Chapter 39

Actually, Chu Yan and Su Xishuang have been good friends for many years, different from Su Muyan.

Over the years, Chu Yan has lived a life of hardship, and Su Xishuang has taken good care of him. Chu Yan has always regarded Su Xishuang as his older sister.

The two came to a tavern. Su Xishuang is a very generous woman. She drank a cup of wine alone first and glanced at Chu Yan: "Muyan must have caused you a lot of trouble this time, right? I heard she seemed to have angered you a few days ago."

Chu Yan also took a sip and said, "I was quite angry, but there's nothing I can do. She is your sister, what can I do? Over these years, the mystic stones for cultivation that Changlong Kingdom gave you, you secretly gave to me. Your kindness over these years, if I were so petty, you would be underestimating me, Chu Yan."

Su Xishuang nodded in relief: "But seriously, are you really going to participate in this year's Ten Thousand Sects Recruitment?"

Chu Yan thought of his promise with Liu Qingcheng and nodded: "Yes, I will."

"Why not go back to the Wilderness directly? The Wilderness hasn't participated in the Ten Thousand Sects Grand Ceremony for a hundred years. I heard they will participate this time. Wouldn't it be better if you represented the Wilderness?"

"Forget it, you don't know me. The Wilderness isn't mine, it's that old man's, and it has nothing to do with me. Ever since he didn't save my mother, I have nothing to do with him." Chu Yan's face was solemn, and after taking a sip of wine, he said heavily, "But I will go back to the Wilderness. My mother's efforts are there, and to save her, I must stand above the Wilderness, at a level higher than the Wilderness. I will definitely defeat him."

"You, who have everything in the world, insist on making things hard for yourself."

"You don't know me either." Chu Yan glanced at Su Xishuang.

"Alright, it's good that you're participating in the Ten Thousand Sects Recruitment. This time, six of the Ten Thousand Sects' top ten have come because of you. I heard that the top-ranked Houtian Sect has also come, probably to recruit you." Su Xishuang said this and then said more seriously to Chu Yan, "But Chu Yan, you must think carefully. Your identity is coveted by the world. Whoever gets Chu Yan is like having the Wilderness as a backing. However, there are also countless people in this world who want to destroy you. Many people will try to kill you during this year's Ten Thousand Sects Recruitment."

Chu Yan smiled indifferently, "Don't worry, I've been chased for the past ten years."

"Is the Old Demon still around?"

"Yes."

Su Xishuang was relieved. In her eyes, she was full of affection for Chu Yan, the kind of affection a sister has for her younger brother: "It's good that the Old Demon is still around. With him protecting you, I can be more at ease."

"Sis!" Chu Yan called out sincerely, lifting his head to look at Su Xishuang: "Over these years, you've taken care of me, and the ten years' promise with my mother has passed. From now on, I can protect you too. You don't have to worry about me all the time. I, Chu Yan, have never forgotten the kindness of these past ten years."

Su Xishuang smiled, recalling how Chu Yan, only a few years old, was entrusted to the Changlong Kingdom's royal family. She used to take Chu Yan and Su Muyan out to play every day. In the blink of an eye, it all seemed so distant.

"Let's talk about you. How is the matter with the Snow Kingdom?" Chu Yan sighed.

Su Xishuang's eyebrows furrowed. She really didn't want to bring it up, but since Chu Yan asked, she knew she couldn't avoid it: "It's fine. Changlong Kingdom and the Snow Kingdom have ceased hostilities and reached a hundred-year treaty. Within a hundred years, both countries will not invade each other."

"The old emperor didn't wrong you?" Chu Yan went straight to the point. He never cared about the war between Changlong Kingdom and the Snow Kingdom, but he was concerned about whether Su Xishuang would become a sacrifice for this ceasefire.

"Of course not. He is my father, how could he wrong me?" Su Xishuang smiled palely and then looked at Chu Yan seriously.

"Chu Yan, I know you don't like Muyan. I won't force you to marry her, but you must promise me to take care of her. This is my only request to you."

"Don't worry, as long as I'm alive, Muyan won't be harmed." Chu Yan nodded, looking at Su Xishuang with a strange gaze. He always felt that things wouldn't be so simple, but he didn't ask more, just hoping that the Snow Kingdom wouldn't harm Su Xishuang.

There are few people in his life that Chu Yan cares about, and Su Xishuang is one of them. If the Snow Kingdom dares to harm Su Xishuang, then Chu Yan doesn't mind burying the Snow Kingdom completely.

Su Xishuang nodded lightly and then left without lingering. After the meal, she set off for the capital.

Before leaving, Su Xishuang looked back at Tianyong City and sighed deeply.

"Chu Yan, I hope you can consider the fifteen years of kindness I've shown you and not let Muyan down... don't let her be harmed."

Su Xishuang turned and left, heading for the capital.

In the territory of the Changlong Kingdom's capital, there are always heavy troops guarding it, especially with the Ten Thousand Sects Recruitment approaching. The area is surrounded by layers of armored cavalry.

In the palace, the grand hall is resplendent. Su Xishuang returned as scheduled.

The current emperor, Su Xishuang and Su Muyan's father, is Su Hao.

At this moment, Su Hao was sitting on the golden dragon throne. When he saw Su Xishuang enter the grand hall, his expression was not good.

In the grand hall, besides Su Hao, there were other people. They were dressed in white robes and had foreign hairstyles. The leader was a young man of outstanding talent, but his eyes revealed a hint of evil.

"Princess Xishuang, we meet again." The young man laughed coldly.

"Why are you here?" Su Xishuang's eyebrows furrowed, and her voice was icy.

"Of course, I must be here. You were supposed to go to the Snow Kingdom for a marriage alliance and marry me, but you fled in the middle of the night. This has made me lose face in the Snow Kingdom." The young man laughed.

Beside the young man, an envoy coldly said, "Emperor Su Hao, you must give an explanation to the Snow Kingdom for this matter."

"Prince Yunlong, and the people of the Snow Kingdom, please calm down. Let me question this wicked daughter first."

Su Hao looked at Su Xishuang coldly and said coldly, "Do you still have the nerve to come back? Because of you, the hundred-year ceasefire agreement that was about to be reached has fallen through. Now the Snow Kingdom is mobilizing its troops and will soon attack our Changlong Kingdom!"

Su Xishuang's body trembled slightly, and she clenched her hands. But at that moment, she suddenly lifted her head and said to Su Hao, "Father, I came back to tell you that I agree to the agreement with the Snow Kingdom. I agree to the marriage alliance and will marry Prince Yunlong."

"You agree?" Su Hao's expression softened slightly, and he nodded in satisfaction: "This is how you should be, a child of the Su family. A child of the Su family should make sacrifices for the world!"

"But Father, before this, I have one condition. You must agree to it, or I will commit suicide right here." Su Xishuang took out a dagger and placed it at her throat.

"You are threatening me with death?" Su Hao stood up in anger.

"I dare not, but you must agree to this request, or I will die rather than marry into the Snow Kingdom." Su Xishuang insisted.

Su Hao was furious. Yunlong and the people of the Snow Kingdom were smirking. Yunlong was the third prince of the Snow Kingdom, not favored, but because of his exceptional talent, he was fortunate to join the second-ranked Shanhai Sect, making him a prominent figure and a candidate for the next emperor of the Snow Kingdom.

Because of this, the Snow Kingdom's power has grown significantly in recent years, far surpassing the Changlong Kingdom. To avoid being destroyed, Su Hao chose the marriage alliance. If he could, he really didn't want to marry Su Xishuang to a foreign country, given her exceptional talent. But Yunlong specifically requested Su Xishuang, leaving him with no choice.

"Speak!"

"I hope Father will agree to allow Muyan to participate in this year's Ten Thousand Sects Recruitment." Su Xishuang bit her lip and said.

Su Hao's expression became even worse. He angrily slapped the dragon throne, causing it to dent: "Nonsense! Muyan should join the Changlong Sect. Su Che is already making arrangements for this!"

"If Father does not agree, then I will commit suicide here today." Su Xishuang said. She had already made up her mind to sacrifice herself for Muyan when she returned from Tianyong City. Today, no matter what, she must ensure that Muyan participates in the Ten Thousand Sects Recruitment, because she understood that only by joining the Ten Thousand Sects could one avoid becoming a pawn in the power games of the nobility.

Su Hao clenched his fists, and Yunlong laughed evilly: "Uncle Su, if Princess Xishuang insists and you refuse, then there is nothing to discuss about the marriage alliance. I will leave now. Tomorrow, our ceasefire agreement will be officially canceled. After the Ten Thousand Sects Recruitment, we will see who wins and who loses."

Su Hao was furious. The Changlong Kingdom was no match for the Snow Kingdom now. He had to clench his fists and shout, "Nephew Yunlong, wait a moment. I agree to this. Please wait a little while, and I will say goodbye to my daughter. Then you can take her back to the Snow Kingdom."

Yunlong smiled in satisfaction and nodded: "Alright!"

Next, only Su Hao and Su Xishuang were left in the grand hall.

On the dragon throne, Su Hao looked at Su Xishuang helplessly: "It's just the two of us now. What do you want to say, just say it."

"Father, I have nothing to say. I know that the Changlong Kingdom is your life's work, and I am willing to sacrifice for it."

"Do you hate me?" Su Hao suddenly asked.

Su Xishuang laughed bitterly and shook her head: "Born in the nobility, die for the nobility. I knew this was my fate long ago. But Father, I have one piece of advice. The Snow Kingdom has ulterior motives. Over the years, we have supported them, but it has become a case of nurturing a tiger to our own detriment. This marriage alliance is just a temporary solution. I can sacrifice, but it won't solve the fundamental problem. If we want to change the current situation of the Changlong Kingdom, we have one more path to take."

"What path?" Su Hao became serious.

Su Xishuang lifted her head and said, word by word:

"Chu Yan!"

"Getting Chu Yan can save the Changlong Kingdom from its difficulties!"