In the frigid lands, after my exile, I began to slay demons and monsters.

Chapter 314 Reencounter with Tianwei

Ning Xiaoxi walked through the city gate. Along the long city wall, there were still soldiers in armor guarding the way, just like when she left.

After a brief delay at the city gate, it was now dusk, and the setting sun slanted through the inner city gate, casting its light on the passageway. Pedestrians leaving the city hurried along, while those entering were eager to return home.

Only Ning Xiaoxi strolled leisurely along the passageway.

Looking back, Ning Xiaoxi couldn't really remember how she felt when she left. She had just transmigrated and was exiled from the execution ground in a state of panic, leaving the royal city amidst the snow in February.

It's only been less than a year, and so much has happened in that time. She's almost a completely different person now, if not a completely different one.

The capital of the Great Xia Dynasty is located in the Central Plains. After a thousand years of maintenance, construction and expansion, it has become a large city that houses nearly ten million people. It has become the core of power on the entire continent and the political center where various forces compete for power.

From Zhongzhou to the northern lands of Youzhou, to the western desert coast, to the southern Ten Thousand Mountains, and then drifting across the East Sea, Ning Xiaoxi almost circled the entire continent of Daxia. This allowed her to witness the vastness of Daxia, stretching tens of thousands of miles in all directions, several times larger than the territory of her previous life.

However, thinking about it, the true forms of the few great demons she had seen were incomparable to ordinary mortal beasts. Even the sea beasts in the ocean were enormous. In her memory, whales were just babies compared to them.

He straightened his shoulders slightly, recalling the ancient palace he had visited before, a palace with 9,999 rooms, which was also the center of power. But a palace that is now just a bare building always lacks a certain grandeur; this city, however, is different.

Passing through the city wall and walking straight along the central avenue for ten miles, you'll see the city's moat. Nearly a hundred meters wide, the moat surrounds the majestic and solemn palace complex, its walls shaded by lush trees. Despite the cold December weather, the trees remain a deep, dark green. That green isn't from pines or cypresses; clearly, it's not a seasonal species.

Connecting the palace to the outside world was a wide drawbridge, the same color as the city walls, thick and heavy, lowered at sunrise and raised at sunset every day. On one end of this drawbridge were the most powerful people of the entire dynasty, almost detached from worldly affairs, and on the other end were people diligently living their lives amidst the mundane realities of daily life.

When they were still more than a hundred meters away from the drawbridge over the moat, city guards were already patrolling, preventing any unauthorized personnel from approaching. If they spotted anyone spying, they would approach and question them. Just like the two city guards standing in front of Ning Xiaoxi now.

"Who is lingering here?" A city guard's cold voice came through his mask.

Ning Xiaoxi bowed and said, "I am Ning Xiaoxi, an official of the Heavenly Secrets Bureau. I left the royal city at the beginning of the year and am now returning. I passed by the Heavenly Street and took the opportunity to admire Your Majesty's demeanor from afar before departing."

With a series of "thump-thump!" sounds, four light cloud beasts galloped out of the palace gate, crossed the drawbridge in an instant, and stopped at the side of the bridge.

"When an important person travels, pedestrians must give way!" The deep voice was devoid of any emotion as he steered the Light Cloud Beast left and right, causing even the city guards to detour.

Ning Xiaoxi and two patrol guards stepped aside to make way for them on the side of the road.

A group of people drove out from the palace in the distance, with light cloud beasts pulling the carriages. There were four guards at the front and back, and they all had a murderous aura. They rumbled as they stepped onto the drawbridge, and the carriages rattled as they quickly descended the drawbridge.

Ning Xiaoxi kept her eyes straight ahead and didn't turn on her live stream. It was better to keep a low profile in this mysterious royal city.

When did you get back?

Ning Xiaoxi was startled. She looked up and saw Tianwei's young and handsome face smiling at her from behind the curtain. She bowed again and said, "Greetings, Lord Tianwei. I have just entered the city."

"Your Tianji hasn't returned yet. Do you have a place to stay?" Tianwei asked casually.

Ning Xiaoxi's expression cracked slightly. What? My Tianji? When did Tianji become my family's? But she quickly replied, "My lord, my maternal grandparents' family is still in the royal city."

“Oh, I forgot that Ning Shuguan also came from the royal city.” Tianwei’s smile was somewhat meaningful. “The royal city is mostly boring. It’s rare that you’re back. Go to the pavilion to report tomorrow. I’ll host a welcome dinner for you at Chengxiang Pavilion on behalf of your Tianji.”

"Lord Tianwei, you flatter me. I am only following your orders and dare not take credit for anything, much less treat you all with disrespect." Ning Xiaoxi took a step back, her expression becoming even more respectful. Tianwei's words and actions were completely contrary to his usual behavior, so it seemed she needed to be more careful.

The two city guards who had been standing beside Ning Xiaoxi were now filled with regret. They had only approached to check her identity out of duty, and had only intended to let her pass after confirming her identity. Who would have thought they would run into Tianwei leaving the palace, and that she was even acquainted with this young lady's subordinate? Now they were in a terrible predicament, unable to listen to her or ignore her words.

Tianwei's smile faded slightly. "Hmph, you ungrateful girl. I can give you anything Tianji can give you, so why is it that only he has won your heart?"

Ning Xiaoxi took another step back, her body almost bent at a ninety-degree angle. "Lord Tianwei, why do you say such things? Lord Tianji has been kind to me, and I will repay him with my life. I would never dare to have any selfish thoughts." Now she couldn't help but regret not going directly back to her foreign clan's home, which had brought this plague upon her.

"Since you don't know what's good for you, I'm too lazy to say anything more. Don't say I didn't give you a chance later." With that, he lowered the carriage curtain.

The convoy slowly began to move forward.

Ning Xiaoxi finally let out a long breath when the sounds of carriages and horses disappeared, the sun had already set, and the suspension bridge began to slowly rise.

Two exhalations came from behind her at the same time. Ning Xiaoxi turned her head, looked at the two face shields, and said somewhat apologetically, "I'm sorry to have troubled you two."

The two patrol guards exchanged a glance, clasped their hands in a fist salute to Ning Xiaoxi, and then quickly turned and left.

Looking at the two figures who were clearly staggering, Ning Xiaoxi shook her head helplessly. She regretted it too!

She stood there for a minute, then turned and walked towards the South District. There was no one there, but after Tianwei left, the intense gazes coming from all directions almost burned her.

She just wanted to get back to her maternal grandparents' house as soon as possible, stay put, and not stand out.

As dusk fell, the shops on both sides of the street lit lanterns, which, though not bright, still illuminated the road.

The main street directly opposite the palace is the only street besides the market area where lanterns can be kept on all night. I walked slowly along the sidewalk in front of the shops, maintaining the same mindset I had when entering the city, without revealing a trace of my presence.

[Tuanzi, am I cursed by this royal city? Why does nothing good ever happen to me since I came here?]

[System update in progress...]

Holy crap, that sounds so familiar!