Chapter 755 |
"Do you see the list for the Secret Realm of Tian Du?"
In the Jin Kingdom's palace attic, Shao Ping Bo approached Tai Shu Xiong from behind, and Tai Shu Xiong casually asked in return.
Shao Ping Bo: "This minister has seen it."
The sudden appearance of the list for the Secret Realm of Tian Du had surprised him greatly, especially when he saw Niu You Dao's name on it.
He had previously thought that he had suffered a loss at Niu You Dao's hands because he was outmaneuvered, but now it seemed that Heaven always had its justice.
Tai Shu Xiong: "Niu You Dao is on the list too. It seems this fellow has offended many. When the nomination was made, twelve people recommended him."
Shao Ping Bo's eyes flickered slightly, and he calmly said, "If Your Majesty wishes to intervene, this is an opportunity."
The so-called "opportunity" meant that the cultivators of the Jin Kingdom in the Secret Realm of Tian Du could protect Niu You Dao, ensuring his safety and peace. The Jin Kingdom's deterrent power would have an expansive effect.
This statement seemingly sought to appease Tai Shu Xiong, but in reality, it was pushing Niu You Dao into an abyss.
Tai Shu Xiong nodded deeply.
Shao Ping Bo then set this matter aside with another remark: "Among the list for the Secret Realm of Tian Du, this minister is not most concerned about Niu You Dao, but about Si-men Qingtian."
"Oh?" Tai Shu Xiong turned to look at him.
Shao Ping Bo cupped his hands and said, "Si-men Qingtian is the guardian-mentor beside Xuan Wei, so minor figures dare not act rashly. Without Si-men Qingtian's restraint, many of Xuan Wei's actions are no longer free. That faction will not miss this opportunity and will certainly seize the chance to tighten their control over Xuan Wei, and the agents this minister has planted in the Wei Kingdom can accelerate this process."
"Hmph!" Tai Shu Xiong narrowed his eyes.
...
"Is there something you wish to say?"
Xuan Wei, sitting behind her desk, approved the last document and handed it to her attendants. She glanced at Tang Yi, who seemed hesitant.
Tang Yi was a little nervous.
Standing upright by a pillar, his arms crossed, Si-men Qingtian, bearing an ancient, unadorned sword, cast a cold gaze.
Xuan Wei: "Sister, don't hesitate to speak your mind."
Tang Yi bravely said, "Niu You Dao was also on the list of cultivators entering the Secret Realm of Tian Du."
Xuan Wei nodded: "I understand. What is it, sister?"
Tang Yi: "Does Husband not wish to recruit Niu You Dao? This time should be an opportunity." She also quietly glanced at Si-men Qingtian as she spoke.
A sly glint flickered in Xuan Wei's eyes, and she smiled: "I understand what my sister means. You fear he may be in danger when he enters the Secret Realm of Tian Du, and you wish for the Wei Kingdom to provide support or for Si-men Qingtian to assist him."
Tang Yi awkwardly said, "That's not what Husband means. After all, he did help Shang Chao Zong, and Shang Chao Zong does not wish to be indebted to him. Besides, if he can truly assist Husband, why shouldn't Husband do this? This is indeed an opportunity to win him over."
Xuan Wei pondered for a moment and finally nodded: "Very well! I understand; I will arrange it later. You should also arrange your own sect's matters concerning the Secret Realm of Tian Du. Return and attend to your duties for now."
Tang Yi curtsied slightly and retreated.
Watching Tang Yi's back disappear beyond the door, Xuan Wei also stood up from behind her desk, walked through the back door to the attic, strolled through the water pavilion, occasionally looking at the cultivator guards stationed throughout the Tianwei mansion.
Upon entering her own chambers, Xuan Wei dismissed the waiting maidservant. When she signaled, the maidservant closed the door as she left.
Si-men Qingtian looked at the closed door, a hint of surprise in his expression. Xuan Wei always avoided being alone with a man in her room. She did not wish to idly sit and engage in such gossip.
Xuan Wei turned and stood before him, raising her head and looking into his eyes: "Did you hear what Tang Yi just said?"
Si-men Qingtian: "You may rest assured, I will do my best to protect him."
Xuan Wei could not help but reach out and grasp his wrist: "I don't need you to protect him, you must protect yourself, just to stay out of trouble, that is best. It is good to listen to Tang Yi's words, isn't it? Do you understand?"
Feeling the warmth from her touch, as well as the genuine concern in her words, tenderness appeared in Si-men Qingtian's eyes as he looked at her. He slowly reached out to hold her hand: "Xuan Wei, there is some truth in what you say. I understand that if I were to fight again, it would only make me an enemy of many. But Niu You Dao's capabilities can conquer kingdoms and ruin states. Cultivation is a talent, and strategy is also a talent. Compared to him, I am still too simple. His abilities are incomparable to mine. Faced with the various constraints of the cultivation world, you need him more. Have you not always wanted to recruit him? Tang Yi is right, this is indeed an opportunity."
An inexplicable sorrow flashed in Xuan Wei's eyes: "Si-men, why don't you understand? The nations are vying for hegemony, and Niu You Dao has become entangled in the disputes of worldly interests. Those twelve masters pushing him into the Secret Realm of Tian Du are essentially sending him to his death! The three factions sending you into the Secret Realm of Tian Du is a conspiracy. They have no good intentions. When you enter the Secret Realm of Tian Du, you will be a solitary figure. Anything could happen. You must be careful with them. Carelessness will lead to catastrophic consequences!"
"Si-men, what should I do? I have my own rationale, and I cannot be a god. Heaven will not fall. This time, you must listen to me, you must promise me! Si-men, you said you wanted to protect me for life. You cannot go back on your words. You must. You must return alive; you don't need to concern yourself with anything else. I have listened to you, I..."
Before she could finish, his mouth descended, silencing her with a fervent kiss.
Si-men Qingtian suddenly embraced her tightly, ravenously seeking her lips. There was no other way to express his emotions except through endless touch.
Xuan Wei instinctively pushed twice but could not break free, and finally, ignited, she embraced him, seemingly fearing he would never return, and responded with fierce abandon.
It seemed that only complete immersion could express their feelings at that moment. Eventually, they both fell onto the couch, and the atmosphere in the room was so potent that even the heavens might envy it.
As her alabaster chest was assailed, and she trembled slightly, briefly exposed, a sudden chill enveloped her. Xuan Wei, who had been closing her eyes and breathing heavily, suddenly snapped them open, as if waking up, and abruptly tried with all her might to push Si-men Qingtian aside.
Xuan Wei, her cheeks flushed, hastily got up, trying to sort out her disheveled clothes, which had been torn apart: "Si-men, we cannot do this."
Si-men Qingtian approached her from behind again, wrapped his arms around her, kissed her fair neck, and panted. "Xuan Wei, do you know why I stay here and for whom? Everyone knows, I could die for you!"
Xuan Wei struggled to loosen his entangled arms, turned away from him, quickly straightened her clothes, raised a hand to fix the hairpin in her hair, then swiftly opened the door and walked out.
As soon as the door opened, it was as if the light had vanished, and Si-men Qingtian quickly awoke from his daze, his face flushing with shame.
Xuan Wei did not leave but stood quietly under the eaves, waiting for him, a bitter glint in her eyes.
Si-men Qingtian slowly walked out, stood beside her, and quietly said, "Forgive me, I just..."
Xuan Wei shook her head: "No, forgive me. You should have soared for nine days, smiling at the wind and clouds. I was too selfish; I used your feelings for me to tie you here. You would do anything for me, and I am willing to do it, but not now. I am a married woman."
Si-men Qingtian: "It's meaningless. This is my desire. He has been dead for so many years."
Xuan Wei: "Because of that, I cannot do more. I am a widow. You are the top master on the Dan List. I cannot allow you to bear the stigma of adultery with a widow."
Si-men Qingtian: "The Dan List is a joke!"
Xuan Wei: "But in my heart, you will always be first! You are already wronged; I cannot allow you to endure those who should not. You must know that when things reach a certain boundary, they become serious. Si-men, my heart and my duties; you must understand that this is not enough for us right now. Otherwise, how can I face the subjects of Wei Kingdom, and how will they view us? Can we truly bear the judgment of thousands?"
Si-men Qingtian: "You take too much upon yourself. You have tried your best; no one regrets it. Some things don't require you, a woman, to bear them. Naturally, someone else will bear them. Follow me, stay away from me. Let go of the grievances, right and wrong."
Xuan Wei turned to face him. "Promise me, when you enter the Secret Realm of Tian Du, don't concern yourself with other matters. All you need to do is protect yourself, and you must return alive. My Xuan Wei will wait here for your return! I, Xuan Wei, also pledge to you here: if you can return safely, I will immediately begin the proper handover of my responsibilities. I will never owe anyone anything in this matter, and I will leave far away with you and be your woman! We will stand tall together, with no need to steal moments!"
Si-men Qingtian's spirits soared, his eyes shining, his heart ecstatic. Not only did he not complain about being entangled in the Secret Realm of Tian Du, but he also thanked those people.
After so many years, he had finally waited for this woman to open her heart to him. He had finally received her promise, and he said, "Good! I promise you, wait for my return!"
...
"You really want to enter the Secret Realm of Tian Du?"
Tang Yi frowned and asked Wei Duo, who stood nearby.
She had returned to the Supreme Purity Sect from the Tianwei mansion. The candidates recommended by the sect for participation in the Secret Realm of Tian Du had also been released. Everyone was silent, but Wei Duo had volunteered to participate.
According to Xuan Wei, the Wei Kingdom had not mentioned Shang Chao Zong in the last list, but that last list had been rejected by Yuange.
The list submitted by the Wei Kingdom needed to be reformed. This time, they could not be fooled again. It had to be reported to a group of elite cultivators.
The three great factions of the Wei Kingdom could not send all their elite disciples into the Secret Realm of Tian Du. Naturally, the declared quotas had to be distributed among all the patriarchal sects.
Also, according to Xuan Wei, the Supreme Purity Sect was only granted one person, and Shang Chao Zong himself was to choose who would report.
The brutality and dangers of the Secret Realm of Tian Du were well-known. The Supreme Purity Sect had no power to ensure the safety of its disciples within the Secret Realm of Tian Du. There was no difference between sending someone and sending them to their deaths. It was difficult to choose whom to send.
But at this difficult moment, Wei Duo took the initiative to step forward and said he was willing to go.