[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal":3,"chapter-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-206":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},596329,846,"Chapter 206: What Kind of Jianying Are You A Belated Downfall","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-206",206,"\u003Cp>The woman's crimson skirt fluttered like a peony about to bloom, with glimpses of her fair legs shimmering beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She arched her willow-leaf brows, scanning the scene with restless energy, as if itching for action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t alone—several familiar faces trailed behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu’s gaze halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My precious disciple?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo recognized the voice instantly, though for a moment, he doubted his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, where did you get the money to rent this entire tavern?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Bufan and Xue Jing ascended the stairs, while Tang Xiaobao waved at Li Mo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So it’s you lot.\" Shang Wu frowned, visibly disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\" Ignoring his battle-hungry master’s sulking, Li Mo turned to the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elder Qian, Elder Xue, Purple Sun Prefecture and Yunzhou are far apart. How did you arrive so quickly?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Jing chuckled. \"You two youngsters made such a splash, and our Qingyuan Sect has no stronghold in Yunzhou. Even with the nearby Hengyun Sword City, this old man couldn’t rest easy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We drove the war chariot nonstop, burning through two whole Profound Crystals to get here by dawn,\" Qian Bufan added, wincing slightly at the expense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warmth spread through Li Mo and his fellow disciples, deeply moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it mattered, their elders were utterly dependable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Qingyuan Sect couldn’t rival the grandeur of Hengyun Sword City, it had bonds those great sects could never replicate!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, didn’t you say there was another reason?\" Tang Xiaobao asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You mentioned our sect hasn’t shone this brightly in years. With such a world-shaking, face-showing moment, how could we miss the chance to—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Xue expressionlessly smacked Tang Xiaobao’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter clutched his skull, aggrieved. That was exactly what his master had said before they left!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still needed to refine his final meridian to reach full maturity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Xiaobao decided the adult world was far too complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo: \"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone else: \"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much for their heartfelt moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the elders took their seats, the group tacitly ignored the awkwardness, and the atmosphere warmed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sipping his tea, Xue Jing remarked casually,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’d planned to send Xiaobao to fetch you, but you’d already picked this prime spot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I paid a hefty sum to reserve this tavern,\" Qian Bufan said, gazing at the glimmering lake and the Dragon Gate in full view. His earlier stinginess faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Spare no expense on the road—we’ve got disciples climbing the Hidden Dragon Ranking. We can’t skimp on appearances.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then grumbled,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Though the owner here isn’t the most honest...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly!\" Shang Wu nodded, summoning a waiter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fetch your boss!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The waiter scratched his head and approached Li Mo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boss, she’s calling for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu: \"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Bufan: \"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why hadn’t he taken Li Mo as a disciple? Was it really because the inner sect slots were full?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why hadn’t he just kicked someone out?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gasps rippled across the bustling lakeshore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo turned to see the majestic Dragon Gate shimmering with radiant light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glow wasn’t harsh, and the inscribed characters remained crisp, forming a luminous screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its presence rivaled the three suns hanging overhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This hardly seems like the work of martial artists,\" Li Mo murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder the entire Nine Heavens and Ten Earths deferred to the Yantian Sect’s authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a spectacle left little room for doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Ying Bing’s eyes landed on the Dragon Gate, its grandeur faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She studied the inscriptions, calm yet pensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about them felt familiar?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chulong fidgeted with her sleeve, her gaze darting nervously before she finally mustered the courage to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elders and others watched with bated breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew the two youngsters were locks for the ranking—but where would they place?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, elegant, sweeping characters flashed across the screen:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hidden Dragon Ranking, 100th: Huang Donglai.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Martial Arts: Five-Aperture Insight, mastered Wind Cloud Leg and Five Poisons Scripture, comprehended the Cloud-Soaring Movement at Hengyun Sword City, and perfected the high-tier body-refining art—Turtle Shell Body. Exceptional agility, formidable physique, and deadly poison techniques.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Record: Engaged numerous 8th\u002F9th-Aperture Insight experts (e.g., River Lance, Thousand-Mile Eagle) without defeat or victory, always escaping unscathed. Eliminated multiple lower-realm foes. Multiple aliases...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Epithet: The Poisonous Two-Faced Turtle.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lakeshore fell silent for a heartbeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew the Hidden Dragon Ranking was reserved for prodigies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Huang Donglai’s nickname made them question its prestige.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet no one could deny—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was undeniably strong, shrugging off 9th-Aperture experts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just... in the most baffling way possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo: \"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Poisonous Two-Faced Turtle? Seriously?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pfft—HAHAHAHA!\" Shang Wu doubled over laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Precious disciple, did you cross paths with this guy at the martial summit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Met him. Fought him,\" Li Mo said, recalling the slippery opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thoughts?\" Shang Wu asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unbelievably tanky, absurdly fast, and his damage... Well, poison was banned at the summit. I nearly caved and used my hammer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo deadpanned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You defeated a 5th-Aperture expert with just your sword?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Jing and Qian Bufan exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew what had happened in the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But while Li Mo’s swordsmanship was refined, surpassing five apertures to beat a Hidden Dragon prodigy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if he’d used his divine weapon...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Jing suddenly realized—they still didn’t know what Li Mo had gained from Hengyun Sword City’s sword marks. They’d meant to visit and express gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xiao Mo, how did your sword enlightenment go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo blinked, then grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was this close—just this close—to becoming a Sword Prodigy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too bad the elders and founders of Hengyun Sword City had vetoed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tch, isn’t our little Bing the Sword Prodigy?\" Shang Wu teased, convinced he was boasting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of ‘prodigy’ are you, then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not a prodigy, alas. These days, they call me... the Sword Immortal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You? A Sword Immortal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu’s eyes brimmed with skepticism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, what a shame I just bought this tavern. They must have fine wine here...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu beamed. \"Ahem. All jokes aside, the title is well-earned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, the perks of bribery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her masterly dignity was crumbling fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo’s smile froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hidden Dragon Ranking listed each entrant’s greatest strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wasn’t swordsmanship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did that mean his cover was about to—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The luminous screen flickered, already reaching the 85th rank.\u003C\u002Fp>",1039,"2026-05-30T17:19:00.270Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.286Z",1,"novelbin.me","ec88d2d5bd3b167d9c02fc3e2aba4e7079746fecce32f20d177dbf76dd7bc464","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-207","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-205",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]