Chapter 129 - 129 Unexpected Visitors
Lin Ran and the empress looked at each other silently. Ever since the two of them met, they had never looked at each other for so long, as if they wanted to engrave each other’s appearance in their minds.
After an unknown period of time, Lin Ran suddenly smiled. “It’s not that serious. The current Mountain Guardian, Wang Kailin, only has an average cultivation level. It’s impossible for him to find me. Besides, I still have you, right?”
“I guess I didn’t scare you.”
The empress smiled thoughtfully. Suddenly, she thought of something and asked, “By the way, when are you preparing to set off?”
“The sooner the better.”
Lin Ran said without thinking, “There has been too much commotion in the Hidden Sword Pavilion tonight. If Liu Hongshan has been observing in secret, we have to get Xiao Huai to send the sword over as soon as possible. Otherwise, I’m afraid he’ll be suspicious.”
The empress nodded, but there was hesitation in her eyes.
Lin Ran found it strange and teased, “Why? You can’t bear to part with me?”
“Yes, but it’s not me.”
The empress smiled and said seriously, “Yesterday, the imperial hospital came to report that Consort Jin is pregnant.”
“What?!”
Lin Ran’s eyes widened in shock. “Pregnant with my child?!”
“Do you think she can be pregnant with my child?”
The empress rolled her eyes and took a deep breath before saying, “It’s not just Consort Jin. Consort Rong and Consort Xuan are also pregnant. After what happened tonight, I wonder if the babies will be affected… Do you want to go and take a look? After all, they are your children.”
Lin Ran blushed and didn’t say anything. He didn’t know what to feel.
Logically speaking, he should be happy that he suddenly had three children, but when he thought about how these children would not call him father, he felt a little down.
After a long silence, Lin Ran forced a smile. “Forget it. Take good care of them for me first. I’ll visit them when I’m done.”
The empress nodded, as if she was not surprised by this answer. After thinking for a moment, she said, “If you can successfully resolve this matter, it will be a great contribution to the Heavenly Saint Dynasty. At that time, I can become sworn brothers with you and let the children acknowledge you as their godfather.”
“Should I say thank you?”
Lin Ran rolled his eyes angrily.
Then, the two of them discussed a few more details before the empress left Mingzhao Hall in disguise.
Lin Ran called out Huo Qiyun and Xiao Huai and gave them a few simple instructions. Then, the three of them quietly left the palace.
The three of them quickly arrived at the periphery of Mount Sword. Further ahead was the mountain-protecting array formation. Although they could easily enter, it would definitely alert Wang Kailin.
Lin Ran looked up at the sky and instructed, “Rest here for a while. Every day, at 1:15 am, the mountain-protecting array formation will stop for about ten seconds. Let’s take that opportunity to enter.”
“You seem to know a lot.”
Huo Qiyun leaned over to Lin Ran and whispered sarcastically, “It’s not in vain that you guarded Mount Sword for so many years… How does it feel to be a thief?”
Lin Ran rolled his eyes and didn’t say anything. He began to recall the layout of Mount Sword carefully.
Although Lin Ran had been guarding Mount Sword for six years, he spent most of his time cultivating in the mountain.
He could clearly recognize every mountain peak here, but he really did not know much about the encampment of the mountain guardian. He was only brought to visit it by Daoist Li once.
Fortunately, the Sacred Sword Hall was not an ordinary place. Its appearance was definitely different from ordinary buildings. After thinking about it carefully for a moment, Lin Ran had a rough idea of where it was.
“After we enter, split up. Be careful not to be discovered.”
As Lin Ran spoke, he pointed in a direction. “There’s a yard with big peach trees about 700 steps away. Let’s meet there.”
Huo Qiyun and Xiao Huai nodded. Lin Ran said to Xiao Huai, “Follow me later. If you dare to act rashly, don’t blame me for being rude!”
Xiao Huai nodded with hollow eyes. Lin Ran didn’t know if she was listening or not, but he didn’t care. In any case, he had already left black insects on her body. If anything unexpected happened, he could take action immediately.
Then, the three of them hid in the bush. What they had to do next was to wait for the time when the mountain-protecting array formation would stop.
The wait was a long one.
Lin Ran was lying in the bush in boredom when Huo Qiyun leaned his head over. “By the way, congratulations.”
Lin Ran was stunned. “Congratulations for what?”
“Congratulations on you having descendants!”
Huo Qiyun sneered. “I heard your conversation with Sister Empress.”
Only then did Lin Ran react. He blushed and said awkwardly, “Just keep this to yourself. Don’t tell anyone!”
“Of course! I’m not stupid!”
Huo Qiyun rolled his eyes. He paused for a moment and asked softly, “Um… Did you and Sister EMpress… That, that?”
“What?”
Lin Ran was stunned for a moment before he understood. He widened his eyes and said angrily, “What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Is this something a kid like you can ask?”
“Who’s a kid? I’m older than you, okay?”
Huo Qiyun said disdainfully, then his expression turned serious. “In short, I’m warning you. I don’t care about you and those consorts, but if you dare to touch Sister Empress, I’ll fight you…”
Suddenly, Huo Qiyun stopped in mid-sentence.
Lin Ran couldn’t help but find it strange. He turned around and saw Huo Qiyun with his eyes closed and a frown on his face, as if he had seen something strange.
“What’s wrong?”
Lin Ran asked casually. As he spoke, he looked around, but he didn’t find anything unusual.
Huo Qiyun suddenly asked without rhyme or reason, “Do you still remember the person who used a huge sword in Lotus Town?”
Seeing Lin Ran nod, Huo Qiyun continued softly with a strange expression, “He seems to be around here, about 300 steps away from us.”
Lin Ran was stunned. “Why is he here? Are you mistaken?”
“Impossible. I challenged him to a death duel. My sword intent is in his body. There’s no way I can be wrong!”
As Huo Qiyun spoke, he pointed in a direction. Lin Ran immediately spread his divine sense and realized that there was a new shallow ditch where four or five people were lying.
But what was that burly man with the huge sword doing in Mount Sword?
Lin Ran and Huo Qiyun looked at each other and saw confusion and vigilance in each other’s eyes.
No matter what these people were up to, it couldn’t be something good.