Chapter 634

Xiao Yuanhang thought left and right, finally nodded: "I will obey the edict."

The next morning.

Tuan Tuan ran into the commander's big tent, and Xiao Feifei followed, tumbling in after her.

She lunged at Xiao Yuanhang, crying, "Father!"

Xiao Yuanhang bent down and scooped her into his arms: "How come you're here so early?"

Tuan Tuan rubbed against him in his embrace: "Dear Father, let me go find Master, okay? Anyway, you're heading back to Jingcheng too—I'll wait for you…"

Not waiting for her to finish, Xiao Yuanhang blurted, "Good!" and agreed.

Tuan Tuan blinked, then happily grabbed her father's big face and planted a kiss: "Father! You agreed?"

"Of course I agree!" Xiao Yuanhang laughed helplessly; it turned out his daughter had come to pester him about this.

"Not only do I agree, but last night I already discussed it with your Imperial Uncle."

"Besides your Second Uncle and Seventh Uncle, I'm letting your older brother, Eunuch Cheng, and Feng Zhou accompany you back to Jingcheng."

Tuan Tuan widened her eyes at her father: "Really?"

Xiao Yuanhang nodded solemnly: "Of course it's true!"

"Feng Zhou and Eunuch Cheng don't know martial arts and have no families here; sending them back to the capital early is also for their sake."

"With your older brother by your side, I can rest easier."

"Then what about Mother, Grandfather, and Xiao Yueyue?"

"The old are old, the young are young; I will send an elite guard to escort them, following behind the main army."

"Once we take Jingcheng, you'll be able to see them."

"Great!" Tuan Tuan slipped from her father's arms, scooped up Xiao Feifei from the ground, and dashed out of the tent: "I'll go tell Second Uncle and the others!"

Reaching the doorway, she suddenly remembered, turned and asked: "Father, when do I leave?"

"We set out tomorrow."

The next morning, everyone changed into plain coarse cloth clothing.

Lu Qi and Xiao Ningyuan rode horses, Xiao Er drove the cart, which was loaded with plenty of local produce, disguising themselves as visitors to the capital.

After the group bid farewell with reluctance, they set off toward Jingcheng.

More than ten days later, the carriage entered Xuanqiong Temple.

Under the arrangement of Daoist Qingxuan, the next day Eunuch Cheng, Xiao Ningyuan, and Tuan Tuan, carrying two bundles of local produce, posed as a family and slipped into the city.

That night, in the stillness, the three knocked on the gate of the Guoshi Residence.

The little Daoist who opened the door spotted Tuan Tuan, yanked her inside, and dragged her running inward:

"If Master sees you, he'll surely be delighted! He mentioned you just yesterday!"

Xiao Ningyuan and Eunuch Cheng, still standing outside: "…"

Still, Tuan Tuan turned and waved at them: "Come in quickly!"

The little Daoist then realized, walked back sheepishly: "Please, both of you, follow me."

Tuan Tuan asked: "What is Master doing?"

"He's observing the heavens."

Tuan Tuan called to Xiao Ningyuan: "Big brother, hold me!"

Xiao Ningyuan bent down and lifted her up.

The three entered the house.

Chu Yuan sat by the window, gazing up at the starry sky.

Tuan Tuan shushed the little Daoist and pointed at Chu Yuan.

Xiao Ningyuan understood, tiptoed over.

Tuan Tuan covered Chu Yuan's eyes with her small hand, lowered her voice, stretched it out, and asked: "Guess who I am?"

Chu Yuan startled, seized her two small hands, turned: "Tuan Tuan!"

Tuan Tuan giggled: "Master! I'm back!"

Xiao Ningyuan also laughed: "National Preceptor!"

Eunuch Cheng laughed until he could barely close his mouth: "Little Princess, you're so mischievous!"

Chu Yuan hurriedly asked: "How did you come? Is there something?"

Tuan Tuan's eyes rolled: "Right! There's a big matter!"

Chu Yuan frowned: "I observed the night sky; to the northwest, beside the Heavenly Market Enclosure, there is a reddish-yellow star whose light wavers—this is the sign of rising beacon fires."

"I was wondering how prepared you are; what are your chances of taking the city?"

He shook his head: "I simply never expected you to come ahead of time."

"What other big business remains? The affair of Wang Mingrui has already been settled these past days."

Tuan Tuan stretched out her little arms: "Master, hug!"

Chu Yuan took her from Xiao Ningyuan's arms.

Tuan Tuan chuckled: "All right! The big matter is settled!"

Chu Yuan blinked: "What big matter?"

Tuan Tuan pouted: "It's just the big matter of hugging me! Master, isn't that big enough?"

Chu Yuan stared, speechless.

Only then did Xiao Ningyuan hurriedly explain: "National Preceptor, we are merely staying temporarily at your residence, awaiting the army's assault on the city—that's all."

Chu Yuan looked at Eunuch Cheng: "Really?"

Eunuch Cheng hastily nodded: "Indeed! Little Princess, she was just coaxing you!"

Chu Yuan glared at his own disciple: "You little rascal! See if I don't start from tomorrow and fill your assignments to the brim!"

Tuan Tuan hugged his neck, wiggling her small body: "Master, master, good master! I just wanted to make you happy!"

Chu Yuan laughed, flicked her little nose: "Mischievous!"

"It's late at night, no need to go to the secret room. As days go by, they have come to search several times, all to no avail."

"Now no one watches over my Guoshi Residence any longer; you all have worked hard, go to sleep first. Tomorrow, tidy the secret room before you go."

"During the day there are many people; stay inside then, no need at night."

"Mm!" Tuan Tuan lightly kissed his face: "Master, I miss you so much!"

Chu Yuan felt warmth in his heart, lifted her and walked inward: "Let's go! Get a good sleep first; we'll talk tomorrow."

The next morning, True Immortal Xuanqing personally cradled Xiao Feifei, leading a dozen disciples, and placed Lu Qi, Xiao Er, and Feng Zhou among them, arriving at the city gate.

The city guards, seeing True Immortal Xuanqing in person, were somewhat startled: "True Immortal, why have you come personally today?"

True Immortal Xuanqing wore an inscrutable expression: "Heaven's secrets must not be revealed!"

The guards were stunned; a master's words are unlike ordinary ones!

After they saw clearly that he was holding a live fox in his arms, the guards each widened their eyes: "True Immortal, this, what is this?"

True Immortal Xuanqing stroked Xiao Feifei: "A divine beast."

The guards: "…"

True Immortal Xuanqing's face darkened: "What? You want to meddle with Xuanqiong Temple?"

The guards quickly waved them off: "We dare not, we dare not; please come in."

That night, everyone gathered together.

Tuan Tuan, upon seeing Xiao Feifei, immediately scooped it up, burying her little face into its white fur and inhaling deeply: "I miss you so much, Xiao Feifei!"

Xiao Feifei squealed continuously, rubbing against her face.

Chu Yuan looked at the two horns on Xiao Feifei's head, his brows furrowing tighter, extended his hand, pinched a few times, and his fingertips paused slightly.

Tuan Tuan asked curiously: "Master, what's wrong?"