“I know,” Ling’er replied truthfully.
Xue Zi Ning hadn’t expected that casually acknowledging a sister would lead to knowing Feng Yin’s whereabouts.
“Sister needs to find their tribal chief.”
Ling’er was taken aback. “What do you need the chief for, Sister?”
Xue Zi Ning said, “Someone in their tribe has violated the ancestral promise made to my family. I’ve come to question them about it.”
“Sister, your family is…”
“Ling’er, I’m sorry, but there are things I cannot tell you. All I can say is that it’s for your own good that you don’t know some matters.”
Ling’er didn’t press further. “Alright, Sister, I understand. But Ling’er has only one request: to accompany you.”
“No, Ling’er, that place is very dangerous.” Xue Zi Ning refused. Although Ling’er was quite skilled, the Feng Yin clan was after all responsible for nurturing the Feng Guards, so the people there must be extremely formidable.
“Sister, I want to go.” Ling’er looked at her and asked word by word.
Seeing that Ling’er’s gaze showed no sign of backing down, Xue Zi Ning could only sigh and say, “Alright, but you must listen to me all the way.”
Ling’er said excitedly, “I’ll listen to you, Sister.”
Xue Zi Ning looked at Ling’er’s happy expression and didn’t want to dampen her spirits further.
She left a mark in the inn. Once Yan Jin Chao pursued her and saw the mark, he would know which direction she had gone.
Following Ling’er’s guidance, Xue Zi Ning entered a desert. Ling’er glanced at the sky and said, “Sister, it’s getting late today. We should find a place to rest here.”
Xue Zi Ning nodded. “Okay.”
After searching for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they found a dilapidated temple.
Upon entering, they discovered it was already occupied. Fortunately, the temple wasn’t small, and Xue Zi Ning and Ling’er found a corner to sit.
Xue Zi Ning looked at the people inside the temple. They appeared to be merchants, judging by the unloaded goods. It seemed they were transporting goods across this desert.
“Sister, tonight might not be peaceful,” Ling’er suddenly whispered in her ear.
Xue Zi Ning was startled and turned to look at Ling’er. Ling’er leaned her head against Xue Zi Ning’s shoulder, her eyes closed.
In the middle of the night, Xue Zi Ning heard faint footsteps outside. She opened her eyes and felt the footsteps getting closer.
The merchants in the temple were asleep, and even the guards on watch were drowsy.
“Sister, you can hear the sounds outside too, right?” Ling’er whispered.
“Is this common in the desert?” Xue Zi Ning asked.
Ling’er nodded. “Yes, but since Sister is here today, Sister definitely won’t let them succeed.”
“You’re always the cleverest,” Xue Zi Ning said.
Ling’er got up and said, “Sister, you rest here. Leave those people to Ling’er!”
Xue Zi Ning didn’t object. After their journey so far, she realized that Ling’er’s intelligence was on par with Yan Zhao’s, not to mention her skills.
Therefore, she wasn’t worried about what might happen to Ling’er. Rather, she was concerned about what would happen to those people at Ling’er’s hands.
Less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Ling’er returned, a smile on her face as she leaned over. “Sister, it was all a minor matter; it’s resolved.”
Xue Zi Ning tapped her forehead. “Are you injured?”
“How could I possibly be injured?” Ling’er replied.
No one disturbed them in the latter half of the night. When dawn broke, Xue Zi Ning got up. The merchants opposite were packing their belongings.
Suddenly, someone outside shouted, “There’s… someone…”
The leader of the merchants walked out of the temple, his expression turning grim as he surveyed the situation outside.
Xue Zi Ning and Ling’er exchanged a look, stood up, and walked towards the entrance of the temple. Not far away, a procession was approaching, led by a young girl riding a camel, followed by a train of camels.
She clearly felt Ling’er’s unusual shift beside her. At this moment, one of the merchants exclaimed in terror, “Oh no, the Desert Queen has arrived…”
The others in the temple turned pale, as if this Desert Queen were the King of Hell himself.
“Is this Desert Queen very powerful?” Xue Zi Ning couldn’t help but ask a man in the merchant caravan.
The man clutched his head. “Anyone who sees the Desert Queen dies without a burial place, not even a corpse remains.”
Xue Zi Ning was taken aback and asked again, “Doesn’t anyone manage her?”
“Who dares to manage the Desert Queen who comes without a shadow and leaves without a trace?” the man retorted.
Xue Zi Ning frowned. She hadn’t expected such a situation to occur under her governance.
As the Desert Queen drew closer, Xue Zi Ning looked back at Ling’er and said, “You protect these merchants.”
Ling’er was taken aback and asked, “Sister, what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to meet this Desert Queen,” Xue Zi Ning said and was about to fly off when Ling’er grabbed her arm.
She looked at Ling’er, confused. Ling’er bit her lower lip. “Sister, you might not be her match?”
“Why?” Xue Zi Ning asked.
Ling’er seemed unwilling to reveal the truth. Xue Zi Ning said, “If I don’t intervene, what will happen to the lives of these merchants? Ling’er, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch when I encounter such a situation.”
Ling’er trembled and looked up at her, her expression somewhat lost. “Why? Why would you go to save these people who are like ants?”
“Ling’er, life is priceless. Moreover, they are all citizens of my Changlong Kingdom. I cannot ignore them,” Xue Zi Ning said righteously and sternly.
A subtle glint flashed in Ling’er’s eyes. She lowered her voice. “Then, Sister, be careful.”
Xue Zi Ning nodded and flew up, landing in front of the desert camels. The girl on the camel gave a slight start and curved her lips. “It seems another one who courts death has arrived.”
“Are you the Desert Queen?” Xue Zi Ning asked coldly.
The girl heard her and chuckled softly. “Is that what they call me now? It’s good, I like it. At least it sounds better than the previous Desert Reaper.”
Xue Zi Ning’s gaze turned cold. She spoke with icy tones, “These are merchants, and they have no dealings with you whatsoever. How can you disregard human life like this? Is there no law?”
“Law?” The girl giggled. “She… she’s talking about law to me?”
The girl’s smile vanished, and she said coldly, “In this desert, I am the law. I am the heavenly way.”
Xue Zi Ning’s gaze was ice-cold. “If you are the heavenly way, then what is the Empress?”
The girl sneered, her face filled with mockery. “What is she? What right does she have to compare with me? She’s just a woman who climbed to power by relying on men. I don’t approve.”
Xue Zi Ning: …
Climbed to power by relying on men? Xue Zi Ning wanted to retort, but for a moment, she didn’t know how.
Because what she said seemed to be true. The entire world was Yan Zhao’s betrothal gift to her.
“Even if you don’t approve of the Empress, you cannot kill innocent people,” Xue Zi Ning said.
The girl sneered upon hearing this. “I am the king here. I can kill whomever I wish. Now, I find you very displeasing. Kill her…”
The girl roared, and the camels behind her suddenly charged, heading towards Xue Zi Ning.