Chapter 46

Chapter 46

"She Cheng, you shouldn't provoke me."

The Witch King’s response to the Fire Lord’s provocation was simple and direct.

He raised his right arm, his ornate sleeve billowing in the wind. The bracelets on his wrist clinked together, and amidst the crisp sounds, countless ice spikes materialized in midair.

The translucent crystals gleamed faintly, aligning themselves in the sky, their sharp tips pointing forward, aimed directly at the demons opposite them.

The next moment, a howling wind rose.

Thousands of white streaks shot forth, piercing through the flames spewed by the Demon Dragon.

The dark flames were devoured by the ice crystals, vanishing like melting snow.

A bone-chilling aura spread, and snow began to fall at the border of the desolate lands. The snowflakes fluttered down, covering the ground in a layer of silver in the blink of an eye.

Seeing this, the demons all stiffened.

The Lord of Snow’s power seemed even stronger than it had been a decade ago.

She Cheng dropped his mocking demeanor, his gaze darkening for a brief moment. But soon, a smile replaced it, his seriousness fleeting like a passing flower.

"I just wanted to greet you and say hello to your queen," he said lazily, though his smile didn't reach his eyes. "Wu Ying, you're too serious. How dull."

"You're disrespecting my queen." The Witch King’s tone remained unwavering, his silver eyes filled with a ferocity Cen Qing had never seen before. "Anyone, including you, will pay for that."

"Oh?" She Cheng slowly let his smile fade, his golden pupils slitting like a beast's.

Sensing his mood, the Demon Dragon let out a deafening roar.

Terrifying waves of fire surged and rolled, sweeping over the forest canopy, devouring the falling snow.

The Demon Dragon continued spewing flames, the scorching heat rolling across the sky like flowing magma. Yet before it could reach the Witch King, it was blocked by a wall of ice.

Boom!

The two forces collided head-on, exploding in a blinding flash of light.

The terrifying energy continued to reverberate, toppling massive tree crowns, sending countless branches and leaves flying in all directions. The deafening roar was like thunder exploding.

When the light faded, a section of the forest had been cleared—hundreds of ancient trees had vanished without a trace, leaving only collapsed pits and crisscrossing fissures.

The void didn't last long.

Countless vines shot out from the forest, and sinister shrubs rapidly grew, soon covering the ground and filling the gaps left by the shattered trees.

The clash between the rulers of the Snow Domain and the Fiery Realm had been fierce, seemingly evenly matched.

"Your Majesty!"

The Warlocks radiated with an eerie blue light, a chilling aura spreading around them.

The demons conjured black mist, ready to obey their lord's command and engage in battle at any moment.

Although the Snow Domain and the Fiery Realm had been at peace for ten years, no truce had ever been signed. The Warlocks and the demons remained in a state of war.

The battle would begin the next second—no one questioned it.

Yet as time passed, the ice and black flames dissipated. Neither monarch made another move, nor did they issue any commands to fight. The Warlocks and demons present could only restrain themselves, forced to continue watching.

Above the dense forest at the border of the desolate lands, an ominous silence fell.

On the back of the Demon Dragon, She Cheng stared across the divide, his golden eyes flickering with a dark light, as if trying to see through the gold-woven cloak to the figure the Witch King shielded in his arms.

The Vampire Prince.

The Snow Domain's Black-haired Queen.

The Blood Clan had sent a crown prince—this could be seen as a gesture of importance toward the marriage alliance, or as the usurper consolidating his kingship, eliminating the last remnants of the ancient bloodline from the royal family.

According to rumors from the wedding, this Black-haired Queen was not friendly toward his homeland.

The vampire envoy had received no special treatment—they had left in disgrace, becoming the laughingstock among the nations.

How entertaining.

She Cheng curled his lips, his fiery red hair brushing against his cheeks, masking the glint of interest in his eyes.

A wicked idea took hold in him again, making him eager to act.

What if he realized his earlier idea—to steal the queen right from Wu Ying's grasp? How would the Lord of Snow react?

Rage, madness, an immediate declaration of war?

Now that would be a sight.

"I apologize for my rudeness," She Cheng broke the silence first, seemingly trying to break the deadlock. Unfortunately, his apology lacked sincerity—his facade lasted barely two seconds before he resumed his taunting. "Since I've apologized, Wu Ying, don't be so petty. I just want to see your beauty and offer my belated wedding blessings."

Tension crackled between them again. The Demon Dragon swayed its neck uneasily, flames dancing between its fangs.

Crimson sparks rained down, vanishing into the boundless forest, extinguished in an instant without igniting a single leaf.

The demons flanking their lord exchanged glances, sensing danger.

Whenever His Majesty wore this expression, it signaled he was plotting something wicked. Their experience was too vast to ignore.

"Your Majesty—" A two-headed demon mustered the courage to speak, but was cut off by a strange noise after just two words.

Both factions tensed.

They no longer paid attention to each other, instead turning their attention downward to the edge of the forest—the area where the Earth Rhino had appeared.

A long, narrow chasm stretched from east to west, its jagged edges irregularly misaligned, with fissures branching out horizontally. Rocks and clumps of earth constantly tumbled down, rolling along the cliff face before plunging into the darkness below.

From the depths of the fissure came unearthly sounds—like mud bubbling, or boiling water.

The cliff walls began to tremble, first slightly, then violently.

The fissure abruptly widened, and billowing clouds of sickly yellow-gray gas surged upward. At first resembling smoke, it quickly thickened, forming towering columns that shot straight into the sky.

"Evade!" She Cheng commanded. The Demon Dragon swiftly beat its wings, ascending, followed closely by the Demon Eagles, dodging the toxic plumes.

The Warlocks moved with equal speed.

The Giant Owl flapped its wings, catching the updrafts to soar higher.

The Wargs pelted forward, outrunning the spreading cracks beneath them. The Warlocks on their backs blinked in and out of sight, launching ice spikes to momentarily freeze the cracking ground, keeping the wolves from falling into the abyss.

The shockwaves continued relentlessly, cleaving the earth like blades.

The ground split apart with a deafening roar, one side rising while the other slowly sank.

Ancient trees in the forest let out eerie groans, vines tightening around their trunks, leaves scraping against each other like clashing blades, making one's scalp prickle.

"Your Majesty, what is that?"

On the back of the Giant Owl, Cen Qing threw back his cloak, his gaze fixed on the source of the noise. He saw a massive shadow, like a dense fog, emerging from the fissure.

"Earth Rhino," Wu Ying looked down at the ground, confirming its identity the moment the shadow emerged.

A flat, enormous head with three pairs of hard horns at the front.

Its body was iron-gray, covered in thick scales along its back, with stiff, long hairs growing between the plates—each as tough as steel needles, capable of piercing through rock.

A long tail dragged behind it, resembling that of a crocodile.

Its limbs bore curved hooks, allowing it to climb cliffs with ease, scaling even the steepest slopes as if walking on flat ground.

It was unlike any creature Cen Qing had ever seen—massive, grotesque, as if haphazardly pieced together from several beings, something that shouldn’t exist in reality.

"Earth Rhino?"

"They rarely leave the desolate lands. The few times they’ve appeared, they’ve brought great trouble." Wu Ying tightened his grip around Cen Qing, fingers pressing into his waist, murmured in his ear, "Don’t look directly into their eyes. You might fall into a nightmare."

Wu Ying’s warning came just in time. Cen Qing quickly averted his gaze, avoiding the glowing eyes within the mist.

There wasn’t just one Earth Rhino—by rough estimate, over twenty. Whether more would follow, no one could say.

Their appearance in numbers signaled that this beast tide was no small matter. Trouble wouldn’t be limited to the Snowy Realm; the Fiery Realm would fare no better.

"Any land bordering the desolate lands will find it hard to escape this time."

"They must be killed."

For once, the Warlocks and the demons were in agreement.

Both sides put aside their quarrels, focusing instead on the greater threat—eliminating the Earth Rhinos before dealing with anything else.

"They’re out!"

Within minutes, the massive creatures had fully emerged from the ground.

The Warlocks blew their warhorns, and the Wargs and Giant Owls turned in unison, attacking from the sky and the ground.

The demons beat their war drums, the Demon Eagles shrieking sharply as their wings stirred black winds, carrying their riders into a dive, sharp claws aimed at the Earth Rhinos.

The Wargs became blurs of motion, crossing hundreds of meters in the blink of an eye.

The Warlocks disappeared from their mounts.

When the light gathered again, they descended from the air, wielding sharp ice spears, driving them deep into the Earth Rhinos’ spines.

Goya and Delania, swords in hand, leaped from the backs of the Giant Owls.

Mid-fall, they swung their blades, blades flashing as a cross-shaped slash severed an Earth Rhino’s neck.

The massive head rolled to the ground, revealing stark white bone at the wound.

The decapitated body kept moving—it charged forward, hooked forelegs raised, ready to crush the sword-wielding Warlocks.

A hellfire descended from the sky, arcing around the Earth Rhino’s body like a rope, tightening until it burned through flesh, bone, and organs.

The Earth Rhino collapsed in black smoke, its body cracking apart, reducing to cinders under the intense heat.

Goya looked up at the sky, spotting a Demon Eagle approaching.

He recognized the rider—Eland the Flame Demon, the Fire Lord’s loyal Legion Commander. The two had clashed on the battlefield many times, always evenly matched.

"Warrior of the Snowy Realm, be careful. Rather than see you killed by an Earth Rhino, I’d prefer to run you through with my own blade." Eland’s voice came from above, his flame-red hair cascading over his shoulders, his handsome face expressionless but his voice dripping with mockery.

Goya didn’t retort. He knew his enemy well.

Words were pointless—they’d only excite him. So he ignored the taunt, bursting into golden particles before reappearing, his sword piercing an Earth Rhino’s eye socket.

Seeing this, Eland tsked. "I did help you. Shouldn’t you at least say thanks?"

"Thanks," Goya said without turning his head.

Eland found the response lacking and ordered his Demon Eagle to turn, palm unleashing searing flames, locking onto the next Earth Rhino.

The firelight illuminated his face—handsome, alluring, and unmistakably sinister.

Under the coordinated onslaught of the Warlocks and demons, none of the twenty Earth Rhinos escaped. Their massive bodies were either shattered and frozen or reduced to ash, leaving no bodies left whole.

Throughout the battle, blinding explosions lit up the forest’s edge, energies clashing violently, no less destructive than a natural disaster.

By the time the fight ended, the battlefield lay devastated.

The earth had split even wider, large sections collapsing into irregular pits. Trees near the fissures had toppled, gnarled tree roots snapped in large sections, weeping viscous sap.

The Warlocks and demons each policed their respective zones.

They wordlessly marked territories, keeping their distance, neither side crossing into the other’s territory.

The Demon Dragon loomed overhead, She Cheng holding up one of the Earth Rhino’s horns—now charred, disintegrating at a touch.

The Snow-white Giant Owl descended with its two riders.

Cen Qing hadn’t participated in the fight, now studying the Earth Rhinos with curiosity.

Even in pieces, their remains were the size of small hills, far more massive up close than from the air.

"Earth Rhino horns are remarkably durable—good for making bracers and shields," Wu Ying said, twining their fingers. "Do you want one?"

The Warlocks Legion had a unique combat style—they rarely defended, focusing solely on offense.

Shields were all but useless to them.

No matter how precious the material, they placed little value on it.

The demons were the same.

The Snowy Realm and the Fiery Realm reigned supreme, holding neighboring realms in check, thanks in no small part to their formidable armies. The Bloodkin had once fought beside them, but that era had passed, their glory lost to time. The Golden Rock City had long since declined, its former glory beyond reclaiming.

"I do," Cen Qing said, gripping Wu Ying’s hand, the words coming without hesitation.

His territory needed development, and his military was no different. He wouldn’t miss any chance to outfit his Black Knights.

The Snow Lord was his husband, so accepting kindness needn’t weigh on him.

There's no need for pretended politeness.

Wu Ying leaned down close to him, fingers trailing up the back of Cen Qing’s hand, slipping slowly into his sleeve, tracing the veins beneath his skin, his voice barely a whisper: "My beauty, if you accept my trophy, how will you thank me?"

Cen Qing flashed a radiant smile, lifting his arm to loop around the Witch King’s neck, pressing an eager kiss to the corner of his lips: "Your Majesty, my dear husband, once we return to Stormwind City, you shall receive my gratitude."

Their intimacy was unabashed, as if no one else existed around them.

The Warlocks were accustomed to such displays, unfazed.

The demons, however, were astonished.

"It seems the Snow Lord is quite fond of his spouse."

"The raven-haired stunner of the Vampires is even more stunning than imagined—who wouldn’t adore him?"

"Keep your voice down, unless you wish to be frozen by the Warlocks?"

Demons were naturally flirtatious, and those present were nobles serving the Fire Lord, speaking without restraint—especially the succubi, who only tempered their words after a warning from their companions.

Though they restrained themselves, the ruler of the Fiery Realm grew bolder.

Ever since Cen Qing revealed his true appearance, She Cheng’s gaze had lingered on him, boldly admiring, filled with awe and fascination.

He wanted to steal Wu Ying’s queen—his desire to claim stronger than ever.

The Vampire’s gem could just as well adorn the Demon King’s crown.

Cen Qing’s instincts were sharp; the moment She Cheng looked his way, he turned his head and met the other’s gaze directly.

"Lovely queen, it is a pleasure to meet you. You shine brighter than the abyss crystals." She Cheng smiled, placing a hand over his chest and inclining his head in greeting.

His words were courteous, his flattery measured, his demeanor elegant—a stark contrast to how he behaved toward Wu Ying.

Cen Qing offered no response, coolly looked away.

His impression of the Fire Lord leaned toward the negative.

His mother’s death, the torment he had endured—all of it was Grod’s doing. It was he who had poisoned them, who had turned murderer against his family.

The poison had come from the Fiery Realm.

Moreover, the Warlocks had long been at war with the demons.

Wu Ying was his husband, and standing by his side was only natural.

Being ignored by Cen Qing did not discourage She Cheng.

Compared to delicate petals, a thorned rose fascinated him more.

"Your Majesty, it is time to return." The two-headed demon finally seized the opportunity to cautiously remind the Fire Lord that they shouldn’t linger in the desolate lands.

"Very well." Though willful, She Cheng was not reckless in matters of importance.

The beast tide might surge at any moment, and fortifying the borders was necessary.

As for the beauty—he could always take him later.

Opportunities would arise.

"Lovely queen, I look forward to our next meeting." She Cheng tossed Cen Qing a wink. Before Wu Ying could freeze him, he led the demons westward, away from the desolate lands.

Watching his departing figure, Cen Qing frowned without realizing.

His gaze lingered too long, and whatever emotion lay behind it displeased the Witch King.

Cold fingers gripped his chin, an icy presence closing in, silver filling his sight and reclaiming his attention in an instant.

"My queen, what are you looking at?" Wu Ying’s gaze was intense, his voice low, edged with danger.

Cen Qing lifted his eyes, the dragon blood stone swinging from his ear, catching the light dazzlingly.

He laid his hand over Wu Ying’s, smiling brightly: "Your Majesty, I was watching the Fire Lord."

"You’re concerned about him?" Wu Ying lifted Cen Qing with one arm, staring deep into his eyes, his voice glacial, threat clear. "Perhaps I should tear him apart."

"I belong to you. No one else holds my attention." Cen Qing rested a hand on Wu Ying’s shoulder, twisting a lock of silver hair around his finger. "I was merely thinking—he is my enemy, as is the Fiery Realm."

The grip at his waist loosened slightly. Cen Qing lowered his head, nibbling Wu Ying’s fingers before lifting his gaze to meet silver eyes.

"Since birth, I’ve been tormented by poison from the Fiery Realm. Only after meeting you was I cured, freed from that pain. I bear grudges—and fault lies not only with demons, but their king as well. Would you call me petty?"

"No, my beauty."

The tension melted like mist.

Wu Ying hoisted Cen Qing up, tipping his head back to kiss his eyelids and lips.

"Have your way. I will grant your every wish," he said.

"Your Majesty, you’ll spoil me." Cen Qing clung to Wu Ying’s shoulders, nestling against him playfully before trying to pull away—only to be caught by a large hand at the back of his head, allowing no escape.

"Be wild. Be daring. Do whatever you wish. None shall curb you—no one has the right to."

With every word, Wu Ying’s eyes darkened further.

As the last syllable fell, he kissed Cen Qing again, harder this time, as though to consume him.

"You are my queen, my wife, my jewel. Anyone who displeases you, I will rend apart—no matter who they are."

Cen Qing succumbed to the Witch King’s grip.

Enveloped tightly in his embrace, surrounded by the bite of winter, heat still rose within him, fire searing his senses.

Feelings broke their bonds.

A rivulet became a flood.

He didn’t fight it—nor want to.