Xiahou Ying leaned against the ruins of a broken wall in the Demon City, his gaze fixed on Murong Sheng Rui, who was resting not far away. Murong Sheng Rui had been poisoned with the Marrow-Purging Poison, the same poison that Empress Dowager Dugu had supposedly suffered from.
Wei Wuji faithfully guarded Murong Sheng Rui’s side. Now, only four people remained with Murong Sheng Rui: Wei Wuji and He Zhong Tian, and himself and Qu Yang.
“Your Majesty, how much longer do we have to stay here?” Wei Wuji inquired.
“Soon,” Murong Sheng Rui said slowly, his gaze drifting into the distance. Several figures carrying a sedan chair were rapidly approaching. A smile flickered across Murong Sheng Rui’s lips. “They’re here.”
In a flash, a group of people arrived. Leading them was a woman, who stepped forward and bowed. “Emperor Yun, I trust you are well.”
Murong Sheng Rui gave a wry smile. “National Preceptor, it has been many days since we last met. I trust you are well too.”
Feng Mo Ran sat upright, the wind lifting the silk curtain, revealing his handsome profile. “I heard that Yun Qi had fallen, and I was worried for Your Majesty’s safety. Seeing that Your Majesty is unharmed now, I am relieved.”
Murong Sheng Rui remained seated, his gaze directed towards the depths of the Demon City. “I’ve heard that within this place lies something the world desires. I wonder if it contains what the National Preceptor desires?”
Feng Mo Ran’s voice was somewhat hollow. “Perhaps it does.”
“Perhaps?” Murong Sheng Rui chuckled. “Does the National Preceptor not even know what it is he desires?”
Feng Mo Ran paid no mind to Murong Sheng Rui’s taunt. He had seen a vaster world. Those who look at the sky from a well could not understand him. The problem was, he had to obtain what he needed to obtain.
As Murong Sheng Rui did not receive an answer from Feng Mo Ran, he continued, “More and more people are gathering in the Demon City. Even if there is a treasure, is there enough to go around for so many?”
“From my understanding of Xiao Man, she is not someone who regards wealth as dirt.”
“That’s right, A’man loves money dearly.” Murong Sheng Rui picked up the conversation. “It’s more than just liking it. If a pile of ownerless treasure were placed before her, she would surely take it all…”
Murong Sheng Rui fell silent at this point, his gaze once again turning towards the depths of the Demon City. If the treasury of the Former Qin was truly within, it would likely be an empty vault. The contents, it was feared, had already been plundered by Xiao Man.
“If that is the case, then why has the National Preceptor come here?”
“Only here is relatively safe.” Feng Mo Ran lifted the curtain, revealing a face of unparalleled beauty. “When coming here, one cannot bring too many people, for the more who come, the more will die. She cherishes her subordinates greatly and would not bring a large contingent to their deaths. Moreover, she is now pregnant and will think more about her child. Therefore, she will only bring a few of her most trusted individuals here.”
“It seems the thing the National Preceptor desires is in A’man’s hands.” Murong Sheng Rui leaned against the wall, his breathing growing heavy. The Marrow-Purging Poison struck daily, each bout causing unbearable agony. In the beginning, he found it intolerable, but now, he had grown accustomed to it.
Seeing Murong Sheng Rui in this state, Feng Mo Ran understood that the news he had received was true. Murong Sheng Rui had indeed been poisoned, and with the Marrow-Purging Poison at that.
“It seems she is quite fond of using the Marrow-Purging Poison.”
Murong Sheng Rui gritted his teeth. Speaking had become a torment for him. Yet, his gaze towards Feng Mo Ran held an indescribable malevolence, causing Feng Mo Ran to frown involuntarily.
The Marrow-Purging Poison lasted for only an hour with each attack, after which one would return to normal. When Feng Mo Ran had suffered from the poison, he had used Lan Ruo Yu to alleviate the pain of the attack. He had initially believed that he could use Lan Ruo Yu’s immunity to all poisons to help him detoxify, but who knew that Lan Ruo Yu had played a trick on him, forcing him to accelerate his plan.
An hour later, Murong Sheng Rui awoke. Feng Mo Ran stood not far away, the wind ruffling his long robes, making him appear like an immortal about to take flight. Just looking at his appearance was enough to drive all the women in the world to madness, but if they knew what he had done, even a heart as venomous as a viper would not suffice to describe him.
“You’re awake,” Feng Mo Ran turned around and asked softly, looking at Murong Sheng Rui, who was sitting up.
“Mm.” Murong Sheng Rui extended his hand, and Wei Wuji immediately offered him a handkerchief to wipe his face and hands. “I didn’t expect this Marrow-Purging Poison to be so tormenting.”
Feng Mo Ran furrowed his brows. The Marrow-Purging Poison itself was designed to make one wish for death but be unable to die, naturally causing torment. It was just that neither of them had ever imagined that they, too, would one day fall victim to the Marrow-Purging Poison.
“Will she come?”
“She will,” Feng Mo Ran stated with certainty. “Xiao Luo’s wife and children are in my hands. Even if she didn’t want to come, she would have to.”
“You are as despicable as ever.”
“Emperor Yun’s words imply that Emperor Yun is all the more noble,” Feng Mo Ran said calmly. “You and I are of the same kind, both willing to go to any lengths to achieve our goals. I have captured Chu Qing Ge and her son, and haven’t you also captured her people to lure her here?”
A cold smile played on Murong Sheng Rui’s lips. Yes, they were of the same kind, resorting to any means necessary to achieve their ends. Neither was nobler than the other; both were despicable wretches, so why attack each other?
“Where are the people you captured?”
“On the way,” Feng Mo Ran said slowly. “At this time, Xiao Man must have received the news and is also on her way to the Demon City.”
Murong Sheng Rui merely smiled, his smile now tinged with a complexity that others could not fathom. Feng Mo Ran had chosen the Demon City as the location, and he must have had his reasons, which were far from as simple as he claimed. During their time in the Demon City, they had explored it thoroughly but found nothing unusual. Nor had they discovered the existence of the Former Qin treasury. He even suspected that the Former Qin treasury did not exist at all, and was merely a fabrication.
“I’ve heard that the Feng family can communicate with the divine. May I ask the National Preceptor, does God truly exist in this world?”
Feng Mo Ran turned his head to look at Murong Sheng Rui, who had walked up to him. “Does Emperor Yun believe there is a God in this world?”
“No,” Murong Sheng Rui said with certainty. “If there were a God in this world, people like us would have long ago been sent to the eighteenth level of hell, and would not be enjoying freedom in this world.”
“If we deserve to go to the eighteenth level of hell, then Dugu Man must be enduring torment in the mountains of knives and seas of fire, for the lives she bears are far more numerous than ours.”
“Is that so?” Murong Sheng Rui asked with a hint of jest. “From my understanding of her, even if she were in the eighteenth level of hell, suffering torture daily in the mountains of knives and seas of fire, she would transform into a vengeful spirit and find a way to crawl out of hell, dragging us all down with her.”
Feng Mo Ran frowned. He disliked hearing news about Dugu Man. Whenever he heard her name, he felt a chill run down his spine, as if Dugu Man had truly come back to life to seek revenge on him!