Upon receiving the news from Beigong Ying and Shen Huaixu, Yun Li finally realized that the assessment time had indeed been brought forward. There was no time to rest now. She called Qin Lan and the others over to arrange the remaining matters before setting off to return to Kongming Palace. Before leaving, she even left Yuzhu behind at Lingxiao Hall, instructing Qin Lan to take good care of her and show her the ropes.
Yun Li found an open space on Fengyin Mountain and summoned Qingluan, preparing to ride it back. Time was too tight; flying back on a sword would take at least four days, and she still needed to challenge the challengers on the Wind and Cloud Roll, so there simply wasn't enough time. Riding Qingluan would take at most a day and a half.
By the evening of the next day, Yun Li landed in the Dark Moon Ghost Forest at the spot closest to Kongming Palace. After recalling Qingluan back into her space, she flew on her sword back to Kongming Palace. By then, it was already the hour of Hai, and by the time she reached Kongming Palace on her sword, it was well past the hour of Yin. Yun Li quietly returned to Ling Peak, where everyone was still fast asleep. She stepped into the courtyard, keeping her movements light as she prepared to return to her room to rest for a while before heading to the Outer Courtyard at dawn.
Chapter 170