At Rouran City, within the Fragrant Tower.
Soren looked at the hunched old man before him for quite a while, as if searching his mind for relevant memories.
Then he shook his head and said, “This old gentleman, Yan has never remembered meeting you before. May I ask who you are?”
In his words, Soren’s expression was already filled with wariness.
This fake Zuo Qiu, disguised as a hunched old man, was quiet for a while, then said, “Your actions with Ashi Liren must stop immediately.”
Soren could not help but be startled.
Of course, it was not strange that this fake Zuo Qiu knew of Soren and Ashi Liren’s actions. That day, when Ashi Liren and Ashima were discussing serious matters, although this fake Zuo Qiu had left, with his abilities, plus the fact that the entire relic castle was designed and built by him, wanting to know what Ashi Liren and Ashima had discussed was completely effortless.
But what Soren found strange was that he would propose so directly that he and Ashi Liren stop their actions.
Soren said, “Who are you? Why?”
This hunched old man said, “Who I am is not important, but please stop your current actions against Ashiluo with Miss Ashi Liren immediately, or the consequences will be at your own risk.”
This was already a naked threat.
Immediately after, this hunched old man’s threat became even more thorough, saying, “I know you have some strength, but please believe that if I wish, I can easily make you vanish from this world without a trace.”
When he spoke these words, his tone was very flat, yet filled with absolute confidence.
At this moment, Soren was almost certain that this fake Zuo Qiu before him was a person from the Divine Dragon Temple.
Only people from the Divine Dragon Temple would be so truly contemptuous of all.
The Divine Dragon Temple dispatching a mole to lurk by Ashima’s side for several years, what was this for? It was certainly for a heaven, defying matter.
And Soren had now stumbled into it.
Without doubt, this would affect the Divine Dragon Temple’s arrangements.
And once the Divine Dragon Temple’s arrangements were affected, the other party would have only one choice, which was to completely make you vanish without a trace.
Moreover, the Divine Dragon Temple would not care whether you were Yan Ziyu or Soren. For example, this fake Zuo Qiu before him completely did not care who Yan Ziyu was, or whether he was the real Yan Ziyu.
As long as you affected his plan, you would directly vanish without a trace. And there would be not half a sentence of explanation or warning.
Therefore, Soren quieted down and entered into thought.
The Divine Dragon Temple was the most powerful force in this world, the most mysterious force. What could be seen alone was already powerful enough to make one suffocate.
However, like an iceberg at sea, what you saw was merely the portion above the water’s surface, already several hundred metres high, enough to make you gasp at its enormity. Yet the portion below the water’s surface that you could not see extended for tens of thousands of metres.
In the current situation, a direct confrontation with the Divine Dragon Temple was absolutely impossible.
According to Soren’s plans, after Princess Zhiyan ascended the throne and he became the regent king, he would execute the strategy that Zhili had long been preparing, advancing from the Savage Gorge into the Savage Continent, expanding the Nulang Kingdom’s territory by another half.
In the newly expanded territory, like the Eastern Li Kingdom, they would refuse the Divine Dragon Temple’s infiltration and implement complete military control.
In his plans, within thirty years, or fifty years, there would come a day when they would uproot this colossal entity of the Divine Dragon Temple that loomed over the human world. They would transform it completely into a temple of pure art and culture.
But now, they absolutely could not clash head, on with the Divine Dragon Temple.
Even the ruler of the Yan Empire dared not directly confront the Divine Dragon Temple.
After all, the Divine Dragon Temple had existed for who knew how many years, perhaps ten thousand, perhaps several tens of thousands, or even longer.
In known history, only after the Dragon Emperor unified the human world and established the Yan, Dragon Empire did they thoroughly suppress the Divine Dragon Temple.
This was the sole instance where secular imperial power suppressed religious authority.
Not long after the Dragon Emperor disappeared, the Yan, Dragon Empire collapsed after several generations, and the Divine Dragon Temple surged back once more, once again becoming the enormous shadow looming over the world.
The entire world’s humanity was once again ruled and enveloped by religious authority.
…
Unable to confront the Divine Dragon Temple, then should they compromise and retreat, abandon dealing with Ashiluo?
No, Ashiluo must be destroyed, and Ashi Liren must rise to power.
King Zhi Bian was barely clinging to life every day, on his last breath, completely sustaining his vitality through willpower, and could die at any moment.
And once he died, Zhili would ascend the throne without any obstruction. Then Zhiyan would be finished, Soren would be finished, and Tianshui City would be finished.
Soren was completely racing against time.
In this situation before him, there must be a crack, a crack he had not yet discovered.
As long as he found this crack and slipped through, he could resolve the current situation.
He had already sensed this crack, but had not yet found it.
He closed his eyes, pretending to be contemplating how to make his choice. In reality, he was searching for the crack in this predicament before him.
His entire mind settled into tranquillity.
Very quickly, Soren found this crack.
According to Soren’s deduction, this fake Zuo Qiu was a person from the Divine Dragon Temple, possessing incomparably powerful strength.
Moreover, he had been lurking by Ashima’s side for many years, for the sake of a heaven, defying matter.
Then, anyone standing in the way of this matter would have only one result, vanishing without a trace.
Silently vanishing without a trace, without any warning, without any hint.
For the Divine Dragon Temple, accomplishing this was too easy. Whether it was Soren or Yan Ziyu, both could be made to vanish without a trace.
Ashi Liren might be somewhat more troublesome, after all she was a disciple of the Eastern Li King.
But if it was truly for a heaven, defying scheme, even the Eastern Li King’s disciple would still be made to vanish without a trace. After all, she was merely a disciple, not a son.
Since this was the case, why would this fake Zuo Qiu still disguise himself to meet with Soren? Was this not superfluous?
He had not left the relic castle for several years. Without doubt, each time he left would incur enormous cost.
Directly killing Soren would be the lowest, cost approach. Why not do this, but instead choose the higher, cost, higher, risk approach of meeting with Soren and persuading him to abandon his actions against Ashiluo?
Moreover, his meeting with Soren carried the risk of being discovered.
Not merely the risk of himself being discovered, but the risk of the Divine Dragon Temple’s grand plan being discovered.
This fake Zuo Qiu could not be unaware of this risk. Why then was he willing to choose to meet with Soren and dissuade him, rather than directly making Soren and Ashi Liren vanish without a trace?
This was the crack, this was the flaw.
Then, a beam of light suddenly shone through this crack, illuminating Soren’s mind.
Countless conceptions, countless assumptions, countless fantasies all surged forth.
Then, refining these conceptions, assumptions, and fantasies, he finally arrived at a truth!
A truth that made Soren’s heart tremble and the hairs on his back stand on end.
Oh… so that is how it is, so that is how it is!
Soren was precisely this kind of person, his intelligence bordering on the demonic. As long as you gave him the slightest crack, the slightest flaw, he could completely tear it open and arrive at the entire truth.
Though he knew he should not do so, Soren still stared at this hunched old man before him, this fake Zuo Qiu, for a long while.
Soren said, “If Ashi Liren and I do not stop our actions to destroy Ashiluo, what will the consequences be?”
That hunched old man’s gaze contracted, and he said, “Vanish without a trace.”
Had it been before, faced with these four words, Soren would certainly have trembled, for the other party was completely capable of it.
But now, his heart was at peace, displaying an appearance of the fearless ignorance of the uninformed. He sneered and said, “Ashi Liren’s martial arts are supreme, and she is a disciple of the Eastern Li King. I do not believe there is anyone who can make us vanish without a trace.”
The hunched old man’s eyes narrowed slightly. He spoke no more, looking at Soren as if at an ant.
Soren said, “This gentleman, you are exceedingly capable, to actually know that Miss Liren and I intend to destroy Ashiluo. But you also know that at this time I am merely an attendant. The decision, making authority lies with Miss Ashi Liren. Discussing with me is completely going about things the long way round. Of course, I will convey your will to Miss Ashi Liren. Whether to abandon the plan to destroy Ashiluo is up to her.”
With that, Soren rose to leave.
Midway, he turned back and said, “Of course, whatever decision Miss Liren makes, I will inform you.”
Soren returned to Ashi Liren’s residence.
…
But after returning to the residence, Soren did not tell Ashi Liren about this matter at all, nor did he even go to see her.
Barely half an hour later, Soren sent someone to the Fragrant Tower.
The fake Zuo Qiu disguised as a hunched old man was still sitting there waiting.
The person Soren sent said only one sentence to him, “Miss Liren does not agree. She insists on the plan to destroy Luo!”
The fake Zuo Qiu’s gaze contracted, and he said, “Understood.”
Then, he drank the inferior wine in his cup, stood up, and left.
…
Within Luanyang City!
Tu Lingduo still could not struggle against fate. Her wedding with the grotesque Tu Liyang proceeded as scheduled.
All the high nobility of the Nulang Kingdom, except for all of Soren’s vassals, were present.
This wedding could be called the most grand wedding in recent years.
Zhili, as the future king, and even now already regarded by many as His Majesty the King, personally attended and personally officiated the wedding.
But this was also the most bizarre wedding.
Because the groom was so unspeakably ugly, and so short, merely slightly better than a dwarf.
And the bride was originally quite tall, but now was shorter than the groom, because she was getting married lying in bed.
It had been nearly three months since Tu Lingduo’s fracture, and she had actually recovered quite well. Though she could not engage in more vigorous movement, standing up, or sitting in a wheelchair was no problem.
But Tu Lingduo was playing the part of complete paralysis, and in order to prevent Tu Liyang from touching her, she insisted on getting married lying in bed.
Thus at this wedding, many were heartbroken, many were moved.
Of course, there were also those gloating!
For example, Gui Qinshao, whose gloating was almost impossible to suppress.
Of course, upon hearing the news of Tu Lingduo’s paralysis, she was still saddened, for this was a childhood friend, and also her cousin.
Though they had been mutually hostile since childhood, and Tu Lingduo had shown herself superior in every aspect. Therefore, Gui Qinshao was filled with hostility towards her, most hoping to see Tu Lingduo come to misfortune.
But it was merely misfortune. Something like paralysis was far too brutal, and she still could not bear it in her heart.
However, seeing this bizarre wedding before her, she could not help but snicker.
Tu Lingduo marrying this ugly freak Tu Liyang was already quite amusing, and getting married lying in bed was even more amusing.
At this moment, Prince Zhili was delivering his deeply moving officiating speech, using all the magnificent and beautiful words to extol the greatness of this love and wedding.
Moreover, many noble girls present were also moved to tears. The originally unspeakably ugly Tu Liyang did not seem so ugly in their eyes anymore, and had even become tall and charming.
Because he was so deeply devoted.
Even though Tu Lingduo was already paralysed, unable to bear children, and even unable to engage in marital relations, and she had even voluntarily broken off the engagement.
But Tu Liyang still persisted in his love, marrying Tu Lingduo.
This was a very solemn wedding. Once married, it represented that Tu Lingduo became the sole mistress of Luanyang City.
Therefore, Tu Liyang’s decision was not merely a verbal promise, but had paid countless prices.
While everyone was immersed in this moving atmosphere, listening to Prince Zhili’s touching speech, Gui Qinshao’s snickering seemed so jarring.
Instantly, everyone turned to look at her.
The gazes of all the noble women completely unmasked their hostility.
Gui Qinshao was originally somewhat guilty, but now seeing the gazes of a thousand women pointing at her, she instead raised her chin, lifted her breathtakingly beautiful face, and provocatively met everyone’s eyes.
“So what if I’m snickering? What can you do to me? Don’t you find this ridiculous? What hypocrisy are you putting on?”
Gui Xingfu was completely helpless, lowering his head, not daring to intervene.
His daughter, he could educate her in private, but absolutely could not speak of her in front of everyone, or else she would do anything. To fight for a breath of pride, she would risk everything.
At this moment, Gui Qinshao was completely like a proud peacock, confronting all the noble women. She was far too stunningly beautiful. In this magnificent occasion, under countless lights, she appeared even more breathtakingly gorgeous.
All the noble women present, despite their splendid attire and makeup, had their combined beauty of several tens or even a hundred people completely overshadowed by her alone. In this confrontation, they instinctively lowered their heads.
Because Gui Qinshao’s stunning beauty truly made them lose confidence.
And the men present, in this magnificent and hypocritical occasion, beauty was justice. Completely intoxicated by Gui Qinshao’s stunning beauty, how could they possibly reproach her?
Even the future king Zhili, though his deeply moving speech had been interrupted by Gui Qinshao’s snickering, showed no anger whatsoever. Instead, Gui Qinshao’s radiant beauty made his heart itch.
Such a breathtakingly beautiful woman, Ling Ao probably had no fortune to enjoy. She should belong to a king like him, Zhili, who alone was qualified to enjoy this supreme beauty.
As for this wedding, he only found it even more absurd.
Because at the moment before the wedding, the bride Tu Lingduo was still begging him not to make her marry Tu Liyang, even saying she could pay any price, as long as Zhili revoked the order.
Then, Zhili whispered a sentence in Tu Lingduo’s ear.
“After your body completely recovers, I will plant a seed in your belly, letting you bear a son. Then this son will count as Tu Liyang’s son. Then one day, Tu Liyang suddenly dies, and this child becomes the City Lord of Luanyang, while you become the true mistress of Luanyang City.”
Tu Lingduo thought for a while, then nodded in agreement!
And at this moment, all the men in the hall were looking at the breathtakingly beautiful Gui Qinshao. Only one person completely ignored her transcendent radiance.
That was the groom Tu Liyang. All his gaze was fixed upon one person only.
His wife, Tu Lingduo.
At this moment, his heart was filled with unparalleled happiness. He had finally achieved his wish, finally married the woman he loved, the dream lover he had longed for day and night.
Though she was already paralysed, unable to bear children, and even unable to engage in marital relations.
But he still felt incomparably happy.
…
Gui Qinshao proudly withdrew her gaze.
However, she discovered there was still one gaze lingering upon her face. She could not help but turn to look.
Immediately, she saw Ashiluo’s incomparably handsome, nearly demonic face. And the gaze shooting from his eyes was completely as if it could scorch a person, as if it could directly see through clothing, even see through the body.
This kind of gaze completely made women sink into depravity.
After one look, Gui Qinshao immediately averted her eyes, then a feeling unprecedented in her life welled up.
Fear!
She had never feared anyone, including Soren, including Zhili.
Yet this Ashiluo actually made her afraid.
Then she shrank back into the crowd, hiding behind her father, and for the first time lowered her proud little head.
And Ashiluo’s lips curved into a devilishly charming smile. This was the smile of one who had discovered prey.
He had long heard of how beautiful Gui Qinshao was, but had never paid much attention.
Today, seeing Gui Qinshao for the first time, he was immediately stunned.
He had completely not expected that Gui Qinshao’s stunning beauty was in no way inferior to Yan Nail’s.
Thus, his prey ranking gained another person.
Yan Nail and Gui Qinshao, tied for first place!
Of course, his sister Ashi Liren was his true love, not prey.
“Beauty, I heard you had a fling with Soren? That is truly too fateful. I specialise in doing Soren’s women!” Ashiluo thought to himself.
Then, his palm gently loosened.
An almost transparent, bizarre little insect flew from his palm, crossing more than half the hall, flying onto Gui Qinshao’s body.
“Whoosh…” This transparent little insect directly disappeared into Gui Qinshao’s jade neck.
“Got her.” Ashiluo’s passion ignited, thrusting forward abruptly.
Instantly, the noble girl before him became intoxicated in spirit, for she had long discovered that behind her was an exotic young master of such handsome beauty that one would sink into depravity.
She not only did not refuse, but instead pressed herself closer.
Ashiluo looked at Gui Qinshao in the crowd, sighing in his heart, “Six more days, six more days until I can have my sister, then I must go attend to a great matter, a heaven, defying matter, my sole life’s goal. I was supposed to be abstaining, yet I encountered such supreme delicacy.”
“Heaven gives and you do not take, instead you receive blame!” Ashiluo consoled himself, “So, I can only break my abstinence. Gui Qinshao, tonight I will make you completely sink into depravity!”
“Father, I feel somewhat stifled. I wish to go out for a walk.” Gui Qinshao said. For some reason she felt her body growing feverish.
Leaving at this time was impolite, but Gui Xingfu nodded and said, “Alright, do not go far.”
…
Then, Gui Qinshao left the wedding hall through a small door, four female warriors following behind.
After exiting the hall, she breathed a few mouthfuls of fresh air, thinking she would feel better. But unexpectedly, her body grew even more feverish.
Moreover, from deep within her body welled up a surging, bizarre emotion. Her mind began to grow hazy, her entire body seeming beyond her own control.
In her mind, it was as if a voice kept calling to her.
Then, completely beyond her control, Gui Qinshao lifted her jade feet and walked towards the depths of the Luanyang City Lord’s mansion garden.
At this time, the City Lord’s mansion was hosting a grand wedding, and it was night, so the enormous garden was virtually deserted.
Gui Qinshao walked further and further into the remote areas.
Unknowingly, she actually arrived before a rockery cave. She did not even know how she had walked here.
“Beauty, have you come looking for me?”
From not far away came Ashiluo’s voice, saying, “This cave is truly a wonderful place, completely the best spot for a wild tryst. Then I shall not decline the honour. I had originally wanted to maintain abstinence.”
The demonically handsome Ashiluo slowly emerged from the garden foliage.