Chapter 169: Big Sister Luo and Little Dugu
After sensing the mysterious mortal, most likely the real Princess Xue, Luo Xue stopped.
Just like in the imperial study, Luo Xue couldn’t see her with her naked eyes.
Some strange technique was blocking her perception. The reason Luo Xue could sense her aura was because of her sharp senses and because she had encountered it before in her bedroom and remembered it.
If it were anyone else, even if they sensed this aura, they wouldn’t think that someone was concealing themselves nearby.
However, being unable to see her didn’t mean Luo Xue was helpless.
Luo Xue’s innate talent was Double Pupils, which enhanced all pupil techniques and could even see through illusions.
Furthermore, the Mystic Dark Eyes she had learned before weren’t lost with the Eternal Withering Body. She could still use them.
She slowed down, her eyes gradually filling with a blood-red color, her pupils pitch black, a faint second pupil overlapping within.
“Mystic Dark Eyes… Soul Vision!”
In Luo Xue’s eyes, everything was covered in a faint blood mist, and all beings with souls became visible.
“Found her…”
Luo Xue’s pupils constricted, and she looked up, her gaze falling on a seemingly empty spot.
She could clearly see Princess Xue being carried by a humanoid figure without a soul, heading towards the imperial kitchen.
“So this is Princess Xue?” Luo Xue looked on silently. “The aura of withering is almost tangible, about to consume her completely…”
In other words, Princess Xue was dying.
Thanks to her previous Eternal Withering Body, even after losing it, Luo Xue was still one of the few in this world who could see the aura of withering.
This was a mysterious sense. Without having personally experienced withering, even the Immortal Emperor didn’t have this ability.
As for those who had…
Few survived.
And the moment Luo Xue turned to look at Xue Ling, who was carrying Xue’er, Xue Ling immediately sensed the gaze and turned to meet Luo Xue’s eyes.
Xue’er was startled. She looked up and saw a maid staring intently at her, a strange red light emanating from her eyes.
“An… intruder?”
Xue’er shivered and hid behind Xue Ling.
She was a mortal and couldn’t sense Luo Xue’s pupil technique, only feeling that her gaze was terrifying.
After all, it was a pupil technique used by ghost cultivators, naturally intimidating to living beings, especially since Xue’er had no cultivation.
But Xue Ling didn’t move, just quietly staring at Luo Xue.
Xue’er peeked out, about to ask Xue Ling what was going on, when she received a message from Xue Ling.
“What!” Xue’er’s eyes widened. “You… you’re saying, she’s the current Princess Xue?”
Xue Ling’s perception was very sharp, and as a puppet, its senses were different from a cultivator’s. It didn’t rely on sight or aura to judge a person.
It analyzed subtle movements and behavioral patterns, like a precise machine.
By analyzing Luo Xue’s movements, Xue Ling quickly identified her.
“What is she planning…”
Xue’er suddenly felt nervous. Although she had been secretly observing Luo Xue, they had never met before.
She knew what being a stand-in meant and felt guilty, so she had always asked Father to treat Luo Xue as her.
Although Father agreed readily, Xue’er knew that the chances of him keeping his promise… were slim.
He was the Immortal Emperor of the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty, not just her father.
However…
Why was she here, disguised as a maid?
Xue’er couldn’t understand.
“Xiao Lan, you’re slacking off again!” Just then, another palace maid’s voice came from behind Luo Xue. “Hurry up and prepare Imperial Concubine Min’s dinner! If we’re late, our heads won’t be enough!”
Luo Xue’s crimson pupils faded, and she turned around and replied,
“I know, I’m coming.”
With that, Luo Xue returned to the imperial kitchen.
But before leaving, she transmitted her voice towards Xue’er.
“Princess Xue, I know you’re watching me. If you want to see your mother, Imperial Concubine Min, then follow me.”
It was easy to understand. Luo Xue had already learned that Concubine Min had left the Cold Palace.
And at this time, even in her weakened state, Xue’er still wanted to leave the imperial study.
Besides wanting to see her mother, there was no other possibility.
“How… did she know?”
Xue’er was shocked by the message from Xue Ling.
From her previous observations, she hadn’t seen any signs of Luo Xue discovering the truth.
But today, this stand-in, appearing in a different form, had clearly pointed out her existence, and even knew that she was here to see her mother.
Xue Ling couldn’t answer Xue’er. As a mindless puppet, it could only analyze based on fixed patterns.
Xue’er couldn’t understand and didn’t know whether to trust Luo Xue.
But now…
It seemed she had no other choice but to follow.
“Let’s go, let’s follow her.”
Xue’er made up her mind and signaled Xue Ling to follow Luo Xue.
Xue Ling immediately followed, silently moving not far behind Luo Xue.
…
“Yo, Xiao Lan, you’ve become much more skilled, no longer so clumsy.”
The lead palace maid teased Luo Xue, who just nodded and continued preparing the food.
Preparing spiritual food required specialized cultivators. Luo Xue, disguised as a maid, could only help with simple tasks like sorting ingredients.
Luo Xue had lived in the post-apocalyptic world for a long time, so this kind of work wasn’t difficult for her.
Xue’er, hidden from everyone’s view, watched Luo Xue intently, amazed.
If not for Xue Ling’s reminder, she wouldn’t have connected this silent maid with the stand-in for Princess Xue.
“Wow, what did you do before?”
Xue’er asked, her voice transmitted to Luo Xue by Xue Ling.
Luo Xue paused, not knowing how to answer.
From her brief interaction with Princess Xue, Luo Xue was certain that she wasn’t part of the scheme.
Putting aside her identity as an imperial daughter, this girl was just a pitiful child, suffering from illness since birth.
Even so, she was still filled with curiosity and longing for the world, her occasional questions filled with childlike innocence and cuteness.
After Luo Xue explained her intentions, Princess Xue didn’t hide anything, telling her everything.
The stand-in arrangement was made by the Empress. She didn’t understand why, but she still complied.
Her mother’s imprisonment in the Cold Palace was the Immortal Emperor’s order, supposedly to protect her.
Even Xue Ling’s existence, Xue’er told Luo Xue about it directly.
“A puppet from the ancient era…”
Luo Xue was slightly surprised. This was her first time seeing a puppet in this world.
However, due to the lack of puppetry inheritance in the Ancient Demon Lands, this powerful puppet could only act on instinct, which was a bit of a waste.
Xue’er’s honesty caught Luo Xue off guard.
She had expected their meeting to be a confrontation, about the stand-in situation and her desire to escape this role.
She would return as Princess Xue, and Luo Xue would find a way to return to the nine provinces and four domains.
If Xue’er refused, Luo Xue had other plans.
But now it seemed…
The matter of the stand-in had nothing to do with Xue’er’s own wishes.
In Xue’er’s current condition, let alone returning as Princess Xue according to Luo Xue’s original plan, it was uncertain if she could even survive the next few days.
Some power was helping Xue’er resist the withering, but Luo Xue could see that her mortal body couldn’t withstand it for much longer.
“What… should I call you?”
Xue’er’s voice suddenly became hesitant, and Luo Xue could almost imagine the blush on her delicate face.
“My name is Luo Xue.”
Luo Xue replied softly.
“The same name as me! Then I’ll call you Big Sister Luo!” Xue’er seemed relieved, her tone lighter. “My name is Dugu Xue, well… you should already know that.”
The imperial family’s surname was Dugu, and her given name was Xue, so it was indeed the same name as Luo Xue.
This also meant that most of the nicknames for Luo Xue… like Sister Xue’er, Xiao Xue, Ah Xue, etc., were the same as Xue’er’s.
“In that case… you should be younger than me, so I’ll call you Little Dugu.”
Luo Xue, who had been tense, finally relaxed slightly because of Dugu Xue’s presence, a smile appearing on her face.
Anyone facing such a cute girl who called them “Big Sister” would feel a sense of affection.
Nangong Mian was like this, and so was Luo Xue.
“Xiao Lan, what are you smiling about?”
The head palace maid leaned over and teased.
“I… just thought of something happy.” Luo Xue said vaguely.
“Don’t be too happy yet. We’re going to the Snow Palace soon. Smiling carelessly will be punished.”
The head maid’s expression turned serious.
“Okay.”
Luo Xue nodded slightly.
“Are Xue Ling and I just going to sneak in with you like this?” Dugu Xue asked nervously.
“You can’t. Neither can I.” Luo Xue replied. “The security at the Snow Palace is the tightest. There will definitely be powerful cultivators guarding it. We all risk being exposed.”
“Then what should we do…”
Dugu Xue was troubled. Her original plan was simple: come to the imperial kitchen, find the maids delivering food, and sneak in with them.
But in Luo Xue’s opinion, this was unlikely to work.
Even Luo Xue could sense the Immortal Emperor’s protective spell, and in the Snow Palace, where even flies couldn’t enter… how could it be effective?
As for Luo Xue herself, neither of her cultivation levels matched that of a palace maid.
Even the head maid’s cultivation wouldn’t exceed Foundation Establishment.
This was for various reasons and couldn’t be easily changed.
Therefore, if she disguised herself as a maid, Luo Xue would likely be discovered.
“However, I have a plan.” A smile appeared on Luo Xue’s lips. “Something I originally intended to use on you, ahem… anyway, it can solve this problem.”
“Hmm?”
Dugu Xue blinked.
What did she mean by “something I originally intended to use on you”…
But Big Sister Luo was so amazing. No matter the situation, she always had a plan!
“Xiao Lan, it’s time to go.”
The head maid urged, looking at Luo Xue with slight dissatisfaction. Why was Xiao Lan so distracted today?
However, she didn’t suspect anything. Everyone had their off days.
So the head maid just reminded Luo Xue to focus, so she wouldn’t be scolded later.
Luo Xue nodded, indicating that she understood.
Soon, the group of maids set off for the Snow Palace with the food.
This group of maids was originally responsible for serving the little princess, and since Imperial Concubine Min’s return to the Snow Palace, the imperial palace had been in chaos, and there was no time to assign a dedicated group of maids.
Therefore, to avoid any further complications, they were also responsible for Concubine Min’s meals.
However, the palace guards didn’t expect…
That the biggest complication would be the assassinated little princess herself.
Luo Xue had Xue Ling and Dugu Xue follow the maids closely. This way, Dugu Xue’s unusual aura wouldn’t be easily detected.
Along the way, they occasionally encountered patrolling palace guards, but seeing the maids’ uniforms and their direction, they didn’t stop them.
The security at the Snow Palace was already the tightest, and the guards didn’t dare to delay the maids’ work. Everything related to Imperial Concubine Min was extremely sensitive at this time.
Therefore, Luo Xue and Dugu Xue easily avoided the patrols and arrived at the Snow Palace.
Just then, Dugu Xue transmitted her voice to Luo Xue.
“Big Sister Luo, be careful… Xue Ling says there’s a Sea Crossing Realm cultivator nearby.”
Sea Crossing Realm…
Luo Xue’s expression turned serious.
This was much stronger than she had anticipated.
The realm pursued by the forbidden area lords in the nine provinces and four domains was only Soul Transformation. After Soul Transformation came Tribulation Immortal, and above Tribulation Immortal was the Sea Crossing Realm.
It seemed the top combat power in this world was between Sea Crossing and Saint… lower than Phoenix Venerable’s quasi-emperor level.
She just didn’t know if the Immortal Emperor had Saint level strength.
“Xue Ling also said that if we get any closer, we might be discovered…”
Dugu Xue was nervous, not for herself, but for Luo Xue. If they were both exposed, things would become very troublesome.
If that happened… Luo Xue would be in great danger.
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