Yun Qingxue and Lingyue both tumbled down in disarray. Just as they thought they were doomed, it felt as though something caught them, gently lowering them to the ground. Before Yun Qingxue could even catch her breath, they were surrounded by the cavalry who had pursued them under the Grand Sorcerer’s orders.
With a cold and indifferent gaze, she scanned the armored soldiers around her. Then, tenderly, she lifted the now-diminished figure of the lark, Lingyue, from the ground, cradling her as if she were the most precious treasure in the world…
“Are you that Blue-Blooded Peony?” A gentle yet slightly surprised voice emerged from the cavalry. Immediately after, a tall and imposing figure dismounted swiftly and strode toward Yun Qingxue.
Qingxue carefully shielded Lingyue in her arms and looked up defensively, her icy eyes meeting the armored Prince Ning. She nodded slightly. “Yes.”
A flicker of astonishment passed through Prince Ning’s eyes, followed by his usual warm smile. “Come back with us.”
Yun Qingxue laughed coldly, raising her head proudly to meet Prince Ning’s dark, gleaming gaze.
“Go back with you? On what grounds?”
Prince Ning was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained his composure. “My brother, the Emperor, has summoned the most skilled mages in the land. If you are not… returning would clear your name!”
“Whether I’m a demon or not is none of your concern! Have I caused your families to fall apart or left you homeless? Just because of that charlatan’s words, you’d persecute a defenseless woman like me? Shame on you—aren’t you embarrassed?” Yun Qingxue retorted with disdain.
Prince Ning’s expression wavered slightly, a hint of awkwardness crossing his face.
“Your Highness, there’s no need to waste words on this demon!” The Grand Sorcerer landed and stepped forward, his face dark with anger.
“Your Highness must not forget how cunning this demon is—she escaped my meticulously laid Seven-Star Formation! Had I noticed any later, they would have fled. If chaos were to engulf the world because of this, we would all be held accountable!”
“Grand Sorcerer, she is still—”
Prince Ning began but was sharply interrupted. “No matter who she is, a calamity must be eradicated! If Your Highness wishes to be chivalrous, save it for the right occasion!”
“Bah!” Lingyue was injured, and the culprit kept calling her a demon. Yun Qingxue’s fury surged uncontrollably. She glared at the Grand Sorcerer and spat like a furious shrew.
“You damned fraud! Are you the Jade Emperor or the Buddha himself? How dare you label me a demon with your baseless accusations! Did I steal your first love or desecrate your ancestors in a past life? What grudge do you hold to torment me like this?”
By the time she finished, the Grand Sorcerer’s face was dark with rage. But before he could speak, Yun Qingxue had already composed herself, her demeanor shifting to one of cold elegance.
“From what you just said, Grand Sorcerer, your judgment alone condemns me to death. Is that correct?”
The Grand Sorcerer sneered. “Eradicating demons is my sacred duty!”
Yun Qingxue’s anger flared again, but she forced herself to stay calm. Losing her temper wouldn’t solve anything. Though this fraud was infuriating, she needed to reason with him to ensure Lingyue’s and her own safety.
How she hated fate for bringing her here—first as a flower spirit, then persecuted by one cultivator after another. Worst of all, she hadn’t had time to learn any self-defense spells, leaving her utterly vulnerable from the start!
They say karma is just—but Ling Wei was the one who betrayed her! Why was she, the victim, the one suffering?
Taking a deep breath, Yun Qingxue suddenly smiled. “What noble ‘duty’! If my hands were free, I’d applaud your hypocrisy!”
The Grand Sorcerer’s eyes sharpened, glaring at her as if she were his mortal enemy.
Yun Qingxue remained unfazed. “That look—did I strike a nerve?”
“No matter what you say today, I will rid the world of you!” The Grand Sorcerer struck without warning.
Yun Qingxue’s expression flickered with alarm, but she quickly countered, “If you kill me, tomorrow the floral spirits will march upon your human realm!”
The Grand Sorcerer hesitated for only a moment before launching another attack.
Yun Qingxue hadn’t expected his resolve to be so unshakable. Instinctively, she tightened her grip on the injured Lingyue and dodged backward, narrowly avoiding the blow.
When the Grand Sorcerer missed again, he prepared for a third strike—only to be blocked by Prince Ning.
“Your Highness, are you siding with a demon?” the Grand Sorcerer demanded furiously.
“Of course not!” Prince Ning stood firm. “I merely fear your rashness will bring calamity upon the world!”
The Grand Sorcerer scoffed. “I act for the sake of all living beings! Or has Her Highness been bewitched by this peony spirit’s sorcery?”
As they argued, Yun Qingxue seized the moment to speak. “Fraud! Let me make this clear—I escaped with my kin’s help. Those who rescued me are already returning to the floral realm. If I don’t appear before my people in two days, they will march upon your lands. Kill me, and the floral spirits will wage war to avenge me!
Then, it won’t be me who brings chaos—it will be you!”
The Grand Sorcerer froze, glaring at her in frustration.
Prince Ning released him and turned to Yun Qingxue.
She met their gazes defiantly. “Don’t doubt my words. But if you insist on pushing me, I won’t back down. As the purest Blue-Blooded Peony of my kind, do you truly think I have no power?
If this ends in bloodshed, I won’t hesitate to expend every ounce of my magic to take you down with me!”
“Lady Peony, please calm yourself,” Prince Ning said. “We mean no harm.”
“Calling me a demon isn’t harmful?” Yun Qingxue scoffed. “Do you take me for a fool?”
“Not at all!” Prince Ning smiled earnestly. “The Grand Sorcerer’s divination is but one perspective. My brother and I have yet to reach a conclusion—”
“Enough!” Yun Qingxue cut him off. “Your conclusions mean nothing to me! Let me go now, or face a declaration of war from the floral spirits!”
Prince Ning hesitated, glancing at the Grand Sorcerer. “May we discuss this first?”
“My patience is thin,” Yun Qingxue replied coldly.
As Prince Ning and the Grand Sorcerer conferred in hushed tones, Lingyue lifted her tiny head and communicated telepathically:
“Qingxue, do you think they’ll let us go?”
Yun Qingxue sighed. “I don’t know. But I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Lingyue chuckled faintly. “And I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Outwardly, Yun Qingxue stood composed, as if awaiting their decision. But Lingyue, nestled in her palm, could feel her trembling—her sweat dampening the lark’s feathers.
The two men’s whispers grew quieter. Prince Ning’s furrowed brow relaxed slightly, and the Grand Sorcerer’s hostility seemed to wane.
Yun Qingxue observed them discreetly, a glimmer of hope rising in her chest.
Suddenly, the Grand Sorcerer lunged at her with lightning speed.
Reacting instinctively, Yun Qingxue hurled Lingyue into the air.
The starry night was instantly swallowed by storm clouds. A gale howled, carrying wisps of inky black mist that coiled around the Grand Sorcerer mid-strike.
“No!” he bellowed, struggling against the tendrils. “Demonic soldiers!”
Prince Ning paled but quickly barked orders. “Rescue the Grand Sorcerer!”
Seizing the chaos, Yun Qingxue caught Lingyue and bolted.
From the shadows, a pair of wolf-like eyes watched her flee, their owner’s lips curling into a mocking smile.
“Master, why are you laughing?” Wu Jie frowned. “If the Demon Lord learns of this, he’ll be furious.”
Ye Xiang glanced indifferently at the besieged humans. “Who’s to tell him? Besides…” His gaze trailed after Yun Qingxue. “She’s unharmed. How can it be said we failed his orders?”
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