《My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty》 Chapter 1 The Emperor Enters the Mundane World [As you peruse the pages of the Four Books and Five ssics, your noble spirit +1, cultivation +1 year] [For your creation of the discourse Journey to the West, martial insights +100] [As you recite..] ... Jing Nation. In the study of a residence within Langzhou City, there sat a young man in azure robes, engrossed in the scrolls he held. His name was Gu Lan. Three years ago, precisely in the first year of Jiaqing, he traversed into this world. A realm where one could attain immortality through the mastery of myriad paths! As a beneficiary of the transmigration enthusiast, the schr''s system was also bound to him. Merely by reading, he could attain Confucian spirit and Daoist cultivation, even martial insights and divine artifacts. However, none of these were enough to excite Gu Lan. Because he knew that this ce was, in reality, a world from a novel, one with which Gu Lan was quite familiar from his past life¡ªa eunuch-themed story! Yet, in terms of the narrative, he was merely an inconspicuous and handsome supporting character, not even qualifying as an antagonist. As a prudent adherent of various cultivation novels, Gu Lan possessed the self-discipline of a supporting character. Endure quietly and avoid unnecessary bravado! No matter how formidable one''s strength, there was still fear of the bacsh of destiny. Aware that the protagonist and the major antagonist were destined for turmoil in the imperial city, Gu Lan deliberately settled in Langzhou, distancing himself from the court, merely observing the spectacle from afar! ... "It''s almost time for Madam and Yexi to arrive home." At this moment, Gu Lan set aside the scroll, gazing at the snow-covered scenery outside the window, murmuring softly. On this day, the local residents had all gone to Dajue Temple to pray and offer incense for the Little New Year. Mu Yuyan was naturally no exception. When she left early in the morning, she mentioned that she would pray for Gu Lan, wishing for a safe and sessful year, and sess in the uing imperial examinations. At the thought of his wife, tenderness filled Gu Lan''s eyes. They had married six months ago, without parental arrangements or matchmaker''s words, purely encountering and falling in love at a temple fair. In the past six months, they had harmoniously lived together, Mu Yuyan being both virtuous and adept at managing the household. The Gu family''s life had improved steadily, and they had run a teahouse, which was opened a few days ago and was thriving in business. Neighbors and friends all envied them as a perfect match, saying that the young couple were destined soulmates from a previous life. It could be said that in this otherworldly realm, what Gu Lan cherished the most was this ordinary yet incredibly blissful rtionship. There was no other life that he would want to live expect for this one, not even the protagonist''s! "Old Yang, Madam ising back soon. Prepare the porridge, and don''t forget to add more brown sugar and dates!" Gu Lan instructed towards the door. "No problem, Master. I know you care deeply for Madam, so I''ve already started cooking!" came the cheerful voice of Old Yang from outside the study. "Not many families have a master like you, caring so much for thedy..." In the study, Gu Lan smiled knowingly and continued perusing his book. ...... At the Pear Blossom Lane, on the way back to the Gu Residence. A simple carriage moved slowly through the snow. Inside, a woman draped in snowy white shawl was dozing off. Beside her sat a maid in green, sitting upright, with an empty offering basket at her feet. If one were to ignore the woman''s breathtaking beauty, her grace, and the terrifying cultivation hidden beneath the surface... One might think she was just an ordinary woman returning home after seeking blessings! She was none other than Mu Yuyan. Apart from being Gu Lan''s wife, she was also the reigning female Emperor of the Great Jing Nation! At this moment, Mu Yuyan was listening as her attendant, Liu Yexi, read a confidential report. It concerned the widespread famine in the southern regions this year, with starving peasants and destion throughout the fields. "Your Majesty, the drought in the southern regions has persisted for more than a year, and it is not something that can be resolved overnight. We must n for the long term," said Liu Yexi, noticing Mu Yuyan''s brows furrowing increasingly. "Yexi, the famine in the south is only an example," Mu Yuyan opened her beautiful eyes, shaking her head with a soft sigh. "Since my ascension, in the first year of Jiaqing, the demonic nation from the northern destion invaded the borders of our Great Jing. Countless atrocities weremitted¡ªpiging, burning, and killing." "Two years ago, the bandits in Jinzhou were particrly fierce. It''s said... even mass ughters urred in the city!" "Last year, the floods in Huangzhou resulted in the current situation." "In these years, chaos has erupted one after another throughout thend... It seems the prophecy of the Old Director of Astrology, predicting the decline of the nation and turmoil from all directions, is trulying to pass." "Your Majesty..." Feeling that these words were inauspicious, Liu Yexi wanted to interject. At this moment, the jolting came to a halt, and the carriage had arrived at the entrance of the Gu Residence. Mu Yuyan waved her hand, "No need for further words. Instruct Great Chancellor Sima and the Ministry of Revenue to handle this matter and continue relief efforts. At this point, we can only take it step by step." Hearing the helplessness in Her Majesty''s words, Liu Yexi sighed softly. The session of dynasties in the world was the inexorable trend, truly mysterious! Even the female Emperor reaching the Sword Immortal Realm could not influence the unseen and intangible fate of the nation. She remembered that when the Old Director of Astrology made the prophecy, he also provided the only solution! However, this solution has yet to offer any glimpse of hope. "Emperor enters the mundane world." That''s what he said before ascending to immortality. He also revealed a divine technique with a concealed aura, unheard of in the mortal realm! Living a life of amoner after discarding the identity of an Emperor¡ªcould it truly save the fate of Jing Nation? Mu Yuyan didn''t know. It seemed too elusive. But she knew that even though she had hidden her identity as the female Emperor and all her aura, assuming the name of a mortal in this world... Perhaps only by finding a true Immortal Saint or taking that final step herself, reaching the realm of the Sword Saint capable of changing thews of heaven and earth, could she extend the lifeline of Great Jing. Reiming her thoughts, Mu Yuyan took a deep breath, tilting her head to gaze at the que above the entrance of the Gu Residence. The concern in her eyes gradually transformed into tenderness. "Master Gu, I have returned." Her words were gentle, devoid of the superiority one would expect from an Emperor. In the main hall where the family gathered for meals, there were a few disgruntled voices at this moment. "We agreed to put all the dates in Madam''s bowl. Old Yang, what were you secretly serving me?" "Young Master, there are enough dates!" Old Yang''s defending voice echoed. "There are hardly any grains of rice left in Madam''s bowl..." "You... didn''t have to put so many. Oh, Madam is back!" Gu Lan saw Mu Yuyan enter the room, and a smile spread across his face. "You''ve been dealing with your period these past few days, specifically brewed some porridge for you to nourish your body." Gu Lan considerately helped her to sit down, speaking tenderly. Mu Yuyan looked at the bowl of vibrant red porridge, couldn''t help but suppress a smile, and quickly picked a few dates to put in his bowl. "Master Gu, you''ve been studying diligently every day; you should be the one needing more nourishment." "With a beautiful woman apanying me, studying can''t be considered hardship." Gu Lan took a bite of his dish, smoothly uttering sweet words. Old Yang, who was silently having his meal beside them, chuckled. Mu Yuyan''s cheeks blushed slightly. Such a heartwarming scene was seldom witnessed within the confines of the imperial pce. Immersed in it, not to mention the female Emperor, even Liu Yexi felt a twinge of nostalgia. "If Her Majesty could always apany Master Gu and stay happy, it would be quite nice..." Although well aware it was impossible, Liu Yexi couldn''t help but harbor such thoughts. Unexpectedly, Gu Lan''s gaze suddenly fell on her, "Yexi, is there anything on your mind?" Gu Lan hadn''t noticed it himself; but for due to the noble spirit and Daoist cultivation, his perceptiveness was remarkably strong, and could easily discern the emotions of those around him, even the slightest one. A brief exchange of nces passed between Mu Yuyan and Liu Yexi. Liu Yexi put down her chopsticks, improvising on the spot, "In response to Young Master, today at Dajue Temple, I saw several refugees who were in pitiful conditions due to famine. It was quite emotional to see the rice in my bowl..." "Refugees, indeed, are quite pitiful," Gu Lan shook his head with regret. "Are they from Huangzhou?" Old Yang suddenly spoke up. Having escaped to the north from Huangzhou in his early years, he was curious about his hometown. "No, they''re from the southern regions, currently facing a drought," Gu Lan replied without hesitation. He remembered that the novel had emphasized this plotline. In the third year of Jiaqing, there was a severe drought in the southern regions. Later, various natural disasters and man-made cmities led to widespread grievances, causing great suffering for themon people. Because there was an antagonist involved in this plotline, Gu Lan remembered this part quite well. Hearing that they weren''t fellow townsfolk, Old Yang nodded without showing further concern, continuing to focus on his meal. However, unintentional words can stir intentional thoughts. Mu Yuyan suddenly froze, and her beautiful eyes slowly turned toward Gu Lan. "Master Gu... How did you know it''s a drought in the southern regions?" As the situation was prone to causing panic, reports were usually delivered urgently by special envoys from the Imperial Announcements Bureau directly under the Emperor. Even with continuous and swift sword travel, the message had only reached her desk in the afternoon. Gu Lan, who had been immersed in reading the ssics and saints'' works, was supposed to be unaware of external matters. How did he learn about it so quickly? Moreover, how did he know with such uracy? [Notes:N?v(el)B\\jnn In this book, various cultivation systems are categorized, and the preliminary realm divisions range from low to high: Living, Soldier, Master, Nurture, Nature, King, Emperor, Immortal, Saint. Different types of special constitutions and destiny grades include: ck, Grey, White,Cyan, Blue, Yellow, Purple, Gold, Red.] Chapter 2 Is the Female Emperor a Negligent Ruler? At this moment, onlooker Liu Yexi, even if slow, also caught on and wore a puzzled expression. Two pairs of beautiful eyes stared simultaneously at Gu Lan. "Well, reading leads to both wealth and beauty... The plight of the refugees is not something outsiders need to concern themselves with. It''s enough for our family to know; just be sure not to spread it around." Seeing their astonishment, Gu Lan realized he had inadvertently revealed some " Mysteries." However, his pretext was not unreasonable. After all, recounting the "book" of this world was akin to narrating the books he had read himself! The reason for caution was to prevent outsiders from raising suspicions... It didn''t matter if the family knew, but attracting unnecessary attention could be troublesome. Mu Yuyan''s eyes flickered, and after a moment of restraint from delving further into her curiosity, she nodded slightly. Liu Yexi, seeing that the Female Emperor did not inquire, could only bow her head and eat her food as her role as a maid dictated. On the contrary, Old Yang wiped his mouth at this moment, his face full of dissatisfaction, saying, "s, the female Emperorcks virtue, and heaven''s wrath has fallen!" "In my opinion, our current female Emperor is ying poorly. The ministers in the court are all capable of governing, but they''ve ended up with a ruler who is obsessed with seeking immortality and cultivation every day!" As these words were uttered, Liu Yexi nearly dropped the chopsticks she had just picked up! Hastily ncing at Mu Yuyan, she saw her calmly enjoying the dishes, a delicate smile on her exquisite face, showing no signs of concern. Only her knuckles gradually turned a bit pale... "Ahem!" Liu Yexi coughed, wanting to change the topic. However, Gu Lan patted Old Yang on the shoulder, saying, "Didn''t I tell you not to drink fake wine, Old Yang? ndering the current female Emperor may be eptable within our circle, but how many heads in our residence would be chopped off when your words reach the female Emperor? Mu Yuyan: "..." Liu Yexi: "..." "So what? I''m not afraid of that negligent ruler!" Old Yang,ing from the bottom, obviously harbored long-standing grievances against the current regime. Fueled by the effects of alcohol, he continued, "Since the female Emperor ascended to the throne, she has secluded herself in the deep pce for cultivation, ignoring political matters. This is something known to allmoners. How can it be considered nder?" "If it weren''t for the ministers left behind by thete emperor supporting her, who knows what state the country would be in now!" After hearing this speech, Mu Yuyan''s expression became somewhat unpleasant. Although she knew that Old Yang was just amoner at the bottom of society, ignorant of the truths of the court, and unaware of how much she had sacrificed for the continuation of the nation, carrying such a reputation and being criticized by the masses would inevitably be distressing to anyone! Liu Yexi looked at the female Emperor with pity, then fiercely red at Old Yang! Old Yang was puzzled. At this moment, Gu Lan suddenly spoke and broke the silence in the room: "Old Yang, rumors in the streets are not trustworthy. In fact, the current female Emperor is not as you imagine her to be." "If... our Emperor is considered a negligent ruler, then I''m afraid there have been very few wise rulers from the founding of Jing Nation until now." Gu Lan finished speaking and leisurely took a sip of tea. Old Yang''s face was full of confusion. However, suddenly, a pair of beautiful eyes beside him gained a radiant expression! "Why does Master Gu defend the female Emperor?" Mu Yuyan pretended to be puzzled, but her lips curled up slightly, a hint of sweetness lingering in her heart. It was said that schrs often criticize emperors to gain a reputation, but Master Gu rose unsullied from mud! Full of righteousness, he had no trace of the usual cynicism of literati!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Fortunately, the young master is different... Liu Yexi also breathed a sigh of relief, a smile on her face. However! Gu Lan''s subsequent exnation made their smiles freeze directly! "Natural disasters and man-made cmities are not due to theck of virtue in the female Emperor, but because the fortune of Great Jing has gradually declined." "The Female Emperor appears to ignore court affairs, but in reality, allmands are issued by her through the hands of some old ministers and dukes. It''s just that everyone is unaware!" "The female Emperor''s cultivation in the deep pce is just a fa?ade. She has left the pce long ago... seeking a way to rescue the fate of the country!" Gu Lan casually ced the teacup on the table and smiled as he finished speaking, . The room fell intoplete silence! From the beginning, Mu Yuyan was only slightly shocked when she heard "the decline of the country''s fortune." However, it wasn''t until Gu Lan mentioned that the Emperor had long left the pce that she was utterly dumbfounded! Liu Yexi was even more dumbfounded! If Gu Lan knowing about the severe drought in the southern region before could be considered a coincidence, this time was definitely not! Because what the old supervisor said about the "Emperor enters the mundane world" was something only the female Emperor herself and two close female attendants knew about! None of the court ministers were aware! It could be said that this was the top secret of Great Jing! How did Master Gu know about it? Could he read such information from books?! No, he has known something. Does he already know who I was, but he didn''t reveal it... Mu Yuyan became nervous with the mind in chaos. Looking at Gu Lan''s handsome face at this moment, she increasingly felt that he already knew the depths of her secrets, while she remained clueless about his. After a long time, Mu Yuyan tentatively spoke, "Master Gu... do you know where the female Emperor has gone to seek a solution?" Gu Lan turned his face and looked into her beautiful eyes like bright moons. He shook his head. "I don''t know." Gu Lan knew a lot about the character settings in this world because the novel had already covered it in the opening. As forter developments such as the fate of the female Emperor, that book had not yet been written. Phew~ Hearing his serious response, Mu Yuyan gradually loosened the grip on her jade-like hand that was clutching her sleeve. Apparently, he hasn''t found out who I am... Fortunately, the identity of the Majesty has not been exposed; otherwise, the efforts made in the past six months in the secr world would have been in vain... Liu Yexi followed with a sigh. "Hehe, the story that the young master told is even more enjoyable than that of the storyteller hired in the teahouse. It almost got me, hehe..." Old Yang, realizing the situation, chuckled. Of course, he didn''t think it was true; how could his young master know so much! He considered it as the young master making up stories to please thedy. "Old Yang, ah, go and light some charcoal, rest early." Gu Lan was a bit speechless, and waved his hand, not intending to keep this old bull around to listen to them. After he left, Mu Yuyan pondered for a moment and asked curiously, "Master Gu£¬you know so much about the court affairs. Do you know how to rescue our Great Jing?" "If you were the emperor, what would you do next?" She supported her chin with her jade-like hand, and when she spoke, the urgency from her heart added a bit of cuteness. On the surface, it seemed like she just wanted to hear Gu Lan tell a story. In reality, a hint of cunning was hidden in her peach blossom-like bright eyes! The female Emperor''s stunning beautybined with her charming voice, who could resist? My wife is so nice... Gu Lan felt delighted in his heart, sighing at the beauty of this otherworldly realm! Isn''t the supporting role important? Even if I can''t show off in front of those big shots, it''s still enjoyable to y the part at home for the wife! On the side, Liu Yexi, witnessing the Female Emperor coquettishly talking to a man for the first time, had his pupils shaking! Damn, showing affection in front of me... is this still the female Emperor who is dignified and decisive in court? If those aristocratic sons who admire Mu Yuyan see this scene, I don''t know how many petals of their hearts will shatter! Liu Yexi was in a daze for a while. Meanwhile, Gu Lan, in the hopeful gaze of the female Emperor, began to narrate, "Since mydy wants to hear, let''s start with the recent severe drought in the southern border..." Chapter 4 Spoiler Alert Changes in the Southern Border! Having put down the teacup gently, Mu Yuyan took a deep breath, already having had a n in her mind. "Master Gu, I was a bit tired. Shall I return to the bedroom and wait for you?" "Of course." Gu Lan, realizing it was alreadyte into the night, smiled and said, "Madam usually toiled tirelessly, so you should take advantage of your period to rest properly." At these words, Mu Yuyan''s face blushed instantly, all the way down to her earlobes. Liu Yexi, having understood nothing, was led out of the main hall by Mu Yuyan. At that moment, a mechanical sound resonated in Gu Lan''s mind. [You have narrated a story in this world, gaining +1000 years of cultivation.] [Obtained the Confucian-Daoist Secret Technique, ''Utterance Manifests Reality.''] [Obtained the Heaven Treasure, ''Primordial Sword.''] [Obtained 10 Soul-Returning Pill.] [¡­] Seeing these rewards, Gu Lan was momentarily stunned. "Oh my gosh, the rewards this time... are quite generous!" There was no need to dwell on the mastery of the Utterance Manifests Reality, and the Soul-Returning Pill and Primordial Sword were legendary items! Although Gu Lan often told stories to Yuyan and Yexi, like the previous world''s Journey to the West and Dream of the Red Chamber, the rewards from the Schrly System were mostly ten years of cultivation or a couple of spiritual herbs. These would be considered invaluable to ordinary cultivators, but in Gu Lan''s case, it had been countless over the past three years, providing limited assistance. "It seems I''ve discovered the gateway to a new world... Turns out, revealing the plot of this world''s original novels results in even morevish rewards... Hmm!" Gu Lan''s eyes lightened up, and he soon sensed his cultivation soaring. [Current cultivation: 21,000 years, Confucian Sage Realm.] "Sage Realm, seems decent..." Gu Lan looked at his slender and fair hands, surrounded by a clear light exuding immense power. However, after a moment, he shook his head. Although the realms in this world seemed to have a capped Sage Realm, the final chapters of this eunuch novel didn''t specify the protagonist''s realm! "It''s better to be cautious." Avoiding unnecessary trouble and staying with Yuyan forever... Gu Lan had always remembered his life pursuits. In the chamber. "Your Majesty, the imperial edict is drafted." Liu Yexi spoke with utmost respect. In front of hery the freshly written secret edict of the Female Emperor, detailing the "additional" tasks that the Imperial Announcements Bureau and officials from various regions needed to undertake regarding the Southern disaster relief. "Very well." Mu Yuyan nced over it briefly, her bright eyes turning to Liu Yexi. "This time, Yexi, you will go to the Southern Border yourself. I cannot trust anyone else." "Yes, Your Majesty!" Having been by the Female Emperor''s side since childhood, Liu Yexi naturally understood her cautious nature. Moreover, this matter was of great importance, concerning the fate of the nation. Mu Yuyan naturally must dispatch her confidante to ensure no mistakes ur. "Regarding the influential figures involved, how should they be dealt with?" Liu Yexi asked. Although she oversaw officials of all ranks and descriptions, in this case, Cai Yu possessed a noble title, so she needed to consult the Emperor. "Once the guilt is confirmed, execute them on the spot!" Mu Yuyan''s face carried a frosty air, her killing intent resolute. To cure a deep-rooted illness, strong medicine must be applied. Gu Lan''s words linger in her mind; she understood the necessity. "I understand!" Indeed, Her Majesty has gave all her tenderness to the young master, and there''s nothing left for others. Now, these influential figures are about to have a hard time... Liu Yexi inwardly chuckled and left after receiving the imperial edict. After a while, Mu Yuyan seemed to have eased a burden off her chest, and the killing intent around her dissipated. Walking to the window, her gaze passed through the moderately-sized courtyard of the Gu residence and looked towards the dim light in the study. A smile gradually appeared on her lips. "For the sake of establishing principles for heaven and earth, determining the destiny of the people, inheriting the wisdom of the sages, and bringing peace to the world for generations¡­" "Master Gu, the old Director of Astrology figured out a way to rescue our nation... Could it be you?" Mu Yuyan mumbled softly with inner hope ignited. The moonlight spilled on her unparalleled beauty, creating an extremely picturesque scene. ¡­¡­ The next day, Liu Yexi, using the excuse of returning to her family, saddled a chestnut horse and left Langzhou City. That night, a group of envoys from the Imperial Announcements Bureau, dressed in flying fish robes, flew out of the capital city. Led by a green-d female official, they headed straight for the Southern Border! In the following days, Langzhou City remained calm and peaceful. Gu Lan focused on reading to enhance his cultivation, while Mu Yuyan assisted him with ink studies, managed household chores, and asionally checked the ounts at the teahouse. Their days passed smoothly and well-organized. On the fifth day, the Southern Border! The Imperial Announcements Bureau envoys arrived at the ry station, acting on the Female Emperor''s orders without causing anymotion. In a room, a group of envoys in flying fish robes gathered around a green-d young woman. "Tomorrow is the distribution of relief grain by the court. ording to the resources, Marquis Anguo has invited the prefect county magistrate and county magistrate for a drink tonight. It seems there''s a n..." "Tonight, infiltrate Marquis Anguo''s Residence. Just stick to the n as discussed, my colleagues." Liu Yexi''s voice was clear as she gave simple instructions and licked her lips. As a spy, the closer she got to taking action, the more an inexplicable excitement overcame her. "We shall obey Lady Liu''smand!" The envoys were obedient to this influential figure by the Female Emperor''s side. There was no need for an imperial decree; they immediately dispersed to carry out their respective tasks. The night at the Marquis Anguo''s Residence! There was a flowing banquet and elegant songstresses. Three corpulent men sat at the table, with one in luxurious clothing being none other than Marquis Anguo, Cai Yu! After three rounds of wine, he raised his cup to the two officials beside him. "Two magistrates, tomorrow the court''s grain will arrive. You should know what to do, right?" "Haha, Marquis is too polite. We understand the rules!" The magistrates responded with cheerfulughter. "Allocate two-tenths to themoners, keep three-tenths for us to sell at high prices, and reserve the remaining five-tenths for Marquis!" "You officials are quite adept at this!" Cai Yuughed heartily. After drinking for a while, the three corrupt officials became thoroughly intoxicated. In a daze, they saw a green-d young girl weaving through the dancing girls, walking towards them. "Who... who are you?" Cai Yu slouched in his seat, his speech slurred. But when he saw Liu Yexi''s appearance, he squinted, seeming to vaguely recognize this woman. However, he couldn''t recall where he had seen her before. "You officials are enjoying a good feast here with bear paws and venison. Do you know the people in the Southern Border can''t even find bark and roots to eat?" Liu Yexi surveyed the messy table, questioning in a low voice. However, under the intoxication, these three pigs couldn''t discern her cold tone! "What do we care about what themoners eat? Who is this little girl? Haha, she looks quite simr to the one I slept with a few days ago... Hahaha..." Pointing to Liu Yexi, the two magistratesughed recklessly. Cai was originallyughing along with them. But suddenly, theirughter ceased! Turning his head woodenly, Cai Gui saw two lines of blood clearly appearing on the necks of those two fat pigs! Their eyes were bulging out and blood was flowing!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The two court officials were killed on the spot! In an instant, Cai Yu sobered up! Looking ahead, he saw Liu Yexi holding a sword, radiating a chilling light. The dancing girls had dispersed, and rows of Imperial Announcements Bureau officials, wearing imperial guardian''s robes, entered with awe-inspiring momentum! "This is... the Imperial Announcements Bureau!" Cai Yu''s pig-like eyes widened. At this moment, he suddenly remembered who Liu Yexi was! When he held the title of hereditary marquis, she hade to the capital for a review! Cai Yu''s face turned pale, and he crawled out from behind his seat to kneel in front of Liu Yexi. "Underling pays respects to Lady Liu! I... deserve to die a thousand times!" "Lady Liu, please spare my life!" Chapter 5 Rescue in the Southern Border; The Female Emperor Gives Gu Lan Special Treatment Cai Yu was greedy and timid as a mouse, but he was not stupid. At this moment, seeing the Imperial Announcements Bureau well-prepared, his sophistry was meaningless! He knew that the cultivation of the Female Emperor''s close attendants had reached the transcendence realm, so resisting was simply absurd! Although, up to this point, he still couldn''t understand why the Female Emperor suddenly targeted him! Why did the wless embezzlement of the past attract suspicion? Liu Yexi remained silent, gazing down at him. "Marquis Cai, you hold a noble title, unlike those two. I can give you a chance to make a final statement." "I''m willing to surrender all my family assets and beg the court to spare my life!" Upon hearing this, Liu Yexi chuckled, paying no attention. The wealth already belonged to the court; trying to exchange it for his life was naive! Seeing that it was ineffective, Cai Yu became desperate, sweating profusely.N?v(el)B\\jnn Suddenly, he seemed to think of something and repeatedly said, "Lady Liu, I have a ledger that records corrupt officials like me. I''m willing to expose and report them!" I knew it... Liu Yexi chuckled inwardly. Corrupt officials, fearing death, usually kept records for a way out by exposing others'' wrongdoings. She had plenty of experience, and she was waiting for this ledger! "Where is it?" "Promise not to kill me first." "Agreed." "It''s in the firewood room, under the second-floor tile." "Got it." After Liu Yexi agreed, Cai Yu felt like he had been given a new lease on life. However, immediately after, a stabbing pain in his chest brought him back to reality. Liu Yexi''s soft sword had pierced through him! "You... You!" Cai Yu couldn''t believe it, his face filled with horror. Liu Yexi was expressionless. She sheathed her sword efficiently, stood up, and left without offering any exnation. In her eyes, those who brought bone-chilling suffering to the people were not worthy of her promise. The group of the Imperial Announcements Bureau envoys looked on in shock. This was how the Female Emperor''s close attendants operated¡ªtruly decisive and swift! Liu Yexi, naturally charismatic, had won the admiration of many young envoys among the Imperial Announcements Bureau. "Tidy up here and return directly to the Imperial Announcements Bureau in the capital," shemanded. Liu Yexi stepped on a bay horse and left the Marquis Residence for Langzhou. "Understood!" The envoys behind her respectfully saluted and watched her leave. ... Three dayster, the Imperial Announcements Bureau brought Cai Yu''s corpse back to the capital. The court and the public were shocked! The death of a marquis alone wouldn''t cause such amotion among the officials. What they truly feared was the ledger now in the hands of the Female Emperor! In this era, even the so-called "able officials" had few with clean records. Not to mention corrupt officials! For a while, everyone felt a sense of impending danger! The major aristocratic families in the capital became restless, hastily rectifying their industries overnight, attempting to return any ill-gotten gains to the court. After all, if they didn''t proactively change, when the Female Emperor came to settle ounts, it wouldn''t be merely a matter of money! ... In Langzhou City, amidst the firecracker sounds, an atmosphere of peace and prosperity prevailed. When Liu Yexi finally returned, she presented the ledger to the Female Emperor. "Your Majesty, the situation in the Southern Border is simr to what Master Gu mentioned. The relief grain in the past was insufficient, with about eighty percent embezzled by local authorities..." Liu Yexi reported the results of her mission in detail, including whom she had killed, whom she had investigated, and the current actions of the court officials. Mu Yuyan nodded. At this moment, her eyes were gentle, and her expression serene. "Your Majesty, you look much better." Liu Yexi looked up, and seeing the gorgeous face envied by every women in this world, she couldn''t help but added. "Really?" Mu Yuyan chuckled lightly. "The relief in the Southern Border can be resolved properly, and I am no longer worried¡­Thanks to Master Gu''s information." Liu Yexi nodded in agreement. Although she was the head envoy, her role in this mission was like that of a messenger. The real contributor was the schr that the Female Emperor held dear in her heart! "Yexi, don''t rush to deal with the officials in the ledger. Let''s first see their attitudes of admission. In this troublesome season, indiscriminate killing is not feasible." Perhaps influenced by Gu Lan''s schrly influence, Mu Yuyan chose a prudent approach,bining firmness with flexibility. This was indeed for the greater good! With this ledger, it would be enough to deter them for a long time, preventing them from daring to act recklessly again. The Female Emperor''s lips curled slightly, a joyous expression on her face. "In addition, this year''s Autumn Examination for Master Gu... remember to remind the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial College''s old fellows. Don''t let it interfere with my good deeds." This is to give Master Gu special treatment... Liu Yexi''s mind was clear, and she smiled, sping her fists. "I understand. I will go and persuade them." "Go then." ... Time flew by, and the Spring began. Gu Lan always felt that these days, Yuyan''s mood seemed unusually good. When he used to study, Mu Yuyan would obediently watch or help grind ink. She was elegant and proportionate with the demeanor of a youngdy. Now, she often nestled in his arms, wanting to hear him tell stories whenever she had the chance. Mu Yuyan had no idea how tempting she was to a lively young man! When an usual dominating sister turned into a clingy little enchantress... Gu Lan thought, I can''t read this book anymore! While resting his eyes, he went out for fresh air. At the front gate, a group of vendors had gathered, taking a break and chatting. Squatting on the doorstep, Gu Lan could inadvertently overhear their conversation. "Have you heard? There''s trouble in the Southern Border!" Has the drought erupted, and the aristocrats withheld the grain? Gu Lan''s heart tightened. In a couple of days, refugees from the Southern Border should be fleeing to Langzhou. He needed to instruct Old Yang to open a porridge stand at the teahouse and offer some assistance... However, right after that, he heard several vendors expressing joy. "That''s right! That trash Marquis Cai was killed by the Female Emperor''s envoy a few days ago. It''s said that the prefect county magistrate and county magistrate there were also executed!" "I heard that the two magistrate''s families were found to have amassed one hundred thousand taels of silver. The Marquis''s Residence is even more outrageous, incredibly wealthy!" "Well done! Pleasing to the people''s hearts, truly pleasing!" "Huh? Wasn''t it said that the Female Emperor focused on cultivation every day and ignored state affairs? Why is she dealing with corrupt officials now?" "Hush! Keep it down... I heard that the Female Emperor is only pretending to cultivate; she secretly observes the court. Otherwise... How could someone in the Imperial Announcements Bureau have done this?" "Understood! Thank you, brother. Now that the Southern Border''s corrupt officials are dead, we can do some business there in the future, haha..." ... ??? Gu Lan waspletely bewildered! What the heck, this is different from what he read from that novel! How did the Female Emperor manage to intervene and snatch the limelight from the main character, providing resources and trampling on the antagonist? Gu Lan, looking puzzled, returned home. It wasn''t until lunch that he still couldn''t figure it out. Fortunately, this matter had nothing to do with him as a supporting character. The Female Emperor... he didn''t want any connection with her in his lifetime. Both the main character and the antagonist intentionally avoided her; there was no way they would meet! You guys go ahead. I just need to stay steady... Gu Lan thought calmly. For this year''s Autumn Examination, I''ll just fill in the answer sheet casually to get by. As long as I don''t be a Jinshi and remain in Langzhou City, it''s absolutely safe. Chapter 6 The Daily Life of the Plagiarist; Urgent Report from Yunzhou! Afternoon. Gu Lan was resting in the bedroom when a refreshing fragrance wafted from behind, and a pair of delicate arms wrapped around his waist. The clingy little wife has arrived... Knowing that she had been inexplicably happy these past few days, Gu Lan smiled, turned around, and embraced the Female Emperor from behind, "What''s going on, mydy?" "Master Gu, you haven''t finished the story of Journey to the West fromst time. I still want to hear it," Mu Yuyan blinked her eyes, and the refined face of the Female Emperor carried a hint of cuteness. "Oh, where were we?" In the previous life, this book-based novel undoubtedly had a tremendous appeal to girls in the ancient world. Without pretending to be eloquent, just by telling stories, Gu Lan could feel the charm of crossing. He was indeed an awesome giarist! "You were at the part where the master and apprentices arrived at the Women''s Kingdom, and Tang Xuanzang was detained by the Female Emperor, where they wanted to make him the ruler," Mu Yuyan reminded softly. "Oh, that part." Gu Lan organized his thoughts and began, "Later...Xuanzang''s willpower overcame the temptation of the Female Emperor. Resolutely, he fell in love with the neighboring female demon. Sun Wukong returned to the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, Zhu Bajie married the Miss of the Gao Family, and Monk Sha retrieved his ss bowl and returned to the Heavenly Pce." "They all lived happily ever after!" Gu Lan solemnly making up the little story while stealing nces at the beauty in his arms. Sure enough, Mu Yuyan was stunned for a moment! But when she looked up at Gu Lan''s eyes full of mischief and connected it with the context, she quickly understood that Gu Lan was teasing her. "Humph!" Mu Yuyan snorted, her face blushing slightly, and she said softly, "I thought my husband was a serious person... I didn''t expect him to only know how to bully his wife, who doesn''t understand literature!" A yful smile spread across Gu Lan''s lips, and taking advantage of her inattention, he went straight to pinch her. Mu Yuyan couldn''t hold back any longer and made a coquettish sound! By now, Gu Lan had figured it out. When the wife was in public, she liked to call him Master Gu. When she was acting coquettishly, she called him "my husband." This girly and domineering wife was truly irresistible! Now Gu Lan knew how the ancient people would spend their days when there were noputers nor smartphones around... "Cough, let''s stop joking around." Gu Lan continued to tell the original story of the Women''s Kingdom. [You have recounted a chapter from the book Journey to the West, gaining 50 years of cultivation and 100 insights of Primordial Sword Dao.] With the end of the words, Gu Lan''s strength once again increased. A proficient martial arts experience simultaneously infused into his mind! Martial arts'' insights was equivalent to the system helping him learn martial arts techniques, directly gaining the purest memories without any side effects like demonic cultivation or half the effort for double the result. If those who diligently cultivated and sought enlightenment heard about this abnormal function, they would probably be envious on the spot... Gu Lan thought. Thinking that he still had a matching Heaven Treasure, the Primordial Sword, Gu Lan was a bit curious about how his current levelpared to a true sword cultivator... At this moment. After listening to the story, Mu Yuyan became obsessed with the love and hatred of the Queen of the Women''s Kingdom, and couldn''t extricate herself for a long time. As a female Emperor, she immersed herself too deeply! Finally. "No, no!" Mu Yuyan frowned, shook her head, and said, "Master Gu, the ending of this story is not good." "Huh?" "It should be changed. Xuanzang feels the emotions of the human world, chooses to stay and marry the female Emperor of the Women''s Kingdom, and then gives up monkhood!" Mu Yuyan raised her eyebrows and spoke confidently, "Later... Xuanzang became the Emperor, and the former female emperor became his Empress. The two achieved consummation in their cultivation!" "Well..." Gu Lan chuckled awkwardly, "If mydy likes it, then it''s good." "Then let''s change the story ording to what I said, okay?" Mu Yuyan leaned against Gu Lan''s chest, her eyes shining.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Sure!" Gu Lan readily agreed. Since the author of the Journey to the West wasn''t around, the most important thing was to make his wife happy! (Shameless.jpg) Seeing him agree, Mu Yuyan''s smile deepened. Suddenly, she thought of Gu Lan, who diligently studied every day and even wrote stories for her to amuse her. A warmth that she had never felt before spread in her heart. Born in the imperial family, the only one who doted on her so much was Master Gu... Mu Yuyan, with a gentle and affectionate expression, lightly opened her vermilion lips and said emotionally, "Master Gu..." Gu Lan looked at her, and there were thousands of styles in his clear eyes. "My period is over." Mu Yuyan blushed. Gu Lan was surprised, "Lady, but it''s still daytime." Mu Yuyan: "???" "Okay!" Gu Lan couldn''t keep up the pretense and slipped out of bed, closing the door. ... Near evening, a waning moon tickled the sky. Gu Lan pushed open the door, feeling unusually refreshed! At this moment. Liu Yexi, the only maid in the Gu Residence, came over with a puzzled expression and asked, "Young Master, why did you take such a long nap today? Where is the madam?" "She''s still in bed." Gu Lan proudly nced at the bed and walked towards the study while flexing his muscles. While walking, he spontaneously began to sing. "Her robe is made of cloud, her face of flowers made. Caressed by a vernal breeze, freshened by morning dew. Charming as Fairy Queen in her Mountain of Jade. Or Goddess of the Moon in her pce sky-blue." [You expressed your feelings through a poem, gaining 100 years of cultivation and 69 of your physical fitness simultaneously.] ¡­ Gu Lan casually recited an ancient poem, and even if it described a woman, it gave no hint of an inappropriate feeling. Until he walked far away, Liu Yexi was still standing by the door,pletely stunned! When she came to her senses, she noticed the Female Emperor lying copsed on the bed. Mu Yuyan''s hair was disheveled, and her fair face was still slightly sweaty. In just a few seconds, Liu Yexi experienced bewilderment for the second time. "Your Majesty, you... you couldn''t have¡­in the daytime¡­" She widened her eyes, unable to believe that this was her noble and cold Female Emperor! "Well... Yexi, help me up." Mu Yuyan only showed embarrassment and awkwardness when she was with Gu Lan. Towards her subordinates, she remainedposed and calm. "Oh!" The Female Emperor was still the Emperor... Liu Yexi suddenly regained her senses. In the past, people often criticized her as a negligent ruler, but it turned out that being a negligent ruler felt so great... Mu Yuyan lightly licked her lips, seemingly savoring the tenderness from earlier. After a moment, the Female Emperor adjusted her clothes and calmly asked, "What brings you here?" "Your Majesty, there is an urgent report from the court this time." As Liu Yexi spoke, she took out a memorial from her bosom. Mu Yuyan received and skimmed through it, but her expression changed slightly. "The provincial governor of Yunzhou has submitted a petition, using the sect master Duan Pei of the Heavenly Sword Sect, affiliated with our Jing Nation, of colluding with demons, conspiring with the enemy, and betraying the country!" "I implore Your Majesty to intervene on behalf of our Wu family!" ... Night fell. This was a dark and windy night. A disheveled figure hastily entered the city over the city gate. He was a martial artist, covered in blood, exhausted, and held a dimly glowing blue stone in his hand. "As long as I take this engraved stone to the capital and present it to the Female Emperor, Duan''s treasonous activities will be exposed, and my father''s revenge will be achieved!" He was Wu Feng, the son of the former provincial governor of Yunzhou! "But now my true qi is depleted. If I continue to flee, I''ll surely be caught by the Heavenly Sword Sect... What should I do?" Wu Feng was pondering resentfully when his face suddenly changed. He sensed several strong auras rapidly approaching from behind! Wu Feng gritted his teeth, turned around, and walked into a dark alley. Maneuvering through twists and turns, he arrived in front of a teahouse that hadn''t closed yet. Looking up at the signboard: Gu''s Teahouse. Without hesitation, Wu Feng knocked on the door with the mindset of risking his life. At this moment, an elderly man with slightly graying hair came out from inside. "Are you staying at the inn? The second floor is..." The old man''s words choked because he saw the young man in front of him was covered in blood! "I''m staying." Wu Feng''s face turned extremely unpleasant, gripping the knife in his hand nervously. If the old man were to shout, he would have to kill an innocent person. Fortunately! The old man''s face instantly returned to normal, and he smiled as if he hadn''t seen anything, weing him inside. After a moment, the old man quickly and quietly came out, heading towards the direction of the Gu Residence without looking back. Chapter 7 The Ambush in Langzhou City The elderly was none other than the sole gatekeeper of the Gu family, Old Yang. On ordinary days, he and Liu Yexi would took turns managing the teahouse. Not long after Old Yang settled Wu Feng. Several ck-d individuals with swords at their waists appeared on the city walls of Langzhou out of nowhere! The apparent leader, a rtively young man, surveyed the city beneath him with a slight smirk. "Search. Wu Feng is definitely hiding in this city! Fox Lord ruptured his dantian, and it hasn''t healed... Follow the blood trail and find him before dawn!" With these orders, the ck-d death warriors dispersed,mencing a systematic search. On another front, Old Yang hurriedly returned to the Gu Residence, heading directly to Gu Lan''s study. "Young Master! Young Master, something''s wrong!" "What happened? Calm down first." Gu Lan was engrossed in reading and looked up at him. Coincidentally, the Female Emperor was present too. Due to the matter with the confidential letter, she sent Liu Yexi back to the capital to keep an eye on it. Now, she was peeling some mandarin oranges for Gu Lan. "Old Yang, don''t be anxious. Sit down and tell us slowly," Mu Yuyan disyed adylike demeanor. "Thank you, Madam." Old Yang sat down, "Just a moment ago, I was about toe back for some rest when I heard the knocking on the door of our teahouse..." He then detailed the events involving Wu Feng. "A martial artist covered in blood? Carrying a knife?" Gu Lan furrowed. It sounded like a plotline of pursuit and escape from novels. Nevertheless, considering the schedule, the protagonist should still growing awkwardly in a small fishing vige near the East Sea. Hearing Old Yang''s words, Mu Yuyan moved closer to Gu Lan and, appearing somewhat nervous, softly asked the elderly man, "Did you inquire about his name?" "Madam, how could I dare to ask?" Old Yang smiled wryly, realizing that if he had dyed even a bit, he might not have seen the Young Master and Madam now. "Is he... handsome?" Gu Lan suddenly asked an irrelevant question. Old Yang was taken aback. "N-not really, just ordinary." "All right, that''s good." Gu Lan nodded, confirming that the person wasn''t a crucial character. After all, even supporting characters chosen by the system had to be exceptionally handsome. "Tomorrow, I''ll apany you. Just stay close, continue business as usual... If anyone else wants to harm him, we''ll run away," Gu Lan was curious about the visitor. But as long as it wasn''t the protagonist, with his current state of reverted profound cultivation, he didn''t care much about observing from the sidelines. "Yuyan, stay at home and wait for me tomorrow, don''t go out." As a precaution, Gu Lan patted Mu Yuyan''s hand and advised her. After all, who knew if the two groups would end up chasing each other, potentially endangering other areas of Langzhou City. If it involved the Female Emperor, he wouldn''t be able to continue his peaceful life. Staying at home was impossible, how could I, a dignified sword immortal, let you take risks... Mu Yuyan hesitated for a moment and obediently told a little lie, "Alright, I''ll follow your advice, Master Gu." ... The next morning, Langzhou City''s early market gradually became lively. On the second floor of Gu''s Teahouse, Wu Feng, who had slept through the night, finally woke up. Touching there and here, he was relieved to find the engraved stone still with him! Enduring the pain all over his body, he quietly opened the window of his room and looked outside. The streets were bustling with activity, filled with noise. "Phew~ Not being discovered yet... But I can''t stay here any longer; I have to hurry." Wu Feng picked up his knife and pulled out a silver coin from his pocket. That was when he suddenly noticed a change at the counter. The elderly man fromst night was reced by a youth today, someone close to his age. The youth was naturally Gu Lan, who was dressed in azure attire and held a book in his hand, emanating an otherworldly temperament. His features, with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, were exceptionally handsome. What a remarkable scion of a noble family... Even on the escape route, Wu Feng couldn''t help but praise. But when he regained his senses, his brows furrowed slightly. Why does it feel like he''s reading me instead of the book on his hands? Wu Feng was astonished, uncertain if he was experiencing an illusion.N?v(el)B\\jnn At this moment, Old Yang came up, "Did you sleep wellst night, guest?" "Fairly." Wu Feng nodded, not daring to waste words with a stranger. "Settle the bill." "Five coins." Old Yang took the silver coin, as usual, saying, "Pleasee again next time!" Wu Feng nodded mechanically and turned to leave. Watching Wu Feng leave, Old Yang returned to the counter and said in a low voice, "Young Master, we''re quite lucky... the people chasing him haven''t arrived yet!" Gu Lan put down his scroll and leisurely sipped tea, seeming to see through the folding screen in front of him. "They''ve alreadye." The aura of several martial cultivators hade to the neighborhood half an hour ago, it was just that ordinary people couldn''t perceive it... Several martial auras had arrived half an hour ago, but ordinary people couldn''t perceive them... As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd in front of the teahouse suddenly became chaotic! A group of death warriors descended from the sky, surrounding Wu Feng, who had just left the teahouse. At the same time, a slightly sinister voice echoed from the sky, "Wu Feng, did you sleep wellst night? Are you in such a hurry to rush to the capital without informing me, Duan Xiao?" Duan Xiao. It''s him... Gu Lan recalled this name with some familiarity. In the original work, Duan Xiao had limited appearances, but his father, Duan Pei, had a substantial role. As an intermediate-level minor antagonist, the sect master of Heavenly Sword Sect, Duan Pei, had been active for quite some time. With the help of a demon king, Heavenly Sword Sect gradually developed into a major sect in Yunzhou. Unfortunately, in the end, it provoked the hanging protagonist and was wiped out after a few chapters! Oh, right! The protagonist also obtained a phoenix egg seized from Heavenly Sword Sect,parable to the Heaven Treasure. Later, the phoenix became the protagonist''s powerful ally! "A phoenix... would be nice to ride." Thinking of this, Gu Lan''s heart instinctively wavered. At this moment, unnoticed in a corner, a breathtaking figure with hidden breath arrived. He was mingling in the crowd and coldly watching the scene in front of the teahouse. "The son of Duan Pei, chasing the son of Governor Wu, all the way from Yunzhou... Heh, if I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes today, I''m afraid it would have been concealed by Heavenly Sword Sect!" Mu Yuyan had originallye to secretly protect Gu Lan. Unexpectedly, she gained such an unexpected harvest! Connected with the confidential letter she had read yesterday, her expression gradually darkened... Governor Wu leaked the information and urgently sent his son to the capital; he probably had already been killed. Such news was more distressing than a sect''s betrayal! "Heavenly Sword Sect, colluding with demons to kill loyal subjects of my Great Jing, from now on... you no longer need to exist!" ... Returning his gaze to Wu Feng. Seeing Duan Xiao''s appearance, his face changed drastically. He quickly drew his knife, ready to confront him. "Duan Xiao, your Heavenly Sword Sect colluded with demons, murdering loyal individuals. I will surely expose your crimes to the world and avenge my father!" He gritted his teeth and shouted. Seeing him so agitated, Duan Xiao sneered disdainfully, "Shouting so loudly, are you hoping everyone around can hear? Do you hope that they can spread the news to the capital after you die?" Hearing that, Wu Feng''s pupils shrunk sharply! He indeed no longer harbored hope for survival, but he hadn''t expected Duan Xiao to see through him at a nce! "You can shout as much as you want because... the people here will all apany you in the gravester. Since they heard things they shouldn''t have!" Duan Xiao said with a sinister look, his eyes cold and indifferent, as if he saw not people but a herd of livestock ready to be ughtered! Chapter 8 Demon King? A Human Sword Immortal Appears! Inside the teahouse, when Gu Lan heard these words, his eyes shed with a chill as he gradually fell into contemtion. Thinking about silencing me? Heh, who do you think you are, the protagonist? Gu Lan calmly sipped his tea, his thoughts spinning in his mind. "It seems like today, there''s no way I can avoid it. But... what if I don''t?" Heavenly Sword Sect persecuted loyal subjects, colluding with demons to ughter the people! Influenced by the ideals of the original host who served the country, Gu Lan spoke with some anger. Moreover, Duan Xiao''s attitude was so disgusting. A minor antagonist who couldn''t even qualify as a small fry, should I just kill him? Gu Lan thought, the Female Emperor inexplicably confiscated Cai Yu''s assets and put them into the national treasuryst time, intercepting a big wave of resources from the protagonist! Afterward, the world''s story didn''t undergo much change... Gu Lan wouldn''t engage in adventures or act pretentious, but this kind of amazing bargain was almost certain... why should he leave them for the protagonist? Besides, to be honest, Gu Lan was quite tempted by that phoenix egg! ¡­ At this moment, Duan Xiao, confident and arrogant, stared at Wu Feng. "Kid, I know you have an engraved stone. Destroy it now, and I might let you choose a painless death!" The engraved stone was a peculiar item in this world. It had video recording capabilities and could store footage for a long time. However, opening the footage or destroying its content required the soul power of the recorder. Others couldn''t do anything unless their cultivation reached the immortal realm. To prevent the engraved stone from falling into the Female Emperor''s hands after Wu Feng''s death, Duan Xiao had to use more words. "Hehe, dream on!" Wu Feng''s eyes gradually turned bloodshot, filled with a sense of tragedy. "If you want to kill me,e on! Even if I die, the footage in that stone will forever reveal the dirty deeds you''ve done. It will be exposed to the world sooner orter!" Roaring out his grievances, Wu Feng didn''t retreat but instead advanced, raising his knife against Duan Xiao. At the same time, he shouted to the surrounding crowd, "I''ll hold them back. Quickly escape! Make sure to spread the word about today and let the capital know!" Swish! Before his words could fully resonate, the swords of several death warriors had already cut through Wu Feng, causing blood to stain the streets. The surroundingmoners, awakened to the danger, with red eyes, began to flee into the alleys. "Heavenly Sword Sect colludes with demons, deserving to die!" "Quick, go! Don''t let Young Warrior Wu die in vain!" "Escape quickly!" "..." However, at this moment, a demonic w appeared in the void, directly covering an area for several miles, and blocking the escape route for themoners.N?v(el)B\\jnn Amidst the terrified crowd, a sinister figure appeared out of thin air. "Fox Lord, you came in person!" Duan Xiao, seeing him, was overjoyed. Obviously, this was the Demon King that the Heavenly Sword Sect colluding with . "Your father was worried, so I''ve been secretly following you," the Demon King said, waving his hand dismissively. "A long dy may cause trouble. I don''t feel like letting you suffer. I''ll just kill these two-legged sheep for you!" In the eyes of demons, humans were no different from livestock. Facing the arrival of the Demon King, Wu Feng had no more thoughts of struggling. He knew the strength of the Demon King well. Slowly closing his eyes, he hoped that one day the footage he had desperately preserved in the engraved stone would be opened by the Female Emperor. The despair of the remainingmoners was palpable. Although they had not seen the demon cultivator, but the light of this bloodthirsty terrible breath, they knew surviving was slim! At this moment, the Demon King extended a sharp w through the void, aiming for Wu Feng. Countless demonic spirits, like ck mist, surged out from his body, rushing towards the surroundingmoners. Half of Langzhou City was immediately shrouded in a demonic cloud, cries echoing everywhere. Then, a dazzling sword light pierced through the clouds, suddenly appearing from the sky! As it touched the demonic spirits, they instantly dissipated and turned into nothingness. "Hmm! Someone powerful has made a move? Faster than me..." Gu Lan, who was leisurely sitting in the teahouse, raised his eyebrows, closely observing the sword light. "Being able to conceal their presence for so long without being detected by me, suddenly making a move without revealing their aura... this person''s cultivation should beparable to mine." "But at least Langzhou City should be safe now. It saves me the trouble!" Gu Lan enjoyed the spectacle, observing the scene outside. At this moment, the Demon King seemed to sense something and looked up. When he saw the sword light, his face suddenly changed. "Golden Sword Qi! A human sword immortal!" He hastily withdrew his hand and hurriedly defended in front of his chest. However, the gap between a king-level demon and a sword immortal was insurmountable. The golden Sword Qi didn''t hesitate for even a second, directly piercing through the Demon King''s chest, leaving arge bloody hole. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Wu Feng hadn''t even reacted when he was suddenly saved, giving him an unreal feeling. Duan Xiao had just seen the sword light, and the Demon King on his side was already emitting painful grunts. "A sword immortal... how is this possible? In a small city like Langzhou, how could there be a sword immortal!" Duan Xiao was both shocked and furious! The difference between a human sword immortal and the demons he encountered was like heaven and earth. The Demon King, enduring the destruction of his body by the Sword Qi, gradually descended. His human form couldn''t be maintained any longer, and a blood-stained fox appeared in front of everyone. The fox crouched on the ground,pletely devoid of the fierce aura it had moments ago, and began to plead in a low voice. "Sword Immortal senior, I didn''t mean to offend you. Everything today was instigated by the Heavenly Sword Sect. If you''re willing, I can leave now... and maybe help you get rid of them!" This fox is quite understandably, and it wants to bargain! Duan Xiao was dumbfounded. "Fox Lord... what are you saying!" "Shut up! If it weren''t for you, would I have encountered a sword immortal?" The Demon King, in a sorry state, spat out a ck bead. In an instant, a demonic spirit flew out, devouring the young master of Heavenly Sword Sect and leaving behind nothing but bones. The onlookers, including themoners and Wu Feng, were all stunned. The intimidation of a sword immortal was terrifying. It directly forced the Demon King to betray hispanion. Gu Lan was delighted to see this unexpected turn of events. He hadn''t expected the sword immortal to bring such a show. Dog-eat-dog, joyful! "Let''s see if this sword immortal will show up. If I could know their name, perhaps the original work mentioned them..." Gu Lan continued to wait, but the mysterious sword immortal outside had yet to reveal themselves. Naturally, the sword immortal was the Female Emperor, Mu Yuyan. If she didn''t witness it with her own eyes, she wouldn''t have believed that the demons would be so audacious, invading the territory of Langzhou and massacring the people of Jing. Mu Yuyan''s expression was extremely cold. She pinched her sword art, and three golden Sword Qi condensed again. The brilliance was even more dazzling than before, indicating that she didn''t intend to let the Demon King off. The Demon King, realizing the impending danger, repeatedly cried out, "You can''t kill me! I''m a apprentice of the Holy Demon Pce. If you dare to kill me... the seniors of the Pce will pursue you endlessly!" Hearing this, the Female Emperor chuckled lightly. How could she have not anticipated the rtionship between Great Jing, the Holy Demon Pce, and even the entire demon realm before she took the action? And that was also why she didn''t reveal her identity beside being the Sword Immortal. Without any evidence, who in the demon realm dared to directly me her? Sword in hand! The golden brilliance dazzled! Faced with a life-or-death situation, the Demon King chose to fight to the death. He spat out a ck bead, colliding with the Sword Qi. In the next moment, the Sword Qi vanished, but the bead indeed managed to block the Sword Immortal''s three strikes! Gu Lan''s eyes lit up. "Unexpected! A king-level demon can use this to block a Sword Immortal''s attack... What kind of treasure is this?" Meanwhile, the Demon King, using the bead as a cover, took the opportunity to burn his essence blood and escape towards the sky. Chapter 9 Demon Saint’s Holy Relic; Utterance Manifests Reality! "It''s actually the Demon Saint''s Holy Relic. What a pity..." The female Emperor shook her head lightly and didn''t chase after it. In the demon realm, the foxes were cunning, best at escaping. She had to be cautious to prevent him from circling back to threaten Gu Lan''s safety. However, what she didn''t know was that Gu Lan was here at this moment. ... Three thousand miles west of Langzhou. On a hillside, a blood-soaked fox sat down, looking towards Langzhou with a panic in his eyes, like a startled bird. After observing for a long time and confirming that the mysterious sword immortal did not follow, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. A strong resentment appeared in his eyes! "Damn the two-legged sheep, you destroyed my treasure. In the future, I will definitely ughter a million of you to avenge this hatred!" The fox cursed in a low voice. At this moment. A figure in green slowly walked out from behind the hill, shaking a folding fan, calm and leisurely, and came to the front of the fox. "?" Although the fox wanted to vent his anger by killing, he had just suffered a big loss, so he chose to be cautious and watch while Gu Lan was getting close. Endure it for now... Let''s wait until I return to their... However, Gu Lan''s actions were not polite at all. He immediately lifted his foot and kicked the fox''s buttocks, saying lightly, "Do you still have that ck bead you had just now? Hand it over!" If it weren''t for wearing Confucian robes, anyone would think he was a bandit! The fox''s eyes widened! It wasn''t because of shame, but because of what Gu Lan said, which made him creepy! "You saw the Holy Relic of Demon Saint? And you... followed me all along from Langzhou City?!" "You... you... actually arrived here before me?" The fox couldn''t believe it. He had already burned his essence blood to escape, but there was still a human who could keep up without a change of expression on his face! So that is the Holy Relic of Demon Saint... Gu Lan remembered the description of this item in the original work when he heard its name. Thest demon saint who died ten thousand years ago was incinerated into a hundred relics by heavenly fire, falling into the hands of various demon ns in the demon realm. For demons, it wasparable to a supreme treasure! A rare relic left by a saint! In the original work, the protagonist also obtained one, which greatly benefited him. Gu Lan looked at the astonished fox and teased him, "You can possess the Holy Relic of Demon Saint. It seems that your position in the Holy Demon Pce is not low, right?" "Senior... you''re joking. I''m just a direct apprentice of the Holy Demon Pce, just a king-level little demon." "There''s really only one Holy Relic of Demons... if there were more, it would definitely be offered to Senior!" The fox tried hard to suppress the fear in his heart, immediately changed his tone, and smiled tteringly. The titles of direct apprentices of the Holy Demon Pce were frightening to ordinary people, but trying to suppress someone above the immortal realm? It should work harder! "Only one..." Gu Lan sighed regretfully, shook his head slightly, and his eyes were incredibly clear. "Then... do you have anyst words?" Damn it! Just left the tiger''s den and entered the wolf''s den again... The fox cursed in his heart, feeling unlucky. Both of them were abnormal powerhouses who wanted to kill him! When did Jing Nation be so powerful? With a few more experts like them, one Jing Nation would be enough to suppress the entire demon realm! "Senior, although I don''t have the Holy Relic of Demon Saint anymore, our Holy Demon Pce still has two, on my master''s body." "If you are willing to let me go... they will all be yours!" Letting you go would bring trouble, what if I''m exposed? You already know what I look like... Gu Lanughed lightly, saying calmly, "If I kill you, they will be mine too." As soon as he finished speaking, he grasped the void, and the fox instantly turned into dust! An ordinary demon king, couldn''t even have the time to struggle before being directly killed by Gu Lan''s maniption of thews of heaven and earth! After a moment. Gu Lan smoothed his clothes and looked towards the direction of Yunzhou with some expectation. Phoenix egg... I''ming for you, baby! However, this trip to the Heavenly Sword Sect was not intended to kill everyone. There were many innocent apprentices, and with so many people watching, precautions needed to be taken first... Gu Lan put on a veil, revealing only his eyes. With a shake of his hand, he held a sword covered with mysterious spiritual patterns! Heavenly treasure¡ªthe Primordial Sword! Gu Lan''s aura instantly became extremely sharp, just like the killing intent of the the Primordial Sword! "In this way, it''s simr to that sword immortal just now..." Gu Lan''s lips curled up, evoking a mischievous smile. He had thought of that scapegoat long ago! After all the preparations were ready, he quietly recited, "At this moment, I am in Yunzhou." When Gu Lan opened his eyes again, he was already at the foot of the Heavenly Sword Sect! It was the insights of Confucianism and Daoism: Utterance Manifests Reality. It brought little bacsh and was perfect for journey in a hurry! The dead demon king didn''t expect that, to catch up with it just now, Gu Lan had only said, "At this moment, I am by the side of the fox demon"! ...N?v(el)B\\jnn On that day, at dusk. In Gu Lan''s study, there was an additional crimson egg! The pure elemental fire reflected a sacred and holy light. Knocking slightly on it with his hand, Gu Lan shook his head slowly, "It seems that it''s still need more time..." But he knew that the Phoenix was an ancient divine species. The longer it gestated, the higher its talent, so there was no need to rush. After ying with it for a moment, he put it away. Gu Lan counted the things he looted from the Heavenly Sword Sect this time. At this moment, almost the entire foundation of the Heavenly Sword Sect was in his system space. What Gu Lan didn''t expect was that in such a sect without even a king-level expert, there were treasures that could help even in the saint realm! Top-grade spirit stones, thousand-year shark pearls, half-step Saint Stage Confucianism calming pills... The joy in Gu Lan''s eyes became even more intense! "upying Yunzhou for hundreds of years, it is indeed extraordinary... No wonder the protagonist in the original work became so powerful after annihting the Heavenly Sword Sect..." When I read the book back then, I didn''t care, but now that I''m a character in the book, I know how enjoyable it is to pick up these treasures, and how amazing the luck is! Sorry, male protagonist... Gu Lan said a shallow apology in his heart and then decisively grasped the top-grade spirit stone, starting to absorb it. ... On the other side. After confirming Gu Lan''s safety in the afternoon, the female Emperor returned to send a letter to Liu Yexi in the capital, instructing the Imperial Announcements Bureau to spare no effort in intercepting Duan Pei. At this moment. Liu Yexi finally returned and went directly to see the female Emperor, her expression slightly unpleasant. "Your Majesty, today another powerful figure intervened. By the time this official arrived at the Heavenly Sword Sect... Duan Pei''s family and the core elders had already been wiped out by someone!" "In addition, the entire Heavenly Sword Sect seemed to have been swept away; The collections from the inner sect, medicine fields, and treasure vaults are all gone without a trace!" "And also..." Liu Yexi''s description was urgent! Recalling the ruins she saw in Heavenly Sword Sect¡ªthe broken Heavenly Sword Peak, the lingering and undispersed sharp sword intent¡ªher heart couldn''t calm down for a long time! It had been a long time since Mu Yuyan saw Liu Yexi in such a shocked state. She had been embroidering for Gu Lan, but at this moment, her hands also stopped, and a hint of confusion shed in her phoenix-like eyes. "Did you see the person who went up the mountain?" "Didn''t have the chance, but..." Liu Yexi took a deep breath and slowly said, "ording to the apprentices there, it was a masked swordsman. At round three in the afternoon, he rushed straight into the main hall to kill Duan Pei and the others in less than fifteen minutes!" "I specte that he should be at least an emperor-level, or even... an immortal-level powerhouse!" With the protection of the sect''s grand formation, it would be impossible for someone below the emperor-level to easily break through. However... using a sword? More confusion appeared in Mu Yuyan''s eyes. She couldn''t remember any other sword immortal or sword emperor within the borders of Great Jing. Even if there were, why would they want to destroy the Heavenly Sword Sect for no apparent reason? Chapter 10 The Primordial Sword’s Lord is Just A Mortal... "The Heavenly Sword Sect shouldn''t have provoked those reclusive old folks in Jing Nation." Mu Yuyan reminisced for a while, shaking her head slightly. "However, it seems that such a figure is not listed on the Tianji Pavilion''s Expert Rankings." The Tianji Pavilion did not belong to any nations; it was one of the only two neutral forces on the continent. It had many rankings, updated once every sixty years. The Pavilion''s Lord was even a peak-level cultivator, renowned for unparalleled strategy, and knowledgeable about everything! "Your Majesty, judging from the traces he left behind, I have a bold guess..." Liu Yexi hesitated. "Go ahead." "The killing intent in his sword is overwhelming. I arrived two hourster, and his sword aura was still there, dominating and extremely profound... It''s simr to the sword intent of a recorded divine weapon on the Divine Weapons Rankings, the Primordial Sword!" Although Liu Yexi was young, as the head of the Imperial Announcements Bureau, she had a broad experience and could recognize the momentum from a divine weapon. However, the Primordial Sword hadn''t appeared in the mortal world for a long time, and the identity of the Primordial Sword''s owner remained elusive. "Did he leave any words?" Mu Yuyan contemted for a moment and asked. Generally, when experts exterminated a sect, unless their identity was sensitive, they would reveal some information about themselves. After all, they were not outsiders; who wouldn''t want their deeds to be known far and wide? Upon hearing this, Liu Yexi, however, wore an awkward expression and looked up at the female Emperor, "Your Majesty, that man left a message... he imed to be the Sword Immortal who killed Duan Pei and the Demon King in Langzhou City."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Huh??? Impersonating? Realizing that she had been made a scapegoat, the female Emperor was momentarily stunned, feeling a bit ufortable yet somewhat amused! However. Upon careful consideration, she found that the cultivation level of this swordmaster was not beneath her own! Having hidden for so long, even she hadn''t sensed his presence; indeed, he was a formidable expert... Mu Yuyan took a deep breath, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed! "In another year, when the Tianji Pavilion updates the Expert Rankings, we''ll check. His name should appear on the Sword Dao Rankings. Try to attract him as much as possible when the timees..." "Alright." Liu Yexi nodded. In any dynasty, a Sword Immortal was at the consecrator-level, and their status was self-evident! If Great Jing could have one more Sword Immortal, it''s strength would increase several times! "Send orders to the capital. Have the undercover guards from the Imperial Announcements Bureau disguise themselves asmoners in Langzhou. Keep an eye on this area during this period and secretly protect Master Gu." Mu Yuyan picked up the embroidery again and said seriously. It had been an eventful time, unexpectedly, there was a sudden appearance of the owner of Primordial Sword in Jing Nation. Although he seemed more like a friend than a foe, who knew if there were other experts lurking! She feared that revealing her identity might bring unwarranted disasters to Gu Lan. "I understand!" ... The night was cool, like water, with a bright moon and sparse stars. In the Gu Residence, dinner had just been served. Gu Lan leisurely walked out of the study, stretchingzily. By now, he had absorbed that high-grade spirit stone, and his cultivation had directly increased by a thousand years,parable to a month of studying! "The effect of the thousand-year shark pearl should be even better than the spirit stone. If I absorb it tonight, I should be able to break through to a cultivation of thirty thousand years." Gu Lan walked to the table at a leisurely pace. "Young Master, don''t tire yourself too much with your studies. As the saying goes, we should know how to bnce work and rest!" Old Yang empathized with him. "I know." Gu Lan took out a jar of wine from behind and handed it to Old Yang. "You love drinking. I bought this jar for you on my way back today." As soon as Old Yang saw the wine, his eyes lit up. "Oh! Thank you, Young Master, thank you!" He eagerly opened the sealed jar, and the fragrance of the wine immediately filled the entire hall. "So fragrant!" Not only Old Yang, but even Mu Yuyan and Liu Yexi, who were nearby, smelled it! "Master Gu, what kind of wine is this? It smells so exquisite!" Mu Yuyan and Liu Yexi, both with curious eyes, asked. They had grown tired of imperial court''s exquisite liquors, but the jar of wine Gu Lan casually took out had a fragrance even better than the best they had encountered before! "Just bought it from a small stall in the evening market, called Peach Blossom-Infused Liquor. It might be aged for a long time, so it smells good." He certainly didn''t tell the truth. This was actually taken from the wine cer of Heavenly Sword Sect, and he had also stuffed it with spiritual medicines and elixirs to create an immortal wine! Just a sip could help ordinary people like Old Yang undergo a rebirth and extend their lifespan! In the current world, it was absolutely priceless... At this moment, Old Yang waspletely intoxicated, grinning with a toothy smile. "Young Master, you don''t need to pay me for the next two months. This cup of wine is enough!" Gu Lan smiled and didn''t speak, turning around to pour full sses for his wife and Yexi. After ransacking Heavenly Sword Sect''s warehouse, he was notcking in wine. Money, of course, was even less of a problem. If he moved the gold and silver from the spatial storage, he could probably buy the entire Langzhou City on the spot. Of course, the premise was that the female Emperor was willing to sell... The family chatted casually, ate dinner, and the scene in the Gu residence was no different from the bustling life in Langzhou City at this moment. After finishing dinner. Old Yang, holding the jar, hummed a tune and returned to his room. Gu Lan was about to go to the study when a lovely sachet was handed to him. Mu Yuyan, seeming a bit drunk, rested her head on his shoulder. Her eyes were misty, and her exquisite face had a hint of blush. She softly spoke, "Master Gu, you''ve worked hard in your studies. This is a gift for you." In ancient times, when a woman gave a man a sachet, it was a testimony to their lifelongmitment. Gu Lan stared at the sachet, gradually lost in thought. Its workmanship was not perfect, but it exuded Mu Yuyan''s unique fragrance, sewn by her own hands, needle by needle. In two lifetimes, this was the first time Gu Lan received a gift from a girl... Seeing his distracted look, Liu Yexi, who was on the side, also looked dumbfounded! She initially thought that it was just a leisurely pastime, unexpectedly, she was doing needlework for Gu Lan! This... was actually a sachet embroidered by the Emperor herself! A true one-of-a-kind item in the world! If it were put up for sale... well, it couldn''t be sold. Gu Lan would probably kill me... Liu Yexi quickly stopped his thoughts, which were running wild like an unleashed wild dog. Gu Lan put away the sachet and hung it on his waist, gently embracing Mu Yuyan in his arms. Her delicate body was boneless, and the breath between her neck was fragrant like orchids. A perfect wless face was just a breath away. In her charming demeanor, there was elegance without losing cuteness and a hint of nobility amid the loveliness. Gu Lan was fascinated. Seeing this, Liu Yexi, showing tact, exited the main hall and went to wash the dishes. "Mydy, having you... is my blessing." Gu Lan said sincerely. Two lifetimes as a human, there was nothing more precious to him than the girl in front of him. Not even the system! If he had met her in his previous life, it would have undoubtedly been a marriage envied by everyone. "Master Gu, don''t take risks in the future." After a moment of tenderness, Mu Yuyan suddenly spoke in his embrace. "Huh?" "I heard from Old Yang today. There were cultivators fighting outside our teahouse. Someone died, and it was only taken away by the government in the evening." "We are just mortals, it''s too dangerous to provoke those cultivators!" Mu Yuyan, seeing him in a daze, pouted with a hint of me. "If I didn''t mention it, were you nning to keep it from me forever?" Damn, this Old Yang, why can''t he keep his mouth shut... Gu Lanughed a bit awkwardly. "I just didn''t want you to worry, I promise not to do it again in the future." "The Autumn Exam is only half a year away. I''ll study peacefully at home." "Alright." Mu Yuyan sighed in relief after hearing that, speaking softly, "But Master Gu, don''t tire yourself too much. You should take care of yourself. I heard that the exam won''t be very difficult..." Chapter 11 Autumn Examination; Scholar Lin Lu A couple of days ago, Liu Yexi had already made the arrangements, so Mu Yuyan wasn''t worried. But it was good that Gu Lan could study at home, avoiding unnecessary troubles outside, and Mu Yuyan could personally protect him. Hmm, this seems like the reverse of the story my husband mentioned a few days ago, The Schoolgirl''s Bodyguard. Well, not exactly... Mu Yuyan appeared calm on the surface, but her thoughts were lively. "Don''t worry, my dear, I won''t tire myself out with too much imperial examination preparation," Gu Lan nodded, smiling. His fingertips brushed through the green strands of hair, "As I mentioned before, studying is not for the purpose of bing an official. Mydy, have you forgotten?" "It''s a good thing that my husband has such noble aspirations," Mu Yuyan said. Of course, she didn''t know the real reason he wasn''t pursuing an official career. She just thought about his emotional speech, and her heartstrings were touched, brimming with tenderness. Whether to absorb the shark pearl tonight or not... Gu Lan was contemting but couldn''t help lowering his head and lightly kissed her on the lips. Mu Yuyan''s entire body went soft. "My dear..." "Yes?" "The moonlight tonight... is beautiful." ... Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. After Wu Feng escaped from danger, he immediately bought a good horse and galloped towards the capital. Bearing deep hatred, he couldn''t afford to stay too long, even after being saved! Hearing that the female Emperor was not intervening in court affairs, Wu Feng was worried that she wouldn''t deal with this matter. So, he initially nned to go directly and strike the Grievance Drum, announce Heavenly Sword Sect''s heinous crimes engraved in stone tablets before the imperial city gates, and seek justice for his father. However, things were out of his expectation! On the night he arrived, the current Prime Minister, Sima Qin, came to see him. Holding the female Emperor''s edict, he appointed Wu Feng as the Governor of Yunzhou, allowing him to inherit his father''s legacy! Wu Feng was dumbfounded! Following that, he learned that the female Emperor had already executed Duan Pei, posthumously titled his father as the Marquis Ningyun, and he couldn''t help but weep bitterly. Facing the direction of the pce, he performed three kowtows and nine prostrations. "The Wu family will repay your Majesty''s kindness!" After returning to Yun Province, when the news spread among themon people in the capital, they were talking about it everywhere: "Her Majesty is wise and discerning, relieving the Wu family''s grievances. The Great Jing now has another loyal ministerial family!" "In the future, there should be fewer demons in Yun Province. No need to worry anymore!" ... Gradually, through this tale, whether among themon people or officials, the impression of the female Emperor was gradually changing. ... On the long street of Langzhou, under the autumn breeze. Today was the day for signing up for the autumn imperial examination. Gu Lan came to the government office¡ªYamen, and saw a long queue. At the front, a Runner of Yamen was recording the names. "Transmigration has this one drawback ¨C no online registration!" Gu Lan murmured softly as he walked to the back of the line. Of course, he wouldn''t foolishly stand in line. Although the sun wasn''t scorching today, standing for a long time still made one feel ufortable. Those schrs in the queue were already showing signs of impatience, repeatedly pounding their waists and legs, showing difort. Gu Lan bypassed the line and went straight to a small stall, ordered a ss of cold tea, and quietly waited for the crowd to thin out. At this moment, Gu Lan suddenly noticed a mysterious figure at the end of the line. It was a schr wearing a blue headscarf and simple white Confucian robes, with a rather handsome appearance. What made him mysterious was that he kept letting people take his ce! Although he started as thest person, every time someone else came to sign up, he let them stand in front of him. After half a day of queuing, he was still thest one! "Interesting," Gu Lan smiled slightly. As the sun was setting, the number of pedestrians on the street gradually decreased. Gu Lan ced a silver coin on the table and calmly walked towards the registration line. The schr was still at the end. Seeing Gu Lan approaching, he appeared a bit tired, but he still smiled and made a gesture of invitation, "Brother, you can stand in front of me; I''m not in a hurry." If you''re not in a hurry, why did youe so early? Letting people take your ce one by one... Gu Lan thought, then put on a smile and bowed, "Thank you, brother. May I ask for your name, please?" "My name is Lin Lu," the schr responded politely.N?v(el)B\\jnn Lin Lu... Gu Lan nodded, checked the names of important characters in the original text, and found that his name wasn''t there. Feeling relieved, he spoke, "I am Gu Lan, pleased to meet you, Brother Lin!" "Brother Gu, do you happen to be the owner of the Gu''s teahouse?" Lin Lu suddenly asked. "That teahouse is indeed mine," Gu Lan, not surprised to be recognized. He moved here from somewhere else, and there was only him with the surname Gu in the city after all. "Ah! I must truly thank Brother Gu! Before the new year, my sister nted two acres of tea, but after the harvest, no tea merchant wanted it. In the end, it was you who bought it, resolving our urgent situation!" Lin Lu suddenly sped his fists, gratitude filling his eyes. Gu Lan had some recollection of this matter. It was a deal his wife made at the end of thest year. They didn''t earn any money from the deal; it was considered as a good deed and a bit of help towards the Lu brother and sister. "It''s a small matter, Brother Lin, no need to be polite," Gu Lan said casually. Growing more familiar, Gu Lan asked, "Earlier, I noticed that Brother Lin kept giving up your ce for others, yet you hesitated to sign up yourself. May I know the reason?" Lin Lu felt a bit embarrassed, scratched his head, and chuckled, "Actually, the main reason is that I don''t want to take the exam... I came here to sign up to appease my family..." Oh, there''s someone like me... Gu Lan''s eyes lit up. But why do you want to sign up? "Brother Lin, haven''t you prepared for it?" "Cough, of course not!" Lin Lu was choked a bit but exined, "It''s just that my aspirations don''t lie here. I don''t want to waste this unjust money." The imperial examination required fees, and the expenses increased if one progressed to the National University. Lin Lu didn''t want his sister, who worked hard to nt tea to support his studies, to bear that burden. "What do you want to do then?" Gu Lan asked curiously. "To tell you the truth, Brother Gu, I actually want to go to the battlefield!" Lin Lu''s eyes were high-spirited, and his delicate face showed a touch of heroism, "There, not only can I receive rations, but there''s also a chance to be a cultivator. Much better than being a schr!" Gu Lan looked at his physique and felt that this guy seemed tock a clear self-awareness. There''s indeed a chance on the battlefield, but I''m afraid you might not survive to be a cultivator! "What''s your sister''s opinions?" "Well, she''s worried about me." Lin Lu answered honestly, "I''m the only son in our family, and she really can''t do without me. But she doesn''t know that a family like ours won''t be able to raise a high-ranking official with money..." Hearing his words, Gu Lan was deeply moved. Money, indeed, in any world, it determines one''s destiny. "Perhaps, your sister might not..." Gu Lan fell silent for a while and was about to speak words offort. At this moment, a loud and unruly voice disrupted the serene dusk. "Make way, make way! The sun is almost setting, and I must register today!" A young man in luxurious purple attire barged through, not waiting at the end of the line but walking directly to the yamen official recording names at the front. It was clear he intended to cut in! Gu Lan frowned and asked, "Who is this?" "He''s from the Li family, Li Yang, a worthless guy," replied the schrs in the line, not hiding their displeasure. "He has been taking the exams for eight years and never made it. Later, he used his connections in the yamen to buy the position of a schr." "As schrs, we find him most despicable!" "Who allowed him to have a ''good sister''? She happened to marry into our prefectural governor''s family. Although she''s just a concubine, she can still influence some decisions. Bringing ''honor'' to their Li family!" "Spit!" "..." Chapter 12 Connections Arranged by the Imperial Announcements Bureau If you want to know who curses the most fiercely in the world, it must be schrs! After a round of satire and counter-satire, they directly exposed Li Yang''s background. It turned out he was a low-quality yboy... Those with strength and a bit arrogant were called antagonists; those without strength but still arrogant were called nonentities. Gu Lan naturally wouldn''t waste time on nonentities. However, at this moment, the queue suddenly became chaotic! "No more spots for today. You cane back tomorrow!" The yamen official had been writing all day and was visibly tired. Seeing that it was gettingte, he directly called it a day, his tone filled with impatience. The schrs at the front lowered their heads in disappointment and frustration. Helplessly, they could only move their sore legs and prepare to go home. However... Li Yang, who had just arrived, was different. It seemed like he didn''t pay attention to the yamen runner''s words and went straight to the registration desk. "What''s up?" The runner obviously knew him. "Bro, make it easy for me. I don''t want toe here for nothing. Add one more name for me." Li Yang said, and the schrs around him showed signs of annoyance. They had been queuing diligently all day withoutining, and now, this neer wanted to ignore the rules? The runner also gave him a disdainful look, "No way!" "Hey bro, you might not know who my sister is." Li Yang smirked. "Who is your sister? Just a servant girl in the lord''s residence. Get lost!" The runner, hearing him speaking in such a domineering manner, felt displeased. Moreover, he wasn''t foolish enough to make an expectation for someone who didn''t even bribe him... Li Yang''s smile disappeared instantly, and his face turned unpleasant! He thought he was a young master, but everyone knew he was just the younger brother of a maidservant! "This is a tough guy." Gu Lan chuckled. People around alsoughed. "Hey, he''s speaking the truth!" "A rooster is just a rooster, even if it flies up to a branch. It won''t be a phoenix!" "..." On the side, Lin Lu remained silent. When he heard that the runner said they were done for the day, he felt quite relieved. Because now he could go back and tell his sister that he couldn''t register today and couldn''t pay the registration fee. Being able to postpone it for a day meant one more day for his sister to gather the money... "Brother Gu, I''ll go home first. My sister is still waiting for me." "Sure." Gu Lan waved goodbye. At this moment, the yamen official, who was stretching his legs, walked over. He happened to overhear their conversation. The yamen official looked Gu Lan up and down, his eyes somewhat hesitant. "This young sir, are you... by any chance, Mr. Gu Lan from the Gu''s teahouse?" Huh?? This runner was already the center of attention, and when he asked this question, all the schrs who hadn''t gone home turned their eyes to them. Including Li Yang, who had just been humiliated. "Yes, I am. Do you know me?" Gu Lan raised an eyebrow. Today was indeed strange; his surname had unexpectedly high recognition. "I don''t know you, but..." The yamen official hesitated halfway through his words, seemingly unsure of Gu Lan''s identity. He quickly said, "Wait for me here; I''ll go inform the Prefectural Governor Lord." "Alright." Gu Lan nodded, feeling a bit puzzled. At this moment, the looks from the people around changed! "Brother, do you know our Prefectural Governor Lord in Langzhou City?" "I don''t know." Gu Lan replied casually. "Then why did the yamen official suddenly be patient, and would even go to inform Prefectural Governor Lord for you?" "Brother, you have connections with Prefectural Governor Lord and still patiently queue up. Truly, you are a man who doesn''t reveal his true nature!" "..." For a while, everyone was talking in a ttering tone, all carrying an element of praise, hinting at Li Yang, the one with the fake connections. Li Yang, left aside, was quite frustrated. He looked at Gu Lan with eyes full of envy. "Prefectural Governor Lord has already gone to bed. How could hee because of this guy? A bunch of fools! Haven'' you seen that the yamen official wasn''t sure just now?" Li Yang, constrained by his pride, retorted with a bit of sarcasm. But at this moment, before he could finish his sentence, the lights that had been off in the yamen suddenly lit up, and the central door, symbolizing important matters, slowly opened! Two columns of yamen officials ran out in formation, and an old man in a blue official robe with a ck gauze hat walked out with a smile on his face! Wasn''t this the current Prefectural Governor Lord of Langzhou? Seeing him, Li Yang was taken aback. He was about to shout "Brother-inw" as usual. However, he heard the Prefectural Governor Lord respectfully inquire! "May I ask... which one is Gu Lan?" Li Yang was instantly petrified! "Here." Gu Lan waved his hand helplessly. Seeing his handsome face, the Prefectural Governor Lord''s green beans-like eyes immediately lit up. It seemed that he had confirmed Gu Lan''s identity! "Oh, Mr. Gu, isn''t it a coincidence!" "The registration list for today has just one spot left! Here, the Autumn Examination ¨C Langzhou Bureau of Civil Affairs, number 295. It''s your examination number; please keep it safe!" The Prefectural Governor Lord said tteringly, his face almost turning into a lump of wrinkles as he bent down and handed a small iron te to Gu Lan. The schrs present were all dumbfounded! Damn, didn''t they say that Prefectural Governor Lord likes to act like a high-ranking official? Why is he so amiable with Gu Lan? Almost kneeling down and kowtowing! Now he''s ying the loving father! "Are you sure you haven''t mistaken the person?" Gu Lan asked in confusion. "Of course not... and, didn''t I say there''s indeed one spot left, Mr. Gu, please rest assured!" The Prefectural Governor Lord said joyfully. "By the way, Mr. Gu, I am Dou Fu. In the future, I hope you will give me more guidance!" Everyone: !!! The Prefectural Governor Lord, with such a manner, used such a respectful address to someone like a low-ranking yamen official. It was simply outrageous... Gu Lan was also puzzled. But Dou Fu seemed afraid to say more, and hurriedly said that he had something to do and took people back to the house before Gu Lan could ask him what was going on. Li Yang, still wanting to approach and say a few ttering words, ended up being ignored by the Prefectural Governor Lord. Irritated, he kicked stone lion nearby! The lights in the prefectural yamen all went out! On the long street, at this moment, it was silent! Gu Lan looked at the examination number in his hand, wondering if it was a friend of the original host''s ancestors, who happened to have be an official in the court and knew that he would participate in the Autumn Examinations this year. Thus, he made this arrangement? But who this bigwig could it be to make the Prefectural Governor Lord act like this? "Haha! Brother Gu, you''re so lucky. Sess is just around the corner!" Lin Lu envied him a bit, but his eyes were clear, full of blessings, without the jealousy seen in others'' eyes. "If I told you I don''t know him and had absolute no idea about it, do you believe it?" Gu Lan shrugged. "I believe you, but Brother Gu is usually generous, and perhaps, unintentionally, you made some friends. It''s hard to say." Lin Lu felt that such good fortune should happen to good people like Gu Lan. "Brother Gu, my sister is still waiting for me. Farewell!" "Hey, that... you should still go for the exam. If you really pass, I can lend you money!" "...Alright." ... After the outsidepletely returned to silence, in the dark yamen, Dou Fu asked the yamen official who was peeping outside through the door crack, "Did Mr. Gu and the others leave?"N?v(el)B\\jnn "They''ve left, my lord." "Phew! That''s good, that''s good. This matter is finally settled. I can finally go back and get a good night''s sleep!" "Isn''t it a bit too much, my lord? These days, you couldn''t sleep well. Is it because of this?" "You know nothing!" Dou Fu rolled his eyes and said in a low voice, "Do you know who arranged the special treatment for Mr. Gu? If I tell you, it might scare you to death!" "Who?" Seeing him so serious, the yamen official also felt a bit timid. "It was the one from the Imperial Announcements Bureau in the capital!" Dou Fu stared at him with his eyes wide open and said in a low voice. The Imperial Announcements Bureau oversaw the officials, and even the high-ranking officials in the court trembled whenever mentioned it... In this world, who could manipte the Imperial Announcements Bureau? For a moment, the small yamen official''s mouth gaped open, shocked enough to sit on the ground! Damn... Chapter 13 Eastern Magic Rice; Challenge from the Demon Realm! Just as Gu Lan put on the number 295 and returned home. Thousands of miles away, in the far west! Demon Realm''s Holy Demon Pce! In a hall constructed from a giant dragon skull, three great demons were currently seated, each exuding an aura that reached the level of Demon Emperor. In the central blood pool among them, a blurry figure was projected! That figure was obviously not their true body, but its aura surprisingly overwhelmed the three Demon Emperors, making them faintly show signs of submission! It was the phantom of the Demon God! On the blood pool altar, there was also a broken red jade que, representing the Fire Fox Demon King killed by Gu Lan a few days ago. At this moment. The Demon God''s phantom slowly opened his vertical pupils, surveying the surroundings in a low voice, "The death of our member in the territory of the Jing Nation couldn''t be tolerated. I have issued a challenge to them and will soon gather arge army tounch a frontal attack... Do any of you have objections?" As his words fell, the three Demon Emperors reacted differently. One with a fierce appearance, a bear-headed Demon Emperor, spoke first, revealing a ferocious delight in his huge eyes. "Emperor, we, the Furious Bear n, have no objections. As long as we''re fighting against the human race, we''re willing to join!" Following that. The other female Demon Emperor with a spider face and a human body thought for a moment, then grinned, showing a hint of coquetry, "As long as Big Brother Bear charges, I am also willing to hold the whip and stirrups for the Emperor." The Demon God''s phantom nodded, and his imposing gaze fell on the third Demon Emperor. This Demon Emperor was none other than the master of the Fire Fox Demon King, the owner of this Holy Demon Pce, the Crimson me Wolf Emperor. But at this moment, the Wolf Emperor seemed hesitant! Because he had read the challenge issued by the Demon God. It was to rise up in the name of revenge for the Holy Demon Pce. Once the war began, the Holy Demon Pce would inevitably be at the forefront of the crusade! In prolongedrge-scale wars, the vanguard was generally equivalent to cannon fodder. Jeopardizing the future of the Holy Demon Pce for the sake of a so-called direct apprentice, he was not as foolish as the Bear Emperor! The Demon God City remained motionless, yet he wanted us to go all out. The old fox clearly regarded us as pawns... The Crimson me Wolf Emperor nced at the Demon God and hesitated, "Master, I think this battle may be too hasty. After all, the cause of my apprentice''s death has not been rified..." "I''ve received the message from Yunzhou. The one who did it is nothing more than a Human Sword Immortal. There''s nothing for you to be afraid of." The Demon God said, "I assure you that if the Sword Immortal acts in the future, my Demon God City will definitely not stand by!" "Now... do you still have objections?" The gaze of the Demon God''s phantom seemed to carry a heavy weight. The Wolf Emperor cursed in his heart but had to submit on the surface, "Yes, Emperor, our Holy Demon Pce... will send troops today." The Demon God smiled faintly, his eyes deep, sweeping across the three emperors, "This national war is mainly a test. If I''m not mistaken, the Jing Nation has encountered some problems... Their human race, which has always been proud of its productivity, hehe, perhaps is still inferior to our demon realm... In any case, this battle... must not be missed!" ... Langzhou City. Gu Lan returned to the Gu Residence under the cover of night. "Yuyan?" "Master, Madam is not here. She went out at noon to buy flowers, saying she wanted to arrange some at home and at the teahouse." Old Yang''s voice came from the gatehouse. "I see!" Gu Lan then entered the study. The Gu Residence wouldn''t serve dinner until Mu Yuyan had returned, so he still had some time to improve his cultivation. "Thest chapter of Journey to the West is left. I''ll finish it tonight." Gu Lan stretchedzily, picked up the wolf-hair brush, and, illuminated by the candlelight, wrote seriously on the scroll. However. As a serious transmigrator, besides copying novels to please his wife, he didn''t forget some of the legitimate business of a literary man¡ªgiarist. Like the one that started today... [You have written the first part of "Treatise On Febrile And Misceneous Diseases," Medical skill plus 200, obtained ten Resurrection Pills] [You have written the first part of "Important Methods to Condition the People''s Living," obtained a hundred seeds from the previous life, and one Great Life Art Technique] [...] Fortunately, he had learned a bit of everything in his previous life, so Gu Lan brought these two ancient works into this life based on his memory. Although it was only the first part, the rewards from the Bookworm System made him shine! Immortal-level Elixirs¡ªResurrection Pills! It was a legendary medicine that could revive the dead and turn bones into white jade! If taken alone, it might only be an immortal-level, but ifbined with the Resurrection Pill he obtained earlier, the medicinal effect might even reach the saint-grade level! With these two medicines and the memory of medical skills, Gu Lan felt that even if a person was barely hanging onto life, he could bring them back from the gates of death! This was much stronger than several decades of cultivation! Looking at the seeds. With a thought, Gu Lan had a heavy small cloth bag in his hand. Undoing the tie and pouring it into his palm, a faint scent of rice floated up. "So familiar..." "Indeed, it is the magic rice of my previous life in Huaxia!" Gu Lan rubbed the seeds and a sense of nostalgia passed through his eyes. Magic rice was verymon in his previous life. However, in this ancient dynasty, "People are freezing to death, and even the drought locusts have nothing to eat every year." It was undoubtedly a treasure that could drive countless people crazy! After all, even in the fertilend of the Jing Nation, the per-acre yield of grain was less than 60 kilograms, not even one-tenth of the magic rice! Not to mention other barren small countries! "I just don''t know if the soil in this world is suitable for the nting... It''s just right to test my Great Life Art!" Gu Lan held a few grains of seeds and immediately left the study, heading to the backyard. ... On the other side. After Mu Yuyan arranged the flowers and nts in the teahouse, she took a carriage back to the Gu Residence. On the way, a graceful figure suddenly appeared in the shadows. Even the coachman did not notice, and she silently entered the carriage. "Your Majesty, the young master has brought back the number 295 te given by the Prefectural Governor. There is no need to worry about the Autumn Examination anymore." Liu Yexi had already taken care of things and spoke softly. She had been secretly following Gu Lan using the Imperial Announcements Bureau''s secret technique all day, so she naturally knew about the matters at the yamen entrance. Liu Yexi was about to tell everything to the female Emperor. However. At this moment. She suddenly felt that the female Emperor seemed to be absent-minded, and a faint... displeasure appeared in her beautiful eyes? Having served the female Emperor since childhood, her feelings would naturally not be wrong. Since the female Emperor married Young Master Gu, there had been few such emotional fluctuations... Liu Yexi asked with concern, "Your Majesty, what''s wrong" "Well... take a look for yourself." Mu Yuyan returned to her senses and handed the crumpled secret letter to Liu Yexi. One couldn''t read anything from his expressionless face, but there was clearly a surge of unnamed anger in her eyes! Liu Yexi took the secret letter, and there was also a golden challenge in it, with a pattern of a nine-tailed celestial fox on it! "A challenge letter from the Demon Realm?!" Liu Yexi was shocked! The current Demon God was a nine-tailed celestial fox, ruling the entire Demon Realm. However, how could he suddenly go crazy and issue a challenge to the Jing Nation?! The human race and the Demon Realm had not waged war for thousands of years! "Could it be because of the Demon King from some time ago?" Liu Yexi was puzzled. "Of course not." Mu Yuyan shook her head gently and said in a cold voice, "The inner apprentice of the Holy Demon Pce is just the fuse. The Demon Realm has long nned to invade my Great Jing!" The Demon Realm was to the west, adjacent to the Jing Nation. Although the demons were powerful in battle, their productivity was very low. So, for a long time, they coveted the poption of the Jing Nation! Moreover, the Jing Nation''s fortune was declining, and the Demon Realm couldn''t sit still. They had long been waiting for a good opportunity! Liu Yexi frowned, feeling somewhat flustered, "Should I go and inform the Ministry of War and make preparations early?" "I have already given the order." "Do we need to contact other nations and borrow troops to resist together?" "No need, those guys who are only interested in profit are unreliable!" Mu Yuyan waved her hand, her voice cold, "Actually, I''m not afraid of war. After all, the Demon God is a cunning old fox. He still needs to suppress other forces in the Demon Realm, and he won''t easily make a move..." There was only one in the Demon Realm with the strengthparable to the female Emperor, and that was the Demon God himself. As long as he didn''t make a move, there would be no significant danger to the Jing Nation.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Hearing her say this, Liu Yexi breathed a sigh of relief, "Then, what is Your Majesty worried about?" "I''m worried... that Great Jing can''t afford it." Mu Yuyan''s tone was filled with a sense of helplessness and sorrow, "The national war with the Demon Realm will definitely be prolonged. However, the national fortune is already weakening, and a while ago, we just gave relief and grain. By then... even if we can withstand the war with the Demon Realm, there will probably be little left of the Great Jing''s foundation!" At these words, Liu Yexi, who had just rxed, tightened her heart again! Yes, war required money and food. How could they withstand such consumption? It was currently spring, the time when the people were nting crops. If they levied grain now, they would only get the seeds to be nted! But once the seeds were gone, how would the people live next year? Food was a matter of life for the people, and since ancient times, the most worrying thing for emperors had been the people''s livelihood! The atmosphere in the carriage became heavy. At this moment. The voice of the coachman sounded, "Madam, we''ve arrived the Gu Residence." Gu Residence... Gu Lan... Hearing his words, Mu Yuyan subconsciously thought of her husband''s name, and a glint of hope emerged in the midst of her helpless worries! A sudden sh of inspiration! She suddenly remembered that thest time she was so troubled seemed to be during the southern droughtst year. And at that time, the one who helped her get through the difficulties and inadvertently revealed the secrets was Gu Lan sitting at the dining table! "Yexi, do you think... Master Gu might have a solution?" Mu Yuyan''s beautiful eyes flickered, fixed on the gate of Gu Residence, gradually showing a bit of enthusiasm! Being reminded by her, Liu Yexi also paused for a moment, "Yes, the young master is knowledgeable and well-read... perhaps he knows what to do!" "Let''s go home!" Mu Yuyan couldn''t wait to inquire Gu Lan about it! The current situation was extremely bad, and Gu Lan was the only one who could give her hope! Liu Yexi hurriedly got off the carriage, leaving a silver ingot in the eyes of the bewildered coachman, and then followed Mu Yuyan into Gu Residence. "Old Yang, has the master returned?" Mu Yuyan''s clear voice inquired. "The young master came back early, but he''s not in the study at the moment; he''s in the backyard, working on something at the flower field...," Old Yang said slowly, walking out from the gatekeeper''s lodge, preparing to call Gu Lan for dinner. "I see... Yexi and I are about to nt the flowers we bought. We''ll go call him on the way." Mu Yuyan smiled and gracefully walked towards the backyard''s flower field. Chapter 17 Imperial Support; Royal Decree Gu Lan raised an eyebrow as he looked over, noticing a slightly stooped old man with a few official attendants entering the grain store. When the old man sensed Gu Lan''s gaze, the wrinkles on his face formed a smile, and he approached with hurried steps. "Lord Dou?" Gu Lan smiled faintly. "Why are you here instead of at the yamen?" Langzhou City wasrge, with the yamen located in the west and Gu Residence in the east. Casual strolls from one ce to another were practically impossible. Dou Fu cupped his hands and truthfully replied, "Master Gu''s Grain Store is opening, how can I, as an official, note and support? I heard the news and came over immediately." In fact, Dou Fu had assigned a small yamen officer to watch over the east of the city since the day Gu Lan registered. Though they couldn''t enter the Gu family home, gathering information about Gu''s Grain Store was still feasible. After exining this, Dou Fu turned to the annoying women nearby and coldly said, "Do youdies recognize me?" "You are Lord Dou..." Realizing that the old man in front of them was Langzhou''s Prefect, the women fell silent instantly. They had never expected that the owner of a small grain store would know the prefectural governor, causing him to enthusiasticallye and show support. "As long as you recognize me," Dou Fu continued sternly, "you are disturbing Master Gu and obstructing the business of the grain store by blocking the entrance. This is a crime of disturbing public order. I will..." Dou Fu''s scolding continued, spitting out saliva. "Never mind, Lord Dou." Gu Lan nced at the scolding for a while, fearing that this old man might drag these women back to yamen for his saketer. Despite the women''s unruly behavior, their offenses did not warrant such severe consequences. "Since youdies are not buying grain, please leave." With these words, the women became unsure of what to do, looking timidly at Dou Fu. Dou Fu red, "What are you waiting for? Master Gu has said that you can leave. Why aren''t you going?" "Thank you, Lord, for your mercy. Thank you, Master Gu, for your forgiveness!" The women finally understood the situation. Although they felt uneasy, they nodded repeatedly and hurriedly left. They feared that saying anything more would lead to usations at the yamen. After today, news of the connection between Gu''s Grain Store and the yamen would surely spread in the city. There would be fewer troublemakers, and with the official support from Langzhou Prefect, more people would buy grain. Gu Lan felt relieved, observing the ttering old man. He found the sight more pleasing now. With the matter resolved, Dou Fu turned around and, after a moment of contemtion, began to state his purpose, "Master Gu, the reason I came today is also for these grains..." The Imperial Announcements Bureau had just delivered an order that morning, assigning him full responsibility for the sale of grains at Gu''s Grain Store. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able toe promptly to show his support. Regardless of the official rank, everyone feared the Imperial Announcements Bureau! "You should go and talk to Old Yang; he''s the one in charge." Gu Lan pointed in the direction of the crowd in the store, assuming Dou Fu wanted to buy seeds. "But each person can only buy two taels at most; you''re not an exception." Dou Fu was taken aback for a moment and quickly smiled, "No, no, Master, you misunderstood. I don''t want to buy grain. I want to help transport the grains from your manor..." "Isn''t that the job of a escort agency?" Gu Lan asked in confusion. To expand their business, grain stores would usually spend money to hire escort agencies to transport seeds to other states and counties. This was a well-known rule. "Yes, but Master, but there''s no need to trouble yourself to contact the escort agency. Langzhou yamen will help you transport them," Dou Fu nodded, raising his eyebrows in a somewhat amusing manner. "You''ll help me transport the grain for free... Is that your purpose ining today?" Gu Lan''s gaze was sharp as he asked slowly. After receiving Dou Fu''s affirmative answer, Gu Lan became increasingly aware that there must be officials in the court assisting him. Otherwise, with Dou Fu being a sixth-rank mediocre official, he wouldn''t voluntarily contribute money. And he hadn''t forgotten about thest time at the examination center... Fortunately, this person has been helping me all along, not an enemy from the capital... Gu Lan sighed in relief, choosing not to inquire further. Although he felt quite ufortable being noticed and taken extra care of, as long as they were not enemies, Gu Lan saw no need to risk investigating who it was. After all, high-ranking officials were just ordinary people; they wouldn''t threaten him. Only desperate people would... "Understood, you can go back. Three days from now, I will have Old Yang pack the grains and deliver them to the yamen," Gu Lan said softly. "No need to trouble your people." Dou Fu gestured to the yamen officer beside him. "When the timees, Master Gu can send a letter, and we will personally pick them up from your residence." "Okay." Gu Lan agreed.N?v(el)B\\jnn After serving tea to the guest, Dou Fu walked towards the door but turned around as if he remembered something. In a low voice, he said, "By the way, Master Gu, there''s one more thing I''d like to remind you. Since this grain store is a business, there will bepetitors, especially with your excellent grain varieties. There might be some other merchants with ill intentions out of jealousy..." Competitors in the same trade might sabotage each other in secret. Gu Lan, however, responded calmly, directly shifting the responsibility of handling such matters to the old man. "Then I''ll trouble you for this, Lord. In a small ce like Langzhou, are there really merchants who won''t listen to you?" "You never know..." Dou Fu smiled wryly. "Some merchants are hard to deal with... Anyway, Master Gu, be careful on your own. If you encounter trouble,e to the yamen and find me. I will try my best to help you resolve it." "Alright." Gu Lan nodded in agreement, smiling brightly. ... In the twilight, the three of them rode in a carriage back to the residence. Although Old Yang and Liu Yexi had been busy all day and were tired, they were quite happy as they tallied the ounts. The profits were not substantial, only equivalent to a month''s revenue from the teahouse. However, knowing that these grains would save many suffering lives made the exhaustion worthwhile. After getting off the carriage, Liu Yexi nced at the lights in the residence and, noticing Gu Lan doing the same, teased, "Old Yang and I will go cook. Master has been out all day; I''m sure he''s eager to see Madam!" In the absence of the female Emperor, Liu Yexi didn''t need to adhere to the formalities of court etiquette, and her youthful nature became much more lively. Old Yang vigorously nodded in agreement. Gu Lanughed freely and admitted, "You both truly understand me. As the ancients said, ''When there is a beauty, one cannot forget her. A day without seeing her feels like madness... Longing for Madam is simply amon human sentiment.''" Gu Lan walked briskly towards the study. Outside the window, the shadow of the beauty was cast through the candlelight, graceful and enchanting. Wow. Our young master is really capable of saying such sentimental words. No wonder he and Madam are inseparable every day... Behind him, Liu Yexi and Old Yang stood still, looking up and shivering with goosebumps. ... Gu Lan entered the study. Mu Yuyan was holding a book,pletely absorbed. Her jade-like arm supported her fragrant cheek, and her phoenix eyes flickered like stars. asionally, her slender jade fingers turned a page, creating a serene and beautiful scene. Approaching quietly, Gu Lan discovered that she wasn''t reading her usual romantic novels but his recently written agricultural ssic, Important Methods to Condition the People''s Living. "Mydy, are you interested in this kind of books?" Chapter 23 The Body of Destiny; the Master of Tianji Pavilion Personally Concocts Pills! [System Space] [Ordinary Spirit nts +566, Ordinary Weapons +1023] [Gold +12,000 taels] [Silver +98,000 taels] ... The merchant''s treasure trove naturally had moremon items like these. But Gu Lan didn''t mind.N?v(el)B\\jnn After all, in this world, all resources could be obtained with money. There was no concept that gold and silver would be as worthless as dirt if the realm was high. Who wouldin about having too much money? Gu Lan covered his face with a veil, and with the Primordial Sword at his feet flickering with light, he quickly headed back to Langzhou City. At some point, he suddenly felt a gaze on him. Although the gaze didn''t carry any hostility, being noticed at such a time undoubtedly indicated a powerful figure. Gu Lan reached a conclusion in his mind, not wanting to stir up trouble. He pretended not to notice and continued on his way. However, the gaze continued to follow him. Until... A timely shout came from beside an old locust tree below: "Fellow Daoist, please stay! I''ve been waiting here for a long time!" Gu Lan, hearing that someone was waiting for him, stopped and looked back. Two Daoist priests, one old and one young, walked over together. The young one curiously looked at Gu Lan, while the old one wore a joyful expression. Gu Lan first observed their cultivation. Goodness! This seemingly ordinary old Daoist had already reached the peak of the Immortal Realm! The young Daoist, at such a young age, had the strength of a King! Taking a look at the whole world, except for himself, there were probably few who could match these two Daoists. Such powerful individuals should not be from the Jing Nation... Gu Lan pondered, specting on the origin of these two Daoists. Suddenly. He noticed that the old Daoist''s pupils were faintly bright, evaluating him from top to bottom. This seemed to be a unique secret technique introduced in the original work... After a moment. Gu Lan''s heart moved, and the starry eyes shimmered as he guessed, "Tianji Pavilion, Qi-Insighting Technique?" Hearing that, both the old and the young Daoists were stunned! Few people in the world knew about this secret technique! And someone who could recognize them at a nce and remain calm was definitely not an ordinary person! "Fellow Daoist can discern our origins with just a nce. You are indeed an extraordinary person!" The old Daoist praised with a smile. "Then, I won''t hide it. Let me introduce myself first. I am Yunlong Daoist, the current Head of Tianji Pavilion." "This is my apprentice Zhongren... quickly greet Fellow Daoist!" The young Daoist obediently walked to Gu Lan. Thinking he was going to bow, Gu Lan didn''t expect him to directly kowtow, saying, "apprentice Zhongren pays respects to Fellow Daoist!" The corner of Gu Lan''s mouth twitched, thinking that the etiquette for making friends in Tianji Pavilion was quite sufficient. But hearing the names of these two Daoists, he was somewhat surprised. Yunlong Daoist, the Head of Tianji Pavilion, was known for calcting everything under the heavens with wless strategies. Apart from his peak Immortal Realm strength, his Qi-Insighting Technique, which could calcte the flow of Destiny in the world, was sought after by countless people. Although he was an outsider, the Head of Tianji Pavilion had always been an object that major dynasties and forces desperately wanted to win over! In the original work, the protagonistter got to know the Head of Tianji Pavilion through chance encounters with Outer Sect apprentices, establishing a connection with him... However. Why were they waiting for me here? Gu Lan looked at the two of them in confusion and said indifferently, "I''ve heard of Yunlong Daoist''s name. May I ask what brings you here today, waiting for me?" "Fellow Daoist, I want to ask for your help in saving my apprentice''s life!" Yunlong Daoist looked at Gu Lan with sincere eyes, getting straight to the point. Gu Lan was taken aback for a moment, looking at the young Daoist in front of him with surprise. The young Daoist also looked at him, his face showing a carefree smile, as if he had already epted this matter. It was hard to imagine that this was a child with a short lifespan and an early death! "Yunlong Daoist, someone of your stature being helpless, I''m afraid I can''t help either..." Gu Lan tried to decline. This was not about refusing to save a life. Rather, he was afraid that letting someone have hope again and then crushing it would be even more cruel! "Fellow Daoist, in this world, there are few who can save my apprentice. You happen to be one of them. This is not about cultivation but destiny." The old Daoist shook his head, exining, "My apprentice Zhongren has a special constitution. He is the chosen sessor of my sect, but the act of calcting the heavens is often envied by fate. If there is no person with great Destiny by his side, his life expectancy will not exceed fifteen years." Upon hearing this. Gu Lan understood. He suddenly remembered that after integrating with the Marvelous Yang Immortal Body some time ago, he had gained another boost of 1,000 points in Destiny! He directly transformed from the white-grade Destiny of an ordinary person to the green-grade. Destiny, coupled with his peerless cultivation, could shield the person from heavenly tribtions, concealing the destined cmities. "So, that''s the reason." Gu Lan nodded. As he was contemting, Yunlong Daoist thought he was hesitating and hurriedly added, "Fellow Daoist doesn''t need to do much. Just bring my apprentice with you when you go to the capital for the imperial examination next spring." "With Fellow Daoist''s Destiny and the dragon energy of the Great Jing Capital, it will surely obscure the heavenly tribtions." "As long as Fellow Daoist agrees, my Tianji Pavilion will be your eternal support, and any request from Fellow Daoist will be granted..." Although favors from Tianji Pavilion were something countless people in the world desired, Gu Lan didn''t wait for him to finish and waved his hands, "Daoist, you may have misunderstood. I won''t participate in the imperial examinations, nor will I go to the capital next year." Gu Lan was certain that he would not participate. Because in this year''s Autumn Examination, he nned to submit a nk paper! That would be safer. By not getting involved in the struggles of the capital and avoiding the probability of encountering the protagonist, he could stay with his wife in Langzhou City year after year. Year after year, the Autumn Exams fall short. Upon hearing this, Yunlong Daoist frowned, counted on his fingers as if calcting something, and then suddenly stopped. His brows immediately rxed, and he smiled meaningfully at Gu Lan''s puzzled look, "Fellow Daoist, destiny cannot be vited..." "???" Gu Lan was even more confused by these words. Did destiny differ from my intentions? "Can Daoist exin in detail?" Gu Lan asked. Unexpectedly, the old Daoist shook his head and said seriously, "Fellow Daoist, heavenly secrets must not be revealed." Tianji Pavilion peeked into the heavenly path, calcting the fates of people. It was not umon to calcte the lives of a few mortals, but if one were to calcte the fate of a high-level expert and pry into heavenly secrets, it would bring corresponding bacsh. So at this moment, Yunlong Daoist dared only to calcte a few bits of Gu Lan''s fate recently and did not dare to speak it out. The world''s setting was quiteplete, but it was a bit annoying to only say half of it. Gu Lan nodded helplessly to express his understanding. "I can agree, but I also have a few things I''d like Daoist to help me solve." Gu Lan spoke frankly. Since he intended to help them, and they were such a formidable force, merely epting verbal promises was naturally insufficient. This way, he wouldn''t be at ease. "Fellow Daoist, please speak!" Yunlong Daoist felt much more at ease hearing this. He patted his apprentice''s hair bun and said generously, "As long as Fellow Daoist is willing to save my apprentice, even if you want the Sea Dragon Scales of the East Sea Dragon King, I am willing to go pluck them for you!" It was evident that this old Daoist really cared about his apprentice. "No need for that." Gu Lan smiled, "I have a prescription on hand. I''ve heard that Tianji Pavilion is also a gathering ce for renowned alchemists in the world, so I''d like to ask Daoist for help." "No problem!" Yunlong Daoist nodded, "Fellow Daoist, I will personally refine it for you." Tianji Pavilion was originally a ce where both the heavenly path and alchemy were cultivated. Each generation''s Head had profound skills in alchemy. However, because few people in the world could move them, they rarely acted personally. The Head refining pills... It was much stronger than an alchemist from any random sect! Chapter 29 Lin Lu is Lu Qiuxian; Healing and Saving Lives! What surprised Gu Lan, however, was that Lin Lu had managed to steady himself at this moment. Although he seemed a bit painful as he grumbled, his life surprisingly wasn''t in great danger! What''s going on? Did that old guy just now go easy on him? Gu Lan was puzzled. But for Lin Lu, this was also a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. "Brother Gu, I never expected it to be you looking for me!" Lin Lu eximed in surprise after seeing Gu Lan''s appearance. At this moment, everyone who knew them was avoiding the two of them like the gue. Unexpectedly, it was Gu Lan, whom Lin Lu had only met once, who actively sought him out. "If I hadn''t sought you, you wouldn''t have encountered this disaster..." Gu Lan apologized with a smile, his gaze inadvertently shifting toward Lin Lu. However, at this moment, the clear light in Gu Lan''s eyes had not faded, and he unintentionally saw through Lin Lu''s destiny and fortune! [Destiny: Blue] [Fate: Dependent on his sister in his early years, gentle and submissive. Later, due to his sister''s death, his personality underwent a significant change, stepping onto the battlefield of the Western Region with an unresolved obsession for the rest of his life.] !!! This detailed exnation of destiny looked incredibly familiar?! Wasn''t it the character that had been spoiled by his wife in the previous period? Gu Lan''s smile froze, and he was a bit dumbfounded! No wonder, from the beginning, they had a good rtionship. It turned out to be a character I really liked from the book... Gu Lan muttered in disbelief. He rose up due to his obsession, stepped into the battlefield of the Demon Realm, achieved the Emperor Realm step by step, became Jing Nation''s famous cold-faced marshal, and even counter-attacked the demon n... This mythical figure fromter generations. Thister-to-be powerful aid to the protagonist, the white-robed Confucian schr. Now, he was standing right in front of Gu Lan! Lin Lu,ter renamed Lu Qiuxian! ... "Brother Gu?" Lin Lu wiped his somewhat embarrassed face, seeing Gu Lan staring at him in a daze, couldn''t help but ask, "What is Brother Gu thinking?" "Nothing... Let''s go, first to the restaurant. This is not a ce to talk," Gu Lan said softly. Then, supporting him, they walked into the original restaurant. Old Yang had already drunk himself unconscious, lying on the table and snoring loudly. Seeing this, Gu Lan shook his head and directly instructed the shop assistant, "Go upstairs and reserve a private room for me." "Sure thing!" The shop assistant smiled. When Lin Lu heard this, he hurriedly waved his hand, "Brother Gu, there''s no need to spend money on me. I can''t stay here for long..." He still wanted to try his luck elsewhere and see if he could borrow some money. Lin Lu knew that Gu Lan was wealthy. However, facing Gu Lan''s clear and extremely warm-hearted gaze,bined with that ancient kindness that even worldly people felt ashamed of, he couldn''t bring himself to ask for money. He would rather go to a ce with slim hopes and try again... "Don''t worry, let''s talk about your sister first." Gu Lan brought him to the private room and asked directly. This guy in front of him had no idea about the magnitude of his own destiny! Even with just the initial blue-grade fortune, he was already stronger than himself, who had undergone a destiny-changing experience, and he was still just a mortal in terms of cultivation... "My sister..." Lin Lu mentioned his sister, and his eyes turned red. He choked up, "My sister is now unconscious. The doctor said... If we can''t buy enough Soul Grass, she may not wake up at any time..." Since he could remember, Lin Lu had been raised by his sister. His sister had never spoken to him about anything rted to his background. She only urged him to study well and be an official in the court. When Lin Lu thought about the care his sister had given him in the past, he felt like his heart was being twisted, and tears streamed down his face. Indeed, the obsession that bes an enduring mystery in a man''s life would inevitably lead to a significant change in personality and a destined strong emotional bond. Gu Lan sighed inwardly and asked, "How long has this illness been going on, and is there no sign of improvement during this period?" Lin Lu shook his head, "Since this strange illness struck, my sister has been bedridden. I sold everything in our house to buy Soul Grass, brewed medicine every day, but it could only sustain her faint vitality..." This was the most desperate situation. All the family wealth had been exhausted, yet there was still no hope in sight. This was why people who knew about it criticized his sister as a "bottomless pit" and refused to lend money. "It''s not sustainable for you to spend money like this... Take me to see her!" Unexpectedly, Gu Lan blurted out such a sentence. Lin Lu was stunned, "I also know a bit of medicine. Maybe I can heal your sister." Gu Lan looked at him and smiled. In fact, he wasn''t just making empty promises tofort Lin Lu. Lu Qiuxian, as the name suggested, longed to seek immortality and Dao! This name was transformed from his unfulfilled obsession with not being able to save his sister. Since Lin Lu changed his name to this in the original work, it indicated that he might have realized that if he could have be an immortal or sought an immortal, perhaps... his sister wouldn''t have died! In Langzhou City, there were only mortal physicians.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om They couldn''t save his sister. But he had Daoist techniques! Maybe he could really heal her! Just directly snatch the role of Lu Qiuxian, who wouldter be a strong supporter under the protagonist! Lin Lu looked at Gu Lan with aplicated expression, nodded slowly after a long while, and said, "Thank you, Brother Gu... Then, pleasee with me." Gu Lan offering his help was naturally appreciated by Lin Lu. However, the chance of curing the diseases that even the local physicians couldn''t handle in Langzhou City was... very slim! At this moment, Gu Lan went downstairs and kicked the drunken Old Yang. "Old Yang, wake up, we''re leaving!" Old Yang, in a daze, woke up and, after a moment of confusion, quickly picked up his luggage. "Young Master, are we going to the Chief Secretary now?" "No, we''re going to heal and save lives!" Gu Lan dered with determination, following Lin Lu out of the restaurant. Old Yang remained in ce for a while,pletely misunderstanding Gu Lan''s meaning. After realizing it, he quickly caught up with them. In the restaurant, the remaining guests heard Gu Lan''s words and shook their heads while looking at their departing figures. "This young master doesn''t believe in superstitions. Even the physicians can''t cure these people. He actually wants to try?!" "Ah! Making every possible effort!" "Our renowned Doctor Sun is helpless, and he, an outsider, thinks he can cure that strange illness. There must be something wrong with him!" "Sigh, it''s a pity for that girl from the Lin family. I''ve seen her appearance before, and she''s really beautiful..." ... At this moment, beneath the Heavenly Machine Mountain! On a t ground built with pure white jade, many distinguished cultivators were present, looking toward the verdant Heavenly Machine Mountain and the mist-shrouded Tianji Pavilion on the mountaintop. These were important figures from various royal dynasties, forces, and even prestigious families. Among them, the lowest cultivation level was at the Origin Realm. Their gazes were all eager! When looked upon, two figures wearing white veils were quietly standing, also gazing toward the mountain, waiting for the right moment for Tianji Pavilion to open its gates to outside guests. These two women were naturally Mu Yuyan and Liu Yexi. Although wearing veils, Mu Yuyan''s peerless female Emperor temperament was still irresistible. With bright eyes and white teeth, her eyebrows were as distant as the horizon, resembling an otherworldly fairy. Many male cultivators around couldn''t help but secretly nce at her. However, feeling her Sword Immortal aura, they quickly abandoned any thoughts of striking up a conversation. Time passed slowly as everyone patiently waited. However, at this moment! A apprentice descended from the Tianji Mountain, holding an announcement in his hands. He nced at the distinguished figures from various forces and indifferently said, "Everyone! The Pavilion Master closed for alchemy yesterday. From now on, Tianji Pavilion will only receive ten guests on this day each month. If you can''t wait, you are free to leave now!" Chapter 36 Sheltering the Heavenly Maiden of Fate; Lady Comes First! "If it''s an ordinary demonic beast, you could go to the nearby sects and ask some elders for help," Gu Lan said tly, "But if Lord Dou is still worried, you could also consult with higher authorities, mobilize the Langzhou Iron Cavalry. With just your patrol camp, I''m afraid there won''t be muchbat capability." It wasn''t that Gu Lan looked down on them. The patrol camp consisted of ordinary people, with very few martial artists among them. Dealing with wild beasts was passable, but when it came to true demonic beasts, they could onlyst so long. "Alright! Thank you, Master, for your guidance!" Dou Fu wiped the sweat from his forehead and expressed his gratitude repeatedly. Watching Gu Lan leave for the exam, he turned to instruct the yamen runners behind him, "You, go to the nearby Mount Dengyun, and invite a few immortal sect elders to help. Also, find the Langzhou Commander, request an order to mobilize the troops! Quickly!" "Yes!" ... Time passed, seven days went by. Langzhou yamen continued patrolling every day, but they still hadn''t caught the murderer. Even with the help of immortal sect elders and the presence of Ma Bo, who was close to the King Realm, there were still no clues. What was even more frightening was that every night, people continued to be killed! The victims had the exact same appearance as the previous ones¡ªtorn clothes, blood flowing everywhere, a pitiful scene! Facing the anxiety of themon people and the furious Ma Bo, Doufu was anxious and incredibly haggard! On this day, as the Autumn Examination was about to conclude, Gu Lan handed in all his nk exam papers. Walking out of the Chief Secretary''s office under the astonished gaze of the officials, he felt satisfied. During these days, he had been staying in the courtyard of the Lin family. Initially, Gu Lan and Old Yang took care of the recovering Lin Tan''er. However,ter on, Lin Tan''er felt embarrassed and realized that the medicine she was taking daily was expensive. She took the initiative to propose being Gu Lan''s maid, wanting to repay her debts. To take in the Fated Lady had great temptation, but Gu Lan resolutely declined, "Miss Tan''er, you can''t remember many things right now. If I let you serve me at this moment, it would be taking advantage of your vulnerable state. Moreover, I have a family." Thinking of his wife, Gu Lan felt that this underdeveloped and delicate girl was just so so. Finally, under the persuasion of the kind-hearted Old Yang, it was agreed that Lin Tan''er would stay in Gu Residence temporarily and help with some ordinary chores. ... Thest day of the Autumn Examination. At dusk. Mu Yuyan and Liu Yexi finally returned to Langzhou City. Along the way, they had seen the fireworks set up for tonight''s temple fair in Langzhou to celebrate thepletion of the exams. Of course! Because the man-eating demonic beast had not been found, this year Dou Fu brought many patrol guards and soldiers to watch over various ces at the temple fair. Hearing about this, Mu Yuyan, who was already worried, became even more uneasy. Gu Residence. Mu Yuyan instructed Liu Yexi to prepare dinner and decided to go out to find Gu Lan herself. She also hoped to see if she could track down and kill the man-eating demonic beast that had been guing the people of Langzhou these past few days. But as soon as she reached the doorway, three figures appeared timely at the end of Pear Blossom Lane, walking slowly towards her. In the middle was a figure in green clothes, with an ethereal temperament and starry eyes¡ªGu Lan. On both sides were Old Yang and Lin Tan''er, who had returned to the residence. Mu Yuyan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Gu Lan safe. However, due to the mutual attraction between beauties, her gaze involuntarily shifted to Lin Tan''er. "Yuyan!" After a whole Autumn Examination, Gu Lan returned home and was greeted by his beautiful wife, putting him in a great mood. "Master Gu, is this Miss Lin?" Mu Yuyan waited quietly for Gu Lan to approach before asking with a charming face. "Why are you... oh, right! You two know each other." Gu Lan was initially a bit puzzled but suddenly remembered that Mu Yuyan should have met her when they were doing tea business with the Lin familyst year, so she recognized her. "Yes, she is Lin Tan''er." Gu Lan smiled and exined, "She will probably work in our house from now on. Her brother entrusted her to me before he left." "However, Tan''er has recently recovered from a long illness and has forgotten most of her memories, so she may not recognize you." "Long illness recovery? Memory loss?" Mu Yuyan was momentarily stunned. Looking at Lin Tan''er, she indeed seemed somewhat unfamiliar and confused when gazing into her eyes. She looked delicate, helping Gu Lan and Old Yang carry luggage, her figure appearing fragile. "Quickly, call Madam." Old Yang unexpectedly urged her, reminding her in a low voice. "Oh, oh." Just as Mu Yuyan was admiring the beautiful face of this sister she had never seen before, Lin Tan''er suddenly came back to her senses. She obediently bowed towards Mu Yuyan and softly said, "Tan''er pay my respects to Madam." Realizing that this girl came from a humble background, now also suffering from memory loss, Mu Yuyan couldn''t help but feel a bit sorry. She gently said, "Master Lin is a friend of Master Gu, and Tan''er and I already know each other. No need to be so polite, just call me sister." Upon hearing this, Lin Tan''er''s watery eyes blinked, feeling that this beautiful sister in front of her was amiable and kind. Grinning, she said, "Thank you, sister, for taking me in." Mu Yuyan nodded and then furrowed her brows, saying, "Old Yang, Tan''er is a guest of Gu Residence. How can you let her carry luggage?" Old Yang was caught off guard and hesitated, saying awkwardly, "No, Madam, I''m innocent..." "No, sister, please don''t misunderstand Uncle Yang." Lin Tan''er, hearing Mu Yuyan scold Old Yang, quickly exined, "Master bought a lot of medicine for my illness, and I volunteered to do it. I''ll be working in Gu Residence from now on and will try to repay Master''s money..." Hearing this, Mu Yuyan nced at Gu Lan beside her, and her expression finally softened. "Alright, since it''s like this... Tonight, let Yexi tidy up the West Wing, and Tan''er will stay at the Gu Residence." Seeing this scene, Gu Lan breathed a sigh of relief! Although he felt justified, he was genuinely worried. Taking Lin Tan''er into Gu Residence might upset his wife. Fortunately! The imagined battlefield of beautiful women repelling each other did not ur. Even due to their past acquaintance and Lin family''s pitiable circumstances, they got along quite harmoniously. Lin Tan''er even positioned herself properly, recognizing her role as a servant, repaying her debts and naturally falling into the background. They walked into the Residence together. Old Yang, seeing smoke rising from the kitchen, went straight to help Liu Yexi prepare dinner. Lin Tan''er followed suit. In the corridor leading to the main hall, only Gu Lan and Mu Yuyan remained at the moment. "Darling, do you still remember the promise you made to me before the Autumn Examination? After dinner, let''s go to the temple fair?" Mu Yuyan smiled charmingly and eagerly. For the female Emperor, who had seen all the splendors of the world, the city''s temple fair was not particrly interesting. What attracted her was being able to go together with Gu Lan. "Of course, when did I ever break my promise, my love?" As the crescent moon began to rise, Gu Lan smiled and gently embraced her. "Tonight, the moonlight will surely be beautiful." "Yes."N?v(el)B\\jnn ... "Old Yang! Tonight, you and Yexi take Tan''er out to have some fun. Show her the grand scene of the temple fair!" Gu Lan remembered something and called out to the kitchen. "Huh? Master, aren''t you joining us?" Old Yang popped his head out from the kitchen. "No." Gu Lan said lightly. Then, unexpectedly, before Mu Yuyan could react, he lowered his head and gently kissed her cherry lips. "Mmm~" Someone is still watching... Mu Yuyan widened her beautiful eyes, her face instantly blushing. However, after a moment, her delicate body softened. After a brief separation, he really wanted to have some time alone... Let him be a bit unruly for a while, hmph! Mu Yuyan was no longer embarrassed and gradually closed her eyes to enjoy the kiss. Meanwhile, Old Yang, who unexpectedly ate a mouthful of dog food, smirked and said, "Oh! Master doesn''t want us to tag along, afraid we''ll be the third wheel!" Moonlight spilled into the courtyard, making the female Emperor''s cheeks even redder. Chapter 42 Dragon Blood; Who Is the Prey? The temple fair in Langzhou City ended with the rotation of the guards. The next day, early in the morning, on the southern mountain, where the two had galloped freely on the cliff the day before, Tuoba Mo bid farewell to the ck-robed old man with an encouraging expression. "Dragon Elder, I''ve already drawn a map of Langzhou City for you overnight. It shouldn''t be difficult to find that kid''s home." "I''ll go there and create some disturbances to attract the attention of the Langzhou soldiers. Then, I''lle back and wait for your triumphant return here." Hearing this, the ck-robed old man was deeply moved. Thinking about his pitiful appearance yesterday, he felt a bit embarrassed. He arched his hand and said, "Your Highness is of noble status; it''s not right for an old servant to take such risks." "I''m just a mere mortal; there shouldn''t be a need to go through so much trouble. When I go, I will definitely kill that kid and ensure that the news doesn''t reach the East Sea!" Upon hearing this, Tuoba Mo earnestly bowed again, saying, "Yes, absolutely!" "Then, I''ll be off!" The ck-robed man bid farewell respectfully, turned around, and disappeared with a swish of his robe. After waiting for a moment, Tuoba Mo finally let out a sigh of relief. His eyes no longer concealed the disdain. "A scared old dragon who was frightened by the Dragon Sovereign actually thinks that Great Yu will protect you? What a waste!" Tuoba Mo spat on the ground, a triumphant smile appearing on his face. He was now like a mud sculpture trying to cross the river, facing difficulties in self-preservation. If he didn''t let the ck robe divert the attention of the guards, he might find it challenging to leave Langzhou. People act in their self-interest; even if Tuoba Mo was reluctant to lose the protection of the king at the pinnacle, this time, he had no choice but to deceive the old dragon into being a scapegoat. As for Gu Lan... if the old dragon could kill him, that would be great. If he couldn''t, he would have toe back and take revenge personally. With these thoughts, Tuoba Mo picked up some mud from the ground, smeared it on his face, covered himself tightly, and walked down the mountain. Gu Residence. In the bedroom, within the red curtains. Gu Lan woke up leisurely, nced at the beauty beside him, who still showed a peaceful and sweet sleeping expression. Turning towards him, her rosy lips curled up with satisfaction. Her long eyshes were like spread wings of a bird, her face carved delicately, and a lingering warmth from the night before still remained in her expression. Gu Lan covered her with the nket and got up quietly. The benefits of breaking through to the Emperor Realm were evident. In the past, after a night of activities, both he and his wife would wake up together. Now, his energy far surpassed his wife''s. Gu Lan thought smugly. After a simple wash, he sat down in the study. However, this time, he did not directly read to increase his cultivation, as usual. Instead, he took advantage of the morning when no one was around and retrieved the droplet of Saint Stage Dragon Blood from the system space. If I merge with it, it should bring considerable improvement to my Sun Yang Immortal Body... Gu Lan licked his lips, murmuring instinctively. Without much hesitation, Gu Lan crossed his legs and began cultivating. At a certain moment, a deep dragon roar echoed around him. Gu Lan clearly felt a bang inside his body, directly advancing from the Emperor Realm''s first rank to the second rank! This was the Emperor Realm! A small realm that was equivalent to a muchrger realm beneath the Saint Realm. It was not an exaggeration to say that it was a realm per tier... Apart from himself, there might not be many in this world who could reach this level in the future... Oh, excluding the idiots! "The blood of the true dragon indeed carries tremendous energy." Gu Lan was not entirely satisfied. The only regret was that he could feel his Sun Yang Immortal Body being stirred up by the dragon blood but seemed tock the final push to advance to the next level. However, Gu Lan was not in a hurry. Pursuing speed in physique cultivation could backfire and damage the spiritual roots, negatively impacting the future acquisition of Destiny. He just needed to wait for the next opportunity to make up for this slight deficiency. Gu Lan collected his thoughts casually, picked up a book, and suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in his perception! That old dragon again? Still wearing a ck robe. What was he thinking? Didn''t Great Yu even spare the money to buy you clothes? Looking at the direction he wasing from, it seemed like he wasing straight towards him... Well, that saved me the trouble of looking for you. Find your next read at empire Shaking his head with a light smile, Gu Lan put down the book, a cold light shing in his eyes. He got up and walked outside. ... In the early morning, there were not many people in Langzhou City. Therefore, the figure in the ck robe did not attract much attention. He easily bypassed the guards and headed towards the path leading to Gu Residence. Walking on the deste street in the autumn wind, the ck-robed figure moved steadily, as if determined to kill Gu Lan and eliminate any future troubles. As he walked, the ck-robed figure suddenly felt that someone was standing ahead. Calcting the distance, it was not yet Gu Residence. Perplexed, he looked up and saw Gu Lan, dressed in a long gown, smiling at him as if he had been waiting for a long time. "You..." For some reason, the ck-robed figure felt a bit uneasy seeing Gu Lan again. Subconsciously, he turned his head to look behind, thinking there might be an ambush.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Unexpectedly, Gu Lan calmly spoke, "There''s no one else, just the two of us." Theposed tone made the ck-robed figure furrow his brows. Clearly, in his eyes, Gu Lan was just an ordinary person without any fluctuations in cultivation, but that inexplicable fear persisted. Gu Lan looked at him, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "What about the Great Yu prince you serve? Why hasn''t hee?" "Why do you care, kid? You have so many words even at the brink of death!" The ck-robed figure hatedly retorted. In his mind, heforted himself, thinking that Gu Lan had scared him with the Dragon Sovereign''s namest night, causing his current unfounded fear. This kid was just an ordinary schr without any cultivation, at most, he knew some taboos from ancient texts. What skills could he possibly have? Just a pretense! This kid should be just bait. I just need to be cautious of any experts lurking nearby... The ck-robed figure''s gaze swept over Gu Lan, gradually bing more convinced of his inner judgment. However! In the next moment, a sentence from Gu Lan caused the confidence he had just built to copse suddenly. "At this moment, we are in the Maple Valley to the west of the city." Gu Lan spoke calmly! The ck-robed figure felt a momentary daze, and when he looked again, the street they were on had turned into a maple forest with red leaves scattered everywhere. The falling leavesnded on him, giving him a very tangible feeling that this was not some low-level illusion but a genuine manifestation! ck-robed figure stiffened, his eyes shifting from shock to horror, staring fixedly at the seemingly harmless schr in the distance. When he was young, he had visited the fallen Shuzhou where the Sage died. He had heard of the ability to manifest words with actions. It was a skill that only schrs of the Immortal Realm and above might cultivate ¨C a genuine immortal-level spell! To use it to such an extent, even immortal-level might not be enough; at least it had to be Saint-ranked! The ugly face hidden under the ck robe twisted gradually. "It''s impossible! Your bone age is only over twenty years!" "How could you possess such a secret technique?!" Gu Lan didn''t answer his doubts, nor was it necessary. A monster that fed on human blood like him was to be killed without mercy by everyone. "Take action, show thest trace of dignity as thest of the Dragon n." "Don''t make me look down on you." Gu Lan nodded at him and extended a hand. The ck-robed figure felt a chill. However, since Gu Lan had no intention of letting him go, he dared not hesitate. With a grit of his teeth, he immediately let out a sharp howl, tearing apart the ck robe inch by inch! Directly revealing a terrifying and hideous true form of a dragon! The dragon red angrily and spoke towards Gu Lan, "Human... you may be strong." "But if you want to kill me, you will have to pay some price!" Gu Lan''s lips curled up lightly, his eyesposed. In his hand, he held a cold and sharp spear, which he seemed to have grabbed at some point in time. Chapter 48 Win the Top Scholar with Blank Sheet? Absolutely Dark Secret! Gu Residence, study room. Unusually, there were no books on the desk; instead, there was a pile of deeds formercial properties. Gu Lan flipped through these deeds one by one, hoping to find a suitable ce to relocate. However, as he reminisced about the events of the fourth year of the Jiaqing era from the original work, he systematically ruled out various states. Gu Lan reluctantly discovered that none of the states seemed suitable for relocation. Either there were troublesome figures there, or the environment was treacherous, requiring a long and arduous journey. "Sigh, are there any other deeds from the shops?" Gu Lan sighed and looked at the beautiful maid in blue beside him. Lin Tan''er had gradually be familiar with life in Gu Residence and was currently helping Gu Lan find a house. "None," Lin Tan''er said, shaking her head. "Oh no, there are a few left, but the prices are very high." "Price is not a problem, bring them here," Gu Lan nodded. However, what Lin Tan''er handed over were yellow deeds, bearing not only the seals of the civilian businesses but also the crimson official seals. "Master, only these few are left, all in the capital. The shops say they are residences of corrupt officials who were confiscated and abandoned after being raided," Lin Tan''er patiently exined. The cheapest Residence among them cost several thousand taels of white silver, which was exorbitant even by the standards of Langzhou''s property prices, more than ten times higher. "Never mind, never mind!" Gu Lan, after hearing this, casually tossed several deeds aside, feeling frustrated. "The capital is not suitable at all..." Lin Tan''er silently picked them up and stacked them neatly, shrugging her shoulders. It seemed that the young master also found them too expensive... At this moment, Old Yang''s anxious voice came from outside the door. "Young Master! Where are you, Young Master?" "Here," Gu Lan responded indifferently. Seeing Gu Lan sitting steadily in his chair, calmly examining the deeds, Old Yang became frantic. "Young Master, today is the day the autumn exam results are posted. The government office has almost finished posting them. Why aren''t you taking it seriously?" "What''s there to worry about? The results will be on the golden list for several days," Gu Lan said with a dismissive wave. After all, he was a zero, and his name wouldn''t be on the list. It was just for show. Why the urgency? Old Yang pped his thigh and wanted to say more. Suddenly! A sound of gongs and drums came from outside the Residence! It seemed to be... a processioning to offer congrattions after someone passed the imperial examination! The three people in the room were all stunned! Gu Lan muttered, "Hey, maybe someone nearby has passed the exam?" "But, Young Master, it seems like no one around our Residence participated in the autumn exams?" Lin Tan''er, who had be acquainted with the neighbors in the past few days, said. "What?" Gu Lan''s eyes widened as he looked at her. Lin Tan''er nodded slowly. For some reason, Gu Lan had a vaguely bad premonition! The next moment, they heard a very familiar voice outside: "Master Gu, congrattions on your high achievement! I''vee to congratte you!" Gu Lan, upon hearing this, was dumbfounded! Dou Fu?! Passed the exam?! Old Yang rushed out in excitement, his face showing joy. "Tan''er, quickly help the Young Master change into formal attire. The official hase to congratte our young master on passing the exam!" "Hahaha!" Old Yang was extremely excited and hurried to open the door for Master Dou. In the study room, before Gu Lan could recover, Lin Tan''er skillfully brought over a set of formal attire and helped Gu Lan change into it. [The Daughter of Destiny Helps You Change Clothes, Destiny +100+100] Even by enjoying the service of the Daughter of Destiny to increase his Destiny, at this moment, it couldn''t fill the utter confusion in Gu Lan''s heart! Until the yamen officials wearing official uniforms and a crowd of onlookers rushed in to congratte, Gu Lan walked out with a belly full of astonishment. "Young Master Gu, congrattions, congrattions!" Dou joyfully took out a document from behind, representing Gu Lan''s status as a jinshi, and handed it to Gu Lan. Gu Lan opened his mouth, wanting to ask something. However, with a casual nce, he saw his own name on the document, and there was even a more absurd title: Top Schr! The head of the autumn examination in Langzhou City! This... Gu Lan''s eyes widened, his face full of disbelief! But at this moment, Dou Fu joyfully spoke, directly rifying for the onlookers:n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Young Master Gu, Top Schr in the imperial examination! From now on, you are Master Gu!" "When Master Gu rises to prominence in the future, don''t forget about this subordinate!" "If you get rich, don''t forget your old friends; this applies in any era." So, after he finished speaking, the surroundingmon people who came to watch the excitement boiled over! "Good gracious, no wonder the county grand tutor personally came to deliver the official document. It turns out it''s Master Gu!" "I''ve been watching this kid from the Gu family since he was little. He''s a good material for studying!" "If our children could achieve as much as Master Gu in the future, that would be great!" "Top Schr Gu, on such a joyous day, how about giving us some money?" "Hahaha! Congrattions, Master Gu!" ... The number of people increased, and the lively crowd squeezed into the Residence. A wave of admiring and praising voices filled the air. Continue reading at empire And in just a moment. Gu Lan found that Dou Fu had disappeared, as if he was afraid of being questioned by himself, he quickly retreated from the crowd. Gu Lan wanted to chase after him and ask, but at this moment, Old Yang, who was beside him, excitedly stood on a high ce and scattered a handful of copper coins into the crowd! One handful after another! The surroundingmon people weren''tcking in this bit of money, but for the sake of festivity, wanting to share in the "good fortune" of the top schr, they vigorously surged forward to snatch! Gu Residence instantly became overcrowded! Gu Lan: "..." Old Yang: "Dear folks, this is the reward given by ourdy. Take it and leave, ha! When our young master bes a high official,e back for more rewards!" "Thank you, Master Gu!" "Wishing Master Gu a bright future!" ... Old Yang was genuinely happy for Gu Lan, with a radiant face. If you didn''t know, you might think he was the one who passed the exam! Now that things hade to this point. Gu Lan could only put away the confusion in his heart and the inexplicable document, squeeze a smile, put on the appearance of a regr top schr, and chat with the neighbors. And at this moment. Outside the unnoticed city gate of Langzhou. Dou Fu respectfully came to a green-d girl, bowing and saying: "Miss Liu!" "Is it done?" Liu Yexi turned her gaze, asking calmly. "It''s done. Young Master Gu has received the official document, and now he is a legitimate Top Schr," Dou Fu exined in detail. "Good." Liu Yexi tossed him a bag of heavy gold coins, saying, "This is yourpensation. Resign from your official position and return to your hometown." Dou Fu''s eyes revealed joy, he epted the bag, expressed his gratitude several times, wiped off the sweat, and turned to leave. He got on the carriage that had been prepared early with his family. ... Gu Residence. As the evening approached, the neighbors went home to cook, and the lively sounds gradually dissipated. In the study! Gu Lan sat quietly, carefully examining the document with the red characters "Top Schr." He pondered for a long time. Only from the gaps between the characters did he finally see the full message written on the document: Dark Secret! Chapter 54 Dulcet Pavilion, Junior General of the Martial Residence In various locations throughout the capital, gatherings of out-of-town residents hosted hometown meetings. These events, specifically catering to schrs who came to the capital for the imperial examination, were often organized by wealthy merchants or individuals holding official positions in the capital. Wei Zhi, in front of Gu Lan, was one such official¡ªakin to the head of the urban management brigade in Gu Lan''s previous life.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om After a moment of consideration, Gu Lan felt that he couldn''t easily decline. Among the four great joyous events, meeting old acquaintances in a foreignnd was one, and moreover, many people had waited for him for a long time. It would be difficult to refuse such heartfelt hospitality. "Sure... Brother Wei, please wait. I''ll inform my family and be right back," Gu Lan exined to Old Yang and Lin Tan''er at the inn, changed into a more low-key dark robe, and then went out with Wei Zhi. Although it was a game in the mortal world, Gu Lan adhered to the principle of not pretending if not necessary. After all, he was already in the Emperor Realm, and pretending among ordinary mortals brought no pleasure. However, even so, Gu Lan''s extraordinary beauty attracted attention under the bright lights of the night market. Many youngdies in pairs or threesomes stopped in front of jewelry shops and flower stalls, using small fans to cover their faces as they giggled while observing the handsome schr who came for the imperial examination. Seeing this scene, Wei Zhi chuckled, "Brother Gu, your elegance is exceptional, and you are quite popr in the capital." "Haha... After experiencing this many times, I''ve gotten used to it," Gu Lan drylyughed, changing the subject, "Brother Wei, where are we going for the banquet?" "The most famous restaurant in the capital is Chunyue Tower... but we can''t afford it. Let''s go to Dulcet Pavilion instead!" Wei Zhi suggested. "Dulcet Pavilion? Why does it sound a bit unconventional?" Gu Lan asked in confusion, "Shouldn''t establishments like Dulcet Pavilion be more expensive than ordinary restaurants?" "Haha, Brother Gu, you may not know. If Dulcet Pavilion is just for dining and hosting banquets, it''s actually much cheaper than Chunyue Tower. Moreover, Langzhou schrs have worked hard all the way here. It''s only fitting for us to rx a bit with some flower wine on the first night!" Wei Zhi sincerely exined, "Brother Gu, are you married?" "I am already married." "Oh! My oversight then..." Wei Zhi leaned over and whispered, "Your honoreddy doesn''t know we''re going to Dulcet Pavilion, right?" "I''m not sure..." "Haha, no problem then! Let me tell you a secret. Actually... my wife doesn''t know either!" Wei Zhi patted him on the shoulder, looking proud. Gu Lan: "..." ... The two arrived at Dulcet Pavilion. Led by a maidservant, they reached a table that had already been reserved. It was Gu Lan''s first time exploring a brothel in this otherworldly realm, and he was quite curious. Although he maintained a dignified and upright appearance, his divine sense couldn''t help but survey the pavilion. Dulcet Pavilion, the main building consisting of three floors, not counting the pleasure boats outside, had countless rooms. Among them was not only the top beauty of the capital but also the leading musical venue. Perhaps because of this "top" status, the scenes inside weren''t as deplorable as described in novels or TV dramas in his past life¡ªno scenes of middle-aged men with mustaches embracing young girls were seen everywhere... As it was still daytime, drinking flower wine, enjoying dances, and listening to music were the main activities. Waterside pavilions, song and dance in full swing¡ªunder the extravagant decoration, rows of graceful dancers gracefully swayed in the mist. In an era without electronic games, this could indeed be considered a paradise on earth! Wei Zhi led Gu Lan to their table. "Brothers, this is our Langzhou top-one schr, Mr. Gu. Let''s all give him a toast," Wei Zhi, the apparent elder brother, spoke, and everyone in attendance followed suit. Toasts were offered to Gu Lan. "Brother Gu, your reputation precedes you, and you truly are a talented individual!" "Brother Gu, how about we have a friendly exchange of literary works someday?" "..." Some genuinely admired, while others were ambiguous in their words. Nevertheless, none of it would affect Gu Lan in any way. He nodded in acknowledgment, calmly taking his seat. It seemed that he had seamlessly integrated into this lively mortal world feast. ... And at this moment! On the third floor of the fragrance pavilion, Xiao Fei''er adorned herself with exquisite makeup. Through the windowttice, she looked down and immediately saw the arrival of Master Gu Lan, as reported by the maid. From her elevated vantage point, she could only see his high nose bridge and faintly shimmering starry eyes. Explore new worlds at empire Despite her extensive experience in reading people, she could still discern that this appearance and demeanor truly belonged to an unparalleled handsome man! "You even know how to write those addictive storybooks. No wonder you could captivate the female Emperor..." Xiao Fei''er thought of the night before when she had almost stayed up all night reading Dream of the Red Chamber. An appreciative expression involuntarily crossed her face. "However,ing here to drink flower wine so leisurely, is that worthy of the female Emperor?" she mused. "Humph! Even if Xiji instructed me to protect you, it doesn''t mean I can''t tease you." With these thoughts in mind, Xiao Fei''er clenched her delicate fists and wore a proud and charming expression on her petite face. Although Gu Lan possessed exceptional talent and looks, an old saying rang true: "Among the upright, many are dog killers; among the learned, many are fickle." The female Emperor was the one in authority, while she observed from the sidelines. As a maidservant, she had the duty to evaluate for the female Emperor! ... Meanwhile, Outside Dulcet Pavilion, several young gentlemen dressed in brocade robes were about to enter and coincidentally encountered each other. One of them had a few bruises on his face. "Hey! Brother Wu, long time no see. Why do you look so beaten up?" one of them asked. "Oh, don''t mention it. The old man at home really gave me a beating, specifically targeting my face!" Wu Yuan, the son of the current General Wu Fan,ined indignantly. Due to his frequent visits to brothels, Wu Fan, frustrated by his son''sck of discipline, often resorted to corporal punishment. However, Wu Yuan never showed any repentance. He remained the notorious useless junior general known to everyone in the capital. "Brother Wu,ing in such a hurry, could it be that you heard about Miss Fei''er''s hospitality tonight?" another asked. "That''s right! A few days ago, this young master was about to be Miss Fei''er''s guest of honor. Unfortunately, the old man called me back and put me in confinement." Wu Yuan arrogantlyughed. "Tonight, I''m here to take the lead in winning Miss Fei''er''s favor!" The other young men smiled along, but hidden resentment flickered in their eyes. In truth, they had alsoe to Dulcet Pavilion tonight for the rare opportunity to be hosted by Xiao Fei''er. However, in terms of financial strength and persistent pursuit, none of them couldpare to Wu Yuan, the foolish son of a localndlord. With Wu Yuan''s arrival, their chances became even slimmer. Of course, they would never believe Wu Yuan''s boasts about bing a guest of honor. Xiao Fei''er, the renowned beauty of the capital and the appointed court musician, was adored by every man in the court. How could she possibly submit to such a wastrel? At most, they could have a drink and exchange a few inconsequential words through a veil. Wu Yuan had been boasting about it for a year! ... "Let''s go. Tonight, I''m in a good mood. I''ll treat you guys!" Wu Yuan, with shallow cunning, could vaguely perceive their jealousy. He proudly strode inside. The other young gentlemen could only reluctantly follow suit. However, when Wu Yuan entered and saw that Gu Lan''s table was already filled with people, his expression suddenly changed. "Madam, what''s going on at your Dulcet Pavilion? How could someone be sitting at the seat I reserved for me?!" he questioned angrily. Chapter 60 Zhongren Beats the Dandy; My Wife Is an Ordinary Person "You''re called Gu Lan, right? Do you still remember me?!" Wu Yuan gritted his teeth. He had spent the night being teased on the pleasure boat! It wasn''t until morning that he shivered and went to Dulcet Pavilion. Unexpectedly, the servants at the door directly stopped him, saying that Miss Fei ordered that she didn''t want to see him again! Wu Yuanter learned from other young masters that he had be aughingstock! Last night! It was this Gu Lan who entered Xiao Fei''er''s boudoir and yed a trick on him!N?v(el)B\\jnn "You should me Xiao Fei''er, not me," Gu Lan nced at him indifferently. Wu Yuan spat and almost hysterically shouted, "You must have instigated this behind my back. Miss Fei had almost agreed to mest night!" Gu Lan shook his head. Gray Destiny is just Gray Destiny. Even the inexplicable self-confidence, not to mention whether the brain is still there, is ridiculous. "I leave it to you, little brother," Gu Lan patted the young Daoist''s shoulder. "Alright, big brother, just watch!" Zhongren was a bit excited, rubbing his hands together. Since bing the Deputy Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion, no one dared to disrespect him. Even if there were fights, they were sparring with fellow apprentices. There was never a real fight! The attendants from the Wu Residence, seeing this scene, hesitated and cast questioning nces at their young master. "What are you looking at? " Wu Yuan, red-eyed, said, "There''s no one around here. Even if we bully a kid, no one will know... Beat them both hard. If a few bones aren''t broken, I won''t be able to relieve my hatred!" After hearing this, several martial artist-level attendants no longer hesitated, rushing towards the two! The wind swept through the hall, Gu Lan''s figure remained still, and his expression was calm. Wu Yuan grinned, "Still pretending! Langzhou''s top schr, let me show you today the difference between a mere schr and me, a young general!" In his view, soon a few servants would be able to subdue Gu Lan. Then he could let himself humiliate him as he pleased. However, just as the three to five attendants were about to extend their fists and feet, a small figure passed through them. Even before they could see whether the other party had made a move, they were all sent flying! Enjoy new chapters from empire The knives and swords in their hands ttered to the ground! Three secondster, looking at the blurry figures in the field of vision, Wu Yuan''s pupils contracted! At this moment, the small figure had alsoe to his eyes! In wide Daoist robes, with a somewhat chubby face carrying a harmless smile simr to Gu Lan''s... Damn, a ghost! Wu Yuan subconsciously felt that this was a rejuvenated monster. He didn''t dare to make a sound and tried to run! But in the next moment, the little Daoist, with a whirlwind in the palm of his hand, pressed him to the ground! Wu Yuan waspletely stunned! He seemed to have seen the Martial King in the military use such a technique, but it seemed that no one was as handy as this little Daoist! "Brother Gu, do you want to teach him a lesson?" Zhongren asked loudly. Wu Yuan''s heart trembled! Gu Lan waved his hand, "No need. There''s no one nearby. Just break a few bones and throw them away. We still have important matters to attend to." This kind of minor antagonist didn''t qualify to stir any emotional fluctuations in Gu Lan. Crack! Zhongren, deeply taught by Yunlong Daoist, acted decisively. Using only his physical strength, he punched Wu Yuan and knocked him out cold. Several ribs were broken! Along with the people who had just been thrown out, Zhongren threw them all into the distant wild woods. "Let''s go, let''s see what the source of that smell is." Gu Lan and Zhongren walked along the street to the east. They stopped only when they reached the front of a workshop-like ce. However, this workshop was built very securely, with a small, thick iron gate facing outward, surrounded by high walls. It seemed to contain some secrets that couldn''t be revealed. Gu Lan gave his little brother a nce. The next moment, the two appeared together on the roof of the main house of the workshop. They lifted a tile, and a pungent smell of sulfur rushed out! Zhongren quickly frowned, pinched his nose, and whispered, "Brother Gu, it seems to be real sulfur gunpowder or something." "Hmm." Gu Lan nodded. Looking around, all he could see were the residences of the capital. ording to reason, the Gunpowder Depot of the Ministry of Works would never dare to make explosives in such a densely popted area. Although there were no firearms in this world, the power of gunpowder had been developed to some extent. Weapons like firelocks,ndmines, and others could be used by ordinary people against cultivators, providing unexpected lethality. Upon closer inspection, the people inside, wearing masks, were busy making some gunpowder weapons, not the firecrackers for the New Year! "Let''s go." Gu Lan pondered for a moment, pulled his little brother''s figure to a sh, and returned to the main street. "Let''s go back to the inn." Gu Lan retraced his steps. Along the way, Zhongren, the little Daoist, was a bit puzzled. He raised his head and asked, "Brother Gu, that ce, doesn''t seem to be operated by the Jing Nation''s court?" "Hmm, it''s a ck gunpowder workshop!" Gu Lan''s eyes deepened, nodding. He was thinking about who in the original work had opened such a gunpowder shop and what they wanted to use it for. ck powder explosives were not for heating, right? "Why didn''t Brother Gu just take care of it directly?" Zhongren asked. "Brother''s move would be too big, attracting attention throughout the city... We have to wait until tomorrow to do some disguising and thene to deal with it." Gu Lan chuckled and patted his head. "Oh!" Zhongren nodded. He firmly believed in Gu Lan''s words. If his elder brother took action, it would definitely shock the heavens and make the entire capital of the Great Jing bow down in trembling! "However, Brother Gu, why are you afraid of being discovered?" Zhongren couldn''t understand this. With Gu Lan''s strength, he could dominate the world and even establish a new set of rules for all beings to follow! "In this world, there are still many hidden powerhouses. We have to act low-key, understand... This is called hiding one''s strength and biding one''s time." Gu Lan added, "By the way! Don''t learn from your master. Every time he takes action, everyone in the world knows that it''s the arrival of Yunlong, the Lord of Tianji Pavilion, acting so ostentatiously... But now Tianji Pavilion is being watched by all sects, eager to rece it, right?" Zhongren seemed to understand, "Oh! Brother Gu is straightforward in his actions but fears being plotted against!" Exactly, all those protagonists came from all walks of life... Gu Lan admired him and looked at him, "You can understand it this way!" "I see. In the future, I will also be like Brother Gu... hiding my strength and biding my time!" It seemed like the Deputy Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion was about to be trained into a pragmatic person by me. I wonder how Senior Yunlong would feel if he knew... Well, it''s not a bad thing. When Gu Lan brought the little Daoist back to the inn quickly, Zhongren suddenly remembered something and asked, "Brother Gu, what kind of person is Madam? Does she know how powerful you are?" "My wife...," Gu Lan thought of Mu Yuyan''s gentle voice and smiling face. He whispered, "My wife is a very beautiful and kind woman, but she is an ordinary person... So in the future, at home, you must not mention my cultivation, and even more so, not reveal your identity! Otherwise, it might scare her..." Chapter 66 Advanced Destiny; Youthful Heroic Spirit "With me here, he won''t die..." This statement directly struck the heart and soul of Sima Qin. "Good! Thank you, young hero! Thank you..." Sima Qin quickly put down Wei Zhi. Gu Lan extended his finger to his Tianling, manipting the true meaning of medical Dao. In a moment, he understood Wei Zhi''s condition. Gu Lan then took out a jade bottle and poured out a pill that Sima Qin had never seen before. With a lingering fragrance, it was quite extraordinary. "A Resurrection Pill, capable of reviving even bones." Gu Lan fed the Resurrection Pill to Wei Zhi. This time, there wasn''t much sentimental value attached to it. After all,pared to the harvest of a whole 100,000 Destiny on this journey, the cost of a high-grade elixir was truly negligible! Moreover, Wei Zhi, deep down, had a wish that made people want to save him. After taking the elixir, Wei Zhi''splexion instantly improved a lot. A faint qi of life surrounded his body, visibly repairing the wounds covering his body. Sima Qin was pleasantly surprised! At this moment, Gu Lan looked up at the sky. The Merit Golden Cloud, the Purple Aires from the east... such exaggerated phenomena might attract quite a few strong individuals. Gu Lan wasn''t sure if the Great Jing''s female Emperor woulde, but this time, Gu Lan left some leeway. Right after dispersing the remaining energy of the ck Fire, he had already dispelled the four sword auras. After all, this time he didn''t want to attract countless cultivators to observe here again! Otherwise, he would have to move to a new ce again. His wife hasn''t even had a chance to see the prosperity of the capital... "Young hero, may I ask for your name?" Sima Qin turned around, solemnly bowing to Gu Lan. "Haha, meeting is fate; there''s no need to worry about names." Gu Lan chuckled, adjusted his clothes, and casually pointed towards the sky. "Let the raine." As he spoke, the next moment, a drizzle started falling from the sky, sweeping away the chaotic smoke and dust between heaven and earth. Sima Qin was dumbfounded! What kind of divine technique was this? In his impression, it seemed like even the emperor couldn''t do this? Gu Lan walked through the ruins, reaching the old stone-paved street. In the mist, without looking back, he waved his hand. "Prime Minister, you should go back and rest early. It''s going to rain soon!" "Tomorrow morning will be a good day!" Gu Lan was a bit eager to return to the inn, to see today''s gains, including the unknown-grade Merit Golden Robe! His steps were light, and his mood was cheerful. Behind him, Sima Qin stared at his figure. He was so carefree and unrestrained, full of youthful heroic spirit. In his weathered eyes, there was gradually contentment, and unavoidably, a trace of envy and admiration. Gu Lan continued walking, suddenly feeling a figure speeding across the sky, stepping on golden sword qi¨C seemingly another swordsman? "So fast, is someone in the capital really that anxious..." Gu Lan shook his head, not paying much attention. He just concealed his aura as usual, calmly walking back to the inn. ... Mu Yuyan noticed a figure in ck passing below, wondering. His direction seemed to be where the incident at Dongzhi Gate happened. However, upon noticing the official robe worn by Sima Qin ahead, Mu Yuyan became more concerned about what had happened there. Was the Tianji Pavilion Grand Worshiper truly eyeing Gu Lan? Gu Lan''s safety was more important than other trivial matters.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Mu Yuyan withdrew his gaze and approached Sima Qin. Her exquisite long dress was untouched by dust, and the true energy around her formed a protective dome against the rain. "Prime Minister, what happened?" "Your Majesty!" Sima Qin saw the female Emperor, and his mind gradually settled, no longer as flustered as before. When the Imperial Guards arrived, he recounted the events of the night. "Zhang Lan, ck gunpowder workshop... I understand!" Mu Yuyan''s beautiful eyes turned cold, nodding in agreement. She never expected that the privately operated workshop in this area was involved in such shady dealings. It wasn''t about evading taxes; it was about rebellion! "Impose an immediate raid on the Zhang family by the Imperial Announcements Bureau." Mu Yuyan gave themand without a trace of mercy. When Sima Qin suggested that Zhang Lan might not be the mastermind due to his family being held hostage, Mu Yuyan acknowledged the logic. "Prime Minister is right." Indeed, Zhang Lan, breaking through to the sky, was just a minor official from the Ministry of Revenue, a small bureaucrat in a blue robe. Even if he had ambitious ns, he wouldn''t dare to think of reaching the sky in one step. There must be a "big shot" behind him directing things! At this point, Sima Qin opened his mouth, intending to request an investigation of General Wuwei''s residence because Zhang Lan was a retainer of General Wu Fan. However,cking concrete evidence and considering the well-known rivalry between civil and military factions, Sima Qin decided to withhold those words, nning to investigateter on his own. "Oh, Prime Minister!" After hearing the whole story, Mu Yuyan was still somewhat worried. She frowned and asked, "Have you seen a schr here, very handsome, about... this tall?" She raised her hand to a spot half a head taller than herself. "A schr?" Sima Qin shook his head. "Among the strangers, this official only saw the extraordinary expert who caused the heavenly phenomenon. However, he was also masked, and I did not remember his appearance." "I know that person..." Mu Yuyan confirmed that Gu Lan had not been involved, and her suspended heart finally settled. "That person is an extraordinary expert in the current Langzhou, who once defeated Emperor Yu. He also holds the position of Grand Worshiper at the Tianji Pavilion." "The Consecrator of Tianji Pavilion!?" Although Sima Qin was not a cultivator, he understood the changes in the forces on the continent. He couldn''t help but exim, "Is he the only Grand Worshiper Tianji Pavilion recruited months ago? The one that all major dynasties are eagerly trying to win over?" Mu Yuyan nodded faintly. Sima Qin''s face suddenly showed regret. "I never thought that the Grand Worshiper would be so young... If I had known, even if I had to kneel, I would have asked him to be an adviser to the Great Jing!" Mu Yuyan couldn''t help but cry andugh at his words. "Prime Minister, there''s no need for that. Such an expert is already beyond the world; ordinary temptations won''t be able to recruit him." Mu Yuyan helplessly said, "To be honest with you, he is within the borders of my Jing Nation, and I was worried about how to meet him, hoping to make a friend..." "Let''s not talk about this for now. Prime Minister, your safety is a blessing for the Great Jing." "Go back and rest well." ... At noon that day, Gu Lan returned to the inn. He entered his room and stood before a bronze mirror, unfolding the Qi-Insighting Technique to examine his Destiny. [Destiny: Yellow Grade] [60000/100000] By preventing the catastrophe that could have destroyed half of the capital, Gu Lan directly ascended to a higher grade. The Yellow Grade, ording to the original work''s setting, was already considered a half-child of Destiny! Moreover, he was already more than halfway to ascending to the Purple Grade. "It was indeed worthwhile!" Gu Lan felt a bit excited. Following that, he moved his thoughts, taking out the merit golden robe from the system space. It was a bright golden color with intricate cloud patterns, appearing more splendid and embroidered than any emperor''s dragon robe. Just as Gu Lan was about to put it on and test the effects of the golden robe, the wooden door creaked open. The figure of the young Daoist priest shed in, and when he saw the merit golden robe in Gu Lan''s hands, his eyes lit up. "Is this... the merit golden robe?!" "Oh my, Brother Gu, where did you get this treasure?" Chapter 73 The Northern Ming Little Princess; Jixia Literary Academy "Darling, what do you think the identity of that immortal might be?" Mu Yuyan raised her phoenix-like eyes, suppressing a smile. "Huh?" Gu Lan''s heart skipped a beat. He nced at her cautiously, only to find his wife drawing circles on his chest with her beautiful fingers. Her expression was serene and her long eyshes were fluttering. It seemed like she was genuinely curious! Phew! Maybe I was just being overly suspicious... Gu Lan breathed a sigh of relief, then leisurely replied, "A hero, as you mentioned earlier... A hero is one who serves the country and the people!" Having heard her praising him, Gu Lan couldn''t deny that he felt a subtle sense of satisfaction. After all, who could resist the soft beauty of his charming wife''s starry eyes? This was precisely what a man sought in admiration! "Really? Did you know that he is from the Jing Nation?" Mu Yuyan looked at him with a hint of doubt, blinking her watery eyes. Hearing this, Gu Lan, who had been somewhat floating on air, suddenly grounded himself. He grinned and said, "Uh... of course, I don''t know. It''s just a guess!" Seeing him backtrack, Mu Yuyan remainedposed, already blooming with joy inside. "Cough, it''s gettingte. Let''s go to sleep, mydy!" Gu Lan quickly changed the subject. His wife was truly meticulous; he almost couldn''t escape the situation he almost fell into! Moreover, he couldn''t resist praising himself tonight, boasting about his extraordinary swordsmanship and being a hero... If one day his wife discovered his true identity, wouldn''t it be incredibly awkward? Better to stop while ahead. Preventing social death was crucial! Gu Lan had a strong sense of preemptive defense. Unexpectedly, at this moment, Mu Yuyan twisted her waist, sat up again, a trace of blush appearing on her exquisite face, her delicate hand supporting her chest. "Darling, I''m not sleepy. What should I do?" "Oh, really not sleeping?" Oveing numerous difficulties to enhance her cultivation, Mu Yuyan, who now held the initiative, nodded slightly, her face showing a shy smile. The room was illuminated again by candlelight. ... After several consecutive nights like this, the female Emperor''s cultivation had silently advanced to a level just one step away from the Holy Realm. Compared to before, when she was the youngest among the four sovereigns and had the lowest cultivation and heritage, she was now undoubtedly at the forefront. Thanks to Gu Lan''s guidance, Mu Yuyan found it much more convenient to return to the pce after Gu Residence moved to the capital. She only needed to go out for a short time to buy groceries before making a trip to the imperial city. Today, when Mu Yuyan arrived at the Yangxin Hall to handle state affairs, Sima Qin presented her with a national letter. "Your Majesty, a letter from the Lord of the Northern Ming," Sima Qin reported. "Northern Ming?" Mu Yuyan furrowed her brows slightly. The Great Jing and Northern Ming hadn''t had much contact for a long time, and their rtionship was neither warm nor cold. Why would a letter suddenly arrive? After scanning the contents quickly, it seemed that the Lord of Northern Ming''s younger sister had run away from home and was heading in the direction of the Great Jing. The letter expressed a hope that the female Emperor would take care of her. "Heh, the Lord of Northern Ming is probably talking about his troublesome little princess, right?" Mu Yuyan looked at the contents of the letter, understanding the distress the sender must be experiencing. She casually ced the letter on the dragon case and thought of the most famous princess in Northern Ming, Princess Anqiu, Luan Xiaoyao. She was quite renowned on the continent. Since childhood, she had joined the Souls Town, bing a closed-door apprentice of an entric old monster. Her strength and talent were outstanding. However, due to causing too much troubleter on, she became the only sister of a sovereign to be demoted from princess to county princess in the history of the imperial dynasty. It could be seen how much of the distress she was. "Perhaps... I heard that Princess Anqiu seems to being for the Expert Rankings." Sima Qin nodded. "Expert Rankings?" Mu Yuyan was momentarily stunned, then recalled that Tianji Pavilion seemed to have some grievances with Northern Ming''s imperial dynasty. The previous rankings did not include Northern Ming. "So... she''s afraid that, like thest time, she''ll be obscured, and people won''t know her true strength. That''s why she came here to prove herself?" Mu Yuyan raised an eyebrow. "Uh, probably." Sima Qin was embarrassed. "Heh, that''s quite a childish mentality." Mu Yuyan chuckled, waving her hand. "No matter, if she wants to meet the experts of the Great Jing, let here! The Expert Rankings are meant for the talented. If she''s truly powerful, it''s not a bad thing for the martial students in the capital to know that there are extraordinary individuals beyond the horizon." "Your Majesty is broad-minded!" Sima Qin bowed, taking his leave. "Then, I will go make arrangements and send someone to keep an eye on this county princess..." "Yes, go ahead!" ... Gu Residence. This afternoon, the study was empty. Around noon, someone came to deliver a letter to Gu Lan, a name card sent by the Jixia Literary Academy to examinees. In the future, schrs could freely enter and exit the literary academy with this name card, attending lectures from the teachers inside. Gu Lan initially had no interest in such matters. After all, in his past life, he often fell asleep during sses. This time, he only participated to avoid failing the exams. However, there was a literary meeting scheduled for today, and if he skipped it, it would be too conspicuous. In the afternoon, Gu Lan had Zhongren change into casual clothing and act as his book boy. Together, they headed to the Jixia Literary Academy. Liu Yexi bid him farewell at the Residence''s entrance, showing no concern upon hearing his destination. After all, it had been nned in Gu Lan''s schedule, and she had already checked it out. ... Passing through the slightly deste long street in the afternoon. After arriving in the northern part of the capital city. The pedestrians gradually increased, almost all of them students dressed in Confucian robes attending the academy in this area. Hmm, just like the university town in my past life... Gu Lan looked around at the teahouses and the few rare taverns. It brought back some nostalgic feelings. In his past life, it was the same. University towns had plenty of bubble tea shops and fewer bars. You needed to go a bit further to find them. They imed it was to create a study atmosphere. However, every night, Gu Lan saw the head-shaking and swaying school flowers inside, feeling that this atmosphere wasn''t very effective... When three tall buildings appeared in his field of vision. Gu Lan reined in his wandering thoughts. The three tall buildings werendmarks, each standing in the left, middle, and right building groups. The one on the left, grand and restored, was the renowned National University; the somewhat dpidated one on the right was the Tianqin Observatory, which had fallen into decline. And in the middle was where Gu Lan would go today¡ªthe Jixia Literary Academy! The Literary Academy was closer to the National University. Gu Lan, with his younger brother, entered through the side door on the left. Except for a few female students who were astonished by his appearance, he kept a very low profile. "Sir, pleasee this way!" The servant who often served tea and water here greeted Gu Lan with a smiling face, leading him to a stall with tea, water, and melons. "The literary meeting over there has already started. Sir, if you are interested, you can go take a look now," the servant kindly reminded. "I got it, you may go." Gu Lan took out a piece of broken silver from his pocket to reward the servant.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om With a thousand thanks, the servant left, and Gu Lan gazed at the literary meeting formed by several schrs in the distance. They were gathered in groups of three or five, each seemingly engaged in their own activities. ncing around, Gu Lan noticed that few schrs came to the stall where he was, and most of them were walking around, actively making new friends. After all, for future connections in the capital city, the friends they met now could be valuable contacts¡ªa highly sought-aftermodity! At the moment, only Gu Lan and his little brother were quietly enjoying melons and free tea at the stall. They appeared somewhat aloof and awkward! "Ahem..." Gu Lan happened to be interested in one of the literary meetings and patted Zhongren, dressed as a young book boy. "Zhongren, let''s also go over there and take a look. It seems quite interesting." Chapter 79 Spoil the Killer Organization - the Night Walkers "Master, did you just say something bad about Her Majesty? This is a crime, you know!" Xiao Fei''er red at him. "No, how could I?" Seeing her unhappy expression, Zhang Qingwei quickly shut up, feeling guilty. It seemed inappropriate for a schr to talk about the embarrassing moments of his students... "But there''s no other way!" Gu Lan had given too much! That chess manual was invaluable, capable of bringing its owner to the level of Gu Lan and making them invincible. "This doesn''t set a precedent!" Xiao Fei''er was afraid that he might reveal embarrassing stories from her childhood to Gu Lan in the future, so she sternly warned him again. "Okay, okay!" Zhang Qingwei lowered his eyebrows and epted it obediently. Seeing this, Gu Lan smiled and didn''t think much about it. He considered listening to the female Emperor''s little stories for a while, as it would help him understand more about the character''s past and personality. He took out a chess manual from the system space and handed it to the eagerly shining Zhang Qingwei. "Here you go, yours." "Thank you, young friend!" Zhang Qingwei received it with gratitude. Gu Lan then handed another music score to Xiao Fei''er. "Here you go." "Thank you, Master Gu!" Xiao Fei''er, even though still a bit angry, hurriedly received it with both hands and expressed her gratitude. She quickly opened it and was shocked by the incredibly beautiful poems inside. Xiao Fei''er muttered with her red lips, her eyes bing enchanted and intoxicated: "There is a beauty, unforgettable at first sight. A day without seeing her is like madness. The phoenix soars, seeking its mate across the four seas... Phoenix, oh phoenix, return to your homnd, soaring through the four seas to seek your mate. The time has not yete, with no destination in sight..." Xiao Fei''er was murmuring with reddened lips, her eyes lost in fascination. Watching two celebrities treat her casually written pieces as treasures, she couldn''t help but wish to kneel down and thank them. Gu Lan felt... the days of copying public documents were always so simple and in! "Brother,e and see, who is that?" The little brother by the window seemed to have discovered someone extraordinary and beckoned Gu Lan over. Gu Lan went to the window and looked down. In the alley behind, there were many people wearing straw hats and ck windbreakers, resembling wandering martial artists. They all had a sword at their waists, with the lowest strength being in the Nurture Realm and the highest in the King Realm. "With this uniform and the straw hats... this force seems to be the killer organization mentioned in the original work," Gu Lan squinted, murmuring thoughtfully. "But what are they doing in the Great Jing?" "Who''s doing what?" In the blink of an eye, Zhang Qingwei''s face, covered with white hair, appeared in front of him. It was normal for him to talk to himself. "Those people there," Gu Lan pointed and said softly, "seem to be the Night Walkers, the killer organization." "Night Walkers?!" Hearing this term, Xiao Fei''er was stunned and quickly walked over. "This is the most famous killer organization in the martial world, with branches in the four major dynasties. It is said that their top assassin has already reached the Immortal Realm!" Xiao Fei''er''s beautiful eyes became serious. "Such a group of people, why would theye to the Great Jing at this time?" "Taking people''s money, eliminating disasters for others," Gu Lan recalled the Night Walkers'' purpose in the original work and said indifferently, "They are a group of people who only care about money and not rtionships. They roam in these dark alleys during the day ande out at night to kill for rewards." "Who are they going to kill?" Xiao Fei''er anxiously asked. "Who knows!" Gu Lan rolled his eyes and said, "Coming to the capital, they''re probably here to kill high-ranking officials. Could they be here to kill you, the courtesan?" Xiao Fei''er: "..." "Well said." Zhang Qingwei, the old man, unusually serious today, said sincerely, "The mastermind behind the Night Walkers had dealings with me many years ago. They are not easy to deal with... and since this organization acts without warning, it''s better to be cautious!" Immediately, he looked at Gu Lan and said, "Young friend, I''ll excuse myself for today. I''ll go report this matter and let the pce be more vignt. Unexpectedly, you''re quite reliable in critical moments..." Gu Lan smiled faintly, "Master, please go ahead." "I am currently in the imperial city!" The master of Confucianism and Daoism, words match actions. Zhang Qingwei''s figure slowly dissipated, leaving only Gu Lan and Xiao Fei''er in the room. Oh, and a little brother. "Young Master, do you still want to listen to the music?" Xiao Fei''er, seeing the old man going to report, felt a bit relieved and asked slowly. Gu Lan stretchedzily, smiled casually, and said, "No, my wife has prepared dinner at home, waiting for me... Zhongren, let''s go!" As soon as the words fell, Xiao Fei''er opened her mouth, wanting to say something but hesitated. However, the two figures left the warm pavilion without any nostalgia, gradually disappearing from Xiao Fei''er''s sight. Gu Lan didn''t take the Feng Qiu Huang with him, but Xiao Fei''er held the music score to her chest, feeling somewhat unexinably unhappy. ... "Yuyan, Yexi, don''t go out alone recently. The capital is not very peaceful." During dinner, Gu Lan suddenly spoke. Mu Yuyan and Liu Yexi were both stunned. "What''s wrong, Master Gu?" "Today, while at the Jixia Academy, I saw people who looked like assassins in the alley behind. ording to Master Zhang, they seem to be the notorious ''Night Walkers'' from the martial world!" Gu Lan sipped the nourishing porridge made by his wife and leisurely said, "Night Walkers?" Mu Yuyan returned early today and didn''t wait for Zhang Qingwei. At this moment, she was slightly surprised to hear about this famous organization. "Yuyan, you may not know that the Night Walkers have always been cunning and oftenunch surprise attacks when you least expect it." Gu Lan recalled the plot of the original work, gradually figuring out one of the key characters. "The mastermind behind the Night Walkers is called Mo Yu Shenjian, Li Xiong. It is said that he can kill from ten miles away, and his archery skills are mysterious. Coming to the capital now, he might be nning to assassinate a court official..." Coming to the capital to kill a court official? How audacious! Mu Yuyan was shocked and angry. However, Night Walkers had always been rampant, and all major dynasties were helpless against them. She didn''t know much about the information. "Night Walkers have thirty-six top assassins and seventy-two second-tier assassins, not to mention countless subordinates, all of whom are extraordinary and extremely evil." Gu Lan cleared his throat and added, "Of course, cough, these are all said by Master Zhang Qingwei. He reminded us to be careful recently." Mu Yuyan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "In just a few days, your rtionship with Master Zhang seems to have improved so much?" "The affinity between schrs!" Gu Lan nodded and meditated, "By the way! Mydy, especially don''t go near the residences of those high-ranking officials, especially the Residence of the Great Chancellor''s party..."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om He spected. If someone really hired Night Walkers to kill officials, they would probably target the highest level, and the Great Chancellor''s party was the most likely. After all, among the few people with real power in the court, the Great Chancellor''s party had the highest status and offended the most people! As for killing the female Emperor... Gu Lan thought that the Night Walkers organization probably wouldn''t dare to take on such a big task. After saying all this, Mu Yuyan cautiously exchanged nces with Liu Yexi. Both understood each other''s thoughts. A killer organization suddenly appeared in the capital. Liu Yexi naturally knew what to do, nodded imperceptibly, and at this moment, a long-lost mechanical voice rang in Gu Lan''s mind. [You''ve spoiled the real original plot, revealing the character Li Xiong from the original work.] [Rewards] [Immortal-level Killing Pill ¡¤ Life-taking Pill] [Sacred-grade Treasured Bone ¡¤ Ancient Golden Crow''s Leg] [Immortal Stage Martial Art ¡¤ Ghost Subjugation Technique] [Free Attribute Points x1] (Note: Can be added to any treasure, regardless of the realm, it will upgrade the treasure by one grade!) Chapter 84 Wu Yuans New Prey After Luan Xiaoyao finished her provocative words, she disappeared from the spot, leaving with a satisfied heart. The silhouette of the old woman in the teahouse, Ms Gui, also quietly vanished as she followed her. The onlookers were sweating cold at this moment, especially those who had mocked the young girl in the teahouse earlier. "Damn, kicked the iron te!" "I didn''t expect this little girl to be so strong. Could she be an old monster who has returned to youth?" "Hush! Be careful; if she hasn''t gone far, she mighte back and skin you!" "She probably won''t... Look, she didn''t kill anyone on the stage. This girl seems to have a strong aura, but she doesn''t look like a viin." "Not a viin, so what? Anyway, she''s not one of us from the Jing Nation... sigh! Do you think this girl can really defeat the guardian god of the Jing Nation?" "Impossible!" "..." The opinions were diverse. Mu Yuyan, watching those who kept specting around her, revealed a touch of disdain in her beautiful eyes. "Short-sighted!" "A girl like her may deal with ordinary cultivators, but if she were to face Master Gu, she would surely only have to beg for mercy!" Mu Yuyan snorted coldly in her heart. She couldn''t help but gaze at Gu Lan again. Gu Lan''splexion remained calm, his state of mind tranquil as an ancient well. He lightly sipped his tea from the porcin cup, emanating an air of a peerless expert who was unaffected by the mundane. A mist lingered, making his handsome profile appear even more otherworldly. Mu Yuyan observed, blinking her phoenix eyes. "What are you looking at?" Gu Lan turned his gaze and smiled at her. He swirled the tea in the porcin cup and asked, "Is this tea Old Yang''s selection?" "Yes..." Mu Yuyan nodded, but it was evident that her responsecked sincerity. "Madam, you should have a cup as well. The weather is getting cooler, and hot tea is good for the body." Gu Lan held the teapot and was about to fill a cup for her. "Master, I want to drink... imported tea." A blush appeared on Mu Yuyan''s cheeks, her head slightly lowered as she spoke with a smiling tone. "This..." Gu Lan was stunned! He didn''t expect Madam to learn so quickly. He had just taught her personally a few days ago, and she had already mastered it so proficiently? Gu Lan nced around the teahouse, and seeing that not many eyes were looking towards their corner, he stood up and walked over to Mu Yuyan. Taking a sip of the warm tea, he gently passed it to her cherry-like lips. At this moment! A melodious and ethereal zither melody echoed through the heavens and earth, emanating from the nearby Dulcet Pavilion. The ancient zither yed a poignant tune, the melody of "Feng Qiu Huang" tugging at the heartstrings! In the teahouse, as the guests heard the music, expressions of astonishment gradually appeared on their faces, and they began to whisper in low voices. "This technique, this music, could it be Miss Fei''er?" "It doesn''t sound like an old piece. It''s charming. It should be a newposition from Miss Xiao Xian." "Hush! Just listen..." Dulcet Pavilion, Gu''s Teahouse, and even the Spring Moon Tower on the opposite side of Changting River¡ªall within a few miles¡ªcould hear this heavenly music! Find more chapters on empire "O phoenix, o phoenix, return to your homnd, roaming the four seas in search of your mate..." "The phoenix soars and flies, seeking its mate in every corner. s, my fair one, is not by the eastern wall. With a zither in ce of words, I express my heartfelt emotions. When will I see you again, tofort my wandering soul..." Xiao Fei''er, dressed in white, ethereally appeared on the tower of Dulcet Pavilion, ying the zither with her jade-like hands. The exquisite music enchanted the listeners. In the teahouse, Gu Lan gently moved away from Mu Yuyan''s plump lips. At this moment, Mu Yuyan opened her small mouth and bit down! Gu Lan: "!!?" "How did ''Feng Qiu Huang'' end up in the hands of Dulcet Pavilion''s courtesan?" Mu Yuyan red with phoenix eyes, pretending to be jealous. "This... Madam, let me exin!" Gu Lan scratched his head, embarrassed, and said with a smile, "It was just to supplement our household expenses. I exchanged a Music Score for an antique cdon vase from Old Yang. Who knew that Old Yangter gave it to Xiao Fei''er!" Mu Yuyan looked at him with a slightly red face. With a snort, Gu Lan pulled over a chair, didn''t sit back, and just leaned against her, coaxing her. Mu Yuyan conveniently fell into his arms and chuckled secretly. Meanwhile! Outside the back door of Dulcet Pavilion, two figures shivered in the asional cold wind. "This music sound clearly means Miss Fei''er knows I''m here. You guys quickly get out of my way. Young Master wants to go and deliver a sign to Miss Fei''er!" Blocked by the Dulcet Pavilion''s gatekeeper, Wu Yuan was furious and helpless. "Young Master Wu, Miss Fei''er said she won''t see you. Don''t assume things on your own!" "Hey, you bastard, who do you think is assuming things on his own?" Bang! The gatekeeper didn''t want to argue with him and directly closed the iron gate, out of sight, out of mind. The veins on Wu Yuan''s neck stood out! This afternoon, he had been running around various side doors, trying to sneak into Dulcet Pavilion to find Xiao Fei''er. Unfortunately. All the entrances were guarded tightly, making him run around for nothing the entire afternoon. He didn''t even have the chance to witness the exciting fights at the Baihua Arena! "Young Master, if it''s not working, let''s leave. It''s getting dark!" A servant who followed him said. "No, I finally came out once, and there isn''t even a ce to vent!" Wu Yuanined angrily and shouted, "What, do you want me to go back and find the fourth concubine of that old thing?" The servant was startled, "No, no! Young Master, let''s keep looking. Maybe we can find another way in!" Apanying this fool outside, at least there might be a chance to find a brothel. But if they went back like this. Wu Yuan might really do something to the little concubines under Wu Fan! On the sparsely popted street. The two strolled slowly. Suddenly. Two figures entered their field of vision. At the end of the long street, a lively young girl, holding a strange red umbre, was followed by an old woman who seemed hunched and had difficulty moving! When Wu Fan saw the lively appearance of the young girl, his eyes lit up immediately. He then quietly instructed his servant: "Hey! This little girl is not bad. Later, you help me knock out the olddy. I''ll drag this young girl to a secluded corner and have some fun!" "This..." "After I''m done ying, it''ll be your turn!" "Alright!" A rotten beam will lead to a crooked column. The servant, following Wu Yuan, was naturally influenced by him. "Hide first, and wait for them toe over." Wu Yuan licked his lips, leading the servant to move behind a nearby stone pir. On the other side, Luan Xiaoyao and the old woman strolled through the evening streets of the capital. Due to the desire to rx, they didn''t go to the bustling market but chose this rtively quiet ce. "Princess, is what we did today a bit too high-profile?" The old woman was still a bit worried. She had personally investigated the remnants of the ck gunpowder workshop, and the traces there were enough to prove that the Tianji Pavilion Consecrator was an extremely powerful individual! She was afraid that Luan Xiaoyao might not win. "Not high-profile... How can we get by without being high-profile?" Luan Xiaoyao smiled, revealing two rows of porcin-white teeth.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "This time, we''re here to make our mark on the Expert Rankings. If there''s no fight along the way, wouldn''t it be too boring?" When she first arrived here, she wrote a letter to the female Emperor, hoping to have a sparring match. However, the next day, Sima Qin politely declined! Although it was phrased decently, it implied that the female Emperor didn''t have time to y with this little child! Luan Xiaoyao was very displeased! Who''s the child here? After dealing with that stinky Consecrator from the Tianji Pavilion, she would go to the pce and ask the female Emperor for a sword fight! Chapter 90 The Iron-Willed Zhang Master Gu Lan thought about the initial concerns when he first came to the capital. The old man in front of him had experienced three dynasties, and there should be few things on the official road that he didn''t know. Zhang Qingweibed his white beard and frowned, "Hmm! Young friend, what you''re talking about sounds like cheating in the imperial examination?" "Uh... yes, exactly cheating!" "What? Who dares to be so bold!" Zhang Qingwei said, "Our Emperor attaches great importance to the strictness of the imperial examination. If it is discovered, it will inevitably result in the extermination of three generations!" "This... a friend asked me to inquire, haha..." Gu Lan felt embarrassed. Indeed, it was important to first find out who that person was. If one day the matter was exposed, and the female Emperor came knocking, it would be good to pull that guy out to take the me. After all, he genuinely didn''t know! "I see." Zhang Qingwei''s expression eased, and he thought for a moment before saying, "To help someone cheat and keep it hidden from the Supervisory Office, it must be an official of the fourth rank or higher." "Fourth rank is enough?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Gu Lan was startled. The search range seemed too broad. "Do you think the fourth rank is small?" Zhang Qingwei rolled his eyes, "Even if you really pass the imperial examination, enter the Hanlin Academy, and endure for more than half of your life, you can only reach the fourth rank. Some people spend their entire lives and can only reach the third rank." "How about leveraging Great Chancellor Sima''s connections? Can it be faster?" Gu Lan contemted and smiled. "That guy is a clean official; you can''t rely on him!" Zhang Qingwei chuckled. "What about relying on you?" "What do you mean by that? In your eyes, am I not..." "Besides chess manuals and poetry, I also have some rhythmical prose, all of high quality!" "Cough... then I can only help you reach the fifth rank when you enter the court!" Zhang Qingwei blushed. Although he didn''t want to admit it, he did envy Gu Lan''s literary talent, which was a natural gift. He had studied his whole life and couldn''tpare to Gu Lan''s casually written works, which brought greater insights. In order to promote literary development in the world, it should be forgivable for the emperor to turn a blind eye... "Just kidding, I don''t want to be an official!" Gu Lan sat in the chair prepared for him in the pavilion, looking carefree. Zhang Qingwei nodded, "It''s also good not to be an official; there''s less trouble... Shall we y another game? I''ve finished reading your chess manual!" "Sure, as you wish!" Watching the confident old man, Gu Lan smiled. The two of them set up the ck and white battlefield again. In the afternoon, Gu Lan won eight games in a row against Zhang Qingwei. During this time, he gradually realized that it might not be easy to investigate the big figure who helped him use the backdoor. Moreover, it was better if even the parties involved didn''t know about it. Otherwise, there would be the risk of extermination for both parties if it were exposed. Gu Lan initially suspected Zhang Qingwei. However, a month ago, Zhang Qingwei didn''t even know about Gu Lan''s existence, and given the old man''s character of not letting go once he had a lead, it was impossible. "To be continued..." Gu Lan withdrew his thoughts, and his gaze gradually became clear. Snap! A move was made, concluding the ninth game. "Lost again!" Zhang Qingwei was quite frustrated. If not for the sake of face, he would have wanted to invite the female Emperor or Grand Tutor Su Hua to y chess with Gu Lan in the pce, wanting to see where Gu Lan''s limits trulyy! Could it be that he was really a natural chess genius? "Let''s y again. Failure is the mother of sess; Master, you should understand this principle." Gu Lan smiled, mixed the chessboard, and once again took the pieces to engage in a rematch. "This is almost ancestral..." Zhang Qingwei''s mentality was a bit shaky. Fortunately, his lifelong passion for chess was hanging on; otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to y so poorly yet still enjoy it. "Master, where is your hometown?" Gu Lan chatted casually with him, thinking that this might relieve his distress. "Shuzhou. I studied there in my early years. Later, after entering the King Realm through literary pursuits, I came to the Jing Nation and became friends with thete emperor." Zhang Qingwei said, "That''s it, I was deceived into the pce to help take care of the children, and half a lifetime has passed!" "You''re taking advantage of the situation." Gu Lan teased, "It seems that the resources of the Jing Nation have been quite generous to you. Achieving immortality through literary pursuits is not solely reliant on talent." "Haha! There are resources and opportunities!" Zhang Qingwei furrowed his brows and made a move, then suddenly pped his forehead, saying, "Speaking of opportunities, I almost forgot a big thing!" "What is it?" "Wait a moment, young friend!" Zhang Qingwei searched his sleeve and pulled out a piece of jade, shining brightly with inscriptions. "This is called Spirit Communication Jade, an immortal-level jade along with Spirit Extinguishing Jade and Spirit Masking Jade. It has the function of sensing the changes in the aura between heaven and earth." "Just yesterday, it transmitted a piece of news." "Regarding the opening of the Heaven Mountain Secret Realm in Shuzhou, it seems to be happening within the next few days!" Heaven Mountain Secret Realm in Shuzhou. Gu Lan heard this name and was not unfamiliar with it. In the original work, it was a secret realm introduced from the beginning, rumored to contain ancient legacies and unparalleled opportunities. Moreover, Shuzhou was a sacred ce for literary pursuits, making it highly likely that there would be something beneficial for his system. "Will there be any restrictions on this kind of secret realm?" Gu Lan asked thoughtfully, hoping it wouldn''t be like those novels from his past life, where one couldn''t enter if their cultivation exceeded a certain level, or they would be suppressed to the same realm. "There is an age limit." Zhang Qingwei''s eyes lit up. "However, young friend, you are just right for it!" Upon hearing this, Gu Lan''s heart stirred. The age limit restriction made things much easier. With his cultivation and speed, he could certainly pack up all the high-level resources inside without anyone noticing. Then, he could quietly leave. Gu Lan, with a calm demeanor, contemted this while casually ying chess. At this moment, Zhang Qingwei squinted at the chessboard, burst intoughter, and quickly made a move to exploit a weakness, saying, "Hahaha, a wise man has a thousand thoughts, and finally, this old man has won a game against you!" "Oh, Master has made progress, congrattions!" Gu Lan said with a smile. In fact, he had deliberately let Zhang Qingwei win this game. Since the old man had shared such a significant opportunity with him, treating him like an ally, how could Gu Lan have the heart to let him lose all ten games? "Well, all thanks to young friend''s chess manual!" Zhang Qingwei perhaps knew that Gu Lan had let him win, but he didn''t expose it and chuckled while stroking his graying beard. ... Gu Residence, during dinner. The family of six, masters and servants, didn''t separate at the dining table. Laughter and joy filled the main hall. After finishing his meal, Gu Lan wiped his mouth and smiled, "Today, I won another bet from Master and received some news... It''s said that a precious ce in Shuzhou will open the day after tomorrow. At that time, Tan''er and Zhongren can go explore." Lin Tan''er, worthy of being the Fate''s Heavenly Maiden, didn''t invest much effort into cultivation normally. Most of her time was spent repaying debts. Now, she had reached the Great Perfection of the Nature Realm, enough to overlook cultivators of the same age. So, it was time for her to go out and seek her own opportunities. Lin Tan''er nodded obediently. Zhongren, excited at the prospect of going out to y, asked, "Brother Gu, are youing with us?" "I''ll just see you off. Matters of cultivators, I won''t interfere..." Gu Lan''s lips curled up in a slight smile. His gaze shifted to Mu Yuyan, who was serving him food. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "By the way, Madam, have you felt any changes in your body these days?" Chapter 96 Northern Ming Princess Crying After a Beating Regarding this question, Mu Yuyan smiled and didn''t give a straightforward answer. "I was originally an unknown traveler in the Jianghu, always admiring the strong. I couldn''t stand the two of you using my... using the name of our Great Jing''s top expert to dominate Baihua Arena." "I found it unbearable, so I took action." "That''s all there is to it!" After the cold and arrogant words fell, the onlookers by the riverbank erupted into excitement. "Wandering in the Jianghu, who hasn''t faced a de? It seems that the girl was still the Northern Ming Princess, and she was defeated by that female warrior with just one hand!" "Who allowed her to show off here just a couple of days ago, even daring to put up banners saying she would make our Great Jing''s guardian cry!" "Haha, our Great Jing still has experts. Apart from that Consecrator, there is another female warrior!" "Both of those girls are indeed good-looking, but this time, I support the female warrior. Her temperament is so handsome; I, as a man, even envy her!" ... Just moments ago, they were earnestly watching the fight, and now that the dust had settled, the citizens of Great Jing naturally leaned toward their own court, ridiculing Luan Xiaoyao and Little Dragon Maiden as they spoke! In these past few days, with Luan Xiaoyao being arrogant in Baihua Arena, many people had long been displeased but couldn''t voice their discontent as they couldn''t beat her. Today, with Mu Yuyan''s appearance, it provided everyone with an outlet to release their frustrations. "I don''t believe it!" Luan Xiaoyao gritted her teeth and said, "You definitely came because of him, but you dare not admit it. Why?" "Hehe... just trying to confuse things!" Mu Yuyan lightly opened her vermilion lips and said, "You lost. The banners here and the entire matchmaking event will be withdrawn. It can''t dy the high-level duels in the Great Jing''s capital." "Otherwise, I will personally help you remove them." "You!" Luan Xiaoyao widened her eyes. If those banners were removed, it would be difficult to find Gu Lan again, and they would need toe up with a new n. If they didn''t see it before the Expert Rankings came out, wouldn''t all their efforts be in vain? "Don''t want to?" Mu Yuyan raised an eyebrow. Immediately, Mu Yuyan''s sword didn''t leave its sheath. With a gentle wave, sword energy scattered in all directions, cutting the banners and matchmaking signs into pieces! This action made Luan Xiaoyao lose face, but the citizens of Great Jing who were watching felt quite satisfied! "Good! The female warrior did it beautifully!" "Worthy of being a female warrior, not hesitating to take action. This is an absolute disy of strength against those two women!" "Hehe, let this Northern Ming''s arrogant princess be even more wilful!" "Daring to insult our Great Jing''s guardian, the Northern Ming Emperor might spoil you, but the experts of our Great Jing won''t tolerate you!" ... Cheers from afar flowed into their ears along with the river breeze. Luan Xiaoyao bit her lip tightly and clenched the Soul Reaper Umbre. At this moment, Ao Hanyi approached her, and with her aqua-blue eyes, she looked at Mu Yuyan. "We''ve lost. We will leave. Please don''t trouble my friend anymore." Her strength was indeed much higher than Luan Xiaoyao''s, and she could sense the gap between the two of them and Mu Yuyan. Moreover, Ao Hanyi was only here to find Gu Lan and inquire about her aunt''s whereabouts. She certainly didn''t want to be an enemy of the female warrior who admired her at this moment. "You are sensible," Mu Yuyan lifted the corner of her lips and turned away casually. "If your skills arecking, don''t think about stepping on others to gain fame. Otherwise... you''ll really get beaten. Go back to your Northern Ming, little girl!" After saying this, Mu Yuyan intended to leave without any hesitation. However, unexpectedly, Luan Xiaoyao, who had been silent next to Little Dragon Maiden, suddenly disappeared! In the next moment, her figure appeared directly behind Mu Yuyan, and she raised her foot to kick! "Humph! Daring to bully me, don''t think you can leave sofortably!" Luan Xiaoyao''s face showed a triumphant expression. Since she felt she couldn''t win through regr means, she had ced a grudge spirit next to Mu Yuyan a while ago, waiting for her to turn around and swap positions! It was the same move as the day she kicked the big beard into the water! She wanted to kick Mu Yuyan into the river, embarrassing her once! "Oh no, this woman is so poisonous, actuallyunching a sneak attack!" "If you can''t win, just resort to sneak attacks. Truly shameless!" "Female warrior, be careful!" Witnessing this scene, the spectators from Great Jing were anxious! Although they despised Luan Xiaoyao''s sneak attack, at this moment, it seemed like they couldn''t change the fact that the female warrior was about to be ambushed by her! However! In the next moment, an unexpected scene unfolded. In the instant Luan Xiaoyao extended her leg to kick, Mu Yuyan immediately leaned to the side, as if she had anticipated her plot! "What!?" Luan Xiaoyao widened her eyes in astonishment. She never expected such a turn of events! Immediately, she watched as her foot viciously kicked into the empty air beside Mu Yuyan. There was no time to retract her force! In this moment, Luan Xiaoyao caught a glimpse of the disdainful smile on Mu Yuyan''s face. Following that, a powerful force struck her buttocks! "Ah!" Luan Xiaoyao eximed and flew out, making a ssh as shended on the Longting River. Arge water spray rose into the air! Everything happened in the blink of an eye, from Luan Xiaoyao''s attempt at a sneak attack, kicking her foot, to Mu Yuyan sidestepping and striking her buttocks. People were dumbfounded! When they came to their senses, Mu Yuyan had turned into a golden light and disappeared into the sky, leaving only an extraordinarily heroic and graceful silhouette! "Wow, that''s so cool! From now on, this female warrior is my idol!" "Well done! I really didn''t expect it. The female warrior not only overwhelmed them in strength but also outsmarted them intellectually!" "I really want to marry her, sob, sob!" "Directly turned that woman into a wet chicken, hahaha. Let''s see if she dares to boast in front of the experts of our Great Jing in the future!" The cultivators on the shore burst intoughter. At this moment, Ao Hanyi had just fished the thoroughly soaked Luan Xiaoyao out of the water. Together with Ms Gui, they used their true energy to dry her clothes. As for why Luan Xiaoyao didn''t dry herself? Because she was crying! "Sob, sob, this is too much... Where is she!?" Being thrown into the water in front of so many people, the dignified Northern Ming County Princess had indeed lost all face! "Let''s go, don''t chase after her," Ao Hanyi frowned slightly, giving her a simple reminder. Pursuing her would only result in more humiliation. "Princess, this time you''ve indeed met your match. Let''s go back and rest for a while!" Ms Gui patiently advised. "Sob, sob... She hit me like that; I''m going toin when I get back. I''ll make my brother personally lead the army!" Luan Xiaoyao cried profusely, rubbing her sore buttocks. This time, she was truly crying. Her eyes were swollen like peaches in a short while. Ms Gui: "..." The Northern Ming Emperor did indeed dote on Luan Xiaoyao, but this time, no matter how you looked at it, it seemed like they were in the wrong! Originally, the other party was just an unknown wanderer from the rivers andkes,ing to challenge. Luan Xiaoyao was both inexperienced and loved to y around. Even though the confrontation had ended, she still had to be sent flying and have her buttocks kicked. Fortunately, the assant wasn''t a man. Otherwise, her status as Princess Anqiu might have been greatly affected! "Let''s go, Princess! The Expert Rankings hasn''t arrived yet, and we can''t act recklessly..." ... On the other side, in Shuzhou City, Gu Lan and the others spent a night in an inn. Lin Tan''er and Zhongren each copied a map to take with them. The next morning, they arrived at the foot of Heaven Mountain and, along with a group of cultivators and immortal sect apprentices, ascended the mountain towards the renowned Liangyi Academy at the mountaintop.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Chapter 102 Secret Realm Collapse; The Bronze Coffin in the Endless Sea "In fear!?" Gu Lan''s pupils contracted. These demonic beasts had been dominating this savage small world for at least thousands of years. Even the weakest among them reached the peak of the Emperor Realm. What could make them simultaneously feel fear?! What could make them linger and swirl in this ce? "The thing they fear seems to be in that Endless Sea... But since the Deputy Dean said it''s a forbiddennd, I might as well observe first." Gu Lan made up his mind. He held down the Phoenix Egg and retreated to behind the group of demonic beasts. He stood on a mountain peak, watching from a distance. Unexpectedly, just as Gu Lan steadied himself, the mountain under his feet suddenly shook. It wasn''t just the mountain under his feet; the deep waters of the Endless Sea started to overturn and sway!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Howl!!" "Roar!!" Sensing this shaking, the demonic beasts became visibly uneasy. They began to run restlessly, causing earthquakes and making this small world seem like it might copse at any moment. Stay updated via empire "This shaking seems to be caused by the source that frightens them!" "It should be beneath the sea..." Whatever was causing the overlords of demonic beasts to be afraid, Gu Lan didn''t dare to be negligent. His gaze was fixed on the deep, ink-like Endless Sea! At the same time, in other parts of the Secret Realm: In the mountains, countless demonic beasts were running wildly through the woods. It looked like a beast tide, but they didn''t attack passing cultivators. Their objective was clear¨Cthey were heading towards the outskirts of the mountains, toward the direction of the Endless Sea! Seeing this scene, young cultivators waiting for the Secret Realm to end and return to the outside world were shocked. "What''s going on!?" "What happened to the Endless Sea? Why are they so restless?" "Hey! Do you feel the earth trembling?" "Not just the earth; it feels like everything is shaking... Damn, look at the sky; this small world is not going to copse, is it!?" "What?!" "..." At this moment, almost all the cultivators noticed the changes in the sky. They anxiously looked up. For the past two days, it had been cloudless, much like the outside world. But now! The ck thunderclouds covered the sky. Purple thunder shed within them. The nearby sky turned pitch ck, and in the distance, only a blood-red mist was visible. Huge cracks tore through the sky, and a storm brewed within! "Is this what it looks like when the exit of the Secret Realm opens? Why does it seem different from what the elders told us?" "It''s definitely not... I suspect this ce might really copse!" "What?! Copse, you''re talking nonsense; how is that possible!" "What should we do? Where should we escape?" "When the small world copses, there''s nowhere to hide. We''ll all be engulfed in chaos... We might all die!!" "No! I just obtained an opportunity and legacy. I need to return to the sect. I''m still so young; I don''t want to die!" "..." In the mountains, chaos erupted among the young cultivators! They couldn''t believe that just a moment ago, they were peacefully waiting for the Secret Realm to end, nning to return to their sects to show off their gains. The next moment, they faced an unimaginable disaster¨Can apocalyptic scene that shook countless cultivators to their core. Some of them had weak legs, directly copsing in confusion; others scattered and fled, in a panic like ants on a hot pan, headless flies. Simr to the fleeing demonic beasts, someone among the cultivators shouted, "Wait, the demonic beasts! If these demonic beasts are running so uniformly, should we follow them? Perhaps there''s a chance for survival!" "Hey! That might be true!" "Let''s go, follow them, and see where they are headed!" ... In the forest, Lin Tan''er''s eyes shimmered with contemtion. After a moment of thought, she tightened the sword in her hand and followed suit. On a deste mountain, a child dressed in Daoist robes witnessed the scene of the small world copsing. His expression also turned solemn. Biting his teeth, he joined the group of demonic beasts and headed towards the direction of the Endless Sea. ... In the outside world, within the hall of the Liangyi Academy: Five deputy deans were originally meditating on cushions. Suddenly, the wind chimes hanging in a corner of the hall vibrated violently, producing eerie bell sounds. Hearing this, the five deputy deans abruptly opened their eyes, seeing fear in each other''s eyes. "What''s happening... Why would there be such movement? Could it be..." "Has that demon truly awakened?!" "Master''s suppression could havested for some more time. Could it be that someone tampered with the restrictions and released it?!" "Bad! The cultivators from the outside are still experiencing the Secret Realm... Let''s not worry about this for now; we need to open the gate and let them out!" The stern-looking elder among them was the most anxious. He hurriedly rushed out of the hall to unseal the restrictions. The other elders did not dare to ck off either. Working together, the five elders emitted five clear lights straight into the sky, attempting to prematurely gather the exit of the Secret Realm. Seeing this, the apprentices outside the academy showed confusion. "What are the deputy deans doing? It seems like the Secret Realm hasn''t ended yet?" "They seem so anxious. Could something unexpected have happened?" "The five deputy deans have cultivation levels that reach the heavens; how could anything go wrong?" ... After a while, where the clear lights gathered in the sky, a spatial passage had yet to form. The exit of the Secret Realm was difficult to materialize! The elders'' white hair was now drenched with sweat. "Not good! Ending the Secret Realm prematurely is already as difficult as reaching the heavens, and I also feel that the demon inside seems to have awakened... It''s disturbing us from releasing people!" "That demon gains power through devouring. If it devours all the creatures inside, its strength will likely return to the world!" Thinking of this, the faces of the deputy deans turned extremely grim. The demon''s cultivation was beyond the saintly realm. At this moment, no one on the continent could match its might! By then... the consequences would be unimaginable! At this moment, the elder with a pale face spoke softly, "The millennium foundation of the Liangyi Academy cannot be destroyed by our hands. This day... has finallye!" "Remember the promise we made before! If that demon truly returns, we should fight to the death. We must not be sinners in this mortal world or sinners of the academy!" "Yes, Senior Brother!" Hearing this, the other four elders showed sorrowful expressions and changed their formation once again. Exerting all their strength to shatter the spatial tunnel, they desperately hoped to open the gateway of the Secret Realm. ...... The Endless Sea! On the edge, an increasing number of demonic beasts gathered, all of themrge demons beyond the King Realm. Behind them, numerous smaller demons and human cultivators were desperately rushing over. The lords of these ferocious beasts became more and more restless. The small world was shaking more violently, and the sky seemed to transform into a curtain painted with blood and fire, ready to copse into fragments at any moment. In this atmosphere of despair, at a certain moment, the pitch-ck tide of the Endless Sea suddenly receded. It seemed like there was a deep abyss in the center of the sea, sucking rivers and causing a reverse flow. Is iting...? Gu Lan felt a premonition, holding her breath, and looked up with focused attention. In the center of the profound sea, a familiar figure suddenly appeared, making Gu Lan''s heart tighten! It was that dead puppet!! And at this moment, it was bowing devoutly, kneeling under the steps made of seawater, seemingly weing something. On the steps! A massive bronze coffin was slowly lifted by the tide, appearing in the sight of Gu Lan and the numerous demonic lords. At its eight corners, eight mysterious iron chains had been bitten off! Lingering ck mist filled the air, and the coffin lid emitted continuous creaking sounds. All these eerie signs indicated that... whatever was inside the coffin had awakened! Chapter 108 Academy in Terror; Strings of Heartbreak! "Don''t worry, you won''t suffer humiliation for long... I guarantee it." Gu Lan grasped the Primordial Sword, feeling the Emperor Realm power being absorbed, his heart surging with excitement. After getting out, he would quickly refine the demonic soul. He wanted to see if he could extract some memory fragments, avoiding the hassle of interrogation. Gu Lan calcted in secret. "..." The demonic soul was still unaware of the hidden meaning behind Gu Lan''s words, feeling powerless and speechless. Then, Gu Lan slowly closed his eyes, gathering the power of the demonic soul, concentrating it on the edge of the Primordial Sword. He raised both hands, standing in mid-air. Below, the human cultivators who were quietly waiting for the world to copse into nothingness saw his strange actions, and countless surprised gazes were cast... ... At this moment, in the outside world. Mountains of Shuzhou, Liangyi Academy! At the corner of the main hall, the chiming wind chimes shattered with a thunderous noise. On the top of the pavilion, the five vice-deans still trying to open the exit of the secret realm simultaneously groaned, shaken away by an invisible force of destruction. They coughed up blood, staining their white beards red. They could see the astonishment and disbelief in each other''s eyes! "How could this happen? Why is the secret realm copsing so quickly?" "Could it be that the demon has already devoured all the living beings inside, and the secret realm world can no longer contain him?" The atmosphere fell silent at these words, and although they didn''t want to admit it, this was indeed the most likely scenario! After all, the group that entered the secret realm consisted of children, most not even over a few decades old. No matter how high their cultivation was, it was nowhere near enough to contend with that demonic being! "No!" The most impatient elder frowned. "Senior brothers, let''s try again! What if the reality is not what we think?" The other vice-deans shook their heads in despair. "Junior brother, we know you seem serious but have the softest heart inside. You don''t want to miss any opportunity..." "But the small world is still intact and can be tried. Now, with the strength of the five of us, trying to open the chaotic space is simply absurd!" Several vice-deans shook their heads and sighed, sitting despondently on the ground. At this moment, apprentices passing by saw this scene and were all stunned. "What happened to the vice-deans? Why do they look like this?" "It seems like something really big has happened!" ... "I will go to the ancestral hall to request the Heart Scripture of Heaven and Earth!" On top of the high tower, the emaciated old man stood up from the ground with difficulty and suddenly said with a determined voice. As soon as he spoke, the other vice-deans changed their expressions! "No, eldest senior brother!" "The Heart Scripture of Heaven and Earth was brought by the ancestor from the Immortal Realm. He instructed us not to use it unless we surpass the Saint Realm... If you forcefully use it now, you will die!" The words of the vice-deans reached the ears of the apprentices, and they were all shocked! They had heard of the Heart Scripture of Heaven and Earth in the ancestral hall after entering the academy. It was said to be brought by the ancestor from the Immortal Realm, containing supreme divine power! However, it had a terrifying bacsh on the user! What on earth had happened? To force the eldest senior brother to use the Heart Scripture of Heaven and Earth!? The emaciated old man halted his steps, but he paid no attention to the dissuasion from his junior brothers. He sighed slowly and said, "I know I might die, but have you considered that if that demon truly emerges... it''s probably not as simple as just my death!" "At that time, the Heart Scripture of Heaven and Earth might be useless!" At his words, the other vice-deans turned pale. Watching the back of the eldest senior brother leaving, a deep bitterness welled up in their hearts. "You continue here, even if it seems futile, don''t give up... It will take some time for me to fetch the Heart Scripture of Heaven and Earth." The old man left these words and then turned to the young apprentices of the academy, saying, "Children, if the demon appears today and I haven''t seeded... you must immediately descend the mountain, do not reveal that you are students of Liangyi Academy." The apprentices were stunned to find out that things had escted to such an extent. Readtest chapters on empire "Why!?" "Elder, we won''t leave!" "Elder, what happened exactly? We are willing to stay and face the difficulties with the academy!" The elder smiled helplessly and waved his hand. "A demon sealed in the secret realm is about to emerge... it''s the ipetence of us, the masters. But we are afraid that it will vent its anger on the innocent apprentices of the academy, so we can only do this." "What demon is that?" "Elder, no matter how powerful the enemy is, we are willing to fight alongside you. Otherwise, it''s meaningless for us to be students of Liangyi Academy!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Yes! We will live or die together with the academy!" Hearing the apprentices'' impassioned words, the old man did not exin further. He just smiled with emotion. Knowing the character of his apprentices, he nned to disband the academy directly after fetching the Heart Scripture of Heaven and Earth. Although the foundationid by the ancestor was ruined by his own hands, it was better than having that demon seek revenge and ughter everyone. Sighing with deep regret, the old man turned and flew towards the ancestral hall on the summit of the Tian Mountain. ... In the Great Jing Imperial City, within the Hall of Nurturing Hearts! Incense wafted through the air. Xiao Fei''er yed the zither by the side. The female Emperor, resting her delicate hand on her forehead, sat on the dragon throne, taking a slight nap. However, despite listening to the music and smelling the calming incense, she couldn''t suppress the faint sense of restlessness. "Your Majesty, what''s wrong?" Xiao Fei''er noticed her abnormality and gently asked. "I don''t know..." The female Emperor Mu Yuyan opened her beautiful eyes slightly, shook her head with a somewhat distracted gaze, and casually waved her hand, saying, "Just continue ying; perhaps I''ll feel better slowly..." "Okay." Xiao Fei''er nodded. Her slender jade fingers once againnded on the strings. As the melody started, an anxious voice suddenly echoed from outside the hall. "Your Majesty, something has happened!" Liu Yexi didn''t even touch the ground at the entrance. Under the astonished gazes of the guards, he directly rushed into the hall on a flying sword. The guards didn''t dare to stop him because they had never seen Lady Mu so anxious and disoriented! "Ah!" Inside the hall, Xiao Fei''er suddenly eximed. Mu Yuyan looked over and found that the ancient zither, which had been ying smoothly all afternoon, suddenly had a broken string! "What happened?" Mu Yuyan asked in a low voice, looking at Liu Yexi''s hurried figure. An unexinable heaviness settled in her heart. "Your Majesty, something happened to the young master... he''s trapped inside the secret realm!" "Since the opening of today''s Tianshan Secret Realm, he hasn''te out... just now, news came from the foot of the Heaven Mountain that the vice-deans of Liangyi Academy are helpless. Even the secret realm world may have already copsed!" Liu Yexi said with a choked voice. The female Emperor trembled, and her mind went nk! Master Gu is trapped inside... The small world is copsing!! The Golden Hall was extraordinarily silent! Xiao Fei''er, equally rmed after hearing this, looked at Mu Yuyan with concern, hesitated, and struggled to find words. She originally intended to persuade that Gu Lan was powerful and should not have any problems, but the power of a small world copsing was widely known. Even gods would find it difficult toe back alive! When she came to her senses, Mu Yuyan''s graceful figure was no longer in the Golden Hall. She didn''t even change into casual clothes, still wearing the magnificent dragon robe, and transformed into a stream of light, rapidly flying towards the direction of Shuzhou! Chapter 114 Ancestor Shows His Spirit; A Letter to the Grand Tutor Gu Lan held the Book of Heaven and Earth in his hand and recited towards the night sky on the empty mountain. As Si Qingqu heard the first sentence, a rich expression of surprise appeared in his eyes. However, as he listened further... the surprise on his face disappeared, reced by a kind of pure shock and awe emanating from the depths of his heart. Seeing this, the attendants nearby began to record diligently on the ground. The other five vice deans, as well as many inner apprentices of the academy, gradually became fascinated as they listened to the verses. Those with highprehension skills even seemed to be entering a state of meditation. "These poems and verses don''t seem to exist on the maind. Could it be that Consecrator wrote them himself?" "Yeah... and it seems like he just came up with them on the spot!?" "Looking at the expressions of these academy apprentices, it seems... Consecrator''s poetry is quite impressive?" "..." Although the young cultivators didn''t understand literary arts, watching the vice deans be entranced left them bewildered and unable to conceal their astonishment. However! At the next moment, the Book of Heaven and Earth in Gu Lan''s hand suddenly emitted a brilliant seven-colored light. Behind him, faint echoes of dragon roars and phoenix cries resonated. Ethereal figures of saints appeared, each wearing a respectful smile, holding scrolls in their hands. They all bowed three times toward Gu Lan''s back, disying the highest etiquette of literati. Seeing this scene, Si Qingqu''s eyes widened, and his breathing became rapid. "The Literary Sage has appeared in the world. This... this is the manifestation of the Ancestor of the Liangyi Academy!" "What?!" The apprentices were now bewildered! The ancestor appeared, bowing three times to Gu Lan? Although he was unmatched in the world, it seemed like he only practiced sword and spear. What was going on?! "Consecrator... could it be that you also cultivate literary arts?" Si Qingqu fixed his gaze on Gu Lan, his eyes burning. "Uh..." Gu Lan didn''t expect that reciting a few poems would cause such amotion. He scratched his head and said, "Just a little understanding... just copying books and mixing in some cultivation." Even though I''ve reached the fifth rank in the Literary Dao, it''s just for show. For the sake of your academy''s face, let''s be modest! Gu Lan silently unted his inner Versailles. Si Qingqu slowly stepped back, his gaze fixed on Gu Lan''s face. After a long time, he breathed a sigh of relief and bowed deeply, "Handing over the Book of Heaven and Earth to Sir is a wise move!" "To witness the manifestation of the Ancestor in the present era, we have no regrets! The poems and verses bestowed upon us by Sir will be the new treasure of our Liangyi Academy!" Hiss! This was no longer just bewilderment. If Si Qingqu, the leader of literati, praised it so highly, even a fool would understand the weight of the situation. "If Sir has no other matters, I will take my leave!" Gu Lan smiled, stood firm on the back of Little Seven, and bid farewell to the group of cultivators. Feeling a bit ufortable being stared at, fortunately, it wasn''t my original appearance... Gu Lan had Little Seven fly towards an inn. This was the ce where he and his younger brother and Tan Er had agreed to meet yesterday. He still had to take advantage of tonight to carefully examine the origin of the soul in the Book of Heaven and Earth and unravel the biggest mystery in his heart! ... After Gu Lan left, the various demonic beasts, led by the Beast Lords, settled in the nearby mountains of Heaven Mountain. The forces from different factions, who had been waiting outside for several hours, finally had the opportunity to enter. They saw the figure of Gu Lan riding the Phoenix. Considering the actions of the female Emperor earlier, there was undoubtedly a great deal of suspicion in their hearts. "Sir, the Consecrator from Tianji Pavilion just now, is he the husband of the Great Jing''s Emperor?" "Yeah, if this news is true, it''s likely to shake the entire continent!" "..." Looking at them, Si Qingqu seemed to have expected this situation long ago and shook his head with a smile. "Our alien minister is not acquainted with the female Emperor. I advise you all not to specte blindly on this matter and not to spread rumors... Otherwise, consider this, if your spections are false, spreading such rumors might offend both the Great Jing Dynasty and Tianji Pavilion simultaneously." "Between these two major forces, which one can you afford to provoke?" At these words, the hearts of the crowd trembled, and they suddenly realized! Si Qingqu''s words did make sense! Apart from discussing how powerful the Consecrator of Tianji Pavilion was, if the female Emperor, in her nearly demonic state, learned that someone was spreading false rumors, wouldn''t she directlye and ughter them out of anger? Everyone shuddered in unison, expressing their gratitude to Si Qingqu for the reminder. However! For those deliberately emphasized words "our alien minister," they all felt extremely envious and jealous! Damn it! In just a few hours, he''s already climbed up this towering tree. Liangyi Academy has really benefited from this disaster! ... After everyone left Heaven Mountain, Si Qingqu returned to his room, sat down at the desk, spread out paper and ink, and slowly wrote a letter: "Senior Su Hua, it has been many decades since you left Shuzhou for your travels, I hope you are well. Today, significant events urred in the academy due to the secret realm, nearly destroyed by my foolish actions. It is truly regrettable... However, I write to you tonight because of the matter involving Emperor Jiaqing. As the Grand Tutor of the Great Jing, I believe you may be able to convey a message on behalf of my foolish junior." "After Emperor Jiaqing''s departure, the spatial tunnel was cut open by the Consecrator of Tianji Pavilion with a single sword, rescuing numerous cultivators... among them, perhaps the husband of the Emperor..." "By the way! The Consecrator has already agreed to be a guest official of the academy. The future is promising. Tonight, there was also the manifestation of our ancestor, the Literary Sage, and the appearance of the ancient divine Phoenix, which was extremely shocking..." "Give my regards to Senior Qing Wei." "..." After writing earnestly, he sent it out with a messenger. Si Qingqu walked to the edge of the window, gazing at the vast night sky over the mountain stream, sighed deeply, and looked towards the north in the direction of the Great Jing, his expression revealing a trace of concern. ... The Great Jing Capital, Imperial City! The female Emperor''s sleeping pce. "How is Her Majesty''s condition, Granny Liang?" Liu Yexi stood by the dragon couch, filled with worry, and asked cautiously. On the way back carrying the female Emperor, she had already coughed up a lot of blood. Liu Yexi dared not be negligent. As soon as she returned, she had invited Granny Liang, the best medical practitioner in the pce, for treatment! At this moment, Mu Yuyan was lying t on the dragon couch. She had removed her bright yellow dragon robe, and her delicate body was wrapped in in clothes. Her entire aura was extremely chaotic! Her originally exquisite face was as pale as paper. The long and curved eyshes trembled slightly, tears still hung in the corners of her eyes, and her delicate eyebrows would asionally furrow, making her look particrly pitiable. "Her Majesty''s condition worsened due to overexertion, and the urgency led to a heart attack. Moreover, because of her pregnancy, she was already blood deficient, so she fainted momentarily... However, Lady Liu, you don''t need to worry too much. I''ve prepared a prescription, and after taking it tonight, Her Majesty should wake up tomorrow." Granny Liang replied. Liu Yexi breathed a sigh of relief and urgently said, "Thank you, Granny! Please provide me with the prescription now; I''ll have someone prepare it immediately!" Granny Liang nodded, handed her the prescription, and then slowed down before saying, "However, Lady Liu, Her Majesty''s illness seems to be more of a mental ailment. You should know that for mental illnesses, one needs medicine that heals the heart..." After saying this, Granny Liang knew that she had touched upon a delicate matter and shouldn''t inquire further. She then took her leave. Liu Yexi, holding the prescription that Granny Liang had given her, was slightly stunned! Medicine for the heart? The master is the remedy for the female Emperor''s heart... but how can I find him?! "Fei''er, go and have the medicine prepared and feed it to Her Majesty!" Liu Yexi pinched her brow and instructed Xiao Fei''er, who had hurriedly arrived. Xiao Fei''er looked at the female Emperor on the bed, like a lifeless paper flower, and mist appeared in her beautiful eyes as well. Experience exclusive tales on empire Although she didn''t know what had happened, she vaguely felt that it was rted to Gu Lan! Hearing Liu Yexi''s serious tone, even her usually lively and yful character became extremely serious at this moment. "Alright! Sister Xi, you''ve also had a tiring day. Go back and rest. I''ll stay here to watch over Her Majesty tonight!" Liu Yexi nodded. After giving an excuse to Old Yang at the Gu Residence, she returned to the Imperial Announcements Bureau with a heart full of worries. She wanted to find a solution here since the secret guard colleagues here were familiar with Gu Residence. Perhaps they could find a way. However! Liu Yexi had just sat down for a short while when a secret guard walked into the main hall in a hurry and whispered a piece of information to her. After listening!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Liu Yexi''s eyes widened, and she immediately stood up from her chair. Her originally tired body became tense: "Many young cultivators emerged from the Heaven Mountain Secret Realmter?" "Are you sure?!"