Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Inside the main hall of Blackwater City, yet another pointless meeting concluded in discord.

Shen Lang was walking along the path back to his room when he was stopped by a familiar figure.

She is Jiang Mengxuan's master, Daoist Qingxuan.

Shen Lang asked irritably, "What do you want?"

"Humph."

After looking her up and down for a while, Qingxuan Daoist nun couldn't help but let out a cold snort.

"Don't think that just because you've stepped into Blackwater City, we'll become of one mind. Let me tell you the truth, in this Blackwater City, every sect leader and official in charge wants to tear you to pieces and pulverize you!"

"Heh." Shen Lang chuckled. "You came all this way just to spout this nonsense?"

Qingxuan Daoist nun: "I'm here to seek your cooperation. You should know in your heart who that Heavenly Venerable looks like. With your abilities, it's impossible that you didn't notice."

"what do you want to say in the end?"

"If we use the Celestial Venerable to tell the world that the Celestial Venerable is the current Empress, after all, you, who were once my bedmate, are still here..."

If you told them that the person sitting on that dragon throne was a fake, what kind of sensation do you think that would cause in the capital?

"An interesting suggestion," Shen Lang said, shrugging. "But unfortunately, we're too far from Jinling right now, so what you're saying is simply impossible to implement."

Furthermore, why should I cooperate with a bunch of people who secretly wish me dead? Even if it succeeds in the end, I'll be the first one to be dealt with, right?

Qingxuan Daoist was taken aback. She hadn't expected that Shen Lang would see through her thoughts so easily. She was surprised by how quick-witted he was.

"Shen Lang, I can assure you that as long as the Zixia Sect is brought back into my hands, I will definitely clear your name."

Although the Zixia Sect wasn't a prestigious or renowned sect, it still held some respectability in the martial arts world.

She started playing the emotional card and making empty promises.

Shen Lang shook his head and smiled sarcastically: "You said yourself that your Zixia Sect is nothing in the martial arts world. If that's the case, why do you think that what you said can vindicate me?"

Besides, I can hear your schemes right here. You just want to use me and then get rid of me. After all, the whole Zixia Sect upheaval was orchestrated by my wife.

Would you willingly let someone who caused your downfall and reduced you to a homeless dog dangle in front of you? Don't try to fool me with such a ridiculous excuse.

"If I weren't completely desperate, I wouldn't be willing to collude with you. It's utterly ridiculous."

"you……"

"Step aside!"

Shen Lang glared at her, immediately shutting her down.

They can't beat them in a fight, they can't win an argument, and they're completely outmatched when it comes to brains.

Qingxuan Daoist nun could only watch helplessly as Shen Lang swaggered past her, but dared not utter a word of anger.

Shen Lang returned to his room and was about to push the door open when he heard a series of disordered breathing sounds behind him.

Turning around abruptly, he saw Zhuque stumbling towards him.

The moment Zhuque saw Shen Lang, it was as if she had grasped a lifeline, and she quickened her pace despite her injuries.

"save……"

The moment she threw herself into Shen Lang's arms, she lost consciousness.

Shen Lang frowned, and was about to take her back to the house when he heard two cold voices behind him.

"Great, we finally found it."

"Hand over the person immediately."

Looking back, he saw two members of the Swiftwind Team, who were extending their hands to Shen Lang, forcing him to hand over the person.

Shen Lang glanced at the Vermilion Bird in his arms, then at the two people in front of him, and simply nodded.

"You know the truth."

The two immediately reached out to grab Zhuque.

But just as one person's hand was about to touch the hem of Zhuque's clothes.

click-

Shen Lang's unexpected kick broke the calf of one of them.

"Uh--"

The Swift Wind Flag let out a muffled groan and fell to the ground.

Seeing this, another companion was just about to draw the sword from his waist.

Clunk—

Unexpectedly, Shen Lang preemptively stepped forward, sidestepped, and snapped his neck.

He then kicked the kneeling man in the neck, killing him instantly.

After doing all this, Shen Lang swept Zhuque up in his arms, spun around, and quickly buried the two bodies in a simple manner, creating a flurry of snowflakes.

After doing all this, he carried Zhuque into the house.

……

As evening approached, Zhuque slowly awoke from her coma.

Touching the mask that was still covering her face, and looking around at the surroundings, she touched her still somewhat dizzy head and struggled to sit up.

"you're awake?"

A familiar voice came from beside me.

Looking back, they saw Shen Lang sitting in front of the campfire, quietly cooking a pot of rice porridge.

"This is where?"

Zhuque rolled over, trying to get up.

"Don't move. Your internal injuries haven't healed yet, so you need to rest for now."

Shen Lang gave a reminder, then served Zhuque a bowl of porridge and placed it on the coffee table.

Zhuque stared at the steaming bowl of white fungus porridge, lost in thought for a long time.

"Drink it, it'll be good for your injuries."

After saying that, Shen Lang squatted down by the campfire to warm his hands.

Suzaku: "You didn't remove my mask?"

Shen Lang smiled: "Now that you know my identity, why bother with all this?"

Suzaku was taken aback: "So you knew all along?"

Shen Lang nodded, then his face darkened: "What you're doing is too risky, too reckless."

Suzaku: "Who in the world is more suitable than me to carry out such a big task to cooperate with you?"

"Forget it, since things have come to this, there's no point in saying anything." Shen Lang sighed and continued, "Your injury was caused by Jiang Yue, right?"

Zhuque nodded: "I really didn't expect that woman to be at the peak of the Immortal Realm."

Shen Lang: "I'm more concerned about her identity."

Upon hearing this, Zhuque instinctively grabbed a corner of her robe with her jade-like hand.

"This needs to be investigated further."

Shen Lang's lips curled into a smile: "Perhaps I have a way to investigate Jiang Yue's background and wipe out all these anti-imperialist forces once and for all."

Suzaku asked, "What do you plan to do?"

Shen Lang leaned forward and revealed his entire plan.

After he finished speaking, Zhuque remained silent for a long time before saying, "Your plan can be implemented, but Jiang Yue's cultivation level is too high, and it may not be so easy to subdue her."

"Then you can try to improve your cultivation level."

As he spoke, Shen Lang placed the Golden Emperor Dao Fruit, which he had once snatched from outside the Jinling Secret Realm, in front of him.

"Take this, and combine it with the medicinal soup I just gave you. You'll be able to advance a minor cultivation level in just five hours."

"Furthermore, I've learned quite a bit about Jiang Yue's martial arts techniques. I'll work with you to deal with her."

Zhuque looked at the Golden Emperor Dao Fruit and fell into a brief state of contemplation.

"Shen Lang, come out here!"

Suddenly, a series of ghostly wails and howls rang out from outside the door.

"Stay here and don't worry."

"Then be careful."

"Ah."

Shen Lang responded and then opened the door to greet him.

(I'll update again later at 5 PM)