Chapter 253: Chapter 250: Genuinely Stupid or Just Pretending?

The clan elders’ verdict had been delivered. Just as Nangong Yi had once been powerless to change Nangong Yan’s fate, Nangong An could only accept it in silence.

Just as Nangong An’s heart filled with despair, a Communication Talisman that had been silent for eleven long years began to tremble slightly.

"My Lord?! It’s you, My Lord! After eleven years, you’ve finally contacted me!"

Nangong An was ecstatic.

At his most helpless moment, when he had hit rock bottom, a new ray of hope appeared.

"Nangong An, I shall descend in half a month. You know what needs to be prepared, don’t you?" a male voice transmitted from within, casual yet laced with a lofty arrogance.

"Yes, yes, of course. This humble one will spare no effort to arrange everything My Lord requires. I will ensure your satisfaction," Nangong An replied, his voice respectful as he suppressed his elation.

"Very good. A young master of noble status will be accompanying me this time. He is fastidious about etiquette and the proper deference to one’s superiors. His standards are exacting. You will be responsible for coordinating with the Li Family. Make sure there are no embarrassments. If people end up dead over this, don’t blame me for not warning you beforehand."

"This humble one obeys."

After the communication ended, Nangong An burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! With My Lord’s authority behind me, your decision is void, Nangong Yi! And you too, clan elders!"

"Liu Hui! Qin Daye! Our score is far from settled! Everything I’ve lost, I will take back from you, piece by piece!"

"With My Lord’s backing, the status of a Blessed One is nothing but a joke!"

After venting his frustrations, Nangong An calmed down. He retrieved a special Communication Talisman from his Storage Space and issued an order.

"Eleven years of preparation have all led to this. You have half a month. You are to satisfy My Lord’s needs at any cost—the more, the better! Whether or not you can break free from the shackles of this Empire is up to you."

With that said, Nangong An’s figure flickered and he shot off toward the Imperial Palace.

...

Back with the External Incarnation, after Mo Qi shattered Nangong An’s illusory projection with a single punch, the figure dissolved into scattered white light.

The residual aura then bored into his body, leaving behind a mark.

Mo Qi paid it no mind. If Nangong An wanted revenge, he could come and get it.

’I’m an External Incarnation. Who do I have to be afraid of?’

’Go ahead, try and kill me!’

"My Lord, I was wrong. I am willing to accept any punishment." Liu Hui suddenly knelt on one knee before Mo Qi, his head bowed.

This time, Mo Qi didn’t help him up as he usually would. Instead, he asked with a cold expression, "Let me ask you, if you had to face retaliation from Nangong An, or even the entire Nangong Family, are you confident you could handle it?"

Liu Hui fell into thought. After long consideration, he nodded. "I am."

’And he had more than one way to do it.’

’Not to mention, the Qian Family would surely stand with him. Even if they didn’t, all he had to do was display his Dragon Transformation before a major figure from the Imperial Academy or the Royal Family, and he would certainly be taken seriously.’

’At that point, if Nangong An wanted to make a move against him, he’d have to think twice.’

’Besides, there was still Niu Kexin and Liu Ruyan.’

’If things really escalated, would those two just stand by and watch?’

"Are you afraid?" Mo Qi asked again.

"No." Liu Hui shook his head.

Anger flared on Mo Qi’s face at his response.

"Then what were you worried about before? If even you can handle it and you’re not afraid, then what? You think I, Mo Qi, can’t measure up to you? That I need you worrying needlessly for me?"

"I wouldn’t dare," Liu Hui said, his head sinking even lower.

Seeing Liu Hui’s reaction, much of Mo Qi’s anger subsided.

He wasn’t truly blaming Liu Hui. It was just Liu Hui’s melodramatic gesture that had really irked him.

He sighed. "You need to remember this: we’re brothers. We carry our burdens together, and we face our hardships together!"

"It doesn’t matter that we’re not afraid of Nangong An. Even if he were an unbeatable foe, we’d face him together as brothers. If we die, we die together!"

Mo Qi’s words were resolute.

"That’s right! If we die, we die together! Don’t forget about San Pang!" Jin Sanpang pumped his fist, his face a mask of determination.

Liu Hui clenched his fists, fighting to keep his tears from welling up.

"My Lord, it won’t happen again," Liu Hui promised.

Only then did Mo Qi, satisfied, help him to his feet.

"If I’m not mistaken, Nangong Yan doesn’t have it easy in the Nangong Family."

Liu Hui nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, but he could only reply helplessly, "You’re right. But right now... I’m powerless to help her."

Mo Qi clapped him on the shoulder and smiled. "Don’t you worry about that. My main body will return before long. I promise you, I will make sure you can walk right into the Nangong Family estate, head held high, and marry Nangong Yan in grand style in front of the entire Imperial City. No one will dare to utter a single word of protest."

Liu Hui froze, then was overcome with joy.

He didn’t doubt a single word Mo Qi said.

If Mo Qi said he could marry Nangong Yan, then it was certain!

"Thank you, My Lord!"

Just then, a graceful figure flew in from outside.

"Little Brother Mo, are you all right?"

It was Niu Kexin.

She had just learned the contents of the imperial decree and had rushed over immediately.

"Sister Kexin, I’m fine. What brings you here?" Mo Qi said with a smile, walking up to greet her.

"Greetings, milady."

"San Pang greets the Boss!"

After greeting her, Liu Hui and Jin Sanpang tactfully began to excuse themselves, but Niu Kexin stopped them.

"Don’t go. Let’s discuss this together."

The three of them exchanged a look. It seemed this was serious.

Their smiles vanished. ’Could it be? Has Nangong An already started his revenge?’

"Sister Kexin, what’s wrong?"

Niu Kexin glanced at Nangong Jie’s corpse and the extensive signs of a struggle all around, and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

On her way over, she had seen countless young people from the Imperial Academy rushing in this direction. A large crowd of disciples had also gathered at the foot of the mountain, just off the main path to the Cultivation Room.

’From the looks of things, a battle has clearly already taken place.’

’But you guys actually have no idea what’s going on?!’

"His Holiness has issued an imperial decree. It says that Grandmaster Liu Hong has promised that any young man in the entire Empire, under the age of twenty-six, who can defeat you will have the chance to become Ruyan’s husband."

What?!

The news stunned Mo Qi and his friends.

’Using an imperial decree to recruit a husband from across the entire Empire... What in the world are Liu Hong and the Mountain and Sea Empire up to?’

’Wait a minute!’

’The three of them had the same thought.’

’Could it be that those guys Jin Sanpang just sent packing weren’t from the Nangong Family, but were here because of the decree?’

’That would explain it. No wonder their Cultivation and strength were so mediocre.’

"Speaking of which, if they’re recruiting a husband for Ruyan, why is defeating *me* the condition?"

As confusion washed over Mo Qi, a strong, inexplicable wave of irritation rose within him.

It was as if he loathed the very idea of it, deep down in his heart.

He didn’t know why he was feeling this way.

"Oh, my silly little brother, are you really this dense, or are you just pretending?" Niu Kexin said with a light chuckle, touching her forehead. "You can’t possibly still think Ruyan only sees you as a brother, can you?"

"She doesn’t?" Mo Qi blurted out.

Niu Kexin was speechless.

"So you’ve only ever seen her as a little sister?" Niu Kexin pressed.

"Yeah," Mo Qi nodded, his answer simple and direct, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"You’ve really never had any other thoughts about her?" Niu Kexin asked, suddenly leaning in to meet his gaze.