Chapter 134: Princess Qingcheng Returns to the Imperial Capital

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves down into the forest. A young man was fast asleep, leaning against a large tree, when suddenly a cyan-gold little snake, about a meter long, slithered onto his body and began tapping his cheek with its tail.

The young man started awake and rubbed his eyes.

"Ah, what a wonderful day," he said, getting up and stretching lazily.

Naturally, this was Lu Han accompanied by the Evil Wind Beast.

"Wonderful, my foot. It might be a day, but you've already slept away a third of it," the voice of the Evil Wind Beast resounded in Lu Han's mind.

Lu Han looked up at the sun hanging mid-sky and muttered, "I suppose I did wake up a bit late."

"Let's go. Having been away for so long, I actually miss Maple Leaf City a bit." Lu Han instinctively reached back to touch his shoulder.

"With the Biluo Sword lost, it always feels like something is missing."

"Whoosh!" The mysterious woman suddenly appeared beside Lu Han.

A young man and woman, accompanied by a defiant Evil Wind Beast that constantly referred to itself as its lord, thus set out on their journey.

...

In the imperial palace of the Great Xia Empire.

Looking from afar, the deep red palace seemed inlaid upon the snowfields, its glazed tile roofs resembling golden islands.

Ancient trees towered around the grand hall, their lush foliage creating deep shade. Red walls and yellow tiles shone with brilliant splendor, casting an antique elegance that inspired a profound sense of solemnity in anyone who beheld it.

At the very center stood the largest palace of all: the Xia Emperor Hall.

The founding emperor of the Great Xia Empire was named Murong Xia, and this grand ceremonial hall was thus named the Xia Emperor Hall, from which the empire derived its name.

At the entrance of the Xia Emperor Hall stood two massive stone carvings of beasts with lion heads and dragon tails. According to legend, they were fierce ancient demonic beasts whose strength could reach the peak of the Earth Monarch realm, known as Twin-Headed Dragon Lions.

Four guards stood at the entrance, their expressions stern, their innate momentum unmistakably radiating outward.

"Hmph, this is sheer rebellion!"

An angry voice boomed from within the hall, causing the four guards to exchange glances.

"How long has it been since His Majesty flew into such a rage?"

Inside the hall, a figure sat enthroned upon the highest seat, clad in an imperial dragon robe. His facial features were sharp and three-dimensional, and with every movement, he exuded an aura of supreme imperial dominance that looked down upon the world. This was none other than the current Emperor of Great Xia, Murong Zheng.

"Qingcheng, you should return to the Qingcheng Palace first. Your Imperial Father will handle this matter in due time. As for Elder Hua, I believe she would not wish to see you endlessly consumed by grief," Murong Zheng said in a deep voice.

"Yes, Imperial Father."

Princess Qingcheng was still dressed in purple, her noble imperial aura keeping others at a respectful distance, though a veil concealed her visage.

As it turned out, ever since slaying Tan Jun in the Evil Wind Cave, Princess Qingcheng had hurried back to the imperial capital at top speed and given a full, unvarnished account of her ordeal.

As the sovereign of the Great Xia Empire, Murong Zheng was hardly a man of mediocre intellect; he grasped the crux of the matter instantly.

"Flying Snake Sect, very well! Do not assume this朕 truly dares not touch you. You dared to lay a hand on Qingcheng this time—what about the next? Will it be an imperial prince? Or perhaps myself? In recent years, your three major sects have indeed grown rapidly, but do you truly believe the Murong Imperial Clan is something you can contend with?" Murong Zheng thought to himself.

"Someone come, summon Prime Minister Baili to my presence, along with Sword King Fu. I have matters of grave importance to discuss," Murong Zheng commanded.

"Yes." The two guards at the entrance hurriedly departed.

Prime Minister Baili was also the head of the Baili family, one of the five major clans of the imperial capital, and had frequently offered counsel to Murong Zheng.

As for the Sword King, he was the sole peerless prince of the realm without imperial blood, specializing entirely in the Sword Dao. In the entire Great Xia Empire today, he had few rivals. As for why he was addressed as Sword King Fu, it was because when the current Emperor of Great Xia, Murong Zheng, was still the Crown Prince, Sword King Shen Feng had been his master, hence the title of tutor.

"Tianshang Sect, Blood Spider Wharf, Flying Snake Sect..." Murong Zheng rubbed his temples, his index finger tapping rhythmically against the dragon throne as he lost himself in thought. Soon, silence reclaimed the grand hall.

Qingcheng Palace.

Situated to the west of the Empress's quarters, this was the private residence of Princess Qingcheng.

At this moment, outside the palace gates, a maidservant was peering outward, looking exceedingly anxious.

Back when Princess Qingcheng and Elder Hua went to investigate the heaven-and-earth anomaly, Yan Lan had intended to go along, but Elder Hua remarked that her cultivation was too low and cautioned her against courting disaster, so Yan Lan stayed behind.

To her astonishment, more than two months had passed without any sign of Princess Qingcheng or Elder Hua. She had wanted to go out in search of them, but feared they might return while she was away, forcing her to wait anxiously inside Qingcheng Palace.

Just moments ago, she heard that the Princess had returned, but had gone straight to the central hall, the Xia Emperor Hall.

"Princess, Princess, you've finally returned! You worried this servant to death." Seeing Princess Qingcheng appear, Yan Lan hurried forward to greet her.

"Lan'er, I wish to be alone for a while," Princess Qingcheng said.

"Something has happened!" Yan Lan thought to herself.

Every time Princess Qingcheng returned from a journey, she would recount her experiences to Yan Lan; never had she acted like this.

Although Yan Lan knew trouble had struck, she refrained from pressing further. When the time was right, Princess Qingcheng would naturally confide in her.

"Princess, Young Master Yue came by a few days ago..." Yan Lan hesitated, speaking through the closed door.

"Burn it all," Princess Qingcheng replied before Yan Lan could finish.

"Oh." Yan Lan acknowledged the command and turned to leave.

"Wait, Yan Lan, come inside for a moment." Princess Qingcheng seemed to have recalled something.

With a soft creak, Yan Lan stepped inside and found Princess Qingcheng holding brush and ink, actively writing a letter.

Yan Lan remained silent, watching quietly from the side.

"Keep this letter safe, and then go to the Myriad Pill Pavilion to request a vial of Soul-Capturing Mink blood from the Pill King. Tell him it is a favor I owe him..."

Yan Lan gasped, "Soul-Capturing Mink blood? Princess, could it be that you've been poisoned by the Toad-Tiger venom?"

"Lan'er, you're always like this. Can't you let me finish speaking?"

"Deliver this letter and the Soul-Capturing Mink blood via a reliable messenger into the hands of Qian Santong at the Treasure Pavilion in Maple Leaf City. He will know what to do." Princess Qingcheng pressed her jade fingers to her temples, looking thoroughly exhausted.

"Princess, what on earth has happened?" Yan Lan asked, unable to suppress her concern upon seeing the Princess's fatigued state.

"Attend to this matter first, as quickly as possible. We can talk when you return."

Watching Yan Lan depart, Princess Qingcheng slowly seated herself.

With a flash of her spatial ring, an archaic and unadorned treasured sword materialized upon the table. The blade radiated a biting chill. If Lu Han were present, he would instantly recognize it as his Biluo Sword.

When Lu Han and the strange entity were carried away by the Nether Crow Throne, the Biluo Sword had been left behind in the Evil Wind Cave. Ultimately, Princess Qingcheng had relied on the Biluo Sword to slay Tan Jun, leaving the weapon in her possession.

"Lu Han..."

Princess Qingcheng murmured.

Scene after scene from the Evil Wind Cave flashed through her mind.

Within the imperial palace, growing up amidst relentless internal struggles—where even her own third brother regarded her as a thorn in his side—she had never imagined that someone practically unrelated to her would risk his life to save her.

"Flying Snake Sect... Once the Flying Snake Sect is destroyed, I shall personally return this sword to your parents."

The cold, resolute voice of Princess Qingcheng echoed quietly through the empty halls of Qingcheng Palace.