Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 77. Southern Border

Chapter 77: Southern Border

The southern border has been known since ancient times as a land of barbarians, where local customs dramatically differ from those of the Central Plains. The region is brimming with venomous insects and plants, as well as ferocious beasts and birds. Its inhabitants have a fondness for martial arts and fierce valor, causing most people from the Central Plains to keep away from them. A thousand years ago, the southern border and the Central Plains were unified, and the region was known as Kuizhou. Towards the end of the preceding dynasty, the royal house of Nanzhao rose to power and established the Nanzhao Kingdom. Subsequently, the Great Ancestor Emperor established Great Chu and spent his lifetime in constant military campaigns to the north and south. By the time the Great Ancestor Emperor had the opportunity to confront Nanzhao, the latter had already been a country for over a hundred years with a firmly established foundation. Meanwhile, the Central Plains, after decades of warfare, were desperate for an era of peace and restoration, resulting in the formal independence of the southern border from the territories of Great Chu.

Broken Snow Pass is located along the border between the southern border and Yongzhou of Great Chu. Although there are intermittent periods of war and peace between the two countries, the people living on the border still maintain trade and communication. The Yonglin Town, thirty li away from Broken Snow Pass, often sees people from the southern border in their distinctive attire. Yonglin Town is not large and, due to its proximity to the border and being two hundred li away from the prefectural residence of Yongzhou City, it does not seem prosperous. Except for the presence of people dressed in different ethnic attire, it appears like an ordinary small town. Ye Li stood on the not-so-wide street, watching the calm passersby with a faint smile on her face. In such an era, to have people living peacefully and happily in such a small border town is indeed rare. Or perhaps it should be said that the ability of ordinary people to adapt to their life and environment always exceeds expectations.

Darky Three stood beside Ye Li, holding his sword, looking at his lord standing at the door of the inn with an odd grin on her face, "My lord, it seems there are not many inns in Yonglin City. This is the best one available."

Ye Li gave him a glance, shook her head and smiled, "Let’s go in. It’s not like I’m complaining about the inn." After that, she took the lead and stepped into the somewhat shabby inn. Darky Three raised his eyebrows; he thought that as a Princess Consort, she wouldn’t mind the simple conditions. After all, they had to camp in the open countryside without being able to find a town on their journey. Moreover, during the time in the Capital City, she didn’t blink an eye before she entered those places under Black Cloud Peak where they, as covert guards, didn’t even want to set foot in.

Upon entering the inn, compared to those richly decorated inns in the Capital of Great Chu and Guangling City, this small inn was not even third-rate. However, it was indeed the best inn in Yonglin City. There were only about seven or eight tables in the lobby. At this time, three tables were already occupied, and an old innkeeper was lowering his head to calculate his accounts at the counter. Although Ye Li was dressed in simple clothes, her age, appearance, temperament, as well as Darky Three following her with majestic stature and a sword were remarkable enough to draw attention in the inn. This was not a good time for tourists or business, so the inn seemed somewhat quiet. Ye Li walked up to the counter and lightly knocked twice; the old innkeeper raised his wobbly head and looked at Ye Li and Darky Three for a while before he asked, "Is the young master here to stay?"

Ye Li smiled, "If we’re not here to stay, did we come for tea?"

The old innkeeper smiled back, "What’s the surname of the young master, and how many rooms do you want?"

"Chu, two superior rooms."

The old innkeeper beckoned a waiter to show them upstairs to their rooms. After dismissing the waiter, Darky Three skillfully inspected the entire room. The private room in this kind of small inn, even as a superior room, was not very huge or luxurious, merely containing a bed, a wardrobe, and a screen dividing the room from the outside tables and chairs. Darky Three stood by the door, watching Ye Li deftly arrange her belongings, frowning, "My lord, when are we heading to the Southern Border?" Ye Li neatly arranged her luggage, came out from behind the screen, pointed to the chair next to her, indicating Darky Three to sit down, and chuckled, "We can’t rush this kind of thing. I think... we need a guide."

For anyone venturing into the Southern Border for the first time, rushing blindly into it without sufficient preparation is an act of recklessness. And Ye Li wasn’t fond of taking unnecessary risks.

"A guide?" Darky Three asked, puzzled. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Ye Li grinned, "The Southern Border is too mysterious for us from the Central Plains; it’s not easy for us to navigate without familiarity. It’s a good choice to find a local from the Southern Border or someone from Great Chu who knows the Southern Border well to guide us."

Darky Three frowned, "But... having an outsider with us may hold us back."

Ye Li hit the edge of the table idly with her folding fan. "That’s why we need to wait. I’ve already found a suitable guide. It’s a pity we seem to be two days ahead of him." Seeing the puzzled look in Darky Three’s eyes, Ye Li gave a cryptic smile, indicating that he could go back to rest. Darky Three knew Ye Li too well. If she didn’t want to talk, he wouldn’t get any answers even after racking his brains. Dispiritedly, he got up and left the room.

After watching Darky Three leave, Ye Li took out the scrolls that Tianyi Pavilion had sent along her journey and continued to read. Having received his benefits, Han Mingxi was proving to be quite reliable. Ever since they started moving south, she received a large amount of information about the Southern Border from Tianyi Pavilion almost every few days. Ye Li had made it a habit to read and memorize all the materials she received promptly before completely disposing of them. Now she held what should be the last batch of information before they entered the Southern Border. The situation in the Southern Border has gradually formed an impression in her mind, but she would need to verify how true that impression is once they enter. After swiftly going through the thick scroll in her hand, Ye Li burnt the sheets filled with writings with nonchalance.

「Early the next morning」, as usual, Ye Li woke up and went downstairs. There were already two tables occupied in the lobby downstairs, one of which was Darky Three, who was sitting against the wall. Darky Three stood up quickly as he saw Ye Li, "My lord."

Ye Li nodded with a smile, "You’re up early?"

Darky Three remained silent. It was often not as early when there were a few more of them, but now that he was alone, even though he knew that his lord could protect herself, he couldn’t help worrying. Ye Li, understanding what he was thinking, sighed helplessly, "Don’t be so tense. If you continue like this, I’m afraid you’ll collapse from exhaustion before we enter the Southern Border. Does following me put a lot of pressure on you?"

Darky Three shook his head, "No, I am grateful for your trust." He and the others grew up together since childhood, and he was just a bit older than Darky Four, but even less steady than him. That’s why he was usually accustomed to listening to the opinions of Darky One and Darky Two. Now that he was alone, he couldn’t help but feel a bit out of place. Ye Li nodded with a smile and sat down, calling over a waiter to order some breakfast.

"Gentlemen, are you also planning to go to the Southern Border?" Ye Li was inviting Darky Three for breakfast when a man from the table across stood up and asked.

Hearing this, Ye Li put down the chopsticks in her hand and looked up at the man. He was tall and rugged with a plain looking face. Although his manner was extremely friendly, the domineering air in his brows was hardly concealed. Darky Three reached out and grabbed the sword on the table, but Ye Li stopped him, patting his hand casually. Darky Three frowned, glanced at the man before bringing back his hand and continued eating.

The man saw their actions clearly but didn’t mind and laughed, "There’s no need to be nervous, my friend. We’re also headed to the Southern Border and thought the young masters might want to travel together." The man pointed at the three people at his table and laughed. Ye Li glanced at them and saw a merchant in his fifties or sixties, dressed in exquisite and expensive clothes, a jade thumb ring sparkling on his finger, and a gold abacus in his hand. He looked like a billboard screaming, "I am very rich, come and rob me." Next to him were a middle-aged man looking like a steward and a sickly looking youth. Such a combination would undoubtedly draw attention. Ye Li was initially worried that she and Darky Three might attract too much attention, but after seeing these people, she realized she was not conspicuous at all. After all, it’s rare for anyone daring enough to travel to the Southern Border to be a pushover.

Ye Li looked at Darky Three and laughed, "I’m afraid we might give you some trouble."

The man laughed, "How come? This brother here seems to be very capable. I’ve been to the Southern Border a few times, and it’s a rather wicked place. A few more of us could give each other some support, right?" The man glanced at Darky Three, then turned his attention back to Ye Li. It was clear that Ye Li was the one who would make the decision, but he couldn’t figure out the depth of the young man before his eyes. He could only secretly guess if he was a reckless young master from an influential family playing around with his bodyguard.

"We plan to go to the Nanzhao Capital; it should be safe all the way. Where are you going?" Ye Li squinted, her smile innocent and friendly.

The man laughed heartily, "We are also going to the Nanzhao Capital. The route to the capital used to be relatively peaceful, but it has been getting mysteriously dangerous since last year. Our master is going to do some business in medicinal herbs in Nanzhao. If the young master doesn’t mind, why not join us?" The haughty merchant sitting across them cast a glance at Ye Li, while the sickly young man smiled and nodded at them.

Ye Li smiled gently, declining politely, "I just heard that Nanzhao has unique scenery, so I decided to travel there and broaden my horizon. Therefore, I’ve already found a guide, but he won’t arrive until two days later. I wouldn’t want to delay you." Seeing Ye Li’s refusal, the man didn’t insist, and just smiled, "In that case, I’ll stop bothering you. We’ll see you in the Nanzhao Capital." Ye Li nodded slightly, watching the man return to his seat. From across the room, came some reproachful words from the rich man about his companion, along with dismissive words about Ye Li and Darky Three. Ye Li simply smiled faintly and continued to eat breakfast, unperturbed.

It was only when those customers had left that Darky Three raised his head and spoke, "Young Master, be cautious of those few individuals."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you know them?"

Darky Three nodded and then shook his head, saying, "I recognize the sickly scholar."

"?" Ye Li looked at Darky Three, vaguely curious about how he, who had hardly ever left the Capital City, would know such a sickly scholar. "It seems that the sickly scholar’s identity is not simple?" Darky Three nodded. "His nickname is the sickly scholar. Nobody knows his real name, including the Tianyi Pavilion." Ye Li lowered her head in thought, recalling the scholar with a sickly pallor that she had just seen. He didn’t seem like a top-notch martial artist, nor did there appear to be anything particularly unusual about him. How had Darky Three discerned his identity? Darky Three said, "He is the Third Pavilion Master of King of Hell Pavilion, Xiling Kingdom. A few years ago, almost all assassin organizations took on the task of assassinating the Prince, which included the King of Hell. Several of our shadow guards died at his hands. However, he was also struck by the Prince, injuring his heart meridian, and his feigned sickness turned into a real one. Did you notice his right hand just now, Young Master? The sickly scholar is proficient in poison; his left fingernails are a different color than normal people. Others just assume it’s due to his illness. In fact, it was like that even before he was injured by the Prince. That hand has been marred by his years of practicing poison; it’s extremely toxic."

Ye Li recalled the scholar’s left hand concealed in his sleeve, which had been briefly exposed when he stood up—it did indeed seem to be a dark red color. "He turned his own hand into poison? Isn’t he afraid of poisoning himself?" Ye Li didn’t understand, feeling that this approach was meaningless. A body immune to all poisons, in some sense, doesn’t exist. One can only say that some bodies, due to some reason, have resistance to most poisons. If a person imbued with poison could live peacefully, then Shen Yang wouldn’t need to put in so much effort in treating Mo Xiuyao.

「After breakfast」, Ye Li went out and took a stroll around the city of Yonglin, taking the opportunity to learn about the situation in the Southern Border and Broken Snow Pass. When returning in the evening, she saw the same group of four people still sitting in their original spots, having dinner. Evidently, they hadn’t set out to leave today. The sickly scholar cordially nodded at Ye Li and Darky Three. Ye Li smiled and nodded back, preparing to head upstairs.

"Oh? When did such a tender and fair little master come to Yonglin City?" Before Ye Li could step on the staircase, a sleazy voice came from behind her. Turning slightly, she saw a scrawny young man dressed in Southern Border attire staring at her, his eyes blatantly lurid. Even his tiny, rat-like eyes were filled with murky lewdness. She couldn’t help but frown. Despite her past life and present, including the mobsters and terrorists she had confronted, she had never seen a person whose appearance tests one’s aesthetic tolerance this much.

Darky Three quickly turned around, his expression ice cold as he stared at the young man. His gaze was filled with warning and murderous intent. If this scoundrel dared to speak another word, he would swiftly be transformed into a ghost under his sword. The Princess Consort of Ding Kingdom is not someone any vermin could disrespect!

The young man, however, seemed to take Darky Three’s warning as a provocation and became even more conceited. His dim, sleazy gaze persevered on Ye Li while he arrogantly smirked at Darky Three, "Whatcha lookin’ at? Is what I’m saying wrong? This little master’s face is all powdered up. You Central Plains’ men are all girly-like; this kid here looks even more girly than the ladies." To be fair, Ye Li’s disguise was incredibly successful. Even though she appeared more beautiful than most women, nobody would suspect her as being female due to her age, demeanor, and carriage. So, Darky Three naturally wouldn’t waste his breath arguing with the obscene man. He drew his sword directly—

SHING! The long sword was unsheathed and quickly aimed at the lewd man.

Clearly, the opponent didn’t expect Darky Three to attack without even uttering a word of greeting. The sleazy man seemed stunned, as if he was on the brink of being stabbed. The person beside him hurriedly pulled him away, flicking a slender object straight at Darky Three. Darky Three sniffed dismissively, and with a flourish of his sword, SLASH! SLASH! The object was chopped into three pieces and fell to the ground. Everyone looked over and saw that it was a venomous snake. Though they didn’t know its species, the vibrant colors indicated it was undoubtedly a poisonous one.

Darky Three raised an eyebrow in disdain. Since they were going to the Southern Border, they have surely been prepared for some of the tricks often used by the people of the Southern Border.

The Southern Border group, on the other hand, turned ashen. Only the sleazy man still shouted, "You have quite the guts! You know who I am?"

Darky Three sneered, "You are in Great Chu, being so arrogant, you must be the Prince of Nanzhao. Last I remember, the King of Nanzhao only had two daughters." As the man tried to say something, he was silenced by the sword in Darky Three’s hand and sulked, retreating to his group, shouting, "Kill this boy!"

His followers clearly struggled what to do, muttering something to the man. Ye Li, standing at the staircase entrance, listened. It sounded like a minority language from the Yun and Gui areas of her previous life. Having spent many years in that area, Ye Li was somewhat familiar with the minority languages. The followers were clearly advising their master not to commit a murder in broad daylight in Great Chu territory, but the sleazy man was insistent on killing Darky Three and having Ye Li captured. After an unsuccessful negotiation, the Southern Border men reluctantly surrounded Darky Three and Ye Li.

When people in the hall saw a fight was about to break out, they scattered like birds, leaving only the sickly scholar and a middle-aged man at that table. The old shopkeeper had already hidden behind the counter, too scared to come out. Ye Li frowned, "Throw them out, and don’t damage any of the property here." Darky Three cheerfully replied, "Yes, Young Master!"

"Who has the audacity to anger our Young Master Junwei?"

Just as Darky Three was about to strike, a lazy voice with a bit of a silken tone echoed from above. Ye Li looked up to see a handsome man dressed in loose dark red silk clothes leaning against the second-floor railing. A stunning devil! Seeing the flabbergasted sleazy man drooling beside him, Ye Li rubbed her temples, looking at the bewitching man who was grinning seductively at her, "Brother Han, why are you here?"

Han Mingxi lightly flipped over the railing, floating down the stairs, "Well...I’ve been thinking, and I feel uneasy letting Brother Junwei go to such a dangerous place like the Southern Border alone. Moreover, Junwei needs a guide, doesn’t he? Therefore, I volunteered." Ye Li rolled her eyes, "Brother Han, do you know the way to Nanzhao?"

"You underestimate me." Han Mingxi looked at Ye Li with a look of wounded pride, "I’ve traveled to Nanzhao at least seven or eight times. I wouldn’t get lost even with my eyes closed. Besides, having me around can serve to protect Junwei. Look, you only brought one person with you on this trip, and even before leaving Great Chu, you’ve already encountered a rogue." Ye Li gritted her teeth, "Brother Han, I am a man!" Han Mingxi raised his eyebrows in surprise, he covered his mouth with his fan and chuckled, "Junwei, you’re young and naïve. Who said men can’t encounter rogues? That foolish fellow over there, wouldn’t you agree?"

The ridiculously sleazy young man, nodding furiously, with saliva dripping from his mouth, caused Ye Li to turn away in disgust. Looking angrily at Han Mingxi, she thought he just liked to flirt with women, but it turned out he swings both ways.

"Junwei, don’t misunderstand. Even if I swing both ways, I’m not interested in that type. I prefer handsome young men, like you." Han Mingxi winked at Ye Li, trying to reach out to pinch Ye Li’s cheek. Ye Li would never let him have his way. The fan in her hand snapped shut, THWACK, against his wrist. Han Mingxi’s face immediately fell.

Han Mingxi strolled down the stairs, his phoenix eyes lazily glanced at the people from the Southern Border, "Would you like to leave voluntarily or do you want me to show you out?" The sleazy man approached him and smirked, "Esteemed sir, are you also heading to the Southern Border? I am Junior Clan Leader of the Luoyi Tribe. How about I lead the way for you?" He mimicked the gentle and courteous speech of Central Plains people. However, combined with his murky squinty eyes, the emaciated body that was mere skin and bones, and his self-proclaimed suave smile was somewhat creepy. Ye Li suppressed a twitching corner of her mouth and felt pity for Han Mingxi’s bad luck. She figured she might as well let him handle this since he seemed eager to take the lead.

Han Mingxi’s eyes twitched, and in a contemptuous tone, he said, "Get lost!"

He might be flirtatious, but he wouldn’t go to the extent of being indiscriminate towards men and women. Even if he did swing both ways, he was still picky, right?

The self-proclaimed Junior Clan Leader of the Luoyi Tribe felt insulted. His initial admiration switched to anger. He said, "Kill those two young men! Capture him alive!" Ye Li was shocked. Just a moment ago they wanted to kill Darky Three and capture her, but now with the appearance of Han Mingxi, they are planning to kill her too and capture Han Mingxi instead. What’s that all about? Han Mingxi curled his lips into a cold smile, "Either you all get out right now, or do you want General Murong to personally send you off?"

His words finally filled the sleazy young man with hesitation. After being persuaded by his companions, the sleazy young man, with a HMPH, finally uttered a threatening remark and bolted.

It was quiet inside the hall. Only when it was clear the fight wouldn’t happen did the old innkeeper carefully get up from behind the counter, still afraid, and started apologizing to his only remaining guests. As Ye Li went upstairs, she quietly ordered Darky Three to pay a little extra when settling the bill as compensation. Han Mingxi followed behind her, giggling, "Junwei, you’re such a soft-hearted person. The old innkeeper has been running inns in Yonglin for decades. He’s faced every possible situation. You thought he was really scared?" Ye Li glanced at him, saying indifferently, "It’s a fact that our trouble drove his customers away. Whether he was scared or not doesn’t matter. Also...Brother Han, this is my room."

Han Mingxi asked with a smile, "Isn’t Junwei going to invite me in for a cup of tea?"

"Didn’t you want to drink tea earlier in the lobby?"

Han Mingxi crinkled his nose in distaste, "Tea in such a place doesn’t suit this Young Master’s refined taste. And...I don’t want to risk drinking something poisoned without noticing. You’re in luck, Junwei, encountering the ’Sick Scholar,’ whom everyone in the worldly society dreads, right when you step out." Ye Li raised an eyebrow, made way for him to enter through the door, and asked, "You know the ’Sick Scholar’? What is he doing in the Southern Border?"

Han Mingxi shrugged, leaning leisurely back in his chair with his hands behind his head, smiling as he looked at Ye Li, "Who knows? He was nearly killed by Prince Ding a few years ago. It was only thanks to the personal intervention of the Chief Pavilion Master of the King of Hell Pavilion that his life was spared. He’s kept a low profile for several years. Suddenly showing up in the Southern Border... HAHA, every time that guy appears, it results in widespread devastation and rivers of blood. You better not be fooled by him, Junwei. You’d be better off staying far away." Ye Li nonchalantly nodded, though her thoughts had turned elsewhere, "I don’t know him so naturally I won’t meddle with him. Brother Han, did you abandon your duties at Qingfeng and Mingyue Tower to come all the way to the Southern Border?"

Han Mingxi sneered, "Who needs me at Qingfeng and Mingyue Tower? I’d rather watch over you, Junwei. After all... your Xunya Pavilion is the only business I own. If anything happened to you, it would be a huge loss for me." While he spoke seriously, his enchanting phoenix eyes revealed a playful hint.

Ye Li gazed at him evenly, "I have business in the Southern Border and cannot afford to bring Brother Han along."

"No worries. I can just follow you, Junwei. If you ascend a mountain of knives, I’ll surely not descend into a sea of flames. How about that?" Han Mingxi’s smile was radiant. "I’m quite handy, you know. Aren’t you trying to use the intelligence from Tianyi Pavilion? As long as I’m by your side, you’ll have instant access to any Tianyi Pavilion intelligence any time. It’s more convenient than waiting for messages to be sent to you."

Ye Li looked at him silently for a while before saying, "I’m afraid Young Master Mingyue might accidentally kill me in retaliation if he finds out his younger brother followed me into dangerous territory."

At the mention of his elder brother, Han Mingxi’s mood dampened instantly. He gave a cold harrumph, "Don’t speak for him. Does he even remember he has a younger brother like me? Sooner or later he’ll die...Humph! When the time comes, I’ll just carry the burden of collecting his body." A faint idea occurred in Ye Li’s mind. Although last time she had deceived Han Mingyue and escaped from his hands, there was a deep-seated unease she felt towards him. Yet, she did not have similar sensations about Han Mingxi, who resembled his elder brother closely. Perhaps it was because of Han Mingyue’s ability to establish the Qingfeng and Mingyue Tower and the Tianyi Pavilion single-handedly, or the unclear grudge between him and Mo Xiuyao. Most importantly, Han Mingyue was the first person who could really pose a threat to her.

She quietly observed the still moody Han Mingxi, before lightly saying, "If you’re worried, go check on him. There’s no need for Brother Han to travel all over with me; it’s dangerous, and if anything happens to Young Master Mingyue, wouldn’t it cause you regret?" Han Mingxi paused, then smiled quickly, "What could happen to him? There are few people in this world who could harm him. Besides, he doesn’t need my help. In his eyes, I would only make a mess." Ye Li supported her chin and watched him, laughing, "I thought that Brother Han and Young Master Mingyue had a good relationship as brothers?"

Han Mingxi huffed lightly, "In any case, I’m going to the Southern Border with you. Even if you forbid me, I’ll follow. As for my elder brother, you needn’t worry about him. He won’t be back to Qingfeng and Mingyue Tower for a while and it won’t fall apart without him." Ye Li shrugged indifferently. Talking too much could easily raise his suspicions. Since they were going to be together for a considerable amount of time, she’ll find a way to know where Han Mingyue had gone. She hadn’t forgotten that Han Mingyue almost ruined her reputation for a woman who had ties with Mo Xiuyao. Who says she couldn’t bear a grudge after he apologized? But she was not in a hurry to take revenge. As for using Han Mingxi... Ye Li glanced at the man who was laughing salaciously. Who asked him to be Han Mingyue’s younger brother and insist on tagging along?

Seeing that Ye Li was no longer objecting, Han Mingxi was overjoyed. With joy in his heart, he began planning their journey, "Junwei, I’ve been to the Southern Border several times before. We can go touring Cang Mountain first, then along the Qingming River westward, we can just go and see the poinciana bloom and the lantern festival of the Southern Border, then to Nanzhao Capital, what do you think?"

Ye Li looked at him with an indifferent expression, "I thought, Brother Han knew we were in a hurry. According to your itinerary, could we make it to Nanzhao Capital by the end of May?" Han Mingxi immediately wilted, mumbling discontentedly, "In that case, let’s rush to Nanzhao Capital first. Once Junwei finishes his business, then we can go see the lantern festival."

Looking at the pitiful Han Mingxi, Ye Li felt a particularly strong pulse throbbing on her forehead. She unceremoniously shooed him out. Darky Three stood by the side, worrying as he looked at Ye Li. Ye Li raised an eyebrow, "You have something to say?"

Darky Three frowned, "Young Master, Young Master Han..." They knew nothing about Han Mingxi, but they were familiar with Han Mingyue. As shadow guards who might serve the Prince or the Princess Consort, they understood that Han Mingyue was a challenging person to deal with. Moreover, given that Han Mingxi was the younger brother of Han Mingyue, it was unlikely that he was any better. Most importantly ... Han Mingxi had a rather bad reputation. Having the Princess Consort associate with him for a prolonged period of time... Considering certain consequences, Darky Three couldn’t help but shiver.

Ye Li sighed helplessly, "There are benefits as well as drawbacks in having Han Mingxi along. But since he’s already here, it’s probably not going to be easy to get rid of him." The intelligence network of Tianyi Pavilion was spread all over the world. More importantly, there’s a kind of person you can’t drive away. The more you try to shake them off, the more eager they are to stick around. Han Mingxi was clearly such a person.

Waving her hand, Ye Li said, "No need to worry, we won’t consider anything else for now. Let’s find Elder Brother first once we reach the Southern Border. Darky Two should have found Elder Brother by now, right?"

Darky Three nodded, "Darky Two is good at tracking. He is faster than us so he should have found Young Master Xu by now."

Ye Li nodded, "Then we’ll bring Han Mingxi along. After we enter the Southern Border, pay attention to the traces Darky Two left behind. We’ll rendezvous with Elder Brother first."

"Yes."