chapter 24

It was indeed her this time.

The one he met at the bridgehead was probably her younger sister, just that they resembled each other greatly.

“Mhm,” the woman answered.

“Are you here to visit me?” Zhu Minglang asked.

-Hmm? It’s not like I’m serving time in jail. Why did I say visit?-

“I’m here to kill you,” the woman said nonchalantly.

Zhu Minglang turned awkward and asked, “Then why didn’t you act previously?”

“I’ve thought things through during this time. Keeping you alive is like leaving a poisonous thorn alone, stinging me by surprise every time I feel the slightest bit of happiness, causing even greater pain and torture. It’s better to end this.” She came walking with light steps, her heels producing an orderly rhythm on the wooden floor.

Arriving in front of him, Zhu Minglang got a clearer look at her face.

She was indeed Li Yunzi. Her natural pride was hidden under her cold beauty.

“I understand. These days, there’s no one in Ancestral Dragon City State who’s not talking about this matter, and everyone’s ripping your wounds open with disgusting words, while I get to hide here in peace, raising dragons and studying. Clearly the heavens are at work, messing with our fates, but have decided to make you bear all responsibilities alone.” Zhu Minglang nodded seriously.

“You don’t blame me?” She asked.

“I do, but I can’t win against you,” Zhu Minglang answered.

“Do you have any last words?” She continued.

“I thought you were different from other girls, able to not take your anger out on others despite suffering such humiliation. You’re rather special in my heart… forget it. No matter what, thank you for giving me the enrollment letter, and letting me experience a pretty good time here in the Academy.” Zhu Minglang said.

“Oh?” She suddenly raised her eyebrows, the side of her delicate rose-colored lips curled up slightly, “She even gave you the enrollment letter?”

“She?” Zhu Minglang flushed in surprise.

“Li Yunzi,” the woman clarified.

Zhu Minglang looked at her, suddenly recalling that back in the dungeon, Li Yunzi had told him that she had an illness.

Looking at her now, it indeed seemed like her illness was rather serious.

“Are you alright?” Zhu Minglang asked.

“So the little beggar that caused all this commotion and dragged Li Yunzi down from her throne as the crown princess is you. Hehe, Li Yunzi even left you alive, and let you join the Dragon Tamers Academy…” the woman said in a cold, mocking tone.

Zhu Minglang looked at Li Yunzi, whose personality and temperament had changed greatly, confused.

“You’re not Li Yunzi?? You’re Nan Lingsha!” Zhu Minglang suddenly thought of the woman he met at the bridge.

“I’m Li Yunzi’s younger sister.”

“You’re twin sisters?” Zhu Minglang was astonished.

-Twin sisters!

-God, why didn’t I think of that!

-Li Yunzi and Nan Lingsha are actually twin sisters!

-But how could I have thought of that??

Who would have thought there’d be two people with such peerless beauty!?

“She follows our father’s surname, and I follow our mother’s surname. She stays in the Li Clan, while I stay with the Nan Family,” the woman who claimed to be surnamed Nan said coldly.

“T-th-this…” Zhu Minglang stammered.

-This is way too confusing!

-It’s true that Li Yunzi has a younger sister named Nan Lingsha!

-But no one told me that they are twin sisters!

-No wonder Patriarch Li had said ‘Li Yunzi is Li Yunzi, and Nan Lingsha is Nan Lingsha’. They look identical, and with Li Yunzi’s reputation damaged, her identical younger sister would surely be affected as well…

-What sin have I committed…-

“Thanks to you, now I have to wear a veil whenever I go out. If it wasn’t because there aren’t many who know that we’re twin sisters, my reputation would be tarnished as well!” The woman’s voice clearly carried hints of resentment.

-She was trying to make me talk earlier…

-She wasn’t sure I was the culprit in the beginning!

-I knew it. Li Yunzi seemed a little different today…-

Zhu Minglang looked at this woman who appeared identical to the Valkyrie, Li Yunzi, feeling half happy and worried at the same time.

What he was happy about was that Li Yunzi was still that special Li Yunzi, having no intention of killing him.

What he was worried about was how he should handle this sister-in-law; his tongue slipped!

“Ur hrm, Miss Lingsha, some things are not how you thought they are. Why don’t you ask your sister? She can testify what kind of a person I, Zhu Minglang, am,” Zhu Minglang said.

“You think we’re close or something? Perhaps she thinks her current predicament is all my doing,” the woman harrumphed coldly.

“This…” Zhu Minglang scratched his head, completely at a loss.

The woman slowly circled around Zhu Minglang, scrutinizing him proudly.

Zhu Minglang felt like he’d make more mistakes if he spoke. It was better to keep his mouth shut.

-Li Yunzi should have given me a warning!-

“You do look decent. Why are the rumors spread to this extent, saying you’re a cheap, dirty beggar with a body covered in sores?” The woman questioned.

“Actually I look a little handsome, right?” Zhu Minglang said.

The woman rolled her eyes back. She had never seen such a shameless person in her life.

“Tell me, what exactly happened? You’d better tell the truth. If I’m not satisfied with your story, those words will be your last!” She warned, looking beautiful and angry at the same time.

“Alright. You’re a victim as well, after all.”

“Shut up. This young miss has nothing to do with you at all!” she said angrily, her cheeks flushed.

“… …” Zhu Minglang could only keep to himself, his mind wandering.

“Speak!”

“Didn’t you tell me to shut up?”

She grit her teeth so hard, nearly shattering them. Forcibly suppressing her rage in the end, she demanded, word by word, “Tell! Me! What! Happened! Now!”

Zhu Minglang sorted out his thoughts. Facing this sister-in-law, who was deeply victimized, he felt like it was better to tell the truth.

“It’s like this. I lived at the southern side of Mulberry Town originally, with mulberry trees and land to my name. I led a comfortable and tranquil life. One day, I was robbed by the bandits in Wutu. They took all my money, leaving me to beg on the streets. The heavens even decided to pull a prank on me, and a bowl of congee laced with poison was the start of all this…”

“Why do I feel like you’re like a storyteller from the market?”

“Miss, every word I speak is the truth.”

She went over what Zhu Minglang said, glancing over at him from time to time.

Zhu Minglang maintained a sincere smile, his inside rippling uncontrollably when he observed her. -Similar. Too similar! Even their bodies are so… cough, cough, she’s her sister, not Li Yunzi!-

-I heard stories saying that twins usually have a telepathic connection to one another. Who knows… Stop!

-Zhu Minglang, Zhu Minglang, how can you be so vile!-

“Hmph, even so, you’re only a peasant. Things have already spread to the point of being unbearable.” When she thought of all those words of humiliation she had suffered for no reason, she wished to kill this man in front of her.

However, was there any real meaning in killing Zhu Minglang?

After taking a look at Zhu Minglang’s current appearance, she thought of his current identity.

She suddenly understood something. Her bright eyes, which seemed even more resplendent under the sunlight, stared at Zhu Minglang’s face, and she mumbled to herself, “I understand now. That’s why Li Yunzi is keeping you alive.”

Zhu Minglang couldn’t make heads or tails about this situation.

“If you had died, you’d be dead with the lowest of status. Then, the one who tainted her reputation as a crown princess would forever be a vagrant, a beggar. But if you’re alive, you’ll slowly break away from your lowly status. If you become a dragon tamer, even if it’s the weakest of all, it’s infinitely better than a dirty beggar. This is why she gave you the enrollment letter. Li Yunzi, Li Yunzi, so this is your way of healing your wounds?” The woman’s eyes shone with cold, icy sharpness, her tone no longer as gentle as before.

Zhu Minglang’s mouth opened wide.

In truth, he had never thought about things this way.

“Perhaps she’s being rational and merciful, or perhaps…” Zhu Minglang said.

“Merciful? The number of people she had killed can fill up Lichuan’s lake!” the woman said in disdain.

Li Yunzi was known as the Valkyrie, and the iron blooded crown princess in Ancestral Dragon City State’s region. Her acts of slaughtering had long spread far and wide to the major territories and city states.

Zhu Minglang chuckled, not replying to her. However, he could tell that the twin sisters’ relationship was indeed not as good as he had imagined.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Loud footsteps were heard from a short distance away. A few energetic young men were discussing something related to the eastern stronghold.

“The Thousand Man Slayer Luo Xiao is too ferocious. Why haven’t we heard of someone like him before? Those Wutu plebeians no longer dare to act up thanks to his deeds. How sacred is our Ancestral Dragon City State’s territory? It’s not something those plebeians can step on!” One of the young men said boldly.

“Indeed, it’s faster to make a name for yourself in battle. Now, there should be many in Ancestral Dragon City State who have heard of the Thousand Man Slayer, Luo Xiao’s, name.”

“I heard that the western Lingxiao City State is starting to grow restless. I really wish my Sickle Beast would quickly become a Sickle Dragon!”

“It’s said that Luo Xiao’s infamy had spread in Wutu long ago, and that he was the one who slaughtered Ever City. The rebels of Wutu are still terrorized at the mention of his name!”

“Speaking of Ever City, hehe, do you know about that matter…” A rather sleazy voice spread.

“Who doesn’t?”

“I have the most updated version of the news. I heard the crown princess has a lewd nature to begin with, and there are rumors floating around, saying that during her warring days with the west with Lingxiao City State, she would order virile men to come serve her in her tent…” That sleazy voice continued.

The vigorous young men seemed gentlemanly and well-dressed, but every one of them had forgotten the objectives of their trip to the library. They gathered together, gossiping in low voices, letting out strange laughters from time to time.

The woman and Zhu Minglang were behind the bookshelves.

Seeing that group of people walking in their direction, she immediately put on her veil. However, her gaze was obviously icy cold, looking like she wanted to kill!