【I Desire to Rule the World】【Part Seven】【Author: Yitian】

Just as Dao Kuang and Wei Ruoxuan thought Wu Zi'ang had been worn down by Nangong Qian, the latter let out a low whistle and swung his left hand, actually using the scabbard in his hand to launch the second half of "Star Extinction and Moon Fall?" - Moon Fall!!
A bright moon, no, it should be said that a red sun suddenly rose from Wu Zi'ang's scabbard, roaring down towards Wei Ruoxuan with dazzling light!
Wei Ruoxuan's old face immediately turned ugly. He really thought that even under Nangong Qian's full restraint, his opponent still had the strength to launch such a powerful sword move!
At this moment, he had closed to his opponent by less than four steps. When the move was exhausted, there was no way to avoid it. He had no choice but to use all his strength to clash with his opponent!
With a loud "bang", the red sun shattered into pieces and instantly dissipated. Wu Zi'ang's figure retreated violently, moving ten meters away before his body almost crashed into the courtyard wall. His pale face and a trace of crimson blood at the corner of his lips showed that he had suffered internal injuries from the combined attack of the three masters.
Wei Ruoxuan was in no better shape; his chest heaved, and his old face turned red—from Wu Zi'ang's fiery energy. Nangong Qian had also been affected by Wu Zi'ang's "Moonfall" technique; his clothes were cut in several places by the blade-like fiery energy, and there was even a noticeable burn mark on his cheek.
Of the three, only Dao Kuang was unharmed, but he too was forced back by Wu Zi'ang's desperate
, all-or-nothing technique. Blocked by Wu Zi'ang, the three knew they had missed their chance to eliminate the Empress. Frustrated, they all felt a surge of killing intent, determined to leave this brat behind. After their previous exchanges, Wu Zi'ang's strength had already made Dao Kuang and the others wary; if they didn't eliminate him soon, what would become of him in the future? *
Thud!* Just then, Wu Zi'ang suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his divine weapon pointing at the three of them again, and said calmly, "Behold my Burning Blood Remnant Soul Technique!"
Burning Blood Remnant Soul Technique? Upon hearing those five words, Dao Kuang, Wei Ruoxuan, and Nangong Qian immediately changed their expressions, each taking two steps back with suspicion. The first two had suffered from this technique before, and Nangong Qian, as the leader of the Demonic Sect, knew its terrifying power even better.
With a feint of swordplay, Wu Zi'ang let out a soft whistle, his figure suddenly rising, quickly—uh, quickly—darting towards the courtyard gate.
The best of the thirty-six stratagems is to flee; his mission to stop the enemy was complete, only a fool would stay here to die! As for the mouthful of blood just now, yes, he had deliberately suppressed it in his mouth when he was injured!
*Ah!* Dao Kuang, Wei Ruoxuan, and Nangong Qian were stunned for a moment, immediately realizing they had been tricked, and each let out a furious roar. Qi Shi used his lightness skill to chase after Wu Zi'ang. Whether or not he killed the Empress was no longer important; the important thing was that he absolutely could not let this brat escape! (
Volume 4, Rebirth of the World, Chapter 138: Covering
the Rear - End) "If water flows, like a spinning pearl. How can it be described? The body is like a fool. The vast earth axis, the boundless celestial pivot. It carries the essence, it shares the same symbol. Transcending the divine, returning to the void. Coming and going for a thousand years, is this what it means?"
'Flow'! Wu Zi'ang suppressed his internal injuries and unleashed the final move from the 'Demon God Record,' his figure transforming into a blur as he swiftly fled.
Behind him, Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian, Wei Ruoxuan, and Nangong Qian, all with murderous intent, pursued relentlessly.
Although their internal strength surpassed Wu Zi'ang's, when Wu Zi'ang unleashed the only movement technique among the eight moves of the Demon God Record, they were unable to catch up for a time.
Nangong Qian, the leader of the Demonic Sect, had only mastered four techniques from the Divine Demon Record: 'Powerful,' 'Unrestrained,' 'Refined,' and 'Suppressed.' Therefore, he was helpless against Wu Zi'ang!
Despite his surging blood, Wu Zi'ang knew he couldn't stop. If he fell into the encirclement of these three masters again, he would surely lose his life. Therefore, he gritted his teeth and leaped left and right like riding the wind, desperately running towards the street.
Dao Kuang and the other two were also truly enraged, relentlessly pursuing Wu Zi'ang, determined to kill him.
However, just then, a dark figure rushed towards Wu Zi'ang.
Seeing who it was, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but groan inwardly, thinking, "Grandma, why are you back again!"
The newcomer was none other than the beautiful Shui! After seeing her master off to the carriage and instructing the driver Zhao Er to ensure a safe arrival at the General's Mansion, she was worried about Wu Zi'ang's safety and immediately rushed back.
At this moment, she also spotted Wu Zi'ang running and leaping, and was overjoyed. She rushed towards him.
In a few leaps, Wu Zi'ang and Shui Qingqing met, but this was not the time for them to pour out their hearts to each other, because the three villains with ferocious expressions were getting closer and closer!
"Go!" Wu Zi'ang suddenly grabbed Shui Qingqing's jade wrist with his sword, and used all his internal strength to throw her in another direction. He had used this move against Tie Ren at the Meridian Gate.
As a result, he was momentarily stunned, and Dao Kuang and the other two immediately closed the distance.
"Roar!" Seeing the distance closing, Dao Kuang suddenly stopped and let out a deafening roar.
Thud! Wu Zi'ang, who was already suffering from internal injuries, could not withstand this earth-shattering roar. He lowered his head and spat out a mouthful of blood, and his forward running body also stopped for a moment!
Wei Ruoxuan and Nangong Qian only trembled slightly before chasing after Wu Zi'ang again.
"That old bastard!" Wu Zi'ang cursed inwardly. He had suffered at the hands of Dao Kuang's 'Lion's Roar' during a sparring match with Tie Ren at Qingli Xiaozhu before his rebirth. While the old steward Liu Fu could also injure an enemy with a roar, he was far less terrifying than Dao Kuang.
A hissing sound rang out as two silver threads, barely visible to the naked eye, shot towards Wu Zi'ang with incredible speed, tightly binding one of his arms. With a flick and a pull, Wu Zi'ang's massive body was abruptly redirected, hurtling towards Shui Qingqing!
Affected by the force, Wei Ruoxuan and Nangong Qian were unable to stop themselves. Forced to take a few steps forward to recover from the momentum, they leaped again, chasing after Shui Qingqing and Wu Zi'ang.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Shui Qingqing had already pulled Wu Zi'ang more than ten meters away, further widening the distance between them.
Meanwhile, squads of Imperial Guards searching the streets had spotted the fleeing group and immediately surrounded them.
Coincidentally, Chu Tianhe, the Commander of the Cavalry, was among them. When his gaze fell upon the fleeing Wu Zi'ang, his eyes lit up, and he gestured to his soldiers, "Capture the man in purple—no, stop the three behind him!" He changed his mind because he had recognized Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang behind him; these two were now wanted criminals of the Great Qin Dynasty. Moreover, his orders were to deliver the man in purple 'intact' to the Commandant's office.
Upon hearing the Commander's command, the three squads of Imperial Guards suddenly roared, formed a spear formation, and charged towards Wu Zi'ang!
Although the Imperial Guards appeared, Dao Kuang, Wei Ruoxuan, and Nangong Qian showed no intention of retreating. To experts like them, these ordinary soldiers were practically nothing more than ants. The three were determined to take Wu Zi'ang's life. Seeing the Imperial
Guards approaching, Shui Qingqing had a sudden inspiration. Using the momentum of their charge, she swung her right hand forcefully, sending Wu Zi'ang flying. She then flipped over, her hand flashing with silver light, and instantly shot out five Ice Soul Spider Silks, swiftly entangling the three approaching Dao Kuang and Wei Ruoxuan. Her plan was simple: if she could hold them off for a moment, and Wu Zi'ang was protected by the soldiers, he would be safe!
"You brat, you're courting death!" Dao Kuang saw through Shui Qingqing's intentions at a glance. Enraged, he unleashed a 'Purple Qi Comes from the East' strike with his right hand.
Wei Ruoxuan and Nangong Qian split up, dodging Shui Qingqing's attacks and chasing after Wu Ziang.
"Bang!" In order to stop Dao Kuang, Shui Qingqing actually took eighty percent of his palm strike head-on, letting out a muffled groan as her delicate body fell backward. The Meihou School was not known for its internal strength, but rather for its unpredictable and strange methods. Now that Shui Qingqing had abandoned her strengths and used her weaknesses, how could she not suffer a great loss?
Although seriously injured, Shui Qingqing was unusually clear-headed at this moment. Using Dao Kuang's palm strike as a springboard, she managed to catch up with Wei Ruoxuan and Nangong Qian. She waved her jade hands, using the last bit of her internal strength to control two spider silk threads to entangle the two men.
"Want to die? I'll grant your wish!" Seeing how difficult Shui Qingqing was to deal with, Dao Kuang couldn't help but have murderous intent. He suddenly pounced, his fist, bursting with purple light, fiercely smashing towards Shui Qingqing's chest.
Just then, a soft sigh reached Dao Kuang's ears, causing him to shudder and instinctively slow his downward punch.
"Whoosh!" A fierce gust of wind from the punch grazed Shui Qingqing's delicate body, and a long, white sleeve swept her to safety at the last second, rendering Dao Kuang's punch a waste. "Lingxi
…!" Looking at the white-clad woman standing before him, Dao Kuang's old face first showed surprise, then embarrassment, and finally, shame and anger! Being discovered as an accomplice of the Demonic Sect meant that from now on, he faced the danger of being expelled from the Dao Sect, just as Wei Ruoxuan had been branded a traitor by Mo Liu!
At this moment, Wei Ruoxuan and Nangong Qianye had already stopped their pursuit, because before them stood a being far more dangerous than a Celestial Saint—the Demon Emperor Wei Xuanyi!
Although confident that his martial arts were no less than his junior brother Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian's, Wei Ruoxuan felt a sense of discouragement facing the Demon Emperor, the leader of the Four Great Masters. The overwhelming pressure he felt was unlike anything he had ever experienced!
The current Demon Sect Master, Nangong Qian, was even paler, his body trembling. He knew all his martial arts were taught to him by the Demon Emperor; if they were to truly fight, he would surely be slaughtered!
"Retreat!" Wei Ruoxuan and Nangong Qian thought of the same word simultaneously. Without hesitation, they turned and leaped into the alley, fleeing swiftly.
Wei Xuanyi didn't pursue, only whispering to Nangong Qian's retreating figure, "Go back and cripple your martial arts, and I'll spare your life!"
Nangong Qian staggered, almost falling, but quickly regained his balance and ran away like a defeated dog!
Seeing this, Dao Kuang knew his plan for the day had completely failed. He glared hatefully at Wei Xuanyi and Ji Lingxi, then also used his lightness skill to leave!
"Are you alright?!" Immortal Saint Ji Lingxi looked at Shui Qingqing's pale face and secretly transmitted a surge of true energy to her.
"Thank you!" Although she knew the person before her was her master's rival in love, he had just saved her life, so Shui Qingqing bowed slightly to express her gratitude.
At this moment, Demon Emperor Wei Xuanyi had already arrived beside Wu Zi'ang, who was being protected by the Imperial Guards. His sharp eyes scrutinized the purple-clad man, who felt both strange and familiar to him.
Commander Chu Tianhe recognized the black-clad middle-aged man before him as the Demon Emperor, the leader of the Four Absolutes. He also knew that the man was the master of the deceased General Wu, so he didn't say anything but signaled the soldiers to step aside, leaving the task of identifying the real man to
Wei Xuanyi. Seeing Wei Xuanyi staring at him with a scrutinizing gaze, Wu Zi'ang took a deep breath of true energy, suppressed his injuries, and suddenly rushed towards Wei Xuanyi.
"Powerful," "bold," and "tragic"—though Wu Zi'ang, injured, couldn't unleash even a tenth of the power of these moves, it was still enough to provide compelling proof!
After dodging these attacks, Wei Xuanyi's eyes were filled with surprise. Then, in a flash, he had already grabbed Wu Zi'ang's wrist.
Shui Qingqing was shocked and exclaimed, "Senior, don't move! He really is Zi'ang!"
"Why are you so sure?" Wei Xuanyi asked as he channeled his true energy into Wu Zi'ang's body. Soon, the answer was clear: the true energy flowing within Wu Zi'ang was of the same nature as his own. Everything else could be faked, but martial arts could never be faked. At the same time, he also noticed that there were no traces of disguise on Wu Zi'ang's face!
“I’ve already questioned him about his past!” Shui Qingqing coughed a few times, panting, “His answers were spot on. Isn’t that enough?”
“Qingqing, how are you?” Wu Ziang’s eyes flashed with gratitude. He truly hadn’t expected that the other party would do something so reckless to save him!
“I’m fine, I’m fine!” Although her face was pale, Shui Qingqing’s expression was very happy. Surrounded by three great masters, Wei Ruoxuan, Dao Kuang, and Nangong Qian, she and Wu Ziang had still managed to escape with their lives. It was truly a stroke of luck, and she had nothing to complain about!
“Come back to the General’s Mansion with me!” Although Wei Xuanyi had a general idea of Wu Ziang’s identity, for the sake of caution, he decided to take Wu Ziang back to the General’s Mansion so that everyone could make a judgment together. In reality, he hadn't personally witnessed Wu Zi'ang's death at the Meridian Gate. He only received news of Tie Renci's death and rushed back with the Immortal Saint. Upon hearing that a purple-clad man who looked exactly like Wu Zi'ang had appeared in the city, the two decided to search for him themselves. Coincidentally, they ended up saving Wu Zi'ang and Shui Qingqing's lives!
Thus, Wei Xuanyi and Ji Lingxi, accompanied by Wu Zi'ang and Shui Qingqing, and escorted by Commander Chu Tianhe, made their way to the General's Mansion.
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 139 The Truth
Upon entering the main hall of the General's Mansion, Wu Zi'ang immediately felt several gazes directed at him.
Looking at the familiar faces, he felt a surge of warmth. Having been resurrected, he especially appreciated the preciousness of reuniting with family and friends!
Slightly surprised, he saw Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng among them, their equally beautiful faces filled with shock!
"You...!" Qiu Xueqing, Wu Zi'ang's first wife, trembled uncontrollably the moment she saw him enter the room. Although his physique and hairstyle were different from before, she could find a familiar feeling in his eyes. Her intuition told her that the man in purple before her was her deceased husband.
Looking at the frail Qiu Xueqing, Wu Zi'ang felt a pang of pain in his heart, thinking that it must be because of his death that she was so haggard!
"He hasn't disguised himself, and the energy within him is the innate pure Samadhi True Fire Qi. That divine weapon, Heavenly Flame, is also genuine!" Demon Emperor Wei Xuanyi's eyes flashed with a hint of confusion as he said, "The rest, I'll leave to everyone to prove!"
"I also questioned him about his past private affairs with Zi'ang, and the facts prove that he is indeed Zi'ang!" Shui Qingqing also testified.
Upon hearing the words "private matter," Wu Zi'ang blushed slightly. However, the others had no time to delve into the ambiguous meaning in Shui Qingqing's words; their primary concern was the authenticity of Wu Zi'ang's identity!
After hearing the Demon Emperor and Shui Qingqing's words, Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng's beautiful eyes lit up simultaneously, their hearts pounding uncontrollably. Although the story of someone dying and being reborn was too bizarre, they preferred to believe that Wu Zi'ang could come back to life.
Wu Zi'ang looked at the somewhat excited faces of the people present, thought for a moment, and then stepped forward towards Wei Lingyao.
"Back in Pingyang Gushan, when Lingyao saved me, she left behind a silk handkerchief. Because the bloodstains on the handkerchief hadn't been removed, I hadn't returned it to Lingyao!"
Hearing Wu Zi'ang's words, Wei Lingyao was first stunned, then her elegant and ethereal face radiated boundless joy. Under everyone's gaze, she threw herself into his arms without hesitation.
Uh! Holding the beauty in his arms, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but feel embarrassed, his eyes involuntarily glancing at Qiu Xueqing. To his surprise, Qiu Xueqing showed no annoyance whatsoever; instead, her face blossomed with the same joy as Wei Lingyao's.
"Ah!" After a moment in Wu Zi'ang's arms, Wei Lingyao finally came to her senses, hurriedly standing up and taking a step back. Her jade-like face was already flushed, and that shy expression on her usually pure and ethereal face was exceptionally beautiful and captivating!
Wu Zi'ang took a step to the side, facing Su Qimeng, and after a moment's thought, said, "Back at the General's Mansion, Qimeng personally visited me to ask for my guidance on the zither. I jokingly said, 'Only by reaching the pinnacle of emotion can one reach the pinnacle of the zither.' I wonder if Qimeng still remembers?!
" "Of course I remember!" "In fact, from Wu Zi'ang's conversation with Wei Lingyao, Su Qimeng already knew that the man standing before her was indeed Wu Zi'ang, who had been resurrected. Her voice trembled uncontrollably, and her beautiful eyes welled with tears as she said, 'Zi'ang, it's so good you're back!'
'Thank you!' Wu Zi'ang was deeply moved; he could feel the sincerity in her last words. Turning around, he finally stood before Qiu Xueqing, smiling, 'Wife, am I handsome in this outfit?'
'Handsome, extremely handsome!' Qiu Xueqing cried tears of joy, stepping forward and gently touching his face with her delicate hands. There was no doubt; only her husband would use such a strange word as 'handsome' to describe her.
'Where is he? Where is he?'" Just then, rapid footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a flash of movement as Tie Ren and Feng Yihan appeared in the room.
Seeing Wu Zi'ang embracing Qiu Xue, both Tie Ren and Feng Yihan were startled, their eyes widening as they scrutinized each other.
"We've confirmed it, this is indeed Zi'ang!" Wei Xuanyi immediately explained, seeing their expressions.
"But, Zi'ang clearly…!" Feng Yihan asked incredulously.
"Yihan, do you remember when we worked together to capture the petty thief and retrieve our lost items in Luocheng? Do you remember when we searched for treasure at the Commandant's Mansion and fought the Seventeen Bronze Men together? Do you remember…!"
Before Wu Zi'ang could finish speaking, Feng Yihan pounced on him like a tiger, grabbing him and shouting like a madman, "It really is you! It really is you! It really is you!!" "
Cough...!" Wu Zi'ang felt as if his ribs were about to be broken by the other party's grip. He was already seriously injured under the combined attack of three experts, Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang, and now, after being hugged so tightly by Feng Yihan, he couldn't help but feel suffocated and coughed violently.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Realizing that he had used too much force, Feng Yihan hurriedly released his arms and patted the other party's back lightly, but he couldn't hide the look of ecstatic joy on his face.
Tie Ren had never doubted Wei Xuanyi's words, but he was really puzzled as to how Wu Zi'ang, who had been confirmed to have severed heart meridians that day, could come back to life and return home completely unharmed.
"Zi'ang, explain yourself!" In fact, Wei Xuanyi and Tie Ren also had doubts. Although Wu Zi'ang's identity had been confirmed, everyone present still needed an explanation!
"That day, when I woke up…!" Without any pretense, Wu Zi'ang recalled the scene at the bottom of the river, his expression naturally becoming hazy, as if recalling a dream. His voice grew increasingly mysterious and captivating, drawing everyone present into a boundless and unpredictable space-time!
Still concealing the fact that his soul had entered another body, Wu Zi'ang described the events of that day with a mixture of truth and fiction. "Wu Zi'ang spread his hands and smiled bitterly: 'Don't think it's unbelievable to you; even I find it incredible. But the truth is, I have indeed come back to life. If things weren't so bizarre, and I needed time to calm down, I would have gone straight home. Why would I have deliberately avoided everyone?'
After listening to Wu Zi'ang's recollection, the room fell silent. Didn't believe it? The person before them was standing there perfectly fine! Did they believe it? Everyone present had never heard of such a bizarre thing before!
'Nothing else matters; what matters is that Zi'ang has come back to life!'" To Wu Zi'ang's surprise, it was the Immortal Saint Ji Lingxi who broke the silence. "
The world is full of strange things. If we keep pursuing the root of the problem, we'll only create trouble for ourselves!" Ji Lingxi smiled faintly, turning to Wei Xuanyi and saying, "What is reasonable is a bad outcome; what is unreasonable is a good outcome. Which would you choose?"
"I choose the latter!" Wei Xuanyi nodded with a smile. "Senior is right. As long as Zi'ang is back, even if the sun becomes nine, I wouldn't be surprised!" Feng Yihan exclaimed loudly.
"Welcome back, little brother!" Tie Ren walked up to Wu Zi'ang, smiling as he patted the man's shoulder.
"Brother Tie…!" Wu Zi'ang looked at the man's genuinely joyful expression, his throat tightening. So many people cared about him—damn, this feeling was incredibly blissful!
"Young Master, go see Madam!" At this moment, the old steward Liu Fu, tears streaming down his face, wiped his tears with his sleeve and reminded Wu Zi'ang to go see Madam Ling.
"I'll go right now!" Wu Zi'ang quickly wiped his tears and said to Liu Fu, "Where is Mother? Uncle Fu, please take me there!"
"Madam, Young Master is back!" Liu Fu reported at the door.
"Don't lie to me anymore. Xiao Shi and Xiao Hua both said that Ang'er... he's not coming back!" Madam Ling's choked voice came from inside the room, making Wu Zi'ang's heart ache. He pushed open the door and went in.
"Mother!" Looking at Madam Ling, who was weeping on the bed, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but call out and knelt down with a thud.
"You...?" Madam Ling was startled when she saw the man kneeling on the ground. She stared intently at him for a while, then suddenly said sharply, "You're not Ang'er. Ang'er isn't as tall as you. Who are you?"
"Mother, it's me!" Wu Zi'ang's eyes welled with tears; he wanted to explain, but didn't know how to begin.
Just then, Wei Xuanyi's clear voice rang out from outside the door: "Sister-in-law, please don't doubt it. It is indeed Zi'ang who has survived a great calamity and returned."
Wei Xuanyi's words carried weight, and Lady Ling's doubt vanished instantly. She shakily got out of bed and walked towards Wu Zi'ang.
"Mother, it is indeed your son!" Wu Zi'ang quickly stepped forward and helped her up.
Lady Ling reached out and gently rolled up Wu Zi'ang's sleeve. Her eyes fell on the small birthmark on his forearm, and she couldn't help but weep with joy: "It really is Ang'er! How did you suddenly grow so much taller?"
Wu Zi'ang was stunned. This birthmark had been there since he was "Lin Zixuan," and although it later took over the body of "Wu Zi'ang," he had never noticed the same birthmark. Could this "Wu Zi'ang" truly be his past life? "
That's from when I taught Zi'ang martial arts, Madam, please don't be surprised!" Without Wu Zi'ang needing to explain, Wei Xuanyi's voice arrived just in time, rescuing Wu Zi'ang!
"So that's how it is!" At this point, Madam Ling had no more doubts. She had only learned of her son's death after questioning Xia Shi and Dong Hua, noticing their strange expressions. She was heartbroken when she suddenly saw Wu Zi'ang return unharmed. Overwhelmed with mixed emotions of sorrow and joy, she suddenly went limp and fainted.
"Mother!" Wu Zi'ang panicked immediately, calling out repeatedly.
Hearing Wu Zi'ang's anxious cries, Liu Fu and Wei Xuanyi quickly slipped into the room.
After taking Madam Ling's pulse, Wei Xuanyi shook his head and said, "She's just exhausted and can't handle it right now. With proper rest, she'll be fine!"
Hearing Wei Xuanyi's words, Wu Zifang felt relieved, and Liu Fu's expression also relaxed. Just then, Xia Shi and Dong Hua, carrying ginseng soup, entered. Upon seeing Wu Ziang before the bed, their pretty faces paled, and the soup bowls in their hands crashed to the ground.
"Don't be afraid, young master is not dead!" Liu Fu, quite experienced, spoke up in time, thus preventing two screams from escaping.
"The young mistress said that young master is alright!" Hearing Liu Fu's words, and with Wei Xuanyi present, Xia Shi and Dong Hua quickly accepted the fact. However, the usually clever Dong Shi still asked a question in a doubtful tone.
"The young mistress didn't know at first!" Liu Fu continued to explain.
"Young master is alright, that's wonderful!" Xia Shi and Dong Hua knelt down timidly, speaking with a tone full of joy.
Whew! Wu Ziang breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone had finally accepted the fact that he had been resurrected, much more smoothly than he had originally imagined. Next, he would face the Qin royal family and officials. He could almost imagine the expressions on the faces of the Empress Dowager, princes, and civil and military officials when he appeared in the Qin palace!
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 140 Regent I
Just as Wu Zi'ang's rebirth experience was being recognized, Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang followed Nangong Qian to a secret branch altar.
This was Nangong Lian's private stronghold in Hengcheng, where he had placed trusted confidants, so he wasn't worried about it being discovered by other members of the Demonic Sect, including the Empress.
Although the assassination attempt on the Empress had failed, and Nangong Lian was facing the crisis of losing his position as sect leader, Nangong Qian, who had served as sect leader for many years, had still cultivated some private power. Therefore, Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang had no intention of abandoning each other for the time being; they were in a disadvantageous position and needed manpower right now.
"What are the sect leader's plans next?" After settling down in the room, Wei Ruoxuan probed Nangong Qian's intentions.
"What other plans do I have?" Nangong Qian clenched his fists tightly, a desperate look appearing on his refined face. He said, "The Demon Emperor and the Empress will never let me go, but I won't sit idly by and wait to die. At worst
, we'll fight to the death!" "Sect Leader's heroic spirit is truly admirable!" Wei Ruoxuan gave him a thumbs up and praised, "This subordinate will certainly follow Sect Leader at all costs!"
"Elder Wei, you flatter me!" Nangong Qian shook his head, his expression turning worried. "With the Demon Emperor's return, there are very few people in the Demon Sect who can be mobilized by me. Elder Wei has recently been focusing on developing the court's influence. To be honest, our situation is not optimistic!"
Dao Kuang remained silent. He knew the other was telling the truth, and it wasn't just Nangong Qian; he too was facing the danger of being expelled from the Dao Sect. He had always been hailed as a radical anti-demon, yet now he openly colluded with the Demon Sect. To make matters worse, he had been caught red-handed by the Immortal Saint.
The thought of the Immortal Saint and the Demon Emperor living happily ever after while he himself had become a complete loser in every way made Dao Kuang's old face twitch.
"Sect Master, please rest assured. Although the situation is unfavorable to us now, if we were to fight, we might still have a fighting chance!" Noticing the low spirits of Dao Kuang and Nangong Qian, Wei Ruoxuan had to speak up to boost morale.
"Gong Yan has already returned to Tianmen Pass, which means we now have 80,000 elite troops!" Wei Ruoxuan said slowly. "Although these troops are not enough to conquer Hengcheng and seize the Qin Dynasty, it wouldn't be difficult for us to raise an army and establish our own independent regime!"
"The question is, will Gong Yan be willing to obey orders?" Nangong Qian's question was the same as Dao Kuang's that day.
"Would he dare disobey?" Wei Ruoxuan's eyes flashed coldly. "His life is in my hands. What other choice does he have but to obey my orders?"
Nangong Qian nodded. He had many ways to control a person's life and death, let alone the other party. However, he immediately remembered something and frowned as he asked, "Is the young man who appeared today really the deceased Wu Zi'ang?"
"This…!" Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang exchanged a glance, both showing expressions of confusion. The former remained silent for a long while before speaking, "That day at the Meridian Gate, I personally examined him. Wu Zi'ang's heart meridian was severed, and he had no chance of survival!"
"So, the young man who appeared today is someone else in disguise?" Nangong Qian asked in surprise.
"That's the strange thing!" Dao Kuang shook his head, his tone filled with utter bewilderment, "The young man who appeared today wielded the divine weapon that Tie Ren once used, and the skill he used was indeed Tie Ren's unique technique, the 'Mysterious Heaven Sword Art.' To this day, besides Tie Ren, only Wu Zi'ang can perform this skill! Appearances can be faked, but skill cannot!"
"Then Mr. Fang means that Wu Zi'ang has been resurrected?" Nangong Qian asked with disbelief.
"I'd rather believe other explanations, if there are any!" Wei Ruoxuan reached out and gently rubbed his forehead. He was sixty-three years old this year and had seen countless strange things in his life, but something as unbelievable as today was unprecedented. Can a person really be brought back to life? Could this young man possess supernatural powers?
The
Empress Dowager knew she couldn't delay any longer. The ambiguous attitudes of Tian Guang and Feng Chang made her hesitant to gamble the future of the Great Qin on these two generals. Although she knew they were loyal ministers, she also knew of their close relationship with the late, mighty General Wu Tianyao!
Every day the situation dragged on, the more dangerous the Great Qin's empire became. For this reason, she thought of another person: the veteran general Zhao Qi! A truly loyal minister who could forget personal feelings for the country!
Although he had been retired for many years, his prestige remained. Many current officers were Zhao Qi's former subordinates. Only this old general had the hope of breaking the control of the capital by Commandant Li Hui and Court Minister Xiao Bufan, thus allowing Prince Wu Che to ascend the throne smoothly.
Therefore, after many days, she decided to hold the morning court again, her purpose being to test the opinions of her ministers once more!
"General Tian, how did your discussions with General Feng and Commandant Li go?" The Empress Dowager tried her best to soften her tone. In reality, for the Empress Dowager to have to humbly seek the opinions of her ministers, it was clear how far the imperial power of the Great Qin Dynasty had fallen. But what could she do? For now, the best course of action was to endure!
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager!" Upon hearing this, Tian Guang immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This humble subject has discussed it with Lord Li and Lord Xiao. With the late Emperor's passing, it is only natural for the prince to succeed to the throne. We have absolutely no objections!"
Alas! The Empress Dowager, Crown Prince Wu Che, and the third son Wu Zhi, along with the other ministers, were all surprised. They couldn't understand how, in just a few days, the attitudes of Li Hui, Tian Guang, Feng Chang, and others had changed so drastically.
"Is this true?" After the initial surprise, the Empress Dowager asked with a hint of joy on her face.
"How dare we mock the Empress Dowager! However…!" Tian Guang abruptly changed the subject, causing the Empress Dowager's heart to sink.
"However, what?" Crown Prince Wu Che couldn't contain himself and interrupted.
"However, the succession to the throne needs careful consideration!" Commandant Li Hui suddenly stepped forward and said.
"What do you mean?" Crown Prince Wu Che's face immediately changed. He was the Crown Prince, the rightful heir to the throne, yet the other party said it needed careful consideration, clearly indicating that he was not recognized as the new ruler of Qin. How could he not be furious?
"What I mean is that the decision on which prince should succeed to the throne must be made by the ministers!" Commandant Li Hui replied calmly.
"You, you bastard!" Wu Che could no longer bear it. He leaped off the platform and grabbed Li Hui by the collar, angrily shouting, "You slave, how dare you be so arrogant!"
"Your Highness, please show some self-respect!" Li Hui did not flinch, but instead looked at the other party and spoke in an unusually cold tone.
Witnessing Li Hui's sharp, piercing gaze, Wu Che couldn't help but shiver. His anger vanished, replaced by a deep-seated fear.
"Che'er, come back!" The Empress Dowager spoke at the opportune moment, giving Wu Che a way out. He released his grip, glared at Li Hui with a fierce look, and turned back to the Empress Dowager's side.
"Captain Li, what are your thoughts? Please speak frankly," the Empress Dowager asked, taking a deep breath and trying to calm her anger.
"My opinion is that the Fourth Prince is more suitable to succeed to the throne!" Li Hui remained calm, as if discussing a trivial matter.
"And your reasons?" the Empress Dowager countered.
"The Fourth Prince is gentle and kind; he will surely become a benevolent ruler in the future!" Li Hui replied calmly. "This is why we recommend the Fourth Prince!"
"General Tian, General Feng! Do you also think so?" The Empress Dowager turned to Tian Guang and Feng Chang and asked.
"Your Majesty, we also think so!" Tian Guang and Feng Chang replied in unison.
"What do you all think?" The Empress Dowager then turned her gaze to the other ministers.
"Uh! We also think that the General and Lord Li are right!" After hesitating for a moment, most of the ministers chose the wise course of action, while the remaining ministers from the Crown Prince's faction and the Third Prince's faction dared not object and only answered in silence. "
Very well, then we shall follow the advice of the General and Commandant Li!" With the military officials in agreement, the Empress Dowager knew that she had no other choice. Moreover, whether it was the Crown Prince or the Fourth Prince, they were ultimately of the blood of the Qin royal family. As for imperial power, that needed to be gradually taken back in the future; it could not be rushed at present.
Crown Prince Wu Che's face turned ashen. After hearing the Empress Dowager's conciliatory words, he turned and left without a word. The Third Prince, however, endured it and remained where he was.
"Since the choice has been made, let's select an auspicious day for the new emperor's enthronement ceremony?" To avoid any unforeseen complications, the Empress Dowager quickly suggested setting a date as soon as possible.
"The day of the enthronement shall be chosen by the Empress Dowager!" Li Hui bowed slightly and said, "Your subject has another matter to request Your Majesty's permission!"
"Oh? What is it?" The Empress Dowager frowned and asked.
"Now that Zhang Zhongshu and Gong Yan have defected to Tianmen Pass, and Wei Ruoxuan has colluded with the Demonic Sect and disappeared, the positions of both the Left and Right Chancellors of our Great Qin are vacant. Therefore, your subject wishes to implore Your Majesty to select a virtuous minister to assist in governing the country!" Li Hui said.
"Whom do you think is suitable to fill this vacancy, Commander Li?" The Empress Dowager's eyes flashed with sarcasm. "How about this, you be promoted to Right Chancellor?"
"My talents are insufficient to govern the country!" Li Hui shook his head. "However, I recommend someone who is certainly capable of serving as Right Chancellor!"
"Tell me!" The Empress Dowager had long understood what tricks he was playing. He had deliberately chosen the inexperienced Fourth Prince as Emperor and recommended his cronies to control the court, effectively sidelining the royal family. However, she wanted to see who Li Hui would recommend for the position of Right Chancellor of Qin.
"This person is already waiting outside the palace!" Li Hui replied with a smile.
"Summon him in!" The Empress Dowager immediately issued the decree.
However, before the eunuch could make a move, a young man stepped into the palace.
Dressed in a purple robe, his handsome face held a faint smile. That familiar face almost made the Empress Dowager fall off her throne.
"This is...!" Except for Tian Guang, Feng Chang, and Li Hui, all the other ministers showed fear, their eyes wide as they stared intently at the approaching purple-clad man.
"Your subject Wu Zi'ang pays respects to the Empress Dowager!" Reaching the center of the hall, Wu Zi'ang tossed his long robe and bowed to the Empress Dowager as a subject.
"You...!?" The Empress Dowager stretched out her hand, pointing tremblingly at Wu Zi'ang, her face showing disbelief.
"Does the Empress Dowager not remember your humble subject?" Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly, stood up from the ground, glanced around at the ministers in the hall, and said, "Do you ministers not remember this general either?" Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 141 Regent II
Brothers, this chapter is to make up for yesterday's, I will definitely pay back all the debts I owe!!!!
"Fake!?" After the initial shock, the Third Prince Wu Zhi seemed to understand something and shouted.
The other ministers also reacted, and they all said in unison, "It must be fake, it must be fake!!"
"We swear on our lives that what Your Majesty sees now is indeed General Wu!" Feng Chang, Kou Guang, and Li Hui said in unison, "General Feng, I have regarded you as a good minister, yet you have colluded with Li Hui to have someone impersonate Wu Zi'ang in order to control the court!" The Empress Dowager pointed at Feng Chang and Kou Guang and said angrily.
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Wu Zi'ang smiled lightly and said, "Xue Qing is outside the door. If you doubt my identity, why not call her here!"
"I don't believe it. How can a person be brought back to life? Summon, summon Qing'er in!" The Empress Dowager's chest heaved violently. She was not a three-year-old child, how could she believe such a bizarre thing? Therefore, she was convinced that this was a conspiracy orchestrated by Li Hui and Feng Chang and Kou Guang.
Hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Kou Guang, Feng Chang, and Li Hui all showed slight surprise. If it were a few days ago, they would have shared the Empress Dowager's thoughts, but after Wu Zi'ang stood unharmed before them and confirmed his identity, they had no choice but to believe that the existence of people who had died and been resurrected was indeed possible!
"Qing'er greets the Empress Dowager!?" A moment later, Qiu Xueqing entered from outside the palace gate and bowed to the Empress Dowager.
"Qing'er, I have always doted on you the most. You must not deceive me. Tell me, who is he?" The Empress Dowager stared intently at Qiu Xueqing, whom she regarded as her own granddaughter. She could not hide even the slightest abnormality from Qiu Xueqing's face.
"Qing'er's husband, Wu Zi'ang!?" Qiu Xueqing glanced at Wu Zi'ang, her eyes filled with tenderness.
"No, impossible!?" Finding no sign of Qiu Xueqing lying, the Empress Dowager stared blankly at Wu Zi'ang, muttering to herself.
"The General was saved by Heaven's help!" Li Hui, the Commandant beside her, declared loudly, "Last night, I observed the celestial phenomena and saw the star shining brightly, a sign of a virtuous minister and general assisting the Qin Dynasty's prosperity. I urge Your Majesty to follow Heaven's will!"
Hearing Li Hui's words, the other ministers exchanged bewildered glances, all thinking, "What kind of celestial observation skills do you have?" Even though they knew Li Hui was spouting nonsense, none of the ministers dared to refute him. On the contrary, a few sycophants chimed in, "The celestial phenomena were unusual a few days ago, which we found perplexing. Today we realize it was because the General was saved by Heaven's help, protecting the Qin Dynasty!"
Hearing these words, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, glancing at them and noting their names. " A fence-sitter?" Although he held absolute power and none of the ministers dared to object, it seemed somewhat arbitrary for them to always speak. It was necessary to recruit a group of supporters to cheer him on—well, that would make it seem like he was in line with public opinion.
"Empress Dowager, no one is foolish enough to impersonate a dead person!?" Wu Zi'ang smiled at the somewhat distraught Empress Dowager and said, "My family and friends have all accepted my identity. It is understandable that the Empress Dowager and the ministers have doubts because they are not familiar with me. However, I do not want these doubts to last too long, because without the support of the Empress Dowager and the ministers, how could I be qualified to be the Right Chancellor of Qin?"
"You, how do you know that I will agree to your request?" After hearing the seemingly gentle but actually aggressive words, the Empress Dowager was both surprised and angry, barely suppressing her anger as she asked.
"Your Majesty, I recall that last month at Changxin Palace, the Empress Dowager owed me a favor! Does Your Majesty remember?" Wu Zi'ang asked with a smile.
"You mean...?" The Empress Dowager was initially taken aback, then her expression changed. She immediately recalled that day when she had knelt and begged him to spare the lives of several princes and princesses.
"That's right!?" Wu Zi'ang nodded, saying, "Although Your Majesty gifted me with the soft gold armor, I feel I have suffered a great loss, hence I ask Your Majesty for another favor!"
"You are already a First-Rank General of the Great Qin Dynasty, why do you still need this civil post of Right Chancellor?" The Empress Dowager asked weakly. At this moment, she was beginning to believe that the person before her was indeed Wu Zi'ang, as very few people knew about what happened that day.
"The Qin court is currently in a state of political turmoil, but the nation is in a state of flux. The Fourth Prince is young and lacks the ability to govern. Therefore, I believe that a suitable person must be found to manage the affairs of state and command the officials on behalf of the young prince!" Wu Zi'ang answered seemingly sincerely.
"This suitable person is you!?" The Empress Dowager, furious yet laughing, asked.
"Does Your Majesty think there is anyone more suitable than me in Qin?" Wu Zi'ang replied without batting an eye.
Ye E, very suitable!? A look of desolation crossed the Empress Dowager's face. She had originally thought that with Wu Shang dead and Wei Ruoxuan expelled, the rebellion would be quelled and the royal family restored, but she never imagined that she would face an even more dangerous situation today. She wasn't too worried about Li Hui and Xiao Bufan, because she knew that although they held military power, their prestige was insufficient. Controlling the court was one thing, but plotting to usurp the throne was another. It wasn't that controlling the capital guaranteed a secure seat on the throne.
Therefore, people like Wei Ruoxuan only wanted to control the Fourth Prince in order to achieve absolute power and control the government.
Now, Wu Zi'ang had come back from the dead and was using Wei Ruoxuan's methods, intending to concentrate all military and political power in Qin in his own hands. As the son of the deceased General Wu Tianyao, and a descendant of three generations of military families, Wu Zi'ang possessed the support of hundreds of thousands of Wu clan loyalists. Even if he were to raise an army and declare himself king, it wouldn't be out of the question, let alone try to control the capital, which had long been under Wu Shang's control. It must be said that Wu Zi'ang's return completely disrupted her pre-planned schemes, making her intention to reclaim imperial power virtually impossible!
"Zi'ang!?" Qiu Xueqing, noticing the Empress Dowager's expression, couldn't help but feel a pang of pity and spoke softly.
"Empress Dowager!?" Receiving Qiu Xueqing's pleading gaze, Wu Zi'ang hesitated for a moment, then looked up and said, "There are some things I wish to discuss privately with the Empress Dowager. I
humbly request your permission!" "Very well!" The Empress Dowager nodded weakly, then waved to the assembled officials, saying, "Court adjourned!"
The officials, each preoccupied with their own thoughts, dispersed, leaving only Wu Zi'ang, Zai Xueqing, and the Empress Dowager in the vast Golden Palace. "How magnificent, how splendid this hall is!" Wu Zi'ang exclaimed, hands behind his back, looking around.
The Empress Dowager didn't reply, only casting a complex gaze at the man in purple. "Fine, even if he really is Wu Zi'ang, the contrast in their personalities is too great!" Although they hadn't interacted much, in her memory, that sickly-looking young man was far less sharp and aggressive than the man before her today.
"The position the Empress Dowager sits on is something so many people dream of!" Wu Zi'ang finally fixed his gaze on the dragon throne where the Empress Dowager sat.
"Including you?" The Empress Dowager's expression changed, and she coldly retorted.
"I am but a common man, of course I cannot escape the common ways!" Wu Zi'ang said with a frank smile. "If given the opportunity, I would not hesitate for a moment!"
"Now your opportunity has come!" The Empress Dowager said with indignation. "What are you waiting for?"
"No! Not yet!" Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly. "I only have my current position because of my late father's remaining prestige. Whether it is prestige or reputation, I am not enough to overthrow Qin. Therefore, I have followed the method of Old Ghost Wei!"
"Why do you speak so bluntly!" The Empress Dowager's indignation faded, replaced by a gloomy expression.
"Empress Dowager!" Qiu Xueqing stepped into the hall, came to the Empress Dowager's side, gently grasped her hand, and said softly.
"That is the truth! I am just stating the facts!" Wu Zi'ang replied calmly.
"Although I've only spoken with Zi'ang once, I believe my eyesight is good enough to see that he is a kind and benevolent man. Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to my request back then!" The Empress Dowager shook her head, tears welling in her old eyes.
"Perhaps?" Wu Zi'ang smiled and said, "I may be a good person, but I'm not a pushover. I wouldn't do something as foolish as handing over power to wholeheartedly assist the Great Qin!"
"I understand. You're worried that once Che'er and the others ascend the throne, they will target the General's Mansion and the Ninth Prince's Mansion. But now that Xin'er has ascended the throne, what else do you have to worry about?" The Empress Dowager said, still unwilling to give up, "I guarantee with my life that the General's Mansion and the Ninth Prince's Mansion will be safe and sound in the future!"
"How many more years can the Empress Dowager live?" Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this, saying, "Who can predict the future? How can the Empress Dowager make such a rash judgment?" He paused, then, seeing the Empress Dowager's speechless expression, continued, "My father's death made me realize that even someone second only to
the emperor, above all others, cannot escape the constraints of that one person. If the emperor commands the subject to die, the subject must die! If one cannot die, then one can only become the emperor! Or, one can strip the emperor of his power!?" Hearing Wu Zi'ang's treasonous words, the Empress Dowager lacked even the strength to be angry, and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Indeed, three generations of loyal ministers of the Wu family!?" Wu Zi'ang smiled mockingly, "Therefore, my father should have died unjustly in Luocheng. Therefore, I should now obediently relinquish power and be at the mercy of others! Is that what you mean, Empress Dowager?"
"I can bestow upon you three golden scrolls, guaranteeing your Wu family's peace for generations to come!" The Empress Dowager played her last card, looking at him expectantly.
"Thank you for your kindness, Empress Dowager!" Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly and said, "This humble subject still believes that it is safer to take control of one's own destiny!" Having witnessed the deaths of his father, his father-in-law Wu Shang, and the near-death experiences of his mother and wife, the reborn Wu Zi'ang would never allow his family to face even the slightest danger again. Therefore, he would seize power. Even if he could not become emperor for the time being, he would still grasp all military and political power in the Qin Dynasty and become the uncrowned king!
"Qing'er!" The Empress Dowager was utterly desperate, shaking Qiu Xueqing's hand forcefully, hoping that the other would say a few words of persuasion.
Seeing this, Wu Zi'ang frowned and said, "This humble subject's mind is made up. Empress Dowager, please give up!" Having said that, he turned and swept his sleeves away, leaving behind a cold, detached statement: "Within three days, this humble subject wishes to hear the Empress Dowager's decree of investiture!" (
Volume 4, Rebirth of the World, Chapter 142, Regent III )
After leaving the palace, Wu Zi'ang did not immediately return home, but instead headed towards the inner palace.
After a few steps, he casually called out to a small eunuch: "Take me to the Empress's palace!"
"Yes, yes! General!" The small eunuch, his face drained of color, responded tremblingly, then turned and led the way.
"Are you afraid of me?" Wu Zi'ang followed slowly behind, asking.
"No, not afraid!" The small eunuch said he wasn't afraid, yet he stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.
Not only the small eunuch, but even the brightly armored, fully armed palace guards, upon seeing Wu Zi'ang approach, all showed expressions of fear, their hands holding weapons trembling involuntarily.
"I'm not a ghost! Is there any need to be so afraid of me?!" Wu Zi'ang chuckled and shook his head with a sigh.
He simply ignored the guards, keeping his eyes silently on the eunuch behind him. Soon, he arrived at the Huian Palace.
"You may leave!" Wu Zi'ang waved his hand, and the eunuch, as if granted a pardon, hurriedly retreated, barely daring to breathe.
Wu Zi'ang vaguely remembered the eunuch waiting at the palace gate; he recalled that this eunuch had led the way when he defeated Pei Zhi and was summoned by the Empress.
"General, General, General!" Upon seeing Wu Zi'ang, the eunuch stammered, his voice trembling.
Well! Another one easily frightened! Wu Zi'ang ignored him and strode through the gate.
Inside the palace, not a single maid appeared; the entire room was unusually quiet. Wu Zi'ang frowned and asked the eunuch at the door, "Where is the Empress?"
"In, in, in her bedchamber!" the eunuch replied, still in a trembling voice.
Why was she confined to her bedchamber in broad daylight? Was she ill? Wu Zi'ang pondered for a moment, then turned and walked into the palace.
"Great...!" The eunuch seemed to remember something, about to call out, but ultimately fearing Wu Zi'ang, he only managed to utter one word before abruptly covering his mouth, watching helplessly as Wu Zi'ang walked inside. Hearing is unreliable, seeing is believing. The horrific scene of corpses strewn across the Meridian Gate that day, rivers of blood flowing, lingered in his mind. In his heart, this young man called the Great General was nothing short of a god or demon. Yes, life cannot be brought back to life, but for a god or demon, that is nothing!
Wu Zi'ang, unaware of the eunuch's thoughts, assumed it was out of fear at seeing him resurrected. He stepped across the white jade steps and arrived at the rear palace. Immediately, he heard a strange, almost imperceptible sound.
Low and soft, gentle and continuous, though only intermittent single syllables, it possessed an extremely rich and profound charm, enough to make the listener's blood boil and their imagination run wild. Wu Zi'ang recognized the sound immediately; his experience told him it was a woman's moan, a sound only heard during intercourse.
Without hesitation, Wu Zi'ang followed the sound. The closer he got to the closed door, the clearer Empress Xiao's captivating moans became.
"Good, good! Don't stop, she's dead, she's dead...!" Just as Wu Zi'ang reached the door, a shrill scream rang out from inside, followed by silence, then faint, labored breathing.
This slut killed her father-in-law, and now she shamelessly summons male lovers for pleasure! Wu Zi'ang's anger flared. He kicked open the door and rushed inside. The scene inside was much as he had imagined. Empress Xiao lay naked on the bed, her long, flowing hair almost reaching the floor. Her face, still flushed and glistening with sweat, displayed the allure unique to those who had just made love! However, the one working on her was not a man, but a well-built maid.
Startled by the sudden intrusion, both Empress Xiao and the maid were taken aback. The maid hurriedly sat up, and with a thud, something fell to the ground from where their bodies were joined.
The Empress also tried to get up, but her body was weak and sore from the recent climax, and she could only barely cover her breasts with her hands.
"You…! A ghost!" Upon seeing the intruder's face, Empress Xiao's previously flushed face turned deathly pale, her phoenix eyes filled with terror, and she screamed. Summoning strength from who knows where, she suddenly rolled over and buried her head in the blankets, completely unaware that her shapely buttocks had been raised high, exposing her private parts to Wu Zi'ang's view.
Wu Zi'ang took a few steps closer and immediately realized that what had fallen to the ground was a black sex toy. He understood that the two women had just used this to relieve their physical needs!
Realizing it wasn't a man, Wu Zi'ang's anger subsided somewhat. His gaze swept over Empress Xiao, noticing the fine, dripping fluid from her vulva between her buttocks, and a slight sensation rose in his lower abdomen.
"Put your clothes on!" Wu Zi'ang averted his gaze and snapped.
The maid seemed unfamiliar with Wu Zi'ang, so her face didn't show much fear, only a hint of unease at her mistress's fright.
Hearing Wu Zi'ang's reprimand, the maid hurriedly picked up her clothes, hastily dressing amidst the swaying of her breasts and buttocks. "Not bad!" Wu Zi'ang stole a few glances, secretly commenting to himself.
"Get out of here, uh, and take that away!" Following Wu Zi'ang's gaze, the maid's pretty face flushed red. She bent down to pick up the now-drying erotic device and then retreated out the door.
"Get up!" Seeing Empress Xiao still turning her back to him, Wu Zi'ang was both annoyed and amused.
"Slap! Slap!" Several slaps yielded no response. Wu Zi'ang approached the bedside, and with a swift movement, two crisp handprints appeared on Empress Xiao's snowy buttocks. The
pain jolted Empress Xiao back to her senses. She turned her head, covering herself with the blanket, only her pink face visible as she stared at him in terror.
As his hand touched her smooth buttocks, Wu Zi'ang felt a slight flutter in his heart, almost tempted to touch her a few more times. Empress Xiao's beauty was certainly not as striking as his wife's, or that of Shui Qingqing, Wei Lingyao, and other beauties, but her mature beauty, and her status as the Empress of Qin, undeniably possessed a unique charm!
"It's strange that I'm suddenly standing before you, perfectly fine?" Wu Zi'ang stared into her phoenix eyes, asking calmly, "You...aren't you dead?" Empress Xiao could clearly feel her voice trembling. Boundless fear gripped her throat like a large hand, almost suffocating her. It was impossible. Wu Zi'ang was indeed dead. On the day of his funeral, she had witnessed the serene-faced man being carried onto the warship.
"Can't the dead come back to life?" Wu Zi'ang suddenly laughed, reaching through the blankets to touch Empress Xiao's snow-white feet. He said, "I couldn't bear to part with Sister Feng's lovely jade feet, so I came back to see them!"
"Ah!" Upon hearing this, Empress Xiao's face contorted with despair and terror. She screamed and fainted.
"So easily frightened!" Wu Zi'ang withdrew his hand, shaking his head with a smile. "Don't hurt Her Majesty!" With a cry of alarm, the maid who had retreated outside rushed in. Seeing the Empress unconscious on the bed, she was both shocked and frightened, immediately shielding Empress Xiao.
"It's alright, she'll wake up soon!" Seeing the maid's loyalty, Wu Zi'ang's face showed a hint of approval. He reached out and pinched her cheek, laughing, "Go wait outside obediently!"
"You, you can't hurt Her Majesty!" The maid's pretty face was still filled with fear, but she still gritted her teeth and insisted.
"Stop arguing!" Wu Zi'ang's face darkened. "If you don't leave, I really will!"
Intimidated by Wu Zi'ang's expression, the maid glanced at the Empress with unease, then obediently retreated.
Wu Zi'ang thought for a moment, then stepped forward and pinched Empress Xiao's philtrum with his thumb. In just a moment, he heard a soft moan as Empress Xiao woke up.
The blanket slipped down, and Empress Xiao's pair of trembling, full breasts were fully exposed before Wu Zi'ang's eyes. Magnificent! A word completely unrelated to describing breasts inexplicably popped into Wu Zi'ang's mind. The last time he saw Empress Xiao, her breasts were concealed by clothing, so he hadn't noticed how full they were. Now, seeing them, he realized his judgment was flawed!
Empress Xiao slowly awoke, and upon seeing Wu Zi'ang's face again, she was startled and nearly fainted again.
"Put on your clothes!" Seeing that she was awake, Wu Zi'ang's face hardened, and he said sharply.
"You…! You really are Zi'ang?" Empress Xiao mustered her courage and carefully examined the man in purple before her, immediately noticing the difference. Clearly, the man before her was much taller and larger than she remembered Wu Zi'ang.
"Don't doubt it, Sister Feng!" Wu Zi'ang sneered. "I just came from the main hall. If I weren't a general of the court, how could I enter your Huian Palace as if it were my own? Besides, who else knows that Sister Feng's place is sensitive, except me?" As he spoke, he pinched her bare jade foot again.
"I don't believe it. How can a person be reborn?" Empress Xiao shook her head, her voice trembling.
"In this world, there are many things that are far beyond human imagination, but that doesn't mean such things don't exist!" At this point, Wu Zi'ang's expression turned sharp, and he suddenly shouted, "Why did you conspire with Wei Ruoxuan to assassinate my father-in-law?"
"You came to avenge him?" When she heard Wu Zi'ang mention the Ninth Prince Wu Shang, Empress Xiao's expression became unusually strange. She seemed to have forgotten the fear that Wu Zi'ang had instilled in her, and asked in a calm voice.
"He is my father-in-law! Shouldn't I avenge him?" Noticing that Empress Xiao's expression was somewhat abnormal, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but have a thought and asked in a more relaxed tone.
"Of course! Of course!" A mocking smile flashed across Empress Xiao's face, then she straightened her chest, her phoenix eyes looking directly at him calmly, and said, "Then what are you waiting for? Make your move!" "
I want to know the reason!" Wu Zi'ang was slightly taken aback, then said in a deep voice. The fact that the other party was so willing to die made him hesitate!
"Alright, since you want to know, I'll tell you!" Empress Xiao only then realized that she was naked, and couldn't help but blush, quickly picking up the quilt again.
"That day, Wu Shang wanted to get rid of Wu Che, and Ling'er and Wu Zhi, was it you who pleaded for them?" Shrinking her body into the quilt, Empress Xiao's embarrassment subsided slightly, and she spoke.
"That's right!" Wu Zi'ang nodded, then glanced at Empress Xiao and said, "Does this have anything to do with your plot against your father-in-law?"
"Of course!" Empress Xiao met his slightly questioning gaze and said, "At that time, didn't you find it strange?" "Strange about what?" Wu Zi'ang asked with great curiosity.
"Of the princes and princesses he wanted to get rid of, only one was missing!" Empress Xiao reminded him.
"Fourth Prince Wu Xin!" Wu Zi'ang exclaimed in surprise, his mind racing! 　　"That's right, it's Xin'er!" Empress Xiao nodded.
" 　　This must be because of your favor, right?" Wu Zi'ang thought for a moment and said. 　　Hearing this, Empress Xiao suddenly laughed, first softly, then louder and louder, echoing in every corner of the room. 　　Wu Zi'ang didn't speak, quietly waiting for her to finish laughing. 　　After a long while, Empress Xiao stopped laughing and said in an unusually strange tone, "My favor? What favor do I have to him? The reason he didn't kill Xin'er is because…!" 　　"Because of what?" Seeing that she deliberately paused, Wu Zi'ang pressed on. 　　"Xin'er is his only son!!" Empress Xiao said clearly, word by word. 　　"What?" Even though Wu Zi'ang always prided himself on his composure and calmness, he couldn't help but change color and exclaim in shock after hearing her say such a thing. 　　“Including that deadbeat Wu Wei, almost everyone thought Wu Shang had a health problem, which is why he had no children!” Empress Xiao was very satisfied with Wu Zi'ang’s expression, and a smile appeared on her face. “Only I know that he is a normal man!” 　　“Then you…!?” Wu Zi'ang’s shock had not subsided, and he asked haltingly. 　　“That’s right, I am indeed Xin’er’s mother, and Xin’er is my only child with Wu Shang!” Knowing what Wu Zi'ang wanted to ask, Empress Xiao answered first. 　　“Incredible!” At this moment, Wu Zi'ang felt that the relationship between his father-in-law Wu Shang and the Empress was even more bizarre than his experience of being reborn. After calming down, he asked again, “What happened between you and your father-in-law?” 　　“To put it simply, I was initially going to marry Wu Shang, but later, Wu Wei, as the Crown Prince, proposed marriage to my family. My father, greedy for power, ignored my pleas and married me into the Crown Prince’s residence.” A look of sorrow appeared on Empress Xiao’s face as she slowly spoke. 　　"So that's how it is!" Hearing this, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but feel sympathy. In truth, the other party was merely a sacrifice in a power struggle, just like Xue Qing when she married into the General's mansion. 　　"After hearing that I was engaged to Wu Wei, Wu Shang never came to see me again. But the more he did that, the more terrified I became. I know his personality too well. No matter how great the humiliation, he could endure it then, but if he were to explode one day, he would never stop until he retaliated tenfold!" Empress Xiao sighed, her eyes unusually misty, seemingly lost in memories of the past: "For the next few years, everything was peaceful until one day, I returned home to visit my family, and he came!" 　　"He was very direct; he demanded that I bear him a child! I was shocked and refused him outright! But when I met his fiery eyes, I knew that refusal was useless. He acupunctured my pressure points, and then again and again…!" Empress Xiao's voice gradually faded, her phoenix eyes staring blankly at the ground. 　　Wu Zi'ang sighed inwardly. At this moment, he could only quietly wait for Empress Xiao to recount this secret. 　　"That's when I learned that his martial arts were incredibly powerful; he could sneak into my residence undetected by the guards!" Finally, Empress Xiao paused for a moment, then continued, "To ensure everything went smoothly, he risked coming every night until I returned to the palace! A month later, I knew he had succeeded!" 　　"What is Father-in-law trying to do?" Wu Zi'ang asked, frowning. 　　"Don't you understand? He wants to humiliate Wu Wei, to get revenge on Wu Wei!" Empress Xiao's face was full of bitter smiles as she spoke, "More importantly, he's preparing for everything in the future!" "Father-in-law hates Wu Wei so much because Wu Wei stole you away, isn't it?" Wu Zi'ang somewhat understood what she meant by 'preparing', and after a moment's thought, he asked again. 　　"That's only one of the reasons!" Empress Xiao shook her head and said, "Wuwei has nine brothers, and Wushang is the youngest, but he's the only prince born to the same mother as Wuwei!" 　　"Oh, their mother is the current Empress Dowager, isn't she?" Wu Zi'ang asked. 　　"Yes!" Empress Xiao nodded, then continued, "Wuwei has been mean-spirited since childhood. Because he's arrogant as the eldest son, he often bullies his other brothers, including Wushang. Wushang's hatred for him stems from childhood and deepens with age, eventually leading to fratricide. Wuwei was no match for Wushang!" At this point, Empress Xiao couldn't help but chuckle, then added, "When he impersonated Wuwei, even I was fooled at first. This shows how meticulously he's planned and imitated Wuwei's every move and word over the years!" 　　"You still haven't explained why you wanted to harm my father-in-law?" Wu Zi'ang stared intently at her and said calmly. 　　"It wasn't that I wanted to harm him, it was that he wanted to harm me!" Empress Xiao replied with a bitter smile. 　　"Why?" Wu Zi'ang asked in surprise. 　　"His plan has succeeded. I am now a superfluous person. Once he becomes emperor, the Ninth Prince's wife will naturally become empress. Where will I have any room?" Empress Xiao said with a sad smile, "He sent me calming medicine under the guise of comforting me, but in reality, these so-called tonics are all slow poisons. He wants me to die without arousing suspicion!"

"At first, I didn't notice anything, until a few days later I felt dizzy and weak. At that time, Wei Ruoxuan appeared. He brought me the antidote and frankly asked me to help him get rid of Wuwei. So I agreed!" Two lines of clear tears streamed down Empress Xiao's phoenix eyes, but she continued, "First, I tricked Eunuch An into coming and forced him to take poison. Then, the next day, Eunuch An and I tricked Wuwei into drinking poisoned tea. That's how it happened!"
"Would your father-in-law really kill you?" Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but ask, "According to you, your father-in-law must have loved you very much before?"
"That was before!" Empress Xiao smiled self-deprecatingly and said, "In his heart, nothing is more important than power! Nothing is more important than the throne! You should be glad he's dead, otherwise your fate might not be better than mine!"
"What do you mean?" Wu Zi'ang frowned and asked.
"Do you really think he'll pass the throne to you after he passes away?" Empress Xiao stared at Wu Zi'ang and said, "He didn't tell you about Xin'er because he wanted to trick you into serving him wholeheartedly. Don't think he'll care about the relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law. In his heart, it's either the throne or Xin'er. Once the situation is settled, the first person he'll deal with is you!"
Wu Zi'ang met Empress Xiao's gaze, remained silent for a long time, then suddenly smiled and nodded, "My father-in-law is indeed that kind of person. In fact, as a powerful figure, he was almost about to succeed, but unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes, and in the end, he failed!"
"Now you've gotten off easy!" Empress Xiao seemed to have suddenly thought of something, a strange light flashing in her phoenix eyes, and said, "Once Wei Ruoxuan is expelled, this Great Qin will be yours!"
"Aren't you afraid of me?" Wu Zi'ang didn't answer her question, but just asked with a smile.
"If you were a living person, why would I fear you!" Empress Xiao shook her head and said, "You're right, there are many things in this world beyond human imagination, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. I believe you are indeed Zi'ang!"
"Just because of that!" Wu Zi'ang's gaze fell on the other woman's slender, beautiful feet, and he smiled.
Empress Xiao blushed, subconsciously pulling her feet back under the covers, but asked, "Didn't you want to avenge Wu Shang? Tell me, how do you intend to deal with me?"
"I haven't thought of anything yet!" Wu Zi'ang put his hands behind his back, pondered for a moment, and then said, "I came today to tell you that the Fourth Prince, Wu Xin, will be chosen as the heir to the throne, and you, Sister Feng, may be promoted to Empress Dowager!"
"You…!" Empress Xiao couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, her phoenix eyes fixed on the other woman's face, as if trying to see through the truth of Wu Zi'ang's words!
"Don't get agitated. Actually, I didn't have any good intentions! I just copied Old Man Wei's method!" Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly and said, "Alright, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave!" With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Xiao Huangguo on the bed, unaware that the blanket had slipped to the side.
Wu Zi'ang left Huian Palace and returned to Changxin Palace, where the Empress Dowager resided. He picked up Qiu Xueqing and then they left the palace together, taking a carriage back to the General's Mansion.
In the carriage, Wu Zi'ang noticed that Qiu Xueqing's expression was somewhat somber, so he gently put his arm around her shoulder and said softly, "What's wrong, my wife?"
"Nothing!" Qiu Xueqing replied softly, "I just feel sorry
for the Empress Dowager!" "I won't harm her, and I can guarantee the wealth and honor of the Wu family and the dignity of the royal family! Isn't that enough?" Wu Zi'ang smiled and said, "You feel sorry for the Empress Dowager, but if it were the other way around, do you think she would treat her the way I do?" "Even the most meritorious ministers and generals who overshadow their rulers will end up like Father. My wife, I don't want to follow in Father's footsteps. I want to take everything into my own hands. Do you understand?"
"I understand!" Qiu Xueqing nodded, but a complex light flickered in her beautiful eyes as she looked at Wu Zi'ang. After a long while, she sighed softly, "Husband, I just feel that you've changed too quickly!"
"Ever since Father died in Luocheng, I've had this thought, but I've never had the chance!" Two sharp glints shot from Wu Zi'ang's eyes as he said in a deep voice, "Now that the opportunity has come, I will seize it firmly. This Great Qin is destined to belong to me!"
"I don't care about all that. As long as you are Zi'ang, that's enough!" Qiu Xueqing gently rested her head on Wu Zi'ang's broad chest and whispered.
"Silly wife, if I'm not myself, who am I?" Wu Zi'ang lowered his head and chuckled softly in her fair ear, "If you still don't believe me, let me tell you about our intimate moments in the past, shall we?" “
You, you’re asking for it!” Qiu Xueqing blushed instantly upon hearing this, lightly punching his chest with her fist.
“My wife, please calm down, my wife, please calm down!” Wu Ziang feigned pleading, but his hands were already firmly around Qiu Xueqing. A moment later, soft moans of pleasure could be heard from inside the carriage.
Back at the General’s Mansion, Wu Ziang and Qiu Xueqing alighted from the carriage, the blush on her face still lingering.
Noticing the driver’s smirking expression, Qiu Xueqing felt extremely embarrassed and ignored Wu Ziang, heading straight for the back hall.
Wu Ziang, however, pursed his lips, savoring the sweetness of his wife’s lips, and then walked contentedly towards the front hall.
Inside, General Tian Guang, Feng Chang, and Captain Li Hui had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing Wu Ziang return, smiles appeared on their faces.
“Uncle Feng, Uncle Tian! Brother Li!” Wu Ziang greeted them with a smile.
“Greetings, General!” "Captain Li Hui was about to offer a half-serious bow when Wu Zi'ang stopped him. 'We're in our own home, no need for such formalities!' Wu Zi'ang said with a smile. Since his rebirth, he had always harbored the intention of winning over this former confidant of his father-in-law. He also knew that the other party was a smart man, and in the current situation, the other party had no choice but to side with him.
'Zi'ang is right, we're in our own home, if we continue like this, it will seem insincere!' Feng Changyi laughed and pulled Li Hui back to his seat.
'Where is Commandant Xiao?' Wu Zi'ang glanced around and noticed that one person was missing.
'He can't come!' Li Hui replied with a smile.
'Oh? Why?' Wu Zi'ang asked with a slight surprise.
'This man is uncontrollable!' Li Hui said calmly, 'So, I eliminated him for Zi'ang!'" "
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 144 Regent 5
" This person is fickle and unreliable, I also dislike him, but now that he's gone, who will fill the vacancy of the Court of Justice? Wu Zi'ang didn't blame the other party for acting on his own initiative. In fact, regarding Xiao Bufan's betrayal of his father-in-law to join Wei Ruoxuan's side, and then his defection at the last minute, such fickle behavior made him feel that this person was indeed unreliable.
"Of course it's me!" Li Hui smiled and said, "This is my old profession!"
"If you take the position of Court of Justice, what about the position of Commandant?" Wu Zi'ang asked again.
"What do you think of Chu Tianhe, Zi'ang?" Li Hui seemed to have already made up his mind, and immediately answered when he heard the other party speak.
"Hmm!?" Mentioning Chu Tianhe, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but nod slightly. He had always had a good impression of this person. Although he was keen on power, he was clear-headed and had not chosen the wrong side in the recent chaotic situation of the court turmoil. He was indeed a talented person.
"What do Feng Bo and Uncle Kou think?" Wu Zi'ang didn't forget to seek the opinions of the two generals. These two friends of his father had become indispensable to him. In fact, without their support, he couldn't have been so assertive in facing the Qin royal family.
"We're not very familiar with this person! However, if Lord Li and Zi'ang think he's suitable, then so be it." It was clear that Feng Chang and Kou Guang trusted Li Hui's judgment.
"That's him, isn't it?!" Wu Zi'ang pondered for a moment, then agreed with Li Hui's suggestion. In fact, for them to gather together like this and casually decide on a third-rank official was already an overreach of imperial authority.
"What are your next plans, Zi'ang? You'll take over as Right Chancellor, so who will succeed you as Left Chancellor?" Feng Chang asked.
"I haven't even thought about that!" Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly and said, "Don't you think two chancellors are too many?"
"What does Zi'ang mean?!" Feng Chang, Li Hui, and Feng Chang were slightly moved upon hearing this; they had already understood the implication in his words.
"Yes, one chancellor is enough for Great Qin!?" Wu Zi'ang looked at the three of them and chuckled, "What do you think of my idea?" Feng
Chang and Kou Guang remained silent for a long time. They knew that Wu Zi'ang's actions, while strengthening his own power, also further undermined the authority of the royal family. Originally, the Right Chancellor was responsible for assisting the emperor in handling affairs, the Left Chancellor was responsible for inspecting all officials, and the military power of the Qin Dynasty was entirely in the hands of the two generals, Yang Wei and Wei Wu. Now that Wei Ruoxuan and Gong Yanji had been labeled as traitors, if Wu Zi'ang were to become Chancellor, although the Qin Dynasty would still be ruled by the Wu family, in reality, all military and political power would have fallen into the hands of the Generals' Mansion.
Li Hui's eyes gleamed with a strange light. After Wu Shang's death, he had been troubled by the choice of successor. He even considered inviting the Seventh Prince to become the new ruler of Qin, but Wu Zi'ang's resurrection made him realize that this young general, rumored to possess godlike powers, was the best person for him to serve.
Now, hearing the other party's plans, he was even more determined in his mind. The idea of unwavering loyalty was pure nonsense to him; he was loyal to Wu Zi'ang only because the other party could guarantee his interests and bring him even greater benefits. However, he always believed that cooperation based on mutual benefit was the only reliable option!
Thinking of this, Li Hui gave a thumbs up and said, "Zi'ang's idea is indeed brilliant! With
this, we can rest easy from now on!" "But will the Empress Dowager agree to this?" Feng Chang asked with a slight hesitation. After all, the official system of Qin was established by the founding emperor and could not be easily changed!
"I will persuade her!" Wu Zi'ang smiled and said, "However, I will wait until after the new emperor's enthronement ceremony, and I will not propose it myself, but will choose a suitable person to speak on my behalf. Of course, this proposal still needs the approval of most ministers!"
"Leave this to me!?" Li Hui volunteered with a smile, "Now, almost all the old ministers with backbone in the court have been eliminated by the Ninth Prince. Those remaining are all self-serving and cowardly. After I and the two generals have stated our position, who would dare to oppose us? As for the supporters Zi'ang needs, that's even easier!"
"Don't worry, Uncle Feng and Uncle Kou! I know what I'm doing!?" Noticing the difference in Feng Chang and Kou Guang's expressions, Wu Zi'ang pondered for a moment, understanding their thoughts, and then said, "I can guarantee the dignity and wealth of the royal family; I will never do anything to harm the royal family!" He paused, then added with a smile, "Of course, that's on the condition that they don't even think about targeting me."
Feng Chang and Kou Guang exchanged a glance, both inwardly wryly smiling. The other side held both military and political power; how could the royal family accept this? Taking back imperial power was inevitable, and therefore, a confrontation between the royal family and Wu Zi'ang was also inevitable. Wu Zi'ang's last sentence showed that he had already considered this!
"Let's do everything according to Zi'ang's wishes!" Feng Chang sighed inwardly. Whether considering his relationship with Wu Tianyao or the current situation, he and Kou Guang had no choice but to stand with Wu Zi'ang.
"Thank you for your support, Uncle Feng and Uncle Kou!" Wu Zi'ang smiled sincerely. He knew these two were his father's true and closest friends, far more reliable than his father-in-law's direct subordinates like Li Hui.
"There's one more thing, Zi'ang, you must keep in mind!" Kou Guang suddenly remembered something and said, "General Zhao has already returned to the capital!"
"Oh? What happened?" Wu Zi'ang asked, a hint of doubt in his voice.
"Zi'ang, you may not know this!?" Li Hui interjected, "Back then, in order to smoothly take over the throne, the Ninth Prince transferred General Zhao to Anfeng in a neighboring prefecture. Uh, even the two generals were transferred away from Hengcheng!
"It must be said that General Zhao's prestige in the court is extremely high, no less than that of Tianyao. If he were to openly oppose it, I believe it would bring a lot of resistance to Zi'ang!?"
Mentioning General Zhao, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but think of that white-bearded, white-haired old general. He hadn't forgotten that it was this old general who had accompanied Feng Bo to Pingyang to bring him back to the capital.
"I don't want to harm his life!?" Wu Zi'ang frowned. Although he had only met him once, he had always held a certain respect for this old general. If the other party really opposed him, should he eliminate him without hesitation?
"This General Zhao is loyal to the royal family. Zi'ang can completely resolve this resistance by avoiding direct conflict with him!" Li Hui said with a smile.
"I understand!?" Upon hearing this, Wu Zi'ang's eyes lit up, and he smiled and nodded, saying, "Brother Li, this method is brilliant!" He understood Li Hui's meaning. Since Zhao Qi was loyal to the royal family, he only needed to put a little pressure on the Empress Dowager to put Zhao Qi on hold again, and the matter could be resolved!
Kou Guang and Feng Chang, who were standing nearby, were not fools either, and they also understood the meaning behind Li Hui's words. They felt a little relieved, as they were genuinely worried that Wu Zi'ang would harm Zhao Qi.
Wu Zi'ang also felt that this approach was very appropriate. In fact, given Zhao Qi's high prestige, it would be difficult to eliminate him, even though he currently held great power, he still had to be careful not to incite public anger.
"There's also bad news!?" Li Hui spoke again, "Gong Yan and Zhang Zhongshu have returned to Tianmen Pass and resumed command of the garrison."
"This is to be expected!" Wu Zi'ang didn't show any surprise. Although he had eliminated most of Gong Yan's followers during his westward journey a month ago, he couldn't deny that Gong Yan's influence remained, given his status and influence. After all, he had cultivated eight Golden Guards at Tianmen Pass for many years. "Thinking of those eight highly skilled Golden Guards, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but ask. Back then at Tianmen Pass, these eight Golden Guards had contributed a lot, saving Wu Zi'ang a lot of trouble. Although his father-in-law had intended to take the opportunity to eliminate these eight, he hadn't made a move.
"Six of them are currently recuperating from their injuries, and two have returned to the capital today!" Li Hui said, "I only received the news after court."
"Very impressive!" Wu Zi'ang smiled and praised, "All eight survived unscathed!"
He then turned to Feng Chang and Tian Guang and asked, "If we were to face Gong Yan, what are your chances, uncles?"
"About fifty-fifty!" Feng Chang's face was somewhat solemn as he asked, "Does Zi'ang intend to launch an attack on Tianmen Pass?"
"I have no such plans for now!" Wu Zi'ang shook his head. "I'll deal with the current matters first."
"I must remind Zi'ang, although Tianmen Pass isn't as important as Pingyang, it is still Qin's only western stronghold! It's not so bad if Gong Yan rebels, but it's terrible if he feels he can't contend with us and turns to Bei Liang. That would be disastrous!" Tian Guang said in a deep voice.
"General Tian is right. Of the four kingdoms, Bei Liang is the weakest, but after years of respite and with the renowned scholar Hua Jian as its prime minister, it has gradually improved. If we push Gong Yan too far, he might very well surrender to Bei Liang!" Li Hui also said solemnly, "I will consider this matter carefully!" Hearing their words, Wu Zi'ang knew that the pacification of Tianmen Pass couldn't be rushed. If there was no movement from Gong Yan, he decided to first completely seize control of Hengcheng.
"It's almost noon, Uncle Feng, Uncle Tian, Brother Li, why don't we have lunch together here?" Noticing that it was nearly noon, Wu Zi'ang invited Feng Chang and the other two to stay for lunch with a smile.
"Then we'll have to trouble you!" Feng Chang, Tian Guang, and Li Hui all nodded with smiles without any formalities.
With nothing to do in the afternoon, Wu Zi'ang, Feng Chang, Tian Guang, and Li Hui drank heartily. Except for Li Hui, the other three were all avid drinkers, so the meal lasted until dusk.
Feng Chang and Tian Guang were helped into their sedan chairs by their subordinates, while Li Hui, his face flushed, walked unsteadily.
After seeing the three off, Wu Zi'ang felt exhausted and returned to his bedroom. He fell asleep without even taking off his clothes. It wasn't
until nightfall, when the lamps were lit, that Wu Zi'ang, feeling thirsty, got out of bed, went to the table, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and drank it down in one gulp.
At that moment, the door creaked open, and Qiu Xueqing stepped in.
"Wife!?" In the candlelight, Wu Zi'ang found her exceptionally beautiful and alluring, and his heart stirred. He reached out with his lecherous hands.
"Go away!?" Sensing Wu Zi'ang's ulterior motives, Qiu Xueqing blushed and lightly spat, "You reek of alcohol, don't touch me!"
"I... I'll take a bath, but my wife must keep me company tonight!" Wu Zi'ang embraced her slender waist and chuckled.
Since Wu Zi'ang's resurrection and return to the General's Mansion, the two hadn't truly been intimate, and the former had long been unable to restrain himself!
"We'll talk about it later!" Qiu Xueqing's blush deepened, but Tian Zhong said, "Uncle Wei is looking for you, you should go quickly!"
"What could it be so late?" Wu Zi'ang's playful expression vanished, and he asked curiously.
"I don't know, I only know that Uncle Wei is leaving tomorrow..." Qiu Xueqing shook her head, took Wu Zi'ang's hand, and urged, "Go quickly!" "
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 145 My Adopted Sister
After leaving the room, Wu Zi'ang headed straight for the Jingyuan Garden in the backyard. This time, Wei Xuanyi returned to the General's Mansion and again chose to stay in the Jingyuan Garden.
When Wu Zi'ang pushed open the door, he immediately saw Wei Xuanyi's imposing figure standing in the pavilion under the moonlight. Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but recall the first time he encountered him. That time, he followed the sound of a zither and stumbled into the Jingyuan Garden by mistake, only to be scolded by Wei Xuanyi. However, it was from that moment that he began his martial arts journey! Wei Xuanyi was his martial arts mentor and his only teacher!
Unlike before, Wei Xuanyi was no longer alone tonight. Beside him, a beautiful, ethereal figure sat on a stone bench. Although the two weren't cuddling like lovers, Wu Zi'ang still felt a harmonious and intimate atmosphere.
As if sensing Wu Zi'ang's arrival, Wei Xuanyi and Ji Lingxi turned their heads simultaneously, their eyes both fixed on Wu Zi'ang.
"Uncle Wei!" Wu Zi'ang stepped forward, bowed slightly to Wei Xuanyi, and then greeted the Immortal Saint with a respectful "Aunt!"
The Immortal Saint was taken aback at first, then blushed, though her beautiful eyes revealed a hint of joy.
"You rascal!" Wei Xuanyi chuckled, scolding Wu Zi'ang, then turned to say, "Since Zi'ang addresses you like that, as an elder, shouldn't you give him a small gift?"
"Zi'ang is now incredibly wealthy; I really can't think of anything that could catch his eye!" Immortal Saint Ji Lingxi shook her head and chuckled.
Incredibly wealthy? Wu Zi'ang was slightly stunned, then understood the implication. One-third of the treasure beneath the Commandant's Mansion remained untouched. Now that the Qin Emperor was dead and the Nine Princes had perished, this treasure naturally belonged to him.
"Hmm, let me think about it!" Wei Xuanyi feigned contemplation, then suddenly smiled and said, "Lingxi, why don't you give Xiao Meng'er to Zi'ang?" "
What?!" Wu Zi'ang was stunned. He never expected Wei Xuanyi to say such a thing! However, before he could react, Ji Lingxi's next words immediately sent him into a daze.
"If Xiaomeng'er is willing, I certainly wouldn't mind giving her to Zi'ang, but I don't know if Zi'ang is willing to accept her?" Ji Lingxi looked at the almost petrified Wu Zi'ang with a smile in her beautiful eyes.
"Zi'ang, are you willing?" Wei Xuanyi also asked with a smile.
"I can promise Uncle Wei and Aunt Wei that I will take care of Qimeng to the best of my ability in the future, so please rest assured!" "Wu Zi'ang remained silent for a long while before speaking in a deep voice. In that moment of distraction, he suddenly remembered Qiu Xueqing's words about Wei Xuanyi's departure, and a flash of insight struck him. He realized that the other party didn't truly intend to marry Su Qimeng to him, but rather that the two were about to elope and live in seclusion, thus entrusting him with Su Qimeng's care.
Wei Xuanyi and Ji Lingxi exchanged a surprised glance. The former smiled
and said, "Zi'ang didn't fall for it! That's truly beyond my expectations. It shows that little Meng'er's allure isn't enough!" The Immortal Saint Ji Lingxi smiled and said, "Zi'ang's words are enough. I thank you in advance!" "
Auntie, you're too kind!" Wu Zi'ang quickly replied.
"However, I could tell that little Meng'er had some feelings for Zi'ang that day!" Wei Xuanyi still wasn't going to let Wu Zi'ang off easily, and continued,
"Unfortunately, Zi'ang is already married!" "Ji Lingxi sighed with a regretful expression.
"So what? A true man roaming the world, how can he not have three wives and four concubines!" Wei Xuanyi said with a smile.
"You think so too, don't you?" Ji Lingxi turned her head and smiled at Wei Xuanyi.
"Absolutely not!" Wei Xuanyi shook his head and smiled, "Having too many women isn't a good thing!"
"Contradictory!" The Immortal Saint gave Wei Xuanyi a reproachful look, but his expression was full of amusement.
"Ahem! When are Uncle Wei and Aunt planning to leave, and where do you plan to settle down?" Unable to bear the two of them talking back and forth, Wu Zi'ang coughed lightly and changed the subject.
"Leaving first thing tomorrow morning, as for where to settle down, we haven't thought about it yet!" Wei Xuanyi replied with a smile.
"Uncle Wei wants to travel all over the world with Aunt, right?" Wu Zi'ang asked with a smile, "I can help you with some travel expenses to show my appreciation!"
"Then I'll gladly accept!" Wei Xuanyi smiled at Wu Ziang and said, "Hmm, I owe Ziang another favor. How about I marry Xiaomeng to you?"
"That's my disciple!" Immortal Saint Ji Lingxi gently pushed Wei Xuanyi's waist, feigning anger.
"Uncle Wei and Aunt, please stop teasing me!" Wu Ziang said with a wry smile.
"Alright, enough joking!" Wei Xuanyi smiled and said, "Not only Xiaomeng, but Qing'er also needs Ziang's help!"
"What?" Wu Ziang wondered if he had misheard. The Demon Sect had the Empress Mei; why should he worry about her? "
Ahem!" Wei Xuanyi's face showed a rare moment of embarrassment as he coughed lightly and said, "What? Is it difficult to ask you to do something?"
"Oh! I understand!" Wu Ziang suddenly realized and pointed at the Immortal Saint, saying, "You have two aunts!"
"Just remember what I said. Alright, that's all for you. Get lost!" Wei Xuanyi's face flushed slightly, and he waved his sleeve, dismissing the guest.
"Uncle Wei, you really are something else…!" Wu Zi'ang gave Wei Xuanyi a thumbs-up and chuckled, "Nephew will definitely learn from you in the future!"
"Get lost!" Wei Xuanyi, enraged, flicked his sleeve, instantly generating a surge of energy that sent Wu Zi'ang flying.
"Nephew takes his leave!" Using the other's internal force, Wu Zi'ang nimbly turned and slipped out of the Jingyuan gate. He could faintly hear the Immortal Saint's voice, 'You've set a good example this time!'
"Uncle Wei is truly remarkable!" On the way back, Wu Zi'ang thought to himself. It was astonishing that women like Yi Xian Sheng and Mei Hou, who were so incompatible and so proud, would agree to accompany Uncle Wei. He had to admit, Uncle Wei's charm was extraordinary. Like the legendary lovers Ehuang and Nüying, sharing one husband, it was quite a tale in the martial world!
"Zheng, zheng!" Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly heard the sound of a zither coming from not far away. He instinctively turned his head and immediately recognized that the sound was coming from the direction of Xi Qing Garden.
So late, who was playing the zither? Unable to suppress his curiosity, Wu Zi'ang turned and walked towards Xi Qing Garden.
Walking along the gravel path, past clusters of flowers, he finally spotted the person playing the zither as he approached the end of the garden.
The night was deep, but the bright moon hung high, bathing the garden in its soft light.
By the moonlight, Wu Zi'ang could see that the person playing the zither in the pavilion was a woman.
The music was bitter and sorrowful, mournful and resentful, a true reflection of the player's inner state. Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but sigh inwardly and slowly walked over.
The woman was completely absorbed in playing the zither, oblivious to anyone approaching her. Only when the piece ended did she withdraw her slender hands, look up at the bright moon, and let out a mournful sigh.
"Who!?" Sensing the rustling sound, the woman suddenly turned her head and asked in a trembling voice.
"Your Majesty, please don't be alarmed, it's your humble servant!" Wu Zi'ang slowly walked up the stone steps, approached the woman, and bowed, saying, "I only happened to hear the music here, so I came to investigate. I didn't expect it to be Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine. I'm so sorry for my intrusion!" "
General, there's no need for such formality!" Upon seeing that it was Wu Zi'ang, the Imperial Concubine Xiao's surprise vanished, and she said softly, "I'm no longer an Imperial Concubine, just a woman with a tragic fate!"
"Your Majesty is too kind! I will send Your Majesty back to the palace tomorrow!" Wu Zi'ang said, "You've suffered these past few days, Your Majesty!"
"No, I don't want to go back to the palace!" Upon hearing the words "go back to the palace," the Imperial Concubine Xiao's delicate body trembled, and a look of fear appeared on her jade-like face. She hurriedly shook her head and said, "I won't go back!"
"The palace is Your Majesty's home!" Wu Zi'ang was quite surprised by her expression and said gently, "Does Your Majesty not want to go home?"
"No, that's not my home!" Consort Xiao hurriedly stood up, reaching out to grab Wu Zi'ang's sleeve and pleading, "General, please, don't send me back! I don't want to go back to the palace!"
"Why is that?" Wu Zi'ang was very puzzled. She was a dignified consort, after all. Now that her father-in-law was gone and she was no longer in danger, why didn't she want to return to the palace to continue enjoying wealth and luxury?
"I've had enough of that kind of life, forcing a smile in a cold, impersonal palace, having to do everything I could to gain favor, and constantly having to guard against the schemes of other concubines. I've really had enough of that kind of life! Waaah...!" Before he knew it, Consort Xiao's face was covered with tears, her delicate shoulders trembling slightly, her frail body appearing strangely helpless in the moonlight.
Wu Zi'ang felt a pang of pity and sighed, "But you are, after all, a royal concubine…!"
"General, have you forgotten? The Ninth Prince has already betrothed me to you as a concubine!" Consort Xiao, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears, gazed sadly at him and said softly, "The Empress Dowager was present at the time. Does the General intend to go back on his word?"
"My father-in-law is no longer here! How about this, if Your Highness does not wish to return to the palace, then I will send someone to escort Your Highness home!" Wu Zi'ang thought for a moment and said this.
"Home?" Consort Xiao blinked her beautiful eyes, two pearly tears sliding down her cheeks. She smiled sadly, "I lost both my parents at a young age and was raised entirely by my uncle. But even this only relative passed away the year I was chosen to enter the palace. I… where do I have a home now?!"
Looking at Consort Xiao's sorrowful and helpless expression, Wu Zi'ang felt a pang of compassion. He thought of himself in modern times, whose fate was not much different from hers.
"Let me stay! I don't care if I'm a concubine or a slave, just please let me stay!" Consort Xiao slowly knelt down, her voice choked with sobs as she pleaded.
"Get up!" Wu Zi'ang reached out and helped her up, saying softly, "I promise you!"
"Thank you, General!" Consort Xiao's beautiful eyes, still brimming with tears, lit up with joy as she sincerely thanked him.
"May I ask your age, Your Highness?" Wu Zi'ang asked with a smile.
"Don't call me Your Highness anymore!" Consort Xiao shook her head, saying, "My name is Xiao Wan, and I'm exactly twenty-two this year!"
"I'm twenty-one this year, so I'd like to shamelessly acknowledge Your Highness as my sworn sister. I wonder if Your Highness would be willing?" Wu Zi'ang looked into her beautiful eyes and said sincerely.
"I, I, you…!" Consort Xiao was stunned. Her beautiful eyes met his solemn expression, and she immediately realized he was not joking. She became so excited that she stammered incoherently. Of course, she knew how powerful and influential Wu Zi'ang was now. To become his sworn sister was a dream come true, so how could she refuse!
"I...willing!" After a long while, Consort Xiao finally came to her senses and nodded with tears in her eyes.
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 146 Chaos
"It's late and the dew is heavy, I'll take my sister back to rest!" Looking at the sky, Wu Zi'ang said.
"Mm!" Xiao Wan'er nodded, her beautiful face glowing in the moonlight. Putting aside Wu Zi'ang's status, the fact that she, who had no one to rely on, now had a younger brother made her very happy.
After taking his newly recognized sworn sister back, Wu Zi'ang returned to his residence. Entering the room, he saw the candles flickering, and a beautiful woman lying on the bed with her back to him, her black hair spread like clouds at the head of the bed.
"Wife, I'm back!" Wu Zi'ang hurriedly took off his clothes, then lifted the quilt and crawled in.
Ha! Touching Qiu Xueqing's cool, incredibly delicate skin, Wu Zi'ang was overjoyed. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "My wife isn't even wearing a bodice. Do you want to reward your husband tonight?!"
Qiu Xueqing seemed asleep, showing no reaction to Wu Zi'ang's words. However, he clearly saw a blush creeping onto her cheeks.
Pretending to be asleep! Wu Zi'ang quietly reached out a hand, then suddenly and accurately grasped one of Qiu Xueqing's breasts.
Hmm! Startled by this sudden attack, Qiu Xueqing's body trembled, letting out a soft moan, but she still kept her beautiful eyes tightly closed, letting Wu Zi'ang's hand roam over her tender breast. Let
's see how long you can endure this! Wu Zi'ang gently pinched the beauty's nipple with one hand, while his other hand unabashedly probed the inside of her thigh…!
"Ah!" With her vital points attacked simultaneously, Qiu Xueqing's delicate body trembled slightly, and she involuntarily let out a soft cry. Then, she opened her beautiful eyes and said shyly, "Go, turn off the light!"
"I can't wait any longer!" Wu Zi'ang was too lazy to get out of bed at this moment. His hands roamed over her exquisitely sculpted body, teasing the icy beauty until she gasped repeatedly.
"No…!" Qiu Xueqing's jade-like face flushed alluringly. Her two jade hands were overwhelmed, unable to resist his onslaught, and she could only plead for mercy with soft gasps.
"Wife, I'm coming!" Having finished the foreplay, Wu Zi'ang yanked back the covers, exposing Qiu Xueqing's incredibly beautiful body to the air. Then, without a word, he spread her legs and pressed his body against hers.
"I don't…!" Naked and exposed to the light, Qiu Xueqing was filled with shame. She wanted to object, but her lips were suddenly sealed by his. At the same time, her lower body swelled as he penetrated her, thrusting deep inside her with a whimper.
"Ugh...!" The word "no" had barely escaped her lips when it turned into a soft, shy moan. Instinctively, Qiu Xueqing wrapped her alluring legs around his waist, allowing Wu Zi'ang's thrusts to become increasingly fierce.
Gazing at the ecstatic expression of the beauty on his body, Wu Zi'ang's lust intensified. His mind inexplicably drifted to the images of Wei Lingyao, Su Qimeng, and Shui Qingqing, and he couldn't help but fantasize about what kind of allure these three stunning beauties would bring in bed.
***
The next morning, Wu Zi'ang rose early, and Qiu Xueqing, enduring her aches and pains, got up with him.
After inviting Wei Xuanyi and Ji Lingxi to breakfast in the backyard, Wu Zi'ang handed Wei Xuanyi the prepared travel expenses.
Wu Zi'ang, Qiu Xueqing, and the Tie Ren couple saw Wei Xuanyi and Ji Lingxi off at the gates of the General's Mansion.
"Go back!" Wei Xuanyi smiled at Wu Zi'ang and the others, "Don't see us off!"
"Uncle Wei, take care! Aunt, take care!" Knowing that Wei Xuanyi's departure meant they didn't know when they would see each other again, Wu Zi'ang felt a pang of sadness.
"Go back! When we're tired of sightseeing, we'll come back to visit Zi'ang!" Wei Xuanyi said, turning his gaze to Tie Ren, "While I'm gone, I'll have to trouble you!"
"Don't worry, sir!" Tie Ren's eyes showed a hint of reluctance, "I will do my best to help my little brother!"
"Very good, then I can rest assured!" Wei Xuanyi nodded with a smile, giving Wu Zi'ang another deep look, "You know, only now is this body worthy of Zi'ang's temperament! Haha! Farewell, everyone!" With that, he took Ji Lingxi's hand, and the two turned and left.
Watching Wei and Ji leave, until their figures disappeared around the street corner, Wu Zi'ang and the others finally turned their gaze away and returned to the General's Mansion.
Wu Zi'ang's guess was correct. Not long after Wei Xuanyi and Ji Lingxi left, the beautiful Shui Qingqing came knocking, confessing that her master, Empress Mei, had been abducted by Wei Xuanyi, and she was now a pitiful orphan with no one to care for her. She tearfully begged Wu Zi'ang to take her in.
Although he knew the situation was far from as pitiful as Shui Qingqing described, seeing her tearful face, Wu Zi'ang couldn't resist her natural charm. He also remembered what Uncle Wei had said, and to his surprise, Qiu Xueqing also pleaded for her. So Wu Zi'ang gave in and agreed to let her move into his mansion. The assigned residence was a wing room on the east side of Xiqing Garden, next to Consort Xiao Wan'er!
Seeing Wu Zi'ang yield, Shui Qingqing's tearful face instantly transformed into a radiant smile, almost blinding Wu Zi'ang.
A vixen! Wu Zi'ang was truly exasperated by Shui Qingqing's unique ability to instantly change her demeanor.
"Thank you, Sister Qing!" Shui Qingqing moved closer to Qiu Xueqing, tightly grasping the other's delicate hand. "If it weren't for your kindness in taking me in, I would be homeless!"
"Hey! You should be thanking me!" Seeing the woman trying to ingratiate herself with his wife, Wu Zi'ang became wary. He quickly pulled Qiu Xueqing aside, his face stern, and said, "And why are you being so affectionate with my wife?"
"What's there to be afraid of? I'm a woman too. What's the big deal about shaking hands?" Shui Qingqing pouted, giving Wu Zi'ang a disgruntled look.
Looking at her pouting lips, Wu Zi'ang felt a sudden urge to taste them. He couldn't help but groan inwardly. This vixen had the power to ignite a man's desire with a single gesture. In the future, living in the same courtyard, who knew how many more times he would be tempted like this!
"Uncle Fu, go show Miss Shui her room!" Composing himself, Wu Zi'ang decided to send the vixen away for the time being.
"Hehe! I was just thinking of going to see where I'm staying!" Shui Qingqing clapped her hands and laughed, a playful expression on her face. Before the steward, Uncle Fu, could speak, she had already run to the backyard.
"Wife, why did you speak up for her too?" Seeing that Shui Qingqing had disappeared from sight, Wu Zi'ang breathed a sigh of relief and turned to ask Qiu Xueqing in a slightly reproachful tone.
"After all, Uncle Wei had instructed us, and she's a young woman without a master to take care of her, all alone. It's only right and proper that we take her in!" Qiu Xueqing replied with a smile.
"She's not as pitiful as you say!" Wu Zi'ang said with a wry smile.
"The General's Mansion is so large, it doesn't matter if we add another bed or another pair of chopsticks!" Qiu Xueqing's beautiful eyes fixed on Wu Zi'ang, and she suddenly said, "Husband, are you afraid?"
"What am I afraid of?" Meeting Qiu Xueqing's meaningful gaze, Wu Zi'ang's heart skipped a beat, so he pretended to be calm and replied.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to resist Qingqing's temptation and will do something to betray me!" Qiu Xueqing said bluntly.
"My wife, you're really something!" Wu Zi'ang blushed upon hearing this and admitted it sheepishly. At this point, it would be unmanly of him to try and deny it further.
"My husband admits it!?" Qiu Xueqing smiled and said, "Actually, I've said it before: with your status and power, even having three wives and four concubines wouldn't be excessive, and I would have no objection!"
"Isn't my wife jealous?" Wu Zi'ang asked curiously.
“Not at all would be a lie!” Qiu Xueqing nodded with a smile. “But ever since my husband miraculously survived, I’ve come to terms with it!” At this point, the smile faded, and she sighed softly. “When I heard the news of your death, I was utterly devastated. I thought to myself, if you could be resurrected, I wouldn’t care even if you had a harem like an emperor. I’d rather share you with other women than have you leave me!”
“My wife!” Wu Zi’ang was deeply moved and went over to embrace Qiu Xueqing’s shoulders.
“What are you thinking, my husband? I’m very interested to know!” Qiu Xueqing smiled and asked softly.
"It's almost human nature to want to possess beautiful things!" Wu Zi'ang opened his heart to Qiu Xueqing, saying, "However, there are things in my heart that restrain me. So even though I see other beautiful women and want to get close to them and possess them, I always feel ashamed because of my lack of devotion! Moreover, it would be fine if we only met once, but the problem is that these beautiful women are always around you! Making it hard for you to control yourself!"
"Husband, you must be talking about yourself, right?" Qiu Xueqing leaned her head on Wu Zi'ang's shoulder and giggled, "I've witnessed Qingqing's charm. To be honest, even I, as a woman, am attracted to her, let alone my husband!"
"Don't get too close to her!" Wu Zi'ang suddenly thought of the phrase 'bisexual' and quickly said.
"Qingqing and I are both women, what's the big deal!" Qiu Xueqing rolled her eyes at Wu Zi'ang and said, "Husband, aren't you worrying too much?!"
"Perhaps!" Wu Zi'ang replied awkwardly, then suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said, "Last night, I recognized Consort Xiao as my sworn sister!"
"What happened?" Qiu Xueqing asked with surprise upon hearing this.
Wu Zi'ang then told Qiu Xueqing everything that had happened last night, and finally said, "I didn't do the right thing, did I?!"
"It's a pity, Sister Wan'er's beauty is almost surpassing mine, it's a real pity that you didn't take her as a concubine!" Qiu Xueqing couldn't help but bite her lip and chuckle after hearing this.
"Although I now hold great power, openly taking a concubine as an imperial consort might cause criticism from the officials!" Wu Zi'ang said very seriously, "That's why I recognized her as my sworn sister first, and it's not too late to take her later!"
"I knew you had ulterior motives!" "Qiu Xueqing reached out and lightly punched the other person's shoulder, laughing and scolding.
***
Three days later, the Empress Dowager's decree arrived, appointing Wu Zi'ang as Right Chancellor and setting the date for the new emperor's enthronement ceremony to be held five days later.
The objective had been achieved. Wu Zi'ang didn't care about the date of the grand ceremony, even though it was set somewhat hastily. He understood the Empress Dowager's fear of complications. Furthermore, the sooner the new emperor ascended the throne, the sooner he could propose reforms to the official system, thus accelerating his consolidation of power.
Whether true or false, the palace and its surroundings were filled with joy in preparation for the new emperor's enthronement ceremony. Apart from Crown Prince Wu Che and the Third Prince Wu Zhi, everyone else, including the Empress Dowager, Empress Xiao, and a group of ministers, was beaming with happiness.
However, at this moment, a piece of bad news arrived in the capital by express courier: the 80,000 troops
guarding Tianmen Pass had rebelled!
"Zi'ang, what do you think we should do?!" In the Golden Hall, the Empress Dowager, having just received news of Gong Yan's rebellion, asked Wu Zi'ang in a very affectionate tone. In fact, Wu Zi'ang now held the dual positions of Right Chancellor and Grand General of Might, and she was unsure which official title to use to address him.
"Your Majesty, do not worry!" Wu Zi'ang glanced at the somewhat pale-faced officials around him and smiled, "The rebellion of Gong Yan is nothing to fear. Your Majesty, I will immediately dispatch troops to the Luzhou area to quell the rebellion!"
"Zi'ang, are you absolutely certain?" the Empress Dowager asked with some unease.
"I have already ordered 60,000 troops stationed in Pingyang to march rapidly to Luzhou!" Wu Zi'ang said, "Of these 60,000, 40,000 are elite cavalry of our Great Qin, and 20,000 are infantry, all under the command of General Xu Tuzhi. I believe we can surely quell the rebellion!"
"However, the journey from Pingyang to Luzhou is long. Even with a rapid march, it will take at least a month and a half to arrive. I'm afraid it's too late! Moreover, although Xu Tuzhi is resourceful, he may not be a match for Gong Yan, will he?" the Empress Dowager said, frowning.
"Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty to issue an edict summoning General Zhao Qi to lead 30,000 troops to Luzhou to join the local garrison and hold their ground until the Pingyang army arrives, at which point the rebellion can be quelled. With General Zhao in command, along with General Feng and Vice General Xu, I believe the suppression of the rebellion is imminent!" Wu Zi'ang replied confidently.
"What are your opinions, my ministers?" After hearing Wu Zi'ang's words, the Empress Dowager's expression relaxed slightly, and she turned to ask for the ministers' opinions.
"We believe that the General's words are all insightful. Following the General's methods will surely quell the rebellion and recapture Tianmen Pass!" As soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, the ministers offered their praises, unanimously agreeing with Wu Zi'ang's remarks.
"Very well, this matter is entrusted to Zi'ang to handle entirely!" Seeing that no ministers raised any objections, a look of helplessness appeared in the Empress Dowager's eyes. It wasn't that she disagreed with Wu Zi'ang's opinion; she was heartbroken by the lack of loyal supporters of the imperial family in the court. Her days were numbered. If the imperial power could not be restored, she would not die in peace, let alone face her husband who had been dead for many years!
"Court adjourned!" With no more intention to discuss the matter, the Empress Dowager waved her hand wearily, and the officials, including Wu Zi'ang, tactfully took their leave.
After the court session, Wu Zi'ang invited General Feng Chang and Tian Guang back to the general's residence to discuss the matter of redressing the rebellion.
Wu Zi'ang's words in court were not unfounded. Upon hearing the news of Gong Yan's rebellion, his first action was to summon Feng Chang and Tian Guang to discuss countermeasures. They then decided to send their steward, Fu Bo, to Pingyang to mobilize troops, while Feng Chang and General Zhao Qi would lead 30,000 troops to Luzhou.
In fact, Feng Chang had already issued the order for the troops to march to Luzhou yesterday. The only thing the Empress Dowager could do was issue an edict ordering Zhao Qi to take up his post directly! The imminent transfer of Zhao Qi away from the capital further increased the chances of quelling the rebellion. After all, Zhao Qi was one of the three great generals, and although he was old, his might was still considerable!
"Speaking of which, Gong Yan is quite pitiful!" In the study of the general's mansion, after carefully reviewing the plan to quell the rebellion, Wu Zi'ang, Feng Chang, and Tian Guang began to chat while sipping fragrant tea.
Feng Chang and Tian Guang understood what Wu Zi'ang meant. Gong Yan's only son had been beheaded by Wu Tianyao, and his daughter and wife had committed suicide after being raped by their subordinates. Now, due to the circumstances, he was burdened with the crime of treason. Thinking back to their time together in the court, the two couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.
After chatting for a few more minutes, Tian Guang and Feng Chang got up to take their leave. Wu Zi'ang saw them to the door and then returned. As soon as he entered the room, a dark shadow suddenly flashed and rushed towards him.
Without hesitation, Wu Zi'ang swung his right hand in a half-circle, unleashing a small portion of his 'powerful' energy, forcing the dark figure away.
"What are you up to?" Upon seeing who it was, Wu Zi'ang was startled, then frowned and asked.
"I didn't expect Zi'ang to be so alert even in his own home!" The beautiful Shui chuckled, turning and comfortably settling into a chair, looking completely at ease.
"Is something wrong?" Wu Zi'ang had recently been afraid to be alone with this enchantress; she constantly used her 'seductive arts,' trying every trick in the book to tempt him, giving him a real headache. "
Can't you come if there's nothing wrong? You promised Uncle Wei you'd take care of me!" Shui Qingju said matter-of-factly.
"Go play by yourself! I'm busy right now!" Wu Zi'ang sat back down at his desk, casually picking up a military book and pretending to read it, hoping to discourage her.
"Who are you kidding!" Shui Qingqing wasn't buying it at all. She rushed over in two steps, a sly smile on her jade-like face. "The pacification work has all been arranged, what else do you have to do?"
"You were eavesdropping?" Wu Zi'ang immediately realized. Perhaps her skill wasn't as good as his, but when it came to lightness skills, he had to admit defeat to Shui Qingqing.
"That's so awful!" Shui Qingqing chuckled. "I just happened to be passing by and overheard it by accident. Besides, it's not really a secret. Uh, even if it were a secret, would you be afraid I'd reveal it?"
"I really am afraid!" Wu Zi'ang looked at Shui Qingqing, who was smiling like a little fox, and snorted.
"Zi'ang!" Shui Qingqing's voice suddenly became unusually soft and charming, and her eyes became tender and affectionate as she looked at Wu Zi'ang. Her jade-like face slowly moved forward.
Damn it, here we go again! Wu Zi'ang felt his head start to ache again. In a flash, he reached out and hugged Shui Qingqing tightly.
"You...!" Shui Qingqing's jade-like face flushed with two alluring blushes as she shyly said, "No, in broad daylight!"
Tch! What were you thinking when you tried to seduce me? Wu Zi'ang snorted inwardly, and with a slight exertion of force, a
burst of fiery energy shot out. Before Shui Qingqing could react, she felt her delicate body go limp, completely powerless.
"What do you want to do?" Shui Qingqing realized the seriousness of the situation and stared at Wu Zi'ang with wide eyes.
"Spanking!" Wu Zi'ang chuckled sinisterly, placing Shui Qingqing's soft body on his lap.
"No!" Shui Qingqing struggled desperately, trying to escape, but to no avail.
"Slap!" A crisp sound rang out in the room, followed by Shui Qingqing's cry of pain, "Ah!"
"Slap slap!" "Ah ah!" Wu Zi'ang was determined to teach Shui Qingqing a lesson, so he slapped her more than ten times in succession.
However, hearing her increasingly soft and seductive moans, Wu Ziang realized something was wrong. They weren't cries of pain; they sounded more like moans of pleasure. Looking down, he saw Shui Qingqing's face flushed, her beautiful eyes shimmering with desire, looking utterly vulnerable. Instantly, his lower abdomen warmed, and he felt a vague arousal.
"Let me up!" Shui Qingqing seemed to notice something, turning her face to the side and speaking in a barely audible voice.
Wu Ziang felt embarrassed and released Shui Qingqing's hand.
As the heat subsided, Shui Qingqing stood up, her beautiful eyes gazing at Wu Ziang with tender affection.
The study fell silent instantly; they could almost hear each other's heartbeats, their gazes locked like magnets.
Finally, a fragrant breeze wafted by, and Shui Qingqing, like a swallow returning to its nest, leaped into Wu Ziang's arms.
Before Wu Ziang could react, Shui Qingqing had already wrapped her arms around his neck and sealed his mouth with her cool, soft cherry lips.
Such a proactive move from the beautiful Shui Qingqing was irresistible to Wu Ziang, a normal man. He quickly took her tongue, easily capturing it in his own mouth.
The room was filled with the sounds of their passionate kisses, their breaths heavy. Like lovers deeply in love, they embraced tightly, their lips and tongues intertwined.
Driven by desire, Wu Ziang finally reached out and pressed his hand firmly against Shui Qingqing's breasts through her clothes.
"Mmm!" Shui Qingqing's delicate body stiffened instantly, letting out a soft moan. She then grabbed Wu Ziang's wrist with her jade-like hand.
Even through the clothing, Wu Ziang could feel its amazing elasticity, his heart fluttering, and he began to massage it.
"Sss!" Suddenly, Wu Ziang felt a sharp pain in his lips, involuntarily releasing his grip and gasping for breath.
Seizing the opportunity, Shui Qingqing quickly broke free from his embrace, escaping to the door like a gust of wind. Turning her flushed face, she spat at Wu Ziang, saying, "You scoundrel!" Then she ran away without looking back!
He'd been tricked! After standing there for a full minute, Wu Ziang finally faced the reality of his predicament! However, touching his lips and looking at the hand that had caressed Shui Qingqing's breasts, Wu Ziang suddenly smiled. It seemed he had gotten a great deal!
A beautiful woman, who wouldn't love her!? Wu Zi'ang shook his head, picked up the teacup on the desk, and took a large gulp, barely extinguishing the lust burning in his heart.
Damn it! How could a real man be burdened by such a trivial matter? Given another chance, he would definitely seduce her!
Having made up his mind, Wu Zi'ang stood up and hurriedly left the room.
"General, are you going out?" Reaching the gate, he saw Tong Hu and four other guards. Seeing him approach, the four guards bowed and asked.
"I'm going to the Commandant's residence. Please come with me!" Wu Zi'ang didn't disturb Tie Ren. With his current skills, even if top masters like Dao Kuang came in person, he was confident he could escape. Therefore, he only summoned the four guards, including Tong Hu.
"Yes! General, would you like a sedan chair prepared?" Tong Hu said respectfully.
"No need. The weather is nice; let's walk!" In reality, walking and riding in a sedan chair or carriage were about the same speed. Wu Zi'ang preferred walking to avoid boredom.
The group of five, with Wu Zi'ang in front and the four guards led by Tong Hu, left the General's Mansion and headed west.
Why the Commandant's Mansion? Mainly because Wu Zi'ang was uneasy about the buried treasure, and his purpose was to find the newly appointed Commandant Chu Tianhe and plan to unearth the remaining treasure.
However, today seemed destined to be an inauspicious day. Not far from the General's Mansion, Wu Zi'ang saw a young man in blue standing on the straight street. Even from a distance of more than twenty paces, Wu Zi'ang could still feel the extremely fierce killing intent emanating from the man!
"General!" The four guards, Tong Hu, also sensed something was amiss and were about to step forward, but Wu Zi'ang raised his hand to stop them.
"It's an old acquaintance!" A hint of doubt flashed in Wu Zi'ang's eyes. He murmured this, then walked towards the young man in blue, calling out, "Brother Jing, how have you been!" The young man in blue was none other than Jing Haoran, one of the two rising stars of the martial arts
world
, known as "Southern Pei and Northern Jing," alongside Pei Zhi, the disciple of Dao Kuang!
To be honest, Wu Zi'ang's impression of Jing Haoran was neither good nor bad; they had only met twice. However, out of politeness, Wu Zi'ang still greeted him.
The closer he got, the stronger the murderous aura became. When he was a few steps away from Jing Haoran, Wu Zi'ang could clearly see the other's eyes filled with venomous hatred.
Strange! What deep-seated hatred do I have for him? Wu Zi'ang was secretly puzzled, a sense of vigilance rising in his heart, but he remained outwardly calm, saying, "Brother Jing, are you here specifically to wait for me?"
"That's right!" Jing Haoran squeezed out two words through gritted teeth, his fists clenching tightly, his sky-blue robe fluttering even without wind.
"Do you have anything to teach me?" Wu Zi'ang frowned, sensing that the other party intended to attack.
"I've come to take your dog's life!" Jing Haoran's voice was filled with boundless hatred. Before the words were finished, he lunged forward, his right fist carrying immense force, aiming for Wu Zi'ang's chest.
Wu Zi'ang was prepared. Seeing the other party lunge forward, he immediately took three steps back, simultaneously flicking his right hand, unleashing a burst of fiery energy, instantly clashing head-on with Jing Haoran.
With a muffled thud, Wu Zi'ang's shoulders swayed slightly, and he regained his footing, while Jing Haoran was forced back to his original position by the recoil.
On the surface, the two appeared evenly matched, but in reality, Jing Haoran had already unleashed eight-tenths of his power from the very first move, while Wu Zi'ang seemed to be merely wielding a weapon casually.
Back in Pingyang's Lonely Mountain, Jing Haoran had already experienced Wu Zi'ang's extraordinary internal strength, but today, in their renewed exchange, he was surprised to find that Wu Zi'ang's internal strength was even greater!
Seeing the blue-clad youth forced back by the general, Tong Hu and his four guards breathed a sigh of relief. They knew perfectly well that in terms of martial arts, the four of them were far inferior to Wu Zi'ang; Wu Zi'ang had only invited them along to take them out for a stroll!
"Brother Jing, what is the meaning of this? We have no grudge against each other, why would you resort to such a vicious attack?" Wu Zi'ang, having easily forced Jing Haoran back, showed no smugness on his face, only a questioning gaze. He couldn't fathom what grudge he had against him.
"No grudge against each other!" Jing Haoran smiled coldly, saying, "What did you do at Tianmen Pass last month? Have you forgotten?" "
Tianmen Pass?" Wu Zi'ang quickly racked his brains, but couldn't find anything that could connect with Jing Haoran's current revenge. So he shook his head and said, "I really can't remember. Brother Jing, please tell me!"
"At Tianmen Pass, you took advantage of my lust and forced yourself on my aunt and cousin. Deputy General Qian Zhaonan tried to stop you, but you cruelly killed him. In the end, my aunt and cousin, unable to bear the humiliation, committed suicide in resentment!" "As he uttered these words, Jing Haoran's handsome face twisted in pain. His aunt had been incredibly kind to him since childhood, and his cousin Lan'er was so adorable. Yet, these two closest relatives had been utterly ruined by this beast!
Damn it!" Wu Zi'ang was speechless with astonishment. He finally understood what it meant to have black and white reversed, right and wrong confused! In the other man's mouth, he had become a lustful beast, while the real culprit, Qian Zhaonan, had been transformed into a martyr. Who was so clever as to use lies to lure this foolish child to seek revenge?
The Jing family! So the Jing family was actually the other man's aunt. He really hadn't expected that Jing Haoran and Gong Yan were related!
"You remembered!" Seeing Wu Zi'ang's expression, Jing Haoran mistakenly thought that the other man was speechless because of his questioning. His anger surged, and he lunged at him again. Today, he had made up his mind: it was either the other man's death or his own! "Listen to me!" Knowing that the other party had been deceived and was unaware of the truth before seeking revenge, Wu Zi'ang, while frustrated, wasn't particularly angry. Therefore, he simply dealt with their moves as they came, explaining, "Your aunt and cousin were both humiliated by Qian Zhaonan. I arrived after hearing the news from the palace servants, but it was too late. Therefore, in a fit of rage, I tore Qian Zhaonan apart with five horses! Brother Jing, please don't be deceived by others!"
"Shut up!" To Jing Haoran, enraged, Wu Zi'ang's words were nothing but sophistry. He roared, his fists flailing wildly, ignoring his own weaknesses, and pounced like a mad tiger.
"Brother Jing!" Wu Zi'ang was truly exasperated. It wasn't that he was afraid of his opponent; he simply found fighting this child, used as a pawn, utterly pointless. Helpless, he could only parry while trying to reason with him: "Everything I said is true. The one who begged me to come to my rescue that day was none other than Ding Nan, a servant from the Gong family!" "
Ding Nan!" Upon hearing this name, Jing Haoran's attack suddenly paused! Seeing this, Wu Zi'ang was secretly delighted and quickly said, "It is Ding Nan, a somewhat pedantic but spirited young man!"
"Can the dead speak? That day, to cover up your crimes, you almost slaughtered everyone in the Gong family. Now you're using these dead as leverage! You're utterly heartless!" Jing Haoran's handsome face flushed crimson as he pointed angrily at Wu Zi'ang.
Damn it! Wu Zi'ang was truly going crazy. This was the most shameless frame-up he had ever seen in his life, and it just so happened to fall on him. Taking a deep breath to calm his anger, he said in a deep voice, "Which bastard told you these things?"
"My uncle-in-law said it himself, how could it be false!?" In his anger, Jing Haoran didn't realize that his answer had already insulted Gong Yan.
"All nonsense!" At this point, Wu Zi'ang's last bit of sympathy for Gong Yan disappeared. Looking at the furious Jing Haoran, he frowned and said, "Bring it on, I have a lot of official business to attend to, don't waste my time!"
"You...!" Seeing Wu Zi'ang's arrogance, Jing Haoran couldn't help but tremble with anger. He roared and was about to pounce on his brother again, lest he fall into his trap. However, at this moment, a clear voice broke through the air, and then two figures descended from the sky, landing beside Jing Haoran.
"You!" Wu Zi'ang coldly glanced at the two handsome men who had appeared behind him, and snorted, "So Brother Jing has reinforcements. No wonder you dared to block my way in broad daylight!"
"I know Brother Jing is eager for revenge, but don't let this cause you to lose your composure and let the villains succeed!" Fang Jinwu ignored Wu Zi'ang and sincerely reminded Jing Haoran to calm down.
Pei Zhi, on the other hand, glared fiercely at Wu Zi'ang, his hatred evident.
Seeing this situation, Tong Hu knew things were going badly. He immediately gave a signal to the other three guards, one of whom immediately understood and turned to leave. The rest of them immediately stepped forward to protect Wu Zi'ang.
The General's Mansion wasn't far away. As long as they could return safely to inform Tie Ren, Wu Zi'ang's crisis would be resolved.
"Attack!" Seeing that one of the enemy had left, Fang Jinwu immediately understood their intention. Without hesitation, he struck first with the largest of the two swords, bringing a devastating blow that was destined to never return, slashing down at Wu Zi'ang's head.
Hearing Fang Jinwu's reminder, Pei Zhi leaped high into the air, his longsword flashing with countless sword flowers, scattering like a shower of falling stars.
Wu Zi'ang was familiar with this move; Pei Zhi had used it in an attempt to turn the tide after being injured during the training ground competition! "Get out of the way!" Witnessing the power of Fang Jinwu and Pei Zhi, Wu Zi'ang knew that the Tong Hu Three Guards were no match for them, so he charged forward.
'Hou Yi Shoots the Sun!' Seeing the two swooping down from the sky, Wu Zi'ang didn't hesitate, unleashing one of the three deadly moves of the Xuan Tian Sword Art—the Sky-Piercing Move.
The crimson sword light soared into the sky like an angry arrow of fire, and Fang Jinwu and Pei Zhi, swooping down from above, were the obvious targets!
A hissing sound rang out, and amidst the burst of red light, Pei Zhi's 'Silver River Falls from the Nine Heavens' move was completely shattered by Wu Zi'ang's sword energy. However, to Wu Zi'ang's surprise, Fang Jinwu's greatsword forcefully broke through the crimson sword energy, paused slightly, but still continued its downward strike.
Although they were fellow disciples, Fang Jinwu's style was clearly different from Pei Zhi's. His swordplay was fierce and heavy, exuding a strong killing intent, quite different from Pei Zhi's graceful and agile style!
"The Sword of Zhan Ge"—"Battle Decided!"
Fang Jinwu's swordplay had completely blocked all of Wu Zi'ang's escape routes. The outcome would be decided in one battle—this was "Battle Decided!" Knowing that if the fight dragged on, they would have no chance once Wu Zi'ang's reinforcements arrived, Fang Jinwu adopted a swift and decisive approach, forcing his opponent to fight head-on.
A head-on fight?! Wu Zi'ang narrowed his eyes, staring at the massive sword hurtling towards him. His right hand had already formed a fist, but he held it still, a powerful surge of fiery energy rapidly gathering around it. Just as Fang Jinwu's
sword was about to strike, Wu Zi'ang finally unleashed a punch. The incredibly strong fiery energy, accompanied by a terrifying whistling sound, met the sword overhead with indescribable speed, arriving before Wu Zi'ang's head.
Although they didn't believe that flesh and blood could withstand metal, the scene before them forced the three guards, including Tong Hu, to accept the reality. Yes, if he could be resurrected, what couldn't the Great General do? Fist
and sword clashed, and the scene froze in that instant. Wu Zi'ang's fist, Fang Jinwu's sword, and both of their bodies remained motionless.
However, careful observation reveals that Wu Zi'ang's fist did not actually collide with Fang Jinwu's giant sword. A tangible ball of crimson true energy blocked the sharp blade of the giant sword, ensuring that Wu Zi'ang's fist was unharmed.
Feeling wave after wave of energy rushing towards them, Pei Zhi and Jing Haoran immediately realized that the two were in the middle of a contest of internal strength. They exchanged glances and rushed forward together. The two rising stars of the martial arts world, known as 'Pei in the South and Jing in the North', were joining forces for the first time in their lives.
"Don't even think about it!" Tong Hu and his three guards were both shocked and angry at the sight, and rushed forward without saying a word.
"Get out of the way!" Although he was confident that he could defeat the three of them, Pei Zhi did not want to miss the great opportunity to kill Wu Zi'ang. He shouted sharply, and his long sword flashed with thousands of rays of light, engulfing Tong Hu and his two companions.
"Brother Jing, hurry up!" Even while facing Tong Hu and his two companions alone, Pei Zhi did not forget to remind Jing Haoran to act quickly.
Jing Haoran wasn't stupid. Even without Pei Zhi's words, he understood the importance of seizing the opportunity. He instantly flashed behind Wu Ziang, his fist striking heavily against Wu Ziang's back. A muffled thud
rang out
. Wu Ziang remained as immovable as a mountain, while Fang Jinwu groaned, spitting out blood and collapsing to the ground.
How could this be? Jing Haoran's fist, still planted on Wu Ziang's back, hadn't yet retracted when, at the moment of impact, he suddenly felt the opponent's back become ethereal and unfathomable. The force of his punch seemed to sink into the sea without a trace.
"There is a true ruler, rising and falling with him. Like a full glass of green wine, flowers blooming in autumn. Vast and empty dust, fleeting sea foam. Shallow and deep, gathering and scattering, one in ten thousand is gathered."
'Subtle'! It was precisely the subtlety of one of the eight techniques in the Demon God's Record that allowed Wu Zi'ang to safely receive Jing Haoran's full-force punch, and then generously transfer that punch's force along with his own internal energy to Fang Jinwu.
If the opponent had been someone like Dao Kuang or Wei Ruoxuan, Wu Zi'ang would surely have suffered a broken heart from the fierce punch. Of course, this is just a hypothetical situation; given Jing Haoran's skill, even a full-force attack only caused Wu Zi'ang minor damage.
Seeing that his attack had succeeded, Wu Zi'ang immediately transformed his 'subtlety' into 'powerful force,' forcing Jing Haoran back. Then, with a swift movement, he chased after Fang Jinwu like an arrow released from a bow, unleashing a 'bold' attack without hesitation!
In a situation where he was at a disadvantage against three opponents, he had to ruthlessly eliminate one of them to ensure that he was the one who would ultimately survive.
A powerful fist strike, as majestic as a surging river, erupted. Fang Jinwu, already badly injured, paled at the sight. His hands, seemingly straining, raised his greatsword high, slowly and deliberately meeting Wu Ziang's fist strike.
'The Sword of Zhan Ge'—'Death Struggle'!
A desperate battle, a fight to the death, a fight to survive!
Bang! The fist and the greatsword clashed again, finally producing a thunderous roar.
Fang Jinwu's greatsword flew from his hand, and he staggered back, clutching his chest. His handsome face was deathly pale, and blood gushed from his mouth, staining his chest.
Wu Ziang, on the other hand, had a slight blush on his face. His right shoulder was torn, and blood was seeping out. Clearly, he too had been injured by the fierce counterattack of Wu Ziang's swordsmanship. However, this external injury did not affect his fighting ability.
Strike while the iron is hot! After only a brief pause, Wu Ziang darted forward again, rushing towards Fang Jinwu.
"Senior Brother!" Pei Zhi, who was busy dealing with Tong Hu's three guards, was shocked to see this. He withdrew his sword and rushed towards Wu Zi'ang, abandoning his opponent.
At the same time, Jing Haoran had already taken the lead and pointed three fingers at Wu Zi'ang's back. Having failed with his previous punch, he had now changed tactics and used the Jing family's ultimate technique, 'Penetrating Golden Finger,' which was specifically designed to break internal energy!
Sensing Jing Haoran, Pei Zhi pounced from behind. Wu Zi'ang's momentum remained unchanged, and his left hand suddenly swung back, unleashing the final move of the Xuan Tian Sword Technique, 'Star Annihilation,' while his right hand had already formed 'Moonfall,' ready to kill Fang Jinwu in one fell swoop.
"My life is over!" Seeing a red sun descending from the sky, the heavily injured Fang Jinwu was filled with despair and closed his eyes in utter hopelessness.
"Have mercy!" Just then, a soft, melodious voice rang out, causing Wu Zi'ang's 'Moonfall' to slow down. It then slammed into the open ground beside Fang Jinwu with a thud. Simultaneously, Jing Haoran's Golden Finger was shattered by 'Star Annihilation,' forcing Jing and Pei to retreat once more.
"Lingyao's arrival is truly timely!" Wu Zi'ang smiled at Wei Lingyao approaching, but his feet swayed, and he arrived beside the fallen Fang Jinwu, one hand gradually glowing red.
Jing Haoran and Pei Zhi exchanged a glance and simultaneously stopped. The other's meaning was clear: if they advanced further, he would mercilessly kill Fang Jinwu first.
"Fairy!" The two turned their gazes to Wei Lingyao and exclaimed softly.
"I was just about to visit Zi'ang at his residence!" Wei Lingyao explained to Wu Zi'ang first, then looked at Jing Haoran and the others with her beautiful eyes and asked, "Brother Jing, what is the meaning of this?" "I
have come specifically to avenge my aunt and cousin!" Jing Haoran said with a face full of indignation, "This man raped and murdered my aunt and cousin at Tianmen Pass. How could you, Fairy, associate with such a villain?"
"Brother Jing, you must be mistaken," Wei Lingyao frowned and shook her head, "When Zi'ang went to Tianmen Pass, he was already seriously ill and on the verge of death. Even walking was extremely difficult for him. How could he have committed such a heinous act?"
"Fairy!" Hearing Wei Lingyao speak up for Wu Zi'ang, Jing Haoran was taken aback, then said angrily, "This villain doesn't look seriously ill at all. Are you perhaps trying to favor this villain, Fairy?"
"Zi'ang recovered only after practicing the 'Phoenix Nirvana Technique'!" Wei Lingyao explained patiently, "That is the truth. Lingyao has no intention of showing any favoritism!"
"This was said by my uncle himself, how could it be false!?" Jing Haoran shook his head and said, "Fairy, don't be deceived by this villain!"
"Why waste so much breath? If you want revenge, bring it on!" Seeing that Jing Haoran wouldn't listen to reason, Wu Zi'ang lost his patience and turned to Jing Haoran. Pei Zhi sneered.
"If you have the guts, release my senior brother first!" Pei Zhi said angrily.
"Let's have a one-on-one fight!" Wu Zi'ang didn't even bother to look at the other party.
"Zi'ang, for my sake, spare his life this time!" Looking at Fang Jinwu, who was pale and slumped on the ground, Wei Lingyao couldn't help but recall her childhood memories, so she sighed and pleaded for him.
"Fine, but Lingyao, remember you owe me a favor!" Wu Zi'ang clapped his hands nonchalantly, then kicked Fang Jinwu towards Pei Zhi.
Pei Zhi quickly reached out to catch his senior brother, but saw that the latter's eyes were closed and he had already fainted.
"Take him away! If you continue this entanglement, I'm afraid Lingyao can't stand idly by and will have to intervene!" Wei Lingyao took two steps forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Wu Zi'ang, her voice carrying a warning.
"Fairy, you...!" Jing Haoran was filled with hatred and anger upon seeing this, momentarily speechless.
"Go back and tell Senior Dao Kuang that Senior Uncles Wu Yin and Wu Wei hope he can go to Qingyin Temple soon. Master and the other senior uncles want a reasonable explanation for what happened the other day!" Wei Lingyao looked at Pei Zhi with her beautiful eyes and said calmly.
Pei Zhi's expression changed. The other party had actually changed her address to Master Dao Kuang as 'senior'. Clearly, in the current Dao Sect, his master was very likely to be expelled! Looking at the current situation, his senior brother was seriously injured. Even without Wei Lingyao's help, he and Jing Haoran could not do anything to Wu Zi'ang. The only option now was to retreat.
He whispered to Jing Haoran, "Brother Jing, let's go!"
Although Jing Haoran was unwilling, he had to face reality. He glared fiercely at Wu Zi'ang, then swiftly departed.
"You'd better go far away. Hengcheng is about to be under martial law, with a full-scale manhunt for those who intend to assassinate high-ranking officials. If you're caught, even a god can't save you!" Wu Zi'ang laughed loudly at the departing figures of the three.
Hearing Pei Zhi's angry snort, he sped off even faster, disappearing around the street corner with Jing Haoran in the blink of an eye.
"You can go back now. Tell the manor I'm safe!" Wu Zi'ang waved, signaling Tong Hu and the three guards to return to the general's manor.
"Shouldn't we stay and protect the general?" Tong Hu said worriedly. Although their martial arts were far inferior to their opponents, they could still play a crucial role in delaying the enemy.
"Don't worry, with Fairy Wei protecting me, everything will be perfectly safe!" Wu Zi'ang smiled and glanced at Wei Lingyao, saying, "Fairy Wei, isn't that right?"
"Very well, consider it me repaying a favor to the Great General!" Following Wu Zi'ang's tone, Wei Lingyao also became polite, addressing him as the Great General!
"Then this subordinate will take his leave!" Since Wei Lingyao was protecting him, the three guards were naturally completely at ease, bowed, and turned to leave.
“Let’s go too. Lingyao must escort me all the way to the Commandant’s Mansion!” Wu Zi’ang smiled. “However, this absolutely cannot be considered a return favor; that would be too easy on Lingyao!”
“Don’t you think you’re being too domineering!” Wei Lingyao rolled her eyes at him, her tone slightly reproachful. “Or are you blaming me for meddling earlier?”
“Lingyao, you’re overthinking it. I knew you and Fang Jinwu knew each other since childhood. Hmm, what kind of cat did he give you? It’s only right that you pleaded for him!” Wu Zi’ang said nonchalantly, taking the lead and walking forward.
“So sour!” Wei Lingyao said lightly as she walked alongside him.
“What’s sour?” Wu Zi’ang glanced at Wei Lingyao’s beautiful face and asked.
“Your words!” Wei Lingyao met Wu Zi’ang’s gaze and asked in return, “Don’t you think so yourself, Zi’ang?”
“It seems, a little!” Wu Zi’ang nodded thoughtfully in acknowledgment.
"I only pleaded with Zi'ang to spare his life because of our childhood friendship!" Wei Lingyao withdrew her gaze and said calmly, "Zi'ang, don't think too much about it!"
"It seems Lingyao is trying to clarify something to me!?" Wu Ziang leaned over, gazing at Wei Lingyao's stunningly beautiful face, and asked with a smile.
"Boring!" The street was gradually filling with pedestrians. When Wei Lingyao saw him leaning over, her face flushed slightly. She tossed out a remark, "Think what you want," and quickened her pace.
"Wait for me!" Wu Ziang hurriedly followed. Being able to flirt with the number one beauty on the street would be an incredibly pleasant experience, so how could he miss it?
***
Inside the Commandant's Mansion, Chu Tianhe, who had already been promoted to Commandant, sat contentedly in the main hall. Clearly, the excitement of becoming a powerful official in charge of the capital's security wouldn't dissipate in just a few days. He hadn't imagined he would be appointed to this position beforehand. That young general truly had the guts to promote him so boldly and confidently.
"The General has arrived!" Just as he was pondering, he suddenly heard a report from the guard outside the door. Immediately afterward, a man and a woman entered through the doorway.
"Your subordinate greets the General!" Upon recognizing the newcomers, Chu Tianhe quickly rose and went to pay his respects.
"Lieutenant Chu, please rise!" Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly, helping the man up. This was a trusted confidant he had been eager to promote, and he hoped the man wouldn't disappoint him.
"Fairy Wei has also arrived!" The tactful Chu Tianhe didn't overlook Wei Lingyao beside him, smiling and cupping his hands in greeting.
"Congratulations on Lord Chu's promotion to Lieutenant!" Wei Lingyao returned the greeting politely, smiling.
"It's all thanks to the General's promotion!" Chu Tianhe replied with gratitude.
"Enough of that. Lieutenant Chu, please immediately arrange for a city-wide curfew and a full-scale search for the three assassins who attempted to kill me!" Wu Zi'ang's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he spoke to Chu Tianhe in a deep voice.
"Yes…!" Chu Tianhe was stunned for a moment, then noticed the wound on Wu Ziang's shoulder, his expression changed, and he quickly replied. (
Volume 4, Rebirth of the World, Chapter 150: Flirting)
After Wu Ziang described the appearances of Jing Haoran, Pei Zhi, and Fang Jinwu, Chu Tianhe already had a good idea of their identities. Leaving Fang Jinwu aside, he had already seen
Pei Zhi and Jing Haoran before, so he didn't hesitate any longer, bowed, and left to accept the order. "Why isn't Lingyao saying anything?" After Chu Tianhe left, Wu Ziang smiled at Wei Lingyao, "I thought Lingyao would plead for me again!"
"In Ziang's heart, am I really such a tactless person?" Wei Lingyao frowned, her tone slightly displeased.
"Lingyao misunderstands!" Wu Ziang wanted to see this humanized expression on her face, because it made him feel closer to her.
"I just want Lingyao to owe me another favor!" "Carefully scrutinizing Wei Lingyao's slightly reproachful face, Wu Zi'ang spoke the truth.
'I don't even know how to repay this favor!' Hearing his explanation, Wei Lingyao's reproach vanished, and she said, 'Who knows what kind of difficult questions Zi'ang will throw at me!'
'Am I that kind of person?' Wu Zi'ang asked innocently.
'Isn't that right?' Wei Lingyao glanced at him sideways, a faint smile playing on her lips as she asked in return.
'General!' Just then, a guard entered, bringing Wu Zi'ang a basin of water and white silk for bandaging his wounds.
'This Chu Tianhe is truly thoughtful!' Wu Zi'ang and Wei Lingyao thought simultaneously, guessing that this must be at Chu Tianhe's behest.
'I'll help you!'" Seeing Wu Ziang intending to bandage his wound himself, Wei Lingyao stepped forward without hesitation.
First, she helped Wu Ziang sit down, then gently rolled up his sleeve.
Seeing this, the two guards who had brought the bandages tactfully excused themselves and retreated.
"Hmph!" Although the wound wasn't deep, Wu Ziang couldn't help but groan softly from the stinging pain as the damp cloth touched him.
"Are you alright?" Wei Lingyao stopped what she was doing and asked softly.
"I'm fine!" "Wu Zi'ang smiled and shook his head.
Wei Lingyao glanced at him, her hands moving as gently as possible. After carefully wiping the wound, she covered it with a clean white silk cloth and carefully bandaged it.
Wu Zi'ang stared intently at the stunningly beautiful woman who was bandaging his wound, and the image hidden deep in his heart couldn't help but surface before him, overlapping with the person in front of him.
As if sensing Wu Zi'ang's gaze, Wei Lingyao's movements slowed, her jade-like face flushed slightly, and she subconsciously lowered her head even further.
Smelling the lily-like fragrance emanating from her delicate body, and noticing her shyness, Wu Zi'ang's heart pounded. He became so emboldened that just as Wei Lingyao was about to finish bandaging, he reached out and grasped her soft hand.
"You...!" Wei Lingyao was slightly startled, raising her head to meet Wu Zi'ang's burning gaze. Her heart trembled, and she quickly tried to pull her hand away.
"Lingyao!" "Wu Zi'ang whispered, tightly gripping her delicate hand with one hand, while his other hand boldly reached for her exquisite face.
Wei Lingyao was stunned. Since she descended the mountain and entered the martial world, no one had ever dared to treat her so frivolously, not even uttering a single frivolous word! Now, this man was so audacious, she should…!
What should she do? Turn on him and angrily rebuke him? Or slap him hard? Or…!
Just as Wei Lingyao was engaged in a fierce internal struggle, Wu Zi'ang's hand had already caressed her smooth, delicate cheek.
No! Wei Lingyao finally came to her senses, about to speak to stop his rude behavior, when she suddenly heard him whisper, "Lingyao owes me a favor!"
What did that mean? Wei Lingyao was taken aback. Did he want her to repay it in this way?
"Let me kiss you!" "Wu Zi'ang finally revealed his intentions, lifting Wei Lingyao's chin with one hand, his eyes blazing with desire, and slowly bringing his head closer.
Hearing such blatant teasing, Wei Lingyao felt no anger whatsoever; her beautiful eyes filled with confusion as she stared blankly at Wu Zi'ang's face drawing ever closer.
This was a golden opportunity! Taking advantage of Wei Lingyao's distraction, Wu Zi'ang suddenly lowered his head, his cold gaze landing squarely on Wei Lingyao's fragrant lips.
Wei Lingyao's body trembled, instinctively struggling, but before she knew it, he had wrapped his arms around her, pulling her firmly into a tight embrace.
His tongue relentlessly pried open Wei Lingyao's tightly closed teeth, and Wu Zi'ang began his fierce assault on this holy fairy.
Having never experienced such a passionate kiss before, Wei Lingyao's entire body went limp. She couldn't use any of her usual techniques, like the Flower-Picking Finger or the Mysterious Heart Technique. A woman's vulnerability was laid bare in this situation; even immortals have desires, let alone mortals!?"
"General...!" Just then, someone, always the spoilsport, barged in. Seeing the scene unfolding in the room, he was stunned, practically frozen in place.
"You scoundrel!" Hearing someone break in, Wu Zi'ang had no choice but to release his grip. Wei Lingyao seized the opportunity to escape from his embrace, blushing as she cursed him, then stormed out the door.
"I'm sorry, General!" Noticing Wu Zi'ang's hostile gaze, Chu Tianhe panicked and hurriedly said, "I didn't mean it! I just wanted to report to the General that I've already issued a city-wide martial law as instructed!"
"It's alright! You didn't arrive too early! If you had arrived a quarter earlier, I would have confiscated your entire month's salary!" Wu Zi'ang's eyes lit up with a smile, though he inwardly lamented his misfortune. A little more time and he could have savored Wei Lingyao's sweet tongue. Now, Chu Tianhe had ruined his plans, and such an opportunity would be hard to come by again!
"General, you're truly amazing!" Chu Tianhe gave Wu Zi'ang a thumbs-up and laughed, "What a divine being Wei Lingyao is! To be so captivated by you, General…! I am utterly impressed!"
"Enough! Sit down, I have something to discuss with you!" Wu Zi'ang smiled and gestured for him to sit.
"Please speak, General!" Chu Tianhe, knowing his place, quickly sat down and asked.
"I want to retrieve all the treasure below and transport it back to the General's Mansion!" Wu Zi'ang stated bluntly.
"When will you make your move, General?" Chu Tianhe asked, showing no surprise.
"As expected, the treasure below isn't a secret to you!" Wu Zi'ang suddenly laughed, his eyes fixed on Chu Tianhe.
"To be honest, General, ever since the conflict between you and Fairy Wei and the others in the back garden of the Commandant's Mansion that day, I've had my suspicions. Later, you transferred me away from the Commandant's Mansion and sent someone else to take over the guard post. At that time…!"
"At that time? You already knew that the person who came to take over the post wasn't General Tian's subordinate, right? You originally wanted to expose him and capture him, but when you saw me arrive, you changed your mind, right?" Wu Zi'ang interjected with a smile.
"That's right. My thought was that since it was arranged by the General, I wouldn't question the person's identity, whether it was real or fake!" Chu Tianhe replied in a deep voice.
"Very good!" Wu Zi'ang smiled with satisfaction and said, "I am very pleased to have a subordinate like you, but I wonder if you are willing to serve me wholeheartedly?"
"General, rest assured, I am not an ungrateful person. As long as you give the order, even if it's a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, I will not flinch!" Chu Tianhe knew it was time to express his stance, so he straightened his clothes, knelt down, and said calmly and firmly.
"Get up!" Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly, went over and helped him up. He knew that the other party might not truly be willing to go through fire and water for him, but seven or eight parts loyalty would be enough. There are few people in this world who offer help in times of need, but many who add to one's success. This Chu Tianhe is a smart man; of course he knows that following him will not be a loss!
After helping Chu Tianhe up, Wu Zi'ang got down to business, saying, "The discovery of the treasure must be handled with utmost secrecy. I'm entrusting this task to you; are there any problems?"
"General, rest assured," Chu Tianhe replied confidently, "When I was the Commander of the Cavalry, I had many trusted brothers. I guarantee with my life that I will retrieve the treasure and transport it to the General's Mansion without fail!"
"Very good!" Wu Zi'ang nodded with a smile, "Then I'll trouble Commander Chu!"
After agreeing on a time for the treasure's discovery with Chu Tianhe, Wu Zi'ang prepared to return home. For Wu Zi'ang's safety, Chu Tianhe specially selected a dozen skilled martial artists and a squad of elite infantry to escort him back to the General's Mansion.
***
Three days had passed since the martial law was declared, yet the city's imperial guards still hadn't found any trace of the wanted criminal.
Wu Zi'ang showed little surprise. Given the former power of Left Chancellor Zhang Zhongshu in the capital, secretly setting up several secret hideouts would have been a piece of cake. Moreover, with Gong Yan and Zhang Zhongshu's group now colluding with Wei Ruoxuan, Dao Kuang, and the Demonic Sect leader Nangong Qian, it was no wonder that Jing Haoran and his group could safely evade the city guards' searches.
Therefore, when the Empress Dowager suggested that the Emperor's enthronement ceremony was approaching and it was inappropriate to maintain a city-wide curfew, Wu Zi'ang readily agreed and lifted the ban.
With everything going smoothly, Wu Zi'ang, who had already seized control of both the military and political power of Qin, truly felt the wonder of power. In the court, his word was law, and no one dared to contradict him! Although he had not yet proposed reforming the official system, Wu Zi'ang had undoubtedly become the most powerful minister in Qin!
Two days later, the fourth prince, Wu Xin, ascended the throne. Following the coup of the nine princes and the rebellion of Wei Ruoxuan, the new emperor's ascension stabilized the turbulent court, especially quelling the unrest in various prefectures and counties.
However, all the officials understood that from this point on, the Great Qin would enter an era where the General's Mansion held absolute power and commanded the entire realm.
With the support of General Tian Guangfeng and the direct descendants of the Wu family of Pingyang, and the assistance of Minister of Justice Li Hui and Commandant Chu Tianhe, Wu Zi'ang was already a king in name only, becoming the de facto ruler of the Great Qin.
His next task was to strengthen the private power of the General's Mansion, cultivate numerous confidants, and utilize the remaining treasures of the Commandant's Mansion to build an elite army completely loyal to him—also part of his plan. (Volume 4, Rebirth of the World, Chapter 151: Shifting Power - Part 1) A
bottleneck! Pain!!! Yesterday and the day before, I spent an hour after work in a daze, my mind a jumbled mess, unable to type a single word! Today is better, I'll write a chapter!!! I'll say it again: if you like it, thank you for your support; if you don't, there's no need for harsh words, just click the "x" in the upper right corner of the webpage and leave! I've been having a rough time at work lately, 　　and I'm not in a good mood 　　, so I apologize to my brothers!!
I 　　will finish writing this book!!! Thank you for your support!!! ________________ ... 　　Now, he, the leader of the Demonic Sect, was practically all alone. Aside from a few loyal followers, he had no one else 　　he could rely on. Some elders who had previously obeyed his commands had chosen to side with the Demon Emperor and the Empress. His title as leader of the Demonic Sect was now merely nominal. As for Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang, he couldn't completely trust them. In fact, what the Empress had said that day might not have been wrong; Wei and Fang were indeed using him, but he had initially intended to use them to realize his ambition of controlling the Demonic Sect alone. 　　It was all useless now! He had truly failed! Nangong Qian sighed inwardly, picked up the wine pot, and poured himself another full cup. 　　Just then, he heard a knock at the door, as if someone had entered! 　　"Lu Yuan, come, have a drink with me!" Nangong Qian, slightly drunk, casually picked up another cup from the table. Lu Yuan was his confidant and personal guard, utterly loyal to him. In this moment of frustration, he also very much wanted the other man to have a few drinks with him. 　　To his surprise, the person who entered the room remained silent, as if he hadn't heard him. 　　"Lu…!" Nangong Qian poured himself a full glass of wine, turned around, and raised the glass to the newcomer. However, when his gaze fell upon the imposing, extraordinary figure in black, his throat tightened as if someone were choking him, and he couldn't utter a single word. 　　He blinked repeatedly, and when he confirmed that what appeared before him wasn't an illusion, disbelief filled Nangong Qian's face, and his drunkenness vanished. 　　"Sect Leader Nangong, what a fine mood you're in!" The handsome man in black smiled slightly and slowly walked towards Nangong Qian. 　　"Wei, Wei…!" Nangong Qian trembled slightly, pointing a finger at the approaching figure, his eyes filled with terror. 　　"What did I say that day? Do you remember?!" Wei Xuanyi's smile remained, but his tone was filled with chilling murderous intent.

"Cripple your martial arts, and I'll spare your life!" The words Wei Xuanyi had spoken that day immediately flashed through Nangong Qian's mind, and his expression darkened further.
"Do it yourself. That statement still stands!" Wei Xuanyi stopped, staring coldly at Nangong Qian.
Nangong Qian's face turned from white to green, then red. After a long pause, he raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, and said viciously, "Do you think I'm really that stupid? Taking my life won't be that easy!" With that, he suddenly swept his hand across the table, instantly sweeping all the dishes at Wei Xuanyi. Then, his body transformed into an arrow, rushing towards the window.
Wei Xuanyi smiled coldly, flicking his sleeve. A gust of wind arose, shattering the oncoming dishes into fragments, which reflected back at Nangong Qian, who was trying to escape through the window.
Startled by the whooshing sound behind him, Nangong Qian had no choice but to change his lunge to a sidestep, thus missing his golden opportunity to escape through the window.
"Indecisive!" Wei Xuanyi sneered, his figure flashing like a ghost, appearing within Nangong Qian's reach. With a swift movement, crimson flames, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder, slammed towards Nangong Qian's head.
Bang! Unable to dodge, Nangong Qian had no choice but to take the blow head-on, the consequences of which were predictable.
After a muffled thud, Nangong Qian, coughing up blood, rolled to the side, while Wei Xuanyi followed closely, his hand, imbued with fiery energy, striking again.
"Boom!" With another muffled thud, to Wei Xuanyi's surprise, the seemingly seriously injured Nangong Qian actually raised his palm to block his thunderous attack.
Slightly startled, Wei Xuanyi's eyes caught a fleeting, eerie red light on Nangong Qian's face, and he sneered, "Very well, you even stole the 'Burning Blood Remnant Soul Technique,' then I can't forgive you even more!" With that, his right hand sank, and surging fiery energy flowed down his arm into Nangong Qian's body.
Nangong Qian gritted his teeth, channeling all his inner strength to resist Wei Xuanyi's surging attacks, which were like a mighty river. He knew very well that even if he used the first move of the "Burning Blood Remnant Soul Technique," he couldn't possibly defeat the Demon Emperor, one of the "Four Absolutes" whose inner strength was unparalleled. All he could do was stall for time until reinforcements arrived!
Wei Xuanyi's face was ashen, his eyes coldly fixed on Nangong Qian, who was stubbornly persisting. The fiery energy in his hands surged fiercely, ready to erupt. Knowing that his opponent had secretly learned the "Burning Blood Remnant Soul Technique," he was even less likely to give him a chance to breathe. Knowing the power of this technique, he knew that if his opponent was driven to desperation and used all three moves of the "Burning Blood Technique," he would have no choice but to retreat. "
Why aren't they here yet? I'm about to die!" Nangong Qian cursed inwardly. With such a loud noise coming from inside his room, couldn't anyone hear it?
"Whoosh!" Just as Nangong Qian was beginning to despair, a strange sound rang out, and a purple shadow rushed into the room like lightning, delivering a full-force punch towards Wei Xuanyi's back.
Good! A cold smile appeared on Wei Xuanyi's lips as he threw a punch without turning his head.
"Bang!" Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian felt as if his punch had sunk into a vast ocean, without any force. Even more strangely, the opponent's fist power seemed to possess a subtle suction force, continuously absorbing his true energy.
Slightly startled, he twisted his fist and retreated five steps.
At this moment, Nangong Qian noticed Wei Xuanyi's attack suddenly weaken and was overjoyed. He was about to unleash his inner strength to attack Dao Kuang from both sides when, unexpectedly, the opponent released his power again after withdrawing it, a surging fiery energy mixed with the pure purple true energy of Daoism rushing into his body.
It's over! Only those two words flashed through Nangong Qian's mind before he was blasted against the wall by a violent internal force, then crashed to the ground, mouthfuls of blood spilling from his mouth. His body twisted a few times before finally falling silent.
"Thank you!" Looking at the somewhat dazed Dao Kuang, Wei Xuanyi's face showed a mocking smile. His figure flashed and he appeared outside the door.
"Don't bother seeing me out!" Unexpectedly, a figure darted out from outside the door, his palms surging with strange and extremely powerful spiraling true energy, striking towards Wei Xuanyi's back as he landed.
"Wait!" As if he had anticipated the ambush outside the door, Wei Xuanyi chuckled. His momentum had already dissipated, and his body, which should have been unable to change, strangely shifted three feet to the side, dodging the sneak attack from behind. Then, with a burst of laughter, he sped away.
Wei Ruoxuan dared not pursue, and could only watch helplessly as Wei Xuanyi disappeared into the night. Then, he cursed under his breath and turned back into the house.
"How is he?" Looking at Dao Kuang standing beside Nangong Qian, Wei Ruoxuan asked without any hope.
"Dead!" Dao Kuang replied bitterly, "Dead is dead! Actually, keeping him around wouldn't have been of much use! Wei Xuanyi killing him saved us a lot of trouble!" "I don't think so!" Wei Ruoxuan shook his head and said, "No matter what, Nangong Qian is the nominal sect leader. Since the founding of the Demonic Sect, it has been stipulated that once someone becomes the sect leader, they serve for life unless they step down voluntarily! Of course, there is another situation, which is when the sect leader dies, the elders can elect a new sect leader!"
"You mean...!" Dao Kuang immediately understood.
"That's right!" Wei Ruoxuan frowned and said, "Wei Xuanyi is paving the way for someone else. Getting rid of Nangong Qian makes electing a new sect leader a perfectly legitimate move!"
"Senior brother, who do you think should be the sect leader? Perhaps it's Empress Mei?" "Dao Kuang asked.
"No, if that were the case, Wei Xuanyi would have passed the sect leader position directly to Meihou fifteen years ago. Why wait until that day?" Wei Ruoxuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he said in a deep voice, "In my opinion, it's highly likely that it will be passed on to...!"
***
Early morning, General's Mansion!
Wu Zi'ang, who had just gotten up, dressed and washed up. Just as he was about to go out, he inadvertently turned his head and glanced at Qiu Xueqing, who was sleeping soundly on the bed. He couldn't help but
feel a surge of love. He leaned over to the bedside and kissed Qiu Xueqing's smooth forehead. "Husband!" Qiu Xueqing slowly opened her sleepy eyes and immediately found her husband sitting on the bedside, smiling at her. She then remembered the madness of last night and blushed. She turned her gaze away.
"Wife, I'm going to court in a while. Come on, give me a kiss!" Looking at his wife's naked breasts, Wu Zi'ang's heart fluttered. He said something ingratiating and kissed her small mouth.
"Mmm!" "Although Qiu Xueqing was extremely embarrassed, she obediently turned her face away, letting her husband kiss her lips.
"Zi'ang, Zi'ang!" However, just then, someone suddenly burst open the door, ruining the couple's tender moment.
"Qingqing, what are you doing?" Wu Zi'ang and Qiu Xueqing looked at Shui Qingqing, who rushed into the room with an excited expression, and asked in surprise.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Seeing the two of them like this, even a fool would know what was going on. Shui Qingqing repeatedly apologized, but her tone was tinged with sourness.
"You should knock beforehand, you idiot!" Although Shui Qingqing had ruined their good time, Wu Zi'ang was not angry at all. Instead, seeing her pitiful expression, he felt a little sorry for her and said softly,
"I know, I'll be careful next time!" "Realizing that Wu Zi'ang meant no blame, Shui Qingqing's expression instantly changed, transforming from pitiful to joyful. This remarkable ability to change her demeanor so quickly astonished Qiu Xueqing, who was lying on the bed.
'Sister Qing, you're so beautiful!' Upon seeing Qiu Xueqing's disheveled hair, flushed face, and exposed, snow-white breasts, Shui Qingqing's eyes lit up. She rushed to the bedside, praising her with a flattering expression.
'Hey! You barged in here so early just to say that?' Wu Zi'ang asked, frowning.
'Of course not. Ah, this is a long story. You should go to court first, and I'll talk to you in detail when you return! Go quickly, I need to talk to Sister Qing!' Shui Qingqing was no longer in a hurry and kept urging Wu Zi'ang to leave."
"How utterly baffling!" Wu Zi'ang walked out of the room, filled with doubt.
***
As usual, he attended court. In the Golden Hall, Wu Zi'ang was seated first on the right, diagonally to the emperor's throne.
The newly enthroned Qin Emperor Wu Xin was only fifteen years old this year, still somewhat childish, but his demeanor did indeed possess a certain imperial bearing. In fact, whether mediocre or outstanding, wearing that dragon robe symbolizing the pinnacle of power, one always looked majestic. To
Wu Xin's left was Empress Xiao, who had been promoted to Empress Dowager, while to his right, the former Empress Dowager should now be addressed as Grand Empress Dowager.
With nothing else to report, the court adjourned as usual, and Wu Zi'ang, along with a group of ministers, walked out of the hall, chatting and laughing.
Just then, a young eunuch suddenly approached, bowed deeply to Wu Zi'ang, and said, "This servant has important matters to report, please allow the General a moment's silence!"
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 152 Change of Power Part 2
"Oh?" Wu Zi'ang glanced at the young eunuch, a hint of suspicion appearing on his face.
"This servant is here on the orders of the Third Prince!" the little eunuch quickly added upon seeing the situation.
"The Third Prince? Wu Zhi?" Wu Zi'ang was slightly puzzled. He had no dealings with Wu Zhi before, so what could the other party have sent this little eunuch to convey?
After thinking for a moment, Wu Zi'ang followed the little eunuch aside and said, "Speak, what is it?"
"The First Prince is dissatisfied with your monopolization of power in court, General, and is therefore preparing to flee the capital tonight for Tianmen Pass!" The little eunuch looked around before speaking in a low voice.
Oh? Wu Zi'ang's expression changed upon hearing this. Wu Che was going to flee to Tianmen Pass? The intention was obvious: he was unwilling to accept that his throne had been taken away, so he wanted to use the power of Gong Yan and Zhang Zhongshu to launch a counterattack!
"Is this true?" Wu Zi'ang stared intently at the little eunuch, frowning as he asked.
"Absolutely true!" The little eunuch nodded incessantly, like a chicken pecking at rice, and said, "Our prince has planted someone next to the eldest prince, so…!"
"I understand!" Wu Zi'ang interrupted the little eunuch. The truth of this news was beyond doubt. Wu Zhi had no reason to lie to him, and he had long heard that the eldest prince and the third prince were at odds. The two had tried to kill each other in their struggle for the throne. It was obvious that the third prince, Wu Zhi, wanted to use him to get rid of the eldest prince, Wu Zhi.
"Convey my gratitude to His Highness the Third Prince!" Wu Zi'ang regained his composure, smiled, and said, then turned and left.
Wu Zi'ang had made up his mind that he absolutely could not let Wu Che escape from the capital. Although Gong Yan was currently rebelling, he had no legitimate reason to do so. But if Wu Che escaped to Tianmen Pass, the situation would be different. Wu Che was the crown prince, and Gong Yan could use the pretext of 'legitimacy' to incite neighboring states to rebel as well.
After thinking it over, he didn't immediately return to the General's Mansion, but instead went to Changxin Palace.
"Please tell the Crown Prince that today is an inauspicious day, due west, and it's not a good day for travel!" Wu Zi'ang said to the Empress Dowager with a smile.
"What do you mean by that, Zi'ang?" The Empress Dowager frowned, asking in confusion.
"Nothing much, just a matter of concern from your subject, so I'm reminding His Highness the Crown Prince!" Wu Zi'ang smiled and said, "I have matters to attend to at home, so I'll take my leave!" He glanced at the thoughtful Empress Dowager and turned to leave.
He hoped that Wu Che would heed his words and abandon his plan to escape, otherwise…! A murderous glint flashed in Wu Zi'ang's eyes as he strode out of Changxin Palace.
Passing through the Imperial Garden, Wu Zi'ang stopped. In the Floating Jade Pavilion, a solitary figure caught his attention.
It was that little girl, Wu Ling! Wu Zi'ang sighed inwardly. Of all the princes and princesses, he had the best impression of this little girl. He had experienced her troublesome and mischievous nature, but he couldn't deny that she was indeed lovable.
Seeing Wu Ling's lonely and helpless appearance, Wu Zi'ang felt great pity and wanted to go and comfort her, but remembering that he was also an accomplice of her father's killer, he gave up the idea and quietly left.
Returning to the General's Mansion and his room, he found that Qiu Xueqing was not there.
"Where is she?" Wu Zi'ang was very surprised. Usually, Qiu Xueqing would wait for him after court and then personally brew him a cup of tea.
"Hua'er, where is the young mistress?" Just then, Dong Hua suddenly pushed open the door and asked quickly.
"The young mistress and Miss Shui, Consort Xiao is at Xiqing Garden, so she specially asked me to inform you, young master!" Dong Hua smiled.
"She knew I'd be back at this time!" Wu Zi'ang was truly impressed by Qiu Xueqing's timing. After thinking for a moment, he smiled and said, "I have nothing else to do, so I'll go join in the fun!"
With that, he stepped out the door and headed towards the backyard.
As soon as he entered the garden, he heard the melodious sound of a zither, like flowing water amidst green hills. After walking a few steps, he found his newly recognized sworn sister, Xiao Wan'er, intently playing the zither in the pavilion. Beside her, Qiu Xueqing and Shui Qingqing sat, seemingly listening to the music.
"Zi'ang, you're back!" Shui Qingqing, with her keenest senses, spotted Wu Zi'ang immediately.
Then, the music stopped abruptly, and Xiao Wan'er and Qiu Xueqing turned to look at him.
Wu Zi'ang walked over, smiling at the three women, and said, "I've come at a really bad time, I'm sorry to have disturbed Sister Wan'er's performance!"
"No, I was just playing randomly!" Xiao Wan'er quickly replied.
"Why are you all in such high spirits today, coming all here to play?" Wu Zi'ang's gaze swept over the three women's faces as he asked with a smile.
"It's not that we're in high spirits, it's because we're bored!" Shui Qingqing stood up and lazily stretched, her firm breasts immediately reminding Wu Zi'ang of the feel of her touch that day.
"Does my husband have any fun suggestions?" Qiu Xueqing walked over, took Wu Zi'ang's right arm, and asked with a gentle smile. Women like them, always staying in the mansion, always using music, chess, calligraphy
, and painting to pass the time, inevitably felt bored. "This one?" Wu Zi'ang looked around and suddenly saw a pheasant perched on a flower in the garden. His eyes lit up, and he laughed, "I've got it!" Then, he turned to Shui Qingqing and said, "Qingqing, go and catch that one!"
"Why?" Shui Qingqing asked in confusion, but her hands moved without hesitation. With a flick of her silver thread, the pheasant was in her hand.
Wu Zi'ang walked over and unceremoniously plucked a few beautiful tail feathers from the pheasant, immediately eliciting a sharp cry from the bird, startling the three women.
"Why are you bullying it for no reason?" Qiu Xueqing said, giving Wu Zi'ang a reproachful look after hearing the pheasant's pitiful cry.
"I'm going to strip it naked!" Wu Zi'ang winked at Qiu Xueqing, answering mischievously.
"Tch! Nonsense!" Qiu Xueqing, Shui Qingqing, and Xiao Wan'er blushed upon hearing this, the first two spitting lightly.
"Enough, let it go!" Looking at the few bright feathers in his hand, Wu Zi'ang gestured for Shui Qingqing to release the pheasant, then smiled and said, "Uh, does anyone have a few coins to lend me?"
"Here! Let's see what you're up to!" Shui Qingqing held out her hand, placing three copper coins into Wu Zi'ang's grasp.
Wu Zi'ang smiled and stacked the three copper coins tightly together. Then he threaded the ends of several feathers through the square holes in the coins until they were firmly plugged and wouldn't fall out easily. He then weighed the coins in his hand and said to the three women, "You can play with them now, albeit barely!"
"Play? How do you play?!" The three women stared in surprise at the beautiful feather-made object in Wu Zi'ang's hand.
"Hmm! You can play like this!" Wu Zi'ang said, tossing his homemade shuttlecock into the air. Then, he raised his right leg and began kicking it repeatedly.
"Wow!" Qiu Xueqing, Shui Qingqing, and Xiao Wan'er watched the shuttlecock fly up and down between Wu Zi'ang's legs, their beautiful faces simultaneously showing delight.
"Fun! I want to play!" Shui Qingqing moved swiftly, snatching the shuttlecock with a swift motion, and then began kicking it like Wu Zi'ang.
For a martial arts expert like Shui Qingqing, kicking the shuttlecock was far too easy. If she wanted, she could kick it hundreds of times without a problem.
Therefore, Wu Zi'ang took the shuttlecock back and smiled, "You can add some fancy moves!" He then demonstrated a series of kicking, circling, and striking movements, making the three women eager to try.
"Alright, you guys play!" After the demonstration, Wu Zi'ang handed the keyboard to Xiao Wan'er, saying, "Wan'er, you go first!"
"I... I'm afraid I can't do it!" Xiao Wan'er said softly, her pretty face flushed.
"Just play, what's there to be afraid of!" Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly and handed the keyboard to her.
Unlike Shui Qingqing, who had practiced martial arts, Xiao Wan'er, who was usually pampered, was noticeably clumsy. She only kicked the keyboard twice before dropping it, causing her to blush deeply and refuse to play anymore.
"Practice makes perfect, you'll get better with more practice!" Wu Zi'ang smiled at the three girls and said, "I'll make two more, and we can all play together!"
Afterward, Wu Zi'ang made two more keyboards and gave them to Qiu Xueqing and Shui Qingqing. They weren't particularly exquisite toys, but for the three girls who spent their days playing music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, they were undoubtedly very novel.
Each of the three girls took a keyboard and jumped around kicking it, looking completely absorbed in the game. Poor pheasant, its tail plucked bare, huddled pitifully in a corner.
Watching the three stunningly beautiful women flitting about like butterflies in the garden, Wu Zi'ang sat on a stone bench, a faint smile on his face. The scene before him reminded him of his childhood, when kicking shuttlecocks or sacks was a common pastime for children. But as he grew older, these things had largely faded from his memory.
Just then, the maid Dong Hua approached at a leisurely pace. Behind her were two beautiful figures that made Wu Zi'ang's heart flutter slightly.
"Is today a gathering of beauties?" Wu Zi'ang murmured to himself.
Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng immediately spotted the three women kicking colorful objects in front of the pavilion, their beautiful faces momentarily stunned.
"This is…!" Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng exchanged glances, their curiosity about the new object making them forget their hostility towards Shui Qingqing, and they moved over.
After leading Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng to their destination, Dong Hua turned and left.
"Lingyao, Qimeng, what brings you here today!" Wu Ziang stood up and greeted them with a smile.
"We've come to visit the Princess!" Before Su Qimeng could answer, Wei Lingyao had already spoken first.
"You flatter yourself!" Wu Ziang awkwardly touched his nose. He had noticed that although Wei Lingyao's face was calm, her beautiful eyes deliberately looked away, avoiding eye contact with him.
"Sister Wei, Sister Su! Come, let's play!" Qiu Xueqing, her face flushed, casually tossed the keyboard to Su Qimeng, panting, "Ziang made this, it's so much fun!"
'Whoosh!' Something flew straight towards Wei Lingyao with a whoosh. Wei Lingyao was quick-witted and caught it in her hand. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was the same as the one in Su Qimeng's hand—a colorful object made of feathers.
"Let's try it!" Shui Qingqing looked at Wei Lingyao with her beautiful eyes and said in a challenging tone, "I just kicked it over two hundred times!"
"What is this?" Wei Lingyao looked at the thing in her hand and asked in surprise.
"Uh, you can call it a shuttlecock!" Wu Ziang replied.
"Ziang invented it?" Su Qimeng looked at Wu Ziang with a strange gaze.
"It's not really an invention, just a little toy!" Wu Ziang really didn't dare to take credit. He didn't know who invented it, he only knew that everyone played with it when they were kids.
"You and I are both Ziang's friends, and fighting here is too much of a mood killer. How about we settle this with a shuttlecock kicking contest?" Shui Qingqing started 'provoking' again!
"What if I lose, and what if I win?" Wei Lingyao met Shui Qingqing's gaze and asked back without showing any weakness.
"The loser has to bark like a dog three times!" Shui Qingqing answered seriously, word by word.
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 153 Change of Power III
Upon hearing Shui Qingqing's words, Wu Zi'ang almost chuckled aloud. This was hardly a competition; it was more like children's squabbles! However, this kind of bet wouldn't hurt their relationship or cause any harm to either side, so he was happy to watch the two beauties compete.
"Very well, it's settled then!" Wei Lingyao was slightly taken aback, then readily agreed.
"Hehe!" Shui Qingqing couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Sister Wei has really changed her ways. In the past, Sister Wei would never have played such a pointless game with you!"
"Tell me, how do you want to compete?" Wei Lingyao's jade-like face flushed slightly. She also realized that she had become somewhat strange lately; agreeing to such a pointless competition was certainly not her usual style.
“If we were to compare the number of kicks, it would be too troublesome. With our martial arts skills, we could probably kick until dark without a winner!” Shui Qingqing glanced at Qiu Xueqing, Xiao Wan'er, and Su Qimeng with a grin, and finally said, “How about this: I’ll kick, you catch, and so on. Whoever fails to catch the shuttlecock first and it falls to the ground loses, how about that?”
“Let’s do it your way!” Wei Lingyao nodded and said, “Then let’s begin!”
With the rules set, Wei and Shui didn’t waste any more words and each took a few steps back to create some distance.
“Let’s watch from the sidelines; it should be a very exciting performance!” Wu Ziang chuckled and gestured for Qiu Xueqing, Su Qimeng, and Xiao Wan'er to sit down in the pavilion to watch.
“Let’s begin, Sister Wei, please go first!” After Shui Qingqing stood still, she generously let Wei Lingyao start.
"Watch out!" Wei Lingyao smiled slightly, tossing the keyboard in her hand into the air. With a light kick, the keyboard flew towards Shui Qingqing with a whoosh.
*Snap!* Shui Qingqing dodged, and without any apparent movement, the keyboard was kicked back.
For a moment, the colorful ball flew back and forth between the two beauties, the crisp sounds of kicking echoing incessantly.
Wu Zi'ang and the other three women sat in the pavilion, watching the performance of Wei and Shui with great interest.
At this rate, they probably wouldn't be able to determine a winner until sunset; both women were highly skilled, and this kicking style was incredibly easy.
Seemingly impatient, Shui Qingqing suddenly flicked her toes upwards, sending the keyboard soaring into the sky, flying directly above Wei Lingyao.
Seeing this, Wei Lingyao gracefully rose, instantly catching up with the keyboard in mid-air, and returned the favor with a kick towards Shui Qingqing's head.
Shui Qingqing's delicate body flashed, and she also took to the air. With her jade legs outstretched, she immediately kicked the shuttlecock back.
Watching the two women's graceful movements in the air, Wu Zi'ang suddenly had a whimsical thought: if these two women played football, they would surely dominate and fulfill the dream that generations of Chinese men's football teams had failed to achieve. Of course, he was just indulging in wishful thinking; even if the two women were to play football, it would be women's football.
Wei Lingyao and Shui Qingqing had already moved the battlefield into the air, their figures swaying like butterflies among flowers, dazzling the eyes of Xiao Wan'er and Qiu Xueqing, who knew no martial arts.
Wei and Shui's movements became faster and faster, and the angles they chose for their shuttlecock flight became more and more tricky. Two graceful figures, one black and one white, darted back and forth among the flowers, a truly rare and beautiful sight.
"Husband, who do you think will win?" Qiu Xueqing asked softly while admiring the performance outside the pavilion.
"Hard to say!" Wu Zi'ang chuckled. "Lingyao and Qingqing's martial arts are evenly matched, and judging from their past encounters, they've mostly been evenly matched. So, who will win or lose might depend on luck! Don't you agree, Qimeng??"
"Hmm!" Su Qimeng responded softly, then gave Wu Zi'ang a strange look.
Wu Zi'ang felt a chill run down his spine, because he saw something in her eyes: anger, blame... uh, could it be because she found out about his indecent behavior towards Wei Lingyao?
"Snap!" After a long and arduous battle, Shui Qingqing knew that without a sudden surprise, she would definitely not be able to defeat Wei Lingyao. Therefore, with a thought, a silver thread silently extended from her sleeve and wrapped around the key. Then, she kicked the key towards Wei Lingyao's right side.
Sure enough, seeing the incoming force, Wei Lingyao's jade leg flew out, but unexpectedly, the key suddenly retracted, causing her to miss her kick.
The silver thread was incredibly fine, and Shui Qingqing's subtle movements were flawless, so even Wei Lingyao was caught off guard.
Seeing the key fall from mid-air, and Wei Lingyao's kick missing its mark, Shui Qingqing couldn't help but laugh triumphantly, "Give up!"
"Not necessarily!" Wei Lingyao suddenly turned around, her jade hand flicking, and the falling key immediately flew towards Shui Qingqing.
"Hehe!" Shui Qingqing chuckled inwardly. The key was now tied with her silver thread; its trajectory was entirely up to her. She was certain to win this contest! Just as she aimed at the key, about to kick back, she suddenly heard a 'clang,' and the key scattered, copper coins flying, feathers falling, leaving her with nothing to kick.
Shui Qingqing was stunned for a moment, then her jade-like face showed a look of dejection. She had already guessed that her opponent must have used a trick when using the 'Finger of Flowers' to flick the shuttlecock back, which was why this had happened. She thought she was smart, but she was still one step behind and ultimately lost the match.
"Ahem! The shuttlecock is broken. I think we should call it a draw!" Wu Zi'ang coughed lightly and said. Strictly speaking, Shui Qingqing had cheated first, and Wei Lingyao was just retaliating. Shui Qingqing should have lost the match.
Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er did not notice the little tricks Wei and Shui had just made. They thought the shuttlecock was really broken, so they nodded repeatedly and said, "Then let's call it a draw. Sister Shui and Sister Wei, come and rest!"
Wei Lingyao smiled and glanced at Shui Qingqing, then turned and walked into the pavilion. She originally just wanted to dampen Shui Qingqing's spirit. As for the bet, she really didn't care.
Shui Qingqing stood there for a while before entering the pavilion. Qiu Xueqing quickly grabbed her hand, saying, "It's just a game, why take it so seriously?!"
"Sister Qiu is right!" Upon hearing this, Shui Qingqing's dejected expression vanished, replaced by a radiant smile. She walked to Wei Lingyao's side, tilted her pretty face up, and barked three times, then made a face, saying, "I don't owe you any favors!"
Wei Lingyao was taken aback. She hadn't expected the other party to admit defeat so readily, actually barking like a puppy three times in front of everyone.
"Qingqing always keeps her word, truly admirable!" Wu Zi'ang said with a smile upon seeing this. To be honest, he genuinely liked Shui Qingqing's decisiveness. Although she had started the fight, she accepted her defeat without any pretense.
In fact, putting aside their respective positions, Wei Lingyao also felt a certain admiration for this opponent she had been battling for several years. Although she used every means at her disposal, she was a true 'villain'!
"Zi'ang, avenge me!" After admitting defeat, Shui Qingqing's beautiful eyes darted around, fixing on Wu Zi'ang.
"Ahem, I'm no match for Lingyao at all, so I'm really powerless!" Wu Zi'ang chuckled, trying to deflect the question.
"Come on, didn't you bully Sister Wei so badly at the Commandant's Mansion that day?" Shui Qingqing blinked her beautiful eyes, speaking in a sly tone.
Upon hearing this, Wu Zi'ang's mouth dropped open. My God, how did this witch know? Chu Tianhe! It must have been Chu Tianhe who leaked the secret; no one else knew it.
Wei Lingyao, standing nearby, blushed instantly upon hearing this. Although she repeatedly reminded herself to remain calm so as not to arouse Qiu Xueqing's suspicion, her face still burned, and her heart pounded.
"Qingqing, stop talking nonsense!" Noticing the strange looks in Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er's eyes, Wu Zi'ang said angrily.
"Who's talking nonsense? Lord Chu told me himself!" Shui Qingqing feigned innocence, saying, "Sister Wei played chess with you that day, and you beat her five times in a row. She even admitted defeat, but you wouldn't let her. What else could that be but bullying?"
"You mean this!" Wu Zi'ang initially pretended to understand, but then he felt it was too fake, so he quickly changed his tune, saying, "Uh, I just remembered, I have some things to take care of, please excuse me for a moment!" Saying this, he didn't dare to look at the women's faces and turned to flee.
"Hehe!" Shui Qingqing laughed like a little fox, her beautiful eyes stealing glances at Wei Lingyao, feeling extremely smug. Although she had just lost, she had easily won a great victory using a borrowed knife to kill.
"I, we'll take our leave too!" Wei Lingyao felt she couldn't stay any longer, her face flushed, and she also bid farewell to Qiu Xueqing.
"Don't go!" Unexpectedly, Qiu Xueqing grabbed Wei Lingyao's hand and wouldn't let go.
"We've finally come all this way, let's stay a little longer!" Qiu Xueqing's beautiful face showed no sign of suspicion or dissatisfaction as she sincerely said, "Don't worry, Sister Wei, if Zi'ang bullies you, I'll teach him a lesson!"
"Yes, yes!" Shui Qingqing chimed in from the side, "Sister Wei, are you leaving so quickly because I'm here? If so, I'll be going now!"
Su Qimeng carefully observed Qiu Xueqing's expression, which was indeed sincere. She couldn't help but wonder to herself, did Qiu Xueqing not care at all about Wu Zi'ang's womanizing? Or did she really not notice?
Immediately, Su Qimeng dismissed the second possibility. Even Consort Xiao had noticed something amiss, let alone the intelligent Qiu Xueqing!
Su Qimeng's guess was correct. Qiu Xueqing had already noticed Wei Lingyao's unusual expression and guessed that Wu Zi'ang must have done something outrageous at the Commandant's Mansion!
In the past, she would have been unhappy, but after Wu Zi'ang's rebirth, she had become more open-minded. As long as Wu Zi'ang was there, she could overlook anything. Besides, she felt that she got along quite well with Wei Lingyao, Su Qimeng, and Shui Qingqing.
Meanwhile, Wu Zi'ang slipped out of Xiqing Garden and arrived at the front hall. Thinking of Shui Qingqing's smug expression, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger, thinking to himself, "Just wait and see, I'll find a chance to deal with you!"
"General!" Just then, a servant came in and reported, "Lord Li Tingwei requests an audience!"
"Quickly, invite him in!" Wu Zi'ang hesitated for a moment, then quickly said.
A moment later, Li Hui entered. The two exchanged a few polite words and then took their seats.
"Two things!" Li Hui said immediately after taking his seat. "First, Wu Che not only ignored your warning, but also brought forward his escape date. He has now slipped out of the palace under the pretext of the imperial kitchen going out to buy goods!"
"Kill him!" A murderous glint flashed in Wu Zi'ang's eyes, and he brandished his hand as if making a knife.
"I think so too!" Li Hui nodded and said, "Now let's talk about the second thing!"
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 154 Change of Situation 4
"The second thing is that the envoy sent by the Southern Guard to the Great Qin departed from the capital of the Guard, Ding Le, yesterday and will arrive in Hengcheng in half a month!" After casually deciding the fate of Prince Wu Che, Li Hui dropped a piece of news that surprised Wu Zi'ang.
"What does Nanwei mean by this?" Wu Zi'ang frowned slightly. "The Qin and Nanwei are at a point of great tension. What is Nanwei's intention in sending an envoy?"
"Although the details are unknown, we can glean some clues from Nanwei's recent attitude towards Western Jin and Northern Liang!" Li Hui smiled slightly. "Recently, Nanwei has acted contrary to its usual behavior, rejecting Western Jin's proposed marriage alliance. At the same time, under the pretext of protecting border security, it has dispatched General Mo Buwei to garrison the border cities, causing a rapid deterioration in relations between the two countries."
"Nanwei has changed its strategy?" From Li Hui's words, Wu Zi'ang discerned a problem. "They don't intend to continue the stalemate with us, but instead target their neighboring state, Western Jin? Aren't they afraid we'll take advantage of their weakness?"
"Perhaps!" Li Hui sighed softly, saying, "Perhaps in the eyes of the Southern Wei, the Great Qin, having lost its mighty general, no longer poses a threat!"
Mentioning his father, Wu Zi'ang's face darkened, and he remained silent for a long time. Perhaps Li Hui was right; without his father, the Great Qin might be able to defend itself, but its offensive capabilities were somewhat lacking. With the important town across the river guarding it, the Southern Wei was no longer afraid of history repeating itself. After all, there was no second Wu Tianyao in the world!
"Zi'ang, don't overthink it!" Seeing this, Li Hui quickly changed the subject, saying, "Once the Southern Wei envoy arrives, everything will become clear. Also, General Feng Shang and General Zhao Qi have already set off from Anfeng to Luzhou, and the Pingyang army, following Zi'ang's orders, is being led by General Xu Tuzhi with 60,000 elite troops on a rapid march towards Luzhou!"
"There shouldn't be any problems now!" Wu Zi'ang breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and a smile appeared on his face.
“Currently, with General Feng and General Zhao Qi working together, dealing with the rebellion shouldn't be a problem. The only slight concern is whether pushing Gong Yan too hard might inadvertently benefit Northern Liang,” Li Hui said with worry in his eyes.
This issue had been discussed before, but a solution hadn't been found. Wu Zi'ang pondered for a moment and said, “The best we can do is eliminate Gong Yan's army. That way, even if he surrenders to Northern Liang, he won't pose much of a threat to us!”
“Even if we succeed in suppressing the rebellion, this battle will further weaken Great Qin. Heh, I suppose Southern Wei has already received news of Gong Yan's rebellion!” Li Hui shook his head and smiled bitterly.
“There's nothing we can do about it!” Wu Zi'ang also sighed softly. Even if they could annihilate Gong Yan's 80,000 elite troops, they would pay a heavy price. Regardless of victory or defeat, the loss would be to Great Qin's military strength.
***
Inside Xiqing Garden, Qiu Xueqing, Wei Lingyao, Su Qimeng, Shui Qingqing, and Xiao Wan'er rested for a while in the pavilion, then began to ponder the keyboard Wu Zi'ang had made.
"Let's play together!" Qiu Xueqing, recalling the game Wei Lingyao and Shui Qingqing had played earlier, suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said, "Just like Qingjie and Weijie did!"
"Great idea!" Xiao Wan'er's beautiful eyes lit up, but then she said with a troubled expression, "There are only five of us, we can't split up!"
"We can split up, three in one group, two in another!" Shui Qingqing said with a grin, "Wan'er, Qingmei, and I will be in one group, and Weijie and Sujie will be in another!"
"Can three people play?" Over the past few days, Xiao Wan'er had become quite familiar with Shui Qingqing, who lived next door, so she smiled and said, "Why don't I watch you play first!"
"It's more fun to play together!" Without further ado, Shui Qingqing pulled Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er out of the pavilion, and the three girls stood in a triangle, trying out this new game.
Shui Qingqing first kicked the shuttlecock to Qiu Xueqing, then Qiu Xueqing kicked it to Xiao Wan'er, and so on. Occasionally, Xiao Wan'er and Qiu Xueqing, who didn't know martial arts, would kick the shuttlecock off course, but Shui Qingqing would always manage to use the silver spider silk hidden in her sleeve to pull it back onto the correct track.
Seeing the three girls having so much fun, Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng were also eager to try. The two of them found an open space next to the three girls and started playing enthusiastically.
Wei and Su both possessed special skills, so when they got into it, they kept adding more difficult moves.
Later, Qiu Xueqing suggested that all five of them play together, thus maximizing the fun of shuttlecock kicking. Shui Qingqing, Wei Lingyao, and Su Qimeng temporarily forgot their hostile stances and wholeheartedly immersed themselves in this childlike game.
In the vast Xiqing Garden, five stunning beauties swayed back and forth, their figures incredibly graceful. Unfortunately, Wu Zi'ang was discussing matters with Li Hui in the front hall and missed the opportunity to feast his eyes on them.
Before they knew it, it was nearly noon. Among the five women, Wei, Su, and Shui were all experts, and this level of activity was nothing to them. On the other hand, Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er were drenched in sweat, panting heavily, and were almost unable to continue.
"I'm not playing anymore!" Xiao Wan'er was the first to raise her hands in surrender, retreating to the side and panting heavily.
"I can't hold on either!" Qiu Xueqing also withdrew from the game, panting, "Sisters, please continue playing!"
With two women missing, Wei Lingyao, Su Qimeng, and Shui Qingqing played for a while longer, then felt that the time was about right and stopped.
"Sister Wei and Sister Su, please stay and have lunch with us!" Qiu Xueqing calmed her breathing and then invited the two women.
"Thank you for your kindness, sister, but we still have to go back!" For some reason, a hint of worry appeared in Wei Lingyao's beautiful eyes as she said, "Master is also waiting for us to go back for dinner!"
"Oh! Then let's do it another day!" Hearing Wei Lingyao's reason, Qiu Xueqing didn't insist, so she smiled and said, "Sister, come and play whenever you have time. I had a great time today!"
"Okay!" Wei Lingyao nodded with a smile, then said to Shui Qingqing and Xiao Wan'er, "Farewell!"
After saying that, the two women turned and left.
"I'll see you off, sister!" Qiu Xueqing quickly said.
After seeing Wei and Su off at the garden gate, as they passed the front hall, they heard Wu Zi'ang's conversation inside. Qiu Xueqing suddenly said, "Tell Zi'ang!"
Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng were both startled, then shook their heads and said, "No, thank you!"
Qiu Xueqing didn't insist and directly saw the two women out of the mansion, watching them get into their carriage before turning back to Xiqing Garden.
"Sister Wei seems to have something on her mind!" Shui Qingqing said mysteriously upon seeing Qiu Xueqing return.
"How did you know, Sister Qing?!" Xiao Wan'er widened her beautiful eyes and looked at Shui Qingqing.
"After being rivals for so many years, what could possibly escape my notice?!" Shui Qingqing winked smugly and laughed, "I dare say, besides her master, I'm the second person in this world who truly understands her! Hmm, maybe even less than her master!"
"Let's not talk about that!" Qiu Xueqing pondered for a moment, then fanned herself with her sleeve and said, "It's so hot, I'll go wash up first, then we can eat, okay?!"
"I'll go wash up too!" Xiao Wan'er added, she had also sweated quite a bit and felt sticky and uncomfortable.
"Let's all go together!" Hearing that the two women wanted to take a bath, Shui Qingqing's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"This...!" Qiu Xueqing blushed upon hearing this. There was indeed a large bathtub in the mansion, and she and Wu Zi'ang had taken a bath together before. It was certainly large enough for the three of them to bathe together. However, although she was familiar with Shui Qingqing and Xiao Wan'er, she still felt a little shy about being naked together.
"Then, let's each bathe separately!" Shui Qingqing's expression instantly dimmed, and she bit her lower lip, looking incredibly aggrieved.
"Let's bathe together, then we can talk!" Looking at Shui Qingqing's expression, Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er felt a pang of pity and said in unison.
"We knew you two were the best!" Shui Qingqing's face lit up with a smile, and she took one of Qiu and Xiao's hands, saying, "Come on, let's bathe!"
Qiu Xueqing couldn't help but laugh and cry. She couldn't help but recall what Wu Zi'ang had told her: Shui Qingqing's seductive arts were basically effective on both men and women, and had reached a natural level that was virtually imperceptible. She didn't understand martial arts, but she now had a deep understanding of Shui Qingqing's seductive arts.
The three women arrived at Qiu Xueqing's residence. Qiu Xueqing, as the hostess, had her maids bring over the large bathtub and place it in the bedroom. She then waited for the kitchen staff to heat the water, which was then added to the tub by a maid in a wooden bucket.
After testing the water temperature and sprinkling some flower petals, Dong Hua and several maids left.
Only the three beautiful women remained in the room.
"Take off your clothes! What are you standing there for!" Shui Qingqing's beautiful eyes swept over Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er's bodies with ill intent, but she spoke casually.
The clothes had to be removed eventually! Qiu Xueqing blushed and gently unbuttoned her clothes, while Xiao Wan'er also began to undress.
In the blink of an eye, the clothes were off, and Qiu Xueqing's naked body appeared before Shui Qingqing and Xiao Wan'er's eyes.
Although they were both women, upon seeing Qiu Xueqing's exquisitely beautiful, sculpted body, Shui and Xiao were momentarily stunned, their eyes unable to look away.
On her tall, well-proportioned body, a pair of firm, round, snow-white breasts stood proudly. Below her slender waist, her abdomen was smooth and snow-white, and her two beautiful, long legs seemed capable of stealing one's soul!
"What are you looking at!" Qiu Xueqing blushed and quickly stepped into the bathtub, concealing her naked body underwater.
"Qing-mei's body is so beautiful!" Shui Qingqing swallowed hard, looking like a lecherous woman, and turned to Xiao Wan'er, saying, "Wan'er, hurry up and take it off!"
Xiao Wan'er blushed and removed her bodice and underpants, then quickly stepped into the bathtub.
But before she knew it, Shui Qingqing stretched out her jade arm and hugged Xiao Wan'er tightly, teasingly saying, "Let Qingqing see!"
"Let go!" Xiao Wan'er blushed deeply, because she felt Shui Qingqing's jade hand covering her breasts.
Qiu Xueqing shrank into the water, taking the opportunity to get a good look at Xiao Wan'er's body. Xiao Wan'er was rather slender, but her figure was well-proportioned, her skin as white as jade, seemingly delicate enough to break at a touch. Her breasts, though not large, were beautifully shaped, like inverted jade bowls. What surprised Qiu Xueqing even more was that after being teased by Shui Qingqing, a faint blush appeared on Xiao Wan'er's face, revealing her delicate and pitiful charm.
"Stop playing around!" Qiu Xueqing said, both amused and annoyed by Shui Qingqing's behavior.
Shui Qingqing chuckled and released her grip, and Xiao Wan'er, like a startled little rabbit, quickly scurried into the bathtub.
"Why isn't Sister Qing taking off her clothes?!" Qiu Xueqing asked, seeing that Shui Qingqing showed no intention of undressing.
"I'll wipe Wan'er and Qing'er's backs first, then we'll bathe!" Shui Qingqing's beautiful eyes flashed with cunning as she went into the steaming bathtub, grabbed a towel, and came behind Shui Qingqing.
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 155 Fake Phoenix and Real Dragon
The room was filled with steam. Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er soaked in the warm water, instantly feeling all their fatigue disappear and their whole bodies feel indescribably comfortable.
"Sister Qing, aren't you getting off?" In her languid state, Qiu Xueqing turned to Shui Qingqing
, who was rubbing her back, and asked. "I'll wash after I've served Sister Qing!" Shui Qingqing chuckled, gently wiping Qiu Xueqing's jade-like back with a towel in one hand, while the other hand roamed over the other's smooth skin, praising, "Sister Qing's skin is so beautiful!"
"Sister Qing!" Qiu Xueqing's face flushed slightly. Although the other person was of the opposite sex, such caresses still made her feel somewhat shy.
"Zi'ang is so lucky!" Shui Qingqing's jade hand paused for a moment, then she suddenly asked, "Have you two done 'that' many times?"
"That!?" Qiu Xueqing was slightly taken aback. "Which one?"
"This one!" Shui Qingqing's jade hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Qiu Xueqing's firm and smooth breast, gently kneading it.
"Ah!" Qiu Xueqing couldn't help but gasp softly, her jade face instantly turning red with embarrassment. She pressed down on Shui Qingqing's mischievous hand and said, "Sister Qing, let go!"
"Hehe! You answer me first, how many times have you done 'that'?" Shui Qingqing held onto Qiu Xueqing's breast and refused to let go, giggling, "Otherwise, I won't let go!"
"No, not many times!" Qiu Xueqing whispered shyly.
"I don't believe it! Marrying a beauty like Sister Qing, Zi'ang would be indulging in pleasure every night, how could he not have a few times!" Shui Qingqing blinked her beautiful eyes and said to Xiao Wan'er beside her, "Don't you think so, Sister Wan'er?"
"Me? I don't know!" Xiao Wan'er was also an experienced woman. When she heard Shui Qingqing ask her, her pretty face couldn't help but turn her head away.
"I, I can't!" Forced into a corner, Qiu Xueqing could only answer in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"Sister Qing can't?" Shui Qingqing was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized and exclaimed in surprise, "So Zi'ang is that good!"
"Yes!" Qiu Xueqing was so ashamed that she wanted to disappear into the water. Every time she made love with Wu Zi'ang, she would be driven to the brink of death, especially after Wu Zi'ang was resurrected and became even more powerful. She really couldn't handle it.
In reality, Wu Zi'ang's body was filled with extremely pure Samadhi True Fire power, and his dantian was brimming with yang energy. Therefore, his energy was indeed several times stronger than that of ordinary people, and his desire for sex was far greater than that of ordinary people. However, out of pity for Qiu Xueqing's body, he dared not indulge in pleasure every night.
"Is that kind of thing wonderful?" A blush flashed across Shui Qingqing's jade-like face, but she still pressed on relentlessly with her inquisitive spirit.
"Sister Qing is lovesick!" Noticing the shyness in Shui Qingqing's tone, Qiu Xueqing's embarrassment lessened, and she teased her in return.
Xiao Wan'er also pursed her lips and chuckled to herself. Which young girl doesn't have lovesickness? This is a very normal thing. However, she had never seen someone as frank as Shui Qingqing in questioning about sex.
"You dare to laugh at me? You'll regret it!" Shui Qingqing's ears turned red with embarrassment. Her beautiful eyes darted around, and her jade hand, which was pressed against the other's breast, suddenly emitted a faint halo.
"Ah!" Qiu Xueqing suddenly felt a heat in her breasts, a tingling, heart-pounding sensation shooting straight to her heart, causing her to cry out involuntarily.
"Sister Qing, let your older sister pamper you!" Shui Qingqing intensified her actions, using her other hand to slip under Qiu Xueqing's armpit and caress her other full, firm breast.
"No...!" Qiu Xueqing leaned weakly against the tub wall, the waves of pleasure emanating from her breasts making her limp and unable to move. Although she held onto Shui Qingqing's hands, she didn't have the strength to push them away.
"Does it feel good, Sister Qing?" Shui Qingqing's eyes became somewhat strange, her hands beginning to vigorously knead Qiu Xueqing's snow-white breasts, and she lowered her head, bringing her cherry lips close to the other's ear and whispering breaths.
"Sister Wan'er, save me!" Qiu Xueqing's face was flushed, her eyes filled with desire. Still in the throes of a brief separation, her body was extremely sensitive. Furthermore, Shui Qingqing was using the most powerful flirting technique of the Demonic Sect, 'Mo Dao Bu Xiao Hun' (莫道不销魂), instantly arousing Qiu Xueqing's lust.
"I, I!" Xiao Wan'er stared at the scene before her, her pretty face showing hesitation. What should she do? This, a woman flirting with another woman, wasn't that a serious matter? Back in the palace, she had played this kind of fake love game with a palace maid!
"If Sister Wan'er dares to come, I'll deal with her too!" Shui Qingqing threatened bluffingly. She had only learned this technique because of the allure of the words 'Mo Dao Bu Xiao Hun,' only realizing later that it was merely a flirting technique, effective only on women!
"No, I...no!" Under the stimulation of Shui Qingqing's demonic hands, Qiu Xueqing's delicate body began to writhe restlessly, her cherry lips slightly parted, breathing rapidly.
Gazing at Qiu Xueqing's alluring and passionate expression, Shui Qingqing felt her heart flutter. As if possessed, she lowered her head and sealed her lips with hers.
"Mmm!" Qiu Xueqing let out a muffled gasp, trying to push Shui Qingqing's head away, but her hand drooped weakly halfway. Subconsciously, because she didn't dislike Shui Qingqing, she knew it was wrong, but under the intense stimulation, she couldn't resist.
This was the first time Qiu Xueqing had been kissed by someone other than Wu Zi'ang. The fact that the other person was a woman made her lower her guard, ultimately succumbing to Shui Qingqing's skillful flirting.
Watching the two women's lips meet, their tongues occasionally entwined, Xiao Wan'er felt a warm current rise in her lower abdomen. She hadn't experienced 'that' in a long time!
Shui Qingqing's 'Don't Say It's Not Soul-Stirring' was indeed extremely domineering, easily robbing Qiu Xueqing of her resistance by stimulating the woman's sensitive acupoints with internal energy.
A delicate hand slowly slipped into the water, oblivious to the wet sleeves, tracing the smooth, flat abdomen of Qiu Xueqing before reaching her intimate spot between her legs.
"Mmm!!" As Shui Qingqing's fingers entered Qiu Xueqing's warm passage, a long, muffled groan escaped her cherry lips, her body trembling violently before collapsing limply. Under the intense stimulation, she had actually reached orgasm!
Pulling her lips apart, a shimmering silver thread still clung to their lips. Gazing at Qiu Xueqing's ecstatic beauty, Shui Qingqing's own desire was aroused. She gently caressed Qiu Xueqing's breasts, her voice rough and masculine as she asked, "Qing-mei, does it feel good?"
In an instant, Qiu Xueqing's beautiful eyes snapped open, staring at Shui Qingqing in disbelief. Her jade-like face turned deathly pale, and she screamed, fleeing towards Xiao Wan'er.
***
“It’s almost noon, why don’t you stay for lunch!” Realizing it was nearly noon and lunchtime, Wu Zi’ang smiled and invited Li Hui to stay for a meal.
“No, I’ll go back and make some arrangements!” Li Hui smiled and waved his hand, saying, “I’ll come and bother you another day!”
“Alright!” Wu Zi’ang didn’t insist and personally saw Li Hui to the door.
After returning, he found that Qiu Xueqing and the other girls still hadn’t appeared.
“It’s lunchtime too! Is that game really that fun?” After thinking for a moment, Wu Zi’ang decided to shamelessly go to Xiqing Garden.
However, just as he rounded the backyard, he saw Dong Hua rushing over.
“Young Master, hurry and see, something’s happened in the Young Madam’s room!” Upon seeing Wu Zi’ang, Dong Hua quickly took two steps forward and said urgently.
“What happened?” Wu Zi’ang’s heart tightened, and he quickly asked.
"Young Madam is taking a bath, and there's a man in the room!" Dong Hua was almost in tears. She had been guarding outside the door when she heard Qiu Xueqing's startled cry from inside. In her panic, she tried to rush out to call for help, and thankfully, she ran into Wu Zi'ang walking towards her.
Upon hearing this, Wu Zi'ang was immediately shocked
. Without thinking, he dashed towards his quarters. "Qing-mei, don't be afraid, let me pamper you a little longer!" Sure enough, as he approached his room, Wu Zi'ang vaguely heard a man's voice coming from inside. Enraged, he kicked the door open and rushed inside.
There he saw Shui Qingqing with a wicked grin, slowly approaching the naked Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er. Huh?! Where's the man?! Wu Zi'ang was stunned!
"Husband!" Seeing her savior arrive, Qiu Xueqing, disregarding her nakedness, rushed forward and threw herself into Wu Zi'ang's arms.
Xiao Wan'er also hid behind Wu Zi'ang, staring at Shui Qingqing with terrified eyes.
"What happened?" Wu Zi'ang gently patted Qiu Xueqing's bare back, asking in surprise.
"She, she's a man!" Qiu Xueqing didn't even have the courage to turn around, only pointing in Shui Qingqing's direction, crying out.
Upon hearing this, Wu Zi'ang and Dong Hua, who had followed closely behind, were stunned. Shui Qingqing was a man? No way?!
"She, she's a man!" Xiao Wan'er also testified, "She just touched Qing'er's entire body! If you don't believe me, listen to what she says!"
"Qingqing, what happened?" Wu Zi'ang asked, half-believing, half-doubting. After all, his relationship with Shui Qingqing was extraordinary; he didn't believe she could be a man!
"Nothing much! I was just playing around with Qing-mei and Wan-er!" Seeing that things had gotten a bit out of hand, Shui Qingqing stuck out her tongue and chuckled awkwardly, "It's just a simple voice-changing trick. I didn't expect Qing-mei and Wan-er to be so scared!"
"Listen, Qingqing was just playing around with you!" Wu Zi'ang was both amused and annoyed, and could only gently comfort Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er.
"I don't believe it. If she were a woman, why wouldn't she dare to take off her clothes and bathe with us? And later, she even treated me like that?" Qiu Xueqing buried her face in Wu Zi'ang's chest and sobbed.
"Then, what should we do?" Wu Zi'ang smiled bitterly, "Should we make Qingqing take off her clothes for you to see?"
"Yes, make her take off her clothes!" Qiu Xueqing raised her tear-streaked face and looked at Wu Zi'ang pitifully, "Husband, will you verify my identity for me?!"
"Okay!" Wu Zi'ang was overjoyed and nodded quickly.
"I object!" Shui Qingqing was taken aback upon hearing this, then blushed and retorted angrily.
"Objection overruled!" Wu Zi'ang put on a stern face and turned to Dong Hua, saying, "Hua'er, go and stand guard outside the door!"
"Okay!" Dong Hua responded, turned around, went out, and closed the door.
"Take it off!" Wu Zi'ang looked at Shui Qingqing seriously and said, "For the sake of your innocence, Qingqing should take it off!"
"If you see me, what innocence is left?" Shui Qingqing retorted indignantly, "If you want to verify my identity, Qingmei and Wan'er can do it, why should I let you see me!?"
"Uh!?" Wu Zi'ang was stunned for a moment, speechless at her words.
"If you were a man, then wouldn't we be at a disadvantage again?" Just then, Xiao Wan'er, hiding behind Wu Zi'ang, said timidly.
"That's right!" Wu Zi'ang was overjoyed, but quickly straightened his face and said, "Enough nonsense, hurry up and take it off!"
"I'll take it off, but don't regret it!" Shui Qingqing's jade-like face changed expressions, and after a long while, she lightly bit her lower lip and stretched her jade hand to her chest.
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 156 The Dance of the Spirit
Her skin was flawless and translucent, radiating an ivory-like glow. Her round, snow-white breasts trembled slightly, with two erect, bright red nipples. Her waist was slender, her hips shapely, and her legs long and slender. Every part of her was perfect, every inch captivating.
What surprised Wu Zi'ang even more was that the triangular area below Shui Qingqing's abdomen was completely bare, without a trace of hair.
"Are you satisfied?" Shui Qingqing's face flushed, her beautiful eyes gazing at Wu Zi'ang, Xiao Wan'er, and Qiu Xueqing, barely suppressing her shyness as she spoke.
"Satisfied, of course satisfied!" Wu Zi'ang snapped out of his daze, nodding repeatedly.
"Qing-meimei is so beautiful!" Xiao Wan'er, gazing at Shui Qingqing's alluring naked body, couldn't help but feel a little ashamed, looking down at her own small breasts.
"But I'm not satisfied!" Shui Qingqing's gaze was fixed on Wu Ziang, a seductive smile playing on her beautiful lips. "My body isn't something to be seen by just anyone!?"
"Eh!? What do you want?" Sensing the hostility in Shui Qingqing's tone, Wu Ziang became alert. He knew this little vixen had many tricks up her sleeve, and he could easily fall into her trap if he wasn't careful.
"Not very good! I just want everyone to see how well Qingqing dances!" As she said this, there was no trace of shyness on Shui Qingqing's jade-like face. She raised her jade-like arms, her slender waist swaying slightly, and her trembling breasts rippled.
"Dance!?" Wu Ziang, Qiu Xueming, and Xiao Wan'er stared at Shui Qingqing in astonishment. The three of them couldn't understand why she would ask them to dance under these circumstances!
Seeing that all three of their gazes were focused on her naked body, a hint of mystery crept into Shui Qingqing's seductive smile. Her jade-like legs slowly stepped out, her full and beautiful buttocks displaying infinitely beautiful curves, and a breathtaking pink glimpse was faintly visible in the smooth area below her abdomen!
Not only Wu Zi'ang, a man, but also Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er, both women, gasped at the sight, their gazes fixed on her naked body.
Shui Qingqing chuckled softly, her waist twisting, and her white, jade-like body instantly emitted a dazzling halo. Her jade arms waved, her jade legs lifted, and waves of flesh rippled across her buttocks and breasts, filling the entire room with an air of lewdness.
Wu Zi'ang knew what she wanted to do; she was clearly using her naked body to perform a seductive technique, intending to humiliate him in public! Guarding the last vestige of clarity in his mind, Wu Zi'ang suddenly lunged forward, his right hand swiftly reaching for Shui Qingqing's jade arm. Seeing Wu Ziang pounce, Shui Qingqing showed no intention of dodging. Just as his right hand was about to touch her jade-like arm, she twisted her body slightly and immediately stuffed one of her full, round, snow-white breasts into his palm.
"Ah!" With her hand touching her breast, Shui Qingqing immediately let out a plaintive moan.
Wu Ziang's body trembled involuntarily. This moan, full of infinite lewdness, struck his heart like a heavy hammer, causing his self-control and defenses to completely crumble!
Holding that soft, smooth breast in his hand, Wu Ziang's heart seemed to stop for a moment. His eyes were fixed on Shui Qingqing's slightly parted cherry lips and her slightly bitter, seductive expression. A surge of lust rose from his lower abdomen, and he suddenly reached out with his other hand, ready to take her breast.
However, Shui Qingqing twisted her slender waist and broke free from Wu Ziang's grasp, turning towards Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er as they drifted away.
"Dance with Qingqing!" Shui Qingqing's voice carried an irresistible allure, causing Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er to involuntarily swing their arms and sway their hips, following her lead in a dance.
Three beautiful women, naked and performing a lewd dance in front of Wu Zi'ang—even a saint might find it hard to resist, let alone Wu Zi'ang, who was by no means a saint!
"Don't hold back, Zi'ang, it's so hard!" Shui Qingqing looked at Wu Zi'ang, whose face was flushed and who was still trying to suppress his desire, and smiled seductively. She reached out and grabbed the wrists of Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er respectively. With a slight effort, she threw the two naked beauties towards Wu Zi'ang, saying in a soft, sweet voice, "Please enjoy, Zi'ang!"
Wu Zi'ang stretched out his arms and pulled Qiu Xueqing into his embrace. The intoxicating scent of flesh wafted over him, making his desire burn even more fiercely. Seeing the two women in his arms with their faces like peach blossoms
and their beautiful eyes brimming with spring water, he could no longer restrain himself. He flipped them over and pushed them down onto the bed. Rapid breathing filled the air. Under the bewitching influence of Shui Qingqing's 'alluring dance,' not only Wu Zi'ang, but also Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er were aroused. The two delicate bodies pressed tightly against Wu Zi'ang, and their four jade hands began to tug at his clothes.
A moment later, their clothes were removed, and Wu Zi'ang was now as naked as the three women. Parting Xiao Wan'er's smooth, fair legs, his body sank, and Wu Zi'ang thrust into her deepest depths.
There was no foreplay, nor was it necessary. Xiao Wan'er's delicate brows furrowed, and she let out a groan of boundless satisfaction. Her hands involuntarily tightened around Wu Zi'ang's neck, her legs wrapped around his waist, and her lower body thrust forward vigorously to meet his. Several months had passed since they last engaged in sexual intercourse, which was indeed a long time for a mature woman like Xiao Wan'er. Now, Wu Zi'ang's fierce entry filled her emptiness completely, making her feel as if she were in paradise.
Kneading Xiao Wan'er's delicate breasts with both hands, gazing at her face, which seemed both overwhelmed and aroused, Wu Zi'ang's desire intensified. He leaned down and kissed his beautiful stepsister's cherry lips, indulging in her soft, boneless body amidst her muffled moans.
Shui Qingqing slowly stepped into the bath, her alluring expression gone, replaced by shy glances at the point where Wu Zi'ang and Xiao Wan'er were joined. The warm water enveloped her body, stirring a slight flutter in her heart. She
had seen illustrations of male-female intercourse in the 'Mysterious Charm Heart Sutra,' but nothing compared to the shock of witnessing the real thing before her. After all, she was still a virgin, and she too felt curiosity and longing for such things.
As Wu Zi'ang's movements grew more intense, Xiao Wan'er's moans rose higher and higher. It was hard to imagine that Xiao Wan'er, once a noble concubine of the Qin Dynasty, could have such wanton cries during sex, a stark contrast to her delicate and pitiful appearance.
Finally, with a sharp cry, Xiao Wan'er's body convulsed, brought to the peak of passion by Wu Zi'ang.
Just as he withdrew from Xiao Wan'er, Qiu Xueqing clung to her, and another live sex scene unfolded in the room.
Shui Qingqing lay comfortably in the water, silently watching the two making love on the bed, her own desire stirring, a hazy light appearing in her beautiful eyes. Gradually, it seemed as if she herself was the one receiving pleasure from Wu Zi'ang, as if those soft, seductive moans were emanating from her own lips.
Really, really? Shui Qingqing stared blankly at the two, their movements growing increasingly wild, unconsciously lost in reverie.
*Splash!* After an unknown amount of time, Shui Qingqing suddenly snapped back to reality when she felt water splash on her face. She froze.
Wu Zi'ang had somehow entered the bathtub and was now comfortably lying beside her, a strange smile on his face.
"You…!" Shui Qingqing was startled, her face flushing red. The fact that she hadn't even noticed him approaching her, despite her martial arts skills, was proof enough of how momentarily lost she had been!
"What?!" Wu Zi'ang leaned closer, smiling as he asked.
"Nothing!" Shui Qingqing instinctively crossed her arms over her chest and tried to dodge to the side.
"What are you afraid of?! Wasn't your dance just now quite daring?" Wu Zi'ang's smile was very friendly, but his movements were incredibly swift; he grabbed Shui Qingqing's wrist as she tried to escape.
"Who's afraid!" Shui Qingqing pouted, glancing sideways at Wu Ziang, and said, "I'm giving you a beautiful woman to eat for free, you should be thanking me! Why are you being rude to me!?"
"I'm not being rude at all, I'm clearly expressing my gratitude!" Wu Ziang exerted a little force, pulling Shui Qingqing's naked body to his chest.
"You, how come you're still...!" Sitting on Wu Ziang, Shui Qingqing immediately felt the hardness of his lower body and panicked.
"It's a secret!" Wu Ziang smiled mysteriously, immediately pulling her tightly into his arms.
"I won't...!" Before she could finish speaking, Wu Ziang sealed Shui Qingqing's lips with his, and at the same time, his large hands firmly pressed against her breasts.
A strange tingling sensation spread through her heart, making Shui Qingqing's body go limp, collapsing into Wu Ziang's arms.
Amidst the splashing water, Wu Ziang parted Shui Qingqing's legs and pressed his body against hers.
To him? In her dazed and confused state, Shui Qingqing's jade-like hand on Wu Zi'ang's back tightened and loosened repeatedly. If she wanted, she could completely control his pressure points, thus preventing her from losing her virginity.
Should she not give it to him? But she still wanted to! Shui Qingqing was completely unaware of the contradiction in her thoughts. At this moment, Wu Zi'ang was already poised, thrusting forward with a sudden burst, instantly breaking through that thin barrier and reaching the deepest point.
Ugh! Despite being mentally prepared, the pain of deflowering still made Shui Qingqing cry out, her body tensing. A trickle of bright red blood welled up from beneath the water, as delicate as a flower petal.
Wu Zi'ang was also in pain. The tightness was bad enough, but the excruciating pressure and friction from the layers of flesh within her lower body almost caused him to ejaculate prematurely.
Taking a deep breath, Wu Zi'ang paused for a moment before cautiously beginning his movements.
Shui Qingqing was truly born with a seductive nature and was skilled in the art of seduction. Despite the initial pain of losing her virginity, she quickly stretched out her legs, unabashedly welcoming Wu Zi'ang's increasingly intense onslaught.
Her beautiful face was flushed, her delicate brows furrowed, her cherry lips parted slightly, her expression a mixture of pain and pleasure. Each seductive moan she let out continuously tugged at Wu Zi'ang's heartstrings, causing his lust to surge ever higher.
No matter how vigorous Wu Zi'ang's movements, Shui Qingqing's supple body always met his every whim. Large splashes of water flew outside the tub, but neither of them seemed to notice.
On the bed, Qiu Xueqing and Xiao Wan'er watched the two men entwined in the tub, recalling the storm of passion they had just endured, and their own desires stirred again!
As for lunch, who even remembered?!
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 157 Sudden Rain Smashes the Window
With a creak, the door swung open, and Wu Zi'ang walked out, beaming.
"Hey! Hua'er, why are you still here?!" To his surprise, the little girl Dong Hua was still guarding the door.
"Young Master ordered me to guard outside, I dare not leave!" Dong Hua's face was flushed crimson, and she answered in a barely audible voice.
"Oh!" Wu Zi'ang remembered saying that, and smiled, "Go on, everything's fine here!"
"Yes!" Dong Hua quickly responded, turning and fleeing as if granted a pardon.
"That little girl must have heard everything!" Recalling the intoxicating scene in the room just now, he still felt a lingering sense of satisfaction! Alongside money and power, beautiful women are also indispensable for satisfying a man's desires. A man like himself, with three beauties on the list of most beautiful women, must be truly unique!
Turning his head to glance inside, Wu Zi'ang slowly closed the door. The three women inside should need some good news soon.
Looking up at the sky, he noticed that dark clouds had rolled in from the horizon, and a cool breeze was blowing; it looked like it was going to rain. Hmm, he still had something to instruct them on!
Leaving the back courtyard, Wu Zi'ang went to Tie Ren's residence. Before he could knock, he heard Tie Ren's voice: "Is it you, little brother?"
Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly and pushed the door open.
Inside, Tie Ren was sitting lazily at the table, holding a steaming cup of tea. On the bed, his sister-in-law was mending a garment, and a gentle smile appeared on her pretty face when she saw him.
Wu Zi'ang suddenly felt guilty. If it weren't for him, this couple would be living a peaceful and simple life in that small village. Perhaps it was because of Uncle Wei's words that Brother Tie chose to stay and serve as his subordinate! In any case, he always felt he owed these two too much.
"Young man, what are you daydreaming about?" Seeing Wu Zi'ang's unusual expression, Tie Ren smiled and said, "Is there something you need me to do?"
Wu Zi'ang was taken aback at first, then a guilty look appeared on his face as he said, "Uncle Fu hasn't returned yet, so I can only trouble Brother Tie!"
"No need for formalities!" Tie Ren shook his head and chuckled, "Speak, what is it? I'm feeling rather bored!"
Wu Zi'ang glanced at Xu Wanxiu on the bed, took two steps forward, and whispered something in Tie Ren's ear.
"Oh!" Tie Ren nodded slightly upon hearing this, then stood up and said to his wife on the bed, "Xiu, I'm going out to take care of some things!"
"Go ahead, come back soon!" Xu Wanxiu smiled gently and answered softly.
***
Gradually, dark clouds spread across the entire sky, and the pedestrians on the street quickened their pace, for a heavy rain would arrive soon.
Outside the gates of Hengcheng, Wu Che glanced back at the tall city gates and let out a long sigh of relief. He had finally managed to slip through. He would wait; one day, he would return and reclaim what was rightfully his.
"Your Highness, we should hurry on our way!" Pei Zhi, standing beside him, slightly raised his bamboo hat and softly reminded him. Although they had escaped Hengcheng, it didn't mean they were out of danger. Once they discovered Wu Che's disappearance, Hengcheng would undoubtedly send troops to hunt him down. Their best course of action was to travel quickly!
"Yes!" Wu Che knew they couldn't linger here. He adjusted his hat, mounted his horse, and turned to ride along the official road.
Pei Zhi didn't delay either, mounting his horse and following closely behind. His mission was to safely escort Wu Che to Tianmen Pass, but he wasn't entirely confident of success. If Fang Jinwu hadn't been seriously injured, and Jing Haoran hadn't wanted to stay and continue his revenge, then there would be three people protecting Wu Che now!
Boom! A blinding flash of lightning suddenly streaked across the sky, followed by a rumble of thunder, and a fierce wind whipped up large raindrops
that lashed at them! "Giddy up!" On the official road, two men on two horses were galloping at full speed through the torrential rain. Splashes of water flew from their hooves.
Wiping the rain from his face, Pei Zhi squinted ahead. He was familiar with this road; after a while, a fork in the road would appear, leading directly to Anfeng.
Suddenly, Pei Zhi's white horse buckled at its forelegs, neighing mournfully before tumbling forward.
A tripwire! Pei Zhi was startled. The moment his mount was tripped and lurched forward, he pushed off with his feet, leaping into the air and shouting a warning, "Your Highness, watch out!" Thump
! But it was too late. Wu Che's mount also veered off course, following in his companion's footsteps. Lacking Pei Zhi's martial arts skills, Wu Che and his horse tumbled to the side of the road.
"Who goes there!?" Pei Zhi made a sharp turn in mid-air and landed next to Wu Che, drawing his long sword and looking around intently.
"I, Chu, have been waiting here for a long time!" A deep, powerful voice rang out, and the agile figure of Chu Tianhe, the newly appointed Commandant of the Great Qin, appeared in the torrential rain. Behind him followed several men wearing rain hats and straw raincoats
. "Your Highness, hurry! I'll hold them off!" Without time to consider why Chu Tianhe had ambushed them first, Pei Zhi, realizing the enemy's superior numbers, acted decisively. He brandished his longsword and charged towards Chu Tianhe and his men, splashing through the water.
Without Chu Tianhe's command, the eight men behind him gave a soft shout and rushed forward. Chu Tianhe, however, strode off towards Wu Che.
Pei Zhi coldly snorted, his longsword flashing, the cold light of the blade mingling with the rain as it slashed towards Chu Tianhe. Although the enemy outnumbered them, he didn't take these government officials seriously.
However, Chu Tianhe's performance greatly surprised Pei Zhi. His figure twisted and turned strangely, easily passing through Pei Zhi's sword barrier and appearing beside Wu Che. His right hand flashed out, already gripping Wu Che's pulse.
"Crown Prince!" Seeing Wu Che subdued, Pei Zhi's expression changed drastically. He tried to intervene, but was already surrounded by the eight men Chu Tianhe had brought.
"Chu Tianhe, you…!?" Wu Che stared at the cold-faced Chu Tianhe, a wave of fear washing over him. He knew without a doubt what would happen if he were captured. Perhaps, it would be easier to kill him right here in the wilderness, without even needing to capture him!
"Your Highness, rest assured, I will not harm you!" Chu Tianhe stared at Wu Che for a long time before slowly speaking, "I have not forgotten the kindness you showed me by gifting me the sword and promoting me that day!"
"Very, very good, I knew I wouldn't misjudge you!" Wu Che was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "Chu Tianhe, come with me to Tianmen Pass. When we return to Hengcheng and I rule the country, I will surely appoint you as a Grand General!"
Looking at Wu Che's delighted expression under the rain hat, Chu Tianhe smiled, released his hand, and handed over the long sword in his hand, saying, "This is the precious sword that Your Highness gave me. Now I return it to Your Highness, and from now on, we are even!"
"You, if you don't come with me, if Wu Zi'ang finds out that you released me, will you still have a way to live?" Wu Che was not stupid. He said this not for Wu Che's sake, but to incite him to run away with him.
"It's alright!" Chu Tianhe shifted his gaze to Pei Zhi and said calmly, "As long as I capture this assassin who tried to kill the General and make amends, I believe the General won't make things too difficult for me! Your Highness, you should leave quickly, lest I change my mind!"
Wu Che dared not say anything more upon hearing this, took Chu Tianhe's longsword, and turned to run away.
Pei Zhi, who was surrounded, initially thought that things had taken a turn for the better after hearing the conversation between the two. However, upon hearing Chu Tianhe's words, he was furious and thought to himself, "I'll see how you manage to capture me!"
With that thought, he slowly raised his longsword to his chest, then let out a soft shout and charged to the right.
One of Chu Tianhe's eight subordinates, seeing Pei Zhi charging towards him, dared not fight back and stepped back to make way.
Pei Zhi was taken aback, wondering if the other party had some kind of conspiracy, when suddenly he saw a flash of sword light and heard a crisp clang. His hand trembled violently, and the longsword almost flew out of his grasp, forcing him back to his original position!
Alas! Looking at Chu Tianhe, who held the longsword and wore a cold smile, Pei Zhi's astonishment was beyond words. He truly hadn't expected that there would be such a hidden master in Hengcheng!
Startled, Pei Zhi sensed something was wrong. He leaped into the air, brandishing his longsword, unleashing a deluge of countless star-like droplets that rained down on Chu Tianhe. In this situation, he dared not hold back; he was determined to use this 'Silver River Falling from the Nine Heavens' technique to create an opening and break through.
Seeing this, Chu Tianhe also dared not be careless, his figure soaring into the sky, his longsword thrusting out at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.
A series of sharp, ringing sounds rang out as the two figures clashed in mid-air through the rain, each landing on the ground.
Drops of blood dripped from Pei Zhi's sword-wielding right hand, instantly washed away by the rain. His expression was one of resentment; the final move of the Milky Way Sword Technique had been broken by his opponent's sheer speed—a fact he found hard to accept.
Chu Tianhe was also pale, his clothes torn in several places. Besides a few minor injuries, there was a deep, bone-revealing wound on his right shoulder. However, he wasn't worried, as his opponent's injuries were far more severe.
With a clang, Pei Zhi's sword fell to the ground, and his body slowly collapsed.
"Take him down!" Chu Tianhe ordered hoarsely, staring at Pei Zhi on the ground for a long time.
***
Wu Che continued running through the wind and rain. Although he was usually pampered, his rudimentary internal energy training allowed him to endure the ordeal. Without his mount, his pace slowed considerably. He didn't care whether Pei Zhi could break through; his only concern was how to escape safely to Tianmen Pass.
Boom! Another clap of thunder, and a blinding flash of lightning illuminated the earth. Wu Che, who was running, suddenly felt a light even more dazzling than lightning, and at the same time, a chill ran down his throat. The longsword he had been holding in his right hand had vanished.
What was happening?! Wu Che instinctively touched his neck; the warm, wet sensation, unlike the icy rain, filled him with panic. He touched his neck again and held it to his eyes; his pupils widened involuntarily. He tried to scream, but found only a gurgling sound coming from his throat.
Meanwhile, at the Hengcheng General's Mansion...
Wu Zi'ang stood by the window, gazing at the inky black sky outside. Rain was already streaming into the room, some even splashing onto his face, but he seemed oblivious, simply reciting softly: "The wind carries thick clouds from the north, the southern sky is bleak. In an instant, the rain lashes the window, thunder chills the heart, who will perish and go to the Yellow Springs? "
(Volume 4, Rebirth of the World, Chapter 158: Bait)
As evening approached, the clouds finally parted and the rain ceased.
Wu Zi'ang stood by the window, feeling the slightly rain-scented air rushing towards him, his spirits lifted.
"Reporting to the General, Lord Li Tingwei has arrived!"
Suddenly, a report came from outside the door. Without thinking, Wu Zi'ang blurted out, "Quickly, invite him in!" However, as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized something was amiss, turned around, and laughed, scolding, "You demon, quickly reveal your true form!" Before he
finished speaking, he felt a fragrant breeze waft by, and a black shadow suddenly flew in from outside the door, rushing straight into Wu Zi'ang's arms.
"I knew it was you!" Wu Zi'ang looked down at the beautiful Shui Qingqing in his arms, smiling as he pinched her delicate nose. "Could it be that my imitation of your voice didn't sound right?!" Shui Qingqing asked, a look of annoyance on her face.
"Your voice imitation is so-so. The reason I guessed it was you was because of the fragrance wafting from outside!" Wu Zi'ang leaned down and took a deep sniff of Shui Qingqing's neck, laughing, "I'll never forget this scent!"
Shui Qingqing was overjoyed at his words, her beautiful eyes softening instantly as she looked at Wu Zi'ang.
Clearly, compared to some old-fashioned, cheesy love talk, Wu Zi'ang's words had a much better effect. There's no need to directly tell a woman how much you care about her; the real skill lies in subtly revealing it through words and letting her experience it for herself!
"Here's a reward for you!" Shui Qingqing's voice became incredibly sweet. She tilted her jade-like face up, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed, and her cherry lips parted slightly, presenting an alluring posture ready to be savored.
Already possessing a natural allure, Shui Qingqing became even more radiant and captivating after her first encounter with love, her seductive charm more than doubling in effectiveness. Wu Zi'ang simply couldn't resist, and with a lowered head, he captured the beauty's soft, delicious cherry lips.
"Reporting to the General, Lord Li Tingwei has arrived!" Just then, the announcement rang out again at the door.
Shui Qingqing suddenly pulled away from Wu Zi'ang's embrace, giggling, "Go see Lord Li quickly! I'm leaving now, I'll come back later!"
"Ah! So Qingqing was telling the truth!" Wu Zi'ang suddenly realized that Shui Qingqing's words and actions weren't entirely a joke; Li Hui had indeed come!
"Of course!" Shui Qingqing blinked her beautiful eyes and lightly licked her cherry lips with her fragrant tongue, the unintentional allure almost making Wu Zi'ang lose control.
"I'll go back and see if Sister Qing and Sister Wan'er are awake!" Seeing Wu Zi'ang staring at her with wide eyes, Shui Qingqing smiled smugly and drifted out the door like a gust of wind, mimicking Wu Zi'ang's voice as she ordered, "Please invite Lord Li!"
"Really, really, she's getting more and more incredible!" Wu Zi'ang suppressed his lustful thoughts, secretly sighing at the terrifying power of Shui Qingqing's allure. Perhaps it was because of their intimate encounter, but now he found it difficult to resist the witch's charms!
"Zi'ang!" Just as he was pondering this, Li Hui rushed in, saying, "Chu Tianhe has ruined everything!"
"What?" Wu Zi'ang knew what Li Hui wanted to say as soon as he spoke, but he still asked with a smile.
"He actually let Wu Che escape without permission!" Li Hui replied, his face darkening.
"I remember you were in charge of chasing Wu Che, weren't you?" Wu Zi'ang asked knowingly.
“I knew long ago that Chu Tianhe had received a favor from Wu Che, so I deliberately took charge of this matter myself!” Li Hui said with a hint of embarrassment, “But I never expected that Wu Che was not entirely useless. He actually arranged for a double to wander around the city beforehand, while his real body took the opportunity to sneak out of Hengcheng!”
“So, Chu Tianhe is quite capable, actually managing to intercept Wu Che outside the city!” Wu Ziang said with a smile.
“That’s true, I admit I underestimated him!” Li Hui sighed. “It’s just a pity he doesn’t know how to assess the situation. If he had taken this opportunity to kill Wu Che, it would have been a great achievement, and he would have been highly valued by Zi’ang!”
“I think Chu Tianhe is quite humane!” Wu Zi’ang shook his head and smiled. “If he really doesn’t remember past favors and kills Wu Che to claim credit, I will reward him, but I will never give him an important position. What loyalty can I expect from an ungrateful scoundrel?”
“What Zi’ang said makes sense!” Li Hui was taken aback at first, then nodded. “It’s just that if Wu Che doesn’t die this time, it will be disadvantageous for us. Now Gong Yan can have a legitimate reason to attack!”
“Who said Wu Che won’t die?” Wu Zi’ang looked at Li Hui with a sly smile.
"Ah!" Seeing Wu Zi'ang's expression, Li Hui suddenly realized, "Zi'ang must have already killed Wu Che. No wonder he looks so calm!"
"I can only say I was lucky!" Wu Zi'ang turned his gaze to a long sword on the table and smiled, "I sent men to ambush him on the official road leading to Anfeng. Fortunately, they succeeded!"
He paused, then added, "It's not that I didn't trust Brother Li, but I suddenly realized this afternoon that after hearing my warning, Wu Che still insisted on escaping. He must be either reckless or have other tricks up his sleeve. Just in case, I sent men to intercept him on the official road!"
"Thanks to Zi'ang's meticulousness!" Li Hui showed no displeasure and breathed a sigh of relief, "If Wu Che had escaped, we would have lost face big time!"
"What I'm interested in now is how Chu Tianhe will explain himself to me!" Wu Zi'ang smiled, "Releasing a serious criminal without authorization is no small crime!"
Before he could finish speaking, a report came from outside the door: "Reporting to the General, Commandant Chu, Lord Chu, requests an audience!" "
Look, he's here!" It was truly a case of speaking of the devil and he appears! Wu Zi'ang smiled at Li Hui and called out, "Please!"
A moment later, Chu Tianhe entered the room with a look of shame.
As if he already knew Li Hui was there, he showed no surprise, immediately kneeling and saying, "I released Wu Che without permission; I deserve to die. Please punish me, General!"
"You know you deserve to die, so why do I need to punish you?" Wu Zi'ang retorted calmly.
"I know my crime is unforgivable, but I beg the General to consider my merit in capturing the assassin and show leniency, spare my life!" Chu Tianhe bowed his head and said softly.
"An assassin!?" Wu Zi'ang was slightly taken aback, then noticed the white cloth wrapped around the other man's shoulder, still stained with blood, clearly indicating recent injury.
"It's Pei Zhi, the disciple of Dao Kuang, one of the assassins who attempted to assassinate the General a few days ago!" Chu Tianhe quickly replied.
"You... captured Pei Zhi!?" Wu Zi'ang and Li Hui exchanged a surprised glance. Wu Zi'ang knew Pei Zhi's skill level very well. During the martial arts competition at the training ground, he had only narrowly won because Pei Zhi was arrogant and underestimated him. After his rebirth, he had dealt with the assassination attempts by Jing Haoran, Pei Zhi, and Fang Jinwu using even greater internal energy and more powerful techniques than before. To be honest, disregarding the advantage of internal energy, his martial arts might not be much stronger than Pei Zhi's!
"Yes, I was fortunate enough to capture Pei Zhi, who was escorting Wu Che. I have now imprisoned him in the Commandant's prison, awaiting the General's decision!" Chu Tianhe replied.
"Lord Chu, please rise and speak!" Wu Zi'ang had to admit that Chu Tianhe was indeed capable, so he lowered his voice and told him to stand up.
"Thank you, General!" Chu Tianhe secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. From the tone of the other party, he could tell that his official position was safe.
However, as soon as he stood up, he heard Wu Zi'ang say, "Lord Chu, I must say, I misjudged you before!"
Chu Tianhe was startled by this, but upon further listening, he heard, "I always thought you were a person who was keen on fame and fortune, but today I discovered that Lord Chu is actually a person who values loyalty and righteousness! It is only right to repay kindness received, indeed! Indeed!"
"General!" Although he could not rule out the possibility that the other party was trying to win him over, Chu Tianhe was still very moved after hearing these words, and immediately knelt down again, saying, "Thank you for your understanding, General. Although I am keen on power, I am by no means an ungrateful person!"
"Lord Chu has captured the assassin and rendered a great service; he deserves a reward!" Wu Zi'ang reached for the longsword on the table and said, "I'll present this sword to Lord Chu!" "
Your subordinate!" Chu Tianhe was about to refuse when his gaze suddenly fell upon the longsword in the other's hand. He trembled and could no longer speak. This sword was the very one Wu Che had given him, and today, he had returned it to Wu Che!
Now, this sword was in the hands of the Grand General—what did this mean?!
In an instant, Chu Tianhe broke out in a cold sweat. In his eyes, the young Grand General's smile had become so unfathomable. He was sincerely glad that he hadn't lied or betrayed the other party!
"Take it!" Wu Zi'ang pushed the longsword forward and smiled, "Take it, and then quickly go to the Commandant's Office to bring Pei Zhi here."
"Yes! Your subordinate obeys!" Chu Tianhe could only reply, taking the longsword, and then got up and left the room.
"Why did he have that expression?!" Li Hui asked after Chu Tianhe left.
"That sword is what I returned to Wu Che today!" Wu Zi'ang replied with a light laugh.
"I see!?" Li Hui immediately understood, then shot Wu Zi'ang a look of admiration and said, "That's far more profound than words can convey!"
Wu Zi'ang smiled without speaking. Li Hui was right. He didn't need to say anything more. The deterrent effect of returning the longsword to Chu Tianhe was far greater than a thousand words. His purpose was to plant a seed in Chu Tianhe's heart, a seed that would make the other party feel that he was unfathomable!
"Why was Pei Zhi taken back to the General's Mansion?!" After a long while, Li Hui asked again.
“Pei Zhi is, after all, Dao Kuang’s disciple. If Pei Zhi is mentioned, how could Dao Kuang let it go so easily!” Wu Zi’ang turned his gaze to the window and said in a deep voice, “With Dao Kuang’s abilities, rescuing people from the Commandant’s Mansion is not a difficult task! However, if it’s the General’s Mansion, the situation will be different!”
“I understand what Zi’ang means!” Li Hui smiled and nodded, “With Tie Ren here, we can definitely suppress Dao Kuang’s arrogance!”
“More importantly, I am very much looking forward to the performance of the guards that Brother Li has carefully selected for me!” Wu Zi’ang stroked his chin and smiled, “Let’s use Pei Zhi as bait to lure Dao Kuang, this big fish, into the trap!”
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 159 Setting a Trap
After discussing the deployment in detail, seeing that it was getting late, Li Hui got up to take his leave.
After seeing Li Hui off, Wu Zi’ang saw the beautiful Shui sitting in a chair with a smile, waiting for him.
“Xue Qing and Sister Wan haven’t gotten up yet!?” Wu Zi’ang asked in surprise. Even if they were a bit crazy at noon, they shouldn’t be still not up after resting all afternoon.
“They’re already up. I wanted them to come with me, but Sister Wan’er is shy and refused to come no matter what. Sister Qing had to stay and keep her company!” Shui Qingqing said, suppressing a laugh.
“Shy!?” When Wu Zi’ang heard this word, he immediately thought of Xiao Wan’s wanton and seductive manner in bed, and her bold moans.
A moment later, Wu Zi'ang asked, "Aren't they going to eat? Didn't they eat lunch?"
"No need for you to worry, Sister Qing has already instructed the kitchen to prepare. They're eating in the bedroom!" Shui Qingqing stood up, walked to Wu Zi'ang, and smiled. "As for me, I was afraid you'd be lonely by yourself, so I came to keep you company!"
"How touching!" Wu Zi'ang smiled and hugged her slender figure, saying, "Qingqing is so considerate!"
"I have many good qualities!" Shui Qingqing nestled into his arms, smiling, "There's something I haven't told you yet!"
"What is it?" Wu Zi'ang inhaled the fragrance of her hair, then a thought flashed through his mind. He remembered Shui Qingqing coming to his bedroom to find him before he went to court that morning, and guessed, "It's about what you wanted to tell me this morning, isn't it?"
"Yes!" Shui Qingqing nodded. "Nangong Qian is dead!"
"What?" Wu Zi'ang was startled. "What happened?"
"The omnipotent Uncle Wei killed Nangong Qian right under Wei Ruoxuan and Fang Dingtian's noses!" Shui Qingqing said slowly, her beautiful eyes filled with admiration.
"Was this a great gift Uncle Wei gave us before he left?" Wu Ziang murmured.
"Let's say so!" Shui Qingqing smiled and said, "However, that's not the point! The point is, with Nangong Qian dead, the position of Demon Sect Leader is now vacant!"
"You mean...!" Looking at Shui Qingqing's smiling face, Wu Ziang had a flash of inspiration and laughed, "Sect Leader Shui, congratulations!"
"Ziang is so clever!" Shui Qingqing couldn't help but chuckle, "I thought Ziang would ask me who the new sect leader is!?"
"The most qualified person to succeed the sect leader should be Senior Meihou, but since Uncle Wei has successfully abducted her, it's only natural that her only disciple will take over the position of sect leader!" Wu Ziang said with a smile.
"Take him away! Zi'ang, that's hilarious!" Shui Qingqing's eyes crinkled into crescent moons with laughter. "To be honest, I have no interest in becoming the sect leader. I just want to get rid of the Saintess's identity!"
"Is there anything wrong with being a Saintess?" Wu Zi'ang asked, startled.
"Is it good?!" Shui Qingqing tilted her pretty face up, blushing slightly. "The Saintess of the Demonic Sect can't marry or have children; she must be a virgin. Is that good, Zi'ang?!"
"Indeed, it's not good!" Wu Zi'ang replied very seriously. He paused for a moment, then suddenly realized, "I understand why Qingqing was like this at noon...!" "Don't
say it!" Hearing him mention what happened at noon, Shui Qingqing blushed deeply and covered his lips with her hand, scolding him playfully.
"I won't say it!" Wu Zi'ang gently kissed her hand and smiled. "I also have some good news to tell Qingqing!?"
"What good news?!" Shui Qingqing lowered her head again, resting her head on his broad chest. She was captivated by this feeling of security.
"Chu Tianhe has captured Pei Zhi!" Wu Zi'ang recounted the events of earlier in detail.
"Wow! This Chu Tianhe is really skilled!" Shui Qingqing exclaimed in surprise after hearing this, then frowned and asked, "Chu Tianhe! Could it be that he has some connection with Chu Tiankuo?!"
"Who is Chu Tiankuo?" Wu Zi'ang noticed the change in Shui Qingqing's tone and asked.
"The sect leader of the Northern Liang Quick Sword Sect!" Shui Qingqing replied, "Although Northern Liang is a weak nation, it has been a gathering place for martial arts for over a hundred years. Many famous sects have taken root in Northern Liang, and the Quick Sword Sect is one of the best. Oh, and the Marquis family of Lingnan is also worth mentioning!"
Hearing Shui Qingqing mention the Marquis family of Lingnan, Wu Zi'ang's heart stirred. He suddenly remembered the scene when he first encountered the Ghost King at the Qingyun Tower in Pingyang. The group of young men whose right hands were severed by the Ghost King were from the Marquis family of Lingnan!
"The Quick Sword Sect's swordsmanship is based on speed, and its 'Swift Wind and Torrential Rain Sword' can be considered a first-rate martial art!" "If Chu Tianhe is truly a member of the Swift Sword Sect, he could indeed defeat Pei Zhi by using speed to overcome speed!" Shui Qingqing continued her analysis.
"Hmm!" Wu Zi'ang responded lightly, but in his heart, he was determined to find out Tianhe's background. A superior who didn't even know the origins of his subordinates was undoubtedly unqualified.
"Let's not talk about that for now!" Shui Qingqing's tone became serious. "Are you going to use Pei Zhi as bait to lure Dao Kuang here?"
"That's right!" Wu Zi'ang nodded. "Originally, I was worried about Dao Kuang, Wei Ruoxuan, and Nangong Qian joining forces, but now, hearing the good news from Qingqing, I feel much more at ease!"
"I'm not joking, Zi'ang, do you really think you can capture Dao Kuang?" Shui Qingqing raised her head and said solemnly, "Does Zi'ang think Dao Kuang is just a name without substance?"
"I don't believe there really is a 'one-man army' in this world?" Wu Zi'ang replied with a smile.
"Is there not?" Shui Qingqing rolled her eyes at him and said, "Single-handedly, you killed over 170 palace guards and over 360 armored soldiers. Who could have done something so terrifying?!"
"Uh!" Wu Zi'ang was stunned. Of course, he knew he had done it himself, but the problem was that he was wearing the precious armor given to him by the Empress Dowager, plus the power of the third form of the Burning Blood Remnant Soul Technique! "Fang Dingtian
is indeed not a match for ten thousand men. Under tight protection, Zi'ang could indeed stop Fang Dingtian from rescuing people, but to capture or kill Fang Dingtian, that is absolutely impossible!" Shui Qingqing concluded with great confidence.
"Qingqing, how about we make a bet?" Hearing her so certain, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but feel his competitive spirit stirred.
"A bet? That's my favorite!" Shui Qingqing was taken aback at first, then smiled and said, "Zi'ang, tell me, what's the bet?!"
"If I capture Fang Dingtian, you must stay with me for seven nights!" "After experiencing Shui Qingqing's unique charm, Wu Ziang was very much looking forward to their next intimate encounter."
"That's all you can think about!" Shui Qingqing teased, pointing a delicate finger at his face. "What if you can't capture him?"
"If I can't capture him, I'll spend seven nights with Qingqing!" Wu Zi'ang replied slyly.
"Dream on!" Shui Qingqing chuckled. "If you can't capture him, you're not allowed to have designs on me, Qingmei, or Wan'er for ten days!"
"It's a deal!" Wu Zi'ang readily agreed. Even if he lost, it was only ten days. Uh, he wondered what Fang Da would think if he knew someone was using him as a wager.
"I'm really curious, where does Zi'ang's confidence come from?!" Shui Qingqing was puzzled by Wu Zi'ang's confidence.
"I'll tell you!" Wu Zi'ang lowered his head and whispered a few words behind her ear.
"This!" Shui Qingqing's expression changed. After a moment of hesitation, she suddenly whispered hesitantly, "Can we change it to three nights?!"
"Absolutely not!" Wu Zi'ang refused decisively.
"If you can't do it, you can't do it, what's with the smugness!?" Shui Qingqing bit her lower lip, tilted her pretty face up, and said, "Besides, I'm not necessarily going to lose!" With that, she broke free from Wu Zi'ang's embrace and ran away in a flash.
"What should I do next!? Hmm, to prevent Elder Dao Kuang from being out of touch, I should probably inform him!?" After Shui Qingqing left, Wu Zi'ang pondered his plan to capture the thief, feeling a surge of excitement.
***
The next morning, Wu Zi'ang got up early as usual. After washing up and eating, he went to the morning court in his purple robes. He disliked wearing luxurious official robes and always wore this attire to court. The Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, the newly enthroned Emperor Wu Xin, and all the civil and military officials were used to his attire!
The shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" were still heard, and eunuchs were still calling out in high-pitched voices, "Speak if you have something to report, otherwise the court is adjourned," but His Highness remained silent, as if all was well. So, in the end, the court was adjourned, and the officials dispersed.
"Zi'ang, you stay!" After hesitating for a long time, the Empress Dowager finally spoke.
Couldn't hold back any longer? Wu Zi'ang sneered inwardly, but respectfully replied, "Your subject obeys!"
After the officials dispersed, the Empress Dowager dismissed her attendants, leaving only Wu Zi'ang and herself in the hall.
"Zi'ang, do you... do you have any news of Che'er?!" the Empress Dowager asked tentatively.
"Why doesn't Your Majesty simply ask me if the First Prince has been captured?" Wu Zi'ang replied with a smile.
"Very well! Zi'ang, then please tell me if Che'er has been captured!" Having said this, the Empress Dowager knew there was no point in hiding it, so she asked directly.
"Yesterday, I mentioned that the God of Slaughter is in the west, and it's not advisable for the Crown Prince to travel. I wonder if the Empress Dowager conveyed this to him?" Wu Zi'ang said in an unusually gentle voice. "Or perhaps the Empress Dowager also hopes that the Crown Prince can reach Tianmen Pass and command Gong Yan's army to retake Hengcheng!"
"No!" A hint of panic flashed across the Empress Dowager's face as she hurriedly said, "It was Che'er who insisted on not listening…!"
"It's pointless to discuss this now!" Wu Zi'ang gave her a deep look, sighed, and said, "Empress Dowager, you are old now, and there are some things you no longer have the energy to worry about! I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave!" With that, Wu Zi'ang bowed and turned to leave the hall.
"Che'er…!" A deep sorrow appeared on the Empress Dowager's aged face as she sat there, lifeless as a withered tree.
After leaving the hall, Wu Zi'ang did not return to his residence but instead went to the inner palace.
This place was no longer unfamiliar to him. Without the eunuch's guidance, he turned left and right, arriving at the Imperial Garden.
"Little brother, is being the emperor fun?" Wu Zi'ang heard Wu Ling's voice from behind a rockery.
"No fun! So boring!" Wu Xin's voice followed immediately.
Wu Zi'ang turned and quietly walked around the rockery, where he saw Wu Ling and Wu Xin sitting on a rock talking.
Wu Ling's little face carried a melancholy that shouldn't be there for her age, and she looked even thinner than when Wu Zi'ang last saw her.
"Third sister, why are you unhappy?! Who bullied you?" Although Wu Xin was young, he could also see that something was wrong with Wu Ling's expression.
"Nothing!" Wu Xin forced a smile and said, "Sister is just feeling bored!"
"I'll play with you, sister. Let's go play cricket fighting!"
Wu Ling was about to speak when she suddenly looked up and immediately noticed Wu Zi'ang standing not far away, watching them. Her expression changed, and she got up to leave.
However, Wu Zi'ang moved swiftly, appearing before Wu Ling and her brother in a flash.
"General!" Wu Xin, upon seeing Wu Zi'ang, couldn't help but show a hint of fear. His fear stemmed from the rumors of the man's single-handed slaughter of hundreds of soldiers, and also from the subservient attitude of the civil and military officials, even his mother and grandmother, towards this man.
Though young, he sensed that the Great Qin Dynasty wasn't ruled by him, the mere emperor; the real authority lay with this imposing general, not much older than him.
"Your Majesty, Second Princess!" Wu Zi'ang bowed deeply, offering his respects.
"General, rise!" Wu Xin hurriedly replied.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wu Zi'ang straightened up, smiling at the siblings before him. "Your Majesty, Second Princess, I have come to present you with a plaything!"
"What plaything!?" Hearing Wu Zi'ang explain his purpose, Wu Ling couldn't help but show curiosity.
"A keyboard!" Wu Zi'ang slowly pulled a colorful keyboard from his sleeve and smiled, "This is it!"
"How do we play this?" Wu Xin asked, looking at the beautiful-looking object in his hand.
"This humble subject will demonstrate!" Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly, tossed the keyboard into the air, and then kicked, punched, and spun it, displaying various movements, including a few fancy tricks, which immediately attracted the attention of the siblings.
"It's not exactly a refined toy, but it can help relieve the Emperor and the Second Princess's boredom!" After kicking it for a while, Wu Zi'ang handed the keyboard to Wu Ling and smiled, "Your Majesty and the Second Princess, you've finished playing. This humble subject will take his leave!" With that, he bowed to the two of them again and turned to leave.
"Third Sister, kick it quickly!" Being young and impetuous, Wu Xin had already forgotten his fear of Wu Zi'ang and kept urging Wu Ling on.
"Oh!" Looking at the colorful and beautiful keyboard in her hand, Wu Ling temporarily forgot all her unhappiness and tossed the keyboard into the air.
Turning his head, Wu Zi'ang gazed at the brother and sister playing and smiling beside the artificial hill, a complex feeling rising in his heart. If one day he truly seized the throne of the Great Qin, how should he deal with these two siblings? Could he be as ruthless as his father-in-law, the Ninth Prince, in killing them?
Volume 4, Rebirth of the World, Chapter 160:
Hengcheng, inside an ordinary residence.
Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian and Wei Ruoxuan sat facing each other, their old faces clouded with gloom. The oppressive atmosphere made Fang Jinwu and Jing Haoran, standing beside them, feel a slight difficulty breathing.
Fang Jinwu's face was pale. Although his internal injuries had improved thanks to the combined healing efforts of Dao Kuang and Wei Ruoxuan, he was still far from fully recovered.
"Wu Che is dead, and Zhi'er has been captured!" Dao Kuang's tone was filled with danger. "The streets are plastered with notices that Zhi'er will be executed at the Meridian Gate in three days. Senior brother, tell me, what is Wu Zi'ang trying to do?!" "
He moved Zhi'er from the Commandant's Mansion to the General's Mansion overnight and posted notices throughout the city. Wu Zi'ang's intention is obvious: he wants to use Zhi'er as bait to lure us to the General's Mansion to rescue him!" Wei Ruoxuan said with a grim face.
"Why is this happening?" Dao Kuang narrowed his eyes, looked out the window, and said in a low voice, "He shouldn't be in this world anymore. Can the dead really be brought back to life?"
Wei Ruoxuan, Jing Haoran, and Fang Jinwu remained silent. They had racked their brains over the inconceivable matter of Wu Zi'ang's resurrection, but still couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation!
"No matter what, Junior Brother can't not save him, Master!" Fang Jinwu's tone was urgent, not because of excitement, but because of the tightness in his chest.
"My disciple will be arrested and executed by the authorities; I can't bear such shame!" Dao Kuang sneered. "But Zhi'er is too disappointing. I taught him everything I knew, and he couldn't even defeat a mere captain!"
"That Chu Tianhe is definitely no ordinary person!" Wei Ruoxuan shook his head. "We both know Zhi'er's martial arts skills. If he hadn't encountered an absolute master, how could he have been so easily captured?"
"I suspect that Chu Tianhe is connected to the Northern Liang Quick Sword Sect!" Jing Haoran raised an eyebrow. "The current sect leader of the Quick Sword Sect is named Chu Tiankuo. This similarity in names shouldn't be a coincidence, right?"
"Raging Wind and Torrential Rain Sword!" Wei Ruoxuan nodded thoughtfully. "I must say, the Quick Sword Sect's sword technique is indeed a masterpiece!"
"We'll discuss this later. Right now, let's think about how to rescue Zhi'er!" Dao Kuang stroked his long beard and said, "The current situation seems to be such that even if it's a trap, I'm forced to go to the General's Mansion to rescue him!"
Fang Jinwu and Jing Haoran exchanged a glance. It was indeed the case. Even if Wu Zi'ang had deliberately set a trap, they couldn't just stand by and watch him die. Of course, they could also choose to storm the execution ground.
"There's another method we can try!" Wei Ruoxuan pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.
"Oh!? Senior Brother, please speak," Fang Dingtian quickly asked.
"Wu Zi'ang has captured Zhi'er, so we can capture Wu Zi'ang's relatives and exchange them for him!" Wei Ruoxuan's eyes flashed coldly. So, in the end, we still have to go to the General's Mansion? "Dao Kuang, Fang Dingtian frowned.
"No, Junior Brother, don't forget, after the Ninth Prince Wu Shang died, only the Princess Consort remained in the Prince's Mansion!" Wei Ruoxuan sneered, "And for us, the Ninth Prince's Mansion is like flat ground!" "
Senior Brother is right!" Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian's eyes lit up, and he nodded. It was indeed true. After the Ninth Prince's death, the Ninth Prince's mansion had fallen into disrepair. Only the Ninth Prince's Consort remained, unwilling to leave out of nostalgia. Her defenses were practically nonexistent for experts like them. As long as they captured the Ninth Prince's Consort and exchanged her for him, Pei Zhi could return safely!
"There's no time to lose. Let's make our move tonight!" Wei Ruoxuan thought for a moment and said, "We don't need too many people. The two of us are enough!"
"Hmm!" Dao Kuang nodded. With the goal of kidnapping someone, more people would only hinder their actions. Given his and the other party's martial arts skills, achieving this goal should not be too difficult.
General's Mansion.
Wu Zi'ang, who had just finished the morning court session, returned to his mansion and saw Su Qimeng and Qiu Xueqing hand in hand in the guest hall. Yingying whispered, "Qimeng is here!" Wu Zi'ang greeted her with a smile.
"Husband, you're back!" Qiu Xueqing rushed to greet Wu Zi'ang as soon as she saw him.
"What's wrong?" Noticing Qiu Xueqing's slightly unhappy expression, Wu Zi'ang asked curiously.
"Sister Su is leaving!" Qiu Xueqing said softly.
"Where is Qimeng going?" Wu Zi'ang was taken aback at first, then a strong sense of loss welled up in his heart.
"I'm going back to Beiliang. The royal army sent someone to tell me that their time is coming and they will not be able to come to Hengcheng again, so they hope I can return to Liang as soon as possible!" Su Qimeng lowered her head, avoiding Wu Zi'ang's gaze, and said softly, "I came here today specifically to say goodbye to Zi'ang."
"There's soup simmering in the kitchen, I'll go check on it!" Qiu Xueqing glanced at Su Qimeng, made an excuse, and turned to leave.
"When will you be back?" Wu Zi'ang forced a smile and said, "Uncle Wei and Aunt Ji can entrust me to take care of you?"
"I'm not coming back!" Su Qimeng raised her head, a resolute expression on her face. "I'll return to Beiliang first. After the royal army passes away, I will travel from north to west, wandering the kingdoms!" "
You... are you trying to hide from me?" Wu Zi'ang's expression changed. He took two steps forward, standing in front of her, scrutinizing Su Qimeng's beautiful eyes from above.
"Zi'ang!" Su Qimeng's expression turned cold. "You already have several beautiful wives and concubines, aren't you satisfied?"
"You only need to answer, are you trying to hide from me?!" Wu Zi'ang grabbed her shoulders with both hands and asked in a deep voice.
"No!" Su Qimeng turned her beautiful eyes to the side and said.
"Look me in the eyes!" Wu Zi'ang snorted coldly.
"No!" Seemingly angered by Wu Zi'ang's tone, Su Qimeng raised her beautiful face, meeting his gaze, and answered loudly.
Before the word "yes" had even finished, Su Qimeng felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, and a scorching breath pressed down on her. Her cherry lips were already sealed tightly by Wu Ziang's lips.
"Mmm!" A wave of dizziness washed over her, and Su Qimeng's mind seemed to return to the moment he forcefully kissed her. Her hands initially pushed against his body forcefully, but then gradually fell limp, her entire delicate body melting into Wu Ziang's arms like a snowman in the sunlight.
Sensing Su Qimeng's weakness in resistance, Wu Ziang intensified his efforts, easily prying open her pearly teeth and sucking her smooth tongue into his mouth.
In the midst of their intertwined lips and tongues, Su Qimeng felt her delicate body floating, almost unaware of where she was!
After a long while, their lips parted, but their foreheads remained pressed together, their breaths still not calmed by the passion they had just shared. The guest room was silent; the two could faintly hear each other's heartbeats.
"You can leave! But you must come back!" Wu Ziang embraced Su Qimeng's slender waist and whispered in her ear, "Don't try to hide from me, do you hear me?!"
Su Qimeng didn't answer, but buried her face in his chest. She knew this was the last time she had with him. She truly wasn't prepared to share a man with multiple women; it was something she had never considered. Therefore, she decided to leave this place of trouble while she could still extricate herself.
"Did you hear me?" Wu Ziang lifted Su Qimeng's shoulders, only to find glistening tears on her beautiful face, and he was momentarily stunned.
"Don't force me, Zi'ang!" After a long while, Su Qimeng said softly, "If you really like me, please don't put me in a difficult position, okay?"
Reaching out, she gently wiped away the tears on Su Qimeng's face. Wu Zi'ang sighed softly and said, "Alright, I won't force you. If you think running away is the best way to resolve things, then go ahead!"
"Zi'ang, I... take my leave!" After a moment, Su Qimeng gently pulled away from Wu Zi'ang's embrace and whispered, "Take care!"
"Take care too!" Wu Zi'ang felt a mix of emotions. Although he liked her and wholeheartedly hoped she would stay, he couldn't disrespect her choice. In other words, he seemed to have no right to ask her to stay!
"I almost forgot, this is something your senior sister gave you!" Su Qimeng was about to leave when she suddenly remembered she had something to do. She stopped and took out a plain white silk handkerchief from her bosom, handing it to him, saying, "Your senior sister kept the one stained with blood!"
"What does Lingyao mean!?" Wu Zi'ang took the soft silk handkerchief, his face darkening further. He vaguely sensed that not only Su Qimeng, but even Wei Lingyao was about to leave him.
"Your senior sister is about to take over as the sect leader of Tianmen!" Su Qimeng only said this much, and the matter was clear. Wei Lingyao taking over the position of Jingguan meant losing the right to marry. Due to the sect rules, all generations of Tianmen sect members had been single.
"Why isn't Zi'ang saying anything!?" After a long silence, still seeing no movement from Wu Zi'ang, Su Qimeng couldn't help but raise her jade-like face to look at him.
"I'm thinking, what method can I use to make you and Lingyao willingly stay by my side!" Wu Zi'ang tucked the handkerchief into his robes, his gaze fixed on Su Qimeng's exquisitely beautiful face, and said in a deep voice, "Can I use force?"
"Zi'ang, don't overthink it. Even without me and Senior Sister, you still have Xueqing, and the beautiful Shui!" Su Qimeng smiled, sensing the man's helplessness. She gently reached out a jade-like hand and stroked his face softly, saying, "Qimeng is leaving."
Wu Zi'ang sat blankly in his chair, his mind a jumble, unable to remember how Su Qimeng had left. Su Qimeng was gone, and Wei Lingyao was gone too. In one day, both of the beauties he loved had chosen "better not to meet than to see each other" as their way of resolving their emotional entanglements.
Let go? Wu Zi'ang frowned deeply, immediately rejecting the idea. He had gotten whatever he wanted, his power rising smoothly step by step, making him unaccustomed to setbacks and even more unaccustomed to giving up what he desired.
A poignant love story? A mocking smile suddenly appeared on Wu Zi'ang's face. A happy ending by any means necessary was the only way! He suddenly remembered the name of a movie, "Not One Less!"
Trying to clear his mind of worries, Wu Zi'ang thought of his plan to capture the thief. Although his newly formed guards were all handpicked experts, would they be enough to deal with a master like Wei Ruoxuan?
That night.
A dark night for murder, a windy night for arson!
Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian and Wei Ruoxuan were very satisfied with the weather. Under the cover of darkness, the two moved with lightning speed, quickly arriving at the Ninth Prince's mansion.
Wei Ruoxuan knew the layout of the Ninth Prince's mansion intimately, easily avoiding several patrolling soldiers, and the two reached the prince's sleeping quarters.
Suddenly, they heard several barks of dogs, causing their expressions to change.
Although the two were absolute masters, using the darkness and their agility to evade the notice of ordinary experts, they were quite troubled by the keen sense of smell of the mastiffs. After all, no matter how skilled they were in martial arts, they couldn't hide their body odor!
Therefore, the two exchanged a glance and rushed towards the door at the same time. They both had the same idea: to capture the Ninth Princess before the annoying mastiffs could reach her. As for the guards and lowly minions of the Prince's mansion, they didn't care about them! (
Volume 4, Rebirth of the World, Chapter 161, Entering the Hub)
However, halfway there, their expressions changed, and they abruptly stopped. Almost simultaneously, a series of whooshing sounds came, and more than a dozen arrows pierced through the window and door, heading straight for Fang Dingtian and Wei Ruoxuan.
Their sleeves fluttered simultaneously, easily deflecting the arrows. Fang Dingtian and Wei Ruoxuan then retreated. They weren't afraid of the ordinary arrows, but rather realized that the Ninth Prince's mansion seemed to have been prepared.
A dozen torches lit up the Prince's mansion, illuminating the entire compound. Several squads of armored soldiers surrounded the mansion from all directions, accompanied by seven or eight large mastiffs led by guards, emitting low growls.
Dozens of archers armed with crossbows appeared on the surrounding rooftops!
Under these circumstances, the wisest course of action for Fang Dingtian and Wei Ruoxuan would be to retreat. Given their martial arts skills, few in the world could possibly stop their combined breakout attempt.
However, the two showed no intention of retreating, as a group of people appearing around the corner caught their attention.
"May I ask what brings you two to the Ninth Prince's mansion so late at night?" Leading the group was a man in purple robes, a smile on his face—none other than Wu Zi'ang, the most powerful minister of the Qin Dynasty. Behind him, a squad of armored soldiers were shoving a young man in white.
Fang Dingtian's pupils contracted instantly. He had already recognized the ashen-faced, chained-back white-robed youth as his disciple, Pei Zhi. Given Pei Zhi's skill, how could these mere chains possibly restrain him? What had left his disciple vulnerable was several silver needles, gleaming coldly and almost completely embedded in the acupoints on his waist and abdomen.
'Silver Needle Locking Meridians'! As an elder of the Demonic Sect, Wei Ruoxuan was well aware of this unique technique. No matter how powerful one's martial arts, once these fourteen silver needles pierced the body, one was nothing but a fish on a chopping block!
Not wanting to waste words with Wu Zi'ang, Fang Dingtian flashed forward, moving with lightning speed towards Pei Zhi. Among the Four Great Masters, although he wasn't skilled in lightness techniques, to ordinary experts, his movements were undoubtedly as swift as the wind!
Bang! Wu Zi'ang kicked Pei Zhi in the back of the knee, and Pei Zhi, without any chance to retaliate, fell to his knees. At the same time, with a clang, Wu Zi'ang's divine weapon 'Heavenly Flame' was drawn and placed against Pei Zhi's neck!
The entire sequence of movements was clean and swift, as if it had been practiced countless times. No matter how fast Dao Kuang was, he couldn't outrun Wu Zi'ang, who was so close to Pei Zhi.
Cursing under his breath, Dao Kuang could only abruptly stop his momentum and turn back to his original position. In the end, he dared not risk Pei Zhi's life.

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【I Desire to Rule the World】【Part Seven】【Author: Yitian】

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