In a corner of the Imperial City, the silhouette of the imperial palace appeared even more solemn and mysterious under the moonlight.
The Princess's Mansion was brightly lit, yet it could not conceal a lingering aura of gloom. Shi Luoyan sat upright by the exquisitely carved window. The moonlight spilled over her breathtaking face, but it failed to reflect her usual gentleness and tranquility, replaced instead by deep contemplation.
She gently twirled a string of warm jade beads in her hand, each rotation seeming to weigh a certain decision in her heart.
"Tiangang Realm... Are you certain that good-for-nothing has truly reached such a realm?"
Shi Luoyan's voice was low and powerful, carrying an unquestionable majesty that made even the battle-hardened Li Ying feel a chill in his heart at that moment.
The princess's strength... seemed to have grown stronger once again.
Li Ying knelt prostrate on the ground, his tone resolute: "Your Highness, this subordinate personally exchanged dozens of blows with that scoundrel Qin Haotian and could have beheaded him. Who would have thought that Qin Haotian would suddenly surge in power with bizarre techniques? This subordinate let his guard down and allowed him to slip away."
"It is this subordinate's incompetence that I failed to keep Qin Haotian here. This subordinate willingly accepts punishment!"
Li Ying lowered his head, a hint of helplessness leaking from his words. He had thought that slaying Qin Haotian this time was an absolute certainty, but who could have foreseen that the opponent would suddenly breakthrough to become a powerhouse of the Tiangang Realm, rivaling his own cultivation level. Qin Haotian's sudden burst of improvement undoubtedly shattered his understanding.
Hearing this, Shi Luoyan knitted her delicate brows, a flash of complex emotion crossing her eyes. She had once thought Qin Haotian was merely a good-for-nothing who could be manipulated at will; yet, everything before her made her realize that she might have underestimated this former fiancé. She found it even harder to believe how someone who was utterly useless could transform overnight into a cultivation genius.
Could it be that Qin Haotian had encountered some kind of fortuitous opportunity? "If that is truly the case, and Qin Langtian gets wind of this matter, he will undoubtedly summon Qin Haotian back to the War King Manor, and by then..."
Shi Luoyan's voice trailed off abruptly, but the implication went without saying. Her betrothal to Qin Haotian was originally a chess piece set down by her imperial father to forge ties with the War King Manor and keep it in check. If Qin Haotian remained a good-for-nothing with no successor for the War King Manor, she could still fight to call off the engagement. But if given time Qin Haotian truly amounted to something, then the engagement between her and Qin Haotian would be set in stone.
"No! I will never allow such a thing to happen!"
Shi Luoyan abruptly stood up, an irresistible aura radiating from her entire body.
"Your Highness, do you suppose... Is it possible that this Qin Haotian has been practicing a Demonic Cultivation Technique?" Li Ying furrowed his brows tightly, a trace of doubt in his gaze as he voiced his thoughts.
Upon hearing Li Ying's words, the teacup Shi Luoyan was holding paused slightly, and a contemplative look flashed through her eyes.
"What makes Commander Li say that?"
Li Ying continued, "Just think about it, Your Highness: the bloodlust and cold-bloodedness displayed by this Qin Haotian are truly bone-chilling. Moreover, the secret techniques he wields are extremely bizarre. Just a few days ago, he was merely a useless good-for-nothing devoid of any cultivation talent or strength."
"Yet in the span of a short time, he has transformed overnight into a powerhouse of the Tiangang Realm. Such a rapid surge in strength is simply too suspicious. Among the cultivation techniques I know of, only the legendary Demonic Cultivation Technique could achieve such astonishing results."
"Demonic Cultivation Techniques have always been ruthless and vicious; practitioners often undergo drastic personality changes and become cruelly bloodthirsty. Looking at Qin Haotian's current behavior, it bears an uncanny resemblance to those eroded by demonic techniques. Princess, if this is truly the case, then Qin Haotian will undoubtedly become a grave menace!"
Shi Luoyan's eyes lit up at these words.
That was right! Since ancient times, the demons had been evil entities that everyone had a duty to punish. If word got out that Qin Haotian was a demonic spy practicing demonic techniques, I'm afraid there would be no place left in the world for him to find refuge!
As for whether Qin Haotian was a genuine demonic spy, who would even care? When demons appear, everyone shouts for their blood and rises to strike them down! Thinking of this, Shi Luoyan could not help revealing a cold sneer.
"Li Ying, spread the word immediately: claim that Qin Haotian is practicing demonic arts and slaughtering his own kin to boost his cultivation and strength. Fabricate some stories to circulate and firmly nail down his identity as a demonic spy!"
Li Ying cupped his fists in salute and said, "This subordinate obeys."
Shi Luoyan gazed at the bright moon outside the window, her expression growing increasingly icy.
Qin Haotian, oh Qin Haotian, once the label of demonic spy is pinned on you, I will immediately petition my imperial father to annul the engagement! Wanting to make me, Shi Luoyan, marry you is utterly impossible!
…………
Meanwhile, inside the War King Manor.
The atmosphere was equally heavy.
Qin Qingyue sat in the study, toying with an exquisite jade hairpin in her hand. It was her most cherished possession, and whenever she felt vexed or restless, she would take it out to examine it closely.
"Uncle Fu, you're saying Shi Luoyan actually dispatched a Tiangang Realm powerhouse to deal with Qin Haotian?"
Qin Qingyue was somewhat angry. Although she did not share a deep bond with Qin Haotian, they were still of the same clan. Moreover, Shi Luoyan had already made a promise to her, yet now she had sent a Tiangang Realm expert after Qin Haotian anyway—wasn't that giving her zero respect?
"And what about Qin Haotian? Is he still alive?"
Qin Qingyue wore a complex expression. In her view, with a Tiangang Realm expert making a move, Qin Haotian was guaranteed to die.
Uncle Fu lowered his head and respectfully replied, "Milady, it is said that Qin Haotian did not lose his life; instead, he even escaped from the hands of that Tiangang Realm expert."
"What did you say?"
The jade hairpin in Qin Qingyue's hand trembled slightly, a trace of surprise and complexity flashing in her eyes.
Faced with a Tiangang Realm expert, Qin Haotian actually managed to escape?
A wave of inexplicable discomfort rose in her heart, and her mind conjured the absurd image of Qin Haotian spending his days carousing and riding horses. That good-for-nothing Qin Haotian, whom everyone used to ridicule, actually possessed such strength? Just him? The jealousy and resentment in Qin Qingyue's heart grew wildly like untamed weeds.
"He's still alive?" Qin Qingyue muttered to herself, then shook her head again. "How could that be... Isn't he just a good-for-nothing? How could he have become so strong..."
Just then, Uncle Fu seemed to recall something important and lowered his voice to whisper into Qin Qingyue's ear.
Upon hearing this, Qin Qingyue's complexion changed drastically, and the jade hairpin in her hand almost dropped.
"What? Rumors are already spreading outside that Qin Haotian is a demonic spy?"
She repeated those words in disbelief, her heart in turmoil. Even if she had no blood ties with Qin Haotian, she knew very well that once such a rumor spread, it would spell catastrophic disaster for Qin Haotian.
And it might even implicate the War King Manor.
If the heir of your War King Manor is a demonic spy colluding with demons, could it be that your War King Manor truly noticed nothing at all? Could it be that your War King Manor truly harbored no demonic spy, and didn't even collude with demons? At the mere thought of this, Qin Qingyue acutely felt the gravity of the situation, and the mastermind behind all of this was undoubtedly Shi Luoyan.