Chapter 766: Three

Nightfall.

The City of Azure Waves was quiet, with the sea waves gently rocking the small boats.

The Fuyao Palace was located at the northeastern edge of the City of Azure Waves, built against the mountain with its back to the vast sea. This location was where the ancestor of the royal family left marks from cleaving waves and comprehended Dao.

If the city was under attack, this location made it easy to escape. After all, the enemies that could destroy the Fuyao Kingdom would more likely come from the nine provinces in the southwest.

This also provided Chu Liang with a convenient entry point. The front of the palace was heavily guarded, with layers of enchanted formations, making infiltration a laborious task. However, by using Wind Transformation as he advanced from the northern coast, he could bypass the first enchanted formation of the palace walls and enter the palace.

Han Lingshou, the true king, had drawn out the layout of the palace for Chu Liang, allowing him to move through the corridors as if he were strolling through his own home. With his current appearance, he truly was at home. After all, he looked exactly like Han Lingshou right now.

The Mirror of Captured Light, transformed from the Precious Phantom Spirit Embryo, would exist for fifteen minutes. However, any disguise cast during that time would remain intact. As long as Chu Liang didn't deliberately expose himself or get forced into revealing his true form, he could maintain this miserable facade indefinitely.

The king's bedchamber was heavily guarded, with nearly a hundred hidden and visible guards stationed around it, along with multiple layers of enchanted formations.

Whether this was due to the assassination attempt earlier in the day or if it was always this way, Chu Liang didn't care. To him, it wasn't a difficult obstacle. With his seventh-realm Wind Transformation, it wouldn't be difficult to bypass these guards whose cultivation level had yet to reach the Heavenly Gate.

If that seventh-realm palace attendant had been guarding here, things would have been tricker. However, Jing Wuya had already killed that palace attendant, and it would be nearly impossible to find a trusted Eminent One to replace them on such short notice.

Thus, Chu Liang made his way to the bedchamber easily.

The king's bedchamber was spacious, lavishly decorated in soft gold hues. A middle-aged man, identical in appearance to Han Lingshou, sat at the desk with a stern expression, seemingly engrossed in reviewing some documents.

The man Jing Wuya had found to impersonate the king had likely been chosen for his resemblance and had probably been briefed on a few mannerisms. Unfortunately, he had only studied how Han Lingshou acted in front of others. He had no idea how shameless the real king truly was. If he did, there was no way he'd still be sitting so properly while alone.

They had likely been aware of this risk, as all the close attendants had been dismissed from the bedchamber. They had left this lone impostor inside.

As a gust of wind swept through the room, Chu Liang suddenly showed up and pressed down on that fake king's head while demanding in a low voice, "Who are you?"

"Ah?" The false king shuddered and sternly declared, "I... I am the ruler of the Fuyao Kingdom! Who are you to dare trespass into my bedchamber?"

"You're the king of Fuyao Kingdom?" Chu Liang grabbed his shoulder and turned him around. "Then tell me—who do you think I am?"

The fake king turned around and saw that Chu Liang looked identical to the king. He immediately gasped and cried out, "Ahhhhhh!"

It was like a con artist running into the person he was impersonating—busted on the spot.

He immediately dropped to his knees. "Y-Your Majesty!"

"Enough nonsense. Answer my questions honestly, and you may be spared a harsher punishment." Chu Liang demanded, his voice cold. "If you dare lie, you should know what crime you're committing, don't you?"

"Forgive me, Your Majesty! Forgive me, Your Majesty!"

The fake king was clearly bewildered. He couldn't understand how the real king had suddenly gained such overwhelming power and he couldn't help but wonder,

Has the king been hiding his strength all along?

There were things that this fake king could not understand, but one thing was crystal clear—his life was now in the hands of the man before him.

"Who sent you to impersonate me?" Chu Liang questioned.

"I-it was..."

The fake king hesitated to give the answer.

"It was Jing Wuya, wasn't it? And you still dare to cover for him!" Chu Liang growled. He seized the imposter by the throat, his fingers tightening slightly.

The fake king quickly pleaded, "Y-Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I was just stuttering! I was about to say it!"

"Let me make this clear. I already know everything about your scheme. Don't even think about deceiving me. The only reason I'm asking is to see how willing you are to confess," Chu Liang said coldly. "You should value this chance."

The fake king was utterly terrified. He frantically nodded while repeating, "I understand! I understand..."

"What method did Jing Wuya use to transform you into this form?" Chu Liang continued.

This time, the false king held nothing back and answered immediately. "The Mirror of Captured Light! Jing Wuya owns an enchanted tool by that name. The mirror can transform anyone's features into those of the person whose reflection it captures."

"Good. The answer this time is not bad," Chu Liang said, showing a face of satisfaction. He then asked again, "Is that fake Xue Lingxue working with you guys as well?"

"I don't know about that..." the fake king admitted. "I am just a low-ranking official in the Royal Wave Bureau and was suddenly chosen by Jing Wuya to impersonate the king. It's not like I had a choice! I didn't dare refuse, but beyond that, I wasn't involved in anything else..."

Chu Liang examined his expression and found no sign of deception. Just as he was about to ask other questions, a seductive voice suddenly called from outside the door.

"Your Majesty~"

...

Bang.

With a single tap of his finger on the fake king's forehead, Chu Liang knocked him unconscious. As the imposter collapsed limply to the floor, Chu Liang dragged the imposter under the bed and hid him well.

Only then did Chu Liang sit back down at the desk and call out, "Come in."

With a soft creak, the door opened, and a woman in a flowing gauze dress stepped inside. She moved with a seductive grace, her every glance exuding charm.

Shit.

Despite appearing calm, Chu Liang was really panicking. He realized that he had forgotten to ask Han Lingshou about the consorts that were closer to him.

"Your Majesty, I hear about the assassination attempt that happened today. I am sure you are deeply shaken," the girl said as she leaned closer. "I have just cooked a pot of soup for Your Majesty in hopes that it will calm your nerves."

"I wasn't really traumatized..." Chu Liang said as he nodded gently. When he saw that the woman was coming closer and was about to sit on his lap, he stood up in an abrupt manner. With his hands behind his back, he sighed. "It's just that many of the palace attendants and guards who accompanied me today have died. My heart is filled with sorrow."

"Haaaa," the woman sighed and stepped closer again. "Those two eunuchs, Guo and Yu, have always lectured Your Majesty, constantly reminding you to be dignified and proper, and even controlling what we do in bed. Haven't you told me long ago how fed up you were with them? From now on, we can finally..."

Her smile turned into an alluring smirk.

"How can you say that?" Chu Liang scolded as he flicked his hand. He then frowned and said, "They ultimately sacrificed their lives to save me. How could you talk ill of them like this?"

The woman was momentarily stunned. "There are no outsiders here. Why are you still speaking with such seriousness?"

Suddenly, her expression changed into one of shock. She questioned, "You... you're not an imposter, are you?"

Seeing her startled expression and the way she stepped back, seemingly ready to flee, Chu Liang felt speechless.

How improper is Han Lingshou normally that just a few words of decency were enough to expose me as an imposter?

With no other choice, Chu Liang flicked his hand, and the Demon-Binding Rope transformed into a streak of golden light, instantly wrapping around the woman in an intricate rear-binding technique, securing her arms firmly behind her back.

"Oh..." she gasped and fell to the ground.

Chu Liang restrained her first so that he could explain that he had been sent by the real Han Lingshou.

However, just as he was about to speak, heavy, iron-like footsteps echoed outside, accompanied by the synchronized voices of the guards calling, "General!"

Moments later, a report followed: "Your Majesty, the General of the Royal Wave Bureau requests to see you!"

Jing Wuya is here?

Jing Wuya is here? Why are they all coming so quickly?

Chu Liang's heart tightened. With no time to explain, he raised a finger and lightly tapped the woman's forehead, putting her into a deep sleep.

After a quick glance around, he pushed her under the bed and hid her there.

Only then did he sit back down at the desk and say, "Come in."

The grand doors of the bedchamber swung open once more, and the rhythmic clanking of heavy footsteps echoed as that towering, armored figure reappeared.

"Your Majesty..." Jing Wuya strode to the center of the chamber, his head held high. Then, as if sensing something amiss, his voice dropped into a deep, wary tone. "Consort Li was here?"

That woman is called Consort Li?

Chu Liang immediately responded, "Yes."

"Hmph." Jing Wuya let out a cold snort. "Do you remember what I strictly forbade you from doing?!"

Chu Liang's expression froze.

Oh, no. What was I... supposed to remember?