40 The Queen in Red
The grand hall of the Wu Clan was lit by hundreds of candles, their flames swaying gently in the night air. Each clan sat in their designated seats — Wei Clan in white and pink, Yun Clan in white and blue, Tang Clan in gold and silver, Gu Clan in dark blue and silver — all whispering softly, waiting for the legendary Queen Wu.
The heavy wooden doors opened without a sound.
She entered.
A tall figure in flowing crimson robes stepped forward, her presence pulling the room into silence. A red mask covered her entire face, hiding every feature — only her lips, painted a deep scarlet, moved slightly as she breathed. The mask's intricate gold patterns caught the candlelight, almost glowing.
Not a single person could recognize her.
Even Gu Xiao, the King of Gu Clan, sat straighter, his sharp gaze fixed on her. Yun Zhan's eyes narrowed, scanning for even the smallest clue. Wang San leaned forward so far he almost tipped over his seat, whispering to Wei Xie,
San: "Do you think she's pretty under there?"
Wei Xie: "Shut up, San."
The Queen stopped at the center of the hall. Her voice, smooth yet distant, carried perfectly to every corner:
"Welcome, honored guests. The Wu Clan opens its gates to you… but remember — not all who enter may leave unchanged."
The clans exchanged uneasy glances.
No one noticed — except for Xia — that behind that mask, the Queen's eyes were moving carefully, observing every twitch, every frown, every flicker of fear.
Wang San scratched his head, still whispering:
San: "Zhan, do you think she can hear us? …Zhan?"
Yun Zhan didn't reply — but his jaw was tight.
The Queen turned slightly in their direction.
For a moment, Wang San swore those hidden eyes were looking straight at him.