Chapter 44: The Princess’s Ruthless Vengeance

“Xiyue, my dear, have you truly considered this thoroughly? Do not force yourself into this. If you feel it’s not right, I’ll speak with Father King again. As your elder brother, I cannot bear to see you dragged into such murky waters. I’ve mentioned it before, that person’s proclivities are rather peculiar… I fear your future could be ruined by her.”

Lyu Yu’s voice was heavy with concern, his words betraying his deep care for his brother.

“It’s alright, Brother Yu, I know you’re worried about me. But rest assured, I’ve genuinely thought it through. Upon careful consideration, this matter is hardly a losing proposition for me, nor will it ruin my future. After all, the other party is the next Pontiff, and the current Pope is advanced in years. From what I can tell, she will undoubtedly ascend within a few years. As long as I maintain a good relationship with her, how could I possibly suffer a loss? Just relax.”

Ouyang Xiyue spoke with a lighthearted tone, his expression utterly serene.

“But… since you are both women, how will you bear children in the future? Xiyue, please reconsider this carefully. I truly cannot bear to see you make such a decision…”

Lyu Yu trailed off, his brows furrowed deeply in distress.

“That’s enough, Brother Yu. This is my own decision, and I will take full responsibility for it. I will also account for it to Uncle. There’s no need to say anything more. I asked you to inquire with the Pope; what was the outcome? Did he agree?”

Ouyang Xiyue interrupted Lyu Yu, his tone firm and unwavering.

“Very well. Since your mind is made up, I have already made inquiries with His Holiness the Pope on your behalf. To my surprise, His Holiness expressed an interest in meeting you personally. When the time comes, you must mind your words carefully. However, knowing that you will be the one handling it gives me some measure of peace.”

Lyu Yu was utterly astonished, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“The Pope himself is coming to visit me? This… I didn’t mishear, did I? What preparations should I make?”

Ouyang Xiyue was a mix of shock and delight, his face alight with flattered surprise.

“No preparations are necessary; simply treat him as you would any ordinary person. Just remember to rise early tomorrow.”

With those words, Lyu Yu ended the call.

“What is happening? The Pope is coming in person? I should be the one going to him. Ah, well, I suppose I should still make some preparations. Treating the Pope as an ordinary person shouldn’t cause any issues, should it?”

Ouyang Xiyue murmured to himself.

‘Indeed, the Pope is but a mortal. I must relax, but under no circumstances can I let the Pope discover the peculiar items in my bedroom.’

Ouyang Xiyue returned to his bedroom, gazing at the ice sculpture before him and letting out a soft sigh. ‘Moxuan, you will soon be free… Just wait for me. Why were you so foolish, so unwilling to see a way out? The suffering you endured was truly heartbreaking. Ah, but with me by your side from now on, you must live on strongly. Consider it repayment for all the effort I put into saving you, and repay me.’

‘Moxuan, your affairs have caused quite a stir recently. However, I have never forgotten my vow to avenge you. The Pope arrives tomorrow, so today I shall attend to what must be done. How dare a mere branch family head of the Ye clan wreak havoc on the sacred lands of the Saint Spirit Continent!’

It had been a long time since he had engaged in such a major undertaking. If he were to travel by sword flight, reaching the Ye family would likely take several days. It seemed he had no choice but to take a flying boat, which would get him there in just three hours. It was early morning, so he would arrive swiftly. ‘Ye family, just you wait.’

Flying boats were crafted exclusively for powerful cultivators. For those lacking sufficient strength, boarding one was tantamount to seeking death. Their speed far surpassed that of ordinary aircraft; resembling a flying vessel, they streaked across the sky at light speed.

Naturally, ordinary individuals would find such speeds unbearable, yet it also presented an excellent opportunity for physical training.

Of course, for Ouyang Xiyue, this was merely child’s play, a detail hardly worth mentioning.

****

The Saint Spirit Continent, within the Imperial Palace.

“Your Royal Highness, the Third Princess, why have you returned? Were you not pursuing advanced studies at Saint Sea Academy? May I inquire about the purpose of your visit?”

Wu Lisheng, the Prime Minister of the Saint Spirit Empire, fixed his sharp gaze upon Ouyang Xiyue, whom he had not seen in quite some time.

Wu Lisheng mused inwardly: ‘This Third Princess’s strength has already approached that of young Yu, having advanced to the seventh level. To achieve such accomplishments at such a young age, his future prospects are boundless. Now is an excellent opportunity to forge a good relationship with him. If I can help him reach the pinnacle of the continent, I shall be credited with the greatest achievement…’

“Prime Minister Wu, I trust you have been well. I have come today to request some assistance from you. A minor aristocratic family has been acting improperly, and they must pay the ultimate price for their misdeeds—death.”

Ouyang Xiyue’s tone was soft, yet his words carried a chilling edge.

Wu Lisheng was startled at first, then quickly recovered. Gazing at the delicate and lovely young girl before him, he marveled inwardly: ‘It’s hard to imagine such a sweet young girl uttering such ruthless words. The contrast only makes her more endearing. I quite like this personality.’

“May I ask which family has offended Your Royal Highness? In truth, there’s no need for you to act personally. Simply give the command, and I shall go through fire and water for Your Royal Highness, stopping at nothing.”

Wu Lisheng bowed respectfully, his words sincere. Although, in the eyes of the nobility, a Prime Minister’s actual standing far exceeded that of a Princess, His Royal Highness’s identity was, after all, noble, leaving Wu Lisheng with little choice.

“It is merely a branch family of the Ye clan. Due to their selfish desires, a person of immense importance to me has been forever taken from this world. I shall ensure they pay blood for blood, annihilating their entire branch family.”

Ouyang Xiyue’s expression abruptly shifted, becoming grim and terrifying.

Wu Lisheng was stunned once again. ‘I had thought it was some minor affair, but it turns out to be the Ye family… This matter is indeed thorny. The Ye family is a prominent clan, and their influence has grown increasingly strong in recent years. Nevertheless, since I have already pledged to go through fire and water for the Princess, I might as well seize this opportunity to curb the Ye family’s arrogance and serve as a warning to other clans.’

“Though this matter presents challenges, I, your subordinate, swear here and now to serve Your Royal Highness with the utmost devotion, going through fire and water without hesitation. The Princess’s enemies are my enemies, and my loyalty to the Princess is unwavering. Should I ever betray this oath, I willingly accept the suffering of the Thunderous Mountain Quake.”

Having spoken, Wu Lisheng slowly began to chant a spell—the very oath spell of the Thunderous Mountain Quake.

The Thunderous Mountain Quake was a form of curse magic, frequently employed in oaths, wagers, and similar situations. This magic possessed immense spiritual power; should one violate their oath, they would inevitably be struck by three bolts of divine lightning, with no escape and no hope of survival.

One should not assume that great strength could withstand it. The curse’s power fluctuated with the caster’s magical might: the stronger the caster, the fiercer the curse; the weaker, the less even a single strike could be endured before succumbing instantly.

Ouyang Xiyue had initially only intended to borrow some personnel from Wu Lisheng, yet he had not anticipated the Prime Minister would swear such a potent oath on the spot. This left him somewhat perplexed. Nevertheless, he did not dwell on it; with things having progressed this far, he could only accept it for now. In the future, Wu Lisheng would undoubtedly serve him well, helping him to elevate his own strength to new heights.

“Since the Prime Minister is so sincere, I shall not stand on ceremony. Assemble the personnel for me immediately. I will not indiscriminately slaughter the innocent; I will only punish those who are guilty. This time, I intend to act openly and righteously, letting the entire world know that I hold the Ye family in utter contempt. They are nothing but scum!”

Ouyang Xiyue, consumed by raging fury, directly cursed. For him, the Ye family was indeed beneath his notice, especially since this incident was caused by their branch family. He wondered what the main Ye family would think after this. What could they possibly think? After all, he was acting as the Third Princess. He dared them to defy him.

‘It’s been too long since I last killed anyone; I almost miss the sensation of slaughter. While I haven’t truly killed many humans, I’ve certainly dispatched a fair number of demonic beasts. Of course, vampires feel the most like humans; the sensation is quite satisfying. Watching that crimson blood flow, I become exceptionally exhilarated. Perish, you bunch of trash!’

Before long, many people had gathered at the Prime Minister’s mansion. They marched majestically from within the palace towards its outer gates.

Time slipped away quietly, and dusk gradually settled.

“Your Royal Highness, the Third Princess, the matter has been handled. Your subordinate is currently preparing tomorrow’s newspapers and headlines as you instructed. Rest assured, the Ye family will certainly not have an easy time of it. Even if they are a prominent and powerful clan, compared to the Imperial Family, they are merely the glow of a firefly, unable to contend with the radiance of the bright moon.”

At this moment, Prime Minister Wu Lisheng found himself involuntarily trembling slightly before Ouyang Xiyue.

Not long before, Wu Lisheng had personally witnessed Ouyang Xiyue, with a cold gaze and an uncreased brow, swiftly cut down the young master, several elders, and the patriarch of the Ye family’s branch. Subsequently, Ouyang Xiyue ruthlessly twisted off their heads, storing them in a spatial ring, then cruelly dismembered their bodies, tearing them into several pieces, which he fed to demonic beasts.

Wu Lisheng had truly never anticipated that the Princess, whom he had initially believed was merely issuing threats, would act with such merciless brutality and decisive efficiency. Judging by the power he displayed, those elders had been utterly defenseless, instantly meeting their demise. Though he had only just reached the seventh rank, his strength was already capable of contending with late seventh-rank powerhouses.

“Your Royal Highness, are you satisfied with today’s events? Do you have any other commands?”

Wu Lisheng asked cautiously.

“No need. I must return quickly; I have important matters tomorrow. You are to arrange everything. I expect tomorrow’s headlines to be explosive enough. Do not forget.”

Ouyang Xiyue revealed a cold smile, then turned and departed.

Subsequently, Ouyang Xiyue embarked on his journey back to Saint Sea Academy. Such was the world of the strong preying on the weak…