X
Join our Discord server and get release updates for every novel you follow.
Join the ServerTwo figures stood in the corridor, illuminated solely by the glow of crystal shards.
External light might fail to illuminate the heart, but when an individual’s inner world shines, even the darkest night feels like standing beneath the sun. Cai, in this moment, was living proof of that truth.
Not only was the corridor still faintly lit, but even if she were plunged into utter darkness, she would not perceive it as night. Her steps were feather-light, her feet seemingly treading on clouds; perhaps this was the feeling a dancer experienced in mid-flight. “So happy, so happy, so happy!”
The one she loved so deeply had reappeared before her after reincarnation, and on the very day of their reunion, had spoken her name.
Even if someone were to present her with a crown, bestowing a kingdom upon her after her coronation, she would not feel such elation as she did in this moment.
Pausing without a discernible reason, she spun in a full circle; her body, overwhelmed by joy, was simply compelled to perform actions she would never normally consider.
The moment after her spin, Cai suddenly recalled something, tilting her head slightly. As she clapped her hands together, she murmured to herself, a gentle curve gracing her lips:
“I must tell Big Sister and the others about this! Everyone will surely celebrate!”
None of the individuals she mentioned in that statement were human.
Cai was certain her ‘family’ would be overjoyed, while the assassin, suspended by magic from the ceiling, was equally convinced: if this Sacred Maiden were to perish, he and his fellow church members would awaken laughing in their dreams for a long time to come.
‘Die!’
The murderous intent manifested in his heart as a roaring curse, but in terms of action, it meant seizing a fleeting opportunity to strike from above.
Targeting her neck, the assassin plunged his dagger downwards with vicious force!
Clang! The potentially fatal blow was parried, and the corridor echoed with the clash of metal.
Behind Cai, just above her neck, a magical fluctuation became distinct. A halo of light outlined a hexagram, forming a small protective barrier. Its faint luminescence made it appear exquisitely beautiful, as if adorned with fireflies.
The dagger’s keen edge was held fast by the barrier; sparks flew, yet it could not advance another inch.
“It seems I’ve disappointed you.” On any other day, Cai would have met the assassin with a smile, but today was different. Before she even spoke, her pupils visibly lost their focus, and her entire demeanor turned terrifying.
“Why did you have to appear!?”
Sensing imminent danger, the assassin immediately propelled himself with his legs in mid-air, executing a backflip to land on the ground. He abandoned his aerial assault, opting instead for a direct frontal attack. As his right arm extended, dagger in hand, Cai merely tilted her head, allowing the blade to graze past a strand of her hair without severing a single one.
‘What use is such meager skill here?’
Cai required no guards by her side, for she was formidable enough on her own; nor did she need to draw her own weapon, given the limited strength of her opponent.
Her gently clenched fist swung upwards, connecting with the assassin’s arm before he could retract it. Thud! Following the heavy impact, Cai’s fingers wrapped around his right arm, twisting it until a sickening crack of bone revealed what had transpired.
The pain caused the assassin’s tightly gripped dagger to fall, its sharp tip striking the ground first and embedding itself partially into the floor.
“Killing me means nothing, but why, of all nights, did you choose to appear tonight!?”
‘I was so happy, and now I’m frowning because of someone like this… Annoying, annoying, annoying. Angry, angry, angry!’
With a slight press of her foot, the dagger sprang from the ground, rising into the air, whereupon Cai swatted it with a wave of her hand. Her strike landed squarely on the hilt, sending the dagger flying forward under the external force, or rather, ‘slicing’ forward.
To complete his assassination, the assassin had prepared more than one weapon. With his right hand temporarily incapacitated, he reached behind him for the longsword at his waist. Clang~ The moment the keen blade was drawn, the assassin swung it forward, striking and deflecting the incoming dagger with a single clash.
At that very instant, Cai launched her own offensive. The next second, the assassin stepped forward, his left arm advancing as he swung his sword towards her. Before either of their attacks could connect, Cai, who had been deliberately deceiving her opponent, abruptly amplified her speed. Thus, the question of who would strike first was no longer in doubt…
It was merely a delicate palm strike, her slender fingers pressed together, delivered with a gentle tap. Bang! That alone sent the assassin hurtling backward. As he flew through the air, all he could do was desperately clutch his last remaining weapon.
He tumbled backward, landing supine as Cai’s phantom-like figure drifted gracefully towards him. The assassin’s only commendable trait was his exceptional ability to conceal his presence. Yet, it was utterly useless; such an opponent could never successfully ambush Cai. The moment he made his move, he was destined to expose himself. Furthermore, since the assassin and his target were on entirely different planes of power, his actions were doomed to fail.
In other words: the very instant the assassin made his move, he was effectively condemned to death! And a death resulting from utter failure… A truly meaningless demise.
“I wonder if you have anyone else at home?”
She was aware that her impending actions might leave a wife without a husband, children without a father, and parents without a son… Yet, even considering this, Cai’s face and heart remained utterly undisturbed. The act of killing becomes inconsequential the moment another intends to kill you. Not only was it uncertain if this man even had a family, but even if they truly existed and appeared before her, Cai’s resolve would not waver. She would undoubtedly face them with a look of profound guilt, then, in their very presence, execute the man on the ground without a trace of hesitation!
The defeated man could not rise for some time, nor could he wield his sword as he wished. Maintaining her standing posture, Cai gazed down at the dying man, informing him, who possessed only empty resolve:
“You still possess a final value before your death.”
Had this assassin been dispatched by someone? There were certain matters she needed to understand. ‘Who sent you?’ – that question wasn’t worth asking! An assassin who had already staked his life would never beg for mercy or betray his mastermind to save himself when facing death. Even asking would be a waste of time. However… Cai still wanted to know if this incident had any connection to the Sacred Emperor.
“I will know the words you refuse to speak!”
‘Torture? Too troublesome and ineffective.’ Next, Cai intended to delve into the assassin’s mind. She pressed a fingertip against his throat, ensuring that should his resistance become uncontrollable, that single finger could pierce his vulnerable windpipe.
The assassin struggled with all his might, but soon, he inadvertently caught Cai’s gaze; that single glance brought his resistance to an abrupt halt. A flicker of purple swiftly passed through Cai’s eyes, and instantly, the assassin’s mind went blank. His hands and legs, which had been touching the ground, ceased all movement. Aside from breathing, he merely stared, his entire being seemingly rendered catatonic in an instant.
It was done! Cai had just activated a Forbidden Spell. Laws are the collective term for the world’s common principles and regulations; Forbidden Spells, however, are the supreme powers of law, never meant to be touched by mortals. During the ancient wars among the gods, fragmented laws scattered across the earth, irretrievable. These laws were later unexpectedly discovered by living beings and hosted within their bodies, granting them immense power. Forbidden Spells exist as a form of energy within humans and other races, capable of being seized or acquired through various means. Even those entirely unversed in magic can naturally master the use of a Forbidden Spell, as effortlessly as breathing. In most cases, a Forbidden Spell possesses only one effect; barring special circumstances, an individual (or any other sentient being) can only wield one Forbidden Spell. The assassin’s sudden vacant state was a direct consequence of this unique power. Cai’s Forbidden Spell could be called ‘Mind Dominance.’ If one were to describe its effect in two words, it would simply be: Hypnosis!
At this juncture, the assassin could be said to be entirely within the Sacred Maiden’s grasp. He was now nothing more than an obedient puppet, devoid of self-awareness, allowing Cai to effortlessly extract the information she sought.
“Answer me: Are you a member of the Sacred God Church?” Two major religions existed on the continent: the currently dominant Main God Church, and the relatively weaker, yet historically more ancient, Sacred God Church. Both churches had established their own nations. To summarize: the Main God Church founded the Papal State in the central continent, while the Sacred God Church established the Sacred Emperor State in the south. Their objects of worship differed, and their relationship with each other was quite contentious. From Cai’s perspective, as the Sacred Maiden of the Main God Church, if someone targeted her life, that person would almost certainly be…
“That is correct. I am a follower of the Sacred God Church.” The assassin’s confession was truthful. Under hypnosis, he was incapable of lying.
“Continue: Did the Sacred Emperor send you to kill me?” The heads of state for these two great empires, the Papal State and the Sacred Emperor State, were the current Pope and Sacred Emperor, respectively.
“It has nothing to do with the Sacred Emperor! I decided to come and kill you myself!” The grinding of his teeth had become an unconscious reaction for the assassin; yet, despite any such impulses, he could only speak his true thoughts without reservation. It was, in a way, comical.
“You wish to kill me because you hate me.”
“Precisely! I will kill you and that fraud, the Pope! Odin is no god at all; the true God is clearly…”
“Enough! Stop there!” Which god one believed in was of no concern to Cai, yet the man she intended to kill held this matter with utmost seriousness.
“I understand your fanaticism. Now, heed my command.” With no further need to restrict his movements, Cai released her half-crouch and retreated several steps away from the assassin.
“Point your sword at yourself.” Though he obediently complied, his execution still required adjustment. “Raise the sword higher, ensure the blade rests against your neck… Good, hold it there.”
‘[Please, go die.]’ Ordinarily, Cai would have said just that. But this man, today, had ruined her good mood, thereby incurring her resentment. Cai felt no need to be polite to him; only one detail required attention: “Wait until I’ve walked further away before you commit suicide.”
Treating the recent events as a mere interlude, Cai took a moment to compose herself, her steps once again becoming light. Eighteen, nineteen, twenty steps. This was far enough. “The hour of your death has arrived.” Cai’s voice, amplified by a sound-transmitting spell, entered the puppet’s ears, akin to a loyal soldier receiving a commanding officer’s order. Without a flicker of hesitation, the assassin gripped the hilt and drew the blade across his own neck. Sshhk! Blood spurted in all directions; in an instant, the ground was stained crimson. A man transformed into a corpse, lying prostrate on the floor – not an overly gruesome death in terms of appearance.
A life had thus vanished; those who would mourn him were certainly not present here.
Several minutes passed. A maid, on her way to deliver dinner to Wang Xiaole, passed by the scene and, without surprise, discovered the corpse. If one possessed sufficient mental fortitude, having witnessed death once was enough to prevent future shock. “I truly hope that people who seek death will stop appearing,” the maid sighed. How she wished that those who gambled with their lives would take a moment to consider: just how much trouble they caused for someone like her, who was responsible for cleaning! “Cleaning up bloodstains and a body takes so much time… and while there’s overtime pay, right now I’d much rather be sleeping.” Since it was her duty, she would simply get on with it. Her cleaning tools already in hand, the task ahead was not unfamiliar to her. In a world where only the maid suffered, the young woman toiled alone in the corridor. This night, too, would eventually pass.
The excitement doesn't stop here! If you enjoyed this, you’ll adore The Moon Reflected In The Water. Start reading now!
Read : The Moon Reflected In The Water
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂