Chapter 494: Those are all old stories; I only speak of them because you asked

As she spoke, Mother Tang's tears had already dampened Li Chen's lapels.

She did not hide the truth; Tang Shan's father was indeed the one with the problem here.

Tang Shan's father was a martial arts fanatic with an extremely high cultivation base. In order to continuously improve his cultivation, he began to harbor "extreme" ideas.

Because Mother Tang was an Elder of the hidden sect, the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall, she had inadvertently mentioned that the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall possessed a treasure called the Immortal Fate Crystal, which could help cultivators of the lower realms ascend.

Tang Shan's father was not a member of the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall, and Mother Tang did not have the qualifications to obtain it, so Tang Shan's father harbored crooked intentions and stole an Immortal Fate Crystal.

From this, it is evident that Tang Shan's thievery was likely inherited.

Although Tang Shan's father stole the item, the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall was not a simple force. The sect's powerhouses were all dispatched; they captured Tang Shan's father and also sought to capture the traitor.

Mother Tang luckily escaped and brought the swaddled Tang Shan here to live in seclusion.

Tang Shan's father was in the wrong to begin with, so Mother Tang had never told anyone else about this matter.

In other words, it was very difficult to find someone to help rescue him for this reason.

If Li Chen had not been so imposing and powerful, she would never have spoken of it.

Li Chen toyed with a strand of her dark hair, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth: "You are an Elder of the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall; that is quite a coincidence. However, why should I do you this favor?"

Mother Tang bit her lip and suddenly took the initiative to untie the sash at her waist: "This concubine... this concubine is willing to serve Your Majesty for the rest of her life."

Li Chen's eyes darkened, and he scooped her up horizontally: "Then we shall see how you perform tonight."

When Li Chen was finally satisfied, the morning light was already glimmering outside the window.

After these two days of contact, Mother Tang seemed to feel that whether or not to save Tang Shan's father no longer mattered.

Because she did not want to make things difficult for Li Chen; after all, Tang Shan's father was not honorable.

She had already begun to consider things for Li Chen.

However, Li Chen said that since he had already promised, he had to fulfill it; it was a commitment to her.

He couldn't very well say, "I have a mission at the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall, and you've canceled the mission, so how am I supposed to do both?"

Yet this sentence moved Mother Tang even more, making her wish she could serve Li Chen every day to repay his kindness.

In her view, a truly upright man was nothing more than this.

On the morning of the third day, Dai Xiaoyao came to bid farewell to Li Chen with two dark circles under his eyes.

He had already completed the "treasure offering" mission, and Li Chen would certainly reward him.

Hearing about the reward, his face was filled with fawning smiles, looking just like a pug that had been tossed a meaty bone: "Your Majesty, shall this subject go to the Ministry of War to collect the reward now?"

Li Chen was tasting tea in the courtyard and nodded slightly upon hearing this: "Go. Tell the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War to equip you according to the standards of a third-rank vassal state."

Upon hearing this, Dai Xiaoyao was so excited he nearly knelt to kowtow.

The military equipment standard of a third-rank vassal state was a configuration capable of arming one hundred thousand elites!

With this batch of equipment, the status of the Star Fall Kingdom among the southern states would be elevated by at least three levels!

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Dai Xiaoyao prostrated himself in a grand salute, his peripheral vision catching Mother Tang walking out from the room.

Today, Mother Tang had changed into a pale green long dress, her hair bunned meticulously, yet it could not hide the spring-like charm in her eyes and brows.

As she walked, her waist swayed lightly, like a willow in the wind; where was there any trace of the dignified and steady appearance from two days ago?

Dai Xiaoyao clicked his tongue in secret; it seemed His Majesty had not done little "teaching" of his foster mother these past two days.

After Dai Xiaoyao left happily, Mother Tang walked gracefully to Li Chen's side, her fair hands adding tea for him: "Your Majesty, when shall we set off?"

Li Chen grasped her soft hand and gave a light tug, and Mother Tang fell into his lap: "No rush. Tell me about the situation at the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall first."

Mother Tang blushed and looked left and right, confirming there was no one around, before whispering: "The hall gate is in the 'Lost Sea Area' of the South Sea. One must take a specific ship and navigate according to the star positions to find it..."

As she spoke, she took a bronze compass from her bosom, with a dark blue gemstone embedded in the needle: "This is the 'Star Guidance Luo Pan'; only those above the rank of Elder are qualified to hold it."

Li Chen toyed with the compass and suddenly leaned close to Mother Tang's ear: "Last night you said the current Hall Master is your senior brother? He seems to have pursued you as well."

Mother Tang's earlobes turned bright red instantly, and she shyly and angrily tapped his chest: "Your Majesty! Those are all old stories; I only spoke of them because you asked..."

Li Chen laughed wickedly: "Let's go. It's time to go see the other two beloved concubines."

Lin Yuan City, top floor of the Sea-Viewing Tower.

Xuan Ji and Fairy Yunya were worrying over a map. ===== CHAPTER 495 =====