Chapter 830: Madam Rouge's Teasing

With a thunderous roar, the green, rectangular barrier shattered.

This was a formation that Saint Lun Hui had erected to trap Xiao Nanfeng. The barrier was strong enough to withstand the attacks of one or two early-stage Boundless Immortals, but it could hardly withstand the combined shockwaves of ten Boundless Immortals fighting. It burst apart.

Most of the cultivators within had perished from the residual shockwaves from the fighting alone. The few who survived scrambled away in terror as the barrier collapsed.

By the outskirts of the barrier, a multitude of cultivators began to flee, shaken by the intensity of the fighting. Word of the event began to spread rapidly across the continent.

On a mountain peak outside Yongding, shrouded in dense fog, were a group of cultivators led by Han Gucheng.

"Your Majesty, my avatar is right outside the Shangqing holy land. The saint's barrier was shattered by the shockwaves from the fight. The ten Boundless Immortals in battle there have destroyed everything in the vicinity. Towering waves are surging across the sea," a subordinate reported.

"Xiao Nanfeng, the Demon Child, Ye Sanshui, a mysterious Boundless Immortal, and Yang Chuan? Xiao Nanfeng certainly is alert. He even anticipated the possibility of a major ambush at this juncture," Han Gucheng remarked, narrowing his eyes.

"Your Majesty, Xiao Nanfeng's growth really is shocking," another of his subordinates commented.

Han Gucheng nodded. "He does have the aura of a warlord. No wonder he was able to destroy the divine empires of Dayin and Hongyue."

"Even so, Your Majesty, you're wiser than he is. With a single subtle move, you've managed to trap the majority of Xiao Nanfeng's forces."

Han Gucheng thought for a moment. "Xiao Nanfeng still has one ally."

"Do you mean the Divine Emperor of Shenfeng?"

"Indeed. She is allied with Xiao Nanfeng, and her whereabouts are currently unknown. Things may still go awry."

"The Divine Emperor appears to have been in secluded cultivation for the time being, but we haven't been able to confirm that. Since the empress's secret technique can sense souls, perhaps she will be able to confirm if the Divine Emperor is in Shenfeng's capital," Han Gucheng's subordinate suggested.

"Gan Qing is already heading over," Han Gucheng replied.

"Wise you are, Your Majesty."

A short while later, a woman spoke up. "Your Majesty, my avatar is with the empress. She has news to report, which I will convey."

"Go ahead." Han Gucheng nodded.

The woman began, "Husband, I'm outside Shenfeng's capital at the moment. Using my secret technique, I can sense a Boundless Immortal in secluded cultivation—one far stronger than I anticipated."

"Then the Divine Emperor is in Shenfeng's capital," Han Gucheng concluded.

"Shall I test the waters?"

"There's no need. I have a good estimate of the Divine Emperor's strength, and you're not a match for her. If you do so, you'll be in danger."

"But she's in secluded cultivation, isn't she? Perhaps I may be able to surprise her."

"The Demon Child was meant to be guarding the Divine Emperor, but Xiao Nanfeng has already called him away twice. Though the Divine Emperor is in secluded cultivation, it's clear that she's not in great need of protection at the moment. Do not provoke her."

"What should I do?"

"Nothing. Stay there and keep an eye on the area. As long as the Divine Emperor doesn't show up, there won't be any danger here," Han Gucheng replied.

"Understood. Please make sure you rescue Bing'er, Husband."

"Of course," Han Gucheng reassured her.

With that, he turned toward Yongding. "Let's go!"

Han Gucheng began to march toward Yongding.

Yongding seemed to be prepared for a threat. Its defensive formations were activated in full.

Unable to enter, Han Gucheng hovered in the air. Despite the fog shrouding him, the city guards soon detected his presence.

"Who's there?" a guard demanded.

Han Gucheng struck the city's defensive formation, unleashing a blizzard from his palm.

The defensive formation around Yongding trembled violently. Several layers of barriers shattered, but the foundation held.

"An impressive defensive formation, but it won't stop me," Han Gucheng said confidently.

He struck the defensive formation again, shattering several more layers of barriers and causing cracks to spread over those that remained.

Moments earlier, in a garden within Yongding's palace, Xiao Nanfeng's avatar was having tea with a woman.

She was dressed in peach-colored robes, her figure full and alluring. She exuded a captivating femininity as she sat gracefully by the jade table, her expression serene, her beauty stunning. Her faint smile seemed to drain all color from the surrounding flowers. She was none other than Madam Rouge, a cursed effigy who had once haunted Xiao Nanfeng.

Madam Rouge had a sip of tea. She set her cup down, a slight lipstick stain on its rim. She smiled. "Xiao Nanfeng, life's been going well for you lately, hasn't it? First, the Divine Emperor; now, Lan Yaoguang. How does it feel? Who do you like better?"

Xiao Nanfeng looked at her, bemused. "I called you here for assistance, not to start drama. They're both my women; who I like more is none of your business."

"I was just curious who you think is more beautiful," Madam Rouge replied, undeterred. She laughed.

"I'm bad with faces. I can't tell," Xiao Nanfeng replied blandly.

Madam Rouge glanced at him and rolled her eyes. "How shameless of you."

"Regardless, I could really use your help this time," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"It's not as if you really need me here, do you? The Divine Emperor could come help you out. She's just distilling a charm of heavenly law. You simply don't want her to waste her energy. You want her to improve her cultivation as much as possible. That's why you called for me instead," Madam Rouge surmised, a hint of displeasure in her tone.

"What? How did you know that she's distilling a charm of heavenly law?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"I even know that you've been cooking up elaborate meals for Lan Yaoguang daily. How mushy you sound when you talk! And all this about 'teaching her new techniques'—what a charming excuse," Madam Rouge replied, her voice tinged with sarcasm.

Xiao Nanfeng abruptly stood up, frowning. "Have you been spying on me?"

She was talking about intimate moments in Lan Yaoguang's quarters! How could she be aware of them? The thought sent a shiver down his spine. Had she been spying on his private affairs?

"I'm not spying on you. I just occasionally check in to see if there's anything entertaining going on," Madam Rouge replied, chuckling.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Madam Rouge, you're crossing the line."

"Alright, alright. Don't be mad. I just took a look or two. You should have taken better precautions!" Madam Rouge replied, patting his arm and smiling.

"Are you saying this is my fault?" Xiao Nanfeng scowled.

"Who else?"

Xiao Nanfeng: ...

"Don't sulk, now. I'm not even blaming you, but you're getting all huffy. I came all the way from the west just to help you out!"

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. How could he not be upset? Madam Rouge was spying on his private affairs and his intimate moments with Lan Yaoguang. Did she have... some kind of perverse interest in such matters?

"I'd like to know just how you did it," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Isn't it straightforward? You should take more precautions, you know," Madam Rouge replied.

"I did! I even put up isolation formations each time. Just how are you getting around them?"

Madam Rouge smiled, but didn't explain further.

"Did you do something to my body?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, suddenly recalling how Madam Rouge had opened and closed his Heartgate by force in the past.

"Come now, let's not dwell on that. Let's talk about your enemy," Madam Rouge deflected.

Xiao Nanfeng's face darkened. She was the one who had brought this up in the first place!

"Spying is unethical," he grumbled, frustrated that he couldn't yet figure out Madam Rouge's methods. He had no recourse but to emphasize his disapproval.

"Han Gucheng must be outside Yongding by now. Let's discuss how to deal with him," Madam Rouge said evasively again.

Xiao Nanfeng: ...

Xiao Nanfeng sighed. It was evident that she was here just to tease him. Back when he had been stronger than she was, he had done the same; now, the tables had turned.

"By the way, you haven't mentioned my reward for this little favor," Madam Rouge said mischievously.

Xiao Nanfeng pursed his lips. "What do you want?"

Han Gucheng was clearly prepared, as the ambush at the Shangqing holy land had shown. He had invited Madam Rouge knowing that there would be danger, and he had no intention of skimping on remuneration.

"Why don't you sing me ten songs?" she suggested, her eyes twinkling.

Xiao Nanfeng stiffened. "Dream on! Go ask someone else to sing for you."

"No one sings as well as you do. The last song you wrote for me, The Moon Represents My Heart, was amazing. Let's count that as one. Sing me nine more new songs, and I'll promise to drive Han Gucheng back on your behalf."

Xiao Nanfeng's face twitched. That one song alone had embarrassed him to death. He was hardly going to sing more!

"I don't intend to sing," he said stiffly.

Just then, a fierce shout could be heard from outside as Han Gucheng began his assault on the city in earnest.

Madam Rouge's eyes lit up. "It's settled, then! Ten songs. Once I drive him back for you, you'll have to sing for me!"

Before Xiao Nanfeng could protest, she rushed out of the garden and vanished.

"Hey, hold it! I didn't agree to that!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted urgently.