"What are you doing? Get up quickly."
Ji Mo pushed Ying Tianbao, signaling him to help the person up.
Chen Hui, suppressing her inner revulsion, allowed Ying Tianbao to help her up. She adopted a very humble posture and tentatively asked, "Your Excellency, you won't blame this humble woman for not intervening to help our Longhu Mountain, will you?"
Ji Mo shook his head and said, "As long as you and Xiao Bao are loving and affectionate, and don't go around shouting about fighting and killing all day, everything is negotiable."
Chen Hui was about to state that she and Ying Tianbao had absolutely no relationship whatsoever.
But Ying Tianbao seized the opportunity to whisper in Chen Hui's ear, "My Brother Mo has always doted on me. The protective treasure I wear was given to me by Brother Mo. As long as you follow me, the matters of your Longhu Mountain will be settled with just a word from me."
Chen Hui's fair face turned green. She really wanted to slap Ying Tianbao to death. This scoundrel was clearly trying to take advantage of her distress.
However, if she refused and offended the powerful figure, not only would their cooperation fall through, but she might even anger him, which would be extremely detrimental to Longhu Mountain.
A powerful figure accompanied by a divine beast cub was not someone Longhu Mountain could easily offend.
Chen Hui's expression flickered between anger and indecision, her mind in turmoil. Finally, she gritted her teeth and bowed her head fiercely.
She had caused this trouble herself, and she would bear the consequences. She couldn't implicate her sect because of it.
As a direct disciple of Longhu Mountain, any sacrifice was worth it for the benefit of the sect.
Ying Tianbao was ecstatic. He eagerly threw his arm around Chen Hui's waist and sprinted towards the sleeping quarters. He didn't forget to turn back and say apologetically, "Brother Mo, I'll entertain you tomorrow! I'm going to make you a big fat niece."
Ji Mo was dumbfounded. After a long while, he uttered two words: "A decadent ruler."
Truly shameless. It was still broad daylight.
Uncle Fu chuckled awkwardly beside him. His Majesty, apart from this particular hobby, was otherwise a wise ruler. Primarily, this was a celestial maiden who had descended to the mortal realm. What man in the world wouldn't want to possess her?
Well, it seemed only Mr. Ji had absolutely no interest in celestial maidens.
Ji Mo had originally planned to have a good time with Ying Tianbao and strengthen their brotherhood. Given the current situation, he didn't want to linger and turned to leave the imperial palace.
"Actually, His Majesty has always been concerned about Mr. Ji and often speaks of him..." Uncle Fu followed along, speaking well of Ying Tianbao, trying to persuade him to stay.
Ji Mo, however, was not in the mood to listen. His gaze was drawn to a magnificent, golden building on the south side of the imperial palace.
"My heavens, you actually built a palace out of gold!"
Ji Mo's eyes widened, his pupils shining brightly. He couldn't believe that anyone in the world could be so extravagant as to build an entire palace out of gold.
The palace was grand and imposing, adorned with dragons and phoenixes, entirely constructed from gold bricks and inlaid with various precious stones. It was as beautiful as a heavenly palace.
It was likely only the Great Qin Dynasty that possessed the financial resources to construct such an immeasurably valuable golden palace.
Uncle Fu quickly introduced, "Mr. Ji, what do you think? This was personally designed and supervised by His Majesty, who poured countless efforts into it, all to offer..."
But before he could finish, Ji Mo interrupted, "Demolish it. Demolish all of it for me. A ruler, when faced with desires, should reflect on contentment and restrain themselves. When undertaking something, they should consider stopping to bring peace to the people. Extravagance must never be allowed to flourish. Immediately dispatch people to demolish it, and then distribute the gold to the common people of Great Qin."
Ji Mo felt deeply disappointed. He could overlook Ying Tianbao's indulgence in lust, as emperors often had harems. However, extravagance was an absolute taboo that must be stopped.
"Mr. Ji, are you really going to demolish it?"
Seeing Ji Mo's determined gaze, Uncle Fu's face was filled with admiration. He immediately ordered the deployment of troops to dismantle the golden palace.
He gazed at Ji Mo with fervent eyes, bowed deeply, and praised, "Mr. Ji truly has the world in his heart and cares for the common people. I will widely publicize Mr. Ji's noble character, so that the citizens of Great Qin will remember Mr. Ji's divine grace. To demolish one's own palace and distribute it to all the people, even the most benevolent gods could not perform such a good deed!"
"What?"
Ji Mo's throat felt dry, and his body trembled involuntarily. "This... this is my palace?"
"Yes. His Majesty truly has nothing but the best for Mr. Ji. He used more than half of the national treasury to build it specifically for you."
Uncle Fu finally revealed the truth.
This golden palace actually belonged to Ji Mo.
"Mr. Ji's benevolence and compassion surpass that of our Buddha. Deep kindness and great virtue without expectation of reward, boundless love spreads your good name..."
Huineng gave Ji Mo a thumbs-up and showered him with flattery.
This old monk was adept at praising people and did not notice Ji Mo's twitching lips or his bleeding heart.
Ji Mo left without the slightest hesitation, for his heart ached too much to breathe.
Originally, he was only one step away from being the richest man in the world, possessing enough gold to last ten lifetimes.
Yet, without even batting an eye, he had generously given it all away.
The Great Qin Dynasty was filled with joy and celebrated throughout the land. The distributed gold was enough to allow every family to live comfortably for a lifetime.
The people were deeply grateful and remembered Ji Mo's kindness.
Many erected monuments and statues in his honor, burning incense and worshipping him day and night.
This trend soon spread from the Southern Region to the Eastern and Western Regions.
Countless streams of faith converged, continuously pouring into Ji Mo's body, and his physical body grew stronger unknowingly.
Spring nights are short, the day rises high, and from then on, the emperor neglects his morning court!
For the next nearly month, Ying Tianbao and Chen Hui lived a life of shameless bliss. The former seemed to have developed genuine feelings, dedicating all his attention to Chen Hui.
However, happy days are always fleeting.
Chen Hui finally received feedback from Longhu Mountain, and her entire being was struck as if by lightning.
That senior expert had not descended to the mortal realm at all, meaning her deduction was wrong. Ji Mo was not the so-called expert.
She was heartbroken, unable to believe how foolish she had been to be deceived of her virtue in the mortal realm.
"Ying Tianbao, you shameless bastard! You tricked me into giving you my body."
She was furious, wishing she could kill Ying Tianbao on the spot.
But ultimately, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
During their time together, having been carefully cherished and cared for by Ying Tianbao, she had developed feelings for him over time and had fallen for his persistent, shameless demeanor.
Most importantly, she was now pregnant. She desperately did not want her future child to lose its father.
"Hui'er, I didn't lie to you. My Brother Mo is truly an unfathomable expert. With his intervention, any difficulties your Longhu Mountain faces can be easily resolved."
Ying Tianbao explained, he truly never intended to deceive Chen Hui.
In his heart, there was nothing that Ji Mo couldn't solve.
"You cannot discuss ice with a summer insect. The 'expert' in your eyes is nothing in the Immortal Spirit Realm."
Chen Hui couldn't help but roar, completely disbelieving Ying Tianbao's words.
Although Ji Mo possessed some abilities, how could he be compared to that senior mighty being who could summon clouds and rain with a flip of his hand? They were not on the same level at all.
She said resolutely, "Our fate ends here. We are not people of the same world. From now on, we go our separate ways. Do not contact me again."
With that, she suppressed the tears welling up, shook off Ying Tianbao, and soared into the sky, intending to return to the Immortal Spirit Realm and leave this place of sorrow.
"Hui'er, I know I am not worthy of you now. Wait for me. One day, I will ascend to immortality and come to your side."
Ying Tianbao's face was filled with grief. He had truly fallen in love with this wild celestial maiden who dared to trample him underfoot and occasionally slap him.
He resolved to dedicate himself to cultivation from then on, determined to find his wife at Longhu Mountain one day.
"You must not come to find me. If the sect finds out about our relationship, you will die."
Chen Hui shook her head, tears streaming down her face. Her figure slowly transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the horizon.
Her choice to leave was also to protect Ying Tianbao.
From then on, Ying Tianbao seemed to become a different person, immersing himself in cultivation, all for the sake of ascending to immortality as soon as possible.