bdsm-fiction Chapter 189 See You Again After a Long Time
Chapter 189 See You Again After a Long Time
Chapter 189 See You Again After a Long Time
The outline of Xingluo City gradually became clear on the horizon, like a crouching behemoth, silent and majestic.
Nearly two hundred days have passed since Dai Youheng last left this place.
Even after being away for so long, he didn't seem to miss this place at all. There was no one or nothing in this city that he cared about.
Including Xu Jiujiu, he never truly felt any attraction to her, unlike his feelings for Xue Di. Dai Youheng only ever used her.
In his eyes, she was no different from any other person or thing in the city; she was just a bargaining chip of varying value, a point of opportunity to be exploited.
The self-consuming, humbly obsessive love of his predecessor was, to him, an incomprehensible waste of emotion. Perhaps it was precisely because his predecessor loved so intensely and gained nothing that he became the complete opposite of his predecessor.
The more he loved Xu Jiujiu in his previous life, the more indifferent he became. He felt neither hatred nor love!
If there is anything in this colossal city forged with iron and blood and political intrigue that could stir even the slightest ripple in his frozen heart and ignite a desire to possess it, it would be the supreme throne that symbolizes the power over the world.
This was not only because Dai Youheng himself was ambitious, but also because he was preparing for the trial of the sinful god.
Although the trials of the Sinful Gods have only yet included the trials of the Sloth God, many things can be planned for in advance.
Among them are the greedy god who covets everything and the arrogant god who looks down on all living beings. Their divine test may require him to obtain everything in the world and look down on all living beings in order to complete it. Since that is the case, he takes the first step.
This could be considered a kind of prediction, and it wouldn't matter if it was wrong. He was already somewhat interested in getting the whole world, which stemmed from his own lust for power and his desire to experience being an emperor.
In a shadowy corner a hundred feet from the city gate, the air rippled slightly, like water rippling, and Nana's aura completely dissolved into the noisy crowd and the background soul energy fluctuations.
For now, she can only continue to be a force behind Dai Youheng.
On the surface, there are already influential figures to welcome his return.
Ling Ya's figure appeared precisely on time in the shadows of the city gate passageway. He was still wearing that somewhat plain gray robe, but the faint, icy aura emanating from him caused the people coming and going to subconsciously keep their distance, their eyes filled with awe.
Upon seeing Dai Youheng, he stepped forward and bowed respectfully, "Young Master, you've returned. His Majesty and the Princess have been waiting in the palace for quite some time."
His voice was steady, revealing little emotion, but a hint of relaxation flickered deep in his eyes. Dai Youheng's safe return meant that many plans could proceed.
"Hmm." Dai Youheng responded calmly, her tone even and even, as if she had just gone out for a walk, rather than being away for more than half a year. "Let's go."
The two walked through the tall city gate, one after the other. The city guards, clearly having received prior orders, did not stop or question them; instead, they silently saluted and made way for them.
They walked straight through several wide main streets, crossed the heavily guarded inner city walls, and finally arrived at the imperial city, the core of the Star Luo Empire's power.
Inside the main hall, everything was resplendent in gold and jade, with a high and expansive dome.
Emperor Xu Jiawei sat upright on his crimson-gold throne, dressed in casual clothes, his hands clasped as he read through the mountain of memorials, his expression focused and calm, as if he had everything under control.
Below the imperial steps, Princess Xu Jiujiu, dressed in a magnificent palace gown, appeared somewhat unsettled.
She sat demurely to one side, but her slender fingertips unconsciously and repeatedly caressed the intricate embroidery on her cuffs. Her intelligent and clear eyes would occasionally drift toward the entrance of the main hall, and each footstep outside the hall would make her eyelashes tremble slightly.
That usual composure and elegance was now replaced by an anxiety and anticipation that was hard to completely conceal.
"Jiu-mei." Xu Jiawei didn't look up, his gaze still fixed on the memorial, but his voice rang out steadily, clearly reaching Xu Jiu-jiu's ears, "An incense stick ago, the eunuch reported that Dai Youheng had safely entered the city and was being accompanied by His Majesty Lingya, heading towards the palace. Judging by the time, he should be arriving soon. Why are you so restless?"
Xu Jiujiu stiffened slightly, quickly suppressing his emotions. He picked up the teacup beside him and took a small sip to mask his momentary panic. He tried to keep his voice calm. "Your Majesty is joking. I'm not restless, but—I'm just thinking about what's going on with Shrek Academy. Dai Youheng's trip is of great importance. It concerns whether he can clear his name, and it also concerns our country's future negotiations with Shrek Academy. I'm just worried that if he fails to completely resolve the hidden danger of his martial soul, and Shrek Academy still uses it against him, labeling him an evil soul master, then all our previous investments and plans will have been in vain. We cannot lose this crucial pawn."
Her explanation, in the end, subtly revealed a lack of confidence.
"Oh? Is that all?" Xu Jiawei finally looked up from the memorial, his gaze deep and unfathomable, with a hint of knowing amusement, as he looked down at his sister's slightly reddened ears.
Feeling somewhat uncomfortable under that gaze, Xu Jiujiu subconsciously avoided eye contact, raising her voice slightly as if to assure herself, "Of course! What else would you think, Your Majesty?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Jiawei stopped asking questions to avoid embarrassing his sister. He could tell that his sister was just being stubborn and arrogant.
Just then, a servant's clear and loud voice rang out from outside the hall, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Ice Sky Douluo Ling Ya, accompanied by Young Master Dai Youheng, requests an audience!"
"Announce it quickly!" Xu Jiujiu blurted out almost instantly, her urgency even startling herself.
She immediately took a deep breath, sat up straight again, and resumed her princess demeanor, but her eyes, which were fixed on the palace gate, betrayed her true emotions.
The steady, clear footsteps approached from afar. Dai Youheng and Ling Ya appeared at the entrance of the main hall, their silhouettes clearly defined against the light.
Ling Ya stopped at the entrance, while Dai Youheng stepped into the main hall alone.
He first faced the throne and, following aristocratic etiquette, bowed slightly, impeccably, "Dai Youheng greets Your Majesty."
Then, he turned around, his gaze precisely landing on Xu Jiujiu beside him. His gaze subtly shifted in an instant, the previous calm and indifference replaced by a deep, focused fervor, as if she were the only person in his world. "Your Highness, it's been so long. Nearly two hundred days and nights have passed since we parted, and I've thought of you every single moment."
If Dai Youheng had said these words before, they would have seemed pathetic and laughable. But coming from the now composed, confident, and reserved Dai Youheng, they possessed a strange charm that struck a chord deep within people's hearts.