“Lord Immortals, this way please.”
Chillwater’s emperor was being exceptionally respectful, but none of the officials thought that he was being too subservient. They thought that immortals rightfully deserved such treatment.
Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Sister Wang chuckled as they settled into their seats together with Han Qin and Lin Li.
Delicacies were soon served, and dance artisans began their performance.
The atmosphere slowly lightened up, but Han Qin continued glaring at Fang Chen with unblinking eyes.
“You’re Fang Chen?” she suddenly asked.
The atmosphere plunged into silence. Everyone turned to look at Fang Chen and Han Qin, knowing what was going to happen next could dictate their Chillwater’s future.
“You are?” Fang Chen smiled.
“Immortal Fang, she’s our Chillwater’s Fourth Princess,” Ji Congyun replied.
He had made sure to emphasize the word ‘immortal’ in his words, thinking that this would humble their enemies, but Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Sister Wang only looked at him with unflinching smiles.
Ji Congyun eyes skipped a beat. He was familiar with that smile. Only someone who’s certain everything is in their grasp will reveal such a smile!
“Ah, so it’s Chillwater’s Fourth Princess. You’ve reached Heaven Profound realm despite your young age. Not bad,” Fang Chen calmly remarked.
Han Qin made no attempt to conceal her killing intent. She glared at Fang Chen with frigid eyes as she said, “I have been close with my big brother from a young age, and he has always doted on me too. We might not be from the same mother, but we’re closer than blood kin.”
“Your big brother? Ah, Chillwater’s crown prince?” Fang Chen asked with a light chuckle.
Fang Chen’s light-hearted attitude made Han Qin’s anger erupt like a volcano. Unable to control her emotions anymore, her severing ki flowed out and enveloped her body.
“Is this the prowess of Heaven Profound realm?” The martial artists in the room trembled.
Severing ki was clearly much stronger than longevity ki. The martial artists felt immense stress even though Han Qin hadn’t made a move yet. Even Ji Congyun was startled. He gauged that he wouldn’t even last ten blows against Han Qin.
“Men!” Han Qin suddenly bellowed.
Four eunuchs solemnly carried a coffin into the room.
The officials were startled to see that. This was the very palace where they held imperial assemblies to discuss national affairs. It was a room with a long history, and it was rightfully bound by many traditions too.
Yet, Han Qin had someone carry a coffin into such a solemn room?
The officials turned to Chillwater’s emperor, only to see the latter’s impassive face. This told them that Han Qin had the emperor’s permission to do this.
The coffin was slowly lowered on the ground. The four eunuchs respectfully bowed to the coffin before retreating to the side.
Han Qin walked up to the coffin and gently lifted its lid. Tears streamed from her eyes and fell into the coffin.
Inside the coffin was a pale corpse with clear stitches on its neck. It was Chillwater’s crown prince, who had died many days ago.
Han Qin wiped away her tears before looking at Fang Chen. Her reddened eyes were blazing with an unquenchable desire for vengeance. “Kneel down, and kowtow to my big brother nine times!”
“Fang Chen, do as Qin’er says.” Chillwater’s emperor sighed. “My son is worth your nine kowtows.”
The imperial offspring chanted in anger. Some of the officials joined in as well.
They understood that the tides had turned. Chillwater now had the power to suppress Great Xia’s War God!
“Your Majesty, you ought to tread carefully,” Ji Congyun said with an awful complexion.
“Ji Congyun, you old scoundrel! Chillwater blood flows in your veins! How could you collude with an outsider to deal with our own people?”
“Old scoundrel, you should kowtow too!”
“Indeed! You were the one who brought Fang Chen to this hall. You were the one who instigated Fang Chen to kill the crown prince!”
“The Ji Clan has long harbored traitorous thoughts. We ought to massacre the Ji Clan!”
The imperial offspring and the officials directed their aggression toward Ji Congyun, hurling insults and threats.
Many of those from the Ji Faction turned pale, as beads of sweat trickled down their foreheads. They sensed that their lives were on the line today. A single misstep here could spell the end of their Ji Clan!
Ji Congyun sighed. He had expected Chillwater’s emperor to use this opportunity to not just deal with Fang Chen but the Ji Clan too. That was what further pushed him toward Fang Chen’s side.
And whether this was the right call or not… Ji Congyun quietly looked at Fang Chen.
“Kowtow!” Han Qin’s voice boomed deafeningly in the room.
“Are the two of you that close that you’re willing to die for him?” Fang Chen asked. His composed voice formed a stark contrast to Han Qin’s furious words.
“Kowtow, and I’ll let you die a dignified death. Otherwise, I’ll slowly rip out your flesh over ten days and send our Chillwater soldiers to massacre everyone in your Great Xia!” Han Qin spat coldly.
“Are you two here to back her? A mere martial artist can’t hope to hurt me,” Fang Chen asked the two cultivators.
“You shouldn’t underestimate Heaven Profound realm martial artists. Many unaffiliated cultivators have died to them,” Senior Brother Zhou replied with a chuckle. “Be my guest if you wish to make a move.”
“Very well.” Fang Chen nodded.
There was a cold flash of light.
Han Qin’s body abruptly stiffened up, then her body topplied into the coffin. Pinkish-white fluid flowed from an incision in her forehead.
The crowd gasped in horror. They couldn’t believe what they had just seen.
A Heaven Profound realm martial artist died just ?!
Chillwater’s emperor, who thought that victory was in his grasp, turned ghastly pale. He stared at Han Qin’s corpse with incredulous eyes.
“Qin’er?!” Lin Li shot to his feet and exclaimed. It took a moment before it sunk in that Han Qin was dead, and tears streamed from his eyes. Amid heavy breaths, he glared at Fang Chen with eyes filled with rage and sorrow. “Y-you… I’ll kill you!!!”
Lin Li charged at Fang Chen in anger, only for Senior Brother Zhou to pull him back.
“You aren’t a match for him. He’s… not that simple,” Senior Brother Zhou said. He turned to Fang Chen and asked, “What sect are you from?”
“I’m an unaffiliated cultivator. I don’t have any sect.” Fang Chen smiled.
“You’re really an unaffiliated cultivator?” Senior Brother Zhou frowned, unsure whether Fang Chen was speaking the truth or not.
Senior Sister Wang glanced at Han Qin’s corpse before looking at Fang Chen with cold eyes. “She’s the follower I chose. You owe me an explanation for killing my follower.”
Two black-armored zombies overflowing with corpse ki suddenly appeared behind her. They stood with their heads lowered, and they had incomparably sharp black nails that gleamed with a cold light. They gave off an awful stench that could only be smelled from those who had died for some time.
This sight shocked everyone.
“Let’s not implicate the innocent. Come out with me,” Senior Sister Wang said as she headed out of the palace.
The two corpses staggered behind her. Each step they took produced a sound reminiscent of a rock clanging against metal.