The moment Physician Gu was led away, Jun Beiyue spoke up. “Someone, escort these two gentlemen to the dungeon as well.”

His gaze had fallen on Second and Third Elder Meng, who had been quietly looking for a chance to slip away. Fifth Elder Meng was about to speak up on their behalf, but seeing the approaching guards, he immediately clamped his mouth shut, suddenly realizing where they were — the imperial palace of Da Zhou, sealed tight and impenetrable, a place where people could die and no one would ever know.

Fifth Elder Meng resentfully chose silence.

Second and Third Elder Meng had just witnessed how a mere consort had spoken to a venerable, highly respected old prince — neither of them dared say another word, not even daring to look at Jun Beiyue!

Their view differed sharply from little Xiong Bao’s — they genuinely believed that a woman so terrifyingly domineering could only have been spoiled that way by an equally terrifying man!

Recalling the murderous look in Jun Beiyue’s eyes the very first time he’d opened them, the two of them felt half-dead with fear already, pinning all their hopes on Fifth Elder Meng putting in a good word for them — after all, they were all from the Meng Clan.

Fifth Elder Meng watched, heart pounding, as his two elder brothers were dragged away, but he himself was in no position to help anyone — he wasn’t foolish enough to speak up now.

Jun Beiyue’s icy gaze swept past him, landing on Baili Weisheng, who sat with his head bowed, his breathing noticeably labored, burdened by old wounds and significant blood loss.

In truth, aside from having thought things through and decided to bring Xiao Qingqing home, he hadn’t really thought much further than that.

Pain and dizziness kept assaulting his mind, forcing him to keep his head lowered.

“Baili Weisheng,” Jun Beiyue said flatly.

“Yeah!”

Baili Weisheng suddenly looked up, squinting into a bright grin, appearing full of energy — though his hand remained pressed firmly against his chest.

“Thank you,” Jun Beiyue said simply.

“No need to thank me, no need at all — I just wanted to bring Little Qingqing home myself. We’ve already agreed — from now on, we’re going to search for the Lone Island together!” Baili Weisheng grinned brilliantly, acting as though nothing at all was wrong.

Jun Beiyue’s sharp eyes had already caught on that something was off with him. He nodded. “I still have a few matters to attend to. We’ll talk in detail once they’re settled.”

“No problem!” Baili Weisheng agreed readily, and even managed to throw a playful wink at Ziqing.

Ziqing frowned, stepping forward to help support him. “Are you badly hurt?”

The moment she reached for him, Baili Weisheng subtly brushed her hand away, grinning slyly. “It’s nothing, just exhausted. I’m getting old, ha, and hungry too.”

Jun Beiyue subtly pulled Ziqing back behind him and immediately arranged for attendants to see to Baili Weisheng’s needs. Fifth Elder Meng trailed along as well — he figured the matter of the Meng Clan could wait until his nephew had some free time, and they could discuss it properly then. After all, it was a serious matter — they couldn’t very well leave the Fourth Sister trapped in the Qiankun Poison Pouch indefinitely.

He told himself that Jun Beiyue’s earlier comment — “let her stay a while longer” — must have simply been said in a moment of pique. Once he’d finished dealing with more pressing matters, he would surely grow anxious about his mother. After all, what son in this world didn’t care for his own mother?

Jun Beiyue and Ziqing were indeed extremely busy — one had been away too long, the other had slept far too long — and there was an overwhelming amount waiting to be dealt with.

But priorities had to be set. After Ziqing and Jun Beiyue finished introducing the four great poison beasts and the big dumb bear to everyone, Jun Beiyue had Yingzi take little Xiong Bao and the beasts around the palace grounds for a look. He and Ziqing, naturally, had serious matters to attend to — an interrogation was no place for a child.

After sending off the impatient little Xiong Bao, Jun Beiyue was about to leave when Ziqing glanced toward a nearby rooftop. She had known all along that Xuanyuan Lige had never left!

The two of them had regained consciousness at almost the same moment. The instant Xuanyuan Lige woke, he’d said nothing and left — but he hadn’t gone far, staying nearby the whole time, watching everything unfold from a distance.

Just as he’d always done before — always by her side, always watching from afar.

Ziqing had no way of knowing just how much Xuanyuan Lige had sacrificed searching for her while she was gone, how close he had come to burning every bridge behind him. A flicker of worry crossed her eyes; she opened her mouth as if to say something, hesitated — and just then, Jun Beiyue suddenly drew his sword!

Ziqing startled slightly. What was he doing?

To her surprise, at the very moment Jun Beiyue drew his blade, Xuanyuan Lige, far in the distance, drew his sword as well, and the two blades pointed toward each other!

In the world of men, in the world of warriors, this was, without question, a declaration of war.

A moment later, Xuanyuan Lige sheathed his sword, and with a single turn, his figure vanished from sight. Jun Beiyue, a faint smile at the corners of his lips, slowly sheathed his own blade as well.

“Beiyue…” Ziqing hesitated, wanting to say something, but truly didn’t know what words to use, given everything that had happened.

She had once believed that as long as A’Li remained in the Northern Desert, they would always be friends!

She never could have imagined that she would end up falling into the Poison Beast World, and that he would leave the Northern Desert behind. She didn’t know exactly how he’d managed to find her, but she knew, without a doubt, that A’Li must have left the Northern Desert for her sake, to search for her.

Seeing Ziqing’s conflicted expression, it would be a lie for Jun Beiyue to say he felt no twinge of jealousy — but he still had that much magnanimity in him. He pulled Ziqing into his arms and said with a smile, “Silly girl, haven’t you noticed his body has recovered? With his lifelong affliction gone, of course he’ll want to start his life anew, to chase after his own dreams!”

Perhaps only a man could truly understand another man.

Ziqing’s heart wavered for a moment, but she quickly let go of the worry with a smile. Jun Beiyue was right — she shouldn’t be so selfish as to want to trap A’Li in the Northern Desert forever for the sake of that old bond of loyalty.

The Xuanyuan Lige of today was no longer the sickly young man he’d once been.

Even if they were destined to become enemies from now on, she should still be happy for A’Li, should still wish him well!

Seeing Ziqing smile, Jun Beiyue gently pinched her cheek. No matter how busy he was, no matter how much needed attending to, there was one thing he simply couldn’t put off any longer.

He needed to properly look at this woman first.

His thumb traced gently over Ziqing’s cheek, his heart aching with tenderness. Though he had already apologized long ago, he still found himself wanting to say it again.

He sealed his words with a kiss, gentle and soft. Ziqing, obedient, studied him just as carefully in return, her own heart aching just the same.

Silently, the kiss deepened, moving from her lips down along the curve of her neck, and once passion took hold, neither of them could bring themselves to pull away.

Jun Buli, Jun Buli — never leaving, they had promised. From now on, never leaving.

After a long while, Jun Beiyue’s movements suddenly stiffened. Ziqing blinked, sensing someone nearby as well.

The couple turned their heads in unison, only to find Yelu Qianqian and Situ Haonan standing off to the side — the two of them had apparently been standing there the entire time!

Witnessing this intimate moment, neither of the two so much as blushed or seemed the least bit flustered.

It was Ziqing, instead, whose cheeks flushed slightly — not from embarrassment exactly, but sheer awkwardness. The two of them had been caught red-handed, yet they just kept staring!

“Ahem…”

Finally, even the usually unflappable Jun Beiyue cleared his throat awkwardly a few times.

Suddenly, Yelu Qianqian let out a wail and dashed straight at Ziqing, snatching her right out of Jun Beiyue’s arms and pulling her into a tight embrace!

“Waaah, Han Ziqing, you’re finally back! You scared us half to death! Do you know how long we’ve been looking for you, searching everywhere, all over the world!”

“Han Ziqing, waaah… you’re finally back, you’re finally back! We knew it, we just knew nothing bad would happen to you, that you’d definitely come back!”

Compared to Yelu Qianqian’s excitement, Situ Haonan was far more subdued. He looked at Jun Beiyue with an expression full of guilt, and placed a dagger firmly into his hand, saying earnestly, “I won’t explain anything. Just one thing — I’ve been waiting a long time for this. Deal with me however you see fit.”