Chapter 466: The Eccentricity Under Dan Liang Royal City (26)

Chapter 466: Defiance Beneath Dan Liang's Royal City (26)

Boom…

Another peal of thunder shook the air.

Though the rain had yet to fall, the dark clouds on the horizon loomed over the city, snuffing out the last remnants of sunlight.

The situation grew tense. Spears and sabers once again encircled Su Rao and Han Mochen, the tightening ring of soldiers drawing ever closer with each resolute step.

"Then today, let this princess test for herself what a kingdom of civil governance is truly capable of."

Su Rao’s emerald-bamboo folding fan slipped once more from her sleeve.

Young Master Xiao’s jade-inlaid folding fan—yet none in Dan Liang could recognize it.

Unshaken, her words carried the same razor-edged arrogance.

Despite the dire circumstances closing in on her and Han Mochen, she remained utterly unshaken.

As for Han Mochen, the calm in his eyes fractured, replaced by a familiar bloodlust. A longsword in one hand, his other reached for Su Rao’s delicate fingers, lacing his through hers before she could reach for him. Their fingers locked tightly.

Then, his voice, cold as glacial depths, sharp and murderous:

"Rao Rao, today, let’s drench these streets in their blood. Shall we?"

Ten years ago, Great Qin’s capital had been slick with the blood of Qin Rao’s family and subjects. Today, the true masterminds behind the slaughter would witness Dan Liang’s own streets awash in crimson.

"Good. Together. Blood debts must be repaid in blood."

Su Rao nodded, her fingers tightening around Han Mochen’s. Within her peach blossom eyes, the scenes of that blood-soaked past resurfaced, vivid as ever.

Though Yun Ji had since redeemed her soul, pulling her from the abyss of darkness, it did not mean Su Rao felt no thirst for vengeance upon learning the true orchestrators of her family’s ruin.

Innocent lives would be spared, and the world would not be plunged into chaos—but for the royal guards of the Dan Liang Royal Family, she would show no mercy. None.

"Princess…"

This murmur came from Ying Ying, standing by the window. Sensing the resurgence of hatred in Su Rao, he dug his fingers into the sill until his knuckles bleached white, leaving five distinct marks in the wood.

Xiao Mubai, too, clenched his fists. Through the window’s slits, he watched the escalating tension outside, sensing the Sovereign’s rising kill-lust, hearing the steady march of approaching footsteps, the coalescing of hostile energies in the streets.

With another thunderclap, a whisper of movement swelled in Dan Liang’s alleys—the Shadow Army advancing.

"One plot foiled, another thwarted. Now they seek to force us into the open by cornering our Sovereign and Miss Su."

His voice low, he held his breath, fingers already resting on the hilt of the flexible blade at his waist.

Yun Feng was no different.

An emerald-bamboo folding fan in hand, its hidden blades ready.

In a breath, he motioned to a Cloud Guard: "Mobilize the others." Though they knew this was another of the Dan Liang royals’ snares, if their Sovereign—the man they’d follow into hell—and Su Rao were truly in peril, they would not remain hidden. The outcome would be exposure—all-out war against the Dan Liang Royal Family.

The storm clouds smothered the royal city whole, blotting out the final gasp of sunlight.

Darkness devoured the streets.

Then—the wind screamed.

Robes billowed loudly in the wind.

Another moment passed, and the rain finally fell.

Dark clouds now fully blanketed the sky, their layers saturated with impending rain.

A lone raindrop fell from the heavens, landing on the blade of a spear with a sharp *plink*.

"Princess Ronghua, you overstep your bounds. But this is Dan Liang territory—not your Yun Lang, where you can run wild and disregard the Emperor's authority."

After this remark, once again defending the reputation of Dan Liang's royal family, Minister Xun struck first.

He carried no weapon, advancing barehanded.

His palm shot forward, cutting through the air like a gale, aimed directly at Su Rao.

Han Mochen moved to block, but Su Rao had already stepped forward.

Her crimson robes whipped through the air like blades.

Her ink-black hair streamed behind her as the wind swept past.

This time, she would meet the attack.

The jade fan spun like lightning between her pale fingers, darting straight toward Minister Xun's wrist. One slip, and that razor-edged fan would sever his wrist.

Su Rao pressed her attack relentlessly, and her martial prowess had already been evident when she dodged and countered the young assassin's strike. Minister Xun had seen it clearly.

Thus, he pivoted aside to avoid her lethal move, switching from his right to his left hand, cocking his fist back and striking again. Su Rao retreated immediately, her left palm meeting his fist in a clash.

*CRACK—*

*SWOOSH—*

The force of their clash sent robes snapping like sails, whipping up the hems of Han Mochen's robes and those of the Dan Liang soldiers nearby. Their cheeks quivered from the backlash, skin prickling.

A similar exchange, yet the sheer weight behind this single clash drove both fighters skidding backward.

Su Rao's lowered left hand trembled from the impact of Minister Xun's punch, her palm throbbed with white-hot pain.

Though Minister Xun was similarly affected, compared to Su Rao's two-step retreat, he only took one step back.

Behind his silverblack mask, Han Mochen's phoenix eyes turned glacial.

In two swift steps, he reached Su Rao's side, seizing her wrist to steady the shaking.

From a nearby shop, Xiao Mubai, who had been watching, echoed Han Mochen's reaction—only more visceral.

"How is this possible?" His voice cracked with disbelief as his gaze bored through the window, fixed unwaveringly on Minister Xun.

Yun Feng and Ying Ying, noticing this, snapped their gaze toward Minister Xun. In an instant, they both looked back at Xiao Mubai.

What was wrong?

They saw no obvious threat, but for Xiao Mubai to look like that—something must be off.

Xiao Mubai's jaw tightened.

The Xiao family was destroyed, and the one who led troops into their household was none other than Minister Xun. Xiao Mubai had fought him before, but at that time, Minister Xun didn’t have the raw strength he shows now. Yet today, relying solely on brute force, he managed to force Su Rao back two steps.

Having spent years in Dan Liang, Xiao Mubai was well acquainted with the capabilities of its military officers—otherwise, Dan Liang would not have earned its renowned reputation for scholarly governance rather than martial prowess.

A nation that never prioritized resolving conflicts through force, Dan Liang had once been one of the three leading vassal states alongside the mighty Zhu Xian and Yun Lang, the latter backed by old General Su’s support for the Cloud King.

In those days, the Rong family of Dan Liang governed with benevolence and cultural rule, gaining the people’s trust.

Dan Liang’s military strength was solely for self-defense and maintaining domestic stability. Thus, even after the fall of Great Qin and the ascension of the current Dan Liang royal family, any attempt to strengthen its military power could not be achieved overnight.

Though Dan Liang had capable generals, they paled in comparison to those of Zhu Xian and Yun Lang.

Yet now, there was Minister Xun.

Half a year ago, he had barely been a match for Xiao Mubai. But today, he could hold his own against Su Rao—granddaughter of old General Su, personally trained by him—without faltering. Such a drastic transformation was enough to shock Xiao Mubai and make Han Mochen’s eyes turn cold.