Huan Changming, without changing his expression, ordered, "Kill Qu Surou and Huan Juntian for me!"
Lu Pianpian was taken aback. Huan Changming pressed down on his sword with his bare hand and said maliciously, "The more you want them to live, the more I want them to die without a burial place!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Huan Changming soared into the air, and several sword techniques emerged from behind him, slashing towards the direction where Qu Surou and Huan Juntian were. Qu Surou flew up on her sword and dodged the sword techniques.
However, Huan Juntian was blocked by the demonic dragon. Just as he was about to be hit by the sword technique, Lu Pianpian used her sword to pick up a rock about half a person's height next to her and threw it in Huan Juntian's direction.
The stone blocked the sword technique for Huan Juntian and was shattered into pieces.
Lu Pianpian drew her sword and quickly ran towards Huan Juntian, blocking his path.
After baring its teeth at Lu Pianpian for a while, the demonic dragon did not immediately launch an attack, but Huan Changming's second wave of sword techniques came over.
Qu Surou flew swiftly on her sword, passing by Lu Pianpian and Huan Juntian, and forcefully lifted them onto her sword. "No, no, I miscalculated this time, I'm outta here!"
Huan Changming declared, "Don't let them get away!"
The demon dragon and the wood spirit followed closely behind, chasing after Lu Pianpian and the other two.
Lu Pianpian stood with her back to the sword tip to avoid being caught. Huan Juntian remained silent behind her. Lu Pianpian sensed something was wrong and reached out to touch her junior brother's arm, feeling a dampness on her hand.
He looked at it closely and saw it was blood. "Junior brother, you're injured?!"
Huan Juntian's lips turned an eerie purplish-black color. He grasped Lu Pianpian's hand in return, indicating that he was not in trouble. "I'm fine, Senior Brother."
Qu Surou strained and flew to the shore in one breath, wanting to return to the boat, but Lu Pianpian stopped her, "Don't get on the boat, just leave!"
Huan Changming stood atop the dragon's head and chased after them, saying, "No matter how fast you run, you're doomed."
Lu Pianpian quickly considered a countermeasure. As the demonic dragon drew closer to them, she whispered, "You all go back and reorganize yourselves. I'll come back to find you later."
Huan Juntian immediately guessed his intention, "No, we'll go together."
"Junior brother, if I don't go, none of us will be able to leave today!" Lu Pianpian used the sword's blade as leverage to jump onto the dragon's head. "Let's go!"
Huan Changming's view was blocked by Lu Pianpian, who suddenly leaped towards him. Before he could react, Lu Pianpian grabbed his shoulder and the two of them fell into the sea together.
They were falling so fast that they couldn't be seen with the naked eye, and the howling sea wind made their robes rustle loudly.
Interspersed among them was Huan Changming's furious voice, "Lu Pianpian, have you gone mad?!"
Falling from such a height, even if the sea is below, would cause the internal organs to rupture due to the impact, resulting in death.
Lu Pianpian held Huan Changming's shoulders tightly, giving him no chance to escape.
To save Huan Changming, Mu Lingzi and the demon dragon turned back from their pursuit of Qu Surou and Huan Juntian. The demon dragon swooped down towards the sea, causing Lu Pianpian and Huan Changming to fall onto it.
Huan Changming shoved Lu Pianpian aside and stood up from the dragon's back. "Go after Huan Juntian and Qu Surou!"
But even the shadows of Qu Surou and Huan Juntian had vanished from the horizon.
Lu Pianpian breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the icy gaze above her. Huan Changming wished he could tear her apart and devour her. "Huan Juntian and Qu Surou escaped, leaving you behind as their scapegoat! Are you still happy about that?"
Lu Pianpian didn't bother to look at him. "I'm happy to."
"Immortal Lord Lu is going to offer himself to your senior sister and junior brother, is that it? Very well, I will grant your wish!"
Hearing Huan Changming's tone, Lu Pianpian felt that he was being sarcastic. The next moment, the familiar rope was tied back to Lu Pianpian. He struggled a few times, but was only tied tighter.
Huan Changming picked up the end of the rope and pulled it in front of him, causing Lu Pianpian to crash headfirst into his chest.
He grabbed Lu Pianpian's chin and lifted it up, staring at her face and saying slowly and deliberately, "If you dare to run away again, I will definitely break your legs."
"This time, I will keep my word!"
Lu Pianpian met his gaze without any emotion. "Even if I lose my legs, I will still run away. As long as I want to, you can't hold my heart."
Huan Changming scoffed, "Heart? I'll dig three feet into the ground and lock you in the deepest part of the earth, where you'll never see the light. Not only will your body be unable to escape, but your heart will also be slowly gnawed away by the darkness. Let's see if you'll still be able to say such naive and foolish things then!"
Lu Pianpian looked stubborn, seemingly not taking Huan Changming's threat to heart.
Huan Changming released him, "Don't be stubborn, Lu Pianpian. You should have already experienced how painful it is to not see the light in your swaying body."
A blind man cannot perceive color or light; all he sees is darkness.
Lu Pianpian remained silent, and Huan Changming assumed she was afraid, so he snorted coldly, "Let's go."
The demonic dragon obediently flew into the sea of clouds, and Mu Lingzi led Jing Yi back onto the same boat they had come from, returning to Dali.
Lu Pianpian was brought back to the palace where he had escaped.
This time, Huan Changming seemed determined to imprison him. He didn't even untie the ropes binding him before throwing him onto the bed.
Jingyi and Mulingzi waited outside the palace. Huan Changming sat on the dragon throne, and Jingyi asked worriedly, "We went to Huamian Island to find the Spirit Rhinoceros Butterfly to cure His Majesty's incurable illness, but we haven't brought it back yet. How can His Majesty's illness be cured?"
Huan Changming didn't take it seriously. "Although Yaoye is dead, there are still countless young butterflies on the island. In three to five years, when they grow into Lingxi butterflies, I will send someone to catch one."
"Your Majesty is wise."
Mu Lingzi replied, “Your Majesty is unaware that it is not easy for a Spirit Butterfly to cultivate into a Spirit Rhinoceros Butterfly. Everything depends on fate. It can take anywhere from a hundred to a thousand years. Even the Spirit Butterfly Clan may not be able to produce a single Spirit Rhinoceros Butterfly.”
Jingyi asked anxiously, "Then what should we do about His Majesty's illness?"
Humans have a lifespan of no more than a hundred years, how could Huan Changming possibly wait that long?
Mu Lingzi shrugged. "There's nothing I can do about it."
Jing Yi was genuinely worried about Huan Changming. Huan Changming was silent for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "Alright, you two have had a hard time on this trip to Huamian Island. Go and rest first."
Jingyi knew that Huan Changming was troubled by the Lingxi Butterfly, so he wisely withdrew first, saying, "Your Majesty, I take my leave. I hope Your Majesty will take care of your health."
Huan Changming nodded. After Jing Yi left, Mu Lingzi remained motionless in the hall. Huan Changming looked at him impatiently, "What else do you want to do?"
"Huan Juntian has been poisoned by the demonic dragon and will soon die." Mu Lingzi guessed Huan Changming's thoughts. "His Majesty intends to let Qu Surou and Huan Juntian leave."
"Oh?" Huan Changming became interested. "Tell me, I'm too busy killing Huan Juntian to let him go."
"Perhaps His Majesty wants Huan Juntian to die suddenly in the army, thus extinguishing the soldiers' thoughts of rebellion."
Huan Changming remained noncommittal. Seeing that he was not angry, Mu Lingzi smiled and said, "Besides that, I also discovered something about His Majesty."
"What's up?"
“Outside the illusion, I saw the illusion that His Majesty longs for day and night deep in his heart.” Mu Lingzi chuckled as she said this, “His Majesty was almost bewitched by Lu Pianpian in the illusion.”
This matter was like a thorn buried deep in Huan Changming's heart. Now that Mu Lingzi had brought it up so openly, Huan Changming felt a little guilty for no reason. "So what?"
"Not at all." Mu Lingzi's smile faded. "I just learned a little more about His Majesty after this incident."
"Your Majesty, you have fallen for Lu Pianpian..."
Huan Changming's expression froze. "What did you say?"
Mu Lingzi repeated, "You've fallen for him."
A note from the author:
You're finished.
Chapter 40
After the palace was closed, the vast Liwang Palace was completely silent.
The palace doors were wide open. The young emperor dismissed everyone and sat alone on the jade steps, his hand supporting his face, seemingly lost in thought.
The wind blew away the thin clouds, revealing the cold moon. The cool moonlight enveloped the young emperor, elongating his figure in his black imperial robes, making him appear somewhat thin and lonely.
He remained in that position for a long time, a rare hint of confusion showing in his bright blue eyes, which softened his handsome and deep-set face.
The night wind suddenly picked up, the moon was obscured by dark clouds, and the window of a palace behind him was suddenly pushed open.
Huan Changming abruptly sat up on the jade steps, not even having time to maintain his imperial dignity, and hurriedly ran back into the palace.
He pushed open the palace door and, by the dim moonlight that was not yet completely obscured by clouds, vaguely saw the figure on the bed.
He's still here; he didn't run away.
Huan Changming walked to the bedside, panting heavily. Lu Pianpian had her back to him, her breathing steady, and she was fast asleep.
His anxiety finally subsided completely.
Lu Pianpian was still bound by ropes, but her sleeping face was peaceful and serene, completely unaffected by the restraints.
Huan Changming said in a low voice, "You seem to be sleeping soundly..."
He sat on the jade steps outside the palace, exposed to the cold wind, for several hours.
Thinking of this, Huan Changming chuckled self-deprecatingly to himself.
Lu Pianpian suddenly turned over. He thought she had woken up and subconsciously took a step back, only to find that she had simply changed her position to face him and had not actually woken up.
Lu Pianpian moved her arms uncomfortably, but the ropes bound her even tighter, causing her to frown.
Huan Changming stood still, silently watching Lu Pianpian's sleeping face for a moment before returning to his seat by the bed. He untied the ropes binding Lu Pianpian and pulled the blanket over her.
After doing all this, Lu Pianpian's sleeping face returned to its previous peaceful state, but he was somewhat unwilling.
Why can Lu Pianpian sleep soundly, while Huan Changming has to serve him here and can't even get a good night's sleep?
Huan Changming grabbed Lu Pianpian's hands again and tied them with a rope. He then tied the other end of the rope to his own left hand, kicked off his shoes, climbed onto the bed, and lay down next to Lu Pianpian.
Huan Changming stared at Lu Pianpian's sleeping face so close to his own, his gaze so blatant it seemed to pierce through her. "This is my bed. I can sleep here whenever I want. The fact that I didn't kick you off is out of mercy..."
He sounded like he was talking to Lu Pianpian, but Lu Pianpian was fast asleep and couldn't hear him at all. It was more like he was talking to himself.
After saying this, Huan Changming closed his eyes with satisfaction. The irritation he had felt from Mu Lingzi's words gradually disappeared, and the young emperor finally felt sleepy before dawn and slowly fell asleep.
On ordinary days, the young emperor would wake up on his own during the morning court session without needing to be reminded by the palace servants.
But today, even though the morning court session had already passed, the palace gates of the young emperor remained closed. Knowing the new emperor's tyrannical nature, none of the palace servants dared to enter the palace to wake him.
After thinking it over for a while, he went to the former court to invite Lord Jingyi, who was most trusted by His Majesty.
"Is Your Majesty delayed by something?" Jingyi asked on the way here.
The palace servant thought for a moment and replied, "Last night His Majesty dismissed all the palace servants and sat alone on the jade steps outside the palace for several hours. Perhaps he slept too late and thus missed the appointed time."
Jingyi asked in bewilderment, "Why has Your Majesty been sitting on the jade steps for so long so late at night?"
"Perhaps it has something to do with the young master that His Majesty has regained..." a palace servant guessed. "When that young master was in the palace, he often talked back to His Majesty, and His Majesty would often be so angry that he couldn't sleep all night."
As they spoke, they had already arrived outside Huan Changming's palace.
Jingyi instructed the palace maid, "From now on, do not discuss His Majesty's affairs."