CHAPTER 414
Lost in the Garden
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Leviathan-class Aerial Garden, Residence No. 11.
Peering out from behind the massive sealed doors, Su Lin bounded into the chamber.
"Thanks, Lady Gu Ai~ Su Lin knew you'd be the best, Lady Gu Ai!"
Everyone was so sweet-talking, but Xiao Ai had long since grown accustomed to it.
Others might be sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, but those connected to Su Cheng were all smiling tigers—all smiles on the surface, but ready to gang up on you behind your back!
"Your Highness, since you're out with Xiao Ai, you must follow the plan we agreed upon!"
"When Her Highness travels, she must be accompanied by at least three Valkyries. She cannot sneak out to play on her own."
"This trip is only for observing the Lord from afar. You must not disturb his work, or Xiao Ai will be punished."
"When Xiao Ai is absent, obey Amber's instructions. If necessary, Amber may take measures to ensure your safety—including sending someone to escort you back."
Su Lin didn't buy a word of this nonsense. Punish Xiao Ai?
Hah, her own brother? As if she didn't know him?
"Lord Gu Ai, you jest. Having served as His Majesty's personal attendant for so long, have you ever been punished?"
"The harshest punishment you'd ever get would probably be a gentle pat on the head~"
Xiao Ai understood perfectly well. She wouldn't let herself stay up fuming all night—she had games to play with He Guang tonight~
"Your Highness, please don't tease Xiao Ai. I'm merely a servant. To earn the Lord's favor and ease his burdens is already a blessing beyond measure."
"How could Xiao Ai presume to overstep…"
Due to Her Highness's sudden whim, Xiao Ai had to first escort Su Lin to the mansion before returning to the inner city to "fetch the money."
Xiao Ai now occupied the entire Zhaoxin Hall, the sleeping quarters of the Imperial Palace.
Xiao Ai, accompanied by He Guang and Xiao Nuo, made her way back into the inner city.
The gold-embroidered blanket bore a vivid, spotless pattern of stars and moons.
It had been some time since Xiao Ai had visited. In her memory, Su Cheng would sit in his study reviewing documents while she perched on the outer steps, sharing a row with the sparrows.
Those days were serene, and she cherished them.
Xiao Ai cherished purity, valued wealth, and adored beautiful women~
With money, she could keep many beautiful women~
"Heguang, if you had money, what would you do?"
Following Su Cheng's instructions, Xiao Ai rummaged through the bookshelves, searching for the mechanism he'd described.
The two Valkyries, code-named Dragon Slayer and Calamity, leaned against the desk with smiles on their faces, watching Xiao Ai bustle about searching for the mechanism.
"Me? If I had money, the first thing I'd do is quit this job! Working all day and serving the master at night—my body can't take it anymore!"
Xiao Nuo chuckled. Xiao Ai's fondness for beauties wasn't a recent development. This mansion lacked many things, but it certainly wasn't short on beautiful women~
She had experienced the bedchamber duties before, but she was too busy to appear at the mansion as often as Hakkou. Xiao Ai didn't get many chances to savor her flavor~
Still, if Xiao Ai specifically requested her for the night, she wouldn't refuse~
"If I ever get rich, I'll have Xiao Ai attend to me at night. She'll have to serve her big sister properly~"
Heguang rolled her eyes. Seeing everyone so unsatisfied left her utterly speechless…
But these girls were all older sisters now. Aside from Yu Meng, who had a man, the rest of them…
Xiao Ai smiled, finding the hidden compartment in the bookshelf. Instantly, she beamed with delight!
It was the master's secret stash!
"If it's Sister Xiaonuo~ Xiao Ai wouldn't charge a penny~"
Like closing an open book, or perhaps a folding sliding door, the bookcase slid shut and moved aside, revealing a massive, ink-black safe door.
"Oh? So there really is stashed cash in that groove?"
"My Lord only chooses to tell or not tell. My Lord would never deceive Xiao Ai."
This was an unwritten rule between the personal attendant and the master, equally binding on both parties.
Xiao Ai had the right to refuse answering any question, but Xiao Ai couldn't lie. Because whether it was Xiao Ai or Su Cheng, they trusted each other unconditionally.
"Xiao Ai, you've served as Su Cheng's personal attendant for so long. How could you not know about such a large safe in his study?"
"If my master wishes to keep something from me, I would pretend not to know even if I did."
Heguang rolled her eyes again, thinking to herself that only Xiao Ai could tolerate this. If it were her, the secret stash Su Cheng hid on Monday would be used to buy a coffin by Wednesday.
Xiao Ai reached out as if grasping at air, probing the void until her fingers closed around a rectangular key resembling a memory stick.
The secret key appeared as if carved from polished gemstone—crystal clear and remarkably thin.
Xiao Ai gently pinched the key's tail end, and a pale blue glow began to shimmer across its surface.
"Whoa, this is fancy. First time I've seen a secret key like this. What treasure's hidden inside? Did they stash her stepmom in that groove?"
"Tsk tsk tsk… Hakkou, if Young Master Xiao Ai turns a blind eye, the Queen treats Xiao Ai quite well. You know what I mean…"
"My apologies, Lady Gu Ai. I spoke out of turn."
"One more careless word, and Xiao Ai will tear your mouth off~"
Xiao Ai didn't even turn around. Hakko was just paying lip service. Tear her mouth off? Hah~
Sliding the secret key into its corresponding lock, Xiao Ai rubbed her hands together with blissful anticipation. The Master's stash of hidden money—it's all hers!
Meanwhile, the purge of the Dead Zone in the Eastern Realm remained unfinished—or rather, it had failed.
Clearing the Dead Zone was no easy feat. Ye Qinghan and the other two direct disciples exhausted every trick in their arsenal, yet after a long time, they had only managed to slay fourteen Apostles.
While Ye Qinghan fared relatively better, both junior sisters sustained injuries of varying severity.
Combined with the three Hunters slain by the Immortal Sect forces, the total stood at seventeen Apostles…
The so-called Immortal Alliance, even at full strength, had only advanced halfway. The core region of the black mist remained half the distance away.
But this was not a straightforward path where one merely needed to eliminate enemies ahead.
This was a death trap. Failure to advance swiftly, or being blocked by the Shredders and caught in a pincer attack by surrounding Apostles, would prove fatal.
After this retreat, the crowd fell silent. The so-called Immortal Alliance banner lay on the ground like a tattered rag.
No wails or complaints were heard; instead, a profound silence hung heavy, like a silent scream.
Su Muchan surveyed the remnant force of barely fifty survivors, momentarily at a loss for words. She focused instead on bandaging the wound on her thigh—a bullet fired by the Listener had just pierced her flesh.
Though called bullets, they were merely silver-white pellets resembling small pebbles.
In an instant, Su Muchan lost control of half her body, tumbling from the sky and crashing heavily to the ground.
Had Qi Huan's men not caught her, she would likely have been torn apart by the Apostles…
"Feeling better?"
Ye Qinghan, breaking his usual aloofness, approached and tossed a healing pill to Su Muchan.
"Mm, much better. This must be what Master referred to as the Radiant Light Martial Arts."
"Master never mentioned it. You'd best not speak out of turn."
Ye Qinghan had naturally heard of the so-called Radiant Light Martial Arts too. Both had obtained the information through mind reading, but depending on the situation, the details they gathered were always fragmented.
"I know. Isn't it just you and me?"
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