284: I am willing to protect you both.

Cao Bu patted her hand and said seriously, "Li'er, think about it. They have no backing now. Once the news spreads, given how beautiful they are and that they were the Family of a Great Emperor, how many people will be targeting them?"

"Those forces that had grudges against them in the past certainly won't let them go."

"I'm not just finding women for myself; I'm also protecting them and giving them a new home."

"Besides, I knew their fathers and grandfathers. In terms of both sentiment and reason, I should take care of them."

Su Li knew he was speaking the truth and understood that once he made a decision, it couldn't be changed, so she sighed, "Then be mindful of your methods."

"Rest assured."

Cao Bu smiled, took the women into the Time Wheel Emperor Palace, and left the place.

Not long after, he left the Myriad Laws Forbidden Abyss and arrived at the War Emperor City in the Central Province.

This city was named after the title of War Emperor Chu Kuang and was the Foundation of his Family.

In the past, this city was very lively, and no one dared to cause trouble here.

But now, the City Lord's Mansion was filled with gloom and despair.

The life-bound soul lamp of War Emperor Chu Kuang had suddenly gone out a year ago!

Although the news was being desperately suppressed by the upper echelons, the city was already in a state of panic.

In a quiet courtyard, two women sat facing each other.

The older woman looked to be around thirty years old, dressed in a plain white gown, with a stunningly beautiful face and a cold temperament like a snow-peak ice lotus—she was none other than the Ice Lotus Empress, Leng Ningshuang.

But at this moment, her brows were shrouded in an unshakable layer of sorrow and worry.

The young girl opposite her was only about twenty years old; she resembled Leng Ningshuang by seven or eight parts but appeared more youthful and lively—she was Chu Yueer.

Her eyes were slightly red as she fought back tears.

"Mother, Father, he..." Chu Yueer's voice choked with sobs.

Leng Ningshuang held her daughter's hand; it was very cold. "The soul lamp has been out for a year. Your father, I'm afraid, has truly died in the Myriad Laws Forbidden Abyss."

"How could that be? Father is so powerful." Chu Yueer's tears finally fell.

Just then, a gentle voice suddenly rang out in the courtyard, "Madam Chu, Young Miss Chu, please accept my condolences."

The mother and daughter were startled and looked up abruptly.

They saw that in the middle of the courtyard, an extraordinary young man had appeared at some unknown moment.

He stood with his hands behind his back, looking at them calmly—it was Cao Bu.

"Who are you? How dare you break into the City Lord's Mansion!" Leng Ningshuang stood up immediately, shielding her daughter behind her. A cold aura of the Quasi-Emperor Peak emanated from her as she looked at Cao Bu vigilantly.

Although she was heartbroken, she had not lost her vigilance.

Cao Bu did not answer directly but simply waved his hand gently.

A golden spear stained with dark red blood appeared out of thin air, floating in the sky.

The spear body trembled slightly, emitting a low humming sound, as if sensing a familiar aura.

"This is Father's Emperor Weapon!" Chu Yueer cried out, and tears welled up again.

Leng Ningshuang's body trembled as she stared fixedly at the spear; her cold eyes were instantly filled with immense sorrow.

She recognized this aura; it was the life-bound Emperor Weapon that her husband never let leave his side!

"You... are you Cao Bu? How is my husband's Emperor Weapon in your hands?" Leng Ningshuang finally recognized Cao Bu, her voice trembling as she asked, carrying a hint of despair.

Cao Bu sighed softly, his face showing just the right amount of grief. "During the trip to the Myriad Laws Forbidden Abyss, Fellow Daoist Chu fought against a Puppet and unfortunately died in battle."

"Before he died, he entrusted this spear to me, asking me to bring it to his Family."

Leng Ningshuang stepped forward, her hand trembling as she gently touched the blood-stained spear, as if she could feel her husband's final Battle Intent and reluctance to leave.

"Husband."

With a low sob, this Ice Lotus Empress, known for her coldness, finally could not help but burst into tears.

Chu Yueer also threw herself beside her mother, and the mother and daughter wept in each other's arms.

Cao Bu watched quietly, and only when their emotions had calmed down slightly did he speak slowly, "Madam Chu, Young Miss Chu, please accept my condolences."

"The death of Fellow Daoist Chu is a loss for the entire Spirit Realm."

Leng Ningshuang wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and forced herself to calm down. "Thank you, Clan Chief Cao, for returning my husband's relic."

"This favor, War Emperor City will remember."

Cao Bu shook his head, a serious expression on his face. "Madam Chu, I came here this time not only to return Fellow Daoist Chu's relic, but there is also something I must warn you about."

He looked at the stunning mother-daughter pair, who were crying like blossoms in the rain, his tone heavy. "The news of Fellow Daoist Chu's death, I fear, cannot be kept hidden for long."

"Once it spreads, given that the two of you are so stunningly beautiful and were previously the mistress and Young Miss of War Emperor City..."

"The Spirit Realm looks calm, but in reality, undercurrents are surging."

"Without a Great Emperor to hold down the fort, who knows how many hungry wolves will be eyeing War Emperor City, this piece of fat meat."

"By then, it won't just be about snatching resources; even the two of you yourselves..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already very clear.

The faces of Leng Ningshuang and Chu Yueer turned pale instantly.

How could they not understand this logic?

For these past few days, this was exactly what they feared most!

They were just deceiving themselves, unwilling to think too much about it.

Now that it had been laid bare by Cao Bu, that immense sense of crisis and powerlessness instantly overwhelmed them.

Chu Yueer gripped her mother's arm tightly, her eyes filled with fear.

Leng Ningshuang's lips trembled. Looking at the young yet unfathomable Cao Bu before her, and then at her husband's blood-stained Emperor Weapon, a thought uncontrollably emerged.

Cao Bu observed the changes in their expressions and continued, "Although my friendship with Fellow Daoist Chu was not deep, we entered the Forbidden Abyss together, so it counts as having some relationship."

"I truly cannot bear to see his Family being bullied."

He paused, looked into Leng Ningshuang's eyes, and spoke sincerely, "I am willing to protect the two of you."

"If you two do not mind, you can leave this place of trouble with me."

"I dare not say I can keep you safe forever, but as long as I am in the Spirit Realm for one day, no one will dare to touch you."

"This..." Leng Ningshuang's heart was in turmoil.

She understood the meaning behind Cao Bu's words.

Following a Great Emperor to seek protection, in this world where the strong prey on the weak, often means having to pay a price.

Especially for a stunning mother-daughter pair like them.

But, refuse? What happens after refusing? Wait for those covetous forces to pounce?

With the two of them, one a Quasi-Emperor and one just entered the World Venerable, how could they possibly block them?

Chu Yueer also understood; her face flushed red with a mix of shame, indignation, fear, and helplessness.

She secretly glanced at Cao Bu. This Clan Chief Cao was handsome, had an extraordinary bearing, and his strength was unfathomable—he was much better than those old codgers who might be eyeing them.

As soon as this thought emerged, she startled herself and lowered her head in shame.

Cao Bu did not speak again, just waiting quietly.

He believed that this clever mother-daughter pair would make the right choice.

After a long time, Leng Ningshuang seemed to use up all her strength before speaking in a hoarse voice, "Thank you for your kindness, Clan Chief Cao."

"We, mother and daughter, are indeed without support now."

"If we can receive the Great Emperor's protection, we would, of course, be endlessly grateful."

She ultimately could not say anything more explicit, but the meaning was already clear.

Chu Yueer buried her head even lower, her ears turning bright red, but she did not object.

Cao Bu revealed a gentle smile. "Madam Chu, Young Miss Chu, rest assured, I will definitely treat you well."

He waved his hand to put away the spear. "We cannot stay here long. You two, pack up simply, and we will leave immediately."

Leng Ningshuang and Chu Yueer nodded, turned, and returned to their rooms, coming out again shortly after having packed.

Cao Bu waved his sleeve, took the mother-daughter pair, and quietly left War Emperor City.

The next target: Xuanji City, the granddaughter of Great Emperor Xuanji, Xuan Linger.

As for Xuan Linger's parents, they had been dead for a thousand years.

She was raised by Great Emperor Xuanji alone.

Xuan Linger lived alone in an elegant manor in Xuanji City.

The news of Great Emperor Xuanji's death had not fully spread yet, but she was skilled in divination and had already vaguely sensed it, leaving her feeling uneasy.

Cao Bu's appearance, along with the Emperor Weapon of Great Emperor Xuanji that he brought, confirmed her ominous premonition.

Facing Cao Bu's similarly tactful warning and invitation, this clever Fairy Xuan Linger remained silent for an even shorter time.

She had long ago divined the danger she might face, and in her view, Cao Bu's appearance might just be that glimmer of a variable and a chance for survival in the divination.

"Linger is willing to go with Clan Chief Cao to seek protection."

Xuan Linger bowed, her voice ethereal, and she gave Cao Bu a complex look.

She could not divine Cao Bu's specific future, only feeling a sense of Chaos, which made her feel both uneasy and vaguely expectant.