C82 (1/2)

Her body was slender and well-proportioned, her skin as smooth and exquisite as a virgin. On her fair skin, there were a few faint scars. The firm and strong muscles bulged slightly, and the lines were soft and beautiful.

The hot spring water was flowing smoothly. Shang Qiuyuan entered the hot spring, maintaining a distance not too far away from the reverse scale of fire. The reverse fire scale's muscles bulged with explosive power, looking very dangerous. The muscles of Shang Qiuyuan were supple, and his body did not have as many shocking wounds as the Fire Inverted Scales.

He was a Confucian general and was adept at using strategies. Even though he had fought many battles, he rarely personally acted.

An eye-catching wound appeared in front of him, and his hand gently caressed the wound. On Shang Qiuyuan's body, only this wound was especially obvious. That was what he had obtained on the battlefield before surrendering to the Southern Champion, and also the one time in many years that he had suffered the most serious injuries.

His eyelids drooped down. Since ancient times, the heart of the Emperor was the most unpredictable. Today, when the laws of the world were set against him, he was forced to act and even gave him the authority to send troops. He had no choice but to guess in his heart what this cold-blooded Emperor was thinking.

Giving him a bath along with such favoritism and honor was also the only thing he could do in the Southern Champion Kingdom, and it would definitely push him to the heart of the struggle. There were already many voices in the imperial court objecting to him being conferred the position of a great general and sweeping away the position of a northern duke. This was because the Southern Champion had long wished for nothing more than to eat his flesh and sleep with him.

However, he remained motionless in the face of all kinds of suspicions, jealousy, and rumors. His only goal was to seek justice for the fallen soldiers, the living soldiers, and those who had been killed.

His sword was only aimed at Feng Yuan, the place where he and his father had once wholeheartedly supported him.

The warm spring water slightly scalded his skin, immediately relaxing him. Relaxing his body didn't mean relaxing his heart. Opposite him was the Five Kingdoms' most famous cold-blooded monarch, the temperamental Southern Champion Sovereign.

Huo Ni Lin narrowed his eyes as he looked at Shang Qiuyuan. This official had never shown any signs of being flattered, always being so calm and tranquil. Only when he mentioned Feng Yuan would his eyes shoot out a piercing killing intent. He was always dressed in white, waiting for his orders in silence.

This was a satisfactory subject, wise and calm, able to grasp the best measure.

”My beloved has fully recovered from her injuries. Are you ready to set off?”

”Your Majesty, this humble subject is waiting for Your Majesty's orders at any time.”

His gaze swept past the Fiery-Scaled Sword and rested on the edge of the pond. In his heart, he felt an indescribable respect for this Sovereign King. As the sovereign of a country, he would often personally lead troops to war, and the wounds on his body were his medals and achievements. The kings of the five empires, and only this emperor, would personally lead their troops to the battlefield, not fearing the presence of swords at all.

Huo Ni Lin patted the steps beside him and said, ”Sit next to me.”

Shang Qiuyuan slowly walked to the front of the stairs. Huo Ni Lin was sitting on top of the steps, only his head above the water. He hesitated for a moment. He wanted to sit on the steps underneath the reverse scale. But that way, he wouldn't be able to expose his head above the water surface.

Sitting with the Emperor on a flight of steps at the same height, it was tantamount to being rude and disrespectful.

A wisp of a smile appeared on Fire Inverted Scales' face. He pointed to his side with a slight smile, indicating that Shang Qiuyuan should sit beside him.

Shang Qiuyuan bowed slightly. ”Thank you for your grace, this humble subject is extremely fearful.”

Her elegant face was still expressionless as she slowly sat beside the reverse scale, bowing her head slightly to show her respect as a subject.

”This is not the imperial court, so you don't have to be restrained. Otherwise, you'll lose the smell of bathing in a hot spring.”

He leaned against the steps behind him and stretched out his limbs in pleasure. His expression was gentle and there was no trace of the usual coldness in his eyes. Shang Qiuyuan was also leaning on the steps behind him, there was only a distance of three feet between him and the Fiery-Scaled Tiger. He relaxed his body and slightly narrowed his eyes. Since the king was going to show kindness, he had better obey the decree.

”Today, something has happened in my imperial harem that truly infuriated me.”

Shang Qiuyuan did not speak, he already knew what that matter was. Ji Tian Ning had once told him that the prince had been killed. However, from the way he looked at the reverse scale of fire, he knew that the prince was unharmed. Otherwise, the harem would have already started a bloody storm, and the Flaming Scales would not be quietly bathing in the hot spring.

”She really did have a good method to control the emperor's illness?”

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the head of the reverse fire scale. The silk scarf definitely wasn't wrapped around its head for no reason. However, he very quickly lowered his eyes. It was extremely unwise to investigate the secrets of the Emperor. The less he knew, the better.

”I only have one prince, and that's the prince that Ji Tian Ning saved a while ago. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't even have a son.” ”Today, someone is plotting to murder my only son.”

Killing intent surged in his eyes, and the killing intent from his entire body made the water in the hot spring seem to become cold.

There was not a single trace of emotion on Shang Qiuyuan's elegant face. He knew quite a lot about the merits and demerits of the Southern Champion. He listened quietly but did not express any opinions. He did not know if this master wanted someone to listen to him and emit anger and killing intent, or if he had other orders.

The matters of the harem shouldn't have been left to him, a subject, or a vassal.