Butler Bang came forth, taking the two people Wu Long carried off his hands as Old Yen went to collect the spoils of the battle. Wu Long chuckled at the thoughtfulness of this man, but even more at the quick wit that motivated that thoughtfulness which likely originated from years of navigating the darker side of the Empire's society.
Wu Long then looked down as his hands wrapped around the slender waist of the beauty in front of him. Her cheeks turned a little rosy but she still looked at him without turning away.
"Wu Long..."
She started but something in Wu Long's gaze stopped her.
"Mengqi, I have a lot to talk with you about. I know you must have a lot of questions as well. We have time, so there is no rush"
He gently smiled at her. His hands that wrapped around her held her tightly as they hugged each other close again after she nodded. She was listening to the sound of his beating heart, and he was taking in the feeling of holding her in his embrace. There were many mysteries in his rebirth and the world that was around him, and more questions appeared in his mind as he explored it than were answered. But at this moment, he put those aside, to concentrate on the feeling of contentment and happiness of having her in his arms.
Wu Mengqi was clinging to the man she longed for and there was a peculiar feeling, as if she longed for him far more than the almost two years they were separated. There was something different about him from what she remembered, but that difference inexplicably made him even more familiar, creating a mysterious sentiment.
After some time they finally separated.
Wu Tiandu approached Wu Long and Wu Mengqi with some hesitation, as he was still in a daze and lost about what he was supposed to do. He was ready to die at the moment he stood on their side, but the subsequent events were too unexpected.
"You do not need to fear further retaliation from me, but I suppose the ravens and condors will swoop in quick enough so I suggest you take your immediate family and depart from the Wu family, abandoning your status as it has no future"
Wu Long said with a light smile, as he did not have anything against this man, who showed no hostility and did no harm to him in the past, but also was not inclined to take responsibility for him as he was not someone close either.
Wu Tiandu nodded as he too understood that once the news broke out the noble society was going to pick apart whatever was left of the former glorious house. Nothing was as cheerful to them as the fall of the mightiest and most resplendent of them all.
"Then I will tell Tianfeng as well, he probably doesn't kno-..."
"There is no need for that, that man hid himself the most deeply among you brothers"
Wu Long shook his head, smiling and Wu Tiandu widened his eyes.
"But..."
Wu Tiandu looked in the direction where Wu Tianfeng, the only remaining brother he had and the youngest of them was timidly standing among the few supporters he had. He had a hard time imagining the always timid and quiet little brother even raising his eyes to meet any of his older brothers, let alone scheme. Wu Mengqi shook as she looked first at Wu Long and then at her uncle.
"No way..."
She whispered and Wu Long nodded.
"He is most likely responsible for the business in the hands of his second oldest brother going awry, as well as pitting the two ambitious oldest and third brothers against each other, planning to swoop in when they weaken each other enough.
Wu Long said, as he saw that most of the people who took a neutral position were shooting glances at Wu Tianfeng when they retreated, waiting for his guidance.
"I just spared him since his scheming has nothing to do with me and was only against his brothers"
Wu Long shrugged his shoulders, as it mattered not to him what Wu Tianfeng was up to but he still decided to warn Wu Tiandu about the nature of his little brother in return for standing on his side, even if he did not need it.
"Heh, still waters run deep"
Wu Tiandu first looked astonished and then shook his head at his own incompetence with a wry smile. He thought that perhaps it was a good thing that he was now stripped of his position of a potential heir to a noble house, as his disposition was not in alignment with being in such a place. He would have been likely consumed by this environment and have perished in its depths without having a clue.
Wu Long nodded to Wu Tiandu and took Wu Mengqi by the hand as they parted ways with the man who lost everything but was in a way liberated.
Wu Long and Wu Mengqi traveled across the bloody lake in one step as he held her by the waist, not allowing her feet to be soiled.
'Heh, way to be romantic'
Old Yen chuckled to himself as the scenery of a bloody massacre before was still vivid in his mind, and thus this attentive gesture looked a little different to him than to Wu Mengqi who seemed to have been taken into Wu Long's pace.
When Old Yen was done collecting the spoils, he followed Wu Long along with Butler Bang who held the two captives.
They came out of the ruins of the main gate as the grand formation above the mansion dissipated, finally allowing the people outside who were first lured in by the noise but then saw nothing out of the ordinary to see the wreckage that was left.
Wu Long looked at the hundreds of imperial guards as well as the city army behind them with a wry smile.
"Release His Highness!!!"
An army commander shouted out loud as Wu Long's group came out of the Manor. The man was in the Foundation Building Realm, but Wu Long looked to the side as he felt a more formidable presence there. There was a Core Formation Realm Imperial Guard Captain standing where his gaze pointed, and the man smiled at being recognized as the higher authority despite hiding amidst his subordinates, as well as suppressing his cultivation base.
"Although I commend you for noticing me, my demand will not be any different"
The Guard Captain said with a chuckle as he came out from behind his subordinates, who parted in two rows for him to comfortably move forward.
"I was not expecting a different demand, just not fond of speaking with those who don't make decisions"
"And your answer?"
"No"
The Guard Captain looked at Wu Long with narrowed eyes for some time but did not make any rash moves as he knew all too well that someone who could come out safely after barging into the Wu Family Manor was not simple to deal with.
"What are your demands?"
"I have none"
"Then what is your intention"
"He is going to die by my hands"
Wu Long simply stated and the Guard Captain clicked his tongue as now the situation was far too troublesome since it did not seem like there was any room for negotiation.
"Don't worry, I am going to wait for whomever you are stalling time to appear for"
Wu Long said and the Guard Captain widened his eyes. He did not give away any signs, and the communication talisman was used as secretively as possible as soon as the formation was showing signs of dissipating.
"There is no need to wait"
A graceful, beautiful voice sounded out in the vicinity as a figure floated down from the distance, arriving and hovering mid-air. Moonlight illuminated a stunningly gorgeous woman, with black hair and eyes that had a little bit of gold sprinkled into the gray. Her curvy and yet elegant body was enveloped by a regal white dress that left quite a bit of open skin in the upper part, as well as long slits down the sides, allowing her long slender legs, wrapped into luxurious white stockings and wearing golden high-heels to be glimpsed. Her hair was woven into a complicated hairstyle with an intricately decorated golden crown adorning the back side, giving her image the majesty of an Imperial Monarch.
Everyone except Wu Long and Butler Bang went onto their knee, and he held Wu Mengqi up as well.
"The Blade Empress"
Old Yen whispered with a frightful and reverent tone as he saw the current ruler of this Empire with his own eyes for the first time.
'My, my, I can see why she was able to take the throne despite being an illegitimate child and the previous monarch yet reaching the age of abdicating the throne. Such a young Mortal Transcendence Realm expert in this world lacking in Spiritual Qi is a monstrous talent"
Wu Long smiled and inwardly praised as he looked at the beauty, who in turn was looking down with a graceful, prideful, and royal, as well as a little curious gaze at Wu Long.
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