My Beautiful Duchess Wife

The old beggar seemed unwilling to explain anything, and silently left the place while the demons argued about who had guessed the truth. By the time the demons stopped arguing, the city guards had already arrived, albeit belatedly.

……

What kind of person Lin Peng is, perhaps no one in Darkmoon City knows right now. But his brain alone is something the Duke and Princess absolutely desire. At a certain point, even if it means sacrificing one of them, they'll prioritize keeping this strategist alive.

However, seeing that Lin Peng was not injured at all, but was still unconscious, the Duke and Princess were inexplicably ignited with anger.

"Nadas, what's going on! If... you don't give me a satisfactory answer, you... won't see the sun tomorrow!" the princess asked coldly. Gone was her former charm, gone was her playful side.

Even without anyone saying it, Nadas knew that if he didn't have a reason, he wouldn't be able to escape this ordeal today. Ever since he learned about the Duke and Princess, he had been on tenterhooks, and now... what was bound to happen had finally arrived!

"This...Your Highness...Actually, I don't know the specifics either. Miss Angelina was there at the time, she should, she should know!" Nadas tried his best to keep his voice from trembling as he looked at Angelina with pleading eyes.

Angelina looked at Lin Peng, who was breathing evenly on the bed, and said calmly, "No doubt about it, it must have been Jess who came that day who did this!"

“Today, I finally got to go out for a bit. Lin Peng insisted on going to the tavern, but when he got to the tavern entrance, a drunkard suddenly appeared. He bumped into Lin Peng and fell down. When Lin Peng went to help him up, flames suddenly erupted from his body. They were bright yellow flames, so hot that even my hair seemed to wither!” Angelina said, picking up her dark green hair, its original shine gone.

"Then... how come this guy is alright?" The princess looked at Lin Peng lying on the bed with some doubt, her delicate eyebrows furrowing.

His Highness the Duke exclaimed incredulously, "Impossible! That was definitely pure yellow earth fire. Any ordinary demon would be reduced to dust if burned by it. But Lin Peng looks... completely unharmed!"

Angelina shook her head slightly, indicating she didn't know either. However, she understood in her heart. She remembered the first time she met Lin Peng on the wasteland outside the abyss, he had told her that he could eat fire.

In fact, he was indeed immune to fire. However, Angelina hadn't expected this fire immunity to be so powerful, even immune to the pure yellow earth fire! It's important to understand that compared to ordinary fire or the flames spewed by magical beasts, the temperature of this type of fire with elemental properties is truly high. To be immune to such fire—it has to be said, this guy named Lin Peng's talent is exceptionally strong.

"Hmph, no need to ask, it must be that Jess guy's doing! I'll go and confront him right now!" The princess snorted coldly, glancing sideways at Nadas. Nadas decisively drew his sword and shouted, "Your Highness, I'll go and kill that guy right now!"

"Alright, I finally get a good night's sleep, can you all please be a little quieter!" The sudden voice surprised the Duke, Princess, and Angelina. They hadn't expected Lin Peng to wake up!

In other words, he is now completely fine.

"Use your brain and think about it carefully. Could that Jess guy really come up with such a good idea?" Lin Peng struggled to sit up on the bed, supporting himself with his hands. "Heh heh, that guy Fowles is really something! How did he manage to hide that kind of flame on that damned drunkard? If it weren't for my talent, I might really have died from those flames!"

The Duke and Princess exchanged a glance and said, "What kind of talent is this, to be able to resist such flames? If you were a Demon King-level expert now, it would be normal for you to be completely unharmed. But... you are now!"

At this point, neither sister continued.

In the Demon Realm, saying someone is weak is absolutely annoying. It might even provoke a duel between two people. However, unexpectedly, Lin Peng not only wasn't angry, but also chuckled and said, "I have a brain, that's enough. As for talent... well, I'm only immune to all flames. Other than that, I'm useless. I don't even have the corresponding magical power. And then there's my speed. But... compared to you two... it doesn't even count as speed!"

Seeing the two sisters' speechless expressions, Lin Peng was secretly overjoyed. He hadn't expected that automatically absorbing the flames would bring so many benefits. First, his power had become incredibly strong. As for exactly how strong, Lin Peng couldn't say. Anyway, this wasn't the place for testing.

Secondly, the fire within his chest, which was originally only half the size of his little finger, is now at least the length of his middle finger and the width of two middle fingers. Furthermore, the heat flowing through his meridians has become even more abundant. It seems to possess other abilities as well.

We should try it right away.

Thinking this through, Lin Peng said, "Your Grace, let's execute the Abyss Plan immediately! Perhaps... this City Officer Jess is impatient and wants his men to die!"

Then, Lin Peng burst into laughter.

The Duke and Princess exchanged a glance, then nodded and left with their entourage. Only Angelina's gaze towards Lin Peng changed. This guy had definitely lied to the Duke and Princess just now.

Chapter Eleven: Power, High-Ranking Demons

Inside the Darkmoon City Palace, the conference room was bustling with noise, showing no sign of turning into a marketplace. Family representatives and powerful figures alike stared coldly at the Duke seated at the head of the table.

Even now, some people are still baffled by the suggestion made earlier. However, it is foreseeable that His Highness the Duke may be beginning to truly deal with the city official sitting below.

Seeing Jess's ashen face, it was clear how infuriating the suggestion had been. Because of the City Official, some unspoken opinions had quietly emerged in Darkmoon City. However, it was truly strange that this official hadn't been seen during any of the beast tides.

To silence the people of Darkmoon City, the proposed solution this time was for the city official to personally travel to the Abyss. He wanted to see what had caused Darkmoon City to suffer such beast tide attacks in recent years.

The patriarch of the Furen family, and the treasurer of Darkmoon City. At this moment, faint magical markings appeared on his aged face. This indicated that unless he made a breakthrough, his death might be imminent within ten years.

However, it is precisely this kind of person who has to consider his family. Otherwise, he might be able to leave this world, but the interests of his clan might not truly be alleviated. Therefore, in this incident, he was the first to break free from Jess's grasp and support the Grand Duke.

Old Furen narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Lord City Officer, the Abyss isn't an inaccessible area. Given your family's strength, even if you went in, they probably couldn't do anything to you. Heh... So, either send someone to investigate, or... it's safer to go yourself!"

The Duke and Princess both nodded in agreement. Now, the most powerful families in Darkmoon City, the Furen family and the Clive family, had all joined the Duke and Princess's ranks.

So, what angered Jess wasn't the suggestions themselves, but rather... that these families had betrayed him!

He stared coldly at the two family heads for a long time, then chuckled softly, "Of course, His Highness the Duke made this decision for my sake. Hmm... In that case, I'll send someone over! But... if my people come back and can't come up with anything, you'll think I'm just fooling you. Hmm... perhaps you could also send some people to coordinate things?"

The Duke and the Princess were both taken aback for a moment. Then, they furrowed their delicate brows and pondered for a moment.

However, before the Duke could speak, Jess changed the subject, saying, "In my opinion, that strategist named Lin Peng is quite good. Heh... He's smart, and he seems quite capable too. I heard from my men that he was chased by all the beasts for a long time, but he wasn't torn to pieces!"

"Sia... what do we do now?" Princess Irene was also stunned, not understanding why this had happened. Logically speaking, Jess should never have reacted like this.

At the same time, it's impossible to make such an arrangement immediately. It would leave both of them feeling so helpless. If they disagree, what will the other families who have pledged allegiance think? Sacrificing their people without contributing their own strength. If they agree, what if Lin Peng dies? Such a valuable strategist might truly have to be abandoned.

Duke Shia clenched her fists tightly, the veins on her once fair hands now bulging. She glared coldly at Jess, then said in a low voice, "Alright, we'll send Lin Peng and Nadas!"

Eileen nodded in agreement.

But they didn't notice that a strange glint flashed in Jess's eyes as he smiled and nodded: "I think, how about this? You send Lundy instead? Heh... I heard that Lundy recently broke through to the Great Demon realm?"

Duke Shia and Princess Irene were both taken aback. It seemed that although Jess wasn't in the city, he knew them inside and out. It appeared this clandestine affair needed to be eliminated as soon as possible. Otherwise… nothing could be hidden from this guy.

"Okay... then... how about we adjourn the meeting here for today?" Xia glanced at everyone calmly, without revealing the slightest emotion.

……

Meanwhile, in a small grove of trees in Darkmoon City that looked like a resting place, Lin Peng shook his head reluctantly, turned around and said, "Friend, you've been following me for so long, shouldn't you show yourself now? Otherwise... hehe... I really will have to go back to the palace."

If they actually reached the palace, those behind them definitely wouldn't be able to follow. At the same time, they could also escape. However, Lin Peng didn't do that. Instead, he stopped. He had only originally wanted to test his recently emerged power.

At the same time, he also felt that the people following him did not have very strong auras.

So, he brought this minor demon to this quiet place. Lin Peng believed that while his own fire was not yet surging fiercely, this guy was definitely no match for him.

Moreover, there are no powerful people nearby.

The flickering flame has always been the last trump card that has allowed the abyss to ensure its own safety.

In the silent grove, not a sound could be heard. Lin Peng's brows furrowed slightly. At the same time, he closed his eyes. Waves of heat allowed him to locate nearby opponents at lightning speed. Of course, this was merely an ability he gained after absorbing the Clear Yellow Earth Fire.

In an instant, everything around seemed to transform into a black and white film. The trees, in this world, had turned green. They were still the same trees, only the color had changed. And behind a giant tree, a yellow humanoid figure appeared. Gradually, the yellow humanoid figure approached.

Lin Peng chuckled coldly, feeling sorry for the guy. He actually thought he didn't know and slowly approached... well, in that case, it's best to pretend you don't know. However, Lin Peng's hand had already slowly clenched. If you looked closely, you could even see wisps of flame emerging from Lin Peng's hand.

The feeling of grasping warmth made Lin Peng's body tremble slightly. It was like a feeling of being alive, a real feeling. Power... was this power?

The flame on his chest now burned even hotter, making his body feel hot. His fists clenched even tighter, and suddenly, Lin Peng opened his eyes. His hair whipped around, leaving only a lingering ember. With a single punch, a cracking sound rang out. At the same time, the demon, who had been slowly approaching to launch a sneak attack, was sent flying far away. He crashed heavily into a giant tree with a thunderous boom… Dry leaves slowly fell, and the burly demon clutched his chest as he fell, coughing incessantly.

Lin Peng was also stunned for a moment, not expecting that a single punch could possess such power. Real power, power that could be felt. He opened his palm, then clenched it again, and flames seemed to burst forth from it. With a whoosh, his entire fist was filled with flames.

"You...you're actually a high-ranking demon! How is that possible...how could you possibly become a high-ranking demon!" The burly man coughed, as if he had encountered something extremely surprising. He was merely a demon who had just stepped into the mid-ranking demon realm; how could he possibly be a match for a high-ranking demon?

Furthermore, the master also said that according to the intelligence, this guy seemed to have no strength other than being fast. But... the truth always trumps the intelligence. Only the undead would believe that someone like this had no strength at all.

"Hehe... How come... It seems you have a very good grasp of my intelligence. Hmm... You probably know I'm quite fast, so you approached slowly to prevent me from escaping, right?"

Lin Peng gave a wicked smile, a faint smile revealing confidence.

"You...who exactly are you, and why...did you suddenly appear in Darkmoon City? Hmph...now is not the time for you to interfere, otherwise...you won't even know how you died..."

Before he could finish speaking, the hand gripping his neck suddenly tightened. The last word, "die," died in his throat. He stared blankly at Lin Peng with lifeless eyes.

"I haven't even revealed my master's name yet!" These were his last words before he died.

He tossed it around like a piece of cargo, muttering to himself, "A nobody like him dares to send someone to hunt me down? Does he really think I can bully just anyone?" Shaking his head, Lin Peng slowly walked towards the palace.

The moment they entered, they sensed two powerful auras that made the flame tremble. Then, led into a reception room, Duke Shia spoke: "This time, I didn't expect them to react so quickly, insisting that you go to the Abyss with them. What's your decision?" She then recounted the events of the day's meeting.

He got straight to the point, which surprised Lin Peng for a moment. But at the same time, it also made it clear that Lin Peng was one of them.

Seeing the serious expressions on Nadas and Lundy's faces, Lin Peng didn't reveal the ambush on the road. He rubbed two fingers against his chin a few times and said calmly, "It seems... they really do have a lot of spies. Perhaps they're extremely well hidden. Otherwise... they wouldn't have been able to react so quickly and make such a decision. Heh... perhaps, we even have their spies among us!"

Upon hearing this, Danas, who was already feeling somewhat guilty, immediately knelt down and swore an oath, saying things like he was loyal and would follow him to the death... After a long speech, even Lin Peng felt that this guy was really quite timid.

He shook his head helplessly: "Vice Captain Nadas, I was just joking. Was it really necessary? Hmm... this time, I've decided to take the risk. Hehe... don't worry, at least when it comes to speed, there aren't many people who can catch up with me. Of course... you two are out of the question!"

The two women nodded in agreement, as they also highly praised Lin Peng's speed.

Meanwhile, few noticed the glint in Lundy's eyes. Lin Peng, however, nodded as if he had suddenly gained some insight.

Chapter Twelve: Separate Actions

Even in the Demon Realm, the Abyss is an exceptionally special place. Not only do demonic beasts roam freely here, but legend has it that its deepest depths are also the domain of powerful hermits and true divine beasts. A thousand years ago, when the demon army conquered the human world, a divine beast, the Black Phoenix, emerged from the Abyss, leading its people to fight alongside the demon army! Furthermore, the deepest part is also said to be home to the Lich, the legendary representative of the God of the Underworld.

However, relatively speaking, it's now very difficult to even see Warcraft in the outer areas.

Lin Peng idly picked at his ear, listening to the boasts of several members of the Furen family ahead of him. Of course, they were all talking about fabricated monster victories. This time, almost all the elites of Darkmoon City had been mobilized.

Duke Shia's side dispatched Nadas, Lundy, and Lin Peng. City Officer Jess, on the other hand, sent Fowles and two other high-ranking demons. This level of strength might not seem like much on its own, but compared to the elites of other families, it was far superior.

The Furen and Kols families together produced four individuals. Moreover, these were merely mid-level demons, yet each one was incredibly powerful. It seemed even the kings of the abyss would fear them.

Of course, throughout the day, Nadas couldn't help but want to go up and beat those guys up. However, Lin Peng stopped him. Let them say what they want, what business is it of ours? Besides, true strength is only revealed when a high-level magical beast appears.

Now... these people are just cannon fodder.

However, one young man from the Furen family caught Lin Peng's attention. Judging from his face, he was definitely no more than twenty years old. Moreover, it seemed that even the demonic markings hadn't faded. A deep blue demonic mark still remained, running from his eyes to the corner of his mouth.

Strength: Mid-tier demon. Considering his abilities, he's a diligent and talented demon. Even without a powerful bloodline, reaching mid-tier demon status before the age of twenty is considered extremely talented.

The fact that a demon like Lundy, whose bloodline isn't particularly good, has reached the strength of a Grand Demon in his thirties is the best proof of this. Of course, such strength is considered strong in Darkmoon City. But compared to powerful lords' territories or the imperial capital, it's really nothing.

"Captain, my dear captain! Can't we really do it? These guys... I really want to rush up and beat them to a pulp! What kind of people are they? They're nothing but braggarts all day long. High-level magical beasts, my foot! If a mid-level demon can beat a high-level magical beast, I'll just swallow this knife!" Nadas said, patting the long sword at his waist with a mournful face.

His once square face was now contorted in disbelief. It seemed that being in a team with such a person was a disgrace.

Lin Peng shook his head with a faint smile. Come to think of it, this Nadas is actually a rather loyal person. Otherwise, if Sia and Eileen had known the secret, they would definitely have killed Nadas.

However, having been born in Darkmoon City and cultivated step by step to reach his current position at the pinnacle of high-ranking demons, and having diligently continued his training, his strength rivals that of a great demon like Lundy. If this guy truly possessed a bloodline, he would undoubtedly be a genius.

After all, he's only just turned thirty. And as the son of a small businessman, reaching such heights at his age is a combination of luck and genuine talent.

Therefore, Lin Peng preferred Nadas to Lundy. Although Nadas was straightforward, at least he was easy to talk to. And... if he had good talent, he would be a great asset.

Compared to Nadas, Lin Peng disliked Lundy more. He always had that same long face, and... what was with that glint of light in his eyes that time?

“We just need to take care of ourselves. Hmm… Lord Fowles, we’re almost at the edge of the middle now. So… should we go straight in, or regroup here first?” Lin Peng patted Nadas on the shoulder and then looked at Jess’s right-hand man.

Fowles stopped in his tracks, immediately smiling and repeatedly saying he wouldn't dare, then pondered for a moment: "Hmm... judging from the situation, those low-level magical beasts have almost all been consumed by the beast tide. And now... if we enter the middle section of the abyss, I think we should regroup first. Then... split up!"

Upon hearing that they would split up, those who had been looking lazy immediately perked up and looked at Lin Peng nervously.

They knew their own strength better than anyone. If nothing unexpected happened, they'd be devoured by monsters within a day at most in the middle range. Although this beast tide had consumed a large number of monsters from the outer and middle ranges, a mid-level demon would be lucky to survive even one mid-level monster. If they encountered a whole group, they'd better just sit back and wait to be torn to pieces.