This question nearly made Cihai lose his temper.
How dare you mock me, a dignified Great Emperor cultivator? If I were to unleash my imperial might, you lowly cultivators would surely cling to my coattails and heed my teachings.
However, adhering to the principle of avoiding trouble, Ci Hai did not reveal his strength.
"Amitabha Buddha, I am Cihai. May I ask what guidance my fellow practitioners have?"
Linghu Ming: "Master, don't be nervous. We are just wandering cultivators passing through this area."
I was simply curious because I saw the master alone in the wilderness.
Ci Hai breathed a sigh of relief: "I was just passing by, coming from Qingyang City, and was about to go elsewhere to beg for alms."
Liang Hao narrowed his eyes: "Monk, judging from your attire, you don't look like a poor monk who ran away from some dilapidated temple."
"Just looking at this Buddha lamp in your hand, I know it's quite valuable. It looks a lot like the one I lost years ago. Why don't you let me see it and confirm its authenticity?"
Ci Hai frowned.
Linghu Ming quickly tugged at Liang Hao and whispered, "Alright, you need to rein in your temper. Don't forget we have important business to attend to."
Liang Hao then decided to give up: "Fine, you can go now. I'm in a good mood today, so I won't make things difficult for you for the time being."
"Amitabha."
Cihai softly chanted a Buddhist prayer and left without saying anything.
After he left, Liang Hao looked at Linghu Ming and asked, "Are you sure your master will go to Chang'an?"
Linghu Ming: "I'm quite certain that my master would be very pleased to see my current achievements."
Liang Hao: "Alright, it's just a side trip anyway. It's said that the swordsmanship of Li Minshuang, the Taibai Sword Immortal, is unparalleled in the world. If I can have the chance to meet him and ask him for some pointers, it will be a worthwhile trip."
Linghu Ming: "But before that, we still need to find out where Brother Shen is. Now that Yu Xiyan has returned to Chang'an safely and resumed her imperial throne..."
"Then Brother Shen should be back by now. Miss Su is expected to emerge from seclusion a month or two early, so we must prepare a surprise for her before she does."
Liang Hao: "Alright, that's enough. Let's get going without delay."
The three immediately set off towards Chang'an.
...
Inside Chang'an City, after returning from the Demon Realm, Yu Xiyan seemed to have become a different person.
Silent and expressionless.
Even Yu Xizhao, who was always close to her, was somewhat hesitant to approach her.
After the court session ended that day, Yu Xiyan was walking in the Imperial Garden when she stopped and fell into deep thought as she passed by the Separate Residence.
"Xi Yan".
Gu Ningye's voice sounded from behind.
Upon seeing her mother walking towards her from the flower bushes, Yu Xiyan suddenly had a hallucination:
Gu Ningye lay on the bed, tightly rubbing Shen Zhao, her fair legs wrapped around his waist.
On this stormy night, the two engaged in a forbidden relationship.
As soon as the hallucination began, a sense of resentment gradually took hold of her mind, making her increasingly agitated.
He even had inexplicable murderous thoughts.
But the next moment, his mind suddenly cleared, and the blood on his forehead flashed by, forcibly suppressing the resentment.
"Mother..."
Yu Xiyan shook her head and went to meet her.
Looking at Yu Xiyan's current unsmiling demeanor, Gu Ningye felt a pang of heartache and took her hand, saying, "Xiyan, ever since we returned from the Demon Realm, I feel like you've become a different person."
You must have suffered a lot in the Demon Realm these past few months. I'd like to take you for a walk in the city, to Baochan Temple to pray for blessings and clear your mind."
"Mother, I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me."
Yu Xiyan freed her arm from Gu Ningye's grasp.
"Mother, you are not feeling well, you should go back and rest."
Gu Ningye sighed: "Xiyan, you have suffered a lot these days. I have come to see you today for a matter. Why don't you cancel your marriage with Ling Yuxuan?"
"Cancel? No, why cancel?"
Yu Xiyan asked in return.
"Can't your mother see it? You don't love Ling Yuxuan at all. In fact, even now, you still can't let go of Shen Zhao, can you?"
"Mother, can we not mention this person? I no longer care about him."
Hearing Yu Xiyan say this, Gu Ningye was immediately shocked.
“My wedding with my senior brother has been delayed for almost a year, so I came back this time hoping to get married to him as soon as possible.”
"But will you really be happy marrying him, Xiyan? You need to think this through carefully. Marriage is not a game, and your father and mother will not force you..."
"He was willing to travel to the Demon Realm and endure countless hardships for me, so why can't I marry him? Let's do it this way. Mother, please have the Ministry of Rites arrange an auspicious day, the sooner the better."
After saying that, Yu Xiyan ignored Gu Ningye and turned to walk out of the Imperial Garden.
"Oh, child, why are you doing this to yourself?"
Watching her daughter's departing figure, Gu Ningye sighed silently.
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