CHAPTER 120: SUBTLE COMPROMISE

Within the castle, the atmosphere was tense.

Everyone was cramped together in the main hall, faces painted with anxiety and fear. In the middle of it all, Arthur sat, Excalibur in hand, exuding a powerful, golden glow. Right—even now, when he couldn’t move without someone lending him a shoulder, he was still keeping the Holy Field on!

’It’s suddenly gotten quiet...’ Arthur thought.

After the brief ground shaking and that explosive blast earlier, not a single murmur echoed. It almost felt like everyone was afraid to make a sound, as if the monsters would find them if they did.

"...!"

Right then, Arthur felt a presence enter his field. A very familiar one, at that.

"You, Leila." Arthur called to the dark elf beside him. "Please help those who just arrived. And ask them what’s happening outside."

"Yes, my king."

The woman caressed his battered chest one last time before reluctantly standing up and running outside. All eyes tracked her figure—the only one who dared move among them.

When she disappeared through the door, silence remained... but not for long.

A minute later, she returned—with two more figures beside her: Yifa and Jehanne, the last two combatants who had protected everyone else’s retreat.

"It’s Madam Jehanne!"

"Ohh! The saint is back! Praise the Lord!"

"W-We’re safe now, right?! Please tell me it’s over!"

Voices revived the moment they saw her face. However, a beat later, when she fully entered, they all gasped.

Despite wearing her bunny suit, Jehanne’s limbs were covered in blood. Veins had burst, muscles were torn, and it was hard for her to even walk without support. She was so beaten up—and along with her destitute expression—it was difficult to associate her state with "victory"!

Despair once again filled the room, the silence growing heavier, almost deafening.

All eyes watched as Leila, the dark elf, helped Jehanne forward, stopping just a few steps away from the equally-beaten-up Arthur.

"Please tell everyone," she spoke in a calm voice, "the monster wave has been successfully cleared."

"..."

There was no need for Arthur to repeat what she’d said, even though her voice was barely above a whisper. Everyone had heard it clearly over the complete silence.

"...We won?"

"We won! The monsters are gone!"

"Long live Saint Jehanne! Long live Sir Arthur! Long live Sir Xu Tao!"

Cheers erupted, rippling like a wave across a calm lake. In moments, the despairing atmosphere was replaced with celebration.

But despite the noise, Jehanne’s face remained grim.

Her mind was still elsewhere, unable to truly rejoice just yet.

She looked around, scanning the hall, before raising her voice through the growing commotion. "Sir Tao’s not here yet?"

Arthur—who now had girls around him kissing his cheeks in thanks—replied, "I haven’t seen him yet. He must still be out there, maybe collecting loot?"

"That’s..."

Jehanne wanted to refute his words, but knowing Xu Tao, it was highly likely. Still, that wasn’t what had her more worried.

’That woman... She’s not here either,’ Jehanne realized.

"Don’t tell me...!"

Recalling their first interaction, she quickly sensed a threat. "I need to go to Sir Tao, now...!" she declared.

"What are you saying?" Yifa, who had stayed quietly by her side, cracked. "Can you even move in this state? Just take a rest like a patient you are, obediently!"

Yifa sighed, then nudged the back of Jehanne’s knee—not playfully, but with exasperated concern.

THUD!

—the saint dropped to her knees, then onto all fours, and finally collapsed flat on the ground, face-down. Her entire body screamed—torn muscles, frayed nerves, and not a single working joint tendon. She was in no condition to walk, much less run around in search of Xu Tao!

Thankfully, there was no need to.

"That’s why I’m saying, I’m not that Emperor or whatever!"

A deep voice, exasperated, echoed loudly from the castle’s entrance.

"It must be a coincidence that we have similar souls! I’ve already seen the memories of my past lives, but none of them involved becoming an Emperor!"

"You mean the Six Heavens and Twelve Hells Unification Method?"

Another voice echoed—this one chuckling, filled with love and care for the other speaker. It was painfully obvious to any listener.

Everyone quieted down, listening to the two voices bicker—until the door opened and the two walked in.

One wore a black robe with silver and gold linings. His posture exuded power and command, but his expression was warped in disbelief.

The other wore a similarly black dress, though in a different style—more like an empress than a cultivator. It looked stuffy and difficult to move in. But her beauty was undeniable. Everyone gawped in awe, sighing unconsciously.

"S-Sir Tao...!" Jehanne called from the floor.

But with her muscles torn, she couldn’t even crawl forward. The best she could do was crane her head and raise a hand, reaching for him.

"Huh? Jehanne?! You’re wrecked...!"

Realizing her state, Xu Tao quickly rushed to her side.

With great care, he picked her up and cradled her in his arms, inspecting her condition. Muscles torn, ligaments snapped. Even a few bones were cracked—all of it self-inflicted, not from enemy attacks.

"You really overdid it..." Xu Tao whispered, feeling both thankful and worried.

His hands moved swiftly, tapping a few pressure points. It wouldn’t heal her, but it would numb the pain for now. "Let’s get you patched up," he said, standing up while carrying Jehanne like a princess.

Jehanne’s heart skipped a beat, her face flushing warm as he held her tightly. But Zetian’s words still echoed in her mind. Despite choosing not to be bothered by them, they lingered, almost like a curse.

"Sir Tao..." she said, her voice barely audible. "I... want to get stronger."

"..."

Xu Tao, of course, heard her. A smile spread across his face, sensing the sincerity and desperation in her voice.

"Of course," he nodded. "But let’s save that for tomorrow. First, we need to deal with your injuries."

He walked back, each step deliberate, until stopping.

In front of him stood the Empress, the Queen, the Black Phoenix—Wu Zetian—with discontent etched into her gaze.

"Wu Zetian," Xu Tao said, intentionally dropping any honorifics—as if speaking to a subordinate or an equal. "If I really am your Emperor, then... please heal her injuries."

It wasn’t a command. He wasn’t brazen enough to use false authority. He would rather speak honestly and ask for help without hiding anything.

"...You sure never change, my Emperor." Zetian sighed.

Behind the fan covering half her face, her lips curled into a soft, barely noticeable smile.

Though reluctant to heal her "rival," she couldn’t ignore Xu Tao’s request.

Just as her Emperor had never let her down in the past... now, it was her turn.

"Consider yourself lucky, woman," Zetian scoffed, waving her sleeve.

A purple wave spread—gentle, sparkling. Even the castle walls glimmered faintly as the energy swept past, as though the night sky itself had descended upon them.

Everyone touched by it had their injuries healed—old or new. Some who had lost body parts even regrew them, causing shock to ripple through the crowd.

"..."

Xu Tao watched her technique again. Even his Sixth Sense, enhanced by thousands of years of cultivation, struggled to dissect Zetian’s methods.

Though he memorized the energy movements, he could tell that mimicking it wouldn’t be enough. He was missing something critical. Something only Zetian herself could tell him.

"WOAH!!!"

But his thoughts were interrupted.

Another wild cheer erupted. This time, the cheer wasn’t from relief, but rather, joy.

Without warning, everyone suddenly had another reason to celebrate!