Un joven errante

Capítulo 67

This, like the Jin Kingdom's governing principle of equality for all, was deeply rooted in people's hearts and won the love of all its subjects. Moreover, everyone had the opportunity to receive education, with the state funding schools so that everyone could study. The state created every opportunity for people to earn money to support their families through their own labor.

And then there are those peculiar national systems that prioritize people, practice benevolent governance, and decide national affairs through equal choice.

Damn it, what kind of person is that? Why does he have such peculiar ideas? They are unprecedented and unparalleled.

What's even more remarkable is that, despite this method, the Kingdom of Jin was still established. The Kingdom of Jin rose at an astonishing speed, and while they looked down on and despised this country, it quietly surpassed all their nations.

What kind of person is he?

He asked this question every day. But this time, he believed his question would be answered. He thought of his elfin daughter, the world's number one child prodigy, and of his breathtaking beauty on stage that night, clad in a white veil, wearing a bamboo hat and a black veil. He became even more curious.

The person ahead of him in the queue became the most wanted criminal on the mainland.

Yuwen Ruojian, seemingly gentle and refined, a charming man even more alluring than a woman, appeared to be just an ordinary prince in the Later Qin Dynasty who was not favored and ranked low in the court. Moreover, since he came of age, he had been spending his days and nights in various brothels and pleasure quarters in Xianyang, embracing beauties, drinking and making merry, with music and singing filling the air. He seemed to be living a life of debauchery, unaware of joy or sorrow, no different from an ordinary playboy.

However, the fact that it ranks second on the list is not due to anyone playing tricks or making a random ranking.

Since his childhood, he has staged numerous palace coups, all done discreetly and with few people knowing that the true master of the country is this dashing playboy. He never asks about court affairs or politics, only indulging in eating, drinking, and merrymaking, flirting with beauties, and frequenting brothels. The princes who die mysteriously before his eyes year after year are not accidents, nor are they murdered by other princes in the power struggles that outsiders believe. No one suspects this most uneducated ninth prince.

His brothers died one by one, and now only his mentally challenged third brother was still alive. For a time, the position of crown prince was vacant. Between a prince who did not do his job properly and a prince who was mentally challenged and stupid, the ministers could only make a difficult choice for the ninth prince, who was still relatively smart and hoped that he could one day turn over a new leaf.

After secretly murdering all his brothers and seizing control of the emperor and his father, he finally became the true master of the country. His cunning, treacherous, and ruthless methods were astonishing, which is why he was able to rank second and become the second most wanted criminal on the continent.

This campaign was nothing more than a trap set by a hunter to catch his prey, a snare he was determined to use to capture that person.

In the darkness, Yuwen Ruojian smiled wickedly and silently, a hint of coldness flashing in his fox-like eyes.

Meanwhile, the guy who was fast asleep in the post station because of motion sickness was completely unaware that he had become someone's prey, and that it was inevitable.

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141. Passing by

Having only been here for a day, I managed to sleep for a few hours to replenish my energy before waking up groggily. I saw that Yi Jun, who had been sleeping with me, was already up playing with Xiao Bai, looking at me, who was still somewhat tired, with a radiant expression.

Seeing the glint in her eyes, you could tell this girl wanted to go out.

As soon as he led her out the door, they saw Murong Danyi and then Murong Han, who had come to cause trouble.

I was slightly taken aback when I saw her.

She hadn't noticed me at first, but when she saw the way I was looking at her, she paused slightly, seemingly puzzled.

I lowered my head, forced a smile, and pulled Yijun away.

I stopped in my tracks, my back feeling a little stiff.

She asked, somewhat doubtfully, "Have we met before?" Her tone was uncertain.

I didn't turn around, but simply said, "How could the servants and the princess have met before?"

"But..." She wanted to say something more, but Murong Han, who was already impatient, frowned and said, "Let's go, Your Highness."

She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately left.

"Why don't you acknowledge her? You clearly remember her." Xiaobai's voice echoed in my mind again.

"Aren't you supposed to be able to read people's minds? Then why ask me? You should be able to hear what I'm thinking," I said calmly.

“Alas,” he sighed softly, “the only person in this world I cannot penetrate is you. You are not of this world, and I cannot understand you.”

"You know?" I was somewhat surprised.

"I am a divine beast that has cultivated on Kunlun Mountain for a hundred years. Of course I know. I also know that woman's fate. She will surely enjoy wealth and honor and live a long life," he said disdainfully.

"Then what about my future, my destiny? Can you see it?"

"The only one in this world I cannot see is you," he sighed.

I gave a bitter smile. "Doesn't that mean my future is bleak and bleak?" Actually, I don't even know what my future holds.

"Your destiny is always in your own hands; you can do whatever you want."

I glanced at Sister Danyi's retreating figure and said with a complicated expression, "She should have her own life, instead of living in Anjin's shadow all the time. Besides, she's already married and has children, and I don't want to ruin their lives."

“Yes, this is your choice, but An Jin, why do you only think about others and never about yourself? What good is it if you arrange everyone's future life? What about yourself? An Jin, you should learn to live for yourself,” Xiao Bai sighed.

I've stopped moving forward. Should I live for myself?

"Mom, what's wrong?" Yijun didn't know about my conversation with Xiaobai, so she was wondering why I suddenly stopped.

"Hehe, it's nothing." I forced a smile, then came back to my senses and pulled Yijun along as we continued walking.

"Mom, there are candied hawthorns over there, the kind you were talking about!" Yijun said happily when she saw something I had mentioned before.

"And clay dolls... kites..."

He's just a kid, after all, and he's always happy to see interesting things.

"Mom, these are all just like the ones in your painting!" Yijun exclaimed excitedly.

"Be careful," I followed behind her, watching her closely, afraid that something might happen to her.

Just then, a boy in a gray robe, with his head bowed and composed, brushed past Yi Jun, knocking her to the ground.

Seeing that the person who could run deliberately bumped into Yijun, I knew something was wrong. I immediately used my ethereal technique to pin him down with a backhand, and then I pressed his pressure points, rendering him unable to move.

Ignoring him, I rushed to Yijun. Whether I looked or not, Yijun had already gotten up on her own. Seeing my concern, she smiled at me.

The childish voice said, "Mom, don't worry, I'm fine."

Seeing that she was alright, I suddenly felt like crying. Thank goodness she was okay.

I picked her up and coldly turned to look at the boy in the gray robe. Without me even needing to do anything, several men in black appeared and silently took the boy away.

A cold glint and murderous intent flashed in my eyes. I will not let anyone who dares to hurt Yijun get away with it. I will not let anyone get away with it.

Even if I become a demon, another Satan, I will not let it go. Even if I have to destroy this world, I will not let Yijun suffer any harm. She is my only blood relative in this world, the only person who deliberately allowed everything I have in this world to continue. She is the continuation of my life. I will not allow anyone to harm her, not at all.

I'm willing to pay any price.

But when she turned to look at Yijun, her face was full of smiles. "Yijun, let Mom take you somewhere else to play."

A cold glint flashed in Yi Jun's eyes, then she smiled and said, "Alright, let's go."

I stroked her long, black hair and kissed her cheek. I knew she understood. Born in Junjin, born as my daughter, she knew what was going to happen.

I picked her up and then realized that there were many onlookers around us.

A man in a dark robe embroidered with gold thread stood there, exuding an innate and noble aura. He was handsome, and those around him seemed to be intimidated by his presence. He seemed familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen him before or who he was.

He looked at me, slightly taken aback, staring at me with a somewhat stunned expression, seemingly uncertain. Behind him stood a man in gray, respectfully.

I gave him a brief glance, then carried Yijun away.

Years have passed since we parted. Who belongs to whom? Who remembers whom? Who has forgotten whom? Who has achieved rebirth for whom? This missed opportunity, this fleeting encounter, is... a complete change.

I cannot see the aging of memories, like a hawk soaring in the twilight sky.

A faint fragrance lingered as I brushed past that person. For some reason, I suddenly felt a chill and a sharp pain in my head. But, as a reflex, I turned around and looked back. He turned around and looked at me too. Our eyes met. Although he looked familiar, I didn't recognize him.

I turned my head away slightly and smiled faintly.

Then he turned and left.

Flying catkins filled her sleeves, her sash fluttered in the wind, and her long, plain brocade skirt trailed behind her.

After carrying Yijun for a while, I was about to take her to the brothels here so she could experience what it felt like when I first went to a brothel. I remember I didn't go alone, but I just couldn't remember who that person was.

Suddenly, Yijun leaned on my shoulder, her voice weak, and murmured, "Mom, I feel so bad." Her hands were a little cold, and even softly rested on my body.

I paused, a chill ran through me, and an ominous premonition arose from the soles of my feet.

"Yijun, don't worry, everything will be alright. Mom will take you home."

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142. The Lost Soul (Part 1)

In the cold, dark dungeon, the boy stared expressionlessly at the boy who was almost on the verge of death.

The boy gave a cold laugh, "You'd rather die than tell, right?"

The boy stared at him coldly, without saying a word.

The boy remained unfazed. "But do you believe me? I have a thousand, ten thousand ways to make you wish you were dead so you'd talk."

The gray-robed man beside him frowned slightly. "Young Master, I see a large scar on his throat. He must have been subjected to the torture of being mute, a mute slave."

The boy was stunned. He had heard of this form of torture before, and had wondered how such a cruel master could turn a slave into a mute in order to prevent his information from being leaked. He never thought that someone would actually do such a thing.

The boy pursed his lips, looked at the indifferent and aloof mute slave, and said coldly, "Even if he can't speak, I will make him speak."

"Guards," the boy said coldly, staring at the stubborn boy. "Drag him away, castrate him first, then catch a few rats that live in the dark and put them in his pants. Seal all the buttons. Those rats that scurry around in the dark will crawl into any hole they see. I want to see how long he can hold out. Even if he can't speak, he'll have to write it down."

Hearing what he said, the boy's face gradually turned pale, and in the end his body trembled slightly, but he still bit his lower lip and remained silent.

The boy's gaze was cold. "Hurry up and drag him away. I want an answer. I'm only giving him one chance. If he still won't talk, do as I say." A cruel smile played on the boy's lips. Suddenly, a devilish voice came close to the boy's ear, "Since you've already been tortured once, I suppose you're not afraid anymore. Remember what it felt like to have your meridians ripped out while you're still alive? You should be prepared; what you're about to suffer is far worse." His voice was gentle, even smiling, but—

A flicker of humiliation flashed in the boy's eyes before he wavered, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. He would rather die than suffer such torment.

This person was indeed as rumored—a cold-blooded and ruthless Satan, a demon, the most terrifying person in the world, or rather, a devil.

He never imagined the price of doing this would be so high, but for his master, it was all worth it.

The boy stood there coldly, silently watching the boy being pulled into the darkness step by step, his gaze indifferent and devoid of any emotion.

Finally, the boy struggled to his feet, turned around and looked at him with a pitiful gaze, still fiddling with something in his hand.

He couldn't make a sound, so he could only make gestures to get attention.

The white, fuzzy thing that had been silent in the darkness suddenly transmitted its voice, "Wait, he has something to say. Prepare paper and pen."

The boy waved his hand, and the men released him. The boy then ordered, "Bring me paper and pen."

After watching him take the paper and pen and start writing on the ground, the boy looked down at him coldly and warned, "I don't have the patience to play games with you. If anything is fake, you know what the price will be."

The boy pursed his lips, neither shaking his head nor nodding.

After he finished writing, before anyone could react, the boy took the sheet of paper and coldly ordered, "Keep an eye on him. I'll deal with him when I get back."

"Yes, young master."

"Young Master, don't you find it strange?" asked the gray-robed man following behind the boy.

"What's so strange?" He was now extremely anxious and could no longer wait. Every bit of pain his child suffered each day caused him a thousand times more pain. He could not bear that someone dared to hurt his child. Once he healed her, he would never forgive the person who hurt her.