107. Bai Liuli Wants to Go Out

"Look, who is this? If it isn't Dongmen Jianhao of the Danxia Sect?" a shrill, mocking voice drifted over from a distance.

Xie Wuji looked up and immediately recognized the speaker as a disciple of the Ten Thousand Demon Hall. The man stood about 1.8 meters tall with fair skin and a rather handsome face, but his eyes held a sinister glint that made everyone at Xie Wuji’s table feel quite uneasy.

Dongmen Jianhao replied, "Xu Lang, Young Sect Master Xu, it has been a long time. Your flamboyant nature hasn't changed a bit."

Xie Wuji naturally did not know this insufferable man, but Ji Liancheng leaned in and whispered in his ear, "That is Xu Lang, son of the Hall Master of the Ten Thousand Demon Hall. He is a third-grade Golden Core cultivator with formidable strength, on par with Senior Brother Baili and Senior Brother Dongmen. He is particularly notorious for his expertise in poisons."

Upon hearing the word "poison," Xie Wuji’s brow furrowed; he instantly lost any shred of goodwill toward the man. To Xie Wuji, poison was a cruel and wretched thing, and he had no fondness for it.

Xu Lang cupped his hands and laughed loudly. "Back when my Ten Thousand Demon Hall wasn't even ranked among the top ten sects, you were already ninth. But now, look around... soon, your spot as the ninth in the world will belong to us."

With that, Xu Lang let out a raucous laugh and went to sit at another table with his fellow disciples. Although the restaurant seemed peaceful for the moment, undercurrents surged beneath the surface as everyone looked to bolster their sect's reputation.

"He’s so arrogant," Dongmen Xianyun grumbled indignantly.

"He has the capital for arrogance," Dongmen Jianhao said. "Xu Lang’s methods are brutal. Even if there aren't ten thousand, there are at least eight thousand people who have died by his hand. Furthermore, his mastery of blood sacrifice is among the very best in the Ten Thousand Demon Hall."

Ji Liancheng added, "Currently, the chief disciples of every sect are aiming to make a name for themselves in this tournament. Last time, the Immortal Zenith Sect took first place, but it's hard to say who will claim the top spot this time."

"Forget it, let’s just be spectators and let them do as they please!" Xie Wuji picked up his bowl and began shoveling food into his mouth.

"Brother Xie, have a chicken leg." Dongmen Xianyun snatched the last chicken leg from beneath Yang Hongliu’s chopsticks, leaving Yang Hongliu stunned.

Xie Wuji laughed. "Thank you."

"Hey, wait... I haven't eaten that yet," Yang Hongliu protested.

"What were you doing earlier?" Dongmen Xianyun retorted.

Faced with her sharp tongue, Yang Hongliu lost his temper. "Fine, fine, little junior sister, you win. Isn't that right, Senior Brother?"

"Eat up. Once you're done, go get some rest," Dongmen Jianhao commanded.

After finishing their meal, the group retreated from the place of contention and returned to the inn, only to find a man dressed as a court eunuch waiting for them.

Dongmen Jianhao asked, "And you are...?"

"This old servant is the Grand Eunuch before Her Majesty the Empress. My name is Hua Gudu, you may address me as Eunuch Hua," the eunuch replied.

Dongmen Jianhao cupped his hands. "So it is Eunuch Hua. Forgive us for not welcoming you sooner. May I ask what orders you bring?"

"Hahaha, I have been sent by Her Majesty to invite Young Master Xie Wuji to attend her," Eunuch Hua said.

Everyone looked at Xie Wuji, who was busy gnawing on a chicken leg. "Why are you all looking at me?"

"You know the Empress?" Dongmen Xianyun squinted at him.

Xie Wuji scratched his cheek. "Well... it’s a bit complicated, and I can't explain it all at once. But don't worry, the Empress and I have a relationship of mutual respect. I would never dare to have any improper thoughts!"

Xie Wuji knew he couldn't reveal the true nature of their relationship just yet; besides, the bond between him and the Empress was mysterious, neither entirely fake nor entirely real.

Dongmen Jianhao smiled. "I didn't expect you to have such connections with the Empress. Go on, but mind your station."

Eunuch Hua covered his mouth and chuckled. "Rest assured, everyone. When it comes to status, Young Master Xie’s position is incredibly noble!"

"Eunuch Hua," Xie Wuji raised an eyebrow.

Eunuch Hua immediately realized he had spoken out of turn and lightly tapped his own mouth. "This old servant has a loose tongue, a loose tongue! This way, Young Master, please!"

The onlookers were dumbfounded. Eunuch Hua, the Grand Eunuch, was effectively the Empress's personal butler—a figure so prestigious that even Dongmen Yong would have to show him respect. Yet here he was, treating Xie Wuji with such reverence, leaving everyone baffled.

Xie Wuji was led to an elegant garden where the sound of a zither played melodiously. Looking up, he saw a graceful, slender figure standing with her back to him, playing under a cedar tree.

"Imperial Sister?" Xie Wuji asked tentatively.

The woman stood up immediately. It was indeed Bai Liuli. As Xie Wuji met her gaze, he felt she was surpassingly beautiful and elegant, yet her expression was cold and indifferent, as if she were carved from ice—a living jade statue.

"Wuji, you've come?" Bai Liuli said as she rose. "I have missed you terribly these days. Let me see—have you grown fat, thin, ugly, or handsome?"

With that, Bai Liuli walked over and began kneading Xie Wuji’s face.

Xie Wuji cried out, "Big Sister, have mercy! My face is going to deform, stop, stop!"

"Pfft, hahaha..." Bai Liuli was amused by him. "I never expected you to be chosen to participate in the Ranking Tournament. You truly are my brother!"

As she spoke, Bai Liuli pulled Xie Wuji into a warm embrace, petting his head with doting affection. Xie Wuji found it hard to breathe. While the Danxia Sect was mostly paved with cold stone, his "convenient" sister Bai Liuli was far more magnificent than Song Xiaoyu—she was a goddess of grand proportions!

Her beauty was one thing, but her generous bosom was simply overwhelming. As she pulled him against her, Xie Wuji felt stifled, his face pressed against her softness, leaving him gasping for air.

"Ugh... Sister, have mercy on my life, I'm... I'm about to suffocate..." Xie Wuji struggled to say.

Bai Liuli finally realized, but since he was her brother, she didn't mind. She laughed, "Oh, you little rascal, trying to take advantage of your sister!"

"Oh my, my dear sister, this is fratricide! By the way, why is there no one else here?" Xie Wuji asked.

Bai Liuli sighed. "The four ministers took my attendants away to socialize with other nations. I was bored to death, spending my days here playing the zither and reading books. I was going stir-crazy. Hearing that you had arrived, I have a favor to ask."

"Please speak, Big Sister," Xie Wuji said.

Bai Liuli whispered, "Take me out. This is my first time in Dragon City. It is so prosperous; I thought if I walked around, I might find some inspiration to reform Dalian City and the entire Cloud-Above Kingdom. In terms of national strength, the Li Kingdom is far superior to ours."

Xie Wuji knew that the truce Bai Liuli had previously mentioned was only because the Li Kingdom sat at the center of the world, surrounded by enemies. Both the Li Kingdom and the Cloud-Above Kingdom had no choice but to cease hostilities, lest they weaken each other to the point where others would seize the opportunity to invade. There was a delicate balance between nations.

Xie Wuji hesitated. "Sister, taking you out now... isn't that a bit risky? You are the sovereign of a nation. If something were to happen to you, what would we do?"

"Don't I have you to protect me? Besides, your sister practices martial arts, too! My ancestral swordsmanship is nothing to sneeze at," Bai Liuli said.

Xie Wuji remained reluctant; given her status, who could guarantee her safety? But Bai Liuli seemed determined. "If you keep pushing me away, I shall be angry!"

"Fine, but you must listen to me. Don't wander off. As a monarch, you possess a Golden Saint body; you must not suffer even the slightest mishap!" Xie Wuji said.

"Don't worry!" Bai Liuli chirped playfully.

Eunuch Hua, standing nearby, could no longer remain silent. "Your Highness, Your Majesty, this must not be! If you go out and the four ministers find out, what am I to tell them?"

"Don't worry, Eunuch Hua. My brother’s martial arts are peerless. With him protecting me, nothing will go wrong!" Bai Liuli insisted.

Eunuch Hua gritted his teeth and said, "Young Master Wuji, you must protect Her Majesty with your life!"