The man landed steadily, the wind whistling and lifting the hem of his robes.
Seeing the man’s face, Gu Qianying, who could no longer stand, had tears streaming down her cheeks. She smiled silently, "You finally returned…"
Before she could finish her words, her body swayed precariously. A slender arm reached out quickly as she fell, catching her.
"My wife, you have suffered."
Nangong Mo raised his hand and wiped away the tears from her eyes.
Gentle words brushed past her ears.
She didn't know if she heard them or not.
As Gu Qianying collapsed into Nangong Mo's embrace, she clung tightly to his sleeve as if afraid he would run away.
At this moment, the crowd opposite saw the Demon Empress fall into a man's arms.
The crowd did not yet know Nangong Mo's identity.
"Another one come to die. Let's attack together, kill them, and the Purple Demon Child will be ours!"
"Yes! Kill them! The Xuan Ling will also be ours!"
Greed blinded their eyes, driving them to madness.
The crowd, holding their sabers, swords, or spears, attacked in unison.
Crimson and azure spiritual lights crisscrossed. However… Nangong Mo flicked his sleeve, and silver light flashed. Powerful spiritual energy, like a brilliant silver dragon, swept through the heavens and earth, its silent roars containing immense power.
In an instant, the attacking crowd was sent flying backward, all falling to the ground.
Some dropped their swords, landing on the ground and tossing their long swords into the air. The sword tips pointed downwards, falling rapidly and piercing directly into their backs.
Blood spilled out, and the man died on the spot.
"Waa waa waa…"
The cry of an infant echoed from behind Nangong Mo.
He held the person in his arms and glanced back at the infant in Wu Zi's embrace.
The coldness in his eyes was instantly replaced by tenderness.
"Let's go!"
He withdrew his gaze, Nangong Mo holding Gu Qianying, turned and left.
Du Chun, Ouyang Qinglin, Nangong Li, Duan Xifeng, Lu Zhu, Wu Zi holding the infant, Leng supporting Xuan Ling, and A Mu following behind, these few followed and left.
Many were injured at the scene. The remaining dozen or so Imperial Guards dared not stop those who flew away.
The Emperor, looking at the corpses scattered everywhere and the horses that had fallen in battle, had a very grim expression.
His face contorted with rage, he kicked a small eunuch behind him.
He roared at the timid Imperial Guards behind him, "What are you standing around for? Chase them!"
No one dared to step forward; they all knelt on the ground.
"Father Emperor, it is your own incompetence. Why blame others!"
Shangguan Jingrong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he and Shangguan Beichen walked over.
"Jingrong, you…"
The Emperor's eyes widened in surprise.
His third son, though usually a bit mad, always maintained proper etiquette. Now, he had uttered such audacious words.
What did this imply?
"Father Emperor, there's no need to be so surprised. What your son says is also approved by Eldest Brother. Oh, no, I shouldn't address Eldest Brother like this anymore."
As he spoke, Shangguan Jingrong turned to look at Shangguan Beichen, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
He bowed to Shangguan Beichen, "Imperial Brother, your humble brother offers his respects here."
"You… you… you are rebelling?"
The Emperor stared at the hypocritical Shangguan Jingrong and the silent Shangguan Beichen in disbelief.
"Hahaha…"
Shangguan Jingrong cut his finger with his knife, put the bleeding finger into his mouth, and slowly licked it, as if tasting a delicacy.
"Father Emperor, you misunderstand. It is not that we are rebelling, but you…"
He paused mid-sentence.
Licking the blood from his finger, he glanced at Shangguan Beichen.
Shangguan Beichen stepped forward and continued Shangguan Jingrong's words, "It is you, Father Emperor, who stood to your death in the battle against the demon race. Our empire is leaderless, and as the eldest son, I am naturally the best candidate to inherit the throne."
"Shangguan Beichen… you!"
Shock flashed across his face, followed by rage. "Guards! Seize these two unfilial sons for me!"
"Ha!"
Shangguan Jingrong's finger-licking motion suddenly stopped. He laughed.
The Imperial Guards kneeling on the ground remained motionless.
The Emperor turned and looked at them.
"You useless fools!"
The wind rose, and a sword light flashed.
A knife swiftly pierced the Emperor's chest.
The Emperor mechanically turned his head, his pupils contracting as he looked at the person before him.
His pupils were filled with Shangguan Jingrong's sinister smiling face.
"Father Emperor, Imperial Brother said he will treat your son well. With that, Father Emperor can rest in peace in the afterlife, hahahaha…"
The knife was withdrawn, and blood splattered across Shangguan Jingrong's face.
Shangguan Beichen looked at the Emperor lying on the ground, his eyes devoid of any warmth.
He took out a handkerchief, intending to hand it to Shangguan Jingrong.
Shangguan Jingrong waved his hand, indicating it was not necessary.
He extended his blood-stained tongue, using his finger to meticulously wipe the blood from his face, then put the bloodied finger back into his mouth to lick it clean.
He repeated this, his movements gentle and unhurried.
Shangguan Beichen watched him from the side, his demeanor excellent, not urging him.
Beside them, the kneeling Imperial Guards and the terrified little eunuch held their breath, not daring to utter a word.
"Mmm~ Father Emperor's blood doesn't taste very good either. Imperial Brother, your son wants to taste the blood of those people."
He took his finger out of his mouth and pointed at the kneeling figures.
Those kneeling shrank their heads in fear, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
"Good."
Without further ado, Shangguan Beichen sent a sword flying from the ground, beheading all those kneeling.
The crooked corpses lay in disarray.
Shangguan Beichen threw away his sword and faced Shangguan Jingrong, "From today onwards, Third Brother can drink whose blood he wishes, no matter who that person is. As long as Third Brother asks, I, your Emperor, will deliver that person's blood to Third Brother's lips."
This statement declared his stance and indirectly acknowledged his current status to Shangguan Jingrong.
"Hahahaha…"
Shangguan Jingrong chuckled wickedly.
"Then, if your son wishes to drink Imperial Brother's blood, what will Imperial Brother do?"
From beneath his alluring and beautiful face, he uttered words of probing.
"Hiss~"
He raised his finger and let it fall!
A bloody gash appeared on Shangguan Beichen's palm.
"As Third Brother wishes!"
Shangguan Beichen did not hesitate.
"Hahahaha…"
A demonic laugh echoed in Shangguan Beichen's ears.
"Imperial Brother, your son does not want your blood. From today onwards, your son will be a carefree prince who only enjoys drinking blood. I hope Imperial Brother will send several jars of fresh blood to my residence daily."
Shangguan Jingrong also declared his stance, thus establishing his position.
"That is natural!"
The empire changed hands, and the Emperor died at the hands of the demon race. This news spread through the streets and alleys within hours, even reaching the ears of the rulers of other small countries.
Consequently, various small countries dispatched troops to the empire. Ostensibly, they were fighting for justice, but in reality, their primary objective was the rumors of the Purple Demon Child and Xuan Ling, aiming to seize them.
In the martial world, some righteous individuals also formed factions, marching towards the empire under the banner of eradicating demons.
Two days later.
Inside an inn in the empire.
Nangong Mo sat in the inner room of a private chamber, watching Gu Qianying lying on the bed.
Due to postpartum weakness, Gu Qianying had been asleep for two days and had not yet woken.
"My wife, let's name our child Nangong Yihhao, shall we?"
Nangong Mo tucked the quilt around the person on the bed and placed the name written on Xuan paper beside the head of the bed.
"My wife, when I am not here, you must be happy."
He leaned forward and lightly kissed her forehead and nose twice.
As he sat up, a tear slid from the corner of his eye and dripped onto Gu Qianying's hand.
The words of the Heavenly Venerate as he arrived flashed in his mind.
"Going against the heavens invites heavenly backlash. You must endure the tribulation of reincarnation. You have one hour left to see her."
His thoughts returned.
Nangong Mo placed two fingers on Gu Qianying's head, and a surge of spiritual energy entered her mind.
"My wife, take care. I will return."
He couldn't bear to let his wife suffer the pain of longing.
He also couldn't bear to let his silly girl be sad.
After his departure, sealing her memories and his was the last thing he did for her.
The person lying on the bed remained unconscious.
The next day.
In other private chambers, Du Chun, Nangong Li, Duan Xifeng, Meng Qinghua, Ouyang Qinglin, Lu Zhu, as well as the Flood Dragon A Mu, Leng, and the maid Wu Zi, were resting.
These individuals all received a letter.
After opening the letters and reading their contents, Du Chun's eyes reddened. Nangong Li ran out and chased for a long time without direction.
Duan Xifeng rushed into the chamber where Gu Qianying was staying and stayed by her side, not leaving her for a moment.
Meng Qinghua drank several jars of wine that night.
The Flood Dragon A Mu and the white-clothed youth Leng showed no expression, merely destroying the letters in their hands.
Lu Zhu and Wu Zi guarded the young prince, both shedding tears.
Ouyang Qinglin tightly clenched the letter in his hand, leaned against the paper window, and looked into the distance.
Two more days passed.
Gu Qianying woke up.
When she woke, she saw the young prince sleeping beside her.
On the head of the bed was a piece of Xuan paper with three characters written on it.
Lu Zhu and the maid Wu Zi were attending to her.
One quickly prepared food for Gu Qianying, while the other stood behind her, combing her hair.
Holding the child in her arms, she looked at the little face.
A very blurry face suddenly appeared in Gu Qianying's mind.
She didn't know who the person in her mind was.
But she had a feeling that the person in her mind was very important to her.
But who was that person?
She couldn't recall.
Five years later.
In the capital.
"I heard that the world-renowned Poison Doctor Saint Pavilion is holding another grand competition for poison medicine. It is said that whoever wins the competition will be directly recruited by the imperial court to become a physician in the Imperial Academy. Those with excellent medical skills might even become imperial physicians?"