The next day, in the inner city of the Dark Shadow Empire, the palace.
Chen Rui wore the mechanic robe robe with the badge of gold-rimmed dual-moon on his chest. He came to the palace and handed the pass that was given by Empress Catherine to the guards at the gate.
The guards showed considerable respect to the Demon Realm’s first trio-specialized mechanic master in 10,000 years. After receiving the pass, a veiled court lady led Chen Rui into the palace.
The royal palace, which symbolized the highest authority of the Dark Shadow Empire, didn’t seem as luxurious as expected. Overall, it felt quaint without seeming poor and fine art could be seen in the subtleties.
The size of the royal palace was quite large, and there were quite complicated mazes which was far from the small palace in the Dark Moon. The court lady took Chen Rui turned around for almost an hour, and they finally came to a secluded courtyard.
“Master, please come in. The Lady will arrive later.” The court lady bowed and retreated.
Chen Rui calmed his mind and walked into the courtyard.
It was a quiet courtyard with many plants and trees, making the place seem full of life. Perhaps under the influence of [Nirvana], these plants were much more lush than normal. Chen Rui gently stroked the trees and thought of Nirvana’s Flame in his body, then he thought of the fiery blood that was fused into his body at that time, and he thought of another type of fusion in that tent…
On the way to the Silent Night Wetland, the talent and temperament of the “noblewoman” had begun to faintly attract him. Later, the sudden incident at the Wyvern’s Lair made their relationship omit the process and reached the end directly. Chen Rui admitted that he was a superficial man. Christina’s perfect appearance and body made him unable to contain himself. In order to protect the woman who made him fall in love with, also his first woman, Chen Rui fought Broc with Demon Emperor strength. Now that he thought it, it was indeed impulsive. (Lust blinded wisdom?)
When he was dying, Christina, who was supposed to kill him, unexpectedly gave him her precious Nirvana’s blood. Perhaps that was impulsive, but it made the red piccolo truly stay in Chen Rui’s heart.
Whenever Nirvana’s Flame was ignited on his body, he would think of her involuntarily. The woman who claimed that they didn’t owe each other and would kill him the next time they met. He wanted to see her again.
Now, when his wish was about to be fulfilled, there was an indescribable feeling in his heart. Expectation, anxiety, nervousness… it couldn’t be described in accurate terms.
Race: Lust Royal Family (Mutated). Comprehensive Strength Assessment: A. Physique: A; Strength: A; Spirit: A; Agility: A.
The data that suddenly appeared in [Analytical Eyes] made Chen Rui’s hand tremble. He slowly turned around.
There was already one more person in the courtyard.
It was still a classical robe with perfect proportions. Her long black hair was tied and a vague veil covering her face, revealing a noble yet mysterious temperament.
It’s really her.
Chen Rui felt that his heart was beating faster. He tried to suppress his agitated mind. He turned around and bowed, “Are you the noblewoman, Christina? I’m Arthur. A friend of mine entrusted me to bring something to you.”
Christina didn’t speak but looked at him quietly. The calm gaze behind the veil seemed to have seen through his [Camouflage].
Chen Rui was a little nervous inexplicably. He immediately took out a few bottles of potions from his space ring and placed them on the stone table beside him.
“These four bottles are Eternal potions and they must all be consumed for additional special effects. This bottle is a Resurrection Potion and this bottle is the Longevity Potion.”
These six bottles of black potions represented the highest achievements in pharmaceutics, which was enough to shock the entire Demon Realm. Christina only glanced at that lightly, then she looked back at Chen Rui.
After a long time, she finally spoke, and it was still the tranquil tone in his memory, “Is there eternity in this world?”
The question stunned Chen Rui. As he was trying to figure out the purpose of her question, Christina’s voice sounded again, “Answer me seriously.”
Chen Rui thought for a while and replied, “As far as I know, even the bright stars or the two moons of the Demon Realm will be annihilated one day. Whether it’s a thousand years or ten thousand years of life, it’s actually just a flash. It’s exactly because there isn’t eternity that we should cherish the moment more.”
“Momentary Glory.” Christina nodded slightly, implying the meaning of his legendary grade bracelet, “The glory of life is so transient. As time passes, even the immortal existence will eventually decay. The same is true for unforgettable memories, do you understand?”
Chen Rui frowned, “Your words sound wise but… I still don’t quite understand.”
“You should understand.” Christina stared at him deeply, “There’s something that you thought is unforgettable, but one day, they will be forgotten during your longing. Even if you don’t understand now, you’ll understand in the future.”
Chen Rui sighed, “There’s something… that can’t be taken away with time. Even if life is annihilated, the mark still exists.”
“Persevering in the wrong place… is just stupidity. It seems that your stupidity can’t be cured anymore.” Christina shook her head, “So, for you to come here today, are you ready to die?”
“My [Camouflage] truly failed.” Chen Rui didn’t know that his identity had been revealed by Christina and he smiled bitterly, “It seems that no matter what image I use, I can’t get rid of the description of stupid.”
After he spoke, a faint murderousness had surrounded him. Although the breath was very weak, the terrifying power contained within made him almost unable to move.
Christina’s voice became cold, “Stupidity is the biggest reason that you lose your life. For the sake of the black potions, I’ll give you time to confess your last words.”
Chen Rui didn’t panic. It was because he had been tested by the Princess Royal’s killing intentions in the Dark Moon. Although Christina’s murderousness was scary, Chen Rui, who had been through “many battles”, keenly noticed that the killing intention wasn’t particularly strong. Otherwise, the moment she recognized him, she would immediately strike and wouldn’t talk nonsense with him.
Chen Rui wasn’t narcissistic enough to think that Christina had been conquered by him or fell deeply in love with him from the one-night stand last time.
There were certainly many concerns for this noblewoman to not be able to kill him. For example, his identity as the trio-specialized mechanic master who had just joined the Dark Shadow Empire’s Mechanic Alliance; for example, the highest-level black potion; for another example, Master “Arthur” was permitted to enter the palace by the empress publicly. If anything happened to him, it’d be hard to explain to the public and the empress etc. There might also be a little bit of another reason that he wished for.
Although the murderousness seemed like a bluff, if he was unlucky, he might still die. I heard that Li Xuanba scolded the sky, that’s why he was struck by thunder. Although that story is purely fictional, I must still be careful. If I said something like “there was once a true love in front of us…”, it might probably be my last words.
“I thought I was enough to shock the entire Demon Realm, so I came to the Dark Shadow Empire to see you. Unfortunately, it’s still not enough.”
Chen Rui’s seemingly unreasonable words made Christina’s murderousness slightly fluctuated. It was because at the Silent Night wetland, he once said that he would take her away with the strength enough to shock the entire Demon Realm.
At that time, she only thought that he was just boasting but now… this man indeed shocked the entire Demon Realm. Without considering his title as a trio-specialized mechanic master that was lost for 10,000 years, there were still the lost grandmaster-level black potions, and they were the highest level!
He deliberately tried his best to shine in the mechanic contest and even make such a request to the empress publicly just to meet me?
Also, to “hand over” that 6 precious black potions to me?
He is surely still that dumb guy.
“Although I don’t know where your black potion came from…” These weren’t enough to affect Christina’s will as her calm eyes still never changed, “Yet… even if you become a real grandmaster, it’s still not enough to change something. Unless…”
“Unless I have strength? In your eyes… is there only strength?” Chen Rui couldn’t help asking. It was a question from the bottom of his heart.
“It’s not that there’s only strength in my eyes, but that I must have strength in my eyes!” Christina’s tone was very firm, “Have you seen countless homes destroyed by war? A bustling, beautiful home became a thousand miles of scorched land instantly. The people were wandering and homeless! Have you heard countless civilians crying among murders? The scythe of death in war ignores the crying and praying of blood, and ruthlessly harvests abundant innocent life! I’ve personally experienced this scene of blood and crying as if it was yesterday! Now, the Dark Shadow Empire is prospering and the people are contended. If there isn’t strength, how can we maintain this hard-won peace and tranquility?”
As she said, Christina’s breath was getting stronger and stronger. In her [Analytical Eyes], the value began to change. Comprehensive Strength Assessment: A… A … Unable to Judge.
She is indeed a Demon Overlord!
“If your perseverance is to protect a certain woman or a few women. Then, my perseverance is to protect thousands of people with all kinds of dreams and persistence. That is my biggest perseverance. Compared with this, everything else becomes insignificant. Do you understand?”
Chen Rui stared at Christina as if it was the first time that he looked at this woman so seriously. Christina and Shea were actually very similar. The difference was that Christina’s perseverance was stronger. Her belief was firmer and unshakable.
Strength is born out of responsibility.
It isn’t purely responsibility but actual perseverance. Shea isn’t comparable in this regard.
For this perseverance, she must have sacrificed a lot and given up a lot.
A sudden, strange emotion replaced his initial script somehow. Chen Rui laughed suddenly and ignored the murderous intentions, “I understand now. It turns out that you’re also a stupid woman.”
If it was Shea, she would definitely scold him for being rude. Christina just glanced at him lightly without denying, “It’s good that you understand. However, my stupidity is different from yours.”
“They are essentially the same.” Chen Rui shrugged, “I thought this trip was impulsive, but now it seems worth it.”
Christina said so much was just to tell him that it was impossible for the two of them. She frowned at those words, “Such a stubborn guy. Do you really think I dare not kill you?”
“Indeed, I haven’t done enough; far from enough. That’s why I can’t die… so I have to ask for mercy.” Chen Rui’s calm smile had no signs of fear or begging for mercy, “There’s an important piece of information that should keep my last words in our next meeting.”
Chritina ignored his tricks in his words and asked, “What information?”
“Can you remove your murderous intentions first? It’s too uncomfortable to talk like this.”
“Just speak!”
There was a suspicion of her deliberately pranking him. It must be a “revenge”, but it somewhat seemed like a little woman.