Chapter 722: Could it be a monster?

Gu Jiu Ling was gripped tightly by Tuo Ba Yu on her arm and pulled to his side; lifting her head, she saw Xiao Yin's tall, upright figure.

The two boats were too close, so Gu Jiu Ling could see Xiao Yin's eyebrows and eyes.

Xiao Yin watched as Tuo Ba Yu, gripping Gu Jiu Ling, stood up.

He suddenly took a nervous step forward, almost falling over the bow, but Ling Feng grabbed him.

"Your Majesty, be careful!"

Xiao Yin's brows furrowed deeply, a strong killing intent flashing in his eyes.

He pressed his thin lips tight, grinding his back teeth as he coldly said, "How dare this bastard?"

The moment Xiao Yin saw Tuo Ba Yu, he guessed the whole situation.

He never imagined that one day he and Gu Jiu Ling would fall into the hands of this petty person.

Now that Gu Jiu Ling is in Tuo Ba Yu's hands, Xiao Yin dare not act rashly.

He stared fixedly at Tuo Ba Yu, this bastard constantly claiming to like Gu Jiu Ling, never expecting to use her as his shield.

Damn it! He doesn't like her; he just has a stronger possessive desire.

Whatever he sets his sights on, he must grab; if Tuo Ba Yu falls into his palm today, he will surely chop off his claws.

"Release her, and I'll guarantee you a way out—I, Xiao Yin, keep my word."

Xiao Yin shouted at Tuo Ba Yu across the way: "You also understand—now the situation is dire, you cannot escape my grasp."

"If my ship rams yours, your little wreck won't last long; release the person, and we still have something to discuss."

Tuo Ba Yu suddenly laughed: "Xiao Yin, do you think I'll believe your nonsense?"

"When you killed Bai Xiao Sheng before, you gave him no leeway at all."

"As for me, you'd likely strike even harder."

"After all, Bai Xiao Sheng used to be your friend, your close nephew, while I? You've always regarded me as a thorn in your eye, a splinter in your flesh."

"With Gu Jiu Ling in my hand, you finally feel some apprehension."

"If I release Gu Jiu Ling, you'll probably put me to death outright."

Xiao Yin's brows knotted tightly; he dared not gamble, for if that madman Tuo Ba Yu really hurt Gu Jiu Ling, he feared eternal ruin.

"What exactly do you want?"

Tuo Ba Yu chuckled lightly: "Let me and Gu Jiu Ling return to Bei Di."

"You're dreaming!" Xiao Yin flatly refused.

"You may return to Bei Di yourself, but though I say I'll let you go, my empress must stay."

"If you don't keep her, what then? Come at me with a barrage of arrows—do you think I'm afraid of you?" Tuo Ba Yu laughed coldly.

Gu Jiu Ling's brows furrowed tightly; these two, upon meeting, never expected to go back and forth with pointless talk, achieving nothing.

For a moment, the scene stalled into a deadlock.

Gu Jiu Ling coughed slightly, throwing Xiao Yin off balance again.

Tuo Ba Yu, standing beside her, loosened his grip on her hand a bit.

"I say you two stop first—will you listen to a few words from me?"

Tuo Ba Yu looked at Gu Jiu Ling, his eyes still holding some tenderness, but those few strands made Gu Jiu Ling feel nauseated.

"Speak; whatever you say, this king will fulfill as you wish—everything Xiao Yin can give you, I can give as well."

"Isn't the empress of Bei Di better than that of Southern Qi?"

Xiao Yin furiously rebuked: "Outrageous! You beast, stealing love with a sword, always taking others' wives, yet speaking so righteously—do you have any shame?"

"If Bei Di ever has someone like you become emperor, its fate will likely be ruined in your hands."

Were it not for Gu Jiu Ling being in Tuo Ba Yu's hands, he would have long since leapt over and stabbed Tuo Ba Yu all over with hundreds of holes to vent his hatred.

Tuo Ba Yu sneered: "Me a beast? No matter how beastly this king is, he wouldn't let a girl bear a child before marrying her—who's shameless is obvious."

Tuo Ba Yu retorted, and Xiao Yin's face turned ashen.

Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly said: "Listen to me for a moment—let you two fight; whoever wins, I'll follow."

As soon as Gu Jiu Ling finished speaking, Xiao Yin's face flashed with disbelief, staring at her in astonishment.

That gaze even held a hint of hurt and resentment.

"Gu Jiu Ling, do you know what you're saying? Could you really be going with him? Come on! Let's spar."

Tuo Ba Yu's face suddenly calmed, and he chuckled lightly: "Your Highness, you wouldn't want him to kill me, would you?"

"If I were to duel him, I'd probably already be dead under his sword."

Gu Jiu Ling snorted: "How so? Prince, you keep saying you like me, yet you dare not even step into the arena?"

"'The goading tactic?' Tuo Ba Yu chuckled lightly: 'I need to stay alive to fly side by side with you.'"

Gu Jiu Ling was about to speak when she suddenly groaned, involuntarily bending and slowly squatting on the deck.

"Jiu Ling!" Xiao Yin exclaimed.

Tuo Ba Yu beside Gu Jiu Ling also startled slightly, loosening his grip on her arm a bit.

"Save me," Gu Jiu Ling whispered.

Tuo Ba Yu also panicked, instinctively snipping the rope binding Gu Jiu Ling's arm with a dagger.

"What trick are you pulling now? Or are you feeling unwell?" Tuo Ba Yu asked urgently.

Gu Jiu Ling paid no heed; her face indeed looked somewhat grim.

Tuo Ba Yu instantly panicked, lowering his head to see how Gu Jiu Ling really was.

Gu Jiu Ling suddenly raised her hand; a strong light flashed from her palm, and Tuo Ba Yu's vision went dark.

Afterwards, his whole body felt as if something had torn him apart violently, rendering him speechless from pain.

Immediately he saw a milky-white light enveloping a person—it was the vanished Yun Duo.

Tuo Ba Yu was greatly startled, his heart pounding to the limit—why is this happening?

Where exactly is he?

He went all out, drew his sword and thrust it at Yun Duo, who sat with eyes closed inside the light sphere, but a stronger pulling force yanked him away, and with a splash he fell entirely into the water.

"Prince!" Gu Lv shouted.

Then the icy river water instantly submerged his mouth and nose, and Tuo Ba Yu actually sank down.

Gu Lv could think of nothing else, leapt into the river to rescue Tuo Ba Yu.

The crisis erupted suddenly; it wasn't just Gu Lv's side—people on Xiao Yin's side were also half terrified.

Xiao Yin was completely stunned, staring fixedly at Gu Jiu Ling, who was paralyzed on the opposite boat.

Ling Feng rubbed his eyes in disbelief—could he be hallucinating?

Or did he really see wrong, his eyes malfunctioning?

Just now, he saw with his own eyes the Empress's palm suddenly emit a blinding flash, and in that instant the light enveloped Tuo Ba Yu nearby, causing Tuo Ba Yu to vanish instantly?

At this moment, Gu Jiu Ling seemed to collapse as if drained, her whole body slumped there and she fainted.

"Quick! Row over! Quickly!" Xiao Yin stared intently at Gu Jiu Ling on the opposite boat.

In his gaze there was not only surprise but even more terror.

If he didn't missee, his Empress, in front of him, seemed to use demonic magic—could his Empress be a monster?