Chapter 5878
Upon hearing this, Huo Ling’er happily led Wangcai around, chasing and playing.
Wangcai was also quite affectionate towards Huo Ling’er, often carrying her for walks around the camp, drawing envy from the disciples of the Earth Fire Pavilion and the other guards.
“Fellow Daoist Chen is truly blessed, not only with outstanding strength but also with the princess’s favor.”
“That little fire unicorn is so magnificent, actually a pure-blooded unicorn descendant, Fellow Daoist Chen’s fortune is extraordinary.”
“Her Highness the princess is lively and adorable, a perfect match for Fellow Daoist Chen…”
Some were envious, some praised, and there were also some with ulterior motives in their discussions.
However, not everyone was happy to see this scene.
Among the disciples of the Earth Fire Pavilion who accompanied them this time was a young steward named Yan Lie, a rising star among the younger generation of the Earth Fire Pavilion.
He was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, handsome, and his cultivation had reached the peak of the seventh rank of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, making him a rare rival among the younger generation.
Even more remarkable was his talent in alchemy, which earned him the favor of several elders, and he was considered one of the strong contenders for the future Pavilion Master.
Yan Lie had always admired Huo Ling’er, a fact known to everyone in the Earth Fire Pavilion.
He held himself in high esteem, believing only a genius like himself was worthy of the princess.
His volunteering to accompany her as a guard was not only a duty but also a way to spend more time with Huo Ling’er.
However, since Kai’s arrival, Huo Ling’er’s attention had been almost entirely drawn to this outsider. She
spent her days either chatting with Kai or playing with the little fire unicorn, ignoring her childhood sweetheart and senior brother.
This fueled Yan Lie’s burning jealousy.
“A rogue cultivator who appeared out of nowhere, relying on some strange abilities, dares to approach the princess?”
Yan Lie glanced at Kai, who was laughing and talking with Huo Ling’er in the distance, a sinister glint in his eyes. “Just a temporary guard, does he really think he’s someone important?”
Several times, he tried to intervene, attempting to distract Huo Ling’er from Kai.
“Junior Sister Ling’er, Elder Yan Xin is looking for you. He says he has something to discuss.”
Yan Lie walked up to the two of them and spoke gently to Huo Ling’er, but his gaze towards Kai carried undisguised coldness.
“Ah? Grandpa Yan Xin is looking for me?”
Huo Ling’er was engrossed in listening to Kai’s fascinating tales of the Tenth Heaven, and somewhat reluctantly asked, “What is it? Can’t we talk about it later?”
“It’s about the precautions for the Crimson Flame Canyon, it’s very important,” Yan Lie emphasized.
Huo Ling’er sighed helplessly and said to Kai, “I’ll go first, I’ll come back to you later.”
Watching Huo Ling’er’s departing figure, Yan Lie didn’t immediately follow. Instead, he turned to look at Kai, his gentle expression vanishing instantly, replaced by a cold scrutiny and warning.
“Kai, is it?”
Yan Lie’s voice was low, carrying a condescending tone. “I don’t care what tricks you played during the test, nor do I care why the princess is interested in you.”
“But I warn you, know your place. You’re just a temporary guard; get out of here after the mission.”
“The princess is of noble status, not someone you can aspire to. Staying away from her won’t do you any harm.”
Kai looked up at Yan Lie, his expression calm: “Steward Yan, you’re overthinking it. I was merely at the princess’s invitation for a casual chat. I have no other intentions.”
“That’s for the best.” Yan Lie snorted coldly. “Remember, the Earth Fire Pavilion is not a place for rogue cultivators like you to run wild. If I discover that you have any improper thoughts, or that you’re detrimental to the princess… you can’t bear the consequences.”
With that, he turned and left.
Kai watched his retreating figure and shook his head.
He had no interest in this kind of jealous drama.
If it weren’t for the clues to the Earth Core Jade Marrow Milk, he wouldn’t have bothered with such trivial matters at all.
However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease.
In the following days, Yan Lie intensified his actions.
Whenever he saw Huo Ling’er and Kai together, he would try every means to find an excuse to call Huo Ling’er away.
Sometimes it was a summons from an elder, sometimes it was to ask about cultivation problems, and sometimes he would simply say, “Men and women should not be too close.”
After this happened many times, even Huo Ling’er noticed that something was wrong.