"Be seated, everyone. Let the unification between the two kingdoms begin."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" all the elders and officials responded in unison, their voices firm as they bowed respectfully and watched the king settle into his throne. The hall fell into an anticipatory silence as the formal proceedings commenced.
The king then turned his gaze to Bai Xin, his voice carrying a gentler tone than before. "Bai Xin, I heard you have harbored feelings for my beautiful daughter for quite some time now."
Xu Jiaojiao subtly rolled her eyes. Of course, this was nothing more than a performance. Bai Xin had no real affection for her. She frowned inwardly, counting down the moments in her heart.
Bai Xin nodded solemnly. "Yes, Your Majesty. It was a few years ago when I first laid eyes upon the fair, tender, and beautiful Xu Jiaojiao. Since that moment, I have been unable to go even a few minutes without her image lingering in my thoughts."
…
The conversation between the king and Bai Xin continued briefly, filled with rehearsed pleasantries. Soon enough, they arrived at the signing stage of the marriage contract.
Meanwhile, back at the Cold Palace, Xu Qingxian, who had remained deep in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes. A powerful spiritual ripple had entered his range of perception—someone was approaching.
Moments later, the heavy steel door creaked open with a low groan, and an elderly man with a bald head, clad in black robes, stepped inside. His footsteps were silent, yet his presence was cold and firm.
His sharp eyes immediately found Xu Qingxian. Without wasting time, he tossed a set of black robes toward him.
"Put this on and come with me," the man commanded in a curt voice.
Xu Qingxian narrowed his eyes, catching the robes mid-air. "Did something happen?"
The old man let out a low grunt of frustration. "Just do as I say. The young mistress sent me to escort you out of the royal capital safely."
Xu Qingxian's heart tightened. His mind instantly recalled the cryptic words his sister had spoken during her last visit. So, their father was already making his move. His expression darkened. 'So it has come to this… I'll have to teach that man a lesson sooner than expected.'
Xu Qingxian rose slowly to his feet, eyes still locked on the old man.
Seeing this, the elder's face lit up with urgency. "Hurry! Put on the robes and follow me before we're discovered!"
But Xu Qingxian shook his head calmly.
The old man's face twisted in disbelief. "You! What are you—"
Before he could finish, his vision blurred. Xu Qingxian had suddenly appeared right beside him, one hand raised with two fingers pointed directly at his forehead. A sharp pulse of energy flowed through.
The man collapsed instantly with a dull thud, unconscious before his body even hit the ground.
Xu Qingxian stood still for a moment, scanning the room with piercing eyes. 'So that bell from before was to announce this farce? He truly intends to sell my sister off already? Does she intend to rebel? Is she really going to take such a drastic step?'
He didn't know the full scope of her plans, but he knew he couldn't allow them to unfold unchecked. If things escalated, the burden would fall on him. And that, he found rather inconvenient.
'I would rather avoid getting involved... but if I must, I might as well enjoy the chaos,' Xu Qingxian thought, a cold chuckle escaping his lips.
After binding and blindfolding the unconscious elder, Xu Qingxian's figure vanished from the Cold Palace. Utilizing his movement technique—Eight Trigrams Steps, level eight—he accelerated with a speed that shattered the sound barrier.
BOOM!
A thunderous crack echoed as he moved. Within seconds, his figure had already crossed vast distances, approaching the royal palace like a shadow streaking through the sky.
Xu Qingxian halted just before reaching the main hall. He glanced toward the grand palace where the event was unfolding. The familiar bull mask appeared in his hand. With a slight smirk, he placed it over his face.
From where he stood, he could already sense the unfolding drama.
…
Inside the royal hall, Bai Xin had just completed his part of the contract. The document was ceremoniously handed to Xu Jiaojiao.
She took it into her hands, her gaze cold and unreadable. Then, unexpectedly, a radiant smile spread across her face as she looked at Bai Xin approaching her.
SWOOSH!
In the blink of an eye, Bai Xin's expression contorted in shock. His hands shot up to his throat, eyes bulging with confusion and pain. Blood spurted from the deep wound at his neck like a crimson fountain.
He gasped and stumbled, veins popping in his eyes as he stared at Xu Jiaojiao in utter disbelief.
His final thoughts echoed within his collapsing mind. 'Why? Why didn't you just say no? Why kill me? My harem...'
THUD!
His body crashed to the marble floor. His fingers reached toward her, trembling, before falling still. His lifeless eyes remained wide open, filled with grievance and disbelief.
Xu Jiaojiao's smile widened unnaturally. Her eyes shimmered with something deranged. In her delicate hand was a dagger, its edge still dripping with warm blood.
DRIP. DRIP. DRIP.
The sound of blood hitting the polished stone echoed hauntingly through the hall.
Only when Bai Xin's corpse hit the ground did the room fully register what had just happened. The stunned silence shattered.
"She... she killed the Northern Prince!"
"She's a traitor! She wants war between the two kingdoms!"
The Crown Prince turned to Xu Jiaojiao with disbelief written across his face. 'Where did she find the nerve? How terrifying…'
The Second Prince felt his heart race in panic. His hands trembled at the sight. He had never imagined Xu Jiaojiao capable of such madness.
The other princes and princesses were equally shaken. The once graceful and easy-going demonic saintess now resembled a lunatic drenched in blood.
The king surged to his feet, rage twisting his face. His voice exploded across the hall like a storm. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE?"
Xu Jiaojiao tilted her head, eyes wild, lips curved into a grin. "So what if I killed him?"
The king was momentarily speechless. His chest rose and fell rapidly as his fury surged. He turned to the guards and elders with blazing eyes.
"Capture her! I want her alive!"
The elders snapped out of their stupor. Those eager to prove their loyalty, or curry favor with the furious king, immediately lunged at her.
In the next instant, more than fifty elders leapt toward Xu Jiaojiao. She stood alone at the center of the hall, her white robes now tainted with crimson, her hair fluttering behind her like a phantom.
A chilling smile curved her lips.
She whispered coldly, her voice echoing eerily as her figure began to blur and flicker. "Today, rivers of blood will flow in this royal hall."