Chapter 0: 97. Skilled in Both Civil and Martial Arts
Before long, under Yan Suoyun’s summons, the Ten Pillar Demon Lords gathered.
“Just now, Jia Ren and Yan Xin found me. How should Lu Zhili be dealt with?” Yan Suoyun’s gaze swept across the room. “I’ve calculated the time, and it’s indeed about time to formally judge Lu Zhili. However, the method of punishment for this person has not yet been decided.”
“What needs to be said?” Ren Su, holding the pre-arranged explanation with Qin Gou, spoke aggressively from the start. “Naturally, the sinner should be scattered and their spirit vanquished.”
Lu Changli’s eyelid twitched, and she immediately said, “It seems Demon Lord Jia Ren hasn’t grasped the situation. Lu Zhili merely exercised insufficient diligence and mistakenly delivered a batch of unstable Eternal Seal Ice into Mo Qingyang’s dungeon. This is her only mistake, not that she deliberately stimulated the Eternal Seal Ice to fight Mo Qingyang to the death. Otherwise, she herself would have been sealed in ice long ago and wouldn’t be safe and sound like this.”
“Who knows if Lu Zhili did it intentionally?” Ren Su scoffed dismissively.
“I can vouch for Lu Zhili. Regardless, she does not deserve death,” Lu Changli said, looking coldly at Ren Su. With great matters nearing completion, how could Lu Zhili lose her life at such a crucial moment?
“Nonsense, you are an elder from her clan, so of course you’d speak for her.”
“I am also willing to testify for Lu Zhili,” Qin Gou slowly said, glancing at Lu Changli and giving a slight nod.
Yan Suoyun’s gaze immediately fell on Qin Gou as he asked, “What does Zhenyu mean by this?”
Qin Gou replied without hesitation, “I am willing to use the ‘Demon Lord’s Command’ privilege, which can only be exercised once every thousand years, to protect Lu Zhili.”
“Just one ‘Demon Lord’s Command’ is probably not enough, right?” Ren Su appeared arrogant, but in reality, it always took at least two ‘Demon Lord’s Commands’ to overturn an important decision. They had already agreed that as long as Lu Changli followed suit, Ren Su would immediately give in and help Qin Gou and the others meet the minimum requirement, deterring other Demon Lords.
As expected, Lu Changli pondered for a moment and then nodded forcefully, “I am also willing…”
“Why isn’t it enough?”
However, no one expected Yan Suoyun to suddenly tap the table twice with his finger and say, “As Demon Lord Fanyin said, Lu Zhili’s mistake was unintentional. Zhenyu’s ‘Demon Lord’s Command’ privilege is enough to spare her life… Jia Ren, have you thought this through?”
“Th-thought it through,” Ren Su’s eyes widened in surprise.
“That’s good then.” Yan Suoyun finally looked at Qin Gou with satisfaction… Huh? What’s wrong? Senior Brother Qin, no, benefactor, why do you have such an expression?
Qin Gou’s breath hitched, and his face turned pale. Ren Su had clearly told him earlier that the rules for discussions among Demon Lords required at least two ‘Demon Lord’s Commands’. Yet, Yan Suoyun had made such a huge exception today.
For a moment, Qin Gou suddenly looked up, his gaze sharp as a blade, unyieldingly meeting Yan Suoyun’s eyes. This old lecher must have ulterior motives!
Yan Suoyun was bewildered and even startled by Qin Gou’s hostile attitude, his hair standing on end. What had he said wrong to anger his benefactor?
“Then, with my ‘Demon Lord’s Command’, I request everyone to re-approve Lu Zhili’s position as Supreme Priest. Until the new Demon Emperor emerges, she will retain all her current authorities within the Abyss Palace,” Lu Changli suddenly stood up and said.
Everyone looked at each other strangely. Even though Lu Zhili had been handling all matters of the Abyss Palace meticulously, after all, she had just escaped a death sentence and was immediately having her position restored. Wasn’t this too unfair to Mo Qingyang?
“I agree,” Ren Su said, gently nodding. The Demon Lords under her command, Yan Xin and the others, also expressed their agreement.
Lu Changli looked at Ren Su in utter astonishment, completely unaware of what she was up to.
“I also think this is feasible,” Yan Suoyun said with a slight nod. This way, he could surely please his benefactor! He couldn’t help but look towards Qin Gou again.
“Crack!”
Yan Suoyun’s eyes widened in fear as the two iron balls he was playing with slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.
“Senior Yan?”
“I-it’s nothing,” Yan Suoyun replied, crestfallen.
If Qin Gou’s gaze towards him earlier was hostile, now it was like avoiding a snake or a scorpion, as if he disdained to even look at him again!
Yan Suoyun felt as if he was on the verge of a complete breakdown. Since the day they met, his senior brother had never been so stern with him!
“What are Zhenyu’s thoughts on this decision?” Yan Suoyun finally couldn’t help but ask nervously.
“Very good,” Qin Gou replied, secretly racking his brain and simulating nearly a hundred escape plans from Yan Suoyun’s grasp.
These simple two words brought Yan Suoyun a sense of relief as if he had received a divine blessing. He was so happy that he felt like having an unprecedented, unrestrained cry, followed by waves of exhaustion from extreme nervousness.
Only he knew how important his senior brother and master were in his heart. If he couldn’t get Qin Gou’s approval today, Yan Suoyun felt he would develop a mental impediment.
…
After the meeting, Yan Suoyun remained seated, lost in thought.
Du You, standing beside him, wished he could erase his memory and pretend he knew nothing.
Lu Changli immediately found Qin Gou and said with a triumphant smile, “Pious younger brother Zhenyu, the major matter is settled. When do you plan to marry Lu Zhili of my clan?”
“Why the rush with marriage?” Qin Gou said with a gentle smile. “Zhili told me that Brother Fanyin was so eager because he was completely thinking of her, worried she would lose power and suffer. But now, not only is Zhili’s life safe, but she has also retained her authority in the Abyss Palace. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”
“Does Zhenyu mean you wish to wait a while before proceeding with the marriage?”
“Yes. I will definitely marry Lu Zhili, but both of us have decided to get along well for a while first.”
“However, I believe this matter should be expedited to avoid unforeseen complications! Zhili will definitely follow my orders. Most importantly, what is Zhenyu’s decision?”
Qin Gou frowned slightly. “Fanyin’s tone makes it sound like a cold transaction. Is Lu Zhili nothing more than a chess piece you can discard at will?”
“Since that’s the case, there’s no point in saying more… I propose we make a bet, Zhenyu. Within ten days, you will return before me and personally beg to marry Zhili quickly!” Lu Changli’s eyes darkened, and a strange smile played on her lips.
…
The next day, Qin Gou, with the help of the Demon Lord’s Tower, teleported to the Abyss Palace with Lu Zhili.
For a moment, Lu Zhili, Mo Ning, and Mo Yu embraced and wept. Although Kong Ling didn’t step forward, the emotion in her eyes was genuine.
“Qin, Qin Sheng.” Suddenly, Lu Zhili’s expression changed drastically.
“What’s wrong?” Qin Gou asked, puzzled.
Lu Zhili’s eyes went blank, and her face turned ashen. “Just now, Ancestor informed me via Spirit Power Transmission that Di Zhu of the Eight-Armed Rakshasa clan will propose marriage to me in the next few days. She wants me to deliberately act close to Di Zhu to provoke Qin Sheng. If even this cannot move Qin Sheng, I can then truly marry Di Zhu and uncover the secrets of the Eight-Armed Rakshasa clan’s spatial spirit arts, which is also… a repayment to the clan.”
Qin Gou tore open a Blood Mist Door with a wave of his hand.
“Master, where are you going?”
“Some people are useless if you just talk. They need a beating to know that your master is skilled in both civil and martial arts,” he said, leaving behind a fiercely worded remark, and then Qin Gou vanished without a trace.
“Strange, Mother, didn’t you already marry Lord Qin Gou? Why is Ancestor still having Di Zhu come to propose?” Mo Ning suddenly asked in confusion.
“What?”
“Earlier, Ancestor came to the Abyss Palace and told us that the only way to save your life was to marry the new Demon Lord.”
“That’s not what happened,” Lu Zhili suddenly looked at Kong Ling and said sincerely, “Ling’er, listen to my explanation…”
Kong Ling’s palm-sized body floated in mid-air and she shook her head, “Holy Queen, at that moment of life and death, you and Master were just putting on an act. Why hide it? None of us have any objections.”
“I only have one question. Regardless, my address and Little Brother Qin’s address must be independent of each other,” Mo Yu said seriously.
“Mo Yu, shut up!” Kong Ling and Mo Ning, the two elder sisters, said in unison.
The Second Prince lived a life of humility and wanted to cry but had no tears.
