“Another Summoner?”

Chapter 202: The Warning From Ice Palace

The eastern airfield was a chaotic swarm of activity as we hurried to load our essential Northern Duchy personnel and family members.

Standing on the breezy top deck of the Sky Fortress, I watched the defensive perimeter when a nervous northern guard approached me with a crisp salute. He stammered slightly, clearing his throat before delivering his message. "Count Loki sky, you have a visitor requesting a meeting with you, the Demonic Sect Master... She is the Palace Master of the Ice Palace, Xue Wuxia."

Shade Winter stood right at my elbow, her heavily pregnant belly resting gently beneath her rich robes as she narrowed her eyes at the messenger. She demanded to know the nature of this sudden arrival. "Did she come alone, and did she say why she came for Loki?"

Ayala, leaning against the polished deck railing, peered toward the far edge of the airfield where the distinct, elegant silhouette of the Blue Luan airship was docked. She questioned the logistics of this impromptu encounter. "And are they wanting to meet on our ship, on the ground, or are they inviting Loki to their ship?"

The poor knight looked entirely overwhelmed by their rapid-fire interrogation, clearing his throat awkwardly as he shifted his weight. "Um, she was alone and didn't say where to meet... so?"

I ran my fingers through my short crimson hair, squinting my emerald eyes as a knowing grin spread across my face. "She is fine, I kinda know her, so I will go meet her... Just keep boarding everyone quietly and quickly using your magic, Shade honey."

Both Ayala and Shade secretly rolled their eyes at my sudden enthusiasm. They were fully aware that my alternate identity as Hao Hun was deeply married to the Palace Master, but they kept their mouths shut, ignoring the genuine spark of joy in my eyes.

Descending to the ground level via Greater Air Utility magic, the wind rushed past my ears until my boots lightly touched the airfield grass, settling the long folds of my black sect robes.

Standing just a few paces away was the striking five-foot-four eastern beauty. Xue Wuxia looked straight up at me, her piercing gaze filled with a quiet, magnetic anticipation. Her long jet-black hair fell in dramatic, silken waves that contrasted sharply against her flowing, immaculate white and cyan robes. Ornate blue floral hairpins and branching metallic ornaments crowned her head, but her most arresting features were her eyes. Her right eye shone a striking, crystal blue, while her left gleamed a brilliant, piercing gold, creating a captivating heterochromic duality that held my attention hostage. Her hands rested calmly over her belly, a tranquil gesture that stood in stark contrast to the legendary Flying Ice Jian hanging securely at her waist.

Because of our deep Summoner Bond, she had felt my descent long before I landed. I put on my best roguish trickster smile and offered her a formal, cupped-fist salute in the traditional eastern fashion. "Ice Phoenix Sect Master Wuxia, I believe this is the first time we have met, so what brings you to my Sky Fortress airship?"

At the exact same moment, I opened our private mental pathway using Summons Telepathy to check on her well-being. [Wuxia, I missed you, sorry you have to meet me like this with my original identity, haha. Is your pregnancy alright?]

Xue Wuxia returned my physical salute with fluid grace, explaining aloud for any listening ears that she wanted to meet a fellow leader of the Eastern Wasteland's great cultivation sects since they had noticed my arrival at the airship yards. "Greetings Sect Master Loki, I wanted to meet you as one of the fellow leaders of the Eastern Wasteland great cultivation sects from afar. We all happened to notice you here at the airship yards and I was chosen from our three sects to meet you."

Thanks to her contract with my eighth-circle death magic core, she had mastered the same telepathic ability, allowing her thoughts to slide effortlessly into my mind to reveal the true purpose of her visit. [So far my pregnancy is fine... Even if you look like this, I am still happy to see you. I came here to warn you of danger, Loki.]

I pointed toward the distant silhouette of the Blue Luan flying boat with a grin, raising my voice slightly so the nearby guards could hear. "Palace Master, shall we go to your place or mine?"

Through our mental bond, I quickly informed her of my own growing suspicions regarding the night's events. [My Mundane Divination is ringing through the roof, so I am packing up my people and retreating them during the ball. Is that what your warning is about?]

Xue Wuxia cast her gaze upward toward the top deck of the Sky Fortress, where Pandora, Angelica, Shade, Lisa, and Ayala were all peering over the edge. They were putting on a brilliant show of fake hostility, fully aware that the woman standing before them was my beloved Hao Hun wife. She answered my spoken question by inviting me over. "Sect Masters Xia Sha from Corpse Refining, and Su Mei from Bloodshed are waiting to have tea and meet you, so my place?"

As she waved her delicate white hand toward her ship, her hidden thoughts giggled in my mind, thoroughly amused by the underlying irony of the situation. [Those two annoying women of yours wanted to finally meet our rival Sect Master, Loki Sky while they could. So as Xia Bing's master, I was chosen, even though those two don't know you are their Hao Hun, haha.]

I smiled, agreeing to accompany her on the sole condition that she would be the one brewing my tea. "I will go, as long as you are the only one preparing my tea?"

She playfully rolled her dual-colored eyes at my cheeky request, countering aloud that her Holy Maiden would be handling the tea preparation before gesturing for me to follow. "My Holy Maiden will make your tea, her name is Lin Xue, haha... Come Sect Master Loki."

I immediately threw another telepathic question her way, curious about my fiancée's current awareness. [Hey, I have been writing with Lin Xue all this time as Hao Hun, does she know that I am Loki?]

Xue Wuxia's golden eye seemed to catch the dying crimson rays of the sunset as her lips curved into a subtle, knowing arch, sending back a wave of mental amusement. [Your little fiance has no clue you are really Loki Sky, and due to my Heavenly Vow, I am unable to reveal your secrets, so you have to tell her all on your own, but... Like me, Lin Xue is not a fan of Loki Sky, so maybe just be Hao Hun with her. Come on, don't look so nervous, the others aren't planning anything bad.]

My eyebrow twitched involuntarily at the thought of meeting my own lovers while wearing the skin of a man they openly disdained.

Ten minutes later, we arrived at the Blue Luan. Most of the passing disciples from the Ice Phoenix Sect threw unwelcoming, icy glares in my direction, which only served to heighten Xue Wuxia's silent amusement. She led me directly to the heavy wooden doors of her personal cabin, which opened with a low, resonant creak. "Here is my personal cabin where our meeting is taking place, Sect Master Sky."

The heavy doors of her cabin creaked open, and my breath caught the moment my eyes landed on Xia Sha.

My wife sat perfectly poised at a low table in the center of the room, a porcelain beauty wrapped in a striking, midnight-blue gown. Her midnight-black hair cascaded down her shoulders in silken waves, and the familiar, glowing sapphire rested securely against her throat. Yet, as her sharp, arresting eyes locked onto my face, there wasn't a single trace of warmth or recognition. To her, Sect Master Loki Sky was nothing more than an uninvited stranger, her expression remaining entirely cold and distant. She had absolutely no idea she was staring directly at her own husband.

Looking just past the low table, I focused on Hao Hun’s secret mistress, Su Mei, who offered a striking contrast to the grim necromancer beside her.

Her silvery-blue hair was swept up into an elegant high bun secured by an ornate golden hairpin—which I knew doubled as a lethal hidden weapon—with loose, soft strands framing her face. She wore a revealing, high-slit grey gown paired with a structured golden corset that perfectly accentuated her seductive, voluptuous figure. Intricate gold embroidery lined her sheer, thigh-high stockings, enhancing the regal elegance of her Succubus-bloodline presence.

As I approached, she offered a knowing, playful smile, completely unbothered by the tense atmosphere. Even though she couldn't recognize me as Hao Hun, my natural Pure Yang Body naturally emitted a similar, subtly alluring charm. The Golden Silkworm Gu nesting inside her body wasn't a Love Gu, meaning it wouldn't tattle on my true identity, which was an immense relief.

Across from them sat Holy Maiden Lin Xue, her midnight-black hair contrasting beautifully against her shoulderless white robes as she brewed tea with flawless, practiced grace. I cupped hands in a polite greeting to the entire room before sinking onto an open floor pillow, keeping my eyes on Lin Xue. Even through the translucent lower face veil she wore, she radiated an untouchable, majestic aura. Her striking crimson eyes met mine as she offered me a steaming porcelain cup of Snow-Lotus tea. She had no clue that the infamous Demonic Sect Master sitting across from her was her actual fiancé. Suppressing a bitter smile, I accepted the warm cup, playing the part of a polite stranger while keeping my true self buried beneath the deceptive mask.

Xue Wuxia thanked her disciple gently, instructing Lin Xue to depart. "Thank you Xue'er, now go and wait for Hao Hun to send you a message on where we will meet him."

I took a slow sip of the fragrant tea, my eyes naturally tracing her attractive figure as she glided out of the cabin, leaving the four sect masters entirely alone. Xue Wuxia took the opportunity to formally introduce each woman to me, and me to them.

I was well aware that Su Mei was a lethal master of hidden weapons and poisons, meaning the seductive look in her eyes right now wasn't the passionate one she reserved for Hao Hun in bed, but rather the dangerous charm of a calculating Asura Demon.

On the other hand, the coldness in Xia Sha's eyes was completely genuine; I could practically feel her internal desire to strike me down and reanimate me into a Corpse or Ghost Puppet undead.

As a heavy silence settled over the room, I set my teacup down and got straight to the point. "Since two of the three of you lovely women are officially married, you didn't invite me for a love match, right? I am in a hurry, so ask what you want, and I will go. I don't want to be here as much as you want me here. Plus, I have a ball to attend."

Su Mei leaned forward slightly, her golden corset shifting as she voiced the primary concern of their group. "Have you seen our Triple Eclipse Holy Son, Hao Hun in your capital city lately? And are you aware that the Heavenly Palace is here to greet your Holy Son, King Balder at the ball?"

The sudden revelation hit me like a physical blow. The strange tingling sensation from my Mundane Divination earlier in the day finally made perfect sense—the Emperor was officially making his move tonight.

Although panic flared deep in my chest because the real King Owen was currently missing, my expression remained completely unreadable. I looked at the women with a perfectly calm face and fabricated a story on the spot. "Him, Hao Hun? Yeah, I heard he had been stalking out to the west in the trade town a couple hundred miles to the east of this capital, but I didn't believe those rumors, because why would Hao Hun be here?"

The three women exchanged quick, subtle glances, silently confirming that my information perfectly corroborated the recent transmissions Lin Xue had received. Xue Wuxia played her part flawlessly, rolling her eyes internally at the sheer audacity of me talking absolute nonsense with such a serious face.

Xia Sha shifted slightly, her midnight-blue gown rustling as she questioned our sudden change in military posture. "We noticed both the Dark Warship and the Sky Fortress seemed to be setting to leave, why is that? I thought they couldn't leave for a couple of weeks?"

Before I could formulate an answer, Xue Wuxia's voice cut directly into my mind with a sharp telepathic warning, urging me to expedite our plans. [We were ordered to stay here and stop ships from leaving after midnight by the Emperor's Holy Son, so make them leave soon and we cannot stop them.]

I rose from my pillow, letting a sinister, confident smile cross my face as I prepared to take my leave. "As fellow eastern sect masters, let me warn you all..."

My green eyes cut through the tense air of the cabin before locking directly onto Su Mei to deliver a final, chilling decree. "King Neptune will deal with Lin Feng, mark my words... You should all leave before the night gets too dark... Goodbye and good luck, ladies... Go find Hao Hun and don't meddle in the affairs of gods."

As I reached for the door, I threw one final telepathic message straight to Xue Wuxia, coordinating our next rendezvous point. [When I send Xia Bing back, leave the capital, because danger is all that is coming tonight... I will find you guys as Hao Hun in that town I mentioned... I love you, bye.]

The heavy cabin door clicked shut behind me, and I walked away from the Blue Luan into the deepening twilight.