However, this race has always been unfathomable, living in seclusion and making them even more mysterious than the Silver Moon Kingdom. The most famous figure in the world is the master who defied fate to change the destiny of the God of War, Yelü Cangsheng. It was this master who braved divine retribution, exhausted a century's worth of cultivation, and gambled everything on Yelü Cangsheng, making his name a legend, an immortal legend for centuries, and the savior of this world!
Who would dare offend someone with such power? A hundred years ago, and a hundred years from now, no one will ever see or hear of the people from that place again! It's as if, overnight, the place and the people who possessed it, so revered by all, vanished without a trace. With the most intense battle of the world's war god, Yelü Cangsheng, he suddenly disappeared from the heavens and earth!
From then on, that place and its people never appeared again, slowly fading from people's sight, ears, and minds. But though unmentioned, they truly existed and participated in the vicissitudes of the Red River over the past century!
It was the people from that place who, together with Yelü Cangsheng, created a legendary war god that no one has been able to break for a century!
Anyone who knew even a little about that place, at this moment, dared not show the slightest presumption, negligence, or disrespect when looking at Mu Yunhe. Their eyes were filled not only with intense shock but also profound awe! At this moment, even the aged pharaohs and the mysterious kings underwent a complete and instantaneous change in their gaze towards Mu Yunhe!
Could he be connected to that place? Does he truly understand divination? What kind of unknown mystery does he possess? Is he still the sickly, terminally ill prince that people ridiculed and spoke of?
"No! I don't believe it! That place disappeared long ago with Yelü Cangsheng's disappearance. Besides, how could they have anything to do with Mu Yunhe? A person who is about to die! They can defy fate. If Mu Yunhe is related to them, why don't they defy fate for Mu Yunhe and make him better?" Zhuge Huahun suppressed his fear and roared loudly.
In the quiet arena, everyone was in a subdued silence, because Zhuge Huahun's words had made them equally puzzled and hesitant.
Was Mu Yunhe truly bluffing? Was what just happened a mere coincidence? Of course not! Such an unbelievable coincidence was impossible. Mu Yunhe wasn't a monster, much less a god or demon; he even struggled to walk, he didn't possess the ability to summon wind and rain!
So what exactly happened to him?
Mu Yunhe stopped and turned his head slightly to look at Zhuge Huahun. An eerie look swirled in his captivating eyes, and a sense of vicissitude seemed to flow and spread in his black pupils, making those who looked into his eyes instantly dizzy.
"If you truly wish for the Zhuge family to be destroyed overnight because of your foolishness, I can grant your wish. I never make promises lightly, but when I do, I always keep them! If you kill me now, I will make sure you die before me. Defying fate? I cannot do that, but I can make sure your lifespan, which is supposed to be 109 years, ends at the age of 97! Do you want to try?" These enigmatic, profound words concealed a chilling blade; each syllable was enough to tear a person to pieces!
He referred to himself as "this official" rather than "this king," he was confident and arrogant with murderous intent, and he made pronouncements about the lifespan limits of others! Yet, every seemingly bizarre and unbelievable thing he said was... true!
At this moment, Zhuge Huahun's gaze shattered as she looked at Mu Yunhe's profile and listened to his nonchalant words! She froze on the spot, her eyes filled with intense disbelief and utter horror!
Seeing his expression, everyone knew that Mu Yunhe was right, at least Mu Yunhe's statement about the lifespan of Zhuge Huahun was correct! Because the lifespans of the Four Saints had been determined long ago, and they all knew when they would die of old age, the other three Saints and those who were good at reading people understood that Mu Yunhe was not lying.
As a result, shock and fear surged, creating a huge wave in the hearts of everyone in the know!
Aside from civil and military officials, the only other people in the world who would use the title "this official" are that race from a hundred years ago, as recorded in the Secret History of the Warring States.
Divination in the Heavenly Palace!
Divination priest!
When these eight words surfaced in everyone's mind, no matter how high their position or how arrogant they were, they were all utterly stunned by them. A sense of powerlessness and panic washed over them, because at that moment, they finally acknowledged and accepted the fact that the man standing before them possessed the ability to see through their lifespans and birth dates! Before this man, everything about them was transparent. What could be more terrifying than someone who could control and see through one's own destiny?
Zhuge Huahun could no longer utter a single word, for he felt his entire body grow cold and his blood run cold. At this moment, even if he knelt and prostrated himself before Mu Yunhe, he might not be able to quell the priest's anger! Perhaps, the Zhuge family would truly be reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye because of his momentary rage!
Mu Yunhe glanced at the dazed Zhuge Huahun with a contemptuous and mocking look in the corner of his eye, then continued forward with Luo Zhiheng without lingering.
Before him, all those who tried to stop him turned pale with fear at his powerful aura. Their swords fell to the ground, and they retreated hastily to the sides, prostrating themselves on the ground, daring not to utter the slightest disrespect. For even their master was powerless to stop them.
As Mu Yunhe Luozhiheng walked further and further away, the horrified people suddenly came to their senses.
General Murong's voice, filled with a chilling aura, trembled as he cried out, "My goodness! This kid... the young prince is hiding his true strength! Old Tong! You old codger, how did your family end up with a priest? You old codger, why didn't you report this to us!"
Perhaps it was fear, perhaps she was simply too shocked. Or perhaps there was some kind of surprise. Old Master Tong's face was flushed red. Supported by others, he broke free of his refined scholarly demeanor for the first time, roaring angrily, "Get the hell out of here! I don't know what's going on either! Hurry up and follow them. Have someone protect them! Don't follow me, go quickly, make sure to protect the young prince!!"
"Yes, yes! Quickly, get me some pen and ink, I need to write a 1200-li urgent message to the Emperor!" General Murong excitedly chased after Mu Yunhe, even voicing his thoughts.
What is a diviner? On a small scale, they teach fortune telling; on a grand scale, they can control the rise and fall of a nation for thousands of years! If a nation has a diviner, even the smallest and most insignificant country can rise to prominence in the shortest possible time! Or rather, a diviner is a revered figure that every nation, no matter how fervently powerful or its king, can only ever desire and never attain!
The divination palace, which had disappeared for a century, has reappeared. The appearance of the divination priest is bound to cause a sensation in all the countries under heaven! In fact, General Murong can already foresee that if Mu Yunhe is not handled properly and protected securely, then a bloody storm is definitely not far away!
But the thought that a priceless diviner is actually a staunch supporter of the young prince of the Mu Dynasty—isn't that too exciting and thrilling?! The Mu Dynasty is already very strong; protecting Mu Yunhe is a piece of cake. To make the Mu Dynasty even stronger, and because of Mu Yunhe, how can that not be exhilarating?!
At this moment, the King of the World no longer cared about the long-awaited Golden Toad Pearl. He hurriedly followed, not wanting Mu Yunhe to get away. He had to find a way to interact with Mu Yunhe more. The King of the World's eyes were filled with intense interest and excitement. He watched Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng walk away supporting each other, and then suddenly stopped.
Watching them slowly make their way through the endless yellow sand, both of them so vulnerable and wounded, relying on each other, abandoning each other yet saving each other, is it true love? If so, why do they never say "I love you"? If not, why are they so willing to disregard everything for each other?
The diviner was like a piece of prime meat; anyone who saw him would instantly turn into a ravenous wolf. The diviner could bring Mu Yunhe unparalleled glory and prestige, yet while enjoying so much glory and praise, Mu Yunhe concealed himself, remaining obscure and awaiting death. But then, just as he was nearing the end of his life, he revealed this identity for Luo Zhiheng.
Did he not know that revealing his mysterious identity in this dangerous foreign land would also bring him disaster?
No! Mu Yunhe understood! Although he struggled and lingered in illness, he understood everything. He had witnessed the vicissitudes of life. He appeared gentle and refined, but his heart was cold, so cold that no one could see into it or enter it. So he hid himself, waiting for death alone in darkness and pain.
But when Luo Zhiheng appeared, she was like a ray of light and a sharp blade, peeling back the layers of his heart hidden in the darkness. With her passion and persistence, she warmed his heart little by little. Time and time again, she risked her life, time and time again she protected him in a fit of rage, and time and time again she joined hands with him. Finally, she warmed and opened Mu Yunhe's cold heart.
Then, behind that cold and violent gaze lay Mu Yunhe's fervent devotion and reciprocation towards Luo Zhiheng. Beneath the icy hardness lay a heart so pure and tender. Even with the pain tinged with blood, he strived to bloom and open for Luo Zhiheng.
The king was instantly moved, as if he saw the purest and most beautiful picture of love. In this dirty, filthy, greedy, and hypocritical world, the flower of love, which should not exist, should not exist, bloomed silently in the bustling crowd, silently exuding the most charming fragrance. It was so beautiful that it made people...heartbroken!
Slowly clenching his fists to suppress the intense suffocation in his chest, the King's usually nonchalant and arrogant voice softened slightly as he commanded, "Fire Cloud!"
"Understood!" Lady Huoyun, who had been waiting in place, immediately understood and flew towards Luo Zhiheng.
Looking at Zhuge Huahun, who was still frozen in place with a pale face, the King of Qin Yinshi's cold voice carried a hint of ruthlessness: "Zhuge Huahun, since the priest has interfered in this matter, then I will not interfere. But remember this: from now on, if the Zhuge family does anything to harm Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe in the slightest, they will be enemies of my Qin Yinshi!"
Among the few remaining dignitaries was the Qin Saint. When he heard the King use the name Qin Yinshi in a warning, his heart pounded with fear. He knew that when the King used his surname and given name together, it signified his true anger, and the King's anger would not be without consequence. The Zhuge family was truly finished.
"Qin Jinzhao, aren't you coming with me? Haven't you had enough fun outside?" The King coldly glanced at Qin Sheng, his attitude sharp.
The Qin Saint glanced helplessly at Zhuge Huahun. The usually arrogant man now obediently walked to the side of the World King, but his back was straight, and his cynical attitude had completely disappeared from his face, replaced by an unprecedented air of righteousness: "World King, can't you speak to me a little more politely? After all, I am your half-teacher. I am an elder."
"Hmph, do you have even the slightest bit of the demeanor of an elder or teacher?" The King sneered disdainfully, ordering Lady Song to send all of Luo Zhiheng's spoils back to the King's palace, and then led his men to chase after Luo Zhiheng.
In the empty room, the important figures left one by one, but the emperor did not. The diviner had already shocked him enough, but when he saw the wet nurse clean the knife and finally put the blade and scabbard back together, when the cane was finally restored to its original state and could finally be seen clearly, a flash of memory swept through his mind. The shock on the emperor's face was like a whirlwind, sweeping over him in the blink of an eye, making his body sway slightly.
"Stop her! Stop her now!" The emperor was no longer calm; he roared and exclaimed in alarm.
Seeing the Emperor like this from afar, the Empress couldn't bear it and rushed over, but the Emperor roared, "Qianchen! Stop Luo Zhiheng's wet nurse, quickly!"
Murong Qianchen was taken aback. Her first thought was, "Does the emperor intend to capture the wet nurse to threaten Luo Zhiheng into protecting the Zhuge family?"
Her face darkened, and she suddenly stood still, right in front of her wet nurse. She made no attempt to stop the wet nurse.
The wet nurse, worried about Luo Zhiheng, found the scabbard on the cane and prepared to leave, but the emperor's sudden roar made her stop in her tracks. Her face was gloomy, and her eyes were filled with impatience, because she hadn't expected Zhuge Hualuan to be so ruthless. She wanted to tear Zhuge Hualuan to pieces, but her reason told her that she couldn't! She couldn't cause trouble for the young lady.
"What? Is the Empress going to stop me?" the wet nurse sneered. Even if she had helped the young lady, if they really wanted to do something for the Zhuge family, she would absolutely not hold back.
"Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you, and I won't hurt Luo Zhiheng. My two children love her so much, I won't let my children be sad." The Empress laughed heartily, but when she looked at Emperor Ang, her eyes were filled with sadness and struggle.
The wet nurse asked in surprise, "Two children? Didn't the Empress only have one child?"
"Qianxue is old enough to be my child, and to me, she's more like another child," the Empress said with a slight smile. Just then, the Emperor rushed over, and the Empress said, "You go first, I'll deal with the Emperor."
Seeing that the carriages ahead had all left, the wet nurse knew she could no longer leave Luo Zhiheng's side, so she said gratefully, "Thank you, Your Majesty." After saying that, the wet nurse disappeared like a gust of wind.
The Empress was momentarily stunned, her face filled with horror. There was such a powerful expert by Luo Zhiheng's side!
"How could you let her go?" the emperor roared in fury.
"What does Your Majesty want? The wet nurse is just a nobody; she's not worth Your Majesty's time," the Empress said coldly.
The emperor's anger subsided instantly. Looking at the empress's aloof demeanor, he felt an unspeakable pain. He closed his eyes tightly, as if trying to process his sorrow. When he opened them again, he was still the refined and wise emperor, coldly saying, "If the empress ruins my plans, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
The Empress felt a sharp pain in her chest and almost fainted, but her smile remained unchanged as she said, "Didn't Your Majesty already turn your back on me and become ruthless?"
"You!" The emperor's anger was like a quail egg stuck in his throat, unable to go up or down, almost choking him to death.
"For the sake of our many years of marriage, even if Your Majesty despises me, I must speak up. Your Majesty, please wake up! Mu Yunhe is not what he used to be. You must know what a diviner is. No one in this world can resist fate! He protected Luo Zhiheng so much. Even if he killed Zhuge Hualuan and destroyed the Zhuge family for Luo Zhiheng, it was their own fault, and they could only endure it. Compared to the entire dynasty, which is more important, a family of painting masters, Your Majesty should understand." The Empress finished speaking expressionlessly, turned and left, never once glancing at the Zhuge family.
The Emperor watched the Empress leave, his mind filled with worries, but he couldn't care less about anything else now. What could be more important than seeing that treasure today?! And at this moment, he finally remembered who the familiar Luo Zhiheng resembled.
The diviner is important, but he is Luo Zhiheng's husband and a man who deeply loves her. So, as long as he has a relationship with Luo Zhiheng, how can the diviner escape?
As expected of the emperor, he instantly sorted out the intricate relationships and quickly secured his place in the scene where everyone wanted to be associated with Mu Yunhe.
Luo Zhiheng's face, Luo Zhiheng's temperament, Luo Zhiheng's walking stick...
Taken together, they represent his biggest bargaining chip and expectation right now!
First update! Sorry for the lateness, we had guests at home. Mwah, my darlings! There will be another update today, Hua Sha will keep working hard! Please vote, leave comments, and give me monthly tickets!
226 Each with their own agenda! They brought this humiliation upon themselves! (Bonus chapter for 12,500 comments)
Updated: 2013-08-02 19:14:01 Word Count: 4345
The atmosphere at the King's palace was tense. Everyone seated there held high office, their faces grave. The King himself sat in the most prominent position. They had remained seated there for half a day and a night. A day had passed since the grand competition for the greatest talent in the world.
The sun rose again the next day, but Luo Zhiheng did not get up and did not appear before everyone full of energy. Even Madam Huoyun, who went in for treatment, did not come out after one visit, so they knew nothing more than that Luo Zhiheng was out of danger but her left arm might be permanently crippled.
Everyone here dared not move, dared not speak, and even refused to leave; they awaited the final outcome. Even disregarding everything else, Luo Zhiheng's performance in this competition alone was enough to make them extremely concerned. In fact, they admired this resourceful and courageous child. Therefore, they did not want Luo Zhiheng to suffer such an end. But precisely because of this, a sense of resentment surfaced within them during their silence. This was a completely avoidable disaster that had suddenly befallen them, and everyone present felt remorse, especially the King.
The King's anger was beyond words. He knew very well that if he hadn't forced Luo Zhiheng to give him an answer, she wouldn't have so decisively stabbed him in the back. It was this one act that completely changed the King's perception of Luo Zhiheng. He hadn't expected her to be so resolute, but he certainly hadn't anticipated such a question at the very end of the competition!
The King's feelings were complex and filled with anger. With Luo Zhiheng's abilities, she truly shouldn't have ended up in such a tragic state. If Luo Zhiheng had been at her peak, Zhuge Hualuan might not have been able to injure her to this extent. Ultimately, he did bear some responsibility for this incident. But the person who orchestrated the events was equally despicable!
Time passed second by second, and the oppressive atmosphere was so quiet that you could almost hear everyone breathing. Little did they know that the outside world was in an uproar. Luo Zhiheng had become famous overnight, and it was only a matter of time before she became famous throughout the world. At this moment, Luo Zhiheng's name had spread to every street and alley in the entire Southern Dynasty, and Mu Yunhe's name had also spread along with it!
Luo Zhiheng is undoubtedly the most talented woman in the world. Mu Yunhe is truly the most handsome man in the world! 16525455
It was as if after so many years of mistakes, the right thing had finally come to pass, and everything was right. In an era where men and women were both talented, a contrast had finally emerged: a handsome man and a talented woman. Mu Yunhe was noble and handsome, while Luo Zhiheng was full of talent. They were a match made in heaven!
Now, all sorts of topics on the street revolve around Luo Zhiheng, praising her as if she were a divine being, and also extolling Mu Yunhe as if he were the best in the world. In people's minds, the two of them have instantly become a perfect couple, a match made in heaven, a divine couple.
At the gates of the King's Palace, many people, captivated by Luo Zhiheng's talent, had come to admire her. Knowing that Luo Zhiheng was injured, they waited patiently at the gates, not daring to make a sound. Throughout history, the influence of celebrities has never been underestimated.
Luo Ningshuang had already woken up, but she was still very weak. As Hua Kai told her what had happened the day before, she laughed heartily at one moment and gritted her teeth in anger at the other.
She was happy that Luo Zhiheng was seriously injured and unconscious, happy that Luo Zhiheng had finally been taught a lesson, and even happier that Luo Zhiheng's arm might be permanently crippled. But she was also furious that Mu Yunhe had once again stepped forward at the crucial moment to protect and defend Luo Zhiheng. Even Mu Yunhe's mysterious identity shocked Luo Ningshuang. Hua Kai hadn't explained things very clearly, but the words "divination priest" were clearly mentioned.
Even if she had lived two lifetimes, she had never heard of this name before. In her previous life, Mu Yunhe died a tragic death, possessing nothing but a noble status and handsome appearance. Why had everything changed in this life? A new identity had been created out of nowhere, one that even the Painting Sage could only suffer in silence. In her eyes, Mu Yunhe's value had immediately changed.
Luo Ningshuang even felt angry and frustrated, thinking that if she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have so easily plotted against Luo Zhiheng, making her marry Mu Yunhe. Perhaps Mu Yunhe's identity would have been more useful?
Luo Ningshuang racked her brains, trying to find a way to get close to Mu Yunhe. Now that Luo Zhiheng was at her weakest, she could take advantage of the situation. At this moment, Luo Ningshuang's mind was filled with Mu Yunhe, and she had completely forgotten about Xia Beisong. She had even forgotten the excitement and possessiveness she had felt when she first chased after Xia Beisong.
Just then, someone came to report that someone was requesting an audience with Luo Ningshuang. Luo Ningshuang was puzzled as to why anyone would want to see her, but she let them in anyway. When Luo Ningshuang saw the woman who had removed her veil, she was completely stunned!
"Li Xian'er!" Luo Ningshuang couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Then, the truth came to light, and she blurted out, "You're the one who spread those rumors that were detrimental to Luo Zhiheng?!"
Luo Ningshuang felt she understood everything at that moment. The rumors circulating during the competition that were detrimental to Luo Zhiheng had spread like wildfire. She had been happy that someone had done her a huge favor, thinking Luo Zhiheng was truly so universally disliked. But now, it all made sense. It must have been Li Xian'er who did it! She never expected Li Xian'er to have come to the Southern Dynasty as well.
Li Xian'er's face was flushed an unnatural red, and she said without any attempt to hide it, "That's right, I did it. What, are you unhappy? Those rumors could have hurt Luo Zhiheng."
"How could I be happy? Why did you treat my sister like that?" Luo Ningshuang would never reveal her true colors in front of others, and she retorted indignantly.
Li Xian'er laughed heartily, her beautiful face full of disdain and contempt: "Stop pretending, what's there to pretend in front of me? Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? If you hadn't spread rumors, how would you know whether those words against Luo Zhiheng were rumors or deliberately spread?" 171.
Luo Ningshuang looked bewildered and said, "I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Hmph, if you don't understand, then you don't understand. But as long as you understand my purpose in coming to the Southern Dynasty, that's enough." Li Xian'er was as arrogant and conceited as ever.