Shang Ruoyu had fully recovered, but she had no intention of leaving the Saint Martial Continent. She just felt she shouldn't leave; Qi Qingqing was still on the Saint Martial Continent, so she wouldn't go!
Leaving the deep mountain area, Shang Ruoyu put on her veil again, then began to understand the general situation of the Saint Martial Continent, focusing especially on investigating Qin Chu's circumstances.
At this time, the pattern of the Saint Martial Continent had changed. The White Tiger Saint Clan had disappeared again, and the Black Tortoise Saint Clan had completely sealed its mountains. It was forced to seal its mountains, and some resources had been taken away by the Saint Martial Enforcement. It could be said that the Black Tortoise Saint Clan was developing under control, and no one knew if it could rise again in the future.
No one sympathized with the Black Tortoise Saint Clan, because they had done many inhumane things, like secretly attacking the Vermilion Bird Saint Clan, who were in-laws. Why imprison Qingyi? Qingyi was innocent. Why imprison Zhen Xueyan? Their actions were utterly devoid of humanity.
Shang Ruoyu didn't care about the Black Tortoise Saint Clan. Since the White Tiger Saint Clan had disappeared, it meant they were well hidden, and she didn't need to worry about them. What she cared about most now was news of Qin Chu and Qi Qingqing.
There was no news of Qi Qingqing at all. Qi Qingqing, who had been severely injured, had completely disappeared. Shang Ruoyu understood this point; if one's condition wasn't good, one wouldn't mix in the Jianghu. She was the same; she only came out after she had fully recovered.
As her investigation progressed, Shang Ruoyu learned about some of Qin Chu's affairs.
"That little bastard with a fiancée!" Hearing that Qin Chu had a marriage engagement with Princess Shang Shuyu of the Azure Dragon Saint Clan, Shang Ruoyu was particularly angry because she had been taken advantage of.
Understanding Qin Chu's past, Shang Ruoyu knew that some of Qin Chu's words were true, and some were not credible. She hadn't found out that Qin Chu was raised by the Black Prison Master, but she could confirm that the relationship between Qin Chu and the Black Prison Master was not simple.
Why? Because of the Prison Suppressing Fist, the Prison Suppressing Fist was one of the Black Prison Master's unique skills. Unless they were master and disciple or had a particularly close relationship, the Black Prison Master would not pass it on, because it was a Legacy.
Instead of going directly to Heavenly Sword City, Shang Ruoyu settled in an inn in a small city. At the same time, she used Spirit Stones to pave the way, hiring Cultivators to gather information, mainly about Qin Chu, Qi Qingqing, and the White Tiger Saint Clan.
Knowing that Qin Chu had returned, the Black Prison Master arrived at Heavenly Sword City, met Qin Chu, and seeing Qin Chu was safe, he left without saying anything. As long as Qin Chu was safe, he was at ease. Everything else was not important, because he knew Qin Chu had a bottom line and principles in his conduct. If anyone in this world understood Qin Chu's temperament best, it was him.
Qin Chu had been staying in his small courtyard, refining his Cultivation, and not seeing anyone. He didn't want to be asked how he escaped.
This day, as Qin Chu was practicing his sword, Qin Lingxi came to Qin Chu's courtyard.
"Auntie is here?" Qin Chu greeted Qin Lingxi after sheathing his sword.
"Yu'er has returned to Azure Dragon Castle and probably needs a couple of days to calm down. Yesterday, when we chatted, Auntie told her about that matter and explained that you couldn't speak, so Auntie spoke for you. She said she doesn't blame you; she just needs to calm down," Qin Lingxi said.
Qin Chu let out a breath, "Sticking your head out is one cut, pulling it back is also one cut. Let's see how she chooses! If she minds, then let's dissolve the engagement."
Having said these words, Qin Chu felt a strong sense of powerlessness. He cared deeply about Shang Shuyu, but since things had happened, they could only be dealt with as they had occurred.
"Don't think that way. Yu'er said she doesn't blame you; she just wants some quiet time. Let her be quiet for a couple of days, and then you go pick her up. Don't act as if you're in the right when you're in the wrong," Qin Lingxi said, looking at Qin Chu.
"Okay, I'll go pick her up later. If she comes back with me, then it's clear skies after the rain. If she doesn't come back..." Qin Chu didn't finish his sentence.
Qin Chu worked hard to Cultivate every day. His Origin Qi Cultivation needed to be refined; without proper refinement, he couldn't Breakthrough. Besides refining his Origin Qi, he practiced his sword and fist techniques.
After five days of quiet Cultivation at the Vermilion Bird Saint Clan's stronghold, Qin Chu took a beast-drawn carriage to Azure Dragon Castle.
Upon entering Azure Dragon Castle, Qin Chu noticed a festive atmosphere. In the main hall of Azure Dragon Castle, Qin Chu saw Shang Shuyu drinking with Granny Yu.
Qin Chu was puzzled and didn't understand what was going on. Then, observing further, he understood: Shang Shuyu had achieved a Breakthrough; she was already at the King Realm of Cultivation.
Seeing Qin Chu, Shang Shuyu was silent for a moment, then pulled Qin Chu to sit beside her. "I thought that now that I'm back at Azure Dragon Castle, you wouldn't care anymore."
"No, it's not that. Didn't I make Senior Sister angry? I didn't dare to come over!" Qin Chu said, blushing.
"How can I blame you? But you haven't come for several days, and I was very angry!" Shang Shuyu said, looking at Qin Chu. She had been very sad these past few days, but she also knew that Qin Chu's inner pressure was greater than hers.
Qin Chu breathed a sigh of relief, "It's good that Senior Sister isn't angry."
To give Qin Chu and Shang Shuyu some private space, Granny Yu got up and left.
"There's one more thing you need to pay attention to. You can tell me some things directly. The more people who know, aren't we just more awkward each time? We should have this kind of understanding; we solve our own problems." After watching Granny Yu leave, Shang Shuyu said.
Listening to Shang Shuyu's words, Qin Chu realized he had underestimated Shang Shuyu's magnanimity and understanding.
"Once I resolve some troubles, I will formally marry you and bring you home to the Azure Dragon Saint Clan," Qin Chu decided.
A blush appeared on Shang Shuyu's face. "What other troubles do you have? I don't think there are any. Shang Ruoyu? You had the chance but didn't kill her; she shouldn't ruthlessly target you again."
"What about Qi Qingqing? This woman is hidden in the dark; who knows when she will strike?" Qin Chu felt that enemies hidden in the dark were the most terrifying.
At the mention of Qi Qingqing, anger appeared in Shang Shuyu's eyes. The matter between Shang Ruoyu and Qin Chu was an accident, but Qi Qingqing was not. She came specifically to borrow seed, and she targeted her fiancé. This was bullying her.
"Senior Sister, don't be angry. How about we go back?" Qin Chu asked, looking at Shang Shuyu.
Shang Shuyu nodded. Qin Chu had come to pick her up, so she was no longer angry.
Qin Chu brought Shang Shuyu back to the Vermilion Bird Saint Clan's stronghold, which made Qin Lingxi breathe a sigh of relief. She knew that her nephew's wife was now secure. After such an incident, she hadn't broken up with Qin Chu, so their future life would be stable.
Shang Ruoyu, staying in the small city, Cultivated every day, refining the Yang Qi that Qin Chu had left in her body. After refining most of it, she found that a problem she couldn't solve before was now resolved.
In the past, Shang Ruoyu's Cultivation Technique for concealing her Cultivation was ineffective because her Xuanbing Cultivation Technique's Origin Qi energy was extremely cold, and the concealment technique simply couldn't hide her Cultivation. However, after refining the Yang Qi in her body, she found that she could perfectly control her own energy; whether it was extremely cold or gentle was within her control. In this situation, she could conceal her Cultivation and appear before people.
After thinking for a moment, Shang Ruoyu changed into a light green silk dress and then headed to Heavenly Sword City.
After emerging from the deep mountains, Shang Ruoyu had never worn a white silk dress again, because purity was no longer relevant to her.