On the ancient street, Ling Xiao stood atop a building, watching the solitary figure walking away, a faint, sinister smile playing on his lips.
It was clear that Ning Tiance believed his words.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have killed those two Divine Marquis guards.
It seems the good show is about to begin.
But with Ning Tiance's strength, he probably couldn't kill Zhou Minruo.
After all, deep within Yunruo Palace, Ling Xiao could sense an extremely terrifying aura.
However, the more this happened, the more Ning Tiance would understand the eldest princess's malicious intentions.
Dig out his heart, abandon his child.
Heh, what a vicious woman.
Thinking about it this way, I, Ling Xiao, am practically a little hero eradicating villains and evil!
Yunruo Palace, in front of the main hall.
Ning Tiance took a deep breath and stepped inside.
Zhou Minruo was sitting in the hall, quietly reading an ancient scroll.
In front of her, an incense burner emitted wispy green smoke, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.
"Minruo."
"Get out. I don't want to see you for the next few days." Zhou Minruo frowned slightly, not even looking up.
Her heart was very conflicted at the moment.
Should she... kill Ning Tiance or not?
"Minruo, I want to see Ning'er." Ning Tiance walked to Zhou Minruo's front, his eyes also filled with an indescribable complexity.
Twenty years ago, if not for this woman, he would have died under the Zhou Emperor's blade.
Ten years ago, if not for this woman, he might not have resolved to abandon the million soldiers who had gone through life and death with him and return to the court to lay down his arms.
Now, if not for this woman, he definitely wouldn't suffer such humiliation, coiled up in the imperial capital, watching the generals of the Northern Frontier being slaughtered.
"You!" Zhou Minruo instinctively raised her hand to slap Ning Tiance's face.
But this time, the Ning Tiance who had always been gentle and weak in front of her suddenly raised his hand and caught her delicate wrist.
"Take me to see Ning'er!"
From birth until now, Ning Tiance had only seen his daughter once.
That small, pale infant had melted his iron-hard heart.
But he never dreamed that the glance at her birth would become his only memory of his daughter.
Ten years of longing was a torment he never experienced even during ten years of military campaigns.
He originally thought Ning'er was just physically weak and being raised deep within the palace.
And his hands were truly stained with the blood of countless lives.
The blood煞之气 (bloody, baleful aura) was too sinister and would pollute that pure, white soul.
But he never dreamed this was all a lie.
Quite suddenly, the last trace of guilt in Ning Tiance's heart towards Zhou Minruo... vanished.
He had loved her.
"Ning Tiance, how dare you!!!" A clear look of surprise flashed across Zhou Minruo's pale, pretty face, but immediately after, it turned icy cold!
Indeed, the old immortal elder didn't deceive me!
Ning Tiance will certainly rebel soon!
As expected of someone who comprehends the will of heaven, he could even divine this!!
In that case, I have nothing to hesitate about!
Ning Tiance, you brought this upon yourself!
"If it weren't for me, do you think you'd still be alive standing here now?!"
"I just want to see Ning'er. It's been ten years. Even one glance is enough." A pained expression flashed in Ning Tiance's eyes.
If there were no war in the Northern Frontier and Ning'er was safe and sound.
Even if Zhou Minruo demanded his life, he would not hesitate.
But now, his generals were being slaughtered, his daughter's whereabouts were unknown, and the hatred in his heart could finally no longer be suppressed.
"I said you can't see her. You'll scare her." Zhou Minruo sneered, her gaze cold as she looked at Ning Tiance. "Don't you know how much blood stains your hands? Are your hands worthy of embracing my daughter?"
"I won't embrace her. I just want to see her once, Eldest Princess. Please?" The once foolproof excuse was now ineffective.
Zhou Minruo frowned slightly. Could it be... Ning Tiance has noticed?
Or... was it that old immortal elder...
Yes! It must be!
He must have overheard my conversation with the old immortal elder earlier!
"Humph, fine! You want to see Ning'er? I'll take you to see her!" Finally, Zhou Minruo simply nodded and led the way towards the rear hall.
"Huh? Did... I misjudge her?" Though Ning Tiance's face remained calm, he felt inexplicably hopeful.
Or perhaps, he still loved her.
Sometimes, with some people, one glance lasts a lifetime.
Only when the two reached the deepest part of Yunruo Palace, in a secluded small courtyard, did a cold smile finally appear on Zhou Minruo's face.
"We're here. Ning'er is inside."
"Huh? This is... Granny Shang's residence, isn't it?" Ning Tiance frowned slightly, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.
If there was anyone in Yunruo Palace he was wary of, it was probably this old woman, Shang Xiang.
She was the maid who accompanied Zhou Minruo's mother when she married, given to Yunruo Palace during their wedding to protect Zhou Minruo.
Of course, the real purpose was to prevent Ning Tiance from escaping the imperial capital.
Fourth Grade Divine Emperor, a top-tier expert in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty.
But...
If it really came to a fight, Ning Tiance wasn't afraid of her.
"Ning'er has been following Granny Shang, devoting herself to cultivation." Zhou Minruo snorted coldly, and Ning Tiance could already barely contain himself as he walked into the courtyard.
Buzz!
But the moment his figure appeared in the courtyard, an ancient array unfolded above, completely isolating the area from the outside world.
Hidden in the void, Ling Xiao watched a golden spiritual curtain below, a smile suddenly curling on his lips.
The good show begins.
"Minruo, what is the meaning of this?" Ning Tiance's gaze gradually turned cold.
"No particular meaning. Didn't you want to see Ning'er?" Zhou Minruo calmly walked towards the house in the courtyard and said softly, "Granny Shang, he's here."
Buzz. A humming sound was heard as the door swung open. An old woman in palace robes emerged, leading a young girl in red.
"Oh? Ning Tiance, what are you doing here!" The old woman's face was covered with wrinkles, her silver hair tied in a bun at the back. Her deep-colored palace robes fluttered slightly though there was no wind, and her aged eyes held absolute coldness.
Earlier, Zhou Minruo had already spoken to her about what Ling Xiao said.
So, she had made preparations.
And since Ning Tiance was here, she could guess the Eldest Princess's purpose in leading him here.
She served the Princess's mother and was wholeheartedly devoted only to the Princess.
Since Zhou Minruo had now made up her mind, she naturally had no reservations.
Killing a War God indeed involved many risks.
But if the Princess could obtain a great opportunity in exchange, any risk was worth it.
"Ning'er..." But at this moment, Ning Tiance didn't even glance at Shang Xiang. Instead, he looked excitedly at the young girl beside her.
But...
For some reason, the girl's eyes only held panic, not a trace of joy.
Quite inexplicably, Ning Tiance felt that... this wasn't Ning'er.
Even though ten years had passed, the blood connection between father and daughter shouldn't be so faint!
Could it be...
"Ning Tiance, you've seen our daughter. Shouldn't we now discuss... the matter of that immortal art of military strategy?" Just as Ning Tiance was silently pondering, a look of icy coldness suddenly flashed across Zhou Minruo's face.