The King frowned. Ask her clearly? She wanted to, but what if it was just a coincidence, or something else was revealed? Wouldn't she be asking for trouble? She didn't like to have her hopes dashed only to be utterly disappointed or even despairing! But didn't she want to go find that woman and ask her clearly? No, she did!
She desperately wanted to know who this woman was, what her relationship was with Ah Heng, and how it connected to her suspicions. Being kept in the dark was incredibly frustrating!
In the midst of the chaos, the king heard from his servants that Mu Yunhe had returned.
The Queen narrowed her eyes. She could only put aside her search for the Emperor for the time being and meet with Mu Yunhe first. She wanted to see what was wrong with Mu Yunhe; was he possessed?
The Queen's steps were steady yet swift, and she arrived at Mu Yunhe's courtyard just in time to block him at the entrance. Her gaze was sharp and sinister as she looked Mu Yunhe up and down, and then she said in a cold tone that was different from her usual attitude: "I want to talk to you."
The King watched Mu Yunhe's expression closely. Mu Yunhe seemed to be surprised, but he was not flustered. He said in a gentle manner, "What does Your Majesty have to say? I am all ears."
The King breathed a slight sigh of relief. Mu Yunhe's condition was no different from usual. Could it be that she was overthinking things?
"Let's go inside first." The King of the World took the lead, not giving way to Mu Yunhe or showing him any respect. It was as if she had eyes in the back of her head, 'watching' Mu Yunhe's reaction.
Mu Yunhe's face showed nothing unusual as he followed the Prince into the room. The Prince's doubts immediately lessened considerably. Could it be that Mu Yunhe's injury to Xiao Xizi was merely an accident? But how could Mu Yunhe possibly have the ability to kick Xiao Xizi to death with two kicks?
The two sat down, and the King went straight to the point: "Why did you seriously injure Xiao Xizi?"
This time, a hint of surprise flashed across Mu Yunhe's face, followed by a slightly annoyed expression. He couldn't help but exclaim angrily, "He's not dead?"
"You're really going to kill him?!" the King exclaimed in surprise.
Mu Yunhe nodded, his face filled with grief and indignation yet also with a sense of entitlement, saying, "That kind of dog, that slave, deserves to die! Your Highness, you don't know, that dog, that slave, he, he..."
Mu Yunhe hesitated several times, as if he couldn't bring himself to say anything. Seeing this, the King became even more puzzled and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you finding it so difficult to speak?"
"It's just too embarrassing to say! This dog, this slave, he has always harbored treacherous intentions! He is wicked, how can such a slave be kept by my side? If I keep him, how can I face the deceased Aheng, how can I face the feelings between Aheng and me?" Mu Yunhe was almost furious, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
Upon hearing him mention Luo Zhiheng, the Prince's heart pounded with worry and heartache. He hurriedly asked, "What did Xiao Xizi do? Aheng has been gone for many years, and Xiao Xizi has always been loyal to you. Why did he have to die?"
Seeing this, Mu Yunhe seemed to have no choice but to speak up. He gritted his teeth and said angrily with a face full of shame and indignation, "This audacious dog, slave, has been fantasizing about Aheng all along! He likes Aheng!"
"What did you say? This is impossible!" The king stood up abruptly and roared in uncontrollable rage.
Mu Yunhe, however, stood his ground, stating logically and forcefully, "How is it impossible? That bastard has been in love with his mistress all along, and it's gotten to the point where it's become a thing of the past! He's been carefully hiding it all these years, and I only discovered it today. Do you think I could tolerate that? My most trusted and closest servant has been secretly lusting after the woman I love most. What is this? This is betrayal! This is deceiving one's master! This is a sin!"
The Queen felt that Mu Yunhe's words had completely overturned her thinking, and she even felt a bit like laughing and crying: "Are you misunderstanding something? How could Xiao Xizi like Aheng? Aheng has been dead for many years, and most importantly, Xiao Xizi is a eunuch."
"Does Your Majesty believe Xiao Xizi but not me? Would I slander Aheng's reputation? Would I deliberately humiliate or hurt Aheng? You should know that even if Aheng is dead, she is still irreplaceable to me. No matter how many women I have in the future, Aheng will always be my wife! Would I slander Aheng's reputation just to kill a slave?" Mu Yunhe retorted, displaying an aggressive and confrontational demeanor.
Won't he slander her? Of course he will! He not only wants to slander Luo Zhiheng, but also to completely transform the respected Lady Protector of the Nation into a lewd and despicable harlot, making people despise and curse Luo Zhiheng! He always seeks revenge, and Luo Zhiheng shouldn't think that her death is the end of it all. He will ensure that Luo Zhiheng doesn't find peace even in death! He will make the hidden Mu Yunhe unable to hold back any longer and rush out, so that he can kill two birds with one stone: both slander Luo Zhiheng and eliminate Mu Yunhe!
The King was speechless after being questioned by Mu Yunhe. Upon reflection, he realized it was indeed true. How could Mu Yunhe harm Aheng? He couldn't bear to! So, was it really that Xiao Xizi harbored ill intentions? But she considered herself a good judge of character. Three years ago, when they were together, Xiao Xizi's feelings for Luo Zhiheng went from respect to admiration, but absolutely no romantic love—it was absolutely impossible!
But why did Mu Yunhe, the giant whale, insist on this so firmly and with such a convincing story? Just as Mu Yunhe said, he had no reason to lie for a little Xizi. Even if he were to kill Xizi, he was just a slave. Mu Yunhe could kill him if he wanted; it was truly no big deal for him.
The Queen felt that her heart was really strong. She had heard two pieces of news that almost drove her to the brink of collapse and confusion in one day. She didn't know how to think or who to believe.
"How did you know that Xiao Xizi had such wicked intentions?" The King stared at Mu Yunhe with a venomous gaze.
Mu Yunhe remained calm, only saying angrily, "How else could he have known? That damned servant is too cunning. He didn't leave any clues at all. He was afraid that things would be exposed one day, so he kept it all to himself. If I hadn't gotten up early today and heard that dog who was keeping watch for me still calling out Aheng's name in his sleep, laughing lewdly and saying some obscene words, how could I have found out?"
"I truly never imagined that the person I treated so kindly would turn out to be a wolf! Not only did he eat and use my things, but he also dared to covet my people! What's even more hateful is that he actually dared to dream of treating my woman that way. What else could he be but courting death? I will kill him, kill this bastard!"
The goal is to kill him, to inflict heartache and rage on Mu Yunhe!
For the first time, Shi Wang felt a chill run through her body. She felt the world was about to collapse; it was too dark! Could such a pure and lovely little Xi Zi really have such a dark and sordid side? Was it true? Was it true? Was it not? She couldn't tell anymore, but she knew she was in a state of confusion. She didn't dare completely believe Mu Yunhe's words because of her powerful mind and her own principles and judgment. But she also didn't dare completely believe little Xi Zi, because she believed in Mu Yunhe's feelings for Luo Zhiheng and wouldn't allow him to do something to hurt Aheng.
"I can't interfere in your affairs anymore, but there's one thing: don't kill Xiao Xizi for now. I've already ordered people to bring Xiao Xizi to my courtyard. We'll discuss this matter later. Remember, don't spread this around; it'll damage Aheng's reputation," the Prince instructed with a hint of threat.
Mu Yunhe agreed wholeheartedly, saying, "Of course. I would never allow Aheng to suffer any harm, even if she were already dead."
The Queen was once again unexpectedly pierced by Mu Yunhe's words, "Aheng is dead." Exhausted, she didn't want to think about anything anymore, and she didn't want to see the somewhat crazed Mu Yunhe. She left sadly.
After watching the World King leave completely, the Great Demon King snorted coldly, a sinister smile playing on his lips. He said in a chilling and ruthless tone, "Not making a scene? Dream on! I want everyone to curse that worthless Luo Zhiheng! How could I not make a scene? If it weren't for those two bastards, Luo Zhiheng and Mu Yunhe, I would have been the ruler of the Mu Dynasty three years ago. Today, three years later, this world would probably have been unified by me long ago. It's all because of those two stumbling blocks! They deserve to die, they deserve to be cursed! I will never let them go. Those who are dead or have disappeared will all become my puppets to vent my anger on!"
As soon as the Great Demon King finished speaking, his face twisted in horror, then turned into a sinister grin: "What? You've finally decided to show yourself? I thought you were going to be a coward for the rest of your life."
"You are not allowed to insult Aheng! If you dare to spread your lies and conspiracies, I will immediately take you down with me! Great Demon King, you should know that I do not have the ability to defeat you, but I am fully capable of dying with you!" Mu Yunhe's long-lost voice suddenly rang out in his body, without a trace of urgency, only ruthlessness and madness, as well as absolute threat and a do-or-die determination!
The Great Demon King was clearly still controlling Mu Yunhe's body. His face was contorted with rage, and he grinned maliciously through gritted teeth, "Hehehe, so you're furious for a beauty? What a show of power you have, High Priest! Very well, I'll remember this. I'll give you face for now and not reveal that Luo Zhiheng is a harlot. But if anyone else does, don't blame me."
"I don't care. Once this news gets out, you'll be buried with me for my Ah Heng! Don't think you're the only devil who's vengeful. For Ah Heng, I can be a devil too!" Mu Yunhe's cold and ruthless voice roared sharply within this body, the sound piercing and terrifying.
At that moment, the Great Demon King felt his heart clench. It wasn't his heart, but he could now deeply feel the fear and terror that humans experience—it was terrifying. His pupils constricted, his heart pounding with dread and anxiety at Mu Yunhe's sudden surge of power and madness!
"Alright, alright, why are you so agitated? Can't we discuss this properly? Hahaha, once I ascend the throne and become emperor, your name, Mu Yunhe, will be revered and worshipped by the world. Shouldn't you be happy?" The Great Demon King laughed it off. Having gained human senses, he felt fear and sensed Mu Yunhe's madness, and he had no choice but to back down.
Mu Yunhe snorted coldly and then fell silent.
From the moment Mu Yunhe made his voice heard, the Great Demon King frantically searched for Mu Yunhe's location, but he couldn't find him. This made him extremely anxious. At this moment, he finally understood the unease of having a super hidden danger lurking within him. It was pure torture.
Upon returning to the courtyard, the King ordered strict surveillance of Xiao Xizi's room and surrounding area to ensure her safety, as he planned to question her upon her awakening. His second order was to immediately investigate Mu Yunhe's actions and statements at court that day. His third order was to have Xun Jun monitored.
While it may be called surveillance, isn't it also a form of protection? Regardless of whether the King is certain of anything right now, the fact that this Xun Jun is related to Luo Zhiwu, and that Luo Zhiwu cares about this, means she should be more concerned, shouldn't she? As for Xun Jun's true identity, it's necessary to investigate it thoroughly.
The fourth thing is to send someone to investigate Xun Jun's relevant information immediately, and to investigate everything in great detail as quickly as possible.
Luo Zhiheng sat quietly in the room, two daggers tucked into her boots, and a bewitching powder given to her by the demoness hidden under her fingernails. She stroked the whip at her waist and finally removed her hood. Looking at her veiled face in the mirror, her long, black hair cascaded down, her forehead smooth, her brows sharply defined, and her eyes a pair of fiery red. Those eyes seemed to possess a magical power; their exquisite, perfect shape was captivating at first glance. All the jewels and gems in the world seemed to pale in comparison to the brilliance of those eyes, only their light shining brightly, beautiful and alluring!
Just looking at those eyes is enough to amaze and stun you—what an absolutely stunning and breathtakingly beautiful woman she is! But then her face is covered by a veil, and you can't see anything at all.
Just by looking at those eyes, you could tell that this face was no longer Luo Zhiheng's. That face was indeed unbearable to look at.
She wasn't wearing the golden mask. She had returned to Mu Yunhe's side under a different identity, and to prevent the spirit from discovering her, she had changed her eye color and removed the mask.
This is the first time in three years that she has taken off the mask that covers her face!
This was the first time in three years that she had dared to look directly at her face! And this wasn't even her whole face; she dared not remove the veil because for three years she had been afraid to face her own face. Whenever she saw it, she felt like a ghost, a filthy and ugly person. That shame was deeply imprinted on her body and soul, like a curse she couldn't shake off.
She even loathed this face. She feared the face that had been destroyed, yet she also loathed this face that symbolized her rebirth.
But today, she will use this face to approach Mu Yunhe, or perhaps to approach that soul entity.
Luo Zhiheng put something in her eyes, then opened them. Her beautiful red eyes turned into bright black ones. With a blink, her curled eyelashes sliced her alluring gaze into countless charming and captivating expressions. She didn't need to smile; just a cool, aloof glance was enough to capture someone's soul.
"Seductive, alluring!" Luo Zhiheng covered her eyes with her hands and murmured.
The old chieftain once said that this face originally belonged to a woman named Yu Ji, whose beauty was unparalleled. It was precisely because Yu Ji was so beautiful and perfect that she later became a scourge to the nation, and her future was filled with unbearable suffering, spending her entire life amidst slander and abuse. Every man who saw Yu Ji was captivated by her; she was a woman who could make any man's heart flutter.
But as the saying goes, beautiful women often have tragic fates. Because of her face, which could bring ruin to a country, she and her nation suffered endless misfortune and disaster. Even though countless heroes and warriors protected her, risking their lives for her, they ultimately could not protect this woman who could topple empires.
She died so tragically. On the day she died, she took the lives of many men who loved her. Those men were willing to immolate themselves with her in their own country. Her body was never found. She died in front of the king who had fought for her for thirteen years!
This portrait, a product of the king's madness in his longing for her, was left behind in the wilderness. While time buried Yu Ji's name and the madness of those wars, her portrait survived forever. It was passed down as a priceless heirloom by that infatuated and mad king, revered as an ancestor and worshipped as a goddess.
This woman is the goddess of everyone in the wilderness, and that king is the ancestor of the wilderness.
Everyone thought Yu Ji was an ominous woman, but the old chief believed that only a woman like Yu Ji could win the love of everyone in the world, or, as the old chief said, the love and respect!
Luo Zhiheng descended upon their altar, a calamity that they interpreted as an auspicious omen, bestowing upon her the name Ruilin. They held Luo Zhiheng in blind worship and reverence, truly regarding her as a goddess! The old chieftain then personally painted Yu Ji's face onto her own, stubbornly believing that only in this way could Luo Zhiheng gain the love and respect of everyone in the world and lead the barbaric lands to prosperity.
At that time, Luo Zhiheng was living a life worse than death, so she didn't care about any of this. But Luo Zhiheng was still alive, and she knew the principle that possessing a treasure invites trouble. Having such a face was undoubtedly the beginning and source of disaster and misfortune, so apart from the deceased old leader, only she herself had ever seen this sinful face!
Luo Zhiheng's hand landed beside her ear, and she finally slowly removed her veil. Looking at the face in the mirror, she felt a mixture of disgust and amazement. She seemed to be looking at another person and murmured, "I hope that today you can help me successfully bewitch that soul and help me kill him. That will be my chance to give you a chance to return to the martial world."
526 colors, a stunning and irresistible allure!
Updated: 2014-01-01 14:55:12 Word Count: 8012
The most secluded spot in the priest's residence is a bamboo grove. The evening breeze blows through the bamboo grove, carrying a faint fragrance and elegant aroma, which is most soothing to the mind and calm the spirit.
Luo Zhiheng stood beneath the bamboo grove. The lush green bamboo stalks gleamed with a vibrant color, and Luo Zhiheng, dressed in a fiery red gauze dress, stood out like a splash of red amidst the verdant green, dazzling and radiant. Bamboo represents the noble gentleman, and she was like the proud plum blossom. The two complemented each other; she neither overshadowed the bamboo's spirit nor made the woman appear pale and weak. Beneath her straight back seemed to lie boundless strength.
When the Great Demon King arrived at this bamboo forest, he was involuntarily stunned by the scene before him. The visual effect was so striking, and the woman was so eye-catching amidst the lush greenery that it was impossible to ignore her.
Although he hadn't seen the woman's true face, he knew she was a gift from the emperor to Mu Yunhe, and that she had angered Mu Yunhe and been sent to the laundry quarters. He just didn't know why Mu Yunhe had brought her out again later. Normally, the Great Demon King wouldn't have paid her any attention, since Mu Yunhe showed only disgust and rejection towards her, so he naturally had no need to bother with her.
But remembering that someone had just told him someone was waiting for him here, and that he would regret it if he didn't come, the Great Demon King sneered. His biggest regret in life was not killing Luo Zhiheng when he captured her. His second biggest regret was not killing Mu Yunhe yet. As for anything else, he really had no regrets!
This woman is far too confident! She didn't want to come in the first place, but the way she sent the message was so provocative that it angered the Great Demon King. Although she asked Mu Yunhe to come and meet her, he is now Mu Yunhe, so he will not let her off the hook for angering him!
He wanted to see what this woman might have done that would make him regret it later. Could it be that she held some kind of leverage over Mu Yunhe? Or was she someone sent by Mu Yunhe's enemies?
"Did I come here just to see you admiring the bamboo?" The cold voice carried a hint of mockery, devoid of any emotion, only endless alienation and unfamiliarity.
Upon hearing that voice, Luo Zhiheng's back stiffened, and a sense of tension and rage surged through her heart. Even when Mu Yunhe had been very cold to her before, he had never spoken to her like that before. There was truly no emotion in that voice!
Luo Zhiheng didn't want to overthink things, but she had to face reality; only by confronting the problem head-on could it be solved. As for whether this person was still her Yun He, she would only know after seeing the results.
Luo Zhiheng slowly turned around and bowed gracefully, saying, "Xun Jun greets Your Excellency."
The Demon King stared coldly at Luo Zhiheng, his eyes radiating a strong sense of oppression, as if testing and intimidating her. He couldn't see through Luo Zhiheng's face beneath her veil, nor could he sense anything familiar in her soul; he confidently concluded that this woman was simply someone he didn't know.
He then saw Luo Zhiheng stagger back a few steps, leaning weakly against the bamboo, trembling slightly as if in great fear. The Great Demon King became even more certain that this woman posed no threat to him. He withdrew his imposing aura and said sarcastically, "So you're the one who told me that if I didn't come to see you, I would regret it?"
Luo Zhiheng was truly terrified at this moment, because the instant she saw Mu Yunhe's eyes, she knew that this man was no longer her Yunhe! Her Yunhe would never look at her with such probing, scrutinizing, wary, and ruthless eyes. Even in such a difficult situation, those eyes would reveal uncontrollable emotions, but the man before her, possessing Mu Yunhe's appearance, did not have such a gaze!
The aura he just released could absolutely be described as murderous!
How could Mu Yunhe possibly have any intention of killing her?!
He's not Mu Yunhe! Then where is Mu Yunhe? Could it be... he's really gone? Killed by this spirit entity?!
Thoughts are one thing, but personal confirmation is quite another. Luo Zhiheng could hardly contain her immense grief and rage. Her journey with Mu Yunhe had been so difficult; all the hardships and suffering seemed to have befallen them. Couldn't they even have a simple, ordinary life together? Why were there so many obstacles and troubles?
Yunhe is gone. He's gone? He's dead!
Luo Zhiheng slammed her eyes shut. She felt excruciating pain all over her body! From her heart to her body, the pain was so intense it convulsed, and tears streamed down her face. But now she was facing a potentially ruthless killer. What should she do? She couldn't be weak, because she had no right to be! She couldn't retreat, because if she did, both she and Mu Yunhe would lose!
"Why aren't you speaking? How dare you ignore me?" The Great Demon King snorted unhappily, and in the blink of an eye, he was beside Luo Zhiheng. Before Luo Zhiheng could react, he had already grabbed her chin. The pain transmitted through the two layers of thin gauze was so obvious and sharp. Luo Zhiheng frowned and her face turned pale, which the Great Demon King couldn't see. He lowered his head and said in a chilling tone, "How dare you! Tell me, who gave you this audacity? How dare you challenge my patience!"
Luo Zhiheng wished she could kill this demon with a single blow, even if it meant destroying Mu Yunhe's body! If killing Mu Yunhe's body could kill this demon, she would do it without hesitation! But she couldn't choose! Suppressing her rage, her soft voice betrayed her sobs and cries: "No one made me do this, I wanted to do it myself."
"You did this yourself? What is your purpose?" The Great Demon King was obviously surprised by Luo Zhiheng's answer, but he became even colder. A woman who acted on her own initiative and had no sense of propriety was probably a big shot. Could it be that she wanted to seduce Mu Yunhe?
Luo Zhiheng suppressed her disgust and said with a mix of grievance and stubbornness, "I just want to understand why you hate me so much? I am the woman the Emperor bestowed upon you, so I am your woman. You don't want me, and you treat me so badly, embarrassing me in front of the servants, and then saving me in front of the servants, but in the end why do you ignore me? What did I do to anger you? Or did I make you despise me?"
“If you disliked me from the beginning, you could have just left me to fend for myself in the backyard without any reason. Why did you save me in front of others? You may not know that your simple, perhaps unintentional, action has put me in a difficult situation! My position is extremely awkward in the eyes of the servants, and I can't stand their gazes.”
"Please give me an answer. I just want to know why you don't like me and don't want me. If you just tell me, I will definitely change. Even if I can't change, if you make it clear that you don't want me, I will no longer have any illusions about you. Please give me a quick answer."
Luo Zhiheng spoke so much in one breath, her words filled with sincerity, grievance, and helplessness, as if she were a heartbroken woman who had been abandoned. Her resentment, grievance, anger, and last shred of hope were all intertwined. She was angry yet unwilling to give up this man, thus creating a complex contradiction.
Even the Great Demon King was stunned by the woman's words. He had lived for so long that he couldn't even remember his exact age, but he was certain that he was several hundred years old. In those hundred years, although he had encountered all sorts of people and fellow humans, he had never experienced such a direct and resolute confession from a woman.