Marry the Demon Sect Girl with No Bride Price

Chapter 367 - 26: Western Empress

The next day.

Yunling Town.

Lotus Garden.

"Xiaoyan, Xiaohua, where are you?"

"Sister Xue, we are here. Sister Xue, you lost again!"

"You guys really know how to hide. It’s elder sister who lost."

"Haha, Sister Xue is really silly!"

Fang Xue was playing hide and seek with the children when there was a knock at the door.

The knocking was somewhat fierce, sounding rather impatient.

Fang Xue told the children to go inside the big house and went to open the door herself. Before her stood over ten people, all dressed in black brocade clothing, with a large golden snake coiled on it.

Western Imperial Dynasty, Golden Snake Guard.

The imperial flag of the Western Imperial Dynasty is a golden giant python. Only the Golden Snake Guard, directly under the Western Emperor Palace, are permitted to wear the golden snake on their clothing.

The one leading them asked Fang Xue, "Do Qin Gengyun and Qiu Zhihe live here?"

Fang Xue nodded.

The man said, "Have them come out. I have a few questions for them."

Fang Xue replied, "They are not here these days."

The man looked at her and suddenly said, "You are Fang Xue, an outer sect disciple of Xiyue Peak at Zhenyang Sect?"

Fang Xue nodded. The man said, "I am a Golden Snake Guard of the Western Imperial Dynasty, Liu Shi. Taoist Friend Fang, do you know Si Minglan?"

Fang Xue’s brow twitched slightly. She vaguely guessed the man’s intentions, "Si Minglan is my senior sister."

Liu Shi asked again, "Six months ago, Si Minglan stayed in Yunling Town for more than a month, left for a few days, and then returned. Do you know what she was doing during those days?"

The time Liu Shi was asking about was exactly when Si Minglan attempted to assassinate the eldest prince of the Western Imperial Dynasty. Fang Xue shook her head:

"I don’t know."

Liu Shi narrowed his eyes, his voice growing cold and sharp:

"We found out that Si Minglan was seriously injured at that time. The first person she sought after returning to Yunling Town was you, yet you claim not to know where she went?"

Fang Xue continued to shake her head.

Liu Shi suddenly sneered, "You are not good at lying... Capture her!"

The entire group of Golden Snake Guards drew their long knives; the blades gleamed with light, all possessing Foundation Establishment Cultivation, and Liu Shi himself was at Foundation Establishment Peak.

Fang Xue held her long sword in hand, calmly watching them, her voice clear:

"This is Uncle Qin and Sister Qiu’s house, please do not damage it, let’s take it outside."

Liu Shi coldly responded, "That is not up to you!"

With those words, the blade shone brightly, slashing towards Fang Xue.

"Stop."

A soft, gentle voice sounded, causing Liu Shi’s movement to halt. He instantly turned and knelt on one knee, and the other Golden Snake Guards also stopped, kneeling towards the newcomer, speaking in unison:

"Empress."

Fang Xue looked ahead in astonishment, seeing a woman standing serenely. Her features were like a painting, her hair done in a simple knot, and she wore an ordinary long dress, yet she exuded an elegant and dignified aura.

Even under the scorching sun, the light falling on her transformed into a gentle glow, slowly spreading behind her, turning into a patch of golden radiance.

The woman stood in the radiance, her snowy skin glowing, dignified and beautiful.

The Empress of the Western Imperial Dynasty, tenth on the Beauty Ranking, Lin Yuan.

The Western Emperor Wu Zheng was known for his amorous nature, with countless beauties in the harem, yet all these beauties combined could not compare to the unparalleled elegance of Lin Yuan alone.

Lin Yuan was also the top expert in the Western Imperial Dynasty, rumored to have long reached the late stage of Nascent Soul.

But her temperament was gentle, dignified, and never indulged in jealousy or strife within the harem, which is why the Western Emperor Palace remained stable for decades.

That’s why the Beauty Ranking has the saying "the three thousand of the harem cannot surpass the Western Empress".

Fang Xue had of course heard of the Empress’s renown; upon seeing her, she felt that the tenth place on the Beauty Ranking was truly too low.

Lin Yuan slowly walked up to her, her smile kind, her voice gentle:

"Taoist Friend Fang, Guard Liu was once the personal guard of my Eldest Prince. He was not present during the assassination attempt on the Eldest Prince, and thus is eager to catch the culprit. Please forgive him."

Fang Xue did not expect the famous Empress to be so courteous. She hurriedly bowed in salute:

"Lin, Taoist Friend Lin, no need to be polite. I truly do not know where Si Minglan went."

Lin Yuan smiled, "Understood. Apologies for the disturbance today."

With that, she nodded to Fang Xue and left with the Golden Snake Guards.

Watching her dignified and elegant back, Fang Xue couldn’t help but sigh, "The Empress, how beautiful!"

"Your Majesty, this Fang Xue is definitely closely connected with Si Minglan; clues can surely be found through her."

Liu Shi walked beside Lin Yuan, still somewhat unwilling.

Lin Yuan’s voice remained gentle, "Si Minglan has already been found."

Liu Shi was taken aback and immediately asked, "Where is she?"

Lin Yuan calmly said, "She just arrived in Feiyun City. Si Mingcheng is already waiting for her."

"Si Mingcheng?" Liu Shi felt reassured upon hearing this name:

"It was Si Mingcheng who defected to the authorities back then and exposed the National Guardian General’s Mansion’s collusion with foreign enemies. He was also the one who suggested that Si Minglan be sent to the Imperial Music Bureau. Now, having him go after Si Minglan is indeed fitting."

Lin Yuan glanced at him, and Liu Shi broke out in a cold sweat, quickly bowing:

"I misspoke."

Lin Yuan looked up at the sky, the sunlight illuminating her dignified and beautiful face.

"The Eldest Prince acted without reason, yet his crime was not deserving of death. The one who killed him must pay with their life."

...

Feiyun City.

"Wow, it’s so lively here!"

"There are Fairies flying everywhere!"

"Sister Si, look, that mountain is huge, even bigger than our Cloud Bamboo Mountain!"

Yun Xing, Yun Yan, and Yun Yu, the three children, were excitedly gazing around, while Si Minglan pointed to the distant towering mountains:

"That’s Feiyun Mountain. If all goes well, you’ll soon be cultivating there."

Like Zhenyang Sect, Feiyun Sect also has a large city with the same name below it.

However, Feiyun Sect’s cultivation techniques differ from those of Zhenyang Sect, excelling more at flying and stealth. Therefore, cultivators can be seen flying everywhere in Feiyun City.

A man dressed in green appeared ahead, saluting Si Minglan:

"Senior Sister Si, I am the steward disciple of Feiyun Sect, Zheng Mulin."

Si Minglan also saluted: "Junior Brother Zheng, long time no see."

Zheng Mulin smiled, a sorrowful look on his face: "Indeed, the last time I saw you, Senior Sister, was when Senior Sister Yin and I went to the Northern Wilderness..."

The "Senior Sister Yin" he referred to was the Female Spirit Corpses beside Mo Sha.

The Female Spirit Corpses were killed by Qin Gengyun and others, handing a Jade Pendant to Si Minglan before dying, which was her love token with her junior brother.

And that junior brother was Zheng Mulin.

Si Minglan had already sent a message to Zheng Mulin on the way, informing him that she had found Yin Qiaoqin’s relics.

Now seeing his sorrowful expression, Si Minglan took out the Jade Pendant and handed it to Zheng Mulin:

"Junior Brother Zheng, my condolences."

Zheng Mulin took the Jade Pendant, his eyes immediately reddened, his voice trembling: "Thank you, Senior Sister Si!"

He then gratefully said: "I have a residence in Feiyun Sect, where I have already prepared a feast, please accompany me there, Senior Sister Si. Tomorrow, I will bring the three young ones to meet our master."

Si Minglan nodded, "Thank you."

"Please follow me."

Zheng Mulin led the way ahead. Si Minglan suddenly squeezed Yun Xing’s hand, and Yun Xing understood, pointing to a vendor selling candied fruits in the distance and shouting:

"Sister Si, I want to eat candied fruits!"

Yun Yan and Yun Yu were taken aback but followed suit, "Sister Si, we want to eat candied fruits too!"

Si Minglan apologetically said to Zheng Mulin, "These kids have a sweet tooth. Junior Brother Zheng, please wait for a moment while I take them to buy some candied fruits."

Zheng Mulin smiled, "No problem, I’ll wait for you here."

Si Minglan took the three children to the candied fruit vendor, and Yun Xing suddenly asked:

"Sister Si, why did you want me to lie?"