Chapter 245: You've actually raised a good daughter

Several people quickly returned to the capital and arrived at that mountain villa.

Zhu Lingyue removed her mask and looked at Shen Qing.

"Let's part ways here."

"I still need to return to the palace. Besides your Shen family's old fogeys, other old fogeys from the palace are also returning one after another."

Shen Qing waved his hand nonchalantly: "Anyway, the Martial Saint hasn't returned yet."

"Let's storm the palace; you pick a target, and we'll kill it."

Zhu Lingyue shook her head: "No, that bunch of immortals must have guessed we're joining forces; they're hiding deeper than each other."

"I need to come up with bait to lure them all out."

During this period, the two have made quite a commotion; although Zhu Lingyue is now in power, who knows how many pairs of old fogeys' eyes are watching in the palace, so it's inevitable that someone will notice something.

"Besides, I have a few things to take care of; give me a little time."

"Wait for my news."

Saying this, Zhu Lingyue slowly hovered, preparing to fly to the palace.

Shen Qing glanced at Zhu Lingyue, as if she still had some unspeakable secret; could it be that they still have some leverage over her?

Shen Qing thought of something: "Hey, right, if that golden dragon in your palace is trustworthy, next time you contact me, don't send a message—just have the golden dragon tell my family's kirin, and it will let me know."

Zhu Lingyue stared for a moment, nodded, and then flew away.

Meanwhile, Shen Qing looked at Shen Meng in his hand, shook him hard, and said: "Still pretending to sleep?"

Shen Meng had actually woken up long ago, but he simply didn't dare open his eyes.

Shen Qing casually threw Shen Meng to the ground, then traced a half‑circle in the air with his right foot; a sonic boom rang out, and he kicked straight into Shen Meng's crotch.

All that could be heard was the sound of something breaking.

Shen Meng snapped his eyes open, his eyes bulging.

"Ah!!!"

Shen Qing chuckled: "I thought you could keep pretending."

Shen Meng glared at Shen Qing and snarled.

"Shen Qing! No matter how I put it, I'm your great‑granduncle! Can't you give me some dignity?"

Shen Qing stepped forward, placed a foot on Shen Meng's head, and said: "What are you even supposed to be? You still want dignity?"

"Answer my questions; this is your best option."

"What did the Second Meridian give you back then to make you send me away?"

Shen Meng's eyes flickered with guilt; he didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Shen Qing kept increasing the pressure with his foot, and Shen Meng's head began to deform slightly.

Shen Meng bellowed: "I'll talk! I'll talk!"

"It's because my great‑grandson died back then; I was furious, so I..."

Shen Qing narrowed his eyes: "Is that supposed to be an excuse?"

"Just because my great‑grandson died, does that mean other kids have to die too?"

He then begged: "Shen Qing, Shen Qing! Look, you're unharmed and now have even greater talent—please spare my life..."

Shen Qing crouched, reached out and patted him: "A toad wanting to eat swan meat—what a beautiful dream."

"Just wait; you still have more coming."

Saying that, Shen Qing slapped a palm directly onto Shen Meng's face, knocking him out.

He then turned his gaze to the silent Wu Nian beside him.

"Look, now you know how low a person's limits can go."

Deep within the palace.

An old man stood with his hands behind his back, the dragon aura on his body so thick that even without using his origin power, a faint golden dragon silhouette could be seen.

He stood on a high tower, overlooking the entire capital, his voice flat, giving no hint of joy or anger.

"Yuan Cheng, you've raised a fine daughter."

Behind him stood a middle‑aged man named Zhu Yuan Cheng, the former emperor, Emperor Jing, and also the father of Zhu Lingyue.

Zhu Yuan Cheng stared for a moment: "Great‑granduncle, what do you mean by that?"

The old man snorted: "You know about the Shen family's Shen Qing bloodbathing the Shen family these past two days, right?"

Zhu Yuan Cheng nodded: "I know, he's ruthless, but it's nothing—just taking advantage while those few Half‑Saints are away to cause trouble."

"I heard those Half‑Saints of the Shen family aren't rushing back from all directions; once they return to the Shen family, this farce will be over."

The old man glanced at him: "So you know all that?"

"You haven't heard the news that Shen Qing and Zhu Lingyue are joining forces?"

Zhu Yuan Cheng was stunned; looking at him, he really knew nothing.

The old man's tone carried a hint of disdain: "Judging by the route, Shen Meng and his lot should reach the capital by morning at the latest."

"But up to now, the Shen family has shown no movement at all, so there's only one possibility."

"They must have run into trouble on the road and could never reach the Shen family."

"In other words, they already have the ability to resist, even to defeat three Half‑Saints."

Zhu Yuan Cheng gaped: "How is that possible?"

"How could they possibly team up? They're two people who couldn't be connected even with an eight‑foot pole."

It seems Shen Qing is the Shen family's third young master, and Zhu Lingyue is the current empress; they ought to know each other.

But Shen Qing spent his childhood either injured or on the way to being injured, and Zhu Lingyue's childhood wasn't pleasant either; the two basically never met.

Zhu Yuan Cheng continued speaking.

Moreover, Shen Qing is only twenty years old, Zhu Lingyue is only twenty-two years old—how could this be possible?

The old man's eyes grew a bit colder: "That's why I said you raised a good daughter."

"He is far more capable than you."

Zhu Yuancheng hurriedly tried to cover up: "It's fine, it's fine; Zhu Lingyue still has leverage over me, and the matter hasn't slipped out of control."

The old man snorted: "This is also your only use."

"Watch over her; I'll take care of Shen Qing's side."

"I will talk with him."