"I rejoice that I am dead. Death is a release. To be alive is to be jealous. I fear I might do something I shouldn't. I died as I should have."
She smiled, ethereal, like smoke. It reminded her of a night four years ago, when she was violated on the street and rescued by her master.
Back then, she lived only to repay his kindness, practicing martial arts desperately, killing villains to establish the Divine Dragon Palace. Finally, she became a protector of the Divine Dragon Palace.
However, her heart was slowly drawn to the Palace Master. Though he had warned her, love is love, and it cannot be retracted.
To die for him now was her greatest wish.
"Take care, Palace Master."
Mo Ruyan finished speaking, her hand slowly sliding into the dust, tears in the corner of her eyes.
Her life had been too bitter. She hoped that in the next life, she would have nothing, and live an ordinary life.
Murong Chong released Mo Ruyan's hand and slowly stood up, glaring at the people around him. The assassins surged forth again.
He turned to look at Yi Yuxuan, Liu Feng, and the others behind him, all his capable subordinates. Perhaps he could break out, but these brothers who had lived and died with him were all dead.
He could not bear it. A chilling aura surrounded him. He raised his head and ferociously stared at the imperial yellow figure on the high platform, speaking word by word.
"Shangguan Yao, if you want to capture me, then release them. Otherwise, you will not be able to capture me."
Shangguan Yao, standing on the high platform, suddenly raised his hand, and everyone stopped. Song Yuan, leading several imperial guards, stood still not far away. Yi Yuxuan and Shang Zhuifeng, Murong Chong's subordinates, had already shouted, "Master, you're crazy!"
They would rather die than let their master escape.
Murong Chong suddenly turned and glared fiercely at Zhuifeng. Then, he said softly, "If anything happens to me, there is still Prince Lin. Let Prince Yun and others support Prince Lin as emperor. Xiao'er of the Jade Dragon Talisman knows where it is."
Because he had left in a hurry, he hadn't brought the Jade Dragon Talisman. As long as the Jade Dragon Talisman was there, along with the Ministry of War and a few officials, even if he died, Shangguan family still had Shangguan Lin. Therefore, the throne should never be occupied by this bastard.
"Master."
Shangguan Yao, standing high up, pondered. To be honest, he knew that Murong Chong was right. If he fought them to the death, Murong Chong would definitely escape. Now, he was willing to be captured, as long as they released his subordinates.
He didn't know whether to call him loyal and righteous, or too foolish.
Shangguan Yao smiled sinisterly. He thought this deal was too worthwhile. One Murong Chong could be worth thousands of soldiers, let alone these dozens of lives.
"Good."
Shangguan Yao readily agreed and raised his hand to order, "Song Yuan, release those people immediately."
As soon as the Emperor's order was given, a path was cleared at the western suburban mausoleum. Zhuifeng and Yi Yuxuan were unwilling to leave. They roared, "Master, you're crazy! We subordinates will not leave. We'd rather our master break out."
"This is an order."
Murong Chong said in a deep voice. He knew very well that if he was captured and the Jade Dragon Talisman was not handed over, Shangguan Yao would not kill him. Therefore, he still had a sliver of hope.
Because there was still Xiao'er, no one understood Xiao'er better than him. She was no ordinary person. If he escaped now, these people would only have a dead end. And he didn't want to truly abandon these brothers who had gone through life and death with him.
"Hurry up and go! Immediately return to Yunshui Villa and send a message to Xiao'er. She will have a way to save me."
Murong Chong could only say this, to trick these subordinates into leaving.
As expected, Liu Feng and Yi Yuxuan exchanged glances. Finally, under Murong Chong's terrifying, bloodthirsty gaze, they led their men to retreat step by step. When they retreated, the people who had parted like a tide automatically closed in.
At this moment, Shangguan Yao laughed, triumphant.
"Guards, seize the Palace Master of the Divine Dragon Palace."
"Yes," Song Yuan accepted the order and walked forward. Before he could reach Murong Chong, several figures floated down from the air, swift as flickering light. In an instant, many of them sprinkled fine mist from the air.
In the blink of an eye, the western mountain mausoleum was filled with white smoke, making it impossible to see clearly. Those who inhaled the smoke immediately felt their legs go weak and fell unconscious.
Song Yuan exclaimed in alarm, "Quick, poisonous smoke! Everyone hold your breath!"
Shangguan Yao and some people stood upwind, so the poisonous smoke could not reach them. They stared dumbfounded at the sudden situation before them. After a long while, when they reacted, the white smoke had already dissipated. There was not a single person left.
Murong Chong had disappeared into thin air.
Shangguan Yao's face turned as dark as a gloomy night. A wild, bloodthirsty aura surrounded him. He was so agitated that he wanted to kill. Who was it?
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Just as he was about to capture Murong Chong, someone played such a trick on him. These people could absolutely not be from the Divine Dragon Palace. Then who would know what he had done?
Shangguan Yao deduced this and knew that the person in the dark had recognized him?
His Empress Mother. It was she who was waiting for an opportunity in the dark. She must have been afraid that he would kill Murong Chong, so she sent people to hijack him.
And she actually had so many people. Shangguan Yao's face was filled with murderous intent. Ye Qingtian, you damned fool, you gave her more men again. I really want to kill you with a single palm strike.
"Return to the palace."
In the dark night, Shangguan Yao gritted his teeth as if he were spitting blood. He hadn't expected Murong Chong to be hijacked by someone else. He had to get this person back from his Empress Mother.
Where could his Empress Mother hide him? Even if he turned the entire Changxin Palace upside down, he would find Murong Chong's whereabouts.
He would never let that man stay.
The vast procession withdrew from the western suburban mausoleum. Shangguan Yao, escorted by Song Yuan and others, hurried back to the imperial palace.
Shangguan Yao did not enter his own Jingfu Palace. Instead, he led Song Yuan and nearly ten imperial guards directly into the Empress Dowager's Changxin Palace.
The Empress Dowager was sitting in the main hall, her eyes closed, resting. Or rather, she was waiting for him.
"Yao'er, what is this?"
"Does Mother not know?"
Shangguan Yao spoke angrily, then turned to look at Song Yuan on the side, "Guards, search for the Palace Master of the Divine Dragon Palace, Murong Chong."
When Song Yuan heard the Emperor's words, his face changed greatly, "Your Majesty?"
How could the Empress Dowager have the Palace Master of the Divine Dragon Palace here? Could it be that the people who appeared later were the Empress Dowager's people? Song Yuan was in a dilemma. How could he search Changxin Palace as he pleased?
"Song Yuan, do you dare to disobey the imperial decree?" Shangguan Yao's voice suddenly rose, his eyes even more chilling, as if if Song Yuan dared to hesitate any longer, he would immediately have him beheaded. Song Yuan hardened his scalp and quickly accepted the order, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Song Yuan led his men to search Changxin Palace thoroughly, including the sleeping quarters, as well as the underground torture chamber and the laundry room of Changxin Palace. They searched every nook and cranny, but found no trace of anyone.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, there is nothing here."