But now.
Zhu Zhuqing's skin was fair and luminous, like a peeled egg, with a faint, lustrous glow.
Her figure had already been excellent, but now she was even fuller and more rounded.
The last traces of youthfulness had faded from her features.
In their place was the charm and allure of a mature woman.
Her complexion was rosy to the extreme.
It was the kind of superb complexion only a woman who had truly been nourished could have.
And that wasn't all.
As an auxiliary-type Soul Master, Ning Rongrong had exceptionally keen senses.
She could clearly tell.
The Soul Power radiating from Zhu Zhuqing seemed far stronger than before.
That restrained yet profound aura was absolutely beyond what normal cultivation could achieve in such a short time.
This dramatic leap in strength left Ning Rongrong deeply shaken.
Was this really the Zhu Zhuqing she knew?
She was prettier, her temperament had changed, and her strength had soared.
Could becoming Tang Yu's woman really bring such enormous benefits?
Ning Rongrong swallowed.
Recalling her father's overjoyed expression, she finally began to understand.
It seemed she really had stumbled into a tremendous bargain this time.
Her grievances vanished without a trace.
In their place came a fervent anticipation for the life ahead.
Several days later.
On the border of the Northwest Three Provinces.
Yellow sand filled the sky, whipped about by the howling wind.
A rumbling of hooves, deep as thunder, rolled in from the distant horizon.
Tang Yu led the Black Horse Iron Cavalry and tens of thousands of accompanying troops.
They arrived in a grand, surging procession at the fief that belonged to him.
The army advanced at astonishing speed, its orderly formation like a black torrent of steel.
Wherever it passed, it exuded a murderous aura that chilled the blood.
It was the invincible military might forged through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
The main city of the Northwest Three Provinces lay ahead.
Its towering walls rose majestically, and the city gates stood wide open.
When the army was still several miles from the gates.
Cheers that shook heaven and earth rang out from far away.
On both sides of the gates and along the broad main roads.
Countless commoners had already gathered.
A sea of people stretched farther than the eye could see.
The people here had heard that Prince Wuyang, the undefeated hero who had shaken the realm on the battlefield, was to become their lord.
They all felt they could finally see hope for peace.
The commoners held flags of every color aloft.
They jostled forward, eager to get closer.
All just to catch a glimpse of the legendary prince.
Tang Yu rode a coal-black steed at the head of the procession.
His well-tailored black princely robes were embroidered with golden dragons, their claws bared.
They made his already upright figure look even more imposing and majestic.
"Long live Prince Wuyang!"
"We pay our respects to Prince Wuyang!"
As Tang Yu drew nearer.
The commoners on either side of the street dropped to their knees.
Their cries of homage rose and fell like crashing waves, echoing over the entire city for a long time.
The surging roar came in wave after wave, making people's eardrums ring.
Tang Yu gazed calmly at the commoners kneeling on either side.
He showed little emotion.
He held the reins and guided his horse through the crowd at an unhurried pace.
Behind him, Ning Rongrong sat inside an ornate carriage.
Through a narrow gap in the window, she watched the grand welcome outside.
Her heart was shaken once more.
So this was the kind of grandeur her man commanded.
Even when the Heaven Dou Emperor traveled, it probably wasn't much more impressive than this.
The army crossed most of the main city.
At last, it stopped before a vast and imposing mansion.
This was the temporary palace the Heaven Dou Empire had specially built for Tang Yu.
Two vermilion gates stood several yards high.
A plaque of red sandalwood hung high above them.
Four gilded characters were written across it in bold, flowing strokes: Blue Silver King Mansion.
On either side of the entrance crouched an enormous white jade stone lion, each one fearsome and imposing.
Inside the mansion, carved beams and painted rafters adorned the halls, while pavilions and towers stood in orderly array, their every detail proclaiming luxury and grandeur.
Tang Yu swung down from his horse.
He casually tossed the reins to a nearby guard.
Then he strode up the steps of the mansion.
A group of senior officers and personal guards followed closely behind, filing inside.
Tang Yu officially took up residence in the Blue Silver King Mansion.
After crossing the spacious courtyard, they arrived at the mansion's main assembly hall.
The hall was vast enough to accommodate hundreds of people in a meeting.
On the platform at its center stood a broad Purple Gold Flood Dragon Chair.
Tang Yu went straight up the steps and sat down on it with commanding ease.
Below him stood dozens of Black Horse Iron Cavalry commanders and accompanying officers.
Every one of them wore heavy armor and a solemn expression.
They clasped their hands and knelt on one knee in unison.
"Your subordinate officers pay their respects to the prince!"
Their synchronized roar rang through the assembly hall, steeped in the unmistakable air of battle.
Tang Yu raised a hand, signaling for them to rise.
His gaze slowly swept across every soldier present.
His eyes were calm, yet carried the pressure of someone in complete control.
"From today onward, this Blue Silver King Mansion will be our base of operations."
Tang Yu's voice was not loud, yet it reached every person's ears clearly.
"Since the Heaven Dou Emperor has handed the Northwest Three Provinces over to me."
"Then from now on, this place will follow my rules."
His long fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the Purple Gold Flood Dragon Chair.
A crisp series of knocks rang out.
The hall fell utterly silent. Everyone held their breath, listening for his orders.
Tang Yu stopped tapping and announced his plans.
"Pass down this prince's order."
"The mansion has just been completed. I intend to establish my authority throughout the Northwest Three Provinces."
"Next, hold a grand banquet."
"Send out invitations."
"Invite every power in the Northwest Three Provinces and the surrounding regions."
"Whether they are sects, clans, or city lords from across the land."
"Bring every last one of them here."
As he spoke, Tang Yu narrowed his eyes slightly.
A trace of coldness curled at the corner of his mouth.
"This prince wants to see."
"How many people in this region are willing to do me this favor."
"And how many want to test this prince's patience in the Northwest Three Provinces."
A bloodthirsty gleam flashed in the officers' eyes.
They knew very well that the prince wasn't simply inviting everyone to dinner.
This was a Feast at Hongmen, meant to bring the powers of the Northwest Three Provinces to heel.
One of the commanders at the front immediately stepped forward.
He clasped his hands and answered in a booming voice.
"This subordinate obeys!"
"I'll arrange for the invitations to be sent at once!"
Night fell deep.
The Blue Silver King Mansion was ablaze with lights. The armor plates of the patrolling Black Horse Iron Cavalry clinked with a muffled rattle.
Outside a bedroom deep in the main courtyard, Ning Rongrong pinched the hem of her clothes and stood hesitating at the door.
The night wind swept past, and the young girl's slender shoulders trembled faintly.
On the journey here, her mind had kept replaying everything that had happened at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The two Peerless Douluo had fallen before Tang Yu like ants.
Her father, Ning Fengzhi, had acted ingratiatingly.
And there had been Zhu Zhuqing's utterly transformed appearance, along with her stern warning.
The memories tangled together, making Ning Rongrong's heart pound wildly, as though it were about to leap out of her throat.