Chapter 29: The Cloud-Soaring Ship and a Princess’s Lament

Having finished dealing with Xiaoke, Wang Yu clapped her hands. She then caught sight of A-Bao snickering nearby and sneered, “Once we reach Furnace City, I’m going to roast you.”

A-Bao shivered uncontrollably, a chill running down their spine as they saw Wang Yu’s ominous smile.

‘Oh no, I’ve offended the Tsundere-sama. I feel like I’m going to die. No, I must find a way! For the sake of my bear-life happiness, fight on, A-Bao!’ they thought.

Scrambling and tumbling, A-Bao rushed to Wang Yu’s side. “Tsundere-sama, thanks to your encouragement (and intimidation), I’ve just awakened a new ability! Would you like to see a demonstration?”

Wang Yu looked at A-Bao in surprise. “It’s not walking on two legs, is it? If it is, don’t bother. I’ve even seen pandas who can walk on two legs and practice martial arts.”

“No, no, no, how could it be so superficial? I just discovered it, and I’m not even sure what it does, my adorable young lady, just watch.” As A-Bao spoke, they opened their mouth.

Everyone present felt two streams of primal energy converging within A-Bao’s maw, forming a sphere that was half black, half white.

Wang Yu watched, utterly dumbfounded. Just as she was about to ask what it was, Shi Yang suddenly appeared.

“You two fools, stop it quickly! It’s going to explode!” he shouted.

!!!

Everyone reacted, attempting to intervene, but alas, they were a step too late. The Yin-Yang sphere in A-Bao’s mouth was already poised to unleash its power.

Wang Yu instinctively delivered a powerful uppercut, striking A-Bao squarely on the jaw. The force of the blow sent A-Bao’s entire body upright, tears streaming from their eyes due to the searing pain.

The Yin-Yang sphere shot out, then erupted in a violent explosion as if undergoing a fierce chemical reaction, instantly ripping off the roof of the inn.

Yue Feng and his companions stared with wide eyes at the azure sky above, speechless for a long time.

A-Bao, realizing they had caused trouble, tried to sneak away. Unfortunately, Wang Yu immediately grabbed their ear, a dark aura radiating around her.

A-Bao let out a dry laugh. “Tsundere-sama, don’t you think my move was quite magnificent? It’s just that there was a tiny, tiny problem during the performance.”

Wang Yu looked at the now open-air inn, a vein throbbing on her forehead. “Hehe, yes, it was magnificent. Do you think selling you off could alleviate some of my losses?”

“But before that, I need to vent a little. You were aiming that sphere at me, weren’t you? If I hadn’t reacted quickly, I’d already be accompanying Xiaoke right now.” Wang Yu flexed her hands, scaring A-Bao into retreating repeatedly until they stood trembling with their back pressed against the wall.

“Ah!” A pig-headed panda was formed!

***

Ultimately, it was fortunate that Yue Feng held significant influence in that country. After the officials arrived, he offered an explanation, and they departed.

As Wang Yu and her group left, they gave the innkeeper ten times the compensation, which somewhat assuaged Yue Feng’s guilt.

A-Bao, looking incredibly docile, was now carrying Wang Yu to the airport. They had a piece of honey in their mouth, a treat Wang Yu had bought for them.

Although A-Bao had caused considerable losses for Yue Feng and the others, it had also proven its worth. At the very least, they weren’t a completely useless mascot.

Moreover, the biggest reason A-Bao was allowed to stay was undoubtedly because Wang Yu found being carried by them incredibly comfortable. She didn’t even have to walk herself.

A-Bao’s fur was so soft and fluffy that Wang Yu felt sleepy. No, she was already closing her eyes for a nap. No, no, no, she was closing her eyes to cultivate; it was cultivation.

Yue Feng watched Wang Yu sprawled lazily on A-Bao’s back, shaking his head in amusement. The young girl, however, was overjoyed, alternately stroking A-Bao’s silky fur and then the adorable little loli on A-Bao’s back, utterly delighted.

As they reached the airport, Yue Feng paused, realizing someone was already waiting for them.

Standing at the airport entrance was an elegant and noble young woman. She possessed a beautiful face, wore a magnificent long gown, and was draped in outer garments woven from the furs of rare beasts.

Several attendants stood beside her, all of which highlighted the young woman’s extraordinary status. Her eyes, as gentle as water, were fixed intently on Yue Feng.

Wang Yu opened her eyes, glanced at Yue Cai beside her, and noticed a look of surprise on her face. Then she looked at the splendid young woman, then at Yue Feng, pursed her lips, and said nothing.

Yue Feng squeezed Yue Cai’s hand and then patted Wang Yu’s small head. He stepped forward, offering a slight bow. “Your Royal Highness, I trust you have been well.”

The princess, naturally, saw Yue Feng’s actions, and her expression dimmed slightly. She forced a smile. “I heard Young Master Yue was leaving, so this humble one specifically came to see you off.”

Yue Feng replied, maintaining his decorum, “I appreciate the princess’s trouble.”

The princess retrieved a cloak from an attendant behind her, preparing to hand it to Yue Feng. “I selected this cloak for Young Master. It is an excellent primal artifact, perfectly suited for you.” She then moved to drape it over Yue Feng.

However, Yue Feng stepped back, evading the princess.

“I appreciate your kindness, Princess, but I cannot accept favors without merit.

My ties with the royal family have long been settled.

There is no need to trouble Your Royal Highness. Oh, Princess, my Cloud-Soaring Ship is about to depart. Thank you for seeing me off. We shall meet again. Let’s go, Cai’er, Yu’er.”

Without another word, he disregarded the princess and walked directly onto the Cloud-Soaring Ship. Yue Cai quickly followed, offering a bow to the princess as she passed.

A-Bao also hurried after them, with Wang Yu still feigning sleep on their back.

The princess wore a sorrowful expression, watching Yue Feng and the others gradually distance themselves from her.

An attendant beside her, unable to bear it, spoke up. “Princess, this man named Yue is too arrogant. You have been so kind to him.”

“Silence!” The princess rebuked the attendant. “Perhaps it was destiny that we were not meant to be.” The princess watched the Cloud-Soaring Ship slowly ascend into the sky, her heart filled with profound loss.

She had originally planned to offer herself to Yue Feng after his victory against the Cloudwind Sect, as she had long held feelings for him, and it aligned well with royal interests. But it seemed she was a step too late.

Yue Cai’s feelings had been discerned by the princess during their previous interactions, but the princess had never considered her a rival.

She knew Yue Cai was shy and wouldn’t easily express her emotions. Yue Feng, too, had failed to notice the feelings of his cousin, with whom he had spent so much time.

However, her plans had gone awry. Yue Feng had clearly, for some unknown reason, become aware of Yue Cai’s feelings during this return and had accepted her.

“Yu’er?” the princess murmured softly.

“Is it you?” Her intuition told her that the appearance of this ‘Yu’er’ was precisely what led to this outcome.

She also sensed that Yue Feng seemed to harbor a different kind of affection for this ‘Yu’er’. As a woman, she couldn’t comprehend why Yue Cai and Wang Yu could coexist so harmoniously, even helping each other express their feelings.

The princess smiled bitterly as she watched the Cloud-Soaring Ship, now soaring high in the sky. “This truly is destiny unfulfilled.”

***

“She likes you,” Wang Yu said, sitting on A-Bao’s back, looking at Yue Feng who was gazing out the window.

“I know, but I won’t fall for her,” Yue Feng replied calmly.

“Why not?” Wang Yu asked, a little perplexed. That was a princess, after all—the legendary ‘white, rich, and beautiful’ ideal, one of the ultimate dreams for a ‘salted fish’ to cling to until death.

Yue Feng smiled, then pulled both Yue Cai and Wang Yu into his embrace, savoring the fragrant scent of the young woman and the loli. “Because all my love has been given to you two. There won’t be anyone else to share it.”

The young woman’s face flushed, flustered but filled with happiness.

“Hmph, I’d be a fool to believe you,” Wang Yu mumbled softly, though surprisingly, she didn’t resist this time.

Their journey had only just begun.