The Invincible Dragon Emperor

Lu Li quickly thought. He decided to feel her out with words. He pushed down the killing intent, squinted and said, "What Young Master Lu? I am Young Master Li!"

"Ha, ha, ha~"

Jiang Qiling giggled from ear to ear. When she laughed, she looked like a dancing b.u.t.terfly with a thousand charms and wonders.

She laughed for a while before she said, "Young Master Lu Li, I am from the Pavilion of Delicacy. We control the entire northern side of the Central Plains. I don’t think there is anybody that can escape my investigation if I set my mind on it. I am curious. Didn’t you carry the coffin to the Wicked Sorcery Mountain? How did you get out?"

"Um… that’s not too bad!"

Lu Li was relieved. Jiang Qiling only knew about the Dan City and the Wicked Sorcery Mountain event, but not his Lu Family disciple ident.i.ty.

He didn’t say anything in response for a while. After some time, he avoided answering the question directly and said, "I don’t want to tell you. Everyone is ent.i.tled to secrets."

"Sure, I will not push you."

Jiang Qiling picked up a goblet of b.l.o.o.d.y Rose and had a sip. Her rosy lips were tainted red with the wine, making her more mesmerizing than usual.

She suddenly laughed again and comforted Lu Li, "Relax, I will not tell anyone."

Lu Li causally waved his hand and said, "It doesn’t matter. I don’t mind you telling other people."

"You don’t mind?"

Jiang Qiling blinked. Like a fox, she said in a cunning way, "Aren’t you afraid that somebody is longing for the treasures in the coffin? What if somebody asks you how you got out of the Wicked Sorcery Mountain? What if some powerful warriors come after you?"

Lu Li poured himself some tea, took a sip and slowly said, "Do you want me to be afraid? Or not to? Or are you hoping that I will get scared? Maybe you think you have something to hold against me? Are you threatening me? Jiang Qiling, this is not fun. Don’t let me think less of you. I have survived many disasters and I have killed many people. Of course, I was chased down on many occasions as well. What else am I afraid of if I am not scared of death?"

Lu Li’s voice was gentle, not emotional at all. Nevertheless, there was some magic power within it that made his words convincing.

Looking at Lu Li’s well-featured face, his eyes radiating of confidence, Jiang Qiling stopped smiling. She felt ashamed of herself somehow.

When she got the information on Lu Li, she was excited and she did think of using that against him.

Like she said, she liked conquering men. Seeing one haughty man after another throwing themselves at her feet gave her a sense of accomplishment. Or… this was the only way she could find some interest in life to numb herself.

At this moment, she suddenly felt she was despicable. Lu Li was only 16, five years younger than she was. This young man had went through so many things. He had two warriors of the n.o.ble Lord Realm working for him. For any other person, that would mean haughtiness and foppery, eating, drinking and fun every day, flirting with girls and enjoyment in life.

But not Lu Li. He spent 20 days in the cultivation room on his own without leaving once. Who would believe that Lu Li had so many treasures and Xuan Crystals and two warriors of the n.o.ble Lord Realm with him judging by the way he ate food at a corner in the room?

Jiang Qiling thought she was a beautiful girl and she was capable of moving many

men, making them have desire and l.u.s.t for her. Again, not Lu Li. He chose to drink 16 goblets of b.l.o.o.d.y Rose just to avoid knuckling under to her. He walked out from her cabin relying on his strong willpower and fell to the first floor.

She could tell that Lu Li liked beautiful girls. Her dress today made Lu Li’s eyes glow. Her beauty was appreciated by Lu Li.

But… that was it. That was all there was.

She lowered her head and said nothing for a while. Suddenly, she had lost interest. She did want to conquer Lu Li, but she felt she was beneath him.

This man of pride and honor would not yield to her. How could he yield to a s.l.u.tty girl, putting down his honor and pride, if he was not even afraid of death?

The glow on her face died down. She raised her head feebly and said to Lu Li, "I am sorry. I apologize for the way I behaved, Young Master Lu. From now on, you can always cultivate for free as a way to pay you back. I… will not bother you again."

Lu Li was surprised to see the sudden change in Jiang Qiling’s att.i.tude and to hear her say sorry.

He raised his head to look into Jiang Qiling’s eyes but the latter dodged his looks. She lowered her head, like a kid admitting mistakes, and was at a loss of what to do.

Lu Li sighed. Instead of leaving, he drank some tea and said, "I can tell that you once was a good girl. I don’t know what had happened to you that made you like this. I want to say… if you don’t cherish yourself, then n.o.body else in the world will love you. What’s done cannot be undone. If you cannot let it go, you can commit suicide. In this way, you will be free.

"If you don’t want to commit suicide, or you lack the courage, then let it go. Life has to go on. You can live in pain or in happiness. Why are you making yourself so miserable? Alcohol can get you pa.s.s one night. Can it help you for your entire life? Move on and you will see the world is still a wonderful place."

Lu Li’s words were straightforward and intense as if he could see Jiang Qiling right through.

Jiang Qiling trembled. Then she shed tears, silently. Tear dropped from her chin onto the ground, making a clear sound.

After a while, she shook her head, still crying, and said, "Let it go? How? He died and my father did that! He was the one for me. He was pushed to death by my father. He jumped off from a cliff but he died with everlasting regret. You want me to move on? You tell me how!"

"Thought so…"

Lu Li sighed. There really was a miserable story in her life. She had been harming herself to get back at her father and punish herself, atoning for her loved man’s death. Or, she simply was numbing herself so she would feel less pain.

Such a poor lady!

There were too many miserable souls in the world. Every second of every minute, there were people dying, families falling apart and tragedy of losing young loved ones.

Lu Li’s parents were under the Icy Abyss and his sister was at the Cyan Plains. Was he living in comfort?

He couldn’t take care of so many things and he did not have the time to help Jiang Qiling to move on. This lady was too dangerous. Lu Li didn’t want to have too many things to do with her.

So he left. He put his mask back on, smiled bitterly and shook his head and he left. When he opened the cabin door, he found he didn’t have the heart to leave Jiang Qiling like this. He turned around and said to her, "I don’t know how to move on. I can only tell you this—if you don’t save yourself, then n.o.body in the world can save you. A b.u.t.terfly can only have beautiful wings and dance around after it breaks out of the coc.o.o.n. Phoenix has to be burnt before regeneration. Maybe this is a test for you. Either you sink or you can rise."

Lu Li left. He jumped to the first floor and was gone.

His words were still in the mind of Jiang Qiling. She had stopped crying. She sat for a long time, absent-minded, and then she fell to the floor and slept soundly. In her sleep, she smiled a sweet smile…

After she was asleep, a purple-haired old man suddenly appeared at the door as if he had emerged out of the void.

He gently walked in and put a quilt on her. He looked at her fondly, sighed, and left.