Chapter 292: Duoduo, I’ll Be Right Back
The old ruler of Southern Yun, whose life had already been extended once before, failed to survive this time. As the armies of two nations pressed toward the imperial capital, the old ruler finally breathed his last.
The Fifth Prince hurriedly ascended the throne. On the tenth day after his coronation, the army of Eastern Lin arrived beneath the city walls, completely surrounding the imperial capital.
The new emperor went repeatedly to Mo Ran Hall to seek out the National Preceptor, nearly dropping to his knees before him.
“National Preceptor, I do not wish to become the ruler of a fallen nation. I beg you to step in and protect Southern Yun, to preserve our peace!” The new emperor wept bitterly.
Gong Mo Ran looked at the pathetic new emperor, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “Your Majesty, rest assured. When the time comes, I will cast a spell to seal the entire imperial city. Those inside won’t be able to leave, and those outside won’t be able to enter.”
Hearing this, the new emperor felt a little more at ease and left in a daze.
For many years, he had devoted all his energy to scheming for the throne. Yet when his dream finally came true and he became emperor of Southern Yun, he was immediately faced with such peril.
He knew very well that Southern Yun was not far from destruction. The National Preceptor was merely delaying the inevitable by a small margin.
Nan Xun was unhappy that Gong Mo Ran was using witchcraft again and shot him a sideways look. “My lord, you promised me you wouldn’t use witchcraft anymore.”
Gong Mo Ran smiled helplessly. “Duoduo, it’s just a protective formation. It doesn’t count as some heaven-defying witchcraft. There won’t be any backlash.”
The National Preceptor’s defensive formation did indeed shield the entire imperial city. However, a formation that should have lasted at least two months was broken after only five days.
Taking advantage of the moment the formation was destroyed, the fierce Eastern Lin army launched a midnight assault on the capital. The defending soldiers had grown lax because of the formation; by the time they realized the enemy had attacked, it was already too late. The Eastern Lin army smashed through the city gates and charged straight into the capital.
Whether by coincidence or fate, the night the capital fell happened to be a full-moon night. In the main hall of Mo Ran Hall, Gong Mo Ran and Nan Xun were locked in frenzied passion.
Suddenly, Gong Mo Ran flipped her over and fiercely sucked and kissed her fair, jade-like back.
Nan Xun clutched the bedding tightly. The next instant, she felt a sharp pain in her back—not the pain of being bitten, but a needle-like sting.
Damn it—this wasn’t just a feeling. Gong Mo Ran was actually using needles to pierce something into her back, doing it calmly and unhurriedly while still ruthlessly entangled with her.
“M-My lord… what are you doing?” Nan Xun’s voice was completely broken.
The man pressing against her back suddenly curled his lips into a smile. All traces of coldness and aloofness vanished, replaced by an eerily seductive air. Leisurely, he said, “Duoduo, bear with it. It’ll be over soon. I’m carving a beautiful pattern on your back.”
Nan Xun shuddered. Damn it—the big boss right now was terrifying. Wuwuwu.
The double torment made cold sweat pour down Nan Xun’s forehead. Only when he struck the final decisive rhythm did the tattoo on her back receive its final stroke.
He slowly licked away the beads of sweat on her back, gazing at his handiwork with infatuation.
Nan Xun swallowed hard. A full-moon-night big boss was truly perverted.
Not until dawn began to break did the fully satisfied Gong Mo Ran finally fall asleep.
The moment Little Eight released its five senses, it exclaimed excitedly, “The big boss’s evil thought value dropped another 10 points last night! Holy crap, only the last 10 points left! Ahhh, I’m so happy!”
Nan Xun twitched the corner of her mouth. Could it be that stabbing a pattern into her back had reduced his evil thought value?
“Little Eight, the big boss tattooed something on my back last night. Help me take a look—what pattern is it?”
Little Eight said shyly, “Aiya, you want me to look at your naked body?”
Nan Xun snapped, “Damn it, it’s just my back! Where do you think he tattooed me?”
Little Eight immediately replied, “Like your perky butt? Or your snowy peaks?”
Nan Xun: “……”
Perverted Little Eight!
After actually seeing the tattoo on Nan Xun’s back, Little Eight couldn’t help but sigh. “The big boss really did a beautiful job. It looks like a flower… and also like—” a formation.
“Like what?” Nan Xun pressed.
Little Eight hurriedly said it was nothing.
News of the imperial city’s fall quickly spread through the palace, but by then there was no saving it.
The Eastern Lin army surrounded the imperial palace completely, leaving no escape.
The young emperor of Southern Yun sat on the dragon throne, wailing uncontrollably. He had become a fallen ruler. Southern Yun was finished—everything was finished.
Some palace maids and eunuchs tried to escape through the back gates, but every one of them was captured.
“My lord, when are we escaping?” Nan Xun was very calm. Leaning against the equally calm Gong Mo Ran, she looked up at him.
Gong Mo Ran stroked her hair and smiled faintly. “When the Eastern Lin army breaks through the palace gates.”
The Eastern Lin army did not immediately storm the palace. Instead, they spread word that any Imperial Guards or inner palace guards who voluntarily surrendered would not be held accountable and would be released without punishment.
Once this was announced, it truly shook some of the Imperial Guards. However, just as these men attempted to surrender, the new emperor ordered them executed.
Even as slaves of a fallen nation, Southern Yun soldiers could only die in battle—never surrender!
Two days later, Qi Hengqing led his troops through the palace gates. The Imperial Guards fought desperately. Sounds of slaughter and shouting filled the palace. Palace maids and eunuchs fled in chaos, and the Southern Yun imperial palace descended into total disorder.
Gong Mo Ran dismissed all disciples of Mo Ran Hall and led Nan Xun toward a hidden passage to escape.
So that was why the big boss had been so calm—there was a secret tunnel leading out of the palace.
Gong Mo Ran only brought some dried rations. Nan Xun, however, wished she could take all the gold, silver, and jewels with her. In the end, there was simply too much, so she only took a few ingots of silver and the Tengshe treasure sword that Gong Mo Ran used when praying for rain.
“My lord, what about our little treasury? Wuwu, so many treasures… they won’t be discovered by Qi Hengqing and secretly swallowed up, will they?” Nan Xun clung to his arm, so heartbroken she was on the verge of tears.
Gong Mo Ran chuckled softly. “I set mechanisms in that secret passage. Others won’t find it easily. And I cast a curse—anyone who steals the jewels there will die a horrible death.”
Nan Xun: “……”
Just as they were about to reach the entrance of the secret passage, Gong Mo Ran suddenly asked, “Duoduo, did you take your hairpin?”
Nan Xun hurriedly touched her hair and cried out, “Ah! I left it on the dressing table.”
Gong Mo Ran thought for a moment and said, “Duoduo, I’ll go get it. Wait for me here.”
Nan Xun quickly grabbed him. “My lord, forget it. What if you run into the Eastern Lin army on the way back?”
Gong Mo Ran pulled her into his arms and placed a kiss on her forehead. “That was the first gift I ever gave you. It has special meaning. Everything else can be left behind, but not that hairpin. Duoduo, I’ll be back very soon.”
“My lord!”
Nan Xun stood beside the rockery, watching as the man in white took several long strides away, heading toward Mo Ran Hall.
As she watched him go, her hand suddenly clenched tightly around the rockery beside her, her gaze gradually dimming.
Little Eight sighed emotionally, “The big boss is so good to you. Just for a lousy hairpin, he actually went back to get it. Wuwuwu, I’m so touched.”
The very next moment, the sky above the entire imperial palace changed dramatically. Gales of wind howled, so fierce it felt as if people might be lifted off the ground.
When the winds finally stopped, the air grew scorching hot.
Suddenly, countless fiery red stars appeared in the night sky. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—they all plummeted toward the palace. From afar, it looked like a magnificent meteor shower.
But when those “stars” drew closer, everyone could see clearly—they were fireballs!
The Southern Yun imperial palace was incomparably luxurious, with over a thousand palaces, pavilions, and towers. As the fireballs rained down densely, several palaces burst into flames at once. A roaring inferno erupted, the blaze shooting into the sky.
Nan Xun raised her head, gazing at the night sky that seemed to be burning. Her pitch-black pupils reflected the sea of red above, as if they too were on fire.
“Heaven-Scorching Formation…” she murmured. Moisture slowly welled in her eyes, and her vision blurred.
