Chapter 498: Chapter 498 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

　　It was the morning two days after the battle against the Demonic Beast Clan. Xu Que woke up only to find that he was lying in bed alone. This filled him with great remorse.

　　I’m pissed! Last night I fell asleep and did nothing! This is truly pathetic! Not even a lousy animal would have missed a chance like that! Her long and beautiful legs were so comfortable to lie on. I couldn’t help falling asleep!

　　“Alas!” Xu Que sighed regretfully.

　　Despite his disappointment, he forced himself up out of bed, opened the door and stepped out of the room. Today he would execute his species rescue plan by leading the Mysterious Clan to the Imperial City. It would be a piece of cake.

　　Thanks to Su Ling’er’s leadership, the Mysterious Clan members were gathered together on the first floor were fully prepared for their departure. They had been waiting and ready to go for a long time now.

　　When Xu Que came downstairs, all people of the Mysterious Clan shouted.

　　“Shaman Demon King!”

　　This made Xu Que want to run away crying, for their cheers of “Shaman Demon King” reminded him of the wonderful opportunity last night that he let slip through his fingers.

　　Su Ling’er walked up to Xu Que with a smile.

　　“Did you sleep well last night?” she asked softly.

　　“No!” Xu Que replied without hesitation.

　　“Why?” she asked in surprise. Last night, she had left after confirming that Xu Que was asleep. She had felt relieved that Xu Que was sleeping soundly after such a long couple of days.

　　“I am afraid of the dark, and dare not sleep alone!” Xu Que said.

　　“Ha ha ha ha!” Su Xiao Qi laughed. “Shame on you! I started to sleep alone when I was 13!” she said disdainfully.

　　“You are really brave,” Xu Que said, embarrassed.

　　“That’s for sure!” Su Xiao Qi said. She then walked away proudly with her head high and her chest out, like a little rooster who had just won a fight.

　　Su Ling’er’s face was flushed. She was beginning to realize what Xu Que meant. He said he dared not sleep alone. Did that mean he wanted to sleep with her?

　　This guy is really naughty! He is always saying something frivolous!

　　Trying to move past the thought of the missed opportunity last night, Xu Que decided that it was about the time to set off. He turned to Su Ling’er and began to speak.

　　“Ling’er, we could…”

　　“No, I can’t, I… I am still not ready for that!”

　　Su Ling’er left in a hurry, her face completely red.

　　Xu Que was dumbfounded.

　　You really don’t need to say it in such a bashful way! What the h*ll? Someone might misunderstand and think that I was asking her to sleep with me! This world is so dirty! How is a pure and innocent person like me to survive in this world?

　　Xu Que sighed wistfully and looked at the sky, raising his head at 45-degree angle.

　　Suddenly, a Mysterious Clan guard rushed into the tower.

　　“Report!” said the guard. “Your majesty, we found a suspicious dog outside the city. It must be a spy of the Demonic Beasts Clan!”

　　“A dog?” Xu Que was shocked until he realized that Buttface was lost.

　　During the battle, Xu Que asked Su Ling’er if she would like to eat dog meat, so Buttface was frightened away. If the guard hadn’t reported about this, he would have forgotten about Buttface altogether.

　　“It’s OK! That’s my pet dog. You can call him Buttface,” Xu Que consoled.

　　“Your majesty, when we found the dog, he began shouting about wanting to have a duel with us,” the Mysterious Clan guard replied.

　　“Something is wrong with his head,” Xu Que said, waving his hand. “Just ignore him. We should get going. Brace yourself and let’s set off!”

　　“Yes, sir!” the people of the Mysterious Clan replied.

　　…

　　Outside the Imperial City of the Fire Nation, the sun was setting in the west. The evening wind carried on it the fragrance of the plentiful flowers.

　　With the help of Teleportation Spells, Xu Que, Buttface, and the dozens of Mysterious Clan members had arrived at the gates of the Imperial City in just three days.

　　However, the journey there was not the most peaceful. The people of the Mysterious Clan stuck out like a sore thumb. Many times, human beings who passed them by on the road became frightened and ran away from them. There were also a few times when large groups of armed humans drew their swords, preparing to attack them.

　　Xu Que had summoned his Thunder Illusion Body for this journey so that the Mysterious Clan could be accompanied by a human figure. If anyone questioned them or got in their way, the Thunder Illusion Body would scold them, saying “I am Li Bai of the Exploding Heavens Faction. I am traveling with my friends. How dare you stand in our way!?”

　　Hearing the names “Exploding Heavens Faction” and “Li Bai,” all the hostile human beings immediately turned around and ran away.

　　Ever since Xu Que killed the Emperor of the Fire Nation as well as the Old God of Killing of Tian Sha, the people of the Fire Nation trembled with fear upon hearing the name of the Exploding Heavens Faction and didn’t dare to offend them.

　　Before Xu Que had even arrived at the Imperial City, the news of Li Bai’s travels had stormed the city.

　　“Did you hear that Lord Li Bai of the Exploding Heavens Faction is back?”

　　“Of course. I heard that he came back with some half-human-half-demon Mysterious Clan people! I don’t know what he is up to.”

　　“Could it be that he is going to attack the Imperial City?”

　　“Are you insane? The Imperial City is under the control of the Exploding Heavens Faction!”

　　“Right! Although Madam Ya is the ruler of the Imperial City, everyone knows Madam Ya is the woman of Lord Li Bai!”

　　“When Xu Que left, he said that anyone who bullies Madam Ya will be punished by the Exploding Heavens Faction!”

　　“Holy sh*t! Something must be very wrong then. Several days ago, I heard that some young people were talking about Madam Ya in the hotel. One of them even said he wanted to sleep with Madam Ya!”

　　“I heard about that too. Those young people have very powerful and mysterious backgrounds!”

　　“I guess they are from overseas. If they were from the Five Nations, they wouldn’t dare to disregard the Exploding Heavens Faction!”

　　“It seems like the Imperial City won’t stay peaceful for much longer!”

　　…

　　Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace of the Fire Nation…

　　Madam Ya was sitting in one of the wings of the palace. She was cradling a portrait and staring at it intently.

　　The portrait displayed a graceful young man dressed in white. He was leaning on a door frame and looking at the sky, his head raised at 45-degree angle. He held a cigarette in his hand. He was so handsome and stylish.

　　Beside the portrait, there were two lines of verse – Grip the sun and moon and pick the stars. There is no person like me in this world.

　　“Alas!” Madam Ya sighed. Her face was filled with grief and sorrow.

　　Lord Li Bai, whom she adored, had left the Imperial City over a year ago. She knew that Li Bai and Xu Que were the same person. In fact, most people in the Imperial City knew this. Only a small group of people in the city still believed Li Bai and Xu Que were different people.

　　One of the traits that Xu Que and Li Bai had in common was the habit of saying dirty words. However, Li Bai was quite different in Madam Ya’s eyes. Although Li Bai was arrogant and aloof, his literary talent was remarkable.

　　Ding Dong!

　　Someone was at the door. Madam Ya opened the door to find a kneeling maidservant.

　　“Madam, those young people have come back again,” the maidservant said anxiously. “They…they said this is their last warning!”

　　“Hmph! I will not meet with them!” Madam Ya snorted as she put down the portrait.

　　“But…but, Madam, our scout reported that these people have unfathomable backgrounds. It is said that they come from overseas and that they are quite powerful!” the maidservant said.

　　“So what? When they arrived at the Imperial City, I received them with kindness. But they have been so outrageous, making those impertinent remarks. I know what they want. I’d rather die than compromise!” Madam Ya snorted, releasing a pressure from her body. Apparently, she was angry.

　　“Yes, of course,” The maidservant said in surprise. She then left in a hurry.

　　After a short while, someone came to the door again.

　　Ding Dong!

　　Madam Ya furrowed her eyebrows. She opened the door.

　　“Now what?” she said discontentedly.

　　However, this time a different servant was kneeling outside the door.

　　“Madam, Lord…Li Bai is back!”