Chapter 042: Delicious Delicacies

After the Shikon Jewel mutated, the power of demons and monsters could seep out and beguile people's hearts.

Then Midoriko, who likewise resides within the Shikon Jewel, can naturally also let her power seep out, which is why she was able to enter Wang Bo's dreams.

Because whether it is superhuman strength, the Ripple breathing technique, or the power of Spartan blood, none of them have enough power to resist others invading one's dreams.

Especially this kind of dream that carries no ill intent.

Wang Bo fully accepted Cuizi's reminder, saying that he would not be tempted by demons and monsters, but there was something he had to tell Cuizi.

"I am merely the temporary holder of the Shikon Jewel. In two days, I will hand it over to someone else—she is the true holder of the Shikon Jewel."

Cuizi, however, said, “I can sense your formidable power. Only you can truly resist the temptations of those demons. I hope you can protect the Shikon Jewel and prevent it from falling into the hands of those with ulterior motives.”

Wang Bo smiled bitterly. Without a doubt, Wu Zetian was exactly the person with ulterior motives that Cuizi had spoken of.

But as long as Wang Bo wanted to continue living a peaceful life in the Great Tang, he had to hand the Shikon Jewel over to Wu Zetian.

Otherwise, if the two fell out, it would not be so easy for Wang Bo to continue staying in the Great Tang.

After all, Wu Zetian wielded immense power; with a single command, an endless stream of soldiers would come to trouble Wang Bo.

And once Wang Bo killed Wu Zetian, it would be tantamount to trampling the dignity of the Great Tang underfoot.

When that time comes, the Great Tang will surely go mad.

In fact, not just the Great Tang, but any country would find it unacceptable for their king or queen to be killed, and they would inevitably spare no expense to wash away this disgrace.

Unless Wang Bo carries out an assassination.

In a silent and unnoticed manner, eliminate Wu Zetian.

In this way, the Tang court would not know who killed Wu Zetian, and naturally would not come looking for trouble with Wang Bo.

However, Wang Bo did not dislike Wu Zetian to the point of having to assassinate her. Although the two had a somewhat unpleasant falling-out, Wang Bo could not possibly kill someone over such a minor unpleasantness.

He was not yet so cold-hearted as that.

Therefore, Wang Bo could only refuse Cuizi's request.

After all, although the Shikon Jewel is dangerous, it is not so dangerous that Wang Bo cannot handle it; otherwise, Wang Bo would have long since sent the Shikon Jewel back to its original world.

It was because he was confident enough to handle the dangers brought by the Shikon Jewel that he gave it to Wu Zetian, in exchange for a large sum of money and a quiet life.

Faced with Wang Bo's firmness, Cuizi sighed helplessly and ultimately chose to withdraw.

Since she could not persuade Wang Bo, she could only try to persuade the next holder of the Shikon Jewel.

And she sincerely hoped that the next holder of the Shikon Jewel would not be someone difficult to talk to.

……

The next day, Wang Bo awoke from a deep sleep, recalled the dream of the previous night, couldn't help but smile faintly, and then cast the dream to the back of his mind, beginning a new day.

Let Wu Zetian worry about the matters of Cuizi and the Shikon Jewel.

All he wanted was an ordinary life.

A leisurely day began, and Wang Bo, like a salted fish, hid at home reading comics and playing games, neither going shopping nor flirting with girls.

The day passed quickly.

When evening came, Wang Bo was eating dinner when he suddenly heard the sound of wind.

Immediately after, Lian Nishang, clad all in white, displayed her extraordinary lightness skill and burst in from outside like a wisp of blue smoke.

"She wants to see you," Lian Nishang said briefly, looking at Wang Bo who was eating.

Wang Bo asked in surprise, "Why didn't she come herself?"

"To avoid the surveillance of those with intentions," Lian Nishang said.

"Let's talk after I finish eating," Wang Bo said noncommittally, savoring the sparkling wine, lobster, king crab, premium steak, and shark fin he had conjured with his gourmet tablecloth.

Lian Nishang did not urge him, because she knew that Wang Bo was lawless and did whatever he pleased, caring nothing for that person; so she naturally would not use that person to pressure him, as it would be useless.

"Would you like to join me?" Wang Bo saw Lian Nishang sit down, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on him as he ate with great relish. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he extended an invitation to her.

Lian Nishang did not stand on ceremony; in an instant she darted over and sat down in front of Wang Bo.

Wang Bo immediately felt a fragrant breeze wafting toward him.

Lian Nishang looked at the table full of food, growing more and more astonished, and pointed at the king crab, saying, "Is this a crab?"

"To be precise, it's a king crab."

Lian Nishang couldn't help nodding and said, "Such a massive size indeed qualifies it to be called an emperor. Is this also from the sea? Why have I never seen it before?"

"The king crab is a deep-sea crab, living at depths of up to 850 meters, so of course you've never seen one."

Wang Bo said with an untroubled face, even a martial arts master could not dive to a seabed over eight hundred meters deep, let alone Lian Nishang, who is a mountain bandit, not a sea bandit.

It was only natural that she had never seen a king crab.

Not to mention Lian Nishang, even Wu Zetian might not have seen a king crab.

Wang Bo voluntarily broke off a crab leg, extracted the meat inside, and placed it on a plate. "Try it, see how it tastes?"

Lian Nishang picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of meat, and stuffed it into her mouth, savoring it carefully.

"How is it?"

"Delicious." Lian Nishang nodded, put down her chopsticks, and said.

"Just like that?" Wang Bo was astonished.

"What's wrong?" Lian Nishang asked in return.

"No, it's nothing." Wang Bo slapped his forehead. He was being foolish—Lian Nishang was a martial arts master, not a gourmet. How could he expect to hear a string of praises from her?

It's like in food manga, where any random passerby can articulate the deliciousness and distinctive flavors of a dish—that's simply unscientific.

In fact, Lian Nishang's reaction was perfectly normal.

Wang Bo remembered that the first time he had king crab, his reaction was pretty much the same as Lian Nishang's.

Delicious, utterly delicious.

But as for exactly what made it delicious, or why it was delicious, she couldn't say at all—it was just delicious.

In addition to king crab, Wang Bo also invited Lian Nishang to share some top-grade steak, shark fin, abalone, and other delicacies, which she praised endlessly as she ate.

When the two had almost finished eating, Lian Nishang once again invited Wang Bo. Wang Bo did not refuse, and after tidying up a bit, he left his residence with Lian Nishang.

Afterwards, under Lian Nishang's guidance, Wang Bo arrived at a tavern. The area around the tavern had been completely cleared, and in the vast tavern sat a woman disguised as a man.

And this person disguised as a man was, naturally, the current Empress, Wu Zetian!