Chapter 427: Fell Into the Trap

"This phoenix crown is merely a prelude. I was also entrusted by someone. As they say, taking people's money and property to remove their calamities. I took Du Long's item, so naturally I have to deliver his words. That's all, no other purpose; I hope the queen will forgive me."

Ye Liuyun, seeing no one around, went straight to the point.

He didn't want to linger. Though the queen wasn't vulgarly seductive, she seemed to have cultivated a Soul technique that bewitched hearts, naturally alluring to men. Ye Liuyun didn't want to stay with her long.

The queen's complexion changed instantly when she heard the name Du Long.

Ye Liuyun ignored what she thought and directly relayed Du Long's message.

"These are what he asked me to convey. My task is complete, and I've repaid him for the valuables he gave me. With that, I take my leave," Ye Liuyun said, standing to depart.

"Do you still intend to leave?" the queen's face, now alternating red and pale with anger, asked.

"How? You intend to kill me to silence me?" Ye Liuyun asked unflinchingly.

"Silence? You come here, spout nonsense, insult me—how could I be lenient? What affection? Clearly that thief coveted my beauty. I don't even know him!" the queen raged.

"Eh?" Ye Liuyun was stunned, noting the queen's expression didn't seem feigned. "Is Du Long really just messing with me for fun? Or does this fellow have another trap?"

Sensing trouble, Ye Liuyun explained to the queen: "I only took his item and delivered his words. As for truth, I don't know. If the situation is false, you may treat it as wind in your ears!"

At that moment, the Ten Thousand Gods Command in Ye Liuyun's Sea of Consciousness suddenly activated. "Hmm? Is it detoxifying? When did I get poisoned?"

While Ye Liuyun was shocked, a Divine Sense burst out from his Storage Ring.

"Ha ha ha, Queen Li, didn't expect it? In the end you fell into my scheme. I can also avenge myself against your pursuit!"

The Divine Sense turned out to be Du Long. Ye Liuyun immediately realized Du Long had set an ambush within his Primordial Power.

"Thank you, little fellow, for avenging me. As for reward, I give you my Primordial Power and wealth; even if you take a bit of risk, you won't lose. Your fortune is great, your fate is strong; you won't die, rest assured!" Du Long's Divine Sense said.

Ye Liuyun was speechless. Clearly he was still duped by Du Long! He hadn't noticed Du Long had tampered with his Primordial Power. Despite all precautions, he fell into the trap.

It was definitely Du Long's Divine Sense, which sensed the queen's aura and triggered the trap.

"Is this taking a risk? To trap the queen—then can the Golden Peng Dynasty ever spare me?" Ye Liuyun muttered inwardly, anxiously seeking a way out.

The queen instantly understood and first used her Divine Sense to annihilate Du Long's Divine Sense.

"Ha ha, whether my Divine Sense lives or dies doesn't matter; it will dissipate soon anyway. As for you, lofty queen, you fell victim to my Hehuan Powder; now the Golden Peng Dynasty will be utterly embarrassed!"

As he spoke, Du Long's Divine Sense squeezed its eyes toward Ye Liuyun: "Such a great beauty, cheap for you, little brother…"

He hadn't finished speaking when the queen's Soul annihilated him. Even if the queen hadn't done so, Ye Liuyun would have taken action. Du Long was just too vile.

Immediately, the queen's face turned scarlet as she stared at Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun spread his hands. "You saw everything; I'm also a victim…"

"You should die too!" the queen said, then mobilized True Essence to strike Ye Liuyun. But suddenly she found her True Essence seemed missing, unable to summon; her body went limp, her hand falling toward Ye Liuyun, and she collapsed.

"Alas!" Ye Liuyun hadn't expected her poison to act so quickly; he was about to flee, but fearing she'd be hurt by falling, he reached out to help her.

"Get away, you flower thief!" the queen, face flushed, clearly struggling to suppress the Hehuan Powder's toxicity.

She realized that if she didn't summon True Essence, the toxin's effect would progress more slowly.

At that moment the surrounding guards also noticed the situation, shouting and rushing in.

"Release the queen!" several guards shouted in unison.

"Kill him!" the queen ordered the guards.

Suddenly, from the Side Courtyard's perimeter, two Heavenly Gang Seventh Layer true‑essence waves surged forward.

Ye Liuyun intended to let go of the queen and flee, but as soon as he released her, the queen let out a "ying" sound and fell onto him, her face even more flushed, clutching his sleeve tightly.

At this point the medicine's effect had taken hold; the queen, somewhat disoriented, was reluctant to let him go.

With no choice, Ye Liuyun gritted his teeth and seized the queen's neck.

"Everyone step back, give me a way out, otherwise I'll kill her immediately."

Having said that, he lifted the queen and, soaring, fled toward the outskirts of the city.

All the guards and elite protectors could only follow behind, unwilling to leave, while sending someone back to the palace for help.

Ye Liuyun hadn't expected the matter to end up as a kidnapping of the queen. He now couldn't simply back out, otherwise he couldn't even leave the Royal City.

Ye Liuyun ran while using his Soul to stimulate the queen, keeping her as awake as possible.

The queen, taking advantage of the brief clarity, took out a detox pill and swallowed it. Though it couldn't fully neutralize the Hehuan Powder made by Du Long, it could delay the effect.

Seeing the guards trailing Ye Liuyun, the queen said, "You can't escape! Release me now!"

"If I release you, I'll die even faster! What can I do! You know I'm the one trapped; I can't just wait to die! A fight might still give me a chance to live!" Ye Liuyun said helplessly.

The Imperial Guard and the city's soldiers inside also noticed the anomaly and moved to encircle, but the queen's guards rebuked them, clearing a path for Ye Liuyun to escape, lest he be forced to harm the queen.

As for rescue, they could only wait for the Royal Palace's experts. None dared to act; the queen's neck was in Ye Liuyun's grip, and they wouldn't assume that responsibility.

Ye Liuyun, carrying the queen, quickly burst out of the Royal City. However, bearing a hostage slowed his ability to merge into void, so his escape speed was far slower than planned.

But he already sensed a strong cultivator's aura from the dynasty side pursuing him; he still dared not release the queen, for without a hostage he would be in greater danger.

"Can you tell them to stop the pursuit? After I escape, I'll naturally release you!" Ye Liuyun negotiated with the queen.

"Hmph, you aid the tyrant, reap your own evil! You won't get away!" the queen said bitterly. With Ye Liuyun's commotion, the entire Royal City would soon know she had been greatly disgraced.

"Foolish woman!" Ye Liuyun cursed, then ignored her, focusing on increasing his speed.

"Damned flower thief, release me quickly!" the queen, feeling the Hehuan Powder overwhelming her, realized she must find a master in the palace to detox.

"If I let you go, I'm doomed; do you think I'm a fool?"