Wei Ji remembered the projection on how to kill the Celestial Demon Empress—back in the Middle Realm, when the greatest cultivators had joined hands to use heaven divination. The answer was a way to kill the Demon. If the Celestial Demon Empress's heart had not yet become the Celestial Demon Heart, then she was still killable.
It means… If he killed her now, before her rise… the cycle would end.
On the other hand, for some unknown reason, Wu shivered violently beside him. It wasn't cold, yet his bones rattled as though frost had pierced his marrow. His instincts screamed that something unnatural had awakened in his young master. He turned his head, and his breath hitched.
Wei Ji's eyes bore into him, sharp and merciless, a killing intent so deep it clawed at the soul.
"Hey, Wu," Wei Ji said with a thin, dangerous smile. "How do I get back to my residence? To where my wife is."
Wu froze. Shock jolted through him. His young master, of all people, asking for directions to his own residence? Isn't it a bit strange? But Wei Ji quickly added using a casual tone, "My mind is spinning from all the wine last night. I feel tipsy. Just point me the way."
Wu hesitated. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. Yet he forced himself to speak, though his throat was dry. "The west wing of the Han estate, young master. Through the bamboo courtyard, past the crimson gate, then across the lotus bridge. From there…"
He paused, swallowing hard. Each time his eyes met Wei Ji's, that coldness deepened. He felt as though he were guiding a beast to slaughter. Still, with a trembling voice, he continued. "From there, the Jade Tree Hall, and beyond it the Vermilion Savannah Chamber. That is where… that is where your wife waits."
The words left him drained. His knees felt weak, his hands clammy. He couldn't resist the urge to ask, though fear was eating his head alive inside. "Young master… what are you planning to do?"
Wei Ji's lips curled upward. He cracked his neck slowly, and with a malicious smile, he said. "Exterminate some evil."
Wu's heart nearly stopped. His face changed and immediately protested. "No… you cannot! Young master, you must not! She is Lu Shaohua, the future princess of the Shen Flame Kingdom—the only heir of the old king! If you harm her, it will mean war. A war that will consume our family, our land, everything we know! Please, young master, reconsider!"
But Wei Ji brushed past him with a cold snort. "Kingdom this, kingdom that… It's not my problem."
Wu's desperation spiked. He stepped in front of Wei Ji, arms spread wide. "Young master! If you do this, they will kill you. You will be sacrificed to stop their fury! Please, for your own sake—stop!"
Wei Ji only smirked, his expression arrogant, unshaken. "Someone capable of killing me? Mortals truly overestimate themselves."
Wu clenched his fists. His loyalty screamed at him. And there was an unknown strange feeling of fear that wanted him to flee. But in the end, he stood his ground, voice breaking as he declared, "If you truly mean to harm her, then… then I cannot allow it. Even if it costs me my life, I must stop you! Right here, right now, you young master shall not pass!"
Wei Ji's eyes narrowed. Then he let out a disdainful snort.
Bang! Bang! Bang! His fists shot forward, striking Wu's chest and shoulders. The blows didn't seem strong without weight behind them—almost light, almost like a tap—but Wu's eyes widened in sudden terror. His whole body froze, and all the strength in his limbs seemed to have vanished.
"What… what is this…?" he gasped, his knees buckling beneath him.
Wei Ji stepped past him without a glance. "Just go sleep."
Wu's body crumpled to the ground with a dull thud. His eyes rolled back as he felt his consciousness slowly slipping away.
Wei Ji continued walking, his steps were sure and sharp, but just as he was about to sprint ahead, something tugged at his ankle. His eyes widened.
"Huh?" He glanced down. The supposed-to-be unconscious attendant was on the ground, his trembling hand clutching Wei Ji's leg with desperate strength.
"As I said, I won't let you go, young master!" Wu croaked, his voice hoarse but stubborn, his grip refusing to yield.
Wei Ji frowned, irritation flashing across his face. "I don't have time for this." He shook his leg, trying to dislodge him, but Wu's grip was strong. Snarling, Wei Ji kicked— bang!—the sole of his foot smashed into Wu's face once, then again—bang!
But Wu curled his other arm, shielding his face, and endured. Blood dripped from his nose, yet he refused to let go. With a guttural growl, he suddenly sprang up, circling Wei Ji like a wolf testing its prey.
"They say an apple never falls far from the tree," Wu muttered, his tone edged with grim respect. "As expected of the Duke's eldest son. With your father's bloodline and your brothers' gifts, it was impossible for you to be talentless." His eyes narrowed, fire flashing in them. "Young Master Han, I, Wu, was the first to witness your secret. But know this—" his voice rose, fierce, "—I am no common servant. I am a trained soldier, one of the top in Duke Han's household! That's why I was assigned to be your attendant: to ensure you won't be harmed or make a grave mistake. And so… I will not let you harm your wife!"
Wei Ji let out a sharp snort, his eyes narrowing. His mind assessed the attendant instantly. Fifth stage of Body Infusion naturally through mortal wars and training… not bad for a mortal. Compared to this body's first stage, the gap is huge. His lips curled into a faint sneer. But I am not a mortal. I am Wei Ji, who commanded several sects I created. A gap like this… is nothing to me.
He rolled his shoulders, loose and relaxed, letting his arms hang at his sides in casual calmness. His stance was no stance, his posture was like a riddle. Wu hesitated, unsettled by the sight and the strange movement of his young master.
What's he planning…?
But hesitation was mostly death in face to face combat. Wu clenched his teeth and lunged. "Forgive me, young master!" His leg whipped up in a swift arc, a soldier's kick aimed at Wei Ji's chest.
Wei Ji moved. His body flowed like water, swaying aside with fluid grace. Wu blinked, his strike hit an empty air. But he followed immediately with an attempted grab, his hands shooting like claws to seize Wei Ji's shoulder—
—but Wei Ji slipped through like an eel, twisting behind him with impossible speed.
Before Wu could even register the shift, a sharp strike slammed into the side of his neck. His eyes bulged, air escaping his lungs in a strangled gasp.
Wei Ji's low voice followed by a voice. "High-level martial arts surpass the gap in cultivation," and then, it went cold, "And this is one of them… the Formless Dragon Step."
Immediately. Thud. Wu's body collapsed, his eyes wide open in disbelief with the twinkle on his two eyes vanished.
Wei Ji brushed imaginary dust from his sleeve, not sparing him another glance, and then he left.
…
Before long, following the attendant's instructions, Wei Ji reached the West Wing of the Han Family estate. Torches burned faintly against the night, throwing long shadows against the stone walls.
A handful of guards patrolled the gate, their armor clinking softly.
"Young master!" They straightened immediately upon spotting him, bowing with respect.
Wei Ji did not respond. His expression was a mask of cold determination, his pace steady and unyielding.
The guards exchanged looks. One leaned close to another, whispering, "His marriage was only yesterday. Why's the young master wandering outside already?"
Another guard smirked, whispering back, "I heard his wife's face is cursed ugly. Maybe he can't stand to be near her."
Wei Ji's ears caught every word. He ignored them outwardly, but inside his mind was a whole lot of different mess about her. Ugly… They have no idea. No idea what she truly is. The Celestial Demon Empress… the nightmare who razed my sects, the monster who never allowed me peace, she's here. In this time. In this flesh.
His fists tightened. She's here.
Wei Ji halted abruptly and turned to the guards. His eyes glinted with a strange light. "Follow me. And close the gate behind you."
The guards blinked at the sudden order. Although they were uncertain, his tone brooked no argument. They obeyed, the gate's iron hinges groaning shut behind them.
Wei Ji's stride never faltered. More guards joined as they passed through inner corridors, answering his calls to follow him.
In the upper realm, hunting even a single soldier under her banner required entire squads of top powerhouse cultivators. Summoning them was an instinct, so his body moved on old habits, summoning strength around him as though preparing for another impossible siege.
Soon, nearly a dozen guards trailed behind him, they all looked nervous.
Wei Ji's thoughts darkened as he walked.
The torches flickered as they passed through another archway.
Step by step, Wei Ji led the group deeper. His destination loomed ahead—the Vermillion Savannah Chamber, where his newly wedded wife resided.
The air grew heavier with every step, as though the night itself knew what path he walked. The guards whispered behind him, their voices uneasy, but none dared question aloud.
At last, the chamber's red lacquered doors rose into view, glowing faintly in the torchlight. Wei Ji's pace slowed, his eyes narrowing, his breath became low and a little steady.
Every nerve in his body screamed, every instinct roared. Here she is. At the other side. The woman who would become the Celestial Demon Empress. The seed of endless calamity. The wife of the body I occupied.
And with the guards at his back, Wei Ji placed his hand on the chamber doors.