My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty
Chapter 723 - 723: Killing You Takes Only a Moment

Xue Lengyan, though adept at scheming, was not one to beat around the bush.

"I have no complicated conditions, just one: you must not harm any disciple of Lanyan Royal School!"

Her straightforward demand made Gu Lan's face darken slightly. However, he quickly masked his reaction.

"Of course," he said, his tone icy. "But what can you offer me in return?"

"I've already given it to you," Gu Lan replied firmly, a sly smile playing on his lips. "The three powerful individuals under their command have suffered significant losses. Now is the perfect time for you to strike."

But Xue Lengyan merely shook her head, a cold smile tugging at her lips. "You underestimate them. Those three have hidden cards yet to be played. If not for that, I would have dealt with them long ago."

Gu Lan's expression darkened further. More trump cards? If that was the case, he had to stay vigilant. He couldn't afford to be caught off guard by a sudden move.

"Then what exactly do you propose?" he asked cautiously.

"Simple," Xue Lengyan replied, her voice like ice. "You're strong. Help me kill them."

Her straightforwardness was chilling. Like the others, all she wanted was to eliminate her enemies and secure her position. However, Gu Lan shook his head, his expression resolute.

"This is your own business," he said. "It wouldn't be wise for me to interfere too much. I can help suppress their subordinates, but that's as far as I'll go."

Xue Lengyan's face fell, clearly dissatisfied with his response. But Gu Lan remained calm, pressing his point.

"This is my final concession," he said, his tone cold. "Honestly, dealing with you would be no different from dealing with them. I could kill you right now if I wanted."

As he spoke, the Hongmeng Sword in his hand gleamed with a deadly light.

"Shing—"

A piercing sword hum echoed through the air. Before Xue Lengyan could react, a strand of her hair floated to the ground, cleanly severed.

She stared at the fallen hair, her brow furrowed in shock and dread. It was clear: Gu Lan wasn't bluffing. If he wanted her dead, it would take only a single stroke.

Her expression shifted, a trace of fear creeping into her cold eyes. Gu Lan, however, calmly sheathed his sword as if nothing had happened.

"Think it over," he said, his tone indifferent. "If you agree, I'll assist you. If not, we become enemies."

Xue Lengyan clenched her fists, her mind racing. After a tense pause, she finally nodded. "Fine. As you wish. Help me, and the Blood Clan will no longer oppose Lanyan Royal School."

Gu Lan smiled faintly, clearly satisfied with the outcome. Without another word, he turned and left.

The moment he was gone, a subordinate stepped forward, his expression icy. "Young Lord, why not just kill him now?"

Xue Lengyan shook her head. "Even if all of you attacked together, none of you could match him."

Relief washed over her; it was fortunate she hadn't acted rashly earlier. If she had, they would already be locked in a deadly battle, and she might not have survived.

"Spread my order," she commanded. "None of my people are to clash with Lanyan Royal School. As for those three, let them continue their squabbles."

"Understood," the subordinate replied, though the reluctance in his eyes was evident.

Meanwhile, Gu Lan had already returned to Lanyan Royal School. As he entered the grand hall, he was greeted by two familiar figures: Zhongren and Gu Simu.

The moment Gu Simu saw Gu Lan, her face lit up with excitement. She rushed forward before he could even take another step.

"Father!"

Gu Lan's expression softened, his tone filled with warmth. "It's only been a few days, and you already missed me?"

"Of course!" Gu Simu replied cheerfully.

After exchanging a few playful remarks with his daughter, Gu Lan turned his attention to Zhongren. "Did you encounter any trouble on your journey?"

"No, my Lord," Zhongren replied respectfully. "This time, I used Qimen Dunjia to open a rift and avoided passing through Dark Clan territory entirely."

Zhongren's methods had been lacking in the past, but with Gu Simu's assistance, they had succeeded with ease. Gu Lan trusted Zhongren's skills and didn't press further.

"But it's all thanks to me!" Gu Simu chimed in, pride evident in her voice. "Without me, Uncle Zhongren couldn't have managed."

Gu Lan chuckled, amused by her confidence. Turning his hand, he summoned the Linglong Pagoda.

"What reward do you want this time?" he asked.

He had plenty of treasures and Spirit Fruits, assuming they would entice her. However, to his surprise, Gu Simu waved them off.

"I don't need a reward this time. But I would like your help refining this."

She held up a glowing object, its golden light shimmering in her palm. She had been trying to absorb its energy for some time but had yet to succeed.

Zhongren had also attempted to assist but lacked the power to achieve the desired result. Thus, they had returned to seek Gu Lan's help.

Gu Lan examined the object, his eyes widening slightly in astonishment. The energy contained within was astonishing.

He could refine it for her, but doing so would limit her future growth. "I'll teach you a technique," he said after a moment. "You'll have to refine it yourself."

With a single finger, he sent a golden light into Gu Simu's forehead.

"Use this method," he instructed. "It will yield extraordinary results."

He then added, "Now, go find Chen Feng and the others. Your uncle and I have matters to discuss."

Understanding her cue, Gu Simu nodded and left the hall, leaving Gu Lan and Zhongren alone.

"My Lord," Zhongren said, his tone cautious, "what do you require?"

"I need you to calculate the fate of Lanyan Royal School," Gu Lan said solemnly.

Zhongren's face paled, his body stiffening at the request. After a moment of hesitation, he began to perform the Qimen Dunjia calculations.

True Qi enveloped him as he formed complex hand seals, a Tai Chi formation materializing beneath his feet.

But despite his efforts, the results eluded him.

"Splurt!"

A mouthful of blood sprayed from Zhongren's lips as the Qimen Dunjia shattered. He staggered back several steps, his face pale as he dropped to one knee.

"My Lord, I have failed. The fate of Lanyan Royal School is beyond my ability to calculate."

Attempting to calculate Lanyan Royal School's fate meant linking it to Gu Lan's. But when Zhongren tried, he discovered complexities far beyond his scope.

Gu Lan's brows furrowed in thought. Though he had anticipated difficulties, he hadn't expected complete failure.

"Rest and recover," he said, dismissing Zhongren.

As Zhongren left, Gu Lan stood alone in the vast hall, his expression heavy with contemplation.

He had no interest in meddling beyond ensuring the safety of Lanyan Royal School's disciples. Yet the forces at play left him uneasy.

"When will it all finally end?" he murmured.