Who among the gangsters wants to fall in love?

Chapter 451 Dragon Travels the World, Just Like Before

As March gradually arrived, the snow had long since disappeared, and the sun shone brightly and the weather was warm.

On the imperial road, Zhao Wumian and his wife, the Empress, dismissed the surrounding palace maids, enjoying a rare moment of solitude.

The Empress opened her arms wide, wanting her husband to carry her like a child. Seeing that Zhao Wumian was about to leave, she wanted to linger a little longer.

Zhao Wumian then carried his wife on his back and walked away, head bowed in thought.

He had already decided to go to the Western Regions after the New Year to settle his old grudges with Shen Tu Bu Zui and Wen Wu Zheng. Now that Uudam and Shen Tu Bu Zui have allied and launched an attack, it is only to save Zhao Wu Mian trouble...

This would make it easier for him to go directly to the Western Regions and wipe them out in one fell swoop.

Luo Chaoyan, dressed in a dragon robe, nestled on her lover's back. The embroidered shoes beneath the robe swayed lightly. She seemed to be in a good mood and asked softly:
Who are you planning to take with you this time you leave Beijing?

Zhao Wumian pondered for a moment, but also found himself in a dilemma.

With Zhao Wumian's current martial arts skills, he could ride alone on horseback to the desert without stopping, cleanly and efficiently resolve the war in the Western Regions. It would be best to go and return as soon as possible, thus saving himself the trouble.

Whether he brought more or fewer martial arts champions, it didn't really matter to him; he might as well leave the girls in the capital.

With five or six martial arts champions holding their positions here, there is no need to worry that Uudam will once again use a feint to infiltrate the capital and assassinate the emperor.

Uudam has quite a history of offenses. The emperors of the previous two dynasties of Dali were often targeted and plotted against by him. He survived only because of his martial arts skills and his status as the top martial arts champion in the court.

When Chaoyan first ascended the throne, the country's strength was greatly diminished and the palace was empty. Fortunately, the only good thing Luoshu did before his death was to use a scheme to seriously injure Udam, allowing him to recuperate for more than half a year, which reduced the chances of assassination attempts.

Now that Uudam has recovered from his injuries, it seems that he has conquered Xiliang, but this may just be a ploy to lure the tiger away from the mountain.

Once Zhao Wumian leaves the capital, he can certainly cause a great disturbance in the capital just as Zhao Wumian did in the Ming capital.

This tit-for-tat approach aligns with Zhao Wumian's understanding of Uudam.

Zhao Wumian is undoubtedly the overlord of the martial arts world today, uniting masters from all sides... This is a feat that even the two previous emperors of the Great Li Dynasty could not accomplish, otherwise he would not have been given the infamous titles of "court lackey" and "martial arts pig".

Although Zhao Wumian unified most of the martial arts world by infiltrating the female warriors and enchantresses... it doesn't matter if it's a black cat or a white cat, as long as it can catch mice.

Thanks to this, the Gui Chan dynasty, regardless of national strength, has far surpassed the previous two dynasties in terms of top-tier experts.

Leaving the girls in the capital is perfectly sufficient to guard against any villains.

However, given Ji Zihuai's physique, although she doesn't need to engage in dual cultivation every day, it's clearly more appropriate for her to stay by Zhao Wumian's side at all times and have Zhao, the furnace cauldron, serve her.

Zhao Wumian then truthfully replied, "At least you should bring your master with you. She can't live without me... But it's not about scarcity but about inequality. The Imperial Tutor is going west to the desert with me. Others may not show it on the surface, but they definitely want to go in their hearts too."

"Hmm." Luo Chaoyan gave a light hum, not saying anything like "We're all very sensible, you can go without worry," but instead playfully said:
"I just want to go with you, I just want to go and explore the world with you... So what? That's why I'm like this because I like you."

Zhao Wumian couldn't help but smile, "You're the same way?"

"What else can we do?" Luo Chaoyan sighed softly as soon as the matter was brought up, and hugged her husband's neck tightly.
"But there's nothing I can do. I am the emperor, and I have been on the throne for over a year now. The court has its own system, so it won't be chaotic if I leave for a while. But it's not a good thing to say that I'm going on an incognito trip to the Western Regions, is it?"

"Everyone knows how chaotic the Western Regions are. For me to go there would be like throwing myself into the jaws of a tiger. Even if I came back alive, the historians would at least say that I was 'playful and inconsiderate'..."

"Even if it is said that the emperor personally leads the expedition, that is not appropriate... After all, if that were the case, I could only follow the army, how could I run around, and I would feel uncomfortable in the slightest."

Luo Chaoyan rambled on, her tone slightly complaining, and said a long string of things. Clearly, during the time Zhao Wumian was away from the capital, she had imagined many times what it would be like to wander the world with him.

But now that she is the emperor, she is destined to be unable to live as freely and unrestrained as an ordinary person.

The newlywed couple walked slowly, a few green leaves swept up by the breeze and swirled around them.

Zhao Wumian listened quietly, and only after Luo Chaoyan finished speaking did he say softly:
"Isn't that simple? Back when I was in Nanzhao, you were seriously ill and bedridden, unable to attend court for two months... Now that I'm leaving again, you can just 'fall ill' again, won't that solve everything?"

Luo Chaoyan was taken aback, her head tilting back slightly as she stared at Zhao Wumian's profile in surprise. It wasn't that she thought there was anything wrong with the method, but rather she asked blankly:
"Can you really take me away from the capital and go to the Western Regions with me?"

Zhao Wumian smiled slightly.

"With my current martial arts skills, bringing a few martial arts champions along won't help me much. Similarly, taking my wife to wander the world won't be a burden to me..."

Luo Chaoyan listened quietly, her expression calm. Only after Zhao Wumian finished speaking did her beautiful almond-shaped eyes gradually reveal their brilliance, shining brightly.

She broke free and, holding the hem of the dragon robe, ran forward, shouting, "I...I'll go pack my things..."

The current empress, like a butterfly flitting among flowers, ran briskly forward under the dappled shadows of the trees, her long hair tied behind her waist swaying from side to side.

After running most of the imperial road, she suddenly remembered something, turned around and looked blankly, "If I leave, who will take charge of the court?"

When Luo Chaoyan was seriously ill and bedridden, who ruled from behind the curtain?

……

"Waaah, you all bully me! You've all gotten married and gone off to enjoy yourselves, while I'm left all alone in the palace, all lonely and miserable..."

The Empress Dowager's eyes immediately reddened, and she collapsed onto her phoenix couch, sobbing uncontrollably.

Xiao Yuanmu sat on the dressing table with his arms crossed, rolling his eyes.

Throughout history, countless people have tried to take charge of the government for the emperor and seize power... This empress dowager truly only has eyes for her lover and no desire for worldly power... It's no wonder she has a niece like Shen Xiangge.

Upon seeing this, Luo Chaoyan couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly. She sat gracefully on the edge of the couch and offered quiet words of comfort.

"He'll be gone for two months... He'll be back in two months. Only after we've dealt with the Western Regions will the world truly be at peace. Then, Mother can spend as many days as she wants with my husband..."

The Empress Dowager glanced back at Luo Chaoyan.

The current emperor is wearing a simple and elegant spring dress.

The Empress Dowager's eyes welled up with tears. "That sounds nice, but the Emperor even changed his clothes. He's so quick..."

Luo Chaoyan awkwardly pinched the hem of her skirt... In fact, she had packed not only her clothes, but also her luggage.

The Emperor comforted the Empress Dowager for a long time, saying that after this return, it would be the Empress Dowager's turn to travel the world with the Marquis, while she would take charge of the overall situation in the palace.

They take turns, alternating among themselves, in a fair and just manner.

At this point, the Empress Dowager was finally satisfied and no longer felt aggrieved. Instead, she smiled and flipped through a map, starting to plan where she and her lover should go next.

The mother's sudden change of expression made Luo Chaoyan suspect that her mother's aggrieved demeanor was purely an act.

Xiao Yuanmu's eyes twitched as he watched, thinking, "If you don't cherish this throne, why don't you let her sit on it?"

But if she were given a seat, she would probably pass it on to Xiao Lengyue... That's why, upon hearing that Zhao Wumian was going to the Western Regions, she came along, intending to go with him.

Shen Tu Bu Zui and Wen Wu Zheng... these two are the culprits behind Zhao Wu Mian's severe injury and amnesia.

Xiao Yuanmu could not quell his hatred without killing him.

Hoofbeats, hoofbeats—

The sound of horses' hooves came from outside the hall, followed by Zhao Wumian shouting:
"Are you all packed? Let's go and come back as soon as possible..."

Xiao Yuanmu easily stepped onto the floor with his long legs, got off the dressing table, and pushed open the door to walk out.

Zhao Wumian, dressed in a blue robe and wrapped in a black windproof cloak unique to the Western Regions, with a sword at his waist, stood on the imperial road leading a white horse.

With his dashing and spirited bearing, yet possessing an air of refined elegance, Xiao Yuanmu momentarily thought he had returned to Lin'an. Just as Zhao Wumian was about to lead his horse away...

Ji Zihuai's white hair was tied up, adorned with a jade hairpin. She changed into an elegant dress, slung a medicine chest over her shoulder, and sat on her horse.

The little white snake poked its head out of the medicine box, swayed left and right as if to say hello, and then shrank back into the box to go to sleep.

On this journey to the Western Regions, we are determined to kill Uudam. Su Qingqi will naturally go with us to avenge her father.

The other girls remained in the capital, partly to cultivate in seclusion, and partly because it was not yet time for them to emerge.

Secondly, they were stationed in the capital to prevent any trouble caused by unscrupulous thieves while Zhao Wumian was away... After all, the safety of the Empress Dowager was equally important.

Su Qingqi's attire was no different from Zhao Wumian's; they were simply a wandering swordsman and a chivalrous woman.

She stood beside the horse, looking up and chatting quietly with Ji Zihuai.

"Thanks to the immortal energy within the Imperial Tutor, our martial arts have made great progress recently... Now that you and the young master have been cultivating together for so many days, has your health improved?"

"Much better." Ji Zihua smiled slightly, though her pretty face couldn't help but blush. "Continue with the lovemaking... If we continue this dual cultivation, at least for the time being, it won't endanger our lives. We're really using your young master as a furnace..."

"I don't think so. It's not without its benefits that you, young master, are cultivating with the Imperial Tutor. This kind of immortal energy is far more beneficial to us martial artists than the sky is to birds or the sea is to fish..."

Speaking of which, isn't the Imperial Tutor also a potential furnace for the young master? This would be beneficial to both of them..." Su Qingqi joked with a smile.

Ji Zihuai's pretty face turned even redder, too shy to continue the conversation.

Luo Chaoyan, the Empress Dowager, and Luo Xiangzhu also walked out of Kunning Palace. The Emperor came to Zhao Wumian's side and was about to mount his horse, wanting to ride with his husband.

But she suddenly paused, as if remembering something. Her almond-shaped eyes showed a hint of nostalgia. She turned to look at Su Qingqi and said softly:
"You, me, him... it's the three of us again."

Su Qingqi was slightly taken aback, then smiled, "Hmm, I thought we had returned to Jin..."

Zhao Wumian held the emperor's small hand, letting her sit in front of him, before turning to the Empress Dowager and Luo Xiangzhu, and smiling at them:
"No need to see us off. We'll be back in less than three months. Then, in June or July, when the weather is great, we can go to the beach."

"The pool in Fragrant Hills isn't big enough for you to play in..." The Empress Dowager gave Zhao Wumian a reproachful look, but couldn't help feeling nervous as she gave him a word of advice.

“Uudam is not like Shaman Tian… Your Excellency must be careful.”

"Do not worry."

Luo Xiangzhu walked closer and took out a snack wrapped in oil paper from her bosom.

Eat on the road.

Zhao Wumian pinched his younger sister's soft little face but didn't say anything.

In front of Luo Xiangzhu, he rarely spoke compared to the other girls... He tried his best to be mute as well, to become mute along with her.

"Let's go." He put the snacks in his pocket, put one arm around the emperor's waist, and held the reins with the other.

"drive!"

Hoof clatter hooves ————

The white horse neighed and immediately began to gallop through the palace. Luo Chaoyan also put on a cloak and a hood, and no one would have guessed that the young lady nestled in the man's arms was the current emperor.

They quickly rushed out of the palace gates and onto the long street.

Xiao Yuanmu rode beside him and asked softly, "After heading west to the desert and traversing the rivers and lakes, is there any other place you'd like to go?"

After a moment's consideration, Zhao Wumian looked at Ji Zihuai and asked, "Why don't you go back to your parents' home?"

"Your maternal home?" Ji Zihuai tilted her head and asked curiously, "What maternal home is there? It's just a house and a grave... In Qin, you'd have to walk quite a distance."

"I want to find Ji Yingshi's whereabouts," Zhao Wumian said truthfully.

With his martial arts skills and perception, if Ji Yingshi had ever lived there, he might be able to hide it from Ji Zihuai, but he couldn't hide it from him.

Ji Zihuai frowned, not really wanting to mention the man who abandoned his wife and daughter, but taking her husband to pay respects at her mother's grave was a good idea, so she nodded.

Seeing this, Xiao Yuanmu said, "Take that master and disciple pair to Qin. Qingqi and I will go to the Western Regions first to scout and find them. If we can find out where Shentu Buzui and Wudamu are, we will kill them when you come."

Luo Chaoyan was slightly taken aback. "This move is too reckless. Why not proceed gradually?"

"Do you think I and Zhao Wumian are as powerless ants as you?" Xiao Yuanmu sneered.

“Those with low martial arts skills have their own way of dealing with people, while those with high martial arts skills have their own way of acting freely… With the martial arts skills of myself and Zhao Wumian, do you think Shen Tu Buzui and Wudamu would let us slowly deal with them and play house with them?”

Luo Chaoyan considered it for a moment and thought to herself, "That makes sense. Since Zhao Wumian can kill him with a single sword strike, why bother with schemes and tricks? There's no need for that."

But her tone was still slightly sarcastic as she said, "So you're skilled in martial arts? On our wedding night, the Palace Master of Tai Xuan Palace collapsed on the bed much earlier than I did..."

Xiao Yuanmu raised an eyebrow... This was a sign that he was going to argue with Luo Chaoyan all the way, Zhao Wumian thought to himself.

He then said, "How about we have another match tonight..."

The current emperor and the rebel leader both turned cold and glared at him.

Zhao Wumian silently spurred his horse on, no longer speaking, but in truth, he felt a little satisfied... They were just bickering now, which was much better than drawing swords and fighting.

It's at least a good start.

Several fine horses galloped along the main street, and pedestrians gave way. Gradually, the crowd thinned out, and the horses increased their speed. In no time, they arrived near Zeng Lengyue.

Xiao Lengyue, dressed in a white dress, stood in front of the ferry, her posture dignified and elegant, like a mature and beautiful young woman with a charming and graceful demeanor.

She has also been in seclusion for some time now, and it is clear that she is only seeing Zhao Wumian off.

She had been waiting for some time. When the white horse approached, Zhao Wumian reined in his horse and stopped, listening to her ask:

"Getting ready to go to the Western Regions?"

"Yes, Auntie served as my guardian deity in the capital for two months. After Xiao Yuanmu and I left, you will undoubtedly be the most skilled martial artist in the capital."

The aunt, with her charming demeanor, gave him a reproachful look, "You dare to ask your aunt, a rebel from the Tai Xuan Palace, to protect the capital for you? You really have the audacity to say that."

"The traitors don't matter, you're my aunt, that's the most important thing..."

"Stop being so glib." Xiao Lengyue felt around in her sleeve, took out a bulging money pouch, and stuffed it into her saddlebag.

“In the Western Regions, they don’t accept silver notes; they only recognize gold and silver. Be careful with your money. If you run out, just rob someone. Anyway, almost every martial artist there has a dozen or so murders on their head, so they’re not worth dying for.”

"understand……"

After saying that, Xiao Lengyue suddenly looked around again, then stood on tiptoe and pouted her moist pink lips.

Zhao Wumian leaned down and let his aunt kiss him on the cheek before smiling slightly. He then spurred his horse and, once out of the imperial city, immediately lifted all restrictions. The steed carrying the group galloped along the straight official road leading to the Western Regions with the speed of thunder.

The small town in the western region, nearly ten thousand miles away, is unlike the warm spring-like capital. As winter passes, the weather gradually becomes hot, and it already feels like early summer.

Meng Po, wrapped in a cloak and scarf for wind and sun protection, walked into the town.

A murder was taking place on the street, blood was everywhere, and screams of agony filled the air. The residents of the street were all used to it and went about their own business.

Meng Po did the same, except she took a few extra steps to avoid getting blood on her.

She arrived at a pawnshop, gently knocked on the window, then crossed her arms, leaned against the wall, and asked softly, "Any news?"

Meng Po, who was in charge of Jianghu affairs in the Holy Sect, did not concern herself with military matters and was unaware that Shen Tu Bu Zui had joined forces with Wu Da Mu to break through the barrier. During this period, she kept a low profile to avoid arousing Shen Tu Bu Zui's suspicion. She spent the rest of her time helping Zhao Wu Mian search for Wen Wu Zheng.

As the leader of the Western Regions and the martial arts champion of the Holy Sect, Meng Po has many connections and is not limited to the Holy Sect as her intelligence network.

Behind the window, no lights were turned on; the room was completely dark, with no gaps between the windows.

A dark shadow flashed by, the window was squeezed open a crack, and a bamboo tube as thick as a finger was thrown out.

Meng Po raised her hand to take it, and with a burst of internal energy, the bamboo tube turned into dust, revealing the paper strip inside. She glanced at it with her lowered eyes, then gently pinched it with her slender hand, flipped it over, and flicked it, but the paper strip was nowhere to be seen.

"How much silver?"

"I don't want money... just a favor."

"A person of the martial world never owes favors," Meng Po said calmly. "Five thousand taels, plus an oasis."

"make a deal."

After a brief exchange, Meng Po got up and left, shaking off the yellow sand from her cloak.

After a moment's consideration, she headed east first.

Before she left, Zhao Wumian told her how to contact each other.

The Detective Division has eyes and ears all over the world, but very few in the Western Regions. Most of them have lost contact, so we can only look for the Detective Division's henchmen on the outskirts of the Western Regions.

As they left the town, Meng Po led the camel that was drinking water outside the town.

Jingle Bell--

The camel bells jingled crisply as Meng Po sat sideways on a camel, disappearing into the vast expanse of yellow sand...

Not long after she left, a wandering swordsman wearing a cloak arrived at the pawnshop, tapped lightly a few times, and asked in a low voice:

"Was that woman from the Western Regions Holy Sect?"

The pawnshop did not respond.

In the world of martial arts, what matters is credibility... Without credibility, an organization cannot be established.

An intelligence agency recognized by Meng Po must be the leading one in the Western Regions, and it would be impossible for them to betray their customers' information.

Seeing that he couldn't get any answers, the martial artist didn't press the matter. He simply shook his head slightly and turned to leave.

A gentle breeze stirred, lifting a corner of his cloak and revealing a ring-pommel sword slung at his waist.

(End of this chapter)