Sensing that her breath had completely disappeared, Shen Qianmo raised her eyes again and gave Situ Jingyan a wink. Situ Jingyan immediately understood and led Shen Qianmo into a nearby inn.
"You sensed them?" As soon as Situ Jingyan entered the inn, he immediately put on that captivatingly wicked smile again, sitting lazily in a chair.
Shen Qianmo sat calmly in her chair, looking unhurried, and smiled, "Hmm. It seems they've been searching for us everywhere."
"Then let's go out for a stroll." Situ Jingyan removed his disguise, revealing his original appearance.
His jet-black hair appeared even more alluring against the backdrop of his fiery red dress. His thin lips curved into a captivatingly wicked smile, and his long, dark eyes held a hint of domineering power combined with a touch of devilish charm. He was naturally charismatic and domineering.
Shen Qianmo also smiled freely, removing her disguise. She was still dressed in a fiery red dress, which hugged her exquisite figure, making her look even more alluring and seductive. A wicked smile played on her lips, and her dark eyes were full of cunning.
The two smiled at each other and walked out of the inn hand in hand.
This is what is meant by "making the real appear real, and the real appear fake." If they continue to hide their whereabouts from the Southern Frontier Holy Clan, the Southern Frontier Holy Clan will inevitably become suspicious; if they continue to expose themselves to the Southern Frontier Holy Clan, they will face great danger.
Therefore, appearing and disappearing intermittently is the best method. Let the Southern Frontier Holy Clan experience what it feels like to finally find someone, only to have them vanish in the blink of an eye.
Although they don't conceal their tracks like the people of the Southern Frontier Holy Clan, they can disguise themselves and appear openly within the Southern Frontier Holy Clan's surveillance range. Little do they know that if the people of the Southern Frontier Holy Clan knew that the person they had been searching for was appearing in their sight from time to time and then openly disappearing again, they would be furious.
"Whoosh." The sound of a hidden weapon piercing the air.
Situ Jingyan and Shen Qianmo's eyes narrowed. Hmph! They're really quick. They've barely shown themselves, and the Southern Frontier Holy Clan's hidden weapons have already arrived.
With a sideways twist of her waist, Shen Qianmo effortlessly dodged the incoming hidden weapon. Situ Jingyan stepped aside, seemingly just helping Shen Qianmo up, but the fan in his hand lashed out towards the direction the hidden weapon had traveled.
The fan flew backward and returned to Situ Jingyan's hand, stained with a trace of blood. It seemed that the fan had struck the person who had secretly planted the hidden weapon.
Situ Jingyan's lips curled into a ruthless smile. Trying to ambush him with a hidden weapon?! The person hiding in the shadows was probably not qualified. That this fan hadn't killed him was quite a feat.
One of the nine protectors, hiding in the shadows, frowned and looked pale. He hadn't expected Situ Jingyan's internal energy to be so formidable. A mere flick of his wrist, imbued with internal energy, had injured him so badly that he couldn't help but cough up blood. He had truly underestimated Situ Jingyan.
No wonder the Holy Son ordered that they not confront Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan directly; it seems that Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan are indeed quite skilled.
But is the feud between the two kings and the four protectors really over?! They were brothers who grew up together since childhood, and yet they died at the hands of Shen Qianmo without any explanation. Even if it weren't for avenging the Holy Maiden, they absolutely could not let Shen Qianmo go!
However, Shen Qianmo was with Situ Jingyan all day long. With Shengge, Qingsong, and Hongmei secretly protecting her, it was truly difficult to strike. Moreover, this woman's senses were exceptionally sharp; she had used poison, hidden weapons, and almost every other clandestine tactic, yet she had neutralized them all!
How hateful! Absolutely hateful! If they catch Shen Qianmo alone, they will surely attack her with all their might and take her life.
The two kings and five protectors lurking in the shadows probably shared the same thoughts. Little did they know, their thoughts played right into Shen Qianmo's hands. She wasn't worried about them not hating her; she was worried they didn't hate her enough!
"Are the people of the Southern Frontier Holy Clan all cowardly scoundrels who only dare to do such sneaky little tricks?!" Shen Qianmo curled her lips, her eyes full of disdain.
She knew that the people of the Southern Frontier Holy Clan would be hiding in the shadows. She said this to provoke them and deepen their hatred for her, so as to lay the groundwork for her plan to lure them into a trap a few days later.
"Damn it! I'll kill her right now!" One of the guardians, who was lurking in the shadows, was about to make his move in anger.
"Halt!" The Second King frowned, his cold eyes sweeping over the impulsive protector. He said coldly, "Have you forgotten the Holy Son's instructions?! Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan's martial arts are unfathomable. They can only be attacked stealthily, not openly."
The protector frowned reluctantly when the two kings called out to him, but his eyes were filled with even more resentment as he looked at Shen Qianmo.
The two kings exchanged a glance, watching Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan's departing figures, and a deep, sinister smile crept across their faces. How could they not want to kill Shen Qianmo? She had killed the three kings, the four kings, and four protectors—people they had grown up with! How could they not want to avenge their brothers?! How could they not want to kill this hateful woman, Shen Qianmo?!
However, since the Son of God has ordered them not to act rashly, they cannot disobey the Son's command unless they are certain of victory.
"Mo'er, isn't this too dangerous?" After walking for a while, Situ Jingyan suddenly said with concern.
Shen Qianmo raised an eyebrow and glanced at Situ Jingyan. The Situ Jingyan she knew had always been a decisive and ruthless king, never hesitant like this before. Why was he so indecisive today?! Seeing the worry slowly creeping into Situ Jingyan's eyes, a smile slowly spread across his lips. So it was all because he was worried about her safety.
With a faint smile, he held Situ Jingyan's hand and said, "Jingyan, don't you trust the array and mechanisms of Xuanlou? Don't you trust my martial arts?"
“But the Southern Frontier Holy Clan must hate you to the bone right now. I’m afraid they might do something desperate!” Situ Jingyan said, frowning.
These past few days, the mockery and sarcasm that Shen Qianmo has been playing with the Southern Frontier Holy Clan, coupled with the hatred stemming from her killing of the Third and Fourth Kings, have likely made the Southern Frontier Holy Clan want nothing more than to tear Shen Qianmo to pieces. What if she does something unpredictable and crazy at that time?!
"Isn't Jingyan here to meet me?" Shen Qianmo smiled dismissively, a faint smile playing on her lips as she looked at Situ Jingyan with trust.
With Situ Jingyan around, she would be safe. This was her belief in Situ Jingyan, her confidence that he could protect her. For the first time, however, Situ Jingyan lacked confidence. He feared a moment of carelessness, a slip-up, because the other party was Shen Qianmo, and he couldn't afford to gamble.
He had never worried about anything as much as he was now. It was all because of this matter, because this plan involved the woman he loved most. So even Situ Jingyan, who was always decisive and ruthless without the slightest hesitation, began to worry.
"I believe you. You believe me too, okay?" Shen Qianmo saw the concern and worry flickering in Situ Jingyan's dark eyes, reached out and grasped Situ Jingyan's hand, and said firmly.
Situ Jingyan met Shen Qianmo's dark eyes, which were filled with trust and affection. A charming yet indulgent smile slowly appeared on his lips as he grasped Shen Qianmo's hand and said with a smile, "Mm."
Seven days passed in this cat-and-mouse game. The people of the Southern Frontier Holy Clan gradually grew impatient, and the use of hidden weapons and poison became more and more frequent. They seemed to have grown impatient and wished they could kill Shen Qianmo immediately.
Meanwhile, Xuan Lou had already arrived in Nancheng without stopping. Disguised and having barely managed to avoid the eyes and ears of the Southern Frontier Holy Clan, Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan secretly met with Xuan Lou.
"What's the rush to call me here for?" Xuan Lou was dressed in white, looking travel-worn, as if he hadn't rested much along the way and had just rushed here.
Shen Qianmo looked at Xuan Lou with some emotion. She wasn't unaware of who Xuan Lou was doing this for. But all she could offer was friendship. She already had Situ Jingyan in this life; that was enough. Even though she felt guilty towards Xuan Lou, she could only remain silent, pretending not to know anything.
“Set up some traps and formations.” Situ Jingyan raised an eyebrow and said casually. He was not unaware of Xuan Lou’s feelings for Shen Qianmo, and had been unhappy about it at one point. However, he had to admit that Xuan Lou was indeed a remarkable person. He had not done anything excessive to Shen Qianmo, and had even helped them several times.
He was indeed prone to jealousy, but he wasn't someone who couldn't distinguish right from wrong. Although he didn't seem to like Xuan Lou on the surface, he considered Xuan Lou a close friend in his heart. There weren't many people that Situ Jingyan could consider close friends, and Xuan Lou was one of them.
"A mechanism or formation?" Xuan Lou's vacant eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan. Seeing their serious expressions, he knew they weren't joking, and he frowned in confusion.
Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan are both masters of array formations and mechanisms. Especially Situ Jingyan, whose skill in array formations and mechanisms is arguably no less than his own. Why bother summoning him from afar to set up any array formations or mechanisms?! Moreover, with their exceptional skills, is there anyone they can't handle who requires elaborate array formations and mechanisms to outmaneuver them?!
But judging from their expressions, they didn't seem to be joking. And summoning him from so far away must be for something important. Could it be about dealing with the Southern Frontier Holy Clan?
"To deal with the Southern Frontier Holy Clan?!" Xuan Lou raised an eyebrow and asked.
"Smart." A hint of a smile appeared in Shen Qianmo's dark eyes, and a gentle, friendly smile played on her lips as she spoke.
"Time?" Without saying much, Xuan Lou immediately understood the dilemma faced by Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan.