"Your Highness, please refrain from engaging with a military officer like myself," Huo Gui said, his expression stern and filled with helplessness as he looked at Zhu Xu.
"General Huo. A military officer, as the name suggests, is someone skilled in martial arts, safeguarding the nation.
The only reason I am not referred to as a military officer is that I did not have the chance to participate in the war between Immortals and Demons, don the armor, and become a warrior protecting the mortal realm and the Nine Heavens.
But this does not mean I am not adept at martial arts."
Zhu Xu's words left Huo Gui in silence.
Zhu Xu was indeed making a valid point; he had fallen prey to the grave mistake of underestimating his opponent. Seeing Zhu Xu's delicate frame and her infrequent use of weapons, he had assumed she was frail.
However, upon deeper reflection, how could Zhu Xu, as the Imperial Daughter of the Nine Heavens and the daughter of the Jade Emperor, possess only a beautiful exterior?
"Since that is the case, Imperial Daughter, please proceed," Huo Gui said, conjuring his spear and doubling its usual size with his magic.
Zhu Xu knew that if she wished to leave, this confrontation with General Huo Gui was unavoidable.
Therefore, after Huo Gui finished speaking, Zhu Xu channeled her spiritual energy, and a saber appeared in her hand.
This saber was slightly longer than those in the mortal world, with one end resting on the ground. Its entire length was a bit taller than Zhu Xu herself.
The duel began, with the edge of the saber clashing against the shaft of General Huo Gui's steel spear.
Instantly, their spiritual powers collided.
Zhu Xu's hair billowed.
With a clang, the plaque of the Imperial Daughter's Palace fell.
General Huo Gui's strength was immense, each thrust of his spear towards Zhu Xu was sharp and swift.
Fortunately, Zhu Xu's reflexes were quick, and she managed to block each attack with her saber.
However, continuing this way would not significantly affect General Huo Gui, who had fought tirelessly day and night, but it would be a considerable drain on Zhu Xu.
Consequently, Zhu Xu soon found herself at a disadvantage.
Huo Gui pressed his advantage, his spear thrusts growing faster.
Zhu Xu blocked a few more blows, but with Huo Gui's attacks becoming more frequent, her defense with the saber grew increasingly strenuous. Finally, as Huo Gui's long saber was about to strike Zhu Xu once more, she was unable to block it in time.
Seeing this, Huo Gui, adhering to the principle of stopping before causing injury, was about to withdraw his spear. Unexpectedly, Zhu Xu hooked it with her saber.
General Huo Gui, having fought for many years, had never encountered anyone who could hook his spear with a saber. He was momentarily caught off guard.
Seizing this moment of distraction, Zhu Xu used the other end of her saber to stab towards him.
When General Huo Gui finally regained his senses, he found that the handle of Zhu Xu's saber had become as sharp as the tip of his own spear and was now pressed against his chest.
"General Huo Gui, may I leave now?"
Zhu Xu retracted her "saber," quickly took her satchel from Bi Lian, her haste even making her forget to comfort Bi Lian further.
No, that's not right. The saber the Imperial Daughter conjured at the beginning of the fight couldn't possibly have hooked my spear!
When did things start to go wrong?
At this moment, General Huo Gui began frantically recalling the details of his battle with Zhu Xu.
It was understandable. After all, in the peaceful Three Realms, with nothing of consequence happening, General Huo Gui did not often have reason to visit the Nine Heavens.
Yet, this time, the Jade Emperor had unusually summoned him and assigned him such a simple task.
But yesterday he was defeated by the Imperial Daughter's lover, and today by the Imperial Daughter herself.
The blow to Huo Gui's pride was immense.
It was at the moment he thought the Imperial Daughter could no longer hold on!
General Huo Gui recalled the details.
He had believed victory was imminent, thus he had let his guard down. He hadn't anticipated that the Imperial Daughter would suddenly increase the curvature of her saber.
The entire saber seemed to transform into a giant hook.
Then, before he could react, the Princess had transformed the other end of the saber into a spear!
Timing, adaptability, the courage to challenge...
Had he truly grown old?
General Huo Gui's mind raced, each thought making him more weary.
"General Huo Gui?"
Seeing that General Huo Gui seemed to be completely ignoring her, Zhu Xu called out loudly.
"General Huo Gui, can you move aside now?" Zhu Xu's face was etched with urgency, her desire to avoid further entanglement evident.
Huo Gui looked up and considered for a moment before stepping aside.
Although the Jade Emperor had ordered him to block Zhu Xu, he couldn't defeat her, and he didn't want to end up in a mutual destruction. What was there to block?
Seeing Huo Gui move aside, Zhu Xu immediately slung her satchel over her shoulder and hurried away.
She had not taken more than a few steps before she was once again suppressed.
"Jade Emperor, what is the meaning of this?"
Zhu Xu was forced to her knees once more. She looked up at the Jade Emperor, clad in fine robes, her brows tightly furrowed.
The Jade Emperor, hearing Zhu Xu address him so casually as "Jade Emperor," felt his teeth itch.
The Jade Emperor glanced at Zhu Xu and spoke coldly, "Zhu Xu, you have no future with Zhao Xue. Abandon this notion immediately."
Zhu Xu's face was filled with resistance. "Have you forgotten what you said? As the ruler of the Nine Heavens, your word, once spoken, is irrevocable."
Hearing Zhu Xu's words, the Jade Emperor's expressionless face showed signs of crumbling.
Furthermore, he felt a recurrence of the headache he had suffered in the mortal realm years ago.
It was just a man!
Just a man!
The more the Jade Emperor thought about it, the angrier he became.
"Jade Emperor, Zhao Xue and I are in love willingly. How can you..."
Hearing Zhu Xu's increasingly rebellious words, the Jade Emperor quickly raised his hand and summoned the divine soldiers nearby. Together, they pressed Zhu Xu back into her own palace.
"Huo Gui, after all these years, haven't you learned to be more resourceful in the Nine Heavens?
Do you not have soldiers under your command that you can dispatch?
I told you to stop her, why did you have to face her alone?
And then give up when you couldn't?
Where is that fighting spirit you had on the battlefield?"
After Zhu Xu was escorted inside, the Jade Emperor stood expressionlessly before Huo Gui, rubbing his temples.
Huo Gui cupped his hands. "It is this subject's fault. However, this subject believes the Imperial Daughter made a very valid point..."
"Silence!"
"This subject misspoke."
Huo Gui quickly moved to apologize. The Jade Emperor then said, "Do not let this happen again."
...
Meanwhile, in the peach grove, the Wine Immortal, seeing Zhao Xue constantly gazing towards the entrance of the peach grove, couldn't help but try to persuade him.