novelraw Chapter 409 - 68: The Princess Has Been Kidnapped
Chapter 409 - 68: The Princess Has Been Kidnapped
"Stop!"
Si Minglan, covered in blood and on the verge of collapse, suddenly spoke up.
Lin Yuan looked at her, expressionless: "What, are you planning to confess now?"
"Third Senior Sister, don’t!"
Fang Xue quickly said to Lin Yuan:
"Western Empress, you can use the Soul Capturing Technique on me, but I have one request."
Lin Yuan replied calmly: "You should not be in a position to make requests of me."
Fang Xue glanced at Zheng Shengmo beside her and said to Lin Yuan, "I only ask you not to hold back. Use the Soul Capturing Technique with all your might to extract all my memories regarding Third Senior Sister and the Zhenyang Sect..."
Lin Yuan was slightly surprised, looking at her: "If you do this, you will become senseless, incapable of cultivation, even worse than an ordinary person."
Fang Xue bowed and said, "I am willing, Western Empress, please proceed!"
Zheng Shengmo’s expression changed, and he quickly intervened: "Western Empress, wait a moment, there is something inappropriate here."
If Lin Yuan were to extract all of Fang Xue’s memories, wouldn’t his attempt to force Si Minglan that night be completely exposed?
For someone like him, a venerable figure among the sects, reputation can sometimes be more important than cultivation. If he were to be disgraced, he wouldn’t even be able to keep his position as Master of Forgetful Peak, let alone contend for the position of Sect Leader.
"Peak Master Zheng, what is inappropriate?"
Lin Yuan remained composed, but a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes.
Disciples below whispered among themselves:
"What is Elder Zheng doing?"
"Could it be... what Fang Xue said about him ’playing’ at Xiyue Peak late at night is true?"
"What kind of ’play’ was that?"
"Senior Brother Zheng looks kind and gentle, doesn’t seem like that kind of person."
The murmuring grew louder, with countless complex glances directed towards himself, yet Zheng Shengmo remained unmoved, chuckling lightly:
"After all, Fang Xue is a disciple of our Zhenyang Sect, and she hasn’t done anything wrong. It would be inappropriate to hand her over to the Western Empress for arbitrary disposal. It would be better if we interrogated her thoroughly."
Lin Yuan chuckled lightly: "Rest assured, Peak Master Zheng, I will not exert my full strength. I will only extract memories related to Si Minglan. I came to Zhenyang Sect merely to find the culprit who murdered my child; I have no interest in anything else."
Zheng Shengmo still hesitated a bit, so Lin Yuan said, "If the Peak Masters are worried, they can stand guard by my side. If I go too far, they can immediately stop me. How about that?"
Zheng Shengmo thought for a moment, then laughed heartily: "The Western Empress is joking, how could we not trust you? Please proceed."
Lin Yuan nodded and approached Fang Xue again.
"Third Senior Sister..."
Fang Xue struggled desperately but couldn’t break free, and with much difficulty, turned her head to look at Si Minglan, tears falling from her eyes.
"Xiaoxue, it’s okay."
Si Minglan suddenly moved, walking to Fang Xue’s side and gently hugging her.
"I can’t drag you down any longer."
After saying this, she turned to look at Lin Yuan: "I accept..."
Swoosh!
Suddenly, a crimson light shot over from afar, and Leng Jing snorted coldly:
"Who dares?!"
He waved his hand, scattering the crimson light.
However, the shattered gleaming fragments unexpectedly formed a message in mid-air:
"Wu Yiren is in my hands. Come to the top of Tang Mountain within half a division; exchange Si Minglan. If Si Minglan is harmed, Wu Yiren will suffer the same. Only one person may come; otherwise, Wu Yiren will die."
Instantly, the entire Sword Tomb Peak erupted.
"The princess has been kidnapped?!"
"No wonder she’s been absent all this time!"
"Who the hell did this?!"
"Damn impressive!"
Lin Yuan’s face changed, no longer elegant and composed, as she released a teal stone from her palm, crushing it, forming a light curtain.
This was a Shadow-Chasing Stone; when worn by two people, if one breaks the stone, the other’s image appears.
The scene that appeared on the light curtain provoked a wave of exclamations.
Wu Yiren and Lan Yin were trapped in an Imprisonment Array, their bodies bound tightly together with an Immortal Locking Chain.
Both struggled desperately but couldn’t escape; Wu Yiren was tearfully talking to Lan Yin:
"Brother Lan, if I die, don’t forget me."
Lan Yin said softly: "Junior Sister Wu, don’t worry, I won’t let you die!"
Wu Yiren, eyes full of affection, moved her body closer, pressing her red lips against Lan Yin’s:
"Brother Lan, I want you to have me; I don’t want to die with regrets."
"Junior Sister Wu, don’t do this."
"Brother Lan, please have me..."
"..."
The previously noisy and urgent atmosphere on Sword Tomb Peak immediately turned strange.
Countless eyes were fixed on the image of the princess continuously moving towards the man.
Pa!
Lin Yuan clenched her five fingers, shattering the light curtain, and the image disappeared.
Her face turned ashen, elegance gone, as she urgently asked:
"Where is Tang Mountain?"
Wei Shouyuan and Shi Shuhong exchanged a glance, Shi Shuhong said: "Tang Mountain is west of Zhenyang City, over ten miles away."
Lin Yuan said no more, raising her hand to release spiritual power, enveloping Si Minglan, as a ribbon appeared under her feet, ready to fly down from Sword Tomb Peak.
Tantai Mingyue moved, blocking her path: "Western Empress, Si Minglan is a disciple of our Zhenyang Sect. It would be inappropriate for you to abduct her at will, no?"
Lin Yuan’s gaze turned cold: "Ming Yue, my eldest prince is already dead; my daughter must not come to harm again!"
Tantai Mingyue continued to block her path: "The kidnapper of Wu Yiren is unknown, sending Si Minglan into their hands is equally dangerous."
Suddenly, a long sword appeared in Lin Yuan’s hand, the blade shining blue, reflecting the frost on her face:
"Tantai Mingyue, we can settle our grudges anytime, but today, whoever obstructs me is against the West Imperial Dynasty and the Immortal Flying Pavilion!"
Wow!
The disciples of Zhenyang Sect exclaimed in surprise, and the other Five Peaks Peak Masters showed similar expressions of shock.
Since the bloody infighting within the Western Emperor Palace where the third prince Wu Zheng ascended the throne twenty years ago, Western Empress Lin Yuan had secluded herself, never leaving the Western Emperor Palace.
Faced with rumors about her being from the Immortal Flying Pavilion, she kept silent.
No one expected that today, for Wu Yiren, she would publicly confirm the connection between the West Imperial Dynasty and the Immortal Flying Pavilion.
Immortal Flying Peak has been the place of ascension for Great Powers since ancient times, with the Immortal Flying Pavilion rating cultivators across the land, holding a transcendent status.
It was unexpected that they had long infiltrated the mundane world, secretly controlling the West Imperial Dynasty, standing against the Eastern Cultivators.
While there had been rumors before, they were unreliable. Now that it came from the Western Empress herself, the weight was entirely different.
No one anticipated that the kidnapping of the Seventh Princess would expose secrets affecting the entire Hongzhou Continent.
Zheng Shengmo, Wei Shouyuan, and Shi Shuhong quickly stepped between Lin Yuan and Tantai Mingyue, Zheng Shengmo said to Lin Yuan:
"Western Empress, no need to worry. Since Si Minglan is a disciple of Zhenyang Sect, why not let us escort her, while we quietly follow behind, ensuring the princess’s safety!"
With time pressing, Zheng Shengmo made a reasonable proposal, and Lin Yuan, with no time to argue, nodded and said:
"Who will Zhenyang Sect send?"
At this moment, a cold voice sounded from behind them:
"Si Minglan is a disciple of Xiyue Peak, let me go."