Poisonous Goddess: I'm just lazing around in the mortal realm.

"Do you mean that the Western Regions are another potential enemy?"

Thirteen frowned. After thinking it over, she realized that the only places where she could have grudges against the Southern Barbarians were Nanyang and the Western Regions.

Since they were about to represent Nanyang in the expedition against the Southern Barbarians, the Western Regions were the most likely potential enemies for them.

"Are the Western Regions going to rebel?" she exclaimed in surprise.

Upon hearing this, Shen Mu paused in his pouring water. He turned and glanced at Hao Jing, signaling for him to explain to Thirteen.

Hao Jing coughed a few times, took two steps forward, and slowly began to speak.

"We, the people of Cangling, had previously left divine lords to guard the Southern Barbarians and the Western Regions, in order to prevent Sun Youzhi from colluding with these two small countries when he escaped. Unexpectedly, we have gained something unexpected."

Thirteen suddenly felt her eye twitch, as if something bad was about to happen. She looked up at Haojing.

"What unexpected gain?"

Hao Jing glanced at Shen Mu hesitantly, and only dared to answer after seeing the latter nod.

"The Emperor of Nanyang intends to wipe out the Gu family army."

"The Gu family? How did we get involved with the Gu family again?"

Thirteen was startled, and it took her a long time to remember who it was. She quickly looked at Shen Mudao, who was carrying water towards her.

"Are you talking about Gu Shining, who is about to become the Third Prince's principal wife? And her Gu family?"

She remembered that on the night of the Emperor's birthday, when she fought Zhou Jinghuai at Mingyue Palace, the person standing next to Xie Qiao should be Gu Shining, the only daughter of General Gu, the Marquis of Weiyuan.

He was also the white-clad youth who had his prize stolen when they unintentionally auctioned off the courtesan at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Her face was pale, perhaps because the news today was too complicated and shocking, leaving her unable to process it all for a moment.

Seeing this, Shen Mu carefully placed the teacup in her hands and said...

"It is indeed them. Our current journey to the Southern Barbarians is to find them."

Shen Mu picked up a round stool and sat down near the bed, then continued speaking.

"Lord Gu has been guarding the border for many years and is quite famous in the army. Now in Feicheng, everyone knows about the Gu Family Army, but no one knows who the current emperor of Nanyang is."

"Did it affect the prestige of the Emperor of Nanyang?"

Thirteen raised an eyebrow slightly. Even though she had read many emperors in books who were so intolerant of their subjects, they all ended up killing off these meritorious officials.

She had heard about how desolate the southern wilderness was, even from far away in the capital.

But ever since General Weiyuan was stationed to guard the southern border, the southern barbarians have not dared to invade easily for more than ten years.

Clearly, it is thanks to General Weiyuan that Philadelphia enjoys peace today.

"Prestige... I dare not speak of it, but I think the Emperor of Nanyang wants to take advantage of this opportunity to eliminate the Southern Barbarians and wipe out the Gu family. If that's the case, then the Southern Barbarian Emperor... will inevitably stand on the opposite side of us."

Thirteen leaned back slightly, his already slightly furrowed brows furrowing even more tightly.

"You mean the Emperor of Nanyang..."

"This is just my guess. After all, there is no evidence. Obviously, it seems that the fact that Sun Youzhi was sent away by the Duke of Anguo is the Emperor's intention."

Shen Mu was only guessing why Sun Youzhi had disappeared without a trace after fighting him.

If it wasn't the Emperor's doing, then it could only be one of the two most powerful ministers in the court: Pei Zhiheng and the Duke of Anguo.

Ever since Pei Suisui was injured by the Fourth Princess, the Emperor's unrepentant attitude has alienated the Pei family from him, leaving only the An family.

If the An family dares to hide Sun Youzhi, then it can only be done with the Emperor's permission.

The An family's businesses spanned all over Nanyang, clearly indicating they possessed powerful connections that allowed them to secretly transport Sun Youzhi out of the capital right under their noses.

Even with all the calculations the An family had made, they never anticipated that Xie Qiao would discover An Jinglian's entry into the palace.

Thirteen's face darkened; she had underestimated the abilities of the Emperor of Nanyang.

"But on the day you and I fought Sun Youzhi, wasn't anyone in the palace... aware of it?"

She couldn't understand why she had acted so hastily against Sun You that day, leaving her no time to conceal her divine power, and she didn't know if it was because her divine power had leaked out.

That's why she was punished by heaven and temporarily lost her divine power.

“When Zhou Jinghuai burned down Mingyue Palace, I had already set up a barrier around it, so no one else could see you fighting.”

Shen Mu originally intended to use the burning of Mingyue Palace to lure Sun Youzhi out, but he was also afraid that if he got entangled with Sun Youzhi in the mortal realm, it would cause unnecessary trouble in the mortal realm.

So one night, he set up a protective barrier around the Bright Moon Palace.

That day, Sun Youzhi activated the barrier the moment he made a move against Shisan, so that even if someone passed by the entrance of Mingyue Palace, they couldn't see the fight taking place inside.

"Oh...no wonder, you old fox!"

Thirteen glanced at him, realizing that his worries were unnecessary.

After all, ever since she met Shen Mu, she has never been able to understand his every move. It's as if he has already thought of the next three steps before others have even taken the first one.

He was truly someone she couldn't quite understand.

Shen Mu raised an eyebrow slightly, taking it as Thirteen praising him.

"Is there anything else you want to clarify? And... are you ready to come with me to the Southern Barbarian Lands?"

He slowly met Thirteen's gaze, and his unwavering determination made Thirteen slightly taken aback.

Looking into Shen Mu's somewhat intense gaze, her cheeks began to burn again. She didn't know what to say at this moment, so she suddenly spoke.

"Does it include...meal?"

She stared blankly at Shen Mu. At this moment, her mouth and brain were completely disconnected, and she had no idea what she was babbling about.

"puff--"

Even Haojing, who was standing not far from the two, finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

The two looked in the direction of the laughter, their cold gazes seeming to pierce through Haojing.

"I...I'm sorry!" Hao Jing quickly covered his mouth and left the room. He knew he would suffocate if he stayed any longer.

Thirteen awkwardly burrowed under the covers. She hadn't thought things through for a moment and had asked such a strange question.

Seeing her curled up in a ball, hiding under the covers, Shen Mu could only chuckle helplessly.

"We'll provide meals, accommodation, and transportation. Take a few more days to rest and recover; we'll depart in three days."

He slowly stood up, walked to the door of the dark room, and continued speaking to her.

"You should rest well. I'll find a way to have Miss Pei come to see you again before I leave."

Shen Mu was well aware that Thirteen and Pei Suisui were good friends, and he had a vague premonition that their trip to the Southern Barbarians would not be as smooth as they had imagined.

Clearly, he had taken this into account, which is why he agreed to Pei Suisui's request to visit Thirteen today.