"I don't believe it. Give me a proper reason."
"Firstly, giving Your Majesty the Innate Dao Body is simply because we are cooperating to divide the benefits. You get what you deserve.
Secondly, this is also me repaying the Supreme Emperor and Empress Dowager for their years of nurturing.
As for dealing with the floods in the seven southern continents, that is the Public Arbitration Council's responsibility,
It's to avoid greater civil unrest and reduce tragedies in the world.
As for resisting the Northern Barbarians, it's also so that the people on the border, who have long been oppressed by the barbarians, can have a suitable living environment.
Now agreeing to help you repair the Imperial Seal is also to prepare for dealing with unpredictable situations in the future."
"The starting point for everything I do has never been based on personal feelings. Even if I could start over, I would still choose to do the same.
In addition, the materials needed to repair the Imperial Seal are substantial, so I will need additional funds. I will send the bill to Your Majesty later. From now on, let's handle this as official business.
Don't involve any emotional issues anymore. If there's nothing else, may I take my leave?"
Shen Zhao calmly stated his purpose, his gaze unwavering and seemingly sincere.
Yu Xiyan bit her lip, murmuring, "No matter what, it was you who helped Me. Won't you come back with Me? I will give you a surprise?"
Shen Zhao spread his hands, "I'm sorry, but I don't like life in the imperial palace. In this life, I only want to see the magnificent rivers and mountains, and interact more with people and events of the jianghu.
As for the so-called surprise, I believe that life itself is a surprise, because no one can predict what tomorrow will bring.
This kind of surprise is far more stimulating and real than those inexplicable self-indulgences."
"You haven't lived with me, so how can you be so sure you don't like it?" Yu Xiyan pressed. "If you enjoy traveling the mountains and rivers, I won't stop you. I'll accompany you wherever you want to go."
Shen Zhao didn't want to continue the argument and quickly put away the Imperial Seal. "Alright, Your Majesty, I'll repair the Imperial Seal as soon as possible. You can have someone come and collect it then.
And settle the payment while you're at it. As for the amount, I believe that the ruler of a kingdom wouldn't embarrass themselves over material possessions."
Yu Xiyan said, "I want you to personally deliver it back to the palace."
Shen Zhao said, "I'm sorry, but I can't do that. I swore on the day I left Chang'an that I would never return in my lifetime. So, please, Your Majesty, abandon this unrealistic idea and don't make things difficult for me, thank you."
Yu Xiyan was startled, staring blankly at Shen Zhao.
After a long while, she asked in a trembling voice, "Why? Chang'an is your home!"
"I used to think it was my home too, but after experiencing many things, I realized that so-called home is just a wishful fantasy."
Thinking about the experiences of the previous nine lives, Shen Zhao felt quite uncomfortable.
Chang'an, is it really his home?
It never was!
A home is warm, a harbor after you've striven and given everything.
Not just a one-sided contribution, only to receive deeper suspicion and indifference, and merciless betrayal.
Thinking of this, Shen Zhao felt agitated. He took the wine gourd from his waist and drank a mouthful of Osmanthus Wine.
"When did you learn to drink?"
"People in the jianghu always have wine with them. Is Your Majesty surprised?"
"But I remember, you never drink alcohol."
"Your Majesty is mistaken, I have always drunk alcohol."
Yu Xiyan was stunned, not knowing what she was thinking, a hint of guilt faintly appearing on her face.
Hanging the wine gourd back on his waist, Shen Zhao waved his hand and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be going now. Don't worry, the Imperial Seal will be returned on time. You don't have to worry about me embezzling it, after all, I'm still waiting to make some extra money with it."
Just as he reached the door, Shen Zhao suddenly remembered something and added, "Right, I am not your husband, so don't talk nonsense to others in the future. It's not good for your reputation or mine. Bye!"
Yu Xiyan was taken aback, wanting to explain something, but looking at his departing back, she finally held back.
"In this life, no matter what, I will make up for everything I owed you in the previous life, your grievances, your loneliness, I will compensate you double."
As soon as he left the courtyard, Shangguan Qiuyue stopped Shen Zhao. "Shen Zhao, how long are you going to keep this up? Do you know what's been happening in the Imperial City lately?"
"What happens in the Imperial City has nothing to do with me," Shen Zhao asked with a smile. "You don't think a former Deputy Commandant of the Peace and Security Bureau can influence the future of the Imperial City, do you?"
Shangguan Qiuyue said angrily, "Why did you refuse the marriage arranged for you by the Supreme Emperor? Do you know how much impact this will have on His Majesty and the royal family?"
"Seriously, what exactly are you people thinking?" Shen Zhao was speechless. "Don't you have anything else to do all day besides affairs of the heart?
Face is earned, not given. Besides, my face isn't that big. It can't make the royal family lose face.
Stop putting on airs for me. You're not qualified to lecture me."
"You!"
Shangguan Qiuyue was furious and immediately drew her sword, pointing it at Shen Zhao.
Just then, a mocking laugh echoed behind Shen Zhao. "Sister, I advise you not to point your sword at my boss, or you might find yourself in a lot of trouble."
Turning around, she saw Su Yunying had appeared at the Heavenly Severing Holy Land, she didn't know when.
Shangguan Qiuyue was taken aback. "Who are you? What's the relationship between you two?"
Su Yunying, however, walked to Shen Zhao's side, looped her arm through his, leaned her head on his shoulder, and smiled. "Well, looking at us, what do you think our relationship is?"
"Shen Zhao! You... you actually..."
Seeing a girl, who was no less beautiful than Yu Xiyan, making such an intimate gesture beside Shen Zhao, Shangguan Qiuyue's eyes widened.
No wonder Shen Zhao wanted to flee from the marriage! Could it be that he found a woman outside the palace who was no less beautiful than Her Majesty?
Judging by their relationship, it was definitely not ordinary!
Damn it, that Shen Zhao actually dared to secretly find a slut behind His Majesty's back!
He dared to cuck His Majesty!
The key is that someone like Shen Zhao, at the bottom of the hierarchy, could actually be favored by such a beauty?
She became more and more unhappy, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt that Yu Xiyan had been wronged.
Shen Zhao glared at Su Yunying, then said to Shangguan Qiuyue: "Alright, if there's nothing else, I'll go first."
"You're not allowed to leave! Explain yourself! How far have you two gone? Have you already slept together? You have to make it clear!"
In her excitement, Shangguan Qiuyue directly thrust a sword at Shen Zhao.
Su Yunying's eyes turned cold, and she preemptively waved her hand. The Cloud Dispelling Palm force shot out, and with just one palm, she shattered Shangguan Qiuyue's longsword, while also blasting her back several steps.
Shangguan Qiuyue was shocked. With her Nascent Soul Realm, fourth-grade cultivation, she couldn't even withstand the girl's casual palm strike. Just how deep was her cultivation?
"Sister, I warned you. Don't act rashly. This time was just a small lesson. If there's a next time, it won't be so easy."
Su Yunying made a face at Shangguan Qiuyue, then pulled Shen Zhao and quietly left.
After they reached a place with no one around, Shen Zhao shook off Su Yunying's hand and asked with dissatisfaction, "Why did you come? Didn't I tell you to cultivate properly and stay out of this?"
Su Yunying looked innocent. "I've already broken through! Do you want to see my cultivation? I'm now at the Profound Void Realm, fourth-grade."
Shen Zhao was speechless, but considering Su Yunying's rapid progress, it was within expectations.
Fa Hai and Liang Hao were unwilling to compete with Su Yunying for the Crimson Flame Fruit. After Su Yunying consumed and refined the Crimson Flame Fruit, and with the enhancement of her fire-attribute spiritual root from the Fire Essence Stone, her Mystic Phoenix Bloodline was now at least 40% awakened. Therefore, she could break through three grades in one go.
"Even so, didn't I tell you to go back to Qingyang City first?"
"But, I miss Senior Brother Shen."
Su Yunying leaned towards Shen Zhao and winked at him.
Looking at the woman in front of him, a picture flashed through Shen Zhao's mind: himself standing on the rooftop of a 1088-story building, facing a level 18 typhoon, revealing a 48-pack, looking at the woman before him who was as thin as a cicada's wing, and then shouting "Shit".
Immediately afterwards, giving her a ten-pull to reach the pinnacle of life.
Thinking of this, Shen Zhao got goosebumps all over, quickly took two steps back, and said to Su Yunying, "This big guy only wants to focus on his career, doesn't want to be in a relationship. If you're thinking about dating me, just give up."
"Hmph, here we go again, how boring!"
Su Yunying pouted in dissatisfaction.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. I'm here today because of this."
Su Yunying took a golden egg from her storage pouch, the very Great Roc egg that Shen Zhao had bid on in chapter 51.
"Boss, I feel like this egg has been restless lately. Is it about to hatch?"
Shen Zhao was startled, and quickly took the golden egg. "It's moving?"
"Yeah, you check it out. I'm afraid I'll mess it up and won't be able to give it back to you."
Shen Zhao carefully examined the golden egg and found that the spiritual energy within it was at least ten times more concentrated. Furthermore, if he listened closely, there was a faint sound coming from inside the shell.
"Looks like the Great Roc is about to be born."
Without a word, Shen Zhao directly forced the golden egg into his body and began to refine it.
His Sea of Qi was the best incubator for a divine beast, with an endless supply of spiritual energy, so he didn't have to worry about running out of spiritual power.
"Alright, you're done here, you can leave."
"Huh? I finally come all this way, and you're already kicking me out?"
"You need an invitation. How can you get into the venue without one?"
Su Yunying thought for a moment, then said, "I remember you have three, right? One for yourself, one for Liang Hao, and one for Master Ding. So, where's the last one?"
Shen Zhao was speechless: "Did your math teacher teach P.E.?"
Su Yunying mused, "So that's how it is. That's a problem. But I've come all this way, I can't just go back like this."
At this point, she looked at Chu Sheng, who was passing by not far off.
"It seems like this is the only option left."
Without waiting for Shen Zhao to stop her, Su Yunying rushed directly to Chu Sheng: "Big brother, I want to discuss something with you. Are you also here to attend the wedding?"
Chu Sheng: "Yes? What's up?"
Su Yunying's eyebrows curved with a smile: "That's wonderful. Big brother, I want to discuss something with you. You must have an invitation, right? How about giving it to me?"
A string of question marks immediately appeared above Chu Sheng's head. He sized up Su Yunying for a long time before saying, "Are you f*cking crazy? If I give you the invitation, how am I supposed to get into the venue?"
"Why are you, a big boy, joining in the fun? It's better if I go for you."
"F*ck, your whole family are big boys! Where did you little beggar come from? Get lost immediately, or I'll get angry, and the entire continent will tremble."
"So, you're not willing?"
"What? Judging by your stance, you're planning to fight me? Let me tell you, I'm not some benevolent person. Don't think I won't touch you just because you're a woman!"
"That depends on whether you have the ability to touch me."
"Damn it, with my temper, how could I, the fourth prince of the Great Xia Kingdom, be afraid of being threatened by a little beggar girl? I'll teach you a small lesson today."
"Alright, I'm looking forward to it."
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
"Pfft~"
Chu Sheng's face was bruised and swollen. He knelt on the ground and vomited three mouthfuls of blood, while Su Yunying was completely unharmed, her arms crossed as she looked down at him.
"Do you want to keep fighting?"
"No, I don't."
"Where's the stuff?"
"Here."
Chu Sheng tremblingly handed over the invitation. He never would have imagined that the sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl in front of him would actually have a Profound Void Realm cultivation, and be three full realms above him.
After receiving the gold-stamped invitation, Su Yunying smiled and shook it at Shen Zhao.
"Tch~"
Shen Zhao turned her face away in a huff, apparently despising such a display of violence.
"Big sister, can I leave now?"
"Yes, get lost."
Chu Sheng immediately got up and left, shouting before he went, "Little beggar, you just wait for me, this isn't over!"
Shen Zhao looked at the invitation in Su Yunying's hand and pondered for a long time. Suddenly, he called her over, "Girl, go and do something for me."
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)