As the night deepened, the imperial palace of the Heavenly Snake Empire blazed with light.
After leaving Feng Qing'er's courtyard residence, Chu Zhou did not linger in the city. Instead, he headed straight into the depths of the imperial palace.
With his mastery of the Great Void Technique, his strength as a One-Star Dou Zong, and a powerful asset like the Ancient Void Dragon Divine Soul, moving silently through space had become second nature to him. No one could detect his presence.
Within a few breaths, he landed before the doors of the imperial bedchamber.
The bedchamber was dimly lit. Calming incense refined from a sixth-tier heavenly treasure burned within, wisps of smoke curling up from a bronze censer.
Hui Tianshuang reclined on a cushioned couch, holding a scroll of bamboo slips. Though fatigue lingered between her brows, she continued reviewing its contents word by word.
Sensing someone watching her, she instinctively looked up. When she saw Chu Zhou, undisguised joy immediately filled her narrow, serpentine eyes.
"You're back." She set down the bamboo slips and rose to greet him, her eyes full of gratitude. "I already heard what happened at the Heavenly Snake Mansion. You hadn't sent any word, and I was worried."
Chu Zhou smiled faintly, slipped an arm around her slender waist, and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I gained a few unexpected things, so I was delayed."
Hui Tianshuang did not ask what he had gained. She rested her head against his shoulder. "The Heavenly Snake Mansion has been destroyed, and Hui Jiuyin's faction has been executed, but their subordinate forces and branch elders still need to be dealt with."
"Don't worry. With me backing you, you can act as boldly as you like." Chu Zhou gently rubbed the space between Hui Tianshuang's brows.