As the competition came to an end, Lu Zhaozhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The road ahead was still uncertain, but at least there was hope for moving forward.
After the palace guard announced that they would depart for the border the next day, the meeting ended.
Lu Zhaozhao turned around and subtly observed everyone present.
Almost all the participants from the eight clans went to the side of the eight commanders. Changyu Lanshan was seriously injured and unconscious, and was taken away by Changyu Languan first.
The others walked out one after another, and Lu Zhaozhao lifted her leg, intending to follow them out as well.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind: "Miss Guan Nan of the Nuwa Clan, our clan leader requests your presence."
Lu Zhaozhao stopped and turned to face the person who had spoken.
He was dressed in a black robe with gold thread embroidered patterns on the cuffs and collar, and wore a dazzling bracelet on his wrist.
The familiar design made Lu Zhaozhao squint and examine it closely.
Is it the same style as Cheng Sangji? No, there are differences. Lu Zhaozhao looked closely and noticed the differences.
Each bead of Cheng Sangji's bracelet contains powerful spiritual energy, and is covered with a golden stone restriction to limit it. Although the bracelet of the person in front of him is similar to Cheng Sangji's, only the very middle bead contains spiritual energy, and it is far less powerful than all the beads in Cheng Sangji's bracelet.
The only certainty is that the person in front of them is also a member of the Gu Diao clan.
Lu Zhaozhao understood and looked up to meet Commander Cheng Sang's eyes.
A pair of eagle eyes, weathered by time and holding a high position, seem capable of revealing the true nature of everything.
Lu Zhaozhao withdrew her gaze and said to the person who had called out to her, "Please lead the way."
Cheng Sangji saw his grandfather before the competition began, which surprised him. Since the great changes in the clan, his grandfather had rarely gone out, and he had assumed that today he would send one of his uncles or his capable subordinates as usual.
But since my grandfather has come in person, it must be something important.
So, as soon as the competition ended, he went to his grandfather's side and told him everything that had happened in the past few days. His grandfather listened as always, occasionally asking a few questions.
As Cheng Sangjie was reverently recounting his story, he noticed that his grandfather's gaze was fixed on another direction.
Cheng Sangji looked over without showing any emotion. Below the stage, there was only one person standing in the center of his line of sight.
Guan Nan.
Cheng Sangji felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't know if his grandfather had discovered something, and he dared not reveal anything, so he pretended not to know anything and continued to report.
Suddenly, his grandfather interrupted him: "Come with me to see someone."
Lu Zhaozhao followed the man in black out of the Ming Palace and boarded the Gu Diao Clan's carriage outside the palace. Before getting on, she glanced at the skeletal horse in front of her, which had six wings and looked terrifying.
As the carriage moved along, the gold and stone ornaments hanging on it jingled, creating an eerie atmosphere in the predominantly red and black interior.
A moment later, the carriage stopped, and the outer curtain was lifted, revealing a pair of pale hands. Looking up, one could see a charming woman.
Dan Niang! Lu Zhaozhao felt a deep sense of regret.
How could Dan Niang, who gave her the illusion in Mushan Nunnery, be here?
Unlike her slightly constricted pupils, Dan Niang in front of her was calm, gently shielding her face with her fan and giggling.
“You may call me Dan Niang, young lady. I will guide you on the way ahead.”
Lu Zhaozhao steadied herself, followed her hand and got off the carriage, walking beside her.
At this moment, Dan Niang is different from the ethereal form she has a thousand years later; she still possesses a physical body that can be seen and touched. Adorned with peonies in her hair, her swaying figure is exactly the same as it was a thousand years later.
But how could she appear at Mushan Nunnery a thousand years later? Mushan is far away from both the Western Border and the ruins of Futu Temple.
Is there some inextricable connection between them?
Lu Zhaozhao lowered her eyes in thought, while Dan Niang, who was beside her, struck up a conversation with her first.
Why is Miss Guan Nan staring at me like this?
"Hmm?" Caught off guard by her question, Lu Zhaozhao quickly looked away and said softly, "Sister Danniang is so beautiful that I couldn't help but be lost in thought."
After saying that, she lowered her head slightly, and a blush appeared on her face, making her look less like she was lying.
Upon hearing her words, Dan Niang laughed heartily, stroking her face with one hand and saying cheerfully, "You flatter me, Miss. But you don't need to be modest, your face is also extremely beautiful."
Dan Niang's dreamy eyes fell on her face, and Lu Zhaozhao was momentarily unsure whether she had seen through the truth that her face was a mask.
Dan Niang didn't dwell on the matter any longer and continued, "Besides Miss Nanrong and Young Master Tudan, you are the first junior in all these years to be personally summoned by the Commander."
"Really? It's an honor." Lu Zhaozhao's gaze was deep, revealing neither joy nor sorrow.
The courtyard was large, and after several turns, we arrived at a quieter place. Pushing open the door, we found another courtyard, which could be considered a separate courtyard.
Dan Niang led her to the door, bowed slightly, and said softly, "I'll see you off here. Please walk the rest of the way on your own." With that, she swayed gracefully as she left.
Lu Zhaozhao looked at the tightly closed door in front of her, unconsciously licked her dry lips, took a breath, and gently pushed the door open.
"Squeak."
With a soft sound, the door was pushed open.
The room was a classic study with bookshelves filled with books. Lu Zhaozhao noticed many rare and unique books with just a casual glance.
There was only one figure in the study, standing motionless with his back to the door.
Lu Zhaozhao felt that the face looked familiar for some reason, but she didn't say anything and just stood there quietly.
After standing there for a while, with no movement from the person inside, she finally spoke: "I wonder what brings you here?"
The figure seemed to be startled for a moment, then turned around, the shock on his face still lingering.
"Cheng Sangji? How is it you?" Lu Zhaozhao asked after seeing the person's face clearly, and Cheng Sangji in front of her was equally puzzled.
"How did you get here..." He suddenly paused, "...it's because of Grandfather..."
Before he could finish speaking, another figure slowly emerged from behind the screen.
He was Commander Cheng Sang, whom I had just met at the Ming Palace. He was Cheng Sangji's grandfather and the true leader of the Gu Diao Clan who held real power!
His face resembled that of a man in his sixties. He was eight feet tall, with a straight back, white hair and beard, and deep, crisscrossing wrinkles on his forehead. His eyes were cloudy and dull, and his expression was somber. His gaze swept over her without revealing any unusual expression, as if he were looking at a dead object.
When Cheng Sangjie saw him appear, he was first taken aback, and then immediately bowed respectfully.
But Commander Cheng Sang's gaze remained fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, a cold and sticky look that reminded Lu Zhaozhao of a snake in a swamp.
"Are you from the Nuwa clan?" The aged voice came, carrying an undeniable pressure that made Lu Zhaozhao extremely uncomfortable.
"Yes." Suppressing her discomfort, Lu Zhaozhao replied.
But Commander Cheng Sang did not speak again.
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