"If that is the case, then I ask Miss Bo Qing to make an oath, and from then on, we will officially be allies. If Miss Bo Qing is unwilling to swear an oath, then even if we have to destroy this map, we will not travel with you." Ye Lingyue finally got to know the name of the red-clothed woman and withdrew her hand satisfactorily.

"I, Bo Qing, swear an oath to the Ancient Primordial Demon Emperor that if I break my promise, I shall suffer from love and never obtain the love of my life." The red-clothed woman cursed under her breath, caught off guard by the young man's trick. But now that the deed was done, she had no choice but to accept it.

She extended two fingers and spoke out loud.

As soon as the red-clothed woman's voice fell, suddenly, a thunderous roar was heard in the sky.

The red-clothed woman couldn't help but shiver, looking up at the sky, her heart feeling hairy.

Having made so many oaths, it couldn't be that this time she was so unlucky as to suffer retribution.

Touching her thudding chest, Bo Qing couldn't help but feel as though she had made an irreversible mistake.

"In that case, we are now allies. This is Boss He, and next to him is Third Brother He. The two little ones on me are called Little Wuya and Little Zhiyo." After the introductions, the red-clothed woman and Ye Lingyue finally turned from enemies into friends.

In due time, Ye Lingyue and the red-clothed woman quickly became acquainted, due to being of similar ages.

However, for some reason, Little Zhiyo, who always liked beauties, did not frolic this time when facing Bo Qing, a beauty of national grace. Instead, it appeared rather annoyed, as if it had an innate dislike for Bo Qing.

After Bo Qing joined Ye Lingyue's team, the remaining days were spent traveling through the forests, drawing ever closer to Kuocang Mountain.

At the same time, the Jueqing Sect was in chaos.

"The protectors, something terrible has happened, the Young Ancestor is missing!"

A Jueqing Sect maid responsible for attending to the Young Ancestor rushed into the sect's council hall.

In the council hall sat the Jueqing Sect's Four Guardians - Guardian Jue Ai, Jue Hen, Jue Chen, and Jue Chi.

"What, how can the Young Ancestor be missing, how were you watching after him?" Guardian Jue Ai, a man with frost-colored white hair and the fieriest temper, immediately grabbed the maid, scaring her so much she nearly fainted.

"The Young Ancestor said a few days ago that he wanted to go into seclusion, and instructed us maids not to disturb him," the maid said, pale as death.

"The Young Ancestor is such a lazy person, he prefers to stand rather than sit, to lie rather than stand, and you believed him when he said he wanted to cultivate in seclusion? You have served the Young Ancestor for so long," Guardian Jue Ai said, visibly frustrated.

"Don't blame them, Jue Ai. You also know that the Young Ancestor may not be good at anything else, but he has mastered the Soul Capturing and Heart Confusing Technique, with 80% of the Sect Leader's Wife's true teachings—effective on both men and women. Not to mention these small maids, even we Four Guardians may not be able to resist it," Guardian Jue Hen, a woman, spoke in a much calmer manner than Guardian Jue Ai, and stepped forward to rescue the maid from his grasp.

"There's no need to say more. The Young Ancestor must have sneaked out to play while the Sect Leader couple was in seclusion," Guardian Jue Chen, who had the best relationship with the Young Ancestor among the Four Guardians, speculated.

The Jueqing Sect's Young Ancestor, with his astonishing talent and incredible luck, was the treasure in the palms of the Sect Leader couple.

Almost all the treasures gathered by the Sect Leader couple over the years had been given to the Young Ancestor. Despite living such a privileged and covetable life, the Young Ancestor complained of boredom every day, always clamoring to go out for a walk.

"Jue Chi, why aren't you saying anything?" Guardian Jue Ai was too upset at this point to scold the useless maids.

"Actually, I was just about to tell the other protectors, the map of Taiyi Secret Realm that I've been guarding, is missing. A few days ago, without paying attention, I told him of my plans to travel to the Taiyi Secret Realm," Guardian Jue Chi gathered the other three protectors in the council hall for this very reason.

""

"This is such an important matter, why didn't you mention it earlier!"

The three guardians protested in unison.

Inside, Guardian Jue Chi silently thought, 'I need to be given a chance to speak, alright?'

"Since childhood, Little Ancestor has always been fond of collecting various Spiritual Artifacts and treasures. The Taiyi Secret Realm is where the Ancient Taiyi Sect was once based, rumored to hold numerous secret treasures. Jue Chi, there's no time to delay, you must head to the Taiyi Secret Realm at once. No matter what, you have to bring her back before Little Ancestor enters the Taiyi Secret Realm, you must stop her from... causing disaster to the world," Guardian Jue Ai said with a long face.

Equipped with numerous Spiritual Artifacts, the four guardians were not the least bit concerned about Little Ancestor coming to harm.

What worried them the most was the troubles that may last for a thousand years; Little Ancestor could cause mischief everywhere, which might eventually provoke the wrath of the Righteous Path and those major powers.

The Kuocang Mountain Range is far from Daxia, and despite its high altitude, it enjoys spring-like weather all year round.

While it's already winter in Daxia, the Kuocang Mountain is alive with birdsong and lush greenery.

Several figures were moving through the forest, and one of them, a fiery red figure, was particularly eye-catching.

"Ugh, I'm so tired, we've been walking for so long, can we take a break?"

Bo Qing rubbed her legs, her eyes reddening, in the pretense of a tearfully delicate state.

If this were any other place, there would definitely be a bunch of men eager to show their sympathy and help, but right now...

"Miss Bo Qing, you've already taken five breaks today. You rest for half an hour after every half an hour of walking. One moment you have cramps, the next you're bitten by mosquitoes, then you say you're suffering from heatstroke. At this rate, when will we ever reach the location of the Taiyi Secret Realm?" Boss He and Third Brother He complained incessantly.

Why is it that despite both being women, Thirteenth Young Master is so much better than this Miss Bo Qing?

"I don't care, I just can't walk anymore unless you carry me," Bo Qing threw a tantrum. She was known for her laziness back in Jueqing Sect.

The faces of Boss He and Third Brother He turned red.

Both were well-known figures, and carrying such a frail-looking young lady on their backs wouldn't look proper.

"If someone really must carry you, let it be me. It's not quite appropriate for the two elder gentlemen," Ye Lingyue saw the sun getting harsher, and knew at this rate, they won't make it to Kuocang Mountain by nightfall as planned.

"Alright then." A sly gleam flashed across Bo Qing's eyes.

She deftly clambered onto Ye Lingyue's back.

Thankfully, Ye Lingyue, being an alchemist, also trained in martial arts, so carrying the hundred or so pounds that Bo Qing weighed was not much of an issue.

The trio quickened their pace, weaving through the forest.

"Thirteen, you smell so nice," Bo Qing nestled on Ye Lingyue's shoulder, nuzzling up against her neck.

Ye Lingyue felt a bit awkward. If it wasn't for the fact that Bo Qing was also a woman, she would have thrown a punch, telling her to roll as far away as possible.