Chapter 169 Cang Jiu Xuan

When Qiao Suluo’s consciousness returned from her spatial dimension, she stirred awake. Opening her eyes, the first person she saw was Yue Hanzheng.

His eyes were soft and gentle like water, the love in his gaze seemingly overflowing.

“You’re awake. Don’t you want to sleep a little longer?”

They were resting in a cave. Yue Hanzheng held her in his arms, covering her with a clean, warm animal hide, completely shielding her from the cold.

Looking up at him, Qiao Suluo asked, “You haven’t slept at all. Aren’t you tired?”

Yue Hanzheng held her tightly. His heart was so full of love it felt as if it might burst.

“No, I’m not tired.”

He was far too satisfied and excited to even think about sleeping. Just holding her and looking at her filled his entire being with profound contentment. He had finally become her true Beast Husband.

Throughout their journey, he had been plagued by insecurity, terrified that she might suddenly tell him to leave. He wouldn’t have been able to bear it. Yet, he couldn’t deny that he had treated her poorly in the beginning. He knew she shouldn’t have to bear the consequences of what the previous her had done.

Guilt still gnawed at him. He didn’t know how to make it up to her, nor how to treat her as well as she truly deserved. Even without him saying a word, Qiao Suluo seemed to sense his inner turmoil through his gaze.

She reached out, wrapping her arms around him, and leaned in to kiss him. Whispering against his lips, she said, “Hanzheng, you are in my heart. Don’t blame yourself or overthink things. From now on, we will live a good life together.”

She used her own initiative to give him the sense of security he so desperately needed. Yue Hanzheng already loved her to death. Met with such proactive affection, the love buried deep within him could no longer be suppressed. It erupted into roaring flames, consuming him entirely.

The arms holding her trembled slightly. The temperature in the cave rose once more, filled with passionate intimacy.

By the time dawn broke the next morning, the two finally tidied themselves up and returned to the campsite where the rest of the villagers were staying.

Seeing the atmosphere between them and catching a faint lingering scent, Chu Moyuan and Bai Qianluo immediately understood that the two had formed a contract last night. A bitter soreness welled up in their hearts, but they knew this was bound to happen sooner or later.

Yue Hanzheng was also the wife’s Beast Husband; it was only a matter of time before she accepted him. Although they accepted it intellectually, they couldn’t force themselves to smile. They needed time to adjust their feelings.

Qiao Suluo walked over to her mother. Seeing Qiao Feishuang’s worried expression, she said, “Mother, you don’t need to worry about food anymore.

“I’ve used my Purification Ability on the forest. All the vegetation, crops, and beasts in this area have been cleansed. They are no longer mutated or polluted, so they are perfectly safe to eat.”

Before returning, Qiao Suluo and Yue Hanzheng had taken the time to purify the woods. The mutated beasts had returned to normal, as had the plants and crops previously corrupted by darkness. Now, any wild game caught by hunting in the forest could be consumed freely. The same applied to any wild fruits or crops they foraged.

Hearing this, Qiao Feishuang’s face filled with disbelief. “Daughter, are you telling the truth?

“Has your Purification Ability suddenly become this powerful?

“To think it could cleanse an entire forest!”

Throughout their journey, Qiao Feishuang and the others had witnessed Qiao Suluo’s abilities, but she had only ever been able to purify small amounts at a time. Purifying an entire forest was simply unimaginable.

Qiao Suluo explained, “My superpower just experienced a sudden breakthrough.”

She couldn’t very well tell her parents and brothers that her abilities leveled up because she formed a contract with her Beast Husband. That would be far too embarrassing. Her family merely assumed that a trip outside with Yue Hanzheng had somehow strengthened her powers.

Looking at Yue Hanzheng, they remembered how well he had taken care of Qiao Suluo along the way and how respectfully he treated them. From the bottom of their hearts, they had already accepted him.

“My daughter is amazing!” Qiao Feishuang praised. “This is wonderful. We won’t have to spend so much silver buying grain anymore; the beasts in the forest will be more than enough to feed everyone.”

Qiao Feishuang immediately shared the good news with the rest of the villagers. As a result, the crowd’s reverence for Qiao Suluo deepened even further.

The village quickly organized a Hunting Team and a foraging squad to head into the mountains. By mid-afternoon, they returned fully loaded, radiant smiles plastered across their faces.

“It’s all thanks to Miss Qiao! If it weren’t for her, we’d still be stressing over our next meal.”

“For the rest of the journey, we can just hunt and forage like this. We definitely won’t go hungry.”

“Exactly! We’ll definitely make it to the north safely.”

Suddenly, everyone was brimming with hope for the future. That evening, the villagers threw a grand feast, celebrating heartily before retreating to rest with full stomachs. They took turns, with one group eating and resting while the other stood guard for the night.

Two days later.

After stockpiling enough food, the group resumed their journey.

Over a month later.

Qiao Suluo and her group passed through the Capital City. Ever since the war ended, the Capital City had enjoyed a peaceful half-month. As Qiao Suluo and the others strolled down the streets, they heard the bustling chatter of the commoners.

Yue Hanzheng, having just returned from the Duke Dingguo Mansion, brought Qiao Suluo some news. “The Ninth Prince is the one who took the throne.

“During the previous battle for succession, the other Princes and Princesses either died or were severely crippled. In the end, the historically unremarkable Ninth Prince was the one who claimed the seat of power.”

Intrigued by this turn of events, Qiao Suluo asked, “What is his name?”

Typically, it was a female who sat on the throne. For a Prince to ascend meant he must be remarkably capable.

“His name is Cang Jiu Xuan,” Yue Hanzheng replied.

“But as a male taking the throne, didn’t anyone oppose him?

“Do the commoners have any objections?”

In truth, Qiao Suluo didn’t care who ruled. Her only concern was whether another war would break out. As long as the dynasty remained peaceful and stable, she could focus on building her businesses.

She had no intention of settling in the Capital City. The cost of living and property prices were exorbitant, and arable land was scarce—hardly an ideal place to establish a tribe. It would be much better to head one state further north to Lin State. It boasted abundant forests and vast terrain. Furthermore, it wasn’t situated at the extreme northern edge, so the climate wouldn’t be unbearably cold. Being only one state away from the Capital City, it should be highly advantageous in every aspect.

Bai Qianluo chimed in to explain. “Because his true form evolved into a Phoenix. The Phoenix is inherently a Divine Beast, so no one has any objections to him becoming the Emperor.

“Moreover, after he ascended, the dynasty stabilized rapidly. He enacted a series of policies that benefited both the nation and its people. The commoners don’t care about the gender of who sits on the throne; they only care about who can give them a good life.

“Over this past half-month, everyone has witnessed the Emperor’s capabilities and fully accepted him as their ruler.

“As for the aristocratic families and various factions, they are powerless to object. Being a Phoenix, he possesses the bloodline of a Divine Beast, which allows his strength to improve at a terrifying pace. With his current power, ordinary Beastmen are no match for him. Add to that the oppressive aura of a Phoenix bloodline, and most people simply cannot withstand it.”

Hearing this, Qiao Suluo completely understood.

It was good that there would be no more war. This meant that once they settled down in Lin State, they could finally live a peaceful, orderly life.