The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 782 The terrain is treacherous, easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Zhu Xiong Ying walked to the table, poured herself a cup of tea, took a slow sip, and then said, "Miss Liu, you are very smart, but knowing too much is not good for you. Sometimes it's better to play dumb."

Liu Ruyan bit her lip. She knew Zhu Xiong Ying was right; if the secrets of the Netherworld Sect were revealed, she would surely die. But she was unwilling to be kept in the dark and manipulated like this.

"Since you are the grandson of the Ming emperor, why are you helping me?" Liu Ruyan asked tentatively.

Zhu Xiong Ying put down her teacup and looked at her with a half-smile. "Perhaps it's because you're pretty, perhaps it's because of your pitiful background, or perhaps... it's just because you want to have some fun."

Liu Ruyan felt a chill run down her spine. That flippant tone and cynical attitude made her even more confused. She got up and walked to the window, gazing at the dark night sky, and said softly, "The Netherworld Sect's influence is deeply entrenched; you can't defeat them."

Zhu Xiong Ying walked up behind her, gently lifted a strand of her hair, and sniffed it. "Miss Liu, are you worried about me?"

Liu Ruyan abruptly shook off his hand, turned around, and glared at him angrily. "You..."

"Don't be nervous, I was just joking." Zhu Xiong Ying raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "However, you're right, the Netherworld Sect is indeed difficult to deal with. But so what? This imperial grandson loves to challenge the impossible."

Looking at Zhu Xiong Ying's confident demeanor, Liu Ru Yan couldn't help but waver. Perhaps, he really could help her escape the clutches of the Netherworld Sect.

"What do you want me to do?" Liu Ruyan asked.

Zhu Xiong Ying's lips curled into a wicked smile. "It's simple, be my woman."

Liu Ruyan was stunned; she hadn't expected Zhu Xiong Ying to make such a request. She instinctively took a step back, looking at him warily. "You…"

“Don’t misunderstand, I’m not trying to force you,” Zhu Xiong Ying explained. “I just want you to become my informant and help me gather intelligence on the Netherworld Cult. In return, I will protect you and help you escape the Netherworld Cult.”

Liu Ruyan fell silent, weighing the pros and cons. Becoming Zhu Xiong Ying's woman was risky, but it was also her only chance to escape the Netherworld Cult.

"I promise you." Liu Ruyan finally made her decision.

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded in satisfaction. "Very good, a wise choice."

Over the next few days, Zhu Xiong Ying and Liu Ru Yan spent their days sightseeing and their evenings discussing "important matters of life" at the inn. Liu Ru Yan gradually became attracted to Zhu Xiong Ying's charm. She discovered that he was not as frivolous as he appeared; he had a pure heart and an ambition to achieve great things.

One evening, Zhu Xiong Ying was studying a map in her room when Liu Ru Yan walked in.

“I’ve learned that the Netherworld Cult will be holding a sacrificial ceremony in three days, at Black Wind Stronghold outside the city,” Liu Ruyan said.

Zhu Xiong Ying raised his head, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "The sacrificial ceremony? It seems like this is a good opportunity."

"What do you want to do?" Liu Ruyan asked.

Zhu Xiong Ying walked to the window, looked at the night sky in the distance, and slowly said, "I want to wipe out the Netherworld Cult in one fell swoop."

Liu Ruyan was startled; she hadn't expected Zhu Xiong Ying to be so audacious. "This is too dangerous! The Netherworld Sect has countless experts; you alone..."

"Who said I'm alone?" Zhu Xiong Ying turned around, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "I've already notified the Embroidered Uniform Guard; they will surround Black Wind Stronghold in three days."

Liu Ruyan breathed a sigh of relief, but her heart was still filled with worry.

Three days later, Zhu Xiong Ying and Liu Ru Yan, disguised, arrived at Black Wind Village.

Black Wind Stronghold is located on a desolate mountain outside the city. Its terrain is treacherous, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Zhu Xiong Ying and Liu Ru Yan mingled with the crowd and entered Black Wind Village.

Inside the village, the followers of the Netherworld Cult had gathered to prepare for a sacrificial ceremony. An old man dressed in black stood on a high platform; he was the leader of the Netherworld Cult—Black Wind Old Monster.

Black Wind Old Monster surveyed the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Today is a great day for our Netherworld Sect. We will offer sacrifices to our ancestors and pray for their blessing so that our Netherworld Sect may live on forever!"

"May it last forever!" the followers shouted in unison.

Just then, a loud explosion rang out, and the gate of Black Wind Stronghold was blown open.

Immediately afterwards, a group of Imperial Guards dressed in flying fish robes rushed in and surrounded the members of the Netherworld Sect.

"What's going on?" Black Wind Old Monster's expression changed drastically.

Zhu Xiong Ying stepped out from the crowd with a cold smile on his face and slowly said, "Black Wind Monster, your end has come!"

Upon hearing this, the Black Wind Old Monster was so angry he laughed. "Boy, you've got quite the nerve! You think you can wipe out our Netherworld Sect?"

Zhu Xiong Ying curled his lip in disdain. "Me? You underestimate me. I am the Emperor, a true dragon descended to earth. How dare you lowly scoundrels be so presumptuous!" With that, he slowly drew his sword from his waist, the blade pointing directly at the Black Wind Monster. Golden dragon patterns flowed across the sword, as if a sleeping dragon was about to awaken.

Black Wind Old Monster's expression changed drastically. He never expected that the seemingly cynical young man in front of him was actually the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!

"You...you are the emperor?" The Black Wind Old Monster's voice trembled slightly.

"Too late to realize this now!" Zhu Xiong Ying snorted coldly, his figure flashing like lightning as he instantly appeared in front of the Black Wind Monster.

Black Wind Old Monster hurriedly waved his cane to defend himself, but it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; he couldn't stop Zhu Xiong Ying's attack at all.

With a loud "clang," the Black Wind Old Monster's cane snapped in two, and he was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground, spitting out blood.

"Master!" The surrounding followers exclaimed in surprise upon seeing this.

Zhu Xiong Ying ignored them and slowly walked towards Black Wind Monster, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "Black Wind Monster, you have committed countless evils and your sins are grave. Today, I will act on behalf of Heaven and send you to your death!"

"You...you can't kill me!" the Black Wind Monster cried out in terror. "I...I know many secrets, I can tell you..."

Zhu Xiong Ying stopped and looked at him with great interest. "Oh? What secret? Tell me."

Black Wind Old Monster took a deep breath and said, "I know... I know the secret of a treasure..."

"Treasure?" Zhu Xiong Ying raised an eyebrow. "What treasure?"

"The treasure of the former dynasty's royal family!" the Black Wind Old Monster exclaimed hastily. "It contains countless gold and silver jewels, as well as many martial arts manuals..."

Zhu Xiong Ying's heart skipped a beat. He had long heard the legend of the previous dynasty's royal treasure, but he never expected it to be true.

"Where is the treasure?" Zhu Xiong Ying asked.

"It's...it's..." Old Monster Black Wind hesitated for a moment, but finally said, "In a cave in the back mountain of Black Wind Stronghold..."

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded in satisfaction. "Very good, take me there."

Black Wind Monster dared not resist and could only obediently lead Zhu Xiong Ying and Liu Ru Yan to the back mountain.

(End of this chapter)