Chapter 53: The Poisonous Scheme and a Desperate Gambit

The jade slip held scant text, merely Yuanchao’s voice, brimming with mockery and malice, detonating within her mind.

“My dear, sweet sister, I offer you two choices.”

“First, you will surrender the human ‘key’ by your side, bound and delivered to Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Mountain. There, before all the tribal leaders, I shall ‘forgive’ your ignorance.”

“Second, you may persist in shielding your laughable ‘prey’. If so, the battle-axes of the Earth-Rending Army and the Gale Division will ensure both you and your human accomplice comprehend the true fate of a ‘race traitor’.”

“Oh, I forgot to mention. The entire Myriad Demon Kingdom now knows that Princess Yuange, in her greed to monopolize the Three Lives Stone treasure, shamelessly colluded with human immortal sects and betrayed our demon race’s sacred mountain. Father Emperor is in seclusion; no one can protect you now.”

“My dear sister, your brother awaits your ‘pledge of allegiance’ at Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Mountain.”

*Crackling.*

The jade slip shattered into countless fragments in Yuange’s palm, turning into black powder.

What a venomous scheme, killing two birds with one stone!

She instantly understood every intricacy.

With the secret of the Three Lives Stone and the accusation of colluding with humans, Yuanchao aimed to use a baseless charge to force her into open opposition against the entire Myriad Demon Kingdom.

Surrender Shen Zhaoqing?

That would be an admission of all guilt. She would forever lose her Father Emperor’s trust, forfeit her right to contend for the throne, and become the laughingstock of the Myriad Demon Kingdom. The mere thought of Shen Zhaoqing falling into the hands of that brutal idiot, Yuanchao, ignited a surge of savagery within her.

Refuse to surrender?

If she refused, she would ‘confirm’ the crime of betraying her race. Yuanchao could then legitimately lead his army to ‘purge the rebels.’ At that point, not only she, but even the humans on this Frost Iron Defense Line, would be embroiled in a war with a righteous cause.

No matter her choice, it was a dead end.

And her esteemed elder brother would trample over her corpse, rightfully seizing everything—merit, prestige, and… that ‘key.’

“Your Highness…” Lie Feng looked at her terribly pale face, his eyes filled with worry. “What should we do? It’s too late to return to the capital now…”

“Return?” Yuange suddenly let out a low, mirthless laugh. “Return for what? To be torn apart by those fools he’s incited?”

She slowly rose, pacing back and forth within the cramped tent. Wild thoughts clashed within her amber-gold eyes.

Flee? Why should she flee?

Defend herself? Before a colossal interest like the ‘Three Lives Stone,’ the truth was the most worthless commodity.

No, that wasn’t right.

There was another path.

A path of near-certain death, yet the only one that could break this deadlock!

Yuange’s steps abruptly halted. She lifted her head, her gaze once more fixed on the main tent shrouded by wind and snow.

In the darkness, her eyes gleamed terrifyingly, like a cornered female leopard preparing to bite back with everything she had.

Since he wanted her to go to Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Mountain… then she would go!

Since he used the ‘Three Lives Stone’ as a trap, she would transform this ethereal ‘bait’ into something truly her own!

Only by preempting him and reclaiming the initiative could she survive!

“Lie Feng.” Her voice regained its composure. “You are to leave immediately. Contact the old retainers who remain loyal to Father Emperor. Tell them I have been framed by Yuanchao and am now being hunted. Instruct them not to act rashly, to preserve their strength, and await my news.”

“But Princess, you…”

“That is an order!” Yuange interrupted him, unfastening a feather token from her waist that represented her identity and pressing it into his hand. “Go! Deliver the message alive!”

Lie Feng nodded heavily, transforming into a wisp of black smoke that vanished into the swirling wind and snow.

Inside the tent, only Yuange remained.

She walked to the low table, picked up the untouched cup of human potent liquor, and drained it in one gulp. The pungent alcohol seared her throat, igniting the last vestiges of madness and fierce pride within her bloodline.

This hunting game, from this moment on, carried a stake: her life.

And… that person’s life.

****

Deep in the night, in the main tent.

Shen Zhaoqing was once again yanked back to reality from her deep contemplation of ‘how to successfully feign death on a battlefield and survive for seventy-two hours’ by a cold snort.

“Wipe your drool.”

Gu Chang’an’s cool voice drifted from beside her, devoid of any warmth.

Shen Zhaoqing instinctively wiped the corner of her mouth; it was dry.

She lifted her head expressionlessly, looking at her senior sister who provided ‘personal protection’ twenty-four hours a day, and complained weakly, “Senior Sister, I think you might need a copy of *How to Have Friendly and Non-Insulting Conversations with Your Junior Sister*.”

Gu Chang’an ignored her, instead meticulously wiping her Innate Magic Tool flying sword, named Frostbright Sword, with a clean silk handkerchief.

The sword’s blade gleamed with chilling light, reflecting her equally cold profile.

Tuoba Yanxue, seated at the head of the table, remained like a statue, staring intently at the sand table before her as if trying to divine something from it.

“It’s too strange, truly too strange,” Shen Zhaoqing sighed.

Ever since that insane demon princess left some cursed ‘hunter’s mark’ on her wrist, she had been upgraded from ‘Qingyun Sect’s key protection target’ to ‘Northern Battlefield’s highest-level strategic material.’ Now, she was sandwiched between these two powerful figures twenty-four hours a day; even a trip to the latrine involved two divine senses and one gaze following her.

“Senior Sister, I want to go for a walk.” Shen Zhaoqing was bored.

Gu Chang’an and Tuoba Yanxue stood up almost simultaneously.

“She was speaking to me,” Gu Chang’an said coldly, looking at the woman opposite.

Tuoba Yanxue paid her no mind, casually replying, “Does this general need to report to Immortal Gu about where I go in my own tent?”

Shen Zhaoqing was helpless.

To be precise, Shen Zhaoqing had grown accustomed to it. This scene played out almost eight hundred times a day. As long as she could achieve her goal of going for a walk, she no longer cared about the details.

Suddenly, an almost imperceptible demonic energy, like a wisp of green smoke, flashed and vanished within the tent without warning!

“Who’s there!”

Tuoba Yanxue reacted the fastest. The Azure Fang saber at her waist instantly unsheathed half an inch, emitting a low wolf howl, and a powerful aura of iron-blooded killing intent erupted.

Gu Chang’an’s movements were even swifter!

A split second before Tuoba Yanxue’s words finished, the Frostbright Sword had already left her hand, transforming into a streak of light. It carried a chilling sword intent, stabbing directly towards the direction where the demonic energy appeared—behind Shen Zhaoqing!

However, everything was too late.

A petite figure, like a phantom, emerged from the shadows. She was cloaked in a crimson feather cape that blended perfectly with the night, completely evading the perception of the two formidable figures.

The moment she appeared, there was no intention of lingering in battle. Her target was shockingly clear!

She wrapped an arm around Shen Zhaoqing’s still bewildered waist, while her other hand flicked a finger at the flying sword Gu Chang’an had sent!

*Clang!

*A crisp sound.

A golden feather accurately struck the back of the Frostbright Sword’s blade. A subtle ripple of shock propagated along the sword, causing that fiercely unparalleled strike to momentarily deviate from its trajectory!

It was this thousandth-of-a-second opening!

“Yuange?!” Shen Zhaoqing finally recognized the face of the newcomer.