Starting My Cultivation With Time Management-Chapter 924 - 64 Deception

Chapter 924 -64 Deception

“How did we become spies?” Long Long was utterly baffled.

“Two members of the Dragon Clan sneaking into our West State army—if you’re not spies, what are you?” Qi Yingzhu replied with righteous conviction.

“Has Your Highness not received news from the Eastern State?” Long Hu glared at Qi Yingzhu. “We’ve already left the Eastern State without notice. Does Your Highness not understand what that implies?”

“I don’t understand,” Qi Yingzhu feigned ignorance. “Who knows if you’re acting on orders from the Eastern State, deliberately infiltrating our West State army to secretly relay information?”

“If we truly are spies, and Your Highness, as the opposing commander, is now standing before us,” Long Long said expressionlessly, “shouldn’t we silence you to keep our cover?”

“Ah!” Qi Yingzhu let out a startled cry.

She suddenly remembered that Long Long had already ascended to the Dong Yuan Realm as a Demon King, while she was still only in the Transformation Realm.

If a fight broke out, how could she possibly be a match for Long Long? She might even be subdued by his martial force, bound up, and dragged along his escape route for mere entertainment…

At this thought, Qi Yingzhu’s face turned pale, and she subconsciously retreated.

She shouldn’t have followed them here!

Noticing that the little tigress had realized fear at last, Long Long and Long Hu exchanged a glance before speaking in a gentler tone:

“Your Highness, your noble status is not suited for a life-and-death struggle with the likes of us. For the sake of our past acquaintanceship, why not turn back now? We won’t pursue the matter further—what do you say?”

Qi Yingzhu remained silent for a moment, feeling somewhat relieved in her heart. She thought to herself:

For the sake of our past acquaintanceship?

So, he doesn’t completely lack feelings for me. It’s just…

Sigh, it’s just that the camps we align with are opposed, leaving us no choice…

Wait—he’s already left the Eastern State, defecting from the Dragon Clan. What oppositions between camps could there still be?

“I understand,” Qi Yingzhu steadied her emotions, speaking slowly. “I believe you are not agents of the Eastern State.”

“Since you’ve defected from the Eastern State, our Qilin Clan… can offer you sanctuary. If you’d like to seek refuge with the White Tiger Clan, I can also provide an introduction.”

“We appreciate Your Highness’s consideration,” Long Hu began to respond, intending to explain that they were heading to the Jiaolong Clan. But upon seeing a glance from Long Long, she immediately caught on.

The matter with the Jiaolong Clan and Beiming Fanyang should not be disclosed lightly to outsiders.

“We wouldn’t dare trouble Your Highness,” Long Long said with a grateful expression, speaking earnestly. “If this were discovered by the Eastern State, they would surely demand accountability from the Central State.”

“Now that the Central State and West State are allied against enemies from the North and South, any fallout with the Eastern State caused by us would weigh heavily on our conscience.”

“You don’t need to worry!” Qi Yingzhu said hastily. “I can hide you on my family estate. Forget the Eastern State—even in the Central and West States, few would know!”

Estate, basement, shackles… Long Long’s mind conjured several associations in rapid succession, leaving him secretly alarmed.

If they really ended up at her family estate, wouldn’t they be at her mercy, subjected to whatever exploitation she wished? As expected, this tigress had ulterior motives!

But Long Long knew better than to offend her at this moment. Should Qi Yingzhu disappear or die in the Northern Border, it would undoubtedly spark a massive backlash in both the West and Central States.

Should the North State seize the opportunity to strike, the war could conclude prematurely—a scenario Long Long and Long Hu were keen to avoid. The longer the conflict persisted, the more the North State would be tied up, leaving them no capacity to hunt for suspicious individuals within their borders.

After a brief pause, he confirmed cautiously:

“Would that not inconvenience Your Highness?”

“Not at all!” Qi Yingzhu shook her head emphatically, looking eagerly toward Long Hu, as if dreading that she might refuse.

Qi Yingzhu was well aware of how much Long Long valued Long Hu.

Long Hu was initially startled, but she quickly regained her composure.

A stalling tactic.

They would placate Qi Yingzhu for now. Later, upon reaching Beiming Fanyang, it would be child’s play to go back on their word, wouldn’t it?

Empty promises had piled up. Even a once-naive girl like this little vixen had, by now, become adept without anyone teaching her.

“Very well,” Long Long eventually fell into silence once more.

Qi Yingzhu, growing slightly uneasy, anxiously awaited his next words. Only when Long Long finally spoke did she relax:

“Since Your Highness is willing to grant us shelter, I won’t conceal the truth further: this journey into the Northern State is to meet an elder.”

“An elder?” Qi Yingzhu was puzzled but refrained from probing further to avoid arousing Long Long’s suspicion. freēwēbnovel.com

“After meeting this elder, in half a month, we will head to the southern border of the Northern State. At the snowy peaks there, we will rendezvous with Your Highness,” Long Long continued. “If Your Highness hasn’t changed your mind by then, we’ll accompany you back to the Central State. If you no longer wish to shelter us, simply avoid showing up. Should we not encounter you or your people, we will quietly leave.”

“I won’t change my mind!!” Qi Yingzhu hurriedly gave her word. “I will make sure arrangements are in place to guide you there!”

This was a sincere promise—after all, Long Long’s strategic mind and tactics were even recognized by her mentor, the White Tiger Divine General. Coupled with his highly noble bloodline and swift ascension to the Dong Yuan Realm, what Demon Race could rival him?

To shelter Long Long in the Central State and eventually gain his loyalty would serve both the Qilin Clan and the White Tiger Clan immensely well.

Of course, Qi Yingzhu couldn’t deny having personal motives as well. But sheltering Long Long was something with both public and private benefits, leaving no room for hidden schemes on her part.

The only challenge would be convincing Long Long… Now that they had the chance, whether it involved rendezvousing at the southern border of the Northern State or even venturing into hostile territory to rescue them, Qi Yingzhu was confident she could persuade her clan to act.

“Then it’s settled—half a month from now, the southern snowy peaks of the Northern State,” Qi Yingzhu stated decisively. “I’ll arrange for White Tiger secret guards to await you there. You…”

She hesitated momentarily before sighing and continuing:

“You must be careful. The Northern State has always sought to court favor with the Eastern State. Should they discover your presence, they won’t be as accommodating as I am.”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness,” Long Long replied with a grateful smile.

After exchanging a few more words, Qi Yingzhu finally turned and left.

As she departed, Qi Yingzhu silently resolved to honor the agreement and ensure Long Long and his companions were guided at the southern edge of the Northern State in half a month.

Long Long, on the other hand, felt relieved that he had successfully deceived the overly persistent tigress.

Next, it was time to take Long Hu to Beiming Fanyang.

The pair swiftly moved northward, using the craggy gorge walls as cover.

To avoid drawing attention, they refrained from using the Dragon Clan’s cloud-riding divine skills. Instead, they traveled by sword control, transforming into two faint streaks of sword light that disappeared into the unending expanse of wind and snow.