"Lord Ning, go ahead and do it."
"Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you."
From that day on, Tiandou City welcomed a completely different leader.
Decisive and efficient, incorruptible and impartial.
Within a few months, the atmosphere in the city was completely transformed.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe also became a frequent visitor to the City Lord's Mansion.
The two often played chess in the backyard of the mansion, or drank together under the moon.
From classics and historical texts to imperial politics and the cultivation of Soul Masters, nothing was left unsaid.
To outsiders, His Highness the Crown Prince's reliance on and trust in this new city lord was extraordinary.
The two were nominally ruler and subject, but in reality, they were brothers.
The moonlight was perfect that night.
The two then drank together in the pavilion.
After three rounds, a slight flush appeared on Xue Qinghe's face, and his eyes, which always carried a gentle smile, were now somewhat hazy.
"Ning Lin".
He suddenly called him by his name.
"Your Highness," Ning Lin raised his cup in greeting.
"Do you think there are many things in life that are beyond our control?" Xue Qinghe asked softly, looking at the moon's reflection shimmering in her cup.
Ning Lin remained silent.
He knew that the question wasn't directed at him, but at her.
Sometimes, I really envy you.
Xue Qinghe looked up at Ning Lin, his eyes filled with a mixture of intoxication and genuine emotion.
"You can do what you want without carrying so much burden."
"Your Highness was born into the royal family and will one day become the ruler of a nation, revered by all people. This is what the world envies," Ning Lin said calmly.
"The ruler of a country?"
Xue Qinghe gave a self-deprecating laugh, a laugh filled with bitterness.
What if I don't want to be the emperor?
"If I only want to..."
She swallowed her words halfway through, and simply drank the wine in her glass in one gulp.
The wine slid down the corner of her mouth, leaving a glistening trail in the moonlight.
Ning Lin looked at her, seeing the struggle and pain in her eyes, and felt a mix of emotions.
He desperately wanted to tell her that he knew everything.
But he couldn't.
Once the truth is revealed, the delicate balance between them will be broken.
Qian Xunji's informant may be watching all of this from some dark corner.
He could only pretend not to know and play along with her until the end of the charade.
"Your Highness is drunk."
Ning Lin got up, took a cloak, and draped it over her shoulders.
"It's late and the dew is heavy, you should go back to the palace to rest early."
His fingertips inadvertently touched her neck; that delicate skin was something no man could possess.
Xue Qinghe's body stiffened slightly.
She craved that fleeting warmth, yet had to push it away.
"you're right."
She stood up and resumed her demeanor as the Crown Prince.
I'm drunk.
She turned and left, her shadow stretching long in the moonlight, carrying a sense of desolation and loneliness.
Ning Lin stood there, watching her walk away until her figure disappeared at the end of the long street.
He picked up the wine glass that Xue Qinghe had just used and drank the remaining wine inside.
Wine is bitter.
Such days went by for several years.
Until that day, the situation in Tiandou City changed drastically.
The palace was heavily guarded, and the news that Emperor Xue Ye was critically ill, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe was acting as regent, and the elders of the Spirit Hall were invited to "protect the emperor".
Inside the city lord's mansion, Ning Lin listened to his subordinate's report and crushed the teacup in his hand.
Palace coup!
His first thought was not that Xue Qinghe wanted to usurp the throne.
It was Xue Qinghe who got into trouble.
Based on his understanding of "him", Xue Qinghe was definitely not the kind of person who would collude with the Spirit Hall to seize power in such a brutal way.
The only explanation is that the Spirit Hall couldn't wait any longer.
They have taken control of Xueqinghe and are about to launch this coup!
That seemingly gentle but actually proud "elder brother" is now imprisoned and has become someone else's puppet!
"Prepare the horses!"
Ning Lin's voice carried an undeniable decisiveness.
"My lord, you mustn't!"
"Martial law is in effect in the palace. Going there now would be tantamount to treason!" his subordinates warned in alarm.
Ning Lin ignored him and walked straight outside.
Ning Lin's only brother in Tian Dou City is waiting for him to rescue him.
...
The Imperial Palace, outside Chengtian Gate.
An atmosphere of bleakness and desolation permeated the air.
Soldiers clad in armor formed an impenetrable array.
Two figures stood before the array.
A tall, thin man held a serpent spear, his soul power surging around him, exuding an imposing aura.
The other person was short and stout, covered in strange armor, with only a pair of eyes that gleamed with an eerie light showing.
Serpent Spear Douluo, Porcupine Douluo.
Two well-established Title Douluos from the Spirit Hall.
Ning Lin stood alone, dressed in a blue robe, before a vast army.
"Lord Ning, please stop here."
She Long, the Serpent Spear Douluo, spoke, his voice hoarse.
"His Highness the Crown Prince is currently overseeing the overall situation and does not wish to be disturbed by anyone."
"Let Xue Qinghe come out and see me," Ning Lin said.
Cigu Douluo Cixue chuckled.
"Your Highness, do you think you can just see me whenever you want?"
"Lord Ning, you are also a member of the Spirit Hall. You should know that today's events are the will of His Holiness the Pope. I advise you not to make a mistake."
Ning Lin looked at them and slowly drew the sword from his waist.
It was just an ordinary standard-issue longsword.
I'll say it again.
"Let Xue Qinghe come out."
"Otherwise, you will bear the consequences."
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
She Long and Ci Xue exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of mockery in each other's eyes.
How dare a mere city lord who hasn't even released his spirit rings speak so arrogantly in front of two titled Douluo?
"court death!"
She Long stopped wasting words, flicked his spear, and a dark green light shot out like a venomous snake, aiming straight for Ning Lin's throat!
He only used three-tenths of his strength in that strike.
In his view, this was enough to nail this arrogant young man to the palace gate.
However, the next moment, his pupils suddenly contracted.
Ning Lin neither dodged nor evaded; he simply pointed his right hand, fingers together like a sword, and met the spear tip head-on.
A cluster of purplish-black flames ignited at his fingertips.
"bite!"
A crisp sound.
The tip of the spear was completely blocked by that seemingly weak flame, unable to advance an inch!
A searing pain shot through his soul, traveling along the spear shaft, causing She Long to groan and pull back.
"Strange Fire?"
A serious look finally appeared in She Long's eyes.
At that moment, spirit rings began to rise one after another on Ning Lin's body.
Purple, purple, black, black, black, black!
All six spirit rings are of the best combination, each over a thousand years old!
Six-Ring Soul Emperor!
How is this possible?!
According to the information, he is clearly just an ordinary civilian Soul Master with mediocre talent!
High on the palace wall, a golden figure stood by the railing, taking in everything below.
Qian Renxue's heart clenched into a knot.
As she watched the figure of the man who had braved the dragon's pool alone to save "herself," tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
fool.
You're the biggest idiot in the world!
"Take him down."
"Keep alive."
She gave the order to the shadowy figure beside her.
She couldn't bear to watch any longer.
She was afraid she wouldn't be able to resist rushing down to tell him everything.
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(End of chapter)