Chapter 449: Chapter 448 Covert Surveillance
Muyun City was under martial law, no entry nor exit was allowed.
At the South Gate, a convoy of about a dozen people made its way slowly from within the city.
Leading the group were two fine horses, and the riders’ temples bulged prominently, their gazes sharp as knives - clearly figures of considerable cultivation and might.
Close behind followed a double-horse carriage.
The carriage was spacious, exuding an aura of luxury at first glance.
On the outside of the carriage sat a green-clothed servant handling the reins, none other than Yang Fei in disguise.
By the side of the carriage curtains, Duanmu Lingfeng rode close behind on a fine horse. As the curtain was lifted, a woman of exceptional beauty and temperament was revealed inside - it was Yan Xiaoxian (Helian Rong).
Four high-ranking guards followed the carriage, and the maids serving Miss Helian fell in line, making the procession through the locked down streets of the South Gate seem grand and impressive.
From the taverns and inns on either side of the street, patrons watched the procession head towards the city gates, and their conversations buzzed.
"So-called martial law is just to restrain us rootless folks. But when Miss Helian wants to leave, not only does Muyun City have to open its gates for her, but they must also send a direct descendant of the aristocratic family to accompany her ten miles outside the city."
"Naturally. Miss Helian isn’t yet betrothed, and within the current Eight Great Forces, what young prodigy wouldn’t want to win her heart? The Duanmu Family, of course, wishes to form a marriage alliance with the Helian Family."
"Miss Helian is considered one of the world’s foremost beauties. Sadly, she has been frail and often ill since childhood, practically raised in a medicinal bath with a delicate constitution, incapable of cultivation. Therefore, she has lived a life of seclusion, rarely seen by outsiders."
"Indeed, they say she’s a woman of unparalleled beauty, but few have actually seen her face. It’s hard to say if her fame as the most beautiful woman in the world is exaggerated."
"Humph, even if she is an ugly freak, with her being Helian Zhan’s daughter, I’d still be willing to marry into her family."
"You shameless dog, have you even looked at yourself? Even if the Helian Family wanted a son-in-law, it would have to be someone like me."
"Heh, you lot might as well stop dreaming. Even if they were to seek a son-in-law, they would pick from the accomplished and talented in the Eight Great Forces, not you guys."
These discussions weren’t loud enough to reach the ears of those in the middle of the street.
Duanmu Lingfeng, full of attentiveness, stayed close to Helian Rong’s carriage window and smiled, "The clan elders informed me that it’s Senior Helian’s birthday in a few days, so they sent me to offer birthday wishes and to also escort Aunt Helian.""
Helian Rong’s beautiful brow furrowed as she hurriedly declined, "Sir, you are too kind. My father prefers tranquility, and his birthday is always spent with just my mother and me. Even some elders of the Qingtian Sect are kept at bay, so there’s no need for you to make this trip in vain. As for the sentiments of the Duanmu Family, I’ll convey them to my father."
Duanmu Lingfeng’s face fell at her words.
He had been eager to use this opportunity to spend more time with her and to familiarize himself with his ’future father-in-law’, but her direct refusal made it difficult to proceed without appearing unwelcome.
"Senior Helian is indeed admirable for his indifference to fame and wealth. Since that’s the case, I will at least escort Aunt Helian to the Ten Miles Pavilion outside the city," Duanmu Lingfeng offered.
Helian Rong politely refused, "There’s really no need for such trouble."
"No trouble at all. Just to speak a few more words with Aunt Helian fills me with contentment," Duanmu Lingfeng said, peering through the window.
Upon uttering these words, his heart couldn’t help but beat wildly, full of anxiety yet tinged with a sliver of hope.
After all, Young Master Duanmu was considered suave and handsome, a veteran of romance who had encountered many noble ladies. Yet, when faced with Miss Helian, he always felt an inexplicable sense of inferiority.
Listening to Duanmu Lingfeng’s declaration, Helian Rong chuckled inwardly while politely saying, "I appreciate your affection, Sir, but my father has long promised me to someone else. Your company outside the city might lead to misunderstandings, so I ask that you go no further."
Duanmu Lingfeng felt as though his heart was being torn apart.
He was truly captivated by Helian Rong’s grace and beauty and had intended to make her his wife, but he had not anticipated her revelation of being promised to another.
"Who... who is it?" Duanmu Lingfeng asked, unwilling to give up.
Helian Rong responded slowly, "My father has yet to announce it, and it’s not convenient to reveal at this time."
Duanmu Lingfeng’s spirit soared at this, and he declared firmly, "Since it hasn’t been announced to the world, there’s still a chance. I will return and request my ancestors to meet with Senior Helian personally."
"Why do you torment yourself so, Young Master?" Helian Rong softly persuaded.
But Duanmu Lingfeng had made up his mind and simply wouldn’t listen.
Upon arriving at the city gate, the expert guards who saw Duanmu Lingfeng came forward to greet him. After receiving Duanmu Lingfeng’s Pass Token and noticing that Miss Helian wished to leave the city, they immediately opened the gate to let them pass.
After sending the procession out of the city gates, Duanmu Lingfeng exchanged a few words with Helian Rong, then turned his horse around and galloped back into the city.
Once out of the city gates, the procession continued along the official road towards Central State.
Yang Fei drove the carriage, his skills becoming ever more proficient, and thinking back to the conversation between Immortal Yan and Duanmu Lingfeng, he couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly.
He might not consider himself a master in the game of love, but he could tell that Helian Rong held no interest in Duanmu Lingfeng. Yet Duanmu Lingfeng was under the delusion that all he needed was for his clan elders to propose marriage, and he could win the beauty over.
That demoness was also detestable, clearly not interested in the man, yet she wouldn’t clarify it outright. Instead, she used that grievous tone to explain her father had arranged a marriage for her, expressing a sense of grief and dissatisfaction with the forced marriage. Combined with her face that could enchant any man’s soul, how could Duanmu Lingfeng not be disturbed?
Indeed, she was a demoness.
However, Yang Fei quickly refocused his mind.
Taking advantage of the current ’freedom,’ he spared no effort to nourish his Primordial Spirit.
As for cultivating the True Qi within his limbs, he dared not. Once he activated his True Yuan, Helian Rong would surely detect it.
Even the guards accompanying Helian Rong could sense it.
These guards were no pushovers, consisting of two at the Innate Realm and four with the combat strength equivalent to the Peak of Energy Transformation Realm Ninth Grade, not much different from Tong Yan’s power.
Inside the carriage, Helian Rong sat with closed eyes, concentrating as if she were asleep, yet she remained highly vigilant.
Not long after they left Muyun City, she began to feel as if she were being watched.
It was as if an invisible pair of eyes from high above were keeping watch over her team’s every move.
She snorted softly in her heart.
The old ghosts from the Duanmu Family were indeed suspicious.
But out of respect for her father Helian Zhan’s reputation and because of the Qingtian Sect, the Duanmu Family did not dare to keep her within the city and had to let her pass.
However, after allowing her to leave, they remained doubtful of her and secretly monitored her with the special Divine Skills of the Divine Travel Realm.
She wasn’t worried about Yang Fei being discovered, as his current condition matched his identity as a coachman perfectly.
Moreover, she believed Yang Fei would rather follow her than deliberately expose himself to the Duanmu Family, only to be captured by them.
The only concern for her was how long the person secretly monitoring them would keep it up.
If they continued following, wouldn’t she actually have to go to Central State?
Thinking of meeting her father, Helian Rong instinctively rejected the idea.
The world knew of Helian Zhan’s doting love for his only precious daughter, yet who knew how she, Helian Rong, loathed her father to the bone?
Beyond not wanting to see her father, she had another worry—Yang Fei.
Although Yang Fei wouldn’t intentionally reveal his identity, as long as the powerful figure from the Duanmu Family kept tracking and monitoring them, she couldn’t afford to distract Yang Fei, thereby depriving him of time to nourish his Primordial Spirit.
She expected the person couldn’t monitor them for too long. Once assured there was nothing amiss with her team, they would likely leave.
And in such a short span, even if Yang Fei managed to nourish his Primordial Spirit and regain some of its strength, it wouldn’t have a significant impact and wouldn’t escape her control.