Chapter 18: Great Zhou Empress Obtains the Secret Key

Master, it looks like someone is fighting ahead.

Lin Bai probed with his divine sense and found that quite a few people were fighting ahead.

It's none of our business; we don't provoke others, and they don't provoke us.

Let's go.

This ancient road had only one route, so they continued along it.

……

Haha, Qin Ruoxue has no way to escape!

Obediently hand over the secret key, and I might consider leaving you a whole corpse.

Of course, if you let this general play with you a bit more, that would be even better! My Empress.

Hahaha.

That general lecherously stared at one of the women.

General, someone is coming.

A scout soldier discovered someone approaching and hurriedly reported to the leading general.

What a buzzkill, go see who it is.

On the ancient road, over fifty mounted soldiers were besieging two women.

You treacherous official, don't even think about getting the secret key.

I, Qin Ruoxue, would rather die than let you have it.

Your Majesty, I'll cover you—run fast!

At this moment, Feng Qingyang and his companion also came walking toward them.

Carry on, we're just passing through.

Stop! Did you hear something?

The leading general called out to stop Feng Qingyang and his companion, who were about to leave.

The Ancient Sacred Secret Realm is about to open, and whoever holds the secret key can get a share; at this critical moment, it's better to mistakenly kill than to let anyone slip through.

My master said we're just passing through; you continue, can't you hear?

Bold, you dare speak to the general like that.

The two besieged women noticed that the two arriving men had drawn attention, sensing an opportunity.

Your Majesty, run quickly!

After saying that, the woman shoved Qin Ruoxue hard.

Then, with a boom, she self-destructed; the explosion's shockwave overturned the soldiers surrounding them, perishing together.

Shuang'er!

No time to grieve, Qin Ruoxue turned and fled.

Damn it!

That general also didn't bother with Feng Qingyang and his companion, turning to chase after Qin Ruoxue.

These people are braindead; they said it's none of our business, yet they insist on seeking death.

Let's go.

Feng Qingyang and Lin Bai continued on their way, about to leave the borders of the Great Zhou.

Who would have thought the woman being chased would circle back.

Qin Ruoxue, wounded and knowing she couldn't run far, circled back and caught up with the two men ahead.

Young Master, please save me!

Qin Ruoxue pleaded.

Feng Qingyang glanced at the pursuing woman; from afar he hadn't seen clearly, but up close her beauty was enough to make fish sink and geese fall, to shame the moon and flowers, with a hint of heroism in her brows.

But due to being chased for days, she was grimy, ruining that beauty; her sword‑torn clothes still revealed large patches of snow‑white skin.

A beauty's skull—nothing to faze Feng Qingyang.

Why should I save you?

Or rather, what basis do I have to save you? Just because you're decent‑looking?

Feng Qingyang checked with the system and also found the woman's identity rather interesting.

【Great Zhou Empress: Qin Ruoxue, Realm: Void God Peak, Traitors' false rumor: Empress slaughtered ten years of meritorious officials, dynasty war flames rose, rebellious officials and traitors pulled down the empress and proclaimed themselves emperor】

Young Master, this is the secret key to open the Ancient Sacred Secret Realm; I'm alone now, holding it is useless, so I give it to you.

Qin Ruoxue produced an object from her bosom and handed it to Feng Qingyang.

Feng Qingyang took the secret key from Qin Ruoxue's hand and idly played with it.

Oh? The Ancient Sacred Secret Realm?

Yes, Young Master; with this secret key you can enter the Ancient Sacred Secret Realm, which holds abundant resources, fortuitous encounters, and inheritances.

In three days the Ancient Sacred Secret Realm will open in the Kirin Dynasty; then, with the secret key in hand, you can enter.

No interest at all!

What's so appealing about a sage's legacy? In less than three years my Azure Cloud Sect will have everyone as Great Emperors; still, the resources there could be considered for plunder… no, let's just compete fairly.

【"Ding, as the future First Divine Sect of the Myriad Heavens, with too few disciples to manage, I've issued a mission to recruit a genius disciple; completing it will earn huge rewards."】

【"Detected that a genius disciple will appear in the Kirin Dynasty in three days; please, host, hurry over."】

Feng Qingyang's eyes lit up; the system hadn't issued a task in days, making him eager—don't misunderstand, he just wants the system's reward.

In the Kirin Dynasty? Could he be trying to enter the secret realm? Coincidentally, I've obtained the secret realm key here—what fate!

Qin Ruoxue, hearing this, had no interest at all.

Already began to despair, the dignified empress has reached a dead end.

Feng Qingyang saw this empress sincerely begging for his help, even offering treasures, almost kneeling before him.

A true man can bend and stretch; a maiden can open and close; this empress can accomplish great things.

"However, seeing your sincerity, saving your life is no problem."

"However, you must..."

Before Feng Qingyang could finish, Qin Ruoxue eagerly replied, "No need to consider, I am willing, my lord."

As long as the green hills remain, we need not fear lack of firewood.

Never mind what we do; as long as we preserve our lives, that's most important—let alone serving tea and water, warming the bed and keeping company.

In dire straits, Qin Ruoxue clung desperately to this sole hope.

"Alright then, follow me back to the sect."

He could also refuse to help, take the secret key and stride away, but what's the difference from playing and not paying? Having accepted the cause, one must bear the result.

Lin Bai stood aside without uttering a word, his eyes not wandering; he had achieved the state of no women in his heart, drawing his sword naturally and divinely.

He merely still wanted to recite a poem.

"Joyful return home hears bad news."

"With a single hand, overturn and destroy the Wang Bai family."

"With a white eye, thinking of family, coming to break off the engagement."

"Draw the sword, first slay the person in one's heart."

"Thank you, my lord, for the grace of saving my life."

"My lord, I am Qin Ruoxue; you may call me Ruoxue."

She also did not confess that she was the empress of the Great Zhou; the Great Zhou no longer exists, so where would an empress come from? One must wait until later, when she makes a comeback, to speak of it.

At that moment, the sound of neat horse hooves came from behind.

"Qin Ruoxue, where are you going?"

"These fellows are indeed in league! Kill them without mercy!"

The leading general, seeing Qin Ruoxue together with those few men just now, shouted in great anger.

First they sent people to attract my attention, then they used a ploy of luring the tiger away from the mountain; this empress has such deep scheming!

I, the Great Zhou's number one general, Xing Daorong, almost fell for it!