[Ding~ You received a new mission. Emperor Jing has ordered you to rush to Southern Xinjiang and secretly greet the Heavenly Pilot. Beware—bandits run rampant along this road. If you're not careful, you might find yourself gagged and bound.]
[Ding~ You received a special task from Xu Laodao. Use the Southern Xinjiang Gu to secretly manipulate the target. Completing the mission will earn you a wealth of rewards.]
[Ding~ The Emperor has tasked you to secretly investigate the tomb of the princess of the previous dynasty and uncover its connection to the Pardoned One. Rumor has it that female ghosts haunt the tomb, alluring and restless, seeking a male partner with a strong yang spirit for dual cultivation.]
[Ding~ Investigate the cause of the late Emperor's death and secretly aid Huaiwang Zhu Zigui, ensuring his identity remains hidden.]
"…"
Across the sprawling grounds of Huaiwang's Mansion, ten hidden players activated their main quests almost simultaneously. Some moved in shadows, others took bold action, while a few disappeared into distant lands.
Ren Ye gripped the Zhenguo Sword, his pulse quickening as he played out the "script" in his mind.
Inside the Temple of Meditation.
Ren Ye stood behind the throne, Zhenguo Sword in hand, his thoughts razor-sharp. The swirling visions that once filled the room had vanished, leaving an eerie stillness.
So easy to claim a peerless divine weapon?
His chest burned with exhilaration as he stared at the sword. I really am the son of destiny—the protagonist of this plane!
[Ding~ Congratulations, Pardoned One. The Zhenguo Sword has sensed the aura of heavenly forgiveness surrounding you and willingly acknowledges you as its master. However, the sword spirit has been lost. To restore the Zhenguo Sword's supernatural powers, you must seek out its missing spirit. For now, it is merely sharper than ordinary weapons.]
"...Find, what?" Ren Ye's excitement evaporated, replaced by disbelief. "All that fanfare, and it's just a bit sharper than a kitchen knife?"
To regain its power, he'd need to hunt down the spirit? Forget it. That could wait. What mattered now was finding out where the cracked wall—and the secret passage—led.
He glanced at the shadowed opening. It loomed before him, dark and bottomless, like the maw of a waiting beast.
A faint unease prickled his skin. His gaze shifted to Ai Jiang. "You—go down first."
Ai Jiang's eyes widened, his hesitation written plainly across his face.
"Or do you expect me, the king, to scout the way for you?" Ren Ye's tone sharpened.
"N-no, Your Highness!" Ai Jiang scratched his head nervously. "I'll go—I'll even die if needed! But can I… not deal with the military horses afterward? I—I'm a little scared…"
Ren Ye's heart broke as he stared at Ai Jiang, mentally sighing. This fool can't even take a joke. He muttered inwardly, Go down, take a look, and behave yourself. I'll allow you to only match a mare.
"Your Highness, really?" Ai Jiang's face lit up, his eyes sparkling with surprise.
"…Fine."
"Subordinates obey!" Ai Jiang's voice rang out with joy, and the two dashed toward the corridor, their steps light and full of eagerness—as though fear had never crossed their minds.
Ren Ye stood still, clutching the Zhenguo Sword to his chest. He waited quietly for a while before hearing a surprised shout echo from the tunnel.
"Your Highness! We're rich! Gold, silver, jewels—there's so much here, and no mechanisms!"
"Wait a moment." Ren Ye stepped out of the main hall, his voice calm as he called down the dark corridor, "Lian'er!"
"Your Highness, the slave is here." Lian'er appeared at once, her smile like a ripple across water, her eyes soft with a hint of shyness.
"Turn around," Ren Ye commanded, his voice firm.
Lian'er paused, then obediently complied, turning away from him.
The familiar scent of a man swept through the air, and Lian'er's heart fluttered. Her cheeks flushed, warmth creeping across her face.
She had long been acquainted with Zhu Zigui's habits, and though His Highness had his own peculiar ways, Lian'er had learned to expect certain things from him. The thought crept into her mind—No, His Highness wouldn't... here...
Ren Ye moved closer, his presence palpable as he reached out to gently stroke her back. Lian'er felt her pulse quicken, her head bowing in quiet embarrassment.
Suddenly—Smack!
Pain blossomed sharply at the back of her head.
"W-what are you doing, Your Highness?" Lian'er stood frozen, her body stiff with surprise and confusion.