I Can See Your Combat Power

Chapter 966: Chapter 260: Xu Qingyue’s Grand Plan

As for Xu Qingyue, who was renowned throughout Middle Ying City as a daughter-in-law, both she and Tang Sen were satisfied with her. Born in the sacred land of the Xu Clan from Yuanzhou, it went without saying that her upbringing and beauty were top-notch choices. Even if their eldest son couldn’t have children in the future, with such a lovely woman by his side, her motherly worries were eased.

But she also understood what it meant for a woman to have no children, and the Mysterious Moon Sword Supreme’s agreement to this marriage was not without the intention of sacrificing his daughter’s happiness to win over a top-tier fighter. This all too common tactic, typically used by the declining Xu Clan Sword Sect to bond with the prodigies of other sacred lands and Heaven Sects, was something she never imagined her own eldest son could enjoy.

While proud of her son, Xu Shuhui felt even more sympathy for this younger generation known as Qingyue Princess. From their very first meeting, they grew close, and after spending time together, Xu Qingyue’s tranquil and gentle nature won her over, cementing her as the chosen daughter-in-law.

Even Lady Xu Biao was surprised by Xu Qingyue’s comportment, having assumed her daughter would throw a tantrum, only to find things proceeding so smoothly.

Because of Xu Qingyue’s composure, the engagement between the two families went exceedingly well, but no one anticipated what thoughts lurked in the heart of the seemingly demure Qingyue Princess.

Taking the water route along the Lingjiang River, one could follow the Endless Sea to leave Yuanzhou, enter Longjiang from the Longzhou seaport, then shift from Longjiang to a tributary of Lingjiang to reach the Longxi Region. The entire journey would take about three months, a route that the Tang Family, being well-versed in navigation, had become exceedingly familiar with.noveldrama

On the way, Xu Shuhui often sought out Xu Qingyue, who had just stepped out of the cloistered life, for chats about the intimacies of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relations, and introduced her to the bustling splendor of Longxi.

Yet Xu Qingyue seemed more interested in the local customs and culture of Longzhou, especially the once golden city of Chaochang. Xu Shuhui initiated these frequent conversations out of concern that her daughter-in-law, suddenly leaving the land where she had lived for so long, might struggle to adjust. Now seeing Xu Qingyue adapting so well, Xu Shuhui was delighted. Without any suspicion, she recounted the rise and fall of the Yun Clan from Chaochang and the city’s vicissitudes.

After more than a month of sailing, the fleet finally left Yuanzhou, and then something happened that no one had expected.

One morning, Xu Shuhui called for Xu Qingyue as usual to join her for breakfast, but there was no answer when the servant knocked on the door. Thinking her daughter-in-law had simply overslept, she let it go.

However, as the day approached noon and Xu Qingyue still hadn’t come to pay her respects, worried that the long sailing time might have affected her daughter-in-law’s health, Xu Shuhui went to her room again. Despite repeated calls, there was no response, and that’s when she sensed something was wrong.

After having the door forced open, there was no sign of Xu Qingyue inside—only a neatly folded bridal gown on the bed and a letter left on the table.

The Qingyue Princess had fled the marriage. The entire fleet was thrown into chaos. Apart from sending someone back to Ying City to report to the Mysterious Moon Sword Supreme, the guards turned the whole fleet upside down. They even employed creatures with keen senses to search for Xu Qingyue’s trail, but despite days of frantic searching, Xu Qingyue had vanished without a trace.

Xu Shuhui cried her eyes out every day, and Tang Sen, usually a man of few words, seeing his lady so distressed, issued a deadly order that Xu Qingyue must be found. Each day, the leaders of several ships congregated on the main vessel to discuss updates and progress.

“It seems the most likely scenario is that the young lady jumped into the Endless Sea,” said one leader. “The last place the spirit beasts picked up her scent was on the portside deck.”

“But that makes no sense,” another argued. “You and I have been sailing for years and know full well the myriad dangers lurking in the Endless Sea. Even as a disciple of the Xu Clan, without the protection of a great ship, she would have no chance of survival! Besides, if she intended to take her own life, she wouldn’t have left a letter before departing. Therefore, I believe the young lady must still be on the ship!”

“Bullshit! We’ve nearly searched through all the nooks and crannies on this fleet, recounted the crew numerous times, we practically haven’t tore apart the ship’s hull on the Endless Sea. Not to mention a living person, even a rat would have nowhere to hide. I tell you, she must have jumped into the sea. After all, she is a lady from the holy land—how could she fancy any of the world’s young masters? Such a blind girl deserves to die!”

In the midst of a heated intelligence discussion, the cabin door suddenly swung open, and an expressionless Tang Sen walked in, leading a timid young girl.

As soon as the captains saw Tang Sen arrive, they immediately ceased their discussion and stood up in unison.

Tang Sen led the girl to stand in front of everyone. Xiaoyu looked at each of the rugged-looking captains, suppressed the fear in her heart, took a deep breath, and spoke softly, “Slave… my name is Xiaoyu, I am the young mistress’s personal maid, and have grown up with her since childhood. A few years ago, the young mistress made a breakthrough in her cultivation, and is now at the Transcended Mortal realm.”

Taking her age into account, a girl who managed a breakthrough at the age of thirteen or fourteen was indeed extraordinary, but to say that a Transcended Mortal could survive in the Endless Sea was utterly impossible.

Therefore, the captains were waiting for the rest of the story, but noticed the girl had lowered her head after saying this, and once again looked at Tang Sen, who maintained his impassive expression.

It was hopeless to expect an answer from the family head, so the main ship’s captain had to step forward. He gently asked the silent maid, “Xiaoyu, in the Endless Sea, there are countless undercurrents and whirlpools, and ferocious beasts roam freely. Even if a Transcended Mortal martial artist strays into it, they would inevitably be in a dreadful mess. If the young lady truly had the misfortune of falling into the Endless Sea, I’m afraid… the chances of misfortune are greater than those of fortune.”

Upon hearing how dangerous the Endless Sea was, tears immediately filled Xiaoyu’s eyes, and she pleaded with the captains through her sobs, “Honorable captains, please save the young mistress quickly, I beg you~~”

Seeing Xiaoyu so agitated, the main ship’s captain quickly stepped forward to help her up and comforted her, “Xiaoyu, please rise. We will definitely do our utmost to find the young lady. But we need Xiaoyu to cooperate with us!”

The tearful maid lifted her head and asked, “How can I cooperate?”

“Would you please tell us if the young lady has practiced any water escape secret techniques or acquired any magical artifacts that allow her to avoid water?”

The main ship’s captain asked Xiaoyu softly, “Only if we know this can we determine roughly where the young lady might have gone!”

A lady from the holy land, even if she was arrogant and condescending, definitely wouldn’t be foolish. He believed that the other party would have the patience to wait until they were out of Yuanzhou territory and reached this intersection of the three regions before making her move, surely making meticulous plans.

And as long as they discovered what she was relying on, they could roughly pin down Xu Qingyue’s range of activity, thus achieving the goal of finding her.

After all, Xu Qingyue was just a Transcended Mortal martial artist. Even if she had some treasures or secret techniques to avoid water, she couldn’t possibly stay in the water all day, right?