140 - Stealing the Yuri Protagonist Harem

The disturbance caused by Luo Wusheng's tribulation yesterday has now been the talk of the town for a full day. Rumors are swirling throughout the immortal capital city, with countless versions of yesterday's events already spreading across the city. Even those newly arrived today can hear the many tales from enthusiastic bystanders. Ascending to the Nascent Soul, the female emperor's protection, the self-destruction of the thunder tribulation, extraordinary phenomena shocking the heavens... Each aspect is a perfect topic for conversation. However, most people are left with one question. Did the Saint Child of the Demonic Sect truly ascend to the Nascent Soul stage? Although there were many present at the scene, some noticed something strange about Luo Wusheng towards the end of the phenomenon. But cloaked in heaven's might, the ordinary people couldn't discern whether the Demonic Sect's Saint Child, the one undergoing the tribulation, had broken through in cultivation. And when he vanished immediately afterward, they were left with no way to confirm. Especially since, following the event, all related individuals in the capital connected to the Demonic Sect's Saint Child have remained silent. The Magical Artifact Pavilion, initially in the limelight of the capital's Refining Pavilion, announced a temporary closure. The people from the Demonic Sect have also shown no activity at their usual residence in the capital... This strangeness even extends to the usually active activities of the Six Doors of the Immortal Nation, further fueling speculation among the city's citizens. These speculations have, in turn, transformed into rumors spreading among the populace. The most widely accepted one among them is that during the final moments of yesterday's tribulation, the Saint Child of the Demonic Sect, having previously assisted the Immortal Nation in addressing the Yao race's hidden threats, was retaliated against by a powerful Yao entity... As for his sudden disappearance, it's said that a Demonic Sect elder discovered the matter immediately and, after a confrontation with the Yao powerhouses, used extraordinary means to whisk the Saint Child away for recovery. Thus, the ascension to the Nascent Soul stage remains unresolved. Yet, these are mere speculations and not many truly perceive them as truths. One thing, however, has become a fact. The Saint Child of the Demonic Sect now possesses the qualification to ascend to the Nascent Soul stage. A Nascent Soul at the age of eighteen... that is a talent on par with the founders of the current three Human sects! Remarkably, no one doubts this achievement. Events over recent times have convinced them that this particular Saint Child of the Demonic Sect is indeed special. The phrase "genius unparalleled in the world" seems crafted just for him in this era. But amidst their awe, they hear yet another peculiar piece of news regarding this Saint Child within the capital... "Ah, Master Luo truly is an example for us all. Not only is he immensely talented, but he is also surrounded by so many beauties, which makes one mouth-watering and envious..." "Ah? What do you mean by that? The Saint Child of the Demonic Sect has been known for his extraordinary talent, but isn't he rumored not to be fond of women?" "Not fond of women? More like not interested in ordinary women! Can regular ladies catch Master Luo's eye? Just yesterday, according to someone who happened to pass by the inn at that time... My, my, aside from the demonic maiden from the sect, there was also a sword cultivator lady of comparable beauty!" "What?" "And there's more! Do you remember how the emperor personally protected him during his tribulation against the rules? Do I need to spell out what that implies?" "This..." "It’s said that among these ladies, the one with the least remarkable appearance is a courtesan from the famed Red Yan Tower, someone who only performs and does not sell her body... Though among mortal women, that's already at the pinnacle, and she is connected with Master Luo too..." "Is this true? No wonder this courtesan has refused to see guests recently under the pretense of a cold, as she must be keeping company with the Saint Child of the Demonic Sect... Is what you’re saying really true?" "This is what everyone in the streets is talking about. Even if there’s some exaggeration, it shouldn’t be too far off... Speaking of which, rumors of the emperor's close relationship with Master Luo have been circulating for a while, and now it seems they're all becoming facts..." "Is that so... Who would've thought the Saint Child of the Demonic Sect is such a romantic figure..." A man with a plain appearance bade farewell to the informant who shared such tidbits with him, and promptly left in a hurry. At the next corner, he donned a black-and-white mask. ………… Six Doors Office. "Hmm? Another intel message has come in?" Night Crow stroked the mask on his face, his gaze flickering slightly as he looked at the intelligence delivered before him. As he was about to look over its contents, he first glanced towards the doorway. A cool, aloof figure stepped out from the void. "…Have there been any reports of his whereabouts?" Miss Qilin's tone was as direct and straightforward as ever, with no unnecessary words. Night Crow chuckled bitterly. "Given the vastness of this world, searching for someone isn't easy… Most of our Six Doors’ spies are stationed in various regional cities. If he's in a secret realm or remote location, the chances of finding him are close to nonexistent..." He sighed again, "Alas, if he's in a city, we might locate him swiftly…" The head of intelligence for the Six Doors displayed a hint of helplessness. Already strained due to prior disruptions from the Yao clan, now tasked with managing additional intel on the Demonic Sect's Saint Child was pushing his heavy workload to the brink. Yet, the intel concerning the young lad is rather intriguing, serving as a peculiar form of relaxation for him. (And Wutong wasn't wrong… Judging from yesterday's reports, the emperor indeed seems to have developed a certain fondness for the Demonic Sect's Saint Child…) It's no wonder that both he and Wutong see him as the best candidate for the emperor’s consort! Originally, he intended to discuss with Qilin about his and Wutong’s decision made in secrecy, as she had earlier contact and a better rapport with the Demonic Sect's Saint Child than he did. But when he was about to bring it up, intel arrived abruptly leading him into the imperial palace... and he ended up being a human kite. Ah, the emperor must have been displeased with him. The reason possibly related to his inadvertent utterances during the Yao suppression night shouldn't have been due to the gossip he and Qilin exchanged about the emperor, as he had rushed directly to the palace, leaving Qilin no time to report. Thinking about it, Qilin is indeed on his side, and he could enlist her in the plan to back the Demonic Sect's Saint Child for the royal consort position. This way, the Demonic Sect's Saint Child would have the support of three gold medalists here, and if public opinion leans towards it, with the emperor swayed just a little… that consort position would be a sure thing, wouldn't it? With a genius unparalleled, almost bordering on monstrous intelligence like that one… potentially becoming the next invincible existence following the late emperor to assist, how could the Immortal Nation not thrive? For those of them encouraging this prospect of ascension, they would undoubtedly be remembered in history, advancing their ranks, and reaching the pinnacle of their lives... Ingenious! While pondering, Night Crow casually scanned the new intel in his hands, his hand trembling slightly. "Not good…" "?" Seeing the questioning look in Miss Qilin's eyes, Night Crow didn't conceal anything and handed the paper to her. Miss Qilin took it to examine, eager to learn what news could have shaken her colleague. But upon reading just one line, her grip on the paper tightened. Night Crow offered a knowing look. "…You've spotted the issue too, haven’t you?" "Indeed! The fact that the Saint Child of the Demonic Sect has such a number of women around him is a major disadvantage for our emperor!" Night Crow's tone carried a palpable weight. Originally, he assumed that among those near the Saint Child, the only likely rival to the emperor would be the Demonic Sect's Maiden. Her beauty rivaled the emperor's, and as his junior sister, with a reputation celebrated for manipulating hearts... She seemingly had the best chance given her proximity, especially since it is built right by the waterside. However, after observing that the Demonic Sect's Saint Child appeared not yet inclined towards any development in that direction with his junior, they thought everything was still within controllable bounds. But now, the situation has shifted again. Setting aside the courtesan from Red Yan Tower, who, while charming, doesn't possess advantages like their emperor, the Saint Child of the Demonic Sect now surprisingly also has a sword cultivator of equal beauty by his side… Intelligence from multiple sources indicates that within the inn yesterday, this sword cultivator and the Saint were exceedingly close! That being said, information akin to these was already obtained on his end before. Gathered intel right from the inn staff, recounting the entire chaos wreaked by the sword cultivator within Wangxian Inn. They were even in the process of acquiring more data regarding the sword cultivator. Mainly because the emperor suggested the young woman was likely with the Saint Child of the Demonic Sect, which led their intel gathering efforts in that direction. In light of this, this sudden appearance of a young woman may pose a more serious threat in terms of relations compared to the junior sister of the Demonic Sect's Maiden. If they vanished together yesterday… a single day might not be much, but if this drags on for long... Yes, it's crucial to find the Saint Child of the Demonic Sect soon. Night Crow felt a heavy sense of mission within him. He looked towards Miss Qilin, who was still immersed in reviewing the new intelligence. The latest intelligence report merely updates the current views of the city's populace regarding the events of yesterday, essentially mirroring the rampant rumors within the city. It is said that these tales were spread by passersby who happened to be near the Wangxian Inn—though Night Crow finds himself too preoccupied to identify these individuals. Given that these rumors, although slightly exaggerated, generally match the truth, they likely stem from nothing more than coincidental bystanders with no significant implications. Now, Night Crow intends to use this piece of intelligence to gauge his colleague’s reaction and to see if she might join him and Wutong on the path of their promising [Plan for the Emperor’s Consort (tentative)]. ...Ahem, the name of the plan could perhaps be improved in the future. (Judging from Qilin’s current reaction… it shouldn't pose a problem?) There’s no denying that she was among the first to take notice of the Demonic Sect's Saint Child, just like him... "Are you bored?" Miss Qilin raised her head slightly, her voice as cold as ever: "If I remember correctly, the emperor only tasked you with finding traces of the Demonic Sect's Saint Child outside of collecting Yao race intelligence. This isn't particularly related to these events... Also, what exactly are you insinuating with your prior words?" Her gaze carried a subtly menacing undertone. Regrettably, Night Crow didn’t perceive this nuance and merely stood slightly stunned. Then, as if realization dawned on him, his eyes lit up. "Ah, I didn't make things clear earlier… Let me put it this way..." "Don't you think that the Saint Child of the Demonic Sect looks like a future consort for the emperor?" Trusting his colleague, Night Crow's words were rather straightforward. "…" Miss Qilin fell silent. She wondered if this guy's brain had finally broken after spending a day up in the sky. Or perhaps he truly had too much free time, leaving him bored. "Uninteresting." Now, her voice's coldness had turned into pure frigidity. She crumpled the paper in her hand into a ball and tossed it aside. The paper instantly turned to dust in the air, while she merely sidestepped Night Crow to reach a nearby desk, casually leafing through a few confidential letters. Night Crow scratched his head. Why wasn't his colleague’s reaction as he expected? Wasn’t she always quite appreciative of the Demonic Sect's Saint Child? Even this time, she had voluntarily taken up the task of finding him... Suddenly, a spark lit up in his mind. "Qilin... Could it be that you also have a fondness for the Demonic Sect's Saint Child?" Considering the many women he’d heard gathered around the Saint Child, combined with his colleague’s earlier and closer interactions with him, Night Crow couldn't dismiss such a possibility. But Miss Qilin's icy gaze landed on him. In that moment, it became clear that the intelligence department head was soon going to receive the news of having his workload doubled. Miss Qilin then glanced at the sky outside. Concerning the search for Luo Wusheng, she had devised a new plan. In the next instant, her figure vanished.