I meet all the requirements for becoming a god in this world!

Chapter 242 Lord Gao, I'm coming in.

The room was completely silent.

Zhang Linzheng remained silent for a moment, preparing to step forward and speak.

Yu Qingzheng had already taken a step forward, his lips moving as if he wanted to continue the conversation:

"His Majesty."

Emperor Jianye was about to look at Yu Qingzheng.

But then Xie Yuheng's voice arrived.

"Return to Your Majesty."

He gave Cheng Laiyun a very complicated look.

His gaze held the misunderstanding he felt when he saw Cheng Laiyun wielding a knife on the city wall, and the emotion he felt when he saw Cheng Laiyun writing a blood letter outside the illusionary mist.

At this point, he had already made up his mind about Cheng Laiyun.

No one understood the Time-Space Illusion Mist better than him. That's why he firmly believed that everything that happened within the mist must be Cheng Laiyun's truest nature.

He did not believe that someone who could exchange his own life for the Crown Prince's when a large army was pressing in was a traitor with rebellious intentions.

next moment.

He turned around to face Emperor Jianye, his tone calm:

"Your Majesty, it was Cheng Laiyun who broke through to the fourth rank in the midst of battle, and assisted me in fighting alongside Prime Minister Zhang and Minister Yu to the death, which gave us a sliver of hope."

"Although Yang Shi'en was supported by nearly 10,000 guards, he was ultimately unable to withstand the combined attack of the four."

"When the spirit fox saw Yang Shi'en die, it used all its essence and blood to create a spatial illusion, trying to drag Cheng Laiyun down with it—this demon did not hesitate to disintegrate itself and used its life's cultivation to manipulate the laws of heaven and earth; its heart is despicable."

"Fortunately, Cheng Laiyun was resolute in his heart and faced death calmly, thus dispelling the illusion. The fact that Your Majesty is safe and sound tonight is primarily due to Cheng Laiyun."

He pronounced the words "fight to the death" so firmly that no one could detect any flaw in his tone.

Cheng Laiyun, Yu Qingzheng, and Zhang Linzheng all raised their heads at the same time to meet Xie Yuheng's gaze.

Cheng Laiyun was taken aback.

He clearly hadn't expected Xie Yuheng to speak up for him. The two men looked at each other for a moment, a few steps apart, before Xie Yuheng looked away and turned back to face Emperor Jianye.

Cheng Laiyun watched as his faded blue scholar's robe fluttered slightly in the night breeze.

Suddenly, I felt that this old man seemed to be a few points taller than usual today.

Emperor Jianye leaned against the battlements, digesting Xie Yuheng's words from beginning to end. Then he turned to look at Cheng Laiyun, his gaze carrying a mixture of scrutiny, approval, and a hint of half-joking teasing.

"Cheng Qing, Grand Tutor Xie says you deserve the most credit."

"Tell me yourself, what reward do you want?"

Cheng Laiyun blinked.

He then gave a rather strange look.

He looked at Yu Qingzheng, grinned, and raised an eyebrow:

"Your Majesty, if possible, I would like a table. A table made of rosewood, with legs as thick as a bowl, and a tabletop so thick it could be used as a chopping board."

Emperor Jianye was taken aback.

Zhang Linzheng also looked bewildered. Xie Yuheng frowned slightly.

Only Yu Qingzheng seemed to remember something and suddenly looked up at Cheng Laiyun.

His face was somewhat flushed.

"Master Uncle," Cheng Laiyun's wicked smile deepened after seeing Yu Qingzheng's reaction.

"Five months ago in your study, you said, 'If I break through to the fourth rank within five years, I'll eat this table right here and now.'"

"Tonight, in less than five months, I've already broken through to the fourth rank."

"Will you choose the table yourself, or should I choose it?"

As he spoke, he took two steps forward and bowed to Emperor Jianye again:

"By the way, I'm worried that my eldest uncle might have trouble with his teeth, so I would like to ask Your Majesty to grant him another bottle of vinegar, which will help with digestion."

……

Yu Qingzheng stood on the steps of the city tower, his face flushed red, his beard trembling.

"You brat! I was just saying it offhand the other day! There's no reason to eat the table in public!" Cheng Laiyun's expression was extremely innocent.

"Senior Elder, a gentleman's word is as good as his bond. You are the Grand Elder of the Mo Sect, you cannot go back on your word."

"I'm not picky about tables. The sandalwood one in your study is the perfect size and has the right hardness. Would you like it steamed or braised?"

"Ha ha ha ha!!!"

Emperor Jianye laughed loudly, his eyes filled with mockery, then looked at Yu Qingzheng with a smile and said:

"The table in my study is made of suitable material. I'll have Xiao Zhuozi deliver it to Minister Yu tomorrow."

Zhang Linzheng's lips twitched as he glanced at Yu Qingzheng.

Xie Yuheng stroked his beard and smiled.

Everyone was laughing.

It's almost dawn.

The night finally came to an end.

"Since you haven't said what you want, then I will consider it accordingly. Your reward will arrive soon." Emperor Jianye smiled and patted Cheng Laiyun on the shoulder.

Then he turned to look into the depths of the palace.

A hint of coldness flashed in his eyes, and his tone was somewhat sinister:

"I still need to return to the palace to handle some matters."

Everyone knew that Emperor Jianye was referring to the Eighth Prince.

"Best farewell to Your Majesty."

Cheng Laiyun bowed directly.

……

After Emperor Jianye left, the city tower became quiet.

The night wind blew in from the direction of Chengtian Gate, making Cheng Laiyun's blood-stained official robe flutter loudly.

Zhang Linzheng, Yu Qingzheng, and Xie Yuheng did not move.

All three looked at Cheng Laiyun. Under the gazes of these three powerful figures, Cheng Laiyun felt a little uneasy.

Others may not know, but he himself knew that he had just been in the illusionary mist... it was all an act.

Zhang Lin was standing three steps away from him, his moon-white scholar's robe still bearing the fine cracks left when the gray-robed man shattered the light barrier.

He looked at Cheng Laiyun, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke.

His voice remained as calm as ever, but Cheng Laiyun could sense something beneath that calmness:

"Cheng Laiyun, I have seen everything that happened tonight."

"You said in the illusion that you always regarded Benxiang as your father. Benxiang heard that."

"Ahem." Cheng Laiyun coughed lightly, somewhat embarrassed.

"In my life, I have lived without a wife or children, all alone. I have never felt that this is a regret."

"But when you said those things in the illusionary mist tonight, I suddenly felt—if I really had a son like you, it wouldn't be so bad."

Cheng Laiyun lowered his head and bowed deeply to Zhang Linzheng, his voice softer than usual:

"Zhang Xiang, whether you acknowledge it or not, in Lai Yun's heart, you have always been." Zhang Linzheng's originally cold face softened considerably at this moment.

He nodded and didn't say anything more.

He turned and walked down the city wall, but stopped after a couple of steps. He didn't turn his head back, but just turned his face to the side, where the moonlight illuminated half of his cheek.

"Go back and treat your wound, don't let your master worry."

Then he strode down the city wall, his pale figure quickly disappearing into the night.

…………

Before Cheng Laiyun could even look away, Yu Qingzheng had already walked over.

The Grand Elder of the Mo Clan had been standing on the city tower in the cold wind for most of the night. The bloodstain on the corner of his mouth, which had been shaken out by the gray-robed man, had long since dried, but his steps remained steady. He only paused slightly when he reached Cheng Laiyun.

He looked at Cheng Laiyun's tired but still smiling face.

Then he reached out and patted Cheng Laiyun hard on the shoulder.

This shot made Cheng Laiyun stumble.

"Hiss~" He even gasped. "You little rascal, you did a good job tonight."

"You didn't disgrace your master, nor did you disgrace me."

His tone remained as disdainful as ever:

"I'll remember about the table."

"But don't get too cocky—the fourth rank is just the beginning. There's the third rank, the second rank, and so on. When you break through to the third rank, you can choose any desk in my study."

Cheng Laiyun's smile contained a hint of weariness, a touch of mischief, and a dash of undisguised intimacy that he only showed in front of his elders.

"Master Uncle, don't worry, I won't keep you waiting too long."

"However, could you please prepare some vinegar beforehand when I break through to the next time? It's good for my teeth to dip in it."

Yu Qingzheng, with a stern face, cursed, "Get lost."

He waved to him, signaling him to hurry back and recover from his injuries, then turned and strode down the city wall.

He took two steps, then stopped, turned back, and raised an eyebrow, saying:

"You should get married soon."

Before Cheng Laiyun could respond, Yu Qingzheng's figure had already disappeared around the corner of the city gate steps.

……

Only two people remained on the city wall.

Cheng Laiyun and Xie Yuheng stood facing each other, a few steps apart.

This elderly scholar, who had lived for over seventy years, stood with his hands behind his back beside the battlements.

Cheng Laiyun looked at Xie Yuheng.

There's not much to say.

Bow directly.

"Thank you, sir, for conveying my message to His Majesty..."

"Alright." Xie Yuheng interrupted Cheng Laiyun directly, his gaze calm:

"Why did the gray-robed Venerable kneel before you and call you Your Majesty? Why do you possess dragon aura? Why did I misunderstand you when you walked towards the Crown Prince with a knife in the illusionary mist? These are questions I do not wish to ask." "I have lived for over seventy years and consider myself to have lived up to my conscience. I have never stooped to utter a single word against my conscience to anyone. But tonight I will make an exception."

He looked into Cheng Laiyun's eyes:

"Just because you pushed open that door in the illusion and walked into the Weilin Army formation, I said one thing to myself—this person is worth protecting."

Cheng Laiyun remained silent for a long time.

The night wind blew in from the direction of Chengtian Gate, stirring the dried bloodstains on his clothes and making the edges of his still unhealed wound itch slightly.

He felt somewhat guilty.

At the same time, I was asking myself questions.

If it weren't for the illusionary mist.

But the truth is, would he really do that?

Obviously not.

He will definitely prioritize his own safety.

But he still raised his head to meet Xie Yuheng's cloudy yet still sharp eyes. When he spoke, his voice was a little softer than usual, but he pronounced each word very firmly: "Grand Tutor Xie, what you covered up for Laiyun tonight, Laiyun will spend his whole life proving that you did not misjudge me."

Xie Yuheng nodded, a faint smile appearing on his lips, a smile that contained a mixture of emotion and relief.

"You don't need to say anything, I believe you."

He picked up the fishing rod that was leaning against the battlement, put it on his shoulder, and turned to walk down from the city gate.

The blue silhouette blended into the gradually brightening sky.

……

When Cheng Laiyun walked out of the imperial city, the sky was already beginning to lighten.

The smoke from the battle on Chengtianmen Gate tower had dissipated. Behind them were colleagues from the Regent's Office and soldiers of the Imperial Guards who were cleaning up the battlefield. In the distance, the faint sound of captured guards being escorted to the Imperial Prison in batches could be heard.

He stood at the palace gate, preparing to walk towards the Regent's Office.

Then they heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats coming from the end of the long street ahead.

Chestnut horse.

He knew that figure in black on horseback all too well—a long sword at her waist, her back ramrod straight, the night wind blowing her hair, tied behind her head, fluttering like a flag in the dust kicked up by the horse's hooves. Gao Heyun dismounted, her movements as swift and efficient as ever.

She strode up to him, her phoenix eyes sweeping from his face to the indistinguishable bloodstains on his clothes. Her brow furrowed slightly, and then she spoke:

You are injured.

"It's just a superficial wound, nothing serious." Cheng Laiyun frowned as he looked at him.

"Didn't I tell you to continue towards Liangzhou? Why did you come back?"

"I left Hai Wuyai and Zhu Yuanzhi to continue leading the team, and I came back first. Now it seems, it's over?"

Gao Heyun's tone was indifferent.

Cheng Laiyun looked at her for a long while, then the corners of his mouth curved slightly:

"Still don't trust me?"

Gao Heyun did not look away.

She looked into his eyes and spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world:

"We are already engaged." "Naturally, we will live and die together."

Cheng Laiyun was stunned.

Having known Gao Heyun for so long, he never felt that this cold face could say anything that would warm one's heart.

A nameless tenderness and warmth welled up in my heart.

He took two steps forward, stood in front of Gao Heyun, reached out and grasped her hand that was hanging by her side.

Her hands were still slightly cool, and the marks from holding the reins for so long remained on her knuckles, but she responded naturally the moment he took them.

Her fingers clenched between his fingers, holding them tightly.

Cheng Laiyun looked down at their clasped hands and took a deep breath:

"Okay, we'll live and die together. I'll keep those words in mind."

Gao Heyun did not answer.

He mounted his horse with his usual swift movements and then reached out his hand to Cheng Laiyun.

The moonlight fell on her face, illuminating her perpetually aloof countenance, and also revealing the tenderness surging within her phoenix eyes—a tenderness she had never shown to anyone before. Cheng Laiyun took her hand; it was still slightly cool, but warmer than usual.

She pulled him onto the horse and shook the reins.

"Come to my residence."

Her voice came from ahead, somewhat scattered by the night wind, but Cheng Laiyun heard it clearly:

"Have a drink with me."

Uh……

Cheng Laiyun was somewhat bewildered.

He remembered that Gao Heyun never drank alcohol.

"Let's go then."

……

The chestnut horse traversed the gradually quieting long street, its hooves striking the bluestone slabs with a series of crisp echoes.

Gao Heyun's residence was in the east of the city. It wasn't large, but it was very clean. There were no artificial hills or streams, no pavilions or towers in the courtyard. There was only an old locust tree and a stone table. In the corner stood a weapon rack with several of her old knives on it.

Cheng Laiyun sat down on the stone bench and watched her carry a jar of wine out of the house. She broke the mud seal, and a strong aroma of wine immediately filled the courtyard.

Gao Heyun poured two bowls, pushed one in front of him, and picked up the other herself, tilting her head back to drink a big gulp.

Cheng Laiyun picked up the wine bowl and took a sip. The wine felt like a fire burning from his throat to his stomach.

The two drank together under the moonlight and talked for a long time.

From the first time she met him in Yong'an County, when she heard him say "I know where Xuanzhu is" in the prison cart, to when he rushed into the poisonous clouds outside Qingzhou City, she cursed him countless times in her heart, "Cheng Laiyun, are you out of your mind?"

From the time she entered the Imperial Prison at the age of fifteen to handle her first case, until the day the King of Zhenbei appeared before her, she knelt on the ground and said, "I'm sorry to have worried you, my granddaughter."

The more they drank, the less they drank; the more they talked, the more they talked.

As the moon shone high in the sky, Gao Heyun put down her wine bowl and looked at Cheng Laiyun, her phoenix eyes now completely open and honest.

"I joined the Regent's Office at the age of fifteen and handled my first case at the age of sixteen. Over the years, I've either been chasing murderers or being chased by them."

"I never need anyone to wait for me, nor do I need anyone to worry about me."

"But tonight, for the first time, I felt that if I came back one day and couldn't find you, I might not know what to do." She looked up at Cheng Laiyun, the moonlight falling on her face and illuminating his perpetually cold and stern expression.

It also revealed the naked, undisguised deep affection in those phoenix eyes that had never been shown to anyone before:

"So from now on, wherever you go, let me know. Even if we can't go together, at least let me know where you are."

Cheng Laiyun looked down at the hand she was holding on the back of his hand, turned his palm over, and tucked her fingers one by one between his own.

He laughed silently until it started automatically.

"Okay. I'll tell you wherever I go from now on."

Gao Heyun looked at him for a long time, and then suddenly smiled.

It wasn't the usual faint, polite smile; it was a genuine, heartfelt laugh, like the first stream that had been frozen for the entire winter finally breaking through the ice.

Cheng Laiyun was stunned for a moment—he had known Gao Heyun for so long, and he had never seen her smile like that before.

Before he could say anything, Gao Heyun stood up, walked around to him, lowered her head, and kissed his lips.

That kiss carried the spiciness of the Northern liquor, as well as her unique, cold yet restrained tenderness.

Her lips were slightly cool, but her breath was hot. The moon was high in the sky, and the wine jar was empty. Cheng Laiyun picked her up and carried her into the inner room.

Gao Heyun did not struggle, but buried her face in his neck, her breathing warm and rapid.

He placed her on the bed, and the bed curtains fell silently behind them.

……

The moonlight outside the window was mostly obscured by thin clouds, leaving only a flickering candle inside.

It reflected her face, which finally no longer needed any defenses after she removed all her armor.

It also reflected the scar on his palm from the blood-written letter.

That night, the snowstorm in the north and the moonlight in the capital blended together.