The Invincible Young Master-Chapter 217 - - Went ahead

The journey ahead was silent. Ling Yan, keenly aware of the misstep that had just occurred, refrained from speaking carelessly.

Her mind was still reeling from her earlier moment of vulnerability. The earlier slip of her tongue had left her rattled. She had almost revealed far too much, something she had never intended. That sense of vulnerability and the admission she had nearly made troubled her.

She was a princess, trained to keep her emotions in check, to present a façade of calm and control at all times. But Reynold had disrupted that control in a way she hadn't anticipated.

If her guard hadn't interrupted, who knew how much she might have revealed to this man. The thought made her uneasy.

Yet, as the silence between them stretched on, she couldn't help but wonder how he had used that magic against her. Had he learned it like she had, or was there some magic that could reverse her magic to herself?

She shook her head, pushing the thought away. It was too ridiculous to consider. She forced herself to look away, directing her focus back to the path.

As they finally emerged from the thick forest, the path opening up to a large, verdant clearing, the temple came fully into view.

The structure loomed before them, grand beyond anything the outside world had ever seen, its design surpassing any mortal architecture. It was both alien and awe-inspiring, far beyond the capabilities of mortal hands.

The temple was an obsidian monolith, towering into the sky as if reaching for the heavens themselves.

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The spires reached upward, jagged and sharp, piercing the sky. Strange, glowing runes pulsed across its surface, casting an eerie glow that seemed to shift with a life of its own.

The structure seemed almost alive, its aura ancient and mystifying. The air around the temple was thick with magic, so palpable it almost seemed to hum, vibrating in the bones of those who approached.

There was a sense of something watching them, waiting for their next move, as if the temple itself was aware of their arrival.

Ling Yan's eyes scanned the area, noting the two groups of soldiers stationed outside the temple, their banners fluttering lightly in the breeze.

One group wore the distinctive white armor of Reynold's battalion. The other group, however, caught her attention. The uniforms were familiar, the dark, intimidating colors of her own elite forces. But why was her army small in size? And scanning the surroundings she found no sign of an army from the Durn Empire.

"It seems not everyone has arrived yet," Ling Yan remarked.

Reynold nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the temple as he studied the scene in front of him.

As they drew closer, the white-armored commander spotted Reynold and quickly moved to meet him. He bowed deeply, his voice carrying a note of urgency despite his outward calm.

"Lord Reynold," he greeted. "We've been expecting your arrival."

Reynold, however, gave only a brief nod in return, his gaze fixed on the towering temple before him. His attention seemed far more focused on the structure than the greeting.

Ling Yan's gaze shifted toward her own forces, where a familiar figure approached, a commander in dark, imposing armor.

He knelt before her, but his face held an uneasy expression, as though words were lodged in his throat.. There was a hesitation in his posture. "Princess, we are glad you returned safely."

Ling Yan gave a nod.

The commander continued. "Princess, please follow us to the safety of the carriage."

Ling Yan, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, followed him.

Reynold, observing the subtle tension, turned to his commander and asked, "Have the others not arrived yet?"

The commander shifted uneasily, as if searching for the right words.

"That, my lord…" he faltered. "They have already entered the temple."

Reynold's brows furrowed as he processed the words, "Who?"

"All three armies, my lord. They've already entered." Replied the commander.

Reynold's frown deepened. This expedition had been planned as a joint effort, a coordinated mission between the armies of Jul, Yan, and Durn. The idea was to approach the greater ruin together, to clear it as a unified front.

But now, hearing that the armies had moved without a single coordinated decision, the disarray unsettled him more than he cared to admit. He had thought of delays, disagreements, even a few setbacks, but nothing quite like this.

"Who led Yan's army without the princess?" He asked.

"It was one of their high-ranking officers, my lord." Answered the commander.

"And why didn't they wait for everyone to gather?"

The commander hesitated again. "It was the people from Durn who started it. They didn't want to wait any longer. They pushed for the march, and the armies began arguing.

The Durn forces insisted on moving forward, while the Jul forces were reluctant to follow. In the end, it was two against one, Yan sided with Durn, and Jul had no choice but to follow, not wanting to be left behind."

The commander continued, "They did not wait for Princess Ling Yan. Nor for Elder or Lady Lina."

"Only we," the commander said, "decided to wait for you, my lord. As did the princess's personal guards."

"Wait," he interrupted. "Did you say they went without Lina?"

"Yes, my lord. Lady Lina has not arrived yet. Nor has the elder or the Four Protectors."

"That was reckless," Reynold muttered under his breath. "Half of them may not survive without her."

To enter a greater ruin without a proper guide was not just foolish; it was outright suicidal. Without Lina's guidance, the armies would be blindly walking into a death trap, triggering whatever ancient mechanisms lay dormant within.

"Foolish!" A sharp voice cut through the air from the other side.

It was Ling Yan.

Her expression was cold, her usual calm bearing shifted, and irritation flashed in her eyes. It seemed she had just received the report about the three armies pushing ahead. Worse yet, her own forces had entered without her.