Prince Ling held his hands behind his back, his fingers shaking rhythmically.
Standing behind him was a woman in blue with a black gauze patterned scarf on her head and a dark green sword at her waist. Her eyes were as dead as a tomb.
"I know you have done things for my eldest brother." Prince Ling spoke slowly.
"As long as you give me the beautiful jade, I can ask Shu Zhen to protect or kill anyone."
"Okay, for me, there is no request that is easier to fulfill than this. After you get it, I will give you ten boxes of beautiful jade."
Shu Zhen raised his eyebrows, expecting that the task would definitely not be simple, "I wonder what task King Ling will give Shu Zhen?"
"I want you to assassinate my eldest brother, Shao Kefan, the king of Cang Teng." The coldness of King Ling's voice was no less cold than the coldness of Shu Zhen's eyes.
Shu Zhen's heart was slightly shaken, surprise flashed in his eyes, but he was not surprised.
"Shu Zhen swore in front of the king that he would not do anything to harm Cang Teng's interests for anyone during his lifetime. King Ling asked Shu Zhen to kill the king. Shu Zhen cannot accept this task."
Fortunately, there is an oath in the way.
"Haha, No. 1 killer, you are actually willing to swear such an oath. It's really funny and totally unexpected!" King Ling was disappointed and unbelievable.
"Since Shu Zhen has made an oath, he must abide by it even if he dies."
King Ling suddenly changed his mind and said, "Actually, killing Shao Kefan does not endanger Cang Teng's interests, because after he dies, someone more capable than him will be qualified to be the king. By killing him, you have made a contribution to Cang Teng."
A stiff smile appeared on Shu Zhen's lips, "The king's Fanhui Curse and the seventh level of Moyun's magical power are beyond the reach of Shu Zhen, let alone kill him."
"Hahaha... His martial arts only has the seventh level of Moyun Divine Skill. As for the Fanhui Curse, it was completely eliminated a year ago. Phantom Sword? Haha... I'm afraid anyone with strong martial arts skills can't.
You should have a good weapon! The green sword on your body is not necessarily much weaker than him. Invisibility can only make you invisible, but it has no other use."
A year ago, Jian Xin practiced the Ten Puyuan Styles to the extreme. Sure enough, killing people was like breaking ice. The victim's body was frozen and he tried to act in vain. His body made the sound of ice breaking and split into countless segments in an instant.
Wasn't she defeated by Fanhui's curse last year? Shu Zhen frowned in confusion.
"Although this is the case, Shu Zhen knows how powerful Mo Yun's magical power is above the sixth level. This is a mission that must be failed. No matter what, Shu Zhen cannot accept it. Please ask King Ling to hire another expert."
Shu Zhen turned around resolutely and looked out the door.
King Ling's heart sank, "Then - just go."
"Prince Xie Ling." Shu Zhen stepped forward.
"Wait a minute!" King Ling shouted from behind after ten steps away.
Shu Zhen stopped and turned around, "I wonder if Prince Ling has any other instructions?"
"I want to hire you as a bodyguard to protect my safety. This is much better than killing Shao Kefan." A sly smile appeared on Prince Ling's lips.
Shu Zhen couldn't help but be startled, King Ling, the city is really deep.
Shao Kefan, I still miscalculated.
He walked up to Prince Ling and lowered his head slightly, "Of course it's possible, it's just about the time and price -"
"Hahaha..." Prince Ling laughed, "Three years have passed, and the price is still ten boxes of beautiful jade."
"Okay." Shu Zhen stretched out his right hand and showed the twisted chain wrapped around his middle finger and ring finger. "Should King Ling use the soul summoning bell or let Shu Zhen accompany him?"
King Ling was stunned. He knew that using the Soul Summoning Bell would make people hard to guard against, so it was the best choice. However, the Death Pill was really terrible and needed to be taken for three years. Even if Shu Zhen gave the antidote on time every month, he still couldn't think of it.
Still feeling chilly.
"Just stay with me. I'll hire a killer. There's no need to hide."
"Yes." Shu Zhen knew why King Ling didn't use the soul-summoning bell, but he still kept his expression.
Walking out of the mausoleum, he jumped onto the Jinhong Corridor. Standing in the middle of the corridor, this dead heart was not interested in enjoying the scenery. The appearance of the two lovers in the past two decades came to mind...
Once a person stands at a high place, he will feel extremely desolate and lonely, no matter how beautiful the scenery below is.
Shu Zhen frowned and walked towards one end at will.
Although the maids and slaves in the corridor did not recognize her, when they saw her, their eyes showed fear, and they all lowered their heads and hurried past.
A man in red clothes with long, slightly curly hair came from the opposite side. He was carrying all the worries he had accumulated over the past year. His expression could not hide his loneliness, and he frowned from time to time.
To the north of the covered bridge, at the far end of the stretch of blue glazed tiles, the mountains and swamps are vaguely visible, and the green is hazy and graceful in the light mist. The scenery is like a dragonfly touching the water, which makes people's hearts itch.
To the south, the palace stretches all the way to the junction of the sky and the wasteland, and the palace buildings stand at the edge of the seemingly nonexistent wasteland.
The yellow-green sky above our heads is like a slightly opened lid of the palace.
However, he didn't care about the scene, and was so lonely that he felt like the only one left in the world.
"Shu Zhen." Shao Kefan's eyes showed surprise when he saw the cool and charming woman in blue with a black gauze patterned scarf on her head and a dark green sword at her waist.
Does she come occasionally or is she employed by someone in the palace?
Facing Lord Cang Teng, Shu Zhen's eyes flashed a little softly, but were quickly covered by the gray silence. Like everyone else, he bowed his head and bowed, and then walked silently.
Shao Kefan stopped and turned his back to her, "Stop."
Shu Zhen came back and lowered his head slightly in front of him, "What are your orders from the monarch?"
"Why are you here?"
"Shu Zhen is now the bodyguard of King Ling."
Prince of the Tomb! Shao Kefan's heart sank. It seemed that this guy wanted to hire her to kill him, but he made an oath first, so he asked her to be his bodyguard.
This shows that he really thought that his Fanhui Curse had been eliminated.
A sneer appeared on Shao Kefan's lips, "If Prince Ling attacks me, you will take the lead, right?"
"Exactly, this is Shu Zhen's duty."
"But if you take action against me, you will break your oath."
Shu Zhen was startled, then returned to indifference, "Shu Zhen just wanted to fulfill his duty to protect the King of Tombs. Of course, if he lost to the king and ended up dead and disfigured, he was punished by the oath."
"Haha, this is really killing two birds with one stone." Shao Kefan shook his head, stepped forward, and walked forward.
But, the soft waves in her eyes just now...
He couldn't help but be startled, this cruel and cold woman could actually be emotional towards others.
The hiring of the first assassin by King Ling was a clear provocation. After several years, the war is not far away. To ensure that the enemy can concentrate on the outside world, it is necessary to eliminate the internal enemies.
So, the King of the Tomb, the Protector, and their confidants and counselors...
It was already dusk, Shao Kefan stared at the setting sun on the horizon for a moment, then suddenly used his invisibility technique and appeared in Yiwei Hall.
Jian Xin was helping Su Man comb her hair, with a smile on her face that she had not seen for him in the past year. Seeing the monarch coming in, Su Man screamed "Ah", stood up from the dressing table, tremblingly bowed and saluted, and then walked out tremblingly.
Bedroom.
Jian Xin's smile disappeared and she sat calmly in front of the dressing table. She picked up the comb and combed it by herself, turning a blind eye to him.
Shao Kefan's heart was accustomed to pain.
"I'll comb it for you." He took the comb in her hand, and the soft hair slowly passed between the teeth of the comb. He combed it with one hand and caressed it fondly with the other hand.
Jian Xin obeyed him quietly, her face filled with happiness, but she still didn't say a word.
After combing, she stood up, hugged him actively, and buried her head in his chest.
"Jian Xin." Shao Kefan called excitedly, thinking she had figured it out.
Jian Xin raised her head and looked at him pleadingly.
"It's impossible. The war is not far away. The Cang Teng Guards are conducting combat training every day."
Knowing her intention, his enthusiasm suddenly dropped.
Jian Xin pushed him away and sat down in front of the mirror.
"Jian Xin, please don't be like this, okay? This is not a human issue, it's just that we have different views. If you tolerate me, you will feel relieved." He put his hands on her shoulders.
"Huh." Jian Xin snorted coldly. This was the only time she spoke to him in a year, but it made his heart feel cold.
He wanted to tell her that he had taken the Death Pill for her and endured the pain of the Death Pill antidote, which was as painful as the sword. However, he suppressed this impulse.
In the past few years, he has grown up a lot as he was already mature. Such an exchange of feelings cannot solve the problem at all, just like she left a few years ago because she was moved and had no regrets, but she did not regard this place as her home.
Different views on life are deeply rooted in everyone's mind.
Even if she spoke to him because of the pain he endured, so what, she would still oppose his unification of the Desolate Abyss.
"No matter what attitude you have towards me, I will always love you as always." Shao Kefan bent down and his lips stayed on Jian Xin's delicate and white neck, staying together for a long time.
The back garden of the mausoleum, the pavilion, and the Taiyi surplus grain table.
The guardian glanced at the woman in blue next to Prince Ling in surprise, thinking that the second prince who had always been single finally had a sweetheart, "This is..."
The cold and charming woman had a cold expression, her eyes were as dead as a tomb, and her eyes had not blinked for a long time.
"The bodyguard I just hired, the number one killer, Shu Zhen." Prince Ling raised his eyes and glanced at Shu Zhen lightly.
"Shu Zhen, I've heard that swords are fast, dense, and ruthless, and countless masters have died under them. When I saw him today, he was indeed extraordinary, with the most killer temperament."
He praised, but his heart sank. He had Shu Zhen by his side. If there was a conflict in the future, he would be no match for the two of them joining forces.
"Thank you Huze for the compliment." Shu Zhen lowered her head slightly, and the coldness of her voice proved that all her words of thanks were polite.
"Everything is ready to go. In no more than two years, there will be a war in the wilderness." This time King Ling estimated the time and his tone was very sure.
Behind the black veil, Shu Zhen raised his brows slightly.
"You might as well be more specific, one year." The guardian snorted coldly.
"Dad, dad." A small figure appeared at the back garden gate, running towards the guardian with open arms.
Seeing that it was Ziyuan, the guardian stood up, walked out of the pavilion, picked him up, walked up the steps, and returned to the table.
Looking at the cute boy Yuan, Prince Ling couldn't help but show affection on his face, especially the two small dimples that made him feel particularly kind.
After all, it is his flesh and blood.
Ever since Zhao Lian was born, this little man has been lingering in his mind. He planned to deal with the man in front of him and raise Zi Yuan himself after the incident was completed.
"Dad, what are you and uncle doing here?" Xiao Ziyuan raised his head and asked, his eyes dark and bright, very pitiful.
"We are talking! Why are you here?" The guardian gently stroked Ziyuan's hair.
Ziyuan smiled slyly and leaned into his father's ear, "I came to see dad secretly when mom wasn't paying attention."
"Haha...Mom will scold you later."
"As long as dad is here, don't be afraid. Daddy's martial arts are very good." Ziyuan raised his head with a proud look on his face.
Prince Ling stretched out his hand and said, "Come Ziyuan, uncle, give me a hug."
"Oh, I didn't expect that Prince Ling would be interested in children." Prince Ling had been to Fuhan Palace several times, but this was the first time he proposed to hold Ziyuan. The guardian couldn't help but be a little surprised, shook his head and smiled, and hugged Ziyuan.
In front of him.
"Uncle." Ziyuan reached into Prince Ling's arms and called him affectionately.
"Haha, you're so good." Prince Ling touched Zi Yuan's face and couldn't help but kiss it.
Ziyuan burst into laughter.
"Zi Yuan." Zhao Lian hurried into the backyard. When he saw King Ling holding Zi Yuan in his arms, the expression on his face turned to anger, "Shao Xiangnan, let me go Zi Yuan." His body flew in front of King Ling,
He snatched Zi Yuan away.
The guardian looked at her in shock. Although he knew that she didn't want to see Prince Ling, her reaction this time was too intense.
"I just saw that Ziyuan was cute and wanted to hug him. Why should my sister-in-law be surprised?" Prince Ling looked very ugly.
"Zhao Lian, what's wrong with you?" The guardian looked at her in shock, wondering.
"It's okay, you guys can talk! I took Zi Yuan back." Zhao Lian glared at Prince Ling bitterly, and Zhao Lian walked down the steps holding Zi Yuan who was frightened to tears.
"Mom, uncle likes Ziyuan very much." Ziyuan burst into tears.
"Shut up, don't let that man hug you in the future, he is a bad guy."
"Woooo..." Ziyuan cried louder.
Zhao Lian used Qing Kung Fu and flew out of the back garden.
"This... I'm really sorry." The guardian apologized.
"It's okay. Of course I don't mind such small things. Let's discuss the big things." Even after saying this, Prince Ling still looked bad.
Shu Zhen looked indifferent and turned a blind eye to what happened just now.
"The kings of the Thirteen Kingdoms, plus Shu Zhen, we will definitely have Shao Kefan."
The protector said with confidence, it seemed that Zeguan was back in his hands.
Shu Zhen's brows condensed slightly, then returned to normal.
"Just have fun. After Shao Kefan, you will be the one." Prince Ling thought to himself and said, "If we take action now, the three of us should be able to deal with him."
The guardian was stunned, "But if it fails, no one will be able to survive. We should wait until the thirteen countries unite."
"Yes, but I doubt he will take action first." Prince Ling frowned.
Behind the calm, the undercurrent between brothers is as silent as the dark night, but they are tacitly understood.
"In the palace, there are many eyes staring at him. He can't do anything to us, and we can't do anything to him. Otherwise, he would have endured until now?" The guardian seemed to be laughing at King Ling.
"To take action, it may not necessarily be in the form of a direct military confrontation." King Ling said quietly.
"Yes, we have to be careful." After the protector finished speaking, he glanced at Shu Zhen warily, "Your bodyguard, are you relieved?"
Shu Zhen lowered his head, "Shu Zhen will never betray any employer. Whatever he hears and sees, he will keep it in his heart."
"She is very loyal, there is nothing to worry about." Prince Ling disagreed, picked up the wine glass, and took a sip of Qingyin.
"That's good, so as not to leak the news." The guardian glanced at Shu Zhen, but was unable to draw any effective information from that dead face.