The mont the words were spoken, Jing Shuixiang suddenly turned pale, then directly knelt on the ground, saying, "I’m sorry, my lord, I’m sorry... I, I used to be called Xiang King, but I am no longer."
"I was wrong, I shouldn’t have hidden from you, I..."
As she spoke, she even reached out to slap herself.
Li Yuan held her hand and sighed softly.
He knew that he and the woman before him could never be completely intimate again.
However, since this woman was so humble, he would also offer the warmth she deserved.
He lifted the petite lady, gently dusted off the dirt on her knees, and then raised a hand to lightly wipe away her tears, saying, "I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked, everyone... has a past."
...
...
Life returned to tranquility once again.
The number of tis Li Yuan went out to assist in battles increased.
His "freedom" began to gradually return.
Eventually, he could even go to the Double Gate alone, or even beyond the First Gate.
And each ti he returned safely, the observers were completely relieved.
anwhile, the number of tis Li Yuan took Xiao Ping’an out also increased.
This father and son had quite incompatible temperants, and it was already a blessing that they could maintain calm without arguing.
Li Yuan was okay.
But Xiao Ping’an was like he had eaten gunpowder, igniting at the slightest provocation.
After one great battle, Li Yuan finally earned enough trust, successfully taking Xiao Ping’an beyond the Triple Gate, and then returning with his son under the watchers’ gaze.
After one incident, the watchers angrily told Master Li that they would no longer follow, but in reality... they were only reducing their numbers and keeping their distance.
This was sufficient for Li Yuan.
...
Ti passed day by day.
Half a year was gone in a flash.
Early winter arrived.
Li Yuan entered the Famous Restaurant outside the First Gate.
This Famous Restaurant was opened by Cyan Robe Building.
After entering the elegant room, he gently knocked on the ground, and a floorboard slid open, revealing a secret passage.
From the passage, a "he" with "Yin Makeup" erged, then ate and drank in the elegant room, while Li Yuan himself followed the chanism into the secret chamber.
Inside the chamber, Cyan Robe Tower Master Wang Hiran stood respectfully waiting.
"Master."
"How is the situation recently?" Li Yuan sat down casually, asking directly.
Wang Hiran had already prepared a written report, which was more efficient than an oral presentation.
Li Yuan took the report and flipped through it.
His pupils slightly contracted.
Firstly, chaos, Mianzhou Path is very chaotic now.
In the Beggar Gang, the pawns Li Yuan had previously inserted using Human Skin Handcuffs were almost all eradicated, replaced by a group of strangers. Wang Hiran speculated that these were from the Lotus Sect.
In other words, Mianzhou Path’s social world influence was largely controlled by the Lotus Sect.
The Fujia Comrce Association wasn’t doing well either.
Ying i’Er was pursued and lost an arm, becoming ruthless instead of her forrly flirtatious self.
Her disappearance was publicly speculated to be her death, then an Elder from the Fujia Comrce Association erged to take control.
Ying i’Er then joined Xue Ning, retreating with her loyal followers into the barren Cloud Mountain Path.
You could say, Li Yuan truly controlled social world influence only within the Divine Wood Hall Inner City, and nowhere else.
Secondly, warfare.
In the past half year, warfare had been tumultuous, with several months where the Divine Wood Hall thoroughly dominated, eliminating many Lotus Sect believers.
Recently, disasters erupted in various places, hinting at a huge change in the south, leading to unimaginable transformations.
This change was altering the situation.
Thirdly, a letter from Cloud Mountain Path.
Tang Nian had established herself firmly after about two years of managing Cloud Mountain Path.
This ti, she sent a gift to her adoptive father.
Outsiders didn’t know what it was, except that it was heavy.
Though tightly wrapped, the package was only the size of a palm.
Yet when lifted, it was discovered that the object could weigh down the axle.
Cyan Robe Building took great effort bringing it into the city.
"Master, the lady’s gift has been brought too, would you like to see it now?"
Li Yuan closed his eyes to digest the information, responding, "Yes."
"Please follow ."
He went with Wang Hiran, unveiling the package covering the gift.
In the small room, the Yin Qi grew stronger.
A letter also dropped down.
Li Yuan picked up the letter.
It was from Tang Nian.
In the letter, she ntioned she found a suitable ghost realm, and after Pang Yuanhua’s appraisal, it appeared to be a Single Ghost realm. The contents of the package were Evil Ghost Tools from Ghost Street bought by Pang Yuanhua—a special product of Cloud Mountain Path, the Ice Coffin.
The Ice Coffin, valued at 3 points, could cause a dreadful curse upon soone by putting a woven doll imbued with their aura inside.
Li Yuan put away the Ice Coffin, then adjusted the position of Thousand-Mile in a Line from Yaojue to Wang Hiran, saying, "I will co back in an hour, give the one outside more fine wine."
"Yes, Master." Wang Hiran accepted the order respectfully.
Li Yuan then sent a thought to Shanbao County, proceeding along the path to the Black Market Ghost Realm.
Lady Yan’s ti for moving had arrived.
Arriving at Shanbao County, he noted the strange atmosphere.
The air was filled with an almost tangible fragrance of rouge and powder—a sll of Incense Worship Sect’s perfu.
Distantly, bizarre beastly howls could be heard; they didn’t sound like demon beasts but a mix of human-like and beast-like eerie screams.
Moreover, these screams blended together, reminiscent of nurous strange creatures crowded together.
The Copper Pendant in his pocket began to heat and crack lightly.
Li Yuan furrowed his brow.
Indeed, behind the Triple Gate of Divine Wood Hall lies one of the safest places in the world; while he was there, he remained oblivious to changes outside... in reality, the world might have experienced drastic upheaval.
...
The Black Market Ghost Realm was as deathly silent as always.
Li Yuan cautiously walked, suddenly noticing a red ghostly figure appearing before him, with a pale face yet exuding a charm unmatched by any worldly woman.
"Sister Yan!"
Li Yuan spoke with delight.
After spending ti with Jing Shuixiang and Cui Huayin, he realized that only Yan Yu, and perhaps Xue Ning, shared a genuinely close bond with him.
Jing Shuixiang harbored motives.
Cui Huayin had a mutually beneficial relationship with him.
Only Yan Yu and Xue Ning were devoted partners who shared life and death with him.
"New dress, looks good?"
Yan Yu’s voice was icy, tinged with a terrifying eeriness. She twirled, showcasing her red robe and enhanced ears.
Li Yuan embraced her tightly, saying, "Long ti no see."
"Indeed, it has been long."
Yan Yu let him hold her, coldly saying, "Drag on for a few more years, and my humanity will slowly disappear."
Li Yuan replied, "Soon, soon," then took out the Ice Coffin from the Equipnt Bar.
It was a palm-sized mini ghost coffin with skeletal icy spikes protruding.
Li Yuan quickly explained its use and origin, then said, "Sister Yan, this is a Single Ghost, it can’t defeat you. My idea is you move to Cloud Mountain Path first, and I’ll join you quickly."
Yan Yu looked at the Ice Coffin for a while, saying, "I have no objections."
Li Yuan asked, "Is one Ice Coffin enough?"
Yan Yu replied, "It’s sufficient... that ghost will cross town to seek out. I will continuously attack it, forcing it to fuse with . Ordinary ghosts can only attack once, but I... can attack endlessly.
Once fusion occurs, I can instantly relocate the Black Market Ghost Realm to Cloud Mountain Path."
...
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