to block the wind and snow, they could clearly feel its speed decreasing.
"Careful!" a guard shouted to his companion.
It turned out a snow beast had hidden in a tree and ambushed a guard in the cabin. It had used some method to conceal its aura, evading the divine sense of the guards on duty.
Zhao Xiangzi immediately extended his divine sense and discovered that the trees were densely covered with snow beasts. When did snow beasts start climbing trees? They were using the height of the trees to attack the airships passing through the Misty Forest... They had advanced; they had gained intelligence!
"Immediately move away from the Misty Forest!" Zhao Yangzi ordered at once.
"Ah~" a scream suddenly came from the cabin. Zhao Yangzi flashed over and saw Zhu Xianxian falling out of a cabin window. Zhu Xianxian, caught off guard and pushed out of the window by Li Qihong, was so frightened that she forgot her cultivation. She was struck by...
When she saw a snow-white figure pounce from a tree, in her desperation, she unleashed her spiritual power and swung her sword, evading the snow beast's attack. But this only made her fall faster. Frightened, her face turned pale, and she screamed for help!
"Cousin, save me!"
Zhao Xiangzi slew the snow beast lunging at Zhu Xianxian with a single sword stroke and then leaped down towards her. He wrapped her in a white silk sash and swiftly flew back onto the ship.
"Hurry and sail, leave quickly!" Zhao Xiangzi saw that the entire Misty Forest was covered with snow beasts on the trees. They were pure white, blending perfectly with the snow on the branches! They could actually evade the divine sense of Golden Core cultivators!
Zhu Xianxian, who had been rescued onto the ship, was still shaken. Her hands were tightly gripping Zhao Xiangzi's sleeve.
Zhao Xiangzi saw that his cousin was indeed quite frightened, not feigning it. On account of their growing up together, he comforted her a few times.
"Cousin, it's alright now. What happened? How did you fall out of the window?"
"Cousin, Li Qihong wanted to kill me; she pushed me out. I wasn't prepared!" Zhu Xianxian cried, her tears streaming down like pear blossoms. Cousin was finally talking to her. It was a blessing in disguise!
"What? Is that true?" Zhao Xiangzi couldn't believe it. Weren't they calling each other sisters?
"You're lying! You fell out accidentally, so why blame me? What proof do you have?" Li Qihong, seeing Zhu Xianxian rescued, rushed over to counterattack. She absolutely could not admit it...