Life and death arena
She had thought it through clearly. Unlike Tang Zhou, she couldn't use her internal energy to transmit her voice. She could only strain to get close to his ear and speak. As a result, she only managed to say one sentence before Tang Zhou suddenly pushed her away.
Before Yan Dan could even struggle, she fell off the roof beam.
Fortunately, she reacted quickly and landed steadily in front of the desk, where she met the gaze of Emperor Rui, who had looked up after hearing the noise.
Yan Dan remained motionless, maintaining her squatting posture in front of the desk, and bowed her head, saying, "Long live the Emperor." In fact, she had always felt that the only beings in this world who could live for thousands of years were either turtles or celestial lords in the Heavenly Court.
She only heard a few gasps behind her. A squad of guards surrounded the study door, some with bows drawn, others with swords unsheathed, waiting for the emperor's order to rush in and chop her into mincemeat.
Emperor Rui closed the memorial in his hand, rested his chin on it lightly, stood up and said, "Rise." He glanced outside and said, "All of you may leave."
Yan Dan immediately felt that he had spoken those two sentences with great style and elegance.
The guards outside immediately withdrew completely.
Yan Dan only saw the bright yellow hem of the robe slowly approaching before she stood up, still keeping her head down. She knew perfectly well that barging into the palace and startling the Emperor was already a capital offense; if she didn't behave herself, even being subjected to slow slicing would be her own fault. Besides, most people would have a favorable impression of someone who was polite and gentle; no one liked someone who spoke recklessly and always contradicted them.
To everyone's surprise, Emperor Rui hesitated for a moment, then asked a question that left her speechless: "Are you a demon?"
Yan Dan glanced out of the corner of her eye and saw that the leading official was trembling from head to toe. She really didn't know whether to deny it outright or simply admit the truth.
Emperor Rui waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "You may all leave." Since the emperor had spoken, the eunuchs and palace maids could only retreat with pale faces and trembling legs, gently closing the door of the study behind them.
Yan Dan was a little confused as to why mortals, upon hearing the word "monster," would either tremble with fear or rush at the monster with dog's blood and talisman water, shouting and killing, but would act completely differently when they saw the celestial lords and fairies in the Heavenly Court. In fact, she felt that demons and immortals were not that different.
Emperor Rui leaned against the table and said with a smile, "My Consort Jiang was actually a demon, and thinking back then, you probably were too. Now, twenty years have passed, but your appearance hasn't changed at all. It's true."
Yan Dan stammered, "Your Majesty, I am indeed a demon, but I'm afraid your Consort Jiang is not."
She remembered that the beautiful flower fairy was indeed a kindred spirit of hers, but she hadn't sensed any demonic aura when she entered the palace this time. Although she didn't know what had happened, there were some things that absolutely could not be acknowledged, especially things like breaking up lovers and sowing discord. Doing such things would surely bring divine retribution.
"I know that Consort Jiang is no longer the same person; I was just asking casually." He slowly looked up. "Do you have any other companions?"
Yan gave a dejected "hmm".
Tang Zhou gracefully descended from the roof beam, then knelt on one knee with a flick of his robe: "Greetings, Your Majesty. This has been an offense against Your Majesty; I beg Your Majesty's punishment."
Yan Dan clenched her fists, wanting to hit him. Everything was fine until he suddenly pushed her down, then no one would have noticed.
Emperor Rui raised his hand and said gently, "Rise."
“Your Majesty, we have actually come here this time with a request.” Seeing that his reaction didn’t seem angry, Yan Dan lowered her head and said softly, “I heard that a local official from the north recently presented a batch of tributes, one of which is one of the four ancient divine artifacts…”
"So, you came to the palace to find this divine artifact?"
Yan Dan thought, "Truly worthy of being the emperor, his speech is so elegant, using 'seek' instead of 'steal'."
Without hesitation, he readily agreed: "I will have someone find that batch of tribute items from the storeroom right away, and you can take your pick."
Yan Dan thought to herself, "Truly worthy of being the emperor, speaking so decisively, his word is law, and he never goes back on his word." She immediately seized the opportunity to praise him: "In recent years, I have always heard the people praise Your Majesty for your enlightened rule and your dedication to the country. Seeing it with my own eyes today, I know that these words are indeed true."
Emperor Rui was walking to the door of his study when he opened it and whispered a few words to the chief eunuch waiting outside. Hearing this, he was taken aback, then suddenly turned to look at Tang Zhou: "She is a demon, but you shouldn't be, right?"
Tang Zhou didn't immediately realize the other party's intention, so he nodded slightly.
Emperor Rui turned to the guards outside the door and said, "So what if he's a demon? But with so many of you, how could you allow an ordinary person to come and go freely in the palace? All those on duty tonight will be fined a year's salary. Go to the Imperial Household Department to collect your punishment."
Yan Dan deliberately ignored the resentful gazes fixed on her and turned to Tang Zhou, saying, "It's all your fault. They have a family to support, but you caused them to have their salary deducted for a year."
Tang Zhou remained silent with a sullen face.
The people in the palace were indeed very efficient. In less than the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, more than a dozen nimble eunuchs carried in nine large boxes.
Emperor Rui sat down at the desk, picked up his teacup and took a sip: "The things are all here, you can choose for yourselves."
Tang Zhou slowly walked to the boxes, bending down to examine each item one by one. He checked five boxes in a row, still finding nothing, and frowned slightly. When he reached the sixth box, it was noticeably smaller than the previous ones. He reached inside, his expression turning somewhat strange, and when he withdrew his hand, he was holding a round, intricately carved antique mirror. The mirror's texture was exquisitely polished, but its material was indistinguishable.
Yan Dan took the ancient mirror in her hand and tapped it for a while: "Is this Li Chen or Di Zhi?"
Tang Zhou shook his head: "I don't know."
Emperor Rui said slowly from the side, "Now that we've found it, is there anything else?"
Yan Dan immediately replied, "Your Majesty, there is nothing else. We have troubled you for a long time, and we will leave immediately." The most urgent matter is to reunite with Liu Weiyang and Yu Mo and leave Nandu. Even if the Emperor later decides to punish them, it will only be wishful thinking.
Just as she was about to use her magic to slip out of the palace again, she heard Emperor Rui slowly say, "Wait a moment." Yan Dan immediately turned to look at the emperor, humbly asking, "Does Your Majesty have any further insights?"
“I will send someone to escort you out of the palace. What kind of decorum is this, jumping in and out like this?” He clapped his hands, and several guards on duty immediately came in and knelt on one knee. “Pass on my decree: escort this young lady and gentleman out of the palace immediately, without fail.”
Yan Dan looked at the kneeling guards trembling pitifully and couldn't help but feel sympathy.
After leaving the Imperial Study and turning the corner, Yan Dan turned to look at the pale-faced guards beside her and said in a kind voice, "I am truly sorry for causing you to lose a year's salary. Now, please tell me what you need, and I will definitely make it up to you."
The guard dropped his knife to the ground, staggered back five steps, and said in a trembling voice, "No, no... really, it's not necessary. Great immortal, please forget that you've ever met this lowly person, ah..."
It is evident that most mortals would still be afraid when they see these demons.
But the Emperor Rui knew perfectly well that the person beside him had once been a demon, yet he didn't care, perhaps because he had truly fallen in love with her.
Yan Dan had no choice but to turn to Tang Zhou and ask, "If you get the Earthly Stop, what else do you want to do? Like Chu Mo, do you want to break some kind of seal?"
As they passed by Jingyang Palace, they saw a handsome young man running towards them, followed by a group of eunuchs and palace maids. The young man slowed his pace as he passed Yan Dan, gave her a slight smile, revealing a hint of dashing elegance, then glanced back before running on.
Yan Dan suddenly remembered a long time ago, before she became a demon, when she wandered beyond the Six Realms. She also watched an old play on the Langtai stage in this ancient city. At that time, Emperor Rui was still a young man, but he was notorious for his womanizing, showing no sign of sincerity. Later, however, he was willing to settle down for a woman, and even now, as emperor, he remains unchanged.
The boy's smile and appearance were strikingly similar to Emperor Rui's when he was young.
Yan Dan murmured, "Why would someone give so much for another person they have no connection with..."
She turned to look at Tang Zhou, but in her heart she thought, he was willing to risk his own safety to find the person in her dreams, even searching for ancient artifacts. Why had she never met someone she felt truly loved?
For a time, she thought Yu Mo at least had some feelings for her, because he had always treated her very well. Later, she realized that this care wasn't just for her; he was genuinely kind to Bai Ling and Zi Lin as well. When they were together, she was always the one who talked more, and she was the one who clung to him the longest. If one day they had to part ways, wouldn't she be the only one who truly couldn't let go?
She looked back and saw Tang Zhou's lips twitch slightly, but he ultimately remained silent.
He saw those clear, bright eyes, like cracked glass, their emotions shattered. And he was utterly powerless to help.
Liu Weiyang examined the ancient mirror from all angles for a while and came to a conclusion: This is Li Chen, not Di Zhi.
Yan Dan was somewhat disappointed: "How did you know this was Li Chen?"
He turned the ancient mirror over and ran his fingers along the texture on the back: "It is engraved with ancient characters, and it says that Li Chen can see through the mysteries of heaven and earth, and teach people to be knowledgeable about the past and present." He put down Li Chen and said comfortingly: "In short, if we find the last one, it will definitely be the Earthly Stop."
Tang Zhou sat at the table, neither moving nor speaking.
Yan Dan thought to herself that what Young Master Liu was saying was really nonsense. There were a total of four divine artifacts, and she had already seen three of them. What else could the remaining one be but the Earthly Stop? Besides, who knew when she would find this last one?
Suddenly, Liu Weiyang gave a soft "hmm," his tone rising slightly.
She immediately looked at the other person warily.
Liu Weiyang had already placed Li Chen on the table, but his palm remained pressed against the mirror, unable to move it away.
Yu Mo, who had been leaning against the door, changed his expression slightly upon seeing this situation and took a few steps inside: "Brother Liu, what was that divine artifact you used to have?"
Liu Weiyang looked up at him, a hint of panic in his eyes: "Could it be... Li Chen?"
Seeing their expressions, Yan Dan was even more puzzled: "Li Chen used to be yours, and now you have him back, that's fine too." As soon as she said this, she understood why Liu Weiyang, usually expressionless and calm, had shown such panic for the first time. She felt as if she were being pulled by an invisible force, her vision blurred by blinding light, and her entire body felt as if it were immersed in millennia-old ice. The surrounding scenery began to distort and stretch, making her dizzy.
When everything calmed down, she opened her eyes and the scene before her was like a wonderful ink painting. The river was shrouded in mist, and the green mountains could be vaguely seen in the water vapor.
A battlefield of life and death, a river of oblivion in the night, a path to the underworld.
She thought she would never return to this place again, for all eternity.
Liu Weiyang knelt on one knee on the bank, his face pale, as if he had suffered a severe blow in that instant, and vomited a mouthful of blood. The jade flute also fell from his sleeve, crashed to the ground, and broke in two.
Yu Mo said calmly, "Brother Liu was originally the Heavenly Extreme Purple Void Sage Emperor, but Li Chen has awakened his immortal power. With his current body, he can no longer withstand the immortal power he once possessed."
Tang Zhou was silent for a moment, then said, "The scene here is very similar to the painting I saw in the last stone chamber of the ancient tomb in Qing Shi Town."
Yan Dan sighed: "When I saw that painting, I asked Miss Tao if she believed I had been to the Netherworld. You told me then that it was too early to dream. Actually, this is the Netherworld. I wasn't joking."
She has lingered here for a full thousand years, how could she possibly forget?
A battlefield of life and death, a river of oblivion in the night, a path to the underworld.
It feels just like yesterday.
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