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The cold air in the forest clearing hung heavy, thick with silence that had settled after the fierce confrontation.
The four figures standing there—Cang Yan, and the three men alongside Qin Mu's fallen form—stood like statues etched into the earth's shadows, their breath forming faint clouds that mingled with the fading traces of Qi.
Cang Yan's sharp gaze bore into the group. He stood tall, posture relaxed yet emanating an unmistakable authority that made breathing feel like a cautious act.
His dark eyes swept slowly over the three men and the woman—the royal figure whose demeanor commanded more respect than any ordinary warrior."What exactly is going on here?" His voice broke the silence, low but steady, demanding with the natural authority of one used to command.
"Explain yourselves."Qin Mu stepped forward, lips pressed thin, eyes flashing with anger and disbelief. "Wait!" Her voice rang out, quivering but edged with rising fury.
"Hold on. How can you simply claim to have killed and looted without regard? A mere minute ago, you were fleeing for your lives. I risked everything to save every one of you! You should be the one expressing thanks. Instead, you insult me—saying I stole and looted? What kind of fool would dare speak so foolishly?"Cang Yan's eyes narrowed with a knowing amusement; a faint, tight smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Who claims you were running? I saved your lives—that much is true. But your arrogance is legendary. If you had even the slightest wisdom, you'd show gratitude, not insult those who keep you alive.
Such foolishness from those who owe their very survival to me.""You don't get to make that claim," Qin Mu snapped back forcefully. Her eyes burned with relentless pride. "We fought. We did not run.
We defeated that monstrous creature, earning the crystal by rightful claim. Then you appeared from the shadows and slayed the beast, taking the crystal as if it were solely yours. You owe me a share.
"Cang Yan's gaze hardened, his expression fierce with cold resolve. "I didn't expect such arrogance. The monster was felled by me alone, without your aid or permission.
I owe none of you anything. And if you provoke me further, none of you will live to regret it."The eldest man among the three men seemed to bend inward, trembling.
His voice barely escaped as a whisper carried through telepathy toward Qin Mu, "Young Miss, why stir the wrath of the man who saved us all? He felled the beast effortlessly, like a ghost among mortals.
We are not his match. Better not provoke what you cannot control."But Qin Mu would not yield. Her chin lifted like a queen's, arrogant and unbent. "He may be a Martial Lord, but I am born of royal blood. My father is the Emperor of the Qin Continent.
Do you believe I will sit silent under the tongue of a commoner?"She took a deliberate step forward, her voice cold and commanding, sharp as a blade. "Say your name. You might not know mine, but I am the rightful heir of the Qin royalty.
If you value your life and wish to avoid making powerful enemies, hand over that crystal immediately."A sarcastic laugh escaped Cang Yan's lips. "So your arrogance is well-rooted in your father's name? I am afraid of no one—not even the highest blood."Her eyes flared with deadly intent.
"Have you not understood? I am the royal family! Cross me, and your entire clan will be eradicated. One word, and death will follow."Suddenly, the three men stiffened, freezing mid-breath. Simultaneously, heads bowed in grim submission and fearful dread.
Qin Mu's face twisted with shock as the delicate balance of power once held was violently reversed before her eyes.Cang Yan advanced, voice as cold and hard as steel. "I saved you, and yet you threaten me and my family? Power without respect is nothing. Remember that well.
"A flicker of desperation crossed Qin Mu's features. With lightning speed, she activated a jade talisman embedded in her palm. The faint glow of the crystal pulsed softly, ready to summon aid from afar.But the sharpest instincts were Cang Yan's.
He caught the subtle shimmer of power activation and acted on instinct and precision. Like a shadow in the gloom, he moved before she could react fully. His blade flashed, a single, decisive motion that severed her head clean from her body.
Her lifeless form dropped with a muffled thud, and the clearing sank into a heavy, suffocating silence.Kneeling beside the fallen, Cang Yan's eyes were cold and distant.
"You need not worry about her family anymore," he said softly, voice laced with bitter finality. "Perhaps now, her house will understand the true meaning of respect."Turning his cold gaze to the trembling men, he issued a demand that hung heavy in the stillness. "Now, you.Tell me everything about the Qin family—make no mistake or omission.
"The eldest man swallowed painfully, fear evident in his trembling voice. "The Qin family rules the Qin Continent. Their influence extends across countless sects, legions of cultivators, and vassal states.
The Emperor commands unwavering respect and instills fear across the land. Even the Divine Kingdom acknowledges their sovereignty and power."He glanced nervously between Cang Yan and the empty space where Qin Mu had just stood.
"Offending the royal bloodline is akin to declaring war on the continent's mightiest force. We live in constant dread of their reprisal."Cang Yan's eyes darkened with contempt. "And yet, it seems their bloodline failed to teach humility or wisdom.
No family has immunity from consequence. One day, strength will answer arrogance—and those who persist will learn to bow… or fall."With these parting words, he turned on his heel and strode away, leaving behind the three men steeped in awe and dread.
The ancient forest seemed to envelop them, shadows lengthening as a new era began—a new age forged by relentless will and cold steel.Meanwhile, in the gleaming halls of the Qin Continent's imperial palace, the atmosphere was thick with unease and whispered tension.
The mighty Emperor sat upon his grand throne, his vast cultivation energy radiating subtly beneath his meditative calm. Until, suddenly, his eyes snapped open with an alarming sharpness."What has occurred?" The emperor's voice boomed with unyielding authority, filling the great hall.
A breathless aide rushed forward, urgency in every breath. "Your Highness, your daughter Qin Mu has activated the jade life plate you entrusted to her for emergencies."The emperor's brow furrowed deeply. "Impossible. Such activation means she is in dire peril. Summon me the details.
"As the aide spoke, a frail old man hurried into the hall, his face etched with the marks of worry and haste. "Your Majesty, at Liyu Jade Place, the jade life plate protecting her was shattered moments ago. It was destroyed."A heavy silence fell, the gravity of the news pressing down upon the court.
The emperor's gaze grew colder, his aura sharpening into lethal intensity. "Prepare the guards. The Qin family's honor will not be besmirched without consequence. We will find her, no matter the cost."Outside the palace, ancient trees swayed as winds whispered through the corridors—carrying the promise of a coming storm, the clash of fate, and the rising tide of power that would shape the destiny of the Qin Continent forever.