Zhao Changhe looked up and thought, "Earlier I didn't deploy anyone to support the local forces here, probably because I genuinely didn't have that kind of mindset. But now, not sending people to disrupt things shows that I am not that sort of person. These two things do not conflict."

Sisi smiled, "You really trust his character quite a bit."

"Situ is my good friend, and I trust Situ. Although interactions with Li Shentong have been few, one can glimpse the leopard by seeing the spots." Zhao Changhe sighed, "Of course, people do change... This trip to Ba Shu might not be smooth sailing."

Sisi leaned against him and thought silently for a while, then softly said, "Times are different now; you are no longer a lone knight venturing across the world. Your safety impacts too many things; you must be careful."

"Mhm." Zhao Changhe said, "Let's not talk about that, is there something you need me to do?"

"Yes." Sisi didn't hold back, seriously saying, "Whether it be Ba Shu, beyond the border, or even Kunlun, if it's convenient for you, help seek out special species, no matter what abilities they possess, as long as they are special."

"Ha." Zhao Changhe became cheerful, "Sure, I'm glad to help you. Mm... I can also send a message to Jing Zhong and ask them to search too."

"You..." Sisi kissed his cheek softly and murmured, "Always wanting to help others, yet never asking how others can help you..."

"Not true, I do need your help now... for example..."

Zhao Changhe was already planning to write to Jing Zhong to inform them about the situation in the Miao Region, and to have Chichi send a delegation to establish a diplomatic relationship, and to see if Wanzhuang wished to establish a Demon Suppression Department here. As for the return letter, he feared it wouldn't be received by then, as he would not know where he'd be…

He sat at the desk by the window to write the letter, and Yue Hongling popped her head in, "Oh? You two aren't... Where's that seductress?"

Zhao Changhe kept his head down and continued writing without speaking.

Yue Hongling looked around, climbed through the window, about to peer down at the letter when she saw a pair of blinking eyes beneath the desk.

Yue Hongling was stunned.

Sisi wiped the corner of her mouth as she crawled out from under the desk, having been caught red-handed in such a scenario, even she couldn't keep her composure, grabbed the letter from the desk and ran, "I'll go arrange the delivery!"

Yue Hongling, seeing Zhao Changhe seriously fastening his belt, could hardly breathe out in frustration, "Incompetent ruler!"

Zhao Changhe stood up and embraced her, whispering, "But we really have to go."

Yue Hongling looked down and remained silent.

This was also the first time that Yue Hongling had stayed for an extended period in one place, living with a man day and night. From start to finish, she never felt the urge to leave, and even felt a lazy reluctance to move. She wanted to keep nestling in this hut with him, discussing Martial Arts, sparring together, sometimes engaging in Dual Cultivation, raising a Sword Spirit child, taking walks with Wind Control, watching the sunrises and sunsets.

Abruptly waking from such a dream, she remembered the countless storms outside that they still had to face.

For a moment, Yue Hongling unexpectedly felt a sentiment she shouldn't have: Sisi was too capable, having unified the Miao Region too quickly; they could've waited a few more days.

But she quickly threw that thought out of her mind, how could she think like that...

As she was thinking this, she felt lighter, as Zhao Changhe had swept her up in his arms, carrying her toward the bed, "This might be our last night here..."

As an old couple, Yue Hongling naturally would not coyly refuse their last night's Dual Cultivation; the calm times ahead were genuinely uncertain... She actively wrapped her arms around Zhao Changhe's neck, passionately reciprocating his kisses, and soon actively straddled him, uniting together.

"Why so passionate today?" Zhao Changhe was somewhat surprised.

Yue Hongling bit her lower lip, "You and I are both just shy of reaching the Imperial Realm, could it be we haven't been Dual Cultivating enough..."

Zhao Changhe laughed out loud, Dual Cultivation could enhance cultivation, but it couldn't increase the epiphany to breakthrough; if breaking into the Imperial Realm could depend on this, it would be wonderful... but clearly, that was impossible.

Yet he heard Yue Hongling lower her voice, "Tonight was supposed to be with Sisi... I barged in and scared her off, so I had to make up for it..."

Zhao Changhe found this sister sometimes endearingly naive; you think Sisi was scared off, wouldn't she come back?

True enough, within moments, a fragrant breeze passed and Sisi appeared at the bedside, peering timidly under the curtains.

Yue Hongling was so startled, she jumped and covered her chest, angrily exclaiming, "What are you doing!"

Sisi hugged her playfully, "Sister has such a strong, beautiful body..."

"Get lost!" Yue Hongling struggled.

Then Zhao Changhe playfully stirred, and Yue Hongling's anger dissipated, instead collapsing weakly in Sisi's arms.

"I always said, sister, we can do this together..." Sisi began removing her own clothes, murmuring in her ear, "It was just a matter of time..."

Yue Hongling was mortified, "Xiang Simeng you're shameless, and you're a Queen!"

"That's how we Miao women are... Warrior sister, please teach me more." Sisi leaned in, kissing Zhao Changhe's chest softly, whispering, "Perhaps since Yangzhou, the destiny of the three of us was already set."

Though spoken without intent, hearing it made Zhao Changhe acutely aware of the imminent causality.

Assisted by Dual Cultivation, the hazy threads of causality became clearer in his eyes, Zhao Changhe suddenly discovered that he could now clearly see the marital threads between himself, Sisi, and Hongling, thick as chains.

Marriage, indeed, was one kind of causality, the cause of their meeting flowering into the fruits of a bond.

And behind each thread were countless branches leading to various futures, the outcomes of which he could not yet see with his current capabilities. But being able to see at this level was already a profound transformation, at least he could now see the "cause."

In the haze, the past initial encounters in Yangzhou, the previous battle to the Miao Region, stories where Hongling and Sisi existed together flickered before his eyes like a slideshow, many details he had forgotten flashed back as if it were yesterday. Hmm, featuring prominently was the Great Joyful Bliss Scripture, this Cultivation Technique was intimately related to his interactions with the two.

That was the essence of tracing effects back to their causes—starting to truly step into the Way of Cause and Effect.

Zhao Changhe snapped out of his trance; the present scene had turned into the real and illusory Yue Hongling embracing each other, with Sisi tragically under Yue Hongling, while he himself moved like a diligent butterfly, up and down.

————

PS: Due to different systems, it can't completely correspond to the previous levels. For example, if using flying as a criterion, before it was Cloud Soaring, but in reality, the level of mastering Imperial Realm is somewhere between Cloud Soaring and the standard of Hui Yang, including the long-standing manifestation of Yin God under the protection of treasures worthy of Hui Yang Ye Bieqing's level. Hence, mastering Imperial Realm can't exactly be equated with Cloud Soaring, it's much stronger, currently Half-step Imperial Realm which could fly, Zhao Changhe and Hongling are more or less considered Cloud Soaring.

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