Chapter 20

Yu Zhengzheng could distinctly feel the overwhelming killing intent emanating around her. In that split second, a surge of complex emotions—both joy and sorrow—raced through her mind.

Standing beside the two, Xiao Yuqing conveniently blocked the best viewing angle. Her eyes were widened like saucers, clearly itching to teleport herself to their side for a front-row view of the electrifying scene.

It had been so long since she’d witnessed a live kiss. In the apocalypse, everyone was too busy surviving to indulge in such frivolities. Then, in Penglai Mountain, sect rules forbade any acts of intimacy during the day. As for the nights, sneaking around to peep at others wasn’t an option either. Roughly calculated, it had been nearly thirty years since she’d encountered such a “classic moment.”  

She wished she had a magnifying glass to capture every detail: to see if kissing really caused “strings” and, more intriguingly, to figure out where Nangong Tianba would place his hands given the lack of a chest to hold.

But reason held her back, reminding her that she couldn’t do such a thing.  

More importantly, she had to stop Nangong Tianba from courting death.  

If he died, the assessment mission would be voided. After all, Nangong Tianba was the only son of the Yan King. If the Ghost King killed him, they would all be considered accomplices.  

It would be fortunate if the Yan King didn’t dig up their ancestors’ graves in revenge, let alone hand over the family heirloom to them.  

Although the mission’s success didn’t matter much to her, she desperately needed more time to escape. If she failed and was taken back to Guixu Mountain, it would all be over.

Clenching her teeth, Yu Zhengzheng leapt forward with all her strength and kicked Nangong Tianba aside before the Ghost King could lift a finger.

Fearing she might anger the Ghost King, she quickly extended her arms protectively in front of him, feigning a loyal and protective stance.

Pinching her thigh hard, she wailed in an anguished cry:  

“You can insult me, but you cannot insult him!”

Her outcry was so gut-wrenching that it stunned the onlookers into silence. Or perhaps, it was the absurdity of her brandishing a chicken while staunchly defending the Ghost King that left them speechless.

Rong Shang, his arm slightly raised, paused mid-action. Lowering his gaze, he looked at her feet. The soft golden glow of the sun stretched her shadow long, giving her the silhouette of a giant.

Despite the melodrama in her voice, it was unmistakable: she had stood in front of him.

It was the first time in tens of thousands of years that anyone had chosen to shield him.

The corners of his lips curled into a faint smile as he lightly clicked the wooden prayer beads between his fingers. He slowly withdrew the frost gathering in his palm.

Suddenly, the chaotic clatter of hooves approached. The crowd parted as a group of horsemen rode into the scene.

At the forefront was a middle-aged man with a robust build, clad in bronze-gold armor. Leaping off his horse, his crimson cloak billowed behind him. Without a word, he delivered a resounding slap to Nangong Tianba, forcing his head to the side.

Yan King’s red-rimmed eyes glared as he pointed at his son, berating him:  

“Unfilial brat! I’ve been fighting on the frontier for our country, and here you are, causing trouble in the capital!”

Nangong Tianba sneered coldly.  

“You want me to marry and have children to continue the Nangong family line. Yet now you call it misconduct? No matter what I do, I’ll never meet your expectations.”

With that, he flicked his sleeves and stormed off, leaving a mess for the Yan King to clean up.

The Yan King, seething, punched a wooden post. Taking a deep breath, he turned to the others.  

“My failure to discipline my son properly has offended you. I beg for your forgiveness.”

Yu Zhengzheng’s memory stirred, recalling some details of the mortal realm’s story. The Yan King had spent years fighting on the front lines, rarely seeing his wife and children. The Yan King’s consort had been frail and passed away before reaching thirty.  

The Yan King had ridden day and night to rush back, but he still missed her funeral. Haunted by guilt, he resigned from his post and stayed in the capital to make up for lost time with Nangong Tianba.

But as the Xiongnu launched repeated invasions, the emperor summoned the Yan King back to lead the troops. During his absence, Nangong Tianba went on a rampage and married ninety-nine wives.

Yu Zhengzheng wiped her tears and said with a mix of defiance and grievance:  

“I don’t mind, but Qin Ruiwang just humiliated him…”  

She tilted her head toward the Ghost King behind her.  

The Yan King froze, his face darkening as he asked,  

“Is this gentleman your husband?”  

Yu Zhengzheng: “…”  

She could feel countless scorching gazes on her, the most intense coming from the Ghost King himself.

Husband?  

If she ever married someone like him, she vowed to livestream herself doing a headstand while suffering from diarrhea, complete with a frog dive into a cesspool.

Maintaining a straight face, Yu Zhengzheng replied with conviction,  

“No, he’s my godfather.”  

The Yan King’s expression turned even more sour.  

Beast! Pervert!  

This little bastard even dared target the girl’s godfather?  

With an apologetic look, the Yan King said,  

“I don’t know how I can make amends for this offense.”  

Yu Jiangjiang was about to suggest handing over the family heirloom when Yu Zhengzheng cut her off.  

“We are traveling escort guards delivering goods. We’ve stopped in your land for a few days but haven’t found a place to stay yet…”  

The Yan King pondered for a moment.  

“The Yan King Manor is spacious and secure. If the young lady doesn’t mind, you’re welcome to stay there for a while.”  

Seeing the Yan King’s cooperative attitude, Yu Zhengzheng nodded repeatedly.  

“Then we’ll trouble you, Your Highness.”  

The Yan King, pressed for time, instructed his subordinates to escort them to the Yan King Manor before hurrying off to meet the emperor.  

Yu Jiangjiang muttered in dissatisfaction,  

“We could’ve used this chance to demand the family heirloom, but instead, you chose to move into the Yan King Manor. Don’t tell me you actually fancy Nangong Tianba?”

As Yu Zhengzheng pondered a retort, Xiao Yuqing intervened first.  

“Directly asking for the heirloom would’ve made the Yan King suspicious of our motives. Yu Zhengzheng’s gradual approach is more prudent.”  

Yu Zhengzheng was taken aback and felt a twinge of warmth.  

In truth, she hadn’t thought that far ahead. She simply feared that completing the mission too quickly would leave her no time to escape.

Rong Shang walked past her, catching a glimpse of the touched expression she directed at Xiao Yuqing.

His gaze darkened, a vague irritation rising within him.

“You have snot dripping into your mouth,” he said flatly, before striding forward without another glance.

Yu Zhengzheng instinctively raised her hand to wipe her nose but found nothing there. She glared at his retreating figure, cursing him silently in her heart as a scoundrel.  

When they arrived at the Yan King’s residence, she belatedly realized that Xiang Feng had not followed them.  

An Ning, trailing behind Shanshui, remained silent with her gentle demeanor. Yu Zhengzheng pulled Shanshui aside and asked, “Where is your master?”  

Shanshui pointed to the blazing sun above. “The sunlight is too intense today. Master can’t handle strong light; he’ll come after sunset.”  

Yu Zhengzheng was momentarily stunned. “Don’t tell me he still drinks blood?”  

Shanshui nodded. “Only occasionally.”  

Yu Zhengzheng shivered involuntarily, resolving to keep a safe distance from Xiang Feng in the future.  

As soon as they entered the Yan King’s residence, the Ghost King vanished.  

None of them had eaten breakfast, and it wasn’t yet midday, so everyone was feeling hungry.  

Perhaps the Yan King had given special instructions, as less than half an hour after entering the residence, lunch was prepared and brought to them.  

Their group was too large to fit at one table, so they had to sit at two separate ones.  

The moment Xiao Yuqing sat down, people quickly filled the seats around him. Yu Zhengzheng didn’t bother competing for a spot. Holding her chicken, she joined Shanshui at the other table.  

Ziyu and Ziqian eagerly served Xiao Yuqing food, catching Shanshui’s attention. “Didn’t Young Master Xiao already reach the stage of fasting from food?”  

Yu Zhengzheng picked up a piece of squirrelfish for herself and scoffed. “Look at how diligent they are. This is what you call a ‘bootlicker’.”  

Shanshui pointed at Yu Jiangjiang, who wanted to serve Xiao Yuqing food but hesitated to do so. “What about her?”  

Yu Zhengzheng replied, “She’s a ‘wannabe bootlicker’—someone who wants to but doesn’t dare.”  

Shanshui tilted his head in thought before nodding. “Since we’re sitting at our own table, does that make us ‘single dogs’?”  

Yu Zhengzheng: “…”  

She felt as if she had been hit with a two-ton verbal slap. Shanshui wasn’t the ‘single dog’ here—she was.  

Taking a deep breath, Yu Zhengzheng awkwardly shifted the conversation. “Shanshui, have you ever seen a chain like this before?”  

She extended her ankle, showing the silver chain. Shanshui studied it for a moment before shaking his head. “I haven’t, but my master might have. I’ll ask him tonight.”  

The mention of Xiang Feng reminded Yu Zhengzheng of An Ning, who was sitting silently nearby.  

Since leaving the inn, An Ning hadn’t uttered a word, as though her voice had been sealed. Yu Zhengzheng couldn’t tell if it was due to shyness or a lack of interest in engaging without Xiang Feng present.  

Her dislike of An Ning had taken root since the umbrella incident. An Ning’s appearance felt too coincidental, as if prearranged by someone.  

But if it was truly a plot, what could An Ning possibly want from Xiang Feng?  

Yu Zhengzheng was deep in thought when Xiao Yuqing approached, carrying a plate of sweet-and-sour spare ribs. He placed it in front of her. “Eat more. You’re too thin.”  

Yu Zhengzheng was taken aback and looked up at him. “Aren’t you eating, Brother Xiao?”  

Xiao Yuqing shook his head. “I’ve already reached the stage of fasting. I only eat occasionally to indulge myself.”  

After a pause, he asked, “What are your plans, Miss Yu?”  

Yu Zhengzheng hesitated, unsure how to respond. What plans could she possibly have other than escaping as soon as possible?  

Seeing his trusting and expectant expression, she wracked her brain to recall the storyline from the original novel.  

In the novel, they hadn’t even entered the Yan King’s residence. She remembered there was supposed to be a banquet tonight. They had stormed the palace directly to coerce the Yan King into handing over the family heirloom.  

Feigning thoughtful analysis, Yu Zhengzheng said, “The Yan King seems travel-worn. He likely just returned from the borderlands. If that’s the case, according to human customs, the emperor should hold a banquet to welcome him.”  

Xiao Yuqing pondered her words. “So, Miss Yu suggests we search for the heirloom while the Yan King and Nangong Tianba are away at the banquet?”  

Yu Zhengzheng twitched her lips, perplexed by his unique way of thinking.  

If she weren’t delaying for time and had any interest in completing the mission, she would have already captured Nangong Tianba to directly threaten the Yan King.  

That would be much quicker and more efficient than rummaging through the mansion for a family heirloom.  

Still, she didn’t refute Xiao Yuqing’s suggestion. The more time she could drag out, the better.  

Yu Jiangjiang appeared out of nowhere and naturally sat beside Xiao Yuqing. “The physician yesterday mentioned applying ointment, but I forgot the sequence. Do you remember, Young Master Xiao?”  

Xiao Yuqing nodded and patiently explained the dosage and order of application. Once finished, he turned back to Yu Zhengzheng, using the serving chopsticks to place two spare ribs on her plate.  

Yu Jiangjiang’s cheerful smile froze on her face. Gritting her teeth, she clutched the ointment bottles tightly, her eyes burning with the desire to tear Yu Zhengzheng apart.  

Feeling the need for a restroom break after drinking too much water, Yu Zhengzheng stood up. Before leaving, Shanshui cautioned her, “Be careful, Miss Zhengzheng. My master told me the Seventh Prince of the South Sea has entered the human realm.”  

The Ghost King had recently killed the South Sea Dragon King and caused mass devastation. News of this had spread throughout the cultivation world. The Seventh Prince was likely here seeking revenge.  

But since the South Sea Dragon King couldn’t defeat the Ghost King, neither could the Seventh Prince. It was a futile effort.  

Yu Zhengzheng acknowledged his warning but paid little attention to it.  

The prince was here for the Ghost King, and it had nothing to do with her.  

As soon as she stepped outside, Yu Zhengzheng felt someone following her. At the restroom entrance, she turned and asked, “What do you want?”  

Yu Jiangjiang stopped in her tracks, visibly annoyed. “I should be asking you that! I liked Senior Brother, and you pursued him. Now I like Young Master Xiao, and you still cling to him. What do you want?”  

Yu Zhengzheng chuckled, amused. “You followed me to the restroom just to say this?”  

Seeing her indifferent attitude, Yu Jiangjiang realized she had lost her composure. Flushing red, she muttered, “Can’t I use the restroom too?”  

With that, she stormed inside.  

The restroom was spacious and opulent, with carved redwood screens dividing the stalls and golden incense burners emitting sandalwood. It was so exquisite it barely resembled a restroom.  

As soon as Yu Zhengzheng entered, she heard heavy breathing.  

Taking the stall next to Yu Jiangjiang, she couldn’t help but ask, “Are you blowing on it because it’s too hot?”  

Yu Jiangjiang didn’t answer. Instead, a sharp blade pressed against the back of Yu Zhengzheng’s neck, causing her to suck in a breath and mimic Jiangjiang’s heavy breathing.