Chapter 5: The Underlying Plot is Actually a Romance (2)
==============================
As they say, forced melons aren’t sweet.
If Little Shiyuan was determined to leave and Lin Nan was hell-bent on keeping him in the mountain stronghold, their relationship was just bound to get more tense.
She wasn’t clueless about this, but come on, they just had their wedding night! Even if this was some sort of forced marriage, wouldn’t it be a tad bit heartless for him to bolt first thing in the morning?
Or could it be that this guy was just waiting for that moment to make Lin Nan fulfill her promise?
But… with no martial arts skills and without her orders, how could Little Shiyuan easily leave her territory?
Thinking about this, Lin Nan’s previously sour mood instantly turned around.
So, she leisurely got out of bed. Two maids were already waiting outside their newly changed room, and as soon as they heard movement inside, they quietly greeted her. After getting the Great King’s permission, the two girls entered to help Lin Nan freshen up.
“Great King, from today onward, your hair must be styled up.”
“Why?”
“Because… you’re a married woman now.”
Lin Nan, “…”
Why did that sentence make her mood plummet again?
No, she didn’t want to be one of those so-called “heartbroken women” abandoned by her husband until all four Shiyuans fell in love with her.
So, after Lin Nan’s insistence, her outfit remained unchanged—a high-spirited ponytail and a snug silk short martial outfit.
The sword that was originally leaning against the wall was now firmly at her waist. She wasn’t about to face unexpected attacks unarmed; even with the best luck in the world, she’d have no chance against an enemy well-equipped with weapons.
“Great King, this way please.”
Adeline, as Lin Nan’s head maid, felt guilty for not accompanying her near the wedding chamber the previous night.
So, early in the morning, she specially went to the kitchen to whip up a few dishes of extravagant breakfast, serving them at the dining table, eagerly awaiting the Great King’s arrival.
“Looks good, Adeline.”
Lin Nan gobbled down fluffy bread and couldn’t stop praising Adeline’s culinary skills.
“Thank you for your compliments. From now on, I will always be by your side and ensure no situations like last night occur again.”
“What are you talking about, Adeline? Your bread is delicious!”
Lin Nan had long left the dining hall, and Adeline remained standing there, lost in thought.
For some reason, she suddenly felt that the Great King seemed a bit different from before.
The reason the food army came from afar to the Central Plains and joined the mountain stronghold as the Great King’s followers was tied to history—a few years back, the Demon Sect had sent troops to help the Fire Worship Sect suppress an internal rebellion.
Now, with their faction torn apart and their Fire Worshippers slaughtered, they remembered that there was a sect in the East that had deep ties with the Fire Worship Sect. Panicking, they immediately headed East, straining their energies along the way.
Halfway through, they heard news of the Demon Sect’s demise, and the troops were instantly demoralized, almost on the verge of falling apart.
However, they soon learned that a mountain stronghold at a certain location had a remaining Saintess of the Demon Sect, which attracted not only the food army but also many remnants of the Demon Sect gathering at the foot of the stronghold.
Everyone who sought refuge was welcomed with open arms.
The food people accepted the chief’s leadership for the sake of rest and recovery.
Adeline and several other food women were presented to the chief as maids, aiming to play it cool, while the others waited for the day they could march back to the Western Regions.
Therefore, they outwardly showed respect to the chief, with no complaints at all.
But in reality, they were biding their time, waiting for the right moment to flee the stronghold or become lords of the martial world in the Central Plains.
Unfortunately, Lin Nan’s stunning performance last night made everyone who was restless suddenly pause.
Trissa, as an eyewitness, reported the entire scene to the high-ranking food officials.
That’s why Adeline decided to closely follow Lin Nan to gauge her depth, leading to her proclamation.
However, Lin Nan merely brushed it off casually, without mentioning “I fully forgive you,” as if she had already sensed the food people’s plans but was pretending not to know.
They had underestimated the chief.
They were deceived by her usual carefree demeanor; if it weren’t for what happened last night, they’d probably still be blissfully unaware.
Once the food people aimed to seize control of the stronghold, they would surely face unexpected retaliation.
Looks like, for now, the food people needed to tone it down a bit if they wanted to regain the chief’s trust.
…
Just as Lin Nan left the dining room, she spotted Fatty running toward her from afar.
While waiting, Lin Nan thought of Adeline.
If Little Shiyuan insisted on leaving the stronghold, she too would have to temporarily vacate if she wanted to progress in her strategy. But in that case, how could she let Adeline follow? What if she used some embarrassing means to achieve a breakthrough? She didn’t want Adeline, or anyone in the stronghold, to find out.
Otherwise, where would her dignity as the Great King go?
“Great King… I’m doomed… last night…”
“Get to the point.”
“Second Great King was stopped at the checkpoint, what should we do…”
Lin Nan beckoned him to a secluded spot, far enough that even the guards couldn’t hear their hushed conversation.
“Let him go.”
“Okay, I’ll have someone bring him to you.”
“No, I mean, let him leave the stronghold.”
Fatty was shocked. “Great King, you… don’t have to do this! Second Great King is still young; with proper training, he won’t dare leave you again.”
Lin Nan shook her head. “I made a promise to him before; just follow through. But I’ll quietly follow him out.
While I’m away, you’re in charge of the stronghold.
Got it?”
Fatty, “…Yes.”
At the checkpoint, Little Shiyuan was firmly blocked at the entrance by several guards who wouldn’t let him in or out.
His cheeks puffed up high as he shouted, “The Great King agreed to my leaving the stronghold! Why are you stopping me?”
The guards knew this kid was ‘snatched’ back by the Great King from outside. Although he was married now, who knew how fickle hearts could be?
What if they let him go and the Great King got furious?
So, without direct approval from the Great King, they absolutely wouldn’t open that gate.
Just then, Fatty in the distance made a gesture to release him.
Since someone was taking responsibility, the guards felt relieved.
“Go on, go on! You’re actually giving up a perfect woman like the Great King? Stinky kid, you’ll regret this!”
One guard grumbled.
Little Shiyuan snorted immediately, “You can’t buy what I like! If I don’t like it, I just don’t like it!”
Hidden away, Lin Nan barely managed to suppress the urge to leap out and give him a good whack.
Sure enough, this guy’s previous behavior in front of her was all an act. The data from the system was absolutely true and reliable!
