C7 It Was Really Exciting to Meet the Protagonist

Ahu was back in no time, the heavy sword he'd been carrying now gone, replaced by a blood-red bridle attached to a white Demon Tiger trailing behind him.

This Demon Tiger was pure white except for the red "King" mark on its forehead, and astonishingly, it sported a pair of white wings on its back!

In this world, the Demon Beast was second only to humans in strength, categorized into seven levels, each with three tiers.

For instance, a second-tier Level 1 Demon Beast would be in the middle period of the Acquired Stage, and so on.

The beast Yeh Hongchen referred to as Yihu was a Level 3, First Rank Demon Beast!

That meant its realm was equivalent to the early period of the Golden Core Stage, within the Core Forming Stage.

"Red Dust, if that's the situation, then I shall await the good news in the palace," Elder Shui Xian remarked upon witnessing the scene, before departing from the Red Dust Palace.

After Elder Shui Xian had left, Yeh Hongchen turned to Yun Qingxue, who remained there alone, and offered a gentle smile. "Come along, Junior Sister Yun."

His smile was soft and comforting, like the tender dance of willow catkins in a spring breeze, leaving Yun Qingxue momentarily dazed.

But while Yun Qingxue was caught off guard, Yeh Hongchen was not. He seized the moment to take her hand.

Feeling the warmth from his grasp, Yun Qingxue was about to speak when Yeh Hongchen quickly explained, "Yihu is not fond of strangers, so I'm afraid we'll have to impose on you for a bit, Junior Sister Yun."

"Oh? No, no, it's okay, I..." Yun Qingxue's ears flushed with embarrassment as she listened to Yeh Hongchen.

Yeh Hongchen, however, didn't wait for her to finish. With a swift movement, he leapt onto Yihu's back with Yun Qingxue in tow, snatching the red bridle from Ahu.

"Off we go." The moment they settled on Yihu's back, Yeh Hongchen released Yun Qingxue's hand and gave the bridle a sharp tug.

With a mighty roar, Yihu bellowed and its wings beat vigorously, propelling them into the sky!

Yun Qingxue, unsteady from the velocity, instinctively wrapped her arms around Yeh Hongchen, who stood before her.

"Senior Brother Hongchen, it wasn't intentional, I..." Yun Qingxue, worried that Yeh Hongchen might take offense, began to explain.

However, Yeh Hongchen's voice gently drifted into her ears, "No harm done. To reach Luoyang City swiftly, we must fly at top speed. Junior Sister Yun, if the velocity is too much for you, feel free to hold on tighter."

With those words, Yihu accelerated once more, and the roar of the wind by Yun Qingxue's ears grew even more intense, prompting her to cling to Yeh Hongchen, her ears unknowingly flushed red.

'Senior Brother Hongchen truly is a prodigy, with such a kind heart,' Yun Qingxue mused.

Unbeknownst to her, the very Senior Brother Hongchen she admired was now sporting a grin, a spontaneous smile spreading across his face.

As a peak late-stage Innate at the Celestial Stars Stage, he could easily shield himself with his energy and fend off the wind.

The reason he chose not to? It was all deliberate on Yeh Hongchen's part!

After all, if he were the antagonist, then Yun Qingxue would surely be one of the heroines!

Ah, the thrill of being close to the protagonist's sister—how unexpectedly exhilarating. Steady now, must maintain composure!

"Look! There goes Senior Brother Hongchen's Yihu! He's leaving the palace again!"

"Indeed, the outside world seems to lose its luster every time Senior Brother Hongchen departs!"

The disciples of Dust Ending Palace, witnessing Yihu soar through the sky, buzzed with conversation, as if Yeh Hongchen was always the focal point.

"Mo Yue, set it up for me. I intend to ensure that Yeh Hongchen can't make his return!" A young man clad in the core disciple attire of Dust Ending Palace watched the receding figure of Yihu in the sky, a shadow of malice crossing his features.