"Hmph! Didn't you come here just to get in? How could I possibly see you, the so-called peerless beauty they speak of, if I didn't come in?" A scornful and flippant voice rang out.
Luo Zhiheng frowned. How could this man speak like that, showing no regard for the boundaries between men and women? With someone like that, she feared she would face numerous difficulties even if she went in. But for Mu Yunhe's sake, she had no other choice, especially since things had already come to this point.
No one could understand how nervous and conflicted Luo Zhiheng was.
Gently push open the bamboo door, and you'll find the interior surprisingly simple, but the large incense burner in the center is exquisite and luxurious, constantly emitting pale blue smoke.
Luo Zhiheng walked inside but didn't see anyone. Just as she was about to stand there, a young and pleasant man's teasing voice came from her right: "Tsk tsk, beautiful lady, I'm right here."
Luo Zhiheng was startled by the sudden sound and turned her head sharply. To her right, she saw a long corridor with a row of purple beaded curtains hanging at the end. Behind the curtains was a large recliner with a purple-clad man lying on his side on a white, soft lapis lazuli. His long, black hair, glistening with an oily sheen, cascaded down like a waterfall, hanging below the recliner.
The man had skin as white as jade, long, slightly narrowed eyes, and a slightly upturned red lip. His shoulders were bare, and his long, languid body slid down to his crossed legs. He was undoubtedly a truly stunningly handsome man! His beauty had reached a point where he was in perfect harmony with nature, blurring the lines between male and female!
At this moment, the man was resting his cheek on one hand and gently hooking his other hand towards Luo Zhiheng, saying with a half-smile, "Don't stand so far away and look at me. You can't see my peerless beauty at all. Come here, come to my side, and I'll let Xiao Heng'er see me clearly, okay?"
That ambiguous tone, those suggestive actions, that languid posture, and that narcissistic and confident look—it's exactly like Luo Zhiheng at certain moments!
For a fleeting moment, Luo Zhiheng felt as if she were seeing herself! But this man was undoubtedly far more refined and beautiful than her, and if he said he was peerless in his beauty, then he truly was peerless; even that word couldn't fully capture his handsome and exquisite appearance!
Luo Zhiheng's heart trembled slightly. Ancient times truly produced beauties! How come everywhere she went were stunningly handsome men? And this one was an almost otherworldly beauty!
But she didn't come to see handsome men! She came to ask for help.
Calming herself, Luo Zhiheng adjusted her mindset and became even more wary. She was afraid that the other party might use his good looks to seduce her, and if she couldn't resist, wouldn't she be letting Mu Yunhe down? Besides, she didn't like the idea of a young man dating an old woman! Although this man was handsome, he looked to be in his thirties. She hoped he wasn't an old woman who preferred young men!
Luo Zhiheng shook her head violently. What was she thinking? Shouldn't she be nervous, wary, and afraid of this man who couldn't even speak properly? Why wasn't she nervous at all?
"Are you His Highness the Prince of Silver Moon Kingdom?" Luo Zhiheng wanted to confirm the other party's identity, otherwise it would be embarrassing to misinterpret his feelings.
"Well, didn't you have something to ask of me? Tell me quickly, I'm in a good mood right now, maybe I'll agree." The man smiled, even winking in a feminine way, his deliberately cute appearance making Luo Zhiheng's scalp tingle.
Luo Zhiheng immediately covered her mouth! This person was not only indecent, but also abnormal!! What's with this grown man pretending to be cute? It's disgusting. Her little Hehe is much cuter, even her cold demeanor is much cuter than this abnormal guy in front of her.
"Actually, you should have helped me. You didn't fulfill my wish. At the beginning, you said there was no wish that your Silver Moon Kingdom couldn't fulfill. Now that you clearly haven't, if you had a way, shouldn't you have tried your best to fulfill my wish for the sake of your Silver Moon Kingdom's reputation?" Luo Zhiheng didn't show weakness or beg for help when she spoke. She simply stated a fact calmly, but wasn't that also a form of provocation?
The man's narrowed eyes were devoid of any light, and his smile vanished. Suddenly, he said in a sinister tone, "Do you know that fulfilling your wishes is the responsibility of the future heir of the Silver Moon Kingdom? I am merely a prince of Silver Moon, and I have no time or inclination to help that person save face."
Luo Zhiheng immediately realized that she had stepped on a landmine. It turned out that the Silver Moon Kingdom had such distinctions. This person was at odds with the person in charge of wishes. If she was not careful, she might offend this person. In the end, she might not only fail to help Mu Yunhe, but also end up destroying herself here.
Her mind raced, and she decisively said, "I don't know what your relationship is. But since you have a way to help me, we can talk about terms. If you really have a way to cure Mu Yunhe, the Mu Royal Palace and I will do our best to fulfill your request."
The man suddenly opened his eyes, his phoenix eyes flashing with a confident and arrogant light. He declared, "I already know Mu Yunhe's condition. I can tell you very clearly that I have a way to cure Mu Yunhe! Moreover, I guarantee that as long as the person I find is willing to treat Mu Yunhe, let alone a few kinds of poison, even if he has been immersed in hundreds of poisons for decades, that person will definitely be able to completely cure all the poison in his body!"
His words made Luo Zhiheng's heart race and her blood seem to flow backward. This was the feeling of seeing hope; everything suddenly seemed so wonderful. But then, his next casual and lazy remark plunged Luo Zhiheng into an icy abyss.
"It's just a pity that I don't have anything I want you to do, so this deal can't be made."
The implication is that he doesn't care whether Mu Yunhe lives or dies?!
Luo Zhiheng gritted her teeth and said, "Then what will it take for you to help us? We will do our best no matter what it is, we just beg you to help us."
The man's eyes gleamed with a wicked and greedy light as he stared intently at Luo Zhiheng, chuckling maliciously, "Would you do anything for Mu Yunhe? If I said I wanted you, Luo Zhiheng..."
First update! There will be another update today. Hua Sha will keep working hard! Please vote and leave comments to support Hua Sha, my darlings! I'm begging for recommendation votes, comments, and monthly tickets! Mwah, my darlings!
170. An agreement has been reached! Love has grown stronger without us even realizing it!
Updated: 2013-07-13 13:21:20 Word Count: 7630
A fourth way?!
Luo Zhiheng had already become nervous when the prince spoke. She was afraid that the prince might have some hidden tricks up his sleeve, since she didn't know much about this place. But in the blink of an eye, the prince chuckled at her, and with a thud, the prince disappeared from the soft chair!
The white fur completely collapsed, taking the beautiful prince with it. His disappearance was so swift that Luo Zhiheng didn't even have time to react. Although her blade was sharp, if the prince had simply stepped back a little before leaving, the blade would have been completely ineffective against him.
This was also a comeback. Both of them seemed to be confident of victory, and they both had the confidence to fight back. In one battle after another, they actually tied, neither of them gaining the upper hand, and each had their own strengths.
Luo Zhiheng's pupils contracted, and she rushed over to pat the soft chair. The hollow sound she heard told her that there was some kind of secret passage below.
"Damn it! He actually got away!" Luo Zhiheng slammed her hand on the soft chair and growled in frustration.
"I would never run away!" A light, melodious yet chilling voice suddenly rang out behind her, sending chills down Luo Zhiheng's spine!
She turned around abruptly, not fully turning around, but the sharp knife in her hand had already slashed out, creating an absolutely safe space in front of her, pointing directly at the person who had somehow appeared behind her.
"The prince of Silver Moon Kingdom is indeed formidable. I admire him," Luo Zhiheng said with a cold laugh, her face no longer showing any sign of panic.
The prince showed no sign of anger, standing there with unparalleled elegance, his robe half-open, revealing only his exquisite collarbone and shoulders, more beautiful than any woman's. He raised an eyebrow and smiled with boundless charm: "You certainly haven't disappointed me. Do you know that if you had truly chosen to submit to me instead of fighting back, you would have lost not only your virginity but also your life!"
He spoke calmly, but the intense killing intent in his words was undisguised. Luo Zhiheng knew that he was telling the truth!
"Oh? Your Highness, are you trying to tell me that your despicable, shameless, insidious, and vile coercion was just a test of me?" Luo Zhiheng sneered sarcastically.
"That's exactly right." The prince smiled charmingly, curling a strand of long hair over his chest with his fingers, and gave her a seductive, wicked smile. "You are the one I have chosen. If you disappoint me, no matter who you are, you must die. So, your counterattack just now saved your life. Shouldn't you thank me for being so charismatic and merciful?"
Luo Zhiheng said with a straight face, "Can I vomit for three hundred rounds first?"
The prince was taken aback and subconsciously asked, "Why?"
"Because it's disgusting!" Luo Zhiheng roared fearlessly, finally realizing why Mu Yunhe always called her disgusting—it turns out narcissistic people really are disgusting!! Also, can you stop using those delicate, effeminate gestures, you grown man? You're so beautiful, my taste is terrible, I always think you're a woman. I'm jealous that you're more beautiful than a flower!
No one had ever spoken to him like that before. Upon hearing this, the prince burst into laughter. Instead of being angry, he said with a hearty laugh, "It's you! If you really want to save Mu Yunhe, make a deal with me. As long as you help me get what I want, I guarantee that your Mu Yunhe will live to be a hundred years old and be free from all diseases!"
His words were filled with unwavering confidence, displaying an arrogant disregard for the devastating disease that had brought despair to Luo Zhiheng and the others. Yet, they filled Luo Zhiheng's heart with immense clarity and anticipation.
"What is it?" she asked impatiently.
"The First Talent Contest is held in various countries every year. However, each country only knows one side of the story and thinks that this is enough to complete the First Talent Contest. But that's not the case. The First Talent Contest held in various countries every day is nothing. The champions elected are not the real champions. The real First Talent Contest is to elect a champion for the whole world, not just one country."
“Every year, the champions from each country are invited to participate in the true World's Number One Talent Competition. The person ultimately chosen is the true World's Number One Talent!” The prince slowly announced this important point.
Luo Zhiheng suddenly understood why the Mu Dynasty's competition was called the First Talent Competition, and why every country had its own First Talent Competition. She had previously thought it was simply a competition to select a talented person from each country, but today she realized it wasn't; the Silver Moon Kingdom was selecting the greatest talent in the world! Although she didn't understand the Silver Moon Kingdom's purpose, she knew that the winner of the First Talent Competition would undoubtedly become a prominent figure. And the winner of the First Talent Competition already knew that the reward was a wish—a powerful allure. Therefore, the reward for the title of the greatest talent in the world would surely be even more enticing.
"You want me to participate in the World's Greatest Talent Competition?" Luo Zhiheng asked, voicing her doubts. Seeing the prince nod and smile, she retorted angrily, "Why can't you just say so directly? What's the point of all this scary stuff?"
"Interesting. How else would I know if you're truly so tenacious and persevering? You are extraordinary, worthy of my anticipation and some effort." The prince chuckled lazily, then suddenly added with feigned helplessness, "I have another purpose in doing this, which is your sister, Luo Ningshuang. This woman is quite strange. She has won the championship nine times in a row, and each time she had the opportunity to participate in the World's Number One Talent Competition, but she didn't. She refused for nine consecutive years. Before, it was because she was young, but later she got older and still didn't participate. I was very annoyed by her, to the point that I thought all the daughters of your Luo family had quirks, so I had no choice but to resort to this tactic."
Luo Zhiheng sneered angrily, "So, the humiliation I suffered today is all thanks to Luo Ningshuang?"
You, Luo Ningshuang, are truly a persistent ghost, aren't you? You're everywhere I go, aren't you?
"That's exactly right. The Mu Dynasty is under my jurisdiction. Every year, the struggle for supremacy among the nations is a disgrace to me because of your sister's absence as champion. This year, I'm determined not to wait any longer. But your sister always refuses, so this tactic was originally intended for her. However, your sister is lucky; she missed the championship this year, so the prize can only fall to you, the champion." The prince openly stated his scheme.
Luo Zhiheng gritted her teeth, but suddenly felt relaxed. As long as there were conditions, it would be easy to talk.
"If I agree to your request, can you really make Mu Yunhe healthy again?" This was what Luo Zhiheng cared about most.
"Of course I can! If I say I can do it, I will definitely do it. If I can't do it, I won't say it. But don't be too happy yet. If you can't do what I expect, then Mu Yunhe's life or death is still none of my business. In fact, you could say that whether Mu Yunhe lives or dies is up to you." The prince spoke cruel words with a charming and alluring air.
Luo Zhiheng's spirits lifted, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "Fine! I promise you! I'll participate. But you must let me know that you really have a way to cure Mu Yunhe."
"Excellent! I'll tell you just as readily, one of the rewards for this year's Greatest Talent Competition is an item called the Hundred-Year Golden Toad Pearl! Once I consume that pearl, I will instantly become immune to all poisons, and my blood will be able to instantly cure all kinds of deadly poisons. The only person in the world capable of saving Mu Yunhe is myself!" The prince's eyes gleamed, his entire being radiating an aura of power, as if the pearl were already in his grasp.
So that was the prince's real purpose! No wonder he went to such lengths; he just wanted the bead that would make him immune to all poisons! Indeed, everyone looks out for themselves.
"If it's for that bead, you could have just gotten it yourself. Aren't you a prince of the Silver Moon Kingdom? Wasn't that reward provided by the Silver Moon Kingdom? Why go to all this trouble?" Luo Zhiheng said skeptically.
The prince sneered, "Hmph, what do you know? The rewards for the First Talent are always abundant and precious, not something you can just get as you please. Even the Silver Moon Kingdom's ruler would have to go through proper means to get that bead. Unfortunately, this year that bead just happens to be among the world's rewards, and I can only obtain it through you. Only if you, the champion of the Mu Dynasty, participate in the competition and win the world championship can you get that bead. Then, if you willingly give it to me, no one can say anything."
So that's how it is! The Silver Moon Kingdom is truly wealthy and powerful, even offering such a priceless treasure as a reward.
"Aren't you afraid that if I win the competition, I'll steal the Hundred-Year Golden Toad Pearl? Since it can cure all poisons, wouldn't it be better if I let Mu Yunhe eat it?" With too many doubts, Luo Zhiheng was worried that she would fall into the trap of this mysterious prince if she didn't ask clearly.
"Pshaw! You're dreaming. That Golden Toad Pearl is extremely poisonous. Only someone like me, who has mastered poison skills, can neutralize all poisons and make it a divine treasure! Anyone else who uses it will immediately explode and die." He was just one step away, just one moment away from having the pearl grant him immunity to all poisons. How could he not be excited and looking forward to it?
Luo Zhiheng retorted, "Once your special constitution is exposed, aren't you afraid of bringing disaster upon yourself?" Such a special constitution, with blood that can detoxify, would probably make many people envious.
"Who dares to come? I have been lonely for too many years. Life without an opponent is truly desolate," the prince said narcissistically and arrogantly.
Seeing Luo Zhiheng's disdainful gaze, the prince laughed and said, "You don't need to look down on me like that. I hope you won't be looked down on by me in the future. The World's Number One Talent Competition is a gathering of the best, representing the most outstanding talents from all directions. You, who won the championship by joking around, may not be their match. But I want you to win, because I must obtain that spirit pearl, and you must also win, because the fate of the person you care about is in your hands. So you must win."
"Although I agreed, I need you to prove that your blood can indeed cure Mu Yunhe." Luo Zhiheng wasn't stupid. Agreeing to participate was her only way out at the moment, but that didn't mean she had to be restricted or at a disadvantage all the time.
The prince was quite agreeable: "Very well." With a wave of his hand, three cages were immediately brought in, each containing a large and powerful animal: a lion, a tiger, and a rhinoceros. He pointed to the three animals and said, "Do you recognize these three animals? Lion, tiger, rhinoceros. I have eighteen kinds of poison here. Mix them however you like, and I'll let you see if my words are true or false."
This was undoubtedly the best proof. Luo Zhiheng didn't stand on ceremony. She knew a little about poisons; when she was a bandit, she often used them to kill venomous snakes and wild beasts behind the mountains, as well as some enemies. After carefully examining these poisons, she recognized two or three of them. She mixed the poisons she knew and gave them to the guards watching over the wild animals.
The man had mixed poison into the food. Wild animals are very wary, and normally they wouldn't eat immediately, but this group pounced and began to devour it viciously, because they had been starving for a long time. Soon after, all three animals showed signs of poisoning; the dosage was quite high. Luo Zhiheng was terrified, but she calmly looked at the prince.
The prince then used a dagger to cut his palm, drawing out half a small bowl of black blood. He then ordered someone to give it to the three unconscious wild beasts.
During the wait, Luo Zhiheng was the one who suffered the most. The prince, however, calmly drank tea and watched.
Suddenly, the lion's leg twitched, then it slowly opened its eyes, whimpering and growling. After a while, the tiger also moved. Time passed second by second, and finally both the lion and the tiger stood up. This was truly a miracle! It was too unbelievable! His blood could actually detoxify? Luo Zhiheng looked at the rhinoceros, thinking it was dead, but to her surprise, the rhinoceros was fast asleep, purring softly.
Seeing this, Luo Zhiheng had no choice but to believe it!
That makes sense. If even a wandering ghost like her can possess someone in ancient times, what else is impossible?
Her eyes lit up as she looked at the prince's body, wondering if the prince's blood could also heal Mu Yunhe.
The prince saw through Luo Zhiheng's thoughts at a glance and ruthlessly rebuked her, "Don't think nonsense. My blood contains a deadly poison. Although it can be used to detoxify, Mu Yunhe's constitution is too weak, and his internal organs have been severely poisoned. It can only be used after my blood is cleaner. And even then, it won't be an immediate cure. I will need to ask a renowned poison doctor to treat him."
Luo Zhiheng immediately put out the fire, but her expectations rose.
"Alright, now that we've reached an agreement, go back and prepare. The Grand Competition for the Most Talented Person in the World is in half a month, and it will be held again this year in the Southern Dynasty, the champion country of last year. It will take us at least eight or nine days to get to the Southern Dynasty from here. I'll give you three days to prepare, and we'll set off immediately after that. Is that alright?" the prince asked.
Luo Zhiheng thought for a moment and asked, "Can I bring Mu Yunhe with me?" She wouldn't feel at ease leaving Mu Yunhe at home, but she was also worried that Mu Yunhe wouldn't be able to withstand the bumpy ride.
"Of course we should bring Mu Yunhe along. That Poison Doctor Saint Hand is a monster. If you don't bring Mu Yunhe, do you expect him to return to the Mu Dynasty? Don't worry, I will have Lady Huoyun accompany him all the way to ensure Mu Yunhe's safe journey," the prince joked.
Luo Zhiheng finally relaxed. When she came out of the villa, full of excitement, it was already dark, and a storm was brewing. Dark clouds covered the horizon, and not a ray of sunlight could be seen. But such bad weather could not dampen the optimism rising in Luo Zhiheng's heart.
Mu Yunhe is saved!
Nothing could excite her more than this! She couldn't wait to fly back and tell Mu Yunhe the good news.
As she sat in the carriage, Luo Zhiheng excitedly imagined Mu Yunhe's reaction upon hearing the news, and she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The carriage bumped along the rugged mountain road when suddenly a bolt of lightning struck, illuminating half the sky, followed by a deafening roar. The enormous sound made Luo Zhiheng's nerves tremble, and the smile on her face instantly vanished.
Mu Yunhe, far away in the Mu Prince's Mansion, was looking at his mother with a livid face, his whole body trembling. After so long, he had finally forced her to reveal Luo Zhiheng's whereabouts.
But this answer plunged Mu Yunhe into utter despair and utter disappointment. He felt as if someone had grabbed his neck, rendering him unable to breathe. For a long while, he simply stared at the princess with bloodshot eyes, terrifying her so much that her heart nearly pounded in her chest, fearing that her son might faint in a fit of rage!
Suddenly, Mu Yunhe burst out, letting out a thunderous roar: "How could you let her go?!"