As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 267 Once the world is unified, will you want to be with me?

Inside the restaurant, the child was already fast asleep.

She has always been obedient, and she has always strictly adhered to Mingchen's advice to go to bed early and get up early.

A series of ethereal sounds came from the sea not far away, and huge whales were seen rising from the water at night, rarely seen by anyone.

The puppy, who was dozing on the ground, raised its head, and the little snake, bird, and fox also paused for a moment, looking in the same direction.

The people only had a vague feeling about it.

However, these demons are far more perceptive than mortals.

They could feel the direction of the sea, the immense power of heaven and earth, and the boundless might ripple outwards, as vast as the ocean, washing over their spirit wave after wave.

It must be something that Mingchen did, or something that the alliance leader did.

Mingchen is a troublemaker; he always manages to cause all sorts of messy things.

The little snake and the little bird had already gotten used to it.

The little fox narrowed its eyes, seemingly quite interested.

It knew that Bei Lie Na Hu Jun was extraordinary, but it didn't expect to meet another one after arriving in the territory of the Jing Lan Alliance.

As she pondered, the little bird approached and asked the little fox with some curiosity, "Hua Rong, can you transform into human form?"

With Mingchen absent, these demons had the opportunity to be alone and communicate.

Mingchen is a womanizer.

The little fox, who has no scruples about demons, clearly has the potential to become a friend.

Long Lian is the same; it's practically a done deal, but she's too reserved and too shy.

There hasn't been a suitable opportunity for Long Lian to go to the battlefield yet.

"Transfiguration?"

The little fox squinted at the little bird: "Why are you asking that?"

Throughout their journey, Fuyao and Mingchen never made love.

However, Hua Rong was very clever and could tell from the journey that the two demons had a close relationship with Ming Chen.

It's not just a simple, ordinary companion relationship; it's a deeper, more profound love and a fusion of body and soul.

Humans and demons...

Race may be a barrier, but the chasm of time is hard to bridge.

What about a hundred years from now?
Their passionate love has turned to ashes; what will become of them?

"curious."

The little fox tilted its head, not bothering to hide anything: "I can, but... I've forgotten what I look like."

"Huh? You forgot?"

The little bird was taken aback, seemingly not quite understanding what she was saying.

How could I possibly forget what I look like?
The little fox didn't explain anything.

His eyes flickered, and his magical power flowed.

A dim red light emanated from the little fox, its soft fur rippling like ocean waves.

Its form shifted and gradually enlarged.

In the blink of an eye, the petite little fox gradually grew into a graceful and slender person.

She wore a fur-lined brocade robe, boldly revealing her collarbone, her figure graceful and alluring, her long hair flowing like a waterfall.

Graceful and dignified, with a slender waist and full figure, and a shapely figure.

Judging from her figure alone, she must be a stunning beauty.

However, what is horrifying is that despite her stunningly beautiful figure, her face was completely blank—no eyes, no nose, no mouth… nothing at all.

The art of transforming one's appearance has reached its pinnacle.

She can transform into any person or thing in the world if she wants, perfectly without any flaws, even the gods cannot fathom her.

However, the price of using this transformation technique too often is that she no longer remembers what she originally looked like.

It doesn't seem to matter; she can be anything.

When Lao Shu taught Mingchen the art of changing his appearance, he also advised him against some taboos, otherwise he would forget what he looked like.

I don't know if it's related to the little fox.

Anyway, the little bird was now staring blankly at the faceless man.

This fox spirit has a nice figure, but she has no face. How can someone without a face be a friend?

Do you want her to change her face?
That still feels a bit awkward...

The little fox, unaware of the yellow fertilizer in this guy's brain, simply shrugged indifferently and transformed back into its little fox form.

Its mindset is different from that of Fuyao and Long Lian.

In her view, leaving with Mingchen was just another journey.

At most, a hundred years will pass before Mingchen disappears from its life.

From the moment it arrived, it was prepared for separation.

Just like leaving Qin Xuan.

Wandering freely between heaven and earth, Mingchen was always just an interesting passerby.

……

Mingchen had no idea what had happened to the monsters in the restaurant.

I simply sat by the sea, keeping the Alliance Leader company.

When the music ended, everything returned to calm.

Just now, the sea surged, and a giant whale roared as it surged out of the water, a truly awe-inspiring sight.

However, Mingchen's expression remained unchanged.

He's gotten used to it.

In ancient times, the appearances of heroes and great figures were always accompanied by supernatural phenomena. Few emperors from the Liu family at the beginning had normal lives; dragons, the sun… even their own fathers only played supporting roles. Rulers perhaps needed these supernatural events to exaggerate their own special status.

Mingchen has never seen these things true or false, nor will he comment on them.

In this era, whether it was the seal of the human king, their own spirit, or the spirit of the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers, he truly saw it.

When His Majesty made his oath, golden scales leaped into the blue sky.

Behind the Tiger King of Beilie, a fierce tiger roared.

Now, the leader of the alliance, who has suffered a setback, has once again summoned the giant whale.

Recorded in history books, it is another legendary story. In another era, they might have been the dazzling protagonists.

Now that they've all come together, a fight is likely brewing.

Mingchen suddenly turned to Hong Ling Shuang and asked, "Do you regret it?"

Hong Ling Shuang raised an eyebrow: "Regret?"

Hong Ling Shuang didn't know which aspect of her regret Ming Chen was asking her about.

Have they left the archipelago?
Or did they just court disaster by raising the Zhu You Gang?
If she hadn't left the archipelago, perhaps none of this mess would have happened. The conflicts on the mainland wouldn't have affected her, and perhaps the archipelago would have remained peaceful until her death, and Chen Jun wouldn't have died in this internal strife in such a muddled way.

"not regret."

Not only did she not regret it, she would continue to plot and seize opportunities to fight... She would not be content with that.

Chen Jun's situation was a blow to her, but it wouldn't stop her from moving forward.

She will grow, learn, and become better from this setback.

Mingchen then asked, "What if we lose?"

Hong Ling Shuang smiled nonchalantly: "If I lost, I lost."

The full moon shone brightly, its silvery light illuminating the beautiful woman's face. Mingchen turned to look at her and said, "When everything is over and the world is unified, will you want to be with me?"

He was incredibly greedy; it would be such a waste not to take such a beautiful songstress home and have her sing for him.
"With you? What for?"

"Playing the zither and singing songs, carefree and at ease."

Hong Ling Shuang had no idea she might fail; she simply looked at Ming Chen with a rather arrogant expression and said, "Fine, you want the leader of the alliance who will unify the world to play the zither and sing for you?"

"Isn't it possible?"

"Hmph, you're being a bit greedy!"

The Alliance Leader puffed out his chest, his breasts heaving, and declared with unwavering confidence, "The great musician Hong Ling Shuang is a treasure belonging to all the people of the world!"

"If Ling Shuang wants, I can reluctantly let others hear it."

Hong Ling Shuang rolled her eyes at him: "I wanted you to stay in Jing Lan, but you wouldn't. Now you're talking about playing the zither and singing? What makes you think you can?"

"Hmm... is this enough?"

Mingchen pulled out a conch shell from somewhere and handed it to Hong Lingshuang.

Before they had even met, Hong Ling Shuang sent him a conch shell via a messenger.

Now, he also gave Hong Ling Shuang a conch shell.

Seashells hold special significance for the people of the islands.

The current situation is almost the same as giving an engagement ring.

Hong Ling Shuang stared at the conch shell for a moment, momentarily stunned.

Do you know what this thing means to the islanders?

"Ling Shuang gave them all to me, of course I know that!"

Including this time, they have only met five times in total.

When she gave Mingchen the conch shell, it was probably more of a flirtatious gesture.

So what does this gift from Mingchen mean?

Hong Ling Shuang put away the conch shell, looked at the vast ocean in the distance, and said softly, "If I'm not dead, then we'll talk about it."

Mingchen smiled and didn't say anything more.

Time flowed slowly as the two sat on the beach, quietly watching the waves crash against the shore.

Right now, they are just an ordinary man and woman, 'Mingchen' and 'Hong Lingshuang'.

Both knew that when the sun rose tomorrow, Mingchen would embark on his journey home, returning to Jiqu to become the Marquis of Jing'an of Qianyuan, assisting the emperor of Qianyuan in his quest for supremacy.

The Alliance Leader will also cast aside all the sadness and vulnerability of tonight, sit in the Alliance Leader's seat, shoulder the responsibility of all those who follow her, promote new talents to fill vacancies, and once again exert her political wisdom to dance in the cracks between great powers, seeking that elusive opportunity to ascend to heaven.

Perhaps, they will become fierce rivals in the future.

If time could stand still a little longer at this moment, that would be wonderful.

Unbeknownst to them, the Alliance Leader gently leaned on Mingchen's shoulder, lost in thought.

In the past twenty years, this kind of feeling is the first time I've experienced it.

It just so happened to fall on this person whom I had only met five times.

Neither of them slept that night.

A gentle sea breeze caressed my face.

Before I knew it, the full moon’s glow grew fainter and fainter, and the dark night sky gradually brightened, and dawn broke.

The sun slowly rises from the sea level.

Time waits for no one; a new day dawns, and it's time to say goodbye.

"Ling Shuang, let's go!"

Mingchen stood up and dusted off the sand on his body.

He was in good health and remained energetic even after staying up all night.

Hong Ling Shuang glanced at him, her eyes seemingly devoid of any reluctance or sadness, even waving her hand dismissively, saying, "Go on, go on!"

Mingchen wasn't annoyed; he just smiled and said, "If you need anything, feel free to contact me anytime."

"I'm still willing to listen to you."

I was looking for you, but by the time you arrived, it was too late!
Seeing this person's grinning face, the embarrassing situation of losing control last night also replayed in her mind.

The Alliance Leader's ears turned red without him realizing it, and his voice rose several decibels: "Get out of here!!!"

Very good, very energetic.

He's still the same arrogant and unrestrained leader, always spouting vulgarities.

Mingchen laughed heartily, waved his hand, and then turned and left without hesitation.

Although their meeting was brief, they were among the rarest people who could truly connect. In just five meetings, they developed a deeper understanding than many who had been together for decades.

Meeting is simple, parting is just as straightforward.

Mingchen's figure disappeared from sight.

There was only one person left on the beach again.

Hong Ling Shuang then lowered her head and quietly looked at the jade flute and conch shell in her hand.

When will we meet again?

The next time we meet, I will be full of vigor and confidence, and I will never let him see me in such a sorry state again!
……

"Guest, aren't you... going to stay a few more days?"

The city of Bailing is in complete chaos right now, and after meeting with Hong Ling Shuang, Ming Chen doesn't want to stay any longer.

They returned to prepare to leave with the children and the group of monsters.

The old man seemed to have not slept all night, and his expression was somewhat complicated when he saw Mingchen.

Worried? Fearful? Anticipating?

By piecing together his memories, he finally learned who this Marquis of Jing'an really was!

That was a god-like person who actually appeared in his ordinary restaurant, and even talked to him so much and had so much interaction with him... He didn't know whether it was a blessing or a curse.

What is the Marquis of Jing'an, who is thousands of miles away, doing in Bailing City?
Is it a good thing or a bad thing?

Could the chaos that has occurred in the Zhu You Gang these past few days be related to him?

The alliance and Qian Yuan are allies now, but the future... is hard to say.

Such high and mighty people can turn a mere grain of sand that slips through their fingers into a boulder, crushing those below them to dust.

Did Mingchen mean that he should move to Jiqu?

Mingchen still misses the days when he interacted with this old man as an equal.

Seeing the man's fearful and apprehensive appearance, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

There are some thick barriers, after all.

"I won't stay any longer, shopkeeper, I'm leaving now."

"Wishing you booming business."

He waved to the old man with the child in his arms and then walked out of the restaurant.

Once outside, Xiu Die felt like she had done something wrong, and confessed to Ming Chen, "Brother, I told him about you."

"Oh?"

Mingchen didn't actually care about his identity being exposed.

He never tried to hide anything.

He was more concerned about why his usually quiet child had blurted out, "What are you thinking?"

"I believe that he is a man of integrity for taking the risk to welcome my brother into the building. We might as well tell him the truth so that he won't feel uneasy. My brother is not someone of unknown identity; he is the Marquis of Jing'an!"

Shy Butterfly didn't know what she was thinking.

Even the Alliance Leader and the Northern Emperor treated his elder brother with respect, so this old man's welcoming of Mingchen into the restaurant was as if he had taken on a huge problem.

She looked a little awkward.

Perhaps, she also didn't want her esteemed brother to be seen by others as a bandit of unknown origin.

Mingchen patted her head and said with a smile, "And the result? The result is that the shop owner is even more terrified, right?"

"Um……"

"You might as well lie to him and say that I am a high-ranking official in the league; that would put him at ease."

"Oh……"

Mingchen and his group left decisively.

The old man was anxious for two days, and the chaos in Bailing City gradually subsided.

Suddenly, the Alliance guards entered the restaurant.

The old man was so frightened that he trembled violently and knelt down on the ground.

I thought it was about Mingchen that had been exposed.

The guard was not arrogant; his expression was calm as he said to the old man, "Shopkeeper, we've heard that you've received a new dish from a remarkable person. Our leader would like to try it, and if it's delicious, he will reward you handsomely."

The old man was startled and looked up in disbelief.

He hurriedly replied, "Yes, sir! I'll do it right away!"

The shopkeeper, who had been anxiously waiting for so long, seemed to have finally received the 'golden signboard' that Mingchen had promised earlier.

……

Having left Bailing City, Mingchen had finished the last matter of his trip.

He was eager to return home, and rode the white wolf at full speed towards his house.

Once they left the territory of the Jinglan Alliance, the scenery before them was completely different.

The Blood-Clad Army breached Yueyang City, the Chen Kingdom was destroyed, and Dong Zhenghong disappeared.

Logically speaking, the territory of Chen should belong to Qi.

However, after the Blood-Clad Army breached Yueyang City, they seemed to be unable to continue northward, let alone send anyone to govern it.

The Great Qi was already plagued by internal strife due to bureaucratic management problems and resource scarcity.

The Jinglan Alliance then marched south and occupied the three passes of Qianyuan.

This led to chaos in the northern border, with those caught between the Jinglan Alliance and the Great Qi not knowing which side they belonged to.

Some ambitious individuals seized the opportunity to rise up in rebellion, occupying territory and becoming independent warlords, leading to constant chaos.

The poorest people could no longer survive; they either lived in a daze, were plundered, or were killed.

Either you can only join one side and drift along like duckweed.

Humans are no different from livestock in their daily lives.

Bandits roamed freely, and savages indulged in plundering and rape, causing moral decay and widespread famine.

Within this narrow space lies a world utterly devoid of rules and order.

Along the way, Mingchen witnessed many tragic scenes that existed only in his imagination, yet were still shocking.

"Young master, are we still going to Yueyang?"

They killed another group of bandits.

Blood flowed like a river, and corpses littered the ground.

The burly man, now lifeless, had a ferocious expression on his face, with a roasted human hand bone still dangling from his mouth.

Not far away, a pot of oil was steaming, and inside lay a lifeless child.

The refugees paid no attention to Mingchen and his group; instead, their eyes gleamed with greed as they frantically ran toward the oil cauldron.

Fuyao looked at the silent Mingchen and kept asking questions.

Is it right or wrong?
In a sense, Mingchen also contributed to the chaos that exists in the world today.

He was not a compassionate person, but he carried a responsibility, and seeing this scene left him speechless.

The rise of dynasties and their hegemony are accompanied by countless deaths and broken bones.

The decline of the Great Qi was undeniable, and signs of decay were already evident. After eliminating the Chen Kingdom in one fell swoop and eradicating the corrupt and powerful forces accumulated over hundreds of years in the Qian Yuan era, it was time for it to reach its final chapter.

Seeing the devastation in the North, one can understand the current state of the Blood-Clad Army's defeat.

The million-strong army surrounding Yueyang is already the peak of the Blood-Clad Army; the castle in the air will soon collapse.

If he had even a shred of strength, Wang Huai would not have stood idly by and watched such a situation unfold in the northern border.

Mingchen lowered his eyes, seemingly no longer wanting to look at the scenery.

"Let's not go anymore. Hurry up, head west and go straight back to Qian Yuan."

(End of this chapter)