Grace ground her teeth, turning to glare at them.
These women are absolutely insane!
I really want to gouge their eyes out...
On the emperor’s side, Evan Xiao handed the spoils of war to Emperor Tuoba Hong.
Emperor Tuoba Hong opened it for inspection, smiled and nodded, then handed it back to him. "It's yours now!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Evan Xiao said.
"Excellent!" Emperor Tuoba Hong said enthusiastically. "General Xiao is a master of spell arrays. Even though he arrived later, he was the first to break the array and find the item. This round goes to General Xiao!"
The two old princes had nothing to say.
At that moment, Zane Tuoba returned with a dark expression.
He was soaking wet, riding back with another member of the Flying Cavalry Corps.
"Zane," Emperor Tuoba Hong asked with a smile, "what happened to your Black Lightning Eagle?"
"No idea," Zane replied, looking thoroughly frustrated. "Next time, I’ll slaughter that beast!"
Emperor Tuoba Hong chuckled, "In that case, let’s move on to the third round."
"What’s the third round about?" Zane asked.
"In an army, aside from generals, the most important role is the Spiritual Alchemist," Emperor Tuoba Hong said. "Spiritual Alchemists not only save lives during wartime, but their elixirs greatly enhance the army’s overall cultivation."
Everyone agreed with this point.
"I know of a Spiritual Alchemist," Emperor Tuoba Hong said. "He’s a reclusive master living on Lionhead Mountain. Now, you two must invite him down the mountain to serve as the national Spiritual Alchemist for the Vermilion Kingdom. Whoever succeeds wins this round."
"May I ask, what is this master’s name?" Zane asked.
"His name is Jun Lionhead," Emperor Tuoba Hong replied.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zane said confidently. "I will definitely bring him here."
"Be careful when you climb the mountain. There’s an Illusion Array in the bamboo forest leading to his home," Emperor Tuoba Hong added.
Evan Xiao glanced at Grace in the crowd.
Grace batted her innocent big eyes, pretending she knew nothing.
......
After returning to Marquis Manor, Minister Zhuo asked Grace, "The person His Majesty wants Evan Xiao to invite—is that your master?"
Grace nodded.
"Ha! Looks like His Majesty is favoring Evan Xiao on purpose," Minister Zhuo laughed. "Since your master took you as his disciple, of course he’ll go down the mountain with Evan Xiao."
Grace didn’t dare say anything.
In her previous life, it was indeed Emperor Tuoba Hong who introduced her to her master.
But not in this life.
With her master’s otherworldly demeanor, Grace honestly couldn’t say whether he’d agree to come.
After all, last time she tried to invite him down to Danyang City, he refused.
......
The next day, Grace and Evan Xiao rode the Red-crested Golden Eagle straight to Lionhead Mountain.
Zane must have arrived overnight. As Grace and Evan walked through the bamboo forest, they saw him and two of his men wandering in circles.
It looked like they’d been going around for ages; all three were pale and dizzy.
Grace snickered, grabbed Evan Xiao, and walked on.
Inside, Jun Lionhead was fishing by the lakeside.
He wore a white robe, calm and serene, the scenery picturesque.
"Master!" Grace ran over, beaming. "I’m back!"
Jun Lionhead turned his head and saw a dazzlingly bright smile.
It was pure joy and simple admiration.
That smile was as radiant as sunshine from the highest heavens.
Jun Lionhead smiled too and said, "Good girl, you’ve finally come back."
"Master, are you fishing? How many have you caught?" Grace leaned over to look at the small bucket beside him, already filled with five or six palm-sized carp.