65: Chapter 65 I am his Empress

"These mountains and rivers are what he once protected."

"Since I am his Queen, what does it matter if I die while defending this land for him?"

She turned her gaze toward Zhuge Jinyu, a flicker of pity for a fellow sufferer flashing in her eyes.

"But you, you don't need to come with me."

"Why?"

"This is the West China region, how can I, Zhuge Jinyu..."

"You have a more important place to go."

Su Daji's voice suddenly rose.

"First, the Heroic Spirit Contract Ceremony is imminent, and the Transcendent Heroic Spirits of the Western Alliance are watching like hawks."

"The West China Hall of Valor must have top-tier combat power presiding over it to avoid appearing weak before others."

"This concerns the national dignity; there is no room for error."

She stepped closer, her seductive phoenix eyes staring intently into Zhuge Jinyu's fox-like eyes.

Every word pierced the heart.

"Second, and most importantly."

"Zhuge Jinyu, my man's ashes are scattered in the Imperial Mausoleum, while the cenotaphs of Cang Mingyue and Mirror Lord's men are submerged in the Eastern Sea."

"If we die, it will be a sacrifice for love."

"We would be going to the underworld to find our husbands."

"But what about you?"

Su Daji's gaze fell upon Zhuge Jinyu's chest, as if she wanted to pierce through her robes to see that shattered ancient mirror.

"Your 'Mister' has never truly been confirmed dead."

"Though the mirror broke and the person vanished, his death is merely your conjecture."

"You still have a chance, Zhuge Jinyu."

"You still have a slim chance to find your soul within the mirror, to find your beloved."

"But as for us..."

A sorrowful smile appeared on Su Daji's exquisite face.

It carried a hint of self-mockery and a touch of composure.

"My King died before my eyes long ago."

"Aside from falling together with these mountains and rivers that he loved..."

"We have no path left to walk, no thoughts left to cherish."

"Therefore, you must live."

"Zhuge Jinyu, live out the rest of your life well."

"If there is a chance to meet your Mister again..."

"See for us what it looks like when the world is stable, when husband and wife are in love, and when grandchildren play around one's knees."

After speaking, Su Daji gave Zhuge Jinyu a deep look.

That look was complex and hard to decipher.

There was envy, and there was a warning.

She turned around.

Her crimson, exquisite body transformed into a ball of burning flames.

She stepped resolutely into the mist at the edge of the secret realm.

She never looked back again.

...

Three days later, Jianghai City, Huayu Association Branch.

Inside the simple and elegant study, sandalwood incense curled in the air.

Su Chen received a warm-to-the-touch jade plaque engraved with a feather-like pattern and an ancient-looking red sandalwood box from Teacher Wang Jin's hands.

"Congratulations on officially joining the society, Su Chen."

Teacher Wang Jin was wearing a professional suit today that perfectly accentuated her explosive figure, with black stockings under a white lining wrapping her plump, long legs.

She leaned against the desk, a slender cigarette held casually between her fingertips, her seductive eyes full of appreciation for Su Chen.

She pointed at the jade plaque.

"Su Chen, this is the member token of my Huayu Association. It can be bound with a drop of blood and contains 1,000 initial contribution points, which can be exchanged for resources in the organization's vault."

"And inside this wooden box is the standard benefit for promising newcomers: an A-rank extraordinary item."

Su Chen opened the wooden box, inside which lay a staff about half an arm's length long.

The staff was dark purple throughout, made of an unknown material, with an egg-sized deep blue gemstone embedded at the top.

"This is your newcomer gift, an A-rank extraordinary item—the 'spirit language staff'."

Teacher Wang Jin paused and glanced at Su Chen, her tone carrying a hint of apology.

"Logically, with your S-rank evaluation, you should have had a more suitable reward."

"But recently, the organization's resource allocation has been tight, and weapon-type extraordinary items suitable for your 'Master of Five Weapons' talent are temporarily out of stock."

"Once a suitable extraordinary item appears, regardless of its level, the organization will issue it to you immediately."

"Additionally, although this staff isn't suitable for direct combat, it contains pure spiritual energy."

"Whether used to assist in cultivation or exchanged for contribution points in the internal trading area, it's a good choice."

Su Chen's face remained calm, but his heart was filled with wild joy.

A staff?

Not suitable for combat?

It didn't matter.

All he wanted was the phrase 'extraordinary item'.

"Thank you, Teacher Wang. I am very satisfied."

Su Chen took the wooden box. He suppressed the urge to immediately 'top up' it to the system and carefully put the box away.

Jiang Luoli stood by his side.

Today she had changed into casual clothes convenient for travel, yet it was still difficult to hide her proud figure.

At this moment, seeing Su Chen happily accept this extraordinary item that was completely unsuited for him, a bit more loneliness appeared in her phoenix eyes.

"Xiao Chen, you..."

Su Chen looked up and gave Jiang Luoli a warm smile.

"Senior, any extraordinary item has its value."

"Even if it's not suitable for me, it can be exchanged for many contribution points within the organization, right?"

"Moreover, I actually quite like its design."

Teacher Wang Jin blew a smoke ring and smiled.

"Young man, you have a good mindset."

"Contribution points can indeed be exchanged, but A-rank items are hard to come by. I suggest you consider it carefully."

"Alright, it's getting late. You should head to the airport so you don't miss your flight to Jinguan City."

Jiang Luoli nodded and naturally took Su Chen's arm again.

"Let's go, Xiao Chen."

"The slot for the Jinguan City contract ceremony was something I snatched for you."

Seeing the two walk away, Teacher Wang Jin took another hard drag from her pipe.

"What the hell is going on..."

"It's not like there aren't suitable extraordinary items in the organization, but why did that person insist on forcing a staff onto this kid?"

Su Chen and Jiang Luoli bid farewell to Teacher Wang Jin and left the Huayu Association.

They didn't know that shortly after they left, a figure appeared sneakily in the shadows near the branch.

It was Su Zixi.

He had originally come here today according to the Huayu Association's instructions to complete his formalization procedures and receive a slot to participate in the Heroic Spirit Contract Ceremony in Jinguan City.

However.

Upon arriving at the Huayu Association, Su Zixi learned that the slot he thought was a sure thing had already been taken by another 'promising newcomer'.

Resentment filled his heart. As he was about to leave, he happened to see Su Chen holding Jiang Luoli's hand as they left the entrance of the Huayu Association, with the newcomer benefit that should have belonged to him in his hand.

At this moment, no matter how stupid he was, he understood.

"Su Chen... why you?"

"Why is it that a jinx like you can awaken an S-rank talent, get Jiang Luoli's favor, and even the slot for Jinguan City is yours?"

Through his family connections and the network he had built up in the Huayu Association reserves, he had just found out a piece of news that almost drove him mad.

Su Chen had not only officially joined the society but had also received an A-rank extraordinary item as a reward.

Furthermore, he was about to head to Jinguan City with Jiang Luoli to participate in that once-every-five-years Heroic Spirit Contract Ceremony.

Su Zixi had coveted that slot for a long time.

He thought it was within his grasp, only to have it intercepted halfway by Su Chen.

"No, I will never let you have your way."