Why Are There So Many Undercover Agents Around This King?

Just then, Wu Yi had finished off the remaining horse bandits and was approaching the carriage.

As he drew near, he said with a grave expression, "Your Highness, these men are no ordinary horse bandits."

Zhu Youning nodded and said, "Of course they aren't. Would common bandits dare to ambush an army? They are soldiers from the ranks."

"Your Highness is correct."

At this moment, Liu Xun also came over from the front and said, "I have dealt with them before. These should be soldiers under Zhou Zunye, a subordinate general of the Lulong Jiedushi Liu Rengong, disguised as horse bandits."

Having said this, Liu Xun paused before adding, "Someone must have leaked Your Highness's itinerary."

Zhu Youning cast a casual glance at Zhong Xiaokui, feeling more and more that this might be a scheme orchestrated by her—creating and then resolving a danger to win his trust and gain proximity to him.

But this scheme of hers was a bit clumsy!

However, this was a conclusion drawn from his god's-eye perspective. As a transmigrator, he knew Zhong Xiaokui's identity, motives, and personality; if it were anyone else, they might not have guessed it.

"Zhong Xiaokui, is it?"

"Yes."

"Are you here to pledge your loyalty to this prince?"

"Your Highness is discerning!"

Wu Yi offered a gentle reminder: "Your Highness, this person's background is unknown." He meant that keeping a girl of unknown origins posed a security risk.

Although the girl in red claimed to be from the Xuanming Cult, her true roots were unclear, and it was better to be cautious.

Zhu Youning, however, smiled dismissively. Without further comment, he waved them off. "Go clear the battlefield and see if you can find anything useful."

"As you command."

After Wu Yi and Liu Xun left, Zhu Youning looked at Zhong Xiaokui again.

In truth, Zhu Youning wanted to take Zhong Xiaokui under his wing.

As Zhong Kui of the Xuanming Cult, Zhong Xiaokui was indeed a talent. If Zhu Youning could recruit her, matters like assassinations and personal protection would be well in hand.

However, Zhu Youning did not reveal his thoughts yet. He knew that Zhong Xiaokui secretly served the Ghost King Zhu Youwen, and as a woman, she could not be easily bought with money or titles.

So, how could he make an expert like Zhong Xiaokui betray Zhu Youwen and follow him wholeheartedly?

Zhu Youning pondered for a long time, ultimately deciding to take it one step at a time; he would cross that bridge when he came to it.

He then said to Zhong Xiaokui, "Zhong Xiaokui, come up as well. It can't be comfortable for you to keep your head tilted back while talking to me."

Zhong Xiaokui was stunned for a moment. She looked down, remained motionless, and cupped her hands. "There is a hierarchy of status. I dare not share a carriage with Your Highness."

"That is an order."

"Yes."

Helpless, Zhong Xiaokui climbed into the carriage.

But once she was inside, she discovered there were already two women in the carriage.

And these two women seemed quite unusual!

Zhong Xiaokui made an instant judgment. Having reached the Mid-Heaven Realm, her martial arts far surpassed those of Miaocheng Tian and Xuanjing Tian, the Nine Heavens Holy Concubines of the Huan Yin Workshop, and she could tell at a glance that these two were formidable.

Miaocheng Tian and Xuanjing Tian naturally sensed a threat as well.

Though Zhong Xiaokui was petite, she gave them an unfathomable feeling.

Moreover, having been in the carriage earlier, they had vaguely heard the name "Zhong Kui" mentioned.

Could this petite girl be the Zhong Kui of the Xuanming Cult?

The Xuanming Cult was a notorious assassin organization with a strict hierarchy.

At the top were the Underworld Emperor and the Ghost King, followed by Meng Po, the Water and Fire Judges, and Zhong Kui, and below them were the Five Great Yama Kings and Black and White Impermanence. Of course, beyond these, there were the Four Ancestral Corpses who had long since left the cult.

In any case, the Xuanming Cult's Zhong Kui was a heavyweight. If this girl really was her, she could not be underestimated!

"Your Highness, who is this young lady?"

Miaocheng Tian leaned gently against Zhu Youning's chest and asked in a low voice while looking at Zhong Xiaokui.

Zhu Youning would never refuse a beauty throwing herself into his arms; he pulled her close and said, "She is a guard I just recruited, specifically to protect my safety. You will be seeing plenty of each other in the future. Introduce yourselves first."

"I am Miao'er, and I am Xuan'er."

"Zhong Xiaokui, greetings to Lady Miao'er and Lady Xuan'er."

After speaking, Zhong Xiaokui looked at Zhu Youning. Her eyes were cold and focused solely on him, as if filtering out all potential threats in the surroundings, looking like a porcelain doll.

Zhu Youning was quite satisfied with Zhong Xiaokui's reaction; this was what a competent bodyguard should look like.

"Since you intend to follow this prince, you must be single-minded. As long as you consider yourself one of my people, I will never treat you poorly."

Zhong Xiaokui immediately cupped her hands. "Yes."

"I shall call you Xiao Kui. From now on, you will serve as my personal bodyguard and protect my safety."

"Your subordinate swears to protect Your Highness with my life!"

The carriage continued to rumble forward, and occasionally, the horses in front could be heard snorting through their noses, sounding much like a sneeze.

Zhu Youning also let out a yawn. Feeling weary, he grew drowsy in the carriage, so he rested his head on Xuanjing Tian's soft lap to take a nap, feeling somewhat helpless in his heart.

Why were there so many undercover agents around him?

Meanwhile, the Underworld Emperor, Zhu Yougui, had secretly arrived in Bian Prefecture and tracked down Black and White Impermanence.

Inside a gloomy room, Zhu Yougui looked down at the two of them kneeling before him, a strange smile plastered on his face.

"There is a matter I would like to trouble you two with."

Facing the Underworld Emperor, whose internal energy was unfathomable, Chang Haoling and Chang Xuanling both felt a sense of trepidation. They hurriedly bowed and said, "Please speak, Underworld Emperor. Whatever your command, our siblings will surely face death without hesitation!"

"Hmm." Zhu Yougui made a sound, paused, and then said, "This Seat has not seen my second brother for a long time and misses him dearly. I wonder if you could tell This Seat where he is?"

"This..."

Hearing this, Black and White Impermanence were struck dumb, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

"What, are you unwilling?"

Seeing them hesitate, Zhu Yougui shifted his tone, his words brimming with chilling killing intent.

"No, no..."

Chang Xuanling shook her head frantically, but before she could finish, Zhu Yougui was already at her side, his speed so great that her eyes could not even track him.

Black and White Impermanence could clearly feel a wave of pressure washing over them, a force so intense it made them afraid to even draw a breath.

Because they both knew perfectly well that the Underworld Emperor only needed to crook a finger to take their lives!

The situation had become critical. Chang Haoling hurriedly prostrated himself, knowing that if he didn't show some sense now, his life would likely be forfeit.

"We are willing, we are willing! Our siblings are willing to serve the Underworld Emperor with loyalty!"