Who are you calling a stable boy?!

—The next moment, the girls saw a bright golden light suddenly appear in the night sky, like a thick cloud rolling in!

Before Xueqing and the others could react, the golden cloud swooped down and transformed into a lithe figure, performing several dazzling somersaults before finally spinning 720 degrees in the air and landing steadily in front of them.

With his right hand raised high, he held up the Ruyi Jingu Bang (a magical staff), his left hand thrusting forward, his feet in a bow stance, head held high and chest out.

Zheng Jingli stood there, then suddenly turned his head and grinned at Xue Qing.

"Hmm! How about it, Lao Qing? Isn't he incredibly handsome—totally awesome!"

Chapter 159: Where Sister Qing Points, I Hit!

"you......"

Xueqing glanced at Zheng Jing, then looked up at the night sky, which had returned to normal.

Will the teleportation in the courtyard have such impressive special effects?

"Splash—"

Just then, a commotion erupted in the back garden.

"Your Highness!"

It was none other than the royal guards.

Led by the captain of the guard, they entered the back garden and saw the only unfamiliar face there, armed, confronting the rising Snow Knight.

"Protect His Highness!"

Without a word, the captain of the guard waved his hand, and the guards obeyed without question, quickly protecting Henrietta and Louise. Shields, swords, spears, and halberds were arrayed, and wands were pointed directly at Zheng Jing, spells inscribed on their lips, ready to be unleashed.

"and many more!"

Coming to her senses, Xueqing saw the commotion and quickly lowered the Dru in her hand, turning around to shout to the guards, "He is not an enemy! He is my familiar!"

Upon hearing this, even the carefully selected guards couldn't help but show a look of confusion on their faces.

Within the royal guard, the name of the Snow Knight is renowned far and wide.

This was solely because he had engaged in a duel with the captain of the royal guard when he was conferred the title.

The official explanation for this competition was that it ended in a draw.

Regardless of the process, being able to fight the captain of the Royal Guard, who possessed the power of a rectangular-level mage, to a standstill was enough to make her famous throughout the entire Royal Guard.

Logically speaking, it's only natural that a powerful being with such strength would have a familiar.

—But the problem is that the Snow Knight is a familiar itself.

Familiar, summon... a familiar?

“Captain, Lady Xueqing is right. Just now, Louise and I witnessed her ceremony here together.”

Henrietta spoke up.

"Your Highness?"

Seeing the resolute look in Henrietta's gentle features, the captain of the guard hesitated for a moment, but still waved his hand.

"Lift alert!"

Seeing the guards lower their swords and halberds, Xueqing couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Laoqing, Laoqing."

Moving closer to her, Zheng Jing covered his mouth and whispered in Xue Qing's ear, "That guy over there just mentioned Henrietta and Louise, right?"

"Correct."

"so?"

"Yes."

"Explain in detail!"

"So impatient..."

While the two were whispering to each other, Henrietta had already instructed the captain of the guard to lead his men out of the back garden.

"I apologize, Your Excellency Xueqing."

As Louise walked towards Zheng Jing and Xue Qing, Henrietta spoke softly.

"The captain definitely didn't mean you any harm..."

“I understand, Henrietta, she has her duties.”

Upon hearing this, the worry on Henrietta's face finally disappeared.

"You are still so broad-minded."

Then, she looked at Zheng Jing with curiosity.

"This... familiar? Xueqing, what should we call him?"

"Here, let me introduce myself."

Xueqing nudged Zheng Jing's waist with her elbow.

"Hehe, my name is Zheng Jing. Seeing how well the two sisters get along with Xueqing, if you'd like, you can call me Old Zheng!"

Zheng Jing remained as carefree and jovial as ever.

Xueqing shook her head helplessly and looked at Henrietta and Louise, who seemed somewhat at a loss.

"I'm sorry, that's just his personality. But he's never ambiguous when it comes to serious matters, so you can rest assured about that."

"Wrapped!"

Zheng Jing patted his chest confidently.

In short—

She hooked Zheng Jing's arm around her and pulled him closer, looking at Henrietta and Louise with a hint of apology.

"It's chilly at night, you guys go back inside first. I'll say a few words to him, I'll be there soon."

"I understand."

Henrietta nodded and was about to leave when she noticed Louise looking hesitant.

Louise.

She gently took Louise's hand.

"...Don't keep His Highness waiting too long."

Louise lowered her head and muttered something, then obediently turned around with Henrietta.

Watching the girls' departing figures, Zheng Jing scratched his cheek.

"Wow, Lao Qing, you again—"

"What's the point of having such a good imagination!"

She tiptoed and nudged Zheng Jing's chin with her head, forcing him to shut up, and then glared at him.

"Stop with the nonsense, let's get down to business!"

Zheng Jing rested his chin on Xue Qing's head and lowered his eyes.

"Okay, okay, then, you go first?"

"Let me think about where to begin..."

Finally, Xueqing began by explaining why she had come to this continent called Halkekini.

At that time, she had just reached level 4, and because the previous projection was destroyed, she could only choose to randomly go to the next new world.

To Xueqing's surprise, the place where she landed this time seemed to be an ordinary-looking modern city.

This was completely different from the two worlds she had visited before.

Just as Xueqing was pondering how to improve herself in such a world, her main quest suddenly lit up.

Unlike Zheng Jing, Xue Qing's interface includes a main quest module.

—No, to be precise, the standard panel for courtyard players all includes a main quest module.

During the player's overall level from 1 to 5, the courtyard will help the player grow through the main quest module.

Specifically, there are two common forms.

Firstly, each time a player levels up during this phase, the courtyard will give the player a certain reward, which may be simply courtyard coins, or it may be some equipment or items that meet the needs of the profession.

Secondly, it guides players to certain encounters suitable for their level when they might trigger them.

The former, needless to say, is purely a reward.

But the latter is different.

Many scholars have studied how the main quest module works in the courtyard. To date, the most widely accepted view in the courtyard is that when the main quest module is triggered, it is equivalent to the courtyard paying a certain price to predict the player's fate.

This is why the more powerful a player is, the harder it is to trigger the main quest.

Since the courtyard paid certain costs upfront, once a player decides to accept the main quest, it means they are willing to bear those costs themselves.

Therefore, when players fail in the main quest, or decide to abandon the main quest during its execution, they often have to bear the so-called punishment.

Xueqing had completed one main quest.

This is the main reason why she was able to reach level 4 so quickly.

Having tasted success and with her projected body as a safety net, it's not surprising that she would confidently take on new main quests.

The first step of the main quest prologue isn't difficult; it just requires her to close her eyes and follow the prompts to walk a few steps...

"Ugh."

Xueqing sighed after briefly recounting her experience.

Actually, when Louise first summoned her, she still had a chance to escape unscathed.

The price for abandoning the prologue is that her projection will be forcibly abandoned, meaning she will have to endure a period of weakness at most.

...All I can say is that, even without the main quest, Xueqing simply couldn't abandon Louise and the others with whom she had developed feelings.

Fortunately, apart from the Void Power that Louise has yet to reveal, she has prepared everything she needs to win this battle!

"So, what level are you at now?"

Xueqing asked.

Zheng Jing raised his hand and gestured.

"6."

"Level 6...?"

Xueqing muttered to herself.

She herself was already level 5, so she knew all too well how much experience was required to level up from level 5 onwards.

Although she now possesses the power of Gangdaruff, Zheng Jing, who has already reached level 6, is unlikely to be weaker than her.

Great.

Xueqing seemed to suddenly go limp.

"You arrived just in time..."

She bumped her forehead against Zheng Jing's chest.

"Needless to say? Two horizontal strokes and one vertical stroke mean 'do,' and two diagonal strokes and one force mean 'get it done!'"

Zheng Jing grinned and waved his hand.

"I'll go wherever Sister Qing points!"

Chapter 160: Takeoff! Ah, fly!

"Awaited."

Xueqing pushed open the door.

"No, Your Excellency Xueqing, Mr. Zheng Jing... please have a seat. Tea and desserts have been prepared."

Henrietta looked at Zheng Jing.