Chapter 308: Chapter 178: If Love is Meant to Last, Why Need They Be Together Day and Night?

A single Duster could sell for over a thousand taels of silver on the market, and a blessed one would fetch an even higher price.

Aside from Su Liyan and Gu Gaoxu, no one else present could believe Lu Yuan possessed such strength.

The eldest Grand Celestial Master from the Celestial Dynasty Palace, in particular, revealed a look of astonishment as he stared at the Celestial Master Sword in Lu Yuan’s hand.

Just as the young Grand Celestial Master was about to continue provoking Lu Yuan.

A deep voice with incredible piercing power sounded from behind him, "Stand down!"

The eldest Grand Celestial Master stepped out from the crowd, moved forward, and cupped his hands respectfully. "Senior, may I ask what brings you here?"

The young Grand Celestial Master, already seething with humiliation, sullenly retreated to the side upon seeing his martial uncle being so courteous.

Lu Yuan sheathed the Celestial Master Sword and stroked the small tuft of beard on his chin with his right hand.

’I’ve been so busy these past few days I haven’t even had time to shave.’

Lu Yuan rubbed his chin and looked at the old man before him, who had a great, bushy beard with some streaks of white in it.

’And he’s calling me Senior.’

’A man in his fifties or sixties is calling someone in his early twenties Senior.’

Lu Yuan thought, ’I have to say, the older generation from the Celestial Dynasty Palace is certainly polite, unlike the arrogant younger ones.’

Lu Yuan returned the gesture and said, "I came to say farewell. I have no other intentions."

The elder Grand Celestial Master took a step back and waved his hand, signaling the other Grand Celestial Masters to clear a path.

Lu Yuan dropped the pleasantries and chatted with Gu Gaoxu for a moment.

"Brother Lu, untie me. Let’s not go to any Imperial Capital. It’s not a sure thing I’ll make it out alive," Gu Gaoxu said, looking at Lu Yuan.

In Lu Yuan’s memories from his past life, the history books recorded that Gu Gaoxu was destined to become the King of Han.

’Gu Gaoxu really doesn’t trust his grandfather, does he?’

’No matter how ruthless his grandfather is, he wouldn’t stoop to settling scores with a junior.’

Lu Yuan patted Gu Gaoxu’s shoulder and said, "It’s fine. Just go with them to see His Majesty the Emperor. Trust me!"

Seeing Lu Yuan so certain, Gu Gaoxu’s worries were eased.

’Leading my troops on a reckless advance and defying a Grand Celestial Master... I guess those aren’t such major offenses, are they?’

Lu Yuan briefly told Gu Gaoxu about his upcoming trip to the Provincial City, and they agreed to meet again in the future.

Outside the Central Army Camp Tent, the several Vassal Kings watched the scene that had just unfolded.

Prince Ning nudged King Yan and said, "Fourth Brother, this Guest you’ve recruited has some skill. Even Daoist Wuchen has to show him some respect?"

King Yan replied, "Seventeenth Brother, don’t joke around. Magistrate Lu shouldn’t have any connection to the Celestial Dynasty Palace. I have no idea what’s going on either."

King Qi chimed in, "As for matters of the Celestial Dynasty Palace, I think it’s best we stay out of it."

King Jin, standing in the middle, watched the scene without a word.

Lu Yuan’s appearance had left a deep impression on the Vassal Kings.

After Lu Yuan and Su Liyan bid farewell to Gu Gaoxu.

Gu Gaoxu was surrounded by the Grand Celestial Masters and escorted toward the Imperial Capital.

Since Gu Gaoxu was gone.

There was no longer any need for Lu Yuan and his party to remain in King Yan’s camp.

He was not a member of King Yan’s army, so it would be unreasonable to stay for an extended period.

Lu Yuan turned and exchanged a few pleasantries with the Vassal Kings.

His meaning was clear: ’I have other business to attend to, so I won’t be staying.’

King Qi and Prince Ning were now much more courteous to Lu Yuan than before.

Although they didn’t know what connection Lu Yuan had with Daoist Wuchen, they wouldn’t dare to slight him.

In truth, Lu Yuan himself had no idea what had just happened. He just assumed that the old Daoist was being polite.

Since Lu Yuan had official business to attend to, King Yan did not press him to stay.

King Yan’s army, along with those of the other Vassal Kings, would also soon be departing to return to their respective territories.

"Magistrate Lu, please pick a few good horses from my army. It will make your journey to the Provincial City faster," said King Yan.

"There’s no need, Your Highness. Our own transport is not far from the foot of the mountain. I won’t trouble you," Lu Yuan replied politely.

Lu Yuan led a dozen of his trusted men and left King Yan’s camp on foot.

’No matter how fine these steeds are, they can’t compare to my modified bicycle.’

Lu Yuan and his men found their stashed "bicycles," which Lu Yuan now called motorcycles.

Lu Yuan’s cell phone rang. He looked at the number on the screen.

It was a call from Aunt Song. An anxious voice came from the other end: "My dear nephew, why did it take you so long to pick up? We haven’t heard from you for days."

Lu Yuan and his group had been traveling and fighting for the past few days.

Lu Yuan had forgotten to call home and let them know he was safe.

The reception was poor in the mountains, so for all the calls Aunt Zhao, Aunt Song, and his mother-in-law had made over the past few days, Lu Yuan hadn’t received a single one.

Only now that they had reached the foot of the mountain did the first call from home finally get through.

On the phone, Lu Yuan and Su Liyan exchanged updates with the two aunts and their mother.

"Don’t worry, Liyan, Bengbeng is eating well here with me. He’s even grown a few baby teeth and his bites really hurt."

"Son-in-law, Changliang is already on his way to the Provincial City. He said he’ll meet you there."

"Oh, right, that girl Yue’Er went with him. Have you seen them?"

.....

Lu Yuan’s dozens of trusted men, who were on horseback, had not yet caught up.

The battle was already over, and they still hadn’t arrived.

Lu Yuan hadn’t expected the war to proceed so smoothly.

Lu Yuan assured his family that he was safe and explained the whole sequence of events.

He hadn’t told them before because he was afraid of worrying the two aunts and his mother-in-law.

Now that it was all over, there was nothing to hide.

Just as Lu Yuan hung up the phone.

A group of people on horseback appeared on the road from Taiping City.

He didn’t need to look closely to know it was his trusted men catching up.

After his trusted men arrived, Lu Yuan said, "Gentlemen, you’re late. In that case, I’ll arrange your next task."

There were still some matters in Taiping City that required these men.

"Thank you for your hard work. When you get back to the manor, go to Aunt Zhao to collect a reward. That’s an order!" Lu Yuan felt a little embarrassed for making them come all this way for nothing.

Lu Yuan didn’t need so many people following him to the Provincial City.

He was just going to report on official business, not to attack the Provincial City. He had no use for so many men.

"Yuan’Er~" Gu Ziyue appeared, her hair a mess and her face grimy, looking nothing like the young lady she was.

She must have eaten so much dust on the road.

Su Liyan watched Gu Ziyue catch up in the distance and remarked, "Miss Yue’Er is certainly persistent, to have come all this way."

Lu Yuan replied, "Tell me about it."

Gu Ziyue dismounted, ran up to Lu Yuan, and said breathlessly, "Where’s my nephew?"

"He’s already been taken back to the Imperial Capital," Lu Yuan stated plainly.

After hearing this, Gu Ziyue just said, "Oh," and it seemed she had no intention of following him back to the Imperial Capital.

Gu Ziyue chatted with Lu Yuan and Su Liyan for a while, even circling them to look them up and down.

When she heard that her older brothers were still on the mountain, she decided to go up and see them, just to show her face.

’I’ll show them! Who says a woman is inferior to a man? I can brave the world with just four of my Personal Guards!’

Lu Yuan mentioned that they were heading to the Provincial City.

Upon hearing this, Gu Ziyue, though reluctant to part, chose to stay and have some fun for a few days. "Lu Yuan... Liyan... you two go on ahead," she said. "I’ll stay and have some fun here for a while. We’ll meet again!"

After bidding farewell to Gu Ziyue, Lu Yuan took his wife and a dozen trusted men and headed directly for the Provincial City.

On the way, Su Liyan asked, "I think Miss Yue’Er is quite fond of you. Are you not interested? Why didn’t you invite her to come with us?"

When Lu Yuan saw Gu Ziyue arrive earlier, he hadn’t shown any sign of being happy.

Su Liyan could see it, which meant Gu Ziyue naturally could as well.

Although Gu Ziyue had feelings for Lu Yuan, she was also mindful of her own status.

She was afraid of bringing unnecessary trouble upon Lu Yuan.

Even Gu Ziyue herself couldn’t say for sure why she had followed them this time—whether she was more worried about Gu Gaoxu or about Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan thought for a moment before replying, "She is, after all, the Emperor’s daughter, a Princess of the Divine Ling Empire. We don’t walk the same path."

Su Liyan sighed and said meaningfully, "If love between two hearts is true, what need is there to be together day and night?"

If Lu Yuan hadn’t been riding a motorcycle, he would have been tempted to give his wife a good tumble right then and there.

Su Liyan had been corrupted by the two aunts, learning to make these kinds of racy jokes at his expense...