Chapter 431: Evil Meets Its Match

At the Xiaoyao Residence!

"Did he really go to Princess Qingqing's mansion?" Xiaoyao Hou Nie Kuang sneered.

In front of Xiaoyao Hou stood a guard-like man.

"Absolutely, my lord. Ever since you told me to keep an eye on him, I've been watching closely. He went to Princess Qingqing's mansion, but I don't know what exactly happened," the guard reported.

"Of course, you wouldn't know. You're just a gatekeeper," Nie Kuang sneered.

"Move out!" Nie Kuang commanded a group of elite subordinates.

Swiftly, they left the Xiaoyao Residence, heading straight for Princess Qingqing's mansion.

At Princess Qingqing's Mansion

"You're looking for Qing'er?" Nie Qingqing asked Zhihuo Wolf General, puzzled.

Zhihuo blushed, looking like a shy youth on his first date, unsure of what to say.

Seeing Zhihuo's timid behavior, Zhong Shan felt a surge of contempt. Is he really chickening out at a critical moment?

Having no other choice, Zhong Shan stepped in. "Zhihuo once met Qinghong and was struck by her beauty. He has been thinking about her ever since, deeply admiring her. He hasn't found a companion in years. This time, he came to Lihuo Holy Capital to make up for past regrets. I hope Princess Qingqing can help him fulfill this wish."

Zhong Shan finished his speech and kicked Zhihuo's leg.

"Uh, yes, that's right!" Zhihuo stammered.

Nie Qingqing was taken aback, finding the situation hard to believe.

"Princess Qingqing, just let them meet. After all, they are adults, and if it's meant to be, we can't stop it," Zhong Shan said, sounding like a parent arranging a marriage for his child.

"Very well, Qing'er lives in the eastern courtyard. I can take you there," Nie Qingqing offered, still puzzled.

"No need, let them handle their own affairs. We shouldn't interfere," Zhong Shan said, sounding like Zhihuo's guardian.

"Alright then," Nie Qingqing agreed, shaking her head slightly. She believed Qinghong wouldn't be at a disadvantage.

"Let's go," Zhong Shan urged.

"Okay."

Zhihuo reluctantly went to the eastern courtyard to court Qinghong, while Zhong Shan followed Nie Qingqing to the western part of the courtyard to see Ling'er.

In the western part of Princess Qingqing's mansion, there was a beautiful little valley with a stream, woods, and a small hill. The environment was exceptionally serene.

Tian Ling'er was sitting at a stone table, watching the little Vermilion Bird peck at some fiery red grains.

"Ling'er," Nie Qingqing called.

Tian Ling'er jumped up, looking very nervous.

Seeing Zhong Shan approaching, Tian Ling'er instinctively tensed up. Ever since their encounter three days ago, although she was furious with Zhong Shan's rudeness, she couldn't stop dreaming about the familiar figure who called her "Osmanthus Cake." And now, that figure was Zhong Shan.

She didn't understand how she could know Zhong Shan when she had no memory of him. Why was this happening?

Until Nie Qingqing talked to her about meeting Zhong Shan again to clarify things, she was still confused about how she had agreed so readily.

"Princess Ling'er!" Zhong Shan called out.

Hearing Zhong Shan address her as a princess, Tian Ling'er let out a sigh of relief. She was terrified he would mention being her husband again.

"zhong,zhongshan!" Tian Ling'er said, a bit awkwardly.

"Three days ago, I was too abrupt."

"It's okay. Just don't talk nonsense next time."

"Haha, I definitely wasn't talking nonsense. I know you don't believe what I said before. Let's talk it through. Think about it yourself—how did you leave the Kaiyang Sect and come here?"

"I was seriously injured!"

"How did you get injured?"

"Sister said it was by someone who broke into the Kaiyang Sect!"

"Princess Qingqing said that?"

"Yes!"

"Do you remember it yourself?"

Tian Ling'er began to think deeply, but suddenly clutched her head in pain.

"Alright, alright, don't think about it!" Zhong Shan immediately said.

Seeing Tian Ling'er in pain, Zhong Shan felt a pang of heartache.

"I can't remember." Tian Ling'er shook her head.

"Don't think about it. Just listen to me," Zhong Shan said softly.

"Okay."

"First of all, it's undeniable that you've lost a part of your memory."

"Mm!" Tian Ling'er nodded.

"During the time you can't remember, I'll help you recall. You can choose to believe it or not. Just treat it as a story. How about that?" Zhong Shan said gently.

"Okay, but I might not believe it!" Tian Ling'er said warily.

"That's fine." Zhong Shan quickly agreed, feeling a bit relieved.

Just as Zhong Shan was about to start talking...

"Princess, Xiaoyao Hou has barged in," a servant hurriedly reported.

"Xiaoyao Hou?" Nie Qingqing raised an eyebrow.

"Qingqing Aunt!" Xiaoyao Hou walked in grandly with a dozen subordinates, who were the same elite experts from before.

"Xiaoyao Hou, what are you doing here?" Nie Qingqing said, anger flashing in her eyes.

Xiaoyao Hou glanced at Nie Qingqing with a hint of lewdness, then turned to look at Tian Ling'er and Zhong Shan.

Seeing them, Xiaoyao Hou's eyes filled with malice.

"Aunt, I came to see you! Oh, and Ling'er Aunt is here too!" Xiaoyao Hou said, smiling wickedly as he approached.

Tian Ling'er shrank back, clearly disliking Xiaoyao Hou.

Zhong Shan instinctively moved to protect Tian Ling'er.

Xiaoyao Hou noticed Zhong Shan's protective stance and his eyes turned even colder.

"Zhong Shan?" Xiaoyao Hou looked at him with icy malice.

"Da Luo Heavenly Dynasty, Eastern Duke Zhong Shan, greets Xiaoyao Hou," Zhong Shan said, smiling.

Xiaoyao Hou glanced around, seeing that Mr. Corpse wasn't present, and his arrogance grew.

"Zhong Shan, do you know where you are?" Xiaoyao Hou asked.

"Not your home."

"Hmph!" Xiaoyao Hou snorted coldly, then shifted his attention to Tian Ling'er, who was hiding behind Zhong Shan.

"Ling'er Aunt, I saw a beautiful bracelet in the market. Here, it's for you," Xiaoyao Hou said as he walked towards them.

"I don't want it!" Tian Ling'er shouted immediately. "Come on, let me put it on for you," the evil smile on Xiaoyao Hou's face widened as he reached out to grab Tian Ling'er's hand.

"Slap!" Zhong Shan glared and grabbed Xiaoyao Hou's arm.

"What are you doing?" Xiaoyao Hou saw this as an opportunity and erupted with anger. The accompanying imperial guards surrounded them.

Xiaoyao Hou had made up his mind to take revenge today. Even if Zhong Shan didn't provoke him, he wanted to humiliate Zhong Shan. After all, this was his territory, and he was in charge here!

He also believed that in Lihuo Holy Capital, Zhong Shan wouldn't dare lay a finger on him. Who would dare to offend him in Lihuo Holy Capital?

"Boom ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~" A dark thunder followed Zhong Shan's hand and entered Xiaoyao Hou's arm, exploding with a loud bang.

"Ah ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~" Xiaoyao Hou screamed in agony. How dare he attack?

"Kill him, kill him ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~" Xiaoyao Hou shouted in pain.

"You dare! Who do you think you are to attack me?" Zhong Shan roared, sending several more dark thunders into Xiaoyao Hou's body.

"Ah ~~~ Ah ~~~ Ah ~~~ Ah ~~~ Ah ~~~" Xiaoyao Hou's face contorted in pain. The imperial guards, just standing there, seemed useless. The dark thunders exploding inside him felt like lightning bolts, causing unimaginable pain.

"Kill him, kill him, I'll take responsibility! Just an imperial duke, kill him ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~" Xiaoyao Hou stubbornly shouted.

The dozen imperial guards finally made up their minds to kill Zhong Shan.

"Hmph, I am the envoy of the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty, a royal emissary representing the Great Luo Emperor. Do you dare to attack an envoy?" Zhong Shan roared again.

Hearing Zhong Shan, the guards hesitated once more.

Gu Shentong? He represents Gu Shentong? Who dares to attack him? Not to mention the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty wouldn't spare them, even the Great Li Heavenly Dynasty wouldn't forgive them, regardless of Xiaoyao Hou's backing.

"Zhong Shan, I curse you to die miserably!" Xiaoyao Hou shouted stubbornly.

Zhong Shan coldly looked at the already crippled Xiaoyao Hou. "Xiaoyao Hou, is it? I don't care who you are, remember this: never provoke me again. Hmph!"

With a wave, Zhong Shan threw the crippled Xiaoyao Hou away.

His subordinates immediately caught him.

"Useless ~~~~" Xiaoyao Hou cursed his subordinates with difficulty.

"Get lost ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~" Zhong Shan roared, and the imperial guards quickly took Xiaoyao Hou away.

Zhong Shan's series of actions were witnessed by the two women, who didn't intervene. They both felt a surge of excitement, especially because they were well aware of Xiaoyao Hou's evil deeds. Seeing Zhong Shan humiliate him brought them an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

"Good! Beat that bad guy to death!" Tian Ling'er exclaimed as Xiaoyao Hou left.

"You should be more careful from now on," Nie Qingqing advised.

"I know."

"How did you dare hit him? No one in Lihuo Holy Capital has ever dared to hit him," Tian Ling'er asked, her eyes blinking with curiosity.

"One evil man deserves another," Nie Qingqing laughed, covering her mouth.

One evil man deserves another? Zhong Shan scratched his nose, feeling speechless.

"Alright, back to the main topic," Zhong Shan said.

"Oh!"

"Thirty-six years ago, I first arrived at Kaiyang Sect..."

Zhong Shan began to recount the story. The two women listened attentively.

Hearing a story that involved her, Tian Ling'er felt curious, wary, and engaged.

When he talked about leaving the sect.

"Osmanthus Cake? So you made the Osmanthus Cake? What happened next?"

"Then we left the sect, and for our first camping trip, we used this!" Zhong Shan took out a hammock.

"Uh, I have one too. How do you use it?" Tian Ling'er asked, intrigued.

Zhong Shan walked to a nearby grove and tied the hammock between two trees. Tian Ling'er's eyes lit up as she hurriedly set up her own hammock in the same way.

"Is this a bed?" Tian Ling'er asked excitedly as she climbed up.