CHAPTER 35: CHAPTER 35: DIVINE ENVOY [5000-WORD CHAPTER, VOTE REQUEST!]

Why... why...

Ji Mo looked at the scene beneath the city gate, his disheveled long hair falling in front of him, ’born without’ written on his right cheek and ’nothing to love’ on his left.

As a minor son of a great family within the Human Domain, could he really not compare to the Young Master of the Northern Wilderness clan?

The gap between humans, how could it be so vast!

At the city gate, groups of beautiful silhouettes holding flower garlands surged out, encircling the palanquin.

Brother Xiong sat on the gorgeous palanquin, smiling and waving to those around him, accepting the respect and goodwill expressed by Women’s country.

What about him, Ji Mo?

He was still hanging there, his Nascent Soul sealed, his Golden Core banned, with nothing left but to sigh towards the sky or choke back words in silence.

The guards below had already started sharpening their knives and shaking out their fishing nets!

"The National Teacher has arrived!"

A commotion came from inside the city gate. The sound of drums and horns ceased simultaneously, and the cheering crowd dispersed to the sides, creating a path wide enough for two people to walk side by side, and then bowed in unison.

Wu Wang, following the noise, saw a procession of over a dozen people coming out from the city.

The woman leading looked to be in her thirties, dressed in a purple short top and floor-length skirt, with a Phoenix Hairpin through her coiled hair. Her beautiful face was set above a snow-white neck.

Yet, what attracted the most attention was...

Such a large neck, ahem, no, such fair bosoms.

Wu Wang, a man raised in the Xiong Clan’s Royal Court, couldn’t help but admire in the bottom of his heart. This must be some kind of secret method to have stolen all the nutrients that should belong to Feng Ge.

Despite his admiration, Wu Wang’s eyes remained clear, his gaze locked on the face of the National Teacher. As he rose from the palanquin, he also noticed familiar faces among those who came with her.

Ling Xiaolan.

Is this Ling Xiaolan and Ji Mo, who passed the last trial in the Northern Wilderness and were then sent to Women’s country for another trial?

Could the old elder’s words have been ignored by those high-level figures of the Human Domain?

No, that’s not right. The elder called a meeting just yesterday. Ji Mo and Ling Xiaolan should have arrived in Women’s country before me.

Amidst these turbulent thoughts flashing through his mind, Wu Wang leaped off the palanquin, placed his right hand over his heart, and gave a slight bow.

The National Teacher greeted him with a smile, palms together, and bowed in return.

Ji Mo, hanging on the wall, couldn’t help but weep... They had started paying their respects!

The State Preceptor from Women’s country looked Wu Wang up and down, then took two steps closer to him, closing the distance to just a foot.

She smiled gently and said softly, "Distinguished Divine Envoy from afar, we have confirmed your identity and hope that General Feng Ge did not act too inappropriately before. The King will reprimand her later on."

Feng Ge’s eyes widened as she immediately shouted, "What does this have to do with me? This guy concealed his identity on his own!"

"General Feng Ge," the State Preceptor turned her head, her expression becoming stern, "do not lose your manners in front of our honored guest!"

Feng Ge pouted, rolled her eyes with a TSK, her series of expressions flowing effortlessly and smoothly.

Wu Wang laughed and said, "General Feng Ge has always treated me with respect; it is I who came quite abruptly. Fairy Ling, we meet again."

Ling Xiaolan nodded slightly, removed her hat, wearing a veil, and bowed slightly to Wu Wang, speaking in a clear and cool voice, "To encounter Brother Xiong here is indeed a surprise. But encountering Brother Xiong is not a bad thing."

Wu Wang pointed towards the man hanging on the city wall and asked in confusion, "What’s all this about?"

Ling Xiaolan glanced in the opposite direction and softly asked, "What is over there? I have not seen anything."

Ji Mo could not restrain himself and shouted out loud again, "Brother Xiong! It really isn’t me! I, Ji Mo, never deny the things I’ve done, but I definitely did not do this! I came to Women’s country on official business!"

Wu Wang looked up and smiled, asking, "Brother Ji, what official business are you here for?"

"I!" Ji Mo replied urgently. "How can one talk about such things in public!"

The State Preceptor beside them frowned and asked, "Divine Envoy, sir, do you perchance know this vile person?"

"They went on an adventure to the Northern Wilderness previously, where I made their acquaintance," Wu Wang smiled and said. "Fairy Ling can also vouch for me."

The State Preceptor sighed. "Alas, I did not expect that the emissary from the Human Domain would... It truly leaves one speechless."

"However, State Preceptor, there are two points that I’m unclear about," Wu Wang said earnestly. "How long have Brother Ji and Fairy Ling been in Women’s country?"

Ling Xiaolan replied, "We arrived here three days ago with an invitation from the State Preceptor."

"Brother Ji has committed so many misdeeds in just two days," Wu Wang sighed deeply. "What great fortune! Truly, ’one sings to voice his ambitions’."

Ling Xiaolan tilted her head slightly. "What do you mean?"

"Just a play on words," Wu Wang said.

Wu Wang looked at the State Preceptor of Women’s Country and spoke warmly, "National Teacher, may I ask one more question? Who captured this licentious man?"

The State Preceptor immediately said, "It was the Royal Guard, and the leader should be..."

"State Preceptor, it was me!"

One of the Golden Armor Guards who had gone to greet Wu Wang stepped forward. "I led the people who captured him."

Wu Wang turned to the Guard and spoke warmly, "Could you please detail the circumstances of that night? There is a doubt that I really can’t figure out."

"That night, as I patrolled outside the palace gate, I suddenly heard a scream and immediately led people over."

A look of reminiscence flickered across the eyes of the female Guard.

"After rushing over, we didn’t find the person seeking help. As we searched nearby, we came across a courtyard and heard sobbing from inside. The moment I entered, I saw this man lying naked on the bed, with traces of blood nearby."

Wu Wang wondered, "There was no woman present?"

"We didn’t find any," the Guard replied immediately. "But we immediately conducted a nearby search and inquiry, finding more than ten citizens who had fallen victim to this man in the past two days!"

Feng Ge folded her arms and pondered for a few moments, then said, "So, you didn’t catch him in the act?"

A Guard nearby reminded in a low voice, "Great General, the younger sister from your second aunt’s family also fell victim and lost the opportunity to bear children."

"What!"

Feng Ge’s eyes widened with anger. Grabbing her spear, she was about to charge but was hastily stopped by the State Preceptor, who called Guards to help, creating considerable chaos at the scene.

After a short while, Wu Wang finally had the chance to ask the female Guard, "Which hand did you use to capture this fellow?"

"This one!"

The Guard raised her right hand high, looking proudly at her companions. "I just grabbed his collar and lifted him up! And he even dared to glare at me!"

The State Preceptor laughed and said, "Divine Envoy, what’s this about?"

"Catching a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator, who can fly through the skies and burrow through the earth, with bare hands is somewhat unbelievable."

Wu Wang turned to look at the State Preceptor. "State Preceptor, with your concealed Divine Thought and eyes sparkling with precious light, you must also be a highly skilled Cultivator. National Teacher, do you think this is reasonable? Unless, when the person was captured, his Nascent Soul was restrained and his Golden Core locked, leaving him with no chance to resist."

"Now that the Divine Envoy mentions it, there indeed are many doubtful points."

The State Preceptor pondered for a moment, then turned her head and ordered, "Bring this man down, prohibit any citizens from approaching, and take him to the State Preceptor’s residence for further interrogation!"

Finished speaking, the female State Preceptor invited with a smile, "I also invite the Divine Envoy to temporarily stay at my residence. Later we can exchange experiences about prayer, and tomorrow the King will hold a grand welcome ceremony for the Divine Envoy."

"Thank you, National Teacher."

Wu Wang bowed again to the National Teacher, glanced at Ji Mo, and walked side by side with the State Preceptor at a three-foot distance, all the while discussing methods of prayer and the customs and sentiments of the Northern Wilderness.

After Ji Mo was put down, he made a deep bow towards Wu Wang’s receding figure, when suddenly a pristine white skirt hem appeared before his eyes.

Ji Mo looked up only to see Ling Xiaolan’s cold eyes.

"Fairy Ling, listen to my explanation, I really..."

Ling Xiaolan slowly put on her hat and said softly, "Once there was a village with a villager named Zhang, known for his idleness, who often stole chickens and dogs and was chased by the villagers. One day, a large amount of gold and silver was stolen from a wealthy family in the village. The culprits were unknown, so the villagers severely tortured Zhang until he died. A few days later, a thief was caught and confessed to the theft. How to judge the villagers’ crime?"

Ji Mo paused, stood up to ponder, and then hurriedly said, "Does the Fairy mean that it’s because of my poor reputation that I have suffered this misfortune?"

"No."

Ling Xiaolan calmly turned around and, with her Longsword in hand, followed after the others, leaving behind just one sentence, "The villagers were scolded by a passing patrol and not convicted. Consider yourself lucky they didn’t take the chance to kill you."

"Ah, this..."

Ji Mo opened his mouth but had no words as blades flashed coldly, surrounding his neck without a gap, instantly immobilizing him.

"Stand back!"

Feng Ge bellowed, and a spear flew towards Ji Mo from behind, prompting the guards to quickly dodge.

Inside the city, Wu Wang, who was enjoying a group dance with the National Teacher, suddenly heard a scream from behind. Turning his head, he saw a man’s body being hurled high into the air, soaring over the city walls, reaching the clouds, and scattering a trail of scalding hot blood.

The scene was incredibly brutal, and hard to watch.

Next to him, the State Preceptor whispered, "Divine Envoy, are you close with this envoy from the Human Domain?"

Wu Wang shook his head and said seriously, "Just a common friend, not very familiar. But his family has some influence in the Human Domain. It’s best to spare his life until things are cleared up."

The State Preceptor smiled and asked, "Will you join us in the interrogation later?"

Wu Wang declined. "I have no intention of interfering with the affairs of the Women’s country."

The State Preceptor’s red lips moved slightly as she communicated telepathically, "Divine Envoy, this situation has become a bit uncontrollable. I’m afraid that the internal issues may be tied to the power struggles within the Human Domain. Our position in the Women’s country is somewhat awkward, as we don’t want to offend any side of the Human Domain’s powers, nor do we want to appear too friendly towards the Human Domain. Being the Young Master of a Large Family Clan from the Northern Wilderness, you should understand our predicament. Consider it a favor to us, and our kingdom will surely repay you generously after."

Wu Wang pondered for a moment, then nodded with a smile, agreeing to the request.

As long as the reward is not the offer of a nation or a hand in marriage, it would be good. He really isn’t in a convenient situation for that right now.

「Thus, half a day later.」

...

As night fell, the courtyard before the State Preceptor’s residence was brightly lit, with silhouettes crowding both outside the main gate and along the walls of the courtyard.

Guards surrounded the courtyard, and long tables and chairs were set up in front of the main hall. Two rows of female guards stood with swords, exuding a lethal presence despite lacking masculine energy.

The State Preceptor of the Women’s country, now clad in a purple robe, took the central seat looking both elegant and intelligent, her demeanor captivating.

To the left, Ling Xiaolan sat wearing a plain white dress, blooming like an early orchid yet exuding a faint chill.

Even Feng Ge, who had just hurried back to the capital from the border, now donned a dark red underdress with a majestic set of golden armor. Her long hair tied up in a high ponytail added an aura of valiance.

This left Wu Wang somewhat at a loss for words – women were indeed troublesome. How long had it been, and they all changed their clothes?

He silently shook his head, lifted his own brand-new black animal skin cloak, and calmly sat next to Ling Xiaolan. The smooth collar felt cool, like a drowsy little beast.

The National Teacher winked at Wu Wang. Eye shadow in shades of pink now accented her eyes, her eyelashes noticeably longer than in the afternoon. Her gaze suggested something, and her choice of attire was quite bold.

Wu Wang smiled politely but did not linger with his gaze.

"Bring up all the relevant people!"

At the State Preceptor’s command, Ji Mo was brought up by several guards.

Another sixteen women, crying and wailing, were brought into the courtyard. The female guards scolded them not to be disrespectful, and only then did they quiet down, looking curiously at Ji Mo and Wu Wang.

Wu Wang considered the situation. The customs, social norms, and gender views of the Women’s country differed from those of the Human Domain and the Northern Wilderness. These women were sobbing mainly because they had lost the opportunity to enter the blessed pool to conceive their next generation.

Through several inquiries, the matter gradually came to light.

Three days ago, Ji Mo and Ling Xiaolan arrived at the border of the Women’s country, where they were personally received by the State Preceptor who opened a Barrier to let them in, flying directly to her residence.

That night, a big feast was held at the State Preceptor’s residence where Ji Mo and Ling Xiaolan drank a little wine.

During the banquet, Ji Mo suddenly heard the sound of a zither. As if he were dreaming, he saw dancing figures before him. He rose and left his seat somewhat dazed, saw a white figure dancing under the moonlight, and instinctively wanted to approach.

The events that followed, Ji Mo could no longer clearly recall.

When Ji Mo woke up, he was lying on a couch, his Mana sealed and body unable to move.

Ling Xiaolan could testify that Ji Mo indeed stood up suddenly without saying much and left the banquet. When Ji Mo left, his expression...

"I didn’t pay attention," said Ling Xiaolan calmly. "I wasn’t too concerned about him; I was just following orders to act jointly with him."

Ji Mo silently covered his heart.

Fortunately, the subsequent questioning of the victims brought a sense of relief to Ji Mo.

"Is it him? I only remember the silhouette... The silhouette was thinner than him, and a bit shorter. But at that time, it was like a dream. I can’t remember clearly."

"I don’t think it was him. I remember the voice; it was deeper than his."

"That man had a scar on the left side of his chest. I even scratched his back. I wonder if it still hurts."

Ji Mo silently opened his robe, revealing his unblemished skin, causing many women present to cast admiring glances.

Ling Xiaolan tightly closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

She almost became impure again...

Wu Wang laughed and said, "National Teacher, it seems there is yet a third man within your country’s borders."

"Seal the city immediately, report this matter to His Majesty, and deploy people to search all over the Royal Court!"

The State Preceptor called out a few sharp commands before glancing at Ji Mo with a somewhat cold expression. "The matter is now clear; it was not Young Master Ji’s doing. Someone, bring a chair for Young Master Ji here, so as not to let others say our Women’s country is impolite."

Ji Mo said, "National Teacher, there’s no need!"

"It’s no trouble," the Women’s country’s State Preceptor said with a smile. "Since you are a friend of the Divine Envoy from the Northern Wilderness, we can’t let you be wronged."

"Really, there’s no need," Ji Mo glanced at Feng Ge. "I still, still can’t sit down."

Feng Ge slammed the table and stood up, glaring at Ji Mo. "What are you looking at? Got a problem with that? Believe it or not, this General will poke another hole in you!"

Ji Mo snorted coldly. A faint aura emanated from around him, transforming into several whirlwinds that circled him, his long hair and robe fluttering in unison.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Thanks to the General’s spear, I was able to break free from the confinement of the Nascent Soul. At this moment, I simply refrain from settling the account with the General out of respect for the Women’s country!"

Feng Ge’s eyes went wide, and she leaped up from behind the table, saying, "Fine, then! You have your chance! A battle outside the city!"

"Please!"

With a wave of Ji Mo’s large hand, Feng Ge reached out with an open hand. Streaks of Liu Guang gathered in her palm, solidifying into a spear.

Wu Wang, who stood by, was flabbergasted and tried to persuade, "Brother Ji..."

"I won’t harm her, Brother Xiong, need not persuade further," Ji Mo’s lips were trembling. "But I must reclaim the dignity I lost here and cleanse this humiliation!"

No sooner had he spoken than he joined his sword fingers, raised them high above his head, and his form soared into the sky!

A Longsword flew out of Ji Mo’s sleeve, circled a few times, and landed beneath his feet, carrying him swiftly towards the outskirts of the city.

Feng Ge raised her spear high, bent her knees, and pushed off forcefully. The stone slabs on the ground instantly collapsed as her form shot through the night sky like an arrow released from its bow!

Only at that moment did Wu Wang utter the rest of his sentence, "...it seems you’re not quite a match for General Feng."

Booming noises filled the air outside the city, shadows interweaving atop the city walls.

A moment later, two figures descended from the sky, shattering a few stone tiles of the State Preceptor’s residence.

Feng Ge threw the breathless Ji Mo to the ground, relaxed her armor, and said with nonchalant calm, "I gave you a chance, yet you’re no good."

Ji Mo helplessly pounded the ground, tears of humiliation streaming down his face.

But Wu Wang did not pay attention to such drama. He sat quietly thinking, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the area.

This small Women’s country had caught the Human Emperor’s attention, so surely there was more to this place than met the eye. The person who framed Ji Mo appeared to have used a plot, but in reality, it was a scheme in plain sight. Ji Mo, hung from the city walls of the Women’s country, had his reputation utterly destroyed. If one day Ji Mo were to rise to great heights, this would become a dark mark on his personal morality, difficult to cleanse. Motivation-wise, it seemed like the doing of forces within the Human Domain, and likely those competing against Ji Mo. Does the Human Emperor never lie? On the contrary, the ability a Human Emperor must possess is to use lies to obscure some brutal truths. Therefore, it’s possibly a lie when Senior Shen Nong said that all the previous bearers of the Yan Emperor’s orders were gone. The most logical guess would be that there were conflicts within the higher echelons of the Human Domain regarding how to select the next Human Emperor. Aside from Senior Shen Nong looking personally and casting a wide net, others had adopted a sort of ’gu cultivation’ method. This Human Domain... I haven’t even gone there yet and already feel like keeping it at arm’s length...

Hmm?

Wu Wang’s eyes narrowed, his attention fixed on a guard in the corner of the front yard, and he silently communicated with Ling Xiaolan.

Ling Xiaolan raised her hand to pretend to tidy her hair. A flash of silver light abruptly appeared, and the urgent sound of slicing air echoed through the State Preceptor’s residence!

The object hurled out was an ordinary wooden hairpin wrapped in a light white aura, targeting the helmet of the guard in the corner.

The guard was somewhat caught off guard but reacted very quickly.

Her waist, as if boneless and supple, bent backwards at great speed. One hand propped on the ground, and her slender legs swept by one after another, her skirt fluttering along.

An emergency handspring performed with unexpected grace.

As the woman stood up, her waterfall-like black hair cascaded down to the side. The beauty of her face, revealed without the helmet, showed a hint of confusion, and she blinked lightly at Ling Xiaolan.

How had she been exposed?

Ling Xiaolan looked to Wu Wang, her almond-shaped eyes seeming to speak, as if asking him, ’Didn’t you say there was something off with that guard?’

Wu Wang pondered for a few moments, about to make up a reasonable excuse when he suddenly heard the State Preceptor’s trembling voice shout, "Your Majesty! What are you doing here?"