Chapter 1069: Yuwen Longyuan Reports, Wait for Them at the Exit
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Nishang, with tears in her eyes, turned around and walked into the secret passage without looking back.
This secret passage.
Contained a teleportation array inside. Though not as effective as Wuwang's ancient array, it could still transport people through the passage to thousands of miles outside Baoji Kingdom's royal city.
That was its limit.
The remaining distance to leave the country.
They would have to travel on their own.
Originally, almost no one knew about this route.
Only two people.
One was the Empress of Baoji herself.
The other was the builder of this secret passage—Yuwen Longyuan from his past life!
Back then, they had relied on this very passage to successfully launch their coup.
But in the Empress of Baoji's understanding, that man was already dead.
Little did she expect that her actions would perfectly deliver Nishang, Su Yun, and the others straight into hell.
On this side, Nishang and the others had just stepped into the secret passage.
Far away in the new city, Yuwen Longyuan immediately sensed it.
His brow furrowed.
He pulled out a bronze fragment, reached his hand inside, and kept rummaging through it.
His fingers brushed past a gourd, a jade ruyi, a golden seal, and armor... until he touched a jade plate that was trembling faintly.
Yuwen Longyuan took it out.
Watching the water droplets representing people on the jade plate's pattern continuously darting forward.
Yuwen Longyuan sank into memories.
That coup back then had not gone smoothly; in fact, it had even happened twice.
The first time, they tried to catch the enemy off guard but underestimated the Old Emperor of Baoji's methods. They charged out from the secret passage, only to be crushed by the Old Emperor's countermeasures. They fled in panic, and the entire force was annihilated, but thankfully the secret passage was not exposed.
It was him, dragging his severely wounded and broken body, carrying the current Empress of Baoji on his back, bleeding all the way as he escaped.
But halfway through carrying her, Yuwen Longyuan collapsed from his severe injuries.
He didn't know how long he had been unconscious.
When he woke up again, he was already outside.
It turned out that while he was unconscious, the current Empress of Baoji had awakened. It was she who dragged the heavily wounded and unconscious Yuwen Longyuan through the remaining half of the journey.
The two of them shared a bond forged in life-and-death trials.
In the end, they still crossed blades.
The friendship of the past could not be denied.
Yuwen Longyuan slowly snapped back to reality and murmured, "I don't blame you for what happened before, but don't you blame me for what comes next!"
Thinking of Lu Ding, whatever shred of personal feelings or pure friendship remained in his eyes—all of it faded away!!!
He formed a hand seal and sent a notification to Lu Ding.
[The Baoji Kingdom is making a move. Meet at the stone bridge.]
On the other side.
Upon receiving the message, Lu Ding's face lit up with a smile.
"Su Yun, oh Su Yun, we're about to meet again soon. Guess how I'm going to screw you over this time?"
He stood up.
Since 749 required two or more people for field missions, Lu Ding originally wanted to bring Yan Feifan.
But he was currently studying internal management under Fu Xinghe.
Acting as an assistant.
Both of them were too busy to get away.
Lu Ding thought it over.
And decided on you, Bai Hemen!!!!!
Even though Xiao Bai's cultivation was still low and he couldn't help Lu Ding much.
But this kind of opportunity to go out and earn contribution points.
Lu Ding would naturally think of his friend.
Of course, if it were something like the Black Phoenix Gathering or Overcast Mountain where the public nature of the mission was the main focus, Lu Ding would definitely consider supporting someone with higher cultivation like Zhan Tingzhou.
But this trip to Baoji Kingdom.
Yuwen Longyuan was someone Lu Ding had developed himself.
He would definitely bring Bai Hemen.
After all, they had been friends for so long.
Now that he, Lu Ding, was doing well, he had to make sure his friend Bai Hemen also benefited!
The message was sent.
[Lu Ding: Xiao Bai!]
[Bai Hemen: Here!]
[Lu Ding: Come with me to get some extra benefits.]
[Bai Hemen: On my way.]
Always ready at the call, no questions asked about place or time—super idiot, reporting for duty!!
Lu Ding was speechless.
"He didn't even ask."
Not long after.
Bai Hemen came shadow-stepping over.
Although he could already fly, and not slowly either, Bai Hemen still preferred to shadow-stepping, because Lu Ding had said it looked cool.
"Let's go."
Bai Hemen said.
Lu Ding reached out and pressed his shoulder.
With a single [Celestial Shift].
The two arrived at the stone bridge where Yuwen Longyuan had once left the Mad God's Crown Jewel for Lu Ding.
Their sudden appearance.
Gave Yuwen Longyuan, who was standing on the bridge, quite a scare.
He even flinched.
Now that everyone was playing with their cards on the table, he no longer cared about hiding his identity.
He nodded at Lu Ding, which served as a greeting, and then spoke on his own: "I've gotten information that someone is traveling through the secret passage in Baoji Kingdom's royal palace. The scale is not small; it should be Nishang, Su Yun, and the others."
He expected Lu Ding to ask questions.
Like, "Should be?" "Can't you be sure?" "How do you know it's them?"
Or, "Is this information reliable?"
Or, "How do you know about Baoji Kingdom's royal secret passage?"
He had already prepared himself mentally.
But Lu Ding didn't ask a single question.
He just said directly: "Then let's go. Do you have any photos or videos of the destination?"
With just one sentence, Lu Ding threw Yuwen Longyuan into two confusions.
Even though asking proactively seemed stupid, he still wanted to ask: "Don't you want to ask if this information of mine is reliable or not?"
"And what are you going to do with photos and videos?"
Lu Ding looked at him: "First, if you trust someone, don't doubt them. I'm not interested in your secrets. If I knew everything, would you still be useful?"
"Second, stop wasting time. Just tell me if you have them or not."
Lu Ding simply couldn't be bothered to ask.
He would just go and check it out.
There was no need to skip this trip because of a little doubt. He would nip any possibility in the bud. After all, he had time.
Even if he went and found nothing, at worst, he could just use a single [Celestial Shift] to come straight back.
But these words, when they fell on Yuwen Longyuan's ears, took on a different meaning.
He only felt that Lu Ding was still giving him a chance, preserving his right to retain his value.
After all, for such an important matter, only Lu Ding would not ask a single question.
No one else would be capable of that.
Yuwen Longyuan thought for a moment, a faint smile flickering at the corner of his mouth.
Bai Hemen's voice suddenly rang out: "What are you smiling about?"
Yuwen Longyuan froze. The way you're asking me...
Lu Ding was speechless.
Why do you have to mind even what someone else is smiling about?
Why can't you just let people smile?
After Bai Hemen said that, he even added to Lu Ding: "I feel like his smile is malicious. He doesn't seem like a good person."
Hey!!!
Are you really going to gossip about someone right in front of their face like that!!!
For a moment, Lu Ding really didn't know what to say.
But he also understood that the only reason Bai Hemen could be so blatant was because he was standing right there!
Bai Hemen wasn't stupid, nor was he foolish.
He had a solid foundation!
With Lu Ding by his side, he wouldn't back down from saying anything. The kid seemed dumb, but he was actually wise. If Yuwen Longyuan hadn't shown such an attitude toward Lu Ding, Bai Hemen definitely wouldn't have said a single word.
He wouldn't do something that would bring a powerful enemy to Lu Ding.
Lu Ding smiled: "It's fine. He was never a good person anyway."
Yuwen Longyuan also noticed that Bai Hemen seemed a bit... (made a 'finger-pointing-at-head' expression).
He clasped his hands, playing along with the kid: "You caught me."
Bai Hemen: !!!!!
Lu Ding raised his hand, ready to bring it down on Yuwen Longyuan, who was already starting to get rowdy: "Do I need to smack you around a bit for you to feel comfortable? I asked if you have photos or videos, and you're over here playing games?"
Bai Hemen: ????
Yuwen Longyuan quickly straightened up: "I don't have any, but the exit is in Qingfeng Commandery of Baoji Kingdom."
Lu Ding ignored him, pulled out his phone on his own, opened the 749 APP, and searched for Qingfeng Commandery, Baoji Kingdom.
Instantly.
Many photos and videos of Qingfeng Commandery appeared.
Lu Ding randomly clicked on one, grabbed Bai Hemen and Yuwen Longyuan.
[Celestial Shift]
Boom!!
They didn't move!
He was puzzled.
This commotion also puzzled Yuwen Longyuan: "What was that noise?"
He glanced at Lu Ding's phone again: "Oh, it seems that tower was demolished."
This was one of the minor flaws of [Celestial Shift]—it could only go to places that actually existed, and those places had to have a concrete conceptual image in Lu Ding's mind.
Lu Ding picked another one and showed it to Yuwen Longyuan as he said irritably: "This lake hasn't dried up, has it?"
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Bonus chapter for the big gift sent earlier by Elder Shui. Thank you, Elder Shui. Dear readers, please leave good reviews and send some small gifts, I'm begging you!