"Sent to Mu Nation," Xuanyuan Fu had just uttered a few words when he immediately clamped his mouth shut with sheer willpower. However, his face quickly turned red with embarrassment.
Nanli’s expression darkened upon hearing this. She stepped firmly on his chest, pressing him to speak, "What was sent to Mu Nation?!"
Xuanyuan Fu could not resist the True Word Talisman. He had no choice but to divulge everything. However, Nanli did not ask about other matters, and he deliberately omitted any mention of the seven hearts leaf.
Nanli narrowed her eyes. "So, that evil talisman earlier... was it aimed at my Chu family?"
"What... your Chu family?" Xuanyuan Fu’s remaining left eye widened in shock. "You’re... you’re Chu Nanli!"
The person despised by the previous king! How did she end up in Border Nation? Not only did she come to Border Nation, but she also invaded the palace?!
He whimpered, starting to distance himself from the responsibility. "Ninth Princess, I didn’t want to act against the Chu family. The previous king set the Enchanting Worm contract with me when he passed on the throne. I had no other choice!"
Nanli’s face was cold. Although she had accidentally broken the evil formation, her family might not know. However, with Ye Siheng stationed in the capital, it should be fine, right?
Just then, a loud commotion erupted outside. The sound of countless footsteps, in perfect unison, indicated that the palace guards were arriving in large numbers.
Xuanyuan Fu was relieved that reinforcements had arrived. Yet, with Nanli still stepping on him, he dared not feel too triumphant and said, "Ninth Princess, we can sit down and talk this over. The world is now divided into three factions. Qi Nation is eyeing Mu Nation. If Border Nation and Mu Nation align, Qi Nation won’t dare to cause trouble."
His words, however, earned him a disdainful look from Nanli. "You and Xuanyuan Cang made a contract of mutual destruction. How can you align with him?"
Xuanyuan Fu was stunned. "But I am the ruler of Border Nation. If you kill me, you might escape, but the women in this palace won’t!"
He realized that Nanli had a kind heart and would not leave these innocent women behind. However, he was mistaken.
Nanli smiled coldly. "If you die, not only will the women in this palace be safe, but other women in Border Nation will be spared as well."
The killing intent was palpable. Xuanyuan Fu trembled in fear, trying to retreat, but his body was pinned down by Nanli.
"Don’t... don’t do it!" The rest of his words were caught in his throat as the Dark Moon Sword was already in motion.
The sword’s cold light flashed. One strike sealed his throat.
The women, witnessing Nanli’s heroic act, felt no fear. Instead, they saw hope in her, a celestial being come to rescue them from their suffering!
As the palace guards rushed in, they saw Nanli wielding her sword. A wooden sword had split their ruler’s head open, which rolled down the steps, leaving a pool of blood. One eye was bloodied and missing its eyeball, while the other was wide open with terror.
The guards were momentarily stunned, realizing that Nanli was an assassin who had killed their ruler. They immediately drew their weapons, preparing to execute Nanli.
"Ninth Princess!" Someone broke through a window, it was He Qinian, panting heavily, prepared for sacrifice.
"I’m here to help you!" He brandished a poisonous Enchanting Worm and Talisman, ready to use everything he had to assist Nanli and added, "Ninth Princess, I’ll hold them off. Use your Talisman to escape quickly!"
Nanli gave him a cold look. "Why are you here? Have you abandoned your family?"
He Qinian replied, "My sister has already hidden my family. With the court in chaos, they won’t have the time to pursue them. Ninth Princess, if you save my sister and take down the tyrant, as a man, I can’t abandon you now."
The guards realized that He Qinian was in league with the assassin and charged forward to subdue him first. Though He Qinian was physically weak, his expertise in poisons and Talismans made him difficult for them to handle.
Their focus shifted to Nanli, thinking her combat skills were formidable but that she couldn’t possibly use Enchanting Bugs Technique or Talisman, making her relatively easy to deal with. They charged forward with their weapons.
Nanli tilted her chin, ready to confront them. She had to fight her way through but couldn’t protect the women at the same time.
Unexpectedly, before she could act, a buzzing sound emerged as the Eight Paws Evil Bee blocked the way. A few guards, unable to control their steps, were stung by the Evil Bees and fell to the ground, poisoned.
"It’s the Eight Paws Evil Bee!" The guards shouted in alarm, retreating hastily.
They were baffled as to why the Evil Bee was not protecting the ruler but attacking them instead.
Nanli remembered the loyal Evil Bees. She said, "I don’t need you to guard me. Go protect those women."
She needed to carve a bloody path but couldn’t spare the effort to protect them herself. The Evil Bees reluctantly flew around the women, forming a protective formation.
The women, having seen how the Evil Bees had previously flattered Nanli, were not surprised.
However, He Qinian and the guards were astonished. They stared at the Evil Bees and then at Nanli.
Nanli frowned. "What’s the matter? You should act now. I’m ready."
He Qinian swallowed nervously. "Ninth Princess, how can you... command the Evil Bees? Did you use some kind of talisman?"
The guards also awaited her response.
Nanli said, "No, I don’t know what’s happening. They suddenly started obeying me."
He Qinian was stunned once more.
One of the women quickly said, "No, the Ninth Princess didn’t give any orders. One of the Evil Bees dug out the tyrant’s eyeball, trying to please the Ninth Princess!"
"What... what?!" He Qinian was completely shocked. He thought Nanli had done it, but it was the Evil Bees!
Eight Paws Evil Bee only followed the ruler’s commands.
"Could it be..." a guard muttered, "Is she the true dragon of Border Nation?!"
This statement stirred a great uproar. The guards, who had initially looked at Nanli with hostility, now regarded her with awe.
The phrase "True Dragon killing the false dragon" quickly spread among the guards.
In no time, the guards knelt and prostrated themselves on the ground, chanting, "Heaven bless Border Nation, the true dragon has appeared! We swear loyalty to the ruler! Loyalty to the ruler!"
Nanli watched the scene with a twitch of her lips.
True dragon, false dragon--Border Nation folks are too theatrical!
She had no choice but to clarify, "I am the Ninth Princess of Mu Nation, not one of you Border Nation people!"
Don’t associate her with any ruler!