Chapter 1022: Parting Sorrow
The Hong Clan’s Hong Bawei knitted his brow as he questioned, “Crown Prince Consort, Sixth Young Sir Zheng is travelling together with us?”
“Is there a problem?”
Qiao Mu cast the others a glance as she said nonchalantly, “Didn’t you all come to an agreement with the king? The eight great patrician families would only select four competitors, while the king would choose another two people to join the team.”
In other words, the king chose only one person— Little Sixth Zheng—so what else did you people want?
What was there not to be satisfied about?
Hong Bawei and Fan Qiuming’s complexions changed, and they protested anxiously, “This is the rule that your Family Head Qiao decided on his own previously…”
Sensing Qiao Mu’s cold gaze, Hong Bawei could only change his tune in the middle, “This indeed was what Qiao Dongbo said, but the other family patriarchs didn’t agree, so how could his decision represent everyone’s stance?”
If he conceded to what Qiao Mu said, then they had to eliminate one more person from the team.
Wasn’t it obvious that it was either Fan Qiuming or him, Hong Bawei, that would be the unlucky fool selected to be kicked out of the team?
After all, the two of them were the weakest out of the six people, so they had the highest chances of getting kicked out.
However, the two people had both come while bearing the weight of their clans’ hopes, so they naturally couldn’t allow someone else to kick them out with just a few words.
“Surely, the crown prince consort is bringing Sixth Zheng along because the list of names the king submitted actually contains seven people.” Qin Susu said insipidly, “Alright, don’t worry about this stuff. I see that it’s getting late, so let’s set out earlier.”
The Mystic Beast Forest was located at the boundary of the northern and eastern regions, reportedly 5000 kilometers away. After leaving the Mo Kingdom, they would be heading eastward. Even with war hawks as guides, they still needed to travel for about two days.
After reaching the Mystic Beast Forest’s periphery, they must then continue their travels by foot.
On the one hand, it was to avoid getting attacked by a mob of beasts while at high altitudes. On the other hand, it was because a gray fog blanketed the sky above the Mystic Beast Forest all year round.
In this vast, dark, silent, and continuous forest home to gigantic beasts, generally everyone made a detour around this area in flight. There wasn’t anyone who would foolishly challenge this forest that was beyond everyone’s comprehension.
Seven guide hawks had been waiting for them outside the city gate for some time.
The passersby all looked at them curiously, and some even specially stopped to watch, looking at those large and robust pitch-black hawks with yearning.
“Properly protect yourself, and do only what you are capable of.” Mo Lian stroked her small face as he sighed gently, reluctant to part.
What to do? He was already missing her even before parting. This small beauty really tormented him in every possible way.
Qiao Mu patted her own chest emphatically, indicating for him to set his mind at rest.
The next second, she gave him an unexpected smile, and she waved her small paw before turning around and briskly walking out of the city.
Mo Lian stared blankly at her departing figure, continuously reflecting on Qiaoqiao’s smile in his mind.
However, this was only up until an urgent voice drifted into his ears from afar. “Qiaoqiao, Qiaoqiao!”
Running up to Mo Lian impatiently, Duan Yue blinked his eyes as he looked left and right, questioning, “Where’s Qiaoqiao? Wah, did I come too late and she left already?”
Mo Lian harrumphed. “She left.”
Qiao Mu was just about to straddle the war hawk, but she probed her head out from the city gate when she heard Duan Yue’s voice. “Duan Yue?”
“Fourth Brother!” Seventh Miss Duan also hastily got off the war hawk, and she dashed to the city gate, looking at him joyously.
“Qiaoqiao.” Duan Yue galloped over while grinning from ear to ear, but he completely ignored Seventh Duan’s gaze. He directly passed by her and ran up to Qiao Mu instead.