"Speaking of Sixth Sister," Qin Jingheng tried to change the subject, his gaze falling on the humanoid figure wrapped up tightly on her back.
"Who are you carrying on your back? Is there anyone in Suzaku South Road who is more important than me and needs your personal rescue?"
His Majesty had already been dressed in ordinary coarse cloth clothes, complete with gloves, a mask, and a headscarf.
Not to mention her appearance, not even an inch of her skin was exposed.
"The Xuanji Guard spies here have been seriously injured."
Qin Zhaoyue didn't even lift her eyelids, casually making up an excuse. As for whether the other party believed her or not, she didn't care at all.
"I see..."
Qin Jingheng felt something was strange, but then he thought that it might be a deeply lurking secret agent.
The truth behind my misfortune was probably revealed to my sixth sister by the other party.
Perhaps it is because there is nowhere else to entrust them that they have to carry this burden at all times?
Thinking about it this way, he felt a strange pang of sadness.
The spy was carried so tightly on his back, while his own second brother was scolded and rejected if he tried to get even two steps closer.
Qin Zhaoyue's fabricated lies, however, sounded quite different and terrifying to Ayaduo.
Are there still hidden Xuanji Guards that have not been eliminated?
Didn't the powerful families swear that they had eliminated all their spies?
Was she asking me for information just to verify its authenticity?
Just how deep are the schemes and cunning of this sixth princess...?
Qin Zhaoyue had completely lost patience. Deep inside enemy territory, every moment she stayed increased the risk.
"Why don't you take your time thinking about it? Let's deal with the powerful families first. I want to get a good night's sleep."
She was truly exhausted, having gone without sleep for several days in a row, and her nerves were stretched to the limit.
All I want right now is to finish this quickly, find a place to collapse and sleep.
Ayado gritted her teeth, and the last struggle in her eyes dissipated like the receding tide, replaced by a resigned determination.
She had come to realize that all her resentment was ultimately no match for the cold reality.
After much planning, they originally intended to rival the powerful families and jointly control the Southern Vermilion Bird Road, but in the blink of an eye, they found themselves at the mercy of others.
But...does she really have a choice?
“No need,” Ayado raised her head, her gaze fixed intently on Qin Zhaoyue, completely ignoring the Second Prince standing beside her.
"I am willing to cooperate."
She slowly stepped forward, placed her right hand on her chest, and then bowed slightly to the left.
He then knelt on one knee, placed the back of his left hand on his forehead, and made an extremely complex and ancient gesture.
This is the highest form of respect among the tribes of southern Xinjiang, performed only by the holy maiden when facing an alliance or submission, symbolizing the entrustment of the tribe's fate to the other party.
"I urge Your Highness to remember the promise I made today: the blades of my warriors in the Southern Frontier have yet to be stained with the blood of countless innocent civilians." This was perhaps the only bargaining chip she could offer at this moment, a token of her resistance.
Qin Zhaoyue also suppressed her impatience and became composed.
She nodded slightly and accepted the greeting.
His posture was perfectly balanced, showing both importance and the dignity of a superior.
"I have no inclination to kill without cause."
Once this matter is settled, the warriors of the southern Xinjiang tribes can return to the mountains in batches to rest.
However, all armor and weapons must be left behind.
This matter will begin tonight.
Aya lowered her head, concealing all emotions in her eyes, and simply replied, "Yes!"
"Alright, let's go. Lead the way to the aristocratic mansion."
Everyone set off immediately.
Qin Zhaoyue suddenly stopped and looked at Qin Jingheng, who was following closely behind her:
What are you doing following me?
Qin Jingheng looked panicked and asked, "Sixth Sister, aren't you going to take me with you?"
"Sure, but once a fight breaks out, swords and spears have no eyes. No one will have time to look after you, and no one will be able to spare any manpower to protect you."
If Second Brother feels confident in his ability to protect himself in the aftermath of the battle at the Second Rank, he can certainly follow along.
Qin Jingheng stopped abruptly; these words were like a bucket of ice water poured over him.
How can someone at the fourth rank protect himself? Even an aftershock could send him flying.
"You can't just leave me here alone, Sixth Sister."
"Sure," Qin Zhaoyue's tone even carried a hint of persuasion.
"Tell Aya to tell everyone that the removal of the Gu worms requires time to recuperate. All you have to do is sleep peacefully here."
For some reason, when Sixth Sister said this, Qin Jingheng always felt that there was a hint of gritted teeth in her calm tone.
"But……"
Qin Zhaoyue interrupted him directly and turned to Jiang Wuyai: "Senior brother, please handle the aftermath."
"No problem, junior sister, leave it to me."
Jiang Wuyai readily agreed. With a slight thought, the power of the "domain" quietly flowed.
The corpse of the second-rank guard on the ground, the splattered blood, and even the already dead Gu worm were instantly crushed by an invisible force.
It turned into extremely fine powder, which he then precisely controlled and scattered out through the crack in the broken window.
It vanished into the night wind, leaving no trace.
Watching the three of them turn around without hesitation and disappear into the cover of the "domain," Qin Jingheng sighed and finally accepted reality.
The outcome is already decided; at this moment, he is indeed useless and a burden.
He dragged his heavy steps back to the messy bed.
Resignedly, I lay down, not forgetting to weakly offer a reminder:
"Sixth Sister...you, please come back quickly..."
Her tone was soft, carrying a hint of grievance and heartache, as if she had been abandoned.
Qin Zhaoyue didn't even turn her head. Under the perfect concealment of Jiang Wuyai's "domain", the three figures disappeared without a trace in an instant, like water droplets blending into the night.
Ayaduo focused her senses and tried to detect the slightest trace of their departure.
Amidst the horror in my heart, even the last shred of hope was completely extinguished.
That's all...
She took a deep breath, cleared her mind of all distractions, and strangely calmed down.
She raised her hand to straighten her slightly disheveled clothes and pushed open the door.
The moonlight outside the door was cold and clear, and there was no one on the corridor.
She gently closed the door behind her, then strode off toward the gate of the prefectural government office.
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