211: Chapter 211 Tell Master what happened!

Yet his tone remained as flat as ever, but the meaning behind his words couldn't be clearer—

He was worried about her safety.

Nangong Zili pursed her lips and didn't respond, only letting out a soft "Mhm."

It was an acknowledgement.

Seeing her agree, Ye Changge said no more and turned his gaze toward Xiao Caiyue, who was standing a short distance away, watching with a bored expression.

"Caiyue."

He called out.

Hearing this, Xiao Caiyue walked over.

She wore a moon-white long dress, her figure graceful and her face stunningly beautiful. However, at this moment, her exquisite features held a thoughtful expression.

She had seen everything that had just unfolded.

Ye Changge had casually given away a treasure as precious as the illusion pearl, meticulously instructed her to recover here, and even taken proper care of that girl Ling Xiaotang...

This wasn't something her husband would usually do.

Xiao Caiyue pondered inwardly.

She knew Ye Changge.

This man appeared gentle on the surface, but in his bones, he was an extremely clear-headed and rational person. He would never be this attentive toward outsiders.

But tonight...

His attitude toward that Nangong Zili was clearly different.

Xiao Caiyue recalled the way Ye Changge handed the illusion pearl to her, and his words about it being "helpful for your return to the Yu Kingdom," and a complex mix of emotions welled up in her heart.

It seemed... something must have happened between her husband and that Fairy of the Demonic Path.

Otherwise, with his temperament, it would be absolutely impossible for him to act this way.

Xiao Caiyue sighed softly to herself but said nothing more, simply walking to Ye Changge's side and standing quietly.

Seeing her approach, Ye Changge gave an instruction:

"Caiyue, go get Yurou and Xiao Zhi. We're ready to leave."

Xiao Caiyue nodded and turned to walk deeper into the Immortal Cave.

A moment later, she emerged with Xiao Yurou and Xiao Zhi.

Xiao Zhi came skipping over, grabbed Ye Changge's arm, and asked with her little face tilted up:

"Young Master, are we going home?"

Ye Changge gently patted her head and nodded.

Xiao Zhi's eyes instantly curved into crescents from joy.

Xiao Caiyue didn't follow immediately; instead, she turned and walked over to Ling Xiaotang.

She reached into her Storage Pouch and took out a palm-sized Formation Plate and a jade slip.

The Formation Plate was greenish-gray, covered in intricate patterns with a faint spiritual light flowing over it; it was clearly no ordinary item.

"Miss Xiaotang."

Xiao Caiyue handed the items over, her tone gentle:

"This is the auxiliary Formation Plate for this Grand Array, and I've recorded the instructions for using the Formation in this jade slip. Keep them safe; if anything happens, you'll be able to control the Formation."

Ling Xiaotang was stunned for a moment before hurriedly reaching out to take them, bowing respectfully:

"Thank you, Senior."

Xiao Caiyue smiled faintly, shook her head slightly, and turned back to Ye Changge's side.

Nangong Zili stood where she was, watching this scene with mixed emotions.

She could naturally tell that Xiao Caiyue had given the Formation Plate to Ling Xiaotang instead of directly to her to avoid any awkwardness.

Seeing that everyone was present, Ye Changge said no more.

He raised his right hand and gave a light wave.

A streak of golden light shot out from his sleeve, expanding as it met the wind, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a massive golden roc.

Xiao Jin!

The golden roc flapped its wings and hovered in mid-air, its golden feathers shimmering under the moonlight with an awe-inspiring presence.

With a movement, Ye Changge was the first to leap onto the broad back of the golden roc.

Xiao Caiyue followed closely, Xiao Yurou landed lightly upon it, and Xiao Zhi was pulled up by Ye Changge, standing steadily on the golden roc's back.

"Take care."

Standing atop the golden roc, Ye Changge looked down at Nangong Zili and Ling Xiaotang and spoke those two words indifferently.

Then, he gave a light stomp.

The golden roc let out a long cry toward the sky, flapped its wings, and turned into a dazzling streak of golden light, instantly piercing through the night sky and vanishing into the horizon.

Only ripples of Spiritual Qi remained at the scene, gradually dissipating.

—

Nangong Zili stood in place, staring in the direction where the golden light had vanished, not moving for a long time.

The night wind blew against her robes, making them rustle loudly.

Her face still bore that cold expression, yet deep within those phoenix eyes, something flickered slightly.

He... really left.

An indescribable emotion suddenly welled up in Nangong Zili's heart.

It felt somewhat empty, as if something was missing.

She bit her lip gently and cursed herself inwardly.

He was just a man she had known for a few days; if he left, he left. What was there to be reluctant about?

But while her reason thought so, her heart still felt a bit bitter.

Nangong Zili took a deep breath, suppressed that inexplicable emotion, and turned to walk back into the Immortal Cave.

She sat down on a bluestone, crossed her legs, and closed her eyes, attempting to circulate her Cultivation Technique to recover from her injuries as quickly as possible.

But for some reason, she couldn't calm her mind tonight.

That man's image kept involuntarily appearing in her mind.

The flat tone he used when handing over the illusion pearl, the concern in his voice when he said "stay here and focus on recovering," the two words "take care" when he stood atop the golden roc...

Each event, each detail, seemed branded into her heart, impossible to shake off.

Feeling agitated, Nangong Zili opened her eyes and bit her lip.

She looked down at her lower abdomen; it was still flat, but she could clearly feel a tiny life gestating within.

It was that man's child.

Nangong Zili reached out and gently stroked her abdomen, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again.

No, she couldn't calm down.

Cultivation was out of the question.

Nangong Zili simply stopped forcing it and turned to look at Ling Xiaotang.

The young girl was still standing there, clutching that Yin and Yang jade slip tightly. Her eyes were slightly red, and she stared longingly in the direction Ye Changge had left, looking as if she had lost her soul.

Looking at her precious disciple's state, Nangong Zili couldn't help but sigh.

This child... was likely completely infatuated.

"Xiao Tang."

Nangong Zili called out.

Ling Xiaotang didn't seem to hear, still staring blankly into the distance.

"Xiao Tang!"

Nangong Zili raised her voice.

Only then did Ling Xiaotang snap back to reality. She hurriedly turned around to look at her Revered Master, her voice a bit flustered:

"Ma... Revered Master..."

Seeing her distracted state, Nangong Zili felt both helpless and pained for her.

"Come and sit."

Nangong Zili patted the rock beside her.

Ling Xiaotang obediently walked over and sat down beside her, her hands still clutching the jade slip so tightly that her knuckles were slightly white.

Nangong Zili glanced at the jade slip and sighed again.

"Xiao Tang, tell Revered Master."

Nangong Zili turned her head and looked into Ling Xiaotang's eyes, her tone serious:

"What exactly is going on here?"