Chapter 022: The Idol of All Women

Wang Bo was walking along when he suddenly heard Yin Ruiji's question and couldn't help but pause. "Are you asking me?"

"Is there anyone else here besides you?" Yin Ruiji retorted.

Wang Bo pointed in front of and behind him. "With so many people here, how can you say there's no one else?"

Yin Ruiji's expression remained unchanged as she asked, "Are you truly Wang Bo?"

"You suspect I'm not Wang Bo?" Wang Bo looked at her with a faint, ambiguous smile. "Then I suspect you're not Yin Ruiji either."

Yin Ruiji said, "I was never Yin Ruiji to begin with. Although this body indeed belongs to Yin Ruiji, I am not Yin Ruiji."

Wang Bo seemed to understand something, and couldn't help asking, "If you're not Yin Ruiji, then who are you?"

"Lian Nishang!"

Wang Bo: ...

It's you, it was you all along, the White-Haired Demoness Lian Nichang!!!

Wang Bo's pupils contracted slightly a few times, and he shook his head, saying, "Who is Lian Nishang? I don't know her."

Lian Nishang: ...

Wang Bo finally understood now why Yin Ruiji had become the world's number one female swordsman in such a short time—it was because of Lian Nishang!

Who is Lian Nichang?

She is the heroine of Liang Yusheng's martial arts novel *The Bride with White Hair*. Orphaned as a child, she was raised by a she-wolf—in common parlance, a wolf child. Later, she was taken in by Ling Yunfeng, who passed on to her the eerie and exquisite Reverse Tianshan sword technique.

After making her debut, Lian Nishang became a leader of the outlaws solely by her peerless swordsmanship. Her method of commanding the heroes was essentially to meet violence with violence; those who refused to submit fell to her sword, earning her the nickname Jade Rakshasa.

In the original world, Lian Nishang was a stunningly beautiful woman with extraordinarily high martial arts skills.

In the entire martial world, those who can cross swords with Lian Nishang are definitely few.

But now, Lian Nichang is a transmigrator, only the manner of her transmigration is slightly different.

There are two types of transmigration.

One is physical transmigration. The Lara Croft that Wang Bo met, as well as Gwen Stacy, are both examples of the first type of transmigrator.

The other kind is soul transmigration.

Lian Nishang is definitely the second kind.

Her soul had transmigrated, possessing the body of Yin Ruiji, which is why she said, "Although this body indeed belongs to Yin Ruiji, I am not Yin Ruiji."

Because she is Lian Nishang, not Yin Ruiji.

This opened Wang Bo's eyes. He had originally thought that all transmigrators traveled in their own bodies; he never expected that in the world of Di Renjie, he would encounter a transmigrator who had traveled by soul.

This is truly surprising; it seems the collision between multiverses has affected far too many things.

Wang Bo even suspected that Lian Nishang had brought across not only her own soul but even her entire inner power. And precisely because of this, she was able to control Yin Ruiji's body and become the world's foremost female swordswoman in a short time.

But the question arises: since Lian Nishang has taken control of Yin Ruiji's body, where has Yin Ruiji gone?

Is it asleep, or has it departed?

Within Yin Ruiji's body, is it two souls in one body, or one soul in one body?

While Wang Bo was pondering this question, they arrived at the Imperial Study.

Eunuch Li asked Wang Bo and Lian Nishang to wait a moment at the door, and led Yuchi Zhenjin inside.

Lian Nishang turned her head to look at Wang Bo and asked, "You still haven't told me, who are you?"

“I am Wang Bo.”

Lian Nishang's face darkened, and with a twitch of her eye, it transformed into boundless killing intent. "You dare toy with me."

In the martial world, she is called the Jade Rakshasa not merely because of her beauty, but more because of her murderous and demonic aura, her capricious and overbearing temper, her habit of killing people with a smile, and slicing off fingers as if cutting grass. Her unpredictable moods make her even more unfathomable.

Wang Bo's words immediately stirred Lian Nishang's murderous intent.

"My surname is Wang and my given name is Bo; I have never changed it," Wang Bo said calmly.

Lian Nishang paused, as if lost in thought, and said, "I have never heard the name Wang Bo."

“That’s normal. I’ve never heard the name Lian Nishang either,” Wang Bo said.

"So it seems that you and I do not come from the same place."

"You could say that," Wang Bo nodded.

He could see that Lian Nishang also seemed to have doubts about her own identity, so he simply admitted it. Since she had so readily disclosed her origins, Wang Bo would not hide anything either.

However, Wang Bo would not send Lian Nishang back to her original world.

After all, Wang Bo had already planned to settle down in this world for good. If he sent Lian Nishang back, wouldn't he have to head to the next world again?

So Wang Bo had long since made up his mind: work was impossible, he would never work in this lifetime.

He would grow old and die in this world, living out his life in happiness and contentment.

Even if Lian Nishang appeared before him, he would not take the initiative to act.

Besides, Lian Nishang's life is a tragedy; perhaps after returning, she will encounter that scoundrel Zhuo Yihang, and overnight her hair will turn white, making her the White-Haired Witch of the martial world.

Wang Bo had not forgotten that the White-Haired Demoness Lian Nichang never ended up with Zhuo Yihang, even unto death.

Rather than growing old alone, she might as well stay in this world, find a decent man to marry, and live out her life in happiness and contentment.

Of course, Wang Bo would never volunteer himself.

Because he knew very well that a woman like Lian Nichang, though from ancient times, was inwardly very independent.

This can be seen in the plot of The Legend of the White-Haired Demoness.

As a chivalrous woman, she was economically independent; in spirit, she was singular and unconstrained by anyone. Her independence was also reflected in her refusal to live by others' standards.

Thus, such a woman would absolutely not permit her man to have multiple wives and concubines.

But Wang Bo, as a man who had finally made it to ancient times, wanted to live a life with a bevy of wives and concubines. How could he possibly give up the forest for a single tree?

Even if the other party is Lian Nishang, it won't do.

So from the very beginning, Wang Bo had no intention of flirting with Lian Nishang.

After a short while, Eunuch Li emerged from the imperial study and said, "You two, Her Majesty summons you. Please temper your jianghu temperament somewhat—especially you, Young Master Wang. I know you fear nothing and no one, but I still hope you can maintain a sense of reverence."

Lian Nishang took a deep breath and nodded.

She of course knew who the Heavenly Empress was — the first and only female emperor in Chinese history.

The nobility of this status is hard to imagine.

Even if she was wild and untamed, facing such a woman would always bring immense pressure, not to mention that Wu Zetian was undoubtedly an idol for all women in ancient history.

She is the idol of over ninety percent of women, if not all.

Facing her idol, Lian Nichang instinctively reined in her temper; in Wang Bo's eyes, the current Lian Nichang was even somewhat cautious and timid.

This made Wang Bo chuckle inwardly; even the lawless White-Haired Demoness had moments like this.

But then, who she is about to face is none other than Wu Zhao, she who rivals the sun and moon in the sky.

Though the current Wu Zetian is not yet that.