Chapter 493: The Return Voyage

The morning mist receded, and the world slowly came into focus, but Jiang Qingli felt as if a fog still clouded her vision.

A gentle hand softly ruffled her hair. Xie Youchen pulled her into his embrace, patting her back as if coaxing a child.

"You’re making this so sentimental. I’m not used to it." Jiang Qingli rubbed the tear stains from the corners of her eyes on his shirt and muttered, "It’s all your fault."

"My sincerest apologies." Xie Youchen apologized, playing along. "Then how about I give myself to you as compensation? How does that sound?"

Jiang Qingli said in a deliberately reluctant tone, "I suppose that’ll do."

Xie Youchen chuckled softly in her ear. "Thank you for your favor, my female master."

Jiang Qingli huffed, tightening her arms around his waist.

After embracing for a while, Jiang Qingli glanced at the time.

It was almost six o’clock. In just a few more hours, they would be heading back to the First District.

Jiang Qingli had planned to sneak back to her room, but when she climbed back in through the window, she was shocked to find it full of people.

Except for the two well-behaved ones, Yuan Shimo and Que Feiling, all the other males were there, crammed into the room.

At the sound, everyone turned around, their gazes landing on her in unison.

A shiver went down Jiang Qingli’s spine.

Qin Muye was the first to break the silence. "Where have you been?"

He leaned in, his nose sniffing at her hair and the crook of her neck, his brow tightly knitted. "Such a strong smell of incense, and Xie—"

Before he could finish, Jiang Qingli clamped a hand over his mouth. After a moment’s thought, she said, "Last night was the new moon. The Goddess had a prayer ceremony in the temple, and Xie Youchen and I went to watch. That’s all."

After speaking, she patted her pocket. "Her Highness the Goddess even gave me a peace charm."

Qin Muye clicked his tongue.

"Muye, the prayer ceremony has its requirements. Not just anyone can attend," Baili Jing explained gently. "The Goddess of the Ninth District has visited the First District several times before. She probably met Xiao Li there." He smiled with pride. "Our Xiao Li is very popular, you see."

"Fine." Qin Muye reined in his displeasure. "Next time there’s a prayer, call me to go with you."

Baili Jing glanced at the expressions of the others, then stepped forward to straighten a few of Jiang Qingli’s messy strands of hair. "Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s get going. Shiyao, please go wake your brother."

Yuan Shiyao grunted in acknowledgment and left through the door.

Seeing Baili Jing take on the role of organizer, Gu Nian pursed his lips.

’Heh, playing the part of the virtuous wife, aren’t we.’

’Last night, when I climbed in through the window, this sly fox was just pulling back the covers, about to lie down and wait for his female master.’

’A model husband by day, a shameless seducer with no bottom line by night... Isn’t he afraid of getting a split personality?’

...

At nine o’clock sharp, the group bid farewell to the send-off party and boarded the train for the return journey.

This train had been prepared by the Ninth District. It was more solidly built than the previous one, and its interior was more luxurious.

Zhong Tongyun gave Jiang Qingli the City Lord’s private compartment.

When it was time to rest, Jiang Qingli dragged her sleepless body into the bedroom.

Qin Muye, Baili Jing, and Xie Youchen each had their own duties and were managing things outside. The other Beast Husbands were also shut out by Jiang Qingli. Only Yi Nuo stood in a corner, guarding her silently.

The room was lavishly decorated, and the bed was soft. Jiang Qingli felt sleepy the moment she lay down.

As Jiang Qingli took off her jacket, she pulled the peace charm from her pocket and examined it closely.

The totem drawn with a vermillion pen was mysterious and elegant, carrying a reassuring fragrance.

"It’s actually quite pretty," 030’s voice rang out.

Jiang Qingli’s drowsy mind suddenly cleared for a moment. ’The moment I entered the temple earlier, your voice seemed to disappear, didn’t it?’

"Yes." 030 sounded a bit dejected talking about it. "How should I put it... I just felt like I would be discovered. There are always things in the world that can’t be explained by science. Even we higher-dimensional beings have things we’re wary of."

The stick figure floated by her hand, scrutinizing the peace charm. "But I can sense that the Goddess likes you a lot. The peace charm is safe." Then, it giggled. "I told you! Our baby’s charisma stat is maxed out!"

Jiang Qingli snuggled into her quilt, and the stick figure followed, sitting on her pillow.

When the other Beast Husbands weren’t around, 030 often did this, acting like a little pet.

Jiang Qingli watched it and asked, ’030, will you ever leave?’

moved closer, rubbing its stick-figure head against her cheek and asking cheekily, "What’s wrong, what’s wrong? Can’t bear to part with me?"

Jiang Qingli didn’t pull away. 030’s stick-figure body felt a lot like Yuan Shiyao’s light, emitting a slight warmth.

’A little, I guess.’ Jiang Qingli thought for a moment. ’Even though you showed up late, aren’t very useful, talk way too much, overreact to everything, and are sometimes a real pest...’

was dumbfounded. "Hey, hey, hey! I don’t have that many flaws! I... I... Oh, right! I was the one who gave you that flower to deal with Ye Linyuan! I am very useful!"

Jiang Qingli was amused by 030’s desperate tone.

She hid under the covers, her laughter muffled.

After she finished laughing, the girl pulled down the blanket, her eyes sparkling. ’I wasn’t finished.’

She took the little stick figure’s hand and gently rubbed her cheek against it. ’Despite all that, I’ve gotten used to having you around. You’re one of my best friends.’

030’s entire stick-figure body went stiff.

After a long moment, it moved its body a bit awkwardly. "That’s more like it..."

Its tone was calm, but the stick figure’s temperature was rising rapidly.

It couldn’t be helped. It was just a system, after all.

How could it possibly resist such tactics!

hugged Jiang Qingli’s finger and said in a small voice, "Um... I like you too. As long as you need me, I won’t leave."

"I can still generate lots of quests, you know! Things like ’Conquer the Universe’ or ’The Complete Harem Guide,’ oh, and daily quests too... Anyway, even after the ’Happy Ending’ quest is done, I can still stay. We can be together forever!"

Jiang Qingli smiled, hooking her finger around the stick figure’s. ’Well then... I’ll be in your care from now on, 030.’

"Mhm!"

The stick figure nodded frantically.

-

After the last incident, the return journey felt incredibly fast.

By the evening of the next day, they had arrived in the First District.

It was only when they landed that Jiang Qingli received word that the Emperor had also come.

Everyone hurriedly straightened their appearances. Only Qin Muye’s expression stiffened.

The cabin door opened. Qin Muye walked out with a taut face, only to see the Emperor, who was leading the welcoming party, covering a cough with a fist.

Jiang Qingli asked, "Are you not feeling well, Your Majesty?"

The Emperor smiled. "It’s nothing, just a cold."

After exchanging pleasantries with Jiang Qingli, the Emperor’s gaze fell on Qin Muye, lingering for a moment.

The attendants by the Emperor’s side had been astonished ever since they saw Qin Muye.

’In the past, whenever the Emperor was present, Qin Muye wouldn’t even show up. On the rare occasions he had to attend, he’d wear a foul expression the entire time. Not only is he here today, but he’s not even scowling... Did he... did he take a tranquilizer or something?’

"What are you looking at?" Qin Muye’s ears grew hot under the attendants’ stares, and he clicked his tongue.

Although his words were blunt, his attitude was a vast improvement from before.

After the pleasantries, Jiang Qingli had to return to the Jiang Family first, so she took her leave.

Qin Muye followed her, sticking to her like a shadow.

The large group boarded the aircraft.

The Emperor rode in another aircraft. As it passed the one carrying the Jiang Family group, she tilted her head and happened to see Qin Muye looking over, a clear expression of concern on his face.

Soon, Qin Muye looked in her direction.

Their eyes met. Qin Muye started, then awkwardly looked away, rubbing the back of his neck.

At the fork in the path, the two escorted aircraft went their separate ways. The Emperor withdrew her gaze, a faint smile gracing her lips.