The Fall of Slaughter City

Gu Sheng bent over with the motion, bracing his hands on either side of her as he studied the newly crowned Empress at close range.

"Rules?"

"In the Heaven Dou Empire, I am the rules."

Gu Sheng reached out with his right hand and gently threaded his fingers through the golden strands beside her ear. He lifted the heavy Nine Dragon Imperial Crown from her head and tossed it carelessly aside.

With a crisp clink, the crown struck the white-jade floor and rolled several times.

Qian Renxue's waterfall of golden hair tumbled loose, lending her a languid, bewitching air.

"You're the most formidable person under heaven. You even wiped out the Clear Sky Sect without a second thought."

"And here I am, the Empress, reduced to a little woman basking in your reflected glory."

Qian Renxue gave a soft snort, released her hands, and let herself sink into the soft brocade quilt.

Gu Sheng sat at the edge of the bed, took her delicate hand, and gently rubbed it in his palm.

"My dear, you're mistaken. Everything I've done was so you could hold on to this throne, wasn't it?"

"Those blind fools from the Clear Sky Sect would have been a threat sooner or later. Wiping them out while I was at it was nothing worth mentioning."

Seeing how utterly unconcerned he looked, Qian Renxue felt a sweet warmth in her heart, though she was still worried.

"Were you hurt? Tang Xiao is a Titled Douluo, after all. The power of the Great Sumeru Hammer can't be underestimated."

She propped herself up and anxiously felt over Gu Sheng, her fair fingers wandering along his collar.

Gu Sheng caught the misbehaving hand and tugged, pulling her back into his arms.

"They think they can hurt me?"

"If you don't believe me, you can check for yourself."

Gu Sheng's voice was low, touched with teasing.

Qian Renxue's pretty face flushed bright red, and she pounded him in embarrassed annoyance.

"Stop being so shameless. It's broad daylight."

"So what? Who would dare barge into this bedchamber?"

Gu Sheng's warm breath brushed her ear, making the woman in his arms shiver.

Unable to withstand such intimacy, Qian Renxue simply buried her face against his chest and listened to his strong, steady heartbeat.

"My husband, sometimes I feel as if I'm dreaming."

"When I was undercover in Heaven Dou City, I had to tread on thin ice with every step."

"Now that I have you, it feels like there's nothing left to fear."

Gu Sheng gently stroked her back, soothing her.

"With me here, there's nothing for you to fear."

"From now on, do whatever you want. Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you."

Qian Renxue tilted her head back. His reflection appeared in her golden eyes.

"What if I want to be a tyrant?"

"Then I'll be the treacherous favorite who brings ruin to the realm, staying by your side every day."

Gu Sheng brushed her cheek with a finger, his eyes full of tenderness.

Qian Renxue laughed softly, her tension easing at last.

"You're no favorite. You're my Saint Spirit King, and half of the Heaven Dou Empire is yours."

"No. I'm only your husband."

Gu Sheng corrected her, his finger slipping from her cheek to her rosy lips.

They were so close their breaths mingled, and the temperature in the bedchamber seemed to rise.

Qian Renxue's thoughts grew hazy, and she slowly closed her eyes.

Gu Sheng didn't hesitate. He kissed her.

The kiss was tender, yet fiercely possessive, advancing like an army laying siege to a city and giving her no chance to retreat.

Qian Renxue responded obediently, her hands once more climbing onto his shoulders.

After a long while, they finally drew apart.

Qian Renxue was panting, her cheeks flushed and her eyes clouded with desire.

"My husband, you're wicked."

"The wicked part is still to come. You'd better be ready, my dear."

Gu Sheng swept her into his arms and carried her toward the bed.

The red curtains slowly fell, hiding the room's springtime warmth and lingering passion.

Morning.

A beam of golden sunlight slipped through the heavy curtains and fell at an angle across the luxurious white-jade floor.

The room still held the faint warmth of the night before.

Gu Sheng slowly opened his eyes.

The fragrant softness in his arms stirred. Qian Renxue's waterfall of golden hair lay in disarray across his chest.

Looking at the exquisite sleeping face in his arms, Gu Sheng's lips curved into a smile. He reached out and gently played with her hair.

Qian Renxue seemed to sense it. Her long lashes fluttered, then she opened her beautiful golden eyes.

"Awake?"

Gu Sheng's voice was warm.

Qian Renxue shyly snuggled closer to him, her voice lazy.

"You're up early, my husband."

Gu Sheng smiled and kissed her forehead.

"It's the fourth day since your coronation. Aren't you going to deal with state affairs?"

Qian Renxue rolled her eyes at him and pouted.

"With the Saint Spirit King here, which minister would dare rebel?"

"Besides, Xue Qinghe left trusted people to handle the Heaven Dou Empire's affairs. Nothing serious will happen."

Gu Sheng nodded, his expression gradually growing sober.

"Even so, we still need to root out the hidden dangers as soon as possible."

At that, Qian Renxue propped herself up, letting the thin quilt slip away and reveal a wide expanse of fair skin.

She looked at Gu Sheng anxiously.

"My husband, are you leaving again?"

Gu Sheng took her hand and gently rubbed it in his palm.

"That's right. The Clear Sky Sect may be destroyed, but Tang Hao and Tang San are still alive."

"If you don't pull out the roots, the grass will grow again when spring comes."

Qian Renxue looked worried.

"They were so badly injured. What kind of trouble can they still cause?"

Gu Sheng shook his head, a knowing look flashing in his eyes.

"Tang San has extraordinary luck. Leaving him alive will only invite trouble."

"Besides, I suspect they'll go to a certain place."

"Where?"

"Slaughter City."

At the name, Qian Renxue's expression changed.

"Slaughter City? That lawless place full of fallen souls?"

"That's right."

Gu Sheng spoke calmly.

"Though it's chaotic, it's also the easiest place to hide from pursuit."

"Besides, the Clear Sky Sect's ancestor, Tang Chen, may well be there."

Qian Renxue exclaimed in shock.

"Tang Chen? He's still alive?"

"Alive, but not far from death."

Gu Sheng gave a cold laugh.

"He's been parasitized by the Nine-Headed Bat King and has become the King of Slaughter in Slaughter City."

"I'm going there to deal with him—and get the Divine Slaughter's Domain while I'm at it."

Qian Renxue's worry deepened.

"But I heard my grandfather say that no Soul Skills can be used in Slaughter City."

"Your strength will be greatly restricted there. It's too dangerous."

Seeing the concern on her face warmed Gu Sheng's heart. He reached out and pinched her cheek.

"Silly girl, Soul Skills are just the icing on the cake for me."

"Even without them, no one in this world can lay a finger on me."

"Stay in Heaven Dou City and wait for me to return."

Seeing how confident he was, Qian Renxue's worry finally eased somewhat.

She nestled against Gu Sheng, her voice low.

"Then come back soon."

"Without you, this throne means nothing to me."

Gu Sheng gently patted her back and soothed her.

"Don't worry. When I return, no one on this continent will be able to stand in our way."

They lingered together on the bed for a long while.

Only then did Qian Renxue reluctantly rise and personally help Gu Sheng dress.

It was a splendid black robe embroidered with gold, bearing the fearsome and noble Saint Spirit Pattern.

Once dressed, Gu Sheng looked even more dignified, radiating the oppressive authority of a ruler.

Qian Renxue stood before him and carefully straightened his collar.

"Go on. Come back soon."

Gu Sheng patted her head, turned, and strode out of the bedchamber.

Outside the hall.

The sunlight was dazzling.

She Long and Ci Xue, the two Titled Douluo, had been waiting for some time.

As soon as Gu Sheng appeared, they bowed at once.

"Greetings, Saint Spirit King!"

Gu Sheng raised a hand, signaling for them to stand.

"How are things progressing with the Clear Sky Sect?"

She Long stepped forward and respectfully reported.

"Your Majesty, all the Clear Sky Sect's holdouts have been killed."

"The sect's treasury has been sealed, and a large quantity of supplies and Soul Bones is now being transported to Heaven Dou City."

"However, we searched the entire sect carefully and found no trace of Tang Hao or Tang San."

Gu Sheng listened impassively, unsurprised.

"It would be strange if they were there."

"Any other news?"

Ci Xue continued the report.

"Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has been very well-behaved. There's been no unusual activity."

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has also shut its doors to visitors. It seems our destruction of the Clear Sky Sect frightened them."

Gu Sheng snorted.

"They're a bunch of fair-weather followers. Ignore them."

"I'll be away from Heaven Dou City for a while."

At that, She Long and Ci Xue exchanged a glance, both of them puzzled.

"Your Majesty, where are you going?"

She Long couldn't help asking.

Gu Sheng glanced at him coolly.

"Don't ask what you shouldn't."

She Long's heart tightened. He hurriedly lowered his head.

"This subordinate deserves to die!"

Gu Sheng looked away, his tone calm.

"While I'm gone, the two of you must stay by the Empress's side at all times."

"If anyone dares show disrespect to Her Majesty or harbor treacherous intentions, kill them."

"Understood?"

Their expressions turned grave. They answered in unison at once.

"We understand! We'll protect Her Majesty the Empress with our lives!"

Gu Sheng nodded slightly.

"Also, keep a close eye on Spirit Hall's movements."

"That woman Bibi Dong is no pushover."

"If she makes any moves, send word to me at once."

Having given all his instructions, Gu Sheng said nothing more.

He swayed, and his whole figure vanished from where he stood like a ghost.

Only She Long and Ci Xue remained, staring at each other in shock.

It seemed this Saint Spirit King had grown even stronger.

After leaving Heaven Dou City, Gu Sheng headed west.

He moved at tremendous speed, leaving streaks of afterimages in the sky.

The location of Slaughter City was extremely secret, but to Gu Sheng, who knew the plot inside out, it was no secret at all.

It was a cursed place, situated in a desolate region southwest of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Several days later.

The surrounding scenery gradually grew more desolate.

The dense forests slowly gave way to stretches of yellowed sand and barren mountains studded with jagged rocks.

The sky, too, looked gloomy, as if veiled beneath a haze that refused to lift.

A faint scent of blood lingered in the air.

Gu Sheng stopped and looked at a small town not far ahead.

The town looked utterly dilapidated. All its buildings seemed ancient, and an air of decay hung over them.

A few people wandered along the town's streets.

Their faces were pale, and their eyes held a kind of sickly madness and wariness.

When they saw Gu Sheng, dressed in fine clothes and carrying himself with noble grace, greed and cruelty glinted in their eyes.

To them, Gu Sheng was like a lost little lamb—tender and juicy.

Gu Sheng ignored their stares and walked calmly toward the center of town.

His destination was clear: the town's only tavern.

The tavern's sign had rotted until its lettering was unreadable, and its battered wooden door creaked shrilly in the wind.

Gu Sheng reached out, pushed open the wooden door, and went inside.

The tavern was dimly lit. The air reeked of cheap malt liquor and a stench of blood that was impossible to conceal.

Quite a few people were already seated inside.

They were dressed in all sorts of ways, but every one of them radiated a vicious air.

When Gu Sheng walked in, the tavern fell silent.

Countless hostile stares instantly converged on him.

Gu Sheng remained composed and walked straight to the bar, where he sat down.

Behind the bar stood a tall, middle-aged man.

A long scar ran across his face, stretching from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth and making him look terrifying.

The scar-faced man eyed Gu Sheng coldly.

"Kid, this isn't a place for a noble young master like you."

"Get out now, and you might still save your skin."

Gu Sheng ignored the threat and calmly spoke five words.

"One Bloody Mary."

At the name, a low wave of laughter rose through the tavern.

The scar-faced man's eyes turned amused as well.

"Oh? So you know the rules."

"But the Bloody Mary here isn't so easy to drink."

As he spoke, he took a filthy wooden cup from beneath the counter.

Then he lifted a huge clay jar and poured a full cup of thick, red liquid.

It gave off a strong stench of blood and was even warm to the touch.

This wasn't liquor at all. It was fresh human blood.

The scar-faced man shoved the wooden cup toward Gu Sheng.

"Drink it. Once you do, you'll be allowed inside."

The fallen ones around them began jeering.

"Haha, drink up, pretty boy!"

"Don't cry just because you're scared. This stuff's good!"

"If you can't stomach it, let me drink it for you!"

Gu Sheng looked at the foul-smelling red liquid before him and furrowed his brow slightly.

He extended one finger and gave it a gentle flick.

"Clack!"

The wooden cup promptly toppled over. The thick red liquid ran down the bar and dripped onto the filthy floor.

"Too dirty."

Gu Sheng's voice was calm, yet everyone in the tavern heard it clearly.

The laughter abruptly stopped.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, unable to believe the young man had dared to do such a thing.

At the entrance to Slaughter City, wasting a Bloody Mary was a direct challenge to its rules.