A vast desert. A full moon.
Silvery moonlight washed over the undulating dunes. Absolute silence reigned beneath a sky scrubbed clear as glass. Inside a prison within the ancient city perched atop the dunes, Fu Qingyang felt as though he were trapped in a bottomless abyss. He struggled to wake, yet plummeted uncontrollably deeper into darkness.
After an unknown passage of time, a cool, invigorating sensation jolted him awake. He greedily swallowed the water brought to his lips.
*Gulp, gulp...*
A few mouthfuls of fresh water brought his soul back into place. Fu Qingyang struggled to open his eyes, racked with pain all over as if his bones had shattered to pieces.
A dignified Level 8 Dominator, and yet he lacked the strength to lift a single finger.
"Envoy Wang, you're awake?"
A head wrapped in a turban leaned close, his expression brimming with concern.
"Vice Envoy Jiang..." Fu Qingyang instinctively addressed him by title as a brief, fragmented rush of memories surged into his mind.
His current identity was Wang Ce, an envoy of the Tang Dynasty sent on a diplomatic mission to Tianzhu. Upon their arrival, Tianzhu had plunged into civil strife. Its king was killed in the chaos, and the rebel faction that declared itself ruler plundered the diplomatic mission, seizing the treasures and tribute presented by the Tang Dynasty.
Over thirty members of the mission, Wang Ce included, fought desperately to resist. But the enemy was too numerous and powerful. In the end, every last one was captured and held temporarily in this ancient city's prison.
Fu Qingyang's injuries were sustained during that desperate clash.
"Envoy Wang, you're awake?"
More people crowded around, all members of the diplomatic mission.
The desert night was bitterly cold, and the crude prison leaked wind from every seam. The imprisoned envoys shivered violently in the freezing air.
Prior to this, they had huddled together in a corner, leaning against one another for warmth.
Fu Qingyang probed his condition. Multiple fractures, internal bleeding in his organs, his cultivation sealed—leaving him with only Transcendent-level combat strength.
His overall state was wretched in the extreme.
He promptly opened the quest interface to review the dungeon objectives.
Main quest: Reclaim the imperial court's tribute.
Side quest: Escape the prison.
Note: Before the quest concludes, do not return to the Tang Dynasty, and do not report to the Tang Dynasty.
Fu Qingyang knew this chapter of history well. The correct strategy was to borrow troops from Tubo and wipe out the Tianzhu rebel forces.
Silently, he mapped out the steps of his walkthrough: 1. Escape the prison. 2. Head to Tubo. 3. Borrow troops to invade Tianzhu.
The dungeon scenario was not pure history; adjustments were guaranteed. Borrowing troops from Tubo would hardly be simple and would inevitably involve a gauntlet of crises and trials.
Attacking Tianzhu would be the final showdown, and it remained unclear how many Level 9 powerhouses Tianzhu possessed.
Naturally, all of that lay in the future. The most pressing matter was escaping this prison.
Fu Qingyang shifted his body slightly, and a jolt of searing pain tore through him.
Even with the constitution of the Transcendent stage, failing to treat his injuries in time would prove fatal.
Fortunately, Fu Qingyang's faction warehouse was well-stocked with Wood Demon items and diluted Life Essence.
"I'm all right. Rest assured, everyone," he said weakly, reassuring the mission members gathered around him.
Instead of treating his wounds right away, Fu Qingyang dragged himself toward the wooden bars and listened intently.
As a Scout, observing the surroundings was second nature.
The prison was not underground. It consisted of low single-story buildings made of mud bricks built on the surface, each having three walls and one side of wooden bars, facing an identical barred cell across a walkway.
An armored guard stood every five meters, positioned right beside a blazing torch to keep warm.
Every fifteen minutes, a six-man patrol swept through the corridor.
*Counting both sides of the walkway, there are eight guards in total. Classes in the Transcendent stage lack escape arts, so slipping past them unnoticed is impossible. Taking down eight men wouldn't normally be difficult, but neutralizing all eight simultaneously without letting them raise the alarm is completely beyond my current condition and capabilities. If I want to get out, I have to rely on wit...*
Fu Qingyang pondered for a few seconds, pressed himself against the wooden bars, and called out weakly to the nearest guard:
"I am the envoy of the Great Tang. Might I trouble you for a favor?"
The guard paid him no mind.
"If you help me, I will grant you endless wealth and splendor." Fu Qingyang gasped for breath between every phrase, as though speaking had become an agonizing burden.
Only then did the guard speak: "You are vital prisoners of great importance to the King. I will not let you go."
"You misunderstand, sir..." Fu Qingyang coughed weakly, speaking with great difficulty. "I am gravely wounded. Without treatment, I won't survive until tomorrow. Before entering the city, I hid a magical treasure in a secluded spot. It can cure illnesses and heal wounds. Fetch it for me, and I will reward you handsomely."
The guard's eyes lit up. He glanced left and right, then leaned in close and whispered:
"If you truly possess such a treasure, I will retrieve it for you. We people of Tianzhu keep our word and never deceive."
As he spoke, he appraised Fu Qingyang by the torchlight. The Great Tang envoy was deathly pale and had bloodless lips, truly looking like a man on the brink of death.
Fu Qingyang lowered his voice and spoke into his ear for a brief moment.
Having obtained the exact location, the guard immediately strode off. Passing a torch, he called to a comrade:
"I need to use the latrine!"
He didn't spare another glance at the Great Tang envoy, his mind entirely consumed by thoughts of a magical treasure that cured wounds and diseases.
Once he was gone, Fu Qingyang called out to another guard:
"Brave warrior of Tianzhu, I am the envoy of the Great Tang. Might you step over so we may speak?"
The guard strode over, scrutinizing this Tang man who looked ready to breathe his last. "What is it?"
Fu Qingyang repeated the exact same speech.
Upon hearing it, the guard spun on his heel and left immediately:
"I need to use the latrine!"
Repeating the cycle four times, he dispatched four guards.
The remaining four guards grew bewildered, wondering if those fellows had secretly sneaked food together that evening—how else could their stomachs all act up at once?
Inside the cell, Fu Qingyang took an emerald-green treasure pearl from his inventory, swallowed it, retrieved a syringe of diluted Life Essence, and injected it straight into his carotid artery.
After sitting cross-legged in silence for ten seconds, he opened his eyes, his voice now crisp and cool:
"Warriors of Tianzhu, I am the envoy of the Great Tang! I've been deceived—tricked by four of your comrades... They coaxed the hiding place of five thousand taels of gold out of me! You must help me!"
*The hiding place of five thousand taels of gold?!*
The nearest guard reacted instinctively, marching over with a sharp demand: "What did you say?"
Seeing this, the other three rushed forward, terrified that their colleague might learn the location while they were left in the dark.
Fu Qingyang opened his inventory, seized a mechanical repeating crossbow like a bolt of lightning, and pulled the trigger.
*Twang! Twang! Twang! Twang!*
Four releases of the bowstring. Four men collapsed.
Fu Qingyang put away the crossbow, pulled out a broad-bladed short saber, and slashed cleanly through the iron chains. Pushing the cell door open, he looked back at the dumbstruck mission members and said calmly:
"Stay here. Tianzhu fears the Great Tang and won't dare execute you lightly. I'm going out to find reinforcements."
Security was tight. It was impossible for over thirty people to flee together, and guards would shoot to kill any escaping prisoners on sight.
Remaining in the cell was far safer.
"Lord Wang, please take care!"
"Lord Wang, you must come back to save us!"
Amidst the chorus of their calls, Fu Qingyang vanished into the night before the patrolling soldiers could arrive.
***
*The one who pushed the door open just now was Saiketia?*
*How did she know it was me? I left using Star Escape well beforehand. The Desire class has no divination or deduction abilities—did she use some special item?*
Zhang Yuanqing's nerves tightened instinctively as thoughts flashed through his mind. On the surface, he wore an expression of innocent bewilderment. "Oh, beautiful goddess, I don't understand what you mean."
Saiketia closed the crude wooden door, sat on the edge of the bed, took a deep breath, and smiled faintly.
"That very scent. Amini, I have always remembered your scent. It was lingering in the storeroom just a moment ago. Your denials and lies cannot change that reality."
Zhang Yuanqing fell silent for a second, then simply admitted it: "Yes, Saiketia. I went there."
Saiketia stared at him wordlessly for a full half-minute before the beautiful goddess curled her lips into a smile. "Why did you approach Mother's quarters? You should know that place is forbidden."
"I sensed it!" Zhang Yuanqing answered honestly.
His words caused Saiketia to drop her playful demeanor, her delicate brows furrowing.
After a long pause, she spoke in a puzzled tone:
"Normally speaking, you shouldn't be able to sense it. You may be a child of the Goddess of Beauty, but you aren't female... Did you inherit Mother's trait of 'Desire'?"
*Not a woman, so I shouldn't be able to sense it? Inheriting part of the Goddess of Beauty's abilities makes it possible to sense?*
From Saiketia's words, Zhang Yuanqing extracted these two crucial pieces of information.
The object in the cellar seemed connected to the Goddess of Beauty. If so, the God of Light's followers attacking Paphos Island had nothing to do with the cellar—it was purely a personal vendetta.
The God of Light likely looked down on things belonging to the Desire class.
*I really did sense it, but it had nothing to do with the Goddess of Beauty's bloodline; it was my own...* As Zhang Yuanqing reached that thought, he paused.
Perhaps sensing that fluctuation wasn't solely due to his high rank. It was genuinely possible that the Goddess of Beauty's bloodline had played a part.
*Just what on earth is that thing?!*
Curious, Zhang Yuanqing asked, "I don't know why I could sense it either. What exactly is inside the storeroom?"
Saiketia's expression turned stern. "That is not for you to know, Amini. I need you to promise me that you will never approach the storeroom again. Otherwise, even if you are Mother's child, I will banish you from Paphos Island."
Since she had laid it out so plainly, Zhang Yuanqing bowed respectfully. "Understood! Beautiful Saiketia, your will is my command."
Saiketia nodded in satisfaction, returning to her smiling demeanor. "One last question. How did you enter the storeroom? You didn't even pick the lock."
Without hesitation or pause, Zhang Yuanqing replied:
"A traveler seeking treasure granted me the ability to slip inside."
He shifted the blame entirely onto the Void class. Given Saiketia's knowledge and status, she certainly knew of the "Void."
Sure enough, Saiketia pressed no further. She nodded and walked toward the door.
Just as she was about to open it, she paused and turned back with a smile:
"I heard you completed the quest smoothly, Amini. I greatly admire your abilities, but let me advise you: stop provoking Cupid. Otherwise, your punishment won't be as simple as being made to revel in pleasure with Herasine."
Zhang Yuanqing froze. "What do you mean?"
Saiketia glanced back at Herasine, her luscious red lips curving upward. "You and Herasine falling in love—that was Cupid's doing!"
She mimed drawing a bow.
"He wanted you two to violate the taboo. It was both a prank and a way to hold power over you. Whenever he pleases, he can have you banished from Paphos Island." Saiketia said, "Cupid wouldn't dare cross me. If you cannot endure your lust at night and crave pleasure, you can always come to me—just like that night when you clung to me until dawn."
Chapter 939