Veil of Darkness: The Enchantress's Revenge

Chapter 10: Provocation (2)

Gong Jue Shang held a small bottle in his hand, gently stroking it with his long fingers. He said softly, "You didn't catch up, did you?" With a dismissive wave of his hand, he added, "You can leave now!"

Jing Mo Hen and Gu Yi Han exchanged serious glances, disbelief in their eyes. This meant that the fragrance-tracking bug had suddenly stopped responding because Shangguan Mo had discovered the tracking scent—and she had actually managed to shake off the hidden guards!

While Gong Jue Shang maintained a warm smile, his eyes sparkled with amusement. This woman was clearly trying to provoke him!

Shangguan Mo strolled alone down the street, a faint smile on her face. Perhaps declaring war on Gong Jue Shang right now wasn't the smartest move, but she was genuinely curious about his capabilities.

Dressed in flowing white, she looked ethereal and beautiful, her gentle smile effortlessly capturing the attention of those around her. Yet, despite being so close, she felt distant, as if separated by an invisible barrier. Even when near, she seemed untouchable; her lovely smile, while enchanting, felt somewhat aloof and ethereal. Perhaps this was the gap between the divine and the earthly!

For a moment, onlookers couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Oblivious to the stares, Shangguan Mo leisurely observed the street vendors; she had grown accustomed to such attention long ago.

Since Shangguan Ling made that decision, she felt lighter than ever. Perhaps arriving in this world was truly a blessing!

Suddenly, she sensed an unusual gaze upon her. Looking up, she noticed a window on the second floor of a nearby tavern was slightly ajar. She couldn't see who was inside, but they could see her clearly, and she felt their curiosity.

After a casual glance, Shangguan Mo turned her gaze away with a light laugh and sighed. The original Shangguan Mo, timid and fearful, had been swept into the power struggles of this world, all thanks to her sister who "gave" her the chance for a marriage alliance!

If it weren't for the little ghost messing with her soul, Shangguan Mo might not have lived much longer. That cunning fox, Gong Jue Shang, was not someone she could handle!

She glanced at the tavern and realized she was feeling a bit hungry! But it seemed she had forgotten to bring any money.

With a smile, Shangguan Mo stepped inside. The waiter, noticing her elegant attire and stunning beauty, assumed she was a wealthy young lady and hurried over to greet her, eager not to offend.

This was the capital, where high-ranking officials and nobles were everywhere. Taverns and shops, even brothels, had their backers; otherwise, they wouldn't survive. However, even with support, they wouldn't risk offending customers, especially since they might encounter someone they couldn't afford to upset!

The waiter led Shangguan Mo to a private room on the second floor, clearly treating her as a VIP. Shangguan Mo smiled faintly, wondering what expression the waiter would have if he knew she had no money at all.

In another private room, Gong Jue Yi raised his wine cup and downed it in one gulp, then toyed with the empty cup, a refined smile on his face as he chuckled, "Interesting, truly interesting!"

A guard standing behind him asked, "Your Highness, is that woman Shangguan Mo? How could the Ghost King allow her to come out? Did she notice us just now?"

Women who entered the Ghost King's mansion typically didn't come out standing upright; usually, they left horizontally after a day or two. This woman boldly strolled out shopping alone, and with such beauty, she wasn't worried about potential dangers? Moreover, she had clearly noticed someone watching her earlier.

Gong Jue Yi set down his cup and replied playfully, "Liu Yan, this woman might just live for three days."

Liu Yan poured him another glass and asked, "Your Highness seems quite interested in her. Do you wish to meet her?"

"No need. Perhaps I'll be interested in meeting her after she survives for three days."

Although his third royal brother seemed harmless, he always exuded a sense of danger. Even though he had never crossed any boundaries, he made others uneasy. The crown prince seemed anxious as well, given their father's ambiguous attitude towards the third prince, which felt protective yet also favored.

Ultimately, the struggle for the throne was just between the three of them, as the other two princes were still too young.

Though the crown prince had been chosen, their father's stance remained elusive. Logically, Gong Jue Shang's sickly demeanor should have allowed him to be excluded, but their father's attitude made it hard to ignore.

That old fox! Always clouding people's perceptions, making it difficult to understand. No wonder Gong Jue Ying was on edge!

Shangguan Mo sat alone in the private room, enjoying her meal and drink while glancing outside. She saw Gong Jue Yi leaving with his guards and casually turned her gaze away. After finishing her meal, she elegantly wiped her mouth and jumped out of the window. With a few agile leaps, she disappeared. When the waiter came in to ask if she needed anything else, he found she was already gone.

Looking at the table full of exquisite dishes, the waiter felt like crying. Money, oh money, not a single coin received!

As night fell, Shangguan Mo slowly made her way to the royal palace. Passing through a small alley, she heard the sound of clashing weapons, but she wasn't interested.

Suddenly, a cold wind swept by, and Shangguan Mo paused, thinking it might be good to send a message to her grandfather. Otherwise, the old man would worry and might recklessly rush into the human world.

"Don't..." A woman's voice echoed with despair.

Shangguan Mo walked into the alley and saw a handsome man in his thirties, dignified and righteous, kneeling on the ground after being stabbed in the chest.

Four men in black, wearing ghost masks, were swiftly leaving. Their mission was to kill this man, so they didn't spare a glance at the desperate woman crying nearby.

A little ghost waiting nearby quickly extracted the man's soul and was about to leave.

Shangguan Mo called out urgently, "Wait a moment!"

The little ghost stared at her in surprise, pointing to its own nose, and hesitantly asked, "You... can see me?"