Chapter 339: The Mystic Mechanism Palace

"To be honest, I have you to thank for pointing this out. Otherwise I would have gone around in circles again."

Li Musheng looked at Zhao Muning with satisfaction, waiting for her to show him where the Great Xuan emperor was.

Zhao Muning's feelings at that moment were extremely complicated.

She had not expected that one offhand remark from her could almost land her father the emperor in serious trouble.

Fortunately it was not too late, and she naturally had no intention of actually leading Li Musheng to the Great Xuan emperor.

Her mind raced quickly, and she composed her expression, saying, "At this hour, the emperor would likely not be in his own sleeping quarters. He would probably be staying overnight in one of the consorts' chambers."

"And the imperial palace has close to a hundred consorts and attendants of all ranks. Finding exactly where he is would actually be quite difficult."

At those words, Li Musheng furrowed his brow slowly.

He fixed his gaze on Zhao Muning for a moment, and then his eyes shifted as he suddenly asked, "How old is the Great Xuan emperor this year?"

Zhao Muning did not quite understand Li Musheng's intent in asking, but she answered anyway, "Around sixty-seven..."

At those words, Li Musheng rubbed his chin, and said with a teasing expression, "Still keeping himself busy at that age. The Great Xuan emperor is in good health."

Zhao Muning naturally caught the implication behind Li Musheng's words, but rather than reacting with the flustered embarrassment one might expect of an ordinary young woman, she kept her composure and offered a level explanation, "The emperor has had no new children in over ten years. His visits to the consorts' chambers are probably not for matters of the bedroom, but to show equal favor and maintain his relationships with them, so they do not spend too many long nights alone."

At those words, something seemed to click for Li Musheng, and he smiled, "This would not happen to be some kind of lasting wound from when the Theft Saint abducted one of the Great Xuan consorts back then?"

Zhao Muning's eyelid gave a slight twitch, but she did not answer that particular question and instead redirected, "The best way to find the emperor would be to go through the consorts' chambers one by one. The trouble is that takes time, and this Great Xuan imperial palace is full of powerful experts and mechanism traps. It would be very easy to be discovered."

As she said this, the plainly dressed Zhao Muning blinked those deep, dark eyes of hers, and said, "However, I do know of a secret location within the Great Xuan imperial palace. The person you want to rescue may very well be held there."

At those words, Li Musheng narrowed his eyes and looked at Zhao Muning, "What secret location? Tell me about it."

Zhao Muning met Li Musheng's gaze and asked, "Why have you not asked who I am, or how I would know of a secret location in a palace this heavily guarded?"

Li Musheng waved a hand, "That is not what interests me. As long as the information you provide is useful, that is all that matters."

As he said this, Li Musheng raised an eyebrow and looked Zhao Muning over, "Though I should ask, you are not one of the emperor's consorts, are you?"

"Certainly not."

Zhao Muning shook her head to deny it, then explained, "Inside the Great Xuan imperial palace there is an enormous tower. It has nine levels underground and nine levels above ground, and it is called the Mystic Mechanism Palace."

"It contains not only a variety of powerful mechanism arts from the Divine Works Hall, but each level is also guarded by a top-level martial world expert who was once a dominant force in the martial world."

As she said this, Zhao Muning paused, then continued, "Of course, the Mystic Mechanism Palace is not exactly a secret in the Great Xuan martial world. Word once spread that any expert who could fight their way through it would have access to all the supreme martial arts manuals and pills inside."

"Only since that news came out, not a single expert has ever managed to force their way into the Great Xuan imperial palace and enter the Mystic Mechanism Palace."

At those words, Li Musheng rubbed his chin with a thoughtful expression, "The Great Xuan imperial palace constantly reinforces its defenses on one hand, and yet openly invites martial world experts to try the Mystic Mechanism Palace on the other. That is a clear contradiction."

"Most likely it is actually a trap. The whole point is to capture powerful martial world experts. As for no one ever managing to enter, I would say there is a good chance people have actually succeeded, but they ended up imprisoned inside, which is why no one outside knows about it."

As he said this, Li Musheng glanced at Zhao Muning and said, "Miss, you are now pointing me toward the Mystic Mechanism Palace, which is rather obviously sending me to my doom."

Faced with Li Musheng's question, an unusual look crossed Zhao Muning's eyes, "You are perceptive. The true nature of the Mystic Mechanism Palace may well be exactly as you describe. But it is also the most likely place where an important person would be held."

"Of course, if you have reservations about this, it is not too late. We could withdraw right now."

As she said this, Zhao Muning simply watched Li Musheng quietly, her cool and composed face perfectly calm, as though waiting for him to make his decision.

Li Musheng raised an eyebrow slightly, then reached out and lifted Zhao Muning by the collar, giving this exceptionally poised and composed young woman a gentle shake in front of his face, "Perhaps you should just tell me who you are. If you are trying to use me as a weapon against someone and I end up finding that disagreeable, and I do away with you by accident, that would be something of a waste."

At those words, Great Xuan Seventh Princess Zhao Muning's expression froze.

She sensed no killing intent whatsoever from Li Musheng at that moment, but something about those words, said with what seemed like a touch of humor, sent an inexplicable chill running through her.

"I am telling you the truth. Since you have chosen to enter the Great Xuan imperial palace to rescue someone, the Mystic Mechanism Palace is a place you absolutely cannot avoid."

Zhao Muning drew a deep breath and kept herself calm, "Even if you find the emperor, regardless of whether the person you want to rescue is in the Mystic Mechanism Palace or not, he will without question direct you there."

At those words, Li Musheng looked long and carefully at Zhao Muning in his hand.

Then after a brief moment's thought, he gave a nod, "Fine. Then we go to the Mystic Mechanism Palace."

Li Musheng had not used the Life and Death Talisman to question Zhao Muning.

This was not out of any tenderness toward her so much as the fact that she was someone he had grabbed and pressed into service as a guide.

He wanted to rescue someone, but that did not mean he needed to resort to the Life and Death Talisman against a stranger to accomplish it.

Besides, things had not come to that point yet.

At those words, Zhao Muning felt some of the tension in her chest ease slightly.

She was currently in a position much like a chick held up by the scruff, but her thoughts were not on that. She gave Li Musheng an almost imperceptible look.

She had already told Li Musheng about the Mystic Mechanism Palace's dangers, and he had acknowledged that it was no friendly place, and had even made a threat because of it.

But right now his expression showed nothing at all, as though the prospect of going to the Mystic Mechanism Palace was entirely unremarkable, no more than a casual errand.