FRGNM -Chapter 205 An Audience with the Supreme Emperor

Inside the entrance hall, an old man sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his eyes closed. His snow-white hair was casually tied up with a jade hairpin, with a few strands draped over his shoulders. Yet his appearance made Ling Ruoxi gasp in shock.

She had imagined that Nangong Mo’s Supreme Emperor would be an elderly man holding a whisk—at the very least, someone with a stooped back and an air of immortal wisdom. But…

Aside from his white hair, white beard, and white eyebrows, the man before her looked as though he had been carved from the same mold as Nangong Mo. The only differences were the traces of hardship etched into his face, a more restrained demeanor, and less flamboyance. Naturally, his features also carried an aura of unquestionable authority.

He looked no more than thirty years old. Who would have thought that such a man was the thousand-year-old Supreme Emperor of Duanyun Kingdom—Murong Ming? Even Murong Hua, the man currently ruling in the outer court, did not look as young as him. Just imagine—a bearded man calling a youthful fellow “father.” How utterly surreal!

“Ruoxi, sit,” the man in green robes said calmly.

The instant Ling Ruoxi snapped out of her daze, he opened his eyes. Those pupils, deep as the stars, locked firmly onto her as he casually spread his hand.

With a whoosh, the cushion beside him slid across the floor, stopping right in front of Ling Ruoxi. Luo Mingyu, however, showed no restraint and sat straight down on it.

“I’ve long heard of Duanyun Kingdom’s founding emperor, Murong Ming. Seeing you today, you truly are… rather disheveled,” Luo Mingyu remarked lazily.

“Heh… And where would I compare to the elegance of the Evil King Luo Mingyu?” Murong Ming replied with a light laugh.

His gaze shifted to Ling Ruoxi, who was dressed in a phoenix robe—an arrangement he had personally ordered. As for Luo Mingyu, he was still wearing his wedding attire, though it was wrinkled beyond recognition. No one knew what he had done to it.

“Supreme Emperor summoned Ruoxi here—could it be to personally tell Ruoxi…” A glimmer flashed in her eyes. Thinking of what her mother, Baili Yan, had once told her, Ling Ruoxi clenched her hands slightly.

Yet the man across from her merely chuckled. Resting his chin on one hand, he casually tapped the table with the other and said lightly, “Ruoxi, I know why you’ve come. But tell me—do you really think I would just tell you where your father is?”

“What do you mean?” If he wasn’t going to tell her, then why summon her at all?

A burst of killing intent erupted from Ling Ruoxi. Murong Ming only waved his hand and laughed.
“You want to know your father’s whereabouts? You can. But you must help me do three things. If you succeed, I’ll naturally tell you.”

“Three things?” A sharp killing intent flashed through Ling Ruoxi’s dark eyes, but she did not act rashly. She knew the gap in strength between herself and Murong Ming was enormous—acting recklessly would only end in failure.

Luo Mingyu, seated beside her, lowered his gaze slightly. A trace of hidden sorrow flickered through his black eyes, but it vanished in an instant. He returned to his indifferent expression, lazily propping his cheek with his hand.

Murong Ming nodded and stood up. With a flick of his right hand, a white whisk appeared in his grasp. As he gently swayed it, purple Dou Qi burst forth like sharp blades—enough to take a life in an instant!

What terrifying killing intent! Even Ling Ruoxi was stunned. This man was truly someone who could take lives while smiling and chatting.

The whisk swept forward, and suddenly an image appeared in the space ahead—an army straight out of a television screen. Endless smoke and flames rose as chaos erupted. Countless children cried and fled in terror.

Arson, slaughter, plunder—the tragic scene struck deeply into Ling Ruoxi’s heart. She didn’t know why her chest suddenly hurt, as if a needle had pierced her heart. Her expression wavered.

“What is this?” Her voice trembled. This was the first time she had ever seen such a “movie”—so real it was almost unbelievable.

With another sweep of the whisk, Murong Ming turned to face her and said coldly, “This is Lie Yun’s million-strong army. One month from now is my birthday. After that, I will enter seclusion and will no longer be able to protect Duanyun Kingdom. Hua’er’s strength is still insufficient, and he is now lost in indulgence within the harem, knowing little of state affairs. Mo’er has only recently returned to Duanyun. He needs someone by his side to support him…”

“Enough!” Ling Ruoxi clenched her fists, her eyes flashing red.

“Since you ordered me to come dressed in wedding robes, you should know I belong to Luo Mingyu. I will never marry Nangong Mo!”

Murong Ming burst out laughing, clearly surprised by her reaction. “I’m not Mo’er’s parent—how could I force you? Matters of marriage, once missed, are missed forever. He abandoned you back then; that was fate. I won’t force you to marry him.”

“Then what was the point of saying all that?” Ling Ruoxi rolled her eyes and glared at him. Needing someone to take care of Nangong Mo—wasn’t that just another way of saying he needed a wife?

Murong Ming flicked his whisk lightly. Another image appeared in the air. A man clad in a dragon robe sat upon the imperial throne, his expression solemn and dignified. Below him knelt the civil and military officials. A faint golden dragon aura coiled within his body, as if ready to burst forth at any moment.

And that man was—Nangong Mo.

“Mo’er is born with the bearing of a true dragon and is the best candidate for Duanyun Kingdom. However, the forces around him are insufficient, and Hua’er has fallen into decadence. The first thing I require of you is to help him ascend the throne of Duanyun.”

Murong Ming snorted coldly. The whisk swept again, and the image vanished. “This is the first condition. When you complete it, come back here, and I’ll tell you the second task. When you have fulfilled all three, I’ll tell you where your father is. And…”

Just as Ling Ruoxi frowned, that cold voice echoed in her ears like a thunderclap, striking deep into her mind and lingering there.

“And I will personally take you to see your father.”

Her father…?

The father she had never met. She would finally be able to see him!

A sharp light flashed through her dazed eyes. Ling Ruoxi clenched her fists tightly. How could she not long for a father? Growing up in the organization, she had neither parents nor family—she survived solely by her own strength. She wasn’t a machine; she had emotions. But precisely because of that, she could never show them. Because once she did, those around her would be eliminated.

She didn’t dare.

Every time she returned home, she would imagine familiar figures busy in the kitchen, cooking meals, then the family sitting together, eating and laughing.

How could she not want a normal family?

But assassins… were bound to a solitary fate.

And now, heaven had given her this chance. How could she possibly give it up? What she wanted was her father—what she wanted was family reunion. The one she loved was already by her side. Father, mother, child—she was so close to having a complete family, like an ordinary woman.

Taking a deep breath, Ling Ruoxi slowly lifted her gaze. Determination flashed in her eyes as she pressed a hand against the table, her seriousness unprecedented—even Luo Mingyu was stunned.

“Fine. I agree. Those three conditions—whether climbing刀山 or plunging into火海, I accept them all! The first is to assist Nangong Mo in ascending the throne, right? Very well—I’ll take it. One month from now is your birthday. I’ll prepare a grand gift for you. I hope you’ll like it.”

“Good,” Murong Ming said with a nod.

“I’ll also give you a small gift. Use it only when you’re utterly desperate and unable to rely on force. Remember—Duanyun Kingdom is not a place where brute strength solves everything. At critical moments, wisdom is what matters.”

He gently tapped Ling Ruoxi’s head. With a wave of his hand, a small brocade pouch appeared on the table.

Ling Ruoxi blinked and reached to open it, nearly making Murong Ming jump in alarm. He hurriedly pressed it down. “I said only use it in danger. You can’t open it now!”

“Not even a peek?” She raised her brows, reluctantly putting it away. Fine—she wouldn’t look. With her brains, who could possibly outwit her anyway?

No force allowed… like how Dou Qi couldn’t be used within the imperial city? What would happen if it were used? Lost in thought, Ling Ruoxi rested her chin on her hand.

Murong Ming chuckled softly. “If Dou Qi is used within the imperial city, the barrier will activate and directly erase the user. Of course, the South Gate is an exception. You should consider yourself lucky you didn’t use Dou Qi.”

“What?!” A killing formation? Ling Ruoxi’s hair stood on end. It seemed there really were things Dou Qi couldn’t solve. Within the imperial city, Dou Qi was forbidden—then what if the barrier were destroyed?

She kept those thoughts to herself. Pouting slightly, she half-listened as Murong Ming said a few more things to Luo Mingyu—none of which she remembered afterward.

After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they were escorted out.

The doors closed, and those waiting outside immediately stepped forward.

“Since you’re done, come with me,” Nangong Mo said calmly, leading the way.

“Within the imperial palace, no outsiders may remain. I’ve arranged your residence—Qingyi is waiting for you at Hanyu Pavilion. For the next month, without a summons, you may not enter the palace. In due time, I’ll have invitations delivered personally. If I have time, I’ll also leave the palace to visit you. Remember—do not use Dou Qi within the imperial city. Otherwise, the execution array will activate, bringing you nothing but harm.”