376: Chapter 376 Monster

On the road.

Xun Luoyuan couldn't help but steal glance after glance at Feng Ming, as if looking at a monster. "I really couldn't tell; not only are you smart and clever, but your talent in the Sword Dao is also so terrifying."

Hearing this, Feng Ming put on a helpless expression. "It's not my fault that my talent is good. But now that my talent has been exposed, are you even more infatuated with me? Are you reluctant to let me go?"

"Pah! Stop flattering yourself!" Xun Luoyuan's cheeks heated up slightly as she spat, "Even if I agree, my father might not nod his head. You should first think about how to get past my father."

Feng Ming was startled and teased her on purpose: "Oh? Does that mean you've already thought it through and are willing to marry me?"

"I didn't!" Xun Luoyuan hurriedly retorted, though the tips of her ears quietly turned red. "Stop being so glib and hurry up!"

She gave Feng Ming a cross look and quickened her pace, ignoring him.

About half an hour later, the two arrived at the City Lord's Mansion.

Luo Yuan did not take him to see King Xibei immediately. Instead, she settled him down first and let him adjust his breathing and rest for over half an hour before coming to call for him.

On the way, Luo Yuan explained softly:

"At this hour, it's usually the time for Master Gu to accompany my father while he takes his medicine. Father generally doesn't see outsiders. If we go over now, Master Gu should be coming out soon."

Feng Ming was slightly curious: "I am also an Honorary President of the Alchemist Guild, so how come I've never heard of this Master Gu? Is he not a member of the Guild?"

Luo Yuan shook her head: "Master Gu's seniority is much older than yours. He was the previous Honorary President and went into seclusion fifty years ago, before I was even born."

"I heard from my father that when his health started having problems back then, Your Majesty specifically issued an imperial decree for Master Gu to reside long-term in Xun Prefecture to provide close care. Unfortunately, my father's health has still been declining day by day, and even my mother passed away early... After all, he is getting on in years, and I've gradually come to terms with it."

Feng Ming nodded slightly, but in his heart, he felt something was faintly wrong. Would King Haoyue be so kind-hearted?

While the two were talking, they arrived outside the door of the sky corridor. Just then, the door opened, and a white-haired old man walked out slowly; it was the Master Gu everyone spoke of.

Master Gu glanced indifferently at Luo Yuan and Feng Ming. Without saying a word, he merely gave a slight nod of acknowledgment and walked straight away.

Right at that moment, Wanyan Lin's urgent and shocked voice came from within Feng Ming's storage ring: "Young Master Feng! There is something wrong with this Master Gu! He is very likely an evil cultivator!"

"On his body... there is a poison mark I personally planted back then. You must be extremely careful!"

Hearing Wanyan Lin's words, Feng Ming was also startled, but his reaction was extremely fast, and not a single ripple showed on his face.

Master Gu quickly turned and left, while Feng Ming and Luo Yuan remained waiting outside the door.

As Feng Ming stood quietly waiting, he asked in a low voice in his mind: "Are you sure?"

Wanyan Lin's voice was incredibly firm: "I am! This poison is clearly what I planted on that group of evil cultivators back then; I could never mistake it!"

"I possess the Ten Thousand Poison Body, so I recognize all toxins under heaven. It's even more impossible for me to misremember a poison I used personally. It's just that I can't determine yet whether this Master Gu is himself an evil cultivator, or if he is just in league with them and became tainted by this poison."

Feng Ming nodded slowly: "I understand. This matter must not be made public for now. We will slowly investigate this old man's background later."

"Mm," Wanyan Lin replied.

According to what Luo Yuan said earlier, this Master Gu was personally sent by Your Majesty to regulate King Xibei's health.

But now Wanyan Lin asserted that he was connected to evil cultivators, making the situation instantly complex.

First, is Master Gu himself an evil cultivator?

Second, is Your Majesty aware of his dealings with evil cultivators?

If Your Majesty already knew, then the nature of this matter changes completely; it would be as if Your Majesty deliberately sent this person to secretly harm King Xibei.

If Your Majesty is unaware, then it is Master Gu's own private agenda, having strayed onto a crooked path.

But there is another layer: does King Xibei himself know? If he knows, then King Xibei likely has other schemes.

If he doesn't know... then hasn't King Xibei been unaware from start to finish that someone associated with evil cultivators is hidden right beside him?

The danger level of the entire affair escalated instantly. More importantly, Feng Ming currently had no reason to directly question Master Gu, nor could he rashly tell Luo Yuan and the others. Even if he did, would they believe him?

In case Master Gu had only had contact with evil cultivators but wasn't one himself, then Feng Ming's words would only push him into a dangerous situation.

Because of this, Feng Ming had already made up his mind to set this matter aside for now, pretend not to know, and wait to see how things developed.

Luo Yuan, beside him, clearly didn't know that in a brief moment, Feng Ming's mind had already circled through countless considerations.

"This is your first time seeing the sky corridor, right?" Luo Yuan said with a light chuckle.

Feng Ming looked up; the design of the corridor ahead was indeed unique.

"The outer side of the corridor is a vast, dense forest, while the inner side offers a full view of the capital. Standing here, one can both gaze into the distance at the movements of Yao Beasts in the forest and look down upon the livelihoods of the commoners in the city. It's truly ingenious."

Luo Yuan's eyebrows arched slightly: "This was personally designed by my father. Xun Prefecture is different from other places; it is vast and rich in resources. The entire prefecture city is built along the river, spanning a wide territory but with narrow depth."

"With such a design, any movement of Yao Beasts can be detected immediately, facilitating a rapid response." Feng Ming nodded slightly; what Luo Yuan said indeed hit upon the key point of this location.

While they were talking, King Xibei's voice finally came from inside the corridor: "Come in."

Luo Yuan then signaled Feng Ming to follow, and the two pushed open the door and stepped into the sky corridor.

As soon as he stepped inside, Feng Ming saw clearly that both sides of the corridor were hollowed out, providing an open view. Gazing at the distant forest and observing the city nearby, everything was clear at a glance.

King Xibei was sitting upright on a prayer mat in the center of the corridor, with Xun Yu and Fang Zhao standing beside him.

Luo Yuan led Feng Ming forward quickly and bowed: "Father."

"Greetings, Lord Xun."

King Xibei waved his hand gently: "No need for formalities. Since you have come, I will ask one thing: regarding the marriage bestowed by Your Majesty, what are your true thoughts? If you are truly being forced against your will, I can certainly step forward to cancel this marriage for you."

King Xibei's words were clearly meant for Luo Yuan. He had long seen that his daughter might not truly like Feng Ming; escaping the Crown Prince was her real goal.

At this moment, it was naturally inconvenient for Feng Ming to speak. Luo Yuan immediately said: "Father, defying an imperial decree to refuse a marriage is a grave crime. Luo Yuan is willing to marry Young Master Feng."

"Have you thought this through?" King Xibei said in a deep voice, "Though I don't have much time left, you are my daughter. As long as you are unwilling, I..."

Before King Xibei could finish, Luo Yuan spoke firmly: "Father, I am willing."

King Xibei was momentarily at a loss for words and could only turn his head to look at Feng Ming: "And you?"