Starting by picking up a female fan, he swept through the martial arts world.

Chapter 168 Returning Home is Like Being Crowned: A Prelude to the Fall of Yunjin

"Leave? What do you mean?"

The sudden remark left Bai Zhaoli stunned for a long time.

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

After a long pause, Gu Manzhi chuckled softly, "The literal meaning is 'Let's go!'"

Bai Zhaoli gripped her phone tighter and tighter, feigning indifference as she said, "What does it matter to me whether you leave or not? As long as you don't interfere with our business."

"Yes, it doesn't affect anything."

"Then why did you call? Are you crazy!"

Bai Zhaoli cursed and prepared to hang up the phone.

Gu Manzhi called out to her, "Wait!"

Bai Zhaoli grew increasingly impatient, but for some inexplicable reason, she didn't hang up: "Speak quickly, I'll give you one minute."

Gu Manzhi: "He's not happy with me."

Bai Zhaoli felt that this sentence was extremely inexplicable, but for some reason it still kept her there.

Gu Manzhi took a deep breath: "It's not that I'm unhappy. I feel that although my brother is decisive in his actions, he is actually a traditional Eastern man at heart. Responsibility is a shackle for him, and I have accidentally become part of that shackle."

He was kind to me not because he liked me, but simply because of his sense of responsibility.

Even if he has some affection for me, it's just because he feels he should have affection for the role of "partner".

I can't get into his heart.

They couldn't even get involved in his career.

It might even become a burden to him.

I always knew that, but I was greedy.

But I feel I shouldn't do this.

So, Miss Bai—”

"so----"

Bai Zhaoli interrupted with a cold laugh: "You want to give him to me?"

Gu Manzhi hesitated for a moment: "It's not that I'm giving it to you, it's that I'm returning it to you."

Bai Zhaoli suddenly became agitated: "Miss Gu, I think you've misunderstood something. What you two do is your own business, and it has nothing to do with me. What I pursue and what I reject are entirely my personal choices, and you have no right to tell me what to do."

"I know!"

"You knew that, yet you still said it?"

"I just wanted to say that my brother is actually very pitiful—"

Whether you feel sorry for him or not is your own business.

Bai Zhaoli interrupted again: "To me, he's a very reliable guide and comrade-in-arms. That's enough. Everything else is insignificant to me, just like you are. Understand?"

Gu Manzhi remained silent for a while before saying softly, "I understand! Sorry to bother you, I wish you all the best in your careers."

"We'll be fine; you don't need to wish us well!"

Bai Zhaoli hung up the phone after she finished speaking.

"Beep beep beep beep beep————"

The constant ringing of the phone was incredibly irritating to her.

He held his phone so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

After breathing heavily for a long time, she finally sat back down in her office chair.

He let out a long breath, feeling a sense of satisfaction at his successful revenge, yet also a vague sense of loss.

"A fifty percent chance of death?"

Jiang Lang frowned, staring intently at Liu Xiu.

Liu Xiu nodded: "This is already the most ideal situation. If she hadn't been in such a good mood these past few days, even a hundred—"

There's not even a 50% chance.

Jiang Lang suppressed his agitation: "When will the treatment begin?"

"tomorrow!"

"Could we postpone it for a while longer?"

"It can be postponed, but the hive imprint is unstable. Every day of postponement carries a risk."

"6

Jiang Lang took a deep breath: "Have you asked Manzhi yet?"

Liu Xiu said in a deep voice, "I asked her, and she also hopes it will be tomorrow."

"Then tomorrow!"

Jiang Lang stood up: "How long will the treatment take?"

Liu Xiu shook his head: "It's uncertain. We haven't used the soul replenishment technique many times. It varies from person to person and is very unstable. However, it will definitely take a long time. We won't have a result until the invitational tournament is over."

"understood."

Jiang Lang nodded, turned his back, and walked into the ward.

He stood in front of the door for a while before smiling and pushing it open to enter.

"Manzhi!"

"elder brother!"

Gu Manzhi's eyes lit up, and she smiled as she stood up to greet him, reaching out to take Jiang Lang's arm.

This is their habitual action; whenever they meet again after not seeing each other for a while, they will hold hands and find a place to sit down and chat.

But today, she had just taken Jiang Lang's arm when she felt a tremendous force slam her against the wall.

She could clearly feel Jiang Lang's tall and straight figure, his heavy breathing, and—a passionate kiss.

"Ugh————"

Unlike the two who were passive at the beginning.

It is also different from the sweetness of love at its most intense.

This kiss felt like conquering territory.

The intense aggression made Gu Manzhi unable to resist becoming intoxicated by it.

She knew that something should be done now.

The night was peaceful.

Gu Manzhi rested her chin on her hand, lying on her side on the edge of the bed, quietly watching Jiang Lang's sleeping face.

She is very happy.

I'm also very confused.

She felt that Jiang Lang did this because of a sense of responsibility and because he couldn't bear to hurt himself.

But she was also very fortunate.

Because no matter the reason, I've already had it.

These seven days have been so blissful, like a dream.

-

The clock hands ticked away, but she couldn't get enough of watching them.

She didn't move her body more than slightly until the clock hands pointed to six o'clock.

She lingered for a moment, then kissed Jiang Lang's lips before quietly getting out of bed.

Then, he quietly left the ward.

dusk.

At Lin Fang's villa.

Gu Manzhi knelt down with a thud: "The Throne!"

The beautiful woman sat on the sofa, smiling as she looked her over: "Manzhi, have I been unkind to you?"

"The throne is my benefactor. Apart from my uncle, the throne is the best person in the world to me."

"Then why, with the opportunity for Hive to rise to prominence right in front of you, are you still unwilling to help me?"

"I----"

Gu Manzhi was speechless and could only lower her head and apologize: "I'm sorry—"

The beautiful woman chuckled softly: "You love him?"

"like!"

"Does he love you?"

—

Gu Manzhi's body trembled slightly: "Your Majesty, I have wronged the Hive. Please punish me!"

The beautiful woman smiled gently: "What kind of punishment do you accept?"

"I'm willing to die! Just let my uncle go."

"die?"

The beautiful woman smiled: "If I really wanted you dead, would you still be alive today?"

Gu Manzhi: "————"

The beautiful woman gently patted the sofa beside her, and after Gu Manzhi obediently sat down next to her, she smiled tenderly: "Manzhi, do you know what I like most about you?"

"have no idea----"

"You're good at playing the victim! You know perfectly well I won't kill you, yet you still say you can die."

"6

'

"But why did you act genuinely pitiful in front of Jiang Lang instead of feigning it?"

"The throne! I—"

"Are you about to cry? Your acting is getting better and better."

The beautiful woman smiled. "Don't worry! I don't intend to punish you, nor do I intend to punish your uncle. Xiao Lin, come out!"

Lin Fang pushed open the door to the study and came out.

Gu Manzhi finally relaxed and stood up excitedly: "Uncle! Wang Zhao, she—"

Lin Fang smiled and said, "With the throne here, Your Highness Zhao can't do anything to me."

The beautiful woman stood up: "Xiao Lin! Let Manzhi rest well. Someone who is about to be crowned king needs to think carefully about how to have the majesty of a king-level powerhouse. Playing the victim won't work anymore."

"

Gu Manzhi: "!"

Her eyes suddenly widened.

The man who is about to be crowned king?

What does this mean?

Has Wang Zhao lost his eligibility for coronation?

Why did I not only escape punishment for doing such a wrong thing, but instead win the competition?

What is the throne really thinking?

My brother was already on guard.

Where do those drones come from?

Lin Fang smiled and said, "Manzhi, before your coronation, stay home and don't move around. These past few days, Mr. Dou has been teaching you all the time. You should learn carefully what abilities a King-level expert should possess."

talking.

He pointed in the direction of the study.

Gu Manzhi:

She was somewhat dazed.

But he still staggered toward the study.

Lin Fang watched Gu Manzhi leave, still unable to suppress his doubts: "Your Highness, isn't this too unfair to His Highness?"

The beautiful woman chuckled softly, "She didn't even pity Manzhi, but you're the one who pities her first."

Lin Fang: "————"

It wasn't that he pitied Wang Zhao, but rather that he was truly amazed by the throne's resolute decision.

Because Wang Zhao was not only the queen bee she personally selected, but also a life that her body had personally nurtured.

They are descendants of the soul.

More importantly, they are physical offspring.

She was involved in Wang Zhao's entire upbringing.

But this exceptionally talented potential queen bee was already destined for tragedy.

The beautiful woman smiled and said, "Don't worry about that. Just come with me to a meeting first."

"yes!"

A conference room somewhere.

The attendees sat neatly on both sides of the long table.

At the end of the long table, there are two main seats.

One seat was occupied by a handsome young man, while the other was vacant and waiting.

Everyone waited quietly, except for the young man, who was getting a little impatient.

Fortunately, at this time...

The door opened.

A woman wearing a mask, with a graceful figure, walked in and sat down in the empty seat without hesitation.

Lin Fang, also wearing a mask, followed closely behind her and stood behind her.

"Lord Xuanming, you're late."

The young man was somewhat displeased.

Xuanming Jun smiled faintly: "Good things come to those who wait."

The young man raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Is there any movement from the council?"

Upon hearing this, the entire conference room fell silent, and all eyes were focused on Xuan Mingjun.

Xuan Mingjun smiled faintly, his voice both alluring and authoritative: "The council plans to completely take over Yunjin within six months!"

"Oh?"

The young man became interested: "Are they going to take action against those warlords?"

Xuanmingjun scoffed, "There's no need to lift a finger. Those warlords are spineless and won't resist."

A sharp glint flashed in the young man's eyes: "This is a golden opportunity to recruit followers. If they don't want to fight, then we'll force them to!"

Xuanming looked at him with a half-smile: "Envoy Xuanyuan has a solution?"

Xuanyuan Shi's expression immediately turned somewhat awkward: "I have no foundation in Yunjin, so I still have to—"

Xuanmingjun chuckled softly, "Instigating those warlords to take action is no easy task. I'll do my best in this matter. Envoy Xuanyuan, perhaps you should focus your energy on the invitational tournament. After all, only a god who is powerful enough can possibly gather followers, don't you agree?"

After she finished speaking, she stood up, smiled and glanced at everyone, then left with Lin Fang.

Wait until you drive away.

Lin Fangcai couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, who exactly was that person just now? The name Xuanyuan—"

Xuanmingjun chuckled lightly: "Xuanyuan? It's nothing but a bluff, a mere show of force!"

"A bluff?"

Lin Fang grinned, a hint of lingering fear in his eyes.

That person was already a five-star general at a young age, and was even close to being crowned a king.

He seems even more monstrous than Jiang Lang.

After all this, it's just a bluff?

And also—what do "gods" and "believers" mean?

Lin Fang felt both uneasy and excited; these must be the core secrets of the throne.

He had previously worried that the throne's suggestion to crown Gu Manzhi was just a joke, but now he completely believed it.

"The throne, who exactly is that person?"

"Him—"

Xuanmingjun smiled meaningfully: "In the old era of humanity, there were extraordinary individuals who could absorb the radiation of heaven and earth on their own, and he was one of them!"

Lin Fang: "!"

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