Chapter 437: Rumors in Xiaohai City

Join my Patreon to be 30 chapters ahead of the webnovel releases:

patreon.com/ZeroMoney

I would appreciate your help if you could join my Patreon and support me because it would keep me motivated. 

******

That night, Luo Qiu broke free from the Soul Sealing Belt and, leading the other thirteen Moonlit Elves, blasted open a hole and escaped from the city.

Mr. Gui immediately pursued them, but after exchanging two moves with Luo Qiu, he was shocked. Her strength had increased, nearly reaching the level of a peerless expert.

"Could it be—"

Realizing something, Mr. Gui stopped after chasing for three miles. He led the people of the Spirit Hall back, saying, "Let's go back. We underestimated them this time. Next time, they won't be so lucky."

"Those bastards! They actually escaped!" Xue Beng cursed. The Moonlit Elves were all quite beautiful, and even someone like him, who wasn't particularly lustful, felt a bit tempted. Xue Beng's playboy persona was a disguise, but after pretending to be a "pig" for so many years, he couldn't help but pick up some of the "pig's" essence.

Besides, most normal men are attracted to beauty.

"The Spirit Hall's Soul Sealing Belt isn't so great, is it?" Xue Beng shifted his blame toward Hu Liena. Although Tang San was the Holy Son of Spirit Hall, he was also the Silver-Blue Count of the Tian Dou Empire. Since Tang San had been promoted as the new Emperor of the Tian Dou Federation, his relationship with Xue Beng had grown tense. There was no need to make more enemies… In Xue Beng's eyes, Tang San must be interested in the future position of the Spirit Hall's Pope as well.

After all, who would refuse power?

Thus, the indifference Tang San currently displayed toward authority seemed to Xue Beng to be nothing more than a facade. In reality, Tang San was in competition with the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall.

Men, after all, care about their pride and want to appear generous.

However, now was not the time for internal conflict, so Xue Beng only made a small jab at Hu Liena, the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall, believing that it wouldn't provoke Tang San's displeasure.

Hu Liena, for her part, completely ignored Xue Beng.

In fact, most people present treated Xue Beng as a transparent, insignificant figure. Only Ge Long, out of consideration for the dignity of Tian Dou, gave Xue Beng a little attention.

"Your Holiness, do you have any explanation for the Moonlit Elves' escape?" Mr. Gui's raspy voice echoed as he curiously asked, "After all, it was you and Miss Gu Yuena who entered the dungeon, and then later that night, they escaped. It's hard not to wonder if you made some secret deal."

"Luo Qiu has already been subdued. She's now our spy." Tang San replied truthfully, though he did not elaborate on how she was subdued, as it involved Gu Yuena's secret.

Mr. Gui was the first to believe him and sighed, "As expected of you, Your Holiness. You're so impressive, even capable of turning the enemy to our side. When the time comes, this will give Xu Huang a fatal blow—he'll never see it coming."

Hu Liena silently watched Mr. Gui for a while, thinking: Has Elder Ghost Douluo and Tang San planned something together that I don't know about?

Gu Yuena turned her head to glance at Tang San… Of all of them, she was the most speechless—

They had agreed that no one else would know, and now how many people were in on it?

It wouldn't take long before the entire Hunhai City found out!

And indeed, it wasn't just Hunhai City. Only two days later, even in Xiaohai City, rumors were spreading.

"Have you heard? The Emperor's concubine, Luo Qiu, has defected to the enemy. She's a spy now!"

"That has to be false!"

"That's not necessarily true. After all, a woman's heart is as deep as the ocean. Let me tell you, my ex-girlfriend used to be madly in love with me, but then she turned around and ran into the arms of a rich family's young master, claiming I couldn't give her the happiness she wanted."

"What nonsense are you spouting? Get back to work!"

When the rumor finally reached Xu Huang's ears, he immediately issued an order forbidding any further internal gossip.

Luo Qiu, betray him? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! After all, Luo Qiu was a Moonlit Elf. With a whole tribe still in the Eternal Domain, and having followed him for so many years—even without physical intimacy, they had developed feelings. How could she possibly betray him?

Moreover, if Luo Qiu had really become a spy, how foolish would the people of Hunhai City have to be to spread the news everywhere within just two days?

This was definitely a ploy!

The commanders of Hunhai City must be furious that Luo Qiu had brought back Tang San's intel, so they devised this tactic. Although it wouldn't shake Xu Huang's resolve, it might unsettle the soldiers who didn't know the full story about Luo Qiu.

Xu Huang wasn't worried about the loyalty of the Sun Moon Army, but if even a small portion of them started being wary of Luo Qiu, their work and combat efficiency would inevitably decline.

Sometimes, too much loyalty has its drawbacks...

"Damn that Tang San, using such a scheme! How despicable!" Xu Huang gritted his teeth, wishing he could charge into Hunhai City and slap the man across the face.

Unfortunately, the Eternal and Creation God-Seal Throne required its user to exhibit traits like restraint, justice, kindness, tolerance, and calmness. Any desire-driven actions, unless born from true love, would cause the throne's spirit to lose favor with him. After all, the throne had both a weapon soul and a spirit.

Otherwise, how could Luo Qiu have maintained her virginity?

Ever since Xu Huang acquired the Eternal and Creation God-Seal Throne, he had been constantly restraining his inner desires, striving to maintain the image of a refined and elegant noble. The darkness within him could only be suppressed, never released.

Luo Qiu's expression was strange as well.

They had agreed no one else would know, yet now how many were in on it?

But as long as Xu Huang didn't believe she had betrayed him, it didn't matter... Realizing this, Luo Qiu cursed internally: Humans truly are a cunning race! The twists and turns in this scheme are endless!

Still, she couldn't help but think, Who asked me to board Gu Yuena's pirate ship?

She had no choice in the matter.

Yet, Luo Qiu couldn't assassinate Xu Huang directly for three reasons.

First, Xu Huang's strength wasn't weak. Though his spirit power was only at level 82, even without using the God-Seal Throne, he could still rival a level-95 Titled Douluo. If she couldn't guarantee a swift kill, she wouldn't make a move.

Second, Xu Huang's Sun Moon Army was fanatically loyal to him. If he suddenly died, they might resort to using large-scale soul-guided bombs, taking her down with him in a final explosion. She couldn't risk that.

Third, she came from the Eternal Domain, and the Eternal and Creation God-Seal Throne was nurtured in her homeland. It demanded proper respect for its wielder.

Xu Huang, for all his faults, was indeed a formidable figure. Even if he had to die, he deserved to die in a manner befitting a king—in a war worthy of his royal status.

"Your Majesty, regarding Tang San's intelligence, there's something else I'm not sure I should tell you," Luo Qiu spoke as Xu Huang calmed down, bringing up a new point. "Tang San let me go on purpose…"

"I know!" Xu Huang nodded. "I won't be swayed by their rumors. They don't understand the bond between us."

"It's not that," Luo Qiu shook her head and looked him in the eye. "He sent me to deliver you a challenge—a battle on the open sea."

(End of chapter)