Chapter 355: My Fiancée Is Surprisingly Awesome
Luo Wusheng paused for a moment, then quickly caught on to what the Empress was implying.
(...Is she still worried about the little pink fox making a move?)
It's understandable. After all, the little pink fox wasn't just any Netherkin—she was the former Monarch of the Netherkin Nation, sealed and suppressed for three whole years.
Even though he had just said the opposing side's top-level combat force likely only included the Netherking, from the Empress's standpoint, a recently unsealed Netherkin of that caliber would naturally be seen as a potential threat.
A peak Tribulation Crossing Realm Netherkin truly wasn't something one could ignore.
If the little pink fox took action, she could probably hold off another Peak Tribulation Crossing Realm expert such as the Daoist Sect Master without much difficulty. If that happened, things could spiral into a full-blown disaster...
However, in a twist of irony, Yao Ji was actually, to some extent, aligned with the Immortal Nation. Had she not applied pressure in the Netherland, the new Netherking wouldn't be acting so rashly now.
Sure, stirring up chaos in the Human Immortal List could certainly plunge things into turmoil, but it would also increase the risk of backfire for those starting the ruckus.
(This works out. Even if the little pink fox is technically one of "our people," we still need to stay cautious in case the Netherking has other allies...)
Like, say, monks from the Buddhist sect.
Just because they hadn't shown up in the original storyline didn't mean they wouldn't now. After all, he was still present in the Royal Capital—and any number of complications could arise.
Lost in his thoughts, Luo Wusheng didn't notice the Empress carefully observing the shifts in his expression with her bright eyes.
The stunning young lady took a sip of tea, then gently set her cup down, the soft clink against the table snapping him back to reality.
"That being said, Pavilion Head Luo, your willingness to share this information has indeed done us—and the Immortal Nation—a great service. And let's not forget that yesterday, outside Qifeng City, you took down that mysterious chicken Netherkin before it could cause chaos..."
The Empress smiled, her voice lilting. "I find myself unsure what else I could possibly offer you."
"Your Majesty flatters me. As someone who's worked hard to rebuild the Demon Artifact Pavilion, and with plans to stay in the Royal Capital long-term, I naturally want to maintain its peace. What I've done is as much for myself and those close to me as it is for the Immortal Nation."
Luo Wusheng replied in a relaxed tone, "Besides, even though I haven't officially taken up my post, didn't Your Majesty already grant me the Golden Ranked member position in the Six Gate Bureau? Since that's the case, it's only right I do something of substance, yes?"
"For now, eliminating hidden threats within the capital takes precedence. As for the rest—there's no need for Your Majesty to overthink it. Everything can be handled later."
He truly had no desire to receive more rewards from the Empress.
It's mainly because he didn't really have anything he was particularly after.
As for the chicken Netherkin incident, that thing had come specifically for him. Ji Yanyao had even been hidden in the crowd as backup. The three top-tier pills the Immortal Nation had already rewarded him with were a pleasant surprise—he didn't feel the need to be greedy.
As for the intel he'd just delivered... well, rewards could wait until the Netherkin Nation's affairs were confirmed and resolved.
If he was still alive by then, that is.
Perhaps because he felt like he was constantly hovering between life and death, Luo Wusheng no longer placed much importance on material things. Even if he were rewarded, he figured he'd just give whatever it was to Long Shuangxue.
After all, it's a husband's duty to dote on his wife.
(Ahh… I miss my wife….)
Luo Wusheng's thoughts began to drift again.
But the sound of something being placed onto the table quickly reeled him back in.
In the next moment, his gaze trembled violently.
On the table sat five gemstone-like objects, each roughly the size of a clenched fist.
(Dragon Vein Stone, Heavenly Glow Jade, Purple Qi Spirit Crystal... and two others I can't even identify?!)
There was no doubt about it—these were all rare and precious spiritual stones Luo Wusheng had failed to acquire in the past.
The three he recognized had previously eluded him due to his lack of strength. But the two unknown ones... even he, with his deep expertise in rare minerals and stones, had no idea what they were.
And this was Luo Wusheng, Holy Saint of the Demon Sect, with knowledge second to none when it came to strange and valuable stones in this world—despite currently only having the cultivation level of a half-formed Nascent Soul cultivator.
In other words, those last two mysterious gemstones… might actually be one-of-a-kind in this world!
Just as that thought sent a ripple of excitement through Luo Wusheng, he heard the Empress speak again, her tone carrying a tinge of regret.
"Oh? Since Pavilion Head Luo insists, then perhaps these treasures… shall wait for another—"
"Ahem, ahem! Since Your Majesty has gone to such thoughtful lengths, it would be rude of me to refuse. It would only waste your kind intentions…"
The moment Luo Wusheng changed his tune, the Empress's eyes curved gently with amusement. With a casual wave of her hand, she slid the five precious stones straight into Luo Wusheng's arms.
When the Dragon Vein Stone made contact with him and faintly shimmered with starlight, a flash of intrigue deepened her smile.
"The Dragon Vein Stone, Heavenly Glow Jade, and Purple Qi Spirit Crystal—these three, Pavilion Head Luo likely knows better than I do, so there's no need to elaborate," she said casually. "As for the last two spirit jades, they were unearthed by the Immortal Nation from the Ancient Heavenly Gate's Palace of Fate. Though generations of study have failed to identify their purpose or even give them a name, I suspect Pavilion Head Luo might find them... interesting."
"Interesting? Very interesting..."
Luo Wusheng's eyes sparkled like a kid handed a candy store key. Then he caught himself, straightened his posture, and adopted a proper tone.
"...Then I offer my deepest thanks to Your Majesty."
With what little self-control he had left, he carefully stored the five radiant stones in his storage pouch. But before he could relax, the Empress spoke again:
"Oh, and speaking of such things—I've heard Pavilion Head Luo is also quite intrigued by the immortal jade used to construct the Trial of Ascension Platform. After the Human Immortal List battle, I can see to it that you receive a portion of that as well."
...
Luo Wusheng felt like he was being completely played.
He, who had always used rare jade and spirit stones to win over young ladies' favor, had now been thoroughly outplayed—by a rare jade-wielding young lady.
As his gaze fell once more upon the Empress before him, a new emotion stirred in his eyes—something warmer, more fervent than before.
His master's arrangement of a fiancée for him... wasn't such a bad idea after all.
His thoughts, already floating from the earlier conversation, suddenly began to settle around that one peculiar word—fiancée. For the first time, he found himself truly, inexplicably acknowledging the engagement contract.
He still didn't understand what his conveniently absent master was up to. Honestly, it felt more like some twisted karmic revenge for making him take the blame for something—but now, looking at it from another angle... maybe it wasn't so bad?
What did the Empress think of the engagement, though?
In her eyes, did she still believe he was chasing after her "younger sister," Miss Kirin?
Come to think of it… if he managed to win over any of the three Alter Egos of that girl, wouldn't it count toward the overall "conquest progress bar"?
If he charmed any one of them, wouldn't that basically mean he charmed all three of them?
That… that would be triple the happiness...
(No, wait! What the hell am I thinking today? Where are these dangerous thoughts coming from?! Is my soul of self-sabotage finally breaking free?!)
Luo Wusheng glanced again at the Empress, her red dress as vibrant and breathtaking as ever. His mind wandered for the umpteenth time today—to that final image from a dream he once had.
Miss Kirin, cloaked in bridal red, smiling faintly at him as they are about to consummate their marriage...
Oddly enough, the colors matched the very outfit in front of him now.
Luckily, their earlier conversation had just about wrapped up. The sun had shifted westward, and he figured this meeting was coming to its end.
And then—just as he thought he was finally free—the voice of his devastatingly beautiful fiancée drifted to him again.
"I've been thinking a bit more just now…"
"Your strength already surpasses that of a typical Six Gate Bureau Golden Ranked member, Pavilion Head Luo. However, since you prefer to keep your identity concealed, you can't freely use many of your trump cards."
"That limitation is considerable. So, I've decided to grant you the Six Gate Bureau secret technique ahead of time—and assign you a fellow Golden Ranked member to assist you."
She smiled.
"What do you think... of Kirin?"
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Note: Link to the character Illustration:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lkIcPnCxeyuyZA4Kkb621dPC05UvWjhD[1]
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[1] https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lkIcPnCxeyuyZA4Kkb621dPC05UvWjhD
[2] https://www.patreon.com/user?u=93297024
[3] https://www.patreon.com/user?u=93297024
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