Chapter 57

Night fell once again into silence.

Under the moonlight, the ancient city of Qingfeng was still bustling with activity. Armed guards patrolled back and forth, their aura thick with a determination to find the lone wolf at all costs.

The main reason was that the city lord had given a strict order.

There was no choice; one level of authority pressured another, and the city lord of Qingfeng was also under duress.

In the annex of the city lord's residence.

Zhao Yun, in the room, had yawned countless times, with dark circles under his eyes, looking absolutely exhausted and ready to fall asleep at any moment.

Looking at the mark, only the last one remained.

With a bit more effort, he could refine it before dawn.

"Who is it?"

Liu Ruyue had not slept, and for a long time, she had been watching through the window gap, seeing the vague figure in the opposite room, finding it increasingly familiar.

She knew Qingyao well.

The city lord's household was very strict, always following the rules. For someone to sneak into a room in the middle of the night and climb out the window was indeed strange.

Because of this, she was even more curious about the person's identity.

In the early morning, Zhao Yun, holding the ancient zither, left the room early. His face was covered with stubble, and he walked as if on a sponge, swaying with each step.

The mark had been refined.

If Qingyao did not break her word, he could leave today.

"Thank you."

Qingyao smiled brightly. Without the mark, the zither could truly become hers. She only needed to nourish it with her blood daily, and eventually, her mark would be engraved on it.

At that time, the power of the zither would be even more formidable.

All of this was thanks to Zhao Yun, who indeed was her benefactor.

"Goodbye."

Zhao Yun waved and walked away, leaning against the wall.

"Are you leaving now?"

"Going home for the New Year."

"Since we met, it's a matter of fate. At least let me treat you to a meal." Qingyao smiled, her steps light as the wind, circling around the pavilion and blocking Zhao Yun's path.

"I really have something to do."

"If you say that, I'll call for help."

"Don't be silly."

"Miss, the banquet is ready, the city lord is calling you."

Just as she spoke, a call came from outside the annex.

"I'm coming." Qingyao said, taking a step forward, then turned back, not caring whether Zhao Yun wanted to or not, and pulled him along, "Just one meal, it won't take too long, don't refuse."

In the garden of the city lord's residence.

Bathed in the morning light, three figures walked side by side.

One was Qingyao.

The second was Zhao Yun.

The third was Liu Ruyue, heading towards the banquet, which was set up by the city lord of Qingfeng, clearly to entertain the guests from the three cities.

"Don't run around, you won't be able to escape."

Qingyao, in the middle, glanced sideways and said, obviously to Zhao Yun.

He understood.

Zhao Yun did not respond, his expression speaking volumes. He still looked exhausted, swaying with each step, as the process of refining the mark had drained him mentally.

Qingyao was right.

Once inside the city lord's residence, it was not easy to leave. There were too many traps. Not to mention the mechanisms, just the strange formations hidden in the shadows were enough to give him a headache.

"Have we met before, sir?"

Liu Ruyue suddenly spoke.

"Never met."

Zhao Yun replied coolly, deliberately changing his voice to a hoarse tone. Qingyao glanced at him with a strange look, wondering why he was changing his voice.

"I must have mistaken you."

Liu Ruyue's words were also cold and distant.

"Her bloodline."

Zhao Yun's gaze deepened. This time, being closer, he could sense a strange aura from Liu Ruyue, as if she had undergone a complete transformation, and a terrifying power lay dormant within her, originating from her bloodline.

No need to ask, she also had a special bloodline.

This surprised him. They had almost become a couple, yet neither knew this secret. It seemed she had only recently awakened.

By the time they reached the banquet, set up in the garden, the city lord of Qingfeng was already there, dressed in a purple and gold dragon robe, his brows sharp and his eyes piercing, exuding a powerful aura. Every movement and gesture displayed the authority of a high-ranking figure. Besides that, there was a thick aura of battle, a result of his experience on the battlefield.

Besides him were Han Ming and Yuwen Hao.

Next to each of them sat two elders, who appeared to be both attendants and guards. After all, they were young city lords, and they needed to maintain their dignity wherever they went.

They had guards, and Liu Ruyue also had guards.

Two elders, whom Zhao Yun recognized, were from the city of Wanggu. More precisely, they were from the city lord's residence of Wanggu. Since Liu Ruyue represented Wanggu, her safety needed to be ensured, and the city lord had personally assigned these guards, especially since she was a disciple of the Heavenly Sect, which even the city lord could not ignore.

"Who is that...?"

The elder from Chiyang City stroked his beard, sizing up Zhao Yun. He had never seen him before. Could there be someone from another ancient city besides the three cities?

His doubt was shared by everyone.

"Who is he?" The city lord of Qingfeng looked at the steward next to him.

"Unknown." The steward was also puzzled.

"Bitch." Han Ming smiled on the surface but gritted his teeth in anger. He had already considered Qingyao as his future wife, and seeing the scene from last night, he could not bear it. Climbing out of the window in the middle of the night, it must have been for a tryst.

"It's him."

Yuwen Hao smiled mockingly, looking at Zhao Yun. He had known that someone else was staying in Qingyao's annex, but this was the first time he had seen him.

His expression was also quite sinister.

It would have been better if it were a woman, but it was a man, and he was walking next to Qingyao. This needed to be addressed. Who the hell gave you the nerve?

"Greetings, Father."

"Greetings, City Lord."

"Greetings, Senior."

Qingyao and Liu Ruyue were polite, and Zhao Yun was the same. The pressure from the city lord of Qingfeng was heavy, at least at the peak of the Xuan Yang realm.

"No need for formalities." The city lord of Qingfeng smiled warmly.

"Come, sit here." Qingyao smiled, pulling Zhao Yun to sit down.

"Yao'er, who is this...?"

"A friend from the past." Qingyao smiled lightly, wanting to say Zhao Yun's name but unable to, as she did not know it, nor his true appearance.

She did not know, and neither did anyone else.

It was all because Zhao Yun was wearing a human skin mask, not an ordinary mask.

"Showing your face, yet hiding your true appearance?"

Han Ming smiled slyly, his words filled with sarcasm, clearly targeting Zhao Yun.

"Too ugly, might scare the young city lord."

Zhao Yun smiled slightly, determined not to take off the mask.

"Ugly people do ugly things, as always."

Han Ming held his wine glass, leisurely admiring the patterns carved on it, his words still filled with sarcasm and deep meaning.

"Han Ming, watch your words."

Qingyao said coolly, her expression clearly displeased. She did not understand why Han Ming was targeting Zhao Yun, just because he wore a mask? That was too far-fetched.

"You know what you've done."

Han Ming sneered, suppressing a certain anger.

Hearing this, even the city lord of Qingfeng frowned.

As long as one was not a fool, they could hear the hidden meaning in Han Ming's words.

Not just them, even Zhao Yun could.

Ever since he sat down, that guy had been staring at him. I don't owe you anything!

Just because I wear a mask, is that it?

"Speak clearly, or you won't leave today." Qingyao stood up, her face cold as ice, with true essence flowing on her skin. Targeting her friend so vaguely and rudely, she was already very annoyed. Now, with the sarcastic and indirect insults, she was even more furious.

"Speak clearly."

Yuwen Hao also coldly snorted, his voice firm and righteous. It was a rare opportunity to show his mettle, and he could not let it slip.

What can I say! You can curse that person, but if you involve Qingyao, I won't stand for it. She is going to be the daughter-in-law of the Yuwen family.

"Don't hide it."

The city lord of Qingfeng also spoke, his expression not very pleasant. Even Yuwen Hao could hear the hidden meaning, how could he not? This was clearly a slap in the face.

Looking at the others, most had their hands in their sleeves.

This banquet was quite interesting. Before the drinking even started, there was already a prelude. No one knew what Han Ming was up to, making everyone even more curious about the reason.

It might be a pleasant surprise.