Chapter 053. You’ve Suffered
Mu Man’er clung to Qin Gou’s leg like a needy kitten, trembling and refusing to let go. Qin Gou was exasperated. “Get off your master’s leg. What kind of posture is that? It’s utterly improper.”
The petite Mu Man’er slid down Qin Gou’s leg like she was on a slide and landed on the ground with a plop. Covering her small face with her hands, she wiped away her tears. “Master, they all bullied me and mistreated me! You’ve always been so good to me since I was little, Master. When have I ever suffered like this? I feel so wronged and so sad.”
Qin Gou squatted beside Mu Man’er and gently brushed away the tears from her delicate face. His gentle tone hid a sharp murderous intent. “Tell me, speak without reservation. Tell me everything they did to you.”
“They’ve gotten worse. At first, they just wouldn’t let me leave the palace. Now, they won’t even let me go out of this hall as I please. Even to relieve myself, I have a palace maid following me. I feel like a caged bird. Every day, apart from one hour of cultivation time allowed by the Human Emperor, I can only sit there like an idiot. If I hadn’t deliberately thrown a tantrum just now, and given your current irreproachable status, the Tian Kun Human Emperor certainly wouldn’t have allowed us to be alone.”
“Moreover, the Tian Kun Human Emperor brings some unsavory people every few days, like some princes and grandsons, or the clan members of some concubines, under the guise of ‘young talents’ to introduce to me. But the way those people look at me is like wild wolves eyeing sheep, wishing they could devour me whole.”
“You need the Tian Kun Human Emperor’s permission to cultivate now?” Qin Gou asked, shocked and angry.
“Yes, Master. You know that although my cultivation is only at the early stage of the Li Jiu Realm, with my talent, I might break through again at any moment. The Tian Kun Human Emperor is afraid that if my cultivation gets higher and higher, the guards who haven’t reached the Li Jiu Realm will no longer be able to control me even with their numbers. And he, the National Master, and the Grand Eunuch ‘Ji Wu’ who defeated me earlier, along with other highly skilled individuals, can’t possibly guard me all day long.” Mu Man’er said, her eyes dim and voice choked with sobs, “My spirit stones, elixirs, and even cheap grain-avoidance pills have all been confiscated. I once tried to cultivate in secret, and then the imperial kitchen didn’t send me any food or water for ten whole days.”
“Bastard! How dare this Tian Kun Human Emperor!”
Qin Gou had always disliked showing his inner thoughts on his face, but at this moment, his refined and elegant face instantly contorted into a fierce and ferocious expression, brimming with murderous intent.
He hadn’t been this enraged in many years. But when he thought of his youngest disciple, Mu Man’er, whom he had always doted on and protected meticulously, being treated like this by an outsider, Qin Gou’s anger flared, and he was on the verge of going mad.
And even Qin Gou himself didn’t know that, at the same time, incredibly far away at the Purple Ridge Arc-Moon Mountain, the towering mountain peaks trembled and hummed like an enraged deity. In an instant, huge rocks fell, and ancient trees split apart.
Countless beasts in the mountain forest prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling, not even daring to escape.
The earth-shattering power of the Arc-Moon Mountain Celestial Master and the Divine Feather Dharma Image were confined within this massive mountain. But no matter how far away, at this moment, they all felt, as if connected by blood, their master’s boundless rage. The violent killing intent emanating from the mountain body was almost enough to tear the entire sky apart.
“Ding, new mission ‘Wrath of Burning Heaven’ released. Completely subvert the Tian Kun imperial family. Reward: one lottery draw opportunity, one cultivation technique fusion privilege. No penalty for failure. No time limit.”
Hearing the prompt, Qin Gou’s knuckles, which had turned white, relaxed slightly. His twin pupils deepened. “What is it? Are you comforting me, old pal? Yes, we’ve known each other for so many years. You probably know what terrible things I might do when my mind is clouded by rage. This time, thank you.”
“Man’er, I’ve made up my mind. I will definitely win this marriage by martial contest. I will marry you with proper ceremony!”
“That’s wonderful!”
“Because this wedding is the best way to gather the entire Tian Kun imperial family in one place! Not only the Tian Kun Human Emperor, but also those princes and eunuchs who disrespected you will have to pay a heavy price. Hmm? What did you just say, Man’er? I didn’t hear clearly.”
“Man’er said… Master is the best!”
When the Tian Kun Human Emperor and Xu Chengfeng returned to Mu Man’er’s palace, they saw that the hall was in disarray. Numerous sword marks and axe cuts crisscrossed the floor and the dragon pillars.
Mu Man’er’s sleeve on her sword-wielding right hand was also torn. Qin Gou’s hair was disheveled. It looked like a fierce battle had erupted between them.
The Tian Kun Human Emperor stared at Mu Man’er’s torn sleeve and said word by word, “Your Majesty’s humble servant Xu has indeed given birth to a good son, who almost injured the Sword-bearing Princess. Such a young hero, even I want to praise him loudly, ‘What courage’.”
Xu Chengfeng’s heart sank. “My son is ignorant of propriety. I beg Your Majesty to overlook his offense in consideration of my many years of tireless service!”
“What’s wrong, Godfather? You’re not going to punish Xu Jin, are you? That won’t do. Man’er hasn’t met anyone interesting like this for a long time.” Mu Man’er said, blinking her beautiful eyes.
“Oh?” The Tian Kun Human Emperor asked in surprise. “So, Man’er is satisfied with Xu Jin’s performance?”
“Not too satisfied, perhaps. Just about ten times better than those rejects you introduced to me before, Godfather.” Mu Man’er said dismissively.
“Hahaha. That’s good, very good.” The Tian Kun Human Emperor laughed heartily, then seriously examined Qin Gou. “So, Man’er wants to participate in the marriage by martial contest for this Xu Jin. Do you have any special thoughts?”
Mu Man’er snorted and turned her face away. “What does it matter if he participates or not? His amateur cultivation is so low, he might get himself killed. Let’s forget it.”
This scene was naturally interpreted as Mu Man’er’s way of concealing her affection.
“That may not be so certain.” The Tian Kun Human Emperor smiled meaningfully. “Your Majesty’s humble servant Xu has indeed given birth to a good son. I wasn’t wrong at all.”
Qin Gou left the imperial palace after receiving a satisfactory answer. However, Xu Chengfeng was full of questions. “Jin’er, what method did you use to win the Sword-bearing Princess’s favor? At first, the Princess looked like she wanted to tear you apart.”
“Your son didn’t say anything. I just passively parried a few of the Princess’s attacks. She didn’t make things too difficult for me. As for why the Princess’s attitude changed so drastically, perhaps it’s because I’m naturally handsome.” Qin Gou shrugged helplessly.
“Nonsense.” Xu Chengfeng couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Son would like to ask Father, why were you so subservient and cautious before Your Majesty? After all, our Xu family is one of the most powerful in the dynasty, and Father commands the army. Tens of thousands of soldiers dare not disobey.”
“There are some secrets you don’t know, but since you’re asking today, I’ll tell you.” Xu Chengfeng said, his voice low and filled with sighs. “The Human Emperor’s Natal Spirit Tool is called ‘Soul Stealing Gu.’ Under normal circumstances, it has no offensive power, but it can plant this Gu curse in someone’s Dantian. Then, with a single thought, the cursed person will suffer unbearable pain and have no power to resist! All ministers of the third rank and above, including myself, have had the curse planted in them long ago. Unless the caster dies, it can never be removed. If Jin’er truly becomes the Imperial Son-in-law, you might not escape this fate!”
“Is that so?” Qin Gou nodded slightly. No wonder the Tian Kun Human Emperor could summon and dismiss a general at will; there was such a hidden reason.
“Alas, is this fate? My son and I are truly at the mercy of this Tian Kun royal family. Jin’er, you must have suffered a lot in front of the Sword-bearing Princess just now, right?”
Qin Gou asked inexplicably, “Didn’t I tell you? Mu Man’er didn’t make things difficult for me.”
“Really?” Xu Chengfeng frowned and examined his third son, with a hint of pity and heartbreak. “Then why are your pants all wet?”
