“Shangguan Luoyue, you’ve truly colluded with Northern Luo to destroy my Western Zhou!”
Facing “Huo Ci’s” accusation, Shangguan Luoyue let out a light laugh, utterly dismissive.
“If General Huo had been wise and not tried to dig into my past, you would have long become the consort of our Great Xia, standing at the pinnacle of power—wouldn’t that have been delightful? What happened today is all your own doing. You have no one to blame but yourself.”
“Huo Ci” sneered. “Do I even need to investigate your past? Everyone in the world knows you’re just a refugee picked up by Lord Shangguan. The only reason you were granted the title of Princess Huaiwan is because you bear a slight resemblance to the late lady of the house. Everything you have today—didn’t you steal it from someone else’s fate? What, do you actually believe it was always yours to begin with?”
“Shut up!”
Shangguan Luoyue couldn’t stand hearing her original name. It brought back all the ugliness and humiliation of her past. She was no longer Luo Yue. Now she was the adopted daughter of Shangguan Hanshan—the future ruler of Great Xia!
To secure that future, she had killed every single person named Luo Yue. And now, the man she had once fancied was humiliating her like this! How infuriating!
“Huo Ci” gazed contemptuously at the furious woman across from her.
“How many women who looked like you have you killed over the years? How many happy families have you destroyed? For your own selfish desires, your hands are drenched in blood. After all your scheming, you finally found the true princess of Great Xia—but try as you might, you couldn’t harm a single hair on her head. Instead, you exposed yourself and earned Lord Shangguan’s disgust. You fled Western Zhou like a stray dog and sought refuge in Northern Luo, throwing in your lot with a visitor from beyond the heavens who was never your ally. That’s like lying down with a tiger. In the end, don’t come crying when you’re left with nothing but regret!”
“I told you to shut up!”
Shangguan Luoyue suddenly went berserk. With blinding speed, she pulled out a weapon no one had ever seen before—jet-black, gleaming coldly, like a miniature version of the Red-Lipped Cannons, yet light enough to hold in one hand. Her eyes bloodshot, she raised it and pulled the trigger before she’d even finished speaking.
“Die, Huo Ci! Once you’re dead, I’ll go to Western Zhou and slaughter your entire family—so you can all reunite on the road to the underworld!”
Bang!
A flash of fire burst from the muzzle of the iron device.
Jiang Xingyan felt her heart seize. Her instinct was to turn and shield Xiao Ya, who was tucked against her chest. But she also had Yun Chunfeng strapped to her back. If she turned, Brother Yun would take the hit. The projectile came too fast—all she had time to do was clutch Xiao Ya and brace herself sideways.
“Look out!”
The pain she expected never came. A tall figure threw himself in front of her.
Jiang Xingyan seemed to hear the sound of the projectile burying itself in flesh.
Huo Ci, in front of her, suddenly coughed up a spray of blood.
“Ah Yan, run!”
Clutching his chest, Huo Ci swayed on his feet, yet still managed to warn her.
Without a second thought, she grabbed him by the arm, trying to drag him along—after all, that was still her own body.
“Don’t waste your efforts. Surrender quietly and I’ll give you a quick death.”
Click!
Jiang Xingyan watched as Shangguan Luoyue worked the mechanism of her weapon, and a hollow casing popped out, clinking as it hit the ground—like an iron nail.
When that dark muzzle aimed at her once more, Jiang Xingyan’s hair stood on end.
Behind her, Yun Chunfeng seemed to be losing his power. She could feel Xiao Ya in her arms gradually losing her invisibility. And Huo Ci, disguised as an ordinary soldier, shed his rough appearance and reverted back to her own form.
In an instant, all their disguises vanished.
Xiao Ya clutched Jiang Xingyan’s clothes and burst into tears.
“I don’t want Mother to die! I don’t!”
Shangguan Luoyue’s eyes lit up. She hadn’t expected such a bonus.
Watching “Jiang Xingyan,” shot through the chest, bleed profusely and grow pale, she trembled with excitement.
“It’s you! Ha! I searched high and low, and here you are, delivered to my doorstep! Who would’ve thought Yun Chunfeng used his magic to disguise you and hide you in the camp? Let me guess—that bulging bundle in General Huo’s arms is your daughter, isn’t it?”
Without waiting for an answer, she raised her weapon and aimed at “Huo Ci’s” chest, pulling the trigger.
Jiang Xingyan had never seen a projectile so fast. With the internal energy of Huo Ci’s body, she couldn’t dodge or counter in time.
Just as despair set in, a flash of movement—someone threw themselves in front of her, taking the hit.
It was Huo Ci again.
Covered in blood like a soaked gourd, his mouth streaming red, his eyes still fixed firmly on Jiang Xingyan.
“Run. Don’t worry about me. In one incense stick’s time, the damage will transfer—by then, none of us will escape.”
Jiang Xingyan’s pupils contracted. She’d nearly forgotten. If not for Huo Ci’s reminder…
“Find a safe place and hide Xiao Ya. After the souls switch back, go find her.”
Clink.
Another iron casing hit the ground.
Shangguan Luoyue shook her hand impatiently. “What are you muttering about over there? No need to rush to die—you’ll all get your turn. Two bullets each, more than enough. Though I have to say, the real daughter of my adoptive father is tough—still alive after two shots.”
She stepped closer, raised her hand, and pressed the cold muzzle against “Jiang Xingyan’s” forehead.
“None of you know this yet, do you? This little thing is called a pistol. Its mechanism is exquisite—it fires the fastest black powder. Within three paces, even my adoptive father’s shadow guards can’t dodge it, let alone with it pressed against your head. With just a light pull of this trigger—whether you’re a golden immortal or a Buddha descended to earth—you die!”
Her slender finger curled, ready to squeeze.
Slap!
Suddenly, a pebble flew from a distance and struck Shangguan Luoyue’s funny bone. She yelped, her hand jerked, and the pistol—as she called it—clattered to the ground.
“Who’s there!”
“Princess, watch out!”
Before the hidden figure could reveal itself, Linglong had already swept Shangguan Luoyue away and shielded her in his arms.
Jiang Xingyan let out a sharp breath, grabbed Huo Ci, and bolted.
But before she could take a single step, she saw Linglong pull out a pistol from his waist—even larger than Shangguan Luoyue’s—and aim it right between “Jiang Xingyan’s” eyes.
His lips curled, mouthing words: Farewell, true daughter of Lord Shangguan.
Bang!
A flash of fire erupted from the muzzle.
