Chapter 980: Chapter 980

A quarter of an hour later, Gu Shen finally returned to his seat. This table was filled with "captain"-level strong people tasked with executing the restart mission. Everyone was already acquainted from the training ground, having lived and died together in the Disaster Realm. Now gathered at one table, it was quite lively.

"The big popular man, finally done being busy?"

Zhong Yuan teased with a smile.

Gu Shen sighed deeply and said helplessly, "Perhaps I should make it clear to them that although my surname is Gu, I wasn’t born into the Changye Gu Family."

Zhong Yuan laughed and said, "Even so... now that the Gu Family has merged, apart from that old man and Gu Nanfeng, there aren’t many others whose words carry more weight than yours."

Gu Shen knew the "purpose" of these people seeking him out.

It’s just that... these so-called "nobles," at this stage, only want to say hello and become acquainted with him.

They probably have also heard news of the Holy Judge.

Gu Shen didn’t want to expose these guys’ intentions. Life is like a play; on the power stage of the Five Continents, everyone needs a bit of "dignity."

"I just saw... Duke Xiang Chen seems to have invited you too?"

Fisher, quite interested in Xiang Chen, asked.

Gu Shen smiled and said, "It’s for his student. The defender stationed in Dongning City, who is like me from East Continent; I suppose he wants to chat with me."

As for what they would talk about, he wasn’t too sure and didn’t think much of it.

"Xiang Chen is a very good person." Fisher gave a high evaluation. Fresh chapters posted on noᴠelfire.net

Recalling past events, he slowly said, "I remember when I first came to the North Continent. In Central City, I was unfamiliar with the place and thanks to Lord Ausmond’s introduction, Duke Xiang Chen took good care of me and even offered to let me study with him..."

He had already guessed the outcome of this matter.

"You know, the thing I hate most in life is ’studying’..."

Fisher awkwardly touched the fish tank on his head and said, "In the end, I went to Deep Scale City, and the paper books he gave me before leaving are still gathering dust on my shelf."

Looking at it this way, Xiang Chen’s reputation and character are indeed commendable.

Indeed... a "tutor" who peacefully reads and teaches others to read—who would dislike them?

Suddenly, Mu Wanqiu lowered her voice and gloomily transmitted a message to Gu Shen.

Gu Shen narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing toward a certain direction in the banquet hall.

The captains at the table sensed an aura that attracted their spirits.

The lively venue suddenly became a bit quiet.

For this stunning woman, radiating light all over, they made a path.

"Hello... Mr. Xiao Gu, my surname is Meng, Meng Xizhou."

This was a young woman draped in light silk, wearing minimal clothing. Her eyebrows and eyes were clear, like blue streams or clouds in the high sky. Just one glance was hard to look away from... such eyes seemed only to be seen in newly born infants.

Due to the extraordinary entrance of this woman, many of the "gentlemen celebrities" holding wine glasses in the banquet hall inadvertently fell into the tender gaze of this woman. Before they knew it, more than ten seconds had passed, and realizing their rudeness, they quickly withdrew their gazes. But strangely, after withdrawing, no one felt this was inappropriate.

For eyes so beautiful, anyone would want to take another look.

It’s unrelated to any evil thoughts.

It’s the most instinctive desire deep within the human heart—pursuit of beauty and light.

After calling repeatedly, no one expected that the woman who captured everyone’s gaze at her appearance would walk straight past the rows of tables in the hall, finally arriving in front of Gu Shen.

She reached out her hand, offering a simple self-introduction.

Sitting at the table, Gu Shen also sincerely gazed into those eyes... he looked longer than anyone because he looked more seriously than anyone else.

The eyes of Meng Xizhou were full of "light."

This was a "light" purer than the Blessing on Meng Xiao.

When those eyes fell upon him... "Netherworld King’s Spark" instinctively wanted to detach from the Spirit Sea at the center of his brow and float out because it felt the destined, opposing stimulating force.

Gu Shen regained his composure.

He stood up but did not shake hands. Instead, he slightly bowed with the traditional East Continent ceremonial clasp, "So it’s Lady Divine, I’ve long heard of you."

This woman exuded too much Light Aura.

Gu Shen was worried that if he shook hands... something unusual might be detected.

If there’s no need, it’s better to avoid it as much as possible.

There was also another reason—Chu Ling was also watching this scene.

"What a beautiful girl," Chu Ling’s gaze stayed fixed on Meng Xizhou, never leaving. Her voice was calm, but each word sent chills down one’s spine, "It’s a pity... she’s truly a thorny rose, an extremely dangerous figure. She was born regarded as the successor of the ’Light Fire,’ and if nothing unexpected happens, she will inherit the mantle of the Light God’s Seat in the future."

Gu Shen understood the meaning behind Chu Ling’s words.

He is the Netherworld King.

Meng Xizhou is the Light.

The two are like water and fire. Based on the development of the past Light and Netherworld Kings... it’s likely that Gu Shen and Meng Xizhou will have to confront each other sooner or later.

Of course, he doesn’t want to become enemies with Meng Xizhou, but sometimes, fate is such that things are beyond one’s control. It’s not about wanting or not wanting, but rather about what can be decided.

Since he is already the inheritor of the "Netherworld King’s Spark," it would be wise to minimize his contact with Meng Xizhou as much as possible.

The reason Mu Wanqiu reminded him earlier.

Was for this very reason.

When he was surrounded by everyone, and she was sitting there, she had already felt the gaze of the Light Goddess—

Meng Xizhou smiled, recognizing the etiquette of the East Continent.

Gu Shen did not shake hands but instead offered a bow. Meng Xizhou wasn’t angry at all but returned the gesture with an equally standard bow.

Her voice was as melodious as a heavenly tune, each word seemingly imbued with light, calming the Heart Lake, like bathing in spring breeze.

"I’d like to invite you out for a chat, would that be possible?"

Straight to the point.

Gu Shen sighed slightly in his heart... This Light Goddess has such a direct way of doing things, without a hint of subtlety.

In such a setting, with so many people watching, he naturally had no room to refuse.

If he really had to weigh the situation, the identity of Meng Xizhou as the Light Goddess is actually more prestigious than the previous Duke Xiang Chen.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Meng Xizhou and Gu Shen left their seats together and went to an elegant private lounge beside the banquet hall, a secluded private reception room. Two attendants led the way and then left after closing the door.

"Miss Meng, meeting me in front of so many people, isn’t it inappropriate?"

He maintained a certain distance and was somewhat cautious at this moment.

Today’s banquet was a feast to display the "traveler’s results" of the North Continent. Logically speaking... Meng Xizhou, being a big figure from Light City, shouldn’t have been eligible to attend.

"With Her Majesty the Empress above, what could be inappropriate?"

Meng Xizhou said calmly, "Since I am able to come to this banquet, it shows that Her Majesty the Empress permits it."

Not to mention, for a private meeting... when she came here, every word and action was under Her Majesty’s watch.

There are no secrets beneath the Divine Throne.

"Actually, I arrived in the North Continent the night before you went to Duolu River. But while I’m here, I have no friends or relatives. Whoever I want to meet hides from me..."

Meng Xizhou smiled self-deprecatingly, "I heard Mr. Xiao Gu has a deep connection with the Changye Gu Family, so today I took the liberty to ask for a meeting... Compared to meeting privately, I thought it would be more appropriate to make an open invitation in front of everyone."

Hearing this, Gu Shen was quite relieved.

He roughly understood the purpose of this Goddess seeking him out today.

"You’re looking for me... is it because of the broken engagement?" Gu Shen asked cautiously.

"Yes... but not just that."

"Because of the ’broken engagement,’ I was imprisoned in Light City, with the Divine Throne ordering me not to leave."

Meng Xizhou bowed her head and smiled, "And this time coming to Central City, I ’snuck’ out. Perhaps in just a few days, I’ll be forcibly taken back, and during this time, I need to find someone trustworthy to deliver a letter."

Gu Shen fell into thought.

Meng Xizhou holds a prestigious position in Light City, but in the North Continent, although she’s highly regarded, there would be no truly ’trustworthy’ people she could rely on.

Wait a minute... she wants to find someone to deliver a letter.

"It’s not me, is it?" Gu Shen’s head throbbed.

And the hopeful gaze cast towards him almost confirmed this suspicion.

"I’m sorry... Perhaps you’re not aware of the full picture, allow me to explain in detail."

Meng Xizhou’s eyes were somewhat complex.

She spoke hoarsely, "Many years ago, the North and West Continents were intimate ’allies.’ On the True Wing Front Line’s fortress, Light City and the North Continent Royal Family fought bloody battles, swore oaths of alliance, and this relationship lasted for centuries... But in recent years, the trust between the two parties began to waver, and to ensure each other’s development, the two clans made a marriage contract. One end of the engagement was me from Light City, and the other end was Lin Lin from the Lin Royal Family."

Gu Shen rubbed his temples, patiently listening.

"However... the wavering relationship between the two clans can’t be resolved through marriage."

Meng Xizhou said earnestly, "Be it the North Continent or Light City... foundational issues have emerged. Even if I married that Mr. Lin, it wouldn’t necessarily improve matters. Of course, this isn’t the main reason for my broken engagement."

"The more important reason for wanting to break this engagement—"

Meng Xizhou looked at Gu Shen, her expression solemn, and said word by word, "My heart already belongs to someone, and in the North Continent, his number is ’CN021.’

Gu Shen fell into complete silence.

He realized that as a ’courier,’ he seemingly had no choice but to take this on.

Because the ’CN021’ Meng Xizhou mentioned has another name in the East Continent.

He is called Gu Nanfeng.