Tang Nian saw through his thoughts, gathered her strength in her hand, and forcefully took the palm strike from Master Wang.
The next moment, Master Wang was knocked away and crashed directly into the stone wall.
Tang Nian stared intently at Master Wang. The men in black around her stepped forward, and Tang Nian flicked her fingers slightly, throwing them against the wall.
As the person closed in, Master Wang became nervous and quickly activated his talisman to move his body.
Tang Nian struck Wang Tianshi on the back as he fled.
Master Wang instantly collapsed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The blood mixed with dirt clung to his face, making him look extremely disheveled.
"You...you're not human!" Master Wang stared in horror at Tang Nian's snake-like eyes.
Seeing Tang Nian approaching him again, Wang Tianshi had no time to escape, but saw the person in front of him with a pained expression and unsteady body.
Tang Nian forcibly broke the seal and suffered a backlash.
It was thanks to Master Wang setting up so many magic arrays in this cave that Tang Nian was able to take advantage of the situation.
Lou Mu finally broke through the barrier and rushed in, ignoring the men in black inside the cave, and went straight to Tang Nian.
The familiar scent filled her nostrils, and Tang Nian smiled with relief. She felt all her strength drain away, and she fell straight backward.
The expected pain did not come; instead, she was caught in a warm embrace.
Lou Mu's eyes were full of heartache: "I'm late."
He held Tang Nian's arms slightly tighter, but was afraid of hurting her wound, so he could only hold her gently.
Just as Master Wang breathed a sigh of relief, he encountered Lou Mu who had rushed over. Startled, he only wanted to escape when no one was paying attention.
Unexpectedly, he hadn't moved more than a few steps when Jing Yao kicked him away.
"You hurt my young lady and you think you can just leave!"
Jing Yao was furious and slapped Master Wang several more times.
He was already seriously injured in the previous attack with Tang Nian, and after Jing Yao's attacks, he immediately spat out another mouthful of blood.
As the excruciating pain surged through him, Wang Tianshi's expression became even more ferocious, his already ugly face becoming even more repulsive.
Lou Mu coldly watched Jing Yao's actions, the person in his arms speaking weakly, "Help me... cover for... a little while..."
After speaking, Tang Nian coughed, and Lou Mu then noticed the faint snake scales appearing on Tang Nian's body. He immediately told her to shut up and poured some of his spiritual power into Tang Nian's body.
However, these methods cannot restore Tang Nian's health; they can only help her conceal the characteristics of her true form. Her health is currently extremely poor, suffering from both ghostly energy and backlash, and it will likely be difficult for her to recover in the short term.
Thinking of this, Lou Mu felt even more guilty.
"If only I had come sooner."
His voice was soft, and Tang Nian was tormented by pain. Before she could hear what Lou Mu said, she found that the person in front of her had picked her up.
Lou Mu walked to Wang Tianshi's side and gestured for Jing Yao to stop.
"Put these bodies away first."
Jing Yao accepted the order, took the corpses back into her storage ring, and returned to her residence.
This storage ring is a treasure passed down only by ancient families; it no longer exists in the human world.
Lou Mu's aura was icy, and his gaze was like a sword, slashing at Wang Tianshi. Wang Tianshi propped himself up and moved backward, the thick blood in his mouth preventing him from uttering a word.
Lou Mu activated his spiritual power with his right hand, his eyes narrowed, and his whole body was filled with killing intent.
Suddenly, there was a commotion at the door. Lou Mu was somewhat disappointed and withdrew his hand. He saw that the Chu Emperor was leading a group of people, followed by the Empress Dowager.
As soon as he entered, Emperor Chu's gaze fell on Master Wang, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes.
What a useless and troublesome fellow!
His gaze swept quickly across the area before he rushed toward Lou Mu.
"My dear subject!"
Emperor Chu quickly stepped forward, helped Lou Mu up, and then waved to the palace servants behind him to take Tang Nian.
When the servants came to him, Lou Mu was unwilling to let go.
"My dear minister, what has happened here? Tell me quickly, and I will surely settle your case."
What an image of loving one's ministers like one's own children!
While Lou Mu expressed his disgust, his gaze remained fixed on Master Wang.
Master Wang had been helped up by his servants and stood weakly behind Emperor Chu.
The Chu emperor did not ask about the most seriously injured person, but instead asked about Lou Mu, clearly intending to throw the difficult problem at him.
Moreover, the Chu Emperor had leverage over Lou Mu, which forced him to conceal the truth.
Lou Mu withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "Your Majesty, assassins appeared in the palace. Your Majesty and I chased them here and fought with them, but unfortunately, we were injured."
The Chu Emperor naturally knew that he could not expose the identity of the Celestial Master Wang, and the Celestial Master Wang also knew that they needed a reason to keep it a secret from the ministers and women who had come with them.
Lou Mu, the Emperor of Chu, was slightly dissatisfied with the answer and turned to look at Wang Tianshi.
"Lord Wang, is that truly the case?"
Lord Wang propped himself up and bowed, his gaze falling on Lou Mu, and said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, it is indeed as the Grand Secretary said."
"Oh?" The Chu Emperor sneered, "Then tell me, my dear minister, why is this woman here?"
"Miss Tang was strolling in the Imperial Garden when she happened to run into thieves and was kidnapped. Fortunately, she was protected by Master Wang and was safe and sound."
Why are you unharmed?
"I arrived after the two of them. The thieves had already been repelled by Lord Wang, so I am unharmed."
Lou Mu answered fluently and remained calm and composed.
Finding no fault to be found, the Chu Emperor had no choice but to give up and looked at Tang Nian, whom Lou Mu was holding tightly.
"This girl is truly beautiful; no wonder she has captured your heart."
Lou Mu subconsciously pulled Tang Nian closer to him. He didn't like others coveting him, especially the Chu Emperor.
"Your Majesty, Niannian is seriously injured. Please allow me to take her back to heal her wounds first."
After Lou Mu finished speaking, he prepared to leave.
"Wait a moment." The Empress Dowager stepped forward slowly and raised her hand to instruct the eunuch beside her, "Since Miss Tang was injured in the palace, it is only right and proper for us to treat her. Send her to my side, and I will find someone to take care of her."
The Empress Dowager had always liked Tang Nian, and since she rarely had the opportunity to meet the Celestial Master, she naturally did not intend to let Tang Nian leave easily.
Lou Mu was taken aback: "Your Majesty, I appreciate your kindness, but I am used to living outside the palace. If I were to stay by Your Majesty's side, I am afraid it would disturb your peace."
If they stay in the palace, wouldn't that mean they're at the mercy of the Chu Emperor?
The Empress Dowager is able to protect herself, so why would she care about Tang Nian?
"The Grand Secretary's words make me sound rather harsh and sarcastic."
The Empress Dowager spoke in a deep voice, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.
"Your humble servant dares not."
The situation was not good. Tang Nian propped herself up and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Lou was only thinking of you. This commoner is entering the palace for the first time and has encountered such an unlucky thing. I'm afraid it will offend Your Majesty's health."
The two of them sang in unison, neither of them wanting to stay in the palace.
"How could my body be so easily violated? Besides, there are imperial physicians in the palace. Are they inferior to those quacks in the capital? She has me taking care of her in the palace, so she is certainly better cared for than a grown man like you."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, signaling the palace maid behind her to take Tang Nian.
Tang Nian frowned and unconsciously snuggled closer to Lou Mu.
The Chu Emperor watched the spectacle from the sidelines, waiting for Tang Nian to fall into his trap.
If they truly reach the palace, they will be in the palm of the Chu Emperor's hand.
Tang Nian looked up at Lou Mu, and both of them could see the intention in each other's eyes.
Not to mention Tang Nian, who also wanted to kill Master Wang. If she entered the palace and was watched by everyone, she would have no chance at all!
As the palace maids approached step by step, Lou Mu immediately knelt down.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"
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