Chapter 1727: You Shouldn't Have Come

Seeing Xie Daoyun's slender figure trembling in the cold wind, the other goddesses looked at her strangely. This girl was simply too naive for her own good, still completely unaware of the gravity of the situation.

Yet, in this perilous situation, she, so clearly fragile, still dared to speak up for Zu An. Her courage was truly astonishing, especially considering that not long ago, grandmasters were casually crushed by Zhao Hao. If he were truly provoked, a single glance could annihilate her.

What did this guy Zu An do to deserve such unwavering loyalty from her, that she would defend him even at a time like this?

This guy really knows how to charm women.

Rage points from Yun Jianyue +111 +111 +111…Rage points from Qiu Honglei +111 +111 +111…Rage points from Yan Xuehen +111 +111 +111…

A prickling sensation ran across Zu An's scalp as he registered the series of rage points. Yet, he was more deeply touched, truly having not expected Xie Daoyun to take such an enormous risk to plead on his behalf. He knew that if she were branded an accomplice, she would likely be beyond saving and might even implicate her family.

“All her painstaking efforts?” Zhao Hao was somewhat surprised. The young girl seemed quite clever; why was she so foolish?

“Is this boy genuinely rooting out hidden threats here, or is he deliberately planting them for me?” Zhao Hao glanced towards the spot where the altar had long since vanished. “He searched for so long, yet he still failed to find so many explosives hidden on this mountaintop?”

Although Xie Daoyun's body still trembled, her tone was much calmer than before: “Your Majesty, when Master Zu was investigating, the Golden Summit Arena hadn't even started being built yet. Afterwards, he was transferred and has been by Your Majesty’s side ever since. Surely the matter of the explosives cannot be blamed on him?”

Zhao Hao chuckled: “If not him, then are you blaming Me?”

“This boy has long harbored rebellious intentions. Just now, he was trying to exploit the situation. If I were to feign ignorance again, how would I rule My subjects in the future!”

Hearing the grimness in his tone, Xie Daoyun's face turned pale.

She wanted to say more, but Zu An stopped her: “Little Ling'er, no need.”

Little Ling'er?

The three women beside them immediately pricked up their ears.

He's even calling her by her nickname? How intimate.

Although this situation was certainly not suitable for jealousy, the three women couldn't help themselves.

Rage points from Yun Jianyue, Qiu Honglei, and Yan Xuehen +66 +66 +66…

Zu An wore a helpless expression, but he was still ready for battle. Although the opponent was powerful, surrender was not in his nature.

Yet, Zhao Hao seemed to ignore her completely, instead looking directly at Xie Daoyun, his eyes filled with appreciation: “Young lady, who are you? I seem to sense the aura of the Academy.”

Xie Daoyun bowed slightly and stated her identity to him.

“So you are the daughter of Xie Yi, the Lord of Brightmoon City. Indeed, a tiger begets no dog; you are truly your father's daughter. Now, as a disciple of Yan Xianggu, I presume your future achievements will be no less than her father's.” Zhao Hao grew more appreciative the more he looked at her. This woman before him was well-educated and sensible, seemingly delicate on the surface, yet possessed exceptional insight and courage deep down.

For all these years, he had only seen a similar temperament in Bi Linglong. If not for Bi Linglong's presence, she could perfectly serve as a wise and capable aide to the Crown Prince.

As soon as he thought of Bi Linglong, he suddenly frowned and looked at Zu An: “Back then, during the Crown Prince’s training in the secret realm, what exactly happened, and what else are you and the Crown Princess hiding from Me?”

Although Zu An and Bi Linglong's explanations back then were flawless, he didn't truly believe them. After all, the Crown Prince had his Yang God residing within him; how could it have been inexplicably destroyed?

From the Emperor's tone, did this boy also have an ambiguous relationship with the Crown Princess?

Yun Jianyue, Yan Xuehen, and Qiu Honglei looked at Zu An. At this moment, they weren't even in the mood to be angry; instead, they felt a degree of admiration. Just how many more things were there that they didn't know?

Hearing him bring this up, Zu An clearly understood that he probably no longer intended to feign civility with him; today clearly wasn't going to end peacefully.

While secretly transmitting a message to remind the women to prepare for battle, he feigned confusion and replied, “Didn't I report everything that happened to Your Majesty in detail before? Why are you asking this now?”

Zhao Hao snorted coldly, about to say something, when he suddenly thought of something. He abruptly turned and looked at Xie Daoyun: “Why did you come to Purple Mountain?”

Xie Daoyun froze for a moment, then recounted her mission in detail.

“Yan Xianggu sent you to investigate the formations on Purple Mountain?” After her reply, Zhao Hao's expression subtly changed, as if he had realized something.

Zu An, however, suddenly had an epiphany, realizing the answers to many of his previous questions.

So he directly spoke: “Since you've been here for so long, why don't you show yourself?”

The women beside him looked at him blankly, not understanding who he was talking to.

In contrast, Zhao Hao was on high alert, his gaze fixed solemnly in a certain direction.

At this moment, a rift suddenly opened in mid-air, and a figure slowly emerged. The person had silver hair, and although advanced in age, it was clear that he had been a very handsome man in his youth.

Crucially, this person possessed an otherworldly demeanor that wasn't as overbearing as Zhao Hao's aura, yet no one dared to underestimate him, for he exuded a sense of unfathomable depth.

“Grand Libationer?” Xie Daoyun was dumbfounded, having never imagined seeing this person in such a place and at such a time.

Not only her, but even Yan Xuehen was a little dazed. As the representative of White Jade Capital in the mortal world, she had met the Grand Libationer several times, and they shared a certain degree of acquaintance.

However, she also hadn't expected to see him here.

Yun Jianyue, meanwhile, looked tense and secretly transmitted a message with her qi: “Ah Zu, the situation is grim. Later, take Honglei and leave. I’ll cover you. If one person can escape, that's better than none.”

Given her usually fearless nature, uttering such disheartening words proved that she had lost all confidence.

With just Zhao Hao alone, working together, they might have had a tiny sliver of a chance.

But with the Grand Libationer added to the equation, there was truly no hope at all. Even if one person managed to escape, it would be a stroke of immense luck amidst misfortune.

Unlike Yan Xuehen, Yun Jianyue, being from the Demonic Sect, considered the Grand Libationer an adversary, and naturally, subconsciously regarded him as an enemy.

Zu An, however, comforted her: “It may not be as pessimistic as you think.”

Yun Jianyue paused, still not understanding what he meant, when she saw the Grand Libationer look at Zu An with a puzzled expression: “Even His Majesty might not have known of my concealment. How did you expose me?”

Zu An smiled faintly: “I just guessed. Perhaps I'm just lucky.”

He certainly wasn't guessing blindly. Over the years, he had gathered a lot of information but had never been able to connect it. It wasn't until just now, when Xie Daoyun mentioned that Master Yan from the Academy had sent her, and Zhao Hao's expression became unusual, that he finally understood many things.

Of course, his hasty deductions weren't entirely perfect, and he hadn't fully thought everything through. However, Zhao Hao's crisis was imminent, so he could only tentatively try to bluff, and unexpectedly, he really managed to trick the person out.

Seeing that he was unwilling to speak, the Grand Libationer didn't press him, but instead looked towards Zhao Hao on the other side.

“You shouldn't have come!” Zhao Hao narrowed his eyes, his expression far more serious than when he had faced Prince Qi moments earlier.

“Yet I came anyway,” the Grand Libationer sighed, a complex emotion, a blend of world-weariness, regret, and determination, flashing in his eyes.