Inside the Underground Passage’s Secret Room.
Jiang Xuan blinked in surprise at the sight of Leng Wu Shuang and her crew.
Meanwhile, Xiao Hong Xin stood in front of Jiang Xuan like a protective mama bear.
“Xiao Xuan, you need to get out of here! I’ll find a way to hold them off!”
“Hold them off? With the strength of a Martial Emperor at the third stage? You can’t hold off a Half-step Martial Sovereign!”
“Emperor, you better come back to my side quietly. If you try to run, your Martial Emperor-level bodyguard is toast!”
Jiang Xuan: “……”
At this moment, Jiang Xuan’s inner monologue began to spiral into chaos.
【No way, how did Leng Wu Shuang come knocking? I thought she’d headed back to the Cold Light Dynasty after Liu Yun dragged me away.
This is bad—meeting her is the last thing I wanted! I had zero plans to become the Emperor!
Surely, Leng Wu Shuang can’t crush the Deputy Pavilion Master, but the real threat is that old hag next to her.
Half-step Martial Sovereign? I can’t see any chance of escaping now!
Sigh, since there’s no way out, I guess I’ll have to jump in headfirst and take it one step at a time.】
Having steeled himself, Jiang Xuan stepped forward. When his gaze met Xiao Hong Xin’s, he signaled her not to do anything rash.
Then, Jiang Xuan approached Leng Wu Shuang with a smile that would impress a cat.
“Empress, didn’t expect to see you again so soon!”
As soon as Jiang Xuan finished speaking, Leng Wu Shuang grabbed him in a bear hug.
“Emperor, welcome back to my side!”
Xiao Hong Xin, witnessing this scene, was fuming like a teapot on the boil.
She moved to intervene, only to find herself immobilized by the old lady’s hand. It felt like being stuck in a compression chamber of doom.
If the opponent had been a Martial Emperor at the ninth stage, Xiao Hong Xin would bet her last dumpling that she could take them down.
But a Half-step Martial Sovereign? It left her feeling hopeless.
With her current strength, she couldn’t compete with a Martial Sovereign, even if they’re just a Half-step one.
Just then, Jiang Xuan calmly said:
“Empress, it was her who rescued me from the Demon Sect. I hope you can spare her life…”
“Fine, listen to the Emperor, Ancestor. Be gentle with her. I’ll take the Emperor to rest. Since he’s back, we can head back to the Cold Light Dynasty tomorrow.”
With that, Leng Wu Shuang vanished from the scene with Jiang Xuan in tow.
Jiang Xuan thought he was heading to Tianxiang Pavilion again, but surprise! He found himself in a ridiculously luxurious little courtyard.
Just one glance made Jiang Xuan internally shout:
【What the heck, this kind of decoration must have cost millions in spirit stones! Talk about extravagant!】
In fact, among all the bigshots Jiang Xuan had met, Leng Wu Shuang was definitely the richest.
She even promised him 10 billion spirit stones just to consider being her Emperor.
Now, that 10 billion was tempting, but being an Emperor? No thanks.
That kind of high-risk identity was a hard pass for him.
Jiang Xuan, who was generally on the lazy side, found that after enduring all that pressure, all he wanted was to get stronger.
Returning to the present, Leng Wu Shuang led him into a vintage-style room.
Then, with a serious expression, she turned to Jiang Xuan and asked:
“Emperor, can you tell me about the mysterious strong person who took you away a few days ago? Who are they really?
Also, what’s your real identity?”
Hearing her questions, Jiang Xuan’s eyes sparkled with hope.
Previously, he had warned Leng Wu Shuang that if she insisted on him being the Emperor, it might bring about the dynasty’s downfall.
And now, with Nangong Liu Yun having taken action once already, it seemed to lend credibility to his previous words.
At that moment, Jiang Xuan’s mind raced:
【Alright, alright! Looks like the Empress has grown a bit; she’s finally worried, so maybe being Emperor is off the table after all.】
Outwardly, Jiang Xuan sighed softly, his attractive eyes now brimming with helplessness.
“Empress, I’ve said this from the start—our fates are intertwined yet not meant to be. I’m a certain sect’s Holy Maiden’s secret guard, and I’m destined not to be your Emperor.
That Holy Maiden is the masked girl you met last time.
I pleaded on your behalf then, so you could be safe and sound.
Right now, she’s taken a trip back to the Divine Martial Dynasty. Do you know what ‘dynasty’ means?
For those at the top, destroying a small imperial dynasty is as easy as drinking water.
You don’t want the entire Cold Light Dynasty dragged down because of me, do you?”
While Jiang Xuan said all this, he thought to himself:
【Good, good, this Empress is overthinking it. If it were Xia Xiao Yu or the Deputy Pavilion Master, I wouldn’t have been able to talk my way out at all; they’d just crush me.
This isn’t a huge problem; I should be able to avoid becoming Emperor now. Next up, I just need to comfort her and grow stronger.
Heh, give me some time to cultivate, and that measly Empress will be no match for me.
Surely, I should prioritize my training instead of being a total newbie.】
Outwardly, Jiang Xuan patted Leng Wu Shuang on the shoulder and pivoted the conversation to comfort her:
“Don’t worry, Empress, your feelings will always be cherished. If fate allows, perhaps we will meet again someday, and that would be enough.
Some people are destined to be short-term visitors in your life, but they can lead to your growth.
I believe that one day, you’ll become even more powerful and find a satisfactory Emperor.”
As Jiang Xuan finished speaking, Leng Wu Shuang suddenly pinched his cheeks.
“Emperor, what kind of nonsense have you been spouting from the beginning?
You don’t actually think that I’m scared of the dynasty people and that I’ll let you leave freely, do you?
You’re overthinking it! No matter who you are, you are my recognized Emperor.
As for the dynasty’s fate, we can worry about that later. Right now, I just want to express my feelings for you.
I know you’ve compromised for that Holy Maiden, so she’s definitely been all over you, hasn’t she?
No worries! Even if you’re married, I don’t mind. If the secret guard of a Holy Maiden becomes my Emperor, that’s a win for me!
I wonder what that Holy Maiden is thinking, leaving you alone and almost letting you get caught by the Demon Sect.
Since she’s so cold to you, let me spoil you instead.”
Jiang Xuan: “?????”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan’s internal monologue was in absolute chaos.
【Wait, what? This Empress’s character has completely shattered! What about saving the citizens of the dynasty?!
And what’s with her unique preference? She’s happy to have a married Emperor?
Last time, in the big palace with all those people, she couldn’t show it, but now she’s just not hiding it at all?
Oh no, I thought this Empress would be easy to handle. Now it seems she’s just starving for attention and has no standards whatsoever!】
While Jiang Xuan was lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, Leng Wu Shuang’s hands that had been pinching his face started to slide down.
