Chapter 54: Utterly Flabbergasted! This Great Elder Does Not Play By the Rules!

"What did you just say?"

The First Elder raised an eyebrow, his tone turning icy.

Shen Lang immediately explained, "Please don't misunderstand. I simply feel that if I return right now, not only will I fail to bring back the divine artifact, but I will also arouse Nalan Yanran's suspicion."

"After all, serving a monarch is like sleeping with a tiger. The Zhou family captured me and then released me just like that—if I turn around and ask Nalan Yanran for the divine artifact, she will definitely be on guard against me!"

Prompted by Shen Lang's words, the First Elder immediately realized that what Shen Lang said made complete sense.

If it were one of his own men who had been captured, released for no apparent reason, and then returned asking to borrow a precious treasure, he would undoubtedly be on his guard as well.

He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Then, according to your meaning, when will you manage to get the divine artifact for our Zhou family?"

"I think we should wait a couple of days. Nalan Yanran will definitely find a way to rescue me!"

"By the time someone comes to your Zhou family to put in a good word, you can gracefully back down and go along with it. That way, there won't be any suspicion!"

Hearing this answer, the First Elder nodded with considerable satisfaction. "Very well!"

"However, you will have to suffer a little grievance these past two days and stay in our Zhou family's dungeon."

With that, the First Elder prepared to signal the Fourth Elder to take him away.

However, Shen Lang had come to the Zhou family to make a fortune.

If he were locked up in a dungeon, how on earth was he supposed to get rich?

He immediately shouted, "You can't lock me in the dungeon! If I get thrown in there, I'm dead for sure!"

"What do you mean by that?" The First Elder raised an eyebrow.

Shen Lang dropped all pretense and retorted, "After all, Zhou Hao was killed by a passing powerhouse precisely because he wanted to murder me."

"Zhou Huai'an bears a bone-deep hatred toward me. If I get thrown into the dungeon and he casually uses some petty tricks, will I still be able to survive?"

Faced with Shen Lang's rhetorical question, the First Elder fell silent.

As someone who had always coveted the position of head of the family, he knew Zhou Huai'an's personality all too well.

He knew even better that Zhou Huai'an would certainly never give up his ambition for the patriarch's seat.

If Shen Lang died, Zhou Huai'an could not only take revenge, but he could also wipe away the major achievement that the First Elder was about to complete.

Once things quieted down after a while, given Zhou Botong's usual tendencies, there was a high probability that he would still let Zhou Huai'an become the head of the family.

And by that time, whether he himself could remain the First Elder would be anyone's guess.

Having weighed the pros and cons, the First Elder narrowed his eyes and said, "Then how about you stay by my side for the next two days?"

"That won't do. What if someone leaks the news of my cooperation with you? By that time..."

Shen Lang stopped there and left the sentence unfinished.

Yet, anyone with half a brain could understand the implication behind his words.

Especially the First Elder, who was utterly single-minded about seizing power—he understood it crystal clear!

With a solemn expression, he looked at Shen Lang and demanded, "What on earth are you getting at?"

Seeing that the First Elder had finally taken the bait, Shen Lang put on a serious expression and said, "I think you should lock me away in a place that only the First Elder has the authority to open."

"Not only will this dispel Nalan Yanran's doubts, but it will also save face for Zhou Huai'an. I'm sure the Zhou family ancestor will even praise you for handling matters reliably!"

Hiss...

Prompted by Shen Lang's suggestion, the First Elder actually thought of a place suitable for detaining him.

It was a place that only he had the authority to open, guarded by sentries.

Without his explicit command, no one could possibly approach it.

Most importantly, that place was a forbidden death zone.

Even if Shen Lang wanted to escape, he wouldn't be able to!

At this thought, the First Elder became increasingly convinced that it was an ideal location.

He nodded immediately and said, "Your reminder is timely. The forbidden grounds where we punish members who have committed grave offenses will suit your confinement quite well!"

Shen Lang: "???"

What the hell.

He had dropped hints that were already blindingly obvious.

And yet this First Elder actually wanted to throw him into the forbidden grounds?

Wasn't this absolute bullshit?

Noticing the dismal look on Shen Lang's face, the First Elder let out a playful, cold laugh. "What? Do you disagree?"

"I..."

Shen Lang wanted to say that he disagreed with a ghost.

Then he remembered that this First Elder was clearly even more ruthless than Zhou Huai'an.

If he dared to refuse, this avatar of his would probably be scrapped right here and today.

Once his avatar was destroyed, he wouldn't be able to harvest resources when the Divine Heavens arrived to annihilate the Zhou family later.

With that realization, Shen Lang decided to preserve his avatar first.

"How could I possibly disagree? I only ask that the First Elder spares my life—I haven't lived enough yet!"

"Rest assured. As long as you obediently work for me, I guarantee I'll leave you with your little life!"

With that, without waiting for Shen Lang to say another word, the First Elder waved his hand at the Fourth Elder. "Fourth Elder, take him to the forbidden grounds!"

"Understood!"

...

At the same time, within the City Lord's Mansion, the shadow hidden in the dark watched Nalan Yanran's distraught and soul-broken appearance.

Slowly materializing into form, the shadow sighed and said, "Yanran, if you truly cannot let go, I will go and rescue him."

"Are you a match for the Zhou family ancestor?"

Faced with Nalan Yanran's question, the shadow fell silent.

Though her cultivation was quite formidable, she was still merely at the Nascent Soul stage.

She was simply no match for Zhou Botong.

Seeing this reaction, Nalan Yanran wore an "I knew it" expression and let out a self-deprecating laugh. "So, in truth, both of us are nothing more than burdens to Shen Lang."

"If we don't go to save Shen Lang, perhaps he still has a chance to survive. If we go, the Zhou family will definitely not let him go!"

Seeing Nalan Yanran's eyes turn red again, the shadow finally understood the situation.

Nalan Yanran had truly fallen hopelessly in love.

If Shen Lang failed to survive, she would likely never recover from this blow for the rest of her life.

To prevent Nalan Yanran from sinking any deeper into this predicament, the shadow offered a solemn and grave reminder, "Yanran, have you forgotten why we came to the Great Qin?"

"His Majesty still requires our assistance. If you become like this, what is His Majesty to do?"

"I know!" Nalan Yanran suddenly stood up, her voice rising by several octaves. "Why else do you think I agreed to let Shen Lang go to the Zhou family?"

"You..."

Suddenly yelled at in such a manner, the shadow felt momentarily as though Nalan Yanran had become a stranger.

It was as if, within the span of a single day, Nalan Yanran had transformed from an ignorant, innocent young girl into a fiercely protective, world-wise young wife.

Just as the shadow wondered what kind of magic that fellow Shen Lang possessed to utterly bewitch both Her Majesty and Nalan Yanran, Nalan Yanran spoke in a cold, indifferent tone.

"Sister Shadow, I must now begin executing the plan entrusted to me by Shen Lang. I cannot let his sacrifices go unrewarded. Please leave for now—it won't look good if the Wu family sees you here!"

Hearing Nalan Yanran's chilly words, the shadow opened her mouth, but ultimately chose to depart in silence.

Right at that moment, Nalan Yanran called out to Lvdou standing outside the door, "Go invite the head of the Wu family and the head of the Zhou family. Tell them to come and bid for it. To the highest bidder goes the divine artifact today!"

Hearing this, Lvdou bit her red, tear-rimmed lips and nodded.

However, before she could even take a single step out of the doorway, a hearty and resonant laugh drifted in from outside.

"Since Lady Nalan wishes to pawn the divine artifact, why not pawn it to my He family instead?"