Meng Feixue would continue to issue more orders until everything was roughly dealt with. Finally, she walked toward Feng Qingyou and Ye Qing.

“Phew… we did it, Qingyou.”

Meng Feixue let out a small sigh of relief when she reached Feng Qingyou. The solemn, dignified expression she wore before was nowhere to be found, replaced by a smile that looked like the clear sky after the storm; spring after winter.

She was smiling, but translucent tears suddenly began sliding down the corners of her eyes.

“Indeed, you did it.”

Feng Qingyou smiled as she stepped forward to give Meng Feixue a soft hug. She knew exactly how much time and effort Meng Feixue had put in to take revenge and retake the Nanjiang Royal Court.

She was smiling because she was overjoyed, but she was also crying because of how hard it had been.

Smiling and crying had always been two sides of the same coin.

“Thank you, Qingyou. Without you, I might not have accomplished my dream even if I put my whole life into it.”

Meng Feixue hugged Feng Qingyou tightly as she voiced her gratitude, “Truly, thank you.”

She was telling the truth. If not for Feng Qingyou’s help, forget retaking the Nanjiang Royal Court, she might have died a long time ago.

It was six years ago when she made the acquaintance of Feng Qingyou. She had been betrayed while contacting the old tribes who were once loyal to the Meng Clan. It was Feng Qingyou who saved her life.

At the time, her parents were dead, and she had just been betrayed by a close friend. She had felt so despondent that she wanted to kill herself. Feng Qingyou had stopped her before she could do so.

Feng Qingyou was just a young girl at the time, but she had stared straight into her eyes and said, “Death is the easiest answer in this world, but death is also submitting to fate and escapism.”

“If you die now, you won’t be able to face your parents, your clansmen, and most importantly, yourself.”

She didn’t say anything.

Feng Qingyou continued, “If you trust me, I can help you.”

Feng Qingyou was just a young girl at the time; a child. And yet for whatever reason, she sounded so convincing that Meng Feixue just could not help but believe her.

And so she survived. Feng Qingyou began helping her by sponsoring the construction of the Brushing Moon Inn and recruiting all sorts of

jianghu

elites to assist her. She acted as her strategist and advisor and aided her in recruiting the Malevolent Tribe, the Six Souls People and more tribes.

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

In fact, Feng Qingyou had singlehandedly come up with the plan to retake the Nanjiang Royal Court. Long before Chu began their operation, Feng Qingyou had already contacted her in secret and told her to gather the manpower she had intentionally spread out so as not to be detected by their enemies. It was to prepare for the retaking of the Nanjiang Royal Court.

The plan to lure the enemy out of position, awaken the Eight Divine Armors and more were planned and executed by Feng Qingyou as well. Really, all she and her tribesmen did were reap the rewards.

It was no exaggeration to say that there would be no Meng Feixue without Feng Qingyou, much less retaking the Nanjiang Royal Court.

That was why Feng Qingyou was her friend and more importantly, her benefactor.

“You and I are close enough to do away with the thanks, I should think.”

Feng Qingyou gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks with a smile. “Also, you’re an adult now. You shouldn’t be crying like a child. What if your subordinates see you like this? You don’t want them to underestimate their Nanjiang princess, do you?”

“So what if they see me like this? It’s no biggie.”

Meng Feixue snorted and turned suddenly to glare at Ye Qing. “I dare them to laugh at me!”

“Don’t look at me! I’m not laughing at you!”

Ye Qing hurriedly rubbed his nose and defended himself.

“Hmph… you best not.”

Meng Feixue snorted again. She was at least four to five years older than Feng Qingyou, but she was acting like a kid right now, childish and cute.

“Yes, yes, no one would dare to laugh at you.”

Feng Qingyou gave her a pat on the shoulder and said, “Now, go get ready. Win or lose, victory or defeat, it’s all up to you now.”

“Of course. It will be fine.”

Meng Feixue nodded and looked cold and stern once more. “I’m taking my leave now. I leave this place to you, Qingyou.”

“Don’t worry.” Feng Qingyou nodded.

After Meng Feixue left, Ye Qing asked, “Is this so-called preparation the Moon Praying Ceremony Miss Meng mentioned earlier?”

“That’s right.” Feng Qingyou nodded while taking off toward the Peaceful Nanjiang Palace.

“Moon Praying Ceremony? Why does it sound like some sort of sacrificial ceremony? Is it reliable?” Ye Qing followed her.

“I think so,” answered Feng Qingyou.

“What do you mean ‘you think so’?” Ye Qing lifted his eyebrows immediately. It sounded anything but reliable.

“It means I’m not sure if it’s reliable either. Fei Xue claimed it will work, so I believe it would work, that’s all,” Feng Qingyou explained.

Ye Qing’s mouth turned into an O-shape, and for a long time, he couldn’t say anything.

Excuse me, but is there still time for me to make a run for it?

Despite his worries, Ye Qing ultimately chose to stick around. The time to disembark this pirate boat was long ago. He could only see this voyage until the end and pray that it would all turn out well.

But of course, the main reason he stayed behind was because he believed in Feng Qingyou.

Feng Qingyou headed straight toward the secret room after entering the Peaceful Nanjiang Palace, which was located in the underground. The entrance was none other than the throne itself. Rotating the throne was all one needed to do to unlock it.

It was clear why Feng Qingyou had come here. It was to awaken the remaining four Divine Armors.

The first thing Ye Qing saw after entering the secret underground room was four tall and brawny Divine Armors. They all boasted different colors: the azure Qian Armor, the fiery red Li Armor, the dark green Gen Armor, and the dark blue Dui Armor.

Although the four Divine Armors were still deactivated, they still gave off an intense pressure.

“These Divine Armors are seriously well made!”

Ye Qing examined the various restrictions and runes on the four Divine Armors and found himself astounded by the craftsmanship. “Can you tell me how you’re going to awaken the Eight Divine Armors now? I thought only a royal descendant of the Meng Clan could awaken the Eight Divine Armors?”

He was curious. Feng Qingyou made it clear that she wasn’t a royal descendant of the Meng Clan, so how on did she awaken them?

“Who told you that?” Feng Qingyou countered.

“Huh? I-It’s not necessary?” Ye Qing blinked. He had heard of the Eight Divine Armors, and rumors had it that only a direct descendant of the royal family of the Meng Clan could awaken and use them.

“That’s just a false rumor the Meng Clan intentionally spread to keep outsiders from coveting the Eight Divine Armors.”

Feng Qingyou explained, “In reality, you only need an incantation and a secret art to awaken them.”

“I see!” Ye Qing exclaimed in realization.

“I must not be disturbed even a little during the process, so protect me.”

After Feng Qingyou gave Ye Qing an order, she walked up to the Qian Armor and touched its forehead with a bloody fingertip. Then, she made a hand seal and began reciting the incantation.

The incantation was profound, complicated, obscure, and lengthy. Ye Qing felt dizzy after just observing for a moment because not a single hand seal or incantation was repeated since Feng Qingyou began the ritual.

Slowly, Feng Qingyou’s hand gestures and recitation grew faster and faster. At some point, not even Ye Qing could see what hand seal she was performing, or hear what incantation she was reciting.

Strangely, the ritual did not seem messy despite the haste at which Feng Qingyou was performing it. In fact, it was exuding some sort of cadence and beauty.