You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

Chapter 453 Princess Tana's Wedding (2 in 1 order)

At the same time, Jiekong also had compassion for the monster, so he deliberately left a loophole and let it go.

Zhong Wuye saw all this and frowned slightly.

Under the slanting light of the setting sun, the little boy's face was pale, and the wounds on his body were faintly visible in the weak light. He clasped his hands together, bowed deeply to Zhong Wuye and Jie Kong, and said in a trembling voice, "Thank you two heroes for saving me."

Zhong Wuye stepped forward, squatted down, patted his shoulder gently, and said with a smile: "It's nothing, why would you come to a place like this alone?"

The little boy's eyes turned red, and he lowered his head to hide his embarrassment. After a while, he softly replied: "I am always bullied by those naughty kids in the village. They are stronger than me and I can't beat them. That's why I want to come here to find wild animals to build up my courage."

At this point, his voice deepened. Seeing this, Jie Kong reached out and helped him up, a faint smile playing on his face. "You're very brave, child," he admonished gently, "but you were still too young and reckless. You almost lost your life. This was truly dangerous."

The little boy raised his head, his big, watery eyes gleaming with a special brilliance. He stared closely at Jie Kong and spoke cautiously, "My friend, your martial arts are truly powerful. Even that terrifying monster couldn't withstand a single blow from you." He suddenly changed the subject and said earnestly, "Could you please accept me as your apprentice? I swear to do my best, training day and night, and in the future I will become as brave and fearless as you!"

Jie Kong shook his head slightly upon hearing this, a smile growing on his face. "You're still young, and everyone looks like a hero to you, including me." He crouched down, patted the child on the head, and said earnestly, "But you must understand that martial arts training doesn't happen overnight. Furthermore, if you idolize me, you'll only go astray in the future."

The little boy opened his eyes wide and looked at Jiekong with suspicion. Seeing this, Jiekong continued gently: "When people are young, they are full of longing for external things and worship idols. This is natural. But as you grow up, you will find that everyone has flaws and shortcomings. Only by placing your faith in your heart can you truly walk your own path and gain extraordinary power."

He paused here, and after the child seemed to understand, he continued, "So you don't have to cling to me, and you don't have to blindly worship anyone. Only by transcending your dependence on others can you truly become strong and fearless."

The little boy lowered his head in deep thought. After a long moment, he raised his head and nodded to Jie Kong, his eyes rekindled with fighting spirit. Zhong Wuye, watching from the side, was deeply moved by the conversation between the old man and the child, and his heart was filled with emotion.

In just a few words, Jiekong unleashed profound insights into life, truly a testament to his wisdom. Zhong Wuye was deeply moved by the affection Jiekong so carelessly expressed. She silently prayed that one day, he, too, would find his roots and destiny.

……

The afterglow of the setting sun enveloped a quiet village, and in the hazy twilight, smoke from cooking fires rose. Zhong Wuye and Jie Kong walked side by side on the bluestone path, followed by the little boy who had just been rescued.

Jie Kong's words had stirred up a wave of unsettling emotions in Zhong Wuye's heart. She would occasionally glance at Jie Kong's profile, feeling that this old acquaintance seemed to have a completely new demeanor today.

Yes, Jiekong had grown up in a monastery, seemingly pure and unselfish, modest and polite. But his eyes concealed a tenacity unmatched by anyone else, and an unyielding desire to pursue truth. Zhong Wuye couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration.

At this moment, the little boy turned around and said to Zhong Wuye: "Big sister, are you also envious of Brother Jiekong's great martial arts skills? You must be very good brothers and sisters, right?"

Zhong Wuye smiled and shook his head. Just as he was about to answer, he heard Jie Kong say calmly in front of him: "Don't make random guesses. She and I just met by chance."

"Oh, then I'm so rude." The little boy smiled awkwardly, then lowered his head and quickly followed.

Soon, they arrived at a blue brick and tile house, which was the boy's home. As soon as they pushed the door open, a tall middle-aged man hurried out, obviously relieved to see that his son was safe.

He reached out and hugged the little boy tightly in his arms, and thanked Jie Kong and Zhong Wuye repeatedly: "Thank you two seniors for traveling thousands of miles to rescue my foolish son. How can I repay you for saving my life?"

The little boy twisted and turned in his father's arms and explained the whole story. The middle-aged man's face turned stern after hearing this and he scolded him: "How could you be so reckless, kid! Fortunately, the two elders passed by, otherwise you would never have escaped this disaster!"

As he spoke, he hurriedly invited the two to come into the house to rest, and then arranged for his family to busy themselves around and prepare game, wine and food. After three rounds of drinks, the middle-aged man said to Zhong Wuye: "You two seem to be wandering around in a foreign land. I wonder what's going on?"

Just as Zhong Wuye was about to speak, Jie Kong said first: "Actually, I'm here to investigate an old matter." As he spoke, he took out a golden token from his bosom. There was a word "Wu" engraved on it. The workmanship was exquisite, indicating the extraordinary status of its owner.

When the middle-aged man saw it, his expression changed and he hurriedly took out a short gold necklace from his arms and handed it over.

"I once served as a servant in the Northern Zhou imperial city. This token and necklace were the tokens of trust given to me by Concubine Chen." His expression was gloomy as he continued, "I heard that Concubine Chen was framed and murdered in the palace. It was truly a tragedy."

Zhong Wuye was shocked when he heard this and looked at Jie Kong in surprise. Jie Kong's face was calm, but there seemed to be a dark current in his eyes.

"It seems this token is related to that old case." After a long pause, he finally spoke, "If that's the case, I suspect the informant who can solve the mystery of my life is somewhere within the Northern Zhou imperial city."

The middle-aged man nodded and sighed: "Ever since that incident, many of the royal family's past affairs have been deliberately buried. It is really dangerous to thoroughly investigate them."

"But I have made up my mind. Even if it means taking such a risk, I will find out the truth." Jie Kong's eyes were determined, and he was about to say goodbye to Zhong Wuye.

Before leaving, the little boy looked at Jiekong's figure, remained silent for a while, and finally mustered up the courage to shout loudly:
"Brother Jiekong! I swear to practice diligently, and in the future I will definitely catch up with you and clear all obstacles in your way!"

Jie Kong smiled faintly at this, not turning back. He simply said, "Just take care of yourself." Before he finished speaking, he and Zhong Wuye had vanished into the night at the village entrance. Jie Kong learned from the boy's father that the token of his life story was likely related to an old case that occurred in the Dayuan Palace, involving the Empress Dowager, Concubine Chen, and the late Emperor Jianyuan.

So Jiekong decided to go to the capital of Northern Zhou Dynasty - Yuandu.

Zhong Wuye did not stop this decision.

……

The sun blazed, ripples lingering in the air above the grasslands. Standing on the horizon was the majestic ancient city of Yuandu. Its battlements soared into the clouds, its arrow-straight walls stretched for miles, resembling a dormant dragon from afar.

As we traveled, we occasionally caught glimpses of swirling yellow sand, twisting into a dreamlike spectacle in the scorching air. The fur tents of the Baihaba nomads fluttered in the wind, like solemn sentinels. As we trudged through them, our sleeves soaked with sweat.

The city gate loomed in the distance, and a chaotic clamor washed over me. As I approached, I saw a scene of extraordinary activity. Tens of thousands of makeshift tents had been erected on the grasslands, crammed with merchants and business travelers from far and wide. Horseback caravans surged forward, bringing with them a rich odor of animal and salty sweat. Mixed in with this was the inarticulate religious chants of lamas twirling their prayer coins, a strange and eerie atmosphere.

This is the "Yueyazi" trading village, home to over twenty different tribes, including the Arabs and the Fearful Beasts. It's said they regularly move around this grassland imperial capital. They live where they please, freely roaming the vast grasslands. The roaring and bustling atmosphere makes the distant city walls seem eclipsed.

As Zhong Wuye and the others passed through the bustling Crescent Moon, the dragonborn remains in her arms suddenly glowed with a strange, cold blue light. The narrow beam of light shot straight into the city, silently passing through the arrow crenels on the city wall, and finally stopped at the end of the palace.

"It seems the remains of Dragonborn are also hidden within Yuandu," Qin Huan whispered, his brow furrowing slightly. They were able to explore the movements of the Great Abyss, but these ancient remains were also often used by alien races as weapons of brutal slaughter. This power alone was enough to terrify one.

Not far away, a group of armed men, armed with gleaming swords and guns, were chattering incessantly. Zhong Wuye listened intently and heard shocking news—Tana, the Tibetan princess captured by the Northern Zhou soldiers, was planning to marry someone else!
"How is this possible?" Zhong Wuye exclaimed, his mind surfacing with the gentle image of Tana in the past. Her deep eyes often burned with a desire for freedom. How could that intelligent and straightforward Tana willingly allow herself to be manipulated by the Northern Zhou Dynasty?
"I heard it's about a marriage between Northern Zhou and Tubo, to jointly combat the nightmare of the Great Abyss," Jie Kong said in a deep voice, his eyes dark and unclear. "However, the Northern Zhou claimed that Tana's groom was the young master of Tubo, but no one can be sure whether this is a lie."

Zhong Wuye recalled that Tana had lamented during their past conversations that political marriage was inevitable and a princess's destiny. At the same time, they learned that the Northern Zhou emperor had announced that Tana's marriage was to the young master of Tubo. If the two countries united, they would be able to form a pincer attack on Dayuan, preventing the spread of the nightmare.

"This is simply a form of exploitation and enslavement of Princess Tana!" Zhong Wuye's eyes widened in anger, and the look of anticipation for the future on Tana's face when she had talked to her that year emerged in her mind. She was immediately overwhelmed by anger. "We must go and stop this!"

Upon hearing this, Jie Kong suddenly looked up and looked directly into Zhong Wuye's eyes. He pondered for a while before slowly nodding.

"Okay, but we have to be cautious." He stared at the top of the distant city wall with his eyes as sharp as lightning, and said slowly,
"We have limited manpower and are outnumbered. It's impossible for us to force our way into that fortified city. We have to find a way to infiltrate it and then find an opportunity to rescue Tana."

……

The midday sun was high in the sky, a heatwave swirling over the Yuan capital. Today was the auspicious day chosen by the Northern Zhou emperor. The Tibetan princess, Tana, would marry an unknown Tibetan noble, forging an alliance between the two nations to fight the ravages of the Great Abyss.

Inside the Yuan capital's royal palace, a scene of bustling activity unfolded. Over gleaming anvils, groups of blacksmiths wielded hammers, crafting magnificent attire for distinguished guests. Silk and satin flew freely, while embroidery workshops buzzed with activity. Countless eunuchs and guards bustled through the palace, bustling with activity as they prepared for this grand wedding.

The main hall of the imperial palace had been newly decorated, towering in grandeur. Hydrangea-shaped lanterns hung from the eaves, creating a resplendent splendour. Six-coloured silks framed a hearth, and iron lions flanked it. A wide corridor, embroidered with coiling dragons, snaked its way up the entrance. On either side were precious peony brocade cushions, a dazzling crimson that shone even under the blazing sun.

That day, the long corridors were packed with distinguished guests, surrounded by a throng of splendidly dressed guests. Dozens of foreign princes and nobles, all allied to the Northern Zhou, harbored sinister intentions and fierce expressions. Some wore silken robes with vibrant tassels swinging wildly from their waists; some wore goat-hair felt, the kind used by herding men; and some wore veils, revealing only narrow, sharp eyes.

"Look, isn't that the war god Yanmang who is famous in the grassland? He is holding a wolf-tooth club and wearing wild bear skin armor, which shows how ferocious he is!" A guest whispered with a look of awe on his face.

"Hehe, you said that chief who wears a floral embroidered robe and a blue silk sash on his head, he looks like a gentle and kind lady." Another guest looked at the short and fat chief with a flushed face and said with a mixture of laughter and tears.

At that moment, the main hall's doors slowly opened, and a burst of palace music boomed, warming up the newlyweds. The guests immediately fell silent, and the hall fell into a hushed silence. Only a few eunuchs, holding incense and candles, walked at the front, their faces brimming with confidence.

Immediately afterwards, a procession of women in red robes slowly emerged from the entrance, bowing with their hands lowered in a graceful and dignified manner. Their lips pursed, their makeup lightly applied, accentuating their expressions of affection and grace. These were Princess Tana's attendants, dressed in traditional Tibetan palace attire, a stark contrast to the ornate style of the Northern Zhou dynasty.

At the very back of the maids and concubines, a beautiful figure slowly emerged—it was none other than Princess Tana herself. She wore an elegant, silken, feather-feathered gown, as white as jade. The cuffs, slits, and collar were all embroidered with auspicious Tibetan patterns. A golden silk pendant adorned her waist, tinkling with the melodious sound of golden bells as she walked.

Her long, glossy black hair, combed into a sleek, flowing stream down her back, accentuated her delicate, porcelain-white face. Her almond-shaped eyes, as bright as mirrors, occasionally flashed with a hint of worry. Her long, glossy black eyelashes trembled, accentuating the subtle, fragrant blush on her cheeks. Her cherry-red lips pouted softly, revealing a breathtakingly charming beauty.

Several chiefs, unable to take in her peerless beauty for a long time, were practically mesmerized. Some servants couldn't help but secretly gulp their mouths as they lingered in her graceful figure, lost in thought.

And Zhong Wuye was also stunned...

"Get ready to take action!"

(End of this chapter)