142: Chapter 142 Someone's watching us?

The group sat on Xiao Jin's broad back; the gale was blocked by a barrier of spiritual light, making it warm and stable.

Xiao Zhi's little face was flushed with excitement as she lay on the edge of the eagle's back, peering through the transparent spiritual light shield.

She stared wide-eyed at the mountains and rivers passing rapidly below, letting out exclamations of "Wow!" from time to time.

She was still just a child who had grown up in Qingxuan Immortal City; the furthest she had ever been was following Xiao Yurou to the outskirts of the city to gather herbs a few times.

Flying so high in the sky, watching the sea of clouds churn and the mountains appear like dark ink paintings, was a wonder she had never experienced before.

"Senior, Senior!" Xiao Zhi suddenly turned her head, blinking her round eyes as she asked curiously,

"What is the place where you live like? Is it far?"

Seeing her innocent and naive appearance, Ye Changge couldn't help but smile slightly. He reached out to pat her small head and said warmly,

"Longmai Mountain. From here... it will probably take about five or six months of flying."

"Five or six months?!" Xiao Zhi's mouth dropped open in surprise, her eyes widening. "Is it really that far?"

Beside them, Xiao Yurou was also slightly taken aback by the news.

Although she knew Longmai Mountain was in the southeastern part of the Zhao State and quite far from Qingxuan Immortal City, she hadn't expected the flight to take so long.

Xiao Caiyue, however, remained calm. She simply took Ye Changge's hand gently and gave a soft smile.

Since she had decided to marry him, she would follow him no matter the distance.

Seeing that they were all somewhat surprised, Ye Changge explained,

"After all, we aren't rushing this time. With all of you, we naturally have to go slower. If I were traveling alone, with Xiao Jin, I could arrive in about a month."

As he spoke, he gently patted Xiao Jin's back. The giant golden eagle let out a clear, high-pitched cry, as if responding to its Master's praise.

Hearing this, the surprise in Xiao Zhi's eyes was quickly replaced by excitement again, and she continued to lean over the eagle's back, looking at the scenery below with great interest.

Looking at the three people before him, Ye Changge suddenly remembered something. His expression turned a bit more serious as he spoke.

"By the way, there is something I would like to ask of you all."

Seeing his solemn expression, Xiao Caiyue straightened her posture. "Husband, please speak."

Ye Changge pondered for a moment before slowly saying,

"On my path of cultivation, I have had some... Opportunities. There are some things that are not convenient to expose to the outside world yet. Once we reach Longmai Mountain, I hope you can help me keep a few secrets."

He didn't explain too thoroughly, but his meaning was already clear.

Hearing this, Xiao Caiyue nodded slightly without the slightest hesitation and said warmly,

"Rest assured, Husband. I understand."

She had previously looked at Ye Changge's information through an intelligence organization.

He was obscure before the age of eighteen, but after his eighteenth birthday, he rose like a shooting star. In just a few years, he went from an ordinary person without a Spiritual Root to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and a Second-Rank Talisman Master, even possessing achievements in Alchemy.

Who would believe that such a person hadn't encountered a heaven-defying Opportunity?

And such Opportunities were often the most sensitive and trouble-attracting things in the Cultivation World.

Xiao Caiyue knew well that she and Ye Changge were now one, sharing both honor and disgrace.

She knew exactly what should be said and what should not.

She simply tightened her grip on Ye Changge's hand, her eyes gentle yet firm.

"Since I have married you, I will stand and fall with you. Your secrets are my secrets."

Xiao Yurou also realized the gravity of the situation and nodded quickly.

Xiao Zhi blinked her eyes; although she didn't quite understand what the adults were talking about, she followed suit and nodded vigorously.

"Xiao Zhi won't say anything either!"

Looking at the three of them, Ye Changge felt a slight warmth in his heart and nodded.

"Good."

He trusted them.

But it was always better to say it in advance.

With nothing else to do, the group began to chat idly.

Ye Changge asked about Xiao Caiyue's experience studying Formations as a child.

Xiao Caiyue spoke in a soft, gentle voice about how she had followed her Master to learn the Dao of Formations and how she had studied those complex diagrams bit by bit.

Xiao Yurou added from the side, mentioning that when her sister was young, she once spent three days and nights without sleep to research a single Formation.

In the end, their Master couldn't bear to watch any longer and forcibly dragged her away to rest.

Having her old secrets revealed by her younger sister, Xiao Caiyue's cheeks flushed slightly, and she gave her a gentle, reproachful look.

Xiao Yurou stuck out her tongue, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she laughed.

Watching the interaction between the two sisters, a smile also appeared in Ye Changge's eyes.

Although they were Dao Companions, they hadn't known each other for long, and their understanding of one another was indeed not deep enough. This kind of idle chatting was perfect for slowly getting closer.

Xiao Caiyue also asked about Ye Changge's past. He picked out some things that could be shared and briefly talked about the situation of the Ye family, the scenery of Longmai Mountain, and the children at home.

At the mention of children, a flash of softness appeared in Xiao Caiyue's eyes, along with a touch of bashfulness.

She lowered her gaze and asked softly,

"Husband... are there many children in your family?"

Ye Changge thought for a moment and answered truthfully,

"Quite a few."

Hearing this, Xiao Caiyue gave a soft "mm" and fell silent.

She had been mentally prepared for this, knowing that he had many wives and concubines and a flourishing lineage.

Hearing it confirmed now wasn't exactly a surprise.

In her heart, she couldn't help but feel a bit of expectation, mixed with an indescribable trace of nervousness.

Just then—

Ye Changge's expression suddenly froze, and his words came to an abrupt halt.

Seeing him like this, the others looked at him in confusion.

Xiao Caiyue was the first to react, asking softly,

"Husband, what's wrong?"

Ye Changge's eyes narrowed slightly as his Divine Sense swept backward like a tide. After a moment, he said in a deep voice,

"Someone is chasing us. We've likely been targeted."

His Divine Sense was comparable to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage. At this moment, he clearly perceived five streaks of light following them unhurriedly from dozens of miles behind.

He had been targeted by Bandit Cultivators many times over the years and was all too familiar with this feeling of being followed.

"Targeted?" Xiao Caiyue's beautiful eyes narrowed. "How many are there?"

"Five people, all Foundation Establishment Cultivators."

Ye Changge's expression remained unchanged, his tone calm.

Xiao Caiyue's brow furrowed slightly.

She knew her own physical condition better than anyone.

After her Origin had been plundered, although the fatal hidden danger of the Dragon Yang Body had been resolved, she was currently extremely weak. Despite being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, if they actually came to blows, she was afraid she wouldn't even be a match for someone at Qi Refinement Great Perfection.

As for her sister, Xiao Yurou, although she possessed the Precious Pill Body, she was not at all skilled in combat.

As for Xiao Zhi... she was just a child.

She looked at Ye Changge, her mind racing with calculations.

Although she had never seen Ye Changge truly fight, she felt that... his strength probably wasn't that great.

It wasn't that she didn't believe in Ye Changge, but rather that his achievements were simply too numerous and too dazzling!

A Foundation Establishment Cultivator, a Second-Rank Talisman Master, a Second-Rank Alchemist, and even proficient in Dual Cultivation Secret Arts...

If his combat power was also ridiculously strong, would he even be human?

Xiao Caiyue was anxious, but she didn't panic. She took a deep breath and said quickly,

"Husband, I have a 'Spirit-Hiding Mist-Tracking Formation' in my possession. Although it is only a second-rank Formation, if deployed in coordination with the terrain, it can conceal our aura and allow us to contend with them. You can first lure them into the Formation—"