Chapter 524 525: Marriage Proposal

A Heaven-locking Array is difficult to breach without external force, but for Chen Dong, it was merely a matter of time. After expending some of the Six Paths of Radiance, he deduced the solution to the Tier Five Heaven-Locking Array before him.

With Yun Mengshang's immense power aiding them, the two quickly escaped the array and flew directly toward Immortal Fox City.

Dealing with the Demon Race was a major affair. As Yun Mengshang grew busy, Chen Dong promptly excused himself. He needed to find a chance for Liu Ling to give him the Xuan Yuan Purple Reishi.

Although Yun Mengshang had seen the projection of the Demon Refining Pot, it was best to hide what could be hidden.

Returning to the residence Yun Mengshang had arranged for him, Chen Dong set up several isolation wards. Only then did Liu Ling materialize and hand a jade box to him.

Chen Dong accepted the jade box, his thoughts unreadable.

Liu Ling asked in surprise, "Judging by your expression, don't tell me you've actually fallen for her!"

Chen Dong gave a dry laugh. "No, of course not!"

Liu Ling spat contemptuously. "Player!"

Chen Dong was instantly displeased. "This was the mission you gave me, and now you're scolding me for it!"

Liu Ling rolled her eyes at him. "A player is a player. You fall for every woman you meet. But that's exactly why I felt comfortable giving you this mission. You have to understand, the Fox Demon Race is famous for their heartlessness. Once she breaks free from these emotions, it would be perfectly normal for her to turn around and kill you."

Chen Dong's brow furrowed, and he fell silent.

Liu Ling's expression turned serious. "I can see her divine soul transforming and coalescing; her breakthrough to Divinity Transformation is just around the corner. This means she has successfully fallen in love, and her understanding of emotion is by no means shallow. I don't know how you did it. But you need to tell her about the Human Race situation as soon as possible. It will be too late once she breaks through to Divinity Transformation!"

Chen Dong nodded slowly and said with a bitter smile, "You're right. I was only here for the mission in the first place."

Liu Ling gave a sly smile. "Or could it be you like being passive? With Yun Mengshang, she's usually the one taking the initiative. So you're into that sort of thing!"

Chen Dong shot her a cold glare. "Don't be ridiculous!" He then looked down at the jade box in his hands.

"Once she comprehends her Divine Techniques, or when the Fox Race's Second Elder has recovered, I'll tell her everything."

Liu Ling nodded. "You need to be quick. I can sense that Yun Mengshang could break free from her emotions at any moment!"

「Evening came, and a bright moon hung in the sky.」

Chen Dong figured Yun Mengshang should be done with her work and was about to deliver the Xuan Yuan Purple Reishi when a Fox Demon Race Maid came with a message: "Lord Li Xu, my Queen requests your presence."

Chen Dong had been about to head over anyway, so he promptly accepted.

He checked his appearance once more. The blood-soaked clothes from before had long been changed; he had, consciously or not, chosen to wear a black robe.

Following the Maid, he walked all the way to a private courtyard deep within the City Lord's Mansion.

Chen Dong had never been here before. A delicate fragrance wafted out before he even entered the courtyard. At the gate, he heard the sound of a zither. It was the same melody he had played in the Spirit Fish Garden, filled with sorrow, melancholy, longing, and yearning...

The same melody, when played by the person inside, carried a different meaning.

He followed the Maid inside. To the side was a table laden with exquisite delicacies, but Yun Mengshang sat at a stone table, playing her zither.

A beauty under the moonlight. Chen Dong was momentarily stunned. Yun Mengshang was not dressed as casually as usual. She had changed into a luxurious, flowing white dress, with an exquisite hairpin in her hair and beautiful jeweled earrings dangling from her crystal-clear earlobes.

Chen Dong listened quietly, the mood of the music making his heart ache with bitterness.

When the song ended, Yun Mengshang stood up and looked at Chen Dong. "I've thought about it. No matter why you've come, I feel a closeness to you that I don't with anyone else. I think…"

Chen Dong interrupted with a smile, "The Xuan Yuan Purple Reishi has arrived!" He took out the jade box and handed it to Yun Mengshang.

Yun Mengshang's face bloomed like a flower, her smile radiant. She suddenly rushed over and threw her arms around Chen Dong.

Her only worry had been laid to rest. She didn't want to question Chen Dong's mysteries at this moment. As long as Aunt Qiu's injuries were healed, the Demon Race would surely not dare to invade.

Yun Mengshang wrapped her arms around Chen Dong's neck, the determination in her hazy eyes growing stronger.

She spoke softly, "Li Xu, will you be my husband?"

Chen Dong sighed inwardly. 'If she knew I was from the Human Race, would she still be able to say such things?'

"I… I can't!" Suppressing the grief in his heart, Chen Dong uttered the words as if in a trance.

The light seemed to drain from Yun Mengshang's eyes, as if she'd lost her soul. This was an answer she had never expected. 'If Chen Dong has a goal,' she thought, 'wouldn't marrying me be the best way to achieve it?'

In a panic, Yun Mengshang demanded, "Why?"

Chen Dong just shook his head slightly.

Yun Mengshang pressed, "Is it because of your goal? As long as you don't harm the Fox Demon Race, I'll allow it! I'll allow you anything!"

"Wait…" Chen Dong had wanted to say he would tell her after she comprehended her Divine Techniques, but he realized that once the Fox Demon Race's Second Elder was healed, she would have plenty of time to do so.

He knew perfectly well that everything should have ended the moment he handed over the Xuan Yuan Purple Reishi. But still, he didn't want it to. He couldn't bear it.

Gently pushing Yun Mengshang away, Chen Dong said flatly, "I am from the Human Race!"

A panicked look of betrayal flashed in Yun Mengshang's eyes. She immediately retorted, "I don't believe you! The demonic aura on your body can't be faked. You're clearly a member of the Demon Race!"

Chen Dong continued, speaking as if to himself, "I came here to relieve the pressure on the Human Race. The Demon Race seems to have found a way to break through the Guardian Array, and your race cannot be allowed to ally with them. I came to sabotage your marriage alliance with the Demon Race…"