The Empress's Gigolo

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Pingfeng Valley housed over ten families. Smoke from the kitchen chimneys rose straight into the air at around four in the afternoon.

An old lady holding a walking stick stood at the entrance of the valley with a young girl for quite some time before slowly making their way down.

“Master, is the person who stays here very powerful?” The young girl tried to help the old lady, but was fended off by the old lady instead.

“You can do whatever you like at home, but don’t do this when we’re outside. I’ve not aged to the point where I can’t walk.”

Following which, the old lady answered, “If it wasn’t for the injury that he sustained during the numerous continuous wars back then which damaged his foundations, he would probably already have attained the Spirited Wheel level. With his innate skill, how could he possibly be stuck at the Earth Wheel level without any progress…”

As she was speaking, it seemed as if that youth had appeared right in front of her again. He always carried a paper umbrella, revealed a dimple when he smiled, and was a little bashful.

Back then, she was in her twenties, which was the prime of her life.

Unfortunately, she suffered the sleight of nature.

“How awesome.” That young girl stuck her tongue out. There were only 13 Spirit Wheels in the entire Tianjing Basin.

This person should presumably be someone who was famous back in the day.

The old lady walked very slowly, as if she was appreciating the scenery around her. At the same time, she was adjusting her state of mind.

The duo walked along the small road for an hour before they finally arrived at the entrance of the village.

When a few kids saw strangers approaching, they looked at them with curiosity before all of them of scattered, leaving behind only one little boy with vertically braided hair. He was bare bottomed and ran in front of the duo with his mucus flowing. With his dirty hands, he rubbed his nose and asked, “Who are you looking for?”

“Does Changtian stay here?” The old lady smiled.

“There’s no such person here!” the little boy replied after some hesitation.

“Oh!” The old lady nodded and continued walking forward.

“I already said that there is no such person, so what are you still doing?” the little boy asked curiously as he followed beside them. He raised his hand, wanting to grab the young girl’s clothes, but he was a little hesitant. The material that her clothes were made from wasn’t something that people in this village would wear.

When the young girl saw his actions, she hurriedly move over to the other side of the old lady. If her clothes were to be touched by his hand, which was covered in mucus, she would probably have to throw them away.

“As long as he isn’t dead, he must be here. Even if he is dead, I want to see his grave,” the old lady replied before turning her head to look at the young girl. “Are you selling this old lady so soon?”

“I’ve realized my mistake, master.” The young girl immediately lowered her head and moved back to the other side of the old lady.

A mucus-stained hand suddenly grabbed ahold of the young girl’s skirt, and she became very upset and on the verge of tears.

“So soft…” The little boy was full of envy as he touched her skirt. After that, he quickly ran back into the village.

“Run quickly Grandpa Chang, an old monster wants to take you away!”

The old lady’s steady pace immediately came to a halt, and she began to sulk.

However, her sullen mood dissipated very quickly, and a light and joyous feeling replaced it. Sure enough, he was still here.

After a while, she stopped in front of a door. She saw an elderly man sitting in the courtyard and pasting paper onto an umbrella.

The elderly man looked around 60 years old. With a headful of white hair that was combed back, he concentrated his attention on performing the handicraft in front of him. After he was done with his work, he placed the umbrella aside, lifted his head and smiled at the old lady.

“Long time no see!”

It had been decades and countless thoughts, but it was all condensed into the phrase, “long time no see!”

“Have you made a breakthrough?” The old lady looked delighted.

“Yes. I originally wanted to mend my foundation, but no matter how much I tried, it was still futile. I gave up after that, worked on some handicraft here everyday, and experienced everything around here. I never thought that I would actually breakthrough. Life is so unpredictable!” Changtian spoke in a very relaxed manner, completely neglecting how dejected he felt back before he had decided to give up everything and come to this village.

“Good, good! You can still outlive me for a couple years. Remember to visit me at my grave every year. I’m afraid of loneliness,” the old lady replied with a trembling voice as her eyes welled up with tears.

“Sure!” Just a simple word from Changtian, but he had already agreed.

After this old lady passed away, he would move to where her grave was and accompany her everyday, just in case she got lonely.

In the courtyard where the elderly man had stayed for decades, the old lady looked at everything. It was as if she wanted to mentally imprint a picture of this place. After that, she sorted out her feelings and said, “The reason I came here is to request for you to come out of the mountains.”

“I’ve no interests in those things anymore,” Changtian replied faintly.

“The Empress of Dayao and the fifth most powerful expert in the world, Qi Zixiao! She is currently in Tianjing Basin,” the old lady said.

After Changtian heard what she said, his facial expression finally changed. The faint smile that was always on his face had also faded. “How many men does she have?”

“Just her and two servants who are at the apex of the Man Wheel level.”

“Who else will be involved?”

“Including you, there will be 17 Spirit Wheel experts. Plus, there will be all the Earth Wheel experts in Tianjing Basin.”

The young girl beside the old lady turned her head to look at her master with her mouth wide open. Weren’t there only 13 famed Spirit Wheel experts? There would only be 14 including this person before them…

“Alright! After I’m done with this umbrella, I’ll follow you down the mountain. I’ve promised someone that I would make this umbrella, and I can’t possibly leave it halfway done.” As the elderly man spoke, he held the paper umbrella in his hand. Even if one were to put down everything, there were bound to be some things that could never be left behind. It wasn’t for himself, but for the thousands of people in Tianjing Basin.

The next day, three shadows stood at the entrance of the valley, turned back, and gazed.

There were tens of families from the village standing somewhere not too far away with packages in their hands.

“Elder Chang, these are the mulberries that you love. I’ve picked some for you and packed them inside. You can enjoy them along the way.”

“Also, these are pastries that I’ve made with basil leaves for you to take with you.”

“Grandpa Chang, come back soon!”

The elderly man took a close look at every one of them and had these unadorned villagers deeply etched in his heart. He then accepted those packages and said, “Don’t send me off any further. I’m leaving and will be back very soon.”

…

On Mount Qingniu, five shadows descended with large strides.

From this group, there were four of them who not only dressed the same, but had similar features as well.

The only difference they had was that one of them had a mole at the left corner of his mouth, while another one had a mole at the right corner of his mouth. The remaining two had a mole at the top and at the bottom of their lips, respectively.

Roar! As a loud cry sounded, the other three men joined in unison. The sound was extremely loud and could even be heard several kilometers away.

All the four-legged beasts on the mountain lay on the ground from intimidation while all of the birds took off into the air.

“Haha! Haha! I never expected that there would be a day like this where all four of us join forces!”

“Just in time to visit that bunch of cuckolds to see how many of them actually still survive!”

…

In the Golden Ring Residence, Zhan Changkong, Painting Fairy, and all the attendants were standing in front of the residence.

At present, everyone had a different perspective of Ren Baqian compared to what they originally had. Everyone was holding a weapon, and their killing intent permeated the entire place.

“Xuhuan, after we’re gone, the residence will be depending on you,” Zhan Changkong ordered.

“Warlord, why not let me go? You and madam can stay here.” The person speaking was a man in his thirties.

“Since we’ve decided to do something, we must give it all we’ve got. This matter affects everyone in Tianjing Basin, so how can I be afraid to lose my life? Moreover… given your innate skill, I’m hopeful that you will break through to the Spirit Wheel level in the future.

Also, if Caixian returns, take good care of her.”

Painting Fairy’s gaze was soft and gentle as she looked at her husband give out orders.

…

In Wangbei City, the door to the most centrally located residence opened. A dignified looking middle-aged man walked out with big strides as tens of men and women decked in armor and helmets followed behind.

In front of him, there was a force of a few hundred cavalry.

The middle-aged man glanced ahead, turned around, and said, “Come here, Zihe.”

“Father!” A combative-looking young man took large strides forward.

“If I don’t make it back, the North Alliance will be counting on you,” the middle-aged man said in a low voice. During the night before, he had already informed his son about each and every important person in the North Alliance as well as who could and couldn’t be trusted. Regardless of whether he would make it back alive, at least his son would have a countermeasure for dealing with the situation.

However, before they were about to set off, he still didn’t completely feel at ease.

“Father, you must return safely! Let me wish you a victorious return!” the young man declared brightly and clearly.

“Haha! We’re facing the fifth most powerful expert in the world, Qi Zixiao. Who dares to say that they can come back alive?” The middle-aged man laughed. He hesitated for a moment before slowly raising his hand and touched the young man’s head. This was the first time he had touched his son’s head like that since he was five years old.

“Father!” The young man’s eyes began to swell.

“You’re behaving like a girl!” the middle-aged man scolded. He couldn’t bear to see his son like this.

A few of the armored ladies behind them immediately glared at him.

“Let’s go! Set off!” the middle-aged man ordered in a deep voice.

All of the cavalry ahead straightened their bodies and cheered, “North Alliance!”

…

Southern Metropolis, Green Bell Flower, Lingshan Sect, Manxing Pavilion, Nine Blades Sect, Death Toad Sect…

Regardless of whether they were famous or not, regardless of whether they were a well known sect in Tianjing Basin or a gang that resided in the marketplace that everyone scorned, regardless of whether they belonged to the higher class of the three factions or were elders who lived in seclusion in the mountains…

Countless hot blooded people throughout all of Tianjing Basin held their freshly polished weapons, lifted up their hopes that had long been hidden away, and rushed toward their target.