Yue Fuguang teased the two black-and-white pandas, now much larger, with fresh bamboo shoots. Both of them, anxious, let out dog-like whines and clung to her legs, whimpering, until she reluctantly gave each a pile of tender shoots.
Of course, classic cornbread and red apples couldn't be missed, as they were staples in the cubs' diet. Yue Fuguang had been raising them just like the Flower and Leaf Sisters did.
Of course, the whole crowd outside the carriage had heard the system's words. Their hearts tightened at once, afraid that the Grand Preceptor would actually listen to the divine artifact and leave them behind to go ahead alone. They wouldn’t be able to catch up even if they ran their legs off.
Only Feng Tang and Shen Jian truly knew their limits!
"Little Zhu, are you saying I should fly all the way there myself?"
[Otherwise? Master, you can already fly—why waste time with these people?]
[Master, the drought won't wait!]
The system's words didn't move Yue Fuguang much, but they rendered the entire crowd outside the carriage speechless.
They desperately wanted to say they could afford to wait, but no matter how many times they opened their mouths, the words refused to come out. The Grand Preceptor hadn’t mentioned anything yet, and who would dare defy her authority?
Just as that thought crossed their minds, Yue Fuguang’s voice rang out loud and clear, "Stop the carriage. Shen Jian, Feng Tang, He Jin, Dai Yuxing—come over here."
The four exchanged glances and hurried forward, already racking their brains for the best way to persuade her.
"Your Excellency!" They bowed in salute and took the chance to sneak a look at Yue Fuguang’s expression.
"I have something to tell you." She swept her gaze across them, noticing how worn out everyone in the group looked, even herself, compared to when they left the capital.
"Recently, my cultivation has progressed to the point where my rain-summoning range already exceeds our fastest daily travel speed. So, I’ve decided to go on ahead. You all will continue following the planned route and pace."
"Your Excellency! If you leave us behind, your personal safety may not be a concern, but who will take care of all the trivial matters along the way?"
It was impossible to guarantee they’d encounter no unexpected trouble on the road, and the person before them hated dealing with mundane chores the most.
Feng Tang’s remark hit Yue Fuguang right where it hurt—her lazy, easygoing nature.
How could wasting time on pointless socializing with local officials compare to eating, sleeping, and playing with her adorable pets?
Ah, speaking of which—she still had a whole carriage full of fluffy companions. She couldn’t just leave and let the little ones stay behind. Those clingy little babies would just raise a ruckus.
Treading Without Trace could carry the little foxes flying, but the now noticeably hefty panda cubs, Jiaotang and Nai Cha, were far too heavy to manage.
"Little Zhu, get me a flying carriage!"
By flying carriage, she naturally meant a classical cultivator-style one, not some sleek sci-fi interstellar vehicle—a thing of ethereal elegance, brimming with visual charm and full functionality, complete with two flying horses. The only drawback was the price: it was brutally expensive.
When the system heard Yue Fuguang wanted to make a purchase, it practically bounced with joy. The dazzling, shimmering bead vanished instantly from her hands.
The system moved fast, as if afraid she’d change her mind, quickly deducting 88,888 from her six-figure total points balance.
[Master, the carriage is ready. How many mortals are you taking with you?]
Shen Jian and Feng Tang had naturally heard the words "flying carriage." At the divine artifact’s question, they all knowingly stole glances at Yue Fuguang.
A flying carriage, as the name implied, was a carriage that flew!
They wanted to go. The longing was practically written all over their faces. Even those not called over quietly edged closer to her carriage.
Yu Huaixian even hurried over with a kettle of hot water, offering to refill her flask—as if she really needed that!
"Feng Tang has a point, so I have prepared a carriage." Her eyes swept over each of them, one by one. "I will pick three of you to come with me."
"Your Excellency, you know me. I may not be talented, but I’m excellent at handling all kinds of business and enjoy reasoning with subordinates. And if someone just won’t listen to reason, I’m also not half bad with my fists."
Feng Tang was quick off the mark. The moment Yue Fuguang finished speaking, he stepped forward to nominate himself on the spot.
Shen Jian, Dai Yuxing, and He Jin badly wanted to roll their eyes. Weren't they all supposed to be trying to persuade the Grand Preceptor to stay?
Admittedly, they hadn’t discussed it openly, but hadn’t that silent glance they exchanged said it all?
Had they been the only three with that thought?
Shen Jian, Dai Yuxing, and He Jin were either military men or from the martial arts world—practical, straightforward, lacking Feng Tang’s clever maneuvering.
Frustration were all over their faces. Feng Tang was a traitor among them! Not a single word of persuasion fell from his lips, yet he was abandoning everyone and running off with the Grand Preceptor at lightning speed!
Feng Tang: These three are still too young!
Did they really think they could change the Grand Preceptor’s mind once she’d set it?
Since persuasion was hopeless, finding a way to follow her was the smartest choice.
"Your Excellency, as your personal guard captain, I must accompany you no matter what." Seeing it had come to this, He Jin quickly changed loyalties and vied for a spot.
Hadn’t she only said she’d take three? If they didn’t act fast, they wouldn’t even get a sip of soup!
Ah, Shen Jian was thoroughly exasperated. Traitors, every single one!
"Your Excellency, I—"
"Your Excellency, this general—"
"General Shen, the troops still need your command. You have great skill and a heavy responsibility. The group can’t do without you here!" Yue Fuguang slapped a big hat on him that directly shut down any further self-recommendation.
Shen Jian: I knew it would be just like this!
Ever since that time the divine artifact spilled about his background story, the Grand Preceptor had looked at him differently. He desperately wanted to stress—he was not a scumbag, not a philanderer!
Yue Fuguang turned to Dai Yuxing. "Yuxing, He Jin is coming with me. As deputy commander of the guard, you also have an important role!"
"Sister! Me, pick me!" Yu Huaixian came running back, still holding his kettle.
"Alright, this time we’ll take He Jin, Feng Tang, and Cousin Xian." She cast a look at the disappointed faces around her. "Next time, I’ll take someone else."
Not everyone got a chance this time, but every single one of them could hope to be the lucky one chosen later.
Yes, the lucky one!
In full view of them all, their all-powerful Grand Preceptor snapped her fingers at empty sky. The clouds above began to churn violently.
A tiny black dot appeared at the end of the cloud sea, at first no more than a moving glint of silver at the horizon.
As it drew closer, the crowd made it out to be a carriage. Two horses, all pure white, with manes and tails shimmering like pale blue moonlight, pulled it.
They galloped through the void. Their hooves didn’t stir up clouds but, instead, patches of starlit fluorescence—as if they had crushed the Milky Way underfoot, as if each step fell on the late night’s deepest dew.
Graceful white wings, smooth as snow, unfurled on each side, stirring no audible wind as they flapped, just casting faint, fleeting trails of iridescent light in their wake.
The crowd was utterly stunned by the sight of those horses, mouths wide open without making a sound.
Yu Huaixian’s heart thumped like drumbeats inside his chest. His sister truly was an immortal descended from heaven.
Could this magnificent vehicle be the one she had used as a means of transport all back in the celestial realms?
Heads tilted up, mouths gaping, the crowd turned their gaze to the carriage behind those white horses. Its intricacy and elegance surpassed anything of mortal craftsmanship.
Yu Huaixian thought to himself: mighty indeed was his little sister, worthy of being an immortal hero turned divine envoy.