CHAPTER 592: CHAPTER 364: FOREST KING AND DIVINE ORIGIN QUEEN_2

Li Meilin was deeply worried. She knew her journey held countless ways to lead to her demise. If she tried to return by herself, who knew what dangers awaited her on the way. If she were to be escorted by guards of another Emperor, there was a high chance she’d be ambushed and killed during the journey. Even now, she could vanish from this city, and Wan Qiao could simply tell Yan Xiaobao that she’d already left.

Considering all these dangers, Li Meilin couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of fear and unease. She knew the likelihood of surviving and ever seeing anyone she held dear again was slim. Yet, at the same time, her resolve hardened as she looked seriously at Wan Qiao.

Even if it would likely cost her life, if there was a declaration that she would be brought home, she was willing to follow these beasts. It was a gamble she had no choice but to take. The slim chance to return home and warn the Kingdom was enough to make her risk her life.

Noticing the resolve and calmness on Li Meilin’s face, Wan Qiao was very pleased. Her face lit up with a smile, and her voice softened.

"Go get your things. I have a guard ready to take you to the Divine Origin Border," Wan Qiao said calmly. Hearing this, Li Meilin immediately sprang to her feet, nearly bolting out of the room, rushing toward her quarters to pack her belongings. Watching the woman’s urgency, Wan Qiao smiled with satisfaction as she exited the room.

"Attend to me!" Wan Qiao said commandingly. In an instant, four experts appeared by her side, seemingly manifesting from nowhere. These four were evidently Wan Qiao’s personal bodyguards, and all of them were Holy Name Experts. If Yan Xiaobao were present, his face would surely betray his shock. He wouldn’t detect any energy ripples from these four experts unless he directly focused on them. Their presence was so faint they may as well not have existed.

"Zhu Wei, secure Yan Xiaobao. There’s a strong chance someone is out for his life," Wan Qiao said sternly. "Even though the Lords have agreed to start the war, they might still change their minds. We cannot allow him to die."

One of the shadows nodded in silent acknowledgement before vanishing as though he had never been there. Wan Qiao then turned to another expert and spoke in a measured tone, "Song Jie, find an Emperor to assign a guard for me." At her words, another expert melted into the shadows again.

The shadow named Song Jie moved swiftly, making his way to the military barracks where the guards resided. In what felt like only moments, the shadow returned to Wan Qiao’s side, this time with another man who looked slightly disoriented.

Upon noticing Wan Qiao, the man quickly overcame his confusion, kneeling before her and bowing deeply under her curious gaze. She nodded and finally spoke. "Guard, I have a very special task for you." She gestured for the man to follow her into her private room, and without hesitation, the young man complied.

"You may already know that I have someone residing in this castle. I need her brought to the border of the Siban Empire, but I won’t be able to accompany her myself. I’m entrusting this mission to you," Wan Qiao said, her words causing the guard’s confusion to deepen. Although he had heard rumors about someone staying in the castle, he would never have imagined that the Divine Origin Queen herself cared to offer any assistance to this person. However, the young man knew better than to question her. He simply nodded, his lips pressing tightly together.

"You will depart tomorrow morning. Inform her to be prepared by then," Wan Qiao stated casually, turning her attention back to the stack of documents on her desk. Yet, before she immersed herself fully in her work, her voice grew icy as she issued a warning, "I need this woman delivered safely to the border of the Siban Empire. If she dies before reaching her destination, I will personally ensure you follow her in death in an instant." At her chilling words, the guard immediately scrambled out of the room.

Once the guard had left, Wan Qiao sat down again to finalize the documents meant for Yan Xiaobao. Her eyes focused intently on the papers before her, and a deep sigh escaped her lips. The room around her was utterly devoid of any other presence. The three shadows from earlier had seemingly vanished without a trace.

As Wan Qiao concentrated on completing her work, the guard arrived at Li Meilin’s quarters and knocked on the door.

"Come in," the woman called out, though she did not turn her head. With her back to the door, she packed her belongings methodically, one item at a time. Although she heard the door open, she neither quickened her pace nor appeared flustered. Instead, she meticulously busied herself with packing the items she had used during her stay in the Divine Domain.

"I’m here to assist you in leaving this place," the guard stated in a neutral tone, prompting Li Meilin to nod. Her heart pounded within her chest as she mulled over whether it was wise to place her trust in this guard. If she was fortunate, she would find herself in Siban again. If she was not, her journey would end in some part of the forest, where her bones would be gnawed upon by savage creatures.

Closing her eyes, she took several deep breaths to steady herself. When she heard the guard speak again, she nodded in response. Slowly, her eyes opened, and they gleamed with a bone-chilling resolve. She clenched her fists tightly as she gazed out the window. She was an Emperor; if they sought to bring about her demise, she would ensure that they paid dearly for it. However, if they truly intended to help her return home, then Li Meilin was willing to seize that chance.

"I suppose he won’t come to visit me again," Li Meilin muttered to herself, staring at the door. The guard who had appeared earlier decided to stand watch outside the door, leaving Li Meilin feeling like a prisoner as she pondered whether Yan Xiaobao would return to bid her farewell. Shaking her head mockingly at her own naivety, she scoffed at herself for harboring such childish hopes. It was clear Yan Xiaobao held no affection for her; by his own admission, the only reason he chose to help her was so she could warn the Sun Kingdom of impending danger. He had never promised to invest any more time in her than was necessary.

The day passed swiftly, and Yan Xiaobao remained in his quarters, focused on cultivating his strength. Having already reached the nine stars rank at Duke University, he aspired to break through the final barrier. Before he entered the war, he wanted to become a King. Although he understood power alone would not determine the war’s outcome, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he needed more strength—for himself, for what lay ahead.

With Li Meilin’s escort plans underway, Yan Xiaobao no longer concerned himself with her fate. Instead, his mind raced with thoughts of what might unfold between Siban and the Sun Empire. Would they truly take steps to shield themselves? The answer to that was something he needed for advancing the war strategy further.

With a deep sigh, he glanced out his window at the multitude of guards settling on the castle walls. He wondered if they would heed his words when the time came.

While Yan Xiaobao preoccupied himself with observing the masses outside, a dark shadow silently slipped into his room and vanished into the ceiling. No aura could be felt. The shadow seemed to have phased straight through the door without opening it and disappeared in the same manner.

As the day drew to a close, Li Meilin sat in her room, her heart beating steadily in her chest. With her head resting in her palms and her elbows atop her knees, she sat in quiet reflection. This was her final night in the Divine Origin Capital. Whether her life would end or she would complete her journey remained uncertain, but she resolved to do everything in her power to return to the Spanish Empire.

*Knock Knock*

The sound of knocking pulled Li Meilin from her thoughts, prompting her to immediately rise to her feet. Looking around the room, she felt a pang of nostalgia. Now emptied of her belongings, no one could tell that Li Meilin had stayed there for so long. While a part of her felt sentimental, the room also resembled a prison cell to her—a place where she had been forcibly confined while longing to be elsewhere.

In the courtyard, the guard awaited her, but this time, he was no longer wearing his uniform or even resembling a humanoid beast. He had transformed into a massive eagle, at least seven meters in length with a wingspan that stretched wide. Standing at over two meters tall, his majestic form radiated both pride and disdain.

His imperious eyes brimmed with displeasure, though such feelings were impossible for him to cast aside. The proud eagle allowed the woman to climb onto his back, gripping the feathers at his neck firmly. Letting out a sound of mild irritation, the eagle launched into the sky, swiftly disappearing into the distance—the direction of the Siban Empire.

...