SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH!
With the Jade Pure Kunlun Fan in hand, Si’er unleashed raging gusts of wind as she brandished it. Her heart was still too gentle to take a life; she merely wanted to leave this place and take Yi Ren with her. If Yi Ren were left behind, Si’er had no idea what terrifying things might happen.
Yi Ren understood this and obediently followed behind Si’er.
"Catch her!" the Queen raged. The guards of the Royal Palace, whether they had a conscience or not, scrambled to obey her orders, swarming toward Si’er and Yi Ren.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Under the power of the Jade Pure Kunlun Fan, any guards who drew near were sent tumbling, with some being blown away completely. Not a single one could get close to Si’er.
This Supreme Treasure must be mine, the Queen thought, nearly mad with desire. With it, even King Xiuyuan couldn’t look down on me after he leaves seclusion. He wants to take another wife in the future? He’ll have to ask for my permission first. This Jade Pure Kunlun Fan... I must have it.
But her guards were powerless.
One of them turned to the Queen and cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, it’s impossible! This fan is too powerful! We simply can’t get close!"
"Get lost! What use are you?" the enraged Queen yelled, kicking the guard. He didn’t dare resist or dodge and was sent sprawling to the ground.
Fighting as she retreated, Si’er managed to lead Yi Ren out of the Royal Palace. Even so, the Queen refused to give up.
In the dead of night, the Queen personally led her guards in pursuit, finally cornering them on the long street in front of Duke Guang’s Mansion. The residents in the houses lining the street heard the commotion, but none dared to look outside; they all knew what they should and should not do.
"Sister, we’re almost at Duke Guang’s Mansion! Once we’re there, we’ll be safe," Si’er said hurriedly. "Our ancestors decreed that unless it’s a rebellion, no one can bring armed forces into Duke Guang’s Mansion."
Yi Ren nodded, though a sliver of doubt remained in her heart. Can Wu Tian really protect us?
Just as Si’er and Yi Ren were heading toward the end of the street and Duke Guang’s Mansion, a voice cut through the air.
"Princesses, leave the fan behind."
Sword Howl Tian had long since ordered his men to keep an eye on the Royal Palace. Now that an opportunity had presented itself, how could he not appear? At that moment, he arrived with his disciples from the Heavenly Sword Sect.
"Princess Si’er, it’s time you returned the Jade Pure Kunlun Fan to this old man," Sword Howl Tian declared, his face a mask of righteousness. "This item is the treasured heirloom of my Heavenly Sword Sect. How can it be lost to the outside world? To allow that would be unfilial! No matter what, it must be retrieved."
"But..." Si’er began to explain, wanting to say who it really belonged to and let Wu Tian have his say.
Wary of the fan in her hand, Sword Howl Tian saw his opening as she tried to speak. He thrust out with a sword finger. Before Si’er could react, his fingertip struck her lower abdomen, sending her flying backward. The Jade Pure Kunlun Fan was knocked from her grasp.
With lightning reflexes, Sword Howl Tian snatched the fan from the air. With the Supreme Treasure in his hands, he was overcome with satisfaction and couldn’t suppress a triumphant roar. "Good! Good! Good! This treasure always belonged to me. Now that it has returned to my hands, it has been returned to its rightful owner!"
The Queen and her guards were stunned, never expecting Sword Howl Tian to suddenly appear and seize the Jade Pure Kunlun Fan.
What will he do now that he has the treasure? It was the Queen’s greatest fear. Sword Howl Tian and King Xiuyuan were allies, but she knew his ambition was immense.
After acquiring the fan, Sword Howl Tian had no intention of troubling Si’er and Yi Ren further. He glanced at Si’er, who looked ready to charge forward and snatch it back. "This item originally belonged to my Heavenly Sword Sect, Princess Si’er. Please, do not be foolish."
Yi Ren pulled Si’er back. Sword Howl Tian had never spoken to them with such arrogance before. Today, his words were insolent and rude. A terrible possibility occurred to Yi Ren, and she held Si’er tight, stopping her from going any closer. Otherwise, Sword Howl Tian might just kill them both.
Sword Howl Tian had no interest in the two young women. His gaze quickly shifted, landing feverishly upon the Queen. As the saying goes, nothing’s tastier than a dumpling, and no one’s more fun than your brother’s wife!
The Queen may not have been exceptionally beautiful, but she was King Xiuyuan’s woman. Sword Howl Tian had always called the king ’big brother,’ and every time he saw the Queen, an undeniable itch would stir within him. Now, with the Jade Pure Kunlun Fan in his grasp, his ambitions and desires could no longer be contained.
He walked over to the Queen, stopping so close they could feel each other’s breath.
The Queen’s expression was stern as she hissed, "What do you think you’re doing?"
"Sister-in-law, what do you think I want to do?" Sword Howl Tian’s voice was low, yet thick with seduction.
"You..." The Queen’s face flushed with anger, but she neither said more nor pulled away. They remained dangerously close.
Seeing this, Sword Howl Tian knew he had a chance. Elation surged through him. "Sister-in-law, I will take good care of you. Did you know? From the first moment I saw you, I was captivated. For so many years, I have longed to become your lover. I’ve never taken a wife in all this time. Do you understand what’s in my heart?"
The Queen was stunned. Sword Howl Tian... he never married. Could it have been... because of me?
A flicker of emotion touched her heart, but the thought of King Xiuyuan brought her back to her senses. "But King Xiuyuan is still alive. If he were gone... I... I would be your woman and do whatever you please at night."
Sword Howl Tian’s eyes bulged. Her words were as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz, but he heard them clearly. A fire of pure lust erupted in his chest; he desperately wanted to take the Queen and ravage her for three hundred rounds right then and there. But he also understood her heart was set.
"Rest assured," Sword Howl Tian promised, gritting his teeth. "This River and Mountains will be mine."
The Queen’s gaze shifted to Si’er and Yi Ren. "They are still useful. Capture them."
"Alright. I’ll listen to everything my lady says," Sword Howl Tian purred. "Heh heh, and in return, every night, you will listen to me. I’ll get to pose your body however I please, heh heh."
Filled with excitement, he turned his gaze upon Si’er and Yi Ren like a predator stalking its prey and began to walk toward them.
Yi Ren and Si’er retreated step by step. Yi Ren’s face was ashen as she murmured, "It’s over. Everything is over." People of the Royal Palace, wealthy and powerful one moment, could become death-row inmates the next. Such examples were common. Being born into the royal family was not necessarily a blessing. Despair washed over Yi Ren. It’s over! This time, it’s completely over!
But Si’er refused to believe it. She was certain her Brother Sect Leader would sense that she was in danger. Even if he didn’t appear, she would never submit to Sword Howl Tian. It meant certain death, like a moth to a flame, but she was willing to die. She would let the world know that the descendants of Wuliang, even the women, were fearless warrior women! They were not to be underestimated