Just then, a small boat drifted over from afar on the Fairy Lake. It was light and fast.
There were only two people on the boat.
One was a young boy rowing hard, with sweat streaming down his forehead.
The other was a gentle - looking man with fluttering robes, calculating something with his fingers.
When the boat reached above the spot where Yan Zhao and Gu Xiao had sunk, the man gently waved his palm, and a white light shot into the water.
Then, "gurgle, gurgle" ...
Bubbles rose in the lake, and Yan Zhao and Gu Xiao suddenly floated up.
Although they were still unconscious, they were involuntarily spitting out muddy water from the corners of their mouths.
The young boy had seen the man use such means before, but he was always surprised.
He dropped the oar and rushed to Yan Zhao's side, reaching out to check his breath.
Finding that the latter's breath was weak but still there, he let out a sigh of relief. "Master, he's still alive."
There was great surprise in his ordinary - looking eyes.
The man nodded slightly and flicked two black pills into the mouths of Yan Zhao and Gu Xiao.
Then he calmly looked towards the south bank.
The fog on the lake dispersed, revealing the scenery on the shore.
A gorgeous and noble woman was sitting on a horse, her cold and sword - like eyes looking from afar.
The young boy looked up and met the woman's gaze.
He was so frightened that he lowered his head and covered his face, shrinking behind the man. "Master."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he quietly lowered his hands and stood still.
"Don't be afraid."
The man spoke. His voice was as gentle as his appearance, making people feel like they were bathed in the spring breeze.
There was a red mole between his eyebrows, adding a touch of enchantment to his handsome face.
Without the young boy rowing, the boat should have remained still in the middle of the lake.
But the moment Ning Yuwang appeared, the boat moved on its own without wind, naturally heading towards the south bank.
"Humph!"
The man let out a soft snort but didn't stop it. His gaze collided with Ning Yuwang's in mid - air.
One was calm, while the other was cold and stern.
Ning Yuwang had originally come to save Yan Zhao.
But with a flash of her dragon eyes, she had seen the man's actions early on.
Seeing that the man had indeed saved Yan Zhao and Gu Xiao, she felt relieved and waited on the shore.
However, the sudden appearance of this man, who also had some skills, made Ning Yuwang very vigilant.
In a short while, the boat docked on the shore.
The man stood on the boat, seemingly waiting for Ning Yuwang to make a move.
The young boy, still afraid of Ning Yuwang, hid behind the man.
Sure enough, Ning Yuwang made the first move.
She dismounted and boarded the boat. She first checked on Yan Zhao and Gu Xiao. Seeing that they were okay, she let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, sir, for saving my husband."
She turned around and bowed. The coldness on her face faded slightly.
The man raised his hand in return. "Once in the mortal world, one should follow the rules of the mortal world. Magic should not be used too often."
He was referring not only to Ning Yuwang making the boat move but also to the magic protecting Yan Zhao.
"Thank you for your teaching as well!"
Ning Yuwang knew in her heart that this man was not an ordinary person.
At this time, Lianzi, A Da and the others rode over on horses. Seeing Yan Zhao and Gu Xiao both unconscious,
There was a flash of guilt and pain in their eyes. In the end, they first carried the two men back.
Lianzi stayed by Ning Yuwang's side.
She had been following Ning Yuwang for some time.
She could always feel Ning Yuwang's emotions delicately, but at this moment, she could see a hint of fear in Ning Yuwang's eyes.
It was fear of the man in front of her.
In Lianzi's heart, Ning Yuwang had always been all - powerful.
If even Ning Yuwang was afraid, Lianzi quietly held the soft sword wrapped around her waist.
"Princess Consort?"
Ning Yuwang placed her palm on Lianzi's hand, hinting that she should not act rashly.
But their actions could not escape the man's notice.
He let out a soft laugh, and the intimidating aura around him turned gentle.
"Are you Ning Yuwang, the Princess Consort of De who has recently become famous in the capital?"
"And who are you, sir?"
"Mo Xun."
The man slowly replied with his name.
Unfortunately, Ning Yuwang didn't know him, and there was no change in her eyes.
The man seemed surprised by her ignorance. His gaze swept lightly over Ning Yuwang's face. "It doesn't matter. The Princess Consort will soon get to know me."
He led the young boy off the boat and walked into Fangshan Mountain without looking back.
He didn't seem to be a first - time visitor to Fangshan.
Ning Yuwang stared intently at the man's back. There was a hint of deep thought in her eyes. For some reason, the man gave her a feeling of having known him before.
Her dragon eyes flashed slightly. Looking at the young boy behind the man, she also felt a sense of familiarity.
However...
Ning Yuwang lowered her eyes and pursed her lips. The young boy was actually a girl.
The seemingly ordinary face was not her real one.
It was covered by a special magic, and even her dragon eyes couldn't see through it.
Even after leaving, the young boy would occasionally turn back to check.
When she met Ning Yuwang's gaze, she was so scared that she immediately ran in front of Mo Xun.
Ning Yuwang couldn't help but touch her face. Was she really that scary?
"Princess Consort."
Lianzi gently reminded her. "He is the National Teacher."
Since the founding of the Chu Dynasty a thousand years ago, there has always been a National Teacher beside each emperor to offer guidance.
The National Teacher could calculate the secrets of heaven and divine good and bad fortune.
He could reach the sky above and the earth below.
There were even rumors that the National Teacher was a celestial being who had descended to earth to slay demons and help the Chu Dynasty's kingdom last forever.
Mo Xun was the fifth National Teacher of the Chu Dynasty. He looked only in his twenties or thirties, but in fact, he was over a hundred years old.
He was already the National Teacher during the reign of the previous - previous emperor, and then he went into seclusion in the mountains.
Unexpectedly, he reappeared in the world today.
Even though he had been in seclusion for many years, the entire Chu Dynasty still respected this National Teacher.
Every household knew the name of the National Teacher.
"National Teacher?"
Ning Yuwang let her tongue touch her teeth. Could he really be a celestial being who had descended to earth?
She took another look at the empty boat before leading Lianzi back.
Yan Zhao and Gu Xiao had already woken up.
The former looked pale, with a cold and fierce look in his eyes.
The latter frowned and looked weak and dejected.
"Cousin, do you feel any discomfort?"
Yan Zhao was half - lying on the small couch, just frowning slightly.
Gu Xiao immediately grabbed his ears and looked dejected. "Cousin, I was wrong."
"Cough, cough. Where were you wrong?"
Yan Zhao coughed lightly, and Gu Xiao immediately offered him hot water attentively.
But when the former gave him a sideways look, he immediately grabbed his ears and stepped back. "I shouldn't have been over - ambitious, shouldn't have been unaware of my surroundings, and shouldn't have been careless."
He thought those young masters in the capital were all weaklings and didn't take them seriously at all.
Who would have thought that they would actually use underhanded means!
Those villains were really too cunning!
"Xiaoshan is just a place with a difficult terrain, but the hearts of people in the capital are even more treacherous. You've learned a lesson today, and you should be wiser from now on."
Yan Zhao covered his chest to suppress the urge to cough. "Go and find out who set you up."
"Yes."
Gu Xiao nodded, knowing what to do in his heart.
But at this moment, Ning Yuwang walked into the room, releasing a cold aura. "Your Highness still has the nerve to teach him? You were so heroic in saving people, but you ended up falling into the water yourself."
She raised her eyebrows and sneered. "You almost left me forever!"
All of Yan Zhao's arrogance from scolding Gu Xiao disappeared. He hinted for Gu Xiao to leave.
But Gu Xiao just sat there calmly, sipping tea as if he didn't notice.
A Da knew what his master meant. He and A San each grabbed one of Gu Xiao's arms and dragged him out.
Gu Xiao's strength hadn't fully recovered yet. He kicked his legs and struggled, about to shout.
"Cous... Mmm!"
A Wu stuffed a piece of cloth into his mouth apologetically. "Young Prince, I advise you not to struggle!"
After all, A Si behind him was holding a smelly sock!