Jing Hengbo was nearly choked by the air itself.

“As if I’d be reluctant to part with you!” She angrily slammed the door shut and went out to tell Wang Jin and the others: “Brother Ying Bai says he and my sister and the others were originally supposed to meet up with a friend in Shangyuan City, but somehow the contact person didn’t show up and they were ambushed instead. During the chaotic battle, Brother Ying Bai got separated from my sister and the others. He doesn’t know how they are now. Let’s go rescue them quickly.”

“Naturally.” Wang Jin immediately replied. “Do you know roughly where your… that sister of yours might be now?”

“Before Brother Ying Bai got separated, he arranged to meet my sister and the others at Danling Mountain.” Jing Hengbo gave them the address of Shadow Pavilion’s secret headquarters.

She had thought it through. To better understand the situations of Rakshasa Gate, Raging Fire Alliance, and Flame Gang, she needed to mix with this group so she could turn against them when necessary. So she couldn’t go escort Master Mu back to headquarters, but this guy seemed to have latched onto her and offered tempting conditions. If she wanted to both stay with this team and help Master Mu escape pursuit and return safely, the only method was to trick these people into taking action.

This way, she’d gather intelligence, escort Master Mu, and get Wang Jin’s group as free bodyguards—to learn the “Queen’s” location, they would definitely risk their lives to escort her and Master Mu to Shadow Pavilion.

And along the way, the pursuit by Shadow Pavilion traitor Lei Shengyu would cause misunderstandings among Rakshasa Gate and other gangs, leading to fighting between Daomao factions. No matter how they fought or who died, it would benefit her.

Jing Hengbo counted on her fingers and was very satisfied with herself—great plan! This was simply killing four or five birds with one stone.

Her wisdom was becoming increasingly brilliant and amazing!

Inside the room, Master Mu slowly sat up to meditate, looking at the wooden door she had closed. In his eyes was also pleased satisfaction.

Through a road of blood and fire, the royal mandala had finally matured.

…

Wang Jin and the others were urgent and immediately prepared horses and carriages to leave. They wanted to beat everyone else to find and win over the Queen. With expert fighters surrounding the Queen, she herself would be very strong assistance.

Jing Hengbo told them that “Ying Bai” was injured and poisoned, and during the escape, toxins had been forced into his lower body, temporarily robbing him of mobility. Wang Jin and the others moved quickly and immediately found a carriage. Jing Hengbo also instructed them to remember to bring plenty of wine—Ying Bai loved drinking, and without wine he’d develop menopausal depression.

Wang Jin had been somewhat suspicious originally, but seeing Master Mu casually demonstrate swordwork, all doubts vanished—the legendary Heavenly Flower Sword technique of Ying Bai was executed extremely skillfully in Master Mu’s hands.

Jing Hengbo was also puzzled by this. Ying Bai was clearly someone she’d mentioned randomly—how could it be such a coincidence that Master Mu knew his sword technique? But Master Mu said he knew Ying Bai and had sparred with him before, learning one of his moves.

Ying Bai had wandered the world for years, getting drunk and fighting people randomly wasn’t uncommon, so this explanation seemed normal.

Seeing she was indeed very familiar with people around the Queen, Wang Jin and the others became much more polite to her. They brought good wine, which Jing Hengbo poured out entirely and had a nearby inn’s servant replace it all with vinegar.

She felt Master Mu only deserved to drink vinegar.

The group busily prepared to depart in the courtyard when someone remembered Li Hanyu hadn’t gotten up yet, so they had Jing Hengbo wake him. She knocked on his door for ages before Li Hanyu emerged, looking like he’d been sleeping soundly and was annoyed at being woken. Opening the door, he immediately cursed at Jing Hengbo: “Ugly woman! Get lost! Stay away from me!” He even prepared to kick, but Jing Hengbo dodged. Standing with her hands behind her back, she tilted her head to look at him—how come after one night, this guy’s facial swelling hadn’t gone down but gotten worse? His whole face was so swollen it gleamed, and his head was as big as a bushel basket.

Li Hanyu hadn’t had time to look in a mirror that morning and didn’t know himself. Though his sleep had been disturbed, his spirits quickly recovered to excitement, his eyes bright—he’d tossed and turned half the night thinking about the wealth and glory after becoming royal consort, only falling asleep at dawn. Though still tired now, remembering last night’s romantic encounter immediately restored his energy a hundredfold.

Seeing Jing Hengbo, he remembered yesterday’s slap and stepped aside, saying coldly from a distance: “Ugly woman, lowly person, enjoy your smugness for now—you’ll get yours later!”

After speaking, probably fearing Jing Hengbo would slap him again, he quickly walked toward the group preparing horses and carriages. Without greeting anyone, he lifted his leg to climb into the only carriage.

“Wait, Young Master Li.” A man quickly stopped him. “This isn’t for you—go ride a horse.”

“Not prepared for me?” Li Hanyu looked back as if hearing something incredible. “Besides me, who else deserves to use the carriage? Moreover, I’m injured and need to lie flat to nurse my face.”

The man glanced at his face, suppressed laughter, and pointed at Master Mu being helped out: “We have another guest who needs the carriage. Young Master Li, please ride your horse.”

“The most noble person naturally takes the carriage.” Li Hanyu said proudly. “Let him ride a horse. Of course, he can’t ride my Jade Flower White—give him an ordinary horse and that’s enough.”

He considered himself already the royal consort, the master of this group. Since these people knew he’d gained the Queen’s favor, they should all flatter him. Now him taking the carriage was perfectly natural.

The man looked at him like he was an idiot, too lazy to say more, and pushed him aside with his hand: “Move!”

“Outrageous!” Li Hanyu was furious. “How dare you treat me this way? Do you know who I am!”

“I know you’re bait!” The man wasn’t polite either—where did this clueless goods come from!

“Watch your words!” Li Hanyu pointed at his nose. “Offend me, and you’ll have to apologize later!”

The man sneered, about to call two people to drag him away when Wang Jin walked over: “What’s happening?”

“Some people grab at everything they see.” The man sneered.

“That’s because I’m worth it!” Li Hanyu glared coldly, determined to vent all the frustration from recent days. He’d already gained the Queen’s favor—so what!

Full of confidence, no longer afraid.

“The Queen will definitely fall in love with me!” He pointed coldly at Wang Jin and the others. “You, all of you, will depend on my favor in the future. I advise you—recognize the times early and quit while you’re ahead!”

“Daydreaming madman.” Someone muttered. “The Queen would have to be blind to fancy you.”

Wang Jin frowned, thinking how to make this male favorite who was submissive around the Gate Master but changed completely when out behave better, when someone nearby laughed softly: “The carriage is so big, why fight? How about this gentleman shares it with me?”

“Who wants to share with you? Are you worthy?” Li Hanyu looked down his nose at the approaching Master Mu.

“Young Master Li,” Wang Jin whispered in his ear, “since you’re the future royal consort, this person is a great general under the Queen. Shouldn’t you get close early?”

“Oh?” Li Hanyu’s anger turned to joy. After thinking, he nodded: “Indeed. Those in high positions should treat worthies with courtesy. Since he’s someone from His Majesty’s side, I’ll share the ride with him—it won’t diminish my status.” He pointed his chin at Master Mu: “Very well, I permit you to board. I have questions for you later.”

He put on full royal consort airs, looking around proudly as he got in the carriage. Wang Jin turned back and smiled apologetically at Master Mu: “Commander Ying, sorry about this. His temper isn’t great.”

“No matter.” Master Mu smiled.

Master Mu and Wang Jin had already talked. Wang Jin expressed their willingness to escort “Commander Ying” to find the Queen, only asking for a chance to meet the Queen and get an introduction. One intentionally networking, the other going with the flow—they naturally reached agreement smoothly.

“Crash.” The carriage curtain was lifted, Li Hanyu’s proud, impatient voice came out: “Aren’t you coming up? Are you making me wait?”

Master Mu seemed very good-tempered, saying melodiously: “Coming…”

Wang Jin personally helped him into the carriage. Seeing him calmly enter the carriage interior, the corner of his mouth under the silver mask still curved in a slight smile, both shy and wicked, indescribably attractive, he suddenly shivered involuntarily.

He looked up to see geese flying in formation across the sky, murmuring: “Another winter coming…”

…

Li Hanyu occupied the best position in the carriage, impatiently waiting for his “subordinate,” thinking this person was dawdling and he’d definitely have to teach him a good lesson later.

Wang Jin wanted him to befriend the Queen’s subordinates, but he disagreed. He felt the people around the Queen were all fanatics. To establish a firm foothold beside the Queen in the future, he first had to subdue these people.

If he could win over these people and gain their support, maybe even replacing the Queen himself wasn’t impossible. A woman—what kind of king could she be…

The curtain lifted and Master Mu entered the carriage.

He raised his chin, about to present a proud, cold image that would inspire reverence, when suddenly he felt the air around him turn cold and couldn’t help shivering.

This shiver destroyed any nobility, temperament, or planned show of force.

He looked up. The light inside the carriage was dim, only showing the other’s silhouette, but this glance already felt completely different from the impression outside the carriage.

This figure was actually towering like mountains, pressing down with overwhelming force. The small space inside the carriage seemed compressed, making breathing difficult.

That person casually raised his head and glanced at him. Under a broad forehead, eyebrows rose faintly, and his gaze was like sword and lightning.

His mind stiffened, feeling his heart pierced by a sword.

The carriage had two seats facing each other. Master Mu sat opposite him, and that oppressive feeling faded slightly. He caught his breath, wanting to speak to regain some face.

Before he could speak, Master Mu looked up and glanced at him.

He stiffened again, feeling this glance seemed to peel his skin, dismantle his bones, and see into his flesh and sinews.

Just one glance, and even his blood seemed frozen.

This glance seemed full of emotion yet completely emotionless, like a deity seeing an annoying ant, inclined not to bother with it, but the little thing was showing its teeth and claws right at his feet, obstructive and eyesore.

So somewhat annoyed.

He gasped, suddenly wanting to get off the carriage.

Instinct told him he couldn’t sit in this carriage with this person, or just this aura alone could crush him to death.

Before getting off, he wanted to say something to regain some face.

“You…” He had just opened his mouth to say one word.

Master Mu didn’t look up, extending a finger to trace.

He went numb from toes to tongue tip. Then he felt a cold feeling rapidly spreading up from the soles of his feet.

Real cold, as if ice and snow were passing over his knees. Looking down, he was horrified to discover there really was ice and snow, piling up like lightning from his feet upward, instantly freezing his lower body!

Greatly alarmed, he opened his mouth to call out, but Master Mu pointed again.

“Don’t,” he said softly, “don’t dirty the air before me.”

Li Hanyu saw crystal light flash at his fingertip—an icicle had quietly formed. He could imagine that if he made a sound, this icicle would shoot into his throat.

He no longer dared make a sound, watching helplessly as the ice and snow passed his knees, climbed his thighs, and froze up to his waist.

His entire lower body was wrapped in bone-chillingly cold ice and snow.

Frozen like this, he would be paralyzed!

Frightened and terrified, but unable to sweat—even his sweat glands seemed frozen.

Opposite him, Master Mu maintained a composed posture, even pulling out a book from his sleeve to read. His fingers would sometimes suddenly redden, and he’d reach out to wipe them on Li Hanyu’s knees, as if using him as a human ice table.

The carriage gradually filled only with chattering sounds—Li Hanyu’s upper and lower teeth fighting from the cold.

The carriage window was suddenly knocked. Li Hanyu was overjoyed—as long as someone discovered, he wouldn’t be frozen into a cripple!

Master Mu didn’t even look at him, raising his hand slightly. A blanket beside the seat covered Li Hanyu’s knees.

Li Hanyu wanted to cry.

The window lifted, revealing Jing Hengbo’s mottled face. She smiled sweetly: “Rest stop on the road. Are you coming down to eat, or eating in the carriage?”

“Down…” Li Hanyu’s half-word was cut off by Master Mu.

“Please trouble the young lady to bring the food up.”

Jing Hengbo smiled very maliciously, carrying a food basket up into the carriage. Without looking at Master Mu, she plopped down beside Li Hanyu, putting her arm around his shoulder intimately: “Young Master Li, what would you like to eat? You’re injured—shall I feed you?”

She intended to disgust Li Hanyu while also ignoring Master Mu. For some reason, this Master Mu always gave her a deep sense of threat and powerlessness. This feeling of being constantly suppressed wasn’t pleasant, and she always wanted to regain some ground.

And somehow, she just found him displeasing, very displeasing.

Li Hanyu turned his head away, avoiding her face. His expression seemed like he wanted to curse but held back, stammering: “…Never mind… why don’t you feed Master Mu first…”

He feared angering Master Mu, who might torment him more later. This person showed no joy or anger, but one thing was certain—Master Mu definitely didn’t like him.

“Him?” Jing Hengbo didn’t even look at Master Mu, curling her lip: “He doesn’t eat this ordinary food. He prefers human flesh.”

Li Hanyu shivered violently.

Master Mu, who had been quietly reading opposite them, put down his book and glanced at the food basket. Li Hanyu felt his body get even colder.

“Then… then you feed me…” He suppressed his nausea, suddenly thinking of an escape method.

“Alright.” A flash of surprise crossed Jing Hengbo’s eyes, but she still smiled sweetly while opening the food basket and picking up a bowl. While holding the bowl, she scratched her face, causing skin flakes from the medicinal treatment to fall into the bowl.

She sat sideways with her back to Master Mu, so he couldn’t see this action, but Li Hanyu could see clearly. His stomach immediately churned, nearly vomiting.

But he didn’t dare vomit—vomiting would splash on Master Mu opposite, and he still hoped this disgusting woman would help him escape.

“Come, open your mouth.” Jing Hengbo’s voice was intimate and sweet, so gentle it seemed water would drip, holding up a spoonful of rice toward Li Hanyu’s mouth.

She found both men displeasing—being able to torment them together was wonderful.

Li Hanyu’s expression looked like he wanted to die, but somehow he actually grimaced and swallowed the rice, winking at her while swallowing, his expression convulsive.

Master Mu said nothing and stopped reading, just quietly watching her.

Jing Hengbo endured the stabbing pain from the gaze behind her while also wondering why Li Hanyu was also enduring. Shouldn’t he immediately curse and push her away?

Why did his glances keep going downward?

Something strange must have happened in this carriage.

Her gaze dropped to see the blanket on Li Hanyu’s legs.

The weather wasn’t cold enough to need a blanket yet. The problem was here.

She looked up to meet Li Hanyu’s pleading gaze.

She continued smiling as if not understanding Li Hanyu’s meaning. Her hand suddenly trembled, and a duck leg she was holding slipped to the floor. She hurried to pick it up, repeatedly saying it was a pity: “Oh dear, this duck leg smells so good, mustn’t let it dirty the floor… oh my, feels a bit cold… Young Master Li, your blanket is slipping…”

She reached to lift the blanket. Li Hanyu’s eyes lit up with joy.

Master Mu opposite raised a finger.

In that instant, Jing Hengbo heard some fine, scattered sounds, and it felt slightly warm around her. She suddenly lifted the blanket.

Under the blanket were Li Hanyu’s legs in long robes.

Though the light in the carriage was somewhat dim, she could confirm there was nothing obviously abnormal.

Jing Hengbo was somewhat dazed.

But the muscles on Li Hanyu’s face were tightly scrunched together at this moment, as if suffering great pain but unable and afraid to speak.

Jing Hengbo stared blankly at his legs, not noticing his expression.

Opposite them, Master Mu smiled slightly: “You two, finished feeding? Could you move aside a bit? I can’t see my book.”

His tone was gentle and calm. Jing Hengbo suddenly turned to stare at him.

Under Master Mu’s silver mask, the corner of his mouth curved in a beautiful arc, just right.

Her inexplicable irritation returned.

Seeing him smile like this made her irritated.

She grabbed the food basket and turned to get off the carriage. Passing Master Mu, she shoved a wine flask at him with a fake smile.

“Your favorite thing. Be sure to drink it.”

He took it. When their fingers touched while receiving it, both pulled back.

Jing Hengbo swept aside the carriage curtain with a crash and got off. The two men in the carriage faced each other again.

Li Hanyu’s facial convulsions grew worse. He suddenly threw back his robe.

The ice and snow under the robe was gone, but only he knew there was still a line of ice remaining—in his crotch.

Just now, the instant Jing Hengbo lifted the blanket, Li Hanyu was rejoicing when suddenly he felt his legs loosen as the ice disappeared. The next moment, an extreme cold shot upward from below, directly toward… the most important part, freezing it tight.

In that moment, he couldn’t speak at all.

Now he stared in terror at Master Mu opposite.

Master Mu had unscrewed the wine flask cap, and a sour smell rushed out—vinegar.

Master Mu acted as if he hadn’t noticed, actually taking a sip.

Taking a sip, glancing at Li Hanyu’s pants, smiling.

His lip curve was calm, but Li Hanyu felt even his bones were chilled by that smile.

The carriage was quiet, light dim, the sour smell sharp. Two men sat facing each other.

One sat rigid as a puppet.

The other person leaned against the wall, holding up the vinegar bottle, taking a sip, glancing at the opposite side, and smiling.

Taking a sip, glancing, smiling.

…

From Guanjia River to Danling Mountain was roughly over a hundred li. Normally, fast horses could make it in a day and night, but because they used a carriage and took more hidden routes, the journey would take about three or four days.

To hide their tracks, Wang Jin decided not to lodge in towns or villages. That day after dark, they stopped to rest in a sheltered area beside a low mountain.

Li Hanyu, with Master Mu’s permission, could get off the carriage to relieve himself—Master Mu certainly wouldn’t allow him to dirty the carriage.

Li Hanyu went behind a slope and took quite a while to solve his problem—nearly frozen solid.

He shakily tied up his pants and looked around the wilderness, calculating whether escaping now would be worthwhile.

If he fled, his royal consort dream would shatter; if he didn’t, would he really be frozen into a eunuch by that terrifying person?

He didn’t even dare call for help. Once he got off the carriage, the ice and snow on his body disappeared—no one would believe his words. This group of people didn’t think much of him to begin with.

Li Hanyu walked a few steps toward the wilderness, then stopped. After stopping a while, he stamped his feet, walked again, then stopped again.

He repeated this three times, hesitating and torn. The threat of disability and dreams of wealth and glory pushed and pulled him back and forth, unable to decide.

Suddenly a pebble hit his head. He looked up to see a dreamlike strand of silk gauze hanging above his head.

This strand of silk gauze immediately brightened his gaze.

He immediately looked up to see that peach-blossom-bright face peering down from the treetop above.

This face made his heart bloom with joy, nearly bringing tears to his eyes—the Queen truly was deeply in love with him and couldn’t forget him, coming to see him for the second consecutive night!

“Hi, how was your day?” Jing Hengbo smiled sweetly, greeting him.

Li Hanyu’s misty gaze focused slightly. Thinking of today’s experiences, he shuddered and quickly said: “Thinking of you day and night, how could it be good?”

“Really? Then have you prepared what I wanted?” Jing Hengbo spread her palm. She really couldn’t stand babbling with this man and went straight to the point.

“It’s ready.” Li Hanyu pulled out several sheets of paper—he’d brought writing materials and written this during the noon break, using a riverside stone as a desk while pretending to relieve himself.

Jing Hengbo jumped down from the tree to receive it, but Li Hanyu suddenly pulled back his hand, putting the papers behind his back. He smiled: “After working so hard to write all this for you, don’t you plan to reward me somehow?” He tilted his increasingly pig-head-swollen face slightly, as if waiting for a bird-like embrace.

Jing Hengbo just wanted to find a bunch of people to beat him up.

She flashed behind Li Hanyu, snatched those papers, and tucked them in her chest. She was considering whether to give him a butt kick or continue playing with him when she suddenly heard strange sounds behind her.

Turning around, she saw at the camping area where carriages and horses were gathered, over a dozen black-clothed, masked figures holding swords were flashing toward them.

The others at the camp were already alarmed, getting up and shouting to fight back. There was still no movement from Master Mu in the carriage.

A flash of inspiration struck Jing Hengbo. She pounced toward Li Hanyu, reached out and gave him a hard push, shouting loudly: “Sir, run quickly!”

She was originally some distance from the battlefield, but this loud shout immediately alerted the assassins. Figures flashed in succession, all rushing toward Li Hanyu’s direction.

Li Hanyu hadn’t expected the situation to suddenly take a sharp turn. Stunned in place, Jing Hengbo kicked him: “Run!” Looking back to see assassins pouncing down on him, he had no choice but to run.

His lightness skills were actually quite good—in a few dodges he’d flashed several zhang away. The assassins swept past Jing Hengbo without even glancing at her.

Jing Hengbo praised admiringly: “Good escape skills!”

Then she patted her clothes and went back toward the carriage. Some people were still fighting there. Wang Jin was facing off against a tall, masked black-clothed man, trading blows enthusiastically.

Jing Hengbo glanced over, swept past the carriage, and with a wave of her hand, a wedge from the carriage axle fell off.

She got into the carriage. Inside, Master Mu, who had been leaning against the carriage wall reading, put down his book.

Jing Hengbo leaned against the carriage door, arms crossed, looking at him with a half-smile: “Fighting like the sky is falling outside, clearly coming for you, yet you have the leisure to read. Aren’t you afraid these people can’t hold them off?”

“If they can’t hold them off, isn’t there still you?” Master Mu’s lips curved as he beckoned to her: “Come.”

Jing Hengbo didn’t want to pay attention to him, but still sat down. She watched him reach out and pull out a hidden panel from the tabletop—inside were actually several hidden compartments, each containing small dishes to go with wine. Like magic, he produced a wine jug from under the table.

Jing Hengbo stared dumbfounded as he methodically arranged the small dishes, even producing two wine cups—clearly intending to drink together.

Fighting was raging outside. Even though the main assassins had been diverted by her using Li Hanyu, they would soon discover this and return. And he wanted to drink with her now?

“Where did you get the wine and dishes?” After being stunned for a long time, she asked a completely unimportant question.

“This afternoon when we passed a market town, I asked someone to buy them.” He raised the wine jug toward her: “The original wine had too distinctive a smell, so I replaced it.”

She laughed heartily without any guilty conscience.

Master Mu poured wine for her, his wrist steady, the wine flowing in a clear stream into the porcelain cup.

Outside there were terrible screams, which he heard but ignored.

“Bang.” Something—someone’s weapon had been knocked loose—scraped against the carriage body, making it shake heavily.

His wrist didn’t move at all. The last drop of wine splashed a round, perfect wine pearl on the cup’s surface.

He gently pushed the wine cup toward her.

Jing Hengbo looked up at him. His eyes were placid and clear as a ten-thousand-li lake surface. She couldn’t see the lake’s boundaries or depths.

Taking the wine cup, she very much wanted to drain it in one gulp, washing away the countless emotions in her heart at this moment. But ultimately she only slowly sipped it.

She was gradually learning to control her emotions, only indulging when appropriate.

The wine was harsh, cutting down her throat like a knife, racing down like flames along her throat, then igniting with a whoosh in her belly.

“Strong stuff!” she couldn’t help praising. Looking up, her face was already like peach blossoms, her eyes shimmering like autumn water.

Seeing this, he laughed softly: “Your alcohol tolerance doesn’t seem very good.”

“Who says so?” she protested. “I’ve only been drunk once in my life!”

“Which time?” He looked down, pouring wine, his tone casual.

She paused. Before her eyes flashed red maples and green leaves, smiling faces, then in an instant the scene changed—the dim carriage, the silver mask of the man opposite flashing with cold light.

Things were different, people too.

Better not to mention it.

“Forgot,” she said, annoyed at his slow pouring, grabbing the wine jug to pour herself.

“Whoosh.” Something flew over, striking toward the carriage window. He waved his hand, and just as the object was about to pierce the window, it flew back. A spray of bright red blood pearls splashed on the window gauze.

Jing Hengbo saw it was a severed hand. Feeling nauseous, her hand trembled and spilled a few drops of wine on the table.

She felt somewhat ashamed—in terms of composure, she seemed to fall short of the man before her.

Was this drinking session amid battle meant to test her composure?

Master Mu suddenly reached out, dipped his finger in the spilled wine, and began drawing.

After a few strokes, Jing Hengbo’s eyes lit up. This seemed to be some kind of map, with squares, or perhaps power divisions. Could this be the power distribution of the Three Gates, Four Alliances, and Seven Major Gangs in Daomao?

Indeed, Master Mu said: “The Three Gates, Four Alliances control Daomao, with clear surface territories. But there are some places in Shangyuan City that no faction can contest—strategic points that remain uncontested…”

He listed several places, which Jing Hengbo carefully memorized.

“Main halls are here.” Master Mu picked up fennel beans, placing them one by one into those squares.

“The royal palace is here.” Jing Hengbo took a piece of beef and placed it at the back of the map.

The two filled in beans, arranged beef, drinking wine while the clanging and banging outside seemed like a unique battle song.

In front of Jing Hengbo was a row of fennel beans, tightly blocking the path to the beef.

“I want to eat the beef.” She reached with her chopsticks to pick it up.

He flicked his finger, and a fennel bean flew up, knocking down her chopsticks.

“Want to eat beef? First ask if the fennel beans agree,” he smiled. “Each bean thinks it should be stir-fried with the beef to make a great dish. How can you snatch the beef first?”

“Is that so?” she smiled. “If I eat all the beans, wouldn’t that work?”

She reached with chopsticks for the beans, but he tilted the table, making the beans roll around so they couldn’t be picked up.

She slammed the table hard, and all the beans flew up, colliding with each other. But the beef also flew up. She caught all the beans in one hand, laughing as she stood up, using her mouth to catch the beef.

“Mine!” she shouted.

But the carriage suddenly shook at that moment, tilting forward. Jing Hengbo caught the beef in her mouth but could no longer control her body, falling with her face pressed against Master Mu’s face.

She stared wide-eyed.

Before her was the silver mask—cold and hard, making her nose ache.

But the lips under the silver mask were incredibly soft, slightly cool, thin…

Oh no, that was the beef.

Between their lips was still a piece of beef.

Something fell behind her, pressing on her back. The carriage was also tilted halfway but didn’t fall over. Because she’d earlier prepared for assassins pushing the carriage by removing axle parts, the carriage would only tilt, not roll.

Unable to move, she was about to first move the frame from her back when he suddenly opened his mouth and ate that piece of beef.

The beef was eaten…

Eaten…

Her mind short-circuited for a moment.

After eating the beef… there were just lips…

This thought had just flashed by when the next moment, seemingly intentional yet unintentional, his teeth had already drawn her lip into his own lips.

Sweet and soft…

She was startled and quickly pulled back, not caring if this forceful motion would tear her lip. He seemed to chuckle softly, biting her lower lip lightly with some pressure, like a punishment, yet the sensation transmitted through her entire body was a wave of tingling.

She couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

The lips below were crystal clear and light red, like candy-colored. Who would have thought a man’s lips could be so seductive? She found them beautiful but didn’t look long, slightly turning her face away.

He stared at her fixedly, his eyes holding a strange, nostalgic expression. He waved his hand, her back lightened, and the frame was moved away. She immediately got up, exhaled a long breath, rubbed her face, and adjusted her expression back to calm normalcy.

“Ahem.” She coughed, thinking of what words to use that would both express condemnation of him and avoid bringing up the embarrassing incident.

She couldn’t blame him for stealing a kiss—she was the one who had fallen on him. He was just eating beef, and during the eating process had accidentally touched her lips. If she got entangled with him over such things, she would definitely be the one to lose out.

But he picked up a piece of beef, casually eating it, even making room for her and saying: “Tastes very good.”

What tasted very good?

If you’re saying it tastes good, just say it tastes good—why stare at her lips?

Jing Hengbo felt this person appeared to be a refined gentleman but was actually a shameless scoundrel.

She sat down angrily, glaring at him fiercely, and with a wave of her hand sent an assassin lunging toward the carriage window flying three zhang away.

Amid the screams, Master Mu’s expression didn’t change as he praised: “Your Majesty’s divine skills are truly extraordinary.”

“You know who I am?” She narrowed her eyes, her expression not too surprised.

“I have informants in Dige and know Your Majesty excels at lightness skills and internal arts.” He smiled: “I didn’t expect such shocking expertise. Truly eye-opening.”

Jing Hengbo’s teleportation and object control, in the eyes of Dahuang martial artists, would appear to be demonstrations of profound lightness skills and internal power. This explanation was quite normal.

Jing Hengbo wasn’t surprised Master Mu could guess her identity. From the moment she gave Ying Bai’s name, she’d essentially revealed her identity to him.

But she was more concerned about how many people among Daomao’s other martial world forces had guessed where she currently was.

“The Three Gates, Four Alliances and others aren’t very clear about your situation.” Master Mu seemed like a tapeworm in her belly, always knowing what she wanted to know. He told her: “Daomao is too far from Dige. These martial world people entrenched here are arrogant and only think about their own small territories. They don’t much care about distant imperial city affairs. Especially since in their view, you’re just an exiled, fallen queen without even escort troops. They have no interest in studying what kind of person you are. If not for your newly recruited subordinates and your relationship with Seven Killers catching their attention, they probably would have sent people to simply eliminate you before you even entered Daomao.”

“They’d have to be able to eliminate me first.” Jing Hengbo sneered.

“Enemy underestimation is a good thing.” He pointed at her with his chopsticks. “Those who underestimate lose thirty percent of their strength.”

She understood he was also warning her. She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. After thinking, she said: “You just told me there are too many fennel beans. If they all crowd the road, it will be hard for me to gain royal power. Only by making the fennel beans kill each other can Daomao truly be cleared. Is that what you mean?”

He brought over a dish containing four-sided fragrant cakes with a glutinous rice ball in the center. Outside, the shouting and killing were intense, with people constantly crashing into the carriage body. The glutinous rice ball rolled around in the dish but could never break through the fragrant cakes’ blockade.

She reached with chopsticks and removed the fragrant cakes. The glutinous rice ball rolled into her mouth.

“The Daomao clan leader is no mediocrity, just limited by circumstances and forced to huddle within the royal city, using heavy troops as armor to confront many wolves for the long term.” He said: “Trapped too long, the fences outside have formed layer upon layer, making it increasingly impossible to break out. To gain freedom, someone must break the deadlock from outside with great force.”

She puffed out both cheeks, nodding desperately while struggling to swallow, her face gradually turning red—the glutinous rice ball was too sticky and had blocked her throat.

He leaned over and patted her back. Her throat made a “gulp” sound, the stuck item was swallowed, and she immediately felt comfortable all over—would she become the most tragic queen in Dahuang history if she choked to death on a glutinous rice ball?

Just as she was about to thank him, she suddenly discovered his hand was still resting on her chest—he’d been patting and rubbing her chest to help her breathe.

“Mm?” She stared at his wandering hand with her gaze, reminding him to be self-aware.

“Oh.” Unhurried, he pulled at her collar, fastening a button that had accidentally come loose, then calmly withdrew his hand, saying: “It’s cold at night. Be careful not to catch cold with your collar open.”

Jing Hengbo felt what he really wanted to say might not be this sentence.

Master Mu had already changed the subject, saying more composedly than before: “The Daomao clan leader is also a glutinous rice ball—be careful once you touch him, you can neither swallow nor shake him off.”

Once discussing serious matters, Jing Hengbo forgot her complaints. After thinking, she asked: “You mean I should be the one to break this deadlock, but also prevent myself from being used by the Daomao clan leader during dealings with him, ending up attacked from both sides.”

He smiled and raised his cup to her, his eyes approving. There was a sense of satisfaction that a woman had finally matured.

She gulped down a cup—the wine jug had somehow ended up on her side.

The dishes on the table were in complete disarray, fennel beans rolling everywhere, beef scattered here and there, pastries crumbled to bits, wine unknowingly finished, though he’d only drunk the first cup he’d poured himself from beginning to end.

“What kind of entrance do you want to make in Daomao?” He gathered the remaining dishes onto one plate, raising his cup with a smile to ask her.

The woman opposite had become somewhat drunk without knowing when—starry eyes hazy, hairpins askew, both cheeks tinged with a faint peach blossom color.

The carriage body shook as another person crashed into it. A face full of fierce expressions thrust through the carriage window.

She grabbed the plate and slammed it on that person’s face with a “smack.” With a wave of her hand, that person’s face covered in blood flew in a sharp arc, crashing into a tree three zhang away, food splattering everywhere from his face.

Amid the screams, she laughed boldly with mountain-swallowing momentum.

“I want the most domineering entrance, to tell them who is the real Queen!”