Beautiful

PS1: Before updating, let me emphasize again that the chapter that was heavily censored yesterday can be viewed by refreshing the chapter. To do this, go to the chapter, click the ellipsis in the upper right corner, select the drop-down menu, and refresh the chapter content.

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Let's rewind to three hours before Kang De woke up.

Around 5:30 AM Danfeng Lucerne time.

A small caravan, laden with gifts, moved along the main road to the sound of jingling bells, heading towards Danfeng Lucerne.

Even at night, the road was completely quiet, without any wind or waves.

It felt as safe as if we were within the territory of the Dusk Moon Dynasty.

Just days ago, this country was engulfed in the flames of war, with bandits, rebel armies, the Twilight Moon, Goth, robbers, mercenaries, and plunderers fighting, defending, or looting the war-torn land for their own different purposes and desires.

War means chaos, the collapse of order, and the disappearance of morality. Intelligent creatures will reawaken their savagery in the midst of war, and even the most respectable and civilized people will turn into pigs and dogs. Goth's visit a few days ago truly reflects the most dangerous and chaotic place in the world.

Goth's army was preoccupied with dealing with the elves' fierce attacks and had no time to stop the bandits' looting, while the elves turned a blind eye, enjoying the sight of humans killing each other.

At that time, Goth was about to collapse under the onslaught of the elves, and a pack of hyenas followed behind Twilight Moon, ready to tear off a piece or two of flesh when Goth fell. The collapse of a nation was the greatest business opportunity.

Not only were there bandits, marauders, and even mercenary groups plundering everywhere, but merchants and nobles from various countries also wanted to take advantage of the situation to make a fortune. Not to mention the maggots writhing in the Shadow, slave traders rushed to Goth's location almost overnight. Young girls were the most sought-after commodities, and middle-aged men and women were also excellent slave laborers. Children were of course also very valuable, and there were many ways to obtain them, whether by kidnapping, deceiving, robbing, or buying.

This chaotic and sinful feast has been staged many times, and behind every fallen nation are suffering people and endless misery; Goth is just one example.

Moreover, he was favored by the gods.

Just three days ago, the impending feast of sin and madness came to an abrupt halt.

All hostile actions ceased immediately. The wealthy merchants and nobles who were preparing for a feast also stopped and withdrew from their plans. The slave-catching teams abandoned their mission, and the bandits and brigands fled in panic. The military offensive came to a halt.

All because of one person.

There's a saying in Cathay, "A dragon among men," and another, "A martial artist is like a dragon."

A man was speaking inside one of the caravan's wagons.

With his curly, wine-red hair, impeccably tailored clothes, upright posture, and handsome yet unpretentious face, he exudes an air of elite composure, inspiring trust at first glance.

On the table beside him, the magic lamp burned continuously, and the table was covered with papers and documents. One of the papers was a cut-out drawing. In the drawing, the sky was blue and the clouds were white, and the sky was clear. In front of a distant and tranquil tombstone, on a high platform, a Cathayan with short black hair and wearing a robe was giving a passionate speech.

Sunlight streamed down from the clouds, like the gaze of the gods, draping over his shoulders and surrounding him. Nobles, soldiers, and commoners alike listened intently, the crowd spreading far and wide.

This is the famous "Valentan National Cemetery Speech," illustrated.

The content of the speech was on a separate sheet of paper.

He glanced at the contents and curled his lip.

One can discern the speaker's true intentions and temperament from his words, but he does not agree with the content.

But what if you don't agree?

Those who possess such power are qualified to articulate their reasoning, and even those who cannot defeat them must listen.

This was the only thing he admired.

He sighed, deliberately raising his voice. "I've always felt that the saying 'a dragon among men' is just the arrogance of the Cathayan, comparing themselves to dragons. But if it's applied to this person, I think it's the dragons who are getting the credit."

A barely audible "hmm" came from the other end.

Then a soft, delicate little hand reached out and took the sheet of paper containing Valentan Speech.

"What's so interesting about this?"

The man shook his head and picked up another intelligence report. It detailed the remains of the 60,000-strong army that had been annihilated outside Valentan, which had been thoroughly investigated by top-tier spies. The intelligence was purchased from the Brotherhood, providing firsthand and detailed information. Unfortunately, even after racking their brains and searching through ancient texts, the councilors of the Arcane Council and the chief mages of various nations could not figure out what kind of Forbidden Spell Kang De had used.

He waved the intelligence report in his hand, "Only if he could create such a large basin would people go to listen to his speech and think its content was impressive. Otherwise, no matter how eloquently he spoke, it would just be a joke. No matter how brave or strong the Goth People were, they couldn't stop the elves. What use is his talk?"

The person on the other end was silent for a moment, then said in an extremely calm tone, "I just like this."

"Whatever you want."

The man shrugged, glanced at the battlefield report again, and then picked up another one.

It was only about four or five portions, and the time span was only a few months.

For a top-tier expert who possesses Forbidden Spell and intimidates Twilight Moon, such a small number is absurd. His files should fill two large rooms and dozens of bookshelves.

But there's really nothing we can do about it.

This person seemed to have fallen from the sky.

The intelligence can be traced back to the Glittering Sand Incident, and it was also accompanied by pictures. These pictures were hand-drawn by intelligence personnel, but they were equally impressive. The Glittering Sand Manor was razed to the ground, the Good Family cemetery was dug up, there were many fragments of the Good Family members, and there was a Jingguan (a mound of corpses) that was very Cathay.

But there's no further information...

Even if they tried every possible way to trace it back, with their powerful intelligence gathering capabilities and extensive network of connections, they could only trace it back to one line—Princess Tina-Taidariel of Goth origin was being pursued by an elven capital ship on her secret mission to the Empire, but ended up landing safely in the territory of the Good Family, bringing with her a Cathayan.

All they could deduce was that "the Elf's flagship was sunk by Kang De."

There is nothing else.

Records of Kang De can only be traced back to Glittering Sand Territory a few months ago, as if he fell from the sky and was picked up by Princess Tina.

Even from the intelligence records of the past few months, one can glean insights into this person's character.

Kind but not weak, decisive but not bloodthirsty, possessing great power yet very restrained.

But when necessary, they will not hesitate.

Besides.

He has a strong preference for women.

But they have very discerning tastes.

He disdains the noblewoman who comes to his door in Valentan, and there's no record of him ever making a move on any maid or woman in Valentan, which is a bit unbelievable, but it just goes to show his taste.

Clearly, he prefers women of high social standing.

For example, Princess Tina —she challenged Twilight Moon alone for Princess Goth, shocking the world.

And he likes powerful women.

For example, the Crimson Queen, whose origins are also mysterious, possesses extremely powerful strength and follows him around every day.

Furthermore, he seems to prefer women who are powerful and of high social standing.

For example, the Phoenix King.

--The news of the Valentan peace talks spread far and wide. Everyone was only concerned about one thing: the elves suggested acting as matchmakers to arrange a marriage between Kang De and the Queen of Cathay. Kang De then asked in return, "Could I marry your Phoenix King?"

What's even more infuriating is that outside Danfeng Lucerne, it was only because Phoenix King Dairila arrived in time that Kang De stopped the devastating Forbidden Spell attack and prevented the expeditionary force from being completely wiped out.

These are all highly classified intelligence reports. Coincidentally, because of this mission, he has the authority to access and review the most classified intelligence reports. The rumors are not unfounded, and there is sufficient reason to believe that the Duke of Tiling, Tagelise, who appeared in Valentan, was actually the Phoenix King in disguise.

That makes the plot quite meaningful.

Why did Empress Twilight Moon disguise herself as her younger brother, leave the country, and run off to see a man?

Why was it that outside Danfeng Lucerne, Kang De was determined to kill, yet the Phoenix King could stop him with just a single sentence?

How did she stop it? And why was she able to stop it?

The instinct to gossip is inherent in every intelligent being, especially in the Phoenix King.

Of course, gossip is gossip, but the important thing is that the recurring occurrences are not coincidences.

Kang De did indeed prefer women of high social standing or great power.

This is also the conclusion reached by the Brotherhood.

As intelligence masters who roam the Shadow, the assassins were also quite adept at playing their games. This intelligence report about Kang De's personal preferences included a note from one of his mentors.

"Men of humble origins and low social status, after achieving upward mobility and acquiring power, influence, status, or position, often compensate by enjoying things they could never have enjoyed before, such as money, fine food, ostentation, and most importantly, women."

"We've done some research. These nouveau riche types look down on women in the service industry and have no interest in respectable women from ordinary backgrounds. But if there are noble ladies who have fallen into prostitution, they'll patronize them frequently or even buy them into their homes. If they have the opportunity to marry a girl from a noble family, they'll often spare no expense. Many scams happen because of this, and this is one of the strategies we use to carry out our missions."

"However, I don't think Kang De was that kind of person. I visited him in Valentan, and although it was a short time, I had the opportunity to speak with this great Forbidden Spell up close. His speech, thoughts, temperament, and instincts didn't lie. He was a man with a great soul. I don't mean to flatter him, but I can tell that his preference for women of noble birth or great power was not due to the sordid thoughts of a nouveau riche."

"Perhaps, the powerful Prince Kang De is simply enjoying the process of being conquered."

The master assassin left behind his final words.

"Gentlemen who have read this far, you must all understand, right? Some people prefer to be passive."

Yes.

That makes sense.

Upon seeing this, the man revealed a strange smile.

Although he was of noble birth, he was still just an employee, constantly on the go and exhausted. To relieve the immense pressure, he always came up with some ingenious methods. His favorite was being tied up, blindfolded, kneeling on the ground, and then being humiliated, whipped, and mocked... This sense of humiliation gave him a feeling of complete self-liberation. Perhaps this Prince Kang De was also a follower of this path.

It's just a bit more high-end.

A woman of noble status and great power...

Thinking of this, he raised his head and looked across.

Her pale golden hair cascaded down to the cushion. Under the eternal flame of the magic lamp, he could only see a detached yet exquisitely beautiful profile and eyes as pale green as jewels. Her aloof demeanor was as distant as a high mountain, giving off a dignified and noble air. Your Majesty, was this also part of your scheme?

But why her of all people...?

Although her face was stunningly beautiful and she was so close, the man only glanced at her before daring not to look again.

For someone in his line of work, exhausting oneself and doing one's best are only the second most important things. The most important thing is self-awareness, always recognizing one's own identity, only taking what one is entitled to, and only doing what one is supposed to do. Arrogance and conceit are the causes of downfall, and he always remembered this clearly.

This is not a beauty he can covet; he should never even dream of it.

So... what exactly was she going there to do?

Did she even know what His Majesty had ordered her to do?

The man wanted to ask, but didn't know how to begin. The woman before him was aloof and stunningly beautiful, with an exceptional figure—a rare beauty, like a delicate and fragile flower. She appeared to be an ordinary, weak woman, but he knew that beneath that alluring exterior lay a terrifying power.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that what appears harmless is actually more terrifying.

He frowned and sighed.

The girl opposite him ignored him, quietly watching the Valentan Speech, then took out a small notebook, picked up a pen, and wrote down a few sentences.

The man sighed and continued reading the intelligence report.

The caravan traveled smoothly without any incidents.

Goth had practically become a sacred place devoid of any sin.

The army spread out in all directions, casting a wide net to slaughter bandits and outlaws who had committed crimes. As for the slave-hunting groups and mercenary groups that were instigated by someone behind the scenes, they had already been quietly silenced by the mastermind to avoid getting involved. The Goth People unleashed their fury of revenge everywhere, and all the robbers who took the opportunity to plunder and kill were hanged or impaled. These Goth soldiers completely ignored the elven armies in the vicinity of their jurisdiction, focusing all their efforts on suppressing the robbers.

No, they not only ignored the elven army, but sometimes even sent people to order the elves to send troops to suppress the bandits after they had determined the location of the target.

The reasons are simple and sufficient.

"We have every reason to suspect that this bandit force is a pack of wolves you instigated and trained! If not, prove it to us!"

Good heavens, what army in the world could speak to elves with such defiance?

Even the elves could only suppress their anger and vent it all on these scoundrels.

The more these things happened, the happier the Goth soldiers felt, and the more grateful and admiring they became of the legendary man. Moreover, the gossip and rumors spread like wildfire—damn it, I understand the logic, the elves are so obedient, does the Phoenix King really have something going on with Prince Kang De? Otherwise, how could this be...

"Damn it, is Phoenix King really having an affair with Kang De?"

Upon seeing the fourth intelligence report, the man finally couldn't help but feel envious, jealous, and resentful, and muttered something under his breath.

The girl opposite him frowned. "Don't talk about a King-level player like that."

The man paused for a moment, then laughed, "Why? It's a fact..."

Before he could finish speaking, the girl said, "Because she's listening."

The man was taken aback, but the next moment, the scorching sun outside the carriage burst open, and the dim sky blazed with intense light. Instantly, the packhorses neighed, the guards cried out in alarm, and an indescribable sense of oppression came rushing through the carriage.

"..."

"..."

The man's face first went blank, then turned to terror.

What's going on?! Is this place really that close to the Elf Expeditionary Force's camp? Or has the Phoenix King's spiritual perception become so powerful that it can eavesdrop on everything within a radius of dozens of miles?

Why would she listen to me? Go eavesdrop on the whispers at the Maple Leaf Palace in Danfeng Lucerne! Listen to how his lover is having a blast with Princess Goth and the Crimson Queen!

The girl with long, light blonde hair sighed, closed her notebook, and stood up.

The man gritted his teeth. "Wait a minute!"

Then he pushed open the door and got out of the car.

Not far away, a king, shrouded in phoenix flames, stood leaning on his sword, clad in heavy armor and wearing a phoenix-winged helmet that concealed his stunningly beautiful face. Only his eyes burned with Phoenix Fire, allowing him to see all the evil in the world.

Just her presence alone made men feel uneasy.

Not to mention that I just said some bad things.

Moreover, His Majesty must have been in a terrible mood these past few days.

Her husband was gone, the war was lost, and the domestic political situation was certainly unstable. Until someone came to take over the massive expeditionary force and the subsequent peace talks, she might have to stay here to avoid further conflict.

But he could not see Kang De.

All I can do every day is gaze at the Danfeng Lucerne, wondering how Kang De and Princess Tina got together...

Damn, this is terrifying, this situation is absolutely horrible.

Just then, he heard the Phoenix King ask, "What are you going to Danfeng Lucerne for?"

Although the king's aura was extremely oppressive and exuded a sharp, heavy presence, the man was unaffected. He had honed his skills in this area, immediately flashing a professional smile. He stepped forward, bowed deeply and crisply, and said, "Minister Santos-Chacel, Dragon Clan Security..."

"--I'm talking to a dragon."

Santos immediately shut his mouth, his heart sinking.

As expected of the Phoenix King, how could he see through it?

Footsteps sounded behind her, and a girl with long hair that almost reached her knees, wearing a black dress and a white shawl, walked over with her obsidian sword-shaped earrings swaying slightly and an expressionless face, as if she hadn't woken up yet.

She bowed slightly and said softly, "Your Majesty the Phoenix King, greetings."

Dairila's fiery eyes flashed, and she said coldly, "If it weren't for the Phoenix Vision, I wouldn't have been able to detect a powerful high-ranking dragon approaching me. You can transform into human form, and even completely conceal your Dragon Might, Magic Power, and aura, making you indistinguishable from an ordinary human. Yet, beneath this beautiful body, the immense power of a dragon flows constantly... I know who you are."

"The Dragon Emperor's Shadow."

"The Brotherhood's ultimate assassin, codenamed Dragon."

"The founder of the Dragon Clan Assassination Fist."

She coldly demanded, "Why did you come to Danfeng Lucerne? Why did the Dragon Emperor send you here?"

The Dragon Girl tilted her head slightly, gently brushing her pale golden hair, maintaining her calm demeanor and monotone tone.

"Because I'm pretty."

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PS1: 5,000 words... I was a bit overwhelmed yesterday, so I'm writing about a girl to calm down. I should be able to write more tomorrow. Goodnight.