Chapter 409: Doubt (Fifth Update)

However, just as Chu Liuyue was about to fall into the lake, a powerful force suddenly surged forth, giving her a gentle lift at her waist.

Without a second thought, Chu Liuyue used that momentum to leap! She lunged straight toward the wall!

At the same time, a silver light flashed in her hand!

*Chii!*

She drove the dagger in her hand fiercely into the wall!

Her entire body hung suspended in mid-air!

She immediately looked toward the direction of the crimson dragon head—the mysterious force that had just caught her had flown out from there!

"I do not know your name, Excellency. I cannot repay the kindness of your rescue, so I implore you to come out and meet me!"

Chu Liuyue stared intently at that spot and spoke loudly.

However, there was no movement.

The entire space seemed to contain only her.

Chu Liuyue looked toward the surface of the lake.

The previous black jade platform had frozen into a massive block of ice, which then rapidly shattered, sinking silently to the bottom of the lake.

The water below surged upward continuously, while the ice above overturned in succession, as if in a cycle of reincarnation.

The silver light flickered, brilliant and cold.

Had she not seen it with her own eyes, Chu Liuyue would not have believed such a scene.

Ice always floated on the surface of the water; she had never seen such an eerie phenomenon!

There was clearly something suspicious hidden within that lake water!

Sensing the spreading, terrifying chill, a wave of lingering fear washed over Chu Liuyue.

If she had truly fallen in just now...

Unwilling to give up, she asked again, raising her voice

"Since Excellency has already come here, why hide yourself!?"

As she spoke, she looked at the pyramid in her hand.

Sure enough, one of its mirror surfaces was black.

Chu Liuyue could not help but be filled with doubt.

At a time like this, the other party had even taken the initiative to help save her, so why refuse to come out and meet her!

Had they even refused to let her know what the actual situation of this space was?

Finally, a low, lazy voice drifted over.

"Hand over the object in your hand, and I shall send you out."

Chu Liuyue froze.

The other party was also after this silver pyramid?

She had never heard this voice before, yet she could sense the noble, disdainful aura of a superior embedded within it.

This person's identity was extraordinary!

Clearly, his strength was also extremely formidable!

Otherwise, it would be impossible to maintain the initiative under these circumstances.

But Chu Liuyue frowned.

She had worked incredibly hard to obtain this pyramid; if she just handed it over like this... she would not be willing to do so.

Moreover, for some reason, she always felt that this pyramid was very important to her.

It felt as if it had belonged to her all along.

She knew herself that this feeling was far too inexplicable, but since the item was already in her hands, there was no reason to hand it over.

"I'm afraid I cannot comply with that condition. Excellency should choose a different request!"

Since the other party had saved her after all, Chu Liuyue did not want to make things awkward.

Furthermore, she had always been a pragmatic person; even though she was now a Tier 3 Martial Artist, it did not mean she was willing to go against such a powerhouse.

In this current dangerous situation, wouldn't that just be asking for trouble!?

"No."

The man seemed to have anticipated her refusal. He did not grow angry, his tone remaining indifferent.

"That is something my wife has her eyes on. I must take it back."

Chu Liuyue was stunned.

Wife?!

Why did those words sound strangely familiar?

She gripped her dagger tightly, and suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck!

Wait!

She remembered there being someone...

She blurted out

"May I ask, is Excellency the Great Manager of the Treasure Pavilion?!"

***

When Chu Liuyue took that pyramid, the entire Imperial Mausoleum was heavily affected.

Mu Qinghe and the surrounding green vines suddenly withered one after another, finally scattering across the ground as withered branches and dead leaves.

And the recurring illusion before his eyes finally dissipated!

Mu Qinghe's body jolted as he finally regained consciousness from that terrifying state!

He knelt blankly on the ground. As the mist before him gradually cleared, he finally saw the true scene in front of him.

He gazed at the withered leaves and vines, then raised his hand to wipe his face.

His hand was covered in tear stains.

His heart suddenly gave a heavy tremor.

Everything that had just happened began to replay in his mind.

Mu Qinghe did not recover his senses for a long time.

After an unknown amount of time, he finally lowered his head and let out a bitter laugh.

However, this smile was more painful to witness than his previous weeping.

He thought he had buried everything, but he hadn't expected to remember it so clearly!

Every event, every word, even every expression!

They were all deeply etched into his mind!

The expression on Mu Qinghe's face gradually faded, eventually returning to his usual calm and coldness.

It was as if he had put his armor back on and donned a mask, perfectly concealing everything once more.

He picked up the longsword lying beside him and swung it, severing the vine that had pierced through his wrist!

Then, with an expressionless face, he pulled it out!

Blood splattered onto his face, and the wound was torn even more violently.

He took out gauze and medicine, skillfully bandaging himself.

Such a wound looked serious, but in reality, it would not be life-threatening.

His physical strength was extremely high, and he would recover quickly.

He only needed to avoid falling into that terrifying illusion again.

After tidying himself up, Mu Qinghe stepped forward.

However, just as he was about to raise his sword to cleave through the wall in front of him, he suddenly paused.

The situation here would not change without reason.

There was only one explanation—someone had beaten him to it!

A slender, exquisite figure appeared in his mind!

The only one who had entered with him was Chu Liuyue!

Could it be...

His expression tightened, and the scar on his face seemed to take on a more ferocious aura.

Yet, in the next moment, a scene suddenly flashed through his mind.

Just now, when he had almost been unable to withstand the agonizing torture and intended to end it all, did someone call out "Stop" to him in the darkness?

He had always thought it was a hallucination, but thinking back now, that voice sounded quite similar to Chu Liuyue's!?

His heart suddenly began to beat rapidly!

*Rumble!*

Before Emperor Jiawen and Elder Ye could exit the passage, stones came crashing down, blocking their path!

Hearing the massive sound from the distance, Emperor Jiawen suddenly realized something and gasped.

"The Imperial Mausoleum is going to collapse!"

(End of Chapter)