Chapter 529: Fated Person

Zu An: "..."

He couldn't help but complain, "Brother, your integrity is a bit low." Given the current situation, he didn't even bother calling him "senior" anymore.

Although General Ya Chang hadn't heard the word "integrity" before, he generally guessed its meaning. "I was ordered to guard this place, eliminate intruders, and await predestined individuals to undergo the trial. Now that I see you two are predestined, there's naturally no need to fight."

Pei Mianman then came over to Zu An, quietly asking what was happening and why the general, who had been so aggressive just a second ago, had suddenly changed his attitude.

Zu An used his vital energy to transmit a message, telling her he had a way to dispel evil spirits.

Pei Mianman's expression instantly became very complicated. First, she was exceptionally pleased, but then she immediately realized: if that was the case, why had they fought so frantically before?

As if seeing her confusion, Zu An sheepishly explained, "Mainly, I know too many things, and it just slipped my mind for a moment."

Pei Mianman: "..."

Feeling embarrassed, Zu An quickly asked the general beside him, "How do you determine if someone who enters is predestined?"

He actually had another thought he didn't voice: *Could it be that he saw my ability to harm him, and immediately changed his mind from 'not predestined' to 'predestined'?*

General Ya Chang had by now walked to the wall, planted his long-handled ge-dagger into the ground, and reached out to pull the ox that was stuck in the wall.

After the ox was freed, its head was dazed, but upon seeing Zu An not far away, it mooed loudly, pawing the ground, ready to charge.

General Ya Chang placed his hand on its back, stroking it gently. The two seemed to have a telepathic connection, gradually calming the ox down.

Hearing Zu An's question, he replied, "Firstly, this trial must be undertaken by both a man and a woman simultaneously. If only a man or a woman enters, then they are naturally not predestined; secondly..."

He paused, his shriveled head turning towards Pei Mianman. "She seems to carry a familiar aura."

Pei Mianman: "???"

Zu An recalled the various strange occurrences that had happened to her along the way and quickly asked, "What do you mean?"

General Ya Chang replied, "She carries the aura of a Shang queen?"

"A Shang queen?" Zu An frowned. "Which queen?"

General Ya Chang shook his head. "It's not a specific queen, but rather she possesses the essence of many queens."

Zu An: "..."

*What is this situation? This guy isn't trying to trick us just to save his life, is he?*

Hearing this, Pei Mianman felt a little unsettled. She instinctively leaned against Zu An, as if that was the only way to feel somewhat at ease.

Zu An tightly clasped her soft hand in a gesture of comfort.

Mi Li's voice sounded in his ear: "You really are a lucky man with women, aren't you? You didn't perhaps take a queen from the Shang Dynasty into your chambers too, did you?"

As soon as she said it, she regretted it, because it made her sound as if she were one of his concubines.

Zu An rolled his eyes. "Mianman is Mianman, not anyone else. I don't believe it's such a coincidence that another queen who didn't die like you would be found in their royal tomb."

Mi Li snorted, knowing in her heart that it was impossible. Her situation was too unique; no one else could be so fortunate.

At this point, General Ya Chang said, "Follow me."

He bent his knees slightly and leaped to the ground. The ox mooed twice and also jumped down. It was hard to imagine how such a bulky body could possess such excellent jumping ability.

Zu An and Pei Mianman exchanged a glance and followed, jumping down as well.

Seeing them descend, Ya Chang turned and, along with his ox, led the way.

With the guardian of the place personally leading the way, they subconsciously felt much more at ease.

However, Zu An dared not be careless. He and Pei Mianman reminded each other to remain vigilant at all times.

Wanting to gather more information, Zu An asked, "This... General, are you called Ya Chang?"

"Yes," Ya Chang replied. "My name is Ya, and Chang is the name of my tribe."

Zu An was startled. "You're not a Shang person?"

Ya Chang replied, "My tribe submitted to the Shang King, so I am considered half a Shang person."

"The Shang King entrusted you with guarding the tomb; it seems he truly trusted you," Zu An complimented. He figured that regardless of whether the general was a human or a ghost in his current state, flattery would probably still work.

As expected, a hint of pride appeared on Ya Chang's face. "I rendered countless meritorious services to the Shang King. My status in the army was second only to Fu Hao. The reason I was subordinate to her wasn't because my achievements were inferior, but because she held the revered status of queen."

"Fu Hao?" Zu An recalled the paintings on the walls when he had entered the palace earlier, as well as the related history Mi Li had explained to him.

"However, the queen was an extraordinary woman—both beautiful and skilled in warfare. I had no complaints about being inferior to her," Ya Chang said, his tone carrying an inexplicable meaning.

Zu An smiled slightly. "It seems the general also held admiration for Fu Hao in his heart."

Ya Chang's "expression" changed. "You mustn't speak such nonsense! If the Great King heard it, I would be offered as a sacrifice to the heavens."

As he spoke, he looked around, as if fearing something.

Zu An's heart skipped a beat. *Could your Great King still be alive?*

Ya Chang shook his head. "Now, only my beloved ox and I remain in the royal tomb. It's merely an instinctive reaction from when we revered the Great King and Queen as gods."

"You were just afraid of the Great King's punishment, yet you didn't deny your admiration for Fu Hao," Zu An chuckled.

Ya Chang paused, falling into silence. After a long while, he let out a lengthy sigh. "Who wouldn't admire such a heroine as the Queen? It's just that everyone revered her as a goddess, with no other impure thoughts."

Pei Mianman, standing nearby, couldn't help but lightly pinch Zu An's waist. His gossipy nature was truly a bit impudent towards an ancient person.

Seeing that their casual chat was winding down, Zu An smoothly asked, "By the way, what about that trial you mentioned earlier?"

"I'm not clear on the specifics of the trial inside; you'll have to explore it yourselves," Ya Chang paused, then added, "I should warn you that over these past ten thousand years, several pairs of men and women have come here. Every one of them was an extraordinary individual, far stronger than you, but unfortunately, none of them passed the trial."

Pei Mianman's beautiful face subtly changed, and she quickly asked, "What happens if you don't pass the trial?"

"They die, of course," Ya Chang said, glancing at her, his voice softening considerably. "But you shouldn't worry too much. Although your cultivation levels are low, he possesses many secret techniques, and you carry the aura of a queen. Perhaps you truly can unlock the secrets of this mystic realm."

Zu An asked, "Is there a way to leave this mystic realm without participating in the trial?"

In any case, his primordial qi could suppress the general, so he wouldn't be forced into the trial.

Ya Chang shook his head. "No, you can only leave this place by passing the trial. Moreover, you must participate in the trial as soon as possible, otherwise you will be assimilated by this mystic realm, and your body will completely become a part of this environment."

Hearing this, both their expressions changed simultaneously. They hastily checked their physical condition and indeed found that their vital energy was slowly draining away at a very subtle rate. At first, they had thought their weakness was due to the continuous fighting, but they hadn't realized it was because of this mystic realm.

Pei Mianman bit her lip. Having just confirmed her relationship with Zu An, she had originally hoped to enjoy some peaceful time with her beloved, but now it seemed there would be no such opportunity.

Zu An asked in a deep voice, "General, do you know where to find the jade *cong* of the Dongyi people?" He still remembered his previous promise to the Dongyi princess.

"A jade *cong*?" Ya Chang seemed to fall into thought. "I seem to have some recollection of it. The Queen was very fond of it back then, and later the Great King placed it in her tomb as a burial object. After you pass the trial, you will be able to enter the Queen's resting place."

Zu An gave a wry smile. It seemed he would have to participate in this trial no matter what.

As they spoke, the two had already arrived inside a grand hall. Seeing the scene within, not only Pei Mianman's expression changed, but even Zu An's did.