Chapter 33: Not an Accident

Wu Zetian was repeatedly contradicted by Wang Bo, and it would be impossible to say she was not angry.

But she still wore a smile, displaying profound self-restraint and cunning. “Actually, I have already sent someone to find the demon pearl, and it has now fallen into the hands of a martial artist named Gu Xingwen.”

Wang Bo couldn't help but pause; the name Gu Xingwen seemed to have been heard somewhere before.

But this thought flashed through his mind and vanished; Wang Bo did not pursue it further, instead asking, "Since you know the demon pearl is in Gu Xingwen's hands, why haven't you seized it back? Don't tell me you can't."

How could the imperial court, with all its power, fail to seize back the demonic pearl?

Wu Zetian said, “In this matter, I do not wish to use people from the court.”

Wang Bo froze.

Wu Zetian continued, “I want you to personally obtain the demon pearl and then secretly hand it over to me. This matter is known only to heaven and earth, to you and me. No third party is allowed to know of it.”

Wang Bo suddenly understood. "You want to keep the Demon Pearl for yourself."

Wu Zetian neither confirmed nor denied.

Wang Bo finally understood: the reason Wu Zetian came to see him in the dead of night, avoiding everyone and bringing only Lian Nishang, was to keep the demon pearl all for herself.

Even Lian Nishang herself might not have known Wu Zetian's purpose in seeking her out. After all, Lian Nishang was still in the main hall and could not have overheard the conversation in her own room.

Wang Bo shook his head and said, "You'll have to figure this out on your own. I won't help you."

Wu Zetian said, “After the matter is accomplished, I can appoint you as General of the Imperial Guard.”

"I have little interest in becoming an official?" Wang Bo still refused.

"I can bestow upon you a thousand mu of fertile land and a hundred thousand taels of gold," Wu Zetian offered, changing her bargaining chip.

“I have no interest in money either,” Wang Bo refused again.

Wu Zetian grew increasingly displeased, staring fixedly at Wang Bo. "You have refused me time and again. Do you truly take me for a good-tempered person?"

Wang Bo looked at her with a faint, ambiguous smile and said, "So, you intend to make a move against me? As far as I know, you don't seem to know martial arts."

“We, the sovereign, possess power and influence—supreme power and influence.”

Wu Zetian had finally turned me into a solitary ruler, a sign that her patience was nearly exhausted.

"So what?" Wang Bo was not the least bit afraid, raising his fist. "You have power and influence, I have my fists. Let's see which is stronger: your power or my fists."

Wu Zetian was furious—this man refused this, refused that, utterly impervious to reason.

Then tell me, your sovereign, what you want. As long as you name it, I, your sovereign, can grant it.

She decided to take a step back. As long as she could get the demon pearl, she could endure anything. But once she gained the upper hand, it would be this fellow's time to die.

"I want nothing at all; I simply don't want to help you," Wang Bo said very bluntly.

A flicker of murderous intent flashed through Wu Zetian's eyes as she slowly said, "Although I have had a slight unpleasantness with you, it is hardly a life-and-death feud. Moreover, despite your repeated threats against me, I have not held it against you, and now I am even willing to bestow upon you wealth and honor. Why do you refuse? I simply do not understand. Is it merely out of momentary pique that you insist on opposing me?"

Wang Bo pondered for a moment; he admitted that what Wu Zetian had just said was correct.

I was indeed a bit impulsive just now.

Ultimately, he and Wu Zetian were not mortal enemies, and there was no need to offend her to the point of no return. If he truly made an irreconcilable enemy of her, how could he live a leisurely life in this world?

So doing Wu Zetian a favor wasn't a bad idea, and besides, Wang Bo was quite interested in the demon pearl; he really wanted to know just what this demon pearl was—yes, that was the main point.

"You want me to help you retrieve the Demon Pearl." Wang Bo relented.

Wu Zetian nodded slightly and said, "That's right. It would be best if you could retrieve the demon pearl and hand it to me without anyone knowing."

“Then what benefits can I obtain?”

"Whatever you desire, I can grant you, even a position second only to the sovereign, above all others," Wu Zetian tempted.

Wang Bo thought for a moment and said, “I don’t need to be second only to one and above all others. I just want a peaceful life from now on—you don’t disturb me, and I won’t disturb you.”

Wu Zetian couldn't help but be taken aback. She nodded and said, "Very well!"

“Then tell me, where is Gu Xingwen?” Wang Bo asked.

Wu Zetian took a slip of paper from her bosom and handed it to Wang Bo. "Go to this place, and three bearded men will tell you where Gu Xingwen is. You must act quickly. Three days from now, I will wait for you here. As long as you hand over the demon pearl to me, the grudges between us will be wiped clean."

"Wait, from what you're saying, it sounds like I'm getting a raw deal," Wang Bo said, feeling that he had clearly put in effort but gained nothing, like a laborer working for free.

Wu Zetian sighed and said, "I wanted to give you glory and wealth, but you yourself refused."

"Then I've changed my mind. I want money."

"Fine. How much do you want?"

"Let's make it a hundred thousand taels of gold, then. You did say so yourself."

"No problem." Wu Zetian agreed without hesitation. In recent years, the Tang Empire had enjoyed favorable weather and peace, with the national treasury growing richer by the day. One hundred thousand taels of gold was indeed a large sum, but for the Tang Empire and for Wu Zetian, it was nothing.

"Then it's settled."

"A gentleman's word once spoken cannot be overtaken even by a team of horses." A charming smile involuntarily appeared on Wu Zetian's face. "Do not disappoint me, and do not let anyone else know about this. Remember, only the two of us are to know."

“All right.”

Wang Bo nodded his agreement.

After Wu Zetian received a satisfactory reply, she had Wang Bo summon Lian Nishang. The two of them, under cover of night, left through the back door and slowly disappeared into the darkness.

Wang Bo watched the two figures gradually recede into the distance, scratched his hair, closed the door, and returned to his room alone.

His intuition told him that this matter was definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

Wu Zetian's sudden visit tonight completely caught Wang Bo off guard.

Not to mention that she also holds the whereabouts of the demon pearl in her hands.

Just a few days ago she had said she had dispatched a large number of people to search for the whereabouts of the demon pearl, only to come up empty-handed, yet today she had grasped its whereabouts, even knowing who was holding it.

More importantly, she was unwilling to let the imperial court intervene, so she arranged a late-night meeting with him, hoping he would take action to retrieve the demon pearl.

What is this for? To keep the demon pearl all to herself?

This explanation does make sense, but then why would she want to keep the demonic pearl all to herself? Without the court providing condemned prisoners, how could she unlock the pearl's secrets and build a powerful army?

Unless... Wu Zetian had already mastered the secret of the demonic pearl!!

Just then, Wang Bo suddenly thought of Eunuch Li.

Eunuch Li was a beneficiary; he possessed the power of the demon pearl without losing his sanity.

Many people think that Eunuch Li was merely an accident in the riot, but what if it was not an accident?