292: Farewell

When Li Shengyuan returned to the Li Mansion, the eastern horizon was already tinged with the white of dawn, and the first rays of morning light were appearing.

He stepped into his courtyard and found that Shen Xinrong, Yue Xiyan, Yue Qingmeng, and Princess Pingyang, who had returned, were all still waiting in the courtyard, having not rested.

Their faces showed obvious fatigue, but even more, there was a sense of relief as they exhaled upon seeing him return safely.

However,

When they saw the lingering solemnity in Li Shengyuan's brows, their hearts, which had just settled, immediately tightened again.

"Brother Shengyuan, you're back!" Princess Pingyang was the first to rush forward, anxiously grabbing his sleeve. "Are you alright? Why do you look so terrible?"

Shen Xinrong also walked forward, her beautiful eyes filled with worry: "What exactly happened? Who was the person you rushed off to meet late at night?"

Although Yue Xiyan did not speak, her clear, cold gaze also fell on Li Shengyuan, awaiting his explanation.

With her cultivation, she could naturally sense the undisguised, unfamiliar scent on Li Shengyuan.

Yue Qingmeng, meanwhile, blinked her big eyes, looking at him with both curiosity and concern.

Li Shengyuan looked at the group of confidantes who were so worried about him, and a warm current flowed through his heart, followed by an even deeper sense of guilt and heaviness.

He walked to the stone table and sat down, motioning for them to sit as well. After a moment of contemplation, he felt that there was no need, and indeed, he could not hide this matter from them.

"The person I just went to see..." He looked up, his gaze sweeping over the women, "was Pei Shuyun."

"Pei Shuyun?" The women were all stunned by the name, failing to immediately recall who it belonged to.

After all, more than a year had passed, and Pei Shuyun had not had deep interactions with them before.

It was Shen Xinrong whose mind worked quickly. She frowned slightly, saying with some uncertainty:

"Pei Shuyun... could it be the Yan Consort we met in Prince Yans Mansion in the Northern Territory?"

At her mention, Yue Xiyan also immediately remembered, a flicker of realization and doubt appearing in her clear, cold eyes:

"It's her? Wasn't it said that she disappeared from Yanwang City after Prince Yan was executed? Why would she suddenly appear in the capital? What did she want to see you for?"

Princess Pingyang and Yue Qingmeng finally remembered this charming woman they had only met once, and they all cast curious glances at him.

Li Shengyuan looked at them, sighed softly, a hint of apology in his smile, his gaze especially lingering on Princess Pingyang:

"Shuyun has come this time with an extremely astonishing and urgent piece of news."

"And precisely because of this... Princess Pingyang... and everyone, I might... not be able to accompany you as usual. I need to leave the capital for a period of time."

Upon hearing this, all the women were shocked.

Princess Pingyang became instantly nervous, instinctively gripping his hand, her voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor:

"Leave? For how long? Then... then our engagement..."

Li Shengyuan clasped her cool small hand in return, giving her a reassuring smile, his tone, however, was very firm: "The engagement will not change. I promise you, I will definitely return before the agreed date."

He scanned the women with a serious expression: "I must depart immediately for the Western Regions Demon Kingdom."

"The Demon Cult Leader is plotting a plan even more insane than the High Priest's, intending to blood-refine the entire world. The Western Regions are a crucial link. The situation there is unclear and fraught with danger, so I cannot take you with me."

"Western Regions Demon Kingdom?!" Shen Xinrong exclaimed in a low voice, her face slightly changing.

Yue Xiyan's brows also furrowed tightly, clearly aware of the dangers of that land.

Yue Qingmeng and Princess Pingyang looked even more horrified. Although they had not been there personally, they had heard countless terrifying legends about the Western Regions Demon Kingdom.

That region was the domain of the demon race, extremely hostile to the human race of Great Qian!

It was a true den of dragons and a tiger's lair!

For a moment, the courtyard fell silent, and a thick sense of worry permeated the air.

Shen Xinrong was the first to break the silence. She took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady:

"Since that is the case, we will not stop you. But you must promise us, no matter what, you must return safely!"

Yue Xiyan also nodded gently, her clear, cold voice carrying an undeniable resolve: "Be careful..."

Princess Pingyang's eyes were slightly red, and she nodded vigorously, her myriad words turning into a single, tearful instruction:

"You... you must be careful! We'll wait for you to come back for the engagement!"

Yue Qingmeng also nodded vigorously, her small face full of seriousness: "Brother Li, you must defeat the bad guys and come back safely!"

Seeing the undisguised worry and support in their eyes, a warm current and powerful motivation surged through Li Shengyuan's heart.

He nodded heavily, promising: "Alright, I promise you, I will return safely!"

The morning light completely dispelled the night, falling upon the few people in the courtyard, stretching their shadows.

The warm reunion had not lasted long before it had to face separation due to the impending crisis.

After bidding farewell to his parents and grandfather, Li Shengyuan planned to go to the imperial palace to see his Senior Sister one last time and bid her farewell...

His Senior Sister...