Chapter 190: Lian Cheng’s Shock-02

— Azure River Capital City —

Through the window of the public flying ark’s passenger cabin, the view of the public flying port came into sight as the flying ark slowly docked.

People from all walks of life, those with enough capital to board the public flying ark, stood up from their seats and walked toward the deck, preparing to depart.

Lian Cheng slowly rose from his seat and followed the crowd toward the port.

At first, his objective in coming to the Azure River Capital City was to investigate the current situation and observe his future enemies.

And most importantly, to save the life of a woman who had helped him and was the most important woman in his previous life.

Yes, he knew that her base was not in this city, but this place had many information guilds and sects that provided intelligence services. He needed that information before he could plan further ahead.

Lian Cheng walked down the gangway toward the port and continued toward the tower connected to it. From the tower, when he looked down at the vast city below, a wave of nostalgia washed over him.

In his previous life, he remembered that this place had become ruins, with only small pockets of resistance still fighting against the demonic army.

Yes, the calamity that descended upon this lower realm was caused by the demon race, but they were not demons in the truest sense. Those demons, in his previous life, were all humans who had turned into demons.

In that life, aside from the resistance alliance, there were only two kinds of humans left. The prey, and the traitors. The latter were those who were fascinated by the power of demons and accepted demonic gifts, transforming themselves into members of the demon race.

All of this calamity, ruin, and death had been caused by one man. One ignorant man who believed he controlled the world and thought himself above fate.

Murong Wen… the name of a hypocritical man who had nearly brought about the end of humanity because he could not control his own desires.

Lian Cheng remembered it clearly. The day the Demon Queen ascended and plunged the world into darkness.

Back then, he had still been a simple disciple of the Tiger Fist Sect in the Jade Bamboo Province. That day, the sky had suddenly turned dark, and the spiritual qi in the air had transformed into demonic qi.

After the phenomenon of demonic transcendence, he heard from experts that it had all begun at the center of the Azure River Capital City. A massive crater had formed from the power leaking from the Demon Queen’s body.

One fifth of the people within the city had been sacrificed. All of their power was drained, leaving behind dried corpses. Whether mortal or cultivator, all of them had contributed to the overwhelming power of the Demon Queen.

Yes… that was right. The one who had transcended humanity and entered demonhood was none other than the star courtesan of the Immortal Dream Garden, Dream Butterfly.

Her real name was Long Mengyu. She later changed her name to Demon Empress Yu and established the Demon Empire atop the ruins of the Azure River Capital City.

He knew that Dream Butterfly’s fate had been tragic. She had always been aware that her physique could bring calamity. Because of this, she protected her chastity and never sold her body, offering only her art to her guests.

That was… until the idiot Murong Wen appeared.

That bastard acted like a refined scholar and tried to court Dream Butterfly properly. But she rejected his advances, fearing that her physique would kill him and bring disaster upon her matron and the Immortal Dream Garden, since Murong Wen was the sole heir of the Murong Clan.

On that fateful day, the bastard forced himself upon her and was killed in the process. His body was drained until it turned to dust, and Dream Butterfly transcended humanity, transforming into Demon Empress Yu.

And thus, the realm was plunged into chaos.

Lian Cheng stopped his thoughts and looked toward the tall tower on the horizon. It was the Immortal Dream Tower where Dream Butterfly resided.

If he had a choice, he would not want to lay his hands on Dream Butterfly, who was now just a mortal.

But between killing her and killing Murong Wen, who was likely a Nascent Soul expert, the difference in difficulty was like heaven and earth.

To protect the woman he loved, he had no choice but to kill an innocent soul.

As his mind wandered, Lian Cheng stepped down the stairs toward the ground level.

But the moment he stepped onto the ground, the scene before him was one of festivity.

People were smiling everywhere, and lion dances prowled through the streets. Children laughed and ran as they chased one another, while the adults watched over them with warm smiles.

“Huh? What is this festival? Did I arrive during some kind of event?” Lian Cheng muttered in confusion.

In his previous life, when he arrived at this place, he had come together with the resistance alliance forces as an artificer master of the army.

Back then, this place had been nothing but ruin and cruelty made manifest. Buildings had been turned into prisons and torture chambers. Rows upon rows of human slaves had worked day and night, and sacrifices had been brought to the demon palace to have their life force drained by the Demon Empress.

Any expert captured during the war would be delivered to the Demon Empress’s bedchamber for her to… consume.

Seeing this place now, full of life and joy, felt surreal to him.

Lian Cheng walked past the festive streets and deeper into the city. He began asking passersby and cultivators for directions to the information guild. It could not be helped, in his previous life, this place had not been like this. All he remembered were ruins.

After asking around for half an hour, he finally arrived at the information guild.

Lian Cheng walked up to the counter, where a man sat alone, looking bored out of his mind as he took drags from a pipe and played with the smoke, shaping it into various forms.

“Oooh, a customer? Welcome, welcome. What do you need?” the man asked with a smile that still seemed forced out of boredom.

Without any ceremony, Lian Cheng went straight to the point.

“I want information, or a way to get into the Immortal Dream Tower, top floor. Or any information related to Dream Butterfly right now.”

Lian Cheng expected to be mocked or sneered at, but what he did not expect was a judgmental look.

Yes… a judgmental look mixed with pity, as if the man were looking at someone who had just lost the love of his life.

“Wha… what… why are you looking at me like that?” Lian Cheng asked, startled.

“Man…” The receptionist flicked the ash from his pipe and scratched his head. “I never thought I would meet someone like you at a time like this,” he said with a teasing grin.

“What do you mean?” Lian Cheng asked.

“I mean…” The man’s smile turned complicated before he finally spoke.

“Look, brother… I know it’s hard for you, but even the SIMP King, Young Master Qin, has already reluctantly given up and given his blessing.” The man stood up and patted Lian Cheng on the shoulder, as if trying to comfort him.

“You don’t need to bang your head against the wall like this. She already has a man. Let her go… find someone else… stop being a SIMP!”

Lian Cheng’s face contorted with a mix of irritation and confusion. He did not know what “SIMP” meant, but somehow… the word irritated him. He quickly calmed himself and tried to get to the point.

“Look, can you help me get the information or not? If you can’t, I’ll go somewhere else,” Lian Cheng said firmly.

But instead of getting angry or complying, the man burst out laughing.

“Hahahahaha! Oh man… what a day! A determined SIMP!” the receptionist laughed as he slammed the counter, completely unconcerned.

“If you call me SIMP one more time!” Lian Cheng warned, his irritation reaching its peak.

The man stopped and slowly explained, “Look, brother… I don’t want to burst your bubble, but even if you somehow had connections to the city lord’s mansion, you still wouldn’t get any information about what you’re asking.”

“No one wants to offend a young master from a Hidden Ancient Sect like Young Master Wei. And I suggest you forget about Lady Dream Butterfly too. She already has a man she likes. And that Young Master Wei has already decided to redeem her and ask for her hand as one of his wives,” the information broker said with a pitying smile.

“What!? What did you say!? One of his wives!?” Lian Cheng asked in alarm.

This was bad. Things had changed beyond his expectations. He remembered that Murong Wen would take some time, about a year from now, before forcing himself on Dream Butterfly. But now… there was another young master who had come to take her as his wife?

Wait… what was that man’s name again? Wei Chen?

“You mean… Wei Chen… the vagabond who discovered the Primordial Era ruin and conquered the Flaming Lotus Secret Realm?” he asked.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep