Chapter 38: The Empress’s Wrath

Inside the Zichen Palace.

A layer of icy frost covered Ji Liuyun’s stunningly beautiful face.

Her gaze landed on the Shadow Guard kneeling below.

“This is how you handle things?”

As her words fell, a terrifying imperial aura instantly enveloped the entire hall.

The Shadow Guards trembled violently, pressing their heads even lower, not daring to breathe.

“I ordered you to hunt down a heavily wounded demon, and you still haven’t found any trace of the target until now.”

“Now, you can’t even watch over a mere palace maid in my Imperial Sister’s bedchamber?”

“Tell me—what’s the use of keeping you all if you can’t even do this much!”

Ji Liuyun’s voice was filled with disappointment and anger.

Things had completely gone beyond her expectations.

Her original plan had been for Shadow Seven to silently eliminate that demon, then blame it all on some fabricated ‘assassin’.

In this way, she could remove a grave threat without affecting her relationship with her Imperial Sister.

But now?

The demon had disappeared.

That “little maid”—whom she suspected was her Imperial Sister’s beloved—had vanished as well.

Worse still, even the Phoenix Palace had been destroyed by some mysterious assassin.

Judging by the lingering aura at the scene, the assassin who destroyed the Phoenix Palace had at least the cultivation of a peak Nascent Soul stage expert.

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger.”

Granny Yun’s voice sounded hoarse at the side.

“There is indeed something odd about this matter.”

“Odd?”

Ji Liuyun let out a cold laugh.

“I think it’s not ‘odd’—someone is scheming against my Great Wilderness Dynasty from the shadows!”

She stood up, pacing back and forth in the hall, her mind racing.

To send a peak Nascent Soul stage expert into the palace, and to be so familiar with the Phoenix Palace—this was not something any ordinary force could do.

Could it be one of the other great Demon Sects?

Or perhaps those neighboring countries who have always coveted the Great Wilderness Dynasty?

Or perhaps…

Suddenly, a name she dreaded flashed through Ji Liuyun’s mind.

The Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Demon Sect, Gu Qinghuan.

She remembered the intelligence reports describing this Holy Maiden as extraordinarily talented—a genius who had reached the Nascent Soul stage at a young age.

Moreover, this Holy Maiden was extremely loyal to her master, ‘Lu Ning,’ to the point of obsession.

Could it have been her who destroyed the Phoenix Palace and abducted the little maid?

If so, her most likely motive for abducting the maid was to take revenge on Princess Ji Linglong.

This speculation caused Ji Liuyun to furrow her brows slightly.

If that was the case, things would become even more complicated.

After pondering for a moment, Ji Liuyun spoke slowly.

“Shadow Seven, hear my command!”

“Yes!”

“I don’t care what method you use—mobilize all the Shadow Guards, and turn the entire Tiandu City upside down for me!”

“I want you to find the assassin who destroyed the Phoenix Palace, and the maid named ‘A’Ning’.”

“Yes!”

After accepting the order, Shadow Seven melted back into the shadows.

“Granny Yun.”

Ji Liuyun’s gaze shifted to the old woman at her side.

“Your old servant is here.”

“Transmit my oral decree: under the pretense of hunting for the assassin, tighten the lockdown on all entrances and exits of the imperial city.”

“In addition, distribute the portrait of the missing maid to all City Guards and Shadow Guards.”

“If there is any sign of her, report immediately. She must not be harmed.”

Very soon, one order after another was issued in an orderly fashion.

Ji Liuyun knew well that she must find the ‘little maid’ before her Imperial Sister completely lost control, and seize hold of the truth with her own hands.

…

At Youjian Inn, in a guest room on the second floor.

The clamor rising from downstairs snapped Lu Ning out of the intimate atmosphere in an instant.

She pushed Gu Qinghuan—who was still pressing down on her—off in a fluster and sat up in bed.

“Master, don’t be anxious.”

Gu Qinghuan, however, was calm and composed.

She took Lu Ning’s hand and gently pressed her back down onto the bed.

“It’s just some City Guards. They can’t stir up any real trouble.”

Her voice carried a trace of disdain.

With her abilities, as long as she wished to hide, not to mention ordinary City Guards—even Nascent Soul stage cultivators wouldn’t be able to find her easily.

“But…”

Lu Ning still felt uneasy.

After all, this was Tiandu—the heart of the Great Wilderness Dynasty.

“Master, what you need most right now is a good rest—to stabilize the cultivation level you just broke through.”

As Gu Qinghuan spoke, she personally helped Lu Ning into a white inner robe.

Once dressed, she pulled the quilt over Lu Ning, leaving only her head exposed.

“There—see, isn’t that much better?”

She admired her handiwork with satisfaction, then lay down as well, turning on her side to face Lu Ning.

“Master, you’ve had a long day. Go to sleep now.”

With that, she closed her eyes, her breathing quickly becoming steady.

Lu Ning: “……”

She looked at the breathtaking sleeping face so close by, speechless.

Was her rebellious disciple’s heart really this big?

The outside world was practically in chaos, and she could still sleep so soundly?

No matter what, Lu Ning just couldn’t fall asleep.

The footsteps downstairs were getting closer—seemingly checking every room, one by one.

Even though Gu Qinghuan had said it was nothing, Lu Ning couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of unease.

“Dong! Dong! Dong!”

Suddenly, there was a hurried knocking at the door.

Right after, a loud voice called from outside, “Open up! Routine inspection!”

Lu Ning’s body tensed up immediately.

They were here!

They’d really come for them!

Lu Ning instinctively turned to look at Gu Qinghuan beside her, hoping her rebellious disciple would have a plan.

To her dismay, Gu Qinghuan still had her eyes shut, breathing steadily, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Lu Ning nearly went crazy with frustration.

This rebellious disciple was absolutely doing it on purpose!

She was clearly waiting to see her embarrassed!

“Open up! You in there—if you don’t open the door, we’ll break it down!”

The voice outside grew impatient, accompanied by the clang of weapons.

Lu Ning’s heart pounded faster.

She could sense at least five or six auras outside.

They weren’t strong—probably just at the Foundation Establishment stage—but if a fight broke out, it would surely draw even stronger foes.

What should she do?

With her Golden Core stage strength, the spells she could use were limited.

Would she have to fight her way out?

Just as Lu Ning’s mind was in turmoil…

Gu Qinghuan finally opened her eyes.

Her cold gaze brimmed with amusement and mischief.

She looked at Lu Ning’s pale, trembling little face and the faintest of smiles tugged at her lips.

“Master, what are you so afraid of?”

“A few ants, nothing worth mentioning.”

Gu Qinghuan said indifferently.

She stretched lazily, her graceful curves outlined beneath the thin inner robe.

“If Master finds it noisy, I can go out and deal with them now.”

Her tone was casual, as if squashing a few ants was a trivial matter.

Lu Ning was startled, and quickly grabbed her hand.

“No!”

Was she kidding?

If they fought, wouldn’t that be the same as telling everyone they were hiding here?

That would be like walking right into a trap!

“Oh?”

Gu Qinghuan looked at her with great interest.

“Then, Master, what do you think we should do?”

She threw the question back to Lu Ning.

Lu Ning: “……”

Lu Ning looked at Gu Qinghuan’s composed, eager-to-watch-the-drama expression and steeled herself.

She knew this rebellious disciple just wanted to see her flustered—wanted to see her beg.

If that was the case…

“Qinghuan…”

Lu Ning took a deep breath and showed a pitiful, endearing expression.

Her voice softened, taking on a coquettish tone.

“Good Qinghuan, Master knows you’re the best.”

“Hurry and think of something to send those people away, won’t you?”

As she spoke, she even rubbed her cheek lightly against Gu Qinghuan’s arm.

This combo made even Gu Qinghuan visibly freeze for a moment.

She looked at Lu Ning—who had taken the initiative to act cute and snuggle up—an incredulous joy flashing through her cold eyes.

Master was acting cute…to her?

That realization made Gu Qinghuan’s heart thump faster, entirely beyond her control.

She felt as if even her bones were about to melt from Master’s sweet, gentle voice.

“Ahem…”

Gu Qinghuan coughed twice to cover her fluster.

She did her best to keep a straight face, trying to maintain her aloof image, but the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her delight.

“Since Master is asking me so sweetly…”

She drawled, “Naturally, I can’t let Master down.”

As her words fell, she extended a slender, fair finger and pointed lightly toward the door.

At once, an invisible ripple spread outward.