Ye Lingyue was slightly startled to hear that Feng Xun intended to return to Beiqing.

"You're going back to Beiqing? But what about your health?" Ye Lingyue did not notice the concern in her tone, mixed with a faint sense of reluctance.

Feng Xun noticed, however, and a hint of joy flickered in his beautiful, glassy eyes.

"My health has improved since the arrival of spring. I'm returning to Beiqing to take care of some matters at Feng Residence, and I will stay for only three months. After that, I'll be back."

"Miss Ye can rest assured, with me by the Prince's side, nothing will happen to him. Actually, in past years, before the transition from spring to summer, the Prince would stay in Beiqing for more than half a year. Hehe, this time, because of Miss Ye, he is only staying for three months," Sword Slave chimed in from the side.

Upon hearing this, Ye Lingyue was stunned, and Feng Xun's face turned somewhat awkward.

"Not bad, Sword Slave, the big fool has finally gotten smarter."

Lan Cai'er gave a thumbs-up to Sword Slave, looking at him with a newfound respect.

"It's thanks to the Prince's teachings," responded Sword Slave as he scratched his head. His straightforward nature had left him slightly dissatisfied with Ye Lingyue previously, for not paying attention to their Prince, but seeing her concern for Feng Xun later made him forget his past displeasure.

Feng Xun's handsome face flushed, and he almost choked on his own spit. What does this have to do with him?

Well, he had to admit that he had indeed squeezed a six-month schedule into half because of Ye Lingyue.

Six months without seeing her... that was too long.

No wonder this morning, Housekeeper Mu, upon hearing that he was going to bid farewell to Ling Yue, pulled Sword Slave aside and they whispered for a good while. This wasn't due to his own good teaching, but rather Housekeeper Mu's.

At least, such cheesy words, Feng Xun could never utter himself.

Feng Xun secretly glanced at Ye Lingyue, relieved to see she did not show any signs of displeasure.

Yan Che, listening on the side, felt a vague discomfort in his heart.

Does the Sect Leader fancy this Feng Xun?

It is normal for such an excellent woman as the Sect Leader to have admirers. Previously, the Sixth Prince and Heir Qinghai had both shown fondness for her.

Yet, Yan Che knew the Sect Leader had never taken them seriously, but this Prince Feng...

Though he disliked Feng Xun, Yan Che had to admit that Prince Feng was indeed superior to both the Sixth Prince and Heir Qinghai.

Firstly, he was very handsome.

Yan Che, a man of few words, didn't know how to describe Feng Xun's appearance. Certainly, nobody would dislike that face, whether male or female.

Secondly, he was very wealthy.

According to the young lady, there weren't many people in the world richer than him.

Thirdly, he treated the Sect Leader very well.

Although he had only met Feng Xun a few times, Yan Che could see that every time Prince Feng encountered the Sect Leader, his eyes would linger only on her.

Yet, even if Feng Xun was handsome and wealthy and fond of the Sect Leader, in Yan Che's eyes, Feng Xun was still not worthy of her.

The man was merely weak and sickly. How could his frail appearance ever protect the Sect Leader?

Yan Che's discerning gaze fell unpleasantly onto Feng Xun.

Feng Xun looked up and also noticed Yan Che.

Their eyes met, emitting an indescribable spark of confrontation that rapidly spread.

"However, Prince Feng, the road to Beiqing through the northwest is not very peaceful these days. Knowing that you are leaving, why didn't you depart with the Western Expedition Army?" Lan Cai'er obviously did not notice the tension between Feng Xun and Yan Che and casually asked.

Northwest? Ye Lingyue briefly recalled and then remembered. Beiqing is located to the northwest of Daxia.

To return to Beiqing, Feng Xun must first travel through the northwest, then cross the national border.

But currently, with the northwest beast chaos, even if Feng Xun brought along the Sword Slave…

"The Western Expedition Army is a regular conquering force; I am merely a merchant. Traveling with the army is always inconvenient. Moreover, this time, I am not returning to Beiqing alone with the Sword Slave but with a large merchant caravan," Feng Xun explained with a smile.

Large caravans usually hire mercenaries for protection when crossing national borders.

These mercenaries, in terms of strength, might not be inferior to a regular army.

When Feng Xun was returning to his country, Emperor Xia had proposed that the Western Expedition Army escort him to the border, but Feng Xun tactfully refused.

"If that's the case, then you must be careful along the way," Ye Lingyue felt a vague sense of melancholy she couldn't quite explain.

The Western Expedition Army marched west magnificently, in a certain jungle in the vast western region of Daxia.

Packs of wolves were frantically sprinting for their lives.

In Northwest Daxia, known as the Xixia Plain, the wolves here, mostly Fourth and Fifth Rank Spiritual Beasts, were more than twice the size of wolves found in other parts of Daxia.

Adult wolves were as big as small ponies.

Trailing behind them were several figures, all dirty, wearing light armor, already smeared with mud, only upon close inspection could one make out that it was Daxia's military uniform.

"Haha, our first squad is sure to win this beast hunt," a giant man with a wide smile said.

He was missing two front teeth, and his speech was whistling, making him look rather comical.

He suddenly stepped forward, his large hand, like a fan, grabbed the tail of a starving wolf, and with a strong yank, the tail of the wolf the size of a small pony was brutally torn off. The Green Wolf yelped in pain but dared not turn back, continuing to run forward.

With a whoosh, from the tall jungle, a cold arrow flew out.

The cold arrow pierced through the Green Wolf's eyes, boring a hole clean through its head, and the wolf's body slumped to the side, its head oozing a mix of red and white blood and brain matter.

After a successful shot, numerous more cold arrows flew out from the jungle.

These cold arrows, one shot one hit, all aimed at the wolves' eyes, killing them with one shot.

The pelts of the Xixia Green Wolves were tough, having developed a body of Copper Skin and Iron Bones; only their tails and eye areas were vulnerable.

In no time, a sizeable group of Xixia Green Wolves was completely eradicated.

"Damn it, it's Ye Huang and that reckless bunch from squad four again," the giant man cursed loudly when he saw his Green Wolves being decimated, his anger erupting like a volcano. He shouted abusively towards the jungle, spitting everywhere.

"Chen Zhong, if your filthy mouth doesn't keep clean, believe it or not, I will shoot off each of your remaining teeth one by one," a few figures slid down from the trees in the jungle, one of them, slender and not dirty like the Northwest Tiger and Wolf Army men.

This soldier of the Northwest Tiger and Wolf Army was very pretty, and "he" was carrying a bow on his back.