84: Tiangang City

[Liu Ruyan slowly walked into the room. She didn't look at anyone else, only staring coldly at you.]

[Just when you thought you were doomed, she opened her mouth and said to you, "You possess strategy, but lack strength. I now give you two choices—"]

["The first is to submit to me, and I will give you an unexpected surprise."]

["The second is to be taken away by them. You know the consequences yourself."]

[You secretly lamented in your heart: It's over, I overplayed my hand!]

[What worried you even more was—where did you get any real skill or knowledge? All those words were just nonsense you made up from reading unofficial histories!]

[You truly couldn't understand why she would look for a "Trash" like you.]

[Of course, you didn't know that the internal struggles within the Liu Clan Immortal Family behind her were no less intense than the struggle for imperial power.]

[In the Cultivation World, how many Geniuses silently perished because they were ostracized, framed, or lacked resources and Opportunity—such things were too common.]

[Hearing Liu Ruyan's words, no one in the room dared to speak up in opposition.]

[Especially Duan Kun, who felt an extremely terrifying aura (Qi) emanating from Liu Ruyan. He was experienced and knowledgeable; being able to reach his current position meant he was certainly no simple person.]

[What's more, he was the Vice Commander of the Imperial City Guard, and knew many secrets that ordinary people couldn't access.]

[Lou Yang also saw that this woman was extraordinary—he already believed your set of claims and thought you were definitely not an ordinary person.]

[Now that even Liu Ruyan had appeared, he dared not say anything more.]

[But the attendant who had mocked you earlier was unconvinced. He stepped forward and laughed, saying, "Young Miss, don't be fooled by this fellow! He is just a liar who used some trick to deceive Young Miss Cheng..."]

[Before he could finish speaking, Liu Ruyan casually waved her hand, and a massive force instantly blasted him away—]

["Bang!"]

[The attendant crashed heavily downstairs, bleeding from all seven orifices, motionless, his eyes wide open, completely devoid of Qi.]

[You understood that Liu Ruyan intentionally displayed this move to intimidate you.]

[She looked at you and said indifferently, "Only strength allows you to do whatever you want—do you understand now?"]

[You swallowed, suppressing your fear, and asked, "C-can I refuse?"]

[If this were in reality, you would definitely agree to her proposal without hesitation.]

[But this was a simulation, and you deliberately chose to do the opposite to see what would happen.]

[Liu Ruyan frowned, clearly displeased: "If that is the case, then all of you shall die."]

[Having spoken, she raised her hand, intending to eliminate everyone at once.]

[You quickly shouted, "Wait! Spare them, and I will go with you!"]

[Liu Ruyan nodded faintly: "Fine. Then stay here for the next few days. Once I finish my business, you will leave with me."]

[After speaking, she turned and left.]

[Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief.]

[Vice Commissioner Duan quickly gave a signal, and he and his subordinates, none daring to use the main entrance, jumped down from the balcony one after another, disappearing in a few 'swoosh' sounds.]

[Lou Yang also managed to force a smile, cupping his hands toward you: "Thank you... Thank you, Young Master Qin!"]

[After expressing his thanks, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly slipped out of the room.]

[Only after everyone had left did you finally let out a long breath.]

[At least... you could live a few more days.]

[But you were still worried.]

[You hadn't expected—that you would actually find such a "half-dead" path.]

[Now what? How should you choose when you return to reality?]

[If you choose a different path, what if it leads to certain death?]

[The next day, you stayed in the room and noticed that roughly every half hour, a sweep of Divine Sense passed over—it was Liu Ruyan watching you.]

[On the third day, you still didn't leave the room, continuing to ponder countermeasures. However, the sweeps of Divine Sense became less frequent, only happening a few times a day.]

[On the fourth day, at noon, you were swept by that Divine Sense once.]

[The fifth day.]

[Around noon, shortly after Liu Ruyan's Divine Sense swept past, you decisively slipped out of Wangyue Tower, fully activated your Qinggong, and headed straight for the city gate.]

[All along the way, your heart pounded fiercely, terrified that she might suddenly "look" over again.]

[As soon as you exited the city gate, you immediately soared into the sky, flying with all your might toward the Chu Dynasty, not daring to look back.]

[You chose the Chu Dynasty because it was near the sea and was hundreds of thousands of kilometers away from Great Yan—The Boundless Continent spans millions of kilometers and contains hundreds of Dynasties. Surely Liu Ruyan wouldn't chase you all the way here?]

[You traveled rapidly through the clouds, the wind whistling past your ears, flying desperately without stopping for a moment.]

[The eighth day.]

[You finally flew to the Imperial Capital of the Chu Dynasty—Tiangang City. Having rested for three days and three nights, you were exhausted, but finally let out a sigh of relief.]

[After entering the city, you walked along the main road, pondering what to do next. Suddenly, you saw a large crowd gathered in front of a pavilion ahead.]

[Driven by curiosity, you also went over to watch the excitement.]

[Suddenly—]

[An embroidered ball flew straight toward you. Without thinking, you instinctively caught it.]

[The moment you caught the embroidered ball, you immediately regretted it: "What is going on??"]

[You looked up and saw the woman who threw the embroidered ball upstairs—she had an exquisite temperament, a full bust, a slender waist, long legs, and was truly a top-tier beauty.]

[You immediately cheered up again, clutching the embroidered ball tightly.]

[The beauty smiled faintly at you, turned, and retreated.]

[Just then, a richly dressed young man walked over and coldly said to you, "Brother, would you be willing to yield the embroidered ball to me?"]

["I caught it by luck, why should I yield it?" You found it amusing.]

["Do you know who I am?" The man's tone was calm, yet carried an inherent arrogance.]

[You glanced at the two Grandmaster-level guards behind him, guessing his background was not simple.]

[But who were you? You were the number one expert on the Boundless Continent! In this world, besides Liu Ruyan and Liu Jinfeng, there was no third person who could make you afraid.]

[You sneered, "I don't care who you are, now scram."]

[A Grandmaster guard behind him was about to act, but the man stopped him with a hand: "Bullying the weak is not the act of a gentleman."]

[You were a little surprised, and mocked with a smile, "Oh, you actually follow rules?"]

[In this world where strength reigns supreme, it was truly rare to see a Young Master from an aristocratic family who followed rules so strictly—it seemed he wasn't a dissolute Young Master.]

[If he were a dissolute Young Master, he would have long since snatched it by force.]

[The man said faintly, "My family motto: Do not use your power to bully others."]

[You nodded, half-joking and half-serious: "Your ancestors were quite wise, otherwise, if you provoke someone you shouldn't, you might not be far from clan annihilation."]

[The man frowned, still serious: "Name your price, I will buy it."]

["Can the looks of that nation-toppling, city-toppling girl be bought with money?" You flatly refused.]

["Then what will it take for you to yield it?"]

["Priceless treasure. Whoever catches it owns it, understand? I happen to have nowhere to go, so being a live-in son-in-law sounds pretty good." You said cheekily.]

[Just then, an elderly steward walked out of the pavilion, cupping his hands toward the man and saying, "Your Highness, please abide by the rules. Do not make trouble for the son-in-law chosen by my Young Miss."]

[You were amused upon hearing this, and looked at the man, teasing, "So you're a Prince? You must be in your late twenties, and still haven't married a primary consort?"]

[Seeing his face darken, you instantly understood.]

[You laughed: "No wonder she chose me and not you~"]

[The elderly steward turned and politely cupped his hands toward you: "Young Master, please come inside for a discussion."]