"One of my Rats have a dirty secret of the head of the Treasure Hall and the Enforcement Hall heads…"

"What!?"

​​

Min Hong, Min Qing and even Mu Bai froze as they looked over to Mu Li who had a smug smile on his face;

"Apparently, our venerable Enforcement Hall Head has a fetish with males, whilst out endearing Treasure Hall Head dishes out several magic treasures to the female disciples and get paid by doing the deed…"

"Eew!" Mu Bai retched...

"Damn, that's nasty!"

Min Hong frowned for a while before something popped into his head, and just as he was about to speak, Mu Li interjected;

"Wait!"

"I know what you're thinking…"

"But do you want to do it before or after the 'War God Challenge?" Min Hong gazed at Mu Li with a mischievous and content smile…

"It is going to be after… that way, should it backfire, we will be safe…"

"Fantastic, I will add that too my plans…" Mu Li replicated the mischievous smile…

What they were about to do would either cause massive unrest within the Sect or ensure that they never go broke again for life…

After a few more minutes of talk and sharing resources, Min Hong was once again with Min Qing who sat over his laps and pouted;

"When do they get to know about us…"

"Though I understand your reason for that, but, it would make me feel happy if everyone knew we are in love…"

She cutely spoke, avoiding Min Hong's gaze by twisting the golden strand beside his head into a braid…

"Did mom put you up to this?"

Min Hong knew Min Qing on a normal day would be too shy to say such a thing even if it was bothering her, but when he thought back to the previous conversation between him and Qing Tan, he knew they must have been eavesdropping…

"I know it would be a fool's dream, if I think someone with your talent and future won't attract other girls, and I also know an Emperor would always have more than one wife…"

"I guess what I am trying to say is; I don't mind if you love other girls, I just don't want you to forget your Min Qing…"

Min Hong almost burst out in laughter when he realized what her concern was, and though it was something that wasn't even up for discussion to him, but he still took it seriously because, with how sporadic and spontaneous their plans were, he would not have time for conversations such as this in the nearest future…

Thus, if it meant much to Min Qing, then he must not take it lightly, so he grabbed her by the waist and replied;

"We started together, we got to this stage together, we will grow in strength, fame and power together, and finally will rule everything together and when it is time to leave this mundane world behind, we shall do it together…"

Min Hong pinched his finger and a drop of blood fell off, and the moment Min Qing saw what he was doing, her heart shook intensely in fear, and even Min Rou who was peeping was shocked to her core…

"Your turn…"

Min Hong said as Min Qing bit her thumb and a drop of blood fell off and floated in the air, swirling around each other as a deep, serene, powerful and sovereign law of the universe was triggered, to further use his actions to clarify what she meant to him, Min Hong shut his eye as a flicker of his tribulation lightning dashed out of his body and attached itself to both blood, binding them like a rope…

The drops of blood then melded with the lightning, fusing together to become one as a bolt of lightning followed by a roaring thunder that sounded like the roar of an angry dragon…

The lightning fell, blasting the roof of his apartment and smashing into the drop of blood, blasting them in equal halves...

One half of this newly formed object flew into Min Qing and went to reside within her Dan, floating and hovering there with a subtle humming sound…

The same thing happened with Min Hong and the other half of the object…

Then the aura left, there was no cloud in the first place because that lightning bolt appeared out of the thin air…

Min Hong had just sworn a life blood oath which is connected to every single Daos in existence…

If he breaks the oath, not only will tribulation lightning be looking for him, the Primus Dao would be looking to kill him, likewise, oblivion, chaos, will, karma and even Wind Dao might decide to cease his airflow, water Dao might look to turn his blood solid, the Space Dao might crush all his vital organ…

Anyone who breaks a life blood would suffer a torturous death…

"I love you, babe!" Min Qing changed her mode of addressing Min Hong instantly…

Since he has shown him how he felt about her, then there was no point in adding any formalities then…

In fact, now, she felt they have never been closer, thus she planted a deep, meaningful kiss on Min Hong's lips, and even though they knew their mother was there, they didn't care…

"So, anyone can think whatever they want…"

"If you want to announce it now, I am with you... However you want us to announce it, I'm also with you…"

Min Hong reaffirmed as Min Qing hugged him tightly from her sitting position, and Min Hong simply fell back so they can both be in a relaxed position…

They just hugged each other and stood there without splitting for about four hours…

It was a hug that had a lot of meaning…

Then Min Qing was the first person to rise as she continued to braid his hair again, causing Min Hong to understand that another worry is about to be revealed;

"Alright, let's hear it…" Min Hong said;

"Qing Tan is very dear to me and like a sister, but she still a little bit little…"

"She loves you and I know that, and I wouldn't mind her joining me, but you shouldn't hurt her… that will hurt me also…"

"So, please be careful with her…" Min Hong didn't reply, he just nodded his head;

"I also know that Kun Lin also loves you, but she still seems unsure, so don't make any advances... When she's ready, she will come of her own accord…."

"You seem to know a lot about me than I do, have you been monitoring me?" Min Hong smirked as he asked softly…

"I care about you, so I have to be able to protect you in some ways…"

"These are things that are there but pretend not to be, until they have grown enough to cause conflict…"

Min Qing spoke as she fluttered her eyelash in a silly manner like a kid who had just been wronged…

Min Hong then hugged her and whispered in her ears the way he knew she loved it; hushed, hot and penetrating;

"Thank you!"

He whispered and hugged her for about another hour…

...

Several days flashed by like revving at 240 Mph whilst watching the street lights flash by... Then before an housefly could take a big dump, the D-day had come…

Yup, the streets and corners of a 2000 mile radius of the Desert Sun Sect was now boiling and bustling with people, traders and even disciples from other sects, as well as other visitors, rich and poor, strong and stronger... All of them were already around…

After all, a War God Challenge is no small matter, even if the challenger ends up losing his life while at it…

It was the will, determination and grit of the challenger they have come all this way to witness...

If he surmounts the insurmountable odds of survival, then their journey here might have been well worth it, especially if they now had the chance to negotiate and recruit the challenger…

But if he dies also, they would have learnt valuable life lessons, especially;

"He who fails to plan better, plans to fail better!"