372: Return to Donglin City

Jiang Yumei’s body was tense, yet filled with a touch of anticipation. She gripped Situ Jun’s lapels tightly, feeling his tenderness and heat as her body instinctively pressed closer to him.

Sunlight filtered through the window lattices, spilling over the two of them, stretching their shadows and intertwining them.

The scents of medicinal herbs and incense in the room grew stronger, blending with the aura of the two people to brew a cup of mellow and lingering love.

The days of separation and waiting vanished at this moment, leaving only each other's warmth and tenderness.

Situ Jun carefully removed her clothes, revealing skin as white and lustrous as jade.

Her skin was delicate and smooth, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance and shimmering with a soft glow under the sunlight.

He leaned down, leaving gentle kisses on her forehead, eyes, cheeks, and collarbone, each one carrying deep love and cherish.

Jiang Yumei trembled slightly, fine droplets of moisture clinging to her eyelashes. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, feeling both his gentleness and his dominance.

She actively responded to him, her body gradually relaxing as she completely surrendered herself to him.

The temperature in the room gradually rose, and the air was filled with an ambiguous atmosphere.

They embraced each other, feeling each other's heartbeat and breath, as if to make up for all the time they had missed.

Every touch was filled with deep longing and love; every moment of intimacy revealed a devotion that would last through life and death.

After an unknown amount of time, everything finally settled down.

Situ Jun held Jiang Yumei tightly in his arms, his palm gently stroking her back with slow and tender movements.

Jiang Yumei leaned against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. A satisfied smile played on her face, and her eyes were full of happiness and attachment.

“Brother Jun,” she called out softly, her voice carrying a hint of lazy hoarseness, “can you come to see me often in the future?”

“Of course.”

Situ Jun lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss onto her forehead:

“From now on, I will make more time to accompany you. I’ll prepare a courtyard for you in the City Lord's Manor.”

Jiang Yumei smiled contentedly and buried her cheek deeper, nestling tightly in his embrace.

She knew that the happiness before her was hard-won. She would cherish it and guard this rare love together with him.

After lingering for a long while more, Situ Jun finally remembered the purpose of his visit.

Jiang Yumei stood up, took several prepared jade bottles from the curio shelf, and handed them to him:

“This is the fetal-soothing medicine I prepared for Sister Su. Taking it once a day will calm the mind, nourish the fetus, and strengthen the foundation. And this bottle of spirit-concentrating pill, you work hard all year round, and taking it will clear your mind and relieve the fatigue brought by Cultivation.”

Situ Jun took the jade bottles, his heart filled with warmth.

“Thank you, Yumei.”

He put the jade bottles into his Storage Pouch and took her hand once more:

“Take care of yourself. I will come to see you again as soon as possible.”

Jiang Yumei nodded and saw him to the courtyard gate.

Watching Situ Jun’s figure disappear at the entrance, a trace of reluctance appeared in Jiang Yumei’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.

She returned to the room, tidied the bed, and then walked to the herb garden to continue tending to those Spiritual Plants.

Sunlight bathed her, making her figure appear even more gentle and resilient.

She knew that as long as there was love and concern in her heart, no matter how long the wait, it would be worth it.

As Situ Jun stepped out of the Hundred Herbs Hall, it was as if Jiang Yumei’s medicinal fragrance and warmth still lingered on his fingertips.

Much of the guilt and fatigue in his heart dissipated, replaced by a sense of warmth and motivation.

He looked up at the sky; the sun was just right, and the breeze was gentle.

He knew that for the sake of these people he cherished, no matter how many difficulties and obstacles lay ahead, he had to press forward and protect this hard-won happiness and peace.

As for the threat of the Qintian Division and the intervention of the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty, it was also time to plan carefully... On the morning of the fourth day.

The morning mist of North Frontier City danced like light gauze, the humid vapor not yet fully dissipated, when Situ Jun’s figure quietly appeared in the front courtyard of the City Lord's Manor.

The copper bells on the eaves chimed softly in the breeze, seemingly whispering the reluctance of parting. Su Yunniang, dressed in a plain-colored skirt, stood under the corridor, the attachment in her eyes as thick as the morning mist.

Beside her, Lin Suwan, Nangong Xue, Xu Lian, Cherry, and Hong Mei all looked at Situ Jun with reluctance.

“Husband, please take care on your journey to East Lin.”

Supported by Hong Mei, Su Yunniang’s eyes were rimmed with red. Her fingertips tightly gripped an embroidered handkerchief, the twin lotuses on it stained with a few tear marks:

“North Frontier City is guarded by Commander Zhu and the others, so you don’t need to worry. Just... just remember to come back early.”

Situ Jun turned around, his gaze falling on her slightly bulging lower abdomen, his eyes filled with tenderness as he said:

“Don’t worry. I’ll go and return quickly, and I will definitely bring Xuan'er back.”

Su Yunniang nodded through her tears. After all, she knew that his trip was not just to bring back Liu Xuaner, but that there were surely other matters to attend to. She said no more, only watching his figure until it vanished into the morning mist.

Situ Jun did not disturb the people in the city. He only gave his final instructions to Zhu Changpo in the Meeting Hall of the City Lord's Manor.

He stood by the window, watching the city gradually wake up in the dawn. The blue bricks and dark tiles loomed in the thin mist, a few pedestrians had already appeared on the streets, and cooking smoke rose in curls—a scene of peace.

His gaze was calm, but his tone carried a heavy entrustment:

“I leave North Frontier City to you.”

He paused and then continued:

“Yunniang is pregnant. You must triple the manpower guarding the City Lord's Manor, especially the hidden sentries; ensure they are concealed and thorough. Externally, claim that I am still in closed-door Cultivation. Do not leak my whereabouts.”

Zhu Changpo cupped his hands solemnly, his posture as upright as a pine tree:

“Rest assured, City Lord! Your Subordinate will give his all to protect the safety of North Frontier City and Madam Su. If there are any urgent matters, I will report immediately using a Secret Talisman!”

Situ Jun nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the sand table in the Meeting Hall, which marked the defensive deployments around North Frontier City. His heart felt a bit more at ease.

Without another word, he moved, blending into the morning mist outside the window like green smoke. As his spiritual power circulated, his figure vanished from the spot.

In the next moment, he appeared high in the sky a hundred miles away from North Frontier City. Beneath him were rolling mountain ranges, and the morning mist flowed through the valleys like a fairyland.

He looked back at the city that carried both warmth and responsibility, his gaze distant. Then he turned, his spiritual light surging as he transformed into a streak of light nearly invisible to the naked eye, whistling toward the direction of East Lin City with the speed of wind and lightning.

With his Soul Transformation Stage Cultivation fully unleashed, his speed far exceeded what it had been in the past. The mountains and lands along the way retreated rapidly beneath his feet, the dense forests swept past like green waves, and the clouds were easily torn apart, leaving behind a faint trail of Spiritual Qi.

Along the way, he encountered several groups of Cultivators, all low-level Cultivators traveling together for experience. Seeing that his aura was restrained yet faintly exuded pressure, they all stepped aside and bowed.

Situ Jun did not stop, speeding all the way without rest, day and night.