Chapter 60: Setting Off for the Imperial Capital

In the early morning, the crisp chirping of birds outside the room woke Xiao Yan from his sleep.

In a daze, Xiao Yan recalled the thorough sense of comfort from last night, reaching out to touch the side, but he only felt the bed quilt that had already gone cold.

Xiao Yan instantly realized something was wrong; the lingering sleepiness faded rapidly. Xiao Yan sat up and looked at the bed on the other side, where some traces still remained, but the figure was long gone.

Xiao Yan looked around; all the things belonging to Little Doctor Fairy were gone.

"Has she already left?" Xiao Yan looked at the ceiling in a trance and muttered, "I should set off as well."

Xiao Yan did not dawdle for long. Since he had already decided, he would set off immediately; leaving now, he should still be able to catch today's flying magical beast to the Imperial Capital.

Xiao Yan first came to Xiao Zhan's study and handed the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill refined yesterday and the jade slips of alchemy techniques promised to the recruited alchemists to Xiao Zhan.

"Yan'er, you are leaving too, aren't you?" Xiao Zhan silently accepted the jade slips and the medicinal pill, then said with some sadness.

"Father, you guessed it?" Xiao Yan was somewhat startled.

"Sigh, just an hour ago, that girl Little Doctor Fairy came to say goodbye to me. Although you didn't go with her, you have already finished your business, so it is within expectations that you would leave."

"Father—" Xiao Yan opened his mouth, not knowing what to say. No matter when it was, he was never used to goodbyes.

"Alright, kid, as the saying goes, a man's ambitions lie in the four corners of the world; there is nothing to be sad about. I have already sent people to notify Qing Lian and Lord Jia Tianyu; they should be at the gate by now. Go quickly." Although he felt sad that his youngest son, who had finally returned home, was leaving again, Xiao Zhan quickly adjusted his emotions, patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, and said in a booming voice.

"Mm, Father, please take care. I'm leaving." Xiao Yan grinned, waved at Xiao Zhan, and turned to leave the study.

The morning sunlight shone into the room along the door Xiao Yan opened. Watching Xiao Yan's departing back, a glimmer of expectation rose in Xiao Zhan's melancholy heart.

"I truly wonder what realm he will reach when I see Yan'er next time."

Walking quickly to the gate, the figures of Qing Lian and Jia Tianyu were already waiting, just as Xiao Zhan had said.

"I didn't expect that as the protagonist, I would actually be the last one to come out." Xiao Yan smiled playfully and said to Jia Tianyu, "Senior Jia, I will have to trouble you for this trip to the Imperial Capital."

"What are you saying, Young Master Xiao? This is my duty; it is no trouble at all," Jia Tianyu replied hurriedly, showing unprecedented respect toward Xiao Yan.

"Mm." After speaking, Xiao Yan turned his head to look at Qing Lian.

——

Today, Qing Lian was wearing a dress with cyan and white as the main color scheme. The hem of the skirt was as light and elegant as clouds and mist, a pale blue silk ribbon was tied around her waist, a pale green shoulder bag was slung over her shoulder, and there was a lotus-shaped hairpin on the hair behind her head. Although Qing Lian's previous exotic attire also had its own unique flavor, the one before his eyes displayed Qing Lian's cuteness to the fullest.

Xiao Yan habitually reached out to pinch Qing Lian's little cheeks and said, "Qing Lian, Young Master has neglected you a little during this time. You won't blame me, will you?"

Upon hearing this, Qing Lian's shy little face shook her head hurriedly, though there was still a hint of disappointment in her eyes at being called out.

Xiao Yan smiled, touched Qing Lian's little head with one hand, and squatted down halfway: "Alright, if you're unhappy, you're unhappy; there's no need to hide it. I won't eat you. How about this: after we arrive at the Imperial Capital, you accompany Young Master to tour the entire Imperial Capital, how about that?"

"Really? Young Master." Upon hearing this, a happy smile immediately appeared on Qing Lian's little face, and her eyes sparkled.

"Of course. When the time comes, the matter of being a tour guide will be left to you. You say where we go, and we go there."

"But, Qing Lian has never been to the Imperial Capital either, so how can I lead the way?" Qing Lian said with some confusion.

"Don't worry about that. If I remember correctly, Ya Fei happens to be returning to the Imperial Capital today as well. When the time comes, I'll just have Ya Fei teach you," Xiao Yan said with a smile.

Due to the big commotion Xiao Yan caused in Wutan City, many forces in the Imperial Capital were alarmed, so Ya Fei was also recalled to the Imperial Capital for questioning.

After chatting with Qing Lian a bit more, Xiao Yan looked at the third person who appeared here, who was also a character Xiao Yan somewhat wanted to avoid.

"That—you are here too." Xiao Yan said somewhat awkwardly.

Seeing Bai Ye, who was wearing a Grade 3 Alchemist robe, standing beside Jia Tianyu, smiling as he finished watching the interaction between Xiao Yan and Qing Lian, he replied to Xiao Yan with a coquettish tone: "What? Is Brother Xiao really that unwilling to see me?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan immediately felt as if he had run into something terrifying; goosebumps rose all over his body. To be honest, he had never been this afraid even when he almost died at the hands of the Heavenly Flame back then.

"Uh, haha, of course not. By the way, are you—"

Watching Xiao Yan's somewhat embarrassed appearance, Bai Ye pursed his lips and smiled. After last night, Bai Ye naturally realized what was going on with Xiao Yan's attitude, so he immediately had the thought of teasing this person who should be called the undisputed number one genius of the Jia Ma Empire, though it was a pity that such scenes would soon be invisible.

"Same as you, I'm also going to the Imperial Capital. If things go smoothly, perhaps we might even be on the same flying magical beast."

Hiss! Xiao Yan immediately gasped. *Maybe I should leave in a few days? It is also very necessary to stay at home and show more filial piety to Father for a few days, * Xiao Yan thought.

However, Jia Tianyu said that the Imperial Capital had already sent a special flying magical beast to pick him up, which prevented Xiao Yan from fleeing at the last minute this time.

On the other side, Jia Tianyu, who had finally steadied Xiao Yan, looked at Bai Ye with some helplessness.

However, Bai Ye ignored him, walking behind Xiao Yan and looking at Xiao Yan's back, looking forward to what expression Xiao Yan would have when he saw him on the same flying magical beast later.

Soon, the group arrived at the flying magical beast station in Wutan City. Normally, there should have been many flying magical beasts parked here preparing for takeoff at this time, but today, these flying magical beasts were all gone.

A giant flying magical beast that almost occupied the entire station was parked in the center of the station.

This flying magical beast was brownish-tan overall, its sharp gaze staring straight at the firmament, and its wings, which stretched out from time to time, reached an astonishing several dozen zhang. Even the building on its back was ten zhang long and wide, looking exactly like a small palace. This was actually a Tier 4 magical beast with strength equivalent to a Dou Ling! According to Ya Fei, whom they had just met, there were more than ten rooms inside.

Because the flying magical beast was relatively tall, it was still a bit difficult for Qing Lian, who had not yet reached the Fighter realm, to get up. Thus, Xiao Yan gently took Qing Lian into his arms, bent his legs, and jumped up together.

Immediately after, Jia Tianyu and Ya Fei also came up one after another.

Just when Xiao Yan thought everyone had arrived, under Xiao Yan's puzzled, confused, and horrified gaze, Bai Ye also jumped up naturally————