Chapter 305 Blasphemy
Nancheng Temple was built in the deepest part of Nancheng Street, so the entire street was named after the Nancheng Temple.
Over the last few hundred years since the foundation of Zhongzhou State, Youzhou had become more and more prosperous. Even now, the Nancheng Temple was one of the buildings from the previous dynasty in Youzhou.
Nancheng Street was narrow and deep. Two rows of straight and st.u.r.dy poplars were on both sides of the street. Dense treetop crowns covered almost the entire sky. Standing in the middle of the street and looking upward, one could only see a thin strip of sky.
It was one of the quietest streets in Youzhou.
On either side of the street, there were no huge residential areas or densely packed small shops but two neat rows of dark-cyan buildings.
The poplars were straight.
The buildings were neat like an army.
…
The wind rose in Youzhou at dusk.
There was no dusk to be seen on the horizon, and the whole sky was gloomy.
As the wind had gotten to Nancheng Street before the rain, the rows of poplars were rustling. It seemed that the only sound in the world was this wind.
At the end of the street, Nancheng Temple seemed to be quiet and solemn in the wind.
The Nancheng Temple was not a temple. The Star Flag of Zhongzhou State was fluttering in front of the door. The national emblem of Zhongzhou State with shining stars was hanging at the entrance of the temple, which looked dignified.
That was the office location of the Headquarters of the General Staff.
It was the most mysterious and free department. Its staff was complicated, and its unauthorized personnel was countless times more numerous than its authorized personnel. Its primary work included setting up intelligence networks; gathering, sorting, and a.n.a.lyzing intelligence; and taking necessary actions based on national interests.
Therefore, the Headquarters of the General Staff also had another well-known name.
The Military Intelligence Department of Zhongzhou State.
The gloomy sky turned to night in the wind.
Inside the magnificent Nancheng Temple, a young, short-haired woman opened the door of a side hall, turned off the lights inside, and went straight to the entrance of Nancheng Temple.
Being tall and slender, the woman was indescribably charming. She was plainly dressed, with a pair of ordinary canvas shoes, light blue jeans wrapped around her slim legs and rounded b.u.t.tocks, and a plain, white, short T-shirt. Wearing no makeup, she was simple and natural.
She was no longer enchanting.
She turned from purity to maturity.
She cut her long and silky hair short and looked no-nonsense.
The l.u.s.ty girl became a steady person.
She looked lonely and even a little weak, with a kind of ineffable stubbornness.
It was an indescribable beauty.
Nancheng Temple in the night was quiet and gloomy.
A woman carried a simple handbag and walked inside Nancheng Temple, with flourishing flowers and plants. The night sky seemed to be lit up for a moment.
It had been over one year since she came to Youzhou.
Whether it was day or night, she was always the most beautiful scenery in Nancheng Temple and the most beautiful color on Nancheng Street.
“Yuetong, did you work overtime again?” A gentle voice arose.
…
In the night, Nancheng Temple was lit with a faint light. A figure, who looked somewhat blurred under the light, stood there.
w.a.n.g Yuetong could not see his appearance, but she could identify him from his military uniform, especially the shoulder patch of marshal.
“Marshal Ye.”
w.a.n.g Yuetong stood at attention and saluted, saying in a dry tone, “What are you doing here?”
Standing in front of her was the G.o.d of Army of Zhongzhou State, Ye Dongsheng.
Ye Dongsheng’s personal force was not extremely powerful, and his Martial Arts was just so-so, at the Thunder-shocking Realm. He was called the G.o.d of Army of Zhongzhou State, and he took pride in his mind. Ye Dongsheng was the best candidate for commander in many hidden international disputes and large military exercises in Zhongzhou State over the years, and the wars he commanded were almost always victory.
Although Zhongzhou State suffered great losses in the final battle of Heaven Capital, it was not Ye Dongsheng’s fault. Zhongzhou State paid too much attention to its cooperation with the Samsara Palace, so all of Ye Dongsheng’s plans suddenly failed when the unexpected happened in the Samsara Palace.
That matter had more or less affected his promotion. Otherwise, Ye Dongsheng would have become the most vigorous opponent of Dongcheng Wudi, when the Administrative Minister of the Zhongzhou Military Ministry, Qi Beicang, retired two years ago. Once Ye Dongsheng won, the w.a.n.g family of Beihai and the Southeast Faction would expand rapidly. Meanwhile, w.a.n.g Tianzong would suppress some increasingly apparent hidden troubles.
Even if Ye Dongsheng finally failed, the w.a.n.g family of Beihai would get more bargaining chips, and it would become more composed when making a deal with the Dongcheng Clan in the Border Control Corps.
Unfortunately, all this was gone due to the betrayal of the Samsara Palace in the final battle of Heaven Capital. It also directly caused Ye Dongsheng to be less compet.i.tive while fighting with Dongcheng Wudi.
Seemingly, the w.a.n.g family of Beihai and the Southeast Group were down on their luck in recent years.
The hidden dangers inside the w.a.n.g family of Beihai were getting more and more serious. In the past two years, the internal conflicts were escalating. Now, all those with discerning eyes could easily see that. However, in the recent three years, the w.a.n.g family of Beihai had at least two chances to eliminate those hidden dangers.
The first time was when Ye Dongsheng became the new giant of the empire. If he had defeated Dongcheng Wudi, he would have suppressed all hidden dangers.
Unfortunately, the Commander of the Border Control Corps, Dongcheng Wudi, took up the post.
Ye Dongsheng was still the Deputy Minister of the Military Ministry and the Minster of the Headquarters of the General Staff.
The second chance was that w.a.n.g Shengxiao inherited the dragon vein.
If he merged together with the dragon vein after breaking through the peak of the Thunder-shocking Realm, w.a.n.g Shengxiao would have a lot of luck. With the Immortality Potion, he could reach the Invincible Realm within two years.
Thus, it could eliminate the hidden dangers inside the w.a.n.g family of Beihai.
However, when the w.a.n.g family of Beihai was still under preparation, Li Tianlan had already perfected his Martial Arts with the help of the dragon vein.
Therefore, the hidden dangers of the w.a.n.g family of Beihai were still there.
All the leaders of the Southeast Group were nervous.
In the subtle light, w.a.n.g Yuetong walked two steps forward.
She could clearly see the dignity in Ye Dongsheng’s eyes.
w.a.n.g Yuetong was slightly hesitant, but she still did not ask anything.
Ye Dongsheng sighed a little tiredly. He looked at w.a.n.g Yuetong and chuckled as he said, “I have a meeting and wanted to drop in on you. Yuetong, you haven’t called me Uncle Ye in a long time.”
“I’m working in the Headquarters of the General Staff. Now, I’m your soldier, so it’s not suitable for me to call you Uncle Ye,” w.a.n.g Yuetong flatly said.
…
Ye Dongsheng looked at w.a.n.g Yuetong, who looked like a child in rage.
He knew that w.a.n.g Yuetong was resentful toward him.
w.a.n.g Tianzong had arranged for her to work in the Headquarters of the General Staff, which was the traditional sphere of influence of the Southeast Group. As the Deputy Minister of the Military Ministry, Ye Dongsheng presided over the Headquarters of the General Staff. He ran a tight ship around here. Working there, w.a.n.g Yuetong was under his eyes all the time. Ye Dongsheng did not watch her, but at ordinary times, he really focused on her dynamic state, so w.a.n.g Yuetong did not like that feeling.
“Why would it be inappropriate?”
Ye Dongsheng sighed. “I worked as a secretary for your grandfather for nearly 10 years. Your father entrusted me to look after you for several years, and I’ve watched your growth.”
w.a.n.g Yuetong remained calm and silent.
She was like a withered but stubborn flower that refused to wither.
“Yuetong, your father and I are stressful now. At this time, you can’t be wayward,” Ye Dongsheng helplessly said.
…
“I’m not wayward, but I don’t think that it’s good for you if I marry Jiang Shangyu,” w.a.n.g Yuexi faintly said.
…
Ye Dongsheng took a deep breath and said, “You don’t have to marry Jiang Shangyu. Your father hasn’t given a definite answer to Jiang Shan on this issue. He hopes that you can get in touch with other young people in Youzhou. If you don’t like Jiang Shangyu, how about others? Over the past year, your admirers have surpa.s.sed double digits. Among them, some were the most suitable person in terms of family background and moral standing. Don’t you like any of them?”
“No.”
w.a.n.g Yuetong said without hesitation, “I already have someone I like, so how can I like others?”
“You’re angry with your father!” Ye Dongsheng snorted.
He and w.a.n.g Tianzong were good friends, so he treated w.a.n.g Yuetong like his own daughter. “Can you carefully think about if you really like Li Tianlan? You haven’t known him for long. I admit that he’s outstanding, so he is likely to impress you, but that is not all! You might appreciate each other. You think it’s love, but it’s not.
“You’re just p.i.s.sed. If your father hadn’t taken you away from Li Tianlan three years ago, your affection might have faded. He did a stupid thing. He brought you back to Beihai, so you didn’t feel comfortable. Li Tianlan, who was not important, becomes important. Aren’t you wayward?”
“No,” w.a.n.g Yuetong said flatly, with neither fluctuation nor youthful spirit.
.
“Uncle Ye, you don’t understand.”
She whispered, “I can confirm my feelings, but I don’t want to explain it anymore. We don’t spend much time together, but I’m relieved and calm when I stay with him. Love can’t be measured by time.”
Ye Dongsheng remained speechless.
After a long while, he took a deep breath and smiled bitterly. “Well, even if you can confirm your feelings, can you confirm his feelings? You like him. But does he like you?
“Qin Weibai is his woman, and Dongcheng Rushi is his fiancée. Dongcheng Rushi is as good as you. Qin Weibai is more beautiful… Cough… You little girl, have you ever thought about those things? Even if you stay with him, you’ll be in an awkward situation.”
w.a.n.g Yuetong was stunned.
The wind in the night sky slowly faded away.
The clouds came down.
It began to rain in Youzhou, drop by drop.
w.a.n.g Yuetong stood quietly in the rain, with her eyes as blank as the rain at night.
“I don’t know,” she whispered.
Her voice was simple and confused.
She really did not know.
For three years, she never thought about this problem. She just insisted on instinct and did not want to give up.
Ye Dongsheng looked at w.a.n.g Yuetong with complicated feelings. She said softly, “Since you don’t know, why are you so opinionated?”
“I…”
w.a.n.g Yuetong suddenly laughed. She did not seem to smile for a long time. In a trance, she seemed to be restored to her former state. She was pure, lively, and enchanting.
She straightened the short hair on her forehead and whispered, “I want my father to admit that only my persistence is right over these years, and only the man I like is the best choice.”
She looked at Ye Dongsheng and continued, “Uncle Ye, you can’t deny that when the contradictions and hidden dangers of the w.a.n.g family of Beihai completely break out… if my father and brother can’t suppress them, only he is able to solve all the problems, and only he can grow up.”
“He does have the ability.”
Ye Dongsheng said coldly and straightforwardly, “Does he have a position?”
“I am his position.”
w.a.n.g Yuetong calmly said, “Whether he is an ambitious person or a Heavenly Son, my man always has affections and faith. I believe that.”
Without affections and faith, how could one become a Heavenly Son?
w.a.n.g Tianzong did not seem to notice that.
However, w.a.n.g Yuetong always believed that.
She believed that she was right.
“I want to take leave,” w.a.n.g Yuetong whispered as she stared at Ye Dongsheng.
…
This was not the first time she had asked for leave. Since the first day Li Tianlan returned to Huating, she had given her leader a report for leave.
Her report was delivered to the higher authorities level by level, and finally, to Ye Dongsheng’s office desk.
Ye Dongsheng did not approve it.
w.a.n.g Yuetong did not move.
She knew that if he did not permit her leave, she could not leave Youzhou.
Ye Dongsheng kept silent for a while.
When w.a.n.g Yuetong felt disappointed again, he finally nodded.
“Ok,” Ye Dongsheng said.
…
w.a.n.g Yuetong was stunned for a moment and looked at Ye Dongsheng blankly, without speaking.
“You can go to Huating to see Li Tianlan.”
Ye Dongsheng dropped his eyelids to conceal the expression in his eyes.
“I…”
w.a.n.g Yuetong suddenly became a little confused.
Three years.
There were so many fights, a lot of missing, and sufferings…
w.a.n.g Yuetong never doubted her feelings and she avoided her lovesickness.
Now, Li Tianlan was in Huating.
She was in Youzhou.
With a holiday, she could see the man whom she yearned for day and night in a few hours as long as she wanted to.
At this moment, she suddenly felt panicked.
The positions of the w.a.n.g family of Beihai and the Li family became infinitely sharper and clearer.
The scenes of their departure began to reappear in her mind.
w.a.n.g Yuetong was a little fearful. She wanted to see Li Tianlan, but she did not dare to go there. She wanted to go to Huating, but she needed a reason.
Ye Dongsheng took out an invitation card for w.a.n.g Yuetong.
“This is an invitation for you from Jiang Shangyu. He will hold a banquet on the Huangpu River tomorrow night. It’s a summit meeting of the younger generation, and Li Tianlan will be there.”
w.a.n.g Yuetong was short of breath.
She suddenly was thankful for Jiang Shangyu.
This invitation was the reason she needed most.
She took the invitation shakily, bowed to Ye Dongsheng, and ran to the door.
She staggered and did not want to wait any longer.
“Your father asked me to tell you a word.” Ye Dongsheng’s voice sounded behind her, clear and steady.
…
“Don’t sell yourself short. At least in his heart, you’re n.o.bler than anyone else.”
w.a.n.g Yuetong’s figure was slightly stiff.
She remembered that the relationship with her father in recent years had gotten worse and worse.
w.a.n.g Yuetong felt sad and directly rushed out of Nancheng Temple.
…
Li Tianlan stayed in the Sky Academy for almost one week.
After Li Baitian, Xu Chu, and Ning Qiancheng were in stable condition, he went back to the compound of the directors in the Wudong New Area.
Dongcheng Rushi continued to stay here.
Zou Yuanshan had already returned to Zhongyuan.
Dongcheng Qiuchi was still working.
Thus, when Li Tianlan came back, only Dongcheng Rushi and Golden Retriever sat in the living room.
Dongcheng Rushi was reading a book.
Golden Retriever quietly squatted at her feet and was watching cartoons on TV. n.o.body knew what it was observing.
Seeing that Li Tianlan came back, Golden Retriever directly rushed to Li Tianlan. Dongcheng Rushi seemed to be happy. “You’re back.”
Li Tianlan nodded, touched Golden Retriever’s head, and placed it on the ground. “The first group of elites of the Deep-sea Academy is already in the Sky Academy.”
“I heard about it.”
Dongcheng Rushi poured a gla.s.s of water for Li Tianlan. Her eyelashes twitched gently, and her bright eyes were shining, with a little smile, shyness, and pride, being clear and soft.
“You have seriously injured Gu Yunxia and defeated Song Ci. You’re amazing.”
Dongcheng Rushi honestly said in a clear voice, “I can’t defeat Song Ci.
“Song Ci is really powerful.”
Li Tianlan nodded. Under normal conditions, it was not difficult for him to deal with Song Ci. However, she was familiar with the martial elites of the w.a.n.g family of Beihai. Once she went all out, she would show such amazing combat power that she had few rivals at the Thunder-shocking Realm. Although Li Tianlan beat her, he would not belittle her.
Dongcheng Rushi sat next to Li Tianlan and naturally put one hand on his leg.
Dongcheng Rushi changed into a tight, white jumpsuit today. Li Tianlan could feel the warmth and elasticity of her thigh through the thin layer of cloth.
His heart beat uncontrollably. He said dryly, “When will you meet them?”
“I’ll go there one day before the maneuver. I want to be with you,” Dongcheng Rushi honestly said.
…
Li Tianlan thought for a moment, then said, “So, let’s go to the East Emperor Palace?”
Dongcheng Rushi’s eyes lit up. The phone rang before she began to speak.
Dongcheng Rushi picked up the phone and took a look at it. She whispered, “It’s my father. Should you answer the phone?”
“You answer it.”
Li Tianlan shook his head. The Dongcheng Clan was so enthusiastic that he could not bear it. After that night, Li Tianlan felt that he had less and less room for evasion.
He subconsciously looked at Dongcheng Rushi’s small mouth.
It was rosy, full, and gentle…
It was not smooth but flexible.
Li Tianlan felt hot and dry, so he picked up the gla.s.s of water in front of him and drank down a mouthful.
Dongcheng Rushi felt Li Tianlan’s eyes, and she became red in the face. She answered the phone and heard her father’s voice.
“Rushi, are you with Tianlan?” Dongcheng Wudi asked softly.
…
Dongcheng Rushi obediently replied, “He’s watching cartoons beside me.”
Li Tianlan was watching two funny bears on the TV, with a helpless look on his face.
Dongcheng Wudi smiled with relief. “Well, it’s good that you’re together. You need to contact each other frequently.”
Dongcheng Rushi answered, “Dad, what happened?”
Dongcheng Wudi paused for a while and said slowly, “It’s nothing. In the final maneuver in one month, you need to join the East Emperor Palace because Tianlan only has few helpers now.”
“Ok.”
Dongcheng Rushi nodded without hesitation. “I’ll discuss the matter with him.”
Dongcheng Wudi laughed and hung up the phone.
“What happened?” Li Tianlan subconsciously asked.
However, he fixed his eyes on Dongcheng Rushi’s mouth as he turned his head.
Dongcheng Rushi could not bear it at all. At the thought of that night, she suddenly became a little ashamed and resentful. “What are you looking at?”
Li Tianlan also felt that he was wretched. He coughed awkwardly and said, “Nothing. What did the marshal say?”
Dongcheng Rushi hesitated and finally shook her head. “Nothing, it’s just idle talk.”
She eventually decided to do it by herself.
Li Tianlan felt awkward inside, so he did not ask much.
Dongcheng Rushi suddenly bent over to kiss him on the cheek and sat next to him.
Li Tianlan trembled and subconsciously glanced at her.
“Your heart is beating fast, and you looked at me strangely.”
Dongcheng Rushi bit her lips. “It’s daytime now… In the evening… we can…”
Li Tianlan’s brain went completely blank. He was so hot that he was about to lose his head. He rapidly gasped and reached out his hand to raise her chin.
When he was about to kiss her, Dongcheng Rushi suddenly broke out a cold killing intent.
Li Tianlan was stunned and then released his hand subconsciously.
Dongcheng Rushi’s eyes turned from clear to confused, but her killing intent became increasingly dense.
A thought flashed through her mind.
Her face changed, and she narrowed her eyes.
Beyond question, Dongcheng Yueshen had revived from Dongcheng Rushi now.
Dongcheng Yueshen was blank-eyed. Her face suddenly changed and her beautiful face became blushed.
She seemed to think of something. Her eyes suddenly became cold.
Dongcheng Rushi was very ashamed and resentful that night. For her, it was an unbearable humiliation.
In particular, what she could not bear the most was the end of that night.
Whether it was intentional or not, Li Tianlan got it on her face.
Dongcheng Yueshen’s eyes became indifferent.
She looked at Li Tianlan, and her body kept shaking.
“You… you dared to blaspheme me?!”
She looked at Li Tianlan and she could not believe it.
Blasphemy.
Only one word could show how proud Dongcheng Yueshen was.
“I’m just pampering my fiancée.”
Li Tianlan looked at Dongcheng Yueshen calmly, and said flatly, “Does it have anything to do with you?”