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

At midnight, Zhuque had absorbed the medicinal power of the Golden Emperor's Dao Fruit, and not only were all her internal injuries cured, but her cultivation level also directly entered the mid-stage of the Immortal Realm.

Sensing the tremendous changes brought about by the flow of Qi within his body, Zhuque immediately got out of bed and said to Shen Lang, who was sitting at the table, "The effects of the Golden Emperor Dao Fruit medicine are truly extraordinary."

Shen Lang: "Are you planning to deal with Jiang Yue right now?"

Zhuque's silence was taken as tacit agreement.

"Have you really thought about it?"

Shen Lang asked again.

"Think it through."

Zhuque answered decisively.

"Alright then, since you've made up your mind, I won't try to persuade you anymore."

However, before that, all those unstable factors must be eliminated, for example…

Shen Lang stopped mid-sentence and pointed towards the roof beam.

"If I'm not mistaken, we've been exposed. Those two rats up there have been watching us from the roof for half an hour now. Do you think we can let them leave?"

Upon hearing this, the two members of the Swift Wind Team who were lying on the roof were shocked and immediately got up to tell Tuoba Ying what they had seen.

But just as they got up to take out their communication jade tablets, Shen Lang's figure blocked their way.

"Gentlemen, why aren't you going back to sleep? What are you doing on my roof?"

"kill."

Without any hesitation, the two drew their swords and attacked Shen Lang from the left and right.

However, the two had only made half a move when Shen Lang swiftly grabbed them by the neck with both hands.

Click, click...

The crisp sound of bones cracking echoed in the dark night sky.

Two more corpses appeared in front of Shen Lang's room and were quickly buried in the snow.

Why bother?

He sighed softly, then turned and went back to his room.

Just then, in a corner of the courtyard outside the room, Chu Youwei saw everything.

"Great, I've finally found something on you, Shen Lang. This time, I'd like to see how you explain yourself."

A hint of excitement flickered in her eyes, and she was about to tell Murong Wei and Qingxuan Daogu the news.

But as soon as she turned around, she was met with Shen Lang's cold gaze.

"you……"

Chu Youwei was shocked and instinctively raised her hand to strike Shen Lang's chest.

But the next second, Shen Lang darted behind her and grabbed her by the neck.

"Uh, let...me go..."

The intense suffocation gave her the illusion that she was about to die.

“Miss Chu, we have no grudge against each other, and I shouldn’t have treated you like this, but you saw something you shouldn’t have seen, so…”

Clunk—

With a sharp crack, Chu Youwei's neck was snapped by Shen Lang.

Looking at the woman who had slumped in his arms and was gradually losing warmth, Shen Lang's lips curled into a delicate smile.

"Perhaps your death will allow the plan to proceed even faster."

……

The next morning, as heavy snow fell, Shen Lang strolled to the back mountain.

"What are you here for?"

As soon as they stepped into the empty territory, Jiang Yue's questioning voice rang out.

Shen Lang stopped: "A friend of mine wants to see you."

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Yue's figure floated down from the void.

Who wants to see me?

Shen Lang remained silent, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Just as Jiang Yue was about to ask a question, Zhuque quietly appeared from behind Shen Lang.

"It's you?"

Jiang Yue was taken aback at first, then her tone revealed an undisguised excitement.

Suzaku stepped forward: "The battle that was left unfinished the other day, let's continue now."

"Hahaha." Jiang Yue laughed maniacally. "You defeated opponent, where do you get the audacity to say such things?"

Zhuque conjured a Snow Frost sword directly from his storage ring: "Who will win and who will lose can only be known after the competition."

Jiang Yue's smile vanished, and she said coldly, "Very well, then I'd like to see if you, going all out, are qualified to be my opponent!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the surrounding snowflakes drifted down and gradually condensed in her hand into a completely transparent ice sword.

Shen Lang silently retreated to the side, coldly observing the battlefield before him.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you, but if you lose, I'll keep you by my side as a slave for ten years."

"Ah."

Zhuque merely let out a disdainful sneer at Jiang Yue's request.

The two faced off for a moment, about to strike at the same time...

"stop!"

Shen Lang shouted, stopping the two women from fighting.

"Heavenly Venerable, how about we make a deal?"

"Ok?"

Jiang Yue gave Shen Lang a suspicious look.

……

On the other side, after receiving news of Jiang Yue's attack, Tuoba Ying immediately rushed towards the back mountain.

However, when they arrived at the back of the mountain, they only saw Shen Lang standing alone on the empty snowfield, without saying a word.

Before him lay rolling snow, constantly erupting with terrifying dragon-like shockwaves.

"Shen Lang, what's going on?"

"Just because you ask me doesn't mean I have to tell you?"

Having been rebuffed, Tuoba Ying didn't pay any attention to Shen Lang's words.

He looked at the surging air currents on the snow and asked uncertainly, "Is the Celestial Venerable down there?"

Shen Lang nodded.

Tuoba Ying immediately ordered the Swift Wind Team to rush into the snow to rescue Jiang Yue, but Shen Lang sternly stopped him.

"What are you going to do?"

"Naturally, we are going to aid the Heavenly Venerable."

"If you think you have too much life, then go ahead and give it a try."

"What do you mean?"

"Ha, I can't even get within three zhang of them, so what makes you think you can?"

Upon hearing this, Tuoba Ying fell silent for a moment.

"You're still not at ease with the cultivation level of a Celestial Venerable?"

Tuoba Ying nodded and could only step aside, standing shoulder to shoulder with Shen Lang to watch the final battle under the snow, quietly waiting for the final result.

boom--

Suddenly, a loud explosion rang out, and the snow covered the sky.

The next moment, Jiang Yue proudly appeared before everyone, carrying the blood-covered Vermilion Bird.

"Greetings, Heavenly Venerable!"

Tuoba Ying immediately knelt on the ground to greet him.

Jiang Yue threw the Vermilion Bird directly in front of her and said coldly, "The spy who infiltrated Blackwater City has been executed by me. Tuoba Ying, you brought this person in, why have you kept it a secret from me all this time?"

Seeing Zhuque lying on the ground, lifeless, Tuoba Ying went straight up and took off his mask.

"is her?"

Upon seeing the true face beneath the mask, Tuoba Ying couldn't help but utter a questioning sound of doubt.

Because the one lying on the ground was Chu Youwei.

"Is there anything you want to ask?"

Tuoba Ying hurriedly said, "This subordinate dares not, but this subordinate did not expect that this person would actually be Chu Youwei."

Jiang Yue turned her back: "Today it's Chu Youwei, but who knows who it will be tomorrow? Right now, we don't even know if there are any spies planted by the imperial court left in Blackwater City."

If this problem cannot be resolved, how can we lead our army south and seize the foundation of the Chu state?

Tuoba Ying: "Please rest assured, Heavenly Venerable, I will thoroughly investigate all spies within Blackwater City as soon as possible to ensure the smooth execution of the Southern Expedition."

"how long?"

"Heavenly Venerable, what did you say?"

Jiang Yue's question left Tuoba Ying speechless.

"I am asking you how long it will take to find out that there are imperial spies hiding in Blackwater City."

"Your subordinate will certainly do his best."

"Do your best? That means you can't thoroughly investigate the traitor in a short time?"

"This……"

Tuoba Ying seemed somewhat overwhelmed by the questions.

"Tuoba Ying, you are the person the Empress Dowager values ​​most. Are you planning to make her disappointed in you?"

Faced with Jiang Yue's cold questioning, Tuoba Ying had no idea how to answer.

Today, Jiang Yue is putting more pressure on him than he has ever done before.