The Demon Emperor suddenly spoke from the opposite side. He seemed to see through the many obstacles and understand Gu Zhong's intentions.
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Author's Note:
Ahhhhh! I'm totally obsessed with the Zhu-Lian-Bi pairing! It's so addictive! This is the first time I've ever been so genuinely invested in a couple. I'd be willing to stay single for five years if they actually got together! (Just kidding)
Chapter 156 The Supreme God and the God of War (Sixteen)
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Noticing Lingyan's momentary pause, Gu Zhong turned and stared at her.
Ling Yan saw that those eyes, which were always filled with pride and confidence, now only showed dejection and struggle.
"Ayan—"
The almost pleading tone in Gu Zhong's voice stirred within her an impulse to disregard everything and escape the realm of gods.
But after the passion faded, she had to face a more practical question—could she really abandon the divine realm without any regrets?
As a divine pearl descended to earth, she was revered by the gods and enjoyed the most exquisite delicacies and craftsmanship of the Nine Heavens. Regardless of her current circumstances, the God Emperor and the Young Lord truly love her.
"Lord Lingyan, if you simply leave, my Demon Realm will definitely withdraw its troops, no matter how much you, the God and Demon Realms, wreak havoc. Have you thought this through?"
The Demon Emperor's threat arrived once again, adding another weight to the already swaying scales in Ling Yan's heart.
Her gaze shifted to the carved beams and painted rafters, now broken and battered from the fierce fighting; the Wuji Palace had been ravaged by this sudden upheaval.
She thought of the lotus pond where she and Gu Zhong often went. Would the vibrant lotus blossoms, which bloomed so proudly, eventually wither away?
Will the eternal light that shines brightly in the heavens be shrouded in an indistinct mist and plunged into eternal darkness?
In the realm of gods, she had too many things she longed for and too many things she couldn't let go of.
Moreover, if they leave today, they will face endless pursuit and wandering. The war between gods and demons will spread throughout the heavens and never dissipate. Everywhere will be a purgatory. Where can they find peace?
Most importantly, Gu Zhong may forever bear the infamy of being a traitor and a murderer of her master, falling from her high position and suffering the scorn of those who once respected and feared her.
She wanted to stay in the God Realm—and as many considerations came to mind, this idea became increasingly firm in Ling Yan's mind.
Even though she loved Gu Zhong and couldn't bear to part with this newfound affection, she had no choice but to choose this path.
As long as she remains here, perhaps she can uncover the truth behind the death of Lord Lin Yuan. It doesn't matter if Gu Zhong doesn't return to the God Realm; the God Realm has wronged her in the first place, and she shouldn't bear the injustice that isn't hers.
Gu Zhongyi's defensive posture left by Yan Yun gradually became unsustainable, and the figures of the God Emperor and the Demon Emperor gradually became clearer. They were about to cross the barrier and capture them!
"Ayan! Let's go!"
A thousand thoughts flashed through Gu Zhong's mind in an instant, but she saw a resolute determination in Ling Yan's eyes. She couldn't help but panic, pulling her tightly, wanting to take her away immediately, as if she would lose her forever if she didn't.
A fiery red whip suddenly lashed out at the two of them, wrapping around Lingyan's ankle and dragging her away.
Gu Zhong held her tightly, unwilling to let go.
Hearing the noise behind her gradually subside, Lingyan couldn't bear it and closed her eyes.
A gigantic hand, blurring with shadows, pressed down on them, shattering the barrier used to block the enemy.
"Gu Zhong, you must take good care of yourself."
After saying that, Lingyan reached out and pulled Gu Zhong's hand off her forearm, then pushed him hard into the crevice, letting the Demon Emperor pull her back.
"Ayan!"
The mournful cries were abruptly cut short before they could be fully heard. The rift suddenly closed, safely sending Gu Zhong away and causing the God Emperor's all-out attack to completely miss its mark.
"God made the right choice."
The Demon Emperor reached out and pressed down on Ling Yan's delicate shoulders, his words filled with arrogant self-satisfaction.
"roll!"
Lingyan angrily shook off the Demon Emperor's claws, rubbing the skin he had touched with a hint of disgust, which made the Demon Emperor narrow his eyes in displeasure.
The God Emperor turned around with displeasure, glared at Ling Yan, and then glanced at the Demon Emperor.
"Guards, take the Goddess Lingyan to the Xuanji Hall and keep her under strict guard!"
"Father! The Demon Emperor clearly has other plans. How can you conspire with a tiger?"
Upon hearing the God Emperor's words, Ling Yan's face instantly turned pale—the Xuanji Palace was arguably the most heavily guarded prison in the God Realm, and those who entered could never escape.
She hadn't expected the God Emperor to be so angry this time, and to be truly serious. She could only try to sow discord between the Demon Emperor and the God Emperor in order to secure leniency from him.
"Resisting the demons is the top priority now. No more words! Take him away!"
However, it was all in vain. The God Emperor was determined to form an alliance with the Demon Emperor. After all, given the current state of the God Realm, the defection of the commander-in-chief would surely cause chaos in the army. Without the support of the demon race, the demons would probably be able to reach the Nine Heavens Palace within a month. There was nothing she could do.
"It seems that the God Emperor has finally figured things out."
After Lingyan was taken away by the heavenly soldiers, only the two of them remained in the hall. The Demon Emperor looked at the God Emperor, smiled slightly, and was full of pride and self-satisfaction.
"Don't think I don't know, it was you who did this!"
The God Emperor gritted his teeth and said, "But what good is knowing?"
The Demon Emperor's scheme was an open and aboveboard plan. For the sake of his imperial throne and the stability of the God Realm, the God Emperor could not possibly leave Gu Zhong behind and had to reluctantly accept the alliance with the Demon Emperor.
"Put it down, and I will keep my promise. I will not only ensure the safety of your divine realm, but also ensure that you will never suffer the pain of ten thousand years of decay again."
The Demon Emperor swung his arm, completely unconcerned about the God Emperor's accusations, and continued talking to himself.
"Hmph! It had better be that way."
Upon hearing his promise, the God Emperor's ashen face softened slightly. He flicked his sleeves, said no farewell, and left the main hall without a word.
"How incredibly rude!"
The Demon Emperor sighed with pleasure, without considering who was more impolite.
The news of Gu Zhong's murder of her master and defection caused a huge uproar in the myriad realms. Most of the immortals and gods did not believe her actions, especially the Zhenyuan Army.
However, the divine emperor's golden edict could not be faked. As soldiers of the divine realm, they could only suppress their doubts and continue to guard the borders for the divine realm.
The Demon Realm naturally learned of the news and took this opportunity to intensify its offensive. The Zhenyuan Army, whose morale had been low due to the incident involving their commander, was naturally defeated.
Unfortunately, the God Emperor added fuel to the fire by using the pretext that the Zhenyuan Army was undisciplined and incompetent, and dismissed and disbanded it.
As the people of the divine realm worried that this would undermine the foundation of the army, the God Emperor issued another decree, officially confirming the marriage alliance with the demon realm.
The Demon Emperor spared no expense in dispatching a large army to jointly defend the Abyss of Gods and Demons with the God Realm, temporarily stabilizing the Demon Race's fierce offensive.
——
The Xuanji Hall sounds like an elegant name, but inside it is full of secret passages and mechanisms—as well as a cold, lingering stench that has lasted for millennia.
The God Emperor must have been furious to have imprisoned Lingyan here without regard for her feelings. Once he came to his senses, he didn't really make her too upset. Although it couldn't compare to the luxurious life in the Wuji Palace, it was certainly not the treatment of a true prisoner.
"Greetings, Young Master!"
The guard's respectful call snapped Lingyan out of her reverie as she gazed at the rooftop.
An elegantly dressed woman stood outside her cell; even in the gloomy and oppressive prison, Shaojun still appeared so refined and otherworldly.
"Sister Shaojun!"
Upon seeing the only family member she could confide in, Lingyan's long-pretended stubbornness and resilience shattered in an instant. She ran towards Shaojun, her aggrieved cries filled with sobs.
"Xiaoyan, I'm sorry to have put you through this."
Shao Jun grasped the hand she offered, carefully examining her thin and haggard face, his eyes filled with genuine heartache.
"How's it going outside?"
Looking at her older sister who had doted on her since childhood, Lingyan had a million complaints she wanted to tell her, but right now, compared to her own emotions and grievances, she had something more important to know.
"Nothing serious, the alliance of gods and demons is locked in a stalemate with the demons at the Abyss of Gods and Demons."
"Anything else?"
Lingyan still looked at Shaojun with longing and nervousness, and Shaojun knew what she really wanted to ask.
"Don't worry, Gu Zhong's whereabouts are unknown."
She sighed softly and said succinctly.
"The investigation into Lord Lin Yuan—"
"You should know what Father means: no one will investigate this matter anymore."
Shaojun lowered her eyes, concealing the various emotions within them, making it unclear whether she agreed or disagreed.
"He just wants a legitimate reason to get rid of Gu Zhong, right? Maybe Lin Yuan Shenjun didn't even die at the hands of the demons?"
Lingyan slammed her fist on the black iron fence in frustration, filled with helplessness and resentment.
"Xiao Yan, you should apologize to your father—any plans need to be implemented in person."
The young master came today in an attempt to mediate the conflict between the God Emperor and Lingyan.
"But, Sister Shaojun, Father simply won't listen to what I say. I always feel uneasy about the demon race."
All the conflicts stem from the Demon Emperor.
"What's wrong?"
Shaojun frowned, clearly not expecting Lingyan's reason to be this.
"The Demon Emperor's intentions in this marriage alliance are unclear. He doesn't love me—he said before that the demon realm needs me, which confuses me greatly. I always feel that the demon race is plotting something big. What kind of good intentions do they have that would lead to the sacrifice of so many demon warriors for a marriage alliance?"
Lingyan told Shaojun all the confusion that had been weighing on her mind.
"Did he really say that?"
Shaojun's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm.
"That is indeed the case."
Lingyan's expression was one of utter sincerity.
"Okay, I understand. I will definitely investigate. If we try to negotiate with a tiger, the consequences will be unimaginable."
Shaojun's previously bright complexion suddenly faded, and something was clearly weighing on her mind.