Chapter 752: Chapter 479: For You Alone, I Hesitate to This Day
The villagers seemed to be frightened. Even though it rained last night, they didn’t dare to stick around longer and left in the rain overnight.
She expanded the search area again. Upon reaching the official road where Zhao Douan killed that squad of rebel forces yesterday, her pupils slightly contracted as she found Ouyang Ye’s corpse missing, with some hoof prints remaining nearby.
"Has someone been here...?"
Xu Zhenguan’s gaze turned cold but she was not surprised. She drew the Taia Sword, ignited its sword fire, and reduced the remaining body on the ground to ashes.
After finishing those tasks, she expanded the search again and confirmed no rebel forces were present, then headed back to the residence.
From afar, she saw the nearly dispersed smoke from the cooking fires.
Stepping into the house, she entered the middle courtyard. Hanging on the clothesline were blankets being dried, with one piece of bright red standing out sharply.
The Empress’s cheeks instantly flushed red. As if suddenly realizing something, she gritted her teeth and headed to the bedroom: "You..."
Just about to speak sternly, she saw the table inside already set with four dishes and a soup. Zhao Douan removed his apron and smiled:
"Your Majesty arrives just in time; care to try my culinary skills? The chicken soup took the most time, otherwise, there’d be more."
The husbandly charm was off the charts.
Xu Zhenguan’s stomach, having been hungry all day, embarrassingly growled. Her brow raised slightly and she somehow found herself sitting down half-willingly. Amidst eating, she recounted what she discovered during her outing.
"Ouyang Ye’s corpse was taken away? Looks like he left some spies outside," Zhao Douan frowned but wasn’t surprised; after all, this news couldn’t be concealed:
"By today, the news of Ouyang Ye and others being killed, your ascent in rank, might already reach Prince Jing. Now that the villagers have gone, should we change locations?"
Xu Zhenguan, tearing chicken bones with both hands, shook her head while eating: "No change."
A hint of killing aura lurked within her eyes.
In the past, the wisest choice would undoubtedly have been to flee and continue northward.
But seeing the opportunity to step into the level of a Heavenly Human almost within reach, she naturally changed her mind, no longer fearful.
Even if she hadn’t become a Heavenly Human before the enemies arrived, with her current Half-step Celestial strength, she was more than capable of dealing with most foes.
"What if Xuan Yin Monk... and Magic God show up? Also, Wu Xiankui can’t be ignored either."
Zhao Douan posed the question.
Xu Zhenguan analyzed calmly and confidently:
"Even if I’m missing, the commission to Heavenly Master Zhang to keep an eye on Xuan Yin should still hold. As for Magic God... after suffering backlash, whether he can once again withstand the Heavenly Human power remains uncertain, surely extremely difficult...
Regarding Wu Xiankui... if he had truly intended to pursue and kill us that day, we would’ve been dead long ago, not stayed alive until now."
This Wu’s surname is quite contradictory... Perhaps for the sake of the martial supreme title’s dignity, he made a move but wouldn’t kill, following some self-imposed rules...
Well, just as well, or else being chased by a Heavenly Human... Zhao Douan shuddered at the mere thought.
Xu Zhenguan confidently added:
"Therefore, I reckon deliberately waiting here for their arrival might catch them unawares... They might guess one of us has reached the Worldly Realm, but won’t know I’ve recovered to Half-step Celestial, and you’ve secured a foothold in Worldly Realm."
Zhao Douan nodded and said:
"But for utmost safety, it’s better to seize the time to help Your Majesty ascend to Heavenly Human before the enemy arrives."
"Mm." Xu Zhenguan instinctively nodded, then realized the sly undertone in his voice.
Looking up, their eyes met, and Zhao Douan wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, stood up:
"Your Majesty, you’ve had enough to eat, now’s time to seize the time."
"..." Xu Zhenguan still felt a bit unaccustomed, hesitating shyly:
"But it’s still daytime..."
Tsk, didn’t they have the lights on last night too? Now like an old married couple, still want to play hard to get... Zhao Douan directly acted, lifting her into a princess carry and heading towards the bed.
Playing up the domineering CEO-like vibe.
"I haven’t bathed yet..."
"No problem, neither have I. Also, Your Majesty should refer to yourself as ’I’ for better ambiance."
"Hm?"
Xu Zhenguan was somewhat caught off guard, already lying confusedly on the dry bed, sensing Zhao Douan’s skilled peeling bamboo shoots technique. She was momentarily dazed, then suddenly felt something and quickly said:
"Wait..."
Too late... Zhao Douan single-handedly charged the formation.
"Boom!"
The bedstead, already on the brink of collapse, couldn’t withstand the pressure anymore, suddenly cracking and collapsing from the center, causing the pair to fall embarrassingly.
Zhao Douan’s expression stiffened, meeting the cold murderous stare from the Empress:
"Didn’t you notice it was about to collapse when changing the bedding..."
Damn, too careless... Zhao Douan pondered:
"Your Majesty, shall I move to another room and report to you?"
A white python-like leg delivered a flying kick: "Get out!"
Zhao Douan promptly rolled up the bedding and headed outside. Behind him came the Empress’s voice full of tears: "Come back to me!"
"Eh?"
"Take me... to the next room." Gritted teeth voice.
Zhao Douan flashed a fawning smile.
Soon, sparrows grooming on the treetops in the backyard flew off in fright, and the previously clear sky gathered clouds again, with thunder and lightning.
One day passed without a word.
Two days passed without a word.
Three days passed without a word.
In ancient times, Han E’s melodious singing left echoes lingering for three days.
Now the Empress’s voice, but for the sake of her beloved, resonates till this day.
...
...
Outside Baihua Village, in a mountain path.
A pitch-black carriage drawn by strange horses slowly came to a stop.
Four figures filed out and stood side by side in the middle of the road, gazing towards Baihua Village with furrowed brows.
It was none other than the "Little Heavenly Master" Zhong Pan, the Second Senior Sister Yu Xiu, and Gongshu Tianyuan, Jin Jian’s group of four.
"Something’s not right, very not right,"
Zhong Pan’s malformed face was extremely solemn, his pupils reflecting the sky ahead where clouds gathered: