Chapter 216: Duanmu's Clever Move
Over the next two days, no further dangers were encountered, and Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen arrived safely at the Royal Capital.
Before entering the Royal Capital, Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen parted ways and did not travel together.
Now, many people knew that Huang Yanchen had been rescued by a masked youth. If the two entered the city together, Zhang Ruochen's identity would be completely exposed.
After entering the Royal Capital, Zhang Ruochen did not immediately return to the Royal Palace. Instead, he wandered around the city, wanting to first investigate the situation within the capital.
If he returned to the Royal Capital on the same day as Huang Yanchen, it would still arouse suspicion. Therefore, he had to use the identity of Chen Ruo to stay in the city for two more days.
After two days, he would resume his identity as Zhang Ruochen.
Wearing a metal mask, Zhang Ruochen first rented a superior room at an inn near the Martial Market.
Opening the window, Zhang Ruochen looked out at the street. The thoroughfare was bustling with traffic, and surprisingly, half of the people were martial artists. These martial artists either carried war weapons on their persons or rode massive, ferocious beasts.
In the past, it was rare to see martial arts experts on the streets of the Royal Capital. But this time, upon his return, he could spot a Earth Extreme Realm expert passing by every now and then.
"The Royal Capital has truly become a gathering place for dragons and tigers."
"Let's go check out the Martial Market. Maybe I can find a Divine Resting Grass."
Divine Resting Grass was an extremely rare spiritual medicine that could help Zhang Ruochen cultivate his False Divine Body.
Zhang Ruochen didn't know if he could find it in the Yunwu Commandery, so he could only try his luck.
If he couldn't find it, it would be understandable. At worst, he wouldn't cultivate the False Divine Body. There were naturally other ways to improve his martial arts cultivation.
Ever since the Martial Market Bank was destroyed by the Black Market and the Moon Worship Demon Sect, the landscape of the Martial Market had undergone significant changes.
Once, at least half of the businesses in the Martial Market belonged to the Martial Market Bank.
Now, although the entire Martial Market still presented a thriving scene, being the most prosperous area of the Royal Capital and controlling the economic lifeline of the entire Yunwu Commandery, it had long since changed owners.
Zhang Ruochen walked along a street in the Medicine Market. Behind him, a fragrant breeze blew, and a soft, jade-like hand gently patted his shoulder. At the same time, a soft, charming, and pleasant laugh sounded: "Junior Brother, you look well."
Zhang Ruochen had sensed it long ago, so he wasn't surprised. He turned to look at Duanmu Xingling and said, "Senior Sister Duanmu, how did you recognize me?"
Duanmu Xingling gave a mischievous smile and glanced at Xiao Hei, who was standing not far away.
Then, pretending to be annoyed, she extended a crystal-clear jade finger and poked Zhang Ruochen's chest forcefully. "You return to the Royal Capital and don't come find me. If it weren't for Xiao Hei telling me, I wouldn't even know you were back."
Zhang Ruochen smiled and looked around. He lowered his voice and said, "My current identity is Chen Ruo, the secret disciple of the Silver Robe Elder Pavilion Master. Senior Sister, please don't let it slip."
"You mean you're the one who killed the Black Tiger Hall Master, Iron Hunchback, and broke into the Earthfire City to rescue Sister Chen?" Duanmu Xingling's big eyes showed excitement, her eyelashes fluttering, a brilliant expression flowing in her eyes.
Zhang Ruochen was a bit surprised. "Senior Sister already knows?"
"Of course!"
Duanmu Xingling's delicate tongue lightly licked her red lips, revealing a seductive expression. "For the past two days, it's practically spread throughout the entire martial arts world of the Royal Capital. They say you killed Iron Hunchback with one sword and wiped out the Black Tiger Hall. Then, you single-handedly charged into Earthfire City, going in and out seven times, killing eight hundred evil martial artists, leaving a field of bloody corpses, and finally rescuing the Princess of Yanchen.
"Now, everyone knows that the Martial Market Academy has produced a peerless genius like you. Some of the legends are so exaggerated, even I find them hard to believe."
Zhang Ruochen felt a bit embarrassed. "What other legends are there?"
Duanmu Xingling rested her jade finger on her chin and said with a smile, "They say you possess both Ice and Fire physiques, capable of triggering the two heavenly phenomena of 'Hundred-Zhang Falling Snow' and 'Hundred-Zhang Scorched Earth.' And some even say you've achieved Sword Heart Illumination, able to control a sword to fly through the sky, like a young Sword Immortal, invincible under heaven."
Zhang Ruochen laughed. "Aren't those rumors a bit exaggerated?"
"Exactly! That's why I find them unbelievable!" Duanmu Xingling's two jet-black eyebrows slightly raised as she carefully scrutinized Zhang Ruochen, as if she wanted to re-examine every part of his body.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Senior Sister Duanmu, what... what kind of look is that?"
"Originally, I thought the legends were too false, but after seeing you, I started to wonder if they might be true." Duanmu Xingling gently pouted her crystal-clear lips, a curious expression in her eyes.
"Some are true, some are false. Senior Sister will understand in time." Zhang Ruochen was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
Duanmu Xingling nodded and rolled her eyes. "Since you rescued Sister Chen, you should have touched her cold heart and successfully won the beauty. So why are you alone? Where is Sister Chen?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "I can't reveal my identity yet, so we separated before entering the city gate."
"Then you're in trouble!" Duanmu Xingling shook her head with a sigh, looking at Zhang Ruochen with some pity.
"Why?"
Duanmu Xingling said, "Because you now have a rival in love."
"A rival in love?" Zhang Ruochen laughed dryly. "How did I suddenly get a rival in love without knowing it?"
Duanmu Xingling said, "Because your rival in love is yourself."
Zhang Ruochen: "..."
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen still didn't seem to understand, Duanmu Xingling continued, "Now, all the martial artists in the Royal Capital know that the peerless genius of the Martial Market Academy, Chen Ruo, went through countless dangers to rescue the Princess of Yanchen from Earthfire City. This kind of heroic rescue is the most talked-about story. Everyone is saying that when the Princess of Yanchen was in trouble, the Ninth Prince was nowhere to be seen. Only Chen Ruo dared to defy danger and rescue her from peril. This is a true tale of a hero and a beauty!"
"So Senior Sister Duanmu is referring to this matter." Zhang Ruochen shook his head with a smile. "Let them talk. I don't care."
Duanmu Xingling said, "You might not care, but can the Yunwu Commandery King not care? Can your mother, Consort Lin, not care? Can the Qianshui Commandery King, for the sake of the Qianshui Commandery's face, not care?"
"Even if they know the truth, the world doesn't. When people mention the Princess of Yanchen, the first person they'll think of won't be the Ninth Prince, Zhang Ruochen, but the genius Chen Ruo. They'll say that the Princess of Yanchen and Chen Ruo are a perfect match, a true beauty and a hero. Ask yourself, when you reveal yourself as Zhang Ruochen, how will people look at you?"
Zhang Ruochen's expression turned serious. It seemed he had indeed oversimplified things.
He didn't care what other martial artists said, but his mother would certainly care. The Yunwu Commandery King and the Qianshui Commandery King, as rulers of a nation, valued their dignity the most and would also care.
Duanmu Xingling watched Zhang Ruochen's contemplative expression and smiled. "If you don't have a solution, I can help you."
Zhang Ruochen suddenly looked up at Duanmu Xingling, meeting her beautiful big eyes up close. "Senior Sister has a way?"
"Of course."
Duanmu Xingling puffed out her full chest and smiled triumphantly. "If the genius Chen Ruo already has a beautiful and lovely girlfriend, people naturally won't think too much. They'll just think he rescued the Princess of Yanchen out of pure sect loyalty. It would be even better if Chen Ruo's girlfriend is also a close sister to the Princess of Yanchen."
Zhang Ruochen revealed a hint of a smile. "Senior Sister Duanmu, are you referring to yourself? That doesn't seem appropriate... after all, this kind of thing has a bad influence and could damage Senior Sister Duanmu's reputation."
Duanmu Xingling let out a long sigh. "Who says you and Sister Chen are my best friend and my best sister? If I don't help you, who will?"
"Alas! Junior Brother, if you really feel you owe me, giving me eight or ten Space Rings would be acceptable. After all, once our 'relationship' is made public, those talented young men who once pursued me will surely back off."
Zhang Ruochen said, "I understand your good intentions, Senior Sister. How about this? Even if I gave you eight or ten Space Rings, you wouldn't have much use for them. But I can give you a great opportunity instead."
"What opportunity?" Duanmu Xingling asked curiously.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "At the earliest, one year; at the latest, two years. Senior Sister will naturally understand."
Zhang Ruochen was referring to the Dragon Palace at the bottom of the Tongming River. He planned to take Duanmu Xingling there when the time came.
"Hmph! If you won't say it, forget it!" Duanmu Xingling crossed her arms in front of her chest, pretending to be angry.
Zhang Ruochen knew Duanmu Xingling wasn't truly angry. "If Senior Sister has nothing else, I need to go buy a spiritual medicine. I'll take my leave."
Duanmu Xingling's eyes lit up. "You want to buy spiritual medicine? What a coincidence! I know a shopkeeper who sells medicinal herbs. His shop is just at the intersection ahead. Since we're acquaintances, he'll definitely give you half price."
Zhang Ruochen thought for a moment. "Alright, let's go try our luck."
A sly glint flashed in Duanmu Xingling's eyes. She extended her soft, slender hand, hooked it around Zhang Ruochen's arm, and leaned her delicate body intimately against him.
A faint fragrance emanated from her, wafting into Zhang Ruochen's nostrils.
Zhang Ruochen stiffened and immediately stopped walking. "Senior Sister, what are you doing?"
"Since I'm your girlfriend now, I naturally have to act intimately. It's best to let everyone know." Duanmu Xingling said in a soft, clingy voice, as if it could melt one's bones.
Zhang Ruochen smiled wryly. "Isn't this a bit too deliberate?"
"If we're not this deliberate, how will those following you be able to tell?" Duanmu Xingling said.
Zhang Ruochen naturally knew that when he entered the city, more than one group of people had been hiding in the shadows, following him. Even now, many were still concealed nearby, secretly observing his every move.
It could be predicted that the intimate posture Duanmu Xingling was displaying would be transmitted to the intelligence desks of various factions in no time.