402: Chapter 42 The Empress's Domineering Protection of Her Husband: Go to the Immortal Realm and bring all the fox spirits back to see me!

Su Chen's brain stopped working.

That unique scent, a blend of ambergris and a woman's body fragrance, was like an invisible net that completely captured his Divine Soul.

On his chin, the touch of her fingertips was cool and moist; that chill seemed to penetrate his skin and reach his very marrow, causing his recently calmed heart to once again slam uncontrollably against his chest.

He froze in place, every inch of his muscle tensed.

He didn't dare move.

He didn't dare move a single bit.

Ji Hongxue just looked at him quietly.

In her phoenix eyes, there was none of the emotions Su Chen had anticipated—no resentment, no anger, and certainly no mockery.

None of the breaking points he had rehearsed thousands of times appeared.

In those eyes was a complexity Su Chen had never seen before.

There was the helplessness of having seen through the world.

There was a lingering affection that spanned across time.

And there was a trace of... pride, hidden at the very depths, born because of him.

"Su Chen."

She spoke, her voice no longer cold, but carrying a rasp and magnetism unique to when the two of them were alone, like aged fine wine trickling into Su Chen's ears, sending a wave of numbness through him.

"Do you truly think I am a fool?"

Su Chen's heart suddenly constricted, and a chill rushed from his tailbone straight to the crown of his head.

[It's over! Everything is over! She knows everything!]

[Settling accounts! She's going to settle accounts now! Oh God, my kidneys haven't even warmed up yet!]

He opened his mouth, wanting to make an excuse, even if it was the palest of deathbed struggles.

But a jade-like finger had already gently pressed against his lips.

That warm, cool touch carried a faint fragrance, and Su Chen's thoughts were instantly shattered into pieces.

"Shh."

A domineering and beautiful smile bloomed on Ji Hongxue's face, a smile enough to devour a person's heart, carrying the absolute aura of one who holds the power of life and death.

"Listen to me."

Su Chen instinctively shut his mouth.

He felt as if his throat were being choked; facing the current Ji Hongxue, he couldn't even squeeze out a single syllable of defense.

That so-called dignity of a Divine Son was as fragile as thin paper before her.

"I have known for a long time that you would go to the Immortal Realm."

In Ji Hongxue's eyes flickered the light of wisdom that saw through everything.

"From the moment the 'Ascension Gate' appeared, I was certain of it."

"You, this man, claim with your mouth that you want to be a salted fish, that you want to let yourself go."

She gave a light snort, her tone carrying a hint of teasing.

"But in your bones, you are prouder than anyone."

Her fingertip lightly tapped Su Chen's forehead, as if touching the most secret corner deep within his Soul, "This tiny Xuanyuan Continent simply cannot hold you."

Su Chen was completely stunned.

His eyes widened, his face written with shock and disbelief.

He hadn't expected that this woman could see through him so thoroughly, without the slightest error.

Even the pride and ambition hidden in the deepest part of his heart, which he himself hadn't even noticed, were ruthlessly dug out by her and laid bare before him.

"Whether it be Liu Ruyan or Ling Qingzhu."

Ji Hongxue's tone suddenly became playful, with a hint of banter as if she had seen through all his tricks.

"They are nothing more than excuses you found for yourself, an excuse that you 'must' leave."

Su Chen's pupils suddenly constricted.

His whole body trembled, as if struck by a bolt of heavenly lightning, shaking him so much that even his Soul was quivering.

He opened his mouth, wanting to retort, wanting to make excuses, wanting to continue shifting the blame onto those few "poor wives."

But he found himself speechless.

Because he knew.

Ji Hongxue was right.

Even without the matters of Liu Ruyan and Ling Qingzhu, he would have left sooner or later.

That restlessness in his bones, that craving for ultimate power, that pursuit of a higher Realm, was like a maggot on a bone that never truly dissipated.

He was going to search for the supreme power that should belong to him.

He was going to explore the ultimate secrets of this world.

He was going to see just how magnificent the scenery at the peak of the Ten Thousand Daos truly was.

This was Su Chen's true ambition!

An ambition that even he himself hadn't fully acknowledged, yet was seen through at a glance by Ji Hongxue!

Looking at Su Chen's shocked and helpless expression, the smile at the corners of Ji Hongxue's mouth became even more brilliant.

In that smile, there was a trace of indescribable pride and the confidence of having everything under control.

She released her hand that was hooking Su Chen's chin, her movements elegant and composed as she slowly stood up.

That slender figure dressed in the crimson Imperial Robe cast a shadow full of pressure before Su Chen.

In that shadow, there seemed to be the boundless Luck of the entire Great Xia Divine Dynasty, as well as the absolute majesty of an Empress reigning over the world.

She walked up to Su Chen, her arms gently but irresistibly wrapping around his neck.

That peerless face, enough to drive every man in the world crazy, was pressed against his ear.

Her warm breath brushed past Su Chen's ear, surging through his body like an electric current, making his heart flutter and his head spin.

"Go ahead."

Ji Hongxue's voice became incomparably gentle, like the softest feather lightly stroking Su Chen's heartstrings.

But within that gentleness, there was a powerful will that brooked no argument.

"My man, if he can't even protect his own women, then he's truly a waste."

Su Chen's body shook violently.

These words were like a great bell ringing, shaking his heart, causing the embarrassment of being seen through to instantly transform into being moved.

He raised his head, looking in disbelief at the woman right in front of him.

Her eyes were deep and bright, currently shimmering with a light he had never seen on her before.

He had imagined countless possibilities.

She might fly into a rage, pointing at his nose and cursing him for being fickle.

She might mock him coldly, laughing at his cleverness for treating her like a fool.

She might even directly place him under house arrest in this Fengming Hall, not letting him leave for a single step, so he could only ever be a subject under her skirt for all eternity.

But the only thing he hadn't expected...

...was that she would be so magnanimous, so magnanimous that he even felt a trace of unreality.

So reasonable, so reasonable that he felt as if he were truly understood by her.

This massive contrast caught Su Chen off guard for a moment, and he didn't even know how to respond to this unexpected "gentleness."

"Bring them all back."

In Ji Hongxue's phoenix eyes, a flash of domineering authority that brooked no argument appeared.

That was not a request, but an order, an order that allowed no one to question it.

"Then, bring every single one of them back to see me."

She emphasized "every single one," every word piercing with a cold edge.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, and in that gaze, it was as if she could already see the fluttering beauties in the future Immortal Realm, a dangerous and playful glint flashing through them.

Su Chen: ...

[Great, I knew it, this Crazy Woman isn't that kind-hearted, there's no such thing as a free lunch!]

[This is indeed a sweet trap!]

[She's... trying to catch my entire harem in one net and then have a centralized trial!]

[This isn't searching for wives, this is clearly going to arrest 'vixens' and bring them to justice!]

The little bit of emotion that had just risen in Su Chen's heart instantly vanished without a trace.

In its place was a hair-raising terror and endless despair.

He felt as if he could already see the future super asura field, filled with the flash of blades and shadows of swords, blood and wind, and heaven-shaking wails.

Nine women make a grand play; he, Su Chen, was destined to be the protagonist torn to pieces.

Just as he was letting his thoughts run wild, frantically simulating future scenarios in his mind...

Ji Hongxue's tone suddenly changed again.

It became dangerous yet enchanting.

That voice carried a bewitching magic that made all the hair on Su Chen's body stand up.

"However..."

She leaned close to Su Chen's ear, her breath like orchids.

That warm breath made Su Chen's scalp tingle, as if foretelling some unspeakable "punishment" about to arrive.

"Since you're leaving, you should at least leave me something to remember you by, shouldn't you?"

"Tonight, you aren't allowed to go anywhere."

Her voice carried an unquestionable command, like an Emperor's decree.

"Right here in Fengming Hall, accompany me properly..."

She deliberately drew out her words, each one like an invisible knife flaying Su Chen's nerves, filling him with dread for his impending "fate."

Those few words were squeezed out one by one from between her teeth, a whisper carrying some deep meaning that struck Su Chen's heart directly.

"...Review. The. Memorials!"