Chapter 960: Returning to Beihan Palace
Xiao Xue eagerly looked at Han Jing, wanting to go along, but was mercilessly dragged back by Lianwu. No matter how extraordinary Xiao Xue’s talent was, her cultivation was too low. Without learning more self-protection skills, no one knew what might happen.
The incident that occurred with the Xia Clan last time still left Lianwu feeling uneasy.
If at that time Han Qingjue hadn’t had a change of heart, if Han Qingjue had believed Xia Ji as before, believing Xia Ji could help her fulfill her wish, if she hadn’t firmly upheld her principles, then it would have been uncertain whether Xiao Xue could have escaped the ordeal unscathed.
Even though that incident has passed and caused no harm to Xiao Xue, whether it was Han Jing, Su Yu, or even Lianwu, they all remained extremely cautious, not wanting any mishaps to happen again.
Yet the things they were about to face were filled with countless unforeseen events.
No one knew how many dangers awaited them in that unknown place, and no one knew if there would be any oversight amidst their precautions.
In reality, both Han Jing and Su Yu, including Lianwu and all the people wanting to protect Xiao Xue, hoped that Xiao Xue wouldn’t go along. However... having been born into this environment, she couldn’t escape unrest entirely. Han Jing wasn’t hardhearted enough; she just knew clearly that growth comes at a price.
She didn’t intend to raise Xiao Xue into a sheltered flower; if there were challenges Xiao Xue must confront in the future, she must learn to face them, learn to see reality clearly, and gain the ability to survive in it.
So when Lianwu suddenly decided to intensify Xiao Xue’s studies during this time, Han Jing couldn’t help but approve, entrusting Xiao Xue completely to him. Fortunately, Xiao Xue was quite odd too; usually extremely lazy, she’d always been half-hearted with her cultivation, but with whatever Lianwu taught her, she learned diligently, which astonished Han Jing.
The journey from the Prayer Pavilion to Beihan Palace wasn’t far, but to let Su Xingqiao see, they still slowed their pace and took a slight detour, taking three days to reach Beihan Palace.
The current Beihan Palace was tightly closed, the palace so coldly silent it was almost lifeless; all the disciples and servants were quiet, so quiet it felt like stepping into an abandoned city.
Since Han Qingjue was absent from Beihan Palace, if Han Litong was also not there, then Beihan Palace was effectively leaderless.
Han Jing came to take away Fengxi’s remains, not to cause trouble, so she still sent someone in to announce her arrival. To her surprise, Han Litong, who had left Nanyao Country last time, had returned to Beihan Palace and had never left.
When Han Jing saw Han Litong, she was a bit surprised; Han Litong had aged a lot.
She was still very beautiful; Han Jing even thought Han Litong was more beautiful than both her and Han Qingjue, because that ethereal aura she had wasn’t something just anyone could possess. Yet seeing her now, the melancholy in her eyes and brows seemed to be permanently etched there, making her entire being appear weathered.
Han Litong was somewhat surprised to see Han Jing; she didn’t expect Han Jing to come to Beihan Palace again, thinking that after their last departure, they wouldn’t meet again.