Volume Two: Travels in the State of Qi Chapter 174: Killing Each Other with Love

Seeing Zhang Heng just walking away like that, Ling Tian flashed and blocked his path.
"You brat! Aren't you going to ask about my well-behaved junior niece at all?"
Bypassing him, Zhang Heng continued walking forward without looking back.
"Old man, if Miss Mu wanted to see me, she would have come with you. But since only you are here, I suppose Miss Mu must not wish to see me?"
Smiling inexplicably, Zhang Heng walked on.
Before long, he had left the imperial capital of the Qi State, a place that held countless memories.
After walking for I know not how long, night fell. With no human habitation nearby, Zhang Heng simply found a patch of mountain forest to stay in for the night.
The evening breeze was gentle yet carried a distinct chill.
Occasionally, two chirping insects broke the silence. Although noisy, if one quieted the heart to listen, it possessed a unique charm of its own.
By now, Zhang Heng had lit a campfire and was roasting a beast leg from an ordinary spirit beast he had casually picked up along the way.
Soon, the rich aroma of spirit beast meat permeated the desolate woods.
At that moment, a slight commotion came from not far away.
Zhang Heng smiled calmly, then slowly spoke toward a large tree in the distance.
"Miss Mu, the meat is already roasted. Won't you come out and have some?"
Hearing Zhang Heng's words, a figure flashed from behind the tree.
It was Mu Wanqing.
Though discovered by Zhang Heng, her face showed no trace of panic, appearing utterly calm at the moment.
Mu Wanqing walked toward Zhang Heng with light and agile steps.
Sitting down gracefully opposite him, Zhang Heng handed over the freshly roasted beast leg.
Mu Wanqing took it smoothly and began to eat slowly.
With a tacit understanding, neither of them spoke further, seemingly deeply enjoying the tranquil atmosphere.
One roasted, the other ate; the scene appeared quite harmonious.
After an unknown length of time, Zhang Heng chuckled softly, "Miss Mu, I must be going."
Hearing this, Mu Wanqing paused her movements, her beautiful eyes fixed straight on Zhang Heng. After hesitating for a long while, her rosy lips parted slightly, "Where are you going?"
Zhang Heng leaned backward, casually lying down on the ground. "The world is vast, and the four seas are my home. Wherever my feet take me, that is home."
To be honest, Zhang Heng truly had no idea where he should go. *Sigh,* he thought to himself. Wherever powerful supreme beings haunt, that's where I'll go.
Who would have thought? Upon hearing Zhang Heng's words, Mu Wanqing directly summoned her personal sword.
Then, she pointed her sword right at Zhang Heng.
Startled, Zhang Heng hurriedly sat up and pushed Mu Wanqing's sword away. With a face full of confusion, he asked, "Miss Mu, what are you doing?"
What on earth? Such a wonderful atmosphere, and you actually draw your sword? What kind of game is this? Zhang Heng was utterly speechless.
Mu Wanqing said nothing, merely staring straight at him.
Zhang Heng looked at her and let out a helpless sigh.
"Miss Mu, two years from now, I will appear in the imperial capital of the Yan State."

Having received a satisfactory reply, Mu Wanqing finally lowered her sword and continued gnawing on her beast leg.
"Let's have a flask." Zhang Heng took out two flasks of spirit nectar from his spatial ring and tossed one over to Mu Wanqing.
He remembered that this young woman could hold her liquor quite well.
Pry open the cork, and spiritual energy billowed forth.
A single gulp filled the heart with melancholy.
"Miss Mu, please."
Mu Wanqing stood on no ceremony. Catching the spirit nectar, she began drinking directly.
Finally, the spirit nectar was finished, and the spirit beast meat was eaten.
It was time for people to get on—
Bah, time to scatter.
Zhang Heng stood up, smiled indifferently, and turned toward the distant horizon.
This was a deep, secluded mountain forest, and they were a lone man and a woman; it was best to leave quickly before trouble arose.
Yet, Mu Wanqing flashed and appeared right in front of him.
Without wasting words, her sword reappeared in her hand. With a gentle draw,
The sword cleared its scabbard.
Gripping the sword, Mu Wanqing pointed it at Zhang Heng.
Zhang Heng was genuinely dumbfounded. *Big sister, what on earth are you playing at?*
*If you can't have it, you destroy it?*
Finally, Mu Wanqing spoke: "There is still an unfinished duel between us."
Zhang Heng compromised. Judging by this young woman's stance, if he didn't actually fight her, he probably wouldn't be able to leave.
Besides, there was no time for him to overthink; Mu Wanqing had already flashed forward to attack.
Helpless, Zhang Heng executed the Lesser Aurora Phantom movement technique, retreating rapidly.
*Damn it, of course I have to retreat!*
*Fight? Fight my ass!*
Mu Wanqing possessed the combat power of the third tier of the Void Return realm.
As for Zhang Heng himself, stripping away the Sword Saint Dugu's protective heart-sword, his combat strength could at best match someone at the first tier of the Void Return realm. How could he possibly fight this?
Though Mu Wanqing's posture was extremely graceful and every single move possessed a striking aesthetic, Zhang Heng had no heart to appreciate it.
Because this young woman was playing for real; her moves were fierce and sword qi surged everywhere.
Zhang Heng could only rely on the Lesser Aurora Phantom technique to dodge continuously.
The two of them engaged in a dance of attack and evasion in mid-air.
Mu Wanqing's offensive was already fast enough, but Zhang Heng specialized in speed, so he was still able to cope.
Direct collision was obviously out of the question. Zhang Heng's most powerful technique was the fusion skill of three weapons, but if he used that move, not to mention whether it would work on Mu Wanqing,
He was certain that he himself would die a very miserable death.

Fortunately, Mu Wanqing was not an unreasonable person. After exchanging a few casual moves, she withdrew her sword.
At this moment, the two of them stood back-to-back.
Neither spoke, and the atmosphere grew exceptionally quiet. A sudden sense of wistfulness welled up.
At last, Zhang Heng lifted his foot and began to walk forward.
Mu Wanqing struggled intensely within her heart, yet she forcefully restrained herself and refused to turn around.
Zhang Heng was alone and unrestrained, free to roam the entire world.
But she was different.
Having grown up in the Spirit Feather Palace since childhood, everything she possessed was bestowed by the sect, and she carried the hopes of the Spirit Feather Palace on her shoulders.
She had entanglements and responsibilities she was duty-bound to fulfill.
She and Zhang Heng walked different paths.
Suddenly, Zhang Heng, who was walking away, stopped, turned around, and stared at Mu Wanqing with a strange expression.
Mu Wanqing wore a look of utter perplexity.
As Zhang Heng walked back toward her, he said with a helpless expression, "What is this? I'm just going out to travel, not dying. Why make the atmosphere so gloomy?"
The sudden shift in mood caught Mu Wanqing off guard. Her pretty face was written with astonishment, yet not a single word escaped her lips.
Next came something even more unexpected.
Zhang Heng approached her and, before she could react, reached out and pulled her into an embrace.
Embraced by him, an unprecedented, peculiar sensation suddenly arose. She froze in place, her mind going completely blank, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
Seeing Mu Wanqing's reaction, Zhang Heng was also dumbfounded, and quickly released her. "Miss Mu, don't misunderstand. Where I come from, hugging is just a common form of etiquette. Etiquette, understand?"
Zhang Heng truly hadn't expected her reaction to be this intense. It wasn't the first time they had hugged; was it really necessary to react like this?
"Miss Mu, the Exquisite Sacred Land—shall we go?" Zhang Heng changed the subject.
Mu Wanqing's innate talent, strength, and appearance were all top-tier; the Exquisite Sacred Land, one of the four great sacred lands, suited her perfectly.
Still silent, Mu Wanqing simply kept her eyes fixed on him.
"Don't let the Spirit Feather Palace hold you back. If you join the Exquisite Sacred Land, it will be a blessing for them; they will support you. Besides, if you achieve success within the Exquisite Sacred Land, the Spirit Feather Palace will naturally rise to great fame along with you."
"The Exquisite Sacred Land is the most suitable place for your growth. With your talent, you are bound to catch their eye. Think it over carefully."
"Also, if you are ever bullied after entering the Exquisite Sacred Land, just go look for the Exquisite Saintess Murong Qingxue. She is a friend of mine."
Having said all this, Zhang Heng turned and departed.
Only then did Mu Wanqing speak: "Zhang Heng, two years from now, I will go to the imperial capital of the Yan State and wait for you."
Zhang Heng smiled, yet did not look back.
Watching his receding figure, Mu Wanqing stood there in a trance, lost in thought.
A short while later, she turned and headed back toward the imperial capital.
As for Zhang Heng, a brand-new journey was about to begin.