Chapter 231: Chapter 143: Ten Heroes! Ten Heroes
With that, he quickly left the Government Office Hall, not waiting for Chen Sheng or Nie Xuanfeng to reply.
’Ahem...’
Nie Xuanfeng cleared his throat and continued,
"Now that you’ve earned the title of one of the Ning’an Ten Heroes, you’re also qualified to take part in the upcoming battle of Wushan Mountain. There is a great deal at stake in this fight, so you must prepare diligently. You cannot afford to be careless."
"I understand."
"As for the trouble from Luoyun Manor, you don’t have to worry about it. I will handle everything. In fact, Vice Envoy Sun and I were just discussing this matter."
"Thank you, sir."
Chen Sheng immediately cupped his hands in salute.
Luoyun Manor was indeed a significant problem, but not because of Lu Maozhi. He was the one who had proposed the challenge and the wager, so now that he had lost, no one could say a word.
But the annihilation of the Song Clan of Qu Shui was not a matter that could be so easily settled.
If Luoyun Manor did nothing, the blow to its reputation would be immense. However, now that he had Nie Xuanfeng’s assurance, Chen Sheng didn’t have to worry too much about it.
Of course, he himself wouldn’t have cared anyway.
After all, he was determined not to come out of seclusion until he had finished refining the Profound Origin Spirit Water.
.....
After spending a long time with Nie Xuanfeng, Chen Sheng finally took his leave. He then hurried to Sun Yuzhi’s government office to pay her a visit. He hadn’t planned on it, but the Celestial Book of [Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil] had given him a prompt.
This Vice Envoy Sun held a crucial opportunity for him, which forced him to take the matter seriously.
[My name is Chen Sheng. By the time you read these words, I... Because of many things that happened before, Sun Yuzhi had already developed feelings for me. The recent affair with Wang Zilan has only intensified these emotions, making her unconsciously annoyed with me. But I paid it no mind, heading directly underground to enter seclusion.]
[However, what I hadn’t expected was that Sun Yuzhi was secretly hoping I would come and offer an explanation. Because of my coldness, however, she was deeply hurt and ultimately decided to suppress her feelings for me.]
[What I never could have imagined was that Sun Yuzhi herself held an opportunity that would be immensely beneficial for my future breakthrough into the Mystic Realm. But because of what happened, we drifted further and further apart.]
[Afterward, every time I thought of it, I was filled with unending regret.]
Glancing at the [Celestial Book], Chen Sheng grew even more curious.
’What on earth could Sun Yuzhi have on her?’
’Something that would be so hugely beneficial for my future breakthrough to Profound Mastery.’
Unfortunately, the Celestial Book hadn’t been explicit this time, much to Chen Sheng’s disappointment.
When Chen Sheng arrived at Sun Yuzhi’s government office, he immediately noticed something was different.
In contrast to the imposing figure she had cut in her official robes, less than an hour had passed, and she had already changed into a long blue dress. She was currently practicing with her sword, her movements showcasing her voluptuous and graceful figure to perfection.
What caught Chen Sheng’s attention the most was that this Vice Envoy Sun seemed to have even dolled herself up a little. ’So she really was waiting for me.’
’How sly.’
Chen Sheng watched from the side, smiling to himself.
Outwardly, however, he remained perfectly still, just quietly watching Sun Yuzhi practice with her sword.
Chen Sheng had to admit that the Vice Envoy’s charm was now completely different from before, creating a stark contrast. If she had previously been his cold and beautiful superior,
then now, she was a Female Knight of the Martial World.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
The Sword Light danced, making the bamboo grove tremble.
Sun Yuzhi glanced at Chen Sheng, a barely perceptible smile touching her lips before she quickly suppressed it. Then, with a sudden movement, she thrust her sword toward him.
SWISH.
The tip of the sword stopped steadily, a mere half-inch from Chen Sheng’s chest. Sun Yuzhi asked solemnly,
"Why didn’t you dodge?"
"I trust that Vice Envoy Sun would not injure me without reason. Therefore, there was no need to dodge."
Chen Sheng said, looking directly into her eyes.
Sun Yuzhi’s lovely eyes fluttered. She glanced at the man before her, then huffed softly.
"I’ve never gotten along with Nie Xuanfeng, and you’re his confidant. How could you be so sure I wouldn’t hurt you?"
"I am no one’s confidant. I am a Deputy Captain of the Jingwu Bureau, which means I report directly to you as well, Vice Envoy Sun."
Chen Sheng said with a slight smile.
Sun Yuzhi glanced at him, then with a flick of her wrist, brought the longsword to rest behind her back.
"What brings you here to see me?"
"I came to explain things regarding Wang Zilan."
Chen Sheng said, his gaze slightly lowered.
"Oh? So there is something between you and Wang Zilan?"
Sun Yuzhi asked, feigning nonchalance.
"No. There’s nothing much between Wang Zilan and me. We’re friends at most. The whole wager was just to humiliate Lu Maozhi."
Sun Yuzhi subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
In truth, she didn’t know what had gotten into her. Ever since Chen Sheng had killed Jing’an and, by sheer coincidence, picked up the Jade Puppet she had thrown away, her heart had been in turmoil.
At first, she thought her unease was simply because she was about to break through to the third stage of the Mystic Realm, causing her mind to be unstable. But when she heard today that Chen Sheng had taken Wang Zilan away,
a nameless anger had instantly flared up inside her.
But she also knew that she and Chen Sheng had no relationship, giving her no right to criticize or judge him. So even though she was angry, she could only fume inwardly.
Yet, upon seeing Chen Sheng today, those feelings had seemed to grow even more uncontrollable, burning ever brighter. She had even found herself secretly hoping he would come and offer an explanation.
She never imagined that he, as if he’d read her mind, would actually show up.
"You don’t need to explain any of this. I have no interest in your private affairs."
Sun Yuzhi averted her gaze and turned her back on Chen Sheng.
As she turned, the alluring lines of her mature figure were put on full display for Chen Sheng.
Chen Sheng’s gaze immediately fell upon the Vice Envoy’s perfectly rounded rear, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
’From this angle, it really is...’
’...incredibly tempting. It makes a man want to investigate.’
Sun Yuzhi glanced at Chen Sheng out of the corner of her eye. When she saw his transfixed gaze, for some reason, she felt no sense of revulsion this time. Instead, she simply stood there quietly.
She let Chen Sheng drink in the sight, and seeing his captivated expression, she even felt a subconscious thrill of delight.
"In that case, shall I take my leave?"
Chen Sheng slowly averted his gaze. Having given his explanation, he prepared to leave.
"Wait."
Sun Yuzhi suddenly turned around.
"Do you have further instructions, Vice Envoy?"
Chen Sheng asked, looking at her in confusion.
"These young ladies from the Noble Families are not to be trifled with. If you intend to climb the official ladder, you must remember that. Otherwise, these powerful families could use you up and discard you, and you might not even realize it."
Sun Yuzhi reminded him, her expression solemn.
"Then in your opinion, Vice Envoy, what kind of woman should I look for?"
Chen Sheng asked with a smile.
"That’s up to you. What kind do you like?"
Sun Yuzhi said flatly.
"The slutty kind."
The corner of Chen Sheng’s mouth quirked up.
"Huh???"
Hearing Chen Sheng’s words, Sun Yuzhi was completely stunned. It seemed she had never expected him to say something like that, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words.
"Just kidding. To be honest, I’m quite fond of women just like you, Vice Envoy."
Chen Sheng said with a grin.
"I see. You may go."
Sun Yuzhi’s expression remained neutral as she gave a slight nod.
"I’ll take my leave, then."
Seeing Sun Yuzhi was still putting on a reserved front, Chen Sheng sighed inwardly.
’This thorny rose isn’t easy to pluck,’ he thought. ’After all, the gap in our Cultivation is too great. I don’t even dare to use my best lines on her. I can only chip away at her composure, little by little.’
And yet, after Chen Sheng had left, Sun Yuzhi—for reasons unknown—suddenly broke into a radiant smile.
.....
「Meanwhile.」
While Chen Sheng was secluded in a secret chamber beneath the Jingwu Bureau, refining the Profound Origin Spirit Water,
the many rumors about him continued to spread like wildfire.
And it wasn’t just being discussed among the many Jianghu Martial Artists.
Chen Sheng had, by all accounts, successfully used Lu Maozhi as a stepping stone to enter the ranks of the Ning’an Ten Heroes.
And not at the bottom of the list, either.
He was ranked seventh among the Ten Heroes, earning him the moniker: "When the Bell Tolls, a Clan Falls."
The Blood Bell, Chen Sheng!
——————
Please support me with your monthly tickets, everyone!
As for Wang Zilan’s plot, I already have some ideas. Don’t get impatient; we’ll win her over soon enough.
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