Starting from Douluo to Capture Goddesses

Xu Ran groped around for a while and then headed towards the palace where the queen should be living.

"Who's there?"

At this moment, the people of the Zhu Clan hadn't killed their way here, but the surrounding Imperial Guards were all startled, drawing their swords at the slightest rustle of wind and grass.

With a casual wave of his hand, Xu Ran wiped out all these men.

By now, Xu Ran's hands were stained with the blood of countless people, and he had long grown accustomed to the sensation of slaughter.

Xu Ran kicked open the grand doors of the palace and walked inside.

"Queen?"

Xu Ran frowned as he moved forward.

He had met Julia once before; she had profound feelings for the Zhu Clan. If she knew that Emperor Dai intended to move against the Zhu Clan, Empress Zhu would definitely try to stop him. She would surely know about such a significant matter.

Moreover, considering the way Emperor Dai had earlier led people to besiege the Zhu Clan, it was clear he harbored deep resentment towards them. Since Emperor Dai had long been harboring grudges but couldn't directly attack the Zhu Clan, it was likely he would vent his anger and resentment on Julia.

Lifting a thin veil curtain, Xu Ran's pupils contracted, shocked by the scene before him.

At this instant, that extraordinarily beautiful queen was lying on the bed, her wrists and ankles chained to the four poster corners, her entire body stretched out in a 'big' character shape on the bed.

The posture could be considered extremely seductive.

This...

For a moment, even Xu Ran's heartbeat quickened considerably.

Although Xu Ran liked to play with different styles with Xiao Wu Zhu Qing and the others, he had never done anything like this. They rarely used props, let alone...

However, the fire in Xu Ran's eyes quickly dissipated.

Covered with a thin blanket, Julia's exquisite arms and petite feet were unmatched in delicacy. Such a beautiful thing was now marred with scars.

The numerous bloodstains were shocking to behold.

They also ignited an endless fury in Xu Ran.

Even if Julia had no relationship with him, she was Zhu Qing and Zhu Yun's aunt, as well as Zhu Zìháo's sister. The fact that the sister of the Zhu Family Patriarch had suffered such torture in the imperial palace was horrifying.

Empress Zhu was suffering probably because, at that time, Emperor Dai had already prepared to sever all ties with the Zhu Clan.

Such humiliation was nothing short of beastly behavior.

Even if Empress Zhu was at fault, she was still Davis's birth mother. To suffer such torment, Emperor Dai was truly heartless.

Moreover, Xu Ran saw around the room some candles, whips, various chains...

Xu Ran wasn't stupid; he knew what those things implied.

"What a waste of natural beauty."

Xu Ran sat on the bed, his fingers gently gliding over Empress Zhu's delicate feet, feeling her flinch as he touched the red marks on the top of her feet.

This object of art had suffered such indignity; it was incomprehensible.

Women in tumultuous times were doomed to such harsh fates, it seemed.

"You're here? What have you done to my Zhu Clan? If my Zhu Clan is gone, you will suffer retribution. Why did you do this?"

"I have never harbored disloyal thoughts, and never schemed for my clan. Why are you treating me this way?"

"If you still have a shred of affection, then just kill me outright."

Julia's eyes were covered with a cloth strip, so she was not aware that it was Xu Ran who had come.

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Before going to the Zhu Clan, Emperor Dai had sought her out and said many vile things; now, naturally, she assumed Emperor Dai had returned.

"Auntie, it's me."

Xu Ran removed the cloth covering Julia's eyes, his own filled with pity.

Although Xu Ran was lecherous, he had never thought of satisfying himself with such despicable acts. A demon resides in every person, and when you can't control it, you might commit any atrocity.

Although Xu Ran occasionally harbored evil thoughts, the moment he thought about how Zhuqing Xiaowu and the others would suffer, those wicked impulses would dissipate.

Many people can derive almost double the pleasure when their happiness is built upon others' pain. But such acts cannot be done.

"Xu Ran? Is it you?"

Julia looked at Xu Ran with a complex expression, and then thick waves of joy emerged in her heart.

Why was Xu Ran here at this moment?

Did Xu Ran's presence mean the Zhu Clan was safe?

Although she was in the imperial palace, she had heard about the outside affairs and was extremely proud of the Zhu Clan for having a peerless genius like Xu Ran.

"Auntie." Xu Ran affectionately called out to Julia.

Zhu Qing and Zhu Yun called her auntie, so he should do the same.

However, Xu Ran felt a strange sensation.

A heart rapidly ablaze.

Especially after calling out "auntie" and then seeing Julia powerless and lying on the bed in such a delicate and pitiable state, the viciousness in his bloodline was stirred.

Damn it!

"Xu Ran, how is the Zhu Clan?" Julia weakly asked, disrupting Xu Ran's inner reverie.

"Before, Emperor Dai surrounded the Zhu Clan with the Xu family and a group of strong followers, intending to wipe out the Zhu Clan in one fell swoop."

"And then?"

"Then Zhu Qing and I arrived in time, thwarting Emperor Dai's ambitions. All those people died, and Emperor Dai is dead too," Xu Ran explained.

"That is good, that is very good."

Tears welled up in Julia's beautiful eyes, her excitement uncontainable.

Having no love left for that man after the emperor wanted to act against the Zhu Clan and treated her this way, she only harbored deep hatred. Now that he was dead, Julia naturally couldn't contain her joy.

"Did the Zhu Clan suffer heavy losses?" Julia asked with concern.

"It's not a big deal. Although the clan lost quite a few people, the vast majority survived." Before Xu Ran and Zhu Qing arrived, the Zhu Clan indeed suffered losses, but after they came, they quickly disposed of everyone.

Compared to the losses of the Dai and Xu families, the Zhu Clan's losses were insignificant.

"Let me help you break these chains." Xu Ran looked at the chains on Julia's limbs, waved his finger, and four streams of Qi shattered them.

Only then did Julia realize her current situation. Her face blushed and her hands and feet instantly retracted under the covers.

However, the whip marks and other injuries on her body made her cry out in pain, her complexion turning ghastly pale.

"I'll help you heal."

Xu Ran helped Julia sit up, the covers tightly enveloping her, but through the gap, Xu Ran still saw her blood-stained Phoenix Robe and her full, voluptuous body beneath.

"Xu Ran, will there be scars on my body?" Julia asked, sounding dejected. Every woman cares about her appearance, and naturally, so did Julia. The emperor had whipped her with a saltwater-soaked lash, wanting to see her scream and beg for mercy before he left; however, she never did so until she passed out. But now the resilient woman was somewhat afraid.

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