Prefect Zhang arrived in Nian Yu with a face full of grief. He had come to take back the body of his son. Still, he never expected the scene before his eyes.
The Empress herself sat in the magistrate's chair, personally handling the case of his son's murder and delivering judgment to the killer. The matter had even dragged down the Governor of He Zhou and Lord Wei, a wealthy merchant of Nian Yu.
Zhang's knees weakened. For a moment, grief gave way to dread.
Because of this incident, Li Jun had no choice but to halt her journey. Though her presence was meant to remain a secret, word spread quickly, unstoppable as wildfire.
Soon, several prefects from He Zhou rushed to pay their respects. They brought gifts, flatteries, and endless excuses for their shortcomings, each one desperate to earn the Empress's favor.
While the others scrambled to boast of their loyalty, Prefect Liu stepped forward with a report on the flooding in his region. The old man spoke plainly, without exaggeration. His plain honesty and proven capability left a deep impression on Li Jun.
"You will serve as acting governor of He Zhou until a permanent successor is appointed," she declared.
The hall fell silent. Some prefects exchanged dark looks, jealousy simmering beneath their respectful bows. Prefect Liu was stunned, but quickly bowed in gratitude, pressing his forehead to the floor.
"Those who hold office must serve the people. Do not dare twist your post for nepotism, nor fatten your coffers with the people's blood and sweat. Or your fate will be no different from Wen Zhiming's."
A shiver ran through the room. The prefects immediately bowed low, their voices trembling as they replied in unison, "Understood, Your Majesty."
Though the officers reported that Wen Zhiming and the magistrate had been slain by a mysterious assassin, many believed it was the Empress herself who had ordered their deaths. Whether true or not, none of the prefects dared to act carelessly.
Before her departure, Li Jun summoned Prefect Zhang to aid the poor families and establish a school for the children.
The news spread quickly through the village. When the people heard, their joy was immeasurable. Men and women, young and old, gathered by the roadside, bowing deeply as she passed.
For the villagers of Nian Yu, the Empress was a presence that brought both fear and hope, leaving behind a mark they would never forget.
After all matters were settled, Li Jun continued her journey toward Luo City. The carriage moved slowly into the forest.
That day, the air felt strangely heavy. The sunlight filtered weakly through the tall trees, yet the forest seemed darker than usual. Even the horses grew restless, their hooves striking the ground in uneasy rhythm.
"Something's wrong," Wang Wuyue muttered.
Li Jun pushed the carriage window open a little and peeked outside. The road ahead was quiet.
Then, without warning, figures in dark robes leapt down from the trees, blocking the path ahead. Several of them radiated an aura of profound martial skill, far beyond that of ordinary bandits.
"Protect Her Majesty!" Shen Yuqing shouted. She jumped down with her sword, and several shadow guards appeared out of nowhere, surrounding the carriage.
The attackers didn't rush in. They just stood there, waiting—like hunters who had already trapped their prey.
A low laugh echoed. A man with a thick mustache stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Wang Wuyue.
"Oh? Isn't this the Heavenly Mountain Sect Leader? I've long admired your beauty."
That day, Wuyue wasn't wearing her veil. The way the men stared at her with vulgarity made her expression darken. Without a word, she flicked her hand, and several silver needles shot forward. A few of the men dropped instantly, writhing on the ground.
The empress stepped out of the carriage. "What do you want? Money? Gold?" she asked.
The men burst out laughing. "Hahaha, Your Majesty, do you take us for beggars? We are the legendary Poisons of the North and South!"
Li Jun let out a cold snort.
"I don't care if you're poisons from the North, South, East, or West. Say what you want and stop blocking my way."
"We want the Military Token and the Tiger Talisman. After the new ruler takes the throne, they'll be useless to you anyway."
Li Jun and Shen Yuqing shared a quick look. Something was off.
She leaned closer to Shen Yuqing and whispered, "Can you return to the capital… to protect my parents?"
Shen Yuqing froze, eyes wide. "What? No!"
"There's something strange here," Li Jun said quietly. "Go back. I worry about the empress dowager and grand emperor. Just go, I'll divert their attention."
The black-robed men began to move, their blades gleaming under the noon sun. Shadow guards clashed with them in an instant, steel ringing against steel.
She turned and ran straight to the front of the carriage. "Your Majesty!" Shen Yuqing called, but Li Jun was already climbing onto the driver's seat. She grabbed the reins with both hands and yanked.
The horses screamed and lurched forward, the carriage jolting so violently that Li Jun nearly flew off the seat. "Ugh... heavens!" she cursed under her breath, clinging to the wooden rail for dear life.
"Hyah!" she cried, pulling with all her strength. The horses bolted, the carriage bouncing so hard she almost flew out of the seat.
"Left! Left, not right!" she shouted, yanking the reins in panic.
The assassins weren't far behind. They leapt into the air with their qinggong, dark robes fluttering as they closed the distance swiftly.
Inside the chaos, Li Jun clung to the reins with all her strength. The carriage swayed dangerously, bouncing along the mountain road.
"I'll chase after her, don't worry!" Wang Wuyue called back to Shen Yuqing. With a burst of lightness skill, she soared after the runaway carriage, leaving Shen Yuqing to hold off the attackers.
The mountain road narrowed dangerously. The carriage swerved left and right, wheels screeching, the horses wild with panic.
Li Jun clung to the reins, her knuckles white. "Why… why won't you listen to me, stupid horses! Stop!!"
The animals didn't stop. They bolted faster, hooves pounding, dragging the carriage toward the cliffside.
Just as the front wheels lifted off the edge, a blur of movement flashed in front of her.
"LI JUN!"
Wang Wuyue's hand shot forward, yanking Li Jun by the collar. In one smooth motion, she pulled her out of the driver's seat just as the entire carriage lurched off the cliff.
The two of them tumbled across the dirt, rolling until they stopped on solid ground. Behind them, the carriage plummeted into the ravine with a thunderous crash. The terrified horses screamed, and then silence followed, broken only by splintering wood.
Li Jun, covered in dust, pushed herself up. Her chest heaved. "The horses… the horses… I killed them…"
Wuyue was still holding her arm tightly, looked at the sorrow on Li Jun's face and felt a pang in her chest. Slowly, she softened her grip.
"It's not your fault," she said quietly. "If I came one breath later, you would've gone down with them. Don't blame yourself."
For the first time, Wang Wuyue saw not the Empress, but a fragile girl who had never witnessed how merciless the world could be.
The two assassins, Poison Twins of North and South, leapt in front of Li Jun. Their robes flared as they landed.
The brothers laughed coldly, their palms glowing faintly as a sickly green mist rose between their fingers. They had fused venom into their very martial arts. One strike could rot flesh, one touch could cripple.
The fight exploded in an instant. Wuyue met them head-on, her blade flashing, sparks flying with every clash. She moved like lightning, but the two men fought dirty, switching sides, striking at her back, weaving poison into every blow.
North Poison suddenly feigned a stumble. When Wuyue moved in for the strike, his palm shot up like a snake, brushing her shoulder.
A hiss escaped her lips. Heat spread through her veins—burning, tingling. She staggered a half step back, realizing she'd been touched.
Li Jun's eyes widened. "STOP! What kind of men gang up on a single woman? Do you feel no shame?"
"Shut up!" South Poison barked, his voice dripping with disdain. "She is the leader of Heavenly Mountain Sect. Do you think we could ever defeat her fairly? Hah! Only fools fight fair against a monster like her!"
Wuyue wiped blood from the corner of her lips, her expression dark. She knew the poison was spreading fast, but her grip on the sword didn't waver.
The Poison Twins didn't even try to hide their intentions. South Poison lunged forward, seizing Wang Wuyue in a brutal hold and yanking her close. North Poison loomed, leering, his face too near hers as he spoke with a disgusting grin.
Li Jun's fists clenched at her sides, anger burning in her chest as she glared at the so-called masters of the martial world.
"You never thought you'd end up in my arms today," he sneered.
Wuyue's eyes flashed with anger. Poison still crawled under her skin from the earlier strike. She tried to draw power, tried to loosen their grip, but the venom had slowed her reflexes; her limbs felt heavy, and she couldn't move as she usually could.
"Let her go!" Li Jun blasted, She forced herself to think fast.
"Fine... Take these." She reached for the small cloth pouch at her belt. Inside were the Tiger Talisman and the Military Token, the two items the men had demanded.
Wang Wuyue's head snapped toward Li Jun, eyes wide. "No…" she started, fury and fear tangled on her face.
Their plan was simple: force the Empress to surrender the tokens, kill her then take Wuyue anyway.
The exchange was tense. Li Jun, jaw tight, slowly handed over the pouch. The Poison Twins' greedy eyes lit up. But before they could celebrate, she pulled Wang Wuyue into her arms, holding her close.
"You're really stupid…" Wuyue whispered harshly, her breath hot against Li Jun's ear. "They won't let us go even if you give them everything."
Li Jun's grip only tightened. "I can't watch you be humiliated. I'd rather—"
"Hahaha!" North Poison cut her off, clutching the tokens in his hands. "Leader Wang is right! With these in my grasp, why would I let you live?"
His palm flared with sickly green light, the venomous qi gathering as he swung directly toward Li Jun's chest.
Wuyue twisted, wrapping her arms around Li Jun, trying to shield her body with her own. Li Jun, in a sudden motion, spun them around, switching places so she was in front. Instinctively, she raised her own hand to block.
BANG!
The impact roared through the clearing. To everyone's shock, the Poison Twin flew backward as if struck by a mountain boulder, crashing into the dirt and coughing blood.
Li Jun froze. She blinked, then slowly lowered her hand. Her palm tingled faintly, buzzing with unfamiliar strength.
"What… was that…?" she muttered, staring at her own fingers as if they belonged to someone else.
The other Poison Twin gaped, disbelief written across his face. Even Wang Wuyue, still clinging to her, looked stunned.