Chapter 332 - 135: Are We Baring It All Already?

Chapter 332: Chapter 135: Are We Baring It All Already?

She believed that by pairing her strategic mind with the Demon Monarch’s martial power, they could surely achieve her long-held ambitions.

However, she hadn’t expected the Demon Monarch to be utterly contemptuous of her ideas. He believed the very concept of a "dynasty" was a sham and that it would inevitably oppose the Holy Sect with all its might. Therefore, the best solution was to shatter the entire dynasty and return to the era of warring states that preceded the founding of the Great Yu. Only then, he argued, could the Holy Sect rise above all other nations.

Gu Xiangzhu was in complete opposition, and they nearly had a major falling out on several occasions.

Unfortunately, the previous Sect Leader passed his title to the Demon Monarch on his deathbed.

The subsequent events were more or less clear.

Under the Demon Monarch’s rule, the disciples of the Holy Sect rapidly descended into depravity.

The first time the Demon Monarch emerged, he nearly brought the Imperial Palace to ruin. He peaked at his debut.

As a result, in his subsequent clashes with Xiang Tiange, he fared worse and worse, eventually vanishing without a trace after suffering a grievous injury.

After the Demon Monarch disappeared, Gu Xiangzhu attempted to seize the title of Sect Leader. But aside from her own loyal followers, the rest had already been swept up in a fanatical devotion to the Demon Monarch. In the end, she could only secretly contact Old Deng and, under the guise of Princess Consort Jing, build up her financial network.

In short.

It was very difficult.

After she finished her story, Gu Xiangzhu seemed exhausted. She lay in Zhao Ci’s arms, feigning sleep for a long while.

Her face looked wan, even in sleep.

Zhao Ci couldn’t resist kissing her.

Gu Xiangzhu opened her eyes, gently stroked his cheek, and asked with a smile, "So, what do you think of the Demon Monarch now?"

"What do I think of the Demon Monarch?"

Zhao Ci grinned. "That asshole is actively trying to turn back the clock. What else is there to say about him? The Human Race might find a better system than a dynasty, but it sure as hell isn’t a bunch of warring fiefdoms. What was he thinking? He’s just a son of a bitch who understands nothing but brute force and brainwashing."

Gu Xiangzhu: "..."

’What a satisfying tirade!’

Hearing those words was immensely satisfying to her.

But hearing them from Zhao Ci felt a little strange.

She now felt a little confused herself.

Initially, she had been ninety percent certain that Zhao Ci was the reincarnation of the Demon Monarch.

But now, that certainty had dropped to seventy percent.

Because she simply couldn’t understand how someone with Zhao Ci’s fundamental nature could have ever become the Demon Monarch.

But if he wasn’t...

...he still possessed memories of a previous dynasty, and a person like that just happened to be one of the candidates for the Demon Monarch’s reincarnation.

Moreover, his terrifying talent for cultivation was in no way inferior to the Demon Monarch’s.

How many people in the world possessed that kind of cultivation talent?

Shuimo had said the Demon Monarch reincarnated to settle a wager with Xiang Tiange.

But would someone like the Demon Monarch—so obsessed with power, so arrogant—really have a mental breakdown and choose reincarnation just to prove a point after losing to Xiang Tiange a few times?

It was possible!

But it wasn’t very likely.

Gu Xiangzhu felt it was more likely that he was using reincarnation as an opportunity to master something he couldn’t in his past life.

His mindset being so different from his past life could be because he received a proper education from the Royal Family. After all, reincarnation only carries over partial memories; one’s new experiences could easily shape them.

Shuimo said the Demon Monarch had retained the vast majority of his memories.

Zhao Ci also said he had only retained partial memories of his past life.

’It all lines up.’

So...

Gu Xiangzhu felt a wave of gloom. She was certain that everything Zhao Ci had said today came from the heart, and she was very satisfied with his reaction.

But it seemed the fundamental problem remained unsolved.

She still couldn’t determine whose consciousness would become dominant after the memories fused.

And so,

she had never once mentioned the "Demon Monarch’s reincarnation" to Zhao Ci.

Because what lay within the Divine Cocoon was a temptation that almost no one could refuse.

As long as one could refine its contents,

they would become a peerless master in an extremely short amount of time.

And given Zhao Ci’s current situation...

Could he resist such a temptation?

By not telling him,

at least she could let him continue to exist as Zhao Ci for a while longer.

And even... she could retain a degree of control.

The power to decide if Zhao Ci could ever accept the Demon Monarch’s memories.

"In any case..."

Gu Xiangzhu sat up. "You should think this over carefully. It’s incredibly important for you. Don’t let your feelings make you do something impulsive."

Zhao Ci grabbed her hand. "But by telling me this, aren’t you afraid I won’t help you in the future?"

He really didn’t understand.

On one hand, Gu Xiangzhu had made it clear that for the sake of her state of mind as a Demon Cultivator, she could never be intimate with him.

On the other hand, she was now telling him that she was in a difficult situation.

’Wasn’t she just pushing him away?’

"You..."

Gu Xiangzhu shook her head and smiled. "If two people are fated to be entangled, you couldn’t leave even if you wanted to. And if we’re not fated to be, then it’s better you live your life with your eyes wide open."

With that, she slipped quietly from the bed.

She gently cupped Zhao Ci’s face and gave him a light kiss. "If, one day, you get the chance to live the life of your dreams... follow your heart, and don’t ever look back."

Zhao Ci: "!!!"

He wanted to say something more.

But he felt his palm go empty.

Gu Xiangzhu’s figure had already dissolved into a wisp of green smoke, drifting out the window and melting into the rosy light of dawn.

"Don’t go!"

Barefoot, Zhao Ci scrambled to the window, but there was no trace of her to be found.

He clutched his chest, his heart pounding violently.

Just moments ago, right up to the very end, the desires to "kill him" and "protect him" had been flashing alternately above Gu Xiangzhu’s head.

He was also certain that Gu Xiangzhu was still hiding something from him.

But...

’Why did he feel a pang of guilt, as if he were the one letting her down?’

"Boss?"

Zhu Li rubbed her eyes and sat up from the lounge chair, grumbling, "Did you hit me on the head last night? I couldn’t wake up for the life of me just now!"

Zhao Ci: "..."

「Wangshu Palace.」

Jingzhong Yue waited for a long time before the wisp of green smoke finally appeared and coalesced back into a human figure.