Eternal Life Starts as a Hunter

Chapter 658: Chapter 199: Husband and Wife Plot for the Upper Hand, Loyal Spirits Leave the Temple to Pay Respect to the Mistress

Li Yuan was stunned for a moment.

Xie Feng... why was he able to retreat unscathed?

However, he had more pressing matters to attend to now.

"I shall first find the Empress, then seek out General Xie," Li Yuan said.

Stammering, Xie Yu said: "Second sister... second sister... she..."

Before she could finish, a man’s voice suddenly came from nearby, interrupting the conversation.

"Your subject, Xie Jian’an, pays respects to Your Majesty."

As his voice fell, a graceful figure appeared.

Xie Jian’an arrived, no longer showing signs of decadence, and no longer carrying the scent of rouge and wine.

Xie Yu quickly retreated to stand beside Xie Jian’an.

Xie Jian’an’s eyes burned intensely as he stared at Li Yuan, then spoke, "Your Majesty, now that you’ve suddenly arrived, I suggest you first bathe to wash away the dust."

Li Yuan suddenly understood something, feeling somewhat speechless, he said, "Alright, hurry up then."

Xie Jian’an secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Yes."

...

A moment later.

After Li Yuan completed the Fourth Grade Blood Bath, his form remained unchanged. Once he changed into a set of clean robes, he said, "Father-in-law, do you have any token for me? So that I don’t have to bathe every time; your family’s supply of blood must not be infinite, right?"

Hearing Li Yuan’s amiable reference to "father-in-law," Xie Jian’an smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I have a piece of Twin Jade; if it fits, it will distinguish authenticity."

After speaking, he hurriedly gave instructions to Xie Yu.

Xie Yu was like someone granted amnesty and ran off immediately.

She didn’t want to stay near the Emperor for even a second.

Soon, she brought over the Twin Jade.

Xie Jian’an handed one half to Li Yuan.

Li Yuan took it, asking, "Where is the Empress? I have urgent matters."

Xie Jian’an said, "This old subject is simply worried that someone harbors ill intentions towards the unborn Dragon Child in the Empress’s womb. Thus, she has been relocated to the Qinglan Small Residence."

Qinglan Small Residence, Li Yuan had heard Xie Yu mention it—a property of the Xie Family, tranquil and elegant, unknown to outsiders.

"Quickly take me there."

"Yes..."

...

The next day.

Led by Xie Jian’an, Li Yuan arrived at a lakeside.

The secluded residence was built beside the lake.

On an open lakeside space, a beautiful woman with a slightly swollen belly was strolling. She wore a gentle smile, with a look full of nurturing affection common to young mothers.

This was perhaps one of the most beautiful moments in a woman’s life.

Yet, this beautiful woman was not his wife.

However, Li Yuan could not give up the significant role of "Emperor," so... he only could be this beautiful woman’s man.

He quickly approached her.

The sound of his arrival made the beautiful woman slowly turn her head, and upon seeing him, her eyes flashed with subtle surprise, then she said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Xie Feng had returned and already roughly informed her about matters in Jade Capital.

"Minor faults with integrity intact," was Xie Feng’s evaluation of the Emperor.

Because of this, the Xie Family’s attitude towards the Emperor had changed somewhat, no longer the initial hatred, though still not close.

Li Yuan stepped forward and said, "Empress, accompany me to General Temple, it’s very important."

Xie Wei glanced at Xie Jian’an.

Xie Jian’an gently nodded.

Only then did Xie Wei say, "Yes, Your Majesty."

...

The following day...

The two sat in a horse-drawn carriage, with guards surrounding them as they arrived at the prominently red General Temple.

Li Yuan directed someone to present the prepared offerings, then began the ritual.

From start to finish, he had Xie Wei stand by his side, participating in the ritual with him.

Xie Wei couldn’t refuse, so she complied, while a peculiar emotion stirred within her.

The ritual was traditionally reserved for the Emperor.

Why did the Emperor have her participate?

Was this a form of acknowledgment?

After a long time, the ritual was completed.

Li Yuan began to wait quietly.

He remembered—if the royal bloodline honored the loyal spirit, then... the loyal spirit would respond.

As long as the loyal spirit responded, he could trace it to find the "missing Dragon Vein," or receive more information.

A moment passed...

Another moment passed...

The temple remained silent.

Xie Wei gently stroked her slightly swollen belly, yet solemnly held her head high, standing beside Li Yuan.

Li Yuan sighed inwardly, ’Forget it, maybe it’s because the child has not been born yet that there’s no response—this is normal.’

With that thought, he began to leave.

Just then, from the red generals came a strange creaking sound.

A general dressed in a black helmet, holding a blood-red rusty spear, slowly stepped forward...

First, one side of its body emerged.

Then, Li Yuan saw that its left hand was holding a rein.

The reins held a horse laden in heavy armor.

The horse’s eyes glowed faintly green, glimpses of its skeletal frame visible through its helmet gaps, as it snorted like the roar of a tiger either booming.

The general led the horse out of the temple, then passed through the Ghost Realm, and then... came beside Xie Wei, his voice resounding like an urn, "Greetings, Mistress. I, Gao Kaiping, pledge to serve the Ji Family tirelessly for generations."

...

Note: I’m currently on a journey, updates might temporarily be unstable, but I’ll update as much as possible when I return. Apologies to everyone.