The moment Long Lingtian heard Xu Ning’s name, his eyes widened in disbelief.
Why is he here?
Confusion surged through him, followed immediately by a deep, gnawing unease.
Xu Ning’s scheming and methods that day had been far too terrifying—so much so that even now, the memory still lingered in his mind.
He didn’t even realize it himself, but the instant he heard Xu Ning’s name, his expression had already turned ugly.
The two women beside him noticed the change. Yuwen Shuang quietly let out a breath of relief.
It seemed Lingtian wasn’t a fool after all—he knew he wasn’t Xu Ning’s match.
What she feared most was that upon seeing Xu Ning, Long Lingtian would recklessly seek revenge.
She believed in him, but before absolute power, such an act would be nothing short of suicide!
Right now, the most important thing was for Long Lingtian to lie low, inherit the Demon Lord’s Heavenly Tomb’s legacy, and only seek revenge after his strength had greatly increased.
Zhou Shuxian frowned slightly. She had never seen Brother Lingtian so wary of someone his own age.
She found it hard to accept. In her eyes, Brother Lingtian had always been invincible among his peers—even capable of challenging older generations beyond his level.
Still, she said nothing harsh. Instead, she spoke gently, “Brother Lingtian, the Great Zhou Empire is a vassal of the Mystic Saint Immortal Empire. Xu Ning is now the Northern King… if you clash with him head-on…”
She left the rest unsaid.
Long Lingtian didn’t notice at all that Zhou Shuxian was giving him a way out. He simply nodded, “Since Shuxian says so, I’ll endure Xu Ning once more—for your sake!”
As he spoke, the three of them rose and quietly moved to an inconspicuous table in the corner.
Meanwhile, inside the tavern, the patrons all stood up one after another, forming two lines at the entrance, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked outside.
Seeing this, Long Lingtian clenched his teeth until they cracked, his eyes almost splitting with rage.
He could only watch helplessly as the crowd prepared to flatter his greatest enemy—and there was nothing he could do!
It felt as though his heart was being sliced apart.
A commotion rose from the entrance as flattery poured in endlessly.
“It really is Young Master Xu—no, Your Highness! Your Highness gracing the Royal Capital brings glory to us all!”
“Your Highness, I have a daughter just sixteen years old! Her lifelong wish is to become your concubine!”
“Your Highness, do you have a place to stay? I—”
Their intentions were simple. With such a rare chance to meet Xu Ning, they naturally wanted to curry favor.
Xu Ning wore black robes, his bearing heroic and imposing, his presence dignified. As he strode forward, his aura evoked a single line in everyone’s mind—
A gentleman like jade, unparalleled beneath the heavens.
Beside him were two breathtaking beauties, Yuwen Rou and Yao Ling’er. The three entered the tavern together.
Ignoring the flattery around him, Xu Ning led the two women to a seat under countless admiring gazes.
Heh, in just a few days he’s already regained ten strands of Primordial Purple Qi. Truly favored by the Heavenly Dao… Xu Ning thought as he glanced at Long Lingtian’s back, curled up and cautious. A playful smile tugged at his lips.
As the Northern King, coming to a place like the Great Zhou Empire naturally warranted royal reception.
Yet he had followed the aura of the slave mark here for one reason alone—Long Lingtian.
The leek had grown fat. Time to harvest.
Unaware that he had already been exposed, Long Lingtian felt Xu Ning’s presence behind him like a blade at his back. His body stiffened involuntarily.
Then, at that moment, Xu Ning’s voice drifted from behind.
“Ling’er, I’ve been busy with affairs lately and neglected you. Tonight, after we settle in, I’ll teach you two more techniques—Guanyin Seated Lotus and Old Man Pushing the Cart. I’ll make sure to pamper you properly.”
He deliberately emphasized the word “pamper.” As he spoke, he reached out to gently tuck a strand of hair behind Yao Ling’er’s ear.
Her pretty face flushed deep red, and she pouted coquettishly, “Husband, you’re being naughty again… you bad man!”
Though she said so, her heart was already a fluttering mess.
For some reason, ever since that night, she had lost the ability to resist Xu Ning. She had practically become obedient to his every word, and her love for him had only deepened.
A faint smile appeared on her face as she cast a provocative glance at Yuwen Rou across from her.
Toward this woman—whom Xu Ning clearly intended to bring into his Harem—she held no goodwill.
Hearing their conversation, Long Lingtian trembled violently. His chest heaved, his teeth ground together with cracking sounds, and a frenzied killing intent surged in his eyes.
His enemy was discussing intimate matters with the woman he once loved—right in front of him!
Hatred nearly drove him mad.
He gripped his wine cup so tightly that veins bulged on the back of his hand. The cup let out a strained creak as cracks spread across its surface.
Zhou Shuxian reacted swiftly, placing her cool, slender hand over his and soothing him gently, “Brother Lingtian, those who accomplish great things do not dwell on trifles. Endure the small to preserve the greater plan.”
His heaving chest gradually calmed. He nodded, swallowing his humiliation.
Seeing Yao Ling’er’s provocative gaze, Yuwen Rou’s face flushed red. She hurriedly tried to change the subject, “Um… Your Highness, what brings you to the Royal Capital this time? You didn’t even bring a single guard.”
What a perfect setup!
Xu Ning’s eyes lit up.
This leek really knows how to endure. Being humiliated right in front of him, yet he remained silent!
And he still dares call himself a member of the Long Family? What would his cousin Long Aotian think?
Xu Ning gave a light cough and said calmly, “The Great Zhou Empire lies between the Northern Region and the Northern Underworld Divine Domain. Now that I’ve inherited the title of Northern King, it’s only natural to build ties with the Great Zhou royal family.”
Then he deliberately emphasized, “Heavenly Venerable experts are extremely rare. Naturally, I can’t just bring them around casually.”
The smile at the corner of his lips deepened.
Now, this little leek won’t be able to sit still, right?
Just as he expected, the moment Long Lingtian heard that Xu Ning had not brought any Heavenly Venerable guards, the humiliation on his face vanished—replaced by wild ecstasy.
Today, I will kill Xu Ning!
Across from him, Yuwen Shuang instantly saw through his thoughts. Her expression changed drastically.
A chill ran up her spine, making her shudder.
Something is wrong!
With Xu Ning’s cunning, how could he reveal such crucial information in a tavern?
She had already guessed the truth. Her lips parted, but bound by the slave mark, she could not speak—even to hint.
Suddenly, she felt a cold, blade-like gaze locking onto her.
Looking up, she met Xu Ning’s smiling eyes.
Not good!
This is Xu Ning’s trap!
Lingtian, don’t!
She quickly reached out to stop him, but she was too late. Long Lingtian had already slammed the table and risen!
He turned, glaring at Xu Ning with blazing fury, his eyes wide as bells, and roared, “Xu Ning, you despicable bastard who bullies others with power! You schemed against me that day—today, I will kill you!”
His voice, infused with dense spiritual energy, boomed like a great bell, echoing throughout the entire tavern!
In that instant, he once again became the center of attention.
Everyone stared at him in shock, unable to comprehend who this man was—to dare openly challenge the Northern King in broad daylight!
Xu Ning lazily turned around. He didn’t even stand, instead crossing his legs and speaking casually, “Oh? Isn’t this Lingtian?”
His tone was calm, almost amused.
Facing a leek about to be harvested—yet still unaware—he decided to be a little gentle.
But the next four words he spoke shattered Long Lingtian completely, driving him into madness.
“Ling’er is very soft.”
Yao Ling’er was startled by Long Lingtian’s sudden appearance. Hearing Xu Ning’s words, she thought he was concerned about her past with Long Lingtian. She quickly wrapped her arm around Xu Ning’s and explained anxiously, “Husband, I don’t like Long Lingtian at all! He’s the one who kept pestering me!”
Hearing this, Yuwen Shuang and Zhou Shuxian were both stunned.
This was completely different from what Long Lingtian had told them.
According to him, he and Yao Ling’er had been childhood sweethearts, only for Xu Ning to forcibly take her away using his power and status.
Feeling the doubtful gazes from the two women, Long Lingtian’s heart filled with unbearable humiliation.
[The child of destiny’s Dao Heart is damaged. 2 strands of Primordial Purple Qi have been plundered, automatically converted into 400 fortune points.]
“Xu Ning, go to hell!”
His eyes turned bloodshot as the Supreme Dragon Blood within him began to awaken. His muscles swelled and bulged, spiritual energy surging violently through his body.
With a single step forward, he threw out a devastating punch toward Xu Ning!