The so-called “Nationwide Demon Inspection” could obviously not be carried out by a single imperial envoy traveling across the entire country. The real investigative body was the Demon Suppressing Division, led by Sheng Qingfeng in the capital. The imperial envoy merely conducted spot checks and inspections in crucial areas, and their whereabouts were meant to be secret; “disappearing without a trace” was the expected outcome.

Even Gu Yihang was speculating about which city Lu Xingzhou would choose to investigate first, but no one expected Lu Xingzhou to leave the capital and head straight out of the country. He had been longing to visit his Dragon Empress, who was expecting, and his eagerness was palpable.

“Is this your demon inspection? Inspecting directly at the demons’ lair, is that it?” Dugu Qingli asked, her face devoid of expression as she gazed at the boundless scenery of the Demon Domain.

“Just tell me if this isn’t about looking for demons? It’s not just an inspection; it’s an investigation too,” Lu Xingzhou replied.

Dugu Qingli drew her sword. “I think you’re the demon.”

A’nuo held her tightly. “Qingli-Jiejie, calm down, calm down…”

Dugu Qingli said, “He’s going to see the child in the Demon Empress’s belly. That existence means you’ll soon lose favor.”

A’nuo released her grip.

The sword light, now unobstructed, sped directly towards Lu Xingzhou.

“Damn it!” Lu Xingzhou fled desperately. “Even if I have ten thousand children, I will never stop doting on A’nuo! Don’t try to sow discord!”

“A’nuo, did you hear that? He wants to have ten thousand children.”

A’nuo secretly pasted a speed talisman on Dugu Qingli, making the sword light three points faster. Even A’nuo had become a little traitor; it was truly a case of being abandoned by all.

With the sword light chasing right behind him, Lu Xingzhou reluctantly reached back, and a “ding” sound rang out. Looking closely, he wore rings on both his left and right hands, one black and one white, representing Yin and Yang. As he reached out to grab the sword, a faint light emanated from the rings, and his bare-handed interception of the sword produced a clang of metal. What appeared to be rings were actually gloves. They combined storage, protection, and amplification of cultivation techniques, meticulously crafted by the Qianyuan-level Tianyao Saint Lord, a peak Huiyang-level magical artifact. And its first opponent was the Saint Lord’s beloved disciple, the white-haired girl.

Dugu Qingli felt even more like an outsider, growing more frustrated, and her sword strikes became fiercer. “Lu Xingzhou, you’re going to die!”

Lu Xingzhou parried blow after blow, clanging and clashing as he fought and fled, three streaks of light soaring north.

“Even if I really am just going to see the little dragon-human, do you have to hack at me?”

“Don’t you know in your heart why I’m hacking at you?”

“How long ago was that incident on your face? It wasn’t intentional; it was just an accident…”

“That incident is not over!”

“Then how about I spray your face back?”

“Go to hell!”

Clang, clang, clang…

Dugu Qingli was very aggrieved because she realized she couldn’t do anything to Lu Xingzhou anymore. She had also taken the elixir Lu Xingzhou gave her, which strengthened her Bingpo Sword Physique. But her cultivation hadn’t broken through to the first rank, only remaining at the peak of the second rank, while Lu Xingzhou’s first rank was already at the mid-stage. She recalled that when she was at the fourth rank, Lu Xingzhou was a crippled seventh rank. At Tianyao Holy Land, they seemed evenly matched, but she was actually letting him win. Now, the tables had turned, and her cultivation was inferior to his.

However, even though she couldn’t defeat Lu Xingzhou, she wasn’t being counter-attacked either. This was because Lu Xingzhou’s cultivation had surged too quickly, but his combat skills were increasingly lagging. While he hadn’t yet reached the popular stereotype of “alchemists are poor in combat,” he could only rely on the superior quality of his cultivation techniques compared to others at the same level, which didn’t match his reputation as a genius.

Meanwhile, Dugu Qingli had undergone half a year of brutal training overseas, experiencing many bloody battles. This was also an important reason why Lu Xingzhou was eager to leave the capital for training. There was no room for combat in the capital; the number of fights he had engaged in could be counted on one’s fingers. For so long, he had only fought two tough battles: one against Huo Xingyuan and another against Huo Liancheng. For the former, A’nuo had helped, and the latter was a large-scale encirclement. While there was some value in these fights, it wasn’t particularly high. If he continued to serve as an official in the capital, burying himself in paperwork and political schemes, his strength would eventually decline. He was already a target for the white-haired girl to challenge above her level…

But this white-haired girl was truly strong… He felt he was slightly better than average cultivators at the same level, yet he could only barely cope with her. If it were someone else, they would really be challenged and defeated by her above their level. This fight along the way could also be considered practice and training.

As the two fought, making a considerable commotion, a flying team was startled in the distance. Countless streaks of light converged. “Where did these humans come from, causing trouble in our Demon Domain! Seize them all!”

The voices were like thunder, the aura imposing, and all the escaping lights were extremely powerful, with several seemingly at the first rank. A’nuo rode her little pig forward, and the aggressive group of powerful figures on the opposite side suddenly slammed on their brakes, their authoritative shouts turning into fawning greetings. “A’nuo-guniang, it’s you…”

A’nuo: “…”

It was none other than Long Ao, the commander of the Dragon Clan’s Imperial Guards. Wait, these were imperial guards. A group of imperial guards here, did that mean the Dragon Empress was traveling? What a coincidence!

Long Ao’s eyes immediately caught sight of Dugu Qingli chasing and attacking Lu Xingzhou. The hearts of all the imperial guards sank, and they immediately surrounded Dugu Qingli. “Where did this white-haired demon come from, daring to chase and attack the Empress… chase and attack Master Lu! Surrender at once!”

Dugu Qingli was inexplicably surrounded and attacked by a group of dragons, making her so angry she nearly unleashed her ultimate move. Lu Xingzhou, dripping with sweat, stepped in front of Dugu Qingli. “Misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding.”

Long Ao understood, and his gaze at Dugu Qingli shifted from that of an enemy to that of a mistress. The group of dragons all cast sidelong glances at the “adulterers” without speaking. Caught in the act!

Dugu Qingli sheathed her sword, crossed her arms, and gritted her teeth. “So, everywhere is Marquis Lu’s territory, huh? I’ve learned my lesson.”

“Cough.” Lu Xingzhou cupped his hands to Long Ao. “How are Commander Long’s offspring recently?”

Long Ao finally smiled somewhat. “My wife is already pregnant, all thanks to Master Lu.” Wait, why did his wife’s pregnancy become Lu Xingzhou’s doing? Did he sow the seed?

Dugu Qingli turned her head away.

An even stronger pressure instantly descended. Long Qinghuang appeared in the field with the speed of a flash, directly inserting herself between Lu Xingzhou and Dugu Qingli, smiling as she took Lu Xingzhou’s arm. “You told me to wait for you, does that mean you’ve decided to come back now?”

Dugu Qingli was bumped and shoved several zhang away by this sudden insertion, stopping in mid-air, fuming with rage. A’nuo desperately pulled her. “Calm down, calm down, this time you really can’t win.” As she spoke, her big eyes fixated on Long Qinghuang’s belly, unable to move away. Even Dugu Qingli hadn’t paid attention to what the legendary Dragon Empress looked like; her eyes were solely focused on that belly.

Lu Xingzhou didn’t answer Long Qinghuang’s question, but merely touched her belly, his voice trembling slightly. “Are you doing alright?”

Dugu Qingli wanted to say, “Alright, my ass, it’s not even showing yet.” But Long Qinghuang softly said, “It’s so difficult. This is the first time the child has seen his father after so long. Other pregnant women have their husbands caring for them, but my husband married a wife in Daqian. I finally hoped and waited for the child’s father to return, but he brought a white-haired mistress. Why is my life so bitter…”

Dugu Qingli: “…”

A’nuo: “…”

Long Ao and the others collectively covered their ears, unable to listen.

Lu Xingzhou also kept a straight face, unable to answer, and after a long while, he finally managed to say, “You’re pregnant, why are you still on an inspection tour?”

“The Frozen Moon Cold River experienced earthquakes shortly after you left. Initially, they were minor tremors and caused no significant impact, but then they occurred every now and then, each time more severe than the last. Now, border cities are experiencing landslides. I sent people to investigate, but they couldn’t find the problem, they’re all useless. It forced me to personally go and see.”

Long Ao lowered his head; he was one of the useless people who had inspected and couldn’t find the problem.

Long Qinghuang’s expression turned joyful again. “So you knew I had difficulties and specially came to help, right?”

Lu Xingzhou righteously declared, “Of course!”

Dugu Qingli took a deep breath.

Long Qinghuang’s expression, however, changed. She grabbed Lu Xingzhou by the neck and shook him. “I don’t believe a word you say! Just now you were still asking me why I was on an inspection!”

“Really, really.” Lu Xingzhou pointed at Dugu Qingli. “Qingli is an expert on the Frozen Moon Cold River matter. I specifically brought an expert with me. This is the proof.”

Dugu Qingli: “?”

There was no such thing in her database as someone so blatantly lying yet sounding so genuine and serious. The white-haired girl couldn’t even react. Could it be that he brought her to the Demon Domain out of foresight, for the earthquake matter? This wasn’t right; her master had told her to follow Lu Xingzhou to gain experience elsewhere, not to casually go to the Frozen Moon Cold River.

Long Qinghuang cast a sidelong glance at Dugu Qingli. “What kind of expert can this little white-haired girl, who hasn’t even fully grown her hair, be?”

“Precisely because Qingli grew up in the Frozen Moon Cold River since childhood. No one knows it better than her.”

The dragons all gasped, truly an expert. So this wasn’t a mistress? Everyone misunderstood? Long Qinghuang’s anger turned to joy. She let go of Lu Xingzhou and intimately took Dugu Qingli’s arm. “Sister, I misunderstood just now…”

“You certainly misunderstood,” Dugu Qingli said expressionlessly. “He and I have never had any relationship, but you and I are not close enough to link arms, and I will certainly not help you solve your problems.”

“Why?”

“My master is Zhenren Tinglan.”

So it really wasn’t a mistress, but the mistress’s disciple. Long Qinghuang’s smile didn’t change. “Although your master is morally bankrupt in her male-female relationships, falsely high-minded, and feigning cultivation, she is reliable when it comes to the lives of common people. If she knew that the earthquake caused suffering to the common people, she would certainly help.”

Dugu Qingli felt that she strongly agreed with that statement. The latter half was true, and the former half… was also true. She immediately realized this mindset was wrong and sternly composed her face again. “My master is as pure as jade and wholly devoted to the Dao; do not slander her. It is Dragon Empress Your Majesty who, knowing Lu Xingzhou has a lover, forcibly abducted him and imprisoned him at Dragon’s Cliff, that is truly morally bankrupt.”

Long Qinghuang looked intrigued. “No, do you even believe what you’re saying?”

Dugu Qingli closed her mouth.

“No matter what, let’s first rest at a nearby city.” Long Qinghuang, joyous at reuniting with the father of her child, was doubly pleased that he had also brought an expert on the Frozen Moon Cold River affairs. Whether intentional or coincidental, it added to her happiness. After all, it was the mistress’s disciple, not the mistress herself, and the disciple attribute significantly reduced the possibility of the child’s father having an affair. She had even attacked him just now, indicating that this disciple didn’t want a stepfather.

Well, in that case, everything was fine. Long Qinghuang was in an exceedingly good mood, beaming with delight as she dragged Lu Xingzhou off to a nearby city. “Come, let’s name the child first?”