Who among the gangsters wants to fall in love?

Chapter 459 A Pair of Moon Beloved
As the days passed, it was already mid-April, and the heat was already intense. In the Central Plains, it was the time when "the grass and trees knew that spring would soon be gone, and all kinds of red and purple flowers competed for beauty."

However, the temperature in the Western Regions was getting hotter and hotter. But Baihuo City was located in an oasis, which was like a summer resort, and it was still warm and sunny.

The city gates stretched out in all directions, with caravans coming and going all the way to the end of the yellow sand, appearing faint and scattered in the hazy light reflected off the sand.

In the Western Regions, the Fire Worship Festival is the most important festival of the year, even though it is not held until the end of the year. Its essence is to pray for good weather and a bountiful harvest. It has a special meaning for the people of the Western Regions, and countless people come with a pilgrimage mentality.

Zhao Wumian, Uudam, and Shentu Buzui were all fully aware of each other's intentions and goals, and were only one step away from announcing to the world that they would kill each other during the fire sacrifice.

This, ironically, allowed them to achieve a strange balance and tranquility, while undercurrents surged beneath the surface, difficult to discern openly.

Zhao Wumian didn't do much these days, except to inquire about Jiu'er's whereabouts and take the opportunity to stroll around this great city in the Western Regions with the ladies.

Luo Chaoyan bought a small booklet and would write things down in it with charcoal pencil every time she went out. Zhao Wumian would also look through it late at night when everything was quiet.

The first half of the story depicts the daily lives of the people in the city of Baihuo, serving as a "grassroots" exercise for future administration.

The latter half of the book, however, consists entirely of the story of "Today my husband took me to the Great Bath of Baihuo City, and it was open-air!?"

'Does the Western Regions lack manners and a sense of shame?' I didn't dare go into the water, but the shaved ice next to the bathhouse was delicious, and it seemed easy to make. I'll make it for my husband when I get back!

Things like that.

To avoid suspicion, Meng Po has not met with Zhao Wumian these days, which makes him a little worried. He wonders if Meng Po's identity has been exposed and she has been in danger.

He pondered that perhaps he should also sneak into the temple to check on Meng Po's safety.

But before that, a secret letter was delivered to the group.

Under the sunshade of the villa, Zhao Wumian leaned back in his recliner, holding a letter tube in his hand, looking at Xue Xiao, who was standing on the table with his eyes narrowed, with a slightly strange expression.

"You flew thousands of miles just to deliver a letter to us?"

Snow Owl tilted its head to almost 180 degrees, its face full of bitterness... It didn't want to, but if it didn't do as it was told, the nun in the palace would pluck its feathers and stew it.

Zhao Wumian withdrew his gaze, his brows furrowing slightly. He opened the letter tube, took out the envelope, and Luo Chaoyan stood behind him, her hands on her husband's shoulders, looking down at him as well.

Inside the sunshade, dappled sunlight fell on the two of them, and as the flowers on the roof swayed in the wind, the dappled shadows of the flowers also swayed.

The two looked at it several times before Luo Chaoyan, her tone slightly surprised, murmured to herself:

"The Khan of the steppe wants to stop the war and make peace... and he even told us Uudam such a secret? He's trying to be a traitor."

Xiao Yuanmu sat on the swing in the courtyard, fanning herself with a round fan. Her skirt swayed gently, and she looked bored. Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but look over with curiosity.

"What do you mean?"

After considering for a moment, Luo Chaoyan forgot about her discord with Xiao Yuanmu and said softly:
"The Khan of the steppe seems to have been driven mad by my husband and is unwilling to fight any longer. He is willing to cede territory and pay reparations, and even gave us intelligence to kill Uudam, just to pacify the Western Regions, allow trade between the two countries, and let them recuperate and end this sixty-year-long friction and conflict."

Xiao Yuanmu raised an eyebrow slightly, "If there really is such a good thing in the world... it's most likely a scam."

“That being said, the only reliable information worth mentioning is Uudam’s martial arts skills… Tell my husband to keep a close eye on things and believe about 50% of it, since I can’t see any ulterior motives behind it…” Luo Chaoyan said suspiciously.

Xiao Yuanmu got up, took the envelope, and read it word by word, but couldn't make heads or tails of it, so he frowned even more.

The letter from the steppe Khan Asur only indicated his intention to cease hostilities and resume trade. Knowing that his actions would arouse suspicion, he only gave Uudam information about his martial prowess as a pledge of allegiance.

This little bit of information certainly doesn't amount to anything extraordinary.

As the emperor, Luo Chaoyan pondered for a moment before saying:
"Asur holds the title of Khan on the grasslands but has no real power. Uudam has controlled the government for nearly sixty years. Although he appears docile and unambitious, who knows what he is really thinking?"

"Now that my lord has shown him the hope of killing Uudam, he intends to use him as a tool to eliminate his rivals and regain the throne."

Su Qingqi also came closer to take a look, and upon hearing this, she thought to herself that it was the same. She looked at Zhao Wumian and asked, "What do you think, young master?"

Zhao Wumian leaned back in his recliner, slightly lost in thought, before speaking with a hint of melancholy:

"Regardless of what Asur thinks, the current infighting on the grasslands is beneficial to us... It's just a pity about Uudam."

"What's a pity?"

"He devoted sixty years to building up the grasslands, only to be betrayed by his own people at the very end..."

Zhao Wumian had many enemies, most of whom were now dead, with only Shen Tu Bu Zui and Wu Da Mu still alive... As for Gui Yi Lao Dao, he had not been seen since the East Sea, and no one knew where he was.

Shen Tu Bu Zui's martial arts skills were a bit lacking, but Uudam was indeed a nemesis to Zhao Wumian.

Zhao Wumian and Wudamu were both top figures in the martial arts world and pillars of their respective countries. Seeing how Wudamu was being treated, Zhao Wumian couldn't help but feel complicated.

While considering it, Zhao Wumian found it interesting again, looked at Luo Chaoyan and Su Qingqi, and smiled.

"Now, I will become Uudam."

Hearing these inexplicable words, Luo Chaoyan blinked, but of course she knew what her bedmate meant.

Zhao Wumian is here, Luo Chaoyan is here, and Su Qingqi is here as well.

The powerful king of a different surname who commands the mighty army of the Western Regions, Uudam who intends to kill Zhao Wumian, and the shameless Khan who hides behind the scenes and plots against the loyal officials of his own country.

How similar it is to the territory of Jin!

Nowadays, it's nothing more than a reversal of identity and a change of stance.

The Great Khan of the Steppe became Luoshuzhi.

If Shentu had not been punished by Uudam, he would have become the chief of the Jin King's spear.

Zhao Wumian... became the last Uudam to join the game.

Uudam chose to go to the palace alone and break through it by force.

Zhao Wumian's current choice is exactly the same as Uudam's back then.

Zhao Wumian laughed heartily when he thought of this.

Luo Chaoyan and Su Qingqi understood his meaning, and they covered their faces with their sleeves, laughing softly.

Such a twist of fate exists in this world.

But he was not Uudam after all.

He was definitely not the one who was seriously injured and fled in defeat.

No one could escape... Baihuo City was the burial place of Udamu and Shentu Buzui.

As night deepened and the air grew cooler, the three major districts of Baihuo City were all lit up with twinkling lights.

The outer city was sparsely lit, while the inner city was just beginning to be illuminated. Only the central temple was brightly lit, shining like a dazzling pearl in the pitch-black night.

A side hall on the east side sits in the garden, quiet and peaceful, with only a few light footsteps.

Several young maids of foreign origin carried lanterns and walked back and forth in the garden, checking the lights in various palace areas.

The hall was filled with the fragrance of flowers, and butterflies flitted among them.

This hall is called the Hall of a Hundred Flowers, as the maids call it, which is easy to understand. But its real name is actually the Blazing Phoenix Pavilion... Meng Po's residence.

Inside the marble-paved hall, a delicate fragrance filled the air. A wisp of candlelight shone softly on the dressing table, revealing a pair of cat-like, emerald-green almond eyes.

Those bright and lively eyes, however, seemed a little lost in thought at this moment, losing some of their sparkle.

Meng Po sat in front of the dressing table, combing her hair with a jade comb, but her mind was elsewhere.

During this period, aside from the fact that the Fire Worship Ceremony was approaching and she needed to avoid suspicion, as well as some official business to attend to, Meng Po herself was hesitant and unsure of how to face Zhao Wumian.

She was orphaned at a young age. After being taken in as a disciple by Yan Rongfei, she diligently practiced martial arts, fought many battles, and achieved the title of Martial Champion, becoming Meng Po of the Western Regions. Only she knows how much suffering she endured during that time.

Why? At first, it was just to survive; later it was to live well; and then...

The saying goes, "When poor, one should cultivate one's own virtue; when successful, one should benefit all under heaven." Once one's status, martial arts skills, and abilities improve, Meng Po will naturally begin to consider the well-being of her fellow countrymen.

That's why she came to the Western Regions and joined the Holy Church.

She had no feelings for the Holy Church itself, nor did she believe in its doctrines; she was purely driven by self-interest. She only acted because the Holy Church had the greatest influence in the Western Regions.

Now that she has the power of the imperial court, becoming the Queen of the Western Regions is naturally what she desires... It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the first twenty-odd years of her life were all for this purpose.

She was truly uneasy about sending officials from the imperial court to oversee the Western Regions and govern her millions of compatriots.

But if she becomes the Queen of the Western Regions, what about Zhao Wumian... She originally wanted to discuss it with him, but that guy insisted on bullying her and making her drink the Meng Po soup.

Meng Po's long legs couldn't help but squeeze tightly together beneath her skirt. Recalling the feelings of that night, her delicate body felt a little weak again, a blush crept onto her pretty face, and her emerald eyes were slightly misty, making her look so pitiful.

Click————

Suddenly, she broke the jade comb into pieces, and Meng Po became angry again, her cheeks puffing out.

It's one thing that she hasn't contacted me for a while, but Zhao Wumian hasn't even tried to send a message or make any contact... He must be indulging in nightly revelry, bewitched by those women.

She casually tossed away the shards of the jade comb, pushed open the door, and sat in the small pavilion in the garden. She had her maid bring her grape wine in a luminous cup, then dismissed the maid. In the stillness of the night, she drank alone, a beautiful woman as picturesque as a painting, the night clear and bright, butterflies fluttering about.

She gazed at the full moon in the night sky, feeling sorry for herself, like a young woman who had been abandoned by a scumbag.

After drinking half a cup of wine, Meng Po recalled that day at the end of the year and sighed inwardly.

She was afraid of loneliness, and ever since she met Zhao Wumian... she felt even more lonely.

Since she returned to the Western Regions from the Central Plains at the end of the year, this feeling has been particularly strong, but there's nothing she can do about it.

The thought that if she really became the King of the Western Regions, this loneliness would probably accompany her for most of her life made Meng Po sigh again.

Why are you drinking alone here all by yourself?

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind her, its tone puzzled.

Meng Po's body stiffened, she straightened her back, looked back, her eyes shining with surprise.

Zhao Wumian, dressed in a blue robe, stood tall and straight in the dim light, looking at him with curiosity.

"You..." Meng Po had barely uttered a word of surprise when her expression suddenly turned cold. She turned her head indifferently, leaving Zhao Wumian with only a glimpse of her dark hair adorned with a gold hairpin.

"Why are you here?" she asked calmly.

"Is there any place in this world that I can't go?" Zhao Wumian walked in, picked up the wine, and looked it over a few times.

The wine that Meng Po drank was definitely not ordinary. He took a light sniff at the bottle opening, and sure enough, the aroma of the wine was overwhelming.

"Hmph, Lord Marquis can come and go as he pleases, yet you only come to me now, right before the Fire Worship Festival." Meng Po's tone was slightly sarcastic. "You have something to ask of me? Do you want me to help you infiltrate the Fire Worship Festival?"

"?"

Zhao Wumian knew that Meng Po was being difficult with him, so he smiled slightly. Since there was nowhere to sit, he simply sat on the table and laughed.

"If I want to infiltrate the Fire Worship Ceremony, I don't need anyone's help."

Meng Po crossed her arms, head held high, presenting Zhao Wumian with a calm and heroic profile.

She was waiting for Zhao Wumian to ask for help when she heard this. Her beautiful eyes widened, and she suddenly turned her head to glare at him, getting angry.

Meng Po raised her hand and pushed Zhao Wumian, shooing him away:

"Go away, go away. If you didn't come to ask me for help, then what are you doing here? Don't you know you need to avoid suspicion right now? If Uudam and Shentu Buzui find out... I'm warning you in advance, I won't lend a hand."

"Couldn't I just want to see you?"

Meng Po was taken aback; a smile just began to curve at the corners of her lips, but then her face suddenly hardened.

"Your words, Marquis, can only fool naive young girls... Now that you've seen it, what do you want?"

Zhao Wumian stared at Meng Po's pretty face for a few seconds, making the demoness feel embarrassed. She looked away, her pretty face slightly red, and thought Zhao Wumian wanted to drink Meng Po's soup again.

Her lips trembled for a moment, as if she were about to say something, when Zhao Wumian said:

"Now that I've seen you, I'm relieved you're alright. I was worried something might have happened to you..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Wumian turned and left. "As you said, this place is inconvenient. I'll leave first. After I deal with Shentu Buzui and Wudamu, we'll have plenty of time..."

Before Zhao Wumian could finish speaking, Meng Po became agitated and stomped her foot forcefully, shouting, "Zhao Wumian! You, you come back!"

Zhao Wumian turned to look at her.

Meng Po stared at him with her beautiful, emerald-green almond-shaped eyes, which were extremely captivating in the moonlight.

The two looked at each other for a few seconds before smiling at the same time.

"Go ahead and bully me." Meng Po snorted softly, her tone tinged with helplessness and a hint of amusement.

"I am the Marquis of Weiming of the Imperial Court. If I don't bully the Western Region demoness, do you think I would be bewitched by you, demoness?" Zhao Wumian sat down on the table again, reached into his sleeve, and took out a bottle of Tinglan wine.

"Look what I brought you?"

Meng Po blinked her beautiful eyes, but her gaze was like a leech, fixed on Zhao Wumian. "Bringing wine... what? Trying to get me drunk?"

"You're a martial arts champion; if you don't want to get drunk, who can get you drunk?"

Zhao Wumian poured the wine from the luminous cup into the flower field, then poured more wine into it.

"I heard that you went to a tavern alone to drink away your sorrows at the end of the year?"

Meng Po was taken aback, her pretty face suddenly flushed, and she looked slightly flustered. "How did you know?"

"With Tong Congdao dead, I am now the undisputed number one womanizer in the martial arts world... There is no reason for Meng Po, this beautiful flower from the Western Regions, to slip through my fingers, so I often send people to keep an eye on you."

Zhao Wumian handed over the wine cup, jokingly saying to Meng Po, "Now I'll make it up to you... how about we have a drink together?"

"Hmm." Meng Po rolled her eyes in a charming way, but did not refuse. She sat down and drank a cup of wine with Zhao Wumian.

Meng Po said softly:
"Regarding the Blood Coagulation Ore, I've secretly sent people to take control of the mine these past few days... Even if you fail to kill Shentu Buzui and Wudam this time, I can still secretly send this Blood Coagulation Ore to the Central Plains for you, so you won't have any worries..."

Zhao Wumian raised his eyebrows slightly.

Since acquiring the aura of an immortal, he had almost forgotten about this incident... but Meng Po still remembered it.

He remained silent for a few seconds, drinking his wine, before suddenly saying, "Don't take Chaoyan's suggestion too seriously."

"what?"

"King of the Western Regions".

"Why?"

"Now that this matter is settled, come with me to the capital... That way, I can drink with you every New Year."

Upon hearing this, Meng Po's emerald eyes momentarily lost in thought, staring blankly at Zhao Wumian.

A few seconds later, her pretty face flushed slightly, she looked away, and stubbornly said;

"A noble prince of the imperial court actually brought a woman from the Western Regions back to the capital and into his residence... Indulging in sensual pleasures and women, what kind of behavior is this?"

"Don't you know that it's widely rumored in the martial world that Marquis Weiming dislikes power and wealth, but only loves women?" Zhao Wumian retorted, then added, "Are you willing?"

"I don't want to." Meng Po snorted, her tone as light as a bird hopping on a branch.

"That doesn't matter."

"Why?"

"You are my prisoner. I am doing this for the sake of the country and the people. I am bringing you to the capital to be severely tortured and beaten... You have no choice but to accept it." Zhao Wumian was quite aggressive as he lifted Meng Po's chin.

She raised her pretty face, revealing red lips, blue eyes, and fair skin, all seemingly bathed in a soft glow under the moonlight.

Meng Po stared intently at Zhao Wumian, neither dodging nor avoiding him, her eyes revealing a hint of provocation amidst her stubbornness.

Zhao Wumian bent down.

boo~
He captured Meng Po's moist, soft lips, savoring the taste of this enchantress from the Western Regions.

A gentle evening breeze swept through, stirring up a few petals that danced around the two of them, following the wind's path.

Zhao Wumian did not do anything else out of line. After kissing her, he left quickly.

Meng Po sat alone amidst a profusion of flowers.

As soon as Zhao Wumian left, Meng Po felt lonely again.

The loneliness was deeper and more unbearable than any she had ever felt before.

She leaned back in her recliner and drank the last of her Tinglan wine alone.

She suddenly wanted to go to Jiangnan.

Go to Tinglanzhuang in Jiangnan.

Go visit his hometown.

Although Meng Po was a Hu woman, she was raised by Yan Rongfei and lived in the Western Regions after growing up. Her childhood memories made her more steadfast in her adherence to the customs of the Central Plains.

She absolutely had to visit Zhao Wumian's hometown.

If Zhao Wumian ever goes away for business and doesn't return to his hometown for three months or half a year, she will wait for him to come back in his hometown.

She raised her cup, gazed at the blue sky, but no longer asked where her own moon was.

She already knows where her bright moon is.

(End of this chapter)