Chapter 1639: Chapter 75: If You Won’t Be Decent, I’ll Give You Decency! (Part 2)

Jiang Ning’s gaze was slightly cold, just as he was about to speak, a gentle breeze passed by the doorway.

A figure clothed in simple white appeared in front of the National Master Mansion, it was Su Qingying.

Su Qingying stood quietly, dressed in a simple white palace gown, her hair was styled in a high bun, and her eyes were clear like deep pools.

She didn’t look at the emaciated old man, her gaze gently fell on Jiang Ning, her voice ethereal and calm: "It’s getting late, you should set off now."

These words were spoken lightly, as if merely reminding Jiang Ning of a routine matter, yet carried an undeniable meaning; now that she was here, Jiang Ning no longer needed to speak further.

Jiang Ning understood clearly, he said no more words to the emaciated old man, just slightly nodded: "Then I shall take my leave first." With that, his figure slightly moved, stepping out in a few strides and disappeared like the breeze at the end of the long street, heading towards Yang Lake.

Seeing Jiang Ning leave, only then did Su Qingying slowly turn her gaze towards the gray-clad old man.

Her expression was calm, just standing there quietly, yet the oppressive air around the old man like a mountain silently stagnated, as if it hit an invisible but firmer barrier.

A hint of gravity flashed in the murky eyes of the gray-clad old man, he bowed again, lowering his posture even further, yet still insisted: "National Master, this old servant is acting on the Prince’s orders, you must please return Princess Consort Qi. This matter concerns the dignity of the Imperial Family, please grant some leeway, don’t make it difficult for this old servant."

Su Qingying stayed silent for a moment, just as the old man thought she would refuse or question, she merely said faintly: "She is my person, my friend."

The tone wasn’t high, but carried a sense of simple statement.

Leaving those words, she no longer paid attention to the old man, turned around and walked towards the mansion, the white hem of her skirt brushed past the threshold, her back solitary and aloof.

Hong Mian quickly followed, but couldn’t help but turn back for a glance before entering the mansion door. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Only to see that gray-clad old man still standing there bowed, his thin figure seemed slightly lonely in the desolate street, yet also exuded a haunting silence.

He did not leave immediately, nor did he make another sound, just like a stone statue, fixed in the air disturbed by the invisible aura.

The next moment.

With a loud boom, as the heavy door of the National Master Mansion closed, the gray-robed old man discreetly exhaled a breath.

He looked at the mansion ahead, his eyes filled with apprehension.

"The National Master is indeed worthy of the title! On the day he battled Fu Yuan Saint, the National Master surely had hidden depths!" he thought to himself.

He glanced one more time at the National Master Mansion’s door, then turned to look towards the direction out of the Royal Capital.

His eyes flashed with a brief thought, then he instantly vanished from the spot, leaving from the front of the National Master Mansion.

The old man’s form was like a ghost, in the broad daylight, ordinary people couldn’t detect his path at all.

In just a moment, he quietly affixed himself behind Jiang Ning.

His breath completely restrained, as if merging with the flow of wind, light, and air around him.

Watching the figure ahead swiftly sweeping towards outside the city, he followed unhurriedly.

Within the Royal Capital, he wasn’t in a hurry to make a move.

He knew Jiang Ning had captured the interest of the Martial Saint.

Unknown eyes were watching from within the Royal Capital.

On the other side.

Jiang Ning’s figure moved extremely fast, transforming into an afterimage sweeping towards the city gate.

"Just as expected!"

The spiritual field already detected the old man’s figure following behind.

Once confirmed the old man was following, he continued to accelerate, moving towards outside the city at an even faster pace.

In just a brief moment, he exited through the majestic city gates.

Outside, the official road was broad with distant mountains overlapping.

He did not fly through the air, instead choosing a seemingly ordinary walk.

But each step he took, his figure seemed to shrink the ground into inches, moving forward dozens of yards, his speed not slowing at all, breath steady, like strolling leisurely.

The gray-clad old man still trailed after, maintaining a distance neither too far nor too close.

He watched the figure ahead, his eyes flickering with a strange light, quietly nodding in admiration at Jiang Ning’s seamless movement technique.

The two, one in front and one behind, quickly left the outskirts of the Royal Capital, entering the territory of Shangjing County.

The official road gradually became sparsely populated, flanked by continuous farmlands and sporadic villages.

Along the way, Jiang Ning always sensed the old man trailing behind.

Yet the old man showed no intention of making a move.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning wasn’t in a hurry, instead maintaining a steady speed heading towards Yang Lake.

By noon, when the sun shone high in the sky.

The two had completely left the border of Shangjing County, stepping into a more desolate area of mountains and forests.

Here the mountain path snaked, ancient trees towered, with only the rustle of wind through the leaves and occasional bird calls.

At this moment, the gray-clad old man’s eyes flashed sharply, who had been silently following all the way.

"Out of Shangjing County, it’s about time!"

His form moved, closing the distance to Jiang Ning in a few swift strides.

"Dongling Marquis, please hold!"

A hoarse and low voice was faint yet cut through the wind, sounding distinctly not far behind Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning’s steps paused, standing still.

He slowly turned around, looking towards the source of the voice.

Only to see, ten yards away, the emaciated gray-clad old man had revealed himself, standing with hands behind his back, his murky eyes quietly watching him.

The enervated yet unfathomable aura on the old man was no longer concealed, spreading like an invisible tide, enveloping the few yards around them in oppressive stagnation.

The fallen leaves on the ground moved without wind, swirling gently around the old man.

Jiang Ning’s expression was calm, not much surprise in his eyes, as if he had anticipated the old man would reveal himself at this moment.

He looked at the old man, speaking: "Your patience is commendable, following all this way only to appear now."

The gray-clad old man replied: "Marquis Jiang Ning, this old servant urges you one last time. The Prince does not wish for a major conflict, you need only send Princess Consort Qi back, there’s still room to defuse the situation, the Prince’s fury is not something the Marquis can withstand."

Jiang Ning shook his head lightly: "Once Lin Qingyi enters the National Master Mansion, she becomes a guest of the National Master Mansion. If the Prince wishes to invite her, he can negotiate in person! Speaking further with me is futile."

"Marquis... you really are stubborn!" The old man chuckled lowly, his eyes flashing with a hint of mockery.

The next moment.

He took a step forward, his aura entirely unrestrained.

The burgeoning aura surged like a torrent towards Jiang Ning.

The forest instantly turned silent, the mountain birds muting their sounds.

Jiang Ning’s eyes deepened.

With the old man no longer holding back, he had discerned the old man’s current realm.

First Grade Mixed Element Realm, a domain in itself.

At this moment, the old man made his move.

His emaciated hand slowly lifted, forming a virtual fist aimed at Jiang Ning.

In an instant, the air within several yards of Jiang Ning seemed to solidify, transforming into an invisible cage, a massive oppressive force pressing from all directions, attempting to confine him in place.

"Marquis, since you refuse dignity, this old servant will grant you some, capturing you back, I believe the National Master will hand over Princess Consort Qi."

Jiang Ning’s brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed.

The old man’s move carried the pressure of heavenly seal and space confinement.

Four-in-One Heaven and Man Realm foundation.

His mind instantly comprehended.

The old man from Qi Royal Mansion, was in the Third Grade Realm, a foundation of Four-in-One Heaven and Man Realm, merging with heaven and earth, mastering space manipulation.

Such a foundation, notable in the Third Grade, but in the First Grade Mixed Element Realm, it was too ordinary.

The next moment.

He slowly stepped forward.

Crack——

The sound of shattering in the void was distinctly audible.

The surrounding solidified scene, fractured like a mirror.

Witnessing this, the old man’s pupils shrank suddenly, filled with a few shades of surprise.

"Do you not wonder why, knowing you’ve been tailing me, I’ve let it go unchecked?" Jiang Ning spoke.

As the words fell.

He suddenly stepped forward.

Boom——

The void trembled, energy surging back in waves.

The constraint the old man erected instantly shattered.

The old man’s pupils dilated, retreating sharply.

Having his physical body break the space confinement, he instantly realized, he must avoid close combat with Jiang Ning at all costs.

The two were on entirely different levels, different magnitudes in physical prowess.