Paragon of Sin

diately upon realizing the situation and was his selection. 

Second, he needed to gather all the elites, experts, people of status into one big pot to be roasted and removed.
It didn ’t need to be everyone, just those within the country at the Astral Core Realm and above.
To do so, he needed a large enough event, hopefully controversial and interesting enough to elicit all of them to arrive.

This included all high-ranking and high-status members of the former royal clan, the Xue Clan.

A King ’s concubine ceremony was often characterized as a party and there were no limits to those who wished to join as long as they had the qualification to participate.
Xue Duan handled this nicely as he invited everyone important.
Furthermore, with it being such a hot topic, how could they not arrive for this likely lively festival and possible downfall of the current King due to civil unrest?

It didn ’t fail the slightest, especially after him using various means to instigate their arrivals.
It was fairly easy.
With all those present here, as long as they died and Chen Xiaowei remained, she could take over as Interim Monarch until the next election.
He even ensured that Qi Lang would support her decision because of the unexpected ’tragedy ’ that occurred.
Moreover, he ’ll offer his support from behind the scenes and she ’ll easily transition into the new Bloodforge Queen.

The last missing piece was someone who could take the blame, a scapegoat for this slaughter with a reason behind it.
Yuan Longshi had actually fit perfectly for this role, especially with his bloodthirsty reputation, the unexplained and unclear relationship with Xue Yifei, and his strength. 

It all fitted perfectly.
It was like orchestrating the most perfect play, and there wasn ’t a single issue in cast or production.
With a mere thought, he would isolate the Ceremonial Grounds in an Astral Concealment and Defensive Array and kill everyone that needed to be killed.
With a little bit of smoke and mirrors, countless citizens would ’witness ’ Yuan Longshi arriving, the Ceremonial Grounds being enclosed, and everyone dying.

He, as the mysterious and faceless alchemist, would vanish from the face of this world as an eternal mystery.

As for Yuan Longshi and Xue Yifei? They would seem to the world as partners in crime that slaughtered their oppressors and ran off in mad love to places unknown.
He even planned to place an unreasonably high bounty on them for their ’despicable ’ actions as Wei Wuyin, further enhancing the illusion of truth.

However, when he saw Xue Yifei ’s countenance and emotions that seemed to be nearly as attached as he assumed to Yuan Longshi, he couldn ’t help but wonder: Did she want to become his concubine? His woman? That thought produced wisps and strands of confusion in his eyes and heart that couldn ’t be dispersed.

”… ” 

He abruptly said to Xue Yifei, ”Did you want this to be real? ” These words were spoken with not nearly as much confidence usually contained within his voice.
It still lingered with confusion.

Xue Yifei was startled.
Her head turned towards Wei Wuyin with more than just a little surprise in her eyes.
She had firmly believed that next year today would be the anniversary of her death.
She had no desire to fight against it.
Furthermore, could she even do so?

Wei Wuyin was the only person that couldn ’t be resisted in this portion of the starfield, and he had already unfathomably laid out this perfectly intricate trap without a hint of error.
He must be prepared to face any and all variables to arose.
While this only made her regret that she couldn ’t truly become his concubine, perhaps his wife later, she didn ’t have any hope of him changing his plans.

But now he turned to her and asked her this question.
This sent her mind into a hyperactive state of disbelief, uncertainty, and hope! 

”Yes. ” She answered firmly.
Her gaze reflected her firmness.
In that gaze wasn ’t a will to live, but her most honest feelings.

”You don ’t know me, you know. ” Wei Wuyin added, his voice continued to become even more uncertain. 

”I ’m willing to, ” Xue Yifei didn ’t even hesitate half a step to respond.
She added, ”You similarly don ’t know me, but would you reject me on that basis? ”

Wei Wuyin thought for a moment and shook his head.
The concept of accepting someone was to get to know them.
If you rejected everyone you didn ’t know from your heart, how could you ever form any meaningful relationships? How could you trust? Were you even human at that point?

”Then why do you want me? ” She asked.
While her words were being said, Yuan Longshi was silent alongside everyone else.
They expected an epic fight to begin, but the two couples started an exchange.
Furthermore, it was verbal and open! It essentially determined that this wasn ’t false!

Wei Wuyin answered honestly, ”You ’re the most beautiful woman I ’ve laid my eyes on, besides my own mother. ” While this was inherently a superficial reason, most relationships were built on these reasons.

Xue Yifei felt her heart calm when she heard this.
While she could be considered a beauty, was she the most beautiful in the world? Perhaps to some, but not to others.
Everyone had their own aesthetic sense of beauty and personal rating, to receive such a rating from the man they wanted to be with without hesitation, and with the utmost honesty was quite rare.
She could tell he wasn ’t lying even a little.

To him, she was the most beautiful woman besides his mother.
And she would never contest that latter portion because the first was enough for her!

Wei Wuyin didn ’t ask her the same question.
It was mostly irrelevant.
Regardless, she would want him for features he possessed, such as his talent in the Dao of Alchemy, wealth, or perhaps she even suspected who he truly was, then status and potential would factor in.
However, that wasn ’t something he was particularly against.
In fact, he wanted women who similarly wanted him for who he was, and wasn ’t he all those things? Did he not earn them? 

He nodded slightly, turned to Yuan Longshi, and said: ”Even if you say I agree to take you as my concubine, he still has to die. ”

”…! ” These words caused an uproar as many were confused, uncertain, suspicious, or outright enraged.
The rage was from Yuan Longshi! His aura flared without end!

Xue Yifei looked towards Yuan Longshi.
All those years they fought together, she had helped him, he had helped her, and the stories that could be told about them; she didn ’t want to see him die or suffer.
However, this wasn ’t something that was within her power to change.
While she didn ’t know why he needed to die specifically, if Wei Wuyin said this, then it wasn ’t possible to change.

She calmly said, ”Yes.
Yuan Longshi…you should run. ”

Before Yuan Longshi could flip into an outrage, likely even attack. 

Wei Wuyin stepped forward, placed his hand on his mask, and started to lift it up!