That night—
the news of Wulong City's invasion vanished like vapor in the freezing air.
It never arrived.
It was never heard.
Meanwhile, the imperial capital drowned in dazzling celebration.
Every main street was filled with golden lanterns, while red and white silks swayed beneath the winter wind. Snow fell quietly, yet even that could not suppress the laughter, music, and endless voices of congratulations echoing from every corner.
That day—
was Princess Hu Lian's nineteenth birthday.
Amid the sea of people, Hu Lian stood like the center of the world.
-------------------------------
Her white gown shimmered beneath crystal lights, trimmed with soft fox fur over her shoulders. Her hair was arranged flawlessly, her face radiant—graceful, pure, almost like a goddess descending into the mortal world.
No one knew—
or perhaps, no one cared—
that elsewhere, blood was staining the snow.
The royal hall was filled with nobles, generals, and envoys from allied nations.
Music drifted through the air.
Crystal goblets clinked.
Laughter filled the magnificent hall.
And in the midst of it all—
Luo Shixin walked in.
His steps were calm, steady, sharp, and cold.
His military uniform was immaculate, decorated with medals of honor that gleamed beneath the light. A cold and commanding aura enveloped him, making each step feel as though it pressed down upon the very space around him.
The women's gazes immediately followed him.
The elegant charm of a mature man—firm, masculine, captivating, cold—
made noble ladies nearly lose their composure.
Luo Mei and Shaotian, walking on either side of him, could only sigh softly.
This man was like a wall of ice that could not be moved.
He did not spare even a glance for the hungry stares of noble daughters trying to approach him.
But Luo Shixin—
saw no one.
His gaze remained straight ahead.
Cold.
Untouched.
The Luo Family took their seats in the front row alongside their trusted followers.
Directly opposite them—
the Hei Family.
The two greatest military pillars of the empire.
The two patriarchs—Luo Jin and Hei Xu—looked at one another.
Faint smiles.
Yet each filled with calculation.
Beneath that calm surface—
there was friction.
Ambition.
Beneath the table, Luo Jin's hand clenched tightly.
The Hei Family had already bound themselves to Hu Lian through betrothal.
They were one step ahead.
Their position would become far stronger than the Luo Family's.
A faint smile appeared on Luo Jin's face.
He would turn the tables tonight—
or at the very least, place both families on equal footing.
The Emperor had already decided.
And that decision—
would bind Luo Shixin.
"Hei Xuan has arrived!"
The gatekeeper's voice echoed through the hall.
Every head turned.
A man stepped inside.
Tall.
Straight-backed.
Elegant.
Hei Xuan.
Every step he took was calm, yet impossible to ignore. His features were handsome—well-defined yet refined. His silver hair shimmered under the light, and his eyes were sharp without being cold—
a dangerous contrast.
He sat directly across from Luo Shixin.
The two men looked at each other.
Without words.
Yet it was obvious—
this was no ordinary meeting.
The royal hall gleamed under golden light.
Music flowed softly, crystal cups touched, and the nobles laughed behind masks of courtesy. Upon the throne, the Emperor and Empress smiled warmly, welcoming every guest with almost excessive luxury.
Rare delicacies were served.
The finest wine poured without end.
Servants moved tirelessly, carrying dish after dish.
That night—
was perfect.
At least…
on the surface.
Amid the crowd, Luo Shixin sat quietly.
His fingers turned the wine glass in his hand, the dark red liquid shimmering beneath the candlelight.
His expression remained indifferent, as though the celebration had nothing to do with him.
Until—
"General… would you not care to dance?"
That soft voice came from beside him.
Hu Lian.
She stood there gracefully, a faint smile on her lips—as though the entire hall were merely a stage built for her alone.
Luo Shixin lifted his gaze.
Looked at her.
Cold.
Without the slightest ripple.
He slowly set down his glass.
"Forgive me," his voice was calm, nearly emotionless, "but I have no right to dance with you."
A brief pause.
"Would not your fiancé, Young Master Hei Xuan, be more suitable for that honor, Princess?"
Hu Lian's smile did not falter.
If anything—
it deepened.
"And are we not about to be engaged as well?" Her voice was soft, yet carried a strange certainty. "Does it matter who leads the first dance?"
At the side, Luo Mei raised an eyebrow.
How shameless.
What an utterly disgraceful princess.
Her gaze was openly judgmental—
and thoroughly unimpressed.
Luo Shixin's brows furrowed faintly.
"How could I become engaged to you," he said quietly, yet firmly, "when I already have a partner?"
The air around them seemed to tighten.
Yet Hu Lian only smiled.
Calmly.
As though his answer meant nothing at all.
In the distance, the Emperor rose to his feet.
Raising his cup.
Hu Lian stepped back gracefully and returned to her place. But just before she fully turned away, the corner of her lips lifted slightly—
a smile full of victory.
"Today," the Emperor's voice echoed through the hall, "is a joyous day. The nineteenth birthday of my daughter, Hu Lian."
Applause thundered.
But in the front row—
Luo Mei leaned closer.
"Why didn't he mention Hu Shui? Wasn't she born on the same day as Princess Hu Lian?" she whispered softly.
Shaotian replied under his breath.
"Because the dead are no longer considered to exist."
He glanced toward the stage.
"This princess is… more useful."
Luo Shixin heard them.
He cleared his throat quietly.
Both Luo Mei and Shaotian immediately shut their mouths.
How could Luo Mei openly speak ill of her deceased former sister-in-law?
The Emperor continued, his voice now heavier.
"I have accepted the request of Patriarch Luo."
The atmosphere changed at once.
All attention was drawn to him.
"And as a symbol of alliance between the royal family and the Luo Family—"
He paused.
His smile widened.
"—I hereby decree that Princess Hu Lian shall be betrothed to General Luo Shixin."
Silence.
Then—
BOOM!
Thunderous applause erupted.
Cheers filled the hall.
But amidst it all—
Hei Xuan's gaze turned sharp.
Was this eagle planning to compete with him?
Luo Shixin remained silent.
His eyes gleamed.
Cold.
Dangerous.
He glanced sideways.
His father—
Luo Jin—
was smiling in satisfaction.
As though everything had already been arranged perfectly.
The chair creaked softly as Luo Shixin rose to his feet.
The sound was small, like a drop of water falling into burning oil—yet it was enough to draw every eye in the hall.
He stepped forward.
Dropped to one knee.
And offered a formal salute.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's grace."
His voice was calm.
"But…"
That single word fell like a stone into still water.
"…I cannot accept it."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
"I already have a lawful partner."
It was as if time itself froze.
The nobles exchanged glances. Some of them remembered—
that breathtaking girl, beautiful as a goddess, who had once stood by his side during the Star Princess investiture.
She had been stunning.
Rarely beautiful.
So radiant that even Princess Hu Lian had seemed somewhat pale beside her.
Luo Jin's expression changed instantly.
Red with fury.
"Unfilial son—!"
He shot to his feet in rage.
He had gone to great lengths to secure this imperial marriage for his son, and yet this boy was humiliating him in front of the entire court.
But Luo Mei quickly grabbed his arm.
"Sit down, Father," she hissed sharply. "Unless you want to disgrace our family even further."
But the atmosphere had already changed.
From banquet—
to battlefield.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes.
His gaze landed directly on Luo Shixin—
sharp, oppressive, leaving no room to breathe.
In an instant, the aura of imperial authority flooded the hall.
The music stopped.
The laughter vanished.
Even the servants moving at the edges of the room unconsciously froze in place.
It was as if the air itself had become heavier.
Colder.
"General Luo…" the Emperor's voice was low, but every word pressed against the chest like a mountain, "are you refusing my command?"
There was no smile left.
No warmth of a host.
What remained—
was a ruler.
And a demand for explanation.
Beside the throne, Hu Lian's face hardened.
Her smile faded.
Replaced by unmistakable displeasure.
In her eyes, only one thought remained—
How dare this man refuse her?
Meanwhile—
Luo Shixin remained standing tall.
Calm.
Unshaken beneath a pressure that would have forced other generals to their knees.
He saluted again, his breathing steady.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," he said calmly, "I had not yet had the chance to report that I already have a partner."
Silence.
Every gaze in the hall fixed on him.
"She may be nobody," he continued, his voice still level, still clear, "without status… without power."
A slight pause.
And that pause—
made his next words weigh even heavier.
"But she is the one I want."
Among the Luo Family, Luo Jin could no longer restrain himself.
"I will never acknowledge that marriage!" he roared, his voice echoing with humiliation and anger.
Several nobles exchanged looks.
This situation—
was spiraling out of control.
But Luo Shixin did not turn.
Did not respond.
He only kept facing the Emperor—
as though the rest of the world no longer mattered.
"The Luo Clan is taught loyalty," he said slowly.
His voice was not loud.
But it was clear enough for the entire hall to hear.
"Loyalty to the Empire."
"And loyalty to one's partner."
His gaze was straight ahead.
Without hesitation.
"Just as we have never betrayed the Emperor… so too will we never betray the partner we have chosen."
Silence.
This time—
true silence.
Those words were not merely a refusal.
They were a declaration.
A principle.
The Emperor stared at him for a long time.
A very long time.
The aura around him slowly changed.
From pressure—
to contemplation.
He gave a faint nod, as if he understood.
But behind that calm—
his calculations were moving swiftly.
His gaze shifted toward Hu Lian.
He knew.
His daughter deeply wanted this man.
But as Emperor—
he could not act rashly.
To force a loyal general to abandon his chosen partner…
would stain his own name.
It would make him look like a tyrant who robbed his subordinates of their rights.
And even more dangerously—
it would shake the trust of the Luo Family.
A family known for one thing above all else—
absolute loyalty.
To the throne…
and to love.
The Emperor drew a slow breath.
This matter—
was far from simple.
Beside him, Hu Lian clenched her fists beneath the sleeves of her gown.
"I understand," the Emperor said calmly at last. "In that case, I shall bless the partner you have chosen."
Luo Shixin immediately bowed deeply in gratitude to the Emperor.
This time—
Hu Lian would not dare act recklessly.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's grace."
Hei Xuan stared at Luo Shixin, who had returned to his seat opposite him, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
This was the first time he had ever seen a general openly reject a princess—
for the sake of a girl with no background.
For the first time—
he found himself curious about the woman this man had chosen.
Suddenly, one of the guests let out a shrill scream.
"Heavens—Wulong City is under attack by the rebel army! That city is on the verge of destruction!"
He opened a video that had just begun spreading across the network.
The situation there was horrifying.
The streets and districts were littered with beastmen corpses.
One by one, the guests opened their chakra computers.
Whoever had uploaded the video—
must have been someone who escaped the city alive.
Luo Shixin opened his own chakra interface.
And immediately saw that nearly the entire city had been reduced to rubble and flame.
His face went pale with shock.
In that instant—
only one thought remained in his mind.
Xue Yunxue's safety.
---------------------------------------------
The Emperor remained silent.
But his silence was no longer calm—
it was pressure building from every direction.
The nobles' whispers were already turning into open pressure.
Their gazes demanded a decision.
He could no longer delay.
"Your Majesty," Luo Shixin's voice rang out again—this time firmer, sharper, "for the stability of the nation, I request permission to dispatch troops to Wulong City."
The hall fell silent once more.
Everyone knew—
this was no ordinary request.
It was an urgent humanitarian mission.
And Luo Shixin…
already looked ready to depart even before permission had been granted.
The Emperor stared at him for a long time.
His thoughts moved quickly.
The empire's treasury was fragile.
A vast amount of funding had already been poured into new military technology—energy weapons, defense systems, and advanced fleets protecting the capital and nearby strategic cities.
Yanhuo's strength had indeed risen sharply.
But the price had been enormous.
Sending troops now—
would tear open the treasury's wounds all over again.
Yet if he did not send them—
what would collapse would not be merely one city.
But the prestige of the empire itself.
At first, he had hoped no one would notice if that small city quietly vanished from the map—
a minor city whose existence barely mattered.
He had even ordered the communication network cut off.
But it seemed some survivors had still managed to upload footage online.
And now—
it was spreading like wildfire.
At last, the Emperor raised his hand.
"General Luo Shixin."
His voice was heavy.
The decision had been made.
"I grant you permission. Lead your troops… and destroy the rebels attacking Wulong City."
-----------------------------------------------
While Luo Shixin was arranging his troops, Hei Xuan stood silently in the distance, watching.
He stepped closer.
Then stopped beside Shaotian.
"There is something strange about this," he said quietly. "Why is General Luo so determined to go personally?"
Shaotian did not answer at once.
Then he gave a faint smile.
But that smile…
was heavy.
"There is only one reason."
Hei Xuan turned to look at him.
"Madam… is there."
Silence.
The wind blew cold.
And the next sentence—
fell like a burden.
"That is General Luo's reason."
"He is not going there only for war…"
"…he is going to save someone."
The sky above the capital was filled with falling snow as the fleet prepared to depart.
A low rumble echoed through the night.
Several anti-gravity warships hovered above the launch ground, their metallic bodies gleaming coldly beneath torchlight and crystal lamps. The emblem of the Luo Family was carved clearly into the hull of each vessel.
Wind spiraled beneath them.
Snow was swept upward, twisting into miniature storms.
In the sky—
the aerial troops had already gathered.
Winged beastmen spread vast wings and hovered steadily in the night. Some bore eagle wings, some rode giant bats, and some were black-scaled drakes no larger than horses—
all waiting for the command.
These were not ordinary soldiers.
They were the spearhead of the sky.
On the main deck—
Luo Shixin stood tall.
His cloak billowed under the winter wind, his gaze fixed toward the north.
Toward Wulong.
Behind him, Luo Mei and Shaotian were already prepared to go to war at his side.
There was no conversation.
No hesitation.
The core engines ignited.
Blue light pulsed beneath the ships.
Gravity trembled.
HUMMMMM—
With a smooth but overwhelming force, the fleet rose even higher into the air.
The winged troops moved with it.
The night sky was split by their shadows.
The formation came together perfectly.
Fast.
Precise.
Lethal.
And in the next instant—
they shot forward.
Piercing through the snowstorm toward Wulong.
Inside the belly of the rebel warship—
metal hummed softly.
Dim red lights blinked along the walls, casting sharp shadows that shifted like living creatures. Outside, Wulong City burned in chaos—flashes of weapons, screams, and distant explosions filtering through the ship's armored shell.
Xuxu sat on a metal chair.
Her body was wrapped in a thick cloak, yet the cold still crept into her bones.
Or perhaps—
it was not cold at all.
But fear.
She had only just escaped death.
Escaped the execution blade that had nearly severed her head.
Footsteps echoed.
Slowly.
Heavily.
Each step rang through the narrow chamber like a countdown.
Noctar.
He emerged from the shadows like something that should never have existed in the human world.
His eyes were dark.
Deep.
Cold.
As though they swallowed all light around them.
"You promised," he said, his voice low, almost like a whisper that scraped against the mind, "that you would hand over the girl named Xue Yunxue."
His gaze fell upon Xuxu—
pressing down on her like a blade ready to skin her alive.
Xuxu swallowed hard.
Her body had already returned to its original form, yet in front of this man—
she felt even more terrified than she had in prison.
She forced a smile.
Rigid.
Fragile.
But she still tried to keep her tone soft.
"She… is in this city," she said slowly. "If you search for her… you will find her."
Noctar stared at her for a long time.
Too long.
As if weighing whether her words deserved belief—
or destruction.
Then—
the corner of his lips lifted.
A faint smile.
But there was no warmth in it.
It looked more like—
a promise of ruin.
"Of course," he said quietly.
He walked past Xuxu and stopped before the massive observation window of the warship.
Below—
fire spread across the city.
Snow turned into red sludge.
The screams below sounded like background music.
"I will level this city," he continued calmly, as though discussing something trivial, "and I will find her…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…even if I have to dig all the way to the core of the earth."
Xuxu's body stiffened.
She knew—
that was no empty threat.
This man…
would truly do it.
And yet she could not understand what was so special about Xue Yunxue.
She had already investigated her.
That girl had no background at all.
Nothing.
What puzzled her most was why she had somehow inherited all of Hu Shui's husbands.
There was something wrong with that.
Something deeply unnatural.
But she still had not found the answer.
"She has five beast husbands," Xuxu said carefully. "All of them are highly gifted. And do you know… those same five men were once the husbands of Hu Shui, the dead princess."
Noctar said nothing.
But he slowly began to process that information.
He knew very well that Hu Shui had once possessed five talented husbands—
including one of his former subordinates, Yun Wu.
But he had not expected that this girl now had all five of them as well.
As if…
this was not coincidence.
But fate.
He merely stood there.
Silent.
His eyes fixed on a single point somewhere within the city.
Far away.
But to him—
it was obvious.
He could feel something familiar.
Energy.
The plant element.
Strong, beautiful, unrestrained, and wild.
And it was growing stronger.
Battle after battle, the girl's abilities were rising at a frightening pace. Every clash tempered her power and her meridians, helping her become stronger with each passing moment.
The curve of his smile shifted slightly.
"Ah…"
His voice sank lower.
Deeper.
There was satisfaction in it—
like a hunter watching his prey grow ever more formidable.
He would capture her…
the moment she began to weaken.
The moment her strength ran dry.
The snow that had fallen all night had now turned into red sludge.
Amid the ruins of Wulong City—
a gigantic dome stood in the darkness.
It was formed from countless intertwining plant vines, thick, alive, and pulsing as though they possessed consciousness of their own. Each strand had hardened like steel, enduring sword slashes and gunfire without yielding.
Inside it—
more than two thousand people huddled together.
Shivering.
But alive.
Xue Yunxue stood outside, guarding them.
Her breathing was heavy, her face stained with snow, dust, and blood. Her nose was red from the biting cold. Her long hair was disheveled, clinging to her pale cheeks.
But her eyes—
remained sharp.
Alive.
Filled with unwavering resolve.
Lu Xiao stood at her side.
Like a shadow that never left her.
All this time, he had fought beside Xue Yunxue and guarded her.
His gaze swept over her body, then halted on the robe she wore—
torn and stained with dried blood.
Without a word, he opened his storage space.
A new robe appeared in his hand.
He stepped forward—
and with gentle precision, removed Yunxue's tattered outer robe and draped the new one over her shoulders.
Xue Yunxue pulled the robe close around herself, her gaze warming as it landed on Lu Xiao.
"Thank you."
"You're tired, and you're freezing. Rest for a moment," he murmured softly.
Xue Yunxue leaned her head briefly against Lu Xiao's warm shoulder.
She tried to rest.
But it seemed impossible.
From afar—
WHOOSH!
A figure dropped from the sky.
Xiang Shuai.
He landed on one knee, breathing heavily, blood seeping from the wound in his abdomen.
He had just killed one of the rebel commanders.
But before he could stand—
his body swayed.
Xue Yunxue hurried over.
Her hand pressed against his wound.
A soft green light began to glow.
Warm.
Alive.
The open wound slowly closed. Flesh knit together again, and his skin returned to normal.
Xiang Shuai let out a long breath.
Xue Yunxue's healing power was always so warm… so pleasant.
And he liked that feeling far too much.
"As expected…" he murmured, half-smiling.
Two more figures appeared almost at the same time.
Lin Yuan.
And—
Yun Wu.
Lin Yuan looked mostly intact, save for dirt-stained clothes and disheveled hair.
But Yun Wu—
he emerged from the mist like a creature walking out of a slaughterfield.
His entire body was drenched in blood.
Deep crimson.
Blood still dripped from his fingertips.
From his hair.
From the torn edge of his cloak.
It was impossible to tell—
which was the blood of his enemies…
and which was his own.
Xue Yunxue stiffened.
"Lin Yuan—clean him."
Without asking any questions, Lin Yuan used his power to wash the wolf.
High-pressure streams of water swept across Yun Wu's body.
Blood ran off.
And once the filth was gone—
Xue Yunxue saw it clearly.
Countless wounds.
Deep slashes.
A puncture wound through his shoulder.
A torn gash across his thigh.
His body…
was nearly ruined.
Xue Yunxue stared in horror.
But Yun Wu only smiled at her,
as though he felt no pain at all.
"Sit," Xue Yunxue ordered.
This time—
he obeyed.
Slowly.
Xue Yunxue knelt before him.
Her hands touched his injuries.
The green light flared again—
brighter.
Deeper.
One by one, the wounds began to close.
But her face grew paler and paler.
Her strength…
was being drained.
Her nose nearly began to bleed.
Today, she had pushed out every ounce of power she possessed.
She was utterly exhausted.
Quickly, she drank a healing potion to replenish herself.
"Don't force yourself too much," Yun Wu said, faint worry surfacing in his voice as he looked at Yunxue's exhausted face.
He took out a stamina potion for her.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," she answered quietly.
Xue Yunxue was far too afraid to drink any stamina or energy-boosting potion.
She did not want to collapse again like before.
At the side—
Lu Xiao stood in silence.
Looking down at the chakra device in his hand.
Blank.
No signal.
No connection.
His eyes narrowed.
As if the empire had deliberately allowed all of this to happen.
Had they truly been abandoned?
He knew the current Emperor was no benevolent ruler.
But to leave his own people to die—
that was a cruelty beyond forgiveness.
The sky gradually began to change.
The darkness faded.
Morning light emerged shyly from behind the clouds.
The first rays fell upon the dome of vines she had created—
the shelter where two thousand civilians had staked their lives.
It gave the illusion of hope.
Even if the empire had chosen to abandon them,
Xue Yunxue still believed they could survive.
She was already thinking of how to get everyone out of the city.
Perhaps—
the only way was to fight to the death.
Xue Yunxue stared at the first light of dawn, trying to gather her strength again.
She knew very well—
the forces in Wulong City could never compare to the strength of the rebel army.
Perhaps—
the only remaining option…
was to negotiate with the rebel commander.
Noctar.
A soldier—one of Bai Zhou's trusted subordinates—ran toward them.
He looked exhausted, clearly having run a long distance.
"The City Lord wants to meet you," he said.
The words were directed at Xue Yunxue.