"Flying Dagger to Slay the King!" Mo Qi pointed his hand, and the flying dagger that had exploded from the body of the Gu Diao shot out, flying directly to Zhen Cang's neck and circling around it.
The icy blade energy seeped in, causing Zhen Cang to shiver uncontrollably.
Zhen Cang was so terrified that his soul seemed to have fled his body. He stood there, dumbfounded.
Zhen Zhen was also startled. She looked at Mo Qi, her voice trembling, "Brother Mo, what are you doing?"
Mo Qi beckoned, and the flying dagger returned to his storage bag. He then looked at Zhen Zhen very seriously, "I wanted to tell your father that if I wanted to seize his kingdom, it would be as simple as taking his head. But I'm not interested."
Zhen Zhen chided, "I know you're not interested, but don't scare my father. Even if you don't respect him as the King, you should respect him as an elder."
Mo Qi nodded, "I've learned my lesson, Your Highness!"
Zhen Zhen continued to look at Mo Qi, suddenly feeling that he was a stranger.
To be honest, the two of them were indeed strangers.
Zhen Zhen had only been wishfully thinking that she understood Mo Qi very well.
As for Mo Qi, he still had some lingering trauma from that soul-searching question!
Zhen Cang, relieved, broke out in a cold sweat. He could no longer bear the psychological burden and lay down, his gaze vacant, his complexion ashen.
Mo Qi always felt a trace of malevolence about him. Although he didn't understand medicine, he could distinguish between malevolence and illness.
So, he activated his Heavenly Eye divine ability. A gentle red light traced its way over Zhen Cang's body. After a moment, Mo Qi discovered a black aura at his brow.
Mo Qi retracted his Heavenly Eye divine ability and said to the stunned Zhen Zhen, "Just as I suspected, your father isn't sick. I'm afraid he's fallen victim to some sort of demonic art."
"Demonic art?" Zhen Zhen exclaimed in astonishment, "You mean there are demons mixed into the royal palace?"
Mo Qi nodded, "Precisely!"
"Nonsense," Zhen Cang finally regained his senses and said in a low voice, "You're spreading lies to mislead people and making alarmist claims. All you want to tell us is that you're more powerful than everyone else."
"Father!" Zhen Zhen stamped her foot, "Can you please not... not overthink things!"
She had originally wanted to say "don't attribute the worst intentions to others," but upon reflection, she changed her words midway.
"Don't worry," Mo Qi smiled at Zhen Zhen, "I won't be angry with him. He's an elder!"
"But," Zhen Zhen's eyes showed a hint of hope, "I hope you won't just not be angry, but also help him."
Mo Qi rested his chin on his hand, "We'll have to find this person first. You should try to find out who your father has been in contact with recently, and then we can eliminate them one by one. I'm going back to sleep now."
He then turned and left.
"Okay, okay," Zhen Zhen said, watching his retreating back.
She vaguely felt that Mo Qi had something on his mind and decided to ask him about it when she had the chance.
Mo Qi continued on his way to Zhen Zhen's chambers. Along the way, anyone who tried to stop him was dealt with by his fists, ensuring a clear path.
By the time he reached the entrance to Zhen Zhen's chambers, True Master Ziyang and Zhao Huayun were already waiting.
Mo Qi glanced at Zhao Huayun and said contemptuously, "What's the situation? You weren't satisfied with me sparing your life last time?"
Zhao Huayun roared in anger, "Stop being so arrogant. I'd like to see how much longer you can be arrogant."
At this moment, Zhen Gui cautiously asked, "Let me ask you, the cultivation method you told me, will it cause people to go berserk?"
Mo Qi glanced at him sideways and coldly said, "You ungrateful wretch, I don't even want to talk to you right now."
"You..." Zhen Gui was somewhat annoyed and ashamed, rendered speechless.
Zhao Huayun looked at True Master Ziyang beside him, "True Master Ziyang, look at this person. Isn't he too arrogant? My master and disciple relationship was originally very good. It was he who sowed discord and drove a wedge between us, causing a rift. Doesn't he deserve to die?"
True Master Ziyang snorted, "He indeed deserves to die. I've seen many arrogant people like him, but they all ended up dead."
Mo Qi glanced at him, estimating his cultivation to be around the Core Formation stage, and felt he had a handle on the situation.
"I've also seen many shameless people like you, and they all ended up dead."
True Master Ziyang roared, "You're seeking death!"
As he spoke, True Master Ziyang formed a hand seal. He suddenly spread his palm open, and countless black threads shot out from his palm, like fine hairs, densely packed and spreading infinitely, sweeping towards Mo Qi.
"A mere trick!" Mo Qi cast him a disdainful glance and waved his hand. Five claw shadows surged out, striking at the black threads.
Compared to the black threads, the claw shadows appeared weak and vulnerable, seemingly about to be enveloped.
True Master Ziyang showed a smug expression, "A mantis trying to stop a chariot, overestimating its strength."
However, the situation suddenly changed.
The claw shadows, like dragons, emerged and disappeared within the black threads, darting up and down, left and right, as if passing through nothing. Wherever they went, they severed and shattered the black threads, raising a cloud of black dust in the air.
The claw shadows broke through all obstacles, dissolving the black threads as they advanced, engulfing True Master Ziyang.
True Master Ziyang was greatly alarmed. He tried to retract the black threads, forming another hand seal and shouting, "Retract!"
However, the black threads could not be pulled back. As they were torn, they made a rustling sound, as if caught by something.
The claw shadows continued to surge forward ferociously.
In desperation, True Master Ziyang opened his mouth and spat out a puff of black energy, scattering it over the black threads.
With a hissing sound, the black threads turned into wisps of smoke and dissipated.
By this time, the claw shadows had already surged to True Master Ziyang's front. True Master Ziyang hastily dodged to the side.
However, the claw shadows were faster. They suddenly changed direction and pierced through his body. True Master Ziyang let out a muffled groan, his head tilted, and he breathed his last.
Mo Qi retracted his claw shadows. Only then did True Master Ziyang's body topple to the ground.
Mo Qi contemptuously glanced at True Master Ziyang's corpse on the ground. Then he looked up and saw only Zhen Gui standing there, fear in his eyes as he looked at Mo Qi.
As for Zhao Huayun, he had already fled at some point.
Mo Qi looked at Zhen Gui, "Why didn't your master care about your life and run away himself?"
Zhen Gui said cautiously, "I never believed what he said. Whether you're deceiving me or not, I will never recognize him as my master again."
"Once a master, always a father," Mo Qi said, walking into Zhen Zhen's chambers.
A few palace maids saw him enter and tactfully retreated to the side.
Zhen Gui watched his nonchalant demeanor from behind, feeling angry but helpless.
Finally, he could only shake his head and sigh, "It seems that my father was right not to allow cultivators into the royal palace."
Zhen Zhen, by Zhen Cang's sickbed, asked in detail about the people who had frequently appeared before Zhen Cang recently and compiled a list.
Although Zhen Cang didn't believe Mo Qi's words, he cooperated and truthfully told Zhen Zhen the facts. If she wanted to fuss, let her fuss.
As Zhen Zhen left Zhen Cang's chambers, she saw a woman in white approaching. The woman had a light gait, a graceful posture, and a captivating face.
Zhen Zhen had been away from the royal palace for many years, but she was certain that this person was not from the palace. The three thousand beauties and six palaces of powdered jade in the royal palace couldn't compare to her.
On her, there was a pure and refined aura, devoid of any worldly or secular scent, as if she were not of this world at all.
"Who are you?" Zhen Zhen asked proactively as the woman approached and stared at her.
"Who I am is not important. What is important is that what I am about to tell you will determine your life or death," the woman said calmly.
Zhen Zhen was taken aback. This woman looked even younger than her and was acting so mysteriously. She felt completely out of place.
"Heh heh," Zhen Zhen covered her mouth and chuckled, "Miss, if you don't tell me who you are, how can you expect me to believe what you say?"
The woman in white took a talisman from her person and handed it to Zhen Zhen, "Believe it or not. If you believe me, stick this talisman on yourself. You are destined to face a calamity. Wearing this talisman might help you escape it. Otherwise, you will surely perish."
After speaking, the woman in white vanished into thin air.
The surrounding guards remained expressionless, as if they hadn't seen the woman in white.
Zhen Zhen felt as if she were dreaming, but she indeed held a talisman in her hand.
Whether it was true or not, she put the talisman away.
The kindness emanating from the woman's brows made her vaguely feel that she wouldn't harm her.
Besides, if she had wanted to harm her, she would have already been dead, and there would be no need for all this trouble.
Zhen Zhen went straight back to her chambers and saw Mo Qi sprawled on her bed, snoring loudly. The surrounding palace maids watched from a distance, their anger suppressed.
When he was injured before, he had been made to sleep in the side chamber. Now, he was shamelessly sleeping in her own bed.
Seeing Zhen Zhen enter, the palace maids knelt on the ground, "Please forgive us, Princess!"
Zhen Zhen waved her hand, "Get up. It's not your fault. You can all withdraw."
The palace maids felt as if they had received a great pardon. They stood up, their faces clearing of worry, and withdrew one by one.
Zhen Zhen frowned. What was he thinking? It was as if he were deliberately trying to provoke me.
Zhen Zhen sat by the bed, quietly waiting for him to wake up.
Mo Qi suddenly sat up and, catching Zhen Zhen off guard, swept her up. Amidst her startled cries, he then tossed her onto the bed.
Just as Zhen Zhen was about to get up, Mo Qi pinned her down firmly, rendering her immobile.
Mo Qi stared at her intensely. Zhen Zhen's face flushed, and she gently closed her eyes.
Huh? What did this mean?
Mo Qi had intended to provoke her, but he hadn't expected her to be so compliant.
He was a little at a loss.
Looking at her fair face, her delicate features, and feeling the tingling sensation from her soft body, Mo Qi's body reacted.
Not taking advantage of an opportunity was foolish. He gently kissed Zhen Zhen's warm, rosy lips, then scrambled off the bed awkwardly and sat before it, carefully closing his legs.
Zhen Zhen waited for a long time, feeling the pressure on her instantly disappear. She rolled over and sat on the edge of the bed, her face still flushed, but her triumphant expression couldn't be hidden. "What is it, Brother Mo?"
After a long silence, Mo Qi said, "What exactly do you like about me?"
"You're tall and strong, and you make me feel safe," Zhen Zhen said without hesitation.
"Then if one day, I can no longer give you that sense of security, for example, if I become a cripple, what will you do?" Mo Qi fixed his sharp gaze on her.
So this is what he was waiting for. Zhen Zhen finally understood.
"If that day ever comes," Zhen Zhen said resolutely, "if I can't take care of you or protect you, I will only prove my loyalty by dying."
Mo Qi was stunned!
After a moment, Mo Qi said, "Have you figured it out yet? Who are the people who have been frequently in contact with your father recently?"
"The ones he's been in most frequent contact with are Steward Wang, Consort Qin, Consort Zhen, Consort Zhao, Consort Xiao, Prime Minister Rong, Crown Prince Zhen Hao, Prince Ning, and Imperial Physician Jin," Zhen Zhen replied.
"Tell me about the origins of Consort Qin, Consort Zhen, Consort Zhao, and Consort Xiao," Mo Qi said.
"Consort Qin is the daughter of General Qin. Consort Zhao is the daughter of Grand Tutor Zhao. Consort Xiao is a county princess from a neighboring country. As for Consort Zhen, she seems to have entered the palace recently, but I don't know her background," Zhen Zhen said.
"Among these people, has anyone ever practiced any sort of sorcery?"
Zhen Zhen shook her head, "I haven't heard of it."
Mo Qi said, "Then let's go and see who this Consort Zhen really is."
When they arrived at Consort Zhen's chambers, they were told by a palace maid that Consort Zhen had gone to the King's chambers.
The two of them then rushed to Zhen Cang's chambers without delay.
The guards outside tried to stop them, but Mo Qi simply gave them a few glances, and they fell silent.
The two strode in confidently.
Zhen Zhen laughed, "After I got to know you, I feel like I've become much more brazen."
Mo Qi said, "That's your own nature. Don't try to blame me."
Zhen Zhen giggled, "It's you, it's definitely you."
Steward Wang emerged from behind a screen. Upon seeing the two, he immediately blocked their path, "His Majesty is currently meeting with Consort Zhen. Please excuse yourselves for a moment."
However, Zhen Cang heard their voices from outside and said, "You two, come in."