The Imperial Princess’s Fiery Vengeance and Unexpected Encounters

The ice-cold, biting interrogation, like an awl forged from ten thousand years of profound ice, viciously gouged into the eardrums of everyone present.

It was neither deliberately exaggerated harshness nor a show of bravado.

It was the verdict of a true superior, a declaration of will that held sway over life and death!

Under the weight of such power, even a whisper resonated like a clap of thunder to those present.

Ji Xue, having been absent for nearly half a month, had finally returned to the Hall of Clarity.

Her aura was formidable; though her cultivation had been suppressed to merely the Qi Condensation stage, the invisible pressure and radiant presence she exuded already set her apart from those around her as vastly as clouds from mud.

Her skin appeared even fairer and more translucent, no longer requiring rouge or foundation, yet it was adorned with a faint blush.

She commanded respect without needing to show anger.

The crowd, who moments ago had been chattering merrily and eagerly anticipating a spectacle, now fell utterly silent.

Yet, the thrill of the unfolding drama had not entirely faded; instead, their interest was piqued even further.

To their surprise, the Imperial Princess was actually protecting Lin Wan’er.

“Hmph!” Lu Ping’an, ultimately forcing down the tremor in her soul, squeezed out a truncated, twisted snort from between her teeth.

Extreme fear, paradoxically, had spawned a sliver of desperate resistance.

She was her sister’s staunch supporter; how could she be so easily intimidated by an Imperial Princess who had only just reached Foundation Establishment?

“Your person? Ha…” She strained to speak, her voice dry and distorted, each word seemingly torn from her throat.

“Lin… Lin Wan’er is now merely a cripp—”

Her words were cut short!

“Buzz—!!”

Ji Xue hadn’t even moved.

She had merely cast a fleeting glance at Lu Ping’an, who was encircled by the ring of fire.

The edge of the steadily burning fire ring abruptly contracted inward by an inch or so!

“A-a-ah—!!”

The hem of her robe, singed by the edge of the flame, instantly turned to ash, and the searing pain of her burnt skin wrung a shrill, distorted shriek from Lu Ping’an: “I don’t care if you’re an Imperial Princess! Here, you’re nothing but a disciple! Are you truly going to disregard the sect rules and attack a fellow disciple?!”

Her two lackeys beside her were utterly terrified, one of them already whimpering.

“Attack? When did I ever harm you?” Ji Xue’s voice was colder than the flames, imbued with a chilling disregard for life. “This Imperial Princess merely felt a little cold, so I conjured some ground fire to warm myself here.”

“You… you’re damaging sect property!” one of the lackeys shouted.

“So what if I compensate for it?” Ji Xue retrieved a large handful of spirit stones from her storage ring and scattered them directly onto the ground.

“Besides, couldn’t you just step out? Surely you’re not all loud wailing and no actual capability, are you?”

“You’re going too far!” Lu Ping’an’s face flushed crimson, whether from the heat or something else, it was unclear.

“When you bullied my person, why didn’t you say I was going too far? You act like a harlot, yet you want a memorial arch, afraid people won’t know you’re a harlot.”

Ji Xue cursed in anger, her arm suddenly sweeping out, the palm wind almost solidifying, striking all three of their faces squarely!

“Ah!”

The sound was crisp and loud, leaving bright red marks.

Absolute silence descended once more, broken only by the faint crackling of flames scorching the air and Lu Ping’an’s suppressed, agonizing whimpers from deep within her throat.

Those who had originally clung to Lu Ping’an, ready to offer help or make sarcastic remarks, now wished they could shrink into the ground, not daring to utter a single word.

Ji Xue only then lifted her gaze from the muddy spectacle on the ground.

Her eyes swept past the chaotic scene, landing on Lin Mo—who was still inhabiting Lin Wan’er’s body.

The frost in her gaze seemed to melt for a moment.

“Your injuries… they haven’t healed yet?” she asked, her tone calm.

While her emotions were indiscernible, her words carried an undeniable force of concern. “Could it be that they—”

Lin Mo shook his head, whispering, “…I… I’m fine… Thank you, Your Highness… for saving my life.”

His voice was unsteady, as if on the verge of breaking apart.

He seemed ready to faint.

He struggled to stand, swaying precariously, but a strong, firm arm reached out and caught him.

“Come here,” Ji Xue’s voice commanded, brooks no argument.

Severely wounded, he had no strength left, and could only allow Ji Xue to support him as they departed.

Ji Xue’s gaze swept across the entire hall once more, chillingly severe.

Though her spiritual energy still permeated the air, and her fiery red hair billowed in the wind, its tips seemingly ablaze, the look in her eyes was utterly frigid.

Scanning the disciples in the hall, Her Imperial Highness spoke.

“From today forward,” her voice was not loud, yet it resonated clearly in everyone’s mind, “should anyone dare to harm a single hair on Lin Wan’er’s head…”

Her gaze swept over Lu Ping’an on the ground, then over the trembling crowd, finally settling on a glazed lamp hanging from the highest point of the Lakeside Pavilion.

“…they shall become like this lamp.”

The moment her words fell, without any incantation or hand gesture, the high-hanging glazed lamp suddenly erupted into a raging inferno!

The glazed material instantly melted under the intense heat, dripping like molten iron, and even the chain connecting the lamp to the ceiling slowly began to liquefy.

The heat intensified, instantly surging from everyone’s soles to the crowns of their heads.

The art of fire control had reached such a stage—annihilation with a mere thought, across a distance!

Was this the true power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

Ji Xue said no more.

Her dark hair swayed, her skirt billowed, and she stepped out of the Lakeside Pavilion.

The sunlight stretched Ji Xue’s silhouette, casting it within the doorway like an insurmountable boundary marker.

It was not until the oppressive aura completely vanished, and the figures of the two disappeared entirely at the end of the distant tree-lined path, that the frozen air within the Lakeside Pavilion slowly began to flow again, as if thawing.

Immediately, an uncontrollable chorus of heavy gasps erupted, like those of survivors after a catastrophe, interspersed with low, incredulous exclamations and fearful murmurs.

“Heavens… this, this is Foundation Establishment?”

“That fire ignited with a single thought, no incantations needed, fire moving with her will… too terrifying!”

“Her Imperial Highness… was she really a Class B disciple before? What kind of heaven-shaking fortune did she acquire?”

“Haha, this time Lu Ping’an… she’s kicked an iron plate, and a red-hot one at that!”

“Her Imperial Highness is so domineering! I thought people from the imperial family were usually cold and ruthless, only caring about benefits.”

The servants of the Hall of Clarity, who were also inner courtyard disciples, cautiously stepped forward to clear the mess and provide basic treatment for Lu Ping’an and her two companions.

Lu Ping’an’s face was contorted by excruciating pain and profound humiliation.

A corner of her robe was scorched, and a string of blisters had risen on her arm.

More significantly, her confidence and reliance were shattered into dust before Ji Xue’s power.

Yet, previously, Ji Xue had been roughly her equal, even refraining from displaying too much imperial authority in her presence.

She stared fixedly in the direction Ji Xue had vanished, flames of venom and terror mingling in her eyes, her lips bitten until they bled, yet she dared not utter another word.

She knew that if she had spoken even half a word more about Lin Wan’er, those terrifying flames truly would have consumed her.

In that moment, Lu Ping’an recognized the paramount importance of strength.

Without strength, one couldn’t even complete the tasks assigned by a master.

A seed of obsession was quietly planted.

The two walked in silence, Ji Xue merely supporting Lin Mo as he limped across the plaza, through the residential area, following him to a particular spot.

A viscous liquid flowed down Lin Mo’s arm into Ji Xue’s hand, staining her opulent robes.

She said nothing, merely supporting Lin Mo in silence.

At that moment, Ji Xue found herself at a loss for words.

The imperial arts she had studied had not taught her how to comfort another’s heart.

Room Seven was indeed as desolate and chilly as previously described.

It stood isolated in a sunless hollow, surrounded by sparse vegetation, with only a few hardy ferns stubbornly growing.

A few equally dilapidated small huts were scattered around, appearing to have been abandoned for a long time.

What was called Room Seven was a low-lying stone cave, half-carved into the mountainside.

The wooden door at the entrance was skewed and rotten, with wind whistling through its cracks.

Pushing open the creaking door, a stale odor — a mix of mildew, damp earth, and some small animal’s excrement — assailed them.

The interior was dim, with only a sliver of natural light filtering in from the doorway, faintly revealing cobwebs and piles of decaying wood and various debris in the corners.

Indeed, even sunlight was scarce, and the spiritual energy was so thin it was almost nonexistent.

Ji Xue was dumbfounded.

How could such a wretched place exist on this extravagant, luxurious sky island?

“It seems this will be my future residence,” Lin Mo said with a faint smile, accepting his fate with equanimity.

“You… what did you say? I thought you merely wanted to find a secluded place to talk. What do you mean, your place to live?”

Ji Xue gazed at the dilapidated dwelling in disbelief.

“Thankfully, I’m still a Foundation Establishment expert,” Lin Mo chuckled wryly, a hint of desolation in his voice. “Can’t you see?”

‘I can’t see it, but I can feel it – Lin Mo’s almost barren spiritual energy and unstable cultivation realm. If… if I’m not mistaken, Lin Mo currently only has two or three layers of cultivation.’

“Then, what does it matter! Come back with me immediately. You’ve been gone for half a month, so you probably don’t know that in this past half-month, I’m no longer a Class B disciple, so it’s naturally impossible for me to live with you.”

“Wh-what…? Who said that?”

“Host Yun.”

A single sentence choked Ji Xue’s words back.

“I… I seem to be of no use to you anymore,” Lin Mo turned around, slowly taking a storage ring from his hand.

“My body is currently weak, my foundation damaged; I can barely take care of myself, so I probably can’t—”

Ji Xue watched Lin Mo in silence, wanting to discern something from his face, but that face no longer held its former arrogance, only a lingering breath of ‘just getting by’.

Ji Xue said nothing, turned around, and left directly.

It was exactly as Lin Mo had expected.

Leaving was the most correct choice.

‘Everyone would choose this, right?’

He didn’t blame Ji Xue; there was no need for her to waste her future on a cripple.

Neither owed the other anything.

‘Rather, he himself owed Ji Xue her innocence…’

‘However, this, he would definitely repay her in the future.’

But for now… he could only apologize to her.

Lin Mo smiled faintly, using his weak spiritual energy to clean the grime from his body, then pushed open the creaking door and slowly stepped inside.

There wasn’t much dust inside.

There wasn’t even a bed, just a heated brick bed, covered with some weeds.

“Hmm, at least there’s a place to sleep, rather than sleeping on the ground.”

Lin Mo did some simple cleaning for a while, stopping frequently due to his weak body.

Night soon fell.

Sitting on the heated brick bed, Lin Mo slowly lay down.

But no sooner had he lain down than a sound suddenly came from outside the door.

“So late, and those people still aren’t willing to rest?”

Lin Mo had come to realize that indulgence would only encourage Lu Ping’an to intensify her harassment.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t resist now.

Lin Mo got up and opened the door, expecting to see Lu Ping’an’s face, but instead—Mu Qingli?!

‘Could it be that she heard about the events in the Hall of Clarity—and intends to abandon him?’

‘Coming now to cut the roots and eliminate future trouble?!’

‘Or—?’

Mu Qingli still wore a cold, expressionless face, her golden eyes shimmering with brilliant light, inspiring awe and trepidation.

Lin Mo couldn’t help but swallow, but as soon as he opened his mouth, it was filled.

It was a peeled, warm sweet potato.

“Eh?”

This time, it was roasted perfectly—not burnt, soft, delicious, and incredibly sweet.

“Do not be afraid. If things truly become dire, your master will find a way to get you out. Wait a little longer, and take this.” Mu Qingli seemed somewhat hurried; she simply thrust something into his hand before swiftly vanishing.

Lin Mo still had the sweet potato in his mouth.

After Mu Qingli disappeared, he found a storage ring quietly resting in his palm.

He blankly took another bite of the sweet potato, his mind still trying to process what had happened, when another person… also arrived!

She stepped out from the darkness, her sky-blue twin ponytails strikingly conspicuous.

“It’s you?”

“You’re full of spirit, that’s excellent.” Qiu Yue’s lips curved upward, her smile as sweet as honey, yet the depths of her crescent-like eyes held an unyielding, chilling coldness.

Suddenly, she covered two steps in one, her delicate frame, still wrapped in a shell of childishness, light as a phantom as her toes touched the ground.

Her bouncing movements produced a crisp, bell-like jingle—this innocent demeanor perfectly framed by her porcelain-doll face, so naturally enchanting it sent shivers down one’s spine.

‘Clearly… she was a devil, yet so adorable.’

Lin Mo reacted as if facing a formidable foe, hastily retreating.

Fear subtly surfaced, yet he forced a faint smile to alleviate his terror.

“Coming to bully people this late? Aren’t you trying a bit too hard? Miss, perhaps you should rest.”

But Qiu Yue said nothing, merely appearing before Lin Mo with a single instant step.

Her hand instantly landed on Lin Mo’s dantian.

Lin Mo was aghast!

He wanted to dodge, but even at his peak, he couldn’t stop her, let alone now?

Strangely, however, Qiu Yue made no further moves, merely using her divine sense to probe his body, then slowly opened her eyes.

The chilling glint in her eyes dissolved and vanished, replaced by a flicker of… concern?… within those blue pupils.

“How about I kill Lu Ping’an for you?” Qiu Yue suddenly asked.

“But she’s your subordinate, and you’d just kill her?” ‘It was that familiar scent again; it seemed he had almost been fooled by this blue demon once more.’

How to put it, Lin Mo still couldn’t fathom what this yandere girl wanted to do.

‘You found people to bully me, and now you come here asking if I want help killing them?’

‘It’s like taking off your pants to fart.’

“I know you don’t understand me now, but trust me. All of this is a conspiracy of the Xuan Nv Sect. I still love you… a love of bone and flesh, unending until death…”

Qiu Yue raised her head, reached out, grabbed Lin Mo’s collar, and pulled him down forcefully.

Qiu Yue was just able to kiss Lin Mo’s cheek.

Her warm breath coiled around him like a snake. “And in your heart… only I can be imprinted forever. That—day will not be far off.”

Before Lin Mo could react, she vanished again.

Lin Mo frantically wiped away the saliva Qiu Yue had left on his cheek.

‘I’d rather you just bullied me…’

Fortunately, she hadn’t physically abused him.

Lin Mo continued to gnaw on the sweet potato, then turned around, preparing to go back to his room to sleep.

“Hey!”

‘Still more?’

Lin Mo turned around.

This time, the person who appeared before him had fiery red hair.

She was holding bedding, half of her face visible as she stared intently at him. “Who was that girl?! How… how did she kiss you?!”

Ji Xue?!

‘How… how did she come back?!’

“You… you’re going to be a father, how can you mess around with other women behind my back?! Scoundrel! As a consort, you’ll be torn apart by chariots for this!”

“Ah?!!!”