Xiao Yang's actions were far too shocking.
Everyone knew that Ning Hongye was the fearsome Female God of Slaughter. No one in the Vermilion Bird Army had ever dared offend her.
And now Xiao Yang had grabbed her chest. Even through a layer of armor, it was utterly outrageous!
"Riiip!"
Suddenly, a chill glinted in Ning Hongye's eyes beneath her Asura Mask. She was clearly furious.
"How dare you, you lecher! How dare you treat General Ning with such disrespect!"
Azure Luan finally reacted, drawing the War Saber at her waist and preparing to strike.
"Miss Azure Luan, you've got it wrong!"
Xiao Yang jumped in fright. He didn't want to die before he'd even begun, so he hurriedly said, "Miss Ning, I'm no lecher!"
"I only did that because I noticed your breastplate had already taken a heavy blow!"
"By my estimate, it'll completely shatter after just a few more strikes from a martial arts expert!"
"So what?"
Hearing his explanation, Ning Hongye asked coolly.
"What a coincidence! Just yesterday, Father King gave me his treasured Kirin Golden Light Armor! I'm a nobody without an official post, so I have no use for armor like this. I might as well give it to you!"
As he spoke, Xiao Yang took off his gleaming golden armor.
"You really mean to give it to me?"
Ning Hongye was quite surprised.
After all, the Kirin Golden Light Armor was a High-grade Spirit Treasure, far better than the armor she wore. It could even serve as a Mansion Treasure.
But Xiao Yang had first given her the Spirit Eye, and now he was offering her such a precious gift. He was treating her far too well!
That only made her suspicious. Did Xiao Yang have some ulterior motive?
"Of course I mean it! You're my fiancée. If I'm not good to you, who should I be good to?"
You're not just my fiancée—you're also the benefactor the system bound me to...
"Fine. I'll accept it, then."
Ning Hongye nodded.
[ Ding! The host gifted a "High-grade Spirit Treasure" Kirin Golden Light Armor and triggered a reward! ]
[ Hundredfold return: "Emperor-grade Treasure" Mysterious Scale Ten Thousand Dragon Armor! ]
[ Extract now? ]
Xiao Yang heard the system's prompt and felt a surge of excitement.
An Emperor-grade Treasure!
In the mortal world, treasures were divided into Spirit Grade, King Grade, Emperor Grade, and Saint Grade.
The entire King Zhenbei's Mansion probably didn't have an Emperor-grade Treasure. Only the Great Xia Imperial Family had one in its collection, and it was a National Treasure.
No. Don't extract it yet.
Xiao Yang declined silently. At the same time, he found it a little strange: this time, giving a gift hadn't increased Ning Hongye's Affection.
It seemed that winning the heart of this Female God of Slaughter wouldn't be easy.
By the way, System, Ning Hongye is my Bound Target. Can I check her information? Xiao Yang asked silently.
[System: Yes!]
[Bound Target: Ning Hongye, 18 years old]
[Identity: Daughter of Great General Zhennan, leader of the Vermilion Bird Army]
[Power: Seventh Grade Dharma Aspect Realm (currently gravely injured, able to use only 30% of her strength)]
[Talents: Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart, Red Lotus Karmic Fire]
[Fate: Destined Solitary Phoenix (convertible). Her parents' deaths are fated to be brought about by her; she is destined for loneliness. Though she can achieve great things, she will struggle to find someone who understands her.]
[Weakness: ???]
[Note: A Female Immortal Emperor who survived tribulation and was reborn resides within the Bound Target. She has a lifespan of 3,000 years and is currently dormant.]
After reading Ning Hongye's information, Xiao Yang was utterly stunned.
Now this was a Child of Destiny!
Not only was she exceptionally gifted, having reached the seventh martial realm at such a young age, but she even had an old man—no, an old woman—living inside her!
So she had a cheat of her own. The system couldn't even detect her weakness!
Still, having a fiancée like her was enough to let Xiao Yang do as he pleased from now on!
"Kid, why are you still hanging around? My general needs to rest!"
Azure Luan suddenly spoke up, showing him the door.
"Miss Ning, there's one more thing!" Xiao Yang said.
"Go ahead," Ning Hongye replied coolly.
"Since we're about to become husband and wife, we should be honest with each other. Why don't you take off your armor and remove your mask, so I can see what you look like?" Xiao Yang asked.
"Hmph!"
Ning Hongye gave a soft laugh. "The last person who tried to lift my mask had their bones nailed to the city gate in the Southern Wilderness!"
"Miss Ning, are you unwilling? I remember you said before that you'd grant me three favors, no matter what I asked for!" Xiao Yang said.
"You want to use one of them for this?" Ning Hongye asked.
"That's right!"
Xiao Yang nodded.
Ning Hongye was silent for a long while before finally replying, "A promise is a promise. I agree."
With that, she gave a slight shudder, and her armor came off on its own.
The next moment, Xiao Yang stared at her, utterly transfixed.
Her curves were stunning, her figure so shapely that he couldn't see his toes when he looked down. Her long legs were exceptionally slender—he'd never get tired of looking at them.
Though she had spent years fighting enemies on the battlefield, the skin she revealed was still as fair as mutton fat jade.
A delicate fragrance wafted from her, instantly filling the room.
Beautiful, you smell so good...
Xiao Yang couldn't help praising her inwardly.
Then Ning Hongye reached out with her jade-white hand, grasped the lower edge of her Asura Mask, and gently lifted it...
In an instant, heaven and earth lost their color, and all things paled.
As Xiao Yang gazed at her peerless beauty, he felt his heart skip a beat.
Oh no. I'm falling for her!
Her perfect oval face, peach-blossom eyes, and rosy cheeks were so lovely that her beauty could rival the sun and moon.
I've struck gold. The system really didn't lie to me!
Xiao Yang was overjoyed. All those rumors claiming Ning Hongye was ugly and disfigured were obviously false!
The system was the only one he could trust!
He remembered that many years ago, the Painting Sage of the day had traveled to the Southern Territory to paint Ning Hongye when she was a girl.
But after seeing her, he had dropped his brush and said that no vulgar brush of the mortal world could capture an immortal's beauty!
Now Xiao Yang understood why!
"Far to the south, a beauty stands alone. One glance brings a city to its knees; a second, an entire kingdom."
Xiao Yang gazed at her lovely face and couldn't help praising her.
What a poem!
A glimmer flashed in Ning Hongye's beautiful eyes. She had never heard that poem before. Could it be Xiao Yang's original work?
She hadn't expected the King Zhenbei's Ninth Young Master to be so talented!
But the next moment, she put her mask back on, her expression once again cold.
"Miss Ning, you're so beautiful. Why wear the Asura Mask all the time?" Xiao Yang couldn't help asking.
Ning Hongye sighed softly and explained, "First, with my looks, it would be hard to command respect in the army. They'd only bring me trouble!"
"Second, word once came from the palace that the foolish Emperor Xia had taken an interest in me and wanted to make me his consort!"
"That's why I spread the rumor that I'd been disfigured and started wearing a mask! Besides, I, Ning Hongye, have everything I do today because of my abilities, not my looks. Please keep this secret for me."
Xiao Yang nodded. "Of course. I won't trouble you any further today!"
With that, he turned and left the room.
Watching him go, Azure Luan couldn't help saying, "General Ning, there's something strange about this Xiao Yang!"
Ning Hongye nodded. "He had never seen my face before, yet he's given me generous gifts time and again, and he's considerate of me in every way. It's truly strange!"
"Is he genuinely sincere toward me, or does he have some greater scheme?"
"Azure Luan, follow him secretly for the next few days and investigate."
Before you continue