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The following day, Wu Hen sat upon a wooden loft, watching the rain and savoring his wine.
Commandery Princess Gu Luoshui was right beside him, staring intently at Wu Hen. She wouldn’t leave his side until he was completely cleared of suspicion. The previous night, as Wu Hen bathed, she even made sure to stand at the door, sending a maid in as well.
"Tell me about her; I’m quite interested in your Northern Guardian Lady. We’re just idling anyway, so share her story," said Wu Hen to Gu Luoshui.
Gu Luoshui gave a cold snort.
In that instant of eye contact with this foreigner, Gu Luoshui knew exactly what was on this man’s mind.
"Just give up on that thought. She has likely severed all romantic ties. My master has said that only when one’s heart is free from any other concerns can one attain the realm she has achieved," Gu Luoshui said.
"I don’t understand," Wu Hen said.
"Neither do I," Gu Luoshui replied frankly.
"I feel that you really admire her. Why is that? You’re not lacking yourself," said Wu Hen.
"Of course, she’s the epitome of perfection in my eyes. I have a high talent for martial arts myself, having been guided by my father and master since I was young and having had access to the abundant resources of Wuting. But the richer the conditions, the more they hinder my future cultivation."
"The Martial Arts Queen, on the other hand, experienced the exact opposite. She faced adversity from a young age, struggling within a small territory, but that also exposed her to the vicissitudes of human relationships in Jianghu, nurturing a pure state of mind focused solely on martial cultivation. My master says there are such crystal-clear frost-hearted individuals in the world who, regardless of their current environment, even if still struggling in the mire, are destined to achieve resounding success as long as they live. Her cultivation grows every day, unrestrained by shackles and without limits. To reach the true Martial God Realm, she seems to only lack the sediment of time, while I, like most people, can no longer see the ladder to ascend. It’s possible to spend a lifetime confused in the present with no hope for promotion."
Whenever Gu Luoshui mentioned Ruan Muhuan, her eyes lit up, and she spoke passionately. She saw Ruan Muhuan as another version of herself to aspire to, filled with admiration and expectations, yet also a sense of unattainable loss.
Wu Hen figured it out.
This Gu Luoshui was just a little fan girl of Han Han.
Coming from a privileged background with strong connections, she had always been seen as nothing more than a decorative vase by the entirety of Wuting. Her job was to receive foreigners, there was no need for her in battles, and the martial arts skills she worked hard to hone could only be displayed in front of these guests, often suffering defeat and embarrassing Wuting.
Ruan Muhuan’s experiences were the direct opposite of hers. Now, whether it’s conquering Heroic Passes or defending Wuting, and even in the future soaring to the Sky Domain, her brilliance is undeniable. Moreover, Gu Luoshui knew Ruan Muhuan earlier than others, watching her break through from an ordinary Martial Saint to the status she held today. Such a woman might pose a substantial impact on the male martial artists of Wuting, but no woman would not admire her.
"That truly is an extraordinary woman of talent," Wu Hen nodded in agreement.
In Wu Hen’s perception, he had only been apart from Ruan Muhuan for a few months.
But in the three years they were separated, it seemed a lot had happened.
Initially, Wu Hen had planned to personally mentor Ruan Muhuan, shaping her into the contemporary Valkyrie. After all, her perception was even higher than that of the so-called True Martial Hero, Du Mao, who was also considered a prodigy among the top echelons of the True Martial Continent. If Ruan Muhuan could master the Combat Techniques taught to her from the Ancient Clan, her achievements would be no less than Du Mao’s.
To his surprise, not only were her accomplishments far from disappointing, she soared high into the sky, becoming the most dazzling Martial Phoenix, as if opening the Governor and Conceptor vessels and leaping straight into the supreme ranks of the martial world with a sense of awe...
"Of course, when she first set foot on the Main Continent, she faced some obstacles. But after defeating Prince Zeng of the military marquis, no one could suppress her ascent anymore," Gu Luoshui said.
"Zeng Family?" Wu Hen was taken aback by this familiar surname. Could it be that after dealing with Mrs. Zeng, more troublesome events unfolded?
"The Zeng Family is one of Wudou’s great martial clan powerhouses, with influence across other territories and kinship with nineteen of our Lord Martial Gods... The news I have is that one of the disfavored female Princes of the Zeng Family coveted the Shaking World Jade Mine in the place where the Martial Arts Queen rose to power. When she attempted to forcibly take over the mine, she was slain by the Martial Arts Queen."
"As a result, the prince of the Zeng Family and the Martial Arts Queen became enemies. There was a man named Zeng Zhanpeng who, when the Martial Arts Queen entered Wudou, used his influence to oppress her in every way possible, desperately trying to push her to her death. At that time, the Martial Arts Queen had no backing; with just one person and one sword, she shattered all the suppressions and emerged victorious in a legendary feat well-known throughout Wudou, earning unanimous praise and acclaim after defeating the prince of the Zeng Family."
Wu Hen set down his wineglass and listened intently.
During his time defending the Pure Land City, Wu Hen actually had little leisure time – if he wasn’t eliminating threats, he was engaging in strategies against the Demon Saints and Demon Kings, effectively like being immersed in seclusion, as if locked away in a Battle Tower.
It was evident, even with his help in taking down Ya City and gifting the Jade Spirit Mine to her, Ruan Muhuan’s path to ascension became far more perilous and difficult. She faced not just the Demon Spirit Pass blocking the way from Ya City to the continent, but also the layered opposition of martial princes on the Main Continent. With their profound heritage and vast power, it was extremely difficult for her to stand alone in such a dragon’s den, much harder than the battles back in Ya City.
Now in Wudou, there was Jade from Ya City and the Lu Yun Commerce.
Clearly, this was Ruan Muhuan’s achievement; after establishing herself in Wudou, she opened the Demon Spirit Pass, connecting the borderlands of Ya City with the prosperous Wudou...
How formidable!
The more dazzling Ruan Muhuan became, the more Wu Hen felt like he was a waste deep down.
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Indeed, in any universe, one could not escape the law that "with a beloved offering to the heavens, martial power knows no bounds!"
Thus, over these three years, Ruan Muhuan’s fame had also echoed throughout Wudou. As for her exploits before stepping into Wudou, very few spoke of them—the only thing known was the source of her grudge with the Zeng Family Prince.
"Han Han, you’ve suffered during the days of my absence."
"We agreed I would be there to help you grow, yet unexpectedly, you’ve leveled up even faster."
Wu Hen was filled with many emotions.
What he believed in was sincere affection, but in this world, perhaps the only thing that could defeat emotion was time itself.
Time turned a simple, honest female knight into an extraordinary Martial Arts Queen. Even the air of the mortal world in her eyes was gone, and this pained Wu Hen deeply, resolving to properly establish communication with Ruan Muhuan, to warm her frozen Exquisite Heart. What was there to being a Martial God? Better to roam the world freely with him.
...
For several consecutive days, Wudou remained in a state of lockdown.
Naturally, the lockdown of the city caused much dissatisfaction. The Demon Clan was quite clever; unable to leave the city, they simply went into complete hiding. The resentment towards the lockdown continued to ferment within Wudou until the Northern Guardian Lady could no longer bear the people’s grievances. These grievances were destined to affect the faith in and offerings to the Martial God, compelling the Martial God to intervene.
It wasn’t that the Demon God Ancestor Bone wasn’t important. Rather, something lost was one thing, but to have Wudou plunged into internal strife due to the lockdown complicated matters even further!
As expected, the Rotating Martial God, for the sake of their own faith’s cohesion, promptly issued an order that the lockdown of Wudou had to be lifted within seven days.
The Martial Arts Queen was only left with seven days. Wudou was quite vast, just the city districts divided by the moat numbered thirty-two, with a population residing in these districts reaching thirty million. Within these thirty million, there were also Foreigners, some of whom were subhumans, bearing some resemblance to the Demon Clan. Searching for them would undoubtedly be impossible to yield any results.
"What should we do? The Rotating Martial God only gave the Martial Arts Queen seven more days. Moreover, the loss of the Demon God Ancestor Bone is a grave offense. The Northern Guardian Lady herself is responsible for overseeing the Demon Clan forces within Wudou. This is a tribulation for her promotion to Martial God candidate!" Gu Luoshui expressed worry for Ruan Muhuan.
"Martial God candidate? What will they receive?" Wu Hen inquired.
"The Demon Clan has always been a major enemy to our continent. Don’t be fooled by the abundance of strong people in our Wuting; in front of Demon Spirits, few can truly fight. Most powerful martial artists can defeat other martial artists, but might not necessarily overcome a Great Demon. However, the Northern Guardian Lady is different. She can not only suppress her peers but also contend with the Demon Clan’s powers. Such a prodigy is highly appreciated by the Martial Gods. Naturally, for the stability of Wudou, she will receive an opportunity to ascend..." Gu Luoshui explained.
"Then, for her, it is yet another chance to leap through the Dragon Gate," Wu Hen said.
"Yes, but with the Demon Clan always lying in wait, her chance for promotion could be stripped away having faced such an issue while serving as the Northern Guardian True Monarch. Especially since she has offended many powers when she established herself in Wudou, the vast majority do not wish to see her actually rise above them," Gu Luoshui said.
Wu Hen stroked his chin.
Seven days indeed was pressing.
"The Northern Guardian Lady has arrived!"
Just then, a high-pitched proclamation rang out.
Gu Luoshui was overjoyed and hurried to welcome her.
Ruan Muhuan ascended the wooden loft as the cool rain drizzled down, allowing one to overlook the entire bustling expanse of Wudou from atop the loft.
"Lady, he has been here drinking for days, not going anywhere else. The most unusual thing is his intense interest in everything about you." Gu Luoshui immediately betrayed Wu Hen and informed Ruan Muhuan of his behavior.
Ruan Muhuan approached, noticing the wine Wu Hen was drinking.
Seeing that the man did not turn, she too sat down on the mat where one could watch the rain and observe the city.
"I have relayed your request to visit, but Lord Martial God’s whereabouts remain unknown, and your identity cannot be confirmed, so the veracity of your purpose here is also not assured," Ruan Muhuan said to Wu Hen.
"Nor can you confirm that I am from the Demon Clan," Wu Hen calmly replied.
"The view here is nice; what can you observe?" Ruan Muhuan continued to ask.
"Thirty-two city districts—I’m thinking, if I were from the Demon Clan, where would I hide?" Wu Hen steered the conversation towards something of interest to Ruan Muhuan.
This statement took Ruan Muhuan by surprise.
"Huh? You’ve been sitting here daydreaming, only to be pondering this question?" Gu Luoshui said, astonished.
"Of course, I’ve been quietly awaiting the Northern Guardian Lady, while also taking the opportunity to ponder. Additionally, the quickest way to clear any suspicion is to find the true Demon Clan," Wu Hen said with a smile, pouring a cup of Spiritual Fruit Fragrant Wine, her favorite, for Ruan Muhuan.